If you’ve spent any time on the military-adjacent side of YouTube lately, you’ve probably seen her. Sarah Adams. She’s the former CIA targeter who looks more like a suburban mom than a Jason Bourne character, but when she starts talking, the room gets real quiet. She’s been on The Shawn Ryan Show a few times now—notably episode #149 and more recently in March 2025—and honestly, the stuff she’s dropping is enough to keep you up at night.
We aren't talking about generic "terror is bad" talking points. We're talking about specific names, dates, and a claim that Hamza bin Laden is very much alive.
What People Get Wrong About the Sarah Adams Shawn Ryan Interview
Most people think these podcast appearances are just retired spooks reliving the "glory days." With Adams, it’s the opposite. She isn't looking back; she’s looking forward at a map of threats that the official government line says don't exist. The sarah adams shawn ryan interview has become a lightning rod because it challenges the fundamental narrative of the war on terror's "end."
Adams spent years as an analyst and targeter at the CIA, eventually moving to the House Select Committee on Benghazi. She’s spent a decade obsessed with one thing: the people who killed Americans in Libya. While the FBI and DOJ might tell you the case is mostly closed, Adams and her co-author Dave "Boon" Benton (the GRS contractor portrayed in 13 Hours) say that’s nonsense.
In her latest talks with Shawn, she basically alleges that the U.S. government has allowed the most dangerous terrorists in the world to rebuild their networks while we were busy arguing about domestic politics.
The Hamza bin Laden Bombshell
The big headline from her 2023 and 2024 appearances—which she doubled down on in 2025—is the status of Hamza bin Laden. You might remember the 2019 reports that he was killed in a counterterrorism operation.
Adams says he's alive.
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She isn't just throwing a dart at a board, either. She tracks his movement through Afghanistan and Iran, claiming he is actively leading Al-Qaeda’s resurgence. According to Adams, the "death" was a convenient narrative that allowed the U.S. to claim a win while Al-Qaeda simply went into a "rebranding" phase.
Why the Pentagon is Ignoring Her
It's pretty simple: if Sarah is right, the last five years of foreign policy have been a catastrophic failure. During the sarah adams shawn ryan interview, she points out that the U.S. is currently funding the Taliban through NGOs and "humanitarian aid" that inevitably gets skimmed.
It's a messy, uncomfortable reality.
She mentions "intelligence gaps" that have grown since the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. We don't have eyes on the ground anymore. We’re relying on "Over the Horizon" capabilities that, according to her, are basically like trying to watch a football game through a keyhole from three miles away.
The "Superbad" Nickname
Shawn often refers to her as "Superbad." It’s a joke, but it’s also a nod to her reputation in the community as a relentless "hunter." While most analysts sit in cubicles in Langley, Adams was known for building "baseball cards"—intelligence profiles—on every single person involved in the Benghazi attack.
- She identified over 150 attackers.
- She tracked them to their homes.
- She watched as many of them were released from prisons or given roles in "friendly" militias.
This isn't just about Benghazi anymore. In her September 2025 updates, she warned of a multi-pronged attack plan targeting the U.S. homeland, involving aviation bombs and urban assaults. She’s basically acting as a one-woman intelligence agency at this point.
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The Connection to Current Threats
One of the most chilling parts of the sarah adams shawn ryan interview is her explanation of how terrorist tactics have evolved. They aren't just hiding in caves. They are using open-source intelligence—the same stuff we use to find a good taco place—to map out our vulnerabilities.
She talks about "soft targets" like malls and hospitals.
It's scary stuff, but Adams argues that ignoring it is scarier. She claims the Taliban is currently housing Al-Qaeda leaders and that the two groups are functionally inseparable. If you listen to her for more than ten minutes, you realize she isn't an alarmist; she’s a pragmatist who is frustrated by bureaucracy.
What about Russia and China?
Adams doesn't stick to just the Middle East. She highlights how China and Russia are filling the vacuum left by the U.S. in places like Syria and Afghanistan. They aren't there to "spread democracy." They are there for the minerals, the strategic geography, and the opportunity to keep the U.S. distracted.
The level of nuance she brings to the table is why her episodes are some of the longest and most-watched on Shawn’s channel. You can’t explain the geopolitical mess of the 2020s in a 30-second soundbite.
Actionable Steps for the Informed Citizen
Look, you can’t go out and hunt terrorists yourself. That’s what people like Sarah used to do. But you can change how you consume information and how you prepare for a world that is objectively getting more volatile.
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Don't rely on a single news source. Adams constantly emphasizes that the official "press release" version of events is often sanitized for political reasons. Watch her interviews, but also look at the primary sources she mentions, like the NCTC memos or her book Benghazi: Know Thy Enemy.
Understand the "Humanitarian Aid" Loophole. Be aware of where your tax dollars go. Adams makes a compelling case that billions in aid are currently propping up the very regimes that hate us. Support organizations that have transparent, audited footprints in high-conflict zones.
Stay Situationally Aware. If her warnings about urban assaults seem far-fetched, look at the recent security alerts from the DHS and NCTC. She’s usually a few months ahead of the curve. It’s not about living in fear; it’s about knowing that the world isn't as safe as the evening news suggests.
Demand Accountability. If you’re concerned about her claims regarding Hamza bin Laden or the Benghazi attackers, reach out to your representatives. Public pressure is often the only thing that moves the needle on "closed" investigations.
The sarah adams shawn ryan interview isn't just entertainment. It’s a wake-up call from someone who spent her life in the shadows and decided it was finally time to turn the lights on. Whether the Pentagon chooses to listen or not is one thing, but for the millions of people watching at home, the message is clear: the threat hasn't gone away; it's just gotten better at hiding.