National Security

Gina Haspel (in white), the nominee to lead the CIA, is welcomed at her confirmation hearing before the Senate intelligence committee by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. (seated), and Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., in Washington on May 9. The committee

Senate Panel Approves Gina Haspel As CIA Chief; Confirmation Appears Likely

4:21pm May 16, 2018

by Greg Myre

The intelligence committee approved her 10-5. With several Democrats backing Haspel, she looks headed for confirmation in the full Senate despite her role in the CIA's waterboarding program.

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The Senate intelligence committee, led by chairman Richard Burr (right) and vice chairman Mark Warner, endorsed with their colleagues the findings of the U.S. intelligence community.

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Senate Intel Panel Endorses U.S. Spies' Finding That Russian Attack Aided Trump

3:53pm May 16, 2018

by Tim Mak

The committee used a bipartisan report to show solidarity with the intelligence community — and break with its counterpart in the House.

Gina Haspel, the nominee to be CIA director, testifies at a Senate intelligence committee hearing on May 9. Haspel now appears to have enough Senate support to win confirmation.

Gina Haspel: CIA Should Not Have Carried Out 'Enhanced Interrogation'

9:02pm May 15, 2018

by Greg Myre

The nominee to be CIA director makes her remarks in a letter that brings immediate support from three Democractic senators. She now appears to have sufficient backing to win Senate confirmation.

A satellite image released and notated by Airbus Defense & Space and 38 North on March 30 shows the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Korea.

Satellite Photos Show North Korea Razing Nuclear Test Site, Analysts Say

10:38am May 15, 2018

by Scott Neuman

North Korea recently pledged to begin dismantling the Punggye-ri site later this month in front of foreign media, but the security blog 38 North says its destruction is already underway.

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Taking A Look At Those Russia-Linked Facebook Ads

7:54am May 13, 2018

House Democrats have released over 3,500 Russia-linked Facebook and Instagram ads. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Wired reporter Issie Lapowsky about what's in the divisive political ads.

Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg speaks during the Russian International Affairs Council in Moscow on May 31, 2016.

The Russia Investigations: Another Oligarch Becomes Embroiled In The Imbroglio

2:15pm May 12, 2018

by Philip Ewing

Enter Viktor Vekselberg, the latest character to have a role in the Russia narrative. And how did information associated with Michael Cohen's banking records fall into Michael Avenatti's hands?

Comparing Nonproliferation Policy For Iran And North Korea

8:07am May 12, 2018

Mahsa Rouhi from the International Institute for Strategic Studies tell NPR's Scott Simon about the difference in pressuring North Korea and Iran to both give up nuclear ambitions.

Sept. 11 Architect Wants To Tell Senators About Haspel

8:07am May 12, 2018

David Nevin is lead defense attorney for Sept. 11 planner Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. He tells NPR's Scott Simon that Mohammed wants to share information relevant to Gina Haspel and the CIA.

Who Paid Michael Cohen?

8:07am May 12, 2018

by Ryan Lucas

AT&T has acknowledged paying hundreds of thousands to Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, at a time when it was fighting the administration's opposition to its proposed merger.

Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, left, and billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, launched a foundation that the FBI warned was a clandestine attempt to pilfer American technical secrets.

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FBI Warned Of Russian Intelligence Links To Oligarch In Cohen Payment Allegation

5:49pm May 11, 2018

by Tim Mak

The FBI used an unusual newspaper column to caution that a foundation controlled by Viktor Vekselberg might be a conduit for Russian technology espionage.