Intel briefing

Here's What I Know About Daily Intelligence Briefings

"Sweetheart, I have to stay late tonight."

Not an entirely unusual phone call from my wife, who was once a part of what is known as the "IC," that is to say, the "Intelligence Community." See, despite some assertions by talking heads in the media today, it's not just the Central Intelligence Agency that develops the global picture for our national leaders. There is an entire "Alphabet Soup" of intelligence agencies out there. Their collective product is called the "President's Daily Brief," a.k.a. the "PDB." Each day represents the professional opinion of people with literally centuries of experience, about what two or three items the President needs to know. Now.