Questions about the accuracy of intelligence, possible terrorist strikes, revenge, antagonistic congressional oversight, sending a message to our enemies. Wait. Are we talking about the Syria situation, drone killings and the upcoming 9/11 anniversary or Monday night’s premiere of Season 3 of “Homeland” at the Corcoran Gallery of Art?

It was tough to tell, as Showtime’s touchstone show is so good at capturing the special kind of tension and paranoia that fills debate on U.S. foreign policy, intelligence, defense and the like. And bipartisan love for the winner of the the 2012 Outstanding Drama Series was on display Monday night. Gen. Michael Hayden, the CIA director under former President George W. Bush mingled with series star Claire Danes. MSNBC host Alex Wagner shot the breeze with co-star Mandy Patinkin. Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., snapped pix of Damian Lewis, the fictional Congressman/maybe traitor Nicholas Brody.

“The show tries hard to get the culture of D.C. right,” David Nevins, president of entertainment, Showtime Networks, told the crowd before rolling the premiere. He added that the creative team had spent a good deal of the day at the CIA and had an “amazing” time there. Given how much damage the writers have inflicted on Langley on the show, it must have made for interesting conversation.

As for Season 3? Suffice to say that, after the screen went dark when the episode was over, with Patinkin’s now-acting CIA Director Saul Berenson testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee, there was a stunned silence, followed by one lone person saying, “Shhheewww.”

The premiere on Showtime is set for Sept. 29.