We're going to talk about "the memo" on Thursday's show in advance of the its release. Republicans say it will reveal startling information about our government spying on the Trump campaign.
But read the CNN article carefully. In attempting to attack the veracity of the document before its release, CNN's sources attack HOW a warrant to spy on an American citizen is obtained, not that it was obtained.
The intelligence community's concern is that by revealing details of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant process, crucial elements of intel gathering will be revealed, potentially causing foreign intelligence targets to change behavior to avoid surveillance in the future.
Specifically, these intelligence officials are concerned that the memo will reveal what goes into a decision to monitor targets, including what kinds of communications are targeted, and how those communications are intercepted.
These intelligence officials emphasize that applications for FISA warrants would need to be based on law enforcement information as well as intelligence gathered independently by US intelligence agencies. That would include intercepted communications and would not meet the standard for approval if the applications were based largely or entirely on outside information, such as the dossier compiled by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele.
So expect this argument to be made upon the release of the memo: the spying on a Trump campaign official was justified.
Let's talk more on Thursday.