Christy Somos
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christysomos.bsky.social
Christy Somos
@christysomos.bsky.social
Award-winning 🇨🇦 Journalist, Analyst, Producer | Views are mine| Likes & RTs are news I’m following ≠ endorsements | National security, global affairs, extremism, geo-politics, OSINT| DM for Signal
christysomos.com
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The U.S. has mobilized major military assets in preparation for a possible sustained, weeks-long operation against Iran.

How did we get here?

I've put together a recap for you: open.substack.com/pub/thestate...
On the brink: a brief timeline of U.S. military buildup near Iran
The U.S. has mobilized major military assets in preparation for a possible sustained, weeks-long operation against Iran. How did we get here?
open.substack.com
Reposted by Christy Somos
A Bellingcat investigation reveals child soldiers in Sudan’s civil war have become viral figures on TikTok. Videos attracting millions of views show the children with senior military officials, celebrating battlefield victories and delivering violent threats. www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/02...
Viral Child Soldiers on TikTok: The ‘Disney Stars’ of Sudan’s Civil War - bellingcat
To stay up to date on our latest investigations, join Bellingcat’s WhatsApp channel here. Child soldiers linked to Sudan’s warring factions have gained viral fame on TikTok, with their videos attracti...
www.bellingcat.com
February 20, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Reposted by Christy Somos
How Palantir captured the Ministry of Defence ft.trib.al/Sz2UEb1 | opinion
How Palantir captured the Ministry of Defence
Insufficient details about the US data intelligence company’s recent contract have been made public
ft.trib.al
February 20, 2026 at 4:27 PM
I sent a test question to DND - it took them 10 days to reply with an answer that repeated the publicly available information I had sent.

DND and ISED are also “working on” a set of questions about the AI national security framework for 10 days - we’re one day past the deadline I provided.
February 20, 2026 at 3:38 PM
I’m 35 today, that is all 🎂
February 20, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Reposted by Christy Somos
Just so we're clear, the Minister is announcing here that FINTRAC will do its job. There are no new positions, funding, or resources for this work.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Federal minister outlines plan to make criminals' lives 'miserable' in crackdown on extortion crimes | CBC News
The federal finance minister visited Mississauga, Ont., Thursday to announce dedicated financial intelligence experts who will focus on extortion crime targeting Canadian businesses and households.
www.cbc.ca
February 20, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Lots to parse through in this case, but the fact they held two 14-year-olds in custody for almost a week…will be following this

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
1 teen released, 1 still in custody in Saskatoon case of alleged online 'violent extremism' | CBC News
One of the two Saskatoon teens charged after a national security investigation into alleged online violent extremism has been released from custody, while the second teen is still waiting to find out ...
www.cbc.ca
February 20, 2026 at 1:01 AM
The U.S. has mobilized major military assets in preparation for a possible sustained, weeks-long operation against Iran.

How did we get here?

I've put together a recap for you: open.substack.com/pub/thestate...
On the brink: a brief timeline of U.S. military buildup near Iran
The U.S. has mobilized major military assets in preparation for a possible sustained, weeks-long operation against Iran. How did we get here?
open.substack.com
February 19, 2026 at 8:15 PM
An update from 🇰🇷

Former president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in prison with labour for 2024 insurrection.

From @koryodynasty.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol jailed for life for leading insurrection
Ex-leader sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour over failed martial law declaration in 2024
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by Christy Somos
How the US military is assembling within striking distance of Iran
How the US military is assembling within striking distance of Iran
Donald Trump told protesters in Iran that "help was coming" little over a month ago.
news.sky.com
February 18, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Reposted by Christy Somos
After it was revealed that Dominique Pelicot had arranged for the mass rape of his wife, Gisèle, each member of their family ended up with their own version of what had been real, Rachel Aviv writes. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/KXRXdc
The Trial of Gisèle Pelicot’s Rapists United France and Fractured Her Family
After fifty-one men were convicted of the crime, Pelicot became a feminist hero. But additional accusations left her children struggling to accept her new role.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
February 18, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Should be clearer - I’m also on Signal and protonmail
If you are a CAF member, DND staff or other agent of a Canadian federal agency who was on exchange, secondment or an embedded position in the U.S. military/intelligence agencies in 2025 - my DMs are open.

I want to speak to you and your identity can be protected.
February 18, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by Christy Somos
Exclusive: After investigators concluded an abuse incident occurred, women speak out for first time – ‘I was so scared to tell anybody’
Women in California prison accuse staff cook of rape and urge criminal charges
www.theguardian.com
February 18, 2026 at 6:52 PM
If you are a CAF member, DND staff or other agent of a Canadian federal agency who was on exchange, secondment or an embedded position in the U.S. military/intelligence agencies in 2025 - my DMs are open.

I want to speak to you and your identity can be protected.
February 18, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Woah
I am honoured to welcome Matt Jeneroux to our caucus as the newest member of Canada’s new government.

My statement: x.com/markjcarney/...
February 18, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Christy Somos
Israeli military says more than 1,500 Canadians were serving in its ranks last year.

"The RCMP confirmed last June that it would 'proactively' collect information about possible war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Israel-Hamas conflict." ca.news.yahoo.com/israeli-mili... #Gaza
Israeli military says more than 1,500 Canadians were serving in its ranks last year
OTTAWA — The Israeli military says more than 1,500 people with Canadian citizenship — soldiers holding dual or multiple citizenships — were serving in its ranks as of a year ago, according to document...
ca.news.yahoo.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Reposted by Christy Somos
Nine arrested in France over death of far-right student
Nine arrested in France over death of far-right student
Quentin Deranque died on Saturday, two days after being beaten in Lyon by masked men believed to be far-left militants.
www.bbc.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Reposted by Christy Somos
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright today threatened to pull America out of the International Energy Agency, whose work on deploying renewables conflicts with the pro-fossil fuel policy of the Trump administration.
US threatens to quit International Energy Agency if it doesn’t drop green transition
Energy Secretary Chris Wright wants the IEA to stop behaving like a “climate advocacy organization” and focus on “energy security.”
www.politico.eu
February 17, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Reposted by Christy Somos
A guard saw the murdered boy’s injury. Staff cleaned up the bloody bathroom. No one called 911. How the Toronto children’s aid society almost cost this man ‘justice for my son’s life’
A guard saw the murdered boy’s injury. Staff cleaned up the bloody bathroom. No one called 911. How the Toronto children’s aid society almost cost this man ‘justice for my son’s life’
When police arrived, the bathroom of the Toronto children's aid society —the bloody scene where a 3-year-old boy was murdered — had already been cleaned up.
www.thestar.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Christy Somos
Breaking news: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forced the ouster of a senior military adviser to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, officials said, marking the Pentagon chief’s latest intervention into the service’s internal affairs.
Hegseth forces ouster of senior Army spokesman in latest internal clash
Col. David Butler, who had been selected by senior Army leaders for promotion to brigadier general, will instead retire, officials said.
wapo.st
February 17, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by Christy Somos
Louisiana has refused to reconsider the convictions of 1,000+ mostly Black men sentenced by split juries, despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2020 that such convictions are unconstitutional and based on an inherently racist law.

By @richardawebster.bsky.social
What One Man’s 45-Year-Old Case Tells Us About the “Jim Crow Juries” Haunting Louisiana
Today, a split verdict would mean a mistrial. But in 1980s Louisiana, when nonunanimous juries were still legal, 19-year-old Lloyd Gray, a Black man, was sentenced to prison for life — even though the...
www.propublica.org
February 16, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Christy Somos
Indigenous communities nationwide are increasingly reporting encounters with immigration agents, including detention — despite them being U.S. citizens and members of sovereign tribal nations.
Indigenous communities raise concerns over heightened ICE actions across the country
As immigration enforcement expands nationwide, Native families say increased ICE activity is creating fear in their communities, even among U.S. citizens and tribal members.
n.pr
February 16, 2026 at 4:45 PM
“A top CSIS official said anti-feminist ideology can sometimes function "as an enabling factor along pathways to violent extremism."”

globalnews.ca/news/1166168...
Anti-feminist ideology ‘increasingly relevant’ to national security: CSIS - National | Globalnews.ca
Officials with Canada's security and intelligence agency told MPs the ideology 'can function as an enabling factor along pathways to violent extremism' but is not itself a threat.
globalnews.ca
February 17, 2026 at 12:13 AM