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☆ Here's what the U.S.' enemies — and allies — might see from Marco Rubio as secretary of State
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) react during a campaign event at Dorton Arena, in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. November 4, 2024. Jonathan Drake | ReutersPresident-elect Donald Trump's choice of Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of State, arguably the world's most important diplomat, could change the dial when it comes to the U.S.' relationship with both its enemies and its allies. You know, adversaries are uniting — in North Korea, Iran, China, Russia — [and] increasingly coordinating," Rubio said. US Senator Marco Rubio speaks during a campaign rally for former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Doral, Florida, on July 9, 2024. And I think that's what [former President] Donald Trump is trying to say," Rubio said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Jonathan Drake, Donald Trump's, Sen, Rubio, Trump, " Rubio, Marco, Trump's, Giorgio Viera, China Rubio, Wei Dongsheng, State Rubio, Mark Wilson, Masoud Pezeshkian, Hassan Nasrallah, Nasrallah, Angela Weiss, Donald Trump —, Ukraine It's, It's, Mike Segar Organizations: Dorton, Reuters, State, Senate Intelligence, Foreign Relations, Trump, White, Allies, CNN, Republican, AFP, Getty, U.S ., Science & Technology, Visual China, Rubio, China, Politico, White House, U.S, NBC, PPL Center, Afp, Russia, NBC News, Republican National Convention Locations: Raleigh , North Carolina, U.S, China, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, North Korea, Doral , Florida, Beijing, Communist China, JIUJIANG, CHINA, Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, Washington, Israel, New York, Washington , DC, Gaza, Lebanon, Florida, Allentown , Pennsylvania, Tehran, Milwaukee , Wisconsin

☆ Trump likely to pick Marco Rubio to serve as his secretary of state, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Kaitlan Collins | Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —President-elect Donald Trump is likely to pick Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of state, two people familiar with his thinking told CNN, as he rounds out his national security team in a second term. Given his deep foreign policy experience and that he sits on both the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee, the State Department seemed like a good fit for Rubio. The Florida senator, a China hawk and finalist for Trump’s VP, was a constant on the campaign trail during Trump’s third presidential run. In 2016, Rubio and Trump’s relationship seemed it may be beyond repair when in the closing days of his campaign, Rubio publicly attacked Trump, saying he wasn’t going to “make America great. But since, Rubio and Trump’s relationship has not only thawed, it has strengthened.

Persons: Donald Trump, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Trump, Rubio, Ric Grenell, Grenell, Susie Wiles, Trump’s, He’s, ”, Jack Forrest, Lauren Fox, Steve Contorno Organizations: CNN, Florida, New York Times, Trump’s Cabinet, Senate Intelligence, Foreign Relations, State Department, Republican, Senate Intelligence Committee, Republican Party Locations: Florida, Germany, China, Washington, TikTok

☆ Frustration grows as federal agency struggles to combat election lies spread by Americans
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-02 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Some internal proposals to support election officials’ efforts to combat disinformation have made little headway. Jen Easterly, director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in an interview in Washington, DC, on October 2, 2024. Ben Curtis/APThe agency has advised election officials on how to communicate clearly with voters and to prepare for security incidents. Some election officials interviewed by CNN were skeptical about the federal government’s ability to debunk election lies that are part of a broader rise of misinformation in America. The agency now has a team of former election officials who provide physical and cybersecurity services to election offices around the country.

Persons: Homeland Security’s, CISA, Jen, Ben Curtis, Sen, Mark Warner, “, Elon Musk, Hurricane Helene, ”, ‘, Cait Conley, Stephen Richer, Conley, we’ve, ” Conley, ” Adrian Fontes Organizations: CNN, The Department, Homeland, Agency, Infrastructure Security Agency, Senate Intelligence Committee, Virginia Democrat, Social, Republican, Capitol, Meta, Twitter, YouTube, US, FBI, Russian Locations: Washington ,, Virginia, America, Maricopa County

☆ Chinese hackers targeted Trump and Vance’s phone data
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Chinese hackers also targeted people affiliated with the Harris-Walz campaign, another source familiar with the matter told CNN. US officials informed the Trump campaign this week that Trump and Vance were among a group of people whose phones were targeted by the Chinese hackers, one of the sources said. In a statement, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung attacked the Harris campaign for allegedly emboldening China. The activity is part of a much broader Chinese hacking campaign that has infiltrated multiple US telecommunications firms in the last several months. US officials have briefed members of the House and Senate intelligence committees on the Chinese hacking campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump, Vance, Harris, Walz, Trump, Steven Cheung, “, CISA “, ” Sen, Mark Warner, Mark Green Organizations: CNN, Senior Biden, U.S, Government, FBI, Infrastructure Security Agency, The New York Times, Justice Department, Trump, Major, Verizon, Lumen, Typhoon, Virginia Democrat, House Homeland Security, ”, Tennessee Republican Locations: China, People’s Republic of China, Iran, Russia

☆ Chinese influence operation targets U.S. down-ballot races, Microsoft says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

An army of Chinese-controlled social media bots is attempting to influence voters in Alabama, Texas and Tennessee while denigrating Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, according to research published Wednesday by Microsoft. The troll network has “parroted antisemitic messages, amplified accusations of corruption and promoted opposition candidates,” according to Microsoft. The bots amplified support for Blackburn’s election rival while spreading claims that she took money from pharmaceutical companies. Moore, McCaul and Blackburn are all running for re-election next month. The Microsoft researchers found the influence effort did not result “in high levels of engagement.” The report did not provide any metrics for how many Americans viewed the relevant social media posts.

Persons: denigrating Sen, Marco Rubio, Barry Moore of, Michael McCaul of, Sen, Marsha Blackburn of, Rubio, China “, Moore, McCaul, ”, Madison Green, Israel, —, China — Organizations: Microsoft, China’s Public Security Ministry, Embassy, Blackburn, Senate Intelligence Committee, Moore, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, National Intelligence, Reuters Locations: Alabama , Texas, Tennessee, Marco Rubio of Florida, Barry Moore of Alabama, Michael McCaul of Texas, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Washington, China, U.S, Israel, Russia, Iran

☆ China's new focus in U.S. elections interference is not Harris-Trump presidential race
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Barbara Booth | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

With the U.S. presidential election fast approaching, U.S. intelligence officials have issued a stark warning: China's latest efforts to influence the outcome is shifting away from the presidential race and toward state and local candidates. This new focus is part of a broader strategy by Beijing to build relationships with officials who could eventually advance China's interests. Local and state elections have become prime targets for Chinese interference because they receive far less scrutiny than national races, making it easier for China's influence campaigns to fly under the radar. One example of China's influence operations is its use of disinformation campaigns designed to exploit divisive issues such as immigration, racial justice, and economic inequality. Despite these efforts, controlling the full scope of foreign influence operations remains a daunting challenge.

Persons: they've, Brandon Wales, they're, cyberthreats, Javad Abed, Abed, George Floyd, Kent Walker, Mark Warner, John Cohen, Cohen Organizations: U.S, Infrastructure Security Agency, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, Microsoft, Intelligence, Senate Intelligence, Center for Internet Security Locations: Beijing, Washington, Russia, China, Iran, U.S, Wales

☆ Fact check: Trump, on a lying spree, made at least 40 separate false claims in two Pennsylvania speeches
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +24 min

As Election Day draws nearer, the Republican presidential nominee has made false claim after false claim on a dizzying variety of subjects. FEMA and migrants: Trump falsely claimed of the Federal Emergency Management Agency: “They have no money. Trump’s opponents and the election: In Reading, Trump falsely claimed of his election opponents: “They are cheatin’ dogs, I will tell you that.” In Scranton, he falsely claimed, “Their first meeting is: ‘How do we cheat?’” This is all nonsense. Trump’s border wall: Trump repeated his false claim that “I built over 500 miles of wall” on the southern border. Military equipment surrendered to the Taliban: Trump repeated his false claim that “we gave $85 billion worth” of US military equipment to the Taliban.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, Trump, “, Harris, Kamala Harris “ didn’t, It’s, Biden, Roy Cooper, Joe Biden, ’, ”, Harris ’, ” Trump, Walz, Tim Walz, –, Tim, “ everybody’s, Trump’s, Obama, Kamala, ” Harris, ” Roberto Briceño, ” Helen Fair, James Ott, ‘, ‘ That’s, Jack Smith, Smith, New York Times “, Charlie Stadtlander, Stadtlander, Mueller, ‘ He’s, ’ …, Dean Baquet, Arthur Sulzberger Jr, Donald Trump’s, “ Biden, Chris Wallace, Hunter Biden, ” Wallace, Wallace interjected, Freddie Mac, ” We’ve, Meghan McCain, McCain, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Nancy Pelosi, there’s, ” Biden, Robert Hur, Biden’s Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Congress, North Carolina Gov, Democrat, Democratic, CBS, Supreme, Minnesota Gov, Electoral College, Department of Energy, Biden, “, CNN, Venezuelan, of, Institute for Crime & Justice, Research, Birkbeck , University of London, House Republicans, Trump, KDKA, Service, Secret Service, International Association of Firefighters, Scranton Firefighters, Scranton Times, Tribune, Presidential, National Archives, Records Administration, New York Times, The Washington Post, ”, Intelligence, The New York Times, Times, ISIS, Military, Taliban, Pentagon, Fox News, China Locations: Pennsylvania, Scranton, Reading, ”, Hurricane, North Carolina, Washington , Montana, Colorado, New York City, Paris, fracking, Venezuela, Caracas, United States, United Kingdom, “, California, Butler, Butler , Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Blair County , Pennsylvania, Russia, Afghan, China, Moscow, Alexandria, New Hampshire, Florida

☆ Chinese hackers access US telecom firms, worrying national security officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | Evan Perez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

US officials are concerned about the potential national security damage done by the hacking, which they only recently discovered. US law enforcement agencies request access, through a warrant, to specific portions of that data as part of criminal and national security investigations. US officials have briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on the Chinese hacking campaign, two sources said. The Chinese hacking team in question is known in the cybersecurity industry as Salt Typhoon. FBI Director Christopher Wray has said that Chinese government-backed hackers outnumber FBI cyber personnel 50 to 1.

Persons: Lumen, Liu Pengyu, Christopher Wray, Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, Verizon, Lumen, Justice Department, FBI, Embassy, ”, Street Journal, Microsoft, Google Locations: China, Washington, Beijing, Washington ,, Taiwan, California

☆ Top Democrat urges Biden admin to do more to help local election officials fight a flood of disinformation
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Dan De Luce | Dan De Luce Is A Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

“Unfortunately, throughout this election cycle we have witnessed an unprecedented rise in targeted election disinformation campaigns,” Warner wrote to Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA). They say some understaffed state and local election agencies are ill-equipped to handle the problem and are uncertain how much they can rely on federal agencies for help. In his letter, Warner said state and local governments are hard-pressed to keep up with the rapid advances in AI-generated information operations. CISA has said previously that the agency has focused on helping educate the public and train state and local election officials about the tactics employed in disinformation campaigns. Instead, for any disinformation originating from within the U.S., it will likely be up to state and local election officials to flag it to voters.

Persons: Biden, NBC News . Sen, Mark Warner of Virginia, —, ” Warner, Jen, “, Sen, Mark Warner, Tom Williams, Donald Trump’s, Warner, CISA, Kamala Harris Organizations: Democratic, NBC News ., Senate Intelligence, Infrastructure Agency, Capitol, Inc, Getty, NBC News, Officials, FBI, Department of Homeland, Warner, National Intelligence Locations: Russia, Iran, China, Florida, U.S

☆ As threats grow, funds for election security see a squeeze
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Bob Ortega | Anna-Maja Rappard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

That’s why Maricopa County has spent over $864,000 in federal funds and more than $3 million in county funds to bolster its election security and processes over the past four years. Officials readily shared their worries with CNN, citing death threats, harassment, baseless lawsuits, onerous public-records requests and various security threats spurred by false claims about voter fraud. Amid these challenges, budgets for election security have been squeezed in several ways. Thousands of election workers across the country have reported receiving harassing, offensive or hostile communications, including since the 2022 midterms, according to the Department of Justice’s Election Threats Task Force. As recently as Tuesday, Trump threatened to prosecute and imprison election officials if he wins in November, as he cast doubt on the integrity of the upcoming election.

Persons: ”, Bill Gates, MAGA, Donald Trump’s, —, Ben Hovland, ” Hovland, ” Ben Hovland, Patrick Semansky, Hovland, Joe Biden, Biden, Sen, James Lankford, “, Louisiana hasn’t, they’ll, Colorado —, CNN they’ve, “ We’re, they’ve, John Michael Catalano, Elijah Nouvelage, Isaac Cramer, Katharine Clark, we’re, Cramer, Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Zuckerberg, Trump, Chan, George Christenson, Republicans don’t, Jim Jordan of, Alex Jones swooped, Kelli Ward, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Jenna Ellis, Kari Lake, She’s, Stephen Richer, Michael Chow, who’ve, Judge Scott Blaney, denialism, Kamala Harris, Arizona’s, Jeff Woolf, ” Woolf Organizations: Phoenix CNN, county’s, Supervisors, CNN, “, U.S, Election, Commission, National Association of, State, Help, Congress, FBI, US Postal Service, Tech, Civil, Center, Election Innovation, Research, Department, Force, South Carolina, South, Charleston County, Facebook, Democratic, Biden, Trump, FEC, GOP, Republicans, Democrats, Arizona Senate Republican, USA, Network, Arizona Superior Court, Republican Locations: Maricopa, Maricopa County, Washington, California , Georgia, Nevada , Oregon , Texas, Arizona , Georgia, North Carolina, Takoma Park , Maryland, Oklahoma, “ Louisiana, Nevada, Michigan, Louisiana, Delaware, Virginia, Colorado, Arizona, Georgia, Oregon, South, South Carolina, Fulton County, Atlanta, Charleston, Santa Fe , New Mexico, Pennsylvania, In Wisconsin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Jim Jordan of Ohio, China, Republic

☆ How Elon Musk amplified content from a suspected Russian election interference plot
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Is A Tech Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

Musk did not respond to an email Tuesday asking about the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty report and about his sharing of Tenet Media content. Representatives for X also did not respond to a request for comment about Musk or about X’s handling of Tenet content. In posts on X, Musk has appeared unconcerned about Russia’s influence operations. The day after the indictment dropped, Musk accused The Associated Press of pushing anti-Trump “propaganda” in its coverage of Tenet Media. Southern and other commentators formerly employed by Tenet Media have said that they did nothing wrong.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tenet’s, Donald Trump, Trump, Musk’s reshare, Tenet, Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson, Christopher Wray, ” Tenet, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Musk, X, Ben Shapiro, Josephine Lukito, ” Lukito, ”, Tim Pool, Rubin’s, Sen, Mark R, Martin Riedl, Lauren Southern, “, ” Musk, ” Southern Organizations: Elon, Tenet Media, NBC, Republican, White, Tenet, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Social Design Agency, Associated Press, Trump, University of Texas, “, Tech, Senate Intelligence, Meta, Microsoft, Warner, Democratic, CNBC, School of Journalism, Media, University of Tennessee, NASA Locations: Russian, Russia, Radio Free Europe, Moscow, Knoxville, Europe

While top executives from Alphabet , Meta and Microsoft are headed to Capitol Hill on Wednesday for a hearing on election threats, Elon Musk's X won't be participating. A representative for Sen. Mark R. Warner, the Democratic chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in an emailed statement that X "declined to send an appropriate witness." The hearing is titled "Foreign Threats to Elections in 2024 — Roles and Responsibilities of U.S. Tech Providers." On Wednesday, Musk shared a false story on X that claimed explosives were found in a car near Trump's planned rally in Long Island, New York. "Under X, they are absent and some of the most egregious activity has taken place" on the platform, Warner said.

Persons: Elon Musk's, Sen, Mark R, Nick Pickles, Pickles, Kent Walker, Nick Clegg, Brad Smith, Marco Rubio, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Merrick Garland, Musk, Kamala Harris, Harris, Warner Organizations: Microsoft, Capitol Hill, Warner, Democratic, Senate Intelligence, X, CNBC, U.S . Tech Providers, Republican, Social Design Agency, U.S . Department, Foreign Assets, Nassau County police, SpaceX, FAA Locations: Russian, Russia, Iran, China, Long Island , New York, Nassau County

☆ TikTok says it's not spreading Chinese propaganda. The U.S. says there's a real risk. What's the truth?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dilanianmug.Jpg | Ken Dilanian | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

Is TikTok trying to secretly influence Americans at the behest of the Chinese government? And an analysis of the ownership structure of TikTok parent company ByteDance, obtained by NBC News, argues that the company is deeply entangled with some of China’s major government propaganda organs. The most recent one, published last month, found that TikTok suppresses anti-China content compared to YouTube and other social media platforms. In recent years, according to media reports, Chinese government entities have increasingly taken golden shares in technology companies. “This report establishes that TikTok algorithms actively suppress content critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) while simultaneously boosting pro-China propaganda and promoting distracting, irrelevant content,” the researchers wrote.

Persons: —, TikTok’s, China —, ’, TikTok, ” Democratic Sen, Mark Warner, — Casey Blackburn, National Intelligence —, ”, ByteDance, Blackburn, Strider, ” Strider, Wu Shugang, “ Organizations: Congress, D.C, Justice Department, NBC News, Network, Research, Rutgers University, YouTube, Department, U.S ., Appeals, District of Columbia, Supreme, Strider Technologies, Communist Party of China, ” Democratic, U.S, of Economic Security, Emerging Technology, National Intelligence, TikTok, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, Net Investment, Technology, Communist Party, China Central Radio, Television Station, Beijing State, Administration, Investment, China’s Ministry of Education Locations: United States, Washington, U.S, China, Tibet, TikTok, People’s Republic of China, Tiananmen, Hong Kong, ”, Xinjiang, Beijing

☆ Meta bans Russian state propaganda outlets
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced Monday that it has banned Russian state media broadcaster RT and other Kremlin-controlled networks, alleging the outlets have engaged in deceptive influence operations and attempted to evade detection. “After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets. Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. Prior to Monday’s ban, RT had 7.2 million followers on Facebook and 1 million followers on Instagram. After the US Justice Department announcement, RT responded with mocking statements that did not address the specifics of the US allegations.

Persons: Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson Organizations: CNN, Meta, Facebook, US Justice Department, Tenet Media, Trump, US, Department, Microsoft, Senate

☆ Harris navigates Biden and Netanyahu as she considers her stance on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Edward-Isaac Dovere | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Up until now, Harris has been defined by working for President Joe Biden, arguably the most explicitly pro-Israel American president, even though his relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu has frayed. “President Biden brought to the White House a lifelong relationship with Bibi Netanyahu and a very mature history on the US-Israel relationship,” Murphy said. “The vice president has been a strong and longstanding supporter of Israel as a secure, democratic homeland for the Jewish people. “One can criticize specific policies of the government of Israel while still strongly supporting the state of Israel and the people of Israel. Soifer said she is satisfied that Harris remains committed to Israel — even after being read the indirect answer about whether the vice president considers herself a Zionist.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Harris didn’t, she’s, Netanyahu, ”, Richard Haass, George W, “, Israel —, hypotheticals, Donald Trump, Doug Emhoff, Kamala, that’s, ” Emhoff, Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, Bibi Netanyahu, ” Murphy, It’s, Israel, Harris ’, Dean Lieberman, Phil Gordon, Obama, Gordon, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, She’ll, Harris –, Netanyahu –, Israel ’, Ritchie Torres, Trump, Abraham, Abbas Alawieh –, –, ” Alawieh, —, Israel ”, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Jason Miller, Emhoff, He’s, Halie Soifer, Soifer Organizations: CNN, Israel American, Democratic, White, Foreign Relations, Bush’s State Department, Biden, Jewish Democratic Council of America, Jewish, Senate Intelligence, Israel, Council, ”, West Wing, New York Democrat, Iron, Michigan Democratic Party, Republican Jewish Coalition, Republican, Naval Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Indiana, Connecticut, Israeli, United States, Iran, U.S, America, Gaza, North Carolina, Ohio, Jerusalem, California, Los Angeles

☆ Alex Jones’ personal assets to be sold to help pay Sandy Hook debt as judge decides Infowars’ fate
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A federal judge on Friday ordered the liquidation of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones′ personal assets and was still deciding on his company's separate bankruptcy case. Judge Christopher Lopez approved converting Jones' proposed personal bankruptcy reorganization to a liquidation. He was still set to rule on whether Jones' company, Austin, Texas-based Free Speech Systems, also should be liquidated. It wasn't immediately clear what will happen to Free Speech Systems, which is Infowars' parent company. If Free Speech Systems' case is dismissed, the company could return to the same position it was in after the $1.5 billion was awarded in the lawsuits.

Persons: Alex Jones, Infowars, Senate's Dirksen, Jack Dorsey, Jones, Sandy, Christopher Lopez, Sandy Hook, Chris Mattei, Jesse Lewis, — Organizations: U.S, Intelligence, Capitol, Elementary, Speech Systems, Free Speech Systems, Systems Locations: Washington , U.S, Austin , Texas, Austin, Texas, Newtown , Connecticut, Connecticut, Texas and Connecticut

The National Security Agency collected the intelligence that gave US officials insights into China and Iran’s capabilities in producing deepfakes, one of the sources said. At a briefing last week, FBI officials warned that AI increases the ability of foreign states to spread election disinformation. US officials have maintained a high level of visibility into the AI and deepfake advancements made by countries including China, Iran and Russia since the 2020 election. Nearly 70% of Republicans and Republican-leaners said that President Joe Biden’s 2020 election win was not legitimate, according to a CNN poll released in August. The 2024 US election will present new opportunities for foreign influence operations.

Persons: “, ”, Lee Foster, Foster, ” Foster, leaners, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump Organizations: CNN, National Security Agency, NSA, Intelligence, US, Labs, “, Republican, Pew Research Center, FBI, Kyiv Locations: China, Iran, Russia, United States, Ukraine, Ukraine –

☆ The US secretly slipped ATACMS to Ukraine with more to come, putting high-value Russian targets in danger
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Kyiv used these long-range missiles to batter Russian helicopters in multiple strikes last year. T South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty ImagesThroughout the war, Ukraine has routinely pressed Washington to provide ATACMS so it could hit high-value Russian targets deep behind enemy lines. Kyiv used the M39 ATACMS variant in those attacks. Regardless of the variant, the arrival of additional ATACMS will likely compel Moscow to change its strategy and tactics. While the statement did not specifically mention ATACMS, it said the package contains "additional ammunition" for the HIMARS, which could include ATACMS.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Dan Rice, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ATACMS, Biden, Sen, Mark Werner, Zelenskyy, Serhii, Rice, AP Rice, Pat Ryder, ANATOLII STEPANOV, Vladimir Putin, Putin Organizations: Service, MGM, Tactical Missile Systems, US, South Korean Defense Ministry, Army Tactical Missile, Korean Defense Ministry, Getty, Kyiv, The New York Times, Reuters, General Staff, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Senate Intelligence, CBS, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, American University Kyiv, South Korea Defense Ministry, AP, Pentagon Press, Air Force, Gunners, Separate Mechanized Brigade, Armed Forces, Pentagon Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Moscow, United States, South Korea, Washington, Ukrainian, Russian, Crimean, ATACMS, Crimea, Donetsk Oblast, —, Russia, Kharkiv, AFP, NATO, Europe

☆ Live Updates: Biden Speaks About Aid Package for Ukraine and Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Zolan Kanno-Youngs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Artillery ammunition has been in short supply for the Ukrainian military for more than a year. Now that the Senate has approved a nearly $61 billion aid package to Ukraine, and with President Biden poised to sign it, desperately needed American weapons could be arriving on the battlefield within days. The Senate has approved a nearly $61 billion aid package to Ukraine. The Pentagon has prepared what a U.S. official said on Tuesday was a $1 billion military aid package to be rushed to Ukraine once Mr. Biden signs the funding bill. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general, said on Tuesday that the American aid package would allow for “advanced air-defense systems” to Ukraine but did not specify which kind.

Persons: Biden, Yehor Cherniev, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Mr, —, Doug Mills, ATACMS, Lynsey Addario, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Mark Warner, ” Mr, Brendan Hoffman, Oksana Markarova, Markarova, “, Ms Organizations: Artillery, House Republicans, Ukrainian, Tactical Missile Systems, New York Times Artillery, NATO, Pentagon, U.S, Reuters, Artillery Rocket Systems, The New York Times, Patriot, “, Air Force, Democrat, Senate Intelligence, NBC, ., The New York Times Weapons, Ukrainska Pravda Locations: Donetsk, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, United, Kherson, United States, Germany, ”, American, Virginia, Kyiv, Ukraine’s, Europe

☆ New US military aid package to Ukraine expected to be worth around $1 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration is preparing a new aid package for Ukraine that is expected to be worth around $1 billion, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN, and is set to be approved by President Joe Biden after the Senate passes a new foreign aid funding bill as soon as Tuesday afternoon. In briefings to Congress in recent weeks, administration officials have indicated that the US will likely send Ukraine long-range ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile Systems, for the first time as part of the new aid package, three of the sources said. Ukrainian officials have been asking the US both in private and in public for the long-range missile to target deeper behind Russian lines. Broadly, Russia has maintained a “significant quantitative advantage” over Ukraine in terms of munitions, manpower and equipment, a NATO official said earlier this month. The military aid will be sourced from the US’ own stockpiles through a funding mechanism known as presidential drawdown authority, or PDA, and will be the first PDA package for Ukraine since March.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, Bill Burns, Chris Cavoli, Sen, Mark Warner, we’ve, ” Warner, Bradley, ” Celeste Wallander Organizations: CNN, Senate, Army Tactical Missile Systems, US, CIA, NATO, Senate Intelligence, CBS, Pentagon, White, Command Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, Russia

☆ ‘Our artillery is starving:’ Ukraine holds its breath as US set to approve $60bn of military aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Andy Carey | Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The Ukraine aid bill, passed in the United States’ House of Representatives on Saturday, is now due to go to the Senate on Tuesday. At the top: artillery shells and air defense systems. “To win, we need ammunition… our artillery is starving,” an artillery reconnaissance commander with the 110th mechanized brigade, callsign “Teren,” told CNN after the vote on Saturday. While Ocheretyne itself is of no strategic value, it sits on a ridge, making it a desirable military target. “We need front-line air defense as much as we need protection for our cities and villages,” Zelensky said.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, Teren, Velyka, Patrick Ryder, we’ve, Mark Warner, Chasiv Yar, Rob Lee, Russian Su, Anatolii Stepanov, ” Zelensky, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba, CNN’s Andy Carey, Victoria Butenko, Daria Tarasova, Svitlana Vlasova Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, United States ’, 110th, CNN, Ukraine’s Eastern Command, Pentagon, US Department of Defense, Senate Intelligence, CBS News, Sunday, –, Kremlin, Nazi, Getty, Patriot, Tactical Missile Systems, Warner, US, Ukrainian Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, United, Russian, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Germany, Poland, Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk, Chasiv, Nazi Germany, AFP

☆ Ukraine aid will kill Russian momentum, but won't win it the war
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A $61 billion package of US military aid for Ukraine is being signed off. AdvertisementRelief swept the front line in Ukraine on Saturday after the US voted to release a long-delayed $61 billion package of military aid to help defend against Russia's invasion. But while it's likely to help kill Russia's momentum and give Ukraine much-needed support in the coming months, experts are cautioning that it doesn't ensure victory for Ukraine. Analysts said the aid bill will bolster Ukraine's defenses against a possible planned Russian offensive this summer. AdvertisementFor Ukraine to feel confident in winning the war against Russia, it will need more military aid beyond 2024.

Persons: —, Mark Warne, Vladimir Putin, Oleksiy Goncharenko, it's, George Beebe, Donald Trump, haven't, There's Organizations: Service, CNN, US, Ukraine, Senate, CBS, Ukrainian, Financial, BI, Republican, The Financial Times, European Union Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia

☆ Senate passes reauthorization of a key U.S. surveillance program after midnight deadline
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

After its midnight deadline, the Senate voted early Saturday to reauthorize a key U.S. surveillance law after divisions over whether the FBI should be restricted from using the program to search for Americans' data nearly forced the statute to lapse. The legislation approved 60-34 with bipartisan support would extend for two years the program known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. "If you miss a key piece of intelligence, you may miss some event overseas or put troops in harm's way," Sen. Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said. One of the major changes detractors had proposed centered around restricting the FBI's access to information about Americans through the program. "I think that is a risk that we cannot afford to take with the vast array of challenges our nation faces around the world," Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Friday.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden's, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Ayman al, Sen, Marco Rubio, shouldn't, General Merrick Garland, Garland, Schumer, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Democratic Sen, Mark Warner Organizations: Homeland, U.S, Capitol, Foreign Intelligence, White House, FISA, Republican, Senate Intelligence, Justice Department, United, Justice, Biden, U.S . Capitol, Democratic Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, harm's, United States

☆ CIA director warns Ukraine could lose war with Russia by the end of the year unless US sends more aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —CIA Director Bill Burns on Thursday warned that unless US sends more military support, Ukraine could “lose” the war against Russia by the end of the year. His comments mark one of the starkest warnings to date from the Biden administration on the stakes in Ukraine as Congress debates whether to approve a long-delayed aid package to Kyiv. In an effort to satisfy divided factions of the GOP, some of whom support and some of whom oppose aid for Ukraine, he has split the legislation into separate bills and the Ukraine aid portion is expected to come up for a vote on Saturday night. That would still be deemed “a loss.”Burns detailed the dire need for basic ammunition that Ukraine faces on the battlefield. He recounted two battalions — 2,000-plus man units — that had “15 artillery rounds per day” and “a grand total of 42 mortar rounds,” respectively.

Persons: Bill Burns, “, Biden, Burns, —, George W, ” Burns, ”, Putin, Mike Johnson Organizations: CNN, CIA, US, Senate Intelligence Committee, — “, Bush, Israel, GOP, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, — “ Ukraine, Israel, Moscow, Crimea, Ukrainian, Russian

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