The Cipher Brief

Report for Friday, August 15, 2025

Trump and Putin to Meet One-on-One at Alaska Summit Amid U.S. Push for Ukraine Peace Deal, Security Guarantees, and Potential Nuclear Talks

Trump Administration Weighs U.S. Investment in Intel as Company Pursues $25B Chip Venture in China

Cyberattack on UnitedHealth’s Change Healthcare Compromises Data of 192.7M in Largest U.S. Healthcare Breach

U.S.-Brokered Armenia–Azerbaijan Peace Deal Reopens Strategic Zangezur Corridor, Bypassing Russia and Iran to Link Europe and Asia

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The Experts

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

A New Model for Defense in Greece

A New Model for Defense in Greece

OPINION — In a world where global power is no longer solely fought over through use of military might but won through wit, diplomacy, and innovation, [...] More

What’s on The Cipher Brief’s Digital Channel

GROK RUN AMOK: Many people do their best thinking of the day while driving to work. And some folks, apparently, the worst. Someone recently posted a video on X showing himself using the “Grok” AI language tool while driving his Tesla into a highly-secure National Security Agency facility. Elon Musk reposted the video, gaining it nearly 14 million views when last checked. The video shows the man’s vehicle entering “a sensitive federal complex located in Linthicum, Maryland, where thousands of intelligence professionals and cleared contractors work in relative obscurity” according to CNN. U.S. Cyber Command is said to be [...] More

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State Secrets

In a recent opinion piece published in The Cipher Brief, former senior CIA Executive Mark Kelton suggests that the country’s leading intelligence organization has a trust problem both with policy makers and the public. One component of that problem that Kelton argues poses an existential threat to the Agency, is leakers. Cipher Brief CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly talks with Kelton – who oversaw the CIA’s response to the devastating intelligence leaks made by Edward Snowden – about why he believes the future effectiveness of the Agency depends on restoring trust.

Cover Stories: Spies, Books & Entertainment

Ambassador Joe DeTrani’s The North Korean Threat: Intelligence and Diplomacy — A Personal Memoir is a candid insider’s account of more than three decades navigating the perilous world of U.S.–North Korea relations. We’ll talk with him about some of his experiences as a CIA officer, senior U.S. negotiator, and Special Envoy for the Six-Party Talks. In his book, which is available for free at this site, DeTrani blends gripping personal stories with sharp analysis of nuclear diplomacy, intelligence challenges, and the delicate regional dynamics that shaped negotiations. The memoir offers rare insights into the mindset of Pyongyang’s leadership and the enduring importance of vigilance, credible intelligence, and sustained dialogue.