u/NetworkLlama

The Colonials developed a strong spy network that was invaluable during the Revolutionary War. Most of that was apparently set aside after the peace. However, it seems like a more powerful federal government with greater responsibility for safeguarding the nation needed to know about possible threats against it.

What kind of espionage and intelligence assets did the federal government have? Ambassadors would have gathered information and sent it home, but how did they gather secrets? And were there dedicated spies who reported to cabinet secretaries or even directly to the president?

We see questions about favorite episodes or favorite seasons. I want to raise the bar a bit.

What three *consecutive* episodes are the best trio? Answers can cross seasons as long as there are no episodes between.

In November 1985, oil was trading around $30 per barrel. By March 1986, it was around $10 per barrel. I understand that Saudi Arabia massively increased its output, which caused an oil gut and a price crash. Why did Saudi Arabia surge production? How did this affect major non-OPEC oil producers like the United States and the Soviet Union?