ThinThread vs. Trailblazer: How the NSA Killed the Tool That Could’ve Prevented 9/11

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with Thomas Drake—a former senior executive at the NSA, Air Force veteran, software expert, whistleblower.

While at the NSA, Drake exposed serious issues including multi-billion-dollar fraud, intelligence failures, and a secret post-9/11 mass surveillance program. He supported the use of ThinThread, a cost-effective and privacy-protecting tool, but it was rejected in favor of Trailblazer—a more expensive program lacking privacy safeguards.

In 2005, Drake anonymously shared unclassified information about NSA misconduct with a journalist. In 2010, he was charged with 10 felony counts under the Espionage Act but the case collapsed, and he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. That same year, he received the Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling.

Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original

Watch Change Agents: Black Project, a 4 part mini series, weekly on Tuesdays or Binge all 4 episodes of now by becoming a member on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmK3k1U3D3fqPZWcnAaa-Vg/join.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/change-agents-with-andy-stumpf/id1677415740

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SKmtN55V2AGbzHDo34DHI?si=5aefbba9abc844ed

Sponsors:
Firecracker Farm
Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/

MTNTOUGH
Go to ⁠https://mtntough.com⁠ and enter code CHANGEAGENTS to receive 40% OFF – a savings of about $100 off your MTNTOUGH+ annual subscription.

Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmK3k1U3D3fqPZWcnAaa-Vg/join

source