David Klepper, The Associated Press

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from David Klepper, The Associated Press.

Trump administration task force to consider declassifying COVID-19 origins materials

Trump administration task force to consider declassifying COVID-19 origins materials

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new government task force will consider big changes to America's intelligence community and examine whether material about the origins of COVID-19 and other topics of public interest should be declassified, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said.

Democratic senators protest after they say Trump gives Musk's staff access to classified info

Democratic senators protest after they say Trump gives Musk's staff access to classified info

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee are demanding answers after they say President Donald Trump gave billionaire Elon Musk and his staff access to sensitive data and classified secrets as part of their work to overhaul the federal government.

The Senate confirms John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA, giving Trump his second Cabinet member

The Senate confirms John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA, giving Trump his second Cabinet member

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, giving President Donald Trump the second member of his new Cabinet.

John Ratcliffe, Trump's CIA pick, tells senators the agency is 'not where we're supposed to be'

John Ratcliffe, Trump's CIA pick, tells senators the agency is 'not where we're supposed to be'

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the CIA told senators during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that the nation's premier spy agency must do a better job of staying ahead of global threats posed by Russia, China and other adversaries.

John Ratcliffe, tapped by Trump to lead the CIA, will face questioning in the Senate

John Ratcliffe, tapped by Trump to lead the CIA, will face questioning in the Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Wednesday will question President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the CIA on his vision for America's premier spy agency.

US imposes sanctions on Russian and Iranian groups over disinformation targeting American voters

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States has imposed sanctions on two groups linked to Iranian and Russian efforts to target American voters with disinformation ahead of this year's election.

Russia amplified hurricane disinformation to drive Americans apart, researchers find

Russia amplified hurricane disinformation to drive Americans apart, researchers find

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Russia has helped amplify and spread false and misleading internet claims about recent hurricanes in the United States and the federal government's response, part of a wider effort by the Kremlin to manipulate America's political discourse before the presidential election, new research shows.

Russia and Iran may fuel violent post-election protests in the US, intelligence officials warn

Russia and Iran may fuel violent post-election protests in the US, intelligence officials warn

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Russia and Iran may try to encourage violent protests in the U.S. after next month's election, senior intelligence officials warned Tuesday, citing two recent examples of foreign intelligence agencies seeking to sow discord ahead of the vote.

Russia is behind viral disinformation targeting Walz, intelligence official says

Russia is behind viral disinformation targeting Walz, intelligence official says

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Groups in Russia created and helped spread viral disinformation targeting Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, a senior U.S. intelligence official said Tuesday.

Cyber criminals are increasingly helping Russia and China target the US and allies, Microsoft says

Cyber criminals are increasingly helping Russia and China target the US and allies, Microsoft says

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Russia, China and Iran are increasingly relying on criminal networks to lead cyberespionage and hacking operations against adversaries like the U.S., according to a report on digital threats published Tuesday by Microsoft.

Intelligence officials say US adversaries are targeting congressional races with disinformation

Intelligence officials say US adversaries are targeting congressional races with disinformation

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's not just the presidential election: Foreign governments are targeting House and Senate races around the country in their effort to meddle with American democracy this election year, intelligence officials warned Monday.

For US adversaries, Election Day won't mean the end to efforts to influence Americans

For US adversaries, Election Day won't mean the end to efforts to influence Americans

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Soon, the ballots will be cast, the polls will close and a campaign marked by assassination attempts, animosity and anxiety will come to an end. But for U.S. adversaries, the work to meddle with American democracy may be entering its most critical phase.

After the deluge, the lies: Misinformation and hoaxes about Helene cloud the recovery

After the deluge, the lies: Misinformation and hoaxes about Helene cloud the recovery

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The facts emerging from Hurricane Helene's destruction are heartrending: Businesses and homes destroyed, whole communities nearly wiped out, hundreds of lives lost, hundreds of people missing.

The US and Microsoft disrupt a Russian hacking group targeting American officials and nonprofits

The US and Microsoft disrupt a Russian hacking group targeting American officials and nonprofits

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A hacking group tied to Russian intelligence tried to worm its way into the systems of dozens of Western think tanks, journalists and former military and intelligence officials, Microsoft and U.S. authorities said Thursday.

Intelligence officials have briefed the Trump campaign on Iranian threats. A look at what's known

Intelligence officials have briefed the Trump campaign on Iranian threats. A look at what's known

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. intelligence officials said Wednesday that they briefed Donald Trump's campaign on Iranian threats against the Republican presidential nominee, though they declined to say if there is evidence of a new plot targeting Trump, or whether the briefing focused instead on previously reported threats.

Intelligence officials brief Trump campaign on Iranian threats but offer no details on any new plot

Intelligence officials brief Trump campaign on Iranian threats but offer no details on any new plot

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. intelligence officials confirmed Wednesday that they briefed Donald Trump's campaign on Iranian threats against the Republican presidential nominee.

American company, Russian propaganda: New Kremlin tactic reveals escalating effort to sway US vote

American company, Russian propaganda: New Kremlin tactic reveals escalating effort to sway US vote

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Russia has long sought to inject disinformation into U.S. political discourse. Now, it's got a new angle: paying Americans to do the work.

China-linked 'Spamouflage' network mimics Americans online to sway US political debate

China-linked 'Spamouflage' network mimics Americans online to sway US political debate

WASHINGTON (AP) -- When he first emerged on social media, the user known as Harlan claimed to be a New Yorker and an Army veteran who supported Donald Trump for president. Harlan said he was 29, and his profile picture showed a smiling, handsome young man.

'Chaos agent': Suspected Trump hack comes as Iran flexes digital muscles ahead of US election

'Chaos agent': Suspected Trump hack comes as Iran flexes digital muscles ahead of US election

WASHINGTON (AP) -- With less than three months before the U.S. election, Iran is intensifying its efforts to meddle in American politics, U.S. officials and private cybersecurity firms say, with the suspected hack of Donald Trump's campaign being only the latest and most brazen example.

Trump's tale of a harrowing helicopter ride and emergency landing? Didn't happen, Willie Brown says

Trump's tale of a harrowing helicopter ride and emergency landing? Didn't happen, Willie Brown says

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former President Donald Trump mixed up two prominent politicians from California when he told a harrowing tale of almost crashing in a helicopter.

'One screen, two movies': Conflicting conspiracy theories emerge from the Trump rally shooting

'One screen, two movies': Conflicting conspiracy theories emerge from the Trump rally shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A former president is wounded in a shooting, the gunman quickly neutralized, and all of it is caught on camera. But for those who don't believe their eyes, that's just the start of the story.

'One screen, two movies': Conflicting conspiracy theories emerge from Trump shooting

'One screen, two movies': Conflicting conspiracy theories emerge from Trump shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A former president is shot, the gunman quickly neutralized, and all of it is caught on camera. But for those who don't believe their eyes, that's just the start of the story.

Political ads on social media rife with misinformation and scams, new research finds

Political ads on social media rife with misinformation and scams, new research finds

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The online advertisement to Donald Trump supporters was clear enough: Click here, and receive a free Trump 2024 flag and a commemorative coin. All in exchange for taking a quick survey and providing a credit card number for the $5 shipping and handling.

Presidential election a prime target for foreign disinformation, intelligence officials say

Presidential election a prime target for foreign disinformation, intelligence officials say

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. officials who track disinformation campaigns say they have issued more warnings to political candidates, government leaders and others targeted by foreign groups in recent months as America's adversaries seek to influence the outcome of the 2024 election.

Intelligence chairman says US may be less prepared for election threats than it was four years ago

Intelligence chairman says US may be less prepared for election threats than it was four years ago

WASHINGTON (AP) -- With only five months before voters head to the polls, the U.S. may be more vulnerable to foreign disinformation aimed at influencing voters and undermining democracy than it was before the 2020 election, the leader of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Monday.