As Congress embarks on impeachment proceedings, the leadership of federal agencies in Washington are growing increasingly outspoken. Without mentioning the president, they are warning that President Trump’s actions as a threat to democratic government. The American government is fracturing. Call it the Trump crack-up. A new inter-agency agency report illuminates the fissures between president and...
Category: ODNI
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The Dangers of a Trump Loyalist as Director of National Intelligence
Last week’s appearance of Joseph Maguire, the acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), highlighted the importance of an obscure position. Maguire deferred to the Trump Justice Department’s tortured argument for withholding a whistleblower’s complaint from Congress but insisted he was following the law, not covering up. Democrats were unconvinced. Trump ousted the previous DNI, Dan...
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Trump, the ‘Deep State,’ and the Democrats
(Published in The New Republic, “Democrats Are Trapped in Trump’s ‘Deep State’ War.” The ongoing contretemps between President Donald Trump and the intelligence community forces a dismal and daunting question: Whose side must be taken in a power struggle between a legion of professional liars and a consummate bullshit artist? Both the president and the...
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Trump’s Acting DNI: Since 9/11, Domestic Terrorists Have Killed More Americans Than Islamists
Joseph Maguire, the Acting Director of National Intelligence, says that in the 18 years since the 9/11 attacks, domestic terrorists have killed more Americans than foreign-born. President Trump chose Maguire, a former admiral and head of the National Counterterrorism Center, as acting chief of the U.S. intelligence community last month. Trump’s first choice, Texas congressman...
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Two Trump Loyalists Floated for Director of National Intelligence
Yahoo News reports the White House is considering three ‘loyal’ men for director of National Intelligence, following the quick demise of the nomination of Rep. John Ratcliffe, whose chief qualification seemed to be that he wanted to prosecute a Washington Post leaker. The new candidates for the DNI position have their own unique qualifications. Pete...