DNI Tulsi Gabbard has picked a former spy and strong Trumpist, Nicholas Kass, as acting chair of the National Intelligence Council. This group is supposed to analyze intelligence reports and give advice to top U.S. officials on national security matters. It is supposed to be nonpartisan and provide the best analysis to any authorized government official who asks for it. People feel Gabbard is politicizing it.
This could further pollute the quality of intelligence given to the president and senior officials, telling them what they want to hear instead of the truth. Like, for example, that dropping half a dozen really big bombs on Iran would wipe out its nuclear program.
This isn't the first firestorm Gabbard has set off at the NIC. Last month she fired two top officials there when it produced a report undercutting Trump's immigration policies.
Kass does have some experience as an actual spy, but what attracted Gabbard to him are the articles he has written intensely castigating Democrats and his calling Trump's 2024 victory "epic." Oh, and he thoroughly hates the "deep state," where he has spent the last 30 or so years of his life.
It is not clear if Gabbard intends to make Kass the permanent chair. The position does not require Senate confirmation. (V)