Mike Eckel
@mikeeckel.bsky.social
Opponent of Quiet Desperation. Contains Multitudes. In Search Of Meanness Or Sublimity. Former Moscow Correspondent. Vladivostok Fanboy. Chaotic Good. @RFERL
Pinned
Mike Eckel
@mikeeckel.bsky.social
· Jan 13
Vladimir Gusinsky was once one of Russia’s most influential oligarchs. In recent years, he’s been tangled in lawsuits, debt disputes, and legal fights. He’s also drawn scrutiny from the FBI for, among other things, his ties to former FBI special agent Charles McGonigal. 🧵👇
Reposted by Mike Eckel
I believe this is the latest social media post from the US Director of National Intelligence, who hasn’t otherwise been heard from today.
![Tulsi Gabbard @TulsiGabbard
X.com
My heart is filled with gratitude, aloha and peace
/ #2026
[various beach yoga and sunrise photos]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:on5oeywiqx32fh2zau473wz6/bafkreiadxukjsnyrzfaycc5mcaorvfz2yjijulhuog66jkkpzpwcl3vli4@jpeg)
January 3, 2026 at 8:48 PM
I believe this is the latest social media post from the US Director of National Intelligence, who hasn’t otherwise been heard from today.
Reposted by Mike Eckel
Rep. Seth Moulton comes on CNN and starts by saying: "Is anyone going to just stop for a second and be honest? This is insane. What the hell are we doing? We've got a lot of problems in America today, and invading / occupying / running Venezuela does not solve any of them."
January 3, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Rep. Seth Moulton comes on CNN and starts by saying: "Is anyone going to just stop for a second and be honest? This is insane. What the hell are we doing? We've got a lot of problems in America today, and invading / occupying / running Venezuela does not solve any of them."
Reposted by Mike Eckel
New Interview: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
January 3, 2026 at 9:42 PM
New Interview: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
Reposted by Mike Eckel
BREAKING: Plane carrying deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro arrives in New York following his capture by the U.S., AP source says.
Live updates: US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Maduro, has been captured
President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. had struck Venezuela early Saturday and said its president, Nicolás Maduro, had been captured and flown out of the country.
bit.ly
January 3, 2026 at 10:17 PM
BREAKING: Plane carrying deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro arrives in New York following his capture by the U.S., AP source says.
Reposted by Mike Eckel
Trump just posted this image of Maduro on the USS Iwo Jima. Time to unfurl the "Mission Accomplished" banner one more time.
January 3, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Trump just posted this image of Maduro on the USS Iwo Jima. Time to unfurl the "Mission Accomplished" banner one more time.
Newly unsealed indictment against Maduro, per U.S. Justice Department.
January 3, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Newly unsealed indictment against Maduro, per U.S. Justice Department.
Reposted by Mike Eckel
FOX: Will you throw your support behind María Corina Machado?
TRUMP: Well, we're gonna have to look at it. Right now, they have a VP as you know. But the election of Maduro was a disgrace just like my election was a disgrace. 2020 was a disgrace -- a real disgrace -- now 2024 was too big to rig.
TRUMP: Well, we're gonna have to look at it. Right now, they have a VP as you know. But the election of Maduro was a disgrace just like my election was a disgrace. 2020 was a disgrace -- a real disgrace -- now 2024 was too big to rig.
January 3, 2026 at 2:58 PM
FOX: Will you throw your support behind María Corina Machado?
TRUMP: Well, we're gonna have to look at it. Right now, they have a VP as you know. But the election of Maduro was a disgrace just like my election was a disgrace. 2020 was a disgrace -- a real disgrace -- now 2024 was too big to rig.
TRUMP: Well, we're gonna have to look at it. Right now, they have a VP as you know. But the election of Maduro was a disgrace just like my election was a disgrace. 2020 was a disgrace -- a real disgrace -- now 2024 was too big to rig.
Reposted by Mike Eckel
Trump to Fox & Friends on the raid that captured Maduro: "I mean, I watched it literally l like I was watching a television show. If you would've seen the speed, the violence -- it was an amazing thing."
January 3, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Trump to Fox & Friends on the raid that captured Maduro: "I mean, I watched it literally l like I was watching a television show. If you would've seen the speed, the violence -- it was an amazing thing."
Reposted by Mike Eckel
From the superseding indictment against Nicolás Maduro, in SDNY. The case is before Alvin Hellerstein.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 3, 2026 at 11:20 AM
From the superseding indictment against Nicolás Maduro, in SDNY. The case is before Alvin Hellerstein.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Mike Eckel
It’s old-fashioned to defend mainstream journalism these days but some of the most reliable reporting from people actually on the ground will be the AP and Reuters the next 24 hours. Your Substack journalist writing takes will be using frontline reporting from them.
January 3, 2026 at 8:09 AM
It’s old-fashioned to defend mainstream journalism these days but some of the most reliable reporting from people actually on the ground will be the AP and Reuters the next 24 hours. Your Substack journalist writing takes will be using frontline reporting from them.
Zelenskiy has nominated the head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, become head of the presidential office, replacing Andriy Yermak, who was sacked because the energy sector kickbacks/corruption scandal.
January 2, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Zelenskiy has nominated the head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, become head of the presidential office, replacing Andriy Yermak, who was sacked because the energy sector kickbacks/corruption scandal.
Reposted by Mike Eckel
BREAKING: Explosions felt across New York City as full socialism begins
January 1, 2026 at 5:10 AM
BREAKING: Explosions felt across New York City as full socialism begins
Reposted by Mike Eckel
BREAKING: The House Judiciary Committee has released Jack Smith's 255-page deposition transcript: judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
December 31, 2025 at 7:02 PM
BREAKING: The House Judiciary Committee has released Jack Smith's 255-page deposition transcript: judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
"The past years have brought hardship, loss, and division..."
December 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
"The past years have brought hardship, loss, and division..."
Why the Kremlin is now trying to derail the current trajectory of Ukraine-U.S. peace talks. 👇
December 30, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Why the Kremlin is now trying to derail the current trajectory of Ukraine-U.S. peace talks. 👇
Reposted by Mike Eckel
Prosecutors alleged that the university had provided funding to media outlets and individuals labeled “foreign agents.”
Russia Designates George Washington University as ‘Undesirable’ Organization
- The Moscow Times
Russia’s General Prosecutor’s Office on Monday designated the George Washington University as an “undesirable” organization, accusing the U.S.-based institution of promoting anti-Russian sentiment and...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Prosecutors alleged that the university had provided funding to media outlets and individuals labeled “foreign agents.”
Trump: "if the election weren't rigged and stolen in 2020, this war never would've have happened, and it didn't happen for 4 years. I spoke with President Putin. I get along with him very well despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax."
Trump, speaking during press conference with Volodymyr Zelenskiy: "We could be very close.... it's getting alot closer."
December 28, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Trump: "if the election weren't rigged and stolen in 2020, this war never would've have happened, and it didn't happen for 4 years. I spoke with President Putin. I get along with him very well despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax."
Trump, speaking during press conference with Volodymyr Zelenskiy: "We could be very close.... it's getting alot closer."
December 28, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Trump, speaking during press conference with Volodymyr Zelenskiy: "We could be very close.... it's getting alot closer."
The Kremlin says the call was done at Trump's request-- and lasted around 75 minutes.
t.me/tass_agency/...
t.me/tass_agency/...
👀Trump and Putin speak by phone -- ahead of Trump's crucial meeting with Zelenskiy.
December 28, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The Kremlin says the call was done at Trump's request-- and lasted around 75 minutes.
t.me/tass_agency/...
t.me/tass_agency/...
👀Trump and Putin speak by phone -- ahead of Trump's crucial meeting with Zelenskiy.
December 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
👀Trump and Putin speak by phone -- ahead of Trump's crucial meeting with Zelenskiy.
Reposted by Mike Eckel
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little."
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
December 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The 'kin' of ‘napkin’ means "little."
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
‘Nap’ comes from ‘nape,' which means “tablecloth.”
So a napkin is a little tablecloth.
10/10, no notes.
A meeting of Putin, Gerasimov, and top Russian commanders (unmistakably timed, released on the eve of the Trump-Zelenskiy talks), in which Putin again signals no need to compromise, and repeats the "root causes" of the Ukraine war. ("Kyiv started it. Moscow is trying to finish it." etc. )
December 28, 2025 at 11:14 AM
A meeting of Putin, Gerasimov, and top Russian commanders (unmistakably timed, released on the eve of the Trump-Zelenskiy talks), in which Putin again signals no need to compromise, and repeats the "root causes" of the Ukraine war. ("Kyiv started it. Moscow is trying to finish it." etc. )
A Russian drone hitting a location (possibly a car dealership) in Bila Tserkva, south of Kyiv. Unclear if any casualties.
(source: t.me/Novoeizdanie)
(source: t.me/Novoeizdanie)
December 27, 2025 at 10:22 AM
A Russian drone hitting a location (possibly a car dealership) in Bila Tserkva, south of Kyiv. Unclear if any casualties.
(source: t.me/Novoeizdanie)
(source: t.me/Novoeizdanie)
Large parts of Kyiv are without heat or electricity after an overnight Russian drone barrage that wounded at least 11 people, per city mayor. (Pre-dawn temperatures were below freezing). Authorities have ordered emergency power cuts well.
t.me/vitaliy_klit...
t.me/vitaliy_klit...
December 27, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Large parts of Kyiv are without heat or electricity after an overnight Russian drone barrage that wounded at least 11 people, per city mayor. (Pre-dawn temperatures were below freezing). Authorities have ordered emergency power cuts well.
t.me/vitaliy_klit...
t.me/vitaliy_klit...