One thing I noticed: Carrie told Estes that Fatima is the first wife of the Hezbollah commander Abbas Ali. They showed that in the "previously on Homeland" intro. After the operation, girl reporter Trisha Takanawa tells Brody they think the informer was Ali's second wife.

Not even a junior Senator, but a newly minted Representative.

Not even a junior Senator, but a newly minted Representative.

Addressing your concerns about why the men chasing Carrie were there in the first place:

Addressing your concerns about why the men chasing Carrie were there in the first place:

I'm only about halfway through the episode now, but how did no one on the AV Club pick up on Matt Damon as the cop who overhears Carrie mention "terrorism"?

Rubicon was about the analysts, while Homeland seems to portray Carrie as more of a field agent. Great intelligence fiction will blend both worlds together subtly (e.g. Le Carre's work, Spy Game, etc.). I hope this doesn't turn into a Tom Clancy novel, where the best field agent turns out to be the best analyst turns…