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

What to Watch for in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Visit to Washington

The White House visit could transform the relationship with a key Gulf ally

What to Watch for in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Visit to Washington

EXPERT INTERVIEW — President Trump is welcoming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House today with an announcement that he plans to [...] More

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The Open Source Report

​Police investigate at the scene of a damaged section of railway tracks on the Deblin-Warsaw route near the Mika railway station, next to the town of Zyczyn, central Poland, on November 17, 2025

Global Intelligence Report for Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Trump says U.S. will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia

Zelensky to visit Turkey to 'reinvigorate' stalled negotiations with Russia

Russian intelligence likely behind railway sabotage, Poland says

UN Security Council approves US-draft resolution on Gaza

Access Today’s Report

Expert Insights

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

A Constitutional Clash Over Trump’s War Powers in Venezuela

Walter Pincus

OPINION — “The question before the body is, can the Congress stop a military conflict declared by the Commander-in- Chief because we don’t agree with the decision, and without our [Congress] approval it must end? The [...] More

Q&A: Interpol’s Cybercrime Chief on How AI is Driving Borderless Cyber Threats

Dr. Neal Jetton

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW — Anthropic’s announcement that Chinese state-sponsored hackers used its Claude AI technology for a largely automated cyberattack underscores how cybercriminals are becoming faster, stronger and more [...] More

News & Analysis

Can a “Flamingo” Cruise Missile Help Ukraine Turn the Tide?

Can a “Flamingo” Cruise Missile Help Ukraine Turn the Tide?

DEEP DIVE – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky calls it “our most successful missile.” One expert says it’s "Ukraine’s strongest security [...] More

Opinion

Why Putin Is Losing The War In Ukraine That He Thinks He Is Winning

OPINION — The Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in January 2022 is now approaching its fourth year. The cost for Ukraine has been very high, but [...] More

What’s on The Cipher Brief’s Digital Channel

Book Reviews

THINGS ARE FINALLY GETTING DRAMATIC BETWEEN THE CIA AND FBI: Not the real ones (as far as we know) but in the made-for-TV versions. The Dead Drop reported back in March that a spinoff of the CBS series FBI was in the works about a street-smart CIA officer working with a by-the-book FBI agent in New York City. Sounds pretty plausible. Then, in June we told you that the show had been ordered “straight to series” (meaning no pilot would be shot) and that it would star Tom Ellis as the CIA operative – in time for the 2025-2026 season. Now, we hear that the show has been delayed until a mid-season premiere scheduled for [...] 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

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.