The concept of the "deep state" has long been relegated to the fringes of political discourse, dismissed as a conspiracy theory spun by paranoid minds. However, recent revelations, including declassified documents like the Durham annex and a report publicised by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, have shattered this scepticism. These documents expose a sprawling, self-sustaining network of unelected bureaucrats, intelligence operatives, contractors, non-profits, and media entities that operate with its own agenda, often independent of, and sometimes in direct opposition to, the elected government.
The deep state is not a shadowy cabal meeting in darkened rooms but a decentralised, ideologically aligned bureaucracy embedded within and beyond government institutions. As revealed by the Durham annex, released by Sen. Chuck Grassley, and Gabbard's report, this network includes agencies like the CIA, FBI, and ODNI, alongside private entities such as think tanks, law firms, and media outlets. These groups form a "parallel government" that operates with a degree of autonomy, leveraging state power and private influence to shape public narratives and policy outcomes.
A pivotal example occurred on December 9, 2016, when the Obama administration's national security leadership, including CIA Director John Brennan and FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, convened in the Situation Room. According to Gabbard's report, they were directed to craft a narrative framing Russia as an aggressor in the 2016 election, despite no new intelligence supporting this shift. This directive, issued without evidence, set the stage for the Trump-Russia collusion narrative, illustrating how the deep state can manipulate information to serve its own ends, regardless of the sitting president.
The deep state's power lies in its ability to control information and suppress dissent. The documents reveal how surveillance tools, such as FISA warrants, were abused to target political adversaries. The Steele dossier, funded by the Clinton campaign, was used to justify wiretaps on Trump affiliates, despite its lack of credibility. The FBI even altered emails to secure these warrants, showcasing a willingness to bend legal norms to achieve desired outcomes.
Media coordination amplifies this influence. On the same day as the 2016 Situation Room meeting, the Washington Post published a front-page story echoing the administration's new narrative about Russian election interference. This marked the beginning of a coordinated campaign to legitimise the Trump-Russia collusion story, with think tanks like the Atlantic Council and media outlets laundering intelligence as "independent verification." This feedback loop, where intelligence is funnelled through NGOs and media, creates a self-reinforcing narrative that shapes public perception, often bypassing democratic accountability.
Censorship is another tool. The deep state has worked with private institutions to silence voices that challenge its agenda. From social media purges to deplatforming dissenting journalists, this network uses its influence to control discourse. The Gabbard report highlights how these efforts extended to suppressing information during elections, effectively undermining the democratic process.
What makes the deep state particularly insidious is its independence from elected leadership. Whether under a Democratic or Republican administration, this network pursues its own goals, often rooted in ideological alignment rather than public interest. The 2016 election interference narrative, for instance, was not just an attack on Trump but a broader effort to maintain control over foreign policy and domestic narratives. The same mechanisms were evident in later years, with intelligence officials like James Clapper and John Brennan allegedly compromising standard protocols to push the Russia collusion story.
This autonomy is further evidenced by the deep state's resistance to reform. When Gabbard, as Director of National Intelligence, sought to declassify documents exposing these abuses, CIA officials attempted to redact critical information. Her decision to override them, with Trump's approval, underscores the deep state's reluctance to face scrutiny. Similarly, her announcement to cut nearly half of the ODNI's staff and revoke security clearances for 37 officials, reflects an attempt to dismantle entrenched power structures, yet it also highlights how deeply embedded these forces are.
The deep state's influence is not confined to the United States, but exists in Australia too. It operates through a transnational network of intelligence agencies, NGOs, and corporate entities, creating a global bureaucracy that aligns with its ideological goals. The Durham annex details how organisations like the Open Society Foundations and the Carnegie Endowment were allegedly involved in laundering the Trump-Russia narrative. This global reach allows the deep state to influence international policy, from trade agreements to military interventions, often prioritising elite interests over national sovereignty.
Gabbard's efforts to protect American data privacy from foreign governments, such as her deal to prevent the UK from accessing encrypted iPhone data, show the deep state's global footprint. Her intervention was necessary because foreign governments, emboldened by globalist frameworks, sought to exploit American citizens' data, a move that aligns with the deep state's pattern of adopting control over individual rights.
The deep state's actions undermine the core principles of a democratic republic. By manipulating elections, censoring dissent, and operating beyond the reach of elected officials, it erodes public trust in governance. The 2016 Russia narrative, for instance, was not just a political smear, but an attempt to delegitimise an elected administration, setting a precedent for future interference. The revocation of security clearances for officials who "abused public trust" by politicising intelligence, as Gabbard announced, is a step toward accountability, but it also reveals how pervasive these abuses have become.
Moreover, the deep state's ideological alignment with globalist and progressive ideals, creates a disconnect with the public. While it claims to act in the name of national security, its actions often choose power consolidation over the safety and sovereignty of citizens. This was evident in the dismissal of domestic concerns, such as parents opposing certain school policies, as "potential domestic violent extremists" under the Biden administration, while downplaying groups like Antifa.
The deep state is no longer a theory but a documented reality, thanks to the courage of figures like Tulsi Gabbard and whistle-blowers who have exposed its workings. Its ability to operate with its own agenda, regardless of who is in power, poses a profound threat to democracy. The solution lies in transparency, accountability, and structural reform, efforts like Gabbard's ODNI restructuring and document declassifications are a start, but they face fierce resistance from entrenched interests.
To counter the deep state, citizens must demand greater oversight of intelligence agencies, reject narratives laundered through media and NGOs, and support leaders who choose national sovereignty over globalist agendas. The revelations of 2025 are a wake-up call: the deep state is real, it is powerful, and it will not relinquish control without a fight. Only through vigilance and collective action can we ensure that the will of the people, not a shadow bureaucracy, shapes the future!
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-deep-state-is-no-longer-deniable-thanks-to-tulsi-gabbard