Zach Dorfman
@zachsdorfman.bsky.social
National Security Reporter. Features in Politico, Rolling Stone, Wired, Foreign Policy. Working on a book on the history of deep cover for Penguin-Random House.
It’s always Berlin 1989 somewhere. Email: [email protected]
It’s always Berlin 1989 somewhere. Email: [email protected]
remember when the IC reportedly ran an influence op on Greenland to foment secessionist sentiment from our NATO ally Denmark
November 25, 2025 at 4:38 AM
remember when the IC reportedly ran an influence op on Greenland to foment secessionist sentiment from our NATO ally Denmark
Cannot overstate how, from my perch as a national-security reporter, this would have been an earth-shattering scandal in a prior era.
Billionaire Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, pardoned by Donald Trump, has been accused of facilitating millions of dollars’ worth of payments to Hamas in the wake of its attack on Israel on October 7 2023. Zhao also financed the Trump family's entrance into the cryptocurrency market.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao accused of facilitating payments to Hamas
Crypto tycoon pardoned by Donald Trump faces US court complaint from families of victims of October 7 attack
www.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Cannot overstate how, from my perch as a national-security reporter, this would have been an earth-shattering scandal in a prior era.
That is EVERYTHING
November 25, 2025 at 1:19 AM
That is EVERYTHING
Are you trying to kill me friend
November 25, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Are you trying to kill me friend
When I published this @wired.com story in October 2024, I figured that—should Trump prevail the following month—it would maintain its relevance. But I had no inkling *how* relevant.
www.wired.com/story/trump-...
www.wired.com/story/trump-...
The Untold Story of Trump's Failed Attempt to Overthrow Venezuela's President
A successful CIA hack of Venezuela's military payroll system, insider fights for spy agency resources, and messy opposition politics: A WIRED investigation reveals a secret Trump-era attempt to oust a...
www.wired.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:30 PM
When I published this @wired.com story in October 2024, I figured that—should Trump prevail the following month—it would maintain its relevance. But I had no inkling *how* relevant.
www.wired.com/story/trump-...
www.wired.com/story/trump-...
more and more people are saying AI did an amazing job
November 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM
more and more people are saying AI did an amazing job
The movie ”Her,” but it’s the disembodied consciousness of James Angleton
November 24, 2025 at 6:35 PM
The movie ”Her,” but it’s the disembodied consciousness of James Angleton
Ideology twinned with material interests provide plenty of justifications.
November 24, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Ideology twinned with material interests provide plenty of justifications.
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
This is a foul development:
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
November 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM
This is a foul development:
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
I first encountered Pollard's case through reading archival letters he wrote to prominent American Jewish figures in which he tried to portray himself as a martyr, and it was very evident from the tone that he was a remarkably mendacious and self-serving person.
November 20, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I first encountered Pollard's case through reading archival letters he wrote to prominent American Jewish figures in which he tried to portray himself as a martyr, and it was very evident from the tone that he was a remarkably mendacious and self-serving person.
I believe he also went to the Pakistanis.
November 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I believe he also went to the Pakistanis.
I previously cited Hersh’s (great) book The Samson Option as where this assertion appears, but it was in a later New Yorker article. I regret the error.
November 20, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I previously cited Hersh’s (great) book The Samson Option as where this assertion appears, but it was in a later New Yorker article. I regret the error.
Also: according to Hersh in a 1999 New Yorker expose, Israel turned around and passed the info provided by Pollard to the KGB, in order to curry favor with Moscow. In the world of intelligence, there are no friends, only interests.
so a couple of notes on this. a) everybody in US intelligence I've ever talked to about this *despises* Pollard, b) although he tried to portray himself as devoted to Israel, he was casting around to sell secrets to other people, including the South Africans, for cash.
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Also: according to Hersh in a 1999 New Yorker expose, Israel turned around and passed the info provided by Pollard to the KGB, in order to curry favor with Moscow. In the world of intelligence, there are no friends, only interests.
Monster Plot Energy Drink
November 20, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Monster Plot Energy Drink
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
"Papandreou wins that election if I don't help the Junta take him prisoner! I've advised and armed the Hellenic Army!"
November 20, 2025 at 1:01 AM
"Papandreou wins that election if I don't help the Junta take him prisoner! I've advised and armed the Hellenic Army!"
And The Billion Dollar Spy by David Hoffmann
November 19, 2025 at 11:29 PM
And The Billion Dollar Spy by David Hoffmann
The Executioner’s Song by Mailer!
November 19, 2025 at 11:27 PM
The Executioner’s Song by Mailer!
I had not realized that Kimberly Guilfoyle had been named US Ambassador to Greece, a place of significant historical importance for CIA activities—and which, as ambassador, she would be briefed about.
November 19, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I had not realized that Kimberly Guilfoyle had been named US Ambassador to Greece, a place of significant historical importance for CIA activities—and which, as ambassador, she would be briefed about.
Rick Perlstein is going to have a hell of a time when he writes his chapter on November 2025
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Rick Perlstein is going to have a hell of a time when he writes his chapter on November 2025
SF has some killer dive bars as well
November 19, 2025 at 4:02 AM
SF has some killer dive bars as well
Seriously, the movie rules. It follows the training and deployment of two OSS NOCs sent behind enemy lines, the first as a mechanic, the other a fisherman.
The OSS made an incredible TRAINING FILM, directed by JOHN FORD, about the dos and donts of nonofficial cover. It’s great!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oJJf...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oJJf...
World War 2 Spy Training Film: Undercover | OSS Film | ca. 1944
YouTube video by The Best Film Archives
m.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Seriously, the movie rules. It follows the training and deployment of two OSS NOCs sent behind enemy lines, the first as a mechanic, the other a fisherman.
The OSS made an incredible TRAINING FILM, directed by JOHN FORD, about the dos and donts of nonofficial cover. It’s great!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oJJf...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oJJf...
World War 2 Spy Training Film: Undercover | OSS Film | ca. 1944
YouTube video by The Best Film Archives
m.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:10 PM
The OSS made an incredible TRAINING FILM, directed by JOHN FORD, about the dos and donts of nonofficial cover. It’s great!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oJJf...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=oJJf...
Honestly i might
November 18, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Honestly i might
That’s a mental DDoS already
November 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
That’s a mental DDoS already