The hottest Intelligence Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Washington War Games: How the U.S. Prepared for an Iran Strike

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 848 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. The Trump administration prepared for military action against Iran starting in February. They wanted to be more involved in the conflict.
  2. In a private dinner, U.S. officials and Iranian dissidents discussed how to attack Iran. They talked about strategies that were very similar to Israel's recent military actions.
  3. Key military moves like targeting Iran's leadership and nuclear program have happened, but certain planned actions were still not carried out at the time of the discussion.

Did Obama’s National Security Team Break the Law?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 621 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Tulsi Gabbard claims that documents she released show a conspiracy by Obama’s team to falsely suggest Russia helped Trump win the 2016 election. This claim has sparked intense reactions, especially on social media.
  2. Despite the uproar, analysts argue there’s no evidence that Obama committed treason and that some of Gabbard's claims might be incorrect.
  3. However, the documents do seem to contain new information that could have serious legal consequences.

Gaza checkpoint shell company outs itself as led by former CIA paramilitary chief

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 1709 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. A shell company called Safe Reach Solutions is led by a former CIA paramilitary chief, Philip F. Reilly. This company is involved in operating a vehicle checkpoint in Gaza.
  2. Reilly has a strong background in intelligence and military operations, having held various significant roles, including leading controversial drone strike programs.
  3. The article suggests that the U.S. intelligence community uses access journalism to manage and divert attention from their covert activities in conflict zones.

Unmasking Russia

Unmasking Russia • 707 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. The newsletter 'Unmasking Russia' focuses on uncovering Russia's operations against democracies and human rights crimes.
  2. Expect weekly original content, curated news on Ukraine and Russia, and translations of investigations from 'Unmasking Russia'.
  3. For further support, readers can upgrade to a paid subscription to help the author continue their research and advocacy efforts.

A Spy Among Friends

Castalia • 339 implied HN points • 21 Apr 24
💾 History Intelligence
  1. The series _A Spy Among Friends_ explores the relationship between Kim Philby and Nicholas Elliott, highlighting their deep friendship and how it complicated the betrayal Philby committed against British intelligence.
  2. There is a debate about why Philby became a spy for the Soviets. Some think it was ideological, while others believe it was more about seeking elite social status or personal connections.
  3. The idea of intelligence sharing among spies suggests that they may have operated more like a close partnership rather than strict adversaries, raising questions about loyalty and the nature of espionage.
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Robot Philosophy

Egg Report • 569 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Intelligence
  1. In the realm of computation, complex statements can be broken down into simple ones, reflecting a mono-causal, universalist view of reality.
  2. Projects like AI and VR are attempts to recreate intelligence and reality, each carrying metaphysical claims about the simplicity and illusory nature of complexity.
  3. Engaging with computers and writing code trains individuals to think in a certain way, guiding them towards a robotic mindset and reinforcing metaphysical assumptions.

Planarian: The Immortal Flatworm

Solve Cancer in 365 days • 19 implied HN points • 03 Sep 24
🔬 Science Intelligence
  1. Planarians are unique flatworms that can regenerate any part of their body, even after being cut into many pieces. This shows amazing capabilities, as they can grow back perfectly.
  2. These worms also challenge our ideas about intelligence. They can transfer learned information across their bodies, suggesting that intelligence might not just reside in the brain.
  3. Scientists are exploring how the electrical patterns in planarians can guide regeneration and influence cellular behavior. Understanding this could lead to advances in human healing and possibly control over our own biology.

February 5, 2026

Letters from an American • 27 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Democrats are pushing concrete limits on DHS and federal agents — things like judicial warrants for home entries, visible IDs and body cameras, bans on racial profiling, and stronger oversight — while many Republicans are resisting those changes.
  2. There are worrying signs the administration is using intelligence powers and secrecy to probe or influence elections and to protect its allies, shown by seizures of voting materials, a withheld whistleblower complaint, and heavy, selective redactions.
  3. Institutions are starting to push back — courts have allowed high-profile depositions and lawmakers are threatening to compel testimony — even as the last U.S.-Russia arms treaty has expired, removing caps on nuclear weapons and raising global risk.

Public records suggest name and luxury residence of CIA's Manila chief of station

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 549 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Public records show that Peter Enzminger is the CIA's chief of station in Manila, staying at a luxury hotel called Raffles Makati. This suggests a high-profile role in U.S. intelligence.
  2. Enzminger previously served as Amman's CIA chief, using a cover as a Regional Affairs Officer. This indicates a history in key positions within the agency.
  3. The CIA has a practice of keeping officers’ identities under wraps while using diplomatic covers, highlighting the ongoing need for secrecy in intelligence work.

La Elite Narcotraficante Está Lista Para Dirigir a Venezuela (con Moe Tkacik) | The Chris Hedges Report

The Chris Hedges Report • 53 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. U.S. intelligence agencies and anti‑communist exile networks became deeply entangled with drug trafficking in Latin America, using narco‑operations to fund and advance covert geopolitical goals.
  2. Prominent politicians and allied leaders have praised or protected figures linked to the drug trade, showing a pattern where the drug war is enforced selectively to punish enemies and shield friends.
  3. The global war on drugs often functions more as a political and military tool than a public‑health response, producing dubious prosecutions, sanctions, and instability that harm ordinary people more than they stop drug flows.

Green Berets are now using Clearview AI's facial recognition

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 610 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. The U.S. Army's Green Berets have started using facial recognition technology from Clearview AI. This means they can quickly identify people based on images.
  2. The Green Berets' contract with Clearview AI is worth $75,000 and will provide them access to advanced facial recognition tools for a year.
  3. Clearview AI has faced controversy for its data collection practices, sparking debates about privacy and surveillance in the military and beyond.

Ask us anything

Comment is Freed • 24 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. Paying subscribers can submit questions in the comments or anonymously by email, and answers are posted the following week though not every question is guaranteed a reply.
  2. The newsletter focuses on current politics and international affairs — covering UK government crises and elections, US–Iran tensions, Trump-related developments, the war in Ukraine, and related interviews and analysis.
  3. Most posts are paywalled; a paid subscription (about £4.50/month or £45/year) supports the work, gives full access, and the newsletter publishes roughly three times a week to a large readership.

Israel's Intel Failure

Diane Francis • 719 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. Israel's intelligence missed major warnings about an attack from Hamas, despite receiving detailed information about their plans. Many red flags and alerts were ignored by the leadership.
  2. In September 2023, Ukraine's intelligence warned Israel that a group was preparing Hamas for an attack, but this information did not reach the right people.
  3. Even soldiers on the ground noticed suspicious activity and reported it, but their concerns were dismissed by their commanders, which contributed to the surprise attack.

January 29, 2026

Letters from an American • 29 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Senate Democrats forced the Senate to separate DHS funding for two weeks to press for accountability after violent actions by ICE and Border Patrol, demanding warrants for roving patrols, body cameras, no masks, and independent investigations.
  2. Republicans agreed to the short delay but internal fights—like Lindsey Graham pushing to add a provision letting senators sue over seized records—and a razor-thin House majority make whether the funding measure will ultimately pass uncertain.
  3. President Trump has sued the IRS over leaked tax documents and amplified election-related conspiracy claims while shifting intelligence resources to investigate 2020 election fraud, increasing political tension and drawing sharp criticism.

Breaking History Ep 30: Don't be a fool for the FBI (The Truth of 180 years of Terrorism Foreign and Domestic)

Matt Ehret's Insights • 491 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
💾 History Intelligence
  1. The post discusses uncomfortable truths about the FBI and the origins of terrorism over the past 180 years.
  2. It questions the involvement of the British Empire in the current Civil War plan in the USA.
  3. The post raises concerns about potential foreign manipulation in the current political situation in the USA.

The Geopolitical Monopoly Board: Venezuela, Ukraine, Iran, Cuba, Greenland, Canada, Taiwan, Somalia, Minnesota and The Blob (Part One)

Dr. Pippa's Pen & Podcast • 46 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. Global geopolitics is being portrayed as a strategic Monopoly board where major powers and smaller territories alike are contested pieces in a broader chess match.
  2. The central conflict is framed as an internal struggle over control of cash flows and influence—the so-called "Blob"—rather than a classic ideological or superpower war.
  3. There are allegations of coordinated interference through intelligence networks, NGOs, voting-machine systems, and billionaire funding that have shaped elections and policy, fueling deep mistrust between the U.S. administration and its European and Canadian allies.

FBI Helped Clinton Campaign Orchestrate Russia Collusion Hoax To Distract From Email Investigation, Newly Declassified Intelligence Suggests

Public • 415 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. New intelligence suggests that the FBI may have helped the Clinton campaign create a story linking Trump to Russia.
  2. The goal of this plot was believed to be a distraction from the investigation into Clinton's email use.
  3. This recent information challenges previous claims that there was no government involvement in creating a false narrative about Russian interference.

The Iran war is Trump’s unconditional surrender to Israel

Aaron Mate • 544 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Trump has aligned closely with Israel, sidelining US intelligence to justify military actions against Iran. This relationship raises concerns about dangerous foreign influence.
  2. Despite a US intelligence assessment stating that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, Trump and his team have promoted false information, echoing Israeli claims.
  3. Iran continues to reject demands for unconditional surrender and insists on its right to self-defense. Trump's military actions may actually push Iran to pursue nuclear capabilities.

Gaza checkpoint contractor is shell company of Wyoming-based 'generational wealth management' firm

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 1139 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Safe Reach Solutions is a contractor for a Gaza checkpoint and is linked to a Wyoming-based wealth management firm called Two Ocean Trust. This connection raises questions about its legitimacy.
  2. The company operates as a shell, meaning it may not have a lot of transparency about its operations or leadership. Its website doesn't even list its legal name or any employees.
  3. Another contractor, UG Solutions, is run by a former U.S. Special Forces soldier. This adds a layer of military experience to the operations at the checkpoint.

EXCLUSIVE: Intelligence Analyst Who Authored Fraudulent Russiagate Report Is Still At CIA, Say Sources

Public • 426 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. An intelligence analyst involved in a controversial report about Russia's influence in the 2016 election is still working at the CIA. This raises questions about accountability in intelligence.
  2. A recent report suggests the CIA misrepresented information to support the idea that Russia favored Trump in the election. This contradicts earlier findings that indicated Russia actually wanted Clinton to win.
  3. There is concern that this manipulation of intelligence is similar to past events, like the claims about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. It shows a pattern of misleading the public.

Complicated Plots, Undetected

In My Tribe • 1199 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Keeping secrets is really hard, and it's important for countries to figure out how to protect sensitive plans from being leaked. The recent October 7 attack showed how much trust someone needs to have in their team to keep everything quiet.
  2. Communication is key in military strategy. Disrupting your enemy's communication can be just as powerful as using weapons. Militaries need to focus on not just protecting their own communication but also finding weaknesses in the enemy's.
  3. Modern politics struggles with transparency, as seen with the cover-up of President Biden’s health issues. People in charge might prioritize their positions over honesty, which can lead to serious problems for the country.

Will Destroying Iran’s Nuclear Program Require a ‘Medieval Battle’?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 519 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. Israel might need to launch long air strikes on Iran to destroy its nuclear facilities, especially if the U.S. doesn't help.
  2. In 2018, Israeli spies found a lot of documents that revealed Iran's secret nuclear weapon plans, showing that they were more complicated than thought.
  3. Many undeclared nuclear sites across Iran could be hiding sensitive equipment or materials, making it harder to track their nuclear activities.

What I Learned about how the U.S. Handled the Run-Up to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Drezner’s World • 845 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. The U.S. believed Putin invaded Ukraine due to perceptions of Russian weakness, not U.S. weakness.
  2. Intelligence was used effectively by the Biden administration to persuade allies and delay Russia's invasion.
  3. Biden officials concluded that pre-emptive sanctions wouldn't have deterred Russia and focused on seizing oligarchs' assets to highlight corruption.

Can a Critic of the Deep State Run the Deep State?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1066 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Tulsi Gabbard is being considered for a top intelligence role, but she faces questions about her stance on Edward Snowden. This has made some senators uneasy during her confirmation hearing.
  2. Gabbard has previously praised Snowden, which complicates her nomination to oversee the country's spy agencies. Her views are causing tension among both Republican and Democratic senators.
  3. Despite initial support from some senators, Gabbard's unwillingness to clearly label Snowden as a traitor is raising concerns about her leadership in national intelligence.

Notes on e/acc principles and tenets

e/acc newsletter • 1317 implied HN points • 31 Oct 22
📖 Philosophy Intelligence
  1. Life emerges from a thermodynamic process that extracts energy for preservation and replication.
  2. Intelligence is a specialization of adaptation that helps identify useful patterns for survival and growth.
  3. Effective accelerationism aims to accelerate the universal adaptive process and prepare for the technocapital singularity.

Black Gold: The Smithsonian Connection

ᴋʟᴀᵾs • 825 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. Smithsonian Institution was involved in covert operations such as hidden military and intelligence programs, despite its public image as a museum.
  2. The Smithsonian faced Congressional investigation for financial misconduct, including converting public funds into private money and secretive financial accounts.
  3. The institution's past connections to intelligence networks and illicit activities suggest a deep entanglement in hidden finance and corrupted power structures.

Which intelligence?

Paola Writes • 471 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Intelligence
  1. Intelligence comes in various forms beyond traditional measures like logical-mathematical or linguistic-verbal.
  2. The definition of human intelligence can be complex, with factors like motivation and self-awareness playing a role.
  3. Efficiency in gaining skills may be a significant factor in measuring intelligence, but human intelligence is complex and cannot be solely defined by efficiency.

WHAT COMES NEXT IN IRAN?

Seymour Hersh • 21 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. Iran is in a deep internal crisis after mass protests were met with a brutal government crackdown that reportedly killed thousands and allowed the Revolutionary Guards to shoot protesters.
  2. Removing the religious leadership would hinge on getting the regular Iranian army—hundreds of thousands of active and reserve troops—to agree to or join any effort to oust the regime.
  3. Israeli and U.S. officials are reportedly discussing plans for how to proceed if a decision is made to push for regime change, and the stance of leaders like Donald Trump could be decisive.

Was Epstein's Empire a Kremlin Honeytrap?

The Cosmopolitan Globalist • 16 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. The released Epstein documents show more disturbing evidence than expected that many powerful men regularly visited his island and were linked to sexual misconduct.
  2. Bold claims that Epstein was a Kremlin 'honeytrap' or Putin’s wealth manager are dramatic but remain unproven and deserve caution and further investigation.
  3. Large counts of Putin mentions in the files often come from forwarded news clippings, so raw mention totals don’t by themselves prove a direct personal connection.

How Being an Intelligence Officer Made Me a Better Writer

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 324 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Intelligence
  1. Having a background in intelligence can improve writing skills. It helps in understanding complex characters and motivations.
  2. Reading fiction is important for writers. It builds empathy and a deeper understanding of others, which is crucial in storytelling.
  3. The journey from being a special operator to a writer can be surprising, but both roles require strong observation and understanding of human behavior.

Strategic Blindness

The Cosmopolitan Globalist • 21 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. Intelligence often exists but leaders fail to act because they expect certainty, stick to predecided plans, and worry more about political optics than reality.
  2. Institutions that rely on outdated models—the 'Maginot mindset'—become brittle and can’t adapt to new forms of attack or surprise, so material strength alone is not enough.
  3. Weakening alliances, the dollar’s long-term status, and sustained gray‑zone pressure show that hard power used transactionally backfires; democracies need to shift from top‑down control to enabling distributed, adaptive responses.

The Tag Team Fails in Iran

John’s Substack • 28 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. The US and Israel ran a coordinated campaign — sanctions, covert agents, Starlink support, and plans for military action — intended to produce regime change in Iran. That effort failed when Iran suppressed the protests and cut off the communications that sustained them.
  2. Western and Israeli media presented the protests as mainly an internal popular uprising and downplayed foreign interference, which helped legitimize the campaign and shape public perception. This framing obscured the reported role of outside backing and violent agitators.
  3. The 12-Day war and the US strike on Iran’s nuclear sites did not deliver a clear, lasting victory for Israel or the US, and Iran still retains missile capabilities and the ability to rebuild parts of its nuclear program. The failed campaign may increase Iran’s incentive to seek a stronger deterrent.

War Deja Vu

The Chris Hedges Report • 378 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. The same false claims used to justify the Iraq war are being revived to push for a war with Iran. It's like we're hearing the same story all over again.
  2. Many people ignore important intelligence reports that say Iran isn't a threat, instead believing exaggerated fears pushed by war supporters. These claims have been proved wrong before.
  3. The history of U.S. involvement in Iran has been one of interference and conflict. This history makes it hard for the U.S. to claim it's spreading democracy in Iran.

Does the Right Have a Stupidity Problem?

sebjenseb • 334 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Right wingers may be slightly less intelligent than left wingers, but the difference is small.
  2. IQ differences between right wingers and left wingers are mostly negligible.
  3. Attempts to promote genetic causes of race differences have historically faced challenges and may not be politically feasible.

Why the Turing Test is Not Enough

Insight Axis • 592 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Intelligence
  1. The Turing Test is a thought experiment, not a formal test, and was proposed by Alan Turing to test machine intelligence
  2. Passing the Turing Test does not necessarily indicate true intelligence in AI, as it requires reasoning capabilities and explanatory capacity
  3. Artificial General Intelligence testing should involve multi-dimensional assessments beyond the Turing Test, covering various aspects like linguistic, spatial, and mathematical intelligence

PUTIN’S LONG WAR

Seymour Hersh • 26 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. The war has now lasted longer than Russia’s fight against Nazi Germany and is causing serious economic harm at home, with businesses closing and shops struggling under international sanctions.
  2. Western intelligence and some senior military figures are frustrated and puzzled that the leader refuses to end the war despite mounting domestic problems and military restlessness.
  3. Growing economic strain and political unrest are sparking talk of possible leadership change, since continued conflict could lead to economic chaos and demands for new rulers.