Bulwark Takes Kash Patel Is Dismantling FBI Counterintelligence (w/ Derek Owen & R.M Schneiderman)
Dec 27, 2025
Derek Owen, an investigative reporter and co-author of an in-depth piece on FBI counterintelligence, joins R.M. Schneiderman, another investigative journalist, to discuss the FBI's tumultuous evolution post-9/11. They reveal how past failures reshaped counterintelligence and highlight the impact of political influences, particularly Kash Patel's role. The conversations touch on pressing threats from China, notable espionage cases, and internal tensions within the Bureau. Anecdotes from their investigation bring to life the complexities of contemporary national security.
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From Reactive To Proactive Counterintelligence
- After 9/11 the FBI shifted from reactive spy-hunting to proactive counterintelligence with tripwires and disruption strategies.
- That cultural and structural change took about two decades to implement across the Bureau.
Zade’s Brochure Moment
- Dave Zade showed internal FBI materials and personally guided reporting about reform efforts during interviews.
- His enthusiasm and willingness to share internal documents signaled deep institutional knowledge and pride.
Wen Ho Lee As A Warning
- The Wen Ho Lee case exemplified how slow, decentralized prioritization cost the Bureau timely insight into serious nuclear theft risks.
- Local offices sometimes ranked counterintelligence far below other tasks, delaying national responses.