Bryan Fichter
@bryanfichter.bsky.social
Retired intelligence analyst. Russian speaker. Arabic speaker. Democracy enthusiast. Publisher of the Intelligencer newsletter on Substack.
Pinned
Opinion | This Is What Autocrats Dread
www.nytimes.com
We can do this, people
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...
Oh look, another "Third World" country doing something the United States is unable to do
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @anneapplebaum.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/w...
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @anneapplebaum.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/w...
New Jail Term and Enormous Fine for Ex-Malaysian Leader in Graft Scandal
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Oh look, another "Third World" country doing something the United States is unable to do
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @anneapplebaum.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/w...
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @anneapplebaum.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/w...
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
I don't think most Americans have any idea how dangerous it is for a president to declare an entire ethnic group to be "garbage." This is how the worst atrocities in human history have begun.
December 27, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I don't think most Americans have any idea how dangerous it is for a president to declare an entire ethnic group to be "garbage." This is how the worst atrocities in human history have begun.
The Trump regime's nativism is creating another drag on the U.S. economy
@sarahlongwell25.bsky.social @crampell.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/t...
@sarahlongwell25.bsky.social @crampell.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/t...
How Much More Can the U.S. Travel Industry Take?
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 5:49 PM
The Trump regime's nativism is creating another drag on the U.S. economy
@sarahlongwell25.bsky.social @crampell.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/t...
@sarahlongwell25.bsky.social @crampell.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/t...
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
America has 925 billionaires as of this year. Collectively they have a record $6.9 trillion in wealth.
The bottom 50% of Americans control $4.2 trillion in wealth.
When 925 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.
The bottom 50% of Americans control $4.2 trillion in wealth.
When 925 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.
December 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM
America has 925 billionaires as of this year. Collectively they have a record $6.9 trillion in wealth.
The bottom 50% of Americans control $4.2 trillion in wealth.
When 925 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.
The bottom 50% of Americans control $4.2 trillion in wealth.
When 925 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
we are living thorough 10 years of moral collapse. it’s happening everywhere but is concentrated in the US. we have given up on even trying to argue that there must be more to life, both individually and collectively, than bare materialism and power. we must rededicate ourselves to meaningful life.
December 26, 2025 at 6:09 PM
we are living thorough 10 years of moral collapse. it’s happening everywhere but is concentrated in the US. we have given up on even trying to argue that there must be more to life, both individually and collectively, than bare materialism and power. we must rededicate ourselves to meaningful life.
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
We're ruled by people in all three branches of government and across the tech/corporate landscape who think it's bad that this happened and wish the mob had prevailed, plain and simple. It's clarifying.
Jo Ann Allen Boyce Dies at 84; She was one of the Clinton 12, a group of Black students who faced white mobs when desegregating a Tennessee high school in 1956 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/13/u...
Jo Ann Allen Boyce Dies at 84; Braved Mobs in Integrating a School
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:36 PM
We're ruled by people in all three branches of government and across the tech/corporate landscape who think it's bad that this happened and wish the mob had prevailed, plain and simple. It's clarifying.
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
vance is a genuine lunatic
JD VANCE THINKS BRITAIN & FRANCE ARE AMERICAS LIKELY ENEMIES.
The world is getting bizarrely screwed with this kind of bull being spewed out.
The world is getting bizarrely screwed with this kind of bull being spewed out.
December 26, 2025 at 9:39 PM
vance is a genuine lunatic
A white Afrikaner from South Africa who came to the United States expecting preferential refugee treatment from the Trump administration found himself blindsided when he ended up in handcuffs.
'Never expected this': White Afrikaner blindsided with detention despite Trump's pledge
A white Afrikaner from South Africa who came to the United States expecting preferential refugee treatment from the Trump administration found himself blindsided when he ended up in handcuffs.President Donald Trump promised that white Afrikaners would receive preferential refugee status because he c...
bit.ly
December 27, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
Not sure I understand why the Trump administration cares about Christians in Nigeria and not Christians in Ukraine
December 26, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Not sure I understand why the Trump administration cares about Christians in Nigeria and not Christians in Ukraine
“We live during a time where all the institutions and corporations I worked for—or leaders I looked up to—they caved or remained silent, so we are now finding hope in everyday people."
www.thebulwark.com/p/defiance-i...
www.thebulwark.com/p/defiance-i...
Defiance in a Time of Cowardice
She sang the national anthem in Spanish as deportation forces assaulted L.A. Now she’s headed to Sundance.
www.thebulwark.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:32 PM
“We live during a time where all the institutions and corporations I worked for—or leaders I looked up to—they caved or remained silent, so we are now finding hope in everyday people."
www.thebulwark.com/p/defiance-i...
www.thebulwark.com/p/defiance-i...
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
In thinking about what you can do this year, keep this in mind: showing up at protests has real impact - -
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
How effective is protesting? According to historians and political scientists: very
From emancipation to women’s suffrage, civil rights and BLM, mass movement has shaped the arc of US history
www.theguardian.com
December 25, 2025 at 3:24 PM
In thinking about what you can do this year, keep this in mind: showing up at protests has real impact - -
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
ICE agent recognized out Christmas shopping—throws tantrum when citizens profile him.
"We're trying to prevent you from kidnapping our neighbors," they say.
"I'm not doing anything but walking, leave me alone!" he yells.
"Not right now you're not—but the past 5 days you have."
Philadelphia, PA
"We're trying to prevent you from kidnapping our neighbors," they say.
"I'm not doing anything but walking, leave me alone!" he yells.
"Not right now you're not—but the past 5 days you have."
Philadelphia, PA
December 24, 2025 at 9:45 PM
ICE agent recognized out Christmas shopping—throws tantrum when citizens profile him.
"We're trying to prevent you from kidnapping our neighbors," they say.
"I'm not doing anything but walking, leave me alone!" he yells.
"Not right now you're not—but the past 5 days you have."
Philadelphia, PA
"We're trying to prevent you from kidnapping our neighbors," they say.
"I'm not doing anything but walking, leave me alone!" he yells.
"Not right now you're not—but the past 5 days you have."
Philadelphia, PA
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
December 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
The lengths to which our elites are willing to go to avoid admitting that the president of the United States is deranged are remarkable
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @peterbakernyt.bsky.social
newrepublic.com/post/204745/...
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @peterbakernyt.bsky.social
newrepublic.com/post/204745/...
Trump Descends Into Paranoid Spiral on Christmas Day
Donald Trump posted more than 150 times—including about Jeffrey Epstein.
newrepublic.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The lengths to which our elites are willing to go to avoid admitting that the president of the United States is deranged are remarkable
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @peterbakernyt.bsky.social
newrepublic.com/post/204745/...
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @peterbakernyt.bsky.social
newrepublic.com/post/204745/...
Thirty open ambassadorships means thirty more opportunities to bribe the president
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @anneapplebaum.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/u...
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @anneapplebaum.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/u...
Trump Administration Orders Nearly 30 U.S. Ambassadors to Leave Their Posts
www.nytimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Thirty open ambassadorships means thirty more opportunities to bribe the president
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @anneapplebaum.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/u...
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @anneapplebaum.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/u...
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
Worth repeating this with every new Epstein document drop. The party of Denny Hastert is the party of Jim Jordan is the party of Matt Gaetz is the party of Donald Trump. Looking the other way and protecting child predators from the law is their brand.
December 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Worth repeating this with every new Epstein document drop. The party of Denny Hastert is the party of Jim Jordan is the party of Matt Gaetz is the party of Donald Trump. Looking the other way and protecting child predators from the law is their brand.
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
We don’t spend enough time discussing how the entire MAGA movement is kept afloat by the constant threats of stochastic terrorism orchestrated by the president of the United States.
Congress, the courts, much of the media … all kept in line by the mob boss and his army of anonymous goons.
Congress, the courts, much of the media … all kept in line by the mob boss and his army of anonymous goons.
“I’m 84 years old. Threats against my life expectancy are kind of hollow. I don’t have much time anyway. I’m more concerned that our democracy is at risk because of the trends against the rule of law.” www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
Judges who ruled against Trump say harassment and threats have changed their lives
More than 100 pizzas were delivered to the homes of judges and their families this year, some with signs of foreign involvement. Judges say the message is clear: We know where you live.
www.nbcnews.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:06 PM
We don’t spend enough time discussing how the entire MAGA movement is kept afloat by the constant threats of stochastic terrorism orchestrated by the president of the United States.
Congress, the courts, much of the media … all kept in line by the mob boss and his army of anonymous goons.
Congress, the courts, much of the media … all kept in line by the mob boss and his army of anonymous goons.
Calling these police state tactics Kavanaugh Stops seems to have struck a nerve
NOTED: In Kavanaugh's Illinois National Guard solo concurrence, he adds footnote that seems to try to calm outrage over his solo opinion in the CA ICE emergency ruling that led to some calling race-based immigration arrests "Kavanaugh stops." Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
December 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Calling these police state tactics Kavanaugh Stops seems to have struck a nerve
"Mexico’s national identity is deeply entwined with this legacy of U.S. conquest and imperial bullying."
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Friend, Neighbor, Military Target
Trump has presented Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum with a near-impossible dilemma.
www.theatlantic.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM
"Mexico’s national identity is deeply entwined with this legacy of U.S. conquest and imperial bullying."
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
This is a great deep dive by @jamellebouie.net on the thoroughly unpleasant but sadly relevant JD Vance
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iChZ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iChZ...
J.D. Vance: From Trump Critic to Millennial David Duke
YouTube video by Takes™ by Jamelle Bouie
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:59 PM
This is a great deep dive by @jamellebouie.net on the thoroughly unpleasant but sadly relevant JD Vance
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iChZ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iChZ...
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
these are the kind of numbers that, *at the end of a president's term*, herald a total wipeout for his party in the next election.
we are in december of year one.
we are in december of year one.
![Gallup poll | 12/1-12/15
President Trump approval crosstabs (%)
🟥Overall (59/36 disapprove) [-23]
🟥Democratic (93/3 disapprove) [-90]
🟩Republican (89/8 approve) [+81]
🟥Independent (68/25 disapprove) [-43]
🟥18-34 (68/25 disapprove) [-43]
🟥35-54 (59/36 disapprove) [-23]
🟥55+ (53/43 disapprove) [-10]
🟥No college (55/37 disapprove) [-18]
🟥College graduate (59/37 disapprove) [-22]
🟥Male (53/42 disapprove) [-11]
🟥Female (64/30 disapprove) [-34]
🟥White (52/46 disapprove) [-6]
🟥Non-white (71/21 disapprove) [-50]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hbpefio3f5csc44msmbgioxz/bafkreifnv6vxufu6icjvsd5toirz3lmqkzertdpdnlqh7q44momevhfjqq@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 2:26 AM
these are the kind of numbers that, *at the end of a president's term*, herald a total wipeout for his party in the next election.
we are in december of year one.
we are in december of year one.
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
The New York Times investigated 346 people who donated at least $250,000 to Trump and found that more than half of them (197) have received pardons, jobs, government contracts, special treatment, or favors.
Hundreds of Big Post-Election Donors Have Benefited From Trump’s Return to Office
Well into his second term, the president and his allies have continued aggressively raising money. Many donors have interests before his administration, The Times found.
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The New York Times investigated 346 people who donated at least $250,000 to Trump and found that more than half of them (197) have received pardons, jobs, government contracts, special treatment, or favors.
Reposted by Bryan Fichter
The CBS investigation portrays a modern concentration camp, similar to the Soviet GULAG (like CECOT, an acronym): sadistic guards, 24 hour lighting, isolation cells.
Americans once opposed this inhumane system.
The Trump administration sent innocent people there to suffer.
Americans once opposed this inhumane system.
The Trump administration sent innocent people there to suffer.
December 23, 2025 at 9:49 AM
The CBS investigation portrays a modern concentration camp, similar to the Soviet GULAG (like CECOT, an acronym): sadistic guards, 24 hour lighting, isolation cells.
Americans once opposed this inhumane system.
The Trump administration sent innocent people there to suffer.
Americans once opposed this inhumane system.
The Trump administration sent innocent people there to suffer.
The chances of Congress shelling out billions for a new class of warship named after Trump seem almost nil, but hey at least Grandpa had a nice outing
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Trump’s Vanity Fleet
The Trump-class ships are about branding, not strategy.
www.theatlantic.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
The chances of Congress shelling out billions for a new class of warship named after Trump seem almost nil, but hey at least Grandpa had a nice outing
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
"In addition to their cultural contributions, Latinos have powered much of the country’s economic development over the last several decades."
open.substack.com/pub/bryanfic...
open.substack.com/pub/bryanfic...
The Latino States of America
The future that the American right wants to prevent
open.substack.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:16 PM
"In addition to their cultural contributions, Latinos have powered much of the country’s economic development over the last several decades."
open.substack.com/pub/bryanfic...
open.substack.com/pub/bryanfic...