This week on the podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with former FBI Special Agent Nicole Parker to discuss her new book, The Two FBIs.
I read it cover to cover.
It’s honest. It’s detailed. And it’s courageous.
Her book has already drawn significant attention — including a strong endorsement from President Donald Trump — but what struck me most wasn’t the politics. It was the character.
Nicole doesn’t come across as embittered. She comes across as resolved.
Resolved to tell the truth.
Resolved to honor the good.
Resolved to call out the bad.
FBI One vs. FBI Two
Nicole frames her book around a distinction that many inside the Bureau instinctively understand but rarely articulate publicly: there are, functionally, two FBIs.
FBI One — the quiet professionals. The agents working violent crime. Counterterrorism. Counterintelligence. Crimes against children. Fugitive task forces. The men and women who show up at 3 a.m., execute warrants, rescue kids, chase down predators, and put cuffs on violent offenders.
FBI Two — the politicized leadership class. The executives and headquarters officials who allowed investigations like Crossfire Hurricane to exist at all.
As Nicole put it plainly:
“You can disagree with what FBI Two is doing, but you really need to always honor and respect FBI One.”
That distinction matters.
Because if we lose sight of it, we dishonor the very people who have sacrificed the most.
9/11: The Moment That Changed Everything
Before the Bureau, Nicole was thriving on Wall Street. She graduated from BYU at 20. Worked at Merrill Lynch. Earned her Series 7 and 63 licenses. Became a vice president before age 30. Later worked at a hedge fund managing billions in assets.
Then came September 11, 2001.
She was in New York that morning.
“I was working 8:46 a.m. I hear the loud crash… It was absolutely horrifying. It’s something that our nation must never, ever forget.”
That day altered the trajectory of her life.
She made a vow — to give back. To serve. Eventually, she applied to the FBI.
That decision led her from hedge fund boardrooms to Quantico barracks.
And yes — the barracks stories are real.
Mice. Roaches. Bed bugs. Nutter Butters sacrificed to the rodents.
No one, in our experience, “loved” Quantico.
But we endured it. Because the mission mattered.
Laura — and the Cost of Service
One of the most powerful parts of The Two FBIs centers on Nicole’s best friend, Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger, who was killed in the line of duty while executing a warrant against a child predator.
Nicole’s voice shifts when she speaks of Laura.
It’s not political. It’s personal.
“She was a hero… protecting children… Her young boys should be proud that their mother worked for the FBI — not ashamed.”
That, ultimately, is why the FBI One/FBI Two distinction matters so much to her.
Critique the institution where necessary.
But never smear the agents who have paid the ultimate price.
Why She Resigned — and Didn’t “Whistleblow”
One of the most revealing parts of our conversation centered on her decision to resign rather than pursue a formal whistleblower route.
Nicole wasn’t forced out.
She had no disciplinary record.
No OPR issues.
No administrative action.
“I genuinely loved being an FBI special agent. I didn’t come to the FBI for a pension, and I certainly was not going to stay there for a pension.”
She tried internal channels. She filled out the employee surveys — using “every single character space possible.”
She stayed nearly a year after first contemplating departure.
She prayed.
She sought counsel from her father.
And ultimately concluded:
“You are going to have a stronger impact outside of the Bureau than you will inside.”
She turned in her badge quietly.
No press conference.
No going-away party.
Just a decision of conscience.
As I told her during the interview, that decision gave her credibility. It reflected deliberation, not impulsiveness.
Comey, Midyear Exam, and Crossfire Hurricane
Nicole draws a direct line between James Comey’s July 5, 2016 press conference exonerating Hillary Clinton in the “Midyear Exam” investigation and the subsequent Crossfire Hurricane probe targeting President Trump’s campaign.
Like many agents at the time, she was stunned.
“That’s the moment that I realized we are now a political pawn.”
The gravity of Clinton’s handling of classified and SAP-designated information was lost on much of the public. Meanwhile, the pivot to Crossfire Hurricane consumed the institution’s credibility for years.
In Nicole’s view:
“James Comey destroyed the FBI.”
Strong words. But they reflect a sentiment I’ve heard echoed repeatedly by field agents over the last decade.
The damage to morale and public trust was profound.
Writing the Book
Nicole completed her first full draft in roughly seven months. She navigated HarperCollins’ Broadside imprint, legal review, FBI pre-publication review (which she said was relatively smooth), and even made 1,500 last-minute edits in proof stage.
That’s the part of writing no one sees.
The grind.
The revisions.
The doubt.
But the result is a book that is clear, readable, and accessible — even for readers unfamiliar with the internal structure of the Bureau or DOJ.
President Trump’s Personal Call
One of the most striking moments in our discussion was Nicole’s account of a personal call from President Trump.
She became emotional recounting Special Agent Laura’s sacrifice.
And Trump listened.
“He said, ‘You never have to apologize. I genuinely care. I want to hear what you have to say.’”
That distinction — between anger at institutional misconduct and respect for rank-and-file agents — is central to the thesis of her book.
Even someone who was, in her words, “the victim of FBI Two,” can still acknowledge FBI One.
Final Thoughts
The Two FBIs is not a screed.
It’s not written by someone forced out.
It’s not written by someone who hated the Bureau.
It’s written by someone who loved it.
And who still loves the agents doing the heavy lifting.
As we wrapped the conversation, the mutual respect was clear.
We may critique leadership.
We may demand accountability.
But we should never forget the men and women who run toward danger, execute warrants, rescue children, and bury friends.
That’s FBI One.
And they deserve our respect.
If you’re interested in the inner workings of the Bureau, the controversies of the last decade, or the human cost behind the headlines, I recommend you pick up The Two FBIs by Nicole Parker.
And as always, thank you for supporting this podcast, this Substack, and serious conversations about the institutions that shape our republic.
In the shadows, we endure.
Also, stay tuned for my upcoming full book review at Townhall.com
Connect & Resources
If this conversation resonated with you, here’s where you can follow the work and stay connected.
John Nantz
Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent | Newsmax Commentator | Fox News Commentator | Columnist
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For media inquiries, speaking engagements, or podcast collaboration, feel free to reach out via direct message on any platform.
Nicole Parker
Former FBI Special Agent | Fox News Contributor | Author of The Two FBIs
Follow Nicole:
X: @NicoleParkerusa
Instagram: @nicoleparkerusa
Fox News Contributor Page: Available via FoxNews.com contributor profiles
Purchase The Two FBIs
You can order Nicole’s book here:
HarperCollins (Broadside imprint):
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-two-fbis-nicole-parkerAlso available wherever books are sold, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and major retailers.
