Greg Myre

Avril Haines, the first woman nominated to the top intelligence post, took a strange path to this job. She studied judo in Japan, physics in college, and rebuilt a plane that she later crash-landed.

Iran says that it will retaliate for the killing of its top nuclear scientist, and it suspects Israel. How will this complicate the already volatile relationship among Iran, Israel and the U.S.?

The president has taken a series of abrupt moves, firing the defense secretary and announcing troop cutbacks in Afghanistan and Iraq. Critics say these actions have no clear strategic goal.

President Trump has been talking tough on Iran throughout his presidency. Will he take any action? NPR confirmed possible moves were discussed at a White House meeting last week.

President Trump has not accepted the election results, and his administration has not yet authorized Biden and his team to start receiving government resources — including intelligence briefings.

President Trump's "America First" foreign policy meant a reduced U.S. role in the world. Joe Biden wants the U.S. to show more global leadership, and his focus will be rebuilding alliances.

President Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday — replacing him with Christopher C. Miller, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center. What does the timing of this mean?

This election season has brought a series of computer hacks and disinformation efforts. How do we distinguish between a real threat and a minor distraction?

Days away from the general election, NPR reporters discuss real and perceived election threats.

Dozens of U.S. diplomats in Cuba and China have complained of chronic, unexplained ailments. Now an ex-CIA official says he had to retire after a trip to Russia led to debilitating migraines.

National security leaders are playing a far more prominent role than in previous elections. Current officials are trying to reassure voters. Many former leaders are criticizing the president.

Almost all members of the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's top military officials, are quarantining at home after a senior Coast Guard officer tested positive for the coronavirus.

Adm. Charles Ray, the vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, has tested positive for COVID-19. He was at Pentagon meetings last week with members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

There's a long history of military doctors treating U.S. presidents. This does create the unusual situation where the president, as commander-in-chief, is the doctor's ultimate boss.

The former spy chief has dealt with almost all of the country's major security challenges over the past two decades. In his memoir, Undaunted, he directs his ire at President Trump.

The U.S. command and control structure remains unaffected by the news that President Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus. But it underscores America's troubled response to the pandemic.

National security officials say Russia is again trying to disrupt the election. But this time, it doesn't have to work so hard because Americans are spreading mistruths and doubts about the election.

President Trump reportedly is facing huge debts. Democrats want to know who his lenders are, and his national security decisions are facing renewed scrutiny. Trump claims the reports are false.

The nation's top intelligence official caused a stir last month when he canceled face-to-face updates for Congress. The Senate and House intelligence committees say he's agreed to resume them.

Soufan has just released the uncensored version of his book on interrogating al-Qaida suspects. And U.S. officials recently told Soufan that the terrorist group was plotting an attack against him.