The CIA’s abrupt turnabout on the issue of imaginary microwave ray guns left a lot of lawmakers without a favorite political prop.

Evidence-free accounts of spooky weapons bedeviling American diplomats have lawmakers jumping at shadows—and talking of war.

It’s a toothless word that shies away from the root causes of inequality.

A new book traces the language of brainwashing to a series of Cold War–era scares.

Spencer Ackerman’s new book argues that the forever wars created the conditions for Trump’s rise.

Our inability to truly conspire is why so many people are struggling today.

Has Russia been zapping American embassies with a secret weapon?

How not to learn about the American past

The assassination of nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh is a reminder of how badly the U.S. needs a new approach to Iran. Is Biden up to the task?

How Biden treats his predecessor could determine the fate of American democracy

After four years of corruption and venality, can the country’s law enforcement agency be saved?

How the president has used William Barr and other officials to turn the government into his personal fiefdom

In history and pop culture, a wave of revisionism has subtly cleaned up the agency’s image.

Thirty-four years after the prime minister was murdered, Sweden has identified his assassin. But the case is by no means concluded.

Gina Haspel is not a typical Trump toady, but recent moves suggest a dangerous dynamic between the runaway president and his spy agency.

The new movie about the Torture Report has to take on people who still wield enormous influence.

The Amazon show is a plea to set democracy aside and let national security experts run the world.

As an impeachment crisis looms, CIA and FBI veterans are taking a troubling lead in opposing Trump at the ballot box.

Trump’s hasty troop withdrawal could trigger a second "industrial revolution" in terrorism.

Crank ideas have always flourished in times of great instability and inequality.