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WATCH LIVE: Gabbard, Ratcliffe and Patel testify on worldwide threats in Senate Intelligence hearing
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WATCH LIVE: Gabbard, Ratcliffe and Patel testify on worldwide threats in Senate Intelligence hearing

#worldwide threats #Senate Intelligence Committee #Tulsi Gabbard #John Ratcliffe #Kash Patel #national security #testimony #live hearing

πŸ“Œ Key Takeaways

  • Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, former DNI John Ratcliffe, and former DHS official Kash Patel testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
  • The hearing focused on assessing current worldwide threats to U.S. national security.
  • The testimony provided expert analysis on geopolitical, cyber, and other security challenges.
  • The event was broadcast live, highlighting public and governmental interest in the threat assessment.

πŸ“– Full Retelling

Top Trump administration national security officials facing back-to-back congressional hearings starting Wednesday are expected to be pressed on the war in Iran, including a deadly strike on a school, as well as the FBI's capacity to prevent terror attacks inside the United States.

🏷️ Themes

National Security, Congressional Hearing

πŸ“š Related People & Topics

Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard

American politician (born 1981)

# Tulsi Gabbard **Tulsi Gabbard** (born April 12, 1981) is an American politician and U.S. military officer currently serving as the **eighth Director of National Intelligence (DNI)**, a position she has held since 2025. Over her two-decade career in public service, she has held roles in both the l...

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John Ratcliffe

John Ratcliffe

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency since 2025

John Lee Ratcliffe (born October 20, 1965) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the ninth director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the sixth director of national intelligence from 2020 to 2021 and serv...

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United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Legislative committee

The United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (sometimes referred to as the Intelligence Committee or SSCI) is dedicated to overseeing the United States Intelligence Communityβ€”the agencies and bureaus of the federal government of the United States that provide information and analysis fo...

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Kash Patel

Kash Patel

Director of the FBI since 2025

Kashyap Pramod Patel (born February 25, 1980) is an American lawyer serving since 2025 as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Patel also served as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from February to April 2025. Patel studied criminal justice a...

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Entity Intersection Graph

Connections for Tulsi Gabbard:

🌐 Iran 3 shared
πŸ‘€ John Ratcliffe 2 shared
πŸ‘€ Donald Trump 2 shared
🌐 United States congressional hearing 2 shared
πŸ‘€ Joe Kent 2 shared
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Mentioned Entities

Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard

American politician (born 1981)

John Ratcliffe

John Ratcliffe

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency since 2025

United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Legislative committee

Kash Patel

Kash Patel

Director of the FBI since 2025

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This hearing matters because it brings together key national security figures to assess global threats that directly impact U.S. security and foreign policy. The testimony influences congressional oversight, intelligence community priorities, and potential legislation affecting defense spending and international relations. It affects policymakers, intelligence agencies, military personnel, and citizens concerned about national security, terrorism, and geopolitical stability.

Context & Background

  • The Senate Intelligence Committee regularly holds worldwide threat hearings to assess national security risks and inform policy decisions.
  • John Ratcliffe previously served as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) under President Trump, providing continuity in intelligence assessment perspectives.
  • Kash Patel held key national security roles including Chief of Staff to the Acting Secretary of Defense and National Security Council official.
  • Tulsi Gabbard brings perspective as a former Congresswoman and military veteran who served on House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees.
  • Worldwide threat assessments typically cover terrorism, cyber threats, geopolitical tensions, and emerging technologies that could harm U.S. interests.
  • These hearings often reveal bipartisan concerns about specific threats while sometimes highlighting partisan differences in threat prioritization.

What Happens Next

Following the testimony, committee members will likely draft legislation addressing identified threats, intelligence agencies may adjust collection priorities, and the administration may modify foreign policy approaches. The hearing's findings could influence upcoming budget negotiations for intelligence and defense programs. Additional classified briefings for committee members will likely occur in the coming weeks to discuss sensitive threat details not addressed in public testimony.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of worldwide threat hearings?

These hearings allow intelligence officials and experts to present current threat assessments to Congress, helping lawmakers understand security risks and make informed decisions about legislation, funding, and oversight of intelligence agencies.

Why are these particular witnesses testifying?

Gabbard provides congressional and military perspective, Ratcliffe offers former intelligence leadership experience, and Patel brings national security policy expertise. Together they represent diverse viewpoints on threat assessment and response strategies.

How do these hearings affect average citizens?

The identified threats can influence everything from cybersecurity protections and travel advisories to economic policies and military engagements that ultimately impact national security, privacy rights, and taxpayer spending.

What types of threats are typically discussed?

Common topics include terrorism, cyber attacks, foreign interference in elections, geopolitical conflicts, weapons proliferation, and emerging technological threats from both state and non-state actors.

How does this hearing differ from regular intelligence briefings?

Public hearings provide transparency and accountability while classified briefings offer more sensitive details. Public testimony helps educate citizens and demonstrates congressional oversight of intelligence activities.

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Original Source
By β€” Eric Tucker, Associated Press Eric Tucker, Associated Press By β€” David Klepper, Associated Press David Klepper, Associated Press By β€” Stephen Groves, Associated Press Stephen Groves, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH LIVE: Gabbard, Ratcliffe and Patel testify on worldwide threats in Senate Intelligence hearing Politics Mar 18, 2026 9:05 AM EDT WASHINGTON β€” Top Trump administration national security officials facing back-to-back congressional hearings starting Wednesday are expected to be pressed on the war in Iran, including a deadly strike on a school, as well as the FBI's capacity to prevent terror attacks inside the United States. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT. Watch live in our video player above. The annual worldwide threats hearings involving the government's senior-most intelligence officials are taking place at a time of scrutiny over the U.S. military campaign in the Middle East and heightened concerns about terrorism in the homeland following recent attacks at a Michigan synagogue and Virginia university. WATCH: Who is Joe Kent, the counterterrorism official who resigned over the Iran war? The testimony before the House and Senate intelligence committees is expected to center on the war and in particular the revelation that outdated intelligence likely led to the U.S. firing a missile that hit an elementary school in Iran and killed over 165 people. The outdated targeting data was reported to have come from the Defense Intelligence Agency, whose director, Lt. Gen. James H. Adams, is among those set to testify. The White House says the strike is still under investigation. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The hearings, which begin Wednes...
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