journalist and author
Tim Weiner is the author of Legacy of Ashes: A History of the CIA, Enemies: A History of the FBI and One Man against the World: The Tragedy of Richard Nixon.
A former reporter for the New York Times, Weiner won a 1988 Pulitzer Prize for his reporting while at the Philadelphia Inquirer.
White House politics and national security President Trump's on a 17-day "working vacation" at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Back at the White House, Chief of Staff John Kelly, the former General, reportedly is seizing the moment to impose order on factional infighting. He's reportedly said he can't control the President, but what about Steve Bannon, the Kushners and National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster? All have tribal loyalists. Is "order" possible under shadows including declining support from Congress, North Korea's nuclear challenge — and the Russia investigation?
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
Anger and fear among FBI agents after Comey firing Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe said former director James Comey enjoyed broad support within the FBI. What does this mean for the FBI’s investigation into the Russian meddling in the election? What does it mean for the relationship between the agency and the White House?
Will firing James Comey backfire on President Trump? After meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister today, President Trump gave a brief answer when asked why he fired the head of the FBI. "Because he wasn't doing a good job. Quite simply, he wasn't doing a good job." Speaking at greater length, Vice President Mike Pence told reporters it was, "the right thing at the right time." The President says he fired Comey at the request of current Attorney General Jeff Sessions. His action is being compared to the so-called "Saturday Night Massacre" that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation in 1973. Comey was looking into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. His Administration insists that it's time to move on, but Democrats are demanding an independent investigation. Just one Republican is going that far. But many say they are "troubled."
Presidential tweetstorms and the Russian connection President Trump is reportedly outraged at his staff because the political flap over false statements about Russian officials just won't go away. At the same time, he's added to all the drama with early-morning tweets of unverified charges that former President Obama "wiretapped" Trump Tower. FBI Director James Comey has raised the ante by asking the Justice Department to refute that claim—by the new President who's kept him in office. Today, cabinet members unveiled the amended version of his controversial travel ban. But the Trump agenda faces stiff competition for public attention.
Will Donald Trump make peace with US intelligence? The last time Donald Trump had a full-fledged news conference, he urged Russia to find and reveal more of Hillary Clinton's emails. That was in July. Now he's in an unprecedented public battle with all 17 US intelligence agencies, accusing them of "a political witch hunt." He denies Vladimir Putin helped him defeat Clinton -- alarming Republicans as well as Democrats about future Russian relations. How serious is Putin's meddling in US politics? Will Trump's own financial ties to America's powerful antagonist be a risk to national security?
The FBI awkwardly in the spotlight Since the days of J. Edgar Hoover, FBI directors have clashed with presidents — even those who appointed them. But James Comey's involvement in this year's campaign is without precedent. Yesterday, Comey announced that a search of "new" emails he revealed a week ago has not changed his conclusion that there's no case to be made against Hillary Clinton. Tim Weiner was a Pulitzer-Prize winner with the New York Times . He's author of Enemies: A History of the FBI .
John Brennan, the CIA and National Security John Brennan has been named to succeed David Petraeus as head of the CIA. Will the agency focus on gathering intelligence—its original mission—or continue launching drones for targeted killings? Will Brennan’s close relationship to the President enhance the CIA’s role in the conduct of foreign policy?
John Brennan, the CIA and National Security John Brennan has been named to succeed David Petraeus as head of the CIA. Will the agency focus on gathering intelligence—its original mission—or continue launching drones for targeted killings? Will Brennan’s close relationship to the President enhance the CIA’s role in the conduct of foreign policy?
Prisoner Abuse and National Security A lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union forced the Obama Administration to release a CIA Inspector General's report kept secret since 2004. Attorney General Eric Holder ordered a special prosecutor to investigate CIA interrogators who used abusive techniques described in the document. President Obama established a new, Interagency Interrogation Group led by the FBI.
Prisoner Abuse and National Security A lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union forced the Obama Administration to release a CIA Inspector General’s report kept secret since 2004. Now we know that CIA interrogators used a gun and a power drill, faked an execution, choked one prisoner and threatened to kill another one’s children. Former Vice President Dick Cheney says they deserve America’s gratitude. Attorney General Eric Holder wants them investigated for possible crimes. President Obama established a new, Interagency Interrogation Group led by the FBI. Should policy-makers in the Bush White House be held accountable, too? Can the CIA still do its job? What’s the new role of the FBI? What does it take to protect America’s safety and obey the law?
The CIA Torture Tapes In 2005, the CIA destroyed videotape that showed interrogations of terrorist suspects. Today's New York Times reports that CIA lawyers gave written permission--despite advice from the White House and the Department of Justice, and without asking their own boss. CIA Director Michael Hayden says the objective was protecting the identities of the interrogators themselves. Today, Hayden was called to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee —behind closed doors, about why the videotapes, despite advice from the White House. Outside the closed hearing, Democrats and Republicans are among those suggesting possible crimes of torture and obstruction of justice. Might the tapes have made a difference to the 9/11 Commission , trials of accused terrorists and enactments by Congress? Are there any new lessons about the CIA and the quality of US intelligence?
The Stormy History of the CIA The Central Intelligence Agency was founded 60 years ago tomorrow. President Harry Truman wanted no more surprises--like the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But from the beginning, the CIA has been asked to do more than gather intelligence. Subsequent presidents have demanded that secret agents also conduct secret missions, and that has corrupted the CIA's ability to speak truth to power. That's the thesis of Pulitzer-Prize winner Tim Weiner of the New York Times, whose latest book is Legacy of Ashes : The History of the CIA.
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.