Topic: Shane Bauer

Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd, two of the hikers previously detained in Iran, are reportedly getting married. The hosts discuss the "spy central" reputation of Berkeley and recount a story from journalist Gina Smith, who claimed the CIA attempted to recruit her as a student to plant specific phrases or stories in major publications like The Washington Post.

Two American hikers, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, were released from an Iranian prison after 781 days following a $1 million bail payment mediated by Oman. The hikers, who were arrested near the Iraq-Iran border, are widely suspected of being CIA assets rather than recreational tourists. The "bail" is characterized as a straightforward bribe, and the role of Oman is seen as a diplomatic maneuver to raise its international profile.