Updated Threats

How federal agencies are responding to the Trump assassination attempt

FBI, Secret Service, and others are deploying personnel in response to Saturday's shooting.

Threats

DHS details how AI could amplify biological, chemical threats

While access to laboratory facilities is still a hurdle, a new report notes that cloud labs could allow the stealthy development of weapons components. 

Threats

'I feel really good' about election security, former NSA chief says

Paul Nakasone says the intelligence community has everything it needs to fight election interference.

Ideas

A militarized immigrant roundup won't work the way Trump says

Among the reasons: the Eisenhower administration paired its roundup with a massive guest-worker program that gave Mexican workers legal status.

Policy

Controversial surveillance program gets 2-year extension

Biden signed a law that extends Section 702 authorities into 2026—and lacks proposed limits on intelligence agencies' right to gather and search Americans' communications.

Threats

Russian hackers sabotaged Texas water-treatment plant: cyber firm

If officials confirm it, Moscow would join the list of recent foreign infiltrators of U.S. water infrastructure.

Science & Tech

The Navy is using robot ships to deter human smuggling out of Haiti

4th Fleet’s experiments with unmanned systems are a “game changer” for monitoring illicit activity, commander says

Threats

Expect China to attack US infrastructure within 3 years, MITRE CTO says

The US needs to figure out how to disconnect its industrial-control systems from its networks—and fast, says a top leader of the defense R&D not-for-profit.

Ideas

Jan. 6 showed the power of 'networked incitement'

A media and disinformation expert explains the danger of political violence orchestrated over social media.

Science & Tech

DHS aims to lead in fight against ‘adversarial’ AI

The Homeland Security Department is already putting artificial-intelligence tools to use—largely against AI-powered threats.

Threats

To solve national security problems, the US may have to rethink higher education

Advanced STEM degrees take too much time and cost too much, said the former science and tech head at Homeland Security.

Defense Systems

Russian cruise missiles have US Air Force scouting for thousands of acres of land

Six over-the-horizon radar sites are envisioned in the United States and Canada, say officials with prospective bidder Raytheon.

Ideas

The newest threat to elections is AI-boosted disinformation

Studying how Russia, China, and Iran meddle in other countries can help the U.S. prepare for 2024.

Ideas

Can a nationwide emergency-alert test restore public trust?

The Oct. 4 text message is supposed to reach all compatible devices in the U.S. It could shed light on how government agencies can improve their emergency communications.

Science & Tech

Predictive policing software terrible at predicting crimes

A software company sold a New Jersey police department an algorithm that was right less than 1% of the time.