The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Sen. Elissa Slotkin (Extended)
Aug 2, 2025
Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat and former CIA analyst with three Iraq tours, discusses the recent politicization of intelligence and urges her party to adopt a more assertive approach. She highlights the implications of Israel's military actions on its global standing and the long-term impact on the Jewish state's future. Slotkin emphasizes the crucial role of the U.S. in addressing humanitarian needs in conflicts like Gaza, advocating for strategic yet compassionate responses to emerging challenges.
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CIA Analyst Meets Senators
- Elissa Slotkin shared her experience as a CIA field analyst in Iraq meeting senators and congresspeople during their visits.
- She was tasked with briefing them and noticed they sometimes overlooked the "little people" on the ground.
Debunking The Deep State Myth
- The intelligence community consists mostly of patriotic, ordinary people, not a conspiratorial "deep state."
- Attacking them demoralizes those working to protect the country and undermines national security.
Dangers of Politicizing Intelligence
- Politicizing intelligence by shaping or squashing threat assessments for political aims endangers national security.
- Elissa Slotkin pointed to Tulsi Gabbard's press conference as an example of such harmful politicization.