The hottest Intelligence Substack posts right now

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CIA-adjacent VC community convenes in Boston during ice storm

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 691 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. A group of former CIA members and venture capitalists met in Boston to discuss new tech ideas for military and safety purposes. They talked about big topics like cybersecurity and defense technology.
  2. One interesting pitch was about using micro nuclear reactors to power U.S. military bases. They also discussed how these reactors could be involved in cryptocurrency mining.
  3. The importance of developing U.S. technology to stay competitive against countries like China was a hot topic. Everyone agreed that the U.S. must innovate to keep up.

The genetics of intelligence: Exploring the link between DNA and IQ

Nucleus Genomics • 19 implied HN points • 14 Aug 24
🔬 Science Intelligence
  1. IQ is affected by both genetics and environment, with genetics accounting for about 50% of IQ scores. This means there are things we inherit from our parents that can influence how we score.
  2. Research has found specific DNA differences, called genetic variants, that seem to be linked to higher IQs. These variants don’t work alone but together can give insights into intelligence.
  3. The Nucleus IQ score uses genetic data to predict how your DNA might influence your IQ score, reflecting the latest research in this area. It's an evolving field, and there's still much to learn about genetics and intelligence.

My Takes on the Election

In My Tribe • 865 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. People can argue about why the Democrats lost, but there are many reasons to consider. Each side will focus on factors that support their views and can raise their status.
  2. J.D. Vance could keep Trump voters happy, but many voters are unsure about Trump. If things go wrong, there might be a quick change in popularity for him.
  3. The government can't keep increasing debt forever. The challenge will be finding ways to cut spending that don't upset voters. Intelligence agencies also need to be managed well to make sure they work effectively.

How to Make A Fortune on Regime Change!

The Corbett Report • 19 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. Prediction markets let people bet real money on geopolitical events and can sometimes pay out large sums to those who predict correctly.
  2. These markets create strong incentives for insider trading, misinformation, and even for powerful actors to manipulate events to profit.
  3. Because of the moral, legal, and security risks — especially with high-profile backers involved — lawmakers and regulators are moving to restrict or oversee these platforms.
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US intel hid high-level doubts about "Russian interference", docs reveal

Aaron Mate • 224 implied HN points • 22 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. U.S. intelligence agencies expressed low confidence in the claim that Russia hacked and leaked Democratic Party emails. They had doubts but didn't share them publicly.
  2. Despite the lack of evidence, officials promoted the narrative that Russia interfered to help Trump. This narrative became widely accepted even when it faced internal skepticism.
  3. Documents reveal that U.S. officials, influenced by political motives, suppressed dissenting views within the intelligence community to support the narrative of Russian involvement.

Transcript: America This Week, Episode 78: "The Surveillance State is a Moody, Sadistic Child"

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 1634 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. The rise in Bitcoin price can serve as a proxy for general anxiety felt by the investing public, reflecting concerns about uncertain times.
  2. A notable news development was the New York Times article revealing the ways in which the CIA assists Ukraine in its conflict against Putin.
  3. The general anxiety levels are increasing across various facets, not just limited to one area.

The Credibility Crux of COVID Origins

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 29 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. A credibility crisis around COVID origins arose because powerful institutions and some academics suppressed or discredited evidence pointing to a lab origin, poisoning public trust and academic debate.
  2. Forensic bioattribution is hard and underdeveloped, so governments must fund new methods, data sources, and standards to reliably determine whether a virus came from a lab.
  3. A new, insulated national security science institution is needed to recruit top scientists, avoid foreign influence, integrate intelligence and scientific rigor, and restore credible investigation into high‑consequence biological events.

Tulsi Gabbard Holds the Knife

Thinking about... • 641 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Tulsi Gabbard is seen as unqualified to lead U.S. intelligence due to her past support for controversial regimes and spreading false information.
  2. Her actions, including justifying violence against civilians and promoting propaganda, raise concerns about her intentions and reliability.
  3. If she were to lead national intelligence, it could put U.S. safety at risk and harm relationships with allies.

A Senator, A University and...CIA Farmboys?

The Hunt for Tom Clancy • 412 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. The story involves spies, cops, suspected drug dealing, and time in jail at a place called Camp Peary.
  2. CIA operations officers are trained at Camp Peary, also known as 'The Farm', adopting pseudonyms for their careers.
  3. An incident with a CIA instructor and student during a simulated agent meet at a university is shared, but the full details are available for paid subscribers only.

The Molecular Genetics of Cold Winters Theory

Anglo Reaction • 412 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🔬 Science Intelligence
  1. The theory of Cold Winters suggests that intelligence was a response to the harshness of nature.
  2. Intelligence is higher among individuals further from the equator due to seasonal ecologies.
  3. Genetic studies indicate that human intelligence increased after leaving Africa, aligning with the Cold Winters Theory.

Gentleness and the artificial Other

Joe Carlsmith's Substack • 255 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Intelligence
  1. Artificial intelligence poses a significant risk as a potential second advanced species on Earth.
  2. Approaching AI with care and reverence, like interacting with other intelligent species, is crucial.
  3. Understanding the complexity and potential sentience of AI is key, as they may not be mere powerful machines but complex, fascinating entities.

From CIA station chief to AI chatbots to Trump-adjacent lobbying

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 529 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Enrique de la Torre, a former CIA station chief, has now joined a lobbying firm with ties to the Trump administration. This shows a trend of government officials moving to private sector roles.
  2. De la Torre criticized the CIA's new AI system for profiling world leaders, calling it inadequate compared to his ideas. This highlights ongoing discussions about the effectiveness of technology in government work.
  3. His views on U.S. foreign policy, especially in Latin America, suggest he will push for strong stances against countries like Cuba and Venezuela in his new role. This aligns with certain hawkish perspectives in U.S. politics.

Sunday Strip: The Limited Hangout

Who is Robert Malone • 34 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Congress inserted broad redaction powers into law, which lets the government conceal potentially compromising involvement and allows politicians to avoid accountability for their role in that setup.
  2. Pride symbols and rainbow imagery are being placed in child-focused spaces like cartoons and events, and the piece claims this is intentional marketing aimed at attracting or grooming children.
  3. Many politicians are accused of hypocrisy for creating the redaction rules that protect their allies while later blaming others like the DOJ when those protections are used.

The next year of AI target analysis

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 467 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Intelligence
  1. AI is being used to improve how military targets are tracked and analyzed. This means we could see continuous updates on things like tanks, instead of just occasional snapshots.
  2. Companies like Anthropic and Google are investing big in AI for defense purposes. They're aiming to compete with others, like OpenAI, for military contracts and capabilities.
  3. The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is working on integrating AI systems to enhance their intelligence efforts, but it's facing some challenges with existing technologies.

December 29, 2025

Letters from an American • 25 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. The U.S. has carried out strikes tied to drug trafficking in Venezuela that officials have not fully explained, and reporting indicates the CIA used drones to hit a remote port linked to a gang.
  2. Trump met with Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago after Russia launched heavy strikes on Kyiv; U.S. officials did not greet Zelensky while Trump praised and repeatedly consulted with Putin and pushed a peace approach critics say could cede Ukrainian territory.
  3. Documented past contacts between Trump allies and Russian interests, plus Russia’s economic strain from the war, suggest Putin is pushing for territorial concessions and sanctions relief, and critics worry Trump’s negotiating stance favors those Russian aims.

Top Links 602 Vibe cession born out. America's Hindenburg moment. The CIA's shadow banking & why guns are different.

Chartbook • 500 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. The term 'vibe cession' suggests a cool down in economic enthusiasm. This means people may be feeling less optimistic about the economy.
  2. America's 'Hindenburg moment' refers to a serious crisis or failure. It's a warning sign that something big could go wrong.
  3. The CIA's involvement in shadow banking shows the different ways money can be used, especially when it comes to guns and security. This has implications for how we view finance and power.

To push war on Iran, Trump sides with Israel over US intel

Aaron Mate • 215 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Trump is ignoring the U.S. intelligence reports saying Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapons program. This raises concerns about the reliability of information in decisions about war.
  2. By siding with Israel, Trump seems to be prioritizing their interests over American intelligence findings. This could lead to a risky situation.
  3. The push for war may not be based on accurate information, highlighting the importance of questioning motives behind foreign policy.

The quiet integration of 'Project Maven' and the Pentagon's cloud with 'Minotaur' maritime border surveillance

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 590 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Project Maven is being integrated with the Minotaur Mission System to help border surveillance. This setup is used by the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection.
  2. The Minotaur system combines different types of surveillance data, making it easier to detect illegal activities. It links sensors, cameras, and radar into one automated system.
  3. Amazon Web Services is involved in providing cloud support for Minotaur, highlighting the role of big tech in military surveillance programs.

DRAFT: Do Birds Do It Much Better? (Intelligence, That Is), & Other Topics Related to the Deep Substrate of Economic History

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 184 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
💾 History Intelligence
  1. The evolution of human intelligence is tied closely to our ability to learn and communicate as a group, not just the individual brain's development.
  2. Birds and some other animals have developed intelligence in their own ways, showing that complex thinking can exist in brains much smaller than humans.
  3. Different species can reach similar levels of intelligence using different brain structures, which suggests that intelligence can evolve independently in various forms.

RTF lecture invitation with Gordon McCormick - 1979: A Polarized Persia (Jan. 28 at 2pm ET)

Matt Ehret's Insights • 157 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. Live lecture on January 28 at 2pm Eastern Time with Gordon McCormick about Anglo-American intelligence in the Middle East and the 1979 Iranian revolution
  2. Presentation will focus on the historical influence of Anglo-American intelligence in Iran
  3. Event organized by the Rising Tide Foundation and requires paid subscription to access

Under Trump, the CIA is still covering up its Russiagate fraud

Aaron Mate • 143 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. A CIA review found that the intelligence community, during Trump’s presidency, had flaws in its 2017 report about Russian interference in the 2016 election. However, they did not challenge the main claim that Russia influenced the election.
  2. Investigations into Russiagate by the Trump administration often did not hold accountable the key figures involved or address the origins of the allegations. Many important documents remain hidden, preventing full accountability.
  3. The controversy surrounding Russiagate not only affected Trump's presidency but also had lasting impacts on U.S. foreign policy, particularly its relationship with Russia and the situation in Ukraine.

Friday Funnies: BBC's Agonal breaths

Who is Robert Malone • 36 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Honeypots are used by intelligence agencies for blackmail rather than just cracking down on crime. They might keep important people quiet instead of helping victims.
  2. There should be a law passed to make it illegal for the government to use honeypots for any purpose, ensuring no exceptions are made.
  3. In politics, unity is crucial, especially for the MAGA movement, if they want to succeed in upcoming elections and tackle bigger issues.

Personality traits and intelligence

Stew's Letter • 255 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🔬 Science Intelligence
  1. Certain personality traits like self-esteem and compassion are generally helpful for cognitive abilities.
  2. Some personality traits like neuroticism and anxiety are generally unhelpful for cognitive abilities.
  3. Specific personality traits such as industriousness and openness correlate strongly with verbal ability.

Ralph Baric, the world's top coronavirus researcher, discussed "human adaptation" of coronaviruses with the CIA before Covid began

Unreported Truths • 42 implied HN points • 12 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Dr. Ralph Baric has significant connections with U.S. intelligence agencies, discussing coronavirus research with them before the outbreak of Covid-19.
  2. Baric's partnership with the Wuhan Institute of Virology raises questions about the lab's safety and the origins of the virus.
  3. Despite being central to controversial research, Baric has largely avoided public scrutiny or accountability regarding his work and its implications.

We Deserve Answers

Michael Shellenberger • 1462 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. The COVID-19 virus likely leaked from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology laboratory.
  2. The first three people sickened by the virus were scientists experimenting with coronaviruses in Wuhan.
  3. US government officials, including the FBI and Anthony Fauci, must provide answers on COVID-19's origins.

3 Name Problem

David’s Substack • 59 implied HN points • 25 Apr 24
💾 History Intelligence
  1. To understand a group's history, it's often complicated by their changing names and identities, especially in secretive environments like wartime propaganda.
  2. Different organizations used various cover names, making it hard to track who was working for whom and what they were actually doing.
  3. The identities of individuals, especially those in wartime roles, often shifted significantly, complicating research and understanding their true contributions.

November 28, 2025

Letters from an American • 28 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Senior envoys pushed a ‘peace’ plan that would accept Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian territory while sidelining U.S. diplomats and European and Ukrainian partners, and leaked calls suggest the plan closely matched Russian demands and could open big business opportunities.
  2. Immigration rhetoric has escalated into xenophobic, sweeping proposals — including mass deportations and stripping some naturalized citizens — with a shooting used to blame political opponents.
  3. National security institutions are being politicized and stretched into unusual roles, from military leaders conducting diplomacy to aggressive strikes that raise legal and war‑crime concerns, and controversial pardons that undermine oversight.

Le Bureau des Légendes edition

Why is this interesting? • 361 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Intelligence
  1. Le Bureau des Légendes is a French spy drama that focuses on the emotional side of intelligence work. It shows how the personal lives of agents are affected by their dangerous missions.
  2. The show differs from typical American spy thrillers by being slow-paced and realistic. It emphasizes psychological complexity and real-world geopolitical issues instead of explosions and action.
  3. Fiction can reflect reality in unique ways. Just like the writer Gérard de Villiers, who often wrote about future events based on insights from the intelligence community, 'Le Bureau' offers deep understanding of current world issues through its storytelling.

A Look at Spying by Israel in the U.S.

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 140 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Many former Israeli intelligence agents have high positions in major U.S. tech companies. This raises questions about how deeply Israel's influence reaches into American business.
  2. Unit 8200, an elite Israeli intelligence group, is known for serious military operations and has developed invasive surveillance methods that affect many people, including civilians.
  3. Apps and social media platforms aren't just tools for communication; they can be battlegrounds for information control, leading to concerns about privacy and data usage.

Fact Checking Brennan and Clapper

The Reactionary • 98 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Brennan and Clapper claimed they didn't use the Steele Dossier in their intelligence report, but evidence shows it was included. This raises questions about their honesty in defending their actions.
  2. They argued that their intelligence assessment was validated by thorough reviews, but recent findings contradict this claim, showing flaws in their analysis and conclusions.
  3. Brennan and Clapper denied that the Obama Administration silenced intelligence officials, but reports indicate some were pressured to support conclusions they didn't agree with, leading to concerns about integrity in the intelligence community.

Anomaly detection firm tied to numerous former CIA officials affiliated with Beacon Global accidentally published its confidential data brokerage and persona management agreements

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 854 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Orbis Operations, led by former CIA officials, accidentally published confidential data agreements.
  2. Anomaly detection techniques used by intelligence agencies and corporations focus on detecting anomalies and insider threats.
  3. National security data brokers like Orbis fuse various data sources for surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Former Obama CIA Chief Backs Nikki Haley

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 773 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Former Obama CIA Chief Michael Morell publicly supports Nikki Haley's presidential campaign with both donations and endorsements.
  2. Morell organized efforts to shape the 2020 presidential election by discrediting a report on Hunter Biden, a move tied to intelligence officials interfacing with the Biden campaign.
  3. Several high-ranking former intelligence and national security officials, including Michael Morell and Douglas Feith, are backing Nikki Haley's campaign for president despite limited voter support.

Is The U.S. Going to War with Iran?

OK Doomer • 126 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence
  1. Trump has threatened to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, marking a significant shift in U.S. rhetoric towards Iran.
  2. Despite prior claims that Iran wasn't close to making nuclear weapons, Trump is now insisting they are very near to having them.
  3. Trump is no longer seeking negotiations with Iran, instead demanding their unconditional surrender.

Top Links 536 The crisis in Cuba. Europe's dependence on the USA. The failure of intelligence in Ukraine & from Marx to Baumol to Butler.

Chartbook • 371 implied HN points • 20 Oct 24
🌍 World Politics Intelligence
  1. Cuba is facing a significant crisis, which could impact its people and economy.
  2. Europe relies heavily on the USA, affecting its political and economic decisions.
  3. There have been failures in intelligence regarding the situation in Ukraine, showing gaps in understanding global issues.

A History of Intelligence

Holodoxa • 199 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
🔬 Science Intelligence
  1. Animals like primates and octopus exhibit intelligent behavior through learning powerful "world models" which is missing in AI systems today.
  2. The book 'A Brief History of Intelligence' outlines five key evolutionary breakthroughs that led to human intelligence: steering, reinforcement, simulating, mentalizing, and language.
  3. Human intelligence has evolved through the ability to navigate environments, learn through trial-and-error, simulate future events, understand others' minds, and develop spoken/written language.