Julian E. Barnes
@julianbarnes.bsky.social
New York Times intelligence reporter.
Gabbard reorganizes ODNI, shrinking election defense office and eliminating the national intelligence university. In the name of money savings and crushing the "deep state." www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/u...
Gabbard Plan Would Shrink Intelligence Center Focused on Election Threats
www.nytimes.com
August 20, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Gabbard reorganizes ODNI, shrinking election defense office and eliminating the national intelligence university. In the name of money savings and crushing the "deep state." www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/u...
NEW: Acting NSA director intervened to try and save job of chief data scientist and government AI expert but was rebuffed by Tulsi Gabbard. More: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/u...
N.S.A.’s Acting Director Tried to Save Top Scientist From Purge
www.nytimes.com
August 20, 2025 at 2:15 PM
NEW: Acting NSA director intervened to try and save job of chief data scientist and government AI expert but was rebuffed by Tulsi Gabbard. More: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/u...
American intel agencies have assessed that, despite Israel's attack, Iran has not decided to move to a nuclear weapon. That could change, officials said, if the US attacks Fordo or Israel kills the Supreme leader. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/u...
U.S. Spy Agencies Assess Iran Remains Undecided on Building a Bomb
www.nytimes.com
June 19, 2025 at 11:27 PM
American intel agencies have assessed that, despite Israel's attack, Iran has not decided to move to a nuclear weapon. That could change, officials said, if the US attacks Fordo or Israel kills the Supreme leader. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/u...
Will China's spy agencies adopt A.I. tools faster than the west? New report by Recorded Future on Chinese intelligence agencies investments in A.I. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/u...
China’s Spy Agencies Are Investing Heavily in A.I., Researchers Say
www.nytimes.com
June 17, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Will China's spy agencies adopt A.I. tools faster than the west? New report by Recorded Future on Chinese intelligence agencies investments in A.I. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/u...
Reposted by Julian E. Barnes
New from Julian Barnes, Maggie Haberman and me:
Trump Appointee Pressed Analyst to Redo Intelligence on Venezuelan Gang
The move followed a disclosure that intelligence agencies disagree with a key factual claim Trump made to invoke a wartime deportation law.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/u...
Trump Appointee Pressed Analyst to Redo Intelligence on Venezuelan Gang
The move followed a disclosure that intelligence agencies disagree with a key factual claim Trump made to invoke a wartime deportation law.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/u...
Trump Appointee Pressed Analyst to Redo Intelligence on Venezuelan Gang
www.nytimes.com
May 16, 2025 at 10:15 PM
New from Julian Barnes, Maggie Haberman and me:
Trump Appointee Pressed Analyst to Redo Intelligence on Venezuelan Gang
The move followed a disclosure that intelligence agencies disagree with a key factual claim Trump made to invoke a wartime deportation law.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/u...
Trump Appointee Pressed Analyst to Redo Intelligence on Venezuelan Gang
The move followed a disclosure that intelligence agencies disagree with a key factual claim Trump made to invoke a wartime deportation law.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/u...
Signal clone used by the NSC and US government shut down temporarily after hack exposes security flaws. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/05/u...
Signal Clone Used by Waltz Suspends Service After ‘Security Incident’ (Gift Article)
The clone, TeleMessage, was the subject of a reported hack in which the contents of some direct messages and group chats were stolen.
www.nytimes.com
May 6, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Signal clone used by the NSC and US government shut down temporarily after hack exposes security flaws. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/05/u...
ODNI releases the "sense of the community" memo on the intelligence assessments around TdA's ties to the Maduro government. @charliesavage.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/05/05/u...
Spy Agencies Do Not Think Venezuela Directs Gang, Declassified Memo Shows (Gift Article)
The release of the memo further undercuts the Trump administration’s rationale for using the Alien Enemies Act to deport scores of Venezuelans to a prison in El Salvador.
www.nytimes.com
May 6, 2025 at 12:29 AM
ODNI releases the "sense of the community" memo on the intelligence assessments around TdA's ties to the Maduro government. @charliesavage.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/05/05/u...
Senator King: “Our country is under attack right now in cyberspace, and the president has just removed our top general from the field for no reason at the recommendation of someone who knows nothing about national security or even the job this general does.” www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/u...
Firing of National Security Agency Chief Rattles Lawmakers (Gift Article)
Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, who was also the head of U.S. Cyber Command, was one of several national security officials fired on the advice of a conspiracy theorist.
www.nytimes.com
April 5, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Senator King: “Our country is under attack right now in cyberspace, and the president has just removed our top general from the field for no reason at the recommendation of someone who knows nothing about national security or even the job this general does.” www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/u...
Loomer has posted on social media why she wanted Haugh and Noble fired. She claims Gen Haugh was tapped by Mark Milley and Wendy Noble is a protege of Jim Clapper. These are not reasons Presidents typically oust intelligence chiefs. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/u...
Gen. Timothy Haugh Ousted as Head of NSA and Cyber Command
No reason was given for the removal of Gen. Timothy D. Haugh. The far-right activist Laura Loomer had called for his ouster in a meeting with President Trump, an official said.
www.nytimes.com
April 4, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Loomer has posted on social media why she wanted Haugh and Noble fired. She claims Gen Haugh was tapped by Mark Milley and Wendy Noble is a protege of Jim Clapper. These are not reasons Presidents typically oust intelligence chiefs. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/u...
NSA director Gen. Haugh fired after far right activist Laura Loomer demanded his removal in her Oval Office meeting with Trump. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/u...
April 4, 2025 at 3:58 AM
NSA director Gen. Haugh fired after far right activist Laura Loomer demanded his removal in her Oval Office meeting with Trump. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/u...
Judge orders CIA to
hear appeals of officers working diversity issues and consider allowing them to take other positions. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/u...
hear appeals of officers working diversity issues and consider allowing them to take other positions. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/u...
Musk Visits C.I.A. to Discuss Downsizing Efforts
A federal judge ordered the agency to reconsider its firings of employees who had been assigned to diversity recruiting.
www.nytimes.com
March 31, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Judge orders CIA to
hear appeals of officers working diversity issues and consider allowing them to take other positions. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/u...
hear appeals of officers working diversity issues and consider allowing them to take other positions. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/u...
Matt Murray, Washington Post editor, on Gabbard leak investigations: "The Washington Post takes seriously its responsibility to seek and report the facts without fear or favor on behalf of the American people, regardless of the administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/u...
Trump Administration Opens Leak Investigations (Gift Article)
Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said she intended to hold officials who released information “accountable.”
www.nytimes.com
March 14, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Matt Murray, Washington Post editor, on Gabbard leak investigations: "The Washington Post takes seriously its responsibility to seek and report the facts without fear or favor on behalf of the American people, regardless of the administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/u...
Critic of Israel’s war in Gaza out of consideration for top intelligence post. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/u...
Gabbard Considers Critic of Israel’s War in Gaza for Intel Post (Gift Article)
The potential appointment has highlighted an emerging foreign policy fault line in the new Trump administration.
www.nytimes.com
March 12, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Critic of Israel’s war in Gaza out of consideration for top intelligence post. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/u...
Critic of Israel's war in Gaza considered for key intelligence post, upsetting Republicans. Will Gabbard and the White House reconsider appointing Daniel Davis for the job overseeing the President's Daily Brief? www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/u...
Critic of Israel’s War in Gaza Considered for a Top Intelligence Post
www.nytimes.com
March 12, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Critic of Israel's war in Gaza considered for key intelligence post, upsetting Republicans. Will Gabbard and the White House reconsider appointing Daniel Davis for the job overseeing the President's Daily Brief? www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/u...
NSA and intel agencies continuing to investigate explicit chats. Critics say expulsions are an anti-trans purge, pointing to Pentagon efforts. Officials push back. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/u...
Intelligence Officials Continue Chat Messages Inquiry
Officials confirmed that the N.S.A. managed a system that had been used for sexually explicit chats and L.G.B.T.Q. discussions. An order to fire dozens after the chats were revealed drew scrutiny amid a military purge of transgender soldiers.
www.nytimes.com
March 1, 2025 at 2:15 PM
NSA and intel agencies continuing to investigate explicit chats. Critics say expulsions are an anti-trans purge, pointing to Pentagon efforts. Officials push back. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/u...
Gabbard fires more than 100 intelligence officers who participated in a sexually explicit chat on a secret government network. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/02...
Tulsi Gabbard says more than 100 intelligence officers were fired for explicit chat messages.
www.nytimes.com
February 26, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Gabbard fires more than 100 intelligence officers who participated in a sexually explicit chat on a secret government network. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/02...
CIA prepares for biggest mass firing since 1977. Few got fired for torture/enhanced interrogation. Many will be fired for recruiting efforts. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/20/u...
The C.I.A. Is Planning Its Largest Mass Firing in Nearly 50 Years (Gift Article)
The possible purge of officers working on recruiting and diversity comes as the agency moves to comply with the spirit of an executive order banning efforts to diversify the federal work force.
www.nytimes.com
February 20, 2025 at 7:42 PM
CIA prepares for biggest mass firing since 1977. Few got fired for torture/enhanced interrogation. Many will be fired for recruiting efforts. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/20/u...
It turns out it is very hard to block a president’s choice for a cabinet post. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
Four Takeaways From Tulsi Gabbard’s Road to Confirmation
It turns out it is very difficult to vote down a president’s choice for a top post.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2025 at 8:46 PM
It turns out it is very hard to block a president’s choice for a cabinet post. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
The Senate confirms Gabbard 52-48. Mitch McConnell is the only Republican dissenting vote. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed by Senate for Top Intelligence Post
The success of one of President Trump’s more divisive cabinet candidates shows his domination over the Republican Senate.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The Senate confirms Gabbard 52-48. Mitch McConnell is the only Republican dissenting vote. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
"This was definitely a setup." The story of Marc Fogel and his imprisonment in Russia. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/w...
Who Is Marc Fogel? The American Teacher Caught in a Global Power Struggle. (Gift Article)
Mr. Fogel, who had lived and taught in many countries, including Russia for nine years, spent 3 ½ years in Russian custody for having cannabis for medical use, and is in poor health.
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2025 at 10:07 PM
"This was definitely a setup." The story of Marc Fogel and his imprisonment in Russia. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/w...
New: Trump and Witkoff secure the release of Marc Fogel, an American held in Russia. An opening move in a larger Ukraine negotiation? Swan, Haberman and team: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/u...
Russia Releases U.S. Prisoner After Talks With Trump Envoy
The Kremlin freed Marc Fogel, a teacher held for more than three years on drug charges, in a deal negotiated by Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s Middle East envoy.
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2025 at 6:13 PM
New: Trump and Witkoff secure the release of Marc Fogel, an American held in Russia. An opening move in a larger Ukraine negotiation? Swan, Haberman and team: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/u...
NEW: White House requested a list of CIA employees as part of efforts to shrink the federal government. The list, which included partial names, was sent in an unclassified email. David Sanger and I report: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/u...
C.I.A. Sends White House an Unclassified Email With Names of Some Employees (Gift Article)
The list of partial names was provided in an effort to comply with an executive order to trim the federal work force.
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM
NEW: White House requested a list of CIA employees as part of efforts to shrink the federal government. The list, which included partial names, was sent in an unclassified email. David Sanger and I report: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/u...
Tulsi Gabbard clears the Senate Intelligence Committee making her confirmation on the floor seem very likely. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/u...
Senate Panel Approves Gabbard’s Nomination
The full Senate will vote on President Trump’s pick to be the director of national intelligence. She was one of the most contentious cabinet choices.
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Tulsi Gabbard clears the Senate Intelligence Committee making her confirmation on the floor seem very likely. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/u...
Insiders say Ellis was up to be CIA general counsel, only to emerge as the consensus pick when other candidates (Amaryllis Fox Kennedy!) turned out to be too divisive in Trumpworld. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/02...
Trump Names Michael Ellis to Be C.I.A. Deputy Director
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Insiders say Ellis was up to be CIA general counsel, only to emerge as the consensus pick when other candidates (Amaryllis Fox Kennedy!) turned out to be too divisive in Trumpworld. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/02...
New: Iran considering if it should make a cruder nuclear weapon, something it could build more swiftly. For now, no decision to pursue a bomb. David Sanger and I report: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/u...
Iran Is Developing Plans for Faster, Cruder Weapon, U.S. Concludes (Gift Article)
As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel prepares to meet with President Trump, the question of whether to strike Iran’s facilities or negotiate with Tehran appears certain to be under debate.
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2025 at 8:30 PM
New: Iran considering if it should make a cruder nuclear weapon, something it could build more swiftly. For now, no decision to pursue a bomb. David Sanger and I report: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/u...