National Counterterrorism Center

A Trump-backed Republican, John Braun, advanced to the general election in Washington's 3rd Congressional District, facing Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. The race is a key House battleground with Braun, a state senator, challenging the incumbent Democrat.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie argued the U.S. has been significantly weakened by the war with Iran, citing depleted missile defenses, drained oil reserves, and increased debt, all for Israel. The Energy Department released 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and defense spending has risen. The Trump administration defended the military campaign as necessary to counter Iran's missile and nuclear threats.

Joe Kent, a former National Counterterrorism Center Director, is urging immediate U.S. military withdrawal from the Middle East to avoid mass casualties and de-escalate tensions with Iran. Recent incidents include the deaths of U.S. service members in Jordan and Iraq linked to Iranian attacks. Kent resigned earlier this year, citing opposition to the Iran conflict driven by external pressures.

Bill Pulte, the acting director of national intelligence, faces legal challenges over his eligibility for the role, as the law designates Aaron Lukas, the principal deputy director, as the rightful acting director. Pulte, a Trump loyalist without national-security experience, is reportedly firing senior intelligence personnel and considering structural changes to the intelligence community, which could face legal and bureaucratic resistance.

Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent endorsed South Carolina Senate primary candidate Mark Lynch, criticizing incumbent GOP Senator Lindsey Graham as a 'war hawk, neocon.' Trump supports Graham and has labeled Lynch a 'LUNATIC,' while Lynch aligns with Rep. Thomas Massie, who lost his GOP primary.

Joe Kent, former National Counterterrorism Center Director, warned that U.S. military assets near Iran risk drawing the U.S. back into war on Iran's terms. He cited recent Iranian missile and drone attacks, advocating withdrawal to enable distant strikes and prevent Iran from escalating.

Former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent warns that U.S. military presence near Iran risks being forced into war on Iran's terms. He advocates withdrawing forces to avoid this, citing recent Iranian attacks intercepted by U.S. and Kuwaiti forces. Kent resigned in March opposing the Iran war and highlights operations proving U.S. can strike Iran without regional bases.

Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, a Trump administration intelligence official and ally of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, is leaving two key government roles. She cited returning to the private sector and family priorities as reasons for her departure, though sources indicated her decision involved disagreement with Trump's military involvement in Iran.

Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent claims President Donald Trump was poised to make a better deal with Iran than the Obama-era JCPOA. Kent asserts that Trump could still correct course on the issue, but needs to break the current stalemate cycle. The White House has responded, slamming Kent's comments as false and self-aggrandizing.

Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent claims President Donald Trump was poised to make a better deal with Iran than the Obama-era JCPOA. Kent asserts that Trump could still correct course on the issue, but needs to break the current stalemate cycle. The White House has slammed Kent's comments as false and self-aggrandizing.

The US intelligence community agreed before the war that Iran wasn't developing a nuclear weapon, according to former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent. Kent claimed that despite this assessment, the US was pressured into war by Israel and its American lobby. The White House has been reached for comment on Kent's statements.

Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent stated that the US intelligence community agreed Iran wasn't developing a nuclear weapon before the war. The US was warned that targeting Iranian leadership would strengthen the regime. Kent criticized Israel's influence on the US decision to go to war.

Trump national security aide Sebastian Gorka has indicated interest in becoming the next National Counterterrorism Center director, according to two U.S. officials. The position is a key role in U.S. counterterrorism efforts.

DeAnn Castillo describes her career progression at the FBI, beginning as a counterterrorism analyst and later advancing to supervisory special agent. She has worked with both the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center on national security matters based in San Antonio, Texas.