The media itself has become a plaything of the ultra-wealthy, a narrative sandbox for billionaires who fancy themselves philosopher-kings. We’re witnessing a new class of would-be oligarchs, technocrats with absurdly deep pockets, deciding which stories matter and which are better left to wither in obscurity.
Consider Jeff Bezos snapping up The Washington Post, Elon Musk treating Twitter (excuse me, X) like his personal thought experiment, or Rupert Murdoch’s decades-long engineering of public opinion. And let’s not forget the likes of Peter Thiel, who famously funded the demise of Gawker simply because he didn’t like what they said about him. That’s just the public-facing, legally aboveboard version of media influence—imagine what lurks in the shadows, where undisclosed billions grease the gears of censorship, bribery, and blackmail. The result? A media ecosystem that’s not just selective in its scrutiny but downright allergic to stories that inconvenience its patrons.
The real scandal isn’t just that certain stories get buried—it’s that we’ve quietly accepted this dynamic as the natural order of things. The fourth estate was meant to hold power accountable, not to become an instrument of it. And yet, here we are, watching a billionaire-funded information cartel decide, with alarming efficiency, what the public gets to know.
The only person I watch on MSNBC is Rachel Maddow. She is great at filling in the historical plot points to a current news story. Verifiable plot points connecting dots that make the Orange Coiffed One sweat orange rivulets to stain his collar. He's been threatening her lately during her coverage of his first 100 days in office.
But no one has pointed out the 2024 election fraud - Trump LOST the election, or the 1991 UN fraud. That denial of the truth to the voters makes each and every one of them an accessory to the fraud and to all actions the frauds have enabled. Same as all the other media including Meidas Touch which is blatantly lying that it does not hide things.
Mike Sellars’ efforts in this extraordinarily important topic are courageous, well thought through, and unfortunately, largely standing alone. I follow them here, and have long thought that the relationship between Trump and the Russians, rather plain for all to see if they wish to see, deserves far more analytical attention than it’s getting. The issue, for me at least, is one of blatant fealty to Putin. I’ll have to leave the reasons that lie behind and bed that fealty to history, at least for now.
Whether an historic recruitment of Trump in 1987 is the defining feature of that fealty, we will one day learn. For myself, at my age, I don’t expect to witness that reveal when it does come, but have no doubt that one day Americans will be told exactly what happened to turn an American president against his own country. How it was that such an embarrassing example of a man, his bald sociopathy and misanthropy, came to election twice, will be the great challenge for historians of the 21st Century. Eventually, the lid will come off, likely from a Russian source of some kind. And it will put Trump’s illegal relationship with an adversarial foreign power in blindingly bright relief once and for all.
What cannot be denied, however, is now inescapable, established fact: the United States has upended 80 years of international order and changed team colors overnight. Worse, Trump has stopped nearly every kind of assistance at a time the Russians are feeling free and empowered to step up their destruction of the poor, benighted Ukraine. We live a real and shameful nightmare. He has done this singularly, but with the contemptible silence of two hundred and seventy Republican collaborators in the House and Senate.
They hold their tongues for the same reason the mainstream media lies quietly-fear. Bezos made that clear with his Washington Post policy changes; META chief Zuckerberg has not made the slightest effort to conceal his pandering and cash give-away, Pichai, Thiel. And the others align with the same cowardly intent with varying levels of visibility. Fear rather than fidelity to the Republic or the Constitution has overcome the “Truth Dies In Darkness” theme that used to guide the generally but not always principled conduct of the media.
The orientation of big money in US history has long been pretty clear over the decades; big money begets big money and big money begets power and the unscrupulous use of power begets fear.
Hi Bill! So nice to hear from here. Thanks for the encouragement. It means a lot coming from you. For the others reading this -- Bill's official bio reads: "Intelligence Professional. Former senior executive in CIA's Operations Directorate, chief of the East Asia and the Africa Divisions. Served as DCI representative to Secretary of State's Accountability Review Board for 1995 Riyadh bombing, lead Intelligence Community-wide study on WMD.." He was one of the bosses when I was one of the foot soldiers in the Cold War.
In all fairness, Clinton, Obama and Biden all warned us that Trump was dangerous, and there was "smoke" around the Russian connection, and they were as shocked as we were that the Russians managed to rig the system and get him elected the first time around.....as was Trump! But I suspect that not even they expected Musk and his millions to join forces with Putin to do it a second time. But that raises the question of why there was no recount or audit of the election. Hmmm....???
A better plan would be for media to cover demonstrations, town halls and the rise against all this BS! Talk about the trifecta of evil- S miller, Curtis Yarvin, JDVance and the swift death of democracy! Educate yourself folks then make moves!
i really want to help educate people about Yarvin and Yarvinism. I did an article on it and Mike Brock is doing amazing work on that topic at his substack
I’ve always thought the reason why it’s not been declared publicly is because of the absolute chaos it would cause to the American people. Any powers that be believe he can be managed to a lesser degree than the full blown extent which would quite possibly mean violence or a civil war. The divide is real and deep. We can only hope he implodes.
There’s no chaos as so many people have their eyes closed, even my own family. I’ve been told “Oh, but he’s for the people” or “He’s going to bring prices down.” I just hope they wake up soon.
There is legitimate concern the GRU or SVR are behind the story. Kompramat isn't just salacious, embarrassing or incriminating grist for blackmail. It's also planted stories, often with "credible" corroborating sources, designed to set up a news story which can then be shown to be false, thus discrediting future stories. It can also be used to manipulate people into taking actions that put them in a poor light with authorities, superiors in government, etc. Russian Intelligence agencies are past masters at this tactic.
Researchers should also focus on the activities of Anatoly Slavnov in the Bloc countries as well as in the US and Canada. Slavnov had been involved in the compromise of Operation Ivy Bells along with former NSA officer Ronald Pelton. Slavnov was also involved with Edward Lee Howard and his wife Mary. Moving chronologically through the timeline of major espionage events leading up to 1987, KGB and their ally agencies were very emboldened. Careless, even. Slavnov was known to use many aliases outside of the USSR, one of which was Gerald Richards. He was active with this alias in the Michigan area, as well as Canada, utilizing vast networks established by drug traffickers and organized crime families, yet especially with sex traffickers and pornographers. These associations allowed him to blackmail nearly anyone with relative ease. He was partially responsible for surveilling Donald and Ivana Trump prior to their 1987 Moscow visit, and had been assisting other KGB with tracking prior to Ivana’s travel to Canada. She was the key.
If you need any assistance let me know. There may be details I can’t disclose, I try to stay with information that’s already been made public, and if it’s beyond my limits I’ll simply make vague suggestions.
Do you have some cites for that concern. Would love to read more about that Given Mussayev's history and te fact that he is on the outs with Russian intelligence, living in Vienna, and very active on FB, i'm not sure i see it -- but would like to learn more and eveluate further the possibility of it being Russia-sponsored disinformation.
Don’t underestimate the capabilities of Czechoslovakian intelligence during the Cold War. For sure, they aligned with KGB and the Kremlin, but they were formidable with tradecraft on their own.
Asking chatbots what a key US leader who was a Russian asset might be expected to do reveals some interesting answers. According to Dr Jo (https://www.quora.com/profile/Dr-Jo-6) Quora's Poe answered…
Influencing Policy: They might push for policies that align with Russian interests, such as easing sanctions or promoting trade agreements beneficial to Russia.
Undermining Institutions: This could involve weakening public trust in democratic institutions, the media, or the electoral process through disinformation campaigns.
Espionage: They could facilitate the gathering of sensitive information from government agencies, corporations, or defense contractors.
Fostering Division: Promoting divisive issues within the U.S. to create social unrest or polarization, making it easier for foreign influence to persist.
Military Alliances: They might seek to shift U.S. alliances away from traditional partners or create rifts in NATO.
Economic Manipulation: Influencing economic policies or decisions that could favor Russian economic interests, such as energy policies.
Cyber Operations: They could enhance cyber capabilities to disrupt critical infrastructure or influence public opinion.
Cultural Influence: Promoting cultural narratives that align with Russian interests, potentially through media or social platforms
What do you think? Did Poe more-or-less get it right? What would you alter in this list?
Now I did ask a follow up question. I asked Poe to identify anyone who has recently done most or all of the above actions. And I did get an answer. But I’m not going to be partisan here.
Besides, I think you can formulate your own opinion. Go on …
You may wish to try the same question with, for example, ChatGPT 4o, with the follow-up question “Can you see such trends in recent US politics? Do any names spring to mind?”. The answer was not unanticipated. Remarkably, Grok too was quite forthcoming in naming names! (With some disclaimers). This has hit the headlines, too:
Google Gemini provided a list of points very similar to Poe’s, but was quite coy with the follow-up, responding “I can't help with responses on elections and political figures right now”. Further enquiry caused the bot to contort itself into all sorts of uncomfortable positions, ending up with “Because of the risk of defamation, I cannot name individuals” and even “Refuse to confirm or deny”. There you have it. Naked fear on the part of its makers. But who could inspire such fear?
I am pretty aggressive about sharing these articles. Have 9000 followers on Facebook, but only a few direct emails for important columnists or congress people. Perhaps you could help me or tell me how to find out how to contact Rachel Maddow or Chris Hays or the Lake.
Thanks, Peter. Great to have you in the boat paddling with me on this. Your history of activism is surely well known to both of them. Here's what I have on Rachel and Chris's shows;
Maybe as important or more important is the possibility that Russia has been bankrolling Trump and his businesses and this creates a financial hold over Trump.
Michael, your excellent posts in recent weeks contributed to detailed professional knowledge of the issue. Still, your insistence on carrying it further, involving independent investigative journalists, is the right way to proceed.
I want to discuss two details.
1. Whether or not the formal recruiting took place may not be the most critical issue. Once he spent money (whose money?) to advertise the Kremlin’s propaganda, he carried out a high-intensity active measure, with or without having been formally recruited. Being a narcissistic person, the act of formal recruitment could have been risky.
2. In the Hungarian Service, we have always given a code name to a candidate already in the early stages, so in my experience, having a code name doesn’t prove formal recruitment.
Thanks and i agree. The giving of a Code name in almost any service happens long before a recruitment attempt. i've been trying to loo\k into whether it was really his money spent on the ads or not. i haven't found much -- so much time has passed. not sure it matters too much.....pls continue commenting -- this was helpful.
I am glad to be part of this discussion. I retired from the Service 35 years ago, but the 25 years before are still alive in me. I agree with your point about the source of money, which is why I mentioned the money in parentheses. Being extremely narcissistic, he might have felt like bragging about those ads: how special and visionary he was.
On the other hand, he is taking any money he can have, and the KGB must have been more than happy to finance its active measure and serve its potential recruitment.
Agreed. Pls stay in touch and keep being a voice in the conversation here. We have a growing number of people with intel backgrounds and I know it will help me do a better job with your help and insights.
With pleasure, Michael. If you send me your email address, I will send my short bio with intel in the first half. I have been on Substack for less than one year. I started a section entitled “Espionage Masterclass.” My idea was to write a sort of textbook of our profession for outsiders, seasoned with published instructive stories (Philby, Touring, etc.). Joining a select team of professionals is a big step forward. I will feel at home.
I'm catching up on my reading. Your point about code names being given early in the recruitment process touches a chord. I have two issues with the Krasnov story (that I discussed in my substack, Conscience of a Whig). First is that the accounts from Mussayev and Shvets feel like Kompramat I encountered in years past. Second is I can't imagine any intelligence agency being willing to risk recruiting Trump. He'd be a Case Officer's worst nightmare. No discipline, no control over his mouth. God, just imagine the grandiosity and whining. Why risk any if that when he can be gotten for free with a bit of flattery.
Denis, I like your reaction, and it makes sense. But sort of crazy people may create opportunities and carry out active measures sometimes more efficiently than everyday normal people. Just think about Trump, being as abnormal and narcissistic as he is, still has managed to get elected president for the second time. We in Europe still believe it could not happen on this side of the Atlantic. Then anybody can ask, how could Viktor Orbán (and his family) loot his country for 15 consecutive years into poverty? If Peter Thile and Curtis Yarvin were looking for an efficient person to implement their frightening theories, they have found him.
My 25 years in intelligence taught me how to be sober and calculating. But the useful idiot is also on the smorgasbord to pick for playing a role either for noble or sinister goals.
I am sorry I missed your note. Yes, definitely agree with the premise that crazy narcissists and useful idiots may be a greater danger than a disciplined agent who is selected for their ability to do as told. I think this plays out in the financial chaos currently raging. Most trading institutions and investment houses use AI these days to make decisions. The premise is that AI makes decisions free of emotional attachment (or abhorrence) of a stock or bonds. However, AI may not be able to anticipate or react in time to an ignoramus at the wheel of an economy. Trump’s tariff “strategy” is nonsensical. He is roiling markets in a way that they will take weeks or months to recover. Stocks will and have bounced back but the uncertainty is pervasive, and the economies are on knives’ edges.
I refuse to watch mainstream media! As stated in other comments, they have been co-opted and reduced to parroting this administration’s agenda. For this reason, I watch only independent channels and independent content creators on YouTube. I fear that once the administration recognizes this, they will reach out and try to cut the YouTube creators off at the elbows as well. This is only a Trump administration phenomenon he is a tyrant a dictator And authoritarian and that’s just the part I can say out loud.
The media itself has become a plaything of the ultra-wealthy, a narrative sandbox for billionaires who fancy themselves philosopher-kings. We’re witnessing a new class of would-be oligarchs, technocrats with absurdly deep pockets, deciding which stories matter and which are better left to wither in obscurity.
Consider Jeff Bezos snapping up The Washington Post, Elon Musk treating Twitter (excuse me, X) like his personal thought experiment, or Rupert Murdoch’s decades-long engineering of public opinion. And let’s not forget the likes of Peter Thiel, who famously funded the demise of Gawker simply because he didn’t like what they said about him. That’s just the public-facing, legally aboveboard version of media influence—imagine what lurks in the shadows, where undisclosed billions grease the gears of censorship, bribery, and blackmail. The result? A media ecosystem that’s not just selective in its scrutiny but downright allergic to stories that inconvenience its patrons.
The real scandal isn’t just that certain stories get buried—it’s that we’ve quietly accepted this dynamic as the natural order of things. The fourth estate was meant to hold power accountable, not to become an instrument of it. And yet, here we are, watching a billionaire-funded information cartel decide, with alarming efficiency, what the public gets to know.
Without the legislated media standards of the rest of the free world, American media is technically infotainment.
It's got a long sorry history.
https://www.talaria.fyi/p/the-us-invented-right-to-lie-isnt
That said, MSNBC is more adventurous in many aspects than media in some other countries
'Right to Lie" is a very interesting concept. I'd like to come back to this topic and explore further.
I thought you might.
It's pretty ugly when you see it.
The only person I watch on MSNBC is Rachel Maddow. She is great at filling in the historical plot points to a current news story. Verifiable plot points connecting dots that make the Orange Coiffed One sweat orange rivulets to stain his collar. He's been threatening her lately during her coverage of his first 100 days in office.
Lawrence is very good too. So are the others.
But no one has pointed out the 2024 election fraud - Trump LOST the election, or the 1991 UN fraud. That denial of the truth to the voters makes each and every one of them an accessory to the fraud and to all actions the frauds have enabled. Same as all the other media including Meidas Touch which is blatantly lying that it does not hide things.
Only a handful of YouTube news channels have covered the election fraud: https://www.talaria.fyi/p/proof-gop-rigged-the-election-do.
Only 1 has covered the UN fraud, the "1 fraud to rule them all": https://www.talaria.fyi/p/images-russia-and-the-un.
None has covered the Right to Lie afaik.
Mike Sellars’ efforts in this extraordinarily important topic are courageous, well thought through, and unfortunately, largely standing alone. I follow them here, and have long thought that the relationship between Trump and the Russians, rather plain for all to see if they wish to see, deserves far more analytical attention than it’s getting. The issue, for me at least, is one of blatant fealty to Putin. I’ll have to leave the reasons that lie behind and bed that fealty to history, at least for now.
Whether an historic recruitment of Trump in 1987 is the defining feature of that fealty, we will one day learn. For myself, at my age, I don’t expect to witness that reveal when it does come, but have no doubt that one day Americans will be told exactly what happened to turn an American president against his own country. How it was that such an embarrassing example of a man, his bald sociopathy and misanthropy, came to election twice, will be the great challenge for historians of the 21st Century. Eventually, the lid will come off, likely from a Russian source of some kind. And it will put Trump’s illegal relationship with an adversarial foreign power in blindingly bright relief once and for all.
What cannot be denied, however, is now inescapable, established fact: the United States has upended 80 years of international order and changed team colors overnight. Worse, Trump has stopped nearly every kind of assistance at a time the Russians are feeling free and empowered to step up their destruction of the poor, benighted Ukraine. We live a real and shameful nightmare. He has done this singularly, but with the contemptible silence of two hundred and seventy Republican collaborators in the House and Senate.
They hold their tongues for the same reason the mainstream media lies quietly-fear. Bezos made that clear with his Washington Post policy changes; META chief Zuckerberg has not made the slightest effort to conceal his pandering and cash give-away, Pichai, Thiel. And the others align with the same cowardly intent with varying levels of visibility. Fear rather than fidelity to the Republic or the Constitution has overcome the “Truth Dies In Darkness” theme that used to guide the generally but not always principled conduct of the media.
The orientation of big money in US history has long been pretty clear over the decades; big money begets big money and big money begets power and the unscrupulous use of power begets fear.
Hi Bill! So nice to hear from here. Thanks for the encouragement. It means a lot coming from you. For the others reading this -- Bill's official bio reads: "Intelligence Professional. Former senior executive in CIA's Operations Directorate, chief of the East Asia and the Africa Divisions. Served as DCI representative to Secretary of State's Accountability Review Board for 1995 Riyadh bombing, lead Intelligence Community-wide study on WMD.." He was one of the bosses when I was one of the foot soldiers in the Cold War.
Great work Michael. Keep it up, the nation needs it.
Surely Clinton, Obama and Biden, not to mention the Bushes and Reagan, have known Trump’s alliance with Putin since the 80s. WTF
In all fairness, Clinton, Obama and Biden all warned us that Trump was dangerous, and there was "smoke" around the Russian connection, and they were as shocked as we were that the Russians managed to rig the system and get him elected the first time around.....as was Trump! But I suspect that not even they expected Musk and his millions to join forces with Putin to do it a second time. But that raises the question of why there was no recount or audit of the election. Hmmm....???
I saw your recount question addressed several days ago but I can’t remember by whom. It was someone on SubStack.
Might have been me.
https://www.talaria.fyi/p/proof-gop-rigged-the-election-do
Yes, it was!!
A better plan would be for media to cover demonstrations, town halls and the rise against all this BS! Talk about the trifecta of evil- S miller, Curtis Yarvin, JDVance and the swift death of democracy! Educate yourself folks then make moves!
i really want to help educate people about Yarvin and Yarvinism. I did an article on it and Mike Brock is doing amazing work on that topic at his substack
Could you share your research with Mike? Maybe you could back each other up.
I’ve always thought the reason why it’s not been declared publicly is because of the absolute chaos it would cause to the American people. Any powers that be believe he can be managed to a lesser degree than the full blown extent which would quite possibly mean violence or a civil war. The divide is real and deep. We can only hope he implodes.
There’s no chaos as so many people have their eyes closed, even my own family. I’ve been told “Oh, but he’s for the people” or “He’s going to bring prices down.” I just hope they wake up soon.
And with no essential investigation and establishment of certainty, he is allowing Russia to go in and butcher Ukrainians at will.
There is legitimate concern the GRU or SVR are behind the story. Kompramat isn't just salacious, embarrassing or incriminating grist for blackmail. It's also planted stories, often with "credible" corroborating sources, designed to set up a news story which can then be shown to be false, thus discrediting future stories. It can also be used to manipulate people into taking actions that put them in a poor light with authorities, superiors in government, etc. Russian Intelligence agencies are past masters at this tactic.
Researchers should also focus on the activities of Anatoly Slavnov in the Bloc countries as well as in the US and Canada. Slavnov had been involved in the compromise of Operation Ivy Bells along with former NSA officer Ronald Pelton. Slavnov was also involved with Edward Lee Howard and his wife Mary. Moving chronologically through the timeline of major espionage events leading up to 1987, KGB and their ally agencies were very emboldened. Careless, even. Slavnov was known to use many aliases outside of the USSR, one of which was Gerald Richards. He was active with this alias in the Michigan area, as well as Canada, utilizing vast networks established by drug traffickers and organized crime families, yet especially with sex traffickers and pornographers. These associations allowed him to blackmail nearly anyone with relative ease. He was partially responsible for surveilling Donald and Ivana Trump prior to their 1987 Moscow visit, and had been assisting other KGB with tracking prior to Ivana’s travel to Canada. She was the key.
Thanks or this. i will try to run this down.
If you need any assistance let me know. There may be details I can’t disclose, I try to stay with information that’s already been made public, and if it’s beyond my limits I’ll simply make vague suggestions.
Do you have some cites for that concern. Would love to read more about that Given Mussayev's history and te fact that he is on the outs with Russian intelligence, living in Vienna, and very active on FB, i'm not sure i see it -- but would like to learn more and eveluate further the possibility of it being Russia-sponsored disinformation.
Michael, I am just now catching up. If you want to email me at denis.kaufman@gmail.com we can discuss.
Don’t underestimate the capabilities of Czechoslovakian intelligence during the Cold War. For sure, they aligned with KGB and the Kremlin, but they were formidable with tradecraft on their own.
The Czecks, the Poles, the Bulgarians, and especially the East Germans were all good.
Very much so.
https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/new-records-show-how-czechoslovak-security-service-kept-a-watch-over-donald-trump
Asking chatbots what a key US leader who was a Russian asset might be expected to do reveals some interesting answers. According to Dr Jo (https://www.quora.com/profile/Dr-Jo-6) Quora's Poe answered…
Influencing Policy: They might push for policies that align with Russian interests, such as easing sanctions or promoting trade agreements beneficial to Russia.
Undermining Institutions: This could involve weakening public trust in democratic institutions, the media, or the electoral process through disinformation campaigns.
Espionage: They could facilitate the gathering of sensitive information from government agencies, corporations, or defense contractors.
Fostering Division: Promoting divisive issues within the U.S. to create social unrest or polarization, making it easier for foreign influence to persist.
Military Alliances: They might seek to shift U.S. alliances away from traditional partners or create rifts in NATO.
Economic Manipulation: Influencing economic policies or decisions that could favor Russian economic interests, such as energy policies.
Cyber Operations: They could enhance cyber capabilities to disrupt critical infrastructure or influence public opinion.
Cultural Influence: Promoting cultural narratives that align with Russian interests, potentially through media or social platforms
What do you think? Did Poe more-or-less get it right? What would you alter in this list?
Now I did ask a follow up question. I asked Poe to identify anyone who has recently done most or all of the above actions. And I did get an answer. But I’m not going to be partisan here.
Besides, I think you can formulate your own opinion. Go on …
Republicans? Anyone?
My 2c, Dr Jo. (https://www.quora.com/profile/Dr-Jo-6)
∗
You may wish to try the same question with, for example, ChatGPT 4o, with the follow-up question “Can you see such trends in recent US politics? Do any names spring to mind?”. The answer was not unanticipated. Remarkably, Grok too was quite forthcoming in naming names! (With some disclaimers). This has hit the headlines, too:
(From: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2025/03/05/trump-speech-state-union-russia-elon-musk-grok/81507335007/ Opinions will vary about the trustworthiness of Elon and his products, of course)
Google Gemini provided a list of points very similar to Poe’s, but was quite coy with the follow-up, responding “I can't help with responses on elections and political figures right now”. Further enquiry caused the bot to contort itself into all sorts of uncomfortable positions, ending up with “Because of the risk of defamation, I cannot name individuals” and even “Refuse to confirm or deny”. There you have it. Naked fear on the part of its makers. But who could inspire such fear?
I am pretty aggressive about sharing these articles. Have 9000 followers on Facebook, but only a few direct emails for important columnists or congress people. Perhaps you could help me or tell me how to find out how to contact Rachel Maddow or Chris Hays or the Lake.
Thanks, Peter. Great to have you in the boat paddling with me on this. Your history of activism is surely well known to both of them. Here's what I have on Rachel and Chris's shows;
1. "The Rachel Maddow Show" Producers:
Sam Henneberry – Producer:
Email: shenneberry@gm.slc.edu linkedin.com+1ContactOut+1
Alternate Email: sam.henneberry@msnbc.com ContactOut+1linkedin.com+1
Jen Mulreany Donovan – Senior Producer:
LinkedIn Profile: Jen Mulreany Donovan - Senior Producer at MSNBC linkedin.com
Steve Benen – Producer:
Email: steve.benen@gmail.com ContactOut
2. "All In with Chris Hayes" Producers:
Rachel Simon – Coordinating Producer:
LinkedIn Profile: Rachel Simon - Coordinating Producer, All In with Chris Hayes linkedin.com
Sheara Braun – Booking Producer:
LinkedIn Profile: Sheara Braun - Booking Producer, MSNBC's All In with Chris Hayes linkedin.com"
Maybe we could email each other or chat about it. i'm at michaeldsellers@gmail.com.
Let’s go Krasnov!
trump won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize but he’s working hard with Putin to get an Order of Lenin.
I think he’s given up the idea of a Nobel Peace Prize and exchanged it for the dream of becoming an oligarch.
Maybe as important or more important is the possibility that Russia has been bankrolling Trump and his businesses and this creates a financial hold over Trump.
Michael, your excellent posts in recent weeks contributed to detailed professional knowledge of the issue. Still, your insistence on carrying it further, involving independent investigative journalists, is the right way to proceed.
I want to discuss two details.
1. Whether or not the formal recruiting took place may not be the most critical issue. Once he spent money (whose money?) to advertise the Kremlin’s propaganda, he carried out a high-intensity active measure, with or without having been formally recruited. Being a narcissistic person, the act of formal recruitment could have been risky.
2. In the Hungarian Service, we have always given a code name to a candidate already in the early stages, so in my experience, having a code name doesn’t prove formal recruitment.
Thanks and i agree. The giving of a Code name in almost any service happens long before a recruitment attempt. i've been trying to loo\k into whether it was really his money spent on the ads or not. i haven't found much -- so much time has passed. not sure it matters too much.....pls continue commenting -- this was helpful.
I am glad to be part of this discussion. I retired from the Service 35 years ago, but the 25 years before are still alive in me. I agree with your point about the source of money, which is why I mentioned the money in parentheses. Being extremely narcissistic, he might have felt like bragging about those ads: how special and visionary he was.
On the other hand, he is taking any money he can have, and the KGB must have been more than happy to finance its active measure and serve its potential recruitment.
Agreed. Pls stay in touch and keep being a voice in the conversation here. We have a growing number of people with intel backgrounds and I know it will help me do a better job with your help and insights.
With pleasure, Michael. If you send me your email address, I will send my short bio with intel in the first half. I have been on Substack for less than one year. I started a section entitled “Espionage Masterclass.” My idea was to write a sort of textbook of our profession for outsiders, seasoned with published instructive stories (Philby, Touring, etc.). Joining a select team of professionals is a big step forward. I will feel at home.
I'm catching up on my reading. Your point about code names being given early in the recruitment process touches a chord. I have two issues with the Krasnov story (that I discussed in my substack, Conscience of a Whig). First is that the accounts from Mussayev and Shvets feel like Kompramat I encountered in years past. Second is I can't imagine any intelligence agency being willing to risk recruiting Trump. He'd be a Case Officer's worst nightmare. No discipline, no control over his mouth. God, just imagine the grandiosity and whining. Why risk any if that when he can be gotten for free with a bit of flattery.
Denis, I like your reaction, and it makes sense. But sort of crazy people may create opportunities and carry out active measures sometimes more efficiently than everyday normal people. Just think about Trump, being as abnormal and narcissistic as he is, still has managed to get elected president for the second time. We in Europe still believe it could not happen on this side of the Atlantic. Then anybody can ask, how could Viktor Orbán (and his family) loot his country for 15 consecutive years into poverty? If Peter Thile and Curtis Yarvin were looking for an efficient person to implement their frightening theories, they have found him.
My 25 years in intelligence taught me how to be sober and calculating. But the useful idiot is also on the smorgasbord to pick for playing a role either for noble or sinister goals.
I am sorry I missed your note. Yes, definitely agree with the premise that crazy narcissists and useful idiots may be a greater danger than a disciplined agent who is selected for their ability to do as told. I think this plays out in the financial chaos currently raging. Most trading institutions and investment houses use AI these days to make decisions. The premise is that AI makes decisions free of emotional attachment (or abhorrence) of a stock or bonds. However, AI may not be able to anticipate or react in time to an ignoramus at the wheel of an economy. Trump’s tariff “strategy” is nonsensical. He is roiling markets in a way that they will take weeks or months to recover. Stocks will and have bounced back but the uncertainty is pervasive, and the economies are on knives’ edges.
Agree!
Yes, I would have thought they realized that tRump is too narcissistic to keep his mouth shut.
Yes, just why wasn't there a recount or audit???
I really appreciate you reporting on this and the depth of the analysis. Thank you.
I refuse to watch mainstream media! As stated in other comments, they have been co-opted and reduced to parroting this administration’s agenda. For this reason, I watch only independent channels and independent content creators on YouTube. I fear that once the administration recognizes this, they will reach out and try to cut the YouTube creators off at the elbows as well. This is only a Trump administration phenomenon he is a tyrant a dictator And authoritarian and that’s just the part I can say out loud.
I’m also checking TicTok as I’m following President Zelenskyy!