OUR PICKSUS Sends First Deportation Flight to Cuba Since 2020 | New Approach to Prosecuting Border Militias | Policymakers and Intelligence Analysts, and more

Violent Extremists Are Increasingly Sharing Tactics for Attacking Power Stations, DHS Warns  (Sean Lyngaas, CNN)
Domestic violent extremists have in the last year increasingly shared tactics with each other on using guns to attack electric power stations in a move that likely escalates the threat to US critical infrastructure, according to a Department of Homeland Security bulletin obtained by CNN. Following multiple high-profile attacks on US power substations last year, extremists have stepped up sharing of ‘online messaging and operational guidance promoting attacks against this sector,’ says the DHS bulletin, which was distributed to US critical infrastructure operators on Monday. The information and tactics shared by extremists online include ‘detailed diagrams, simplified tips for enhancing operational security, and procedures for disabling key components of substations and transformers,’ DHS warned. The last year saw a flurry of physical attacks and vandalism on US electric infrastructure.

US Sends First Deportation Flight to Cuba Since 2020  (Reuters / VOA News)
The United States on Monday sent its first deportation flight to Cuba since 2020, months after Cuba agreed for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic to accept flights carrying Cubans caught at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Cuban government confirmed the flight’s arrival, saying on Twitter it included 40 Cubans intercepted in boats and 83 detained at the U.S.-Mexico border.

US Sanctions Target Three in China Linked to North Korean Hackers  ((Reuters / VOA News)
The United States on Monday announced sanctions on three people it said were involved in laundering virtual currency stolen by North Korean hackers to help finance Pyongyang’s weapons programs.
A U.S. Treasury statement said the three were a China-based virtual currency trader, another currency trader based in Hong Kong, and a representative of North Korea’s Korea Kwangson Banking Corp, who recently relocated to Dandong, China.

A New Approach to Prosecuting Border Militias  (Tucker Ring, Lawfare)
Private militias epitomize the recent resurgence in domestic terrorist activity in the United States. One of the more alarming interactions between militias and civilians—especially in the Southwest—is during militia patrols along the U.S.-Mexico border. In these patrols, armed private citizens will surveil, chase, and even detain migrants until state or federal law enforcement arrive. These vigilantes sometimes operate in concertwith law enforcement, yet their activities can complicate law enforcement efforts. Border vigilantes have jeopardized the safety of federal agents, trespassed into Mexican territory, and even been charged with murder.

Toward a More Constructive Conversation Between Policymakers and Intelligence Analysts  (John Mohr, War on the Rocks)
Dear policymaker, if an intelligence analyst had the chance to offer you candid feedback about your relationship, what would they say? This question is largely hypothetical because intelligence analysts like me are primed to be deferential to policymakers. It is not in our nature to challenge you or critique your consumption of intelligence. And we recognize that the intelligence business is a customer-service one. Without policymaking and military clients, there is scant need for our services — whether providing warning of a military invasion or offering unique insight to shape a bilateral meeting with a foreign leader.
Sometimes this customer-support role is frustrating or even creates conflict. Consumers often offer insufficient feedback or, worse, sometimes place unwarranted blame on intelligence community when bad things happen. The purpose of this article, then, is not to vent, but to encourage a constructive conversation about the relationship between intelligence analysts and policymakers.
My reflections mostly apply to intelligence relationships with national-level policymakers in Washington and other senior-level intelligence consumers, such as military combatant commanders. Those who have supported tactical military or law enforcement operations, however, will likely see some familiar themes. I can recall several instances when I offered tactical intelligence briefings to Air Force pilots who were not particularly interested in what I had to say — an early career lesson on the importance of zeroing in on relevance to my client.

Armed Antifa Members Arrested at ‘Family-Friendly’ Drag Brunch by Fort Worth Police  (Cameron Abrams, The Texan)
All three are part of the Elm Fork John Brown Gun Club, according to Ngo, and have been bailed out through donations acquired through Twitter. As described by the Counter Extremism Project, the Texas sect of the Elm Fork John Brown Gun Club has taken a “hard anti-police position, casting all police as mass shooters who harass minorities and seek out excuses to unload their weapons.” Contemporary “Antifa,” short for “Antifascist,” members belong to decentralized groups across the country.