ThePrint CutTheClutter: The great Trump purge, 'setback to US intel & security' & a CIA recruitment ad for Chinese traitors
Aug 26, 2025
A recent CIA recruitment ad targeting Chinese officials raises eyebrows and highlights global espionage dynamics. The discussion dives into the controversial transformations in U.S. intelligence during Trump's presidency, drawing historical parallels to past political purges. Turmoil in the intelligence community, especially around key figures like John Bolton, showcases a tension between dissent and loyalty. The episode also reflects on the dangers of unchecked power, using Putin's invasion of Ukraine as a case study, and contrasts U.S. and Chinese political power dynamics.
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CIA's Mandarin Recruitment And Irony
- The CIA published Mandarin recruitment videos aimed at Chinese officials to encourage defection or cooperation.
- Shekhar Gupta highlights the irony of aggressive external recruitment while US agencies are being internally weakened.
William Burns' Warning About Purges
- William Burns warned that current purges amount to a 'strategic self-immolation' of US foreign policy institutions.
- Burns says these actions create fear, mistrust and weaken America's national security and leadership.
Raid On John Bolton
- FBI agents raided John Bolton's home and office and seized documents, a dramatic move against a recent national security advisor.
- Shekhar Gupta frames the raid as unprecedented in modern US politics and tied to Bolton's critical book on Trump.
