John Ratcliffe, tapped by Trump to lead the CIA, will face questioning in the Senate [Video]

By DAVID KLEPPER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA told senators during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that the nation’s premier spy agency must do a better job of staying ahead of global threats posed by Russia, China and other adversaries.

John Ratcliffe, who served as director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term, told lawmakers that if confirmed, he would push the agency to do more to harness technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing while also expanding the agency’s use of human intelligence collection.

“We’re not where we’re supposed to be,” Ratcliffe told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Ratcliffe said he views China as America’s greatest geopolitical rival, with Russia, Iran, North Korea and drug cartels, hacking gangs and terrorist organizations also posing challenges to national security.

Republicans praised Ratcliffe’s experience, but Democrats and the lone independent on the panel struck a more skeptical tone, asking Ratcliffe if his …