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

The Kremlin's Kill List: Inside a Culture of State-Sponsored Murder

Russian intelligence agencies have been executing defectors, dissidents, and rivals for more than a century. Under Putin, the practice has become strategic—and celebrated

The Kremlin's Kill List: Inside a Culture of State-Sponsored Murder

EXPERT OPINION / PERSPECTIVE — The 2024 spy swap between Russia and the West exposed a brutal truth: Moscow still treats innocent civilians as [...] More

RussiaEurope
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The Open Source Report

<span>Global Intelligence Report for Monday, December 8, 2025</span>

Global Intelligence Report for Monday, December 8, 2025

U.S. Congress considers 'must-pass' defense policy bil

Zelensky says no peace deal so far with divisions remaining

First phase of Gaza ceasefire plan nearly complete, says Netanyahu

Chinese jets point radar at Japanese aircraft, Japan says

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Expert Insights

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

Putin Sees “Useful Meetings”, the U.S. Should See a Trap Set for Inexperienced Negotiators

Rob Dannenberg

EXPERT OPINION / PERSPECTIVE -- Reports from Moscow suggest that U.S. representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are “optimistic” about the prospect of results from their discussion with Kremlin officials this week. [...] More

RussiaUkraineEurope

The Strategic Failure on North Korea’s Nuclear Rise

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

EXPERT OPINION — South Korea’s Korea Institute for Defense Analysis recently publicly stated that we underestimated North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. According to their analysis, North Korea has between 127 and 150 [...] More

North KoreaAmbassador Joseph DeTraniAsia
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News & Analysis

‘Mind-Blowing’ Pentagon Overhaul Will Reshape Acquisition

‘Mind-Blowing’ Pentagon Overhaul Will Reshape Acquisition

FEATURED INTERVIEW — As the Pentagon undertakes its most ambitious overhaul yet of how it acquires new warfighting capabilities, Silicon Valley [...] More

Tech/CyberBrad Christian

Opinion

The Delhi Blast and Pakistan’s Proxy War: Why Another Clash Looks Likely

Siddhant Kishore

The Delhi Blast and Pakistan’s Proxy War: Why Another Clash Looks Likely

OPINION — South Asia has once again returned to the global spotlight after a suicide bombing struck the heart of India’s capital on November 10. The [...] More

Alternative PerspectivesAsia

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

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

Want a Security Clearance? Stop Smoking Pot and Read This
Want a Security Clearance? Stop Smoking Pot and Read This

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The Best National Security Gossip

CAMPUS LABS AND SECRET RECRUITMENTS - THE QUIET FRONTLINES: A recent warning from former Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) head David Vigneault, as reported by The Guardian, highlights that hostile powers, led by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), are no longer satisfied with stealing government secrets (if they ever were). According to the report, the PRC is also systematically infiltrating universities and private-sector R&D labs to plunder dual-use research (AI, materials science, robotics, etc.), siphoning innovations that can be repurposed for military or strategic use. In parallel: in a move that [...] More

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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


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.