David G A Perry

18 Aug

The American Stasi

Monique Morrissey@moniquemorrissey.bsky.social

Walked to work this morning listening to @tim-weiner.bsky.social's description of the 1919-1920 Palmer Raids in Enemies: A History of the FBI, eerily echoed in great reporting from @snipy.bsky.social on DHS targeting MN unions & other nonprofits' opposition to ICE as a criminal conspiracy. MUST READ

independent.co.ukTrump again threatens to ‘bomb the s*** out of’ ally Oman over Strait of HormuzPresident’s threat comes as ceasefire agreement with Iran comes to an end, with little progress on reopening the key international waterway

17 Aug

Hard to think of a country that has assisted the USA more to engage in negotiations with Iran over the past twenty years at the request of the US than the Sultanate of Oman. Now this! Maira Butt reports for @the-independent.com www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

David G A Perry reposted

nytimes.comHow a Counterintelligence Inquiry Into Trump’s Russia Ties Was Derailed (Gift Article)Documents released by the White House shed new light on the demise of an often-overlooked 2017 F.B.I. investigation.

10 Aug

Finally, nine years after the fact, a great reporter explains, simply and directly, how Trump Justice strangled the FBI's counterintelligence investigation into whether Trump was under Russian influence. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u...

responsiblestatecraft.orgWith Trump distracted by Iran, Netanyahu is squeezing GazaThe U.S. administration needs to use its leverage to get Israel to follow through on the ceasefire agreement

28 July

The US war with Iran continues to be a major distraction, diverting attention from other problems even within the Middle East. The Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not want it any other way. Paul Pillar in Responsible Statecraft responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-netany...

David G A Perry reposted

Lawfare

@lawfaremedia.org

3 July

@katherinepomps.bsky.social has compiled the most comprehensive study currently available of the crimes alleged against Jan. 6 pardonees in the years since their prosecutions for the insurrection. View the database:

lawfaremedia.orgThe Jan. 6 Pardons: How Many Clemency Recipients Have Faced Other Charges?The real count is much higher than the public knew.

David G A Perry reposted

Tom Nichols

@radiofreetom.bsky.social

24 June

Trump's reversals on Iran are so extreme, the outcomes so ludicrous, that if it were a TV show, no sensible screenwriter would attempt to sell any of this as a coherent story. But it's a lot more dangerous than fiction. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

theatlantic.comTrump’s Shameless Iran ReversalsAmerica’s foreign policy is about one man and little else.

nationalinterest.orgHow Donald Trump Went to War with IranPresident Donald Trump’s refusal to engage in any coherent foreign policymaking process is the root of his decision to launch the Iran War.

18 June

Paul Pillar told us what would unfold more than 2 months ago "Israel’s role as a spoiler, continuing its devastating assault in Lebanon, is the main thing that may prevent a shaky ceasefire from evolving into a lasting peace" From The National Interest April 10 nationalinterest.org/blog/paul-pi...

independent.co.ukIran-US war live: Trump’s proposed deal ‘would reopen Hormuz and end war in Lebanon’US officials have not yet released details of the agreement

12 June

Who told POTUS that this would see the return of the situation before the US & Israel attacks - killing thousands perhaps-Except the US would lift sanctions? Hilarious if not so Tragic Alisha Rahaman Sarkar & @alxcroft.bsky.social report for @the-independent.com www.independent.co.uk/news/world/m...

responsiblestatecraft.orgSenate wants to force US to share sensitive intel with IsraelA measure in a must-pass bill would dramatically increase Israeli access to American secrets

10 June

Huge implications here buried deep inside a 192-page intelligence authorization bill - Section 622, titled “US-Israel Intelligence Sharing Enhancement.” Great analysis as always from former CIA Middle East Analysis chief Paul Pillar in Responsible Statecraft responsiblestatecraft.org/us-intellige...

8 June

If this is"Making America Great Again" I'd hate to see what "Make America an International Embarassment" looks like. Getting ready for wonderful family entertainment to celebrate 250 years in independence with bloodied faces on the program.

Christopher Webb@cwebbonline.com

Last night they tested the UFC stage lighting at the White House. Check it out. The People’s House is looking more like a Six Flags amusement park after dark. It’s embarrassing.

David G A Perry reposted

dlvr.itJudge orders pretrial detention for ex-CIA official accused of stashing $40M in gold bars at homeThe former official is charged with fraudulently claiming tens of thousands of dollars in compensation for military leave after he was honorably discharged from the Navy in 2015.

5 June

I suspect this case will expose misfeasance at the highest levels of the CIA. That's what happens when you put a political tool in charge.

Politico@politico.com

Judge orders pretrial detention for ex-CIA official accused of stashing $40M in gold bars at home

David G A Perry reposted

Adam Kinzinger

@adamkinzinger.substack.com

4 June

Brilliant

Alex Finley@alexzfinley.bsky.social

Rewrite great speeches for Trump: "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what your country can do for me."

David G A Perry reposted

Morgan Fairchild

@morgfair.bsky.social

4 June

Bill Pulte Was a “Degenerate” Buffoon. Now He’s Head of U.S. Intelligence. open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

open.substack.comBill Pulte Was a “Degenerate” Buffoon. Now He’s Head of U.S. Intelligence.Bulletproof vests, helicopters, and, yes, dildos.

1 June

The Madness is now taking hold in Australia

Quentin Dempster@quentindempster.bsky.social

Now is the winter of our discontent. Pauline for PM? Her solution to our duopoly grievances? Frack, drill, open cut coal; deport/ban Muslims; restore landlords’ neg gear/CGT slush; open slather gambling; paywall for ABC; axe Family Court; ‘work choices’ 2.0; burn Aboriginal flag … 👇

David G A Perry reposted

30 May

Replying to @bcfinucane.bsky.social

In Pol Pot's Cambodia, people were purged because the wore glasses -- because they could read. In Trump;s America, people are purged because they see things clearly.

David G A Perry reposted

reneedodson.bsky.social

@reneedodson.bsky.social

25 May

David G A Perry reposted

Gillian Brockell

@gillianbrockell.com

25 May

Well, look at that, @melodyschreiber.com, they aren’t even taking the constant DRC threats off the table.

Gillian Brockell@gillianbrockell.com

I have been thinking a lot about the dozens of people ICE has sent to what is now the Ebola outbreak zone, especially Adriana Zapata, and I really appreciate @melodyschreiber.com reporting this out. 🙏🙏🙏

David G A Perry reposted

theatlantic.comThe FBI Director Is MIAKash Patel has alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences.

18 Apr

Truly remarkable reporting by Sarah Fitzpatrick in the Atlantic. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

David G A Perry reposted

harpercollins.comThe MissionNew York Times Bestseller * A New Yorker Best Book of the Year * A Washington Post Notable Book of the Year * A New York Times Editors' Choice "No...

18 Apr

Quick check on the American national-security establishment at war. The SecDef is a Christofascist. The DNI a crackpot. The FBI director is...Kash Patel. The CIA's back in the coup business. And Trump is a power-drunk warlord. What could go wrong? www.harpercollins.com/products/the...

nytimes.comProsecutor Withdraws From Trump Team’s Investigation of Ex-C.I.A. Chief

17 Apr

Disgraceful

Tim Weiner@tim-weiner.bsky.social

The president wants a sham prosecution of the former CIA chief John Brennan. I'm not sure the American intelligence establishment can survive this regime much longer. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/17/u...

theguardian.comThe IMF refuses to name the cause of this global chaos. It starts with ‘Donald’ and ends in ‘Trump’ | Greg JerichoThe International Monetary Fund remains stuck in a situation where the biggest concern about inflation is wages

15 Apr

When a headline says it all yet the report is essential reading from @australia.theguardian.com columnist and chief economist of the Australia Institute @grogsgamut.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/business/gro...

David G A Perry reposted

9 Apr

This story, brilliantly reported, will send shivers down the spine of anyone who knows anything about the cold-war history of the CIA, the FBI, and the State Department.

Jack Nicas@jacknicas.bsky.social

NEW: The Trump administration is deploying its counterterrorism machine against far-left groups like antifa. Current & former U.S. officials worry the strategy could target political opponents and distract from more pressing terrorism threats. Free link: nyti.ms/422iIfH

David G A Perry reposted

brennancenter.orgTerm Limits Depoliticize the Supreme CourtA fixed schedule for appointments would reduce political manipulation and make the Court more representative.

7 Apr

Replying to @jfallows.bsky.social

And Trump took Mossad's word over CIA's, which is saying something.

David G A Perry reposted

Jeff Colgan

@jeffcolgan.bsky.social

2 Apr

Brown University is home to George Orwell's original manuscript of 1984. Most of it is marked up heavily in Orwell's hand-writing but this untouched page caught my eye.

David G A Perry reposted

Brennan Center

@brennancenter.org

5 Apr

A fixed schedule for Supreme Court appointments would reduce political manipulation and make the Court more representative. bit.ly/4bZbVIk

5 Apr

Absolutely......Absolutely

Garrett M. Graff@vermontgmg.bsky.social

There is no excuse for downplaying or eliding the insanity of Trump’s morning post. It is the most unhinged public comment by a president in US history and should be reported and remarked upon as such.

theguardian.comIs the US committing war crimes by targeting Iran’s civilian infrastructure?International law experts ‘seriously concerned’ about ‘strikes on schools, health centres and homes’ in contravention of Geneva conventions

4 Apr

Headline "Is the US committing war crimes by targeting Iran’s civilian infrastructure?" Clue: Delete "Is" and "?" @theguardian.com 's Senior International Correspondent @petersbeaumont1.bsky.social reports www.theguardian.com/law/2026/apr...

independent.co.ukPutin’s spring offensive has begun. Experts warn US has given Russia an opportunityWith Russia funding its war effort through financial gains from the close of the Strait of Hormuz, and amping up attacks while Trump’s eye is turned towards the Middle East, experts tell Maira Butt th...

26 Mar

"With war raging in the Middle East, many, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, warned the conflict could hand Vladimir Putin a window of opportunity to accelerate his aggression against Ukraine." Maria Butt in @the-independent.com www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...

26 Mar

From @tim-weiner.bsky.social brilliant book, The Mission The CIA in the 21st Century: Looking back, Leon Panetta put it bluntly: "Putin looked at Trump and immediately determined that he was the perfect candidate". That was almost ten years ago.

24 Mar

Must read @tim-weiner.bsky.social The Mission - The CIA in the 21st Century". Chapter 22 'The Useful Idiot". "When Victoria Nuland heard the news, she was dumbstruck. "Manafort !" she said to herself. ' He's been a Russian stooge for 15 years" Meanwhile Brennan appeared to understand the GRU Danger

Tim Weiner@tim-weiner.bsky.social

He says the same, pithily, in THE MISSION.

responsiblestatecraft.orgTrump bombing US-Arab relations back to the 70sTwo weeks of escalation have all but eliminated the possibility of a detente in the Persian Gulf

18 Mar

"Almost everything good in this picture has been destroyed by the war that the US & Israel initiated.... what has been destroyed cannot easily be rebuilt" This will take years to heal! Paul Pillar in Resonsible Statecraft responsiblestatecraft.org/iran-war-sau...

David G A Perry reposted

washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/17/t...

17 Mar

washingtonmonthly.comThe CIA Since the Turn of the CenturyHistorian Tim Weiner on how ideology is the enemy of intelligence, not just for Trump in Iran but for every American president.

oldgoats.substack.comThe CIA Since the Turn of the CenturyHistorian and journalist Tim Weiner on how ideology is the enemy of intelligence, not just for Trump in Iran but for every American president

14 Mar

Great interview "Bush operated very much in this mode for the first six and a half years of his presidency. It wasn’t until his third CIA director, General Mike Hayden, who had previously run the National Security Agency, took over that Bush began to listen".

Tim Weiner@tim-weiner.bsky.social

oldgoats.substack.com/p/the-cia-si...

nytimes.comU.S. at Fault in Strike on School in Iran, Preliminary Inquiry Says

11 Mar

100%. Tomahawk missiles are designed to be fired from ships.

Tim Weiner@tim-weiner.bsky.social

This war will be remembered for this slaughter. So much for those pesky rules of engagement, eh, Whiskey Pete? www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/u...

10 Mar

"The evidence now appears increasingly incontrovertible: U.S. missile strikes (one missile strike) resulted in the deaths of 168 children in Iran." Unforgiveable. DW Phillips on Substack

David G A Perry reposted

Garrett M. Graff

@vermontgmg.bsky.social

8 Mar

This is an astounding and irresponsible and obvious lie by the Commander in Chief. This feels like another unthinkable red line crossed.

Acyn@acyn.bsky.social

Reporter: Did the US bomb an elementary school and kill 175 people? Trump: Based on what I’ve seen, it was done by Iran. Reporter: Is that true Mr. Hegseth? Hegseth: We’re investigating. Trump: They are very inaccurate with their munitions. It was done by Iran.

independent.co.ukWhat we know about missile strike on school in Iran after reports at least 165 killedUNESCO condemned the attack as a ‘grave violation of humanitarian law’

2 Mar

Imagine the international outcry if Iran had bombed an Israeli or US primary school & killed 165 people, mainly young girls. Fortunately @brykg.bsky.social reports for @the-independent.com Urgent need for a full and transparent investigation. Heartbreaking. www.independent.co.uk/news/world/m...

newrepublic.comHas the U.S. Lost Track of the Spies in Our Midst?In an era of hacks and breaches, the game of spy vs. spy has changed.

26 Feb

It's a mess.

Tim Weiner@tim-weiner.bsky.social

It's a mess. My review: newrepublic.com/article/1709...

David G A Perry reposted

newrepublic.comHas the U.S. Lost Track of the Spies in Our Midst?In an era of hacks and breaches, the game of spy vs. spy has changed.

26 Feb

It's a mess. My review: newrepublic.com/article/1709...

independent.co.ukAs Trump’s armada descends on Iran, Starmer should keep the UK clearEditorial: If the prime minister has denied the US the use of British airbases, he is to be commended for standing up to Donald Trump in the interests of international law

21 Feb

Iran: It is said that the PM has so far declined to grant the US permission to use its bases on UK soil to carry out such missions. These include the major US airfield at Fairford &.. Diego Garcia Editorial @the-independent.com If(so)the PM 'is to be commended' www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...

theguardian.comA war foretold: how the CIA and MI6 got hold of Putin’s Ukraine plans and why nobody believed themDrawing on more than 100 interviews with senior intelligence officials and other insiders in multiple countries, this exclusive account details how the US and Britain uncovered Vladimir Putin’s plans ...

20 Feb

A post for the history books @shaunwalker7.bsky.social for @theguardian.com

Shaun Walker@shaunwalker7.bsky.social

I've been working on this for ages in various countries: the story of the intelligence buildup to Putin's 2022 invasion. How did the US and Britain find out so much, and why were Europe and Ukraine sceptical. It's a long one: www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...