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The Cipher Brief: National Security news, analysis and expert commentary.

The Dangerous Trade of State Secrets

From Venezuela to Iran, a string of well-timed wagers is exposing how wartime intelligence can be monetized in public view.

​Armed supporters of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro stand guard

At just after 2 a.m. on January 3, explosions echoed across Caracas. Low-flying aircraft struck military installations. Venezuelan President Nicolás [...] More

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The Open Source Report

(L/R) US First Lady Melania Trump, US President Donald Trump and CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang attend the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)

Global Intelligence Report for Monday, April 27, 2026

Trump safe, gunman detained after shots fired at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Trump urges direct negotiations, cancels trip by envoys as Iran pursues regional mediation

State Department warns foreign officials of distillation efforts by Chinese AI startups

Al-Qaeda-linked militants launch coordinated attacks across Mali, forcing Russian troop withdrawal


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Expert Insights

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

America Is Fighting the Wrong Drone War

Javid Ahmad
Colin Clarke

OPINION – For two decades, U.S. drones hunting terrorists across the mountains of South Asia were the symbol of American military power: precise, lethal, and unmatched. That era is now over. Drones are no longer exquisite [...] More

The Pentagon’s $54 Billion Bet on Autonomous Warfare

Paul Miller

OPINION — The Department of Defense does not always announce structural shifts loudly; often, it buries them in the dense columns of budget lines where only the most attentive analysts can find the seismic activity. The [...] More

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News & Analysis

TOPSHOT-AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN-CONFLICT

Pakistan: Broker of Peace While Still at War

Just a few weeks ago, Pakistan, the host for fragile ceasefire talks aiming to end the war between the U.S. and Iran, was at war with Afghanistan in [...] More

International

Opinion

Half Measures and Maximum Risk in Iran

Harrison Kass

Half Measures and Maximum Risk in Iran

OPINION – Over the past month, U.S. and Israeli operations have killed Iran’s senior leadership, destroyed over 155 naval vessels and roughly 300 [...] More

Alternative Perspectives

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Book Reviews

Bill Rapp’s Prague Spring: Cold War Redux
Bill Rapp’s Prague Spring: Cold War Redux

From Kabul to the French Quarter
From Kabul to the French Quarter

From Apex Political Predator to Symbolic War Criminal
From Apex Political Predator to Symbolic War Criminal

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The Best National Security Gossip

REALLY OUT THERE — Congressman Tim Burchett (R,TN) told Piers Morgan last week, that yes, aliens are real, and he's been briefed on the videos and pictures. He also said that speaking out about the issue may be the reason behind a steady stream of death threats. Burchett has been pushing for full UAP disclosure and recently urged President Trump to "peel back the layers of that onion." He also believes ETs are currently hiding under the sea, though he says he’s not worried - reasoning that any civilization capable of interstellar travel would have "barbecued us a long time ago" if that were the plan. Not exactly [...] More

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2026 Threat Conference

2026 Threat Conference

The Cipher Brief Threat Conference is the nation’s premier forum for non-partisan discussion of global threats and solutions as well as high-level [...] More

Upcoming: 25 October, 2026

Podcasts

State Secrets


In this episode of State Secrets, former CIA Senior Operations Officer Sean Wiswesser examines the evolution of Russian intelligence - from Soviet-era tradecraft to modern hybrid warfare. He unpacks Moscow’s strategic mindset, its transactional relationships with partners like Iran, and its enduring focus on weakening democratic systems. With insights drawn from decades in the field, Wiswesser explains what most people misunderstand about Russia - and why that matters now more than ever.