Report: An Analysis of Bitcoin’s Use in Illicit Finance
As Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies rise to record levels ahead of the direct offering of crypto exchange Coinbase, former Acting CIA Director Michael Morell is […] More
Members-only Briefs & Analysis
The Pentagon’s ‘All Hell Breaking Loose’ Scenario for Climate Change
The Pentagon often wargames future scenarios for when ‘all hell breaks loose’ with the idea of training for the worst-case scenario. Secretary of Defense Lloyd […] More
The U.S. Needs a Stronger Cyber Defense Against Russia
Paul Kolbe, Director, Intelligence Project, Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs Paul Kolbe is Director of The Intelligence Project at Harvard University’s […] More
Members Only Where Are Six Years of War in Yemen Going?
“The Cipher Brief has become the most popular outlet for former intelligence officers; no media outlet is even a close second to The Cipher Brief […] More
Why Cyber Criminals are Winning
Cipher Brief Expert Alex Cresswell led an operational division of GCHQ and served in the Cabinet Office, directing the team of analysts (the Joint Intelligence Organisation) which […] More
Britain’s Integrated Review: A Science and Tech Superpower with an Indo-Pacific Tilt
Nick Fishwick,Former Senior Member, British Foreign Office Nick Fishwick CMG retired in 2012 after nearly thirty years in the British Foreign Service which included postings […] More
Executing Commander’s Intent at Machine Speed for Cyber
Join us this week Tuesday – Thursday for The Cipher Brief’s Cybersecurity Summit featuring leaders from the public and private sectors, including Microsoft President Brad Smith, FireEye CEO Kevin Mandia, and […] More
Re-Budgeting for a Right-Sized International Counterterrorism Posture
Dr. Matthew Levitt, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Dr. Matthew Levitt is the Fromer-Wexler fellow and director of the Reinhard program on counterterrorism […] More
And One More Thing: Further Thoughts on How the IC Can do Better
Carmen Medina, Former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence Cipher Brief Expert Carmen Medina is a former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. A 32-year veteran of […] More
How Can Blinken’s Bold Plan for Afghanistan Succeed?
Tim Willasey-Wilsey, Cipher Brief Expert Tim Willasey-Wilsey is a Cipher Brief Expert on Afghanistan and a visiting Professor of War Studies at King’s College, London […] More
Russia’s Climate Problem and Opportunity
Temperatures in Russia are increasing at more than double the global average, according to scientists, proving that climate change and extreme weather doesn’t just affect […] More
The Robot, the Targeter and the Future of U.S. National Security
Eric Washabaugh, Former CIA Targeting & Technology Manager Eric Washabaugh served as a targeting and technology manager at the CIA, where he served from 2006 […] More
Exclusive: Spy Chief Gets Welcome Endorsement
In a letter obtained by The Cipher Brief this week, former CIA Directors and Acting Directors, including former Director Gina Haspel, endorsed CIA Director Bill […] More
Why The Intelligence Community Needs a Climate Change Task Force
Kristin Wood, Sr. Climate Editor, The Cipher Brief Kristin Wood is the Senior Climate Editor for The Cipher Brief, a Cipher Brief expert, a non-resident […] More
The Mission to Counter Misinformation: A Briefing with former DNI James Clapper
In the summer of 2016, then-Director of National Intelligence Lt. Gen. James Clapper began to detect a worrisome trend. It was an election year, and […] More
Members Only President Biden’s Middle East: A Briefing with Norman Roule
“The Cipher Brief has become the most popular outlet for former intelligence officers; no media outlet is even a close second to The Cipher Brief […] More
A New World of Global Security: A Briefing with Sir John Sawers
The new COVID-19 national security world is one shaped by a host of national and global security issues that were impacted – both good and […] More
A New Approach to Domestic Terrorism
Javed Ali, Policymaker in Residence, University of Michigan Javed Ali is a Towsley Policymaker in Residence at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School […] More
The US Intelligence Community’s Complicated Relationship with Telework
Jim Danoy, Former Executive, Defense Intelligence Agency Cipher Brief Expert Jim Danoy is a former defense intelligence executive and served as the National Intelligence Manager […] More
Members Only Is it Time for a New Policy Toward North Korea – A Cipher Brief Debate
“The Cipher Brief has become the most popular outlet for former intelligence officers; no media outlet is even a close second to The Cipher Brief […] More
The Climate and U.S. National Security: A Conversation Series
CLIMATE — One of President Biden’s first areas of focus after taking office on Wednesday was on the climate, reinstating a commitment that the US […] More
Members Only Inside the Bureau of Intelligence and Research
“The Cipher Brief has become the most popular outlet for former intelligence officers; no media outlet is even a close second to The Cipher Brief […] More
Operation Fortitude: A Lesson in Deception from D-Day
(Photo caption: Full-size dummy LCTs, codenamed BIGBOB, moored in South East England before the Normandy invasion (British Imperial War Museums, photograph H 42527, public domain). This […] More
Special Report: Attack on Democracy
Here’s our take on the failed efforts of a pro-Trump mob to stop Congress from certifying ballots at the Capitol on Wednesday as Congress, led […] More