Episode 3: The Fallout

After a billion-dollar operation to raise a sunken Soviet submarine in complete secrecy, what came next was a battle for silence—and eventually, the truth. In Episode 3 of our Project Azorian series, “The Fallout,” we examine the aftermath of one of the most audacious covert operations in American history.

How did the CIA handle the media leaks? What happened when journalists, lawmakers, and the families of lost Soviet sailors demanded answers? And how did six simple words—“We can neither confirm nor deny”—become a cornerstone of U.S. secrecy law?

This episode traces the ripple effects of Azorian through legal doctrine, ethics, declassified footage, and Cold War diplomacy. Featuring archival audio, expert interviews, and a haunting burial at sea, “The Fallout” asks what secrecy costs—and who ultimately pays the price.