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

The Reality is that Russia is Signaling Minimal Desire for Peace

Experts urge a heavier hand on the Kremlin, which has not abandoned its maximalist war aims

The Reality is that Russia is Signaling Minimal Desire for Peace

DEEP DIVE — As Russia continues it's brutal bombardment of Ukrainian cities, talks between Moscow and the U.S. to end the war appear on very [...] More

RussiaEuropeUkraine
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The Open Source Report

People gather during protest on January 8, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Demonstrations have been ongoing since December, triggered by soaring inflation and the collapse of the rial, and have expanded into broader demands for political change.

Global Intelligence Report for Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Iran warned regional states of strikes on US military bases if attacked

US files for warrants to seize dozens more Venezuela-linked oil tankers, sources say

Amid bitter weather conditions, Russia is 'going all in' to destroy Ukraine's energy system

U.S. Unveils AI Military Strategy to Outpace China

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Expert Insights

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

Why Labeling Muslim Brotherhood “Chapters” as Terrorist Groups Is Problematic

Emile Nakhleh

OPINION — The White House this past November issued a Presidential action statement designating certain Muslim Brotherhood “chapters” as terrorist organizations. On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department and U.S. Treasury [...] More

Emile NakhlehMiddle East

Iran’s Crumbling Revolutionary Facade: How Today’s Protests Could Reshape the Region in 2026

Paula Doyle

EXPERT OPINION — I am closely watching the growing size and momentum of protesters across Iran’s cities, rural areas, and pious communities who are bravely and vocally rejecting the Supreme Leader’s broken policies. They [...] More

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News & Analysis

How China Built AI Dominance on Stolen American Silicon

How China Built AI Dominance on Stolen American Silicon

DEEP DIVE — Federal prosecutors in Texas, in December, unsealed charges and related details exposing a sprawling scheme that quietly siphoned some of [...] More

ChinaTech/CyberAsia

Opinion

Uber Krysha: How Russia Turns Crime into Power—and Poison

Gregory Sims

Uber Krysha: How Russia Turns Crime into Power—and Poison

OPINION — Current discussion of Russian "hybrid warfare" tends to revolve around concepts like disinformation, proxy militias, cyber operations, [...] More

RussiaEuropeAlternative Perspectives

What’s on The Cipher Brief’s Digital Channel

Tapping a China Vibe in South Koreaplay icon

Tapping a China Vibe in South Korea

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Book Reviews

Can Iran Ever Become a “Normal Adversary”?
Can Iran Ever Become a “Normal Adversary”?

The Spy Who Came in Because He Wanted a Divorce
The Spy Who Came in Because He Wanted a Divorce

Cold War, Hot Zone: Inside the New Arctic Rivalry
Cold War, Hot Zone: Inside the New Arctic Rivalry

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The Best National Security Gossip

DRILLING DOWN ON CHINA’S “SUPER-EMBASSY” BASEMENT IN LONDON: Nothing says “diplomacy” like constructing a secret underground chamber literally next to a host country’s critical data cables. The Dead Drop mentioned the project last April - but now plans for the construction of China’s “super embassy” in London’s Royal Mint Court seem to be moving ahead. That’s despite the fact that the sprawling new embassy - set to be Europe’s largest - reportedly will include 208 underground rooms, with one troublesome chamber just meters from fiber-optic cables that carry financial and communications data across the City of London. The [...] More

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Events

Live Events

The Cipher Brief 2026 HONORS Awards

The Cipher Brief 2026 HONORS Awards

Join us for the third annual Cipher Brief Honors Dinner, the evening of March 13, 2026. This Black-Tie event is invite only, please apply here for a [...] More

Upcoming: 13 March, 2026

Podcasts

State Secrets

Cipher Brief CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly catches up with former BBC Correspondent and Author Gordon Corera to talk about the spy story he found in the archives: the subject of his new book, The Spy in the Archive: How One Man Tried to Kill the KGB as well as what he’s learned from decades of covering the world of espionage and his assessment of MI6’s new Chief.

Cover Stories: Spies, Books & Entertainment


David McCloskey, former CIA Analyst turned novelist is out with his fourth book, The Persian, about an Iranian dentist who is recruited by Mossad to take on a dangerous mission inside Iran. Cover Stories Host Suzanne Kelly digs in on how McCloskey’s real-life Intelligence background fueled his latest novel, and discovers a few of McCloskey’s own secrets along the way.