The Cipher Brief

Report for Friday, July 4, 2025

Expert Q&A: Former CENTCOM Commander on U.S. Troops in the Middle East.

Rubio postpones trip to Japan, South Korea to focus on Middle East.

Trump meets with Saudi defense minister to discuss Iran.

Russia pounds Kyiv with war’s largest drone attack after Trump-Putin talk yields no breakthrough.

Germany prepares €25 billion tank order to boost NATO forces.

Russia becomes the first country to recognize the Taliban government of Afghanistan.

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IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION: We’re wishing the U.S. a very happy birthday and sending our gratitude to those who are working overseas to help keep the homeland safe. In this week’s collection, a look at what some of those troops are doing in the Middle East, we think we found the pilot with the coolest call sign and we’re not gonna tell you what to read this summer, but we will tell you what the experts are reading.WHAT ARE ALL THOSE U.S. TROOPS DOING IN THE MIDDLE EAST: Serving overseas can be a dangerous job, as we were reminded after the U.S. strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities, when fears were heightened that U.S. [...] More

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State Secrets

Writing a book was something former senior CIA Officer Rob Dannenberg never thought he’d do, but as he started reflecting on the ways he and his former colleagues would celebrate the successful recruitment of a new agent or the end of an operation that he couldn’t talk about, he started thinking about the cocktails he and his colleagues would order to mark the occasion. Dannenberg recruited former colleague Joseph Mullin, CSW to help him compile not only the best recipes for the cocktails that defined their careers, but also for the stories that make them all the tastier.

Cover Stories: Spies, Books & Entertainment

Martin Dugard is an enormously prolific, best-selling author. In addition to ten mega-million selling books co-authored with Bill O’Reilly, He has authored a fistful of books about World War II including “Taking London,” “Taking Berlin” and “Taking Paris.” Now he is back with “Taking Midway: Naval Warfare, Secret Codes, and the Battle That Turned the Tide of World War II.” Podcast host Bill Harlow will talk with him about his sources and methods for cranking out so many deeply researched and well-received books – and what the world should know about a crusty 4-star admiral and a quirky Navy commander who combined to surprise the Imperial Japanese Navy and the world in one of the most consequential naval battles in history.