About
Context First exists to bring clarity where complexity nests.
We investigate where others assume, revealing intelligence built from real investigation, not noise.
Our core mission is to publish investigations and insights that help businesses, governments, and readers make sense of today’s most complex risks.
At the core of our work is a triad:
- OSINT: Collecting and analyzing open-source data, from digital traces to public records.
- Forensic rigor: Bringing evidence-based standards to investigations — from advising forensic labs on operations and procurement, to testing and reviewing the tools investigators rely on.
- Contextual analysis: Interpreting findings within political, social, and economic frameworks to explain not just what happened, but why it matters.
This approach ensures that whenever a red flag is raised, the analysis behind it is defensible, practical, and truly contextual.
Because at Context First, intelligence always comes from investigation.
History
Context First is an independent publication launched in September 2025 by Marwan El Khoury. If you subscribe today, you'll get full access to the website as well as email newsletters about new content when it's available. Your subscription makes this site possible, and allows Context First to continue to exist. Thank you!
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