VINCE Podcast | Episode 167

Guest: Thomas Speciale
Host: Vince Coglianese
Title: Thomas Speciale: The Man Behind John Brennan’s Meltdown
Date: November 12, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special episode, Vince Coglianese interviews Thomas Speciale—a national security consultant, military and intelligence veteran—about his recent contentious public confrontation with former CIA Director John Brennan. The episode unpacks Brennan’s alleged role in the controversial use of the Steele dossier, the subsequent fallout, and the broader concerns around intelligence abuses and electoral interference. Speciale shares firsthand insights from the confrontation, provides analysis of the intelligence community’s actions, and discusses efforts toward accountability, including his work with Tulsi Gabbard.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The John Brennan Confrontation (05:02 – 06:20, 20:22 – 21:34)

• Setting the Stage: Vince introduces the confrontation between Thomas Speciale and John Brennan at a George Mason University panel on the intelligence community.
• Brennan’s Reaction: Brennan reacts angrily, accusing Speciale of being “put up to this” and evading direct questions about his support for the Steele dossier.
• Speciale’s Intent: Speciale reveals he planned to ask Brennan questions privately about the dossier and the 51 Intel Officials Letter, but seized the opportunity to do so publicly when Q&A was opened.
• Memorable Quote:
  • Thomas Speciale (on Brennan’s reaction): “He knew that he was basically cornered with that question and he couldn’t answer that question and he just, you know, he just lost his mind.” (07:22)

2. The Intelligence Community & the Steele Dossier (08:31 – 13:33, 16:27 – 20:22)

• The Released Emails: Speciale describes never-before-seen email exchanges between Brennan, Clapper, Comey, and Admiral Rogers, which opined on intelligence and their intent to “influence or impact the future president.”
• Broader Implications: This wasn’t just about Trump—it was an “offensive counterintelligence operation … perpetrated against the American people,” aiming to sway public opinion and future elections.
• Manufacturing Excuses & Policy Constraints: Vince and Speciale discuss how the narrative surrounding Russian interference was designed both to excuse Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016 and to box Trump into a predetermined posture toward Russia, ultimately crippling his presidency with ongoing investigations.
• Memorable Quote:
  • Thomas Speciale: “They did this as a election rigging, you know, intelligence operation to, to damage Donald Trump’s presidency and ultimately his future.” (11:46)

3. Legal and Ethical Ramifications (12:17 – 13:33, 28:16 – 29:58)

• Possible Crimes:
  • Vince asks if such conduct should lead to prosecution.
  • Speciale suggests the most fitting charge is likely seditious conspiracy.
• Violation of Oaths: Speciale notes that every intelligence officer is sworn to the Constitution and that “these people, at the very least, were in direct and blatant and deliberate violation of their oaths to protect the Constitution.” (14:21)

4. The 51 Intelligence Officers Letter & Hunter Biden’s Laptop (20:22 – 24:28)

• Brennan’s Finger-Jabbing Exchange: Brennan pushes back on Speciale regarding the Hunter Biden laptop letter, asserting, “We never said it was disinformation. We said it was Russian influence operations, which is what they do. There’s a big difference…”
• Behind the Letter: Speciale traces the letter’s origins to former CIA Deputy Mike Morell at the behest of Tony Blinken and suggests the Democrat Party orchestrated signatures to provide Biden “a talking point” for the debates, aiming to suppress the damaging Hunter Biden story and sway the election.
• Suppression by Tech Companies: The FBI reportedly told tech companies to suppress the laptop story, collaborating with the intelligence community to stifle free speech and protect Biden.
• Memorable Quote:
  • Thomas Speciale: “They knew when they signed it that the Hunter Biden laptop was legitimate. So in order to delegitimize it, they had to put Russia on it.” (28:35)

5. Evidence of a Conspiracy and Public Accountability (29:58 – 33:54)

• Pattern of Cover-Ups: Vince and Speciale delve into how each act (the dossier, the Intel letter, tech company interventions) constitutes potential “overt acts in furtherance of a conspiracy.”
• Behavioral Cues: Speciale, leveraging his intelligence background, describes Brennan’s nervous and evasive body language, noting “he was planning his lie.”
• Memorable Quote:
  • Thomas Speciale: “All you did was ask a very sober question. What does it tell you?”
  • Speciale: “…I’m over the target for sure. … He was, at the very least, uncomfortable, trying to figure out how he was going to get out of it.” (31:41)

6. Restoring Government Trust & Role of Tulsi Gabbard (33:54 – 37:51)

• Restoration vs. Retribution: Speciale advocates for justice not as revenge, but as a necessary restoration to regain public trust in government.
• Tulsi Gabbard’s Commitment: Speciale vouches for Gabbard's seriousness about exposing abuses, noting her independence and recent personal experience with government surveillance under the “Quiet Skies” program.
• Personal Experience With Surveillance: Speciale discloses that the FBI surveilled him for over two years, possibly breaking into his home and rifling through his computer, with no predication or charges—illustrating broader weaponization against Trump supporters.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “My own government is weaponized against me. And it kind of broke my heart a little bit that, you know, somebody with a top secret … clearance and my own government would be investigating me.” (38:34)

7. FOIA, Civil Rights, and the Need for Transparency (39:38 – 42:20)

• Seeking His Own File: Speciale discusses his FOIA attempts to access his FBI and DOJ investigative files, which have been stonewalled—he highlights these as evidence of civil rights violations against him.
• Systemic Implications: The discussion ties these violations back to the larger pattern of unchecked government overreach and lack of accountability.
• Hope for Accountability: Vince notes that public exposure—paired with legal and political action—is critical for real accountability.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Brennan’s Bluster:
  • Vince: “I’ve watched that moment a dozen times now. … John Brennan loses his mind in that moment. Why was he so furious at you for posing that question?” (06:23)
• On Intelligence Community’s Purpose:
  • Speciale: “We don’t swear oaths to parties… our highest… is our Constitution in our country.” (13:33)
• On Political Intervention:
  • Speciale: “The intent of the memo was to influence voters in a way that was essentially amplifying… a complete fabrication.” (28:27)
• On FBI Surveilling Him:
  • Speciale: “They investigated me for over two and a half years. … They did this without any predication of any crime.” (35:49, 40:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:02-06:20 | Initial public confrontation between Thomas Speciale & John Brennan| | 08:31-11:46 | Discussion of the released emails and Steele dossier | | 12:17-13:33 | Ethics & possible legal consequences for intel abuses | | 16:27-20:22 | How the conspiracy operated post-2016 election | | 20:22-21:34 | After-party confrontation (Brennan’s finger in Speciale’s chest) | | 21:34-24:28 | 51 Intelligence Officers Letter & Hunter Biden laptop story | | 28:16-29:58 | Memo’s intent & unresolved laptop questions | | 35:46-37:51 | Personal experiences of government surveillance | | 39:38-42:20 | Issues around FOIA and civil rights |

Tone & Atmosphere

The tone is sharp, urgent, and unsparing—a blend of investigative journalism and insider analysis. Vince maintains a brisk, pointed style, while Speciale is detailed, measured, and determined but candid about his personal experiences and the broader stakes for American democracy.

Summary

This episode offers a rare window into the frontline of the intelligence community scandals that have shaped U.S. political discourse since 2016. Vince and Speciale dissect the major incidents, shine a light on the mechanisms of influence and cover-up within the intelligence apparatus, and make the case for meaningful accountability to restore public trust. The episode is packed with primary source insights, real-time confrontations, and a passionate argument for constitutional fidelity over partisan loyalty.