SSCI Hearing: Global Threats

[dc2london]

Today the Senate Intelligence Committee is holding its annual hearing on Global Threats to the US and our allies. The witness list is as follows:


Director
Daniel R.
Coats

Director of National Intelligence


Director
Michael
Pompeo

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency


Director
Admiral Michael
Rogers

Director of the National Security Agency


Director
Lieutenant General Robert
Ashley

Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency


Director
Chris
Wray

Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation


Director
Robert
Cardillo

Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

[jkjacq]

I'm listening!!!
thanks for live blogging

[dc2london]

God Bless WaPo for live streaming this on YouTube so I don't have to play it on my laptop and go back and forth between tabs

[dc2london]

Chairman Burr and Ranking Member Warner both express their gratitude to not only the Directors present but the rank and file of the IC who work silently and thanklessly. "This committee has your back," Senator Warner says.

[dc2london]

Warner: There is broad bipartisan consensus within this committee that Russia engaged in a broad attack on our elections, including at the state and local level, and using our social media platforms.
We've had over a year to get our act together, but we have no comprehensive plan.
POTUS remains unconcerned.

[dc2london]

Warner, a tech man himself, is highly concerned about not only Russia, but China's technological capabilities

[dc2london]

DNI Coats warns that Russia, China, North Korea and others will continue, and will increase, attacks on Democracy by sowing discord and undermining elections in the US and Europe

[dc2london]

Despite what Sarah claims, the ODNI does not seem to think ISIS is "on the run."

[jkjacq]

I'm sorta here, I have a huge thing I need to type today. so I am trying to be good and just listen.

And now I'm worried about space spying satellites.

[dc2london]

DNI Coats: "There should be no doubt that Russia views its disinformation campaign as successful, and the 2018 US elections as a target."

[dc2london]

Coats: The national debt is the most dangerous thing to the US

[dc2london]

NSA Director Rogers is super freaked out about cybersecurity. Urges cooperation between the federal government and private sector to identify threats and vulnerabilities more broadly.

[dc2london]

interesting consensus among the witnesses that "warfare" has changed bc tech is universal. Gone are the days of the Russians trying to steal the paper plans for a fighter jet; If we have developed a new technology you can bet Russia and China have or will develop it too.

[jkjacq]

All directors agree Russia fucked around in our systems and will continue to do so.

ARE YOU LISTENING WHITE HOUSE!!!

[dc2london]

Senator Warner asks each witness to state for the record whether they still view Russian intereference and disinformation as a persistent, ongoing threat.
Unanimous consent.

[dc2london]

DNI Coats confirms for Senator Warner that teams across the IC are working together to address the abuse of social media to undermine our democracy.

I suspect a new governmental agency/department will arise out of all of this, much like DHS arose from 9/11

[dc2london]

Directors Coats and Wray seem to suggest that the SM companies are starting to be more cooperative

[dc2london]

DNI Coats calls for CFIUS reform to block China from acquiring American tech innovation. That's interesting considering the CFIUS reforms just shut down by a private sector hissy fit.

[jkjacq]

Obligatory Fuck Risch post from me.

He thinks he knows better than all the directors.

[dc2london]

Senator Risch (R-ID) decries the politicization of the IC/FBI in the media. Well that was unexpected.

The differences between SSCI and HPSCI are glaring.

[dc2london]

Risch thinks Americans are super informed and know how to prevent themselves from being manipulated on twitter.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL bro have you ever BEEN on Twitter? We're so screwed.

[dc2london]

Pompeo: Don't be fooled by the dog and pony show at the Olympics. Nothing has changed in NK.
Rogers: If KJU thinks he can splinter our relationship with SK, he's delusional

[dc2london]

Senator Feinstein (D-CA) asks Pompeo whether KJU believes that the US Government does not seek regime change/collapse.

Pompeo responds that his analysts are concerned that KJU's handlers aren't being honest with him about his precarious position.

[dc2london]

Senator Rubio (R-FL) pursuing a line of questioning about undermining academia by bad actors. I'll have to dig into this a bit more bc I don't have the background on what he's discussing.

[dc2london]

Senator Wyden (D-OR)- WHATTHEFUCK happened with Rob Porter???!!

Wray: The FBI followed all standard procedures. We issued a partial security report in March, and a completed report in July. Follow-up inquiries were requested, and we conducted those inquiries. We closed the case in January.

So um yeah John Kelly and Don McGahn definitely knew.

[dc2london]

Wyden- explain yourselves WRT the Nunes memo and the oligarchs list.

Wray reiterates that the FBI had grave concerns about the release of the Nunes memo.

[dc2london]

yeah where are all the privacy advocates freaking out on Carter Page's behalf on the IC's position (against every expert in the field) that tech companies should build in back-door access to their stuff. Thank you, Senator Wyden!

[dc2london]

Senator Collins (R-ME) has been reading the Intercept.

Pompeo calls the reporting "atrocious" and "ridiculous." He states unequivocally that the CIA did not give any money, directly or indirectly, at any time, to the individuals named in the reporting.

[dc2london]

Senator Collins asks Director Wray to respond to accusations of corruption within the FBI.

Wray praises the Bureau and reminds the public that it is pursuing numerous investigations at all times to keep Americans safe.

[dc2london]

Wow. Every single intel director from every single NATO nation believes that Russia is trying to influence elections in their countries.