Hosts Chip Franklin and former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi are joined by David Malicoat, an expert in cyber security and technology management.

David is currently serving as the Chief Information Security Officer at Direct Marketing Solutions and an Adjunct Professor in Cybersecurity at Collin College. In this episode our team talks with David about one of the most pressing threats to our national security - cyber attacks on our vulnerable critical infrastructure like water or electricity.

The safety of our nation depends on understanding and addressing these threats. That’s why this show is so important: to have these conversations, and to look at what we can be doing to prepare for and raise awareness of potential cyber-attacks on our critical infrastructure.

Frank Figluizzi underscores this point by revealing that during his time at the FBI, they were constantly reacting to bad actors seeking to hack into and manipulate our critical infrastructure systems. And the shocking examples he discusses are stories that we all really need to hear. He tells us, “ you're talking about our critical infrastructure, about FAA control towers, 911 systems, water supply. Whether you can pump gas or use the ATM. today. This is an item for all of us to get really educated on.”

You’ll get an eye-opening explanation of how terrorists and nation states can use our water and other infrastructure supplies to attack the United States and how our adversaries are changing their tactics to avoid culpability.

David refers to our water supply as the “soft underbelly” of American infrastructure, where 80% of water distribution in this country is run by small coops. He shares a frightening tale of how, in January of this year, the arid Texas town of Muleshoe, was infiltrated by a team of Russian-sponsored hackers and tens of thousands of fresh water were dumped on the ground before anyone was able to stop it.

The team discusses why groups operate this way and what kind of message they are trying to send. We also talked about exactly what would happen if the electric grid were attacked and gave folks some handy tips to prepare for such a disaster.

In this awesome interview we discussed a range of vital issues, including the balance of security vs privacy, the role of the federal government vs that of the private sector in addressing these threats, and the problems we face addressing these issues in Congress.

As Frank says, “We're always 10 steps behind technology. Legislation is 10 steps behind. There are senators who have no idea how things work technologically. And so we're always reactive. We're always responding to a crisis. And then somebody says, ‘Oh, we should have some legislation’. “

Frank also has a stark warning about the future of American cyber security if Trump wins in November. “It comes down to who’s in charge,” he said”. “If we have people with the mindset of America First means America only, or ‘We don't need nato,’ or ‘we can piss off our allies,’ then look out because it pays to have friends in the world and if you don't you're going to be blind.”

Check out David on his podcast called Professional CISO. Also be sure to pre-order your copy of Frank’s new book, Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers, coming out May 28!

And stay tuned! Next week, our host is Adam Kinzinger and he has A LOT on his mind. You won’t want to miss it.

Welcome to Frankly, a new weekly dive into national security issues with hosts Chip Franklin and former assistant director of the FBI and MSNBC contributor Frank Figliuzzi.

On this premier episode we are joined by David Sanger, a Pulitzer-prize winning chief Washington correspondent for the New York times. He's also author of The Perfect Weapon: War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age as well as his new book, New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West.

David tells us what he thinks the greatest national security threat to the US is today, and which country it might come from. The chilling answer is probably not what you would expect.

We discuss the implications of the latest pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the country, what the delay in passing Ukraine aid means for the war and our global standing, and compare two very different visions of international policy between the candidates for President.

We also talk with David about Chinese threats to our infrastructure, evolving attempts by multiple adversaries to interfere in our elections, and the highly elevated current risk of a terror attack on US soil.

David tells us China and Russia have evolved in their interference techniques, and are now amplifying real stories to lure you into their fake news accounts.

You won't want to miss this deep dive into the state of American national security.