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

What Iran Is Learning from Russia’s War and Why the U.S. Should Be Concerned

Rather than deterring Tehran, Moscow’s wartime adaptation could be shaping a more capable and durable Iranian regime.

Iranian president meets with Putin, discusses ways to boost cooperation in all sectors

KREMLIN FILES/COLUMN: The war in Ukraine is often framed by optimistic academics, and some policymakers as a cautionary tale—an example of how [...] More

Middle EastIran
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The Open Source Report

TOPSHOT - US Vice President JD Vance waves as he boards Air Force Two after attending talks on Iran in Islamabad on April 12, 2026. Iran and the United States failed to reach an agreement to end the war in the Middle East, US Vice President JD Vance said April 12 after marathon talks in Islamabad, adding that he was leaving negotiations after giving Tehran the "final and best offer". (Photo by Jacquelyn MARTIN / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Global Intelligence Report for Monday, April 20, 2026

Trump says U.S. officials will travel to Pakistan for negotiations, Iran shuns peace talks

U.S. takes Iran-flagged ship into custody, prepares to ramp up tanker seizures

Russia-friendly Rumen Radev's party wins Bulgarian election

North Korea launches multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward sea

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Expert Insights

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

An FBI Perspective on FISA Section 702

Cynthia Kaiser

OPINION – I spent twenty years at the FBI supporting investigations into cybercrime, tracking ransomware gangs, and watching foreign adversaries tear through American networks. I've sat across the table from hospital [...] More

AmericasNorth AmericaUnited States

Why Greenland is the Linchpin of the Golden Dome

Paul Miller

OPINION – When President Trump first proposed the purchase of Greenland, the world’s reaction leaned toward mockery. But as the strategic landscape of the 2020s shifts from traditional ground wars to a high-stakes Arctic [...] More

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News & Analysis

Drones Spotted Being Used Illegally

Is the U.S. lagging when it comes to drone warfare superiority?

When Iranian Shahed drones began tearing through the Gulf in the opening hours of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, killing American service [...] More

Tech/Cyber

Opinion

Trump, Iran, and the Stress Test of Western Alliances

Sami Omari

Trump, Iran, and the Stress Test of Western Alliances

OPINION – The war with Iran has grown beyond just a regional war; it is also a preliminary test of the cohesion of Western alliances under President [...] More

IranMiddle EastAlternative Perspectives

What’s on The Cipher Brief’s Digital Channel

Book Reviews

Allies In War, Partners In Peace
Allies In War, Partners In Peace

Putin's Dangerous, Corrupt, and Often Incompetent Spies
Putin's Dangerous, Corrupt, and Often Incompetent Spies

Finally, a Taiwan Strategy That Goes Beyond "Do Something"
Finally, a Taiwan Strategy That Goes Beyond "Do Something"

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The Best National Security Gossip

EX-BRAZILIAN SPY CHIEF EX-DETAINEE: Just as the Dead Drop was reporting last week that fugitive former Brazilian intelligence chief Alexandre Ramagem had been nabbed by ICE agents in Orlando, he was apparently already on his way out the door. BBC reported on April 16 that Ramagem was quietly released from custody. ICE originally confirmed the detention but as far as we know has offered no explanation for either the arrest or the release. Bolsonaro's son Eduardo, a U.S. resident, announced the news on social media, thanking President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for "the sensitivity with which they dealt with [...] More

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Events

Live Events

2026 Threat Conference

2026 Threat Conference

The Cipher Brief Threat Conference is the nation’s premier forum for non-partisan discussion of global threats and solutions as well as high-level [...] More

Upcoming: 25 October, 2026

Podcasts

State Secrets


In this episode of State Secrets, former CIA Senior Operations Officer Sean Wiswesser examines the evolution of Russian intelligence - from Soviet-era tradecraft to modern hybrid warfare. He unpacks Moscow’s strategic mindset, its transactional relationships with partners like Iran, and its enduring focus on weakening democratic systems. With insights drawn from decades in the field, Wiswesser explains what most people misunderstand about Russia - and why that matters now more than ever.