Day: March 19, 2026

Hearing on Intelligence in Congress on March 19, 2026: what transpired and what did not (e.g. Election Interference) – Google Search  google.com/search?q=Hearing+…
On March 19, 2026, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence held an open hearing on the 2026 Annual Worldwide Threats Assessment. [1] 
Below is a breakdown of what transpired during the hearing and what notably did not, specifically regarding election interference. [1] 
What Did Not Transpire • Discussion of Election Interference in the Annual Report: The most significant omission—and a major point of contention—was the absence of foreign election interference from the written Annual Worldwide Threat Assessment report. Unlike previous years, the 2026 report did not list foreign efforts to influence U.S. elections as a top-tier threat.
• Clarification on “Imminent” Threats from Iran: Despite repeated questioning from Democratic lawmakers, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard did not provide clear evidence or a direct answer regarding whether there was an “imminent” threat from Iran that justified the recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes. She also sidestepped questions about whether President Trump had been briefed on potential consequences, such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
• Direct Answers on Domestic Activities: Gabbard avoided providing specific details regarding her presence at a January FBI raid of a Georgia elections office, stating it was at the President’s request but claiming she did not participate in law enforcement activities. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6] 

What Transpired • Focus on the War with Iran: The hearing was dominated by the ongoing conflict with Iran. Intelligence officials, including DNI Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and FBI Director Kash Patel, testified that while Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities have been “largely degraded” by recent strikes, the regime remains intact and capable of rebuilding.
• AI Designated as a Top Threat: For the first time, the intelligence community’s report elevated Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the status of a “defining technology” and a primary global threat, distinct from its use by specific actors like China or Russia.
• Terrorism & Border Security: Officials discussed a shift in the nature of terrorism toward individual radicalization rather than large-scale coordinated plots by groups like ISIS or Al-Qaeda. Fentanyl trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border was also highlighted as a “direct threat” to national security.
• Heated Partisan Exchanges: The hearing featured sharp clashes. Democrats pressed witnesses on the justification for the war in Iran and the politicization of intelligence, while Republicans focused on the successes of recent military operations and the “decimation” of Iranian nuclear facilities. [3, 7, 8, 9, 10] 

Context: This House hearing followed a similar Senate Intelligence Committee hearing held the previous day (March 18), where the omission of election interference was first publicly challenged by Senator Mark Warner.

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses

[1]  intelligence.house.gov/2026/…
[2]  youtube.com/watch?v=F7XOjlIY…
[3]  nbcnews.com/politics/trump-a…
[4]  politico.com/news/2026/03/18…
[5]  theguardian.com/us-news+tone…
[6]  nextgov.com/defense/2026/03/…
[7]  youtube.com/watch?v=vBdN2deC…
[8]  cbsnews.com/live-updates/tul…
[9]  cbsnews.com/live-updates/tul…
[10]  nextgov.com/defense/2026/03/…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 19, 2026

#CIA  #FBI
LIVE:  #Senate Intelligence Committee holds hearing on worldwide threats – YouTube  youtube.com/watch?v=jRPCe-Ir…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 19, 2026

LIVE: Senate Intelligence Committee holds hearing on worldwide threats – YouTube  youtube.com/watch?v=jRPCe-Ir…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 19, 2026

share.google/aimode/hm25m5wl…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 19, 2026

Current  #News: Articles and Tweets: What Election interference? Mr.  #Trump does not want to talk about it … –  #Intelligence Hearings 2026. Congress hearings on Intelligence Services 2026: What transpired so far? Election Threat Omission  currentnewschannels.blogspot…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 19, 2026

Current News: Articles and Tweets: What Election interference? Mr. Trump does not want to talk about it … – Intelligence Hearings 2026. Congress hearings on Intelligence Services 2026: What transpired so far? Election Threat Omission  currentnewschannels.blogspot…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 19, 2026

#CIA  #FBI  #Trump
x.com/mikenov/status/2034614…Michael Novakhov (@mikenov)What Election interference? Mr. Trump does not want to talk about it … – Intelligence Hearings 2026.
Congress hearings on Intelligence Services 2026: What transpired so far? Election Threat Omission: The 2026 report notably omitted mention of foreign threats to U.S. elections, marking a shift from previous years.
GS-1:  google.com/search?q=What+Ele…
GS-2:  google.com/search?num=10&new…
AI Overview: What Election interference?
Based on reports from early 2026, the election interference that Mr. Trump and his administration have focused on involves allegations that foreign actors—specifically Russia, China, and Iran—manipulated electronic voting systems to cause his loss in the 2020 election. [1, 2, 3, 4]
However, intelligence hearings in March 2026 revealed a significant shift in focus, with the administration and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard steering away from confirming these foreign threats while focusing on investigating past election irregularities. [1, 5, 6, 7]
Key Details from 2026 Intelligence Hearings and Investigations:

DNI Testimony: In March 2026, DNI Tulsi Gabbard testified that the intelligence community identified no foreign threat to the 2026 midterm elections, a statement that drew sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers who noted it was the first time since 2017 that the annual threat assessment omitted foreign election interference.
Fulton County Raid: Gabbard confirmed to the Senate Intelligence Committee that President Trump directed her to participate in a January 2026 FBI raid on a Georgia election facility to seize 2020 voting records, a move that prompted questions about her acting on domestic matters rather than foreign threats.
Omission of Threats: During the 2026 “Worldwide Threats” hearing, lawmakers noted that while the Intelligence Community is prioritizing investigations into 2020, they are not reporting on current foreign threats to the 2026 midterms.
Debunked Allegations: While Trump has frequently claimed 2020 election fraud, reports indicate the investigations are based on long-debunked theories of foreign hacking of voting machines.
Concerns over 2026 Interference: Lawmakers expressed concern that the Trump administration’s actions—including seizing voting machines and reorganizing cybersecurity agencies—are aimed at influencing the 2026 midterm elections. [4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12]

In summary, the intelligence hearings show a contentious, partisan debate where the Trump administration is accused of trying to re-litigate the 2020 election while downplaying or ignoring current foreign interference, according to Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner. [13, 14]

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses

[1]  youtube.com/watch?v=eaM_s1fc…
[2]  youtube.com/watch?v=pIFtBiJ_…
[3]  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreig…
[4]  democracydocket.com/news-ale…
[5]  gvwire.com/2026/03/18/top-us…
[6]  politico.com/news/2026/03/18…
[7]  democracydocket.com/news-ale…
[8]  reuters.com/world/us-senator…
[9]  nextgov.com/defense/2026/03/…
[10]  cbsnews.com/live-updates/tul…
[11]  nytimes.com/2026/03/17/us/po…
[12]  youtube.com/watch?v=O-LMtJ6w…
[13]  thehill.com/homenews/campaig…
[14]  politico.com/news/2026/03/18…—  https://x.com/mikenov/status/2034614063565525421

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 19, 2026

What Election interference? Mr. Trump does not want to talk about it … – Intelligence Hearings 2026.
Congress hearings on Intelligence Services 2026: What transpired so far? Election Threat Omission: The 2026 report notably omitted mention of foreign threats to U.S. elections, marking a shift from previous years.
GS-1:  google.com/search?q=What+Ele…
GS-2:  google.com/search?num=10&new…
AI Overview: What Election interference?
Based on reports from early 2026, the election interference that Mr. Trump and his administration have focused on involves allegations that foreign actors—specifically Russia, China, and Iran—manipulated electronic voting systems to cause his loss in the 2020 election. [1, 2, 3, 4]
However, intelligence hearings in March 2026 revealed a significant shift in focus, with the administration and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard steering away from confirming these foreign threats while focusing on investigating past election irregularities. [1, 5, 6, 7]
Key Details from 2026 Intelligence Hearings and Investigations:

DNI Testimony: In March 2026, DNI Tulsi Gabbard testified that the intelligence community identified no foreign threat to the 2026 midterm elections, a statement that drew sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers who noted it was the first time since 2017 that the annual threat assessment omitted foreign election interference.
Fulton County Raid: Gabbard confirmed to the Senate Intelligence Committee that President Trump directed her to participate in a January 2026 FBI raid on a Georgia election facility to seize 2020 voting records, a move that prompted questions about her acting on domestic matters rather than foreign threats.
Omission of Threats: During the 2026 “Worldwide Threats” hearing, lawmakers noted that while the Intelligence Community is prioritizing investigations into 2020, they are not reporting on current foreign threats to the 2026 midterms.
Debunked Allegations: While Trump has frequently claimed 2020 election fraud, reports indicate the investigations are based on long-debunked theories of foreign hacking of voting machines.
Concerns over 2026 Interference: Lawmakers expressed concern that the Trump administration’s actions—including seizing voting machines and reorganizing cybersecurity agencies—are aimed at influencing the 2026 midterm elections. [4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12]

In summary, the intelligence hearings show a contentious, partisan debate where the Trump administration is accused of trying to re-litigate the 2020 election while downplaying or ignoring current foreign interference, according to Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner. [13, 14]

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses

[1]  youtube.com/watch?v=eaM_s1fc…
[2]  youtube.com/watch?v=pIFtBiJ_…
[3]  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreig…
[4]  democracydocket.com/news-ale…
[5]  gvwire.com/2026/03/18/top-us…
[6]  politico.com/news/2026/03/18…
[7]  democracydocket.com/news-ale…
[8]  reuters.com/world/us-senator…
[9]  nextgov.com/defense/2026/03/…
[10]  cbsnews.com/live-updates/tul…
[11]  nytimes.com/2026/03/17/us/po…
[12]  youtube.com/watch?v=O-LMtJ6w…
[13]  thehill.com/homenews/campaig…
[14]  politico.com/news/2026/03/18…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 19, 2026

What Election interference? Mr. Trump does not want to talk about it … – Intelligence Hearings 2926  – GS-1

Congress hearings on Intelligence Services 2026: What transpired so far? Election Threat Omission: The 2026 report notably omitted mention of foreign threats to U.S. elections, marking a shift from previous years. – GS-2

– Google Search 1:  google.com/search?num=10&new…

GS-2:  google.com/search?num=10&new…

AI Overview: What Election interference?
Based on reports from early 2026, the election interference that Mr. Trump and his administration have focused on involves allegations that foreign actors—specifically Russia, China, and Iran—manipulated electronic voting systems to cause his loss in the 2020 election. [1, 2, 3, 4]
However, intelligence hearings in March 2026 revealed a significant shift in focus, with the administration and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard steering away from confirming these foreign threats while focusing on investigating past election irregularities. [1, 5, 6, 7]
Key Details from 2026 Intelligence Hearings and Investigations:

DNI Testimony: In March 2026, DNI Tulsi Gabbard testified that the intelligence community identified no foreign threat to the 2026 midterm elections, a statement that drew sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers who noted it was the first time since 2017 that the annual threat assessment omitted foreign election interference.
Fulton County Raid: Gabbard confirmed to the Senate Intelligence Committee that President Trump directed her to participate in a January 2026 FBI raid on a Georgia election facility to seize 2020 voting records, a move that prompted questions about her acting on domestic matters rather than foreign threats.
Omission of Threats: During the 2026 “Worldwide Threats” hearing, lawmakers noted that while the Intelligence Community is prioritizing investigations into 2020, they are not reporting on current foreign threats to the 2026 midterms.
Debunked Allegations: While Trump has frequently claimed 2020 election fraud, reports indicate the investigations are based on long-debunked theories of foreign hacking of voting machines.
Concerns over 2026 Interference: Lawmakers expressed concern that the Trump administration’s actions—including seizing voting machines and reorganizing cybersecurity agencies—are aimed at influencing the 2026 midterm elections. [4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12]

In summary, the intelligence hearings show a contentious, partisan debate where the Trump administration is accused of trying to re-litigate the 2020 election while downplaying or ignoring current foreign interference, according to Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner. [13, 14]

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses

[1]  youtube.com/watch?v=eaM_s1fc…
[2]  youtube.com/watch?v=pIFtBiJ_…
[3]  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreig…
[4]  democracydocket.com/news-ale…
[5]  gvwire.com/2026/03/18/top-us…
[6]  politico.com/news/2026/03/18…
[7]  democracydocket.com/news-ale…
[8]  reuters.com/world/us-senator…
[9]  nextgov.com/defense/2026/03/…
[10]  cbsnews.com/live-updates/tul…
[11]  nytimes.com/2026/03/17/us/po…
[12]  youtube.com/watch?v=O-LMtJ6w…
[13]  thehill.com/homenews/campaig…
[14]  politico.com/news/2026/03/18…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 19, 2026