Good questions. Another I'd add is: are there any contractual/legal requirements preventing these intel subcontractors from proxying the full firehose to CIA? I

Good questions. Another I'd add is: are there any contractual/legal requirements preventing these intel subcontractors from proxying the full firehose to CIA? If so, it's possible those requirements would be respected on the government side. I'm skeptical there would be any practical restrictions in RT's case.