Short Takes – 5-16-23

Centrist Dems are plotting a save-McCarthy strategy for the debt fight. Politico.com article. Pull quote: “It’s a polarizing strategy for those centrists to entertain in private with other Democrats, let alone admit to planning to deploy. And senior Republicans dismiss the likelihood the gambit would come to pass. That’s because it’s not clear that conservatives would try to depose the speaker even if he edges away from the position he’s staked out on the debt limit — and should they try to, Republicans from McCarthy’s camp on down insist there can be no Democratic bailout.” This would permanently end any radical right support for McCarthy if it occurred. Would expect multiple ‘vacate’ votes on a weekly basis.

Energy Department's cybersecurity program features critical weaknesses, report says. FCW.com article. Pull quote: “The inspector general’s report, released May 2, notes that the Energy Department and its components — including the National Nuclear Security Administration — have not addressed dozens of previously identified weaknesses associated with the program around risk management, configuration management, identity and access controls and security continuous monitoring.” IG report here.

Russian-Linked Malware Targets U.S. Critical Infrastructure. Angle.Anjura.com article. Pull quote: “Moreover, an overlooked danger of PIPEDREAM is that the main proactive defense of patching exploitable vulnerabilities offers minimal protection, as the nature of the malware is intended to hijack devices through the inherent protocols built into their design [4]. The inability to properly anticipate and avoid these risks could be catastrophic. If PIPEDREAM or malware with similar capabilities was deployed against a country’s critical infrastructure, it could result in blackouts, the inaccessibility of water systems, hazardous conditions at nuclear sites, and more.” Another look at PIPEDREAM.

Russia Hits Immobile And Predictable M-777, AHS Krab, And M-109 Howitzers Hard. Forbes.com article. Pull quote: “Mobility, of course, isn’t the only answer. Going forward, fancy technology and other efforts to block and jam Russia’s array of reconnaissance attack-drones will be critical. But the basics matter. The pattens seem clear: The more Ukraine’s high-value gear moves—and the more it moves in unpredictable patterns—the harder it is for Russia to hit them.”” Old, common military lessons relearned.

Combating US cyber adversaries calls for whole-of-government approach. DefeneseNews.com opinion piece. Pull quote: “Serving as Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I see the immense value of our government agencies working together to address the threat both from home and abroad. Unfortunately, cyber defense is often siloed within each government agency, leaving gaps in communication and interagency cooperation.” Political statement, short on real solutions.

California Democrat moves to force vote on Santos expulsion. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: “McCarthy can either call a motion to table or refer the resolution to the Ethics Committee — both of which would require a simple majority vote — or bring the expulsion resolution to the floor, which needs two-thirds support to pass.”

Cops say they're being poisoned by fentanyl. Experts say the risk is "extremely low". NPR.com article. Pull quote: “"I have seen this play out in reality where someone who is truly experiencing an overdose, overdosed on fentanyl, will not be resuscitated appropriately or in a timely manner because of this fear that getting close to them or touching them could cause some kind of second hand overdose."”