Jodi Vittori
@jodi1994.bsky.social
Professor/scholar of nexus of corruption, illicit finance, conflict, and national security. Military Veteran. Views are my own; likes are not endorsements.
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
Don’t punish wrongdoing. Reward it. That’s how this administration works.
fortune.com/2026/02/13/b...
fortune.com/2026/02/13/b...
Binance fires top investigators who claim to have uncovered evidence of Iranian sanctions violations | Fortune
Internal findings by the fired investigators reviewed by Fortune pointed to over $1 billion in Tether flowing through Binance to Iran-linked wallets.
fortune.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Don’t punish wrongdoing. Reward it. That’s how this administration works.
fortune.com/2026/02/13/b...
fortune.com/2026/02/13/b...
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
It's a headscratcher alright...
February 17, 2026 at 11:27 AM
It's a headscratcher alright...
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
Under the order, a covered financial institution is required to identify and verify the beneficial owners of a legal entity customer in only the following circumstances:
www.fincen.gov/news/news-re...
www.fincen.gov/news/news-re...
FinCEN.gov
Relief Reduces Burdensome and Duplicative Regulatory Requirement
www.fincen.gov
February 16, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Under the order, a covered financial institution is required to identify and verify the beneficial owners of a legal entity customer in only the following circumstances:
www.fincen.gov/news/news-re...
www.fincen.gov/news/news-re...
From Wired today. AI results thingy at the top of google searches always had a lot of garbage but now it is used for scams, too. People figured out how to insert scam phone numbers into phone # searches.
Am I showing my age if I say how much I miss the days when google was a good search engine?
Am I showing my age if I say how much I miss the days when google was a good search engine?
February 16, 2026 at 12:40 PM
From Wired today. AI results thingy at the top of google searches always had a lot of garbage but now it is used for scams, too. People figured out how to insert scam phone numbers into phone # searches.
Am I showing my age if I say how much I miss the days when google was a good search engine?
Am I showing my age if I say how much I miss the days when google was a good search engine?
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
February 9, 2026 at 12:25 PM
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
My thoughts on new US tax accounting disclosures, for @bloombergtax.com: "These new disclosures are a major improvement on what we’ve had before. The hope is that with more public scrutiny, big multinationals are less likely to play offshore tax games that put investors at risk."
Some big US-based multinationals are paying more in taxes to other countries than to their own, fueling questions about whether companies are shifting profits abroad to cut their tax bills.
Companies’ Big Overseas Tax Bills Spur Profit-Shifting Concerns
Some big US-based multinationals are paying more in taxes to other countries than to their own, fueling questions about whether companies are shifting profits abroad to cut their tax bills.
bit.ly
February 9, 2026 at 5:05 PM
My thoughts on new US tax accounting disclosures, for @bloombergtax.com: "These new disclosures are a major improvement on what we’ve had before. The hope is that with more public scrutiny, big multinationals are less likely to play offshore tax games that put investors at risk."
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
We still haven't solved tax havens.
"American Express lowered its corporate income taxes by $241m through operations on the island of Jersey in 2025....Without the Jersey effect, American Express's tax rate would have been 1.8% higher." via @richardrubindc.bsky.social
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
"American Express lowered its corporate income taxes by $241m through operations on the island of Jersey in 2025....Without the Jersey effect, American Express's tax rate would have been 1.8% higher." via @richardrubindc.bsky.social
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
American Express Saves Taxes in (Not New) Jersey
American Express lowered its corporate income taxes by $241 million through operations on the island of Jersey in 2025, the company reported in a securities filing on Friday. The company didn't have a...
www.wsj.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:25 PM
We still haven't solved tax havens.
"American Express lowered its corporate income taxes by $241m through operations on the island of Jersey in 2025....Without the Jersey effect, American Express's tax rate would have been 1.8% higher." via @richardrubindc.bsky.social
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
"American Express lowered its corporate income taxes by $241m through operations on the island of Jersey in 2025....Without the Jersey effect, American Express's tax rate would have been 1.8% higher." via @richardrubindc.bsky.social
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
What does it say about the state of the US and its democracy today if it plans to celebrate its 250th birthday by building a giant arch with bribe money? 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
“…funded with leftover private donations to his White House ballroom project, which he has said could cost about $400m. Publicly identified donors to the ballroom project, such as Amazon, Google and Lockheed Martin, collectively have billions of dollars in contracts before the administration.”
Trump wants to build a 250-foot-tall arch, dwarfing the Lincoln Memorial
The president is eying a plot of land near Memorial Bridge. The art critic who proposed the idea called for a smaller arch or for Trump to pick a new site.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:11 PM
What does it say about the state of the US and its democracy today if it plans to celebrate its 250th birthday by building a giant arch with bribe money? 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
“…funded with leftover private donations to his White House ballroom project, which he has said could cost about $400m. Publicly identified donors to the ballroom project, such as Amazon, Google and Lockheed Martin, collectively have billions of dollars in contracts before the administration.”
Trump wants to build a 250-foot-tall arch, dwarfing the Lincoln Memorial
The president is eying a plot of land near Memorial Bridge. The art critic who proposed the idea called for a smaller arch or for Trump to pick a new site.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:06 PM
“…funded with leftover private donations to his White House ballroom project, which he has said could cost about $400m. Publicly identified donors to the ballroom project, such as Amazon, Google and Lockheed Martin, collectively have billions of dollars in contracts before the administration.”
#FIFA seems to have a #kleptocracy problem. The last 2 x World Cups were held in highly corrupt states (#Qatar and #Russia) and part of the upcoming one will too (US). 🤔
Sepp Blatter suggests fans should not travel to US for World Cup
The former Fifa president backed a Swiss lawyer who called for a boycott of the tournament due to security concerns in the US
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 11:48 AM
#FIFA seems to have a #kleptocracy problem. The last 2 x World Cups were held in highly corrupt states (#Qatar and #Russia) and part of the upcoming one will too (US). 🤔
I study #corruption for a living and even I’m in awe at the creativity and venality of these schemes: a $1b bribe to Trump gives corrupt leaders dibs to send huge contracts to selves and cronies as part of post-genocide reconstruction. WOW 🤯
$1 billion gets a permanent seat on Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza, as India and others invited
At least eight more countries say the United States has invited them to join President Donald Trump’s new Board of Peace overseeing next steps for Gaza.
apnews.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:20 PM
I study #corruption for a living and even I’m in awe at the creativity and venality of these schemes: a $1b bribe to Trump gives corrupt leaders dibs to send huge contracts to selves and cronies as part of post-genocide reconstruction. WOW 🤯
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
I wonder how #Hungarian voters feel about their #Kleptocrat Viktor Orban giving $1billion of Hungarian taxpayer money to #Trump for a seat on a board about #Gaza? Could be an interesting election issue this spring.
$1 billion gets a permanent seat on Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza, as India and others invited
At least eight more countries say the United States has invited them to join President Donald Trump’s new Board of Peace overseeing next steps for Gaza.
apnews.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:07 PM
I wonder how #Hungarian voters feel about their #Kleptocrat Viktor Orban giving $1billion of Hungarian taxpayer money to #Trump for a seat on a board about #Gaza? Could be an interesting election issue this spring.
It’s notable that a majority of the members of this board have either engaged in #corruption themselves of shilled for those who do. Not a good sign for good governance reforms in #Gaza, which Gaza’s people so desperately need and deserve.
Trump appoints Blair, Kushner and Rubio to Gaza ‘board of peace’
White House says seven-strong board, chaired by Trump, will steer Gaza through next phase of reconstruction
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:23 PM
It’s notable that a majority of the members of this board have either engaged in #corruption themselves of shilled for those who do. Not a good sign for good governance reforms in #Gaza, which Gaza’s people so desperately need and deserve.
What are some #Trump insiders’ financial links with critical minerals contracts in #Greenland? A new expose’ out this morning 👇🏻
As Trump Talked About Taking Greenland, Former Employees Gained a Foothold in the Arctic Island
Two men who worked with the Trump Organization hold shares in GreenMet, which signed a deal with a company ready to mine critical minerals in Greenland.
www.occrp.org
January 17, 2026 at 12:36 PM
What are some #Trump insiders’ financial links with critical minerals contracts in #Greenland? A new expose’ out this morning 👇🏻
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
"There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military. That is precisely a move that a corrupt politician would be attracted to." @warren.senate.gov
US gets first $500 million Venezuelan oil deal, holding some proceeds in Qatar
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
Exclusive: US gets first $500 million Venezuelan oil deal, holding some proceeds in Qatar
The details shared with Semafor mark an initial milestone in the administration’s plan following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro.
www.semafor.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:20 PM
"There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military. That is precisely a move that a corrupt politician would be attracted to." @warren.senate.gov
Democracy activist/scholar Srdja Popovic describes the “Maduro Model” whereby an authoritarian (or wanna be one) is willing to even risk crashing their economy to stay in power. Read more about it here: www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
January 12, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Democracy activist/scholar Srdja Popovic describes the “Maduro Model” whereby an authoritarian (or wanna be one) is willing to even risk crashing their economy to stay in power. Read more about it here: www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
A huge shoutout to the folks at Citizen Historians for taking pictures of all exhibits at the Smithsonian—including at the National Portrait Gallery—so we have a historical record of what had been there before. Read more about the remarkable volunteers here:
www.citizenhistorians.org
www.citizenhistorians.org
Smithsonian removes Trump impeachment text as it swaps his portrait
A Trump official previously complained about a caption beside his National Portrait Gallery photo mentioning his impeachments and the U.S. Capitol insurrection.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 10, 2026 at 11:26 PM
A huge shoutout to the folks at Citizen Historians for taking pictures of all exhibits at the Smithsonian—including at the National Portrait Gallery—so we have a historical record of what had been there before. Read more about the remarkable volunteers here:
www.citizenhistorians.org
www.citizenhistorians.org
Wise advice for today: “Yes, he was indoctrinated,” Dr. Matthäus said of Mr. Onnen [the murderer]. “But what is probably more important is that you are part of a machine, and if you don’t make a deliberate decision to get out of it, you get further drawn into this.”
At Last, a Name for the Murderous Face in a Holocaust Photo
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Wise advice for today: “Yes, he was indoctrinated,” Dr. Matthäus said of Mr. Onnen [the murderer]. “But what is probably more important is that you are part of a machine, and if you don’t make a deliberate decision to get out of it, you get further drawn into this.”
#Afghan Analysts Network published a summary of what university courses and books are banned by the far right Taliban as they seek to Make Afghanistan Great Again (as defined by the Taliban). The report is excellent and should be read in full. But some thoughts 🧵
What Afghans May Read: Banned books under the Islamic Emirate
In 2025, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan intensified its efforts to circumscribe the information available to Afghan citizens, following its October 2024 order to libraries and bookstores to remove...
www.afghanistan-analysts.org
December 29, 2025 at 2:29 PM
#Afghan Analysts Network published a summary of what university courses and books are banned by the far right Taliban as they seek to Make Afghanistan Great Again (as defined by the Taliban). The report is excellent and should be read in full. But some thoughts 🧵
“…there are a number of personnel actions that can be taken-letters of counseling or reprimand-that, even if found to be baseless later, would affect one’s potential for promotion and impact their discharge.“
Military lawyer swiftly fired from immigration bench after defying Trump deportation push
A U.S. Army Reserve lawyer detailed as a federal immigration judge has been fired barely a month into the job after granting asylum at a high rate out of step with the Trump administration’s mass depo...
apnews.com
December 28, 2025 at 3:03 PM
“…there are a number of personnel actions that can be taken-letters of counseling or reprimand-that, even if found to be baseless later, would affect one’s potential for promotion and impact their discharge.“
Know what would make this more effective? Enforcing the Corporate Transparency Act—which is part of same NDAA—so PRC-linked firms can’t hide behind anonymous companies; then add a public registry (which is the intl standard) so companies can look up who owns their suppliers.
Pentagon preps to enforce ban on companies with ‘indirect’ ties to China
Defense firms will be notified of potential links to blacklisted Chinese-military companies a year before the contracting ban goes into effect, the assistant defense secretary for industrial policy sa...
www.defenseone.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Know what would make this more effective? Enforcing the Corporate Transparency Act—which is part of same NDAA—so PRC-linked firms can’t hide behind anonymous companies; then add a public registry (which is the intl standard) so companies can look up who owns their suppliers.
As reported in the article, it sounds like Mr Smith is kneecapping fire depts twice: 1st by not paying his taxes and thus depriving them of the funds they need and then in charging extortionate rates for software they need.
“With some $100B in AUM, it is one of the largest private equity firms in the world, helmed by Robert F. Smith, a billionaire who a few years ago agreed to a $139 million settlement with the federal government in what was one of the largest tax evasion cases in the country’s history.”
Private Equity Finds a New Source of Profit: Volunteer Fire Departments
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:57 PM
As reported in the article, it sounds like Mr Smith is kneecapping fire depts twice: 1st by not paying his taxes and thus depriving them of the funds they need and then in charging extortionate rates for software they need.
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
U.S. F-35 fighter jets were available to fly only half the time in 2024 due to maintenance shortcomings by Lockheed Martin , a report from the Defense Department's Office of the Inspector General said.
US watchdog says F-35s flew half the time in 2024 due to Lockheed maintenance issues
U.S. F-35 fighter jets were available to fly only half the time in 2024 due to maintenance shortcomings by Lockheed Martin , a report from the Defense Department's Office of the Inspector General said.
reut.rs
December 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
U.S. F-35 fighter jets were available to fly only half the time in 2024 due to maintenance shortcomings by Lockheed Martin , a report from the Defense Department's Office of the Inspector General said.
“With some $100B in AUM, it is one of the largest private equity firms in the world, helmed by Robert F. Smith, a billionaire who a few years ago agreed to a $139 million settlement with the federal government in what was one of the largest tax evasion cases in the country’s history.”
Private Equity Finds a New Source of Profit: Volunteer Fire Departments
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:49 PM
“With some $100B in AUM, it is one of the largest private equity firms in the world, helmed by Robert F. Smith, a billionaire who a few years ago agreed to a $139 million settlement with the federal government in what was one of the largest tax evasion cases in the country’s history.”