- FBI Director Christopher Wray has warned the House Appropriations Committee of the possibility of an organized attack in the US similar to last month's massacre in Moscow. Axios
- On March 22, an alleged Islamic State militant group attack at a concert hall in the Russian capital killed at least 144 people. The attack was the deadliest in Russia in two decades. reuters.com
- At the FBI's fiscal year 2025 budget hearing on Thursday, Wray said "the events in the Middle East" risked inspiring "a coordinated attack here in the homeland." New York Post (LR: 5 CP: 5)
- He also urged Congress to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which tracks foreign nationals overseas and is set to expire next Friday. FOX News (LR: 4 CP: 4)
- The FBI's fiscal year 2025 budget request of $11.3B includes $7M to boost its cyber response operations and $17.8M to help combat foreign national security threats. Govinfosecurity
Narrative A:
- With a plethora of security threats mounting, the US must once again view effective counterterrorism as the nation's primary intelligence priority. Although dangers from the likes of artificial intelligence and China continue to grow, the war on terror can't be forgotten. The US' isolationist mentality has allowed Islamist militant groups to find strength once again — this can't be sustained, or Americans will pay the price.
NEW YORK TIMES (LR: 2 CP: 5)
Narrative B:
- While the threat of terrorism must always be treated with due diligence, a shift away from a counterterrorism-focused intelligence community in recent years is a testament to the successes of America and the West. Though the Islamist terror organizations have switched their focuses towards Russia and China, the West can be confident it's capable of managing the security challenges it faces.
HASTINGS TRIBUNE
Nerd narrative:
- There's a 78% chance that another 9/11 on US soil will be prevented at least through 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)