In this session, former CIA analyst and Times bestselling author David McCloskey discussed his latest espionage thriller, The Persian. Drawing on his experience briefing the White House and writing for the President’s Daily Brief, David explored the moral complexity behind intelligence work and the human stories that unfold within it. The Persian follows a Persian Jewish dentist drawn into the world of espionage, uncovering themes of loyalty, revenge, and redemption against a backdrop of global intrigue.