Infrastructure & Cybersecurity Brief: Grid Reliability
BLUF: Poland’s grid cyberattack and CISA’s edge-device directive show how cyber intrusions and aging infrastructure could compound rising U.S. blackout risk by 2030.
On February 10th, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned that a recent grid attack on Poland has brought rising concerns to the vulnerabilities in the U.S. power grid saying "operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS) in Poland’s Energy Sector...highlights the need for critical infrastructure entities with vulnerable edge devices to act now to strengthen their cybersecurity posture". The late-December 2025 cyberattack affecting elements of Poland’s power sector highlighted how insecure, internet-facing edge devices can be exploited to access operational technology. The intrusion disrupted visibility and control systems even without an immediate nationwide generation collapse. In the wake of that incident, CISA warned utilities and critical infrastructure operators to harden defenses. CISA also issued a binding operational directive requiring federal civilian agencies to inventory and replace unsupported “end-of-support” edge devices.
This cyber-driven reliability risk ties directly into the Department of Energy’s broader “100x blackout” prior warning. Essentially, the DOE projected power outages could become up to 100 times more frequent by 2030 as reliable generation retires, demand rises, and weather-dependent power increases. The July of 2025 DOE report specifically noted grid dependability could deteriorate sharply within the next 4 years. DOE’s assessment suggests outages may shift from rare emergencies to more routine instability. Rolling blackouts could become more common during peak demand and extreme weather.
Debrief: The attack on Poland’s grid led to CISA assessing that perimeter-facing systems are a “substantial and constant risk.” According to CISA, persistent threat actors increasingly exploit unpatched hardware and software to gain initial access, move laterally, disrupt operations, and exfiltrate sensitive data. CISA advised agencies to identify affected devices and decommission at-risk equipment within 12 months. The “100x grid warning” further highlighted that if grid planners cannot replace retiring firm generation with equally reliable capacity while demand accelerates, the likely outcome is more localized and recurring instability rather than a single catastrophic collapse. More frequent outages, voltage fluctuations, and cyber-enabled disruptions would have second-order impacts on water access, refrigeration, heating, communications, and emergency response. These conditions would also increase demand for backup power, storage, and fuel. That would place additional strain on su...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
BLUF: Poland’s grid cyberattack and CISA’s edge-device directive show how cyber intrusions and aging infrastructure could compound rising U.S. blackout risk by 2030.
On February 10th, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned that a recent grid attack on Poland has brought rising concerns to the vulnerabilities in the U.S. power grid saying "operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS) in Poland’s Energy Sector...highlights the need for critical infrastructure entities with vulnerable edge devices to act now to strengthen their cybersecurity posture". The late-December 2025 cyberattack affecting elements of Poland’s power sector highlighted how insecure, internet-facing edge devices can be exploited to access operational technology. The intrusion disrupted visibility and control systems even without an immediate nationwide generation collapse. In the wake of that incident, CISA warned utilities and critical infrastructure operators to harden defenses. CISA also issued a binding operational directive requiring federal civilian agencies to inventory and replace unsupported “end-of-support” edge devices.
This cyber-driven reliability risk ties directly into the Department of Energy’s broader “100x blackout” prior warning. Essentially, the DOE projected power outages could become up to 100 times more frequent by 2030 as reliable generation retires, demand rises, and weather-dependent power increases. The July of 2025 DOE report specifically noted grid dependability could deteriorate sharply within the next 4 years. DOE’s assessment suggests outages may shift from rare emergencies to more routine instability. Rolling blackouts could become more common during peak demand and extreme weather.
Debrief: The attack on Poland’s grid led to CISA assessing that perimeter-facing systems are a “substantial and constant risk.” According to CISA, persistent threat actors increasingly exploit unpatched hardware and software to gain initial access, move laterally, disrupt operations, and exfiltrate sensitive data. CISA advised agencies to identify affected devices and decommission at-risk equipment within 12 months. The “100x grid warning” further highlighted that if grid planners cannot replace retiring firm generation with equally reliable capacity while demand accelerates, the likely outcome is more localized and recurring instability rather than a single catastrophic collapse. More frequent outages, voltage fluctuations, and cyber-enabled disruptions would have second-order impacts on water access, refrigeration, heating, communications, and emergency response. These conditions would also increase demand for backup power, storage, and fuel. That would place additional strain on su...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
Field Notes - Major Crime: In Pawtucket, RI, at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena on February 16th; a targeted shooting occurred during a high school boys' hockey game. The transgender shooter opened fire in the stands, killing two people (including possibly family members, with one report of a young girl among the dead), critically injuring three others, then died by self-inflicted gunshot or as a result of a bystander who intervened to defend others (neither claim has been verified, but police suggested in one address that they believe the suspect shot himself). Police described it as a domestic/family dispute incident with no ongoing threat; players and spectators fled the ice amid the chaos. The suspect was identified as 56-year-old Robert K. Dorgan (legal name) from North Providence, who identified as a female named Roberta Esposito and was identified in media reports as a transgender woman. The suspect was the parent of a senior hockey player on the ice and was dressed in women's clothing at the time of the attack. A passing questioning of a female leaving the arena claimed to be the suspect's uninjured daughter, who said, "My father was the shooter. He shot my family, and he's dead now... He had mental health issues... [He was] very sick." The suspect's social media contained reposts of alt-right content as well as anti-Semitic, pro-LGBT and comments that threatened violence against those that do not support transgenders including one that read, "keep bashing us. but do not wonder why we Go BERSERK". The RI shooting comes less than a week after a transgender shooter killed 8 and injured 25+ others in a school shooting that followed a domestic incident.
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》In Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, on February 10th; a transgender (male identifying as a female), 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, carried out a mass shooting. He first killed his 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old half-brother at their family home, then went to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School (a former school he dropped out of four years earlier), killing five students and one teacher before dying by self-inflicted gunshot. Eight people were killed, with about 27 injured, some critically. The suspect was identified by RCMP as a trans woman (transgender female), born biological male but having transitioned and identified as female socially/publicly for about six years (starting around age 12). Police used fema...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
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》In Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, on February 10th; a transgender (male identifying as a female), 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, carried out a mass shooting. He first killed his 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old half-brother at their family home, then went to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School (a former school he dropped out of four years earlier), killing five students and one teacher before dying by self-inflicted gunshot. Eight people were killed, with about 27 injured, some critically. The suspect was identified by RCMP as a trans woman (transgender female), born biological male but having transitioned and identified as female socially/publicly for about six years (starting around age 12). Police used fema...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
Supply Chain Brief: Agriculture
BLUF: 2026 DOJ warnings highlight growing threats to U.S. farmlands as MO introduces laws to preserve croplands.
Agroterrorism remains a credible threat to U.S. agriculture because it involves the deliberate use of biological, chemical, or radiological agents to undermine crop production, livestock health, and the food supply chain, with key vulnerabilities including ease of access to pathogenic agents and the economic impact of disease outbreaks. A February 1st FBI report advised that “terrorists consider America’s agriculture and food production tempting targets.” The report comes after two 2025 attempts by Chinese nationals to possibly introduce bioweapons into the U.S. food supply. Those threats led to the 2025 introduction of the Preventing Lethal Agricultural and National Threats (PLANT) Act, which creates a new criminal offense for knowingly and recklessly importing high-risk agricultural biological agents. The February FBI report described such agroterrorism attacks as “the deliberate introduction of an animal or plant disease for the purpose of generating fear, causing economic losses, or undermining social stability.” The FBI defines this risk as arising from groups capable of infecting livestock or contaminating food to cause economic and social disruption. A February 13th Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing included congressional testimony that warned that “adversaries could cripple the heart of our homeland without ever firing a single shot” by targeting agriculture with biological or chemical agents. Debrief: For the U.S. food supply, the main danger from agroterrorism is not immediate nationwide starvation but targeted disruption that creates major economic and logistical shockwaves. A single outbreak affecting livestock or a key crop can force quarantines, mass culling, processing shutdowns, and trade restrictions, leading to rapid price spikes and regional shortages. Because the U.S. food system depends on concentrated industrial production and just-in-time distribution, even localized biological incidents can cascade into broader supply chain instability and public loss of confidence. The strategic appeal for adversaries is that agriculture remains comparatively open and difficult to fully secure, meaning low-cost biological attacks or smuggling attempts could impose high downstream costs on farmers, industry, and government response systems.
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Separately, Missouri lawmakers are advancing multiple bills that would impose new restrictions on commercial-s...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
BLUF: 2026 DOJ warnings highlight growing threats to U.S. farmlands as MO introduces laws to preserve croplands.
Agroterrorism remains a credible threat to U.S. agriculture because it involves the deliberate use of biological, chemical, or radiological agents to undermine crop production, livestock health, and the food supply chain, with key vulnerabilities including ease of access to pathogenic agents and the economic impact of disease outbreaks. A February 1st FBI report advised that “terrorists consider America’s agriculture and food production tempting targets.” The report comes after two 2025 attempts by Chinese nationals to possibly introduce bioweapons into the U.S. food supply. Those threats led to the 2025 introduction of the Preventing Lethal Agricultural and National Threats (PLANT) Act, which creates a new criminal offense for knowingly and recklessly importing high-risk agricultural biological agents. The February FBI report described such agroterrorism attacks as “the deliberate introduction of an animal or plant disease for the purpose of generating fear, causing economic losses, or undermining social stability.” The FBI defines this risk as arising from groups capable of infecting livestock or contaminating food to cause economic and social disruption. A February 13th Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing included congressional testimony that warned that “adversaries could cripple the heart of our homeland without ever firing a single shot” by targeting agriculture with biological or chemical agents. Debrief: For the U.S. food supply, the main danger from agroterrorism is not immediate nationwide starvation but targeted disruption that creates major economic and logistical shockwaves. A single outbreak affecting livestock or a key crop can force quarantines, mass culling, processing shutdowns, and trade restrictions, leading to rapid price spikes and regional shortages. Because the U.S. food system depends on concentrated industrial production and just-in-time distribution, even localized biological incidents can cascade into broader supply chain instability and public loss of confidence. The strategic appeal for adversaries is that agriculture remains comparatively open and difficult to fully secure, meaning low-cost biological attacks or smuggling attempts could impose high downstream costs on farmers, industry, and government response systems.
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Separately, Missouri lawmakers are advancing multiple bills that would impose new restrictions on commercial-s...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
Civil Unrest / Societal Collapse / Citizen Actions / Extremism Brief: National Summary
BLUF: Nationwide "spring surge to melt ICE" protests drove student walkouts and rallies against ICE enforcement; most actions were peaceful, with isolated escalations including assaults in Los Angeles and armed activism in Indianapolis; Activists further protested outside Trump Tower, marched against ICE in TX while youths conducted violent takeovers in NY.
》In Los Angeles, CA on February 13th; thousands of high school students walked out and marched downtown near City Hall and the Metropolitan Detention Center. Tensions escalated when rioters threw rocks and objects, injuri...
》In Baltimore, MD on January 24th; about 150 protesters rallied at War Memorial Plaza against IC...
》In Indianapolis, IN on February 14th; Strong Neighbor organized an armed anti-ICE demonstration at University Park, separate from school walkouts. Video showed several participants openly carrying firearms (semi-automatic rifles); organizers stated it was peaceful and non-violent, and police reported no arrests. LGBT and Ant...
》In Fort Worth, TX on Feb 13th, far-left activists protested outside Tarrant County Jail in support of a North Texas Antifa cell. Next week, several members face federal trial for a July 4, 2025, shooting ambush at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center, where an officer was shot in the neck. Seven co-defendants already pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges, admitting the group w...
》In Chicago, IL on February 13th; hundreds of high school and college students walked out and rallied at Federal Plaza unde...
》In New York, NY on February 13th; students gathered at Foley Square in Manhattan to oppose ICE operations and share concerns about family safety. Some reporting noted brief tensions, though no major violence was confirmed in primary coverage. Video footage that appears to be form thw date and location shows disputes and altercations wi...
》In Minneapolis, MN area (early February, ongoing); protests persisted near Target headquarters and other s...
》In Green Bay, WI on February 11th; 200–500 students from the city’s four public high schools walked out, marched downtown, and gathered with signs including “Abolish ICE.” The coordinated action remained peaceful wit...
》In Missouri City/Houston area, TX on February 3rd; thousands of students at Elkins High School walked out to protest ICE enforce...
》In Portland, OR anti-ICE and counter-protestors gathered outside of City Hall as clashes between anti-ICE protesters and civilian ICE supporters/counter-protest...
》In San Antonio, TX on February 16th; pro-Palestinians and anri-ICE students from more than 50 schools held a press conference, mutual aid drive, and march organized by San Antonio Students for Peace. They protested local cooperation with ICE and the Trump administration's immigration enforcem...
》In the Bronx, NY at The Mall at Bay Plaza on February 16th; a large group (400+) of teens carried out a planned "takeover" starting around 2 p.m. The disorderly crowd caused panic among shoppers, with people running, stores closing doors, NYPD responding to 911 calls, issuing dispersal warnings, helicopters overhead, and multiple teens taken into custody for disorderly conduct. Vi...
》In Midtown Manhattan, NY, outside Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue on February 16, 2026 (Presidents' Day); 500+ protesters organized by Rise and Resist blocked the road in a flash-mob-style event. They repeatedly gave the middle finger to the building to symbolically protest Trump's policies, especially on immigration and ICE, while aiming to set a r...
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Debrief: Early February saw a surge in student-led anti-ICE protests nationwide, mostl...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
BLUF: Nationwide "spring surge to melt ICE" protests drove student walkouts and rallies against ICE enforcement; most actions were peaceful, with isolated escalations including assaults in Los Angeles and armed activism in Indianapolis; Activists further protested outside Trump Tower, marched against ICE in TX while youths conducted violent takeovers in NY.
》In Los Angeles, CA on February 13th; thousands of high school students walked out and marched downtown near City Hall and the Metropolitan Detention Center. Tensions escalated when rioters threw rocks and objects, injuri...
》In Baltimore, MD on January 24th; about 150 protesters rallied at War Memorial Plaza against IC...
》In Indianapolis, IN on February 14th; Strong Neighbor organized an armed anti-ICE demonstration at University Park, separate from school walkouts. Video showed several participants openly carrying firearms (semi-automatic rifles); organizers stated it was peaceful and non-violent, and police reported no arrests. LGBT and Ant...
》In Fort Worth, TX on Feb 13th, far-left activists protested outside Tarrant County Jail in support of a North Texas Antifa cell. Next week, several members face federal trial for a July 4, 2025, shooting ambush at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center, where an officer was shot in the neck. Seven co-defendants already pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges, admitting the group w...
》In Chicago, IL on February 13th; hundreds of high school and college students walked out and rallied at Federal Plaza unde...
》In New York, NY on February 13th; students gathered at Foley Square in Manhattan to oppose ICE operations and share concerns about family safety. Some reporting noted brief tensions, though no major violence was confirmed in primary coverage. Video footage that appears to be form thw date and location shows disputes and altercations wi...
》In Minneapolis, MN area (early February, ongoing); protests persisted near Target headquarters and other s...
》In Green Bay, WI on February 11th; 200–500 students from the city’s four public high schools walked out, marched downtown, and gathered with signs including “Abolish ICE.” The coordinated action remained peaceful wit...
》In Missouri City/Houston area, TX on February 3rd; thousands of students at Elkins High School walked out to protest ICE enforce...
》In Portland, OR anti-ICE and counter-protestors gathered outside of City Hall as clashes between anti-ICE protesters and civilian ICE supporters/counter-protest...
》In San Antonio, TX on February 16th; pro-Palestinians and anri-ICE students from more than 50 schools held a press conference, mutual aid drive, and march organized by San Antonio Students for Peace. They protested local cooperation with ICE and the Trump administration's immigration enforcem...
》In the Bronx, NY at The Mall at Bay Plaza on February 16th; a large group (400+) of teens carried out a planned "takeover" starting around 2 p.m. The disorderly crowd caused panic among shoppers, with people running, stores closing doors, NYPD responding to 911 calls, issuing dispersal warnings, helicopters overhead, and multiple teens taken into custody for disorderly conduct. Vi...
》In Midtown Manhattan, NY, outside Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue on February 16, 2026 (Presidents' Day); 500+ protesters organized by Rise and Resist blocked the road in a flash-mob-style event. They repeatedly gave the middle finger to the building to symbolically protest Trump's policies, especially on immigration and ICE, while aiming to set a r...
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Debrief: Early February saw a surge in student-led anti-ICE protests nationwide, mostl...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
Field Notes - Global Conflict: The Trump administration is expected to enter a war with Iran in the “coming weeks” after observations indicating the U.S. has amassed military forces in the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers, 12 warships, 100+ fighter jets, 50+ F-35, F-22, and F-16 aircraft deployed in the last 24 hours, and multiple air defense systems amid the potential action against Iran. This follows nuclear talks in Geneva that made “some” progress but left gaps, with Iranian proposals expected in two weeks (such proposals likely being the decision point for the U.S. to strike or halt). A U.S.–Israeli operation against Iran would involve a weeks-long campaign targeting nuclear and missile sites while threatening regime survival, unlike the limited Venezuela strike last month. A Trump advisor speaking under anonymity stated, “The boss is getting fed up. Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is a 90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks.” Israeli offi...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
Field Notes - Terrorism / Extremism / Major Crime: In Meridian, ID, on February 19th; an unidentified suspect stole a Canyon County Paramedics ambulance from St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center, then retrieved staged gas cans hidden in nearby vegetation. The ambulance was rigged as an apparent VBIED and driven to a federal building that houses Department of Homeland Security offices, including those for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The suspect crashed the vehicle into the Portico North office building. No immediate explosion occurred. The suspect then poured accelerant inside and around it in an apparent arson attempt that was disrupted as first responders arrived. The suspect fled the scene on foot. Debrief: The building was likely targeted due to the presence of ICE facilities, as evidenced by the premeditated staging of accelerants and the direct ramming into the entrance, which occurred after far-left activists (and Wired magazine) shared the bui...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
Field Notes - Major Crime / Civil Unrest: In Mexico on February 22nd; the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," was killed during a Mexican military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, where he was wounded in clashes and died while being airlifted to Mexico City; the raid, supported by U.S. intelligence, resulted in several cartel members killed, some arrests, and injuries to three Mexican military personnel. In retaliation, CJNG members unleashed widespread violence across multiple states, including setting fire to vehicles, businesses such as Oxxo convenience stores, supermarkets, banks, and gas stations, erecting road blockades (narcobloqueos) with burning cars to obstruct security forces, and engaging in shootouts, particularly affecting tourism-heavy areas like Puerto Vallarta (where taxis and rideshares were suspended and thick smoke rose over the city), Guadalajara, Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cozumel in states including Jalisco, Baja California, Quintana Roo, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas. The cartel circulated threatening messages urging people to stay indoors and warning of escalated attacks with no truce, leading to flight cancellations at airports in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, school closures in some areas, and chaos trapping locals and tourists—including many Americans and Canadians—in resorts and hotels amid gunfire and arson. The U.S. Embassy and State Department issued an urgent security alert directing U.S. citizens in the affected regions to shelter in place, minimize movements, remain in residences or hotels, avoid crowds and law enforcement activity, and monitor updates, with similar restrictions on U.S. government staff and expanded advisories covering widespread locations. Debrief: This escalation could severely impact the U.S. and Americans by endangering the thousands of U.S. tourists and residents currently in Mexico, disrupting air tra...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
Field Notes - Major Crime: In Washington D.C. and FL; in two recent and separate incidents, armed individuals attempted unauthorized approaches to high-profile secured locations, one at the U.S. Capitol and another at Mar-a-Lago. On February 17th in Washington, D.C., a foreign national, 18-year-old Carter Camacho from the country of Georgia, parked near the U.S. Capitol, exited his vehicle wearing a tactical vest, and ran several hundred yards toward the West Front while carrying a loaded shotgun and additional ammunition; U.S. Capitol Police intercepted him, he complied by dropping the weapon, and he was arrested without injuries, later claiming he was "just there to talk to a Member of Congress," though motives remain under investigation. Five days later, on February 22nd in Palm Beach, Florida, a man in his early 20s made an unauthorized entry into the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago around 1:30 a.m., observed near the north gate carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can; Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy confronted and shot him dead at the scene, with no injuries to personnel or protectees. His identity and motive have not been publicly released.
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Separately, in Boulder City, NV on February 19th; a self-proclaimed "terrorist," 23-year-old Dawson Maloney drove from Albany, NY, and rammed a vehicle into a power substation in an apparent attempted attack on the local power grid. Law enforcement searched his hotel room and found multiple books linked to various extremist ideologies, specific...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
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Separately, in Boulder City, NV on February 19th; a self-proclaimed "terrorist," 23-year-old Dawson Maloney drove from Albany, NY, and rammed a vehicle into a power substation in an apparent attempted attack on the local power grid. Law enforcement searched his hotel room and found multiple books linked to various extremist ideologies, specific...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
FYSA - Natural Disaster: In NY, RI, MA, NH, CT, NJ, PA, and ME; Winter Storm Hernando, a "powerful" nor'easter and bomb cyclone, triggered blizzard and winter storm warnings with heavy snowfall (2-3 inches per hour), gusty winds up to 70 mph, and coastal flooding. It provided record-breaking snow totals including 37.9 inches in Providence, RI (exceeding the prior single-storm record), and up to 3 feet in parts of NY, NJ, and CT, leading to widespread power outages (over 600,000 customers affected at peak, many persisting), downed telecom lines isolating thousands, travel bans in multiple MA counties and NYC, over 10,000 flight cancellations, restricted road access, and disruptions to energy grids, internet, and communications, increasing risks for medical needs or evacuations amid del...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
FYSA - Supply Chain: Nationwide on February 20-23rd; following a Supreme Court ruling striking down prior broad tariffs under emergency powers, new 15% global tariffs were imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 (temporary up to 150 days). It exempts some goods like energy products and certain foods but raises farmer input costs that depend on foreign assets amid a 46% rise in farm bankruptcies in 2025 and ongoing export strains for crops like soybeans. Debrief: Citizens dependent on stable ...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
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FYSA - Health & Safety: In PA, CO, and MD, reported February 24th; highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) surged with PA as the epicenter, affecting over 7.45 million birds since late January. This includes large commercial egg-layer culls of 2.6 million and 1.4 million in Lancaster County, plus turkey and broiler losses, with nationwide 8.97 million birds impacted in the past 30 days. Gov. Josh Shapiro deployed extra USDA personnel and resources for response. Debrief: Citizen...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
FYSA - National Security | Government Oversight: Nationwide on February 27th; President Trump directed all federal agencies to immediately cease use of Anthropic's AI technology, including its Claude model, with a six-month phase-out period. The Pentagon was reportedly heavily reliant on Claude and had deployed AI assets across the Department of War. Anthropic recently refused to accede to the Department of War's demand for "any lawful use" without exceptions, asserting that the government sought to remove its prohibitions on mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons amid the potential $200 million contract. Anthropic said, "The Department of War will only contract with AI companies who accept 'any lawful use.' We can't agree to this." Anthropic further advised they support "the lawful use of Claude- with only two exceptions: Mass domestic surveillance [and] Fully autonomous weapons". The Pentagon denied intending such uses and states that federal law already bars them while requiring only unrestricted lawful access. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated Anthropic a "supply-chain risk to national security," barring federal agencies and contractors from future business with the company and warning of major civil and criminal consequences if Anthropic does not cooperate during the phase-out. POTUS released a statement saying, "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL NEVER ALLOW A RADICAL LEFT, WOKE COMPANY TO DICTATE HOW OUR GREAT MILITARY FIGHTS AND WINS WARS!...The Leftwing nut jobs at Anthropic have made a DISASTROUS MISTAKE trying to STRONG-ARM the Department of War, and force them to obey their Terms of Service instead of our Constitution...Anthropic better get their act together, and be helpful during this phase out period, or I will use the Full Power of the Presidency to make them comply, with major civil and criminal consequences to follow." Debrief: This executive action reinforces presidential control over national security tech procurement, potentially pushing toward AI providers without ethical or bias restrictions to maintain military edge, which citizens concerned with self-sufficiency and preparedness should view as a signal to diversify personal tech dependencies and stay informed on alternative open-source AI tools amid escalating government-tech conflicts that could limit civilian access to advanced innovations. The incident could point to a potential attempt to conduct AI powered surveillance and the fallout could also lead to tech driven stoc...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
Update: The Department of War (DoW) has reached an agreement to partner with OpenAI following its prior order to phase out Anthropic and the extended directive that read, "Effective immediately, no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the deal with the DoW to deploy its models on classified military networks. OpenAI concurred with Anthropic's concerns, saying, "Two of our most important safety principles are prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force, including for autonomous weapon systems." However, OpenAI justified the deal, saying, "The DoW agrees with these principles, reflects them in law and policy, and we put them into our agreement." Debrief: This swift pivot demonstrated how rapidly access to frontier AI capabilities could be curtailed or extended depending on perceived alignment with federal objectives. OpenAI defended the deal by stating the DoW agreed to reflect their safety principles in law, policy, and possibly contract terms (perhaps embedding the prohibitions on mass surveillance and human-in-the-loop for lethal force into the agreement's technical stack and contractual language), while the "any lawful use" scope for other applications appears to be the default under existing U.S. law and DoD policy rather than a novel exception carved out in this specific deal. This arrangement illustrates how government can rapidly pressure or blacklist private AI companies into compliance (or exclusion) through national-security designations and contractor mandates. The government does need such AI power to maintain dominanc...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
FYSA - National Security / Terrorism: Nationwide, February 28–March 2nd, the FBI announced that the bureau's counterterrorism and counterintelligence teams on elevated alert nationwide. This followed coordinated U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Iran, including the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and retaliatory attacks that killed three U.S. service members. The FBI advised in part that "Counterterrorism and intelligence teams" were placed "on high alert" and JTTFs throughout the country are working 24/7, as always, to address and disrupt any potential threats to the homeland." The directive activates Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) across the U.S. to intensify monitoring and prevent retaliatory attacks. Experts have warned of possible activation of Iran-linked sleeper cells. The alert's relevance was underscored by the March 1, mass shooting in Austin, TX where a naturalized U.S. citizen Ndiaga Diagne, originally from Senegal, drove an SUV and opened fire with a handgun and rifle at a bar. The attack killed two people and injured 14 others (three critically). Diagne was fatally shot by responding Austin police officers. The FBI is investigating the incident as potential terrorism due to indicators, including a sweatshirt reading "Property of Allah," an Iranian flag shirt, and images of Iranian leaders found in his vehicle. Debrief: The near-immediate occurrence of the Austin attack after the FBI's elevated alert de...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
2nd Amendment Brief: National Summary
BLUF: SCOTUS declined to hear a challenge to the federal ban on gun ownership by nonviolent felons, leaving that restriction intact; the Court received numerous new Second Amendment petitions on open carry bans and industry liability; litigation strategies continue that could reshape federal firearms regulation, including a new lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the National Firearms Act.
》Nationwide on March 2nd; the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in United States v. Hemani (24‑1234), a case challenging the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), the federal prohibition on firearm possession by unlawful users of controlled substances such as marijuana. In argument, several justices expressed skepticism about treating marijuana use as grounds for disarmament and compared historical analogues to laws disarming “habitual drunkards,” while acknowledging the difficulty of applying Bruen’s historical test to modern drug use. Debrief: A decision narrowing § 922(g)(3) could restore firearm rights to large numbers of otherwise lawful gun owners in states where marijuana is legal, limit Congress’s authority to disarm based on conduct without violent history, and recalibrate how courts apply historical tradition standards to modern regulatory categories.
》Nationwide on March 2nd; the Supreme Court declined to hear Vincent v. Bondi, a challenge to the federal ban on gun ownership by individuals with nonviolent felony convictions under the Gun Control Act of 1968. The case involved a Utah resident with a 2008 fraud conviction who argued the prohibition violated the Second Amendment, but the Court’s denial leaves the lower court ruling upholding the ban in place. The lower courr upheld the Gun Control Act of 1968 which bans firearms for felons. Debrief: By refusing review, the Court preserved a longstanding federal prohibition on firearm possession by nonviolent felons, signaling enduring deference to categorical disqualifications in some contexts despite Bruen’s historical‑tradition test, and maintaining a major prohibited person category.
》Nationwide on February 27th and March 6th conference lists; SCOTUS received multiple new Second Amendment cert petitions, including challenges to (1) the federal felon‑in‑possession ban, (2) state laws authorizing industry liability suits that may conflict with the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), (3) Illinois’ open‑carry ban, and (4) a local Oregon public carry restriction with a concealed‑carry defense. Semiautomatic weapons and standard capacity magazine ban challenges are also under conference consideration. Debrief: The surge of petitions reflects strategic gun‑rights litigation aimed at broadening doctrinal challenges to both federal and state firearms restrictions; if the Court grants any of these, it could further refine or expand Bruen and Second Amendment jurisprudence.
》Nationwide on February 26th; the National Rifle Association and allied plaintiffs filed Roberts v. ATF in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, a third lawsuit contesting the constitutionality of the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) post‑tax repeal by the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The co...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
BLUF: SCOTUS declined to hear a challenge to the federal ban on gun ownership by nonviolent felons, leaving that restriction intact; the Court received numerous new Second Amendment petitions on open carry bans and industry liability; litigation strategies continue that could reshape federal firearms regulation, including a new lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the National Firearms Act.
》Nationwide on March 2nd; the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in United States v. Hemani (24‑1234), a case challenging the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), the federal prohibition on firearm possession by unlawful users of controlled substances such as marijuana. In argument, several justices expressed skepticism about treating marijuana use as grounds for disarmament and compared historical analogues to laws disarming “habitual drunkards,” while acknowledging the difficulty of applying Bruen’s historical test to modern drug use. Debrief: A decision narrowing § 922(g)(3) could restore firearm rights to large numbers of otherwise lawful gun owners in states where marijuana is legal, limit Congress’s authority to disarm based on conduct without violent history, and recalibrate how courts apply historical tradition standards to modern regulatory categories.
》Nationwide on March 2nd; the Supreme Court declined to hear Vincent v. Bondi, a challenge to the federal ban on gun ownership by individuals with nonviolent felony convictions under the Gun Control Act of 1968. The case involved a Utah resident with a 2008 fraud conviction who argued the prohibition violated the Second Amendment, but the Court’s denial leaves the lower court ruling upholding the ban in place. The lower courr upheld the Gun Control Act of 1968 which bans firearms for felons. Debrief: By refusing review, the Court preserved a longstanding federal prohibition on firearm possession by nonviolent felons, signaling enduring deference to categorical disqualifications in some contexts despite Bruen’s historical‑tradition test, and maintaining a major prohibited person category.
》Nationwide on February 27th and March 6th conference lists; SCOTUS received multiple new Second Amendment cert petitions, including challenges to (1) the federal felon‑in‑possession ban, (2) state laws authorizing industry liability suits that may conflict with the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), (3) Illinois’ open‑carry ban, and (4) a local Oregon public carry restriction with a concealed‑carry defense. Semiautomatic weapons and standard capacity magazine ban challenges are also under conference consideration. Debrief: The surge of petitions reflects strategic gun‑rights litigation aimed at broadening doctrinal challenges to both federal and state firearms restrictions; if the Court grants any of these, it could further refine or expand Bruen and Second Amendment jurisprudence.
》Nationwide on February 26th; the National Rifle Association and allied plaintiffs filed Roberts v. ATF in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, a third lawsuit contesting the constitutionality of the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) post‑tax repeal by the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The co...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
FYSA - Supply Chain: Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, an effective “closure” of the Strait of Hormuz has emerged, a chokepoint that handles roughly 20% of global oil shipments and significant LNG traffic. The disruption has halted most tanker movement due to vessel attacks, insurer coverage withdrawals, and a blockade environment created by IRGC threats, while Qatar has halted LNG operations at Ras Laffan, which accounts for about 20% of global LNG supply. The conflict has pushed Brent crude up around 7% to highs near $83 per barrel (settling roughly $81–$83), increased U.S. natural gas prices by about 5%, and driven daily LNG tanker freight rates up more than 40%. U.S. gasoline averages have climbed to $3.11–$3.20 per gallon (up roughly 11–18 cents from the ~$2.94–$3.00 pre-spike level). Auto supply chains are also facing 15–25% increases in petrochemical feedstock costs for plastics, rubbers, and adhesives, along with higher logistics and shipping expenses due to rerouting. Delays in Asian component shipments, including EV batteries and semiconductors, are potentially stranding parts and squeezing just-in-time production, with analysts warning of vehicle price increases and reduced parts availability if disruptions persist into summer 2026. Debrief: U.S. citizens face higher gasoline and natural gas costs that add pressure to household budgets and inflation (roughly $0.25 per gallon for every $10-per-barrel increase in crude). Vehicle prices also face upward pressure from elevated input and logistics costs, along with potential parts shortages. This environment may encourage fue...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
FYSA - Privacy: A joint investigation by "major" news organizations in Swden revealed that footage from Meta's Ray-Ban AI-powered smart glasses is being reviewed by human data annotators at subcontractor Sama in Nairobi, Kenya. Over seven million pairs of the glasses have been sold. Contractors described seeing highly intimate content. This includes people using the bathroom, getting undressed or fully naked (often appearing unaware they were recording), engaging in sexual activity, as well as other sensitive actions such as conducting financial transactions. Debrief: These revelations highlight severe privacy risks for users of always-on wearable cameras. Sensitive personal moments can be unintentionally recorded and exposed to foreign workers without clear consent. Meta's planned rollout of the "Name Tag" f...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
Cybersecurity Brief: National Summary
BLUF: Cyber threats tied to geopolitical conflict and instability are affecting critical infrastructure, particularly financial systems and federal cyber defense agencies as federal cybersecurity leader is removed from top role at CISA.
》U.S. banks and financial institutions are on heightened alert for cyberattacks as geopolitical tensions escalate with Iran, with analysts warning that Iran‑aligned hackers could conduct disruptive operations such as distributed denial‑of‑service (DDoS) attacks against financial networks. Credit rating organizations warned, "Iran could increase its cyberattacks against Western entities, including banks." Industry groups and intelligence assessments indicate that financial systems—considered critical infrastructure due to their role in payment processing and markets—are historically frequent targets during geopolitical crises. Organizations including FS‑ISAC and SIFMA are coordinating monitoring and resilience planning across the sector to mitigate potential operational disruptions.
》The acting director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) was reassigned to a role within the Department of Homeland Security, marking another leadership change at the federal agency responsible for protecting government networks and U.S. critical infrastructure from cyber threats. The shift comes as the agency faces operational strain due to staffing reductions and budget constraints, raising concerns about its ability to coordinate national cyber defense and infrastructure protection efforts during a period of heightened cyber risk.
Debrief: (CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
BLUF: Cyber threats tied to geopolitical conflict and instability are affecting critical infrastructure, particularly financial systems and federal cyber defense agencies as federal cybersecurity leader is removed from top role at CISA.
》U.S. banks and financial institutions are on heightened alert for cyberattacks as geopolitical tensions escalate with Iran, with analysts warning that Iran‑aligned hackers could conduct disruptive operations such as distributed denial‑of‑service (DDoS) attacks against financial networks. Credit rating organizations warned, "Iran could increase its cyberattacks against Western entities, including banks." Industry groups and intelligence assessments indicate that financial systems—considered critical infrastructure due to their role in payment processing and markets—are historically frequent targets during geopolitical crises. Organizations including FS‑ISAC and SIFMA are coordinating monitoring and resilience planning across the sector to mitigate potential operational disruptions.
》The acting director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) was reassigned to a role within the Department of Homeland Security, marking another leadership change at the federal agency responsible for protecting government networks and U.S. critical infrastructure from cyber threats. The shift comes as the agency faces operational strain due to staffing reductions and budget constraints, raising concerns about its ability to coordinate national cyber defense and infrastructure protection efforts during a period of heightened cyber risk.
Debrief: (CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
FYSA - Civil Unrest: Nationwide on March 7th; participants gathered in 150+ cities across the country as part of a coordinated "Save Our Children" (and Protect our Kids) rally series involving peaceful protests demanding accountability for alleged elite involvement in child trafficking, cover-ups related to Epstein files, and lack of arrests for high-profile pedophiles. Protesters mostly avoided any direct political party messaging as organizers advised they are "not for one political party or the other. It's got nothing to do with politics for us. It's just basically us, trying to get people on the same page. United we stand, divided we fall." Signs included references to #ADRENOCHROME, accusations against government agencies like the FBI, CIA, and CPS in child trafficking, and slogans such as "NO TAXATION W/O PEDOPHILE ANNIHILATION." While most participants remained neutral some wore -pro-MAGA hats and Guy Fawkes masks. Debrief: These events highlight persistent public concern over child exploitation and perceived institutional failures to address high-level trafficking networks, potentially amplifying calls for transparency in ongoing investigations and legislative efforts like those in recent Sena...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)
FYSA - Civil Unrest: In NYC, NY on March 7th; during an anti-Islam protest organized by alt-right influencer Jake Lang outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani (NYC's first Muslim mayor), clashes erupted between about 20 protesters and roughly 120 counter-protesters (Muslims and reports of Antifa) involving pepper spray from the anti-Islam side followed by counter-protesters throwing two ignited suspicious devices described by NYPD as IEDs made of jars wrapped in black tape containing nuts, bolts, screws for shrapnel and a fuse, producing smoke and flames but failing to fully detonate or cause injuries. NYPD arrested six people including suspects Emir Balat (18) and Ibrahim Nikk (19) who handled/threw the devices, with one shouting "Allahu Akbar" during arrest, prompting bomb squad response and FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force involvement. Debrief: This incident highlights escalating risks of violence at ideologically charged protests in urban areas, where homemade incendiary/shrapnel devices could have caused mass casualties if properly constructed, underscoring the need for citizens to remain vigilant, report suspicious activity, and support law enforcement in countering domestic extremism regardless of political or religious motivation while avoiding vigilante responses that fuel further escalation. Alt-right protesters us...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)