Aubrey Belford
@abelf.bsky.social
Investigative reporter / editor across the Asia-Pacific for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (occrp.org). Drugs/Bribes/Spies/Scams
Reposted by Aubrey Belford
Pizzagate: If you replace the word “hot dog” with “little boy” and “pizza party” with “child sex orgy,” you will see the lengths these elites go to cover up their crimes.
Real elite emails: Send me nude pictures of those 8th graders we abused last weekend post-haste! I am the Ambassador to Turkey.
Real elite emails: Send me nude pictures of those 8th graders we abused last weekend post-haste! I am the Ambassador to Turkey.
November 12, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Pizzagate: If you replace the word “hot dog” with “little boy” and “pizza party” with “child sex orgy,” you will see the lengths these elites go to cover up their crimes.
Real elite emails: Send me nude pictures of those 8th graders we abused last weekend post-haste! I am the Ambassador to Turkey.
Real elite emails: Send me nude pictures of those 8th graders we abused last weekend post-haste! I am the Ambassador to Turkey.
Sad, I guess now Anna is going to have to do the podcast all by herself
Bjorn Andresen, a Swedish actor who as a teenager played an ailing composer’s object of unrequited desire in the 1971 film “Death in Venice,” but who resented being objectified by the film’s director who called him “the most beautiful boy in the world,” has died at 70.
Bjorn Andresen, Reluctant ‘Most Beautiful Boy,’ Dies at 70
At 15, he played the muse to an ailing composer in Luchino Visconti’s film “Death in Venice.” He later said he’d felt sexualized by the director.
nyti.ms
October 31, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Sad, I guess now Anna is going to have to do the podcast all by herself
Reposted by Aubrey Belford
I wrote about how "Grokipedia" is a new front on the war against reality itself. It's an attempt by the oligarchic class to seize the means of knowledge production itself and create a weaponized unreality.
www.thedissident.news/grokipedia-a...
www.thedissident.news/grokipedia-a...
Grokipedia and the Coup Against Reality Itself
Grokipedia, the copycat of Wikipedia launched by Elon Musk isn’t just a string of AI generated slop, it is a weapon. The launch of "grokipedia" is a calculated, strategic escalation by the billionaire...
www.thedissident.news
October 28, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I wrote about how "Grokipedia" is a new front on the war against reality itself. It's an attempt by the oligarchic class to seize the means of knowledge production itself and create a weaponized unreality.
www.thedissident.news/grokipedia-a...
www.thedissident.news/grokipedia-a...
"Harry" referenced here is v. likely Prabowo's billionaire brother, Hary Tanoesoedibjo.
Easiest way to think of it: Hary handles the business side for the family, Prabowo handles politics
If Prabowo is talking about Hary meeting Eric and Don Jr., then this is a conversation about doing business
Easiest way to think of it: Hary handles the business side for the family, Prabowo handles politics
If Prabowo is talking about Hary meeting Eric and Don Jr., then this is a conversation about doing business
Trump's conversation with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is caught on a hot mic. Hard to tell exactly what they are talking about, but Subianto asks Trump about meeting Eric Trump and Don Jr, who supposedly have nothing to do with government while they run the family business.
October 14, 2025 at 5:13 AM
"Harry" referenced here is v. likely Prabowo's billionaire brother, Hary Tanoesoedibjo.
Easiest way to think of it: Hary handles the business side for the family, Prabowo handles politics
If Prabowo is talking about Hary meeting Eric and Don Jr., then this is a conversation about doing business
Easiest way to think of it: Hary handles the business side for the family, Prabowo handles politics
If Prabowo is talking about Hary meeting Eric and Don Jr., then this is a conversation about doing business
Reposted by Aubrey Belford
In a digital world, talking to sensitive sources is nearly impossible without encryption. The EU’s #ChatControl plan is an attack on accountability journalism - and a gift to surveillance
We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe. signal.org/blog/pdfs/ge...
signal.org
October 4, 2025 at 7:06 AM
In a digital world, talking to sensitive sources is nearly impossible without encryption. The EU’s #ChatControl plan is an attack on accountability journalism - and a gift to surveillance
Reposted by Aubrey Belford
This foreign policy re-alignment we've heard so much about
June 24, 2025 at 11:45 PM
This foreign policy re-alignment we've heard so much about
Both in Russia's invasion of Ukraine and in now the Israel/US war on Iran, military aggressors aren't even bothering to try to build consensus or justify what they're doing before they do it. Just pure force.
Looking back, it's pretty clear that the 2003 invasion of Iraq broke everything.
Looking back, it's pretty clear that the 2003 invasion of Iraq broke everything.
June 23, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Both in Russia's invasion of Ukraine and in now the Israel/US war on Iran, military aggressors aren't even bothering to try to build consensus or justify what they're doing before they do it. Just pure force.
Looking back, it's pretty clear that the 2003 invasion of Iraq broke everything.
Looking back, it's pretty clear that the 2003 invasion of Iraq broke everything.
NEW + WEIRD one from us @occrp.org
The U.S. government charged and imprisoned a Chinese scam artist who who tried to create a Pacific city-state next to a U.S. ballistic missile range... but mixed his name up with his twin (who was already in prison in China)
www.occrp.org/en/news/us-i...
The U.S. government charged and imprisoned a Chinese scam artist who who tried to create a Pacific city-state next to a U.S. ballistic missile range... but mixed his name up with his twin (who was already in prison in China)
www.occrp.org/en/news/us-i...
U.S. Imprisoned Head of Bogus UN Agency Using the Name of His Twin
The mix-up in the federal case against Cary Yan is the latest development in a bizarre global grifting odyssey first exposed in a 2023 OCCRP investigation.
www.occrp.org
June 18, 2025 at 3:45 AM
NEW + WEIRD one from us @occrp.org
The U.S. government charged and imprisoned a Chinese scam artist who who tried to create a Pacific city-state next to a U.S. ballistic missile range... but mixed his name up with his twin (who was already in prison in China)
www.occrp.org/en/news/us-i...
The U.S. government charged and imprisoned a Chinese scam artist who who tried to create a Pacific city-state next to a U.S. ballistic missile range... but mixed his name up with his twin (who was already in prison in China)
www.occrp.org/en/news/us-i...
Ryan wants to fall for this so badly
June 16, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Ryan wants to fall for this so badly
Reposted by Aubrey Belford
Breaking @propublica.org: Bukele of El Salvador has become one of Trump’s favorite authoritarians, and Trump touts him as a foe of MS-13. But a US investigation has found evidence he has colluded with the gang, even paying it for votes.
www.propublica.org/article/buke...
www.propublica.org/article/buke...
“Delay, Interfere, Undermine”
President Donald Trump has praised Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele as a crime fighter, but new reporting based on interviews and documents reveals how senior Salvadoran officials have impeded a U.S....
www.propublica.org
June 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Breaking @propublica.org: Bukele of El Salvador has become one of Trump’s favorite authoritarians, and Trump touts him as a foe of MS-13. But a US investigation has found evidence he has colluded with the gang, even paying it for votes.
www.propublica.org/article/buke...
www.propublica.org/article/buke...
Telegram claims to be a secure "free speech" app
But reporting reveals its links to Russia's intelligence agencies
(Telegram's founder also visited Russia 50+ times while claiming to be in exile)
Translatable captions here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7pn...
But reporting reveals its links to Russia's intelligence agencies
(Telegram's founder also visited Russia 50+ times while claiming to be in exile)
Translatable captions here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7pn...
Как Telegram связан с ФСБ? Что это значит лично для вас? Расследование
YouTube video by Важные истории
www.youtube.com
June 10, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Telegram claims to be a secure "free speech" app
But reporting reveals its links to Russia's intelligence agencies
(Telegram's founder also visited Russia 50+ times while claiming to be in exile)
Translatable captions here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7pn...
But reporting reveals its links to Russia's intelligence agencies
(Telegram's founder also visited Russia 50+ times while claiming to be in exile)
Translatable captions here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7pn...
Russian exile reporters just revealed how the Telegram app is connected to Putin's FSB intelligence service
Makes a hell of a lot of sense
Russian-language link here: istories.media/stories/2025...
Makes a hell of a lot of sense
Russian-language link here: istories.media/stories/2025...
NEW: The Telegram messaging app has a reputation for security — but Important Stories found that its technical infrastructure is run by a man whose companies closely collaborate with Russian intelligence services.
Meet Vladimir Vedeneev 👇
Meet Vladimir Vedeneev 👇
June 10, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Russian exile reporters just revealed how the Telegram app is connected to Putin's FSB intelligence service
Makes a hell of a lot of sense
Russian-language link here: istories.media/stories/2025...
Makes a hell of a lot of sense
Russian-language link here: istories.media/stories/2025...
Check out @danmcgarry.bsky.social on the ABC about our @occrp.org story revealing Andrew Tate's "golden" Vanuatu passport
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Le...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Le...
How did alleged rapist Andrew Tate get Vanuatu's 'golden' passport? | The World | ABC NEWS
YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)
www.youtube.com
June 5, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Check out @danmcgarry.bsky.social on the ABC about our @occrp.org story revealing Andrew Tate's "golden" Vanuatu passport
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Le...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Le...
Remember late last year when @mediapart.fr @dropsitenews.com etc thought they had uncovered a *scandal* in the fact that investigative journalism outlets openly received U.S. grants? What a quaint idea
Now, we can see the full effect of the brutal Trump aid cuts their reporting helped make happen
Now, we can see the full effect of the brutal Trump aid cuts their reporting helped make happen
“Democracy would not be better off if OCCRP and USAID had never existed, and it is not better off because of ‘this investigation.’”
Mark Lee Hunter’s article critiques Mediapart's flawed attack on donor-supported investigative journalism.
Read more: the-investigative-mind.ghost.io/mediapart-ai...
Mark Lee Hunter’s article critiques Mediapart's flawed attack on donor-supported investigative journalism.
Read more: the-investigative-mind.ghost.io/mediapart-ai...
Mediapart aimed at investigative reporters. USAID took the hit.
* The leading French news outlet Mediapart’s “revelations” concerning the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project's "hidden" links to the U.S. government were published after eight years of s...
the-investigative-mind.ghost.io
June 3, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Remember late last year when @mediapart.fr @dropsitenews.com etc thought they had uncovered a *scandal* in the fact that investigative journalism outlets openly received U.S. grants? What a quaint idea
Now, we can see the full effect of the brutal Trump aid cuts their reporting helped make happen
Now, we can see the full effect of the brutal Trump aid cuts their reporting helped make happen
Reposted by Aubrey Belford
Exclusive: Andrew Tate was was granted a 'golden passport' by Vanuatu while under high-profile investigation in Romania
www.occrp.org/en/news/excl...
by myself, @danmcgarry.bsky.social, the @occrp.org team in the Pacific + Ana Poenariu, with Matt Bernadini of Intelligence Online
www.occrp.org/en/news/excl...
by myself, @danmcgarry.bsky.social, the @occrp.org team in the Pacific + Ana Poenariu, with Matt Bernadini of Intelligence Online
EXCLUSIVE: Alleged Rapist Influencer Andrew Tate Got Vanuatu Passport Around Time of 2022 Arrest
The alleged sex trafficker and “king of toxic masculinity" was granted a golden passport by the South Pacific nation while under high-profile investigation in Romania. Tate now faces charges in the Un...
www.occrp.org
June 2, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Exclusive: Andrew Tate was was granted a 'golden passport' by Vanuatu while under high-profile investigation in Romania
www.occrp.org/en/news/excl...
by myself, @danmcgarry.bsky.social, the @occrp.org team in the Pacific + Ana Poenariu, with Matt Bernadini of Intelligence Online
www.occrp.org/en/news/excl...
by myself, @danmcgarry.bsky.social, the @occrp.org team in the Pacific + Ana Poenariu, with Matt Bernadini of Intelligence Online
SCOOP from @occrp.org and friends: Andrew Tate got himself a passport from Vanuatu just after his 2022 arrest in Romania on charges including rape and human trafficking
www.occrp.org/en/news/excl...
www.occrp.org/en/news/excl...
EXCLUSIVE: Alleged Rapist Influencer Andrew Tate Got Vanuatu Passport Around Time of 2022 Arrest
The alleged sex trafficker and “king of toxic masculinity" was granted a golden passport by the South Pacific nation while under high-profile investigation in Romania. Tate now faces charges in the Un...
www.occrp.org
June 2, 2025 at 6:04 AM
SCOOP from @occrp.org and friends: Andrew Tate got himself a passport from Vanuatu just after his 2022 arrest in Romania on charges including rape and human trafficking
www.occrp.org/en/news/excl...
www.occrp.org/en/news/excl...
Glenn Greenwald, the Brazil-based journalist?
May 30, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Glenn Greenwald, the Brazil-based journalist?
This is nuts. Son of a CIA deputy director was killed in Ukraine last year fighting for *Russia*, reports independent Russian outlet Important Stories.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
istories.media/en/news/2025...
Son of CIA Deputy Director Joined Russian Army and Was Killed in the War in Ukraine
istories.media
April 25, 2025 at 12:11 PM
This is nuts. Son of a CIA deputy director was killed in Ukraine last year fighting for *Russia*, reports independent Russian outlet Important Stories.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
istories.media/en/news/2025...
Reposted by Aubrey Belford
I once walked into a bar bathroom in New Orleans and an absolutely wasted Robert Downey Jr. stuck his head out of a stall like a meerkat with this exact expression. His bodyguard ushered me out a split second later but it is seared into my brain.
March 26, 2025 at 7:06 AM
I once walked into a bar bathroom in New Orleans and an absolutely wasted Robert Downey Jr. stuck his head out of a stall like a meerkat with this exact expression. His bodyguard ushered me out a split second later but it is seared into my brain.
Update on crazy @occrp.org story about a pair of China-born "miracle water" scammers who infiltrated the U.N. and tried to create a crypto city on a radioactive atoll next to a U.S. army facility.
They just got their passports revoked, leaving them in limbo abroad:
www.occrp.org/en/news/conv...
They just got their passports revoked, leaving them in limbo abroad:
www.occrp.org/en/news/conv...
Convicted Fraudsters Stranded Abroad After Marshall Islands Revokes Their Passports
Two China-born scammers, convicted of bribing officials through a fake U.N. agency, had their Marshall Islands passports revoked while abroad, leaving them stranded without valid travel documents and ...
www.occrp.org
March 19, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Update on crazy @occrp.org story about a pair of China-born "miracle water" scammers who infiltrated the U.N. and tried to create a crypto city on a radioactive atoll next to a U.S. army facility.
They just got their passports revoked, leaving them in limbo abroad:
www.occrp.org/en/news/conv...
They just got their passports revoked, leaving them in limbo abroad:
www.occrp.org/en/news/conv...
Men who unbuckle and drop their pants at the urinal are basically The Joker to me. I'll smile and agree no matter what they say. I'll give them a wide berth.
These are people with nothing to lose. They are unspeakably dangerous.
These are people with nothing to lose. They are unspeakably dangerous.
March 19, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Men who unbuckle and drop their pants at the urinal are basically The Joker to me. I'll smile and agree no matter what they say. I'll give them a wide berth.
These are people with nothing to lose. They are unspeakably dangerous.
These are people with nothing to lose. They are unspeakably dangerous.
Reposted by Aubrey Belford
Scam call centers are destroying lives across the world.
Now we’re putting the spotlight on them.
Coming soon… #ScamEmpire
Now we’re putting the spotlight on them.
Coming soon… #ScamEmpire
March 4, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Scam call centers are destroying lives across the world.
Now we’re putting the spotlight on them.
Coming soon… #ScamEmpire
Now we’re putting the spotlight on them.
Coming soon… #ScamEmpire
Why have I seen more great investigations from Wired in the last month than NYT and WaPo combined?
The world's richest man owns the satellite system used by human traffickers operating scam centres in Myanmar. His company hasn't responded to concerns over this, though its policies promise action. And his US government department has meanwhile cut aid to the victims. www.wired.com/story/starli...
Elon Musk’s Starlink Is Keeping Modern Slavery Compounds Online
A WIRED investigation reveals that criminals who make billions from scam compounds in Myanmar—where tens of thousands of people are enslaved—are using Starlink to get online.
www.wired.com
March 3, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Why have I seen more great investigations from Wired in the last month than NYT and WaPo combined?