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

Report for Wednesday, July 2, 2025

U.S. halts shipments of key weapons for Ukraine.

UK and Germany ready mutual defense treaty.

Trump says Israel has agreed to a long-awaited 60-day ceasefire in Gaza.

US, Indo-Pacific allies unveil minerals initiative.

Senate advances Trump megabill with $150 billion in defense funds.

Access the Report

The Cipher Brief's Hottest Summer Reading

National security experts weigh in on the best books of the season

The Cipher Brief's Hottest Summer Reading
CIPHER BRIEF FEATURE REPORTING -- With the 4th of July holiday fast approaching, now is a good time for our annual summer list of recommended beach [...] More

The Experts

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

Iran is a Terrorist State

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

OPINION — Since 1984, Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism. The designation is justified, given Iran’s continued support of proxies [...] More

The Golden Dome is Missing a Key Focus

Renee Pruneau Novakoff

EXPERT PERSPECTIVE / OPINION – On January 27, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at defending the U.S. against an attack by [...] More

News & Analysis

Opinion

The Downward Spiral of Western Counterintelligence

What’s on The Cipher Brief’s Digital Channel

The Problem with Iran’s Proxies

Interview with Glenn Corn, Former Senior CIA Officer

Lessons from Israel’s Stunning Intelligence Operation

Interview with Beth Sanner, Former Deputy Director for National Intelligence, ODNI

When it Comes to Iran, “We Have Plans”

Interview with General Frank McKenzie (Ret.), Former Commander, U.S. Central Command

Iran’s Next Move

Interview with Norm Roule, Middle East Expert, Former National Intelligence Manager for Iran, ODNI

Book Reviews

THIS WEEK: SURPRISES, SECRETS AND SPY COCKTAILS: This week’s best collection of national security gossip is filled with surprises, secrets and a strong showing in the whiskey category at Amazon. From two spies who walked into a bar to the fallout from Washington’s surprise attack on Iran’s nuclear sites to a whole bunch of questions about who’s making the decisions at the National Security Agency. Let’s get to it.PRESIDENT TRUMP DROPS ANOTHER BOMB: The president has had a week of surprise bombings, but the F-bomb he dropped on the White House lawn on his way to the NATO summit was one that garnered its own special kind of [...] More

Get The Drop

Events

Live Events

Threat Conference

Threat Conference

Cipher Brief sessions are expertly crafted and focused on ways the public and private sectors can most efficiently work together to address key [...] More

Upcoming: 19 October, 2025

Podcasts

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.