All posts tagged: intelligence

One Reason Trump Might Have Chosen His New Intelligence Chief

One Reason Trump Might Have Chosen His New Intelligence Chief

Published by Sam Flores

This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. There are two reasonable reactions to the news that Bill Pulte has been named acting director of national intelligence: “Who?” and “Him?” Pulte, the current head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, will replace Tulsi Gabbard, who announced her departure last month after an unhappy and unempowered spell as the DNI. Pulte is taking the post on an interim basis, becoming the latest administration official to do multiple jobs. In some cases, such as Marco Rubio’s dual roles as secretary of state and national security adviser, obvious connections exist between the jobs. In others, such as Rubio’s stint as the national archivist, they do not. Pulte is in the latter camp. Knowing how long he might be in the job is impossible. Donald Trump has in the past shown little eagerness to fill roles. He prefers to have loyalists …

Pulte not ‘competent’ for intelligence director role

Pulte not ‘competent’ for intelligence director role

Published by Sam Flores

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) speaks as U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., testifies before a Senate Finance Committee hearing on President Donald Trump’s 2026 health care agenda, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 4, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters Federal Housing Finance Agency chief Bill Pulte does not appear to be “competent” to serve as acting director of national intelligence, outgoing Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy said during an interview Tuesday at CNBC’s CEO Council Summit. Cassidy, who recently failed to qualify for a runoff in Louisiana’s Republican primary after President Donald Trump endorsed one of his challengers, Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La, said his Senate colleagues were taken aback by the president’s appointment of Pulte as spy chief on Tuesday morning. “Nothing here suggests he’s competent in the job for which he’s been appointed,” Cassidy said. “That’s just kind of the kind of conversation with my colleagues, like OMG.” “He has no military background, no intelligence background, he’s going to … keep his other job, and he’s not even …

Trump names inexperienced ally Bill Pulte as intelligence chief

Trump names inexperienced ally Bill Pulte as intelligence chief

Published by Sam Flores

Federal Housing Finance Agency chief Bill Pulte – who is known for publicly attacking Trump’s political enemies – was named as the acting director of national intelligence (DNI), replacing Tulsi Gabbard. Read moreTrump intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard resigns Gabbard, herself a controversial pick for the job, resigned in late May, ending a tenure that saw her appear to be at odds with Trump over his war on Iran. The DNI – who heads the US intelligence community and serves as the president’s main advisor on intelligence issues – is legally required to have “extensive national security expertise”, which Pulte lacks. Trump hailed Pulte in a social media post announcing the appointment, saying he “has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets”. The president added that Pulte, who also leads mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, will continue to serve in his housing-related roles. Pulte, 38, has been described by some US media as the president’s “attack dog”. Pulte has accused Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General …

Trump appoints Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence : NPR

Trump appoints Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 9. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images President Trump said Tuesday he was appointing Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard. Pulte currently serves as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, which supports mortgage markets. His biography on the FHFA site lists career experience in housing and philanthropy, but none in intelligence. Trump made the announcement in a social media post, listing Pulte’s qualifications for the role as someone with “deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago.” The director of national intelligence position was created in the wake of 9/11 to help U.S. intelligence agencies better coordinate. In establishing the position …

Trump picks housing Dir. Bill Pulte as acting intelligence chief, replacing Tulsi Gabbard

Trump picks housing Dir. Bill Pulte as acting intelligence chief, replacing Tulsi Gabbard

Published by Sam Flores

Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Bill Pulte walks outside the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein | AP President Donald Trump on Tuesday tapped Bill Pulte, who leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to serve as acting director of national intelligence, putting the expansive U.S. intelligence community in the hands of a loyalist who has targeted the president’s foes. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s current DNI, announced last month that she would resign from the role effective June 30. Pulte, who has no prior experience in an intelligence role, will keep his existing titles as FHFA director and chairman of the mortgage groups Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post announcing the pick. Trump had previously announced that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would take over as acting DNI after Gabbard left. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s requests for clarification on when Pulte’s tenure at DNI would begin, and whether Lukas would remain in his current role. “William has …

Housing official who targeted Trump’s enemies is named director of intelligence

Housing official who targeted Trump’s enemies is named director of intelligence

Published by Sam Flores

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday named an ally with no background in intelligence to oversee the nation’s spy agencies, taking the helm as the U.S. remains at war with Iran after a fresh round of peace talks stalled. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. Bill Pulte is the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and in that position, he has helped the Trump administration compile information to fuel investigations into the president’s perceived political enemies. As acting director of national intelligence, Pulte will be the highest-ranking intelligence official, overseeing a vast network of 18 agencies, including the CIA and the National Security Agency. He will also be the president’s principal adviser on intelligence issues and will manage the daily intelligence briefing for the president. Trump announced on social media that Pulte will remain as director of the housing finance agency, as well as chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to support the mortgage market. With the appointment, …

3 ‘Lazy’ Habits That Actually Signal Intelligence

3 ‘Lazy’ Habits That Actually Signal Intelligence

Published by Jenni Sidey

Most of us have a rigid mental image of what an “intelligent” person looks like. They’re polished. Habitually organized. Quick on their feet. Always on top of things. The kind of person who color-codes their calendar, replies to emails instantly, and always thrives under pressure. Yet, as compelling (and popular) as this mental image is, it’s also inaccurate. This version of intelligence is, beyond being unrealistic, totally unsustainable. Human cognition doesn’t work like a machine that can run at full capacity indefinitely. In reality, people who are genuinely intelligent understand that their mental, physical, and emotional resources are finite. If they really want to perform well over the long term, they know that they have to protect those resources carefully. From the outside, though, this can look a little strange; sometimes, it even looks like laziness. Below are three such “lazy” habits that are, in fact, backed by research on intelligence. 1. Avoiding Hard Work This habit seems almost contradictory. How could an intelligent person avoid hard work? Isn’t that their precise modus operandi? But …

Attal highlights break with Macron in first rally in French presidential bid – POLITICO

Attal highlights break with Macron in first rally in French presidential bid – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

His campaign mirrors the very successful campaign of centrist liberal Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in October 2025, which focused on optimism about the future and prioritizing the young generations, while exalting a sense of national pride. “My first promise is that we will once again become Europe’s leading power within six years. That is our rank, our place, our destiny,” he said, also vowing to make France the leading European country in artificial intelligence. Attal is following incumbent French President Emmanuel Macron as the presidential candidate of the centrist liberal Renaissance party, which he heads. After almost 10 years of Macron governments and dwindling popularity, Attal is seeking to distance himself from Macron to frame his candidacy as one of change and reform. The 37-year-old politician served as prime minister under Macron from January-September 2024. He was the youngest prime minister in French history and the first openly gay. The latest polls put Attal in fourth place at 13 percent of popular vote, preceded by far-right French Rally candidate Jordan Bardella, center-right Édouard Philippe, …

AUKUS unveils undersea drone project to deepen defense partnership – POLITICO

AUKUS unveils undersea drone project to deepen defense partnership – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership established in 2021 by Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. It focuses on countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region by enhancing the three countries’ military capabilities through the deployment of nuclear-powered submarines, what is known as the “Pillar One” of the alliance. The three countries also are cooperating to develop advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cyber capabilities, and other undersea and defense systems — referred to as “Pillar Two.” The alliance encompasses Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines from the United States, the joint development of a new AUKUS-class submarine, and the creation of facilities to host U.S. and British submarines on Australian territory. In mid-2025, the U.K. and Australia scrambled to reassure Washington of their commitment to AUKUS after the Pentagon ordered a review of the pact, fueling fears that the United States could retreat from the agreement. Those concerns eased in October, when U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed his backing for the alliance. “The United States, as we’ve said from the beginning, and …

AI: Artificial Intelligence Review Part 12

AI: Artificial Intelligence Review Part 12

Published by Jenni Sidey

What is “Real?” In the previous review, I finished my thoughts on the movie, but I wanted to spend some time refuting the thesis of both the short story, Super Toys Last All Summer Long, by Brian Aldiss, and the movie. The statement is as follows. “Nobody knows what ‘real’ really means.” There are numerous ways to approach this statement, but for the purposes of this article, I’m going to focus on refuting the question as it applies to humanity because, in the context of the story, “real” is being conflated with humanity and human value. In other words, “What makes a life valuable?” So, the story is not talking about how to determine reality as a whole; it’s really attacking human exceptionalism, claiming that if a robot can replicate a human’s behavior, then the robot’s and the human’s value are interchangeable, and, if one wants to be uncharitable, they could claim that a human life isn’t worth preserving if a robot can perform the same purpose. This is one of the reasons I believe the Flesh …