Latest news with #MikeCollins
CBS News
24-05-2025
- Science
- CBS News
The Gault in Central Texas is reshaping history, telling the story of the earliest humans in the Americas
On an unremarkable stretch of roadway, just north of Austin, you'll find Gault. It's an archaeological site so significant that textbooks have been rewritten and experts have challenged what they thought they knew about when the first humans came to the Americas. And it's right in our backyard. A look at the Gault's history "It's a place that has been known and used by indigenous people for tens of thousands of years, probably, back maybe 18,000 years," said archaeologist Mike Adler, PhD. Adler also chairs SMU's Anthropology department. He, too, is eager to see what is uncovered at Gault. "What did they eat? What were they doing?" Adler pondered. "People were here. And people were here very early, much earlier than we used to think. That's exciting." The earliest humans in the Americas have been called "the Clovis Culture". The findings at Gault predate even that by thousands of years. Experts haven't agreed on what to call the evidence of those even earlier humans, so right now they're described as "earlier than Clovis". And the sheer magnitude of the evidence of their existence uncovered at Gault is astonishing even to veteran scientists. "And it's not a played-out site. It's not a place that's used up," Adler added. "There's more mystery under that dirt." A man on a mission And it is a mystery that most likely would have remained buried were it not for the perseverance of UT Austin Archaeologist Dr. Mike Collins. "He had the faith," Adler explained, before adding, "the personality, and the humility of someone to say, 'You know, I'll just keep being patient. I'll keep asking, and I'll try and get this place saved.' And then to put his own resources into it? Again. Not many colleagues would do that. So, it took a unique person to save a unique site." The story of Gault and how Dr. Collins fought to save it is shared in a new independent film called "The Stones are Speaking". Former journalist turned filmmaker Olive Talley, of Dallas, wrote, directed and produced the film. "The Gault site now is what it always has been," Talley said. "It's a bucolic little pasture along Buttermilk Creek in central Texas. If you walked out there today, and I hope your viewers will someday, you will wonder, 'Really, how could this place be so extraordinary when it looks so ordinary?' And that was the question, one of the questions that drove me." The film has generated new interest in the site and in exploring how the earliest Texans-- yes, even before there was a Texas – lived and survived. "There were these persistent places that people knew, depended upon," Adler said. "They knew when they could go there, what would be available, when the deer would show up. And so, you had this predictability that humans crave. We don't like unpredictability." And that's true, he said, of humans 18,000 years ago, as well. "Absolutely," Adler insisted. "We've been the same for a long time." Part of the fascination in finding places like Gault, he said, is in the natural curiosity about how people survived. "And, you know, in some cases, they didn't. And then you want to find out what happened," he said. People traveling across country to visit the historic site After many challenges, Dr. Collins purchased the site and then donated it, so that it could be preserved for future scientists. It's now in the care of the Gault School of Archaeological Research. The site is also open for monthly tours. "A couple of months ago, we had two ladies who were visiting a friend in San Marcus, and they heard about it," Mary Condon with GSAR said. "And they were from Pacifica, California. So, people are coming from all over. And they're like, 'We had no idea.' And it is one of the most important sites in the Americas." Visitor Al Kaufman said he has always been interested in archaeology and came out with a group from Austin. "Well, I learned some things," Kaufman said. "I mean, it's fun to be on the ground and see stuff because history tells us who we are." Experts said the Gault site is significant, in part, due to the sheer magnitude of what was found. Just 3% of the site has been excavated, but scientists have uncovered more than 2.5 million artifacts. Most of those are Clovis artifacts, but some 150,000 of those have been attributed to the as-yet-unnamed culture that is older than Clovis. The excavated site has since been covered to protect it. But the good news for those who want to preserve this space is that it's all still here. Honoring Dr. Collins' legacy "I started coming out here when I was nine," Elizabeth Collins said. She's a geophysicist with an interest in archaeology. How could she not be? She's also Dr. Collins' granddaughter. "And he's just so kind and so open, and he's never talking down to you," Elizabeth shared. "He's just sharing what he knows. And he's excited about it. And that always helps bring out the excitement in other people to learn and to see all of these amazing things." Elizabeth helps lead tours of the site and said she is incredibly proud to be able to help others experience Gault. "This is the biggest part of his legacy. And I am honored to be able to be a part of it, she said as she wiped away tears. "I've seen a lot of it, and I want other people to see it too." In her film, Talley shared that part of what drove her to document the Gault story and Dr. Collins' fight to save it is that he can no longer share it for himself. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2022. "Because, for me," Talley added with her eyes filling with tears, "if we don't have people like this in our society, if we don't have people who are driven to make a difference, what do we have?" Talley's movie about the fight to save Gault is winning awards at film festivals across the country. The 85-minute director's cut is now available on Apple TV, Google Play and Amazon Video Prime. As for Gault? "It's something to be proud of for so many reasons," Adler said. "First, that it's unique, that it's in Texas, that it's so old, but also, it's a story of potential harm, potential loss, and in the end, triumph. Mike Collins got it done. And saved this place." And that, he said, is a big deal. "It's a really big deal."
The Guardian
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Gabbard fires officials who released memo contradicting Trump's Venezuela gang claims
Tulsi Gabbard, the US director of national intelligence, has fired the two highest-ranking officials at the National Intelligence Council (NIC) just weeks after the council released an assessment that contradicted Donald Trump's justification for using the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members without due process. Mike Collins was serving as acting chair of the National Intelligence Council before he was dismissed alongside his deputy, Maria Langan-Riekhof. They each had more than 25 years of intelligence experience. The two were fired because of their opposition to the US president, Gabbard's office said in an email on Wednesday, without offering examples. 'The director is working alongside President Trump to end the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community,' the office said. The firings follow the release of a declassified memo from the NIC that found no coordination between Venezuela's government and the Tren de Aragua gang. The Trump administration had given that as reasoning for invoking the Alien Enemies Act and deporting Venezuelan immigrants. The intelligence assessment was released in response to an open records request filed by the Freedom of the Press Foundation. The latest round of intelligence firings comes as Gabbard and her team aim to eliminate what they view as bias and inefficiency within the intelligence community. On Twitter/X, Gabbard's deputy chief of staff, Alexa Henning, said the NIC officials, whom she referred to as 'Biden holdovers', were removed for 'politicizing intelligence'. While it's not uncommon for new administrations to replace senior officials with their own picks, the firings of two respected intelligence officials who had served presidents of both parties has prompted concern. US congressman Jim Himes of Connecticut, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said he's seen no details to explain the dismissals. 'Absent evidence to justify the firings, the workforce can only conclude that their jobs are contingent on producing analysis that is aligned with the President's political agenda, rather than truthful and apolitical,' Himes said in a statement. Though it's not widely known to the public, the National Intelligence Council plays a key role in the country's spy services, helping combine intelligence gathered from different agencies into comprehensive assessments used by the White House and senior national security officials. Collins was considered one of the intelligence service's top authorities on East Asia. Langan-Riekhof has served as a senior analyst and director of the CIA's strategic insight department and is an expert on the Middle East. Attempts to reach both were unsuccessful on Wednesday. The CIA declined to comment publicly, citing personnel matters. Gabbard also is consolidating some of the intelligence community's key operations, moving some offices now located at the CIA to buildings for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), her office said. They include the National Intelligence Council as well as the staff who prepare the president's Daily Brief, the report to the president that contains the most important intelligence and national security information. Sign up to First Thing Our US morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The move will give Gabbard more direct control over the brief. While the brief is already ODNI's responsibility, the CIA has long played a significant role in its preparation, providing physical infrastructure and staffing that will have to be moved to ODNI or recreated. Gabbard oversees and coordinates the work of 18 federal intelligence agencies. She has worked to reshape the intelligence community – eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs under Trump's orders and creating a taskforce to examine ways to cut costs and consider whether to declassify material relating to Covid-19 and other topics. Gabbard also has vowed to investigate intelligence leaks and end what she said was the misuse of intelligence for political aims. The Associated Press contributed reporting
Arab News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Gabbard fires 2 top intelligence officials and will shift office that preps Trump's daily brief
WASHINGTON: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard fired two veteran intelligence officials because they oppose President Donald Trump, her office said, coming a week after the release of a declassified memo written by their agency that contradicted statements the Trump administration has used to justify deporting Venezuelan immigrants. Mike Collins was serving as acting chair of the National Intelligence Council before he was dismissed alongside his deputy, Maria Langan-Riekhof. They each had more than 25 years of intelligence experience. The two were fired because of their opposition to Trump, Gabbard's office said in an email, without offering examples. 'The director is working alongside President Trump to end the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community,' the office said. The firings, which were first reported by Fox News Digital, follow the release of a declassified memo from the National Intelligence Council that found no coordination between Venezuela's government and the Tren de Aragua gang. The Trump administration had given that as reasoning for invoking the Alien Enemies Act and deporting Venezuelan immigrants. The intelligence assessment was released in response to an open records request. While it's not uncommon for new administrations to replace senior officials with their own picks, the firings of two respected intelligence officials who had served presidents of both parties prompted concern from Democrats. US Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said he's seen no details to explain the dismissals. 'Absent evidence to justify the firings, the workforce can only conclude that their jobs are contingent on producing analysis that is aligned with the President's political agenda, rather than truthful and apolitical,' Himes said in a statement. Though it's not widely known to the public, the National Intelligence Council plays a key role in the nation's spy services, helping combine intelligence gathered from different agencies into comprehensive assessments used by the White House and senior national security officials. Collins was considered one of the intelligence service's top authorities on East Asia. Langan-Riekhof has served as a senior analyst and director of the CIA's Strategic Insight Department and is an expert on the Middle East. Attempts to reach both were unsuccessful Wednesday. The CIA declined to comment publicly, citing personnel matters. Gabbard also is consolidating some of the intelligence community's key operations, moving some offices now located at the CIA to ODNI buildings, her office said. They include the National Intelligence Council as well as the staff who prepare the President's Daily Brief, the report to the president that contains the most important intelligence and national security information. The move will give Gabbard more direct control over the brief. While the brief is already ODNI's responsibility, the CIA has long played a significant role in its preparation, providing physical infrastructure and staffing that will have to be moved to ODNI or re-created. Gabbard oversees and coordinates the work of 18 federal intelligence agencies. She has worked to reshape the intelligence community — eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs under Trump's orders and creating a task force to examine ways to cut costs and consider whether to declassify material relating to COVID-19 and other topics. Gabbard also has vowed to investigate intelligence leaks and end what she said was the misuse of intelligence for political aims.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Gabbard fires top officials for alleged leaking after assessment on Venezuela contradicts Trump
Tulsi Gabbard is battling 'politicization' of the American intelligence community by firing top career officials on a senior team for allegedly leaking to the media. Fox News first reported the firings of two National Intelligence Council officials on Tuesday. Mike Collins, the council's acting chair, and his top deputy Maria Langan-Riekhof were the targets of the latest purge. A dozen others are reportedly under suspicion of leaking and are undergoing internal investigations. Gabbard is also set to bring the National Intelligence Council to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in McLean, Virginia, for oversight purposes, reported Fox News. The right-leaning news network further reported senior officials telling Fox that Collins was under an investigation for allegedly 'deliberately undermining the upcoming Trump administration' dating from the transition period. The official separately depicted his deputy, Langan-Riekhof, of being a champion for DEI-related efforts, while giving no examples. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that the pair were potentially targeted for a different reason: issuance of a memorandum that firmly rejected the Trump administration's political narrative surrounding immigration and violent drug-related crime hailing from Venezuela. The White House and other administration officials have insisted that Tren de Aragua, a violent drug cartel targeted by the Trump administration's rhetoric as the government ramps up deportation operations nationwide, is operating with the assistance and possible direction of Venezuela's government. But a document first reported by the Post last week states that 'the Maduro regime probably does not have a policy of cooperating with [Tren de Aragua] and is not directing [Tren de Aragua] movement to and operations in the United States.' The memo, a 'Sense of the Community Memorandum', was issued by the National Intelligence Council and authored by the National Intelligence Officer for the Western Hemisphere. The document was largely unsparing in its criticism of the Maduro government, which the U.S. does not recognize as the winner of legitimate elections. It called the Venezuelan government unable to control the extent of the country's territory and generally willing to cooperate with armed groups to ensure security. It also highlighted the role that low-level government officials take in facilitating Tren de Aragua's operations and profiting from the gang's illicit businesses. In some cases, the document said, low-level military and federal officials may cooperate with Tren de Aragua in some instances, like a 2023 prison raid in which the gang's leadership escaped, but in general was dismissive of a core part of the MAGA-world narrative: the description of migration through the US southern border as an 'invasion' from Venezuela or other countries. 'Venezuela's permissive environment allows Tren de Aragua to operate,' the intelligence community's assessment read. But it continued: 'the [intelligence community] has not observed the regime directing [Tren de Aragua] to push migrants to the United States.' The Post reported that there was no indication that either Collins or Langan-Riekhof had a 'direct role' in the memorandum's publication. But Gabbard's deputy chief of staff denied that premise entirely on Wednesday as she responded to a Post reporter who tweeted that the firings came after 'the council authored an assessment that contradicted Trump's rationale for invoking the Alien Enemies Act'. The administration's use of that law, passed in 1798 to regulate the activities of noncitizens during wartime, marks only the fourth time it has been invoked in the nation's history. 'No one from ODNI told you that, so of course you inject your own politically motivated opinion. That's wrong but who cares about facts, right? These Biden holdovers were dismissed because they politicized intelligence,' tweeted Alexa Henning, Gabbard's deputy chief of staff. Gabbard's efforts to weed out officials suspected of leaking to the media — a problem that vexed Trump and his team during his first presidency — has gone on for weeks, if not longer. "It takes time to weed them out and fire them," one ODNI official told Fox News, describing Gabbard's enemies as "career bureaucrats that are entrenched in Washington politics,' and ' Deep State holdovers' supposedly responsible for "trying to sabotage President Trump's agenda." Staffers on her team separately told Fox News in late April that Gabbard issued criminal referrals for three senior intelligence community officials to the Justice Department for allegedly leaking classified information to reporters at the Post and another news outlet; it wasn't immediately clear if those referrals included Collins and/or Langan-Riekhof. "Politicization of our intelligence and leaking classified information puts our nation's security at risk and must end," said Gabbard in April. "Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. [...] These deep-state criminals leaked classified information for partisan political purposes to undermine President Trump's agenda."
CNN
14-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Gabbard fires two senior intelligence officials focused on assessing threats to US
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has fired the top two career officials leading the National Intelligence Council, the senior most analytical group in the intelligence community whose job it is to understand and assess the biggest threats facing the United States. Gabbard fired Mike Collins, the acting chair, and his deputy, Maria Langan-Riekhof, on Tuesday, a spokesman confirmed to CNN. The dismissals come as Gabbard has vowed to root out what she has described as politicization of the intelligence community, and launched a war on leaks to the media that critics say is hollowing out the intelligence community of needed expertise from experienced professionals. Jonathan Panikoff, a former intelligence official who served on the NIC and has worked with both people, said Collins is 'an unbelievable professional who's served selflessly for 30 years and is a real China expert,' and Langan-Riekhof 'is not just a strategic thinker but an unbelievably gift analyst. 'The Director is working alongside President Trump to end the weaponization and politicization of the Intelligence Community,' the Office of the Director of National Intelligence spokesman said in a statement. CNN has reached out to Collins and Langan-Riekhof through an intermediary because their contact information was not immediately available. The dismissals come shortly after the ODNI — which Gabbard leads — released a declassified assessment from the NIC about the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua that undercut the Trump administration's key argument for invoking the Alien Enemies Act to speed up deportations, the key provisions of which had already leaked to the media and which Gabbard has said is under investigation. Gabbard, when asked about the assessment, blasted the media for 'twisting and manipulating intelligence assessments to undermine the president's agenda to keep the American people safe.' It's not clear whether the two episodes are linked in any way — but Gabbard's crackdown on authorized disclosures to the media has been a key pillar of her broad efforts to do what she has described as depoliticizing the intelligence community. Gabbard recently told conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly that there are 11 internal investigations into unauthorized disclosures to the media and said that she has referred three cases to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution. 'Really what is happening when they do that is they're undermining our democracy because what they're doing… is saying, 'I'm doing what's best for the country and I know what's better for the country than the majority of the American people who chose this duly elected president,' Gabbard told Kelly. 'The only way we bring about accountability is by doing the work of conducting these investigations.'
