A former CIA officer argues that Israeli influence has captured U.S. intelligence and politics — a dark take that is bad news for anyone who believes America acts in its own interest.

• The claim: the CIA once treated Israel as a top spying threat, banning its officers from headquarters, but now works hand-in-glove with them.
• A defense bill provision would embed Israel closer with the Pentagon and CIA, even as the Defense Intelligence Agency warns staff that Israeli recruiting is unusually aggressive right now.
• Israel is accused of stealing U.S. defense secrets — like F-35 avionics — by flooding contractors with spies.
• The bigger charge: presidents, Congress, and lobbying money have bent U.S. policy toward Israel for decades, so most officials back it even as most Americans sour on the relationship.
• Provocative speculation runs throughout — that Israel had advance warning of 9/11, that October 7th was allowed to happen, and that the CIA now serves Israel over America.

Outlook: More fights are expected over the defense bill's Section 219 to merge U.S. and Israeli military tech, but with most of Congress aligned with the pro-Israel lobby, little is expected to change soon.