Latest news with #intelligencecommunity
Associated Press
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Gabbard's claims of an anti-Trump conspiracy are not supported by declassified documents
WASHINGTON (AP) — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard this month declassified material that she claimed proved a 'treasonous conspiracy' by the Obama administration in 2016 to politicize U.S. intelligence in service of casting doubt on the legitimacy of Donald Trump's election victory. As evidence, Gabbard cited newly declassified emails from Obama officials and a five-year-old classified House report in hopes of undermining the intelligence community's conclusion that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to boost Trump and denigrate his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Russia's activities during the 2016 election remain some of the most examined events in recent history. The Kremlin's campaign and the subsequent U.S. government response were the subject of at least five major investigations by the Republican-led House and Senate intelligence committee; two Justice Department special counsels; and the department's inspector general. Those investigations either concluded — or accepted the conclusion — that Russia embarked on a campaign to interfere in the election through the use of social media and hacked material. The House-led probe, conducted by Trump allies, also concurred that Russia ran an election interference campaign but said the purpose was to sow chaos in the U.S. rather than boost Trump. Several of the reports criticize the actions of Obama administration officials, particularly at the FBI, but do not dispute the fundamental findings that Moscow sought to interfere in the election. The Associated Press has reviewed those reports to evaluate how Gabbard's claims stack up: Russian election interferenceCLAIM: 'The intelligence community had one assessment: that Russia did not have the intent and capability to try to impact the outcome of the U.S. election leading up to Election Day. The same assessment was made after the election.' — Gabbard to Fox News on Tuesday. The documents Gabbard released do not support her claim. She cites a handful of emails from 2016 in which officials conclude that Russia had no intention of manipulating the U.S. vote count through cyberattacks on voting systems. President Barack Obama's administration never alleged that voting infrastructure was tampered with. Rather, the administration said Russia ran a covert influence campaign using hacked and stolen material from prominent Democrats. Russian operatives then used that information as part of state-funded media and social media operations to inflame U.S. public opinion. More than two dozen Russians were indicted in 2018 in connection with those efforts. Republican-led investigations in Congress have affirmed that conclusion, and the emails that Gabbard released do not contradict that finding. Shift in assessment? CLAIM: 'There was a shift, a 180-degree shift, from the intelligence community's assessment leading up to the election to the one that President Obama directed be produced after Donald Trump won the election that completely contradicted those assessments that had come previously.' — Gabbard to Fox News on Tuesday. There was no shift. The emails Gabbard released show that a Department of Homeland Security official in August 2016 told then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper there was 'no indication of a Russian threat to directly manipulate the actual vote count.' The public assessment the Obama administration made public in January 2017 reached the same conclusion: 'DHS assesses that the types of systems Russian actors targeted or compromised were not involved in vote tallying.' Putin's intent CLAIM: The Obama administration 'manufactured the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that they knew was false promoting the LIE that Vladimir Putin and the Russian government helped President Trump win the 2016 election.' — Gabbard on Truth Social Wednesday. The material declassified this week reveals some dissent within the intelligence community about whether Putin wanted to help Trump or simply inflame the U.S. public. That same question led to a partisan divide on the House Intelligence panel when it examined the matter several years later. Gabbard's memo released last week cites a 'whistleblower' who she says served in the intelligence community at the time and who is quoted as saying that he could not 'concur in good conscience' with the intelligence community's judgment that Russia had a 'decisive preference' for Trump. Such dissent and debate are not unusual in the drafting of intelligence reports. The Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee examined whether there was any political interference in the Obama administration's conclusions and reported that 'all analysts expressed that they were free to debate, object to content, and assess confidence levels, as is normal and proper.' In 2018, Putin directly addressed the question of whether he preferred Trump at a press conference in Helsinki even as he sidestepped a question about whether he directed any of his subordinates to help Trump. 'Yes, I did,' Putin said. 'Because he talked about bringing the U.S.-Russia relationship back to normal.' Steele dossier CLAIM: 'They used already discredited information like the Steele dossier — they knew it was discredited at the time.' — Gabbard to Fox News on Tuesday. The dossier refers to a collection of opposition research files compiled by a former British spy, Christopher Steele, whose work was funded by Democrats during the 2016 election. Those files included uncorroborated tips and salacious gossip about Trump's ties to Russia, but the importance to the Russia investigation has sometimes been overstated. It was not the basis for the FBI's decision to open an investigation in July 2016 into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, the Justice Department's inspector general found. Some of the records released by Gabbard this week also reveal that it was a Central Intelligence Agency human source close to the Kremlin that the agency primarily relied on for its conclusion that Putin wanted to help Trump and hurt Clinton, not the Steele dossier. FBI agents on the case didn't even come to possess the dossier until weeks into their inquiry. Even so, Trump supporters have seized on the unverified innuendo in the document to undercut the broader Russia investigation. Many of Steele's claims have since been discredited or denied. It is true, however, that the FBI and Justice Department relied in part on the Steele dossier to obtain surveillance warrants to eavesdrop on the communications of a former Trump campaign adviser, the inspector general found. FBI agents continued to pursue those warrants even after questions arose about the credibility of Steele's reporting. The dossier was also summarized — over the objections of then-CIA Director John Brennan, he has said — in a two-page annex to the classified version of the intelligence community assessment.
Reuters
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Justice Dept to assess claims of 'alleged weaponization' of US intelligence community
WASHINGTON, July 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice said on Wednesday it was forming a strike force to assess recent claims made by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about "alleged weaponization of the U.S. intelligence community." "This Department takes alleged weaponization of the intelligence community with the utmost seriousness," the Justice Department said in a statement.
Globe and Mail
17-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Thinking of Buying Palantir Stock? Here Are 2 Red Flags to Watch.
Key Points Palantir relies heavily on key customers for revenue. The artificial intelligence (AI) narrative is running ahead of fundamentals. Buying Palantir stock today might be a risky thing to do. 10 stocks we like better than Palantir Technologies › Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) is one of the most talked-about artificial intelligence (AI) stocks on the market. Its software plays a central role in helping governments and enterprises turn complex data into actionable insights -- and more recently, it doubled down on its AI strategy with the launch of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). With a strong brand and a mover advantage, the company seems positioned to benefit from the broader AI wave. However, beneath the compelling narrative, investors should keep a close eye on the fundamentals, as a few red flags could limit Palantir's upside if not addressed over time. Red flag No. 1: Revenue concentration is still a major risk Palantir's roots lie in government work -- and that legacy continues to define much of its business today. As of Dec. 31, 2024, 55 % of the total revenue was derived from government contracts, primarily with the U.S. Department of Defense and the intelligence community. These are large, sticky, and mission-critical deals -- but they also come with risks. For one, government spending is inherently cyclical and subject to the shifting winds of politics. A change in priorities or budget constraints could delay contract renewals or result in reduced spending. That's not a theoretical concern -- it has happened in the past and will likely continue in the future. Even more importantly, Palantir's total addressable market (TAM) serving the public sector is largely capped. Particularly, only a narrow group of allied nations, primarily in North America and Europe, can realistically use its software in the national security context. That places a natural ceiling on the company's government revenue growth runway. Add to that customer concentration, and the picture gets even more constrained. In 2024, the average revenue for the top 20 customers in Palantir was $64.6 million, totaling $1.3 billion, or 45% of its 2024 revenue of $2.9 billion. With such a high level of dependence on a few large customers, losing one or two of these key clients could have a material impact on growth and profitability. Palantir is trying to change this with its concerted effort to scale its commercial business. For instance, in the first quarter of 2025, U.S. commercial business grew 71% year over year, outpacing the U.S. government's revenue growth of 45%. The rapid adoption of AI and the launch of AIP could help the company grow its commercial adoption and reduce overall revenue concentration over time. However, until this shift is fully realized, revenue concentration remains one of the biggest risks for long-term investors. Red flag No. 2: AI narrative is running ahead of fundamentals Palantir's AIP platform is a significant part of why investor interest has soared. The idea is compelling: Allow companies to deploy intelligent agents trained on their proprietary data in a secure, controlled environment. It's a differentiated pitch, and one that aligns well with how enterprises are likely to adopt AI. So far, early indicators confirm that the tech company is on the right path. It grew its customer count by 43% to 711. It also increased the total commercial remaining deal value, which represents deals signed but not yet converted into revenue, by 47% to $3.1 billion, thanks to a record-setting $803 million deal closed in the U.S. commercial contract market in the fourth quarter of 2024. But here's the catch: While there are good reasons to be optimistic that this growth trajectory could continue, the reality is that groupwide revenue grew by "just" 29% in 2024. Stock price, however, jumped 410% (as of writing) in the last 12 months. In terms of valuation metrics, Palantir trades at a staggering 112 times price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, which implies that investors already factored in massive future success into today's stock price. It's not unusual for high-growth software companies to trade at lofty multiples early in their maturity curve. But in Palantir's case, the gap between valuation and current revenue scale raises questions. That could make the stock vulnerable if the AI opportunity comes out short, or if enterprise AI adoption is slower than expected. The silver lining is that there is a timing difference between deals signed and revenue inflow, so investors can expect a massive ramp-up of revenue in the coming quarters. Still, execution needs to be nearly flawless to support the current valuation level, let alone increase it further. Is Palantir a buy? There's a lot to like about Palantir. It's building real solutions, working with mission-critical customers, and creating a foothold in enterprise AI. But long-term investing requires more than just buying into a great story. It's about assessing whether the fundamentals can support the valuation being paid today. Right now, Palantir still has work to do. Revenue remains concentrated, and commercial traction -- while improving -- hasn't yet reached escape velocity. Combine that with a valuation that assumes breakout success, and Palantir's stock remains a high-risk bet. Should you invest $1,000 in Palantir Technologies right now? Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Palantir Technologies wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $679,653!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,046,308!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,060% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 179% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025
WIRED
03-07-2025
- Business
- WIRED
The Person in Charge of Testing Tech for US Spies Has Resigned
Jul 3, 2025 4:50 PM IARPA director Rick Muller is departing after just over a year at the R&D unit that invests in emerging technologies of potential interest to agencies like the NSA and the CIA, WIRED has learned. Photograph:The head of the US government's Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) is leaving the unit this month to take a job with a quantum computing company, WIRED has learned. Rick Muller's pending departure from IARPA comes amid broader efforts to downsize the United States intelligence community, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which oversees IARPA. A person familiar with Muller's plans confirmed to WIRED his departure from IARPA. Born during the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, IARPA is tasked with testing AI, quantum computing, and other emerging technologies that could aid the missions of spy agencies including the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency. The Trump administration reportedly has been moving to cut the workforces of intelligence agencies as part of the president's broad efforts to dismantle diversity programs and streamline government operations. Influential Republicans in the US Senate also recently have proposed legislation that would cut several programs from the ODNI, though IARPA isn't among listed targets. Muller, a chemist and long-time computer science researcher, had overseen some quantum computing programs at the Department of Energy before taking the reins of IARPA in April 2024. His final day at IARPA will be July 11, according to the person familiar with his plans. He is joining IonQ, which is part of a race to commercialize quantum computing. IonQ declined to comment. The technologies used by spy agencies are often shrouded in secrecy. But much of IARPA's work is public. It has funded dozens of research projects at universities and other labs across the country, including efforts to improve systems for facial and speech recognition. In April, Muller told Federal News Network that the cybersecurity risks of large language models would be a priority for upcoming research. The Trump administration has fired workers and slashed government grants for research at several other agencies, sparking nationwide protests and jeopardizing the future of science. The ODNI is seeking a budget of about $82 billion for the coming year, an increase of about 11.5 percent over the amount requested for 2025. But Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, has touted cutting her workforce by 25 percent this year. Last week, Senator Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, described Gabbard's agency as an 'overstaffed and bureaucratic behemoth' at which 'coordinators coordinate with other coordinators.' He called for cuts and other changes that he characterized as 'vital to keeping our country safe from the wide range of threats that we continue to face.' Spokespeople for Cotton didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the senator's views on IARPA. The White House also didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. IARPA was modeled on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, which has long been considered one of the federal government's most advanced research and development units with successful bets on technologies for vaccines, location tracking, and language translation.
Globe and Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Stratos Solutions Inc. Expands Headquarters, Deepens Roots in Fairfax County
Fairfax County, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 3, 2025) - Stratos Solutions Inc., an employee-owned professional technical services company supporting the U.S. intelligence community, will invest $1.58 million to expand its headquarters operations into a newly-acquired 5,000-square-foot space at 14840 Conference Center Drive, Chantilly. The project will create 28 jobs. "Stratos Solutions Inc. is proud to deepen our roots in Fairfax County, where we founded our headquarters and have maintained our headquarters for over 20 years," said Kevin Pratt, Chief Executive Officer of Stratos Solutions Inc. "This expansion reflects both our continued growth and our enduring commitment to supporting the missions of the U.S. intelligence community. We are excited to invest in our future here-adding new jobs, expanding our footprint and continuing to deliver the highest caliber of technical and advisory services alongside our trusted partners in the Commonwealth of Virginia." Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Fairfax County since its founding, Stratos Solutions specializes in delivering agile, mission-focused solutions across concept development, program planning and system delivery. With a team of seasoned professionals - 80% of whom possess field operations and mission experience - the company supports critical national security objectives. "We are excited that Stratos Solutions, Inc. is expanding their corporate headquarters and thank them for decades of commitment to our community," said Jeffrey C. McKay, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors."Stratos Solutions' groundbreaking work exemplifies the mission-driven excellence that defines the Fairfax County community and inspires economic growth in our region." Stratos Solutions continues to drive mission success and client value through innovation, global collaboration, and a people-first culture. It has grown to an industry leader with 80 employees and a 15-year retention rate of 96%. "It is an honor to celebrate the success of Stratos Solutions Inc. as they expand their headquarters here in Fairfax County," said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority."The company's long-standing presence and continued investment in our community is a powerful testament to the value of growing in a place that champions innovation, purpose and performance." Fairfax County Economic Development Authority worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to secure the project for Fairfax County and Virginia. VEDP will support Stratos Solutions Inc.'s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. "Stratos Solutions Inc.'s expansion in Fairfax County reflects the strength of Virginia's national security and intelligence ecosystem," said Governor Glenn Youngkin."With a commitment to excellence and a legacy of service to the U.S. intelligence community, Stratos is exactly the type of company we want growing here in the Commonwealth. I applaud their decision to invest in new space, create high-quality jobs and continue advancing critical missions from right here in Virginia." Cannot view this video? Visit: FCEDA promotes Fairfax County as one of the world's top locations for business and talent, and offers site location and business development assistance, and connections with county and state government agencies, to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County. FCEDA is headquartered in Tysons, Fairfax County's largest business district, and maintains offices in key global business centers: Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles and Seoul. For more information about FCEDA, visit or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and YouTube. To view the source version of this press release, please visit
