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

Winter is Coming to Ukraine as it Faces a New Kind of War and Uncertainty About a Key Ally

From nightly air raids to political uncertainty, former senior CIA officers report a resilient population amid an unsettled strategic future

Winter is Coming to Ukraine as it Faces a New Kind of War and Uncertainty About a Key Ally

EXPERT INTERVIEW — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Berlin on Monday for an intense round of diplomacy with top U.S. and European [...] More

EuropeUkraine
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The Open Source Report

<span>Global Intelligence Report for Tuesday, December 16, 2025</span>

Global Intelligence Report for Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Ukraine, U.S., and allies appear to agree on security guarantees, but no deal reached on territorial concessions

Pentagon plan reportedly calls for major power shifts within U.S. military

U.S. military strikes 3 more boats in the Pacific Ocean, killing 8

Trump says U.S. reviewing whether Israel violated Gaza truce in Hamas strike

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Expert Insights

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

Anti-Semitism is a National Security Issue: It’s Time to Treat it Like One

Nick Fishwick

EXPERT OPINION / PERSPECTIVE -- Less than three months ago, two people were killed in a terrorist attack on Jewish people in a synagogue in Manchester, UK, on the most solemn day of the Jewish religious calendar.Three [...] More

TerrorismNick Fishwick

How the U.S. Military’s Top Officer is Looking at the World’s Hotspots

Walter Pincus

OPINION — “Our [the Joint Chiefs of Staff] job is to present and my job with the Joint Chiefs and others is to present the range of [military] options that this President or any President should consider with all of the [...] More

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News & Analysis

Echoes of 1940: Learning from an Ally at War and Preparing the U.S. for the Next Fight

Echoes of 1940: Learning from an Ally at War and Preparing the U.S. for the Next Fight

EXPERT OPINION / PERSPECTIVE — Eighty-five years ago, as the United States cautiously explored an expanded alliance with Great Britain, our own [...] More

Tech/CyberEuropeUkraine

Opinion

The Cipher Brief's Recommended Reads for the Holidays

Bill Harlow

The Cipher Brief's Recommended Reads for the Holidays

BOOK REVIEWS & RECOMMENDATIONS -- Welcome to our annual holiday book review and recommendations list, where we highlight some of the terrific books [...] More

Alternative 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

History's Most Mistrusted Friendship
History's Most Mistrusted Friendship

Stealing Success: A Hard Look at China's Rise
Stealing Success: A Hard Look at China's Rise

The FBI’s Pursuit of Chi Mak and the Challenge of Modern Spycraft
The FBI’s Pursuit of Chi Mak and the Challenge of Modern Spycraft

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The Best National Security Gossip

BEIJING’S SMALLEST SPOKESPERSON (A CAUTIONARY HOLIDAY SHOPPING TALE): Talk about soft power. Some AI-powered children’s toys sold in the U.S. appear to be moonlighting as interns for the Chinese Communist Party. NBC News reports that consumer watchdogs tested several AI-enhanced toys - plush stuffed figures for kids - to see just how much fun they can be. They found that at least one, a China-made interactive robot that a child can chat with, spits out Beijing-approved talking points when asked about politically sensitive topics. For example, If you ask it whether Taiwan is a country, the toy blurts out Beijing’s official [...] 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


Join Suzanne Kelly as she delves into the world of Russian intelligence with former CIA operations officer Sean Wiswesser. Discover the intricacies of Russian operations, the impact of propaganda, and the ongoing secret war led by Putin. Gain insights into the challenges faced by the Russian people and the global implications of state-sponsored actions. Don't miss this eye-opening episode of the State Secrets Podcast.

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.