March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010 November 2010 December 2010 January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024 April 2024 May 2024 June 2024 July 2024 August 2024 September 2024 October 2024 November 2024 December 2024 January 2025 February 2025
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
News Every Day |

Ratcliffe edges closer to CIA confirmation with Democratic support: 5 takeaways

John Ratcliffe emerged largely unscathed from a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee that appeared to pave the way for him to serve as the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Ratcliffe experienced a rough-and-tumble confirmation process to become the director of national intelligence (DNI) in 2020. But this go-around was much more cordial and bipartisan, with Democrats directing their ire at President-elect Trump’s more controversial nominees.

Wednesday’s hearing was wide-ranging and included back-and-forth exchanges with members on a number of topics, including intelligence gathering, threats the U.S. faces on a global scale and some of Ratcliffe’s actions as national intelligence director at the end of Trump’s first term. 

But, all in all, Ratcliffe appears to be in as good of a spot as any of Trump’s nominees. 

Here are five takeaways from his hearing.

Ratcliffe pledges to keep the CIA apolitical 

Ratcliffe at multiple points in the hearing tried to calm Democratic concerns that the agency could become a political pawn on Trump’s chessboard, an effort that is seemingly working as Ratcliffe pushes not just for a confirmation, but one with bipartisan support. 

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the committee’s vice chair, aired those worries during opening remarks and by asking Ratcliffe if he would resist efforts to force out or fire any CIA employees on the basis of political leanings.

The CIA nominee attempted to quell such concerns immediately, pointing to his tenure as national intelligence director and vowing that the CIA will maintain its apolitical nature. 

“If you look at my record as DNI, that never took place. That’s never something that anyone has alleged, and it’s something that I would never do,” Ratcliffe said. “I would approach this position very much the same way and provide the same assurance.”

Ratcliffe also answered a series of questions from Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) related to the CIA’s independence and keeping political leanings out of intelligence gathering, answers that appeared to be welcomed by the Maine senator.

“I enjoyed more my time as DNI and opportunity to be apolitical,” Ratcliffe said later on in the hearing. “It's absolutely essential that the CIA leader be apolitical.” 

China reemerges as key issue for Ratcliffe 

Ratcliffe has long been a proponent of combating China and its ruling Chinese Communist Party, and the world power was a consistent topic throughout the hearing.

During Ratcliffe’s tenure as national intelligence director, he warned that China posed the greatest threat to the U.S. of any nation since World War II — a stance he has doubled down on during his confirmation stretch. He has advocated for aggressive spying on the Asian power.

“Understand that the nation who wins the race of emerging technologies of today will dominate the world of tomorrow,” Ratcliffe said during his opening statement. “Which brings me to the need for the CIA to continue and increase an intensity to focus on the threats posed by China and its ruling Chinese Communist Party. As DNI, I dramatically increased the intelligence community’s resources devoted to China.” 

“I openly warned the American people that from my unique vantage point as an official who saw more intelligence than anyone else, I assessed that China was far and away our top national security threat,” Ratcliffe said, noting his feeling is shared increasingly by those on both sides of the aisle.

The former Texas congressman also labeled the country as a “our once-in-a-generation challenge,” adding that “the intelligence is clear."

Democratic lawmakers have warmed to his thinking and posture on the situation since 2020. 

Ratcliffe could be confirmed with bipartisan support — and fast 

Of all the potentials and maybes involved in the confirmation process, one thing is fairly certain: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Trump's secretary of State nominee, will be the first of the president-elect's Cabinet officials to win Senate approval shortly after Inauguration Day.

The picture remains murky on who else could win confirmation in the first days of the Trump administration, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that Ratcliffe could be among that crowd.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) told the panel before adjourning Ratcliffe’s hearing that he is planning on holding a committee vote on his nomination on Monday afternoon following the inauguration. 

Democrats are warming to his nomination despite Ratcliffe winning confirmation as national intelligence director in 2020 in a party-line vote. 

Warner told The Hill after the closed-door portion of Ratcliffe’s hearing that he is looking “favorably” upon his nomination but stopped short of saying he’ll vote for him.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), however, said that Ratcliffe has his support.

“I think he’s qualified for the job. He’s a serious guy and he’s got the background,” Kelly said, adding that he was appreciative of Ratcliffe’s answers on speaking truth to power. “I’ve got confidence he’ll do a good job.”

Warrantless surveillance powers play key role 

Ratcliffe offered up a strong defense of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows for the warrantless surveillance of foreign targets, calling it an important tool to keep the U.S. safe at a critical time. 

When asked by Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) about the tool, Ratcliffe noted that he used 702 powers during his time as a prosecutor and indicated that his backing of it has only grown. He said that he supports its reauthorization.

“It's critical, it's indispensable, and for critics of it, no one has offered a replacement,” Ratcliffe said.

He also acknowledged to Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) that the program could be abused, saying that while he remains an ardent supporter of it, some guardrails are needed.

“But [the authority is] one that can be abused and that we must do everything we can to make sure that it has the appropriate safeguards, because it can’t come at the sacrifice of Americans' civil liberties,” he said. “I have supported those reforms and called out those abuses when they have taken place.” 

Another Trump nominee, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), has been forced to backtrack on her opposition to Section 702 in order to potentially win confirmation to lead the U.S. national intelligence apparatus. 

A pledge to investigate Havana syndrome  

Ratcliffe told senators that he plans to “drill down” on the causes of “Havana syndrome” and anomalous health incidents (AHIs) amid reports that two U.S. intelligence agencies opened the door to the possibility these incidents were caused by a foreign adversary. The intelligence community at large has found no such links.

The former director of national intelligence lamented to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) that little headway has been made to determine who or what is responsible for a series of mystery health ailments that have affected hundreds of U.S. spies, diplomats and other personnel. 

“I share your frustration that four years later we’re very much in the same place in terms of trying to make an assessment and determination on the cause of this,” he said. “I share your frustration in not being able to understand why, but if confirmed and have the opportunity to be briefed on all of the assessments and intelligence, my pledge to you is that I will drill down and look carefully at that issue and work with you to see.”

Ratcliffe noted that beyond the specific health issues, the CIA and intelligence community’s workforce morale has been affected by the ongoing reports surrounding AHIs. 

In early December, the House Intelligence Committee’s subcommittee on the CIA issued a report saying that there is an increasing likelihood that a foreign adversary was responsible for some of the AHI cases. 

Rubio, the nominee to lead the State Department, has also been a leading proponent of determining the causes of AHIs.

Москва

В Екатеринбурге наградили юных звезд на благотворительном фестивале «Добрая волна»

Don't let AI phantom hackers drain your bank account

Hamas claims youngest Israeli hostages aged just 2 & 5 and their mum are all dead leaving Bibas family in ‘turmoil’

How Man Utd could line up in the CHAMPIONSHIP with top stars sold as Rio Ferdinand fears they won’t win another game

What Two Hosts of 'SNL' Committed Murder? 'SNL50' Joke Explained

Ria.city






Read also

Ocon much happier after Alpine-to-Haas move

Pakistan vs New Zealand to get 'lost' tournament underway

The Humane Society rebrands as the Humane World for Animals to showcase its global efforts

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

Don't let AI phantom hackers drain your bank account

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Don't let AI phantom hackers drain your bank account



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Елена Рыбакина

Сенсация прогремела на топовом турнире с участием Елены Рыбакиной



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Турниры по хоккею и карате состоятся в Нагорном районе



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

«Чемпионат»: «Спартак» продвинулся в переговорах по трансферу Саласара


Новости России

Game News

Claims about AMD moving to a 12-core chiplet design for Zen 6 have got me all kinds of excited for the next generation of X3D processors


Russian.city


Москва

Турниры по хоккею и карате состоятся в Нагорном районе


Губернаторы России
Чемпионат

Тамбовские судебные приставы победили в отборочном этапе Чемпионата ФССП по комплексному единоборству


Разведданные из России способны спасти Дональда Трампа? СЕНСАЦИЯ! Новости. В.В. Путин, Д.А. Медведев, Илон Маск, Дональд Трамп. Россия, США, Европа могут улучшить отношения и здоровье общества?!

5,8 тыс. семей Московского региона направлены выплаты из материнского капитала

В Екатеринбурге наградили юных звезд на благотворительном фестивале «Добрая волна»

Лавров: Си Цзиньпин посетит Москву 9 Мая на День Победы


Мама Моргенштерна* трогательно поздравила рэпера с днем рождения архивным видео из его детства

Рэпер ST и Женя Трофимов оценили музыку хабаровчанки

Волочкова обвинила мачеху дочери в зависти

Консультант Актёра. Консультирование Актёра.


Роман Сафиуллин покинул турнир ATP-500 в Дохе, проиграв Алексу де Минору

Медведев обошел Джоковича в рейтинге ATP и стал шестой ракеткой мира

Теннисист Зверев назвал странным наказание Синнера из-за употребления клостебола

Даниил Медведев обошел Новака Джоковича в обновленном рейтинге АТР



В Екатеринбурге наградили юных звезд на благотворительном фестивале «Добрая волна»

Проекты ГПМ Радио – лауреаты Digital Communications AWARDS 2025

В Екатеринбурге наградили юных звезд на благотворительном фестивале «Добрая волна»

5,8 тыс. семей Московского региона направлены выплаты из материнского капитала


DAASHA даст сольный концерт – билеты на Like FM

"Спартак" объявил об уходе Зиньковского в аренду в "Крылья Советов"

Лавров: Россия и США как можно скорее назначат послов

Культура важнее зарплаты?


Французская Orano намерена увеличить добычу урана в Монголии и возобновить проект в Намибии

Лавров заявил, что национальные интересы РФ и США никогда не совпадут полностью

В Кремле отметили прогресс в реставрации отношений с США

Второе в 2025 году заседание Директорской ложи театров Москвы состоится 24 февраля



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
The Beatles

Новосибирцы исполнят музыку The Beatles и Чайковского в Швейцарии



News Every Day

Don't let AI phantom hackers drain your bank account




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости