Midweek Sitrep with Jerry Fowler

Your data isn’t just personal—it’s powerful.

From fitness apps to smart speakers, the digital footprints we leave behind are turning into weapons. In this episode of Midweek Sitrep, Jerry Fowler uncovers how everyday information becomes battlefield intelligence—and why foreign adversaries don’t need to hack you when you’re giving them the data for free.

Hear the real-world cases that change...

You lock your doors. You turn off tracking. But have you looked up?

From Chinese spy balloons to high-altitude blimps and unmarked drones, the sky is getting crowded — and most people don’t even notice. In this Brief companion to Midweek Sitrep Episode 0013: Surveillance Nation: What the Spy Balloon Didn’t Show You, we investigate the rise of aerial surveillance across the U.S., who’s operating these pla...

In early 2023, a Chinese balloon drifted across the United States—visible, slow, and shockingly unchallenged. But while the world stared at the sky, the real surveillance system was already inside your home.

In this episode of Midweek Sitrep, host Jerry Fowler breaks down what the balloon really was, how surveillance has evolved, and why the biggest national security risks today come from everyday tech—y...

Satellites aren’t just orbiting tech—they’re the invisible infrastructure holding modern life together.

GPS, banking, secure communications, battlefield coordination… it all runs through systems most people never think about. And that’s exactly what makes them vulnerable.

In this Brief, Jerry unpacks how satellites have become high-value targets in global conflict—and why control of orbit i...

Satellites are shadowing satellites. Private companies are controlling battlefield communications. Drones built for delivery are now dropping grenades.

In this episode of Midweek Sitrep, host Jerry Fowler breaks down how space has become the newest—and quietest—domain of modern warfare. From China’s orbital maneuvers and robotic satellite grabs to Starlink’s role in Ukraine and the dual-use drone dilemma...

AI companions aren’t just a novelty—they’re a national security risk hiding in plain sight.

In this episode of Midweek Sitrep: Brief, Jerry Fowler breaks down how apps like Replika and Fanvue are training people to confide in synthetic partners—and leaking far more than they realize. These bots aren’t just listening. They’re collecting emotional data, tracking behavior, and building profiles that can be ...

AI isn’t just creating art or writing code anymore—it’s generating fake protest videos, deepfake news anchors, and synthetic influencers that never sleep.

In this episode of Midweek Sitrep, host Jerry Fowler breaks down how artificial intelligence is being used to shape your emotions, manipulate public opinion, and blur the line between influence and reality. From AI girlfriends to rage-bait memes, this ...

From cashierless stores to code-generating assistants, AI is everywhere—or so we’re told.

In this Brief episode, host Jerry Fowler pulls back the curtain on the illusion of intelligence in today’s tech.

We break down how Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” system relied on 1,000 human reviewers, how Builder.ai raised $250 million while quietly outsourcing its “AI assistant,” and why Devin—the so-called autonomous software engineer—is impressi...

AI isn’t just writing emails or suggesting your next playlist—it’s being used to generate propaganda, disrupt elections, and quietly shift the balance of global power.

In this episode of Midweek Sitrep, host Jerry Fowler breaks down what artificial intelligence really is, what it isn’t, and why it matters for national security. From everyday tools to high-stakes policy, AI is already shaping how we live,...

Someone deepfaked the White House Chief of Staff—cloning her voice to target members of Congress.

This isn’t fiction. It happened last week.

In this episode of Brief, host Jerry Fowler breaks down what this headline means for you. Because in 2025, the scam isn’t always aimed at you—it might use you to get to someone else.

Learn how your voice, number, and identity can be exploited by AI—and what you can do about it right now.

What’...

Scam calls. Phishing texts. Fake job offers.

They’re not just annoying—they’re cyberweapons used by foreign adversaries and criminal networks to steal your data, your money, and your trust.

In this episode of Midweek Sitrep, we expose how everyday digital scams are tied to global cybercrime and national security threats—and why you’re now the frontline.

You’ll learn:

• How phone scams and phishing attacks actually work
• Why a...

Deepfake abuse just became a federal crime.

Welcome to Brief—an off-week intel drop from Midweek Sitrep. Short, sharp, and mission-focused.

In Brief 0001, we break down the new law Congress passed—and President Trump signed—that makes it illegal to post or threaten to post intimate images, real or AI-generated, without consent. Known as the TAKE IT DOWN Act, the law targets one of the most ...

They’re your coworkers, neighbors, and classmates—until they vanish for a weekend, or months, to answer the call.

In this episode of Midweek Sitrep, host Jerry Fowler breaks down the role of the Reserve Component in U.S. national security—and why the U.S. military can’t function without it.

Who are the Guard and Reserve? What do they actually do? And what happens to our national readiness if this system breaks?

From weekend drills ...

Picture this: you mention your upcoming military training to a colleague in the breakroom—and suddenly, you’re being treated like a liability instead of an asset. You thought your service mattered. You thought the law had your back. You were right—but only if employers follow it.

In this episode of Midweek Sitrep, host Jerry Fowler breaks down one of the most overlooked threats to U.S. national security: discouraging military servi...

Big changes are coming to Midweek Sitrep. In this special update, host Jerry Fowler delivers the sitrep… on Midweek Sitrep itself.

We’re shifting to a biweekly release schedule, expanding features, bringing in expert guests, and digging even deeper into the national security issues that matter most. Whether you’re in government, business, compliance, or simply someone who wants to stay informed—this is y...

Picture this: America’s top national security officials are coordinating a high-stakes military operation… over Signal. Encrypted, yes—but also outside official systems. And in the chaos, a journalist is accidentally added to the group chat.

It sounds like fiction. But it happened.

In this episode of Midweek Sitrep, host Jerry Fowler uses the Signal chat controversy as a launchpad to explai...

Imagine a shadowy fleet of oil tankers sailing through the night—GPS disabled, ownership disguised, cargo concealed. Not pirates—but sanctioned states like Russia, Iran, and North Korea, evading U.S. sanctions to fund war, weapons, and influence.

That’s not a conspiracy theory. It’s happening now.

In this episode of Midweek Sitrep, host Jerry Fowler breaks down how sanctioned regimes are ge...

Imagine the world’s most advanced AI chips—designed to power cutting-edge innovations—quietly slipping past U.S. export controls, ending up in places they were never supposed to go. Not through high-tech hacking or espionage, but through a network of shell companies, supply chain loopholes, and international black markets.

That’s exactly what’s happening.

In this episode of Midweek Sitrep, ...

Imagine a cyberattack that doesn’t crash your systems or announce itself with red flashing alerts. Instead, it’s quiet—like a slow, invisible bleed. Hackers steal credentials, monitor networks, and compromise entire supply chains without anyone noticing until it’s too late. Now, imagine that these hackers aren’t just criminals working for profit, but state-sponsored operatives, executing cyberwarfare on behalf of fore...