William Bendix
@williambendix.bsky.social
Associate Professor of International Relations & Intelligence, Dakota State University
Opinions, rarely offered, are my own
Opinions, rarely offered, are my own
"Politicians become dependent on the wealthy not because the money actually delivers votes, but because they believe it does."
Study after study shows campaign ads barely move the needle. So where does money’s real power come from? I ranked the five ways money corrupts politics—from least to most corrosive. What I’ve learned from 15 years of tracking political money:
Money Doesn't Buy Elections. It Does Something Worse.
Campaign ads barely move the needle. The real influence is hiding in plain sight.
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:17 AM
"Politicians become dependent on the wealthy not because the money actually delivers votes, but because they believe it does."
Putin maintains his army through generous signing bones. One Russian explains his decision to fight: “During one argument, my wife said: ‘It would be better if you went to war.’ A month and a half later, I signed the contract. It felt like the only way out.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
How Russia keeps raising an army to replace its dead
An online bazaar of freelance headhunters finds new recruits to fight Ukraine, emboldening Vladimir Putin at the negotiating table and scaring European leaders about what his growing army might do nex...
www.politico.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Putin maintains his army through generous signing bones. One Russian explains his decision to fight: “During one argument, my wife said: ‘It would be better if you went to war.’ A month and a half later, I signed the contract. It felt like the only way out.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Interesting story. Putin doubles down publicly on continuing the war. Also, a leaked transcript of a confidential call among EU leaders concerning Ukraine peace negotiations is quoted and discussed.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Putin says Russia will take Donbas by force or Ukraine's troops will withdraw
The Russian leader's comments come as US and Ukrainian negotiators are due to hold a new round of talks.
www.bbc.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Interesting story. Putin doubles down publicly on continuing the war. Also, a leaked transcript of a confidential call among EU leaders concerning Ukraine peace negotiations is quoted and discussed.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by William Bendix
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
More discharge petitions to come! One on a stock trading ban for legislators and another on Russian sanctions.
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
thehill.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:58 PM
More discharge petitions to come! One on a stock trading ban for legislators and another on Russian sanctions.
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
"Over the 2015-2024 period, revenues for the top 100 arms makers have risen 26 percent."
www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
World arms makers post record $679 billion in sales as wars drive demand, output lags
Sales by the world’s top 100 arms makers hit a record $679 billion last year, up 5.9% as wars in Ukraine and Gaza drove demand, researchers said on Monday, though production bottlenecks slowed deliver...
www.france24.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:50 AM
"Over the 2015-2024 period, revenues for the top 100 arms makers have risen 26 percent."
www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
"We experimented by reformulating dangerous requests in poetic form, using metaphors, fragmented syntax, oblique references. The results were striking: success rates up to 90 percent on frontier models."
www.wired.com/story/poems-...
www.wired.com/story/poems-...
Poems Can Trick AI Into Helping You Make a Nuclear Weapon
It turns out all the guardrails in the world won’t protect a chatbot from meter and rhyme.
www.wired.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:38 PM
"We experimented by reformulating dangerous requests in poetic form, using metaphors, fragmented syntax, oblique references. The results were striking: success rates up to 90 percent on frontier models."
www.wired.com/story/poems-...
www.wired.com/story/poems-...
"If you were an alien landing on Earth and the first thing you saw was the Epstein emails, you could gauge status by spelling, grammar, punctuation. Usage is inversely related to power in this network." In other words, the truly elite feign functional illiteracy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
Opinion | How the Elite Behave When No One Is Watching: Inside the Epstein Emails
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:09 AM
"If you were an alien landing on Earth and the first thing you saw was the Epstein emails, you could gauge status by spelling, grammar, punctuation. Usage is inversely related to power in this network." In other words, the truly elite feign functional illiteracy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
"Russia would commit to not attack again and be granted reintegration into the global economy, including potential sanctions relief that will be discussed 'on a case-by-case basis' and an invitation to return to the G7."
www.politico.eu/article/read...
www.politico.eu/article/read...
Read Trump’s latest Russia-Ukraine peace plan
The proposal will be difficult for Kyiv to swallow, as it includes making serious territorial concessions to Moscow.
www.politico.eu
November 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
"Russia would commit to not attack again and be granted reintegration into the global economy, including potential sanctions relief that will be discussed 'on a case-by-case basis' and an invitation to return to the G7."
www.politico.eu/article/read...
www.politico.eu/article/read...
"President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday night that the proposed Senate legislation would be 'OK with me,' his strongest approval on the sanctions."
www.politico.com/live-updates...
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Senate to move on Trump-backed Russia sanctions, Graham says
Sen. Lindsey Graham said “with President Trump’s blessing,” the Senate will move on the sanctions.
www.politico.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:34 PM
"President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday night that the proposed Senate legislation would be 'OK with me,' his strongest approval on the sanctions."
www.politico.com/live-updates...
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Reposted by William Bendix
A French official on Germany and its fast-growing military power: “They won’t need to invade Alsace and Moselle. They can just buy it.”
www.politico.eu/article/germ...
www.politico.eu/article/germ...
Germany’s rearmament upends Europe’s power balance
As Berlin again becomes Europe’s leading military power, Paris and Warsaw face a massive political shift.
www.politico.eu
November 12, 2025 at 3:59 AM
A French official on Germany and its fast-growing military power: “They won’t need to invade Alsace and Moselle. They can just buy it.”
www.politico.eu/article/germ...
www.politico.eu/article/germ...
A friend describing Margaret Atwood: “Don’t piss her off, or you will live forever.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/b...
Margaret Atwood Leans Into Her Dark Side in a New Memoir
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:29 PM
A friend describing Margaret Atwood: “Don’t piss her off, or you will live forever.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/b...
Reposted by William Bendix
Even though the use of Section 702 by the U.S. intelligence community, and particularly the FBI, is “much, much better than it was, I think it would be a much heavier lift,” @jahimes.bsky.social said.
Read all about it on @therecordmedia.bsky.social
therecord.media/section-702-...
Read all about it on @therecordmedia.bsky.social
therecord.media/section-702-...
Democratic support for surveillance powers will be 'heavier lift' next time, House lawmaker says
Rep. Jim Himes said things have changed for House Democrats when it comes to their potential to back legislation to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
therecord.media
November 5, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Even though the use of Section 702 by the U.S. intelligence community, and particularly the FBI, is “much, much better than it was, I think it would be a much heavier lift,” @jahimes.bsky.social said.
Read all about it on @therecordmedia.bsky.social
therecord.media/section-702-...
Read all about it on @therecordmedia.bsky.social
therecord.media/section-702-...
"The Russians are reorganizing with one goal in mind: to confront NATO."
www.politico.eu/article/fren...
www.politico.eu/article/fren...
France’s top general expects ‘shock’ with Russia in 3-4 years
“The Russians are reorganizing with one goal in mind: to confront NATO.”
www.politico.eu
October 29, 2025 at 11:35 PM
"The Russians are reorganizing with one goal in mind: to confront NATO."
www.politico.eu/article/fren...
www.politico.eu/article/fren...
"Almost one-fifth of responses to questions about Russia’s war in Ukraine, across the four chatbots they tested, cited Russian state-attributed sources."
www.wired.com/story/chatbo...
www.wired.com/story/chatbo...
Chatbots Are Pushing Sanctioned Russian Propaganda
ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, and Grok are serving users propaganda from Russian-backed media when asked about the invasion of Ukraine, new research finds.
www.wired.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:24 AM
"Almost one-fifth of responses to questions about Russia’s war in Ukraine, across the four chatbots they tested, cited Russian state-attributed sources."
www.wired.com/story/chatbo...
www.wired.com/story/chatbo...
“I guess the Russians wanted too much and it became evident for the Americans that there will be no deal for Trump in Budapest,” said one diplomat.
“And I assume Lavrov gave the same spiel, and Rubio was like: ’See you later’,” said a second.
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
“And I assume Lavrov gave the same spiel, and Rubio was like: ’See you later’,” said a second.
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
Putin-Trump summit in doubt as Russia rejects Ukraine ceasefire
Trump had announced a future meeting in Hungary, but Putin has been unwilling to consider concessions
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:56 PM
“I guess the Russians wanted too much and it became evident for the Americans that there will be no deal for Trump in Budapest,” said one diplomat.
“And I assume Lavrov gave the same spiel, and Rubio was like: ’See you later’,” said a second.
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
“And I assume Lavrov gave the same spiel, and Rubio was like: ’See you later’,” said a second.
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
"The world is now a closed club of aging incumbents, circled by middle powers, developing countries, and failing states.... The age of rising powers is ending, but its immediate aftermath may prove no less violent."
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
The Stagnant Order
The end of rising powers.
www.foreignaffairs.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:25 AM
"The world is now a closed club of aging incumbents, circled by middle powers, developing countries, and failing states.... The age of rising powers is ending, but its immediate aftermath may prove no less violent."
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Of Putin's repeated violation of NATO airspace, he made a "tactically stupid and counterproductive” move, says Poland's Foreign Minister. "What is he achieving? He is achieving the consolidation of public support for a policy of deterrence against Russia."
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Europe Is Answering Putin’s Challenge
Members of the NATO alliance are showing real grit—and, for now, the U.S. is with them.
www.theatlantic.com
October 18, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Of Putin's repeated violation of NATO airspace, he made a "tactically stupid and counterproductive” move, says Poland's Foreign Minister. "What is he achieving? He is achieving the consolidation of public support for a policy of deterrence against Russia."
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
"Most buyers have no practical way to judge whether the software they purchase is secure. They must take vendors at their word, which creates little incentive for the designers or sellers of software to invest in protections that customers cannot see."
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
The End of Cybersecurity
America’s digital defenses are failing—but AI can save them.
www.foreignaffairs.com
October 17, 2025 at 10:27 AM
"Most buyers have no practical way to judge whether the software they purchase is secure. They must take vendors at their word, which creates little incentive for the designers or sellers of software to invest in protections that customers cannot see."
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
"Trump said he would meet the Russian leader in Budapest, but did not say anything more than that. He mentioned a US-Russian high-level meeting would take place next week."
www.dw.com/en/ukraine-u...
www.dw.com/en/ukraine-u...
Ukraine updates: Trump to hold talks with Putin in Budapest – DW – 10/16/2025
Donald Trump breaks news after having held what he described as a "very productive" phone call with Vladimir Putin. DW has the latest.
www.dw.com
October 16, 2025 at 11:25 PM
"Trump said he would meet the Russian leader in Budapest, but did not say anything more than that. He mentioned a US-Russian high-level meeting would take place next week."
www.dw.com/en/ukraine-u...
www.dw.com/en/ukraine-u...
"Authoritarian politics has gone transnational. Instead of merely resisting liberal interference, regimes from Moscow to Beijing to Ankara have learned to project influence outward—reframing legitimacy."
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/auth...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/auth...
Authoritarian Soft Power
A review of Alexander Cooley and Alexander Dukalskis, “Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics” (Oxford University Press, 2025).
www.lawfaremedia.org
October 16, 2025 at 11:54 AM
"Authoritarian politics has gone transnational. Instead of merely resisting liberal interference, regimes from Moscow to Beijing to Ankara have learned to project influence outward—reframing legitimacy."
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/auth...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/auth...
The surveillance vendor First Wap has a tool that tracks a person's location in real time. Unlike Pegasus spyware, it leaves no trace on the target's phone. It's used around the world, including the US, to track world leaders, activists, CEOs, basically anyone.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The surveillance empire that tracked world leaders, a Vatican enemy, and maybe you
Inside the hidden world of First Wap, whose untraceable tech has targeted politicians, journalists, celebrities, and activists around the globe.
www.motherjones.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:49 PM
The surveillance vendor First Wap has a tool that tracks a person's location in real time. Unlike Pegasus spyware, it leaves no trace on the target's phone. It's used around the world, including the US, to track world leaders, activists, CEOs, basically anyone.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...