In the podcast Wind of Change, journalist Patrick Radden Keefe takes listeners on a globe-trotting investigation into one of the most bizarre and intriguing rumors of the Cold War era: that the CIA wrote the 1990 hit song “Wind of Change” by German rock band Scorpions.
The idea sounds absurd at first. Why would America’s premier intelligence agency pen a hair metal power ballad? And how would that even work? But Keefe, a seasoned journalist known for his meticulous reporting in The New Yorker and his bestselling book Say Nothing, treats the subject with a mix of open-minded curiosity and journalistic rigor. The result is a gripping, eight-episode deep dive into the tangled intersection of pop culture and covert operations.
The podcast begins with a conversation between Keefe and a friend with intelligence contacts who swears the story is true. From there, Keefe follows the thread—interviewing former CIA officers, Cold War historians, musicians, and even Klaus Meine, the Scorpions’ lead singer and songwriter. The story takes him to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, to archival Cold War-era musical propaganda efforts, and even to the Moscow Music Peace Festival, a massive 1989 concert organized to promote cultural thawing between East and West.
What’s so compelling about Wind of Change is that it isn’t really about proving or debunking the rumor—it’s about the power of narrative itself. Keefe is less concerned with delivering a hard answer and more interested in what the rumor reveals about the way governments use culture to shape ideology. After all, it’s no secret that the CIA has meddled in music and art before, covertly supporting jazz tours in the 1950s and sponsoring abstract expressionist art as a contrast to Soviet realism. So the idea that they might have nudged a rock anthem into the world isn’t completely outlandish.
Throughout the series, Keefe maintains a tone of amused skepticism. He’s a natural storyteller, guiding the listener through complex political histories and espionage anecdotes with charm and clarity. His interviews are fascinating, especially when talking to retired spies who both confirm and deny the plausibility of the claim. Klaus Meine, for his part, insists the song was inspired by real political change—the fall of the Berlin Wall and the hopeful winds of perestroika.
Wind of Change is ultimately less about finding a smoking gun than exploring how ideas travel. Did the CIA write the song? Probably not. But could they have helped shape the cultural conditions in which it became a symbol of freedom? That’s harder to dismiss.
The podcast ends in ambiguity, which may frustrate some listeners. But for those who enjoy cold war intrigue, spycraft, and the strange ways in which pop culture intersects with power, Wind of Change is a fascinating ride. It’s a story about belief, about how history gets written, and about the seductive appeal of a great conspiracy theory—even one set to a whistling rock ballad.
There are five episodes and as I’m writing this post I am listening to episode 2. So far, the research, production, and presentation are all tantalizing. If you’re ready for a Ridley Scott spy-game kinda film-for-your-ears THIS is the podcast for you. —
You can find all you need to know HERE.
