The CIA Thought Putin Would Quickly Conquer Ukraine. Why Did They Get It So Wrong?

  • Print

High-tech surveillance may have blinded the U.S. to how corruption has weakened the Russian military.


MOST READ

Holding the COP27 Summit in Egypt’s Police State Creates a Moral Crisis for the Climate Movement

Naomi Klein

The ongoing hunger strike of Egyptian political prisoner Alaa Abd El Fattah forcefully reminds us that there can be no meaningful climate action without political freedom.

READ MORE →

Will Putin Face Prosecution for the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine?

Alice Speri

The U.S. appears reluctant to set a precedent that would highlight how President George W. Bush avoided trial for invading Iraq.

READ MORE →

Protecting freedom of the press has never been more important. Be the next person to support The Intercept’s independent journalism by becoming a member today.

BECOME A MEMBER →


Top Stories

The CIA Thought Putin Would Quickly Conquer Ukraine. Why Did They Get It So Wrong?

James Risen, Ken Klippenstein

High-tech surveillance may have blinded the U.S. to how corruption has weakened the Russian military.

READ MORE →

Activists Acquitted in Trial for Taking Piglets From Smithfield Foods

Marina Bolotnikova

The nation’s largest pork producer argued that the removal of two sick piglets was a case of theft and burglary. DxE called it a rescue.

READ MORE →

NIH Awards New Grant to U.S. Organization at Center of Covid-19 Lab Leak Controversy

Ryan Grim

In August, an EcoHealth Alliance award was terminated after the organization failed to turn over records critical to the Covid origin probe. The next month, it got a new grant.

READ MORE →

Meet the Military Contractor Running Fare Collection in New York Subways — and Around the World

Schuyler Mitchell

Cubic Corporation does transit projects like New York City’s OMNY, but also cleans up on government surveillance and security contracts.

READ MORE →

Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize Winner: “What We Need Today Is Weapons”

Alice Speri

Oleksandra Matviichuk, who heads Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties — just awarded the Nobel Peace Prize — spoke with The Intercept last month.

READ MORE →

Ron DeSantis Claim That “Regime Media” Wanted Hurricane Ian to Hit Tampa Echoed Fox News Rant

Robert Mackey

For many on the left, the phrase used by DeSantis — “regime media” — would have been new, but it’s a buzzword on the far right.

READ MORE →

Texas Claims It’s “Too Late” for DNA Testing That Could Get Rodney Reed Off Death Row

Jordan Smith

Now Reed is taking his fight to the Supreme Court.

READ MORE →

Livestream: Egypt’s Carceral Climate Summit

The Intercept

As Egypt prepares to host COP27, the country’s most prominent pro-democracy activist, Alaa Abd El Fattah, remains in prison.

WATCH →

Dead Presidents, Fortunate Sons, and Raytheon Flacks: A K Street Kegger Party Report

Daniel Boguslaw

All-purpose firm S-3 hosted lobbyists, staffers, congressmen, and special guests for a feeding frenzy at the Navy Yard docks.

READ MORE →


Podcasts

The Journalist Censored for Defending Rashida Tlaib

Deconstructed

Katie Halper found herself in hot water at Hill TV after defending Tlaib’s characterization of Israel as an “apartheid state.”

LISTEN →

Inside the Chinese Government’s Growing Surveillance State

Intercepted

Artificial intelligence is making China’s expansive surveillance technologies more efficient.

LISTEN →

First Look Institute is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (tax ID number 80-0951255).

The Intercept’s mailing address is:
First Look Institute
P.O. Box 27442
Washington, DC 20038

The Intercept is an award-winning nonprofit news organization dedicated to holding the powerful accountable through fearless, adversarial journalism. Our in-depth investigations and unflinching analysis focus on surveillance, war, corruption, the environment, technology, criminal justice, the media and more. Email is an important way for us to communicate with The Intercept's readers, but if you'd like to stop hearing from us, click here to unsubscribe or update your subscription preferences.

Become a member of The Intercept today and support our independent journalism.

BECOME A MEMBER →