John Brennan : NPR

'Unknowable' If CIA Methods Elicited Useful Information, Agency's Chief Says

CIA Director John Brennan Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption

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Carolyn Kaster/AP

'Unknowable' If CIA Methods Elicited Useful Information, Agency's Chief Says

December 11, 2014 • John Brennan's comments come two days after the Senate intelligence committee released the executive summary of its report on the CIA's interrogation practices.

CIA Chief Apologizes To Sens. Feinstein, Chambliss Over Computer Intrusion

July 31, 2014 • In a rare, scathing speech in March, Dianne Feinstein accused the CIA of tampering with the work of the intelligence committee. Now an internal CIA probe finds some officers acted improperly.

With New Inquiry, Harry Reid Raises Stakes In Senate-CIA Clash

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid faces reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 11, following a caucus lunch. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

With New Inquiry, Harry Reid Raises Stakes In Senate-CIA Clash

March 20, 2014 • The majority leader informed the CIA director that the Senate's chief law enforcement officer would be conducting a "forensic examination" to get answers in the unprecedented dispute.

CIA Tampered With Senate Panel's Work, Feinstein Says

Sen. Dianne Feinstein speaks to reporters after speaking about her oversight committee's problematic relationship with the CIA Tuesday. CIA Director John Brennan says his agency isn't trying to delay the panel's report on the U.S. interrogation program. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The Two-Way

CIA Tampered With Senate Panel's Work, Feinstein Says

March 11, 2014 • Sen. Dianne Feinstein says some of the CIA's actions could be illegal or unconstitutional, accusing the agency of interfering with the oversight committee she chairs.

Claims And Counterclaims Fly As CIA And Senate Exchange Fire

The seal of the CIA at the agency's headquarters in Virginia. Greg E. Mathieson Sr./MAI/Landov hide caption

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Greg E. Mathieson Sr./MAI/Landov

The Two-Way

Claims And Counterclaims Fly As CIA And Senate Exchange Fire

March 6, 2014 • Did the agency spy on Senate staffers? Did those Senate aides take classified documents from the CIA's headquarters? Investigators are sorting through the accusations.

Nearly 13 Hours Later, Sen. Paul Ends His Filibuster; Here's The Video

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., during his filibuster. Senate Television/AP hide caption

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Senate Television/AP

The Two-Way

Nearly 13 Hours Later, Sen. Paul Ends His Filibuster; Here's The Video

March 7, 2013 • The senator said he "would speak, until I can no longer speak," and he hit that wall early Thursday. His goal was to get the Obama administration to pledge it won't use drone attacks against American citizens on U.S. soil. He's put a bright spotlight on the issue.

Drone Program Under Scrutiny As CIA Nominee Testifies

John Brennan, President Obama's nominee to head the CIA, prepares to testify at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The Two-Way

Drone Program Under Scrutiny As CIA Nominee Testifies

February 7, 2013 • The Obama administration has relied heavily on its drone program, but prefers not to talk about it. Yet drones and interrogation practices came under scrutiny as CIA nominee John Brennan testified before a Senate committee.

The Two-Way

Justice Department To Share Secret Drone Memo With Congress

February 6, 2013 • The decision to grant lawmakers access to the classified information comes a day before the president's pick to head the CIA has his confirmation hearing. The classified information details the rationale for targeted strikes against U.S. citizens believed to have links to al-Qaida.

Air Base In Saudi Arabia Is Latest Drone Secret To Be Revealed

John Brennan, President Obama's nominee to be the next CIA director, worked closely with Saudi Arabia to set up a secret U.S. drone base there, The New York Times reported. Brennan's confirmation hearing is Thursday. Kevin Dietsch/UPI /Landov hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/UPI /Landov

The Two-Way

Air Base In Saudi Arabia Is Latest Drone Secret To Be Revealed

February 6, 2013 • The Obama administration wanted to keep the existence of the base secret. It has been used to target al-Qaida members in Yemen.

Talk Of Delaying Brennan Nomination 'Unfortunate,' White House Says

John Brennan, President Obama's nominee to be the next CIA director. Kevin Dietsch/UPI /Landov hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/UPI /Landov

The Two-Way

Talk Of Delaying Brennan Nomination 'Unfortunate,' White House Says

January 9, 2013 • Republican senators have said they may try to hold up John Brennan's nomination to be CIA director until they hear more about the attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi and more about his views on "enhanced interrogation."

Obama Nominates Hagel For Defense, Brennan For CIA

The nominees: John Brennan (left), who is President Obama's choice to head the CIA; and former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., who the president has asked to be secretary of defense. STAFF/Reuters /Landov hide caption

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STAFF/Reuters /Landov

The Two-Way

Obama Nominates Hagel For Defense, Brennan For CIA

January 7, 2013 • The president is moving to fill two key posts on his national security team. If confirmed, former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel (a Republican) would lead the Pentagon. John Brennan, the president's counterterrorism adviser, would be at the Central Intelligence Agency.

NPR coverage of the Hagel/Brennan nomination announcements

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Counterterrorism Adviser Brennan To Be Tapped For CIA

John Brennan, who President Obama wants to lead the CIA. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Counterterrorism Adviser Brennan To Be Tapped For CIA

January 7, 2013 • John Brennan is one of the president's top national security aides. A veteran of the CIA, he was the agency's deputy executive director during President George W. Bush's administration. Brennan has said he opposed many of the Bush administration's policies, including the use of waterboarding.

The Two-Way

On Whether Bin Laden Was Armed, Here's What Officials Said

May 4, 2011 • In the first few hours after the world learned that Osama bin Laden was dead, most news reports said he had been involved in the firefight and at least implied that he was armed when he died. Read what officials said.

U.S. Probing Whether Bin Laden Had Help From Within Pakistani Establishment

John Brennan at the White House on Monday (May 2, 2011). Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption

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Carolyn Kaster/AP

The Two-Way

U.S. Probing Whether Bin Laden Had Help From Within Pakistani Establishment

May 3, 2011 • John Brennan, President Obama's counterterrorism adviser, says "it would be premature to rule out the possibility. ... We're not accusing anybody at this point, but we want to make sure we get to the bottom of this."

Steve Inskeep speaks with John Brennan

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Thursday December 11, 2014

Thursday July 31, 2014

Thursday March 20, 2014

Tuesday March 11, 2014

Thursday March 6, 2014

Thursday March 7, 2013

Thursday February 7, 2013

Wednesday February 6, 2013

Wednesday January 9, 2013

Monday January 7, 2013

NPR coverage of the Hagel/Brennan nomination announcements

Wednesday May 4, 2011

Tuesday May 3, 2011

Steve Inskeep speaks with John Brennan