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Intel at the Edge: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Special Competitive Studies Project - SCSP
Where technology meets intelligence. Intel at the Edge is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), hosted by Chip Usher, Senior Director for Intelligence. Chip explores the latest innovations transforming the intelligence community with experts who are shaping the future of national security.
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- 2 days ago34 min
Why Supply Chain Blind Spots Are a National Security Problem
From rare earth minerals to nitrocellulose, Exiger CEO Brandon Daniels warns that invisible vulnerabilities in America's supply chains pose serious national security risks. He also makes the case for smarter public-private partnerships and AI-driven tools to close the gap before adversaries exploit it. Recorded at the AI+ Expo, Daniels draws on his experience leading one of the world's most advanced supply chain intelligence platforms to argue that the U.S. must move beyond reactive policy and invest in proactive visibility. Additionally, he shares a candid and measured assessment of where generative AI stands today — acknowledging its promise for workforce augmentation while cautioning that complex, large-scale applications still require significant human engineering talent. Topics: National Security, Critical Minerals, Public-Private Partnerships, China Competition, Supply Chain Resilience Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.
- 2 weeks ago29 min
How Israel uses AI for Intelligence & Why It's Not Enough with Amos Lahav
In this episode of "Intel at the Edge", host Chip Usher is joined by Amos Lahav, founder of Airis Labs, to examine one of the most consequential questions in modern defense: what happens when AI becomes the backbone of intelligence collection and battlefield targeting? Drawing on hard lessons from the October 7th intelligence failure, the rise of systems like Gospel, and the growing threat of adversarial AI, Lahav offers a firsthand account of how the technology is changing — and sometimes failing — the people who depend on it most. Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.
- Apr 22, 202632 min
Is AI Actually Useful for Intelligence Analysis? with Wayne McCool & Bruce Frost
Two senior CIA veterans — Wayne McCool, former Associate Deputy Director for Analysis, and Bruce Frost of "Rhombus Power" — cut through the hype. They discuss how AI is being used inside the intelligence community today, what the real limitations are, and what the future of all-source analysis looks like. 0:00:10 — Introduction & Context 0:01:24 — Panel Introductions: Wayne McCool & Bruce Frost 0:02:28 — AI as a "Silver Bullet"? Where It's Delivering Real Value 0:05:39 — Rhombus Power's Approach: Empowering the Analyst 0:06:55 — Predicting Threats: Undersea Cables & Satellites 0:08:20 — Building Trust in AI: Human-in-the-Loop at CIA 0:09:48 — Experiment Widely, Adopt Specifically 0:11:09 — The Sourcing Problem: Can You Cite AI in Intelligence Products? 0:13:02 — Trust & Model Auditability: A Decade-Long Journey 0:14:26 — Defining Good Analysis in an AI-Augmented World 0:15:56 — Speed to Insight & the Data Overload Problem 0:18:09 — The Repeatability Problem with LLMs 0:19:32 — Retrieval-Augmented Generation & Managing Hallucinations 0:21:12 — Analyst Skepticism as a Core Tradecraft Skill 0:22:43 — Curating Data: Giving Analysts Control Over Outputs 0:24:39 — The Human Side: Will AI Replace Analyst Expertise? 0:25:46 — Automation Bias & the Risk of Eroding Critical Thinking 0:27:46 — How AI Is Changing the Editing & Review Process 0:29:07 — The Future Role of the Reviewer 0:29:52 — AI as a Training & Feedback Tool for Junior Analysts 0:31:09 — What Does the Analytic Team of the Future Look Like? 0:32:06 — Closing Thoughts & Final Takeaways Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.
- Apr 8, 202648 min
FISA Section 702 with Brett Freeman
FISA Section 702 is one of the most powerful — and controversial — surveillance laws in the United States. It allows the U.S. intelligence community to collect electronic communications from foreign targets passing through American company infrastructure, without a traditional warrant. In this episode, we sit down with Brett Freeman, a former attorney at the NSA, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the Department of Justice's National Security Division, who has spent years briefing the White House and Congress on exactly how this law works. /// 00:00:09 - Introduction: What is FISA Section 702? 00:01:47 - Guest Introduction: Brett Freeman 00:02:00 - Brett's Background & Career in Intelligence Law 00:04:16 - FISA 101: The History of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 00:05:16 - How FISA Worked Before 9/11 00:06:13 - How 9/11 & the Internet Changed Everything 00:42:26 - The Reauthorization Debate in Congress 00:43:34 - Trump Administration's Stance on 702 00:44:31 - What a Clean vs. Reformed Reauthorization Means 00:45:30 - How Many Times Can 702 Be Reformed Before It Breaks? 00:47:44 - The Role of Sunset Clauses in National Security Law 00:49:06 - Artificial Intelligence & FISA Section 702 00:52:07 - Closing Remarks Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.
- Mar 25, 202632 min
Inside Beijing's Strategy: The Trump-Xi Summit, Taiwan & the Tech War with Chris Johnson
With the Trump-Xi summit approaching, former CIA senior China analyst Chris Johnson joins “Intel at the Edge” to give an unvarnished assessment of Beijing's priorities, Xi Jinping's mindset, and how China is navigating an increasingly unpredictable America. Chris draws on over two decades in the US intelligence and foreign affairs communities to explain what Xi really wants from this summit, how the rare earth standoff reshaped the bilateral relationship, and why China's long-term focus is breaking America's technological chokehold — not winning a diplomatic photo op. 00:00 - Introduction & Guest Bio 01:35 - How Important Is the Summit to Xi Jinping? 03:17 - Xi's Real Goal: Stability Over Diplomacy 04:41 - How Beijing Is Briefing Xi on Trump 05:01 - Xi's Gamble: The Rare Earth Sword & Staring Trump Down 06:07 - The Other Side: US Hegemonism Is on the Prowl 07:13 - The Wounded Animal: How Beijing Reads America Right Now 07:37 - Xi's Play: Buy Trump Off & Wait Him Out 20:10 - What Xi Will Put on the Table on Taiwan 21:18 - Xi's Real Priority: Breaking the Semiconductor Chokehold 26:14 - Summit Timing & Xi's Return Visit Window 27:02 - The Atmospherics: How China Stages These Meetings 28:20 - Trump Treats Xi as an Equal — And Xi Knows It 28:40 - "Trump Sees Xi as a Badass" 29:57 - How Confident Is Beijing About Winning the Long Game? 30:21 - Short Term Confident, Long Term Uncertain 31:22 - China's Real Problems: Demographics, Debt & the Economy 32:31 - What Keeps Xi Up at Night 32:53 - Closing Remarks Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.
- Mar 11, 202648 min
China’s Greatest Heist: How Beijing Stole America’s Technology with Andrew Badger
China didn’t just compete with the United States — it harvested America’s innovation. In this episode of “Intel at the Edge” Andrew Badger joins Chip Usher to discuss The Great Heist — the story of how China used industrial espionage, talent recruitment, and a whole-of-society strategy to leapfrog the U.S. in critical technologies. From AI and hypersonic missiles to semiconductor manufacturing and electric vehicles, this conversation explores: • How China turned WTO entry into a collection apparatus • The rise of the Ministry of State Security’s global network • The Tesla “billion-dollar thumb drive” case • Hypersonic and the Los Alamos connection • Why economic security is national security • What the U.S. intelligence community must do differently If the 20th century was about military dominance, the 21st century is about technological power. The question is not whether China is competing — it’s whether America is prepared. 00:00 Intro – The Great Heist 02:20 From DIA to Industrial Espionage 03:15 WTO 2000: The Turning Point 06:25 The “Kaspersky Doctrine” Strategy 08:10 The Most Consequential Economic Heist in History 10:30 China’s Whole-of-Society Intelligence Model 13:20 Sun Tzu & The Cultural Mindset Behind Espionage 17:40 The Cost: $600–800 Billion a Year 21:05 The Tesla “Billion-Dollar Thumb Drive” 22:45 Hypersonic & The Los Alamos Connection 25:15 “We Let Them Do It” – Strategic Distraction 29:20 The China Initiative & Political Hesitation 31:35 AI, Quantum & Emerging Tech Theft 34:20 The Wave Energy Case Study 36:40 Semiconductor War & ASML 38:15 Economic Security = National Security 40:20 Time to Stop Playing Defense 43:30 OPSEC Mindset & Intelligence Reform 46:50 Final Thoughts Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.
- Feb 25, 202647 min
How U.S. Intelligence Views China’s Military Power with Admiral Michael Studeman
Admiral Michael Studeman joins "Intel at the Edge " to discuss the shifting landscape of Indo-Pacific security. Drawing from his decades of experience in the U.S. Intelligence Community, including as the Director of Intelligence at Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Studeman provides a rare inside look into how America’s intelligence services view China’s growing military power and how Beijing is positioning itself for regional and global leadership. Additionally, as Former Director of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Admiral Studeman breaks down the sudden removal of General Zhang Youxia and what it means for the future of the PLA. Is Xi Jinping clearing out "overcautious" generals to make room for "Yes Men!"? We dive deep into China's massive military modernization and why Admiral Studeman believes the "window of greatest danger" is closer than we think. 00:00:09 – Introduction: Admiral Mike Studeman’s 35-Year Career 00:01:37 – Welcome & Setting the Stage for the China Challenge 00:02:27 – The Scale and Speed of PLA Modernization 00:05:09 – China's Navy: A Peer Global Power 00:07:22 – Latent Power vs. Ready Power: How China Converts Wealth to Military Strength 00:09:58 – Comprehensive National Power & The Misdiagnosis of China’s Strategy 00:11:36 – Political Warfare: China’s "Short of War" Expansion 00:13:55 – Regional Anxiety & China’s Daily Influence Operations 00:15:25 – Analyzing the Ouster of General Zhang Youxia 00:19:56 – Xi Jinping’s Fourth Term & The Consolidation of "Yes Men" 00:21:51 – Pressure Tactics Around Taiwan: An Ongoing Cognitive War 00:25:24 – The "Window of Greatest Danger" (Late 2020s–Early 2030s) 00:29:28 – Reforming the Intelligence Community: Beyond the "Ivory Tower" 00:33:49 – Harnessing Open Source & Advanced Technology 00:39:03 – Economic Intelligence: The Blind Spot of 21st Century Security 00:41:54 – Protecting National Competitiveness through Private Sector Dialog 00:44:36 – Advice for the Next Generation: Courage and Iron Integrity 00:47:12 – Closing Remarks & Future Military Outlook Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.
- Feb 24, 202631 min
Emergency Update on Iran with Norman Roule
With two U.S. carrier strike groups converging on Iran and a presidential deadline looming, the clock is ticking. In this urgent episode of Intel at the Edge, host Chip Usher — Senior Director for Intelligence at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) — sits down with Norman Roule, former National Intelligence Manager for Iran at the CIA, to assess what may be one of the most consequential moments in U.S.-Iran relations in decades. They cover the state of diplomacy ahead of the Geneva talks, whether Iran will ever genuinely negotiate on its nuclear and missile programs, the risks of miscalculation, Iranian retaliation scenarios, regime stability, and the sweeping transformation reshaping the broader Middle East. Norman Roule spent over three decades as a senior CIA operations officer, including as the National Intelligence Manager for Iran — one of the most critical and sensitive intelligence roles in the U.S. government. 🔔 Subscribe for more expert intelligence and national security analysis from SCSP. 00:00 – Introduction: Emergency Podcast on the Iran Situation 00:40 – Guest Introduction: Norm Roule’s CIA and Intelligence Background 01:25 – Announcement: AI Plus Intelligence Summit at the Waldorf Astoria 02:03 – Current Military Posture: Carrier Strike Groups and Aircraft Deployment 02:28 – The Diplomatic Inflection Point and March Deadlines 03:38 – Core Issues: Iran’s Nuclear Program and Enrichment Deals 05:31 – U.S. Demands: Missiles and the "Axis of Resistance" 07:56 – Iran’s Missile Arsenal and ICBM Capabilities 08:33 – Upcoming Geneva Talks and Potential for Miscalculation 10:51 – Evaluating Potential U.S. Military Strikes and Iranian Retaliation 14:06 – Degradation of Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iranian Ballistic Assets 16:03 – Diplomacy vs. Military Action: What Compels Tehran to Negotiate? 18:44 – Regime Stability: Domestic Protests and Internal Pressures 20:54 – Outlook: How the Next Two Weeks Will Play Out 25:22 – Regional Dynamics: Shifting U.S. Commitments and Middle East Change 30:25 – Closing Remarks and Future Updates Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.
About Intel at the Edge
Where technology meets intelligence. Intel at the Edge is a podcast by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), hosted by Chip Usher, Senior Director for Intelligence. Chip explores the latest innovations transforming the intelligence community with experts who are shaping the future of national security.
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