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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 12: U.S. President Donald Trump signs funding legislation to reopen the federal government as he is joined by House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Republican lawmakers and business leaders, during a ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House on November 12, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Global Intelligence Report for Thursday, November 13, 2025

Trump signs deal to end longest US government shutdown in history

Recent Russian assault near Pokrovsk was 'partially successful,' Ukraine's military says

US CENTCOM says five Islamic state members killed, 19 captured in operations in Syria

Chinese self-sufficiency initiatives in space, Arctic resources fuel Western worries

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Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

Sudan’s War Without Borders: How Global Powers Turned Darfur into a Proxy Battleground

DEEP DIVE — Entire cities in the Darfur region of Sudan have been burned and razed, millions have fled their homes, and unspeakable terror and [...] More

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

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

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SIGNS OF THE TIMES: We assume the Trump administration elected to change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War to send a message (not just on a whim cause it sounded tougher. Who would do that?). While the change is currently symbolic – since it would take an act of Congress to make it official – the rebranding - if fully implemented - would blow a hole in the federal budget. NBC News reports that changing the name “could cost as much as $2 billion, according to six people with knowledge of the potential cost.” Jeez, for that much money – the Pentagon could build six or seven ‘White House’ [...] More

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Cipher Brief CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly talks with two former directors of the National Security Agency and former Commanders of U.S. Cyber Command about the cyber threat from China, and just what they think Americans need to know. Retired General Tim Haugh – a new Cipher Brief Expert, spoke recently about the threat with 60 Minutes. He is now also working with investors and teaching at Yale University. And retired General Paul Nakasone is the founding director of the Institute for National Security at Vanderbilt University. Both men have a serious warning for America.