The Team House How Intelligence Agencies Would Operate in an Authoritarian America | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS
Nov 12, 2025
Former CIA officers Marc Polymeropoulos, Mick Mulroy, and Jason Lyons dive into a thought-provoking scenario: what if the U.S. became authoritarian? They explore how intelligence agencies would adapt, highlighting recruitment tactics targeting disillusioned insiders. The discussion includes the implications of U.S. social media exploitation and the contrasting operational advantages faced by autocracies versus democracies. As they navigate these chilling prospects, they stress the importance of safeguarding democracy and maintaining reliable alliances.
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Worldwide Authoritarian Trend
- Global authoritarianism is rising: 91 autocracies now outnumber 88 democracies and 65–70% of people live under autocracy.
- Mick Mulroy warns this 19-year decline in civil liberties should alarm democracies and prompt vigilance.
Disaffected Cleared Staff As Targets
- Large numbers of disaffected cleared national-security employees would be prime recruitment targets for foreign services.
- Marc Polymeropoulos stresses adversaries would exploit job losses and resentment among cleared personnel.
Freedom Can Be Weaponized Against Us
- Open civil liberties make covert influence easier inside democracies than in autocracies with strict controls.
- Mick Mulroy notes adversaries exploit free social media and movement to foment discord and spread fabricated accounts.
