Intelligence Squared What will become of the CIA under President Trump? With Tim Wiener
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Aug 30, 2025 Tim Weiner, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with over two decades of experience chronicling the CIA, dives into the agency's history and challenges in a thought-provoking discussion. He explores the controversial post-9/11 torture programs and the CIA's pivotal role in supporting Ukraine. Weiner highlights the escalating threats from China and Russia, alongside the complexities of espionage in a tech-savvy world. He also reflects on the disorienting impact of the Trump administration on the agency's operations and the delicate balance of leadership and intelligence.
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How The CIA Originated And Shifted Missions
- The CIA began as a novice peacetime espionage service after WWII and quickly took on paramilitary roles.
- Espionage was sidelined by sabotage, subversion and propaganda during the Cold War, producing many failures dressed as successes.
Counterterrorism Replaced Espionage After 9/11
- After 9/11 the CIA pivoted to counterterrorism because it lacked intelligence on al-Qaeda.
- Weiner argues that poor intelligence led to secret prisons and torture, not the other way around.
How To Get Spies To Talk On The Record
- Build trust and learn the language and customs of those you cover to get insiders to speak.
- Publish on the record to encourage truthful, accountable interviews.
