Intel at the Edge

Latest Episodes:

Why Supply Chain Blind Spots Are a National Security Problem with Brandon Daniels Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

From rare earth minerals to nitrocellulose, Exiger CEO Brandon Daniels warns that invisible vulnerabilities in America's supply chains pose serious national security risks. He also makes the case for smarter public-private partnerships and AI-driven tools to close the gap before adversaries exploit it.

Recorded at the AI+ Expo, Daniels draws on his experience leading one of the world's most advanced supply chain intelligence platforms to argue that the U.S. must move beyond reactive policy and invest in proactive visibility. Additionally, he shares a candid and measured assessment of where generative AI stands today — acknowledging its promise for workforce augmentation while cautioning that complex, large-scale applications still require significant human engineering talent.

Topics: National Security, Critical Minerals, Public-Private Partnerships, China Competition, Supply Chain Resilience

Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

How Israel uses AI for Intelligence & Why It's Not Enough with Amos Lahav May 20, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of "Intel at the Edge", host Chip Usher is joined by Amos Lahav, founder of Airis Labs, to examine one of the most consequential questions in modern defense: what happens when AI becomes the backbone of intelligence collection and battlefield targeting? Drawing on hard lessons from the October 7th intelligence failure, the rise of systems like Gospel, and the growing threat of adversarial AI, Lahav offers a firsthand account of how the technology is changing — and sometimes failing — the people who depend on it most.

Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Is AI Actually Useful for Intelligence Analysis? with Wayne McCool & Bruce Frost Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Two senior CIA veterans — Wayne McCool, former Associate Deputy Director for Analysis, and Bruce Frost of "Rhombus Power" — cut through the hype. They discuss how AI is being used inside the intelligence community today, what the real limitations are, and what the future of all-source analysis looks like.

0:00:10 — Introduction & Context

0:01:24 — Panel Introductions: Wayne McCool & Bruce Frost

0:02:28 — AI as a "Silver Bullet"? Where It's Delivering Real Value

0:05:39 — Rhombus Power's Approach: Empowering the Analyst

0:06:55 — Predicting Threats: Undersea Cables & Satellites

0:08:20 — Building Trust in AI: Human-in-the-Loop at CIA

0:09:48 — Experiment Widely, Adopt Specifically

0:11:09 — The Sourcing Problem: Can You Cite AI in Intelligence Products?

0:13:02 — Trust & Model Auditability: A Decade-Long Journey

0:14:26 — Defining Good Analysis in an AI-Augmented World

0:15:56 — Speed to Insight & the Data Overload Problem

0:18:09 — The Repeatability Problem with LLMs

0:19:32 — Retrieval-Augmented Generation & Managing Hallucinations

0:21:12 — Analyst Skepticism as a Core Tradecraft Skill

0:22:43 — Curating Data: Giving Analysts Control Over Outputs

0:24:39 — The Human Side: Will AI Replace Analyst Expertise?

0:25:46 — Automation Bias & the Risk of Eroding Critical Thinking

0:27:46 — How AI Is Changing the Editing & Review Process

0:29:07 — The Future Role of the Reviewer

0:29:52 — AI as a Training & Feedback Tool for Junior Analysts

0:31:09 — What Does the Analytic Team of the Future Look Like?

0:32:06 — Closing Thoughts & Final Takeaways

Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

FISA Section 702 with Brett Freeman Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

FISA Section 702 is one of the most powerful — and controversial — surveillance laws in the United States. It allows the U.S. intelligence community to collect electronic communications from foreign targets passing through American company infrastructure, without a traditional warrant.

In this episode, we sit down with Brett Freeman, a former attorney at the NSA, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the Department of Justice's National Security Division, who has spent years briefing the White House and Congress on exactly how this law works.

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00:00:09 - Introduction: What is FISA Section 702?

00:01:47 - Guest Introduction: Brett Freeman

00:02:00 - Brett's Background & Career in Intelligence Law

00:04:16 - FISA 101: The History of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

00:05:16 - How FISA Worked Before 9/11

00:06:13 - How 9/11 & the Internet Changed Everything

00:42:26 - The Reauthorization Debate in Congress

00:43:34 - Trump Administration's Stance on 702

00:44:31 - What a Clean vs. Reformed Reauthorization Means

00:45:30 - How Many Times Can 702 Be Reformed Before It Breaks?

00:47:44 - The Role of Sunset Clauses in National Security Law

00:49:06 - Artificial Intelligence & FISA Section 702

00:52:07 - Closing Remarks

Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Inside Beijing's Strategy: The Trump-Xi Summit, Taiwan & the Tech War with Chris Johnson Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

With the Trump-Xi summit approaching, former CIA senior China analyst Chris Johnson joins “Intel at the Edge” to give an unvarnished assessment of Beijing's priorities, Xi Jinping's mindset, and how China is navigating an increasingly unpredictable America.

Chris draws on over two decades in the US intelligence and foreign affairs communities to explain what Xi really wants from this summit, how the rare earth standoff reshaped the bilateral relationship, and why China's long-term focus is breaking America's technological chokehold — not winning a diplomatic photo op.

00:00 - Introduction & Guest Bio

01:35 - How Important Is the Summit to Xi Jinping?

03:17 - Xi's Real Goal: Stability Over Diplomacy

04:41 - How Beijing Is Briefing Xi on Trump

05:01 - Xi's Gamble: The Rare Earth Sword & Staring Trump Down

06:07 - The Other Side: US Hegemonism Is on the Prowl

07:13 - The Wounded Animal: How Beijing Reads America Right Now

07:37 - Xi's Play: Buy Trump Off & Wait Him Out

20:10 - What Xi Will Put on the Table on Taiwan

21:18 - Xi's Real Priority: Breaking the Semiconductor Chokehold

26:14 - Summit Timing & Xi's Return Visit Window

27:02 - The Atmospherics: How China Stages These Meetings

28:20 - Trump Treats Xi as an Equal — And Xi Knows It

28:40 - "Trump Sees Xi as a Badass"

29:57 - How Confident Is Beijing About Winning the Long Game?

30:21 - Short Term Confident, Long Term Uncertain

31:22 - China's Real Problems: Demographics, Debt & the Economy

32:31 - What Keeps Xi Up at Night

32:53 - Closing Remarks

Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

China’s Greatest Heist: How Beijing Stole America’s Technology with Andrew Badger Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

China didn’t just compete with the United States — it harvested America’s innovation. In this episode of “Intel at the Edge” Andrew Badger joins Chip Usher to discuss The Great Heist — the story of how China used industrial espionage, talent recruitment, and a whole-of-society strategy to leapfrog the U.S. in critical technologies.

From AI and hypersonic missiles to semiconductor manufacturing and electric vehicles, this conversation explores:

• How China turned WTO entry into a collection apparatus

• The rise of the Ministry of State Security’s global network

• The Tesla “billion-dollar thumb drive” case

• Hypersonic and the Los Alamos connection

• Why economic security is national security

• What the U.S. intelligence community must do differently

If the 20th century was about military dominance, the 21st century is about technological power. The question is not whether China is competing — it’s whether America is prepared.

00:00 Intro – The Great Heist

02:20 From DIA to Industrial Espionage

03:15 WTO 2000: The Turning Point

06:25 The “Kaspersky Doctrine” Strategy

08:10 The Most Consequential Economic Heist in History

10:30 China’s Whole-of-Society Intelligence Model

13:20 Sun Tzu & The Cultural Mindset Behind Espionage

17:40 The Cost: $600–800 Billion a Year

21:05 The Tesla “Billion-Dollar Thumb Drive”

22:45 Hypersonic & The Los Alamos Connection

25:15 “We Let Them Do It” – Strategic Distraction

29:20 The China Initiative & Political Hesitation

31:35 AI, Quantum & Emerging Tech Theft

34:20 The Wave Energy Case Study

36:40 Semiconductor War & ASML

38:15 Economic Security = National Security

40:20 Time to Stop Playing Defense

43:30 OPSEC Mindset & Intelligence Reform

46:50 Final Thoughts

Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

How U.S. Intelligence Views China’s Military Power with Admiral Michael Studeman Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Admiral Michael Studeman joins "Intel at the Edge " to discuss the shifting landscape of Indo-Pacific security. Drawing from his decades of experience in the U.S. Intelligence Community, including as the Director of Intelligence at Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Studeman provides a rare inside look into how America’s intelligence services view China’s growing military power and how Beijing is positioning itself for regional and global leadership.

Additionally, as Former Director of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Admiral Studeman breaks down the sudden removal of General Zhang Youxia and what it means for the future of the PLA. Is Xi Jinping clearing out "overcautious" generals to make room for "Yes Men!"? We dive deep into China's massive military modernization and why Admiral Studeman believes the "window of greatest danger" is closer than we think.

00:00:09 – Introduction: Admiral Mike Studeman’s 35-Year Career

00:01:37 – Welcome & Setting the Stage for the China Challenge

00:02:27 – The Scale and Speed of PLA Modernization

00:05:09 – China's Navy: A Peer Global Power

00:07:22 – Latent Power vs. Ready Power: How China Converts Wealth to Military Strength

00:09:58 – Comprehensive National Power & The Misdiagnosis of China’s Strategy

00:11:36 – Political Warfare: China’s "Short of War" Expansion

00:13:55 – Regional Anxiety & China’s Daily Influence Operations

00:15:25 – Analyzing the Ouster of General Zhang Youxia

00:19:56 – Xi Jinping’s Fourth Term & The Consolidation of "Yes Men"

00:21:51 – Pressure Tactics Around Taiwan: An Ongoing Cognitive War

00:25:24 – The "Window of Greatest Danger" (Late 2020s–Early 2030s)

00:29:28 – Reforming the Intelligence Community: Beyond the "Ivory Tower"

00:33:49 – Harnessing Open Source & Advanced Technology

00:39:03 – Economic Intelligence: The Blind Spot of 21st Century Security

00:41:54 – Protecting National Competitiveness through Private Sector Dialog

00:44:36 – Advice for the Next Generation: Courage and Iron Integrity

00:47:12 – Closing Remarks & Future Military Outlook

Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Emergency Update on Iran with Norman Roule Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

With two U.S. carrier strike groups converging on Iran and a presidential deadline looming, the clock is ticking. In this urgent episode of Intel at the Edge, host Chip Usher — Senior Director for Intelligence at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) — sits down with Norman Roule, former National Intelligence Manager for Iran at the CIA, to assess what may be one of the most consequential moments in U.S.-Iran relations in decades.

They cover the state of diplomacy ahead of the Geneva talks, whether Iran will ever genuinely negotiate on its nuclear and missile programs, the risks of miscalculation, Iranian retaliation scenarios, regime stability, and the sweeping transformation reshaping the broader Middle East. Norman Roule spent over three decades as a senior CIA operations officer, including as the National Intelligence Manager for Iran — one of the most critical and sensitive intelligence roles in the U.S. government.

🔔 Subscribe for more expert intelligence and national security analysis from SCSP.

00:00 – Introduction: Emergency Podcast on the Iran Situation

00:40 – Guest Introduction: Norm Roule’s CIA and Intelligence Background

01:25 – Announcement: AI Plus Intelligence Summit at the Waldorf Astoria 02:03 – Current Military Posture: Carrier Strike Groups and Aircraft Deployment

02:28 – The Diplomatic Inflection Point and March Deadlines

03:38 – Core Issues: Iran’s Nuclear Program and Enrichment Deals

05:31 – U.S. Demands: Missiles and the "Axis of Resistance"

07:56 – Iran’s Missile Arsenal and ICBM Capabilities

08:33 – Upcoming Geneva Talks and Potential for Miscalculation

10:51 – Evaluating Potential U.S. Military Strikes and Iranian Retaliation

14:06 – Degradation of Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iranian Ballistic Assets

16:03 – Diplomacy vs. Military Action: What Compels Tehran to Negotiate?

18:44 – Regime Stability: Domestic Protests and Internal Pressures

20:54 – Outlook: How the Next Two Weeks Will Play Out

25:22 – Regional Dynamics: Shifting U.S. Commitments and Middle East Change

30:25 – Closing Remarks and Future Updates

Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

The "High Ground" of the North Atlantic: Why Greenland is the Next Frontier of Global Competition with Heather Conley Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Intel at the Edge, host Chip Usher is joined by Heather Conley, a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a leading expert on Arctic security. Together, they unpack the strategic value of Greenland and the evolving geopolitical stakes in the Arctic. In this episode, we discuss: The Strategic Imperative: Why Greenland serves as a "first line of defense" for North America, providing early warning for ballistic missiles and tracking Russian nuclear submarines. Russia & China’s Presence: How Russia has militarized the region since 2014 and China’s ambition to become a "great polar power" by 2030. The "Ownership" Debate: Analyzing the diplomatic impact of President Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland and what it means for the 225-year relationship with the Kingdom of Denmark. The Future of the Arctic: Why the U.S. needs to prepare for the Arctic of 2040 today by investing in icebreakers, ISR sensors, and a persistent presence.

00:00 – Introduction

01:26 – Background on President Trump’s Interest

02:38 – The Strategic Value of "Eyes and Ears"

03:47 – Ownership vs. Partnership

05:15 – Russia: The Arctic Superpower

07:52 – China: The "Near-Arctic State" Ambition

09:44 – The North Pacific vs. North Atlantic Vectors

12:15 – Missile Defense and the "Golden Dome"

15:13 – Economic Potential: Critical Minerals

17:37 – The "Alaska First" Perspective

20:01 – The Icebreaker Gap

23:08 – History of U.S. Purchase Attempts

27:59 – Post-Cold War Atrophy

30:47 – NATO’s Future Role: "Arctic Sentry"

35:25 – The Next Strategic Frontiers: Seabed and Space

Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

How the CIA Launched the Predator Program with Alec Bierbauer Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Intel at the Edge, host Chip Usher sits down with retired CIA officer Alec Bierbauer, a core founder of the team that launched the agency’s revolutionary Predator drone program. Bierbauer recounts the high-stakes history of the hunt for Osama bin Laden before 9/11, revealing how a small team bypassed traditional bureaucracy to put "U.S. eyes on target" in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan. The conversation explores the technical and ethical evolution of unmanned systems, from the groundbreaking "Man in White" video captured at Turnak Farm to the rapid weaponization of the platform with Hellfire missiles.

Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

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