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

Report for Thursday, June 5, 2025

  • Trump issues travel ban for 12 countries, citing security concerns

  • Putin tells Trump that Russia will respond to Ukrainian attack

  • The Ukrainian Spy Agency Behind the Stunning Strike on Russia’s Bomber Fleet

  • How the Houthis Rattled the U.S. Navy—and Transformed Maritime War

  • Ukrainian intelligence reports extensive hack of Russian strategic bomber manufacturer
Access the Report
Why Al Qaeda Refuses to Die
DEEP DIVE — More than two decades after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Al Qaeda is not only alive — it has adapted, expanded, and quietly embedded [...] More

The Experts

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

The President’s Path to the Right Side of History

Rob Dannenberg
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE/OPINION -- “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” The powerful statement by then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan delivered on June 12, [...] More

The Many Parts of Trump's Golden Dome Missile Defense Plan

Walter Pincus
OPINION — “The Golden Dome for America Industry Summit will be held on June 11, 2025 at the Von Braun Center downtown Huntsville, Ala., at the [...] More

News & Analysis

The Genius – and the Implications – of Ukraine’s ‘Spider Web’ Drone Assault

The Genius – and the Implications – of Ukraine’s ‘Spider Web’ Drone Assault

DEEP DIVE – Ukraine’s drone attacks against five Russian military bases on Sunday didn’t just take out a third of Moscow’s fleet of strategic bomber [...] More

Opinion

From Kabul to Kyiv: Lessons the U.S. Must Heed for Peace

OPINION — Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, I’ve found the familiar rhetoric supporting Ukraine’s right to self-defense against Russian [...] More

What’s on The Cipher Brief’s Digital Channel

Book Reviews

A GOLD MEDAL SPORT: Remember those senior members of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s staff who were summarily fired for – well, it was never entirely clear why – but reports said they were suspected of leaking to the media. And remember the subsequent threats of prosecution? And then an investigation - led in part by the Secretary’s personal attorney (part-time Navy commander) Tim Parlatore – was launched to find out who did what. It seemed a little odd to fire people and THEN investigate what they did – but who are we to judge? Now comes word, via The Guardian, that there may need to be an investigation into [...] More

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Events

Live Events

NatSecEDGE

NatSecEDGE

NatSecEDGE is a unique event that convenes influential voices in cutting-edge fields—artificial intelligence, space technology, quantum encryption, [...] More

Previous Event: 05 June, 2025

Podcasts

State Secrets

CIA veteran Sheetal Patel helped stand up and then lead the spy agency’s Transnational and Technology Mission Center in 2022, at a time when there was no longer any denying that more outreach to the private sector and a better grasp of the technologies that were available had to become more of a focus if the Agency was to maintain its strategic advantage. Patel retired earlier this year after a 25-year career at the Agency and State Secrets Podcast host Suzanne Kelly caught up with her to find out how the Agency’s technology mission has evolved.

Cover Stories: Spies, Books & Entertainment

Former CIA Officer Rodney Faraon served in some pretty fascinating roles at CIA – including as a daily briefer to former director George Tenet and as Chief of the unit that dealt with Chinese and Taiwanese relations. Since retiring, he’s kept his analytic hat on as a Partner at Crumpton Global but he also took a turn toward Hollywood and did what many who have come from the Agency – have yet to do – launch a show for television. In this episode of the Cover Stories podcast, Rodney spills the secrets on how he adopted his CIA skills to help him survive in Hollywood.