Series synopsis
Standoff: The FBI, Power and Paranoia is an American documentary television series that premiered on CNN on March 22, 2026. It ended on March 29, 2026.
Pulling back the curtain on the complex and high stakes relationship between the FBI Director and U.S. President, this series explores their pivotal moments of tension, the FBI's delicate neutrality and its national security implications.
Premise
Pulling back the curtain on the complex and high stakes relationship between the FBI Director and U.S. President, this series explores their pivotal moments of tension, the FBI's delicate neutrality and its national security implications.
Cast and characters
Guest cast
- James B. Comey as Self
- Donald Trump as Self
- J. Edgar Hoover as Self
- Richard Nixon as Self
- Louis Freeh as Self
- Bill Clinton as Self
- Robert Mueller as Self
- George W. Bush as Self
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 4 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 4 | March 21, 2026 | March 29, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Comey / Trump: Loyalty Test Donald Trump takes office as the FBI investigates Hillary Clinton and Russian election interference. When Director James Comey refuses to pledge loyalty, Trump fires him, raising questions about the FBI's independence and national security. |
March 22, 2026 |
| 2 |
Hoover / Nixon: Friends with Secrets During his tenure, J. Edgar Hoover transforms the FBI into a law-enforcement powerhouse — and a hub of unchecked surveillance. When Richard Nixon pressures him to expand domestic spying, Hoover is forced to defend the Bureau's independence. |
March 22, 2026 |
| 3 |
Mueller / Bush: Tracked and Surveilled In the wake of 9/11, George W. Bush and new FBI Director Robert Mueller unite to prevent another attack, but their close alignment ushers in the Patriot Act and an era of surveillance and government overreach not seen since Hoover's reign. |
March 29, 2026 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CNN |
|---|---|
| First aired | March 22, 2026 |
| Last aired | March 29, 2026 |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 21:00:00 |