Iran has ramped up efforts to target U.S. personnel, memo warns

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorIt's 9:30 Eastern, this is The Pile-On: Late, and tonight a memo says Iranian plots against Americans have reached advanced stages, and it doesn't say where.

2. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorDirector of National Intelligence Jay Clayton wrote it to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October twenty-third, and the CIA director was copied.

3. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAxios got it first, and a U. S. official confirmed it's real.

4. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorAdvanced stages in the Middle East and, quote, certain other countries. Certain. That's the whole map minus the ones he's embarrassed about.

5. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorWith all due respect, Dale, the memo is being appropriately discreet. Naming no countries is a bold commitment to message discipline.

6. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSincere question. If I'm an American abroad tonight, what exactly am I supposed to do with that?

7. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorNothing.

8. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe State Department cut staff in Lebanon, the U. A. E., Qatar and Jordan. So the memo can't name a country, but I bet the staffing schedule can.

9. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorLet me finish. Reducing staff is a right-sizing of the diplomatic footprint, and it's a very clear signal.

10. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA signal of what?

11. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorExactly. It's unclassified. Nobody had to redact anything. It was born that empty.

12. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe one name in the memo that's actually confirmed is the addressee.

13. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe one thing in the memo with a precise location is Rubio's inbox. Same time tomorrow for The Pile-On: Late.