Douglas M. Charles, PhD
@dmcharles.bsky.social
Professor of history (FBI expert), Tae Kwon Do black belt, poker player, bicyclist, skier, travel, animals.
I’ve written 4 books on the FBI, currently finishing a history of the FBI, 1908-1945. Also working on a history of Tae Kwon Do in North America.
I’ve written 4 books on the FBI, currently finishing a history of the FBI, 1908-1945. Also working on a history of Tae Kwon Do in North America.
Pinned
History is repeating itself at the FBI as agents resist a director’s political agenda
FBI director Kash Patel says he is making the bureau more accountable. Critics charge him with purging it of anyone not perceived as loyal to President Trump.
theconversation.com
My latest comparative historical OpEd is out! A lot of research went into this.
Kash Patel vs FBI Director L. Patrick Gray (1972-73).
theconversation.com/history-is-r...
Kash Patel vs FBI Director L. Patrick Gray (1972-73).
theconversation.com/history-is-r...
Reposted by Douglas M. Charles, PhD
How many deaths will it take?
January 24, 2026 at 5:03 PM
How many deaths will it take?
Asshole & dipshit
Vance on the economy:
"You don't turn the Titanic around overnight"
"You don't turn the Titanic around overnight"
January 24, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Asshole & dipshit
Reposted by Douglas M. Charles, PhD
Two weeks ago Trump warned Iran that if they harmed protesters the US military was “locked and loaded” and would come to their rescue to save them. Thousands were killed, Trump did nothing. Now this.
January 23, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Two weeks ago Trump warned Iran that if they harmed protesters the US military was “locked and loaded” and would come to their rescue to save them. Thousands were killed, Trump did nothing. Now this.
Look, this purge is to turn the FBI into a compliant secret police. ICE was easily turned as it was already thugish. The FBI has a 117 year culture requiring this regime to purge it.
This follows SOP of fascism. I'm serious.
www.ms.now/news/kash-pa...
This follows SOP of fascism. I'm serious.
www.ms.now/news/kash-pa...
Patel ousts senior FBI agents linked to Trump probes, say sources
As many as six agents in Miami were forced out over their connection to the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. A special agent in charge in Atlanta was removed, as well as the acting assistant director in char...
www.ms.now
January 24, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Look, this purge is to turn the FBI into a compliant secret police. ICE was easily turned as it was already thugish. The FBI has a 117 year culture requiring this regime to purge it.
This follows SOP of fascism. I'm serious.
www.ms.now/news/kash-pa...
This follows SOP of fascism. I'm serious.
www.ms.now/news/kash-pa...
Reposted by Douglas M. Charles, PhD
So the right hand is bruised from shaking hands and the left hand is bruised from hitting it on a desk. Got it.
January 23, 2026 at 11:38 AM
So the right hand is bruised from shaking hands and the left hand is bruised from hitting it on a desk. Got it.
Yet obtuse Americans support it.
It really is amazing to listen to a guy who faked bone spurs to avoid serving in the military denigrate combat veterans of our allies while also using “we” when referencing the historical sacrifices and bravery of our own soldiers.
January 23, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Yet obtuse Americans support it.
Also, Democrats.
January 23, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Also, Democrats.
Wow. Talk about a career change.
A former Canadian Olympic snowboarder accused of running a drug-trafficking gang affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel was taken into custody in Mexico on.wsj.com/45smCkt
Former Olympic Snowboarder Turned Suspected Drug Trafficker Surrenders in Mexico
Ryan “Thor” Wedding is accused of being associated with the Sinaloa Cartel and was on the FBI’s Top-10 most wanted list.
on.wsj.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Wow. Talk about a career change.
Reposted by Douglas M. Charles, PhD
It was inevitable.
Amazon's Ring to partner with Flock, a network of AI cameras used by ICE, feds, and police | TechCrunch
Agencies that use Flock can request that Ring doorbell users share footage to help with "evidence collection and investigative work."
techcrunch.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:02 AM
It was inevitable.
Next spy case I'm writing up, an easy one. Swiss national spied for the Italian OVRA while working on a ship. Took photos of Gibraltar enroute.
FBI characterized it as a nipped-this-in-the-bud case.
FBI characterized it as a nipped-this-in-the-bud case.
January 23, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Next spy case I'm writing up, an easy one. Swiss national spied for the Italian OVRA while working on a ship. Took photos of Gibraltar enroute.
FBI characterized it as a nipped-this-in-the-bud case.
FBI characterized it as a nipped-this-in-the-bud case.
Not related to this cretin.
January 23, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Not related to this cretin.
Milquetoast nonsense. We've had an Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) since the early 1930s. ICE is a function of 9/11 & absolutely should be dissolved & broken apart. No reason we cannot go back to INS. The criminals in ICE's ranks need to be purged & prosecuted.
January 23, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Milquetoast nonsense. We've had an Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) since the early 1930s. ICE is a function of 9/11 & absolutely should be dissolved & broken apart. No reason we cannot go back to INS. The criminals in ICE's ranks need to be purged & prosecuted.
One, "board of peace" is a fucking joke. Two: what a fricking child.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
Trump withdraws Carney’s invitation to Board of Peace after Davos spat
President Donald Trump said the Canadian leader was no longer welcome on his “prestigious Board of Leaders” after the pair traded barbs in high-profile speeches in Davos.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:22 PM
One, "board of peace" is a fucking joke. Two: what a fricking child.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
Reposted by Douglas M. Charles, PhD
Why is ICE in Minneapolis & Minnesota?
Because Minneapolis & Minnesota have functioning welfare states that work & ICE is there at the direction of the regime to destroy it.
Same reason they attacked Los Angeles. We "Blue" states & cities are the "enemy".
www.instagram.com/reel/DTyE1Le...
Because Minneapolis & Minnesota have functioning welfare states that work & ICE is there at the direction of the regime to destroy it.
Same reason they attacked Los Angeles. We "Blue" states & cities are the "enemy".
www.instagram.com/reel/DTyE1Le...
Timothy Snyder on Instagram: "Why is ICE targeting Minneapolis and Minnesota? Because they have a functioning welfare state. Minnesota is an example of a state that works. But ICE and the Trump Admini...
75K likes, 2,010 comments - thetimothysnyder on January 21, 2026: "Why is ICE targeting Minneapolis and Minnesota? Because they have a functioning welfare state. Minnesota is an example of a state tha...
www.instagram.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Why is ICE in Minneapolis & Minnesota?
Because Minneapolis & Minnesota have functioning welfare states that work & ICE is there at the direction of the regime to destroy it.
Same reason they attacked Los Angeles. We "Blue" states & cities are the "enemy".
www.instagram.com/reel/DTyE1Le...
Because Minneapolis & Minnesota have functioning welfare states that work & ICE is there at the direction of the regime to destroy it.
Same reason they attacked Los Angeles. We "Blue" states & cities are the "enemy".
www.instagram.com/reel/DTyE1Le...
Reposted by Douglas M. Charles, PhD
Why are Republicans on the Supreme Court poised to treat firing Fed Commissioners different from Trump firing everybody else? Because Republicans on the Supreme Court like money.
Don’t overthink it. Occam’s Razor has you covered.
My latest in @thenation.com
Don’t overthink it. Occam’s Razor has you covered.
My latest in @thenation.com
The Supreme Court Shows It’s Willing to Thwart Trump—When Money Is on the Line
The court’s conservatives appear likely to block trump from firing Lisa Cook—not because they care about principle but because they care about the Fed.
www.thenation.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Why are Republicans on the Supreme Court poised to treat firing Fed Commissioners different from Trump firing everybody else? Because Republicans on the Supreme Court like money.
Don’t overthink it. Occam’s Razor has you covered.
My latest in @thenation.com
Don’t overthink it. Occam’s Razor has you covered.
My latest in @thenation.com
He went to an Ivy law school. 😂🤷
Vance on Jan. 8: "You have a federal law enforcement official engaging in federal law enforcement action. That's a federal issue. That guy's protected by absolute immunity."
Vance today: "I didn't say that officers who engaged in wrongdoing would enjoy immunity. That's absurd."
Vance today: "I didn't say that officers who engaged in wrongdoing would enjoy immunity. That's absurd."
January 22, 2026 at 11:55 PM
He went to an Ivy law school. 😂🤷
You can probably safely bet your boots the prosecution was full of shit the entire time.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
Chicago Jury Acquits Immigrant Accused in Bovino Murder-for-Hire Trial
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:43 PM
You can probably safely bet your boots the prosecution was full of shit the entire time.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
Why was he a Democrat? I jest, but you get the point.
"The FBI believes that Alan Wilmer Sr., who died in 2017, killed Rebecca Dowski and Cathy Thomas around the time of several other deaths that became known as the Colonial Parkway murders."
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
"The FBI believes that Alan Wilmer Sr., who died in 2017, killed Rebecca Dowski and Cathy Thomas around the time of several other deaths that became known as the Colonial Parkway murders."
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Serial killer linked to 1986 murders of Virginia women
The FBI linked Alan Wilmer to the 1986 killings of Rebecca Dowski and Cathy Thomas
www.washingtonpost.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Why was he a Democrat? I jest, but you get the point.
"The FBI believes that Alan Wilmer Sr., who died in 2017, killed Rebecca Dowski and Cathy Thomas around the time of several other deaths that became known as the Colonial Parkway murders."
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
"The FBI believes that Alan Wilmer Sr., who died in 2017, killed Rebecca Dowski and Cathy Thomas around the time of several other deaths that became known as the Colonial Parkway murders."
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
"The current and former employees we interviewed, however, said they fear that the bureau has become a weapon of the White House, upending deeply held nonpartisan norms and leaving the agency nearly unrecognizable."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/m...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/m...
Takeaways From The Times’s Inside Look at the F.B.I.
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:48 PM
"The current and former employees we interviewed, however, said they fear that the bureau has become a weapon of the White House, upending deeply held nonpartisan norms and leaving the agency nearly unrecognizable."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/m...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/m...
Could it be more stark? A respectable man who represents law & order and how it all is supposed to work under old "norms," & Gym Jordan. Worse yet, the goons inhabiting & bastardizing the current DOJ.
Norms aren't good enough. The DOJ needs Constitutional reform.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
Norms aren't good enough. The DOJ needs Constitutional reform.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
In Testimony, Jack Smith Defends Decision to Prosecute Trump
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Could it be more stark? A respectable man who represents law & order and how it all is supposed to work under old "norms," & Gym Jordan. Worse yet, the goons inhabiting & bastardizing the current DOJ.
Norms aren't good enough. The DOJ needs Constitutional reform.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
Norms aren't good enough. The DOJ needs Constitutional reform.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
Reposted by Douglas M. Charles, PhD
JUST IN: Judge Richard Leon (GWBush) sounds skeptical of Trump's power to build WH ballroom w/o Congress' OK. "The '77 Gerald Ford swimming pool? You compare that to ripping down the East Wing & building a new East Wing? C'mon, be serious!" he told DOJ lawyer.
January 22, 2026 at 10:03 PM
JUST IN: Judge Richard Leon (GWBush) sounds skeptical of Trump's power to build WH ballroom w/o Congress' OK. "The '77 Gerald Ford swimming pool? You compare that to ripping down the East Wing & building a new East Wing? C'mon, be serious!" he told DOJ lawyer.
Gym Jordan 🙄
January 22, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Gym Jordan 🙄
No one rational (is that the right term?). I’m sure his base who is clearly on board with fascism, even though they couldn’t tell you what it is, approves. What is that, like 30 to 40% of Americans?
No one can be watching this Davos speech and reach any conclusion but that the President of the United States is mentally disturbed and that something is deeply wrong with him. This is both embarrassing and extremely dangerous.
January 22, 2026 at 2:18 PM
No one rational (is that the right term?). I’m sure his base who is clearly on board with fascism, even though they couldn’t tell you what it is, approves. What is that, like 30 to 40% of Americans?