The Cipher Brief

The Open Source Report

Expert Insights

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

Russia Pays the Price as Ukraine Targets Its Oil Refineries

Russia Pays the Price as Ukraine Targets Its Oil Refineries

OPINION — Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Vladimir Putin expected a swift victory from his “special military operation.” Instead, it [...] More

What’s on The Cipher Brief’s Digital Channel

GETTING BILLY LONG-ED: DOD may have morphed into the Department of War…but it turns out there may also be a lot of combat going on within the ranks of the Department of Justice. Fox News reports that FBI Director Kash Patel is under fire from some of his bosses at DOJ and the White House. Some sources told Fox that Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy Todd Blanche “cannot stand him.” The reports come at an interesting time when just today a second deputy FBI director, former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, was sworn in to back up Patel alongside Dan Bongino. Some people speculate that Bailey may soon move up [...] More

Get The Drop

Events

Live Events

Podcasts

State Secrets

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently visited a warship off the coast of Puerto Rico, telling Marines and sailors that they are on the “front lines” of a critical counter-narcotics mission. Exactly what that mission is – remains murky but the statement itself was a clue to the administration’s intent. The U.S. has been beefing up military assets in the region. In this edition of The State Secrets Podcast, The Cipher Brief is talking with Renee Novakoff, former Deputy Director of Intelligence for Sensitive Activities and Special Programs at the Office of the Secretary of Defense about what we know and what we still don’t - about the Pentagon’s mission off the coast of Venezuela.

Cover Stories: Spies, Books & Entertainment

Author and former Marine Elliot Ackerman’s latest tale is about an ex-CIA Ground Branch operator who goes by his call sign, “Skwerl” and a former Afghan special ops pilot who goes by the name “Big Cheese” so you’re probably already getting a good picture of Ackerman’s latest novel Sheepdogs, which follows Skwerl and Cheese on a globe-trotting adventure from Uganda to Marseille. Cipher Brief CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly welcomed Ackerman to the Cover Stories Studio to talk about missing handlers, hidden cargo and shadow war.