@cjcmichel.bsky.social
Dictators are a cowardly and superstitious lot. | Head of Combating Kleptocracy Program at Human Rights Foundation | Author of AMERICAN KLEPTOCRACY and FOREIGN AGENTS | Posts in personal capacity
@cequirk.bsky.socialReposted by @cjcmichel.bsky.socialMe too! Call me.
@kyivpost.comReposted by @cjcmichel.bsky.socialUS envoys warned Ukraine in Miami that Washington could cut intelligence sharing unless Kyiv halts strikes on Russian oil refineries.
A US official said refinery attacks harm American consumers and erode goodwill with Donald Trump.
@cjcmichel.bsky.socialTrump family corruption? Absolutely. The Iran War and corruption? Of course. Payments for pardons? Sure—especially tied to all the scammers and fraudsters buying their pardons. But Washington construction projects? Ehhhh. Not that it's not important, but who's that going to fire up?
@cjcmichel.bsky.socialIn all the talks on corruption I've done/had since my new book came out, I don't think I've had a single person mention "Washington construction projects" as something they're concerned about.
Would be a major mistake for that to be one of Dems' focus.
@cjcmichel.bsky.socialBut still feels like far too many Western analysts/sociologists are missing the bigger shift toward non-Russian identity, history, sovereignty, etc taking place in current Russian colonies. Would love to see more focus groups broken out into Russian, Sakha, Tatar, Chechen, Buryat, etc.
@cjcmichel.bsky.socialFascinating look from Russian study groups at how few Russians still view Ukraine as a fully sovereign nation (and presumably most/all of the other former Russian colonies).
@brendannyhan.bsky.socialReposted by @cjcmichel.bsky.social"President Donald Trump bought between $1 million and $5 million in debt issued by SpaceX just days before the White House announced a new space-travel policy"
@cjcmichel.bsky.socialAll of which means you've now got far less polarization, a far less shattered media landscape, and far more opening for potential solutions than when the income tax amendment passed—and far more people who actually remember the last time a constitutional amendment was passed!
@cjcmichel.bsky.socialThe two key differences between now and then? Wealth inequality and the collapse of campaign finance regulations in the US are far worse *now* than when the income tax amendment passed... ...which actually generates even *more* support for a new amendment on the topics now!
@cjcmichel.bsky.socialYes, it's been a long time since we passed a new constitutional amendment, made all the tougher amidst all this partisanship. But you know what? Passing the income tax amendment in 1913 was after an *even longer* break, in an era of far, *far* more partisanship.
@digiphile.bsky.socialReposted by @cjcmichel.bsky.social"Now, with the oligarchs circling our democracy like a committee of vultures, it’s time for another Progressive Era to rise. Because we know what happens if it doesn’t– & what’s at stake for this democracy that these oligarchs & their hangers-on are now trying to dismantle.–- @cjcmichel.bsky.social
@amerikahaus.deReposted by @cjcmichel.bsky.socialTomorrow (Wed. Oct. 7, 2026) 7pm (CEST): author @cjcmichel.bsky.social will discuss with @jannistelroy.bsky.social all the ways foreign regimes interfere in democracies, from money laundering & rank corruption to illicit lobbying & clandestine payments, and more. www.amerikahaus.de/ausstellunge...
@cjcmichel.bsky.socialI know this is preaching to the choir, but "benevolent dictator" is the oxymoron to end all oxymorons. There's no such thing. And the only people who'd want one are themselves authoritarians dedicated to ending democracy.
@gilduran.comReposted by @cjcmichel.bsky.socialJared Kushner is key to understanding the Trump regime’s global scale of corruption.
No talent, no morals—just bottomless greed, access to power.
@cjcmichel.bsky.social exposes him in a new book, “United States of Oligarchy.”
Here’s our talk (get him on your show!)
@motherjones.comReposted by @cjcmichel.bsky.socialA CNN report hurt Jared's feelings, but numerous outlets, including @motherjones.com, have detailed his vast global conflicts of interest.
@cjcmichel.bsky.socialFascinating to see who's racing to defend Kushner after the latest revelations into his massive conflicts of interest. Not diplomats. Not regional experts. Not even elected Republicans! Just a bunch of billionaire/VC guys who can't explain away Kushner's foreign financial links.
@ericlipton.nytimes.comReposted by @cjcmichel.bsky.socialJUST POSTED: Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have pushed a multibillion oil deal with Russia as part of peace talks that will bring profits to their family business partners. A new front for Trump-era conflicts of interest.
@cjcmichel.bsky.socialAmong the many ways that Jared Kushner profits from Israeli militarism: edition.cnn.com/2026/10/01/u...
@cjcmichel.bsky.socialI'm still kind of surprised that Kushner's financial links in Israel haven't gotten more attention. The clearest geopolitical through line to Kushner's career has been supporting Israel's project of destroying Palestinian sovereignty. And now Kushner can profit from it directly.
@cjcmichel.bsky.socialI wrote more about Kushner's Israel links, and especially Israel's efforts to obliterate Palestinian statehood, in my new book UNITED STATES OF OLIGARCHY.
Kushner's firm profits directly from the success of Israeli settlements—and Israeli war.
