SummaryMichael Collins joins Andrew to discuss the National Intelligence Council. Michael is the NIC’s current acting chair. 

What You’ll LearnIntelligence

The role of the National Intelligence Council

National Intelligence Officers and their work around the world

The products of the NIC, including the Annual Threat Assessment

The importance of Intelligence Diplomacy and objective analysis 

Reflections

The power of collaboration

Staying grounded and optimistic

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week“In the analytic product, the first paragraph says: Here's the bad thing. Second paragraph says: This is what the bad thing means for the United States. Third paragraph is: What can be done to stop the bad thing, or more importantly, to identify an opportunity. I have to be optimistic. If I weren't, I wouldn't be in this job.” – Michael Collins.

Resources SURFACE SKIM*SpyCasts*

Telling Americans About China (and Intelligence) with Sara Castro (2024)

CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)

The Past 75 Years with Historian of the CIA Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (2022)

The National Intelligence University with its President Scott Cameron (2022)

*Beginner Resources*

America’s Intelligence Community, Explained, Washington Post, YouTube (2014) [2 min. video]

What is Intelligence Analysis and Why is It So Important? National American University (n.d.) [Short article]

Members of the IC, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (n.d.) [List of agencies]

DEEPER DIVEPrimary Sources 

2024 Annual Threat Assessment (2024) 

IC OSINT Strategy 2024-2026 (2024) 

2023 National Intelligence Strategy (2023)

Updated Assessment of Anomalous Health Incidents (2023)

Global Trends 2040 (2021)

National Intelligence Estimates on Climate Change (2021)

*Wildcard Resource*

This week’s guest shares a name with another intelligence professional: Michael Collins (1890-1922), a prominent leader of Irish independence. 

You may remember this Michael Collins from his involvement in the 1916 Easter Rising, but did you know he was also the Director of Intelligence for the Irish Republican Army? Check out some of “The Squad’s” spy gadgets and artifacts here. 

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