CIA’s first podcast disses Russia as a ‘declining’ power, warns China is a ‘central geopolitical challenge’

CIA Director William Burns called Russia a “declining” power in the first episode of the intelligence agency’s new podcast, while warning that China is a “central geopolitical challenge” for the U.S.

The CIA’s podcast, “The Langley Files,” launched Thursday and featured Burns as its first guest.

The podcast comes during the CIA’s 75th anniversary — a time, Burns said, for the agency to “reflect on how we need to organize ourselves to navigate successfully what is an incredibly complicated international terrain.”

Burns warned that terrain features a “major power competition with rising powers like China,” which he referred to as a “central geopolitical challenge.” – READ MORE