classified documents

Too many people have US security clearance: former House Intelligence Committee member

GZERO World Clips

Too many people have US security clearance: former House Intelligence Committee member

The US government has an over-classification problem. Too many documents are marked "secret" that shouldn't be. And according to this week's guest, the over-classification problem has also created an over-clearance problem. Jane Harman, a former nine-term Congresswoman who led high-level intelligence committees, says that the two problems are closely related. "We over-classify, we over-clear. Our clearance problem is very cumbersome" Harman tells Ian. As a result, many people with clearance tend to err on the side of classifying information rather than risking their position by making public the wrong document.

US Government information: What's the threshold for "classified"?

GZERO World Clips

US Government information: What's the threshold for "classified"?

There are many reasons for a government to classify information. The US does not want Vladimir Putin getting his hands on our nuclear codes, for example. An estimated 50 million documents are classified every year, though the exact number is unknown—not because it’s classified, but because the government just can’t keep track of it all. But in the words of the former US Solicitor General Erwin Griswold, some “secrets are not worth keeping.”

GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast

Podcast: How to fix the US government's classified information problem with Jane Harman

Listen: Maintaining secrecy can be invigorating, whether you're a child with hidden treasures or a CIA agent safeguarding classified information. However, the more secrets you bear, the heavier the burden becomes. This week’s guest, Jane Harman, who served nine terms in Congress and was a ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee after 9/11, understands the weight of secrecy firsthand.

Ian Explains: Why America is bad at keeping secrets

Ian Explains: Why America is bad at keeping secrets

Here’s a secret: the US government’s system for classifying documents doesn’t work very well, and it hasn’t for decades. If you follow the news, you’ve likely seen stories a-plenty about former President Donald Trump’s penchant for holding onto classified documents, not to mention less egregious examples like former Vice President Mike Pence and current President Joe Biden doing the same. But what you might not know is that the US government has a tortured history of overclassifying information, sometimes with disastrous results.

What's Vladimir Putin reading these days?

What's Vladimir Putin reading these days?

Forget Goodreads. The president of Russia and other world leaders give us their summer reading recommendations. #PUPPETREGIME

Russian tactical nukes in Belarus avoids direct escalation

Russian tactical nukes in Belarus avoids direct escalation

Trump arraigned, again. What's next? Why is Russia planting tactical nukes in Belarus? Is Serbia taking over sports? Ian Bremmer shares his insights on global politics this week on World In :60.