Part 2/11:
One of the core issues highlighted in the transcript pertains to Brennan's attempt to clarify the terminology used in describing Russian activities. Brennan emphasizes the distinction between disinformation—which involves deliberate deception—and influence operations, a broader category that includes various ways Russia may seek to sway public opinion or policy without necessarily outright lying. Brennan asserts, “We never said it was disinformation. We said it was a Russian influence operation,” emphasizing that the intelligence community's role was to identify and understand these influence tactics, which are a staple of foreign geopolitical strategies.