CTG's Threat Intelligence Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Counterterrorism Group
The Counterterrorism Group's (CTG) Threat Intelligence Podcast is a weekly podcast about geopolitics and international security presented by Adam Stevens, a senior intelligence analyst from CTG. Each week we take a deep dive into fascinating stories that fundamentally impact our world yet often fly under the radar.
How do disinformation campaigns shape security in the Horn of Africa?
In this episode, Arnold Koka and intelligence analyst William Adams break down the region's unfolding security landscape and how foreign influence operations are intensifying existing threats.
We dive into the roles of Russia, Turkey, and regional actors, the narratives shaping the information space, and what it all means for stability, security, and OSINT practitioners.
Ever wonder how investigators and OSINT pros map the hidden corners of the digital world?
In this episode, Martina Nitti joins Arnold Kochka to break down SpiderFoot, the open-source OSINT powerhouse that pulls from data sources to uncover domains, IPs, and more.
Kanye West’s (Ye’s) latest track is more than just another controversy. It’s a flashpoint in a larger conversation about how pop culture spreads harmful messages, who it reaches, and what it means when social media platforms are used to echo hate.
In this episode, Ashley Snyder and Tate English join Arnold Koch to break down the meaning of the song, the response, and the broader risks of normalizing extremist content through music and media.
In this powerful episode, Arnold speaks with Agathe Labadi, an intelligence analyst at the Counterterrorism Group (CTG), to uncover what global intelligence trends reveal about the state of women’s rights in conflict zones. From Sudan and Ukraine to Gaza and Afghanistan, we discuss how sexual and gender-based violence is being weaponized as a tool of war, the staggering scale of abuse, and the systemic failures in protecting women. We also explore the systemic failures in protecting women and how intelligence work can help expose and address these hidden atrocities.
How does GEOINT give OSINT its advantage? In this episode, we explore how satellite imagery offers unique advantages over SIGINT and HUMINT, helping analysts track troop movements, assess battlefield damage, and uncover hidden activities. We also dig into how geospatial data is verified, the use of open and commercial imagery, and the analytical challenges that come with it.
In this episode, Martina Nitti joins Arnold Koch to provide us with a deeper understanding of the impact that GEOINT has.
Smart glasses, such as the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Meta glasses hereafter), will likely facilitate terrorist activities, as malicious actors are likely to divert the initial use of the glasses to serve criminal or terrorist objectives. Potential terrorists will likely use the glasses as props to enhance their operational capabilities and efficiency in carrying out attacks, likely improving attack preparation and planning, surveillance tactics, and espionage. Given the glasses’ capabilities to capture and broadcast photos, videos, and sounds, potential terrorists will likely use them to access sensitive information and sites, record the topography of potential targets, security measures, and personnel, or live-stream terrorist attacks. Given the device's potential discretion and users' ability to disguise them as normal glasses, security services will likely have difficulty identifying potential threats on the ground. On the other hand, the glasses' connectivity functions will enable law enforcement to track online individuals using the glasses for terrorist purposes by identifying networks, GPS, or IP addresses.
In this episode, Agathe Labadi joins Arnold Koch to provide us with a deeper understanding of the threat impact of smart glasses.
Today, we're joined by two intelligence analysts from the Counterterrorism Group, who recently contributed to the 2025 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), an upcoming annual geopolitical forecast report. While crises expand across local, regional, and international levels, a comprehensive global assessment has never been more critical.
In this episode, we’ll explore the report's multi-regional approach and the key areas it highlights, particularly North and South America But first, our guests will share insights into their backgrounds and expertise.
The Five Eyes alliance—Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US—forms one of the largest intelligence-sharing networks in the world. As global conflicts evolve, so do the challenges and threats. How are the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts impacting Five Eyes operations? And with the rise of decentralized threats, like cybercriminals and private intelligence agencies, what changes might be coming to their strategies and intelligence-sharing practices?
In late July 2024, Venezuela’s national elections sparked protests and controversy. Though President Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner, the opposition claims their candidate, Edmundo González, won with a decisive majority. Months later, Venezuela remains in turmoil as González flees the country under an arrest warrant, and diplomatic tensions rise with nations across Latin America demanding transparency.
In today’s episode, Arnold K. sits down with security analyst Agathe Labadi to unpack the latest developments in Venezuela and what they mean for regional stability.
In 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russian oligarch and leader of the notorious Wagner mercenary group, launched a "march for justice," seizing the southern city of Rostov in a move against Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, as quickly as it began, the operation was called off after mysterious negotiations with Vladimir Putin. Two months later, Prigozhin's plane crashed—reportedly downed by a Russian missile—killing him and several key officials. In this episode, William Adams joins Arnold Koch to explore the aftermath of Prigozhin's death, the shifting power dynamics within Russia, and the future of the Wagner Group.
As conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza unfold, the term "open-source intelligence" (OSINT) has taken center stage. But what exactly is OSINT, and why is it so crucial for intelligence analysis in today’s information-saturated world?
In this episode, Martina Nitti joins Arnold Kochka to provide an overview of emerging OSINT techniques and what has changed since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. We dive into the nature of OSINT, its growing role in deciphering real-time events, and the tools that can help newcomers and experts alike sift through social media and data streams to find the truth.
In early August 2024, Ukraine launched an unexpected offensive into the Russian region of Kursk, catching Moscow off guard. Ukrainian forces swiftly took control of over 90 settlements, leaving the Russian government scrambling to respond. Now, the Kremlin is declaring a state of emergency and deploying inexperienced conscripts. Where is the conflict heading and what implications could these developments have for Western security? In this episode, William Adams joins Arnold Koch to provide us with a deeper understanding of these developments.
In this episode of the Threat Intelligence Podcast, host Derrick T. Dortch dives into the complex and emerging world of extremism in gaming spaces with our distinguished guest, Linda Schlegel. As a research fellow at both the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) - Center for Applied Research on Deradicalization, Linda brings a wealth of expertise to this crucial discussion. Linda is a former intern at The Counterterrorism Group and will share about the intersection of gaming and extremism and how extremist groups are exploiting digital gaming spaces and the challenges this poses, and much more.
In this episode, Derrick T. Dortch joins Scott Kim, a seasoned Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) practitioner with years of experience at Fortune 10 companies specializing in threat research on ransomware groups and nation-state actors. Recently, Scott has presented at European conferences and shares his research on the latest cyber threats impacting today's world.
In June 2024, Scott presented "Bandwagon Effects and Cyber Deceptions: ALPHV's Assault on Optum and the AT&T Outage" at the 2024 Hague Threat Intelligence Exchange (Hague TIX) in The Hague, Netherlands, hosted by Leiden University’s Institute of Security and Global Affairs.
In July 2024, he also delivered a presentation titled "Mitigating the Disruptive Impact of IoT Botnets in Cyberspace: A Case Study on the Mirai Botnet" at the Trusted Internet Summer School on Internet Governance and International Law (SSIGIL) in Łódź, Poland, hosted by the University of Łódź at the Faculty of Law and Administration.
Additionally, Scott serves as the Vice President of the FBI Dallas Citizens Academy Alumni Association, where he oversees operational functions, manages social media engagement, and leads community outreach initiatives. He also teaches criminal justice courses as an associate faculty member.
Scott previously worked as a CTG intern and progressed to the role of Cybersecurity Project Manager. He holds a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Lamar University and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a minor in Pre-Law from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Brazil is a jewel of nature, diversity, and resources that dominates the Eastern front of the Americas. It is also a country where some of the most violent, dangerous, and powerful criminal organizations in Latin America are based. Brazil’s ports make it an ideal hub for trans-Atlantic illicit trafficks, while its northern and Western borders allow for the transit of people and all kinds of products to almost every other South American country. In this episode, Enrico Dal Cine joins Arnold Koch to offer an overview of the country’s main criminal organizations and their businesses.
Women face disproportionate threats and violence, and it is crucial to explore and tackle the critical issues surrounding women’s security. Featuring insights from an experienced security analyst, in this episode, we explore the challenges that women face on a daily basis, how to improve awareness and establish safer environments for women everywhere. From personal safety to systemic issues, our guest will provide an overview of the factors driving violence, while also offering tips and actionable strategies to enhance personal safety and empower women to take control of their security.
Colombia is rich in culture, history, and natural beauty. For decades, however, it has been plagued by the scourge of drug trafficking and organized crime. Cartels, terrorists, militias, and paramilitary groups led decades of violence and instability that have impacted the lives of millions, and of a nation. In this episode, Enrico Dal Cine joins Arnold Koch to delve into the origins and current landscape of drug cartels in Colombia, looking into the current key players, their tactics, and what Colombian society and government do to combat them.
In our time, information is power, and artificial intelligence can become a great tool to improve our use and of information, but also to manipulate it. The increasing role of AI-enabled tools that blur the distinction between reality and fiction is worrisome, and AI-driven disinformation may be reshaping our understanding of truth. Can the electoral and democratic processes that we engage in our daily lives could be threatened by the use of AI? How do threat actors actually employ it? Who is behind disinformation campaigns on social media platforms? In this episode, Janthe Van Schaik joins Arnold Koch to help us uncover the dynamics of AI disinformation campaigns, the tools used by threat actors, and what we can do to counter them.
The 2024 Olympics are less than three months away, and the international context is as tense as ever. Terrorism, lone wolves, and cyber attacks are just some of the many security concerns for such a large, international sports event. When discussing security in the Olympics, it is inevitable to think about the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. On that occasion, 11 Israeli athletes and coaches, and a West German police officer were killed by Palestinian Black September terrorists. More than 50 years later, the Israeli-Palestinian issue is again at the center of the global stage, along with the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In this episode, Victoire Tissinié and Siddesh Shimpukade join Arnold Koch to help us explore the intelligence failures of the past, the lessons learned, and what threats to watch for the upcoming 2024 Olympics.
North Korea’s policy-making is an ambiguous and shady domain. Little information on the domestic reality of the country filters to the outside world, but the impacts of Pyongyang’s foreign policy on regional - and global - security need to be uncovered. In early 2024, North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, announced that the objective of “reunification” with South Korea is no longer considered possible. More than 70 years after the end of the Korean war in 1953, which formally divided the two states, a significant shift in the North’s policies towards the South could have a wider meaning for the region. In this episode, Samuel Pearson and Siddesh Shimpukade join Arnold Koch to provide us with a deeper understanding of the hidden nuances of the Korean peninsula’s security dynamics, with an eye to the potential threats of tomorrow.
On this episode of the Threat Intelligence Podcast with Derrick T. Dortch, Dr. Richard J. Chasdi, a renowned scholar of terrorism and counterterrorism will be talking about his book and the topic of Corporate Security Surveillance.
Dr. Chasdi is a Professorial Lecturer at George Washington University, a Senior Fellow at the Global Peace Institute in London, and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore. He has published extensively on these topics, including four books and numerous articles and book chapters.
Great powers look increasingly Eastward. The perception of Chinese ambitions - and threats - in the Indo-Pacific has led the US, UK, and Australia to form the AUKUS partnership in 2021. A strategic defense alliance that includes the joint development of cutting-edge military systems, including nuclear ones, and joint programs on emerging sectors including quantum technologies, deep space, and AI. But AUKUS goes beyond the domain of tactics and operations. Talks about Japan joining the alliance have animated recent analyses. What could Tokyo bring to the AUKUS table? In this episode, Agathe Labadi and Mrinmoy Routh join Arnold Koch to provide us with a deeper understanding of the alliance, helping us understand the operational and strategic dynamics of the AUKUS deal and what comes next for the Indo-Pacific region.
In this episode, host Derrick T. Dortch talks with Cara, a former Counterterrorism Group (CTG) Watch Officer who now works as an open-source intelligence (OSINT) investigator focused on conflict and political dynamics in West Africa. Cara shares her experiences dealing with mental health challenges related to her work as an intelligence analyst. Her challenges are common in the intelligence sector but oftentimes not discussed.
In her work at CTG and other places, Cara was routinely exposed to traumatic images and videos in the course of her counterterrorism analysis work. Over time, this constant exposure to graphic, disturbing content takes a psychological toll. The intelligence community (government, military and private/NGO sector) often promotes a "suck it up" attitude and stigmatizes seeking mental health support. Analysts fear that admitting to psychological struggles could jeopardize their career opportunities. Resources exist but are limited and geared more towards those who experience direct trauma from deployments. Cara shares how and why she is an advocate for mental health in the career field of intelligence analysis. She urges the intelligence community to invest more in the mental health of its workforce.
Cara transitioned to her current OSINT role after completing a Master's in Terrorism and Security Studies in 2023. Her insights shed much-needed light on a critical challenge affecting many intelligence professionals today.
This episode of the Threat Intelligence Podcast with your host Derrick T. Dortch focuses on the National Hurricane Center’s experimental update on the Cone of Uncertainty storm tracking tool set to launch in August 2024. Jennifer Radlinsky and Jayde Dorland from the Counterterrorism Group’s Emergency Management, Health, and Hazards (EMH2) and Counter Threat Strategic Communications (CTSC) teams discuss the importance and benefits of the tool while exploring the dangers of misinformation circulating serious weather events and the best practices to access legitimate information during critical events.
Haiti is undergoing one of the biggest crises in its history. A tragedy of violence, hunger, and instability has engulfed the country in large civil unrest, perpetuating its status as the poorest state in Latin America and the Caribbean region. But what are the origins of this crisis? In order to understand where Haiti is heading, we need to assess what led to the violence, and what role, if any, other countries played in the country's history. In this episode, Samuel Pearson and Eamon Kobel join Arnold Koch to help us gain a comprehensive understanding of Haiti's history and the social, political, and economic issues that have led to massive turmoil.
In this episode of the Threat Intelligence Podcast, Arnold Koka joins the team as a new host alongside Derrick T. Dortch, focusing on various cyber espionage threats that The Counter Terrorism Group has been tracking.
Cyber espionage is an increasingly hot topic. Who spies, how, and why? The United States and the United Kingdom have recently imposed sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals accused of being involved in a large cyber espionage campaign that allegedly targeted millions of lawmakers, academics, journalists, and businesses. But how do we navigate the realm of digital espionage? In this episode, Janthe Van Schaik and Mihai Marian Calinoiu help us understand the tangible dynamics of cyber espionage, offering us a better look into best practices for the public and private sectors.
This episode of the Threat Intelligence Podcast with your host Derrick T. Dortch focuses on the various threats The Counter Terrorism Group has been working on in the month of January and what we should expect as we go into February. The focus of this episode is the recent Inspire Video released by Al Qaeda and the threat people need to be aware of. At the time of taping of this episode, the attack on the U.S. Base in Jordon that resulted in the deaths of 3 U.S. military service members had not occurred. The Counter Terrorism Group and The Counter Threat Center continues to monitor this situation as the risk of escalation in the Middle East grows.
In this episode, Derrick T. Dortch joins members from the Women's Protection Group, a specialized team within The Counterterrorism Group to discuss a recently published report that reveals invaluable insights into Femicide and Gender-Based Violence. Tune in for a high-level discussion that aims to drive awareness and address this pressing issue.
NATO has become an active topic today on the global stage. It has been focused on peaceful solutions and democratic values since its beginning. According to NATO’s website, “Security in our daily lives is key to our well-being. NATO’s purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.” However, the topic of an alliance has received the attention of those who oppose the entity. But what exactly is NATO? What does it do? In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Gabriel Helupka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to try to get a deeper understanding of today’s topic.
The Israel-Hamas war has continued to impact the stability of the region. This destructive war that has left thousands dead has become the arena where both sides have displayed their military capabilities, whether covertly or overtly. Both sides have made it their mission to meet their challenges with the strength of their forces whether through weapons or personnel. Today, we will discuss the weapons, strategies, and tactics used during the Israel-Hamas war and why it should matter to everyone. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Arnold Koka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to try to get a deeper understanding of today’s topic.
On October 12, 2022, Juraj Krajcik killed two people and injured another outside an LGBTQ+ bar in Bratislava, Slovakia. At the time, Prime Minister Eduard Hegar called Krajcik a “radicalized teenager” after the attack. Shortly after the attack, Krajcik wrote “feeling no regrets, isn’t that funny?” on X. He published his manifesto on X before the attack. On the anniversary of Krajcik’s death, supporters on Terrorgram circulated a special issue describing him, his attack, and his manifesto, “A Call to Arms.” The issue is included in “Terrorgram’s Hometown Newspaper” titled “Daily News,” in which Krajcik was hailed as the first Saint. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Megan Khalife, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of today’s topic.
The Israel-Hamas war has split the opinions of millions of people worldwide. Many have become influenced by the propaganda that has been published and shared. Once again, a violent war that has left thousands dead has become the battleground where propaganda has led astray. Both nations have eagerly used videos to display the actions of the opposing nation. The shared news and social media propaganda has also increased misinformation and disinformation with possible mistranslated videos, false claims, and more. Today, we will discuss the propaganda used during the Israel-Hamas war and why it matters. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Jayde Dorland and Dan Flanagan Intelligence Analysts at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of today’s topic.
Lone wolf attacks have sparked the interest of those in the security and threat industries for a few decades. The fear of an act from a violent individual has driven many analysts and researchers to suggest safety policies for the public. Governments and agencies have relied on these security reports to develop preventative strategies. While there have been ample examples of lone-wolf attacks, the topic deserves further public analysis. What are lone wolves, and what motivates them to act upon violence? In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Chloe Woodbine, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of today’s topic.
October 7, 2023, will be remembered as a day an additional deadly conflict arose on the global stage. On that date, Hamas forces crossed into Israel and produced carnage that will be replayed in the minds of the survivors for many years to come. The Israel-Hamas war has split the opinions and positions of millions across the world. Many protests have taken place throughout the globe, echoing support and rage. But what have been the positions taken by governments during the Israel-Hamas war? Today’s conversation will focus on the responses of the superpowers and regional powers. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Gabriel Helupka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to try to get a deeper understanding of today’s topic.
Today, the US, Russia, and China lead the world as superpowers. These countries play an important role in many sectors, from technology to food to raw materials. Each nation has marked its supremacy and leadership both regionally and globally. Each country is known for having an advanced military and technical advantage. Many fear that a potential conflict among these nations could lead to a devastating end where no side wins. Though a battle among these superpowers is unthinkable, a discussion about their military might is imperative. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Arnold Koka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of the superpowers’ militaries and their impact today.
This year, Ethiopia’s federal government declared a six-month-long state of emergency in Amhara, the second-largest region, after days of violent confrontations between the army and the local Fano militia. The Amhara government sought assistance from Ethiopia’s federal government to help re-impose order, allowing authorities to ban public gatherings, enforce curfews, and make arrests or searches without warrants. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Sophia Ritscher, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of Ethiopia’s six-month state of emergency and its impact on the region.
For the past couple of years, a specific concept has dominated discussions in the field of extremism. What is currently known as the “Great Replacement Theory” has been displayed on news channels and social media platforms almost endlessly. Many have used this ideology to mask their intentions, while others have become victims of such beliefs. This idea has led some proponents to advocate for a distinction among all people, a claim that teeters on the edge of separatism and exclusionism. But what exactly is the “Great Replacement Theory”? What can we learn from this concept? In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Jayde Dorland, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of the Great Replacement Theory.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas, a terrorist group, invaded Israel via land, air, and sea. The violent assault, which started at about 6:30 am local time, began with Hamas unleashing about 5,000 rockets into Israel. About an hour later, Hamas’ soldiers entered the Gaza border by using paragliders and boats, walking into Israel. By 11:00 am, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared, “We are at war and we will win”. This assault on Israel exemplifies the regional historic instability. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Gabriel Helpuka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of Israel’s war with Hamas.
The year 2023 has witnessed several French protests. The rise of French citizens and their chants of uproar in their cities plagued all forms of media. Social media displayed their marches and echoed their shouts of protest. It seemed like the only news from France was primarily about the French objections. Several videos appeared of cities in awful conditions, some due to violence, others due to the clashes between the citizens and the police. But what can be learned from these protests? In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Gabriel Helpuka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of the protests in France.
Warfare has been changing since the very beginning, but its evolution has experienced a drastic change since the start of the 21st century. The land, air, and sea armaments employed by the military have seen the amalgamation of technology, science, and defense. Many weapons have become synonymous with war, like the B-29 Superfortress famously used in World War Two, or the M1 Abrams, or the AK-47, still commonly used today. But one particular weapon that has caught the attention of the world is the drone, specifically the sea drone. Today, the Ukrainian-Russian war has become the global stage, where sea drones have become the protagonist. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Arnold Kola, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of the sea drones in the Ukrainian-Russian war and their impact on naval warfare worldwide.
Africa is a vast continent containing almost 20% of the world's population. According to the UN, Africa holds 40% of the world's gold and up to 90% of its chrome and silver. These features have attracted the interest of foreign groups and governments. How have these groups impacted the continent?
In this episode, Salomon Montaguth speaks with Agathe, an intelligence analyst at the Counterterrorism Group, to gain further insight into outside forces' involvement and impact on Africa today.
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África es un continente amplio que contiene casi el 20% de la población mundial. Además, África posee el 40% del oro del mundo y hasta el 90% de su cromo y plata, según la ONU. Estas características han atraído el interés de grupos y gobiernos extranjeros. ¿Cómo estos grupos han impactado el continente?
En este episodio, Salomon Montaguth habla con Agathe, un analista de inteligencia aquí en el Counterterrorism Group para adquirir mayor conocimiento sobre la participación de fuerzas externas y su impacto en África hoy en día.
On June 20, 2023, reports broke about negotiations between China and Cuba regarding possibly establishing a Chinese military base in Cuba. Opening a military base in Cuba would result in Chinese troops stationed less than 100 miles from the coast of the United States. The US government is currently in conversations with the Chinese and Cuban governments. Neither the Chinese nor the Cuban government has commented on the reports. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Iris Forsberg, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of the impact a Chinese military base in Cuba may have.
The South China Sea and the Pacific region have been hot topics for many years and have drawn the attention of several governments. The US Department of Defense has claimed that “China continues to expand exploration activities in the SCS (South China Sea) as part of its hunt for much-needed energy and is now receiving oil and gas from the SCS (South China Sea). Other nations like the Philippines have confronted China regarding their questionable behavior in the Pacific region. As a result, such events have introduced many people to something called “maritime warfare”. But what exactly is maritime warfare and why is it important? In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Arnold Koka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to better understand maritime warfare and its impact in the Pacific region.
The massive continent of Africa contains almost 20% of the world’s population. Additionally, Africa holds 40% of the world’s gold and up to 90% of its chromium and platinum, according to the UN. These facts have led to an increase in interest in Africa by groups and governments outside of the continent. But how impactful are these groups and harmful can they be? In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Agathe Labadi, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of the involvement of external forces and their impact on Africa today.
Active Clubs (ACs) are a network of localized, decentralized, and loosely structured chapters formally affiliated with the network that possess far-right, white supremacist, and neo-Nazi ideologies. They have a significant presence throughout the US and Europe. Their movement is fueled by physical fitness, self-improvement, and establishing a fraternal brotherhood centered around white racial consciousness. They maintain an active presence on social media platforms such as Telegram, Gab, and TikTok. These channels are used for recruitment, propaganda, and exchanging advice on conducting fitness training. But, what fuels these groups and their ideologies? In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Gabriel Helupka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of Active Clubs (ACs) and their impact on society.
The Wagner Group is a private military company, primarily used by Russian President Putin, to complete military assignments. This paramilitary organization has been a topic of interest for many in the threat intelligence community, especially here at the Counterterrorism Group. The Wagner Group has been connected to atrocities and has had their associations and history questioned. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Gabriel Helupka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of the Wagner Group and their impact across the world.
Polish President Andrzej Duda announced in late May 2023 that he would sign a bill to create a panel to investigate allegations that the Civic Platform political party (PO) allowed Russia to influence Poland during its time in power from 2007 to 2015. The panel will have the authority to ban people found guilty of acting under Russian influence from holding security clearance or overseeing public funds, effectively disqualifying them from holding public office for 10 years. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Sophia Ritscher, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to discuss the real impact of Russian influence on politics in Poland.
On May 28, 2023, the Turkish presidential election took place. President Erdoğan, president of Turkey since 2014, was seeking re-election. This campaign had much to address like inflation, regional stability and security, geopolitical differences, economic crisis, and much more. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Gabriel Helupka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to discuss the real impact this change will have in the region. They will explore the key issues that were at stake in the election, how Erdoğan's campaign addressed them, and what the future of Turkey looks like.
National Security is a topic vital to all governments and their citizens. It establishes the defense and security of a nation whether domestically or internationally. American National Security has been a prominent topic on all news platforms, here in the US and around the world. It has also been a talking point for those seeking political office or for others inciting certain ideologies. To take a deeper dive, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Sophia Ritscher an Intelligence Analyst here at the Counterterrorism Group, to try to get a deeper understanding of American National Security.
Artificial intelligence specialists and political scientists have warned about the use of AI-enabled generative tools that could sway the upcoming 2024 elections through the production and dissemination of synthetic images, video, and audio material known as “deep fakes” on social media. Evidence of AI meddling recently surfaced on May 14, 2023, during the Turkish presidential election, where several doctored videos of incumbent President Recep Erdoğan and challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu giving speeches appeared on social media.
To take a deeper dive, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Sonia Savci, an Intelligence Analyst here at the Counterterrorism Group, to try to get a deeper understanding of misinformation and deep fakes.
America’s National Security has played a vital role in many areas like national defense, counterintelligence, foreign affairs, international security, and others. As a result, there have been major and historical consequences worldwide. With how important this topic is becoming, here at the Counterterrorism Group, we decided to present to our audience a Roundtable Discussion on America’s National Security and the World. To take a deeper dive, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Julia Tsarnas from the Latin America and Indo-Pacific Team, Pike Wipperfurth from the Middle East and Africa Team, and Gabriel Helupka from the Europe Team here at the Counterterrorism Group, to try and better understand the real impact America’s National Security has on the world.
In this episode, we will be focusing on narcoterrorism and its consequences and impact in South America. Narcoterrorism has become a topic of high importance today. It had exponents and figures such as "El Chapo Guzman" and "Pablo Escobar" in the past, it has the ability to influence economies and challenge security forces in many countries worldwide. This discussion will focus on its consequences and impacts in Latin America.
In this episode, Salomon Montaguth speaks with J. Felix, a senior counterterrorism analyst here at The Counterterrorism Group to discuss the effects of narcoterrorism in South America.
El narcoterrorismo se ha vuelto un tema de alta importancia hoy en día. Tuvo exponentes y figuras como “El Chapo Guzman” y “Pablo Escobar” en el pasado, tiene la capacidad de influenciar economias y desafiar fuerzas de seguridad de muchos paises a nivel mundial. Por lo tanto, aquí en el Counterterrorism Group, sentimos que nuestra audiencia ganaría mucho al aprender más sobre los eventos en esta región.
En este episodio, Salomon Montaguth habla con J.Felix, un analista sénior de contraterrorismo aquí en el Counterterrorism Group para analizar los efectos del narcoterrorism en América del Sur.
In April 2023, Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also known as NATO, while war was present in Europe. The 30-nation alliance invited its 31st member after Turkey-backed Finland’s membership. To take a deeper dive, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Gabriel Helupka from the Europe Team from The Counterterrorism Group to discuss the real impact Finland’s membership into NATO will have in the region.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Invasion led by American forces to topple Iraq’s dictator Saddam Hussein. President George W. Bush, the then-American president at the time, proclaimed that Saddam Hussein and his government had Weapons of Mass Destruction, WMD. Eventually, there were no WMDs found. After 20 years, the consequences of the invasion are still felt in the Middle East and have found their place in American History as one of the least favored wars as per a Gallup poll from February 2023. To take a deeper dive, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Pike Wipperfurth from the African and Middle East team at The Counterterrorism Group to discuss the real impact this diplomatic change will have in the region.
Saudi Arabia and Iran resumed diplomatic relations through Chinese mediation and will reopen embassies in each other’s countries. Saudi Arabia and Iran reactivated bilateral accords for security cooperation, trade, and economic investment. Iranian-backed militant groups such as the Houthi insurgency in Yemen and Hezbollah operating in Syria have accepted this agreement. To take a deeper dive, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Christine Saddy and Jeremie Mahendroo from the Middle East team at The Counterterrorism Group to discuss the real impact this will have in the region.
This year, Latin America, specifically Paraguay, Guatemala, and Argentina, will hold their presidential elections. Latin America has experienced a decrease in faith in democracy, which has been expressed through protests and political turmoil. These election outcomes will impact the region in the mid-2020s and beyond. The elected winners will have much to address like inflation, stability, security, climate change, and much more, all of which affect their voters.
To take a deeper dive, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Julia Tsarnas from the South American team at The Counterterrorism Group to discuss the real impact these elections will have in the region.
Last year, the North American team here at the Counterterrorism Group, published a Flash Alert discussing the possibility of an increased risk of violence targeting minority communities. This Flash Alert, which was used as inspiration for far-right extremists, was based on a publication in Telegram which is a social media platform. The publication was called The Hard Reset: A Terrorgram Publication. Since then, the Counterterrorism Group has been monitoring the possible impact of these individuals on America’s infrastructure. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth joins Stacey Casas, a senior leader here at the Counterterrorism Group, to try and better understand the real impact far-right extremism may have on our infrastructure and nation.
On February 24, 2022, Russian ground forces entered and invaded Ukraine, with the intention to “denazify” the invaded nation. Russian President Putin called it a mission to get rid of Nazi influence in the region, while Ukrainian President Zelensky proclaimed that “The Ukrainians will never surrender”. The thunderous disturbance of war and its consequences have re-entered Europe, almost in parallel to World War Two. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth and Amy Mcgee from the W.A.T.C.H. team discuss the impact that this has on the region and the rest of the world.
On February 6, 2023, Turkey and Syria experienced one of the deadliest earthquakes in modern history. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost and millions of lives have been impacted due to the destruction of their homes and their access to food and water. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth and Jennifer Radlinsky from the Emergency Management, Health, and Hazards team discuss the impact that these earthquakes have on the region and the rest of the world.
In this episode, we discuss the impact and consequences of far-right extremism in the U.S. military. To better understand this issue, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Andreea from the Extremism team at The Counterterrorism Group to discuss the real impact of far-right extremism on the U.S. military.
This episode will be our first episode in Spanish, focusing on terrorism and its consequences, as well as its impact in South America. Terrorism has caused destruction in South American nations, impacting millions of lives. With recent developments, we at the Counterterrorism Group feel that our audience would greatly benefit from learning more about the events in this region.
In this episode, Salomon Montaguth speaks with J. Felix, a senior counterterrorism analyst here at The Counterterrorism Group to discuss the effects of terrorism in South America.
Este episodio será nuestro primer episodio en español, centrándose en el terrorismo y sus consecuencias, así como el impacto en América del Sur. El terrorismo ha causado destrucción en las naciones sudamericanas, impactando millones de vidas. Con los desarrollos recientes, nosotros en el Counterterrorism Group sentimos que nuestra audiencia se beneficiaría enormemente de aprender más sobre los eventos en esta región.
En este episodio, Salomon Montaguth habla con J.Felix, un analista sénior de contraterrorismo aquí en el Counterterrorism Group para analizar los efectos del terrorismo en América del Sur.
In this roundtable episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Amy McGee, Julia Tsarnas, and Mridul Jérémie Mahendroo from The Counterterrorism Group to discuss the impact of two significant events that took place in South America earlier this year. The first event is the impeachment of former Peruvian President Castillo, and its impact on Peru. The second event is the insurrection that occurred in Brazil, which highlights the significant divisions within these nations and the role of dissatisfied citizens in a democratic system.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching consequences, affecting nations across the globe. In this discussion, we will focus specifically on the surge of COVID-19 in China, which is having a particularly significant impact on the elderly population. The government has recently ended mandatory mass testing amidst rising infections. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth and Jennifer Radlinsky from the Emergency Management, Health, and Hazards team discuss the impact COVID-19 has on the Chinese population and the rest of the world.
In early December 2022, German law enforcement arrested 25 individuals suspected of plotting to overthrow the German government. Many questions had arisen about motives and possible outcomes. In this episode, Andreea Troneci from the Extremism team and Peter Roberto from the Europe team join Salomon Montaguth to discuss the impact this has on democracy worldwide.
Cryptocurrency has gained the attention of Main Street and Wall Street and everyone in between. It became a trendsetter in recent years by reaching unimaginable heights and gaining large profits for its users. But now, it has raised concerns in Washington DC. Some politicians are demanding regulations, while others see regulations as defeating the purpose of cryptocurrency. With the recent bankruptcy of FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange, some are questioning the reliability of this currency. In this week's episode, Christine Saddy from the Illicit Financing team joins Salomon Montaguth to discuss the impact it will have.
Many alt-right groups and personalities have taken to other social media sites, which promote free speech, and censor-free zones. Salomon Montaguth joined by Brianna Corrie, from the Counter Threat Strategic Communications team to try and better understand the real impacts this transition to niche social media platforms has.
An independent monitoring company, TankerTrackers, identified Young Yong, a Chinese-owned supertanker, as shipping Venezuelan oil in 2021 disguised using false documents as Malaysian crude oil. The Young Yong was sanctioned in November 2022 for shipping oil from Iran, a state also subject to sanctions and known to have used false documents to disguise the origin of its cargo. Iran and Venezuela are two oil-producing sanctioned states and close allies that signed a 20-year cooperation plan in July 2022 for the oil and petrochemical industries. In a swap agreement signed in 2021, Iran and Venezuela decided to exchange Iranian crude oil condensate for Venezuelan crude oil. Julia Tsarnas from the South America team joins Salomon Montaguth to try and better understand the real impact this may have worldwide.
School shootings have been a topic that has caught the attention of millions across the US. This has led to discussions about gun accessibility, gun restrictions, and safety concerns. Today, we will refer to the 2021 Oxford High School shooting and to the 2022 Central Visual and Performing Arts High School shooting by former students. Public Service Announcement (PSA), this topic may be triggering for some. In this week's episode, Jamie Betances from the Crime team joins Salomon Montaguth to discuss School Shootings.
In early November, President Zelensky from Ukraine warned that any Russian military attacks on infrastructure would potentially leave many without energy. Klitschko advised Kyiv residents to make evacuation plans for attacks destroying the city’s infrastructure. Ukrainian officials are urging residents to leave if power is entirely cut-off. In this week's episode, Jennifer Radlinsky from the Emergency Management, Health, and Hazards team joins Salomon Montaguth to discuss the impact it will have.
Hundreds of far-right supporters gathered in Paris in October to condemn the murder of a 12-year-old girl. The suspected killer is an illegal Algerian immigrant, who was previously ordered to leave the country after her residence permit expired, leading to calls for authorities to enforce immigration laws. Far-right politicians, were present, and the murder has become a politicized subject for right-wing and far-right French parties, renewing debates over the handling of illegal migration in the country. In this week's episode, Peter Roberto who covers the European region joins Salomon Montaguth to discuss the impact it will have in the region.
In October, the Philippines and the US held military drills consisting of combat readiness maneuvers, mock amphibious assaults, and developing coastal defense tactics involving more than 2,500 American and Philippine marines. These exercises aimed to improve their defense system and to ensure regional security in the regional era of competition. The drills also improved and importantly, facilitated cooperation among allied military groups. The U.S. and the Philippine's relationship extends beyond military agreements to include economic and political interests, as Ferdinando Marco has expressed interest in cooperating with the US in defeating terrorist threats and increasing renewable energy. In this week's episode, Alison Ward who covers the Pacific Asia region joins Salomon Montaguth to discuss the impact it will have globally.
Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) is a Pakistan-based branch of the al-Qaeda Central (AQC), an Islamist militant group seeking to prepare Muslims for a holy war, reclaim Muslim territories, and revive the Islamic caliphate. AQC has a strong history in media production and dissemination of propaganda, establishing a media production arm in 2001 called As-Sahab. The Counter Threat Strategic Communications (CTSC) Team, here at the Counterterrorism Group, has analyzed textual and visual elements on AQC-affiliated websites and forums to identify overarching themes, voices, and narratives in propaganda. This project concludes with recommendations to tech platforms, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), and academia based on the analysis that would allow us to likely detect, deter, and prevent the spread and impact of AQIS content online. In this week's episode, Christie and Brianna from the CTSC Team join Salomon Montaguth to discuss the impact it will have globally.
The Counterterrorism Group intelligence analysts have been examining countries where Democracy has slowly been eroded by extremism. Democracy seems to be challenged by voices that have become louder and louder throughout the years. People around the world have been demonstrating their desire for change, an aim to diminish the status quo. There seems to be a global, political shift taking place. Therefore, we’ve decided to present to our audience a roundtable discussion on extremism in Latin America and Europe. In this week's episode Paige Biebas from our Extremism Team, Daniel Ruiz from our Latin America Team, and Peter Roberto from our Europe Team join Salomon Montaguth to discuss the impact it will have globally.
Advancements in 3D printing technology have dramatically increased the potential deadliness of homemade firearms. Advances in homemade manufacturing techniques greatly facilitate the probable proliferation of these untraceable, high-powered 3d printed firearms. New 3d printed firearms represent a much more significant threat compared to the previous 3d printed weapons that had a limited effective range of fewer than 100 yards. In this week's episode, Isaiah Johnson from the Weapons and Tactics team joins Salomon Montaguth to discuss the impact it will have globally.
On Sunday, September 11, 2022, Sweden held their general elections. The Sweden Democrats, the far-right Swedish political party, was expected to defeat the current government headed by Prime Minister Eva Andersson. The far-right party has gained more support than in previous years due to ultra-conservative policies, addressing gang-related offenses, inflation, and the energy crisis. Despite rebranding its nationalist image, the party is known for its hardline immigration worldviews and ties with extremists. In this week's episode, Andreea Troneci and Paige Biebas from CTG’s Extremism Team join Salomon Montaguth to discuss the impact it will have in Europe.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced he will seek reelection for the presidency in 2024. In 2021, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, appointed by President Bukele, permitted the presidential reelection. President Bukele’s popularity has stayed above 80%, but human rights groups and foreign governments, such as the US, are concerned about President Bukele’s concentration of power. Daniel Ruiz and Jan García Casanova from CTG’s Latin American team joins Salomon Montaguth to discuss the impact it will have globally.
Cultures and subcultures have existed for the entirety of human history. Some cultures are more prevalent than others, while others still are very niche, serving only a small number of people who share similar interests or beliefs. In the internet age, niche subcultures are much more accessible. All it takes is a few searches and keywords and whatever Google has to offer will be bared to you. Today we discuss the language of memes and how they drive the neo-nazi subculture. In this episode, Charley Gleeson and Christie Hui from CTG’s CTSC team joins Adam Stevens to discuss what this all means.
In this week's episode, we look into a security brief from CTG’s CICYBER team. First on the report was a new strategy by the U.S. government: The Central Intelligence Agency created a Russian language video directed to Russian language speakers affected by the war in Ukraine. Additionally, the U.S. government addresses key North Korean cyber threats by implementing sanctions on important cyber-financial infrastructure. Helping to break down this brief is Keanna Grelicha from CTG’s CICYBER team.
Earlier this year national headlines were being made by a group of truck drivers at the U.S. and Canadian border, blocking international trade routes. The group was protesting Canadian and American mask and vaccine mandates which impacted who could cross the border. After a brief détente thanks to the war in Ukraine, a group known as the People’s Convoy is planning its next trip to Washington D.C. in protest of any number of conservative talking points, from vaccines to abortion. Savannah Fellows from CTG’s NORTHCOM joins Adam Stevens to explain the group's origins and the impact in this time of increasing tension.
In a forthcoming Special Report, CTG analyzes the importance of foreign fighters joining terrorist movements in Central Asia. The history of foreign fighters arguably dates back to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979. Fighters from all across the world, including Osama bin Laden and others, joined to fight the invading imperialists. The same inspirations have been used throughout the first two decades of the 2000s. Many jihadists use the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan by the U.S. as a call to arms. Alberto Suarez from CTG’s CENTCOM team joins Adam Stevens to discuss how these wars impacted the foreign fighter movement, as well as tell us what the foreign fighter movement looks like today.
In the events of Russia versus Ukraine, Cyber threats have been just as much the story as physical attacks. In a security brief, CTG assessed and analyzed two different instances of Russian cyber attacks. When bombs and guns go off, the world responds in a relatively predictable way. When a cyber-bomb blows however, the world can react in sporadic, unpredictable ways. Marina Tovar from CTG’s CICYBER team joins Adam Sevens to discuss the real-world impacts that cyber attacks have in a world at war.
ISIS has claimed its first attack in Israel roughly five years, meanwhile in Iraq, funding has begun on a border wall in vulnerable locations along the Iraq-Syria border in response to ISIS fighters using these routes to enter the country and wreak havoc. Meanwhile, on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Afghani Taliban regime attempts to rid themselves of Pakistani Taliban forces, otherwise known as TTP. The TTP has been using the borderlands in Afghanistan to launch attacks in an attempt to overthrow the current Pakistani regime. Alberto Suarez Sutil from CTG’s CENTCOM team joins Adam Stevens to break down these events.
Over the last several years social media companies like Facebook and Twitter have been criticized by seemingly everyone. Many argue that social media companies have an obligation to call out or de-platform accounts producing disinformation on their platforms. Others decry it as a slippery slope to government censorship if they don’t call it outright censorship as is. In response to this many alt-right groups and personalities have taken to other social media sites, which promote free speech, and censor-free zones. Adam is joined by Brianna Corrie, from the Counter Threat Strategic Communications team to try and better understand the real impacts this transition to niche social media platforms has.
Russia’s war in Ukraine is a multilayered, multifaceted quagmire. Obviously, the face we see in the news is conventional warfare, resulting in the deaths of combatants and non-combatants alike. The Biden administration has stood firm on its stance of utilizing crippling economic sanctions against the invading Russians. Less talked about, but no less important is the cyber layer. Cyber bullets are flying every-which-way in this conflict. Notable hacktivist or cyber-vigilante group Anonymous is currently utilizing their skills to take their pound of flesh from the Putin regime, including DDoS attacks against Russian Banks. Helping to break down the different facets of this story, is Keanna Grelicha from CTG’s CICYBER team.
Conspiracy theorists jump at any opportunity to pervert the narrative around a given situation, even when the situation or event results in dozens, if not hundreds of grieving families. This is the case for many families who have become victims, not only of mass murder in their communities but of dangerous and vicious conspiracy theories regarding how and why their family and friends were killed. Brianna Corrie from CTG’s Counter Threat Strategic Communications team joins Adam Stevens to discuss these issues.
In this episode of the Threat Intelligence podcasts’ round table discussion. Our panelists joined Adam to discuss Russia and Ukraine. We discuss refugees, weapons and tactics, and where and how China may fit into all of this. This week Adam is joined by CTG’s own Becca Stewart as well as Semaj McDowell, host of his own podcast, the Geopolitical Pivot.
Between China and Russia, the world's eastern powers are out to reconstruct their empires of old. Currently, we are seeing this play out in Ukraine on televisions across the globe. As focus shifts back to Russia, China continues to subtly and deftly expand its own power and influence. China’s debt diplomacy, and their aggressive economic ‘Belt and Road’ initiative threaten to cripple beleaguered nations in Asia and Africa. Taiwan is the headline… a headline at least… but flying under the radar is how China’s soft power moves threaten neighbors like Cambodia and Vietnam. CTG’s Alberto Suarez joins Adam Stevens to discuss the machinations of this new Cold War.
At the time of recording, Russia had amassed nearly 130,000 troops at the Ukrainian border. Since then estimates put the number at nearly 190,000. Russia has effectively surrounded every inch of Ukraine including to the south along the Black Sea. Should war break out in earnest, it would be the largest, most sophisticated war effort in Europe since V.E. Day.
The Taliban is firmly entrenched as the ruling party in Afghanistan since seizing power late last summer. Between the Taliban, ISIS-K, and a thoroughly crippled economy, largely run by illicit markets, Afghanistan is in the midst of a human trafficking epidemic.
By some metrics, America saw 34 school shootings in 2021, a number far higher than any other recent year. The Oxford High School Shooter, responsible for four deaths, will face charges of Terrorism, which some are noting is a new way forward, not only for litigating shooters but also as a form of countermeasure to deter mass shootings in the future. To explain these nuances and share a bit about a new, massive CTG report on the topic of school shootings Charley Gleeson of CTG’s CTSC team is joining us.
In mid-January, a top Russian official did not rule out military deployments to Cuba and Venezuela if tensions with the U.S. and NATO over Ukraine continue to escalate. U.S. government officials have dismissed the statements as hyperbole and stated that if Russia did move in that direction, the U.S. would move “decisively” to deal with it. But what does decisive action look like? Intentionally it is a word that attempts to say a lot without saying anything. Stacey Casas from CTG’s SOUTHCOM team is joining us to discuss how seriously we should take this ominous threat.
Welcome to the first podcast episode of 2022! In this round table, two panelists will join Adam to discuss what stories we should watch in 2022. The storylines may be continuing from 2021 (and beyond), or they may be new trends emerging in the new year. Becca Stewart and Kaylyn Matis, both CTG analysts, join me in our second installment of the round table series to discuss stories from Ukraine, COVID-19, and the Metaverse.
The Taliban now controls Afghanistan and has been working in earnest to run the nation since their ascension to power three months ago. In an extensive report, CTG researched and analyzed how the Taliban utilizes public messaging and propaganda both internationally and domestically. Becca Stewart, CTG’s Special Teams Manager, joins us to discuss what propaganda efforts being implemented by the Taliban can tell us about the early months of their regime and discuss what role Afghanistan has yet to play in grand geopolitical strategy.
Somalia is in disarray. Taking advantage of Mogadishu's political gridlock, Al-Qaeda affiliate group Al-Shabaab rages in the countryside looking to replace the old, tired, secular government for their form of Sharia law. Faye, of CTG’s AFRICOM team, joins us to discuss Al-Shabaab’s growing influence.
In recent weeks CTG produced a special report on the Yemen Civil war, including background on the Houthi movement and the current situation on the ground in Yemen. Though 2021 winds to a close, the war that began in 2014 is still in full swing. JJ Singh from CTG’s CENTCOM team joins us to discuss the situation.
In the premiere Round Table episode for the Threat Intelligence podcast Aimee Hanstein and Becca Stewart join Adam to discuss trending stories around Africa and how China’s expanding reach could lead to Cold War-era proxy wars. From Taiwan to East Africa, China's growing influence threatens the security of the U.S. and the rest of the West.
In recent months and years, the term INCEL has gained national and international prominence for all the wrong reasons. A so-called “red pill” / “black pill” dichotomy within the largely online community known as INCELs, short for involuntary celibates, has resulted in several mass killing events. The latest attack took place on August 13th, when Jake Davison shot and killed 5 people in Plymouth, England. Charley Gleeson of CTG’s CTSC team joins Adam to discuss this movement.
As chaos continues to ensue in the wake of the Taliban’s victory over the Afghan government, the international community is grappling with how to manage their response to the crisis. Today Rob is joined by Jujhar & Vaania from CTG’s CENTCOM team to discuss what the situation looks like on the ground, how the international community (beyond the United States) is handling the situation, and, most importantly, what can be done to manage the inevitable refugee crisis with humanity and empathy at the center of the response.
Since President Biden began evacuating troops in earnest in late July, the situation in Afghanistan has changed – and fast. In just a matter of days, Taliban forces have enveloped the entire nation. On August 15th, the Taliban entered Kabul as reports came out detailing how sitting President Ghani had fled to Tajikistan. The U.S. is seemingly out of the fire into the frying pan as President Biden sends 6,000 more troops to Afghanistan with a single mission: protect the Hamid Karzai International Airport, and evacuate as many Americans and refugees as possible.
Once again, Aimee Hanstein from CTG’s CENTCOM team joins us to break down the situation.
In recent years, mass kidnappings in Africa have become a near-weekly occurrence, especially in Nigeria where Boko Haram wreaks havoc. Clara de Solages joins Adam to break down the current state of this continental crisis, as well as detail how some states can adapt to face this challenge more effectively.
As the US prepares to permanently withdraw all troops from Afghanistan after 20 years of devastating conflict, the Taliban stands uniquely positioned to potentially topple the existing democratic government and seize control of the country by force.
After two decades of war and tens of thousands of lives lost, the US has little to show for its efforts in Afghanistan. And the Taliban is as emboldened and powerful as ever.
Was the United States’ rapid withdrawal from the country a mistake? Or would remaining in the country just have delayed the inevitable?
Today I’m joined by Zaskia Torres from CTG’s CENTCOM team to discuss some of these big questions, and also to forecast whether or not the Taliban, one of the world’s most infamous terrorist organizations, may soon control an entire nation.
The frequency of romance scams, which involve a scammer posing online as someone they’re not for the purpose of deceiving and ultimately extorting an unsuspecting victim, have increased precipitously year over year since the explosion of online dating first began. Not only can this scheme be financially devastating for victims, but it also takes a major emotional and psychological toll that many never fully recover from.
Today I’m joined by Michelle Kaplun from CTG’s Illicit Finance & Economic Threats team to discuss the mechanics of how these scams function, who the victims and perpetrators are, the consequences for this type of fraud, and what can be done to stop and reverse this alarming trend.
Covid-19 has crippled Cuba's already fragile economy. The Cuban government points its fingers at the US while many Cubans point their fingers at their own government. Jasmine Woolley of CTG's SOUTHCOM joins us today to break down how Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel's assumption of the role of Communist Party Leader will affect Cuba's relationship with the US, as well as how it will affect Cuba's response to the label of a failed state.
With the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, Haiti finds itself in the center every major news outlet's breaking story, as well as in the middle of a devastating political, economic, and societal crisis. Jasmine Woolley from CTG's SOUTHCOM team joins us to discuss the recent updates on the assassination of President Moïse, as well as provide background on the larger context surrounding the crises in Haiti.
Three weeks ago, Iran held presidential elections that saw hardliner and Islamic fundamentalist candidate Ebrahim Raisi win the election in a landslide victory. After much of the last 20 years have been presided over by reformist presidents who have been more open to cooperation with the West, Raisi’s victory signals a meaningful shift in Iranian politics, the country’s relationship with Western nations, and the possibility of salvaging the Iran Nuclear deal.
Today I’m joined by Zaskia Torres & Jujhar Singh from CTG’s CENTCOM team to discuss what Raisi’s landmark election means for everyday Iranians, the Middle East more broadly, and the world.
Hezbollah, the Lebanese political party, paramilitary organization, and US-designated terrorist group, has been a powerful force in Lebanon and the surrounding Middle East since the group’s inception in the early 80s. Lesser known are their criminal operations on the other side of the planet in Venezuela. Today I’ll be speaking with Alexis Bowen and Emma Palmberg from CTG’s Illicit Finance & Economic Threats team to learn about how Hezbollah was able to gain a foothold in Venezuela, what kinds of criminal activities they’re participating in, and what the geopolitical implications are for Venezuela, South America, and the world more broadly.
With historic levels of ice recession in the Arctic year after year, members of the Arctic Council - most notably Russia, Canada, and the United States - must adapt to ensure they employ effective economic, environmental, and diplomatic policies in the Arctic. Today I'll be speaking with Caterina Anni from CTG's Historical Analysis Team about the evolving strategic value of the Arctic region on international security.
The reality of the COVID-19 pandemic is inescapable. And while the situation is improving in countries like the US, other nations are still in the grips of the pandemic. One of those countries is India, where we’ve seen the number of cases and deaths skyrocket in recent months. And while their cases are considerably lower than the peak in early May, they’re still averaging over 105,000 new cases each day. So they still have a long way to go.
However, today’s episode is not about COVID. Or at least not directly. India is currently facing the threat of a new epidemic of black mold fungal infections that is highly likely to compound the difficulties created by COVID-19. Today I’m joined by Jade Patel and Sam Shames from CTG’s Emergency Management, Health, and Hazards (EMH2) team to discuss the ins and outs of this new epidemic, how it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what can be done to stop the spread of the deadly black fungus pathogen within India and around the world.
Just like any organization seeking to recruit new members and break through in a highly saturated attention economy, terrorist groups have to innovate just like everybody else. And one way they’re doing that is through the creation of video games and related media content.
So today I’ll be speaking with Katelyn Ferguson from CTG’s Crime team to discuss how terrorist groups are using video games to radicalize and recruit new members, as well as how other factors like online community platforms and the COVID-19 pandemic play into this threat. We’ll also analyze some current efforts to deter terrorists’ use of media for the purpose recruitment, and we’ll consider a number of other potential solutions.
The geopolitical conflict that’s captured the world’s attention this month is the ongoing situation between Israel and Palestine. It’s certainly not an easy topic to discuss, and any nuanced conversation about it is sure to ruffle some feathers. But luckily I’m joined today by Aimee Hanstein from CTG’s CENTCOM team to dive in and understand the history, the recent conflict, the current cease-fire, and what the future may hold for Israelis and Palestinians.
Today Adam speaks to Kyle Walter from CTG's EUCOM team about US sanctions against Russian gas company Gaz Prom. As tensions between the US and Russia continue to escalate, the European Union has been caught in between. The EU relies heavily on Russian gas production, and US sanctions are serving as an agitant not only to the Russians but the EU as well. Meanwhile Gazprom is underway with a pipeline that will connect Siberia to the Chinese mainland.
In this episode, Kyle and Adam will discuss the in's and out's of this complex geopolitical issue as well as what the future looks like and what the US and other allies can do to contain expanding Russian and Chinese influence.
On February 5th, 2021, cyber terrorists remotely gained access to the internal system of a water treatment plant in Oldsmar, Florida, and nearly succeeded in poisoning the drinking water supply. The hackers briefly increased the supply of sodium hydroxide by a factor of over 100. Fortunately, water treatment plant workers quickly recognized the attack and resolved the problem. But make no mistake – this was a very close call, and it could’ve had dire, likely fatal consequences.
So, what does this incident tell us about our preparedness to handle cyber attacks on systems that have major repercussions on the health and well-being of the public? That is focus of today’s episode. Today I speak with Priya Venkadesh and Elena Montaña from CTG’s Counter Intelligence & CYBER team to learn about the scope of the problem as well as what we can do to fix it.
Propaganda is something we hear about pretty frequently these days. It’s always been a powerful tool used by countless groups of people over time to exert influence and push an agenda.
For most of human history, the ability to effectively produce and disseminate propaganda usually required a lot of time, resources, and new technology to achieve the desired result.
But now, as technology continues to become more widely distributed and easy to use, the ability to create and spread propaganda to influence large swaths of people has increased dramatically. And there are no signs of that trend slowing down anytime soon.
That being said, for how ubiquitous a concept it is, the definitions of what is or isn’t propaganda can vary widely depending on who you’re speaking to.
Today I talk to Becca Stewart, the team lead for CTG’s Counter Threat and Strategic Communications team, to clear all that up.
We’ll also discuss her team’s unique method combatting propaganda by putting themselves into the mind of a propagandist.
The May 1st ultimatum posed by the Taliban for the removal American troops from Afghanistan is quickly approaching. It appears that the U.S. has no plans to remove its troops until September 2021. This puts the already precarious Afghan peace talks with the Taliban at further risk. What does it mean for the women of Afghanistan if these plans fall apart?
This week we will continue our discussion on the ongoing peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Aimee Hanstein from CTG’s CENTCOM team will return to discuss the Afghan education system and how women are being shut out of educational opportunities and job opportunities. If tensions between the U.S. and Taliban boil over, dissolving peace talks, major gains for women in education and the workforce could be lost.
About a week ago, President Biden announced that the US would fully withdraw American troops from Afghanistan by September 11 of this year. This has been a divisive political issue of late. The US will try to balance the goal of ending “forever wars” with keeping stability in Afghanistan as the Afghan government pursues peace talks with the Taliban.
This week we will talk about the ongoing peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Aimee Hanstein from CTG’s CENTCOM team will join me to discuss how women are being represented in these talks and what the future holds for the women of Afghanistan. All of this is set to the backdrop of an ultimatum set by the Taliban for U.S. troops to be removed from the country by May 1st.
Extremist organizations, including militias, anarchists, anti-government and white supremacist groups, actively radicalize and attempt to recruit military personnel to acquire tactical experience, insider knowledge, as well as legitimacy and respect for their ideological goals.
In this episode, Rob speaks with Krystel von Kumberg from CTG's NORTHCOM team about the scope of this threat, its relevance in the wake of the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol, and what can be done to counter this growing threat.
Monero, a privacy-oriented cryptocurrency often overshadowed by Bitcoin and Ethereum, has gained attention for its increasing use within illegal markets. In this episode, Adam dives in with Michelle from CTG's Illicit Finance & Economic Threats team to discuss the opportunities and threats presented by the world's dominant privacy coin.
Senegalese-American music superstar Akon is spearheading the effort to create “Akon City,” the first of what could become multiple futuristic, sustainable, utopian smart cities in Africa that operate with a new cryptocurrency – Akoin – as the bedrock for the entire economic and financial infrastructure.
Although work on Akon City began before the release of the popular American film Black Panther, many people, including Akon himself, now refer to Akon City as the real-life “Wakanda,” the film’s fictional east-African nation that is highly technologically advanced. Its goals are lofty: operate self-sufficiently via renewable energy; turn Africa into the next tourist hotspot; become a haven for the Senegalese people; encourage African entrepreneurship; offer a home for African Americans facing discrimination in the US; have Akoin create financial stability in a region with dozens of volatile fiat currencies; and the list continues.
As the team behind Akon City plans to break ground in early 2021, the city is projected to be fully complete by 2029. With $6 billion USD already invested, the potential for Akon City is seemingly limitless. However, a number of critical risks must be carefully considered so that Akon City and other privately funded ‘new cities’ in Africa reach their goals without unintended negative consequences.