WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the October edition of Senator King’s “Inside Maine” podcast, featuring a timely discussion on the threats that cyberattacks pose to Americans’ day-to-day activities and how to identify and avoid disinformation online. Senator King was joined by Peter Warren Singer, a cyberdefense strategist, a fellow at New America, and a bestselling author; they discuss the serious national security concerns of our increasingly interconnected world. Senator King is a leading voice on cybersecurity issues in the Senate and co-chairs the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, an ongoing bipartisan effort that published a comprehensive report on America’s cyberspace posture, and secured 25 cybersecurity recommendations in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021.

“America is fortunate to be one of the most connected countries in the world, unfortunately this has also meant we’re asymmetrically vulnerable to cyberthreats,” said Senator King. “As I discussed with Peter Warren Singer on this month’s episode of Inside Maine, everything from the phones in our pockets to oil and gas pipelines are being targeted by bad actors, and we need to respond accordingly. We have made progress on these threats in recent years, but a full response requires a whole-of-government approach, partnership with the private sector, and increased awareness from all Americans. Peter is one of the most thoughtful, knowledgeable, and frank voices on the serious challenges of the 21st century, and it was a true pleasure to talk to him about what we’re up against and how best to defend ourselves.”

Peter Warren Singer is a strategist, former government consultant, and author, currently employed at the New America Foundation. Warren is best known for his work in the defense sector in various agencies and operational environments, including a period serving on the Obama Campaign’s defense policy task force, as well as authoring literature on pressing defense issues currently used by the U.S. Armed Forces. His research focuses on the intersection of technology and changing conflict. Singer was described in the Wall Street Journal as “the premier futurist in the national-security environment,” Dr. Singer has been named by the Smithsonian as one of the nation’s 100 leading innovators, by Defense News as one of the 100 most influential people in defense issues, by Foreign Policy to their Top 100 Global Thinkers List. Peter also wrote the opening page of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission’s recent report, a fiction piece titled “A Warning from Tomorrow.” 

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, Senator King is recognized as one of Congress’s leading experts on cyberdefense and a strong advocate for a forward-thinking cyberstrategy that emphasizes layered cyberdeterrence. He celebrated the swearing-in of former CSC commissioner, Chris Inglis, as the inaugural National Cyber Director (NCD), because the vital national security position was included in the 25 bipartisan cybersecurity recommendations from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission passed through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021.

The CSC was established by statute in the 2019 NDAA, officially launched in April 2019, and will continue to execute its statutory mission through December 2021 – most recently announcing its “progress report” with 75 percent of its recommendations either having become policy or nearly there. The Commissioner convenes nearly every Monday that Congress is in session, and its staff has conducted more than 400 engagements, drawing upon the expertise of corporate leaders, federal, state and local officials, academics, and cybersecurity experts. The meetings and the ensuing report sought to strengthen America’s posture in cyberspace and identify opportunities to improve our national preparedness to defend ourselves against cyberattacks. 

The “Inside Maine Podcast with Senator Angus King” is a 30-minute program that aims to help keep Maine people informed about issues of the day, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator King’s work as one of two independents in the U.S. Senate. Senator King’s podcast builds on his existing radio show that airs on Newsradio WGAN in Portland, Maine between 10 and 11 a.m. typically on last Saturday of the month – this month’s episode will be released online today, and air next weekend due to the upcoming November 2nd election day.

To listen to the October edition of Senator King’s podcast click HERE.