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Ratcliffe Answers Tough Questions During Confirmation Hearing

John Ratcliffe’s rise to becoming the next CIA director has been an interesting, if not surprisingly smooth, journey—especially compared to his uphill nomination battle in 2020 to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Back then, Democrats treated him like he was auditioning for a spot on the villain’s roster, but now?

Suddenly, Ratcliffe is the guy they can work with. Maybe it’s because the CIA desperately needs someone who knows what they’re doing, or maybe the Democrats just ran out of steam after Biden’s disastrous finish. Either way, Ratcliffe’s confirmation process looks more like a leisurely stroll than a slog. Even Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) has already announced his support, which is about as bipartisan as it gets these days.

During his hearing, Ratcliffe laid out his plans to make the CIA leaner, meaner, and more effective. A central focus? Investigating Havana syndrome—the mysterious ailment that’s impacted scores of intelligence officials and has been the subject of both concern and controversy. While some reports suggest it could be the result of a foreign adversary’s intentional actions, others have dismissed it as a psychological phenomenon.

Either way, Ratcliffe pledged to dig deeper and refocus the agency’s efforts on real threats, with China clearly looming as the main geopolitical rival. Even Democrats agreed on his laser focus on Beijing, which tells you just how far the pendulum has swung on the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party.

Ratcliffe’s promise to keep the CIA apolitical also struck a chord—though whether that’s entirely possible in today’s climate is anyone’s guess. His vision for the CIA as a bold, risk-taking organization, unafraid to conduct covert operations certainly made waves. His prepared remarks painted a picture of the agency recapturing its OSS-era roots, describing the ideal CIA recruit as a “Ph.D. who could win a bar fight.” Admit it: that’s the kind of recruiting pitch that would make even James Bond crack a smile.

He also pledged that the agency’s analysis would remain free from political or personal bias, a swipe at the partisanship that’s infected intelligence agencies in recent years. That sentiment, however, didn’t stop him from addressing some hard truths. Ratcliffe took a moment to call out the Democrats’ years-long misinformation campaign about the Hunter Biden laptop—a story that was infamously labeled “Russian disinformation” by the usual suspects, including Rep.

Adam Schiff (D-CA). Turns out, the laptop was all too real, exposing the Biden family’s influence-peddling schemes and leading to a scandal that culminated in President Biden’s blanket pardon of his son, Hunter, for any crimes he might have committed over an entire decade. That move was shameless enough to make even the Clintons look subtle.

Ratcliffe, by contrast, made it clear he’s not interested in playing partisan games or peddling falsehoods like Schiff, who Ratcliffe memorably dismissed as “pencil head” during his time as DNI. If there’s one thing Ratcliffe won’t be doing at the CIA, it’s wasting time on political theater. Instead, he aims to get the agency back to what it does best: gathering intelligence, conducting covert operations, and ensuring America’s national security. His leadership philosophy boils down to a simple idea—“no matter how dark or difficult,” the CIA must be ready to go anywhere and do anything.

With his confirmation all but certain, Ratcliffe will likely join the ranks of Trump’s other cabinet picks sailing through the Senate. Even RFK Jr., who’s being tapped for a role, seems to be getting surprising bipartisan support. Whether it’s the changing political winds or Trump’s knack for picking people who actually get things done, one thing is clear: Ratcliffe is poised to lead the CIA with a steady hand and a clear vision. And unlike the scandals and chaos surrounding the Biden administration, Ratcliffe seems ready to bring a sense of professionalism and accountability back to the intelligence community.

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