Casey Michel
@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
Pinned
Casey Michel
@cjcmichel.bsky.social
· Oct 21
Now that my beloved Mariners have been bounced from the baseball playoffs, it's time for some good news: my new book cover!
This was always the deal. It had nothing to do with American interests, let alone democracy.
It had everything to do with obliging Russian imperialism, so that American oligarchs could get paid. Sacrificing Ukraine for profit.
Bottomless corruption, making the world safe for dictatorship.
It had everything to do with obliging Russian imperialism, so that American oligarchs could get paid. Sacrificing Ukraine for profit.
Bottomless corruption, making the world safe for dictatorship.
"By dangling multibillion-dollar rare-earth and energy deals, Moscow could reshape the economic map of Europe—while driving a wedge between America and its traditional allies"
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine
The Kremlin pitched the White House on peace through business. To Europe’s dismay, the president and his envoy are on board.
www.wsj.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:05 PM
This was always the deal. It had nothing to do with American interests, let alone democracy.
It had everything to do with obliging Russian imperialism, so that American oligarchs could get paid. Sacrificing Ukraine for profit.
Bottomless corruption, making the world safe for dictatorship.
It had everything to do with obliging Russian imperialism, so that American oligarchs could get paid. Sacrificing Ukraine for profit.
Bottomless corruption, making the world safe for dictatorship.
In the long history of American oligarchs and corporate heads kowtowing to foreign dictators, there's really never been anything like last week's state dinner honoring MBS.
The sheer number, the sheer amount of corporate power, was unlike anything before.
www.businessinsider.com/white-house-...
The sheer number, the sheer amount of corporate power, was unlike anything before.
www.businessinsider.com/white-house-...
The guest list for White House dinner for the Saudi Crown Prince included nearly 50 executives
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff were on the guest list.
www.businessinsider.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:04 PM
In the long history of American oligarchs and corporate heads kowtowing to foreign dictators, there's really never been anything like last week's state dinner honoring MBS.
The sheer number, the sheer amount of corporate power, was unlike anything before.
www.businessinsider.com/white-house-...
The sheer number, the sheer amount of corporate power, was unlike anything before.
www.businessinsider.com/white-house-...
In a whole series of strategic blunders, Putin's claims that he annexed massive swaths of Ukraine that Russia didn't even control has to be one of the most idiotic moves Putin ever made.
Completely boxed himself into a corner, for no reason other than historic illiteracy and battlefield panic.
Completely boxed himself into a corner, for no reason other than historic illiteracy and battlefield panic.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he would end his Ukraine offensive if Kyiv withdrew from territory Moscow claims at its own -- otherwise his army would take it by force ➡️ u.afp.com/Shmj
November 27, 2025 at 4:36 PM
In a whole series of strategic blunders, Putin's claims that he annexed massive swaths of Ukraine that Russia didn't even control has to be one of the most idiotic moves Putin ever made.
Completely boxed himself into a corner, for no reason other than historic illiteracy and battlefield panic.
Completely boxed himself into a corner, for no reason other than historic illiteracy and battlefield panic.
Yet again, we have Jared Kushner, unelected billionaire, acting as middle-man to launder Kremlin policy to help Russia carve up its neighbor.
New: @theins.press saw the Witkoff-Dmitriev plan six months ago in draft form—except it was all Dmitriev. Bloomberg reports now Dmitriev told Ushakov he’d pass along a Russian plan and the Americans “can present it as their own”: theins.press/en/politics/...
Made in Moscow: The “U.S. peace plan” for Ukraine was substantially formulated months ago by Kremlin operative Kirill Dmitriev
Since it was first published on Nov. 20, the much-discussed 28-point plan for ending the war in Ukraine has borne all the signs of a Kremlin information operation. In fact, many of its most controvers...
theins.press
November 26, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Yet again, we have Jared Kushner, unelected billionaire, acting as middle-man to launder Kremlin policy to help Russia carve up its neighbor.
Reposted by Casey Michel
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Casey Michel
In case you missed this, the BBC edited a historian's speech about Trump to remove the claim that he's "the most openly corrupt president in US history." This came after Trump had threatened a $1 billion lawsuit.
Elite capitulation continues.
Read all about it here:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Elite capitulation continues.
Read all about it here:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump Angrily Threatened to Sue BBC. Then Things Took a Darker Turn.
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:30 PM
In case you missed this, the BBC edited a historian's speech about Trump to remove the claim that he's "the most openly corrupt president in US history." This came after Trump had threatened a $1 billion lawsuit.
Elite capitulation continues.
Read all about it here:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Elite capitulation continues.
Read all about it here:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
November 26, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Hot take: the American West isn't understood nearly well enough as a vector in (and cause of) the American War of Independence, War of 1812, *and* Civil War.
November 21, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Hot take: the American West isn't understood nearly well enough as a vector in (and cause of) the American War of Independence, War of 1812, *and* Civil War.
Reposted by Casey Michel
👇
3) This is getting lost, but this is the Trump administration green-lighting the principle that nuclear powers can now start carving up their neighbors—including those who've given up nukes.
This is all just a recipe for massive nuclear proliferation. (And yet another warning to Canada/Greenland.)
This is all just a recipe for massive nuclear proliferation. (And yet another warning to Canada/Greenland.)
November 21, 2025 at 2:16 PM
👇
Reposted by Casey Michel
NEW: As Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick drives billions of dollars in foreign payments to help build AI data centers in the US, his sons help run a company earning tens of millions in fees helping finance AI data centers. A NYT investigation. (Free link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
Family Affair: Commerce Secretary’s Sons Cash In on A.I. Frenzy
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:02 PM
NEW: As Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick drives billions of dollars in foreign payments to help build AI data centers in the US, his sons help run a company earning tens of millions in fees helping finance AI data centers. A NYT investigation. (Free link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
Reposted by Casey Michel
Counterintuitive take: the more appalling these peace plans are for Ukraine, the better it is for Kyiv as it can say to the Europeans that they need to stand firm.
The new Trump proposal for Ukraine is somehow even worse than the ones before: it would have the US recognize not just Crimea as Russian, but all of Ukraine's occupied territories as Russian.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/w...
November 20, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Counterintuitive take: the more appalling these peace plans are for Ukraine, the better it is for Kyiv as it can say to the Europeans that they need to stand firm.
Reposted by Casey Michel
“Washington and its allies must give up the idea that there is some ultimate cost that would force Putin to retreat. That ship has sailed. As such, a new strategy must be identified.”
@cjcmichel.bsky.social argues trying to persuade Putin is pointless, and containment is the only realistic option.
@cjcmichel.bsky.social argues trying to persuade Putin is pointless, and containment is the only realistic option.
Putin Will Never Compromise on Ukraine
Russia’s president is too committed to his own fantasies to ever accept Ukraine’s independence.
foreignpolicy.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:44 AM
“Washington and its allies must give up the idea that there is some ultimate cost that would force Putin to retreat. That ship has sailed. As such, a new strategy must be identified.”
@cjcmichel.bsky.social argues trying to persuade Putin is pointless, and containment is the only realistic option.
@cjcmichel.bsky.social argues trying to persuade Putin is pointless, and containment is the only realistic option.
The new Trump proposal for Ukraine is somehow even worse than the ones before: it would have the US recognize not just Crimea as Russian, but all of Ukraine's occupied territories as Russian.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/w...
November 20, 2025 at 2:20 PM
The new Trump proposal for Ukraine is somehow even worse than the ones before: it would have the US recognize not just Crimea as Russian, but all of Ukraine's occupied territories as Russian.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/w...
November 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I'm as much of a Grant fan as anyone (ahem www.politico.com/news/magazin...), but his bumbling into an attempted third term was absolutely a blunder. (As was all his ignorant loyalty to crooked official after crooked official in his actual presidency.)
November 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I'm as much of a Grant fan as anyone (ahem www.politico.com/news/magazin...), but his bumbling into an attempted third term was absolutely a blunder. (As was all his ignorant loyalty to crooked official after crooked official in his actual presidency.)
Jared Kushner has a secret(!) partnership with the Serbian regime, which we've only just learned about: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Serbia secretly agreed deal with Jared Kushner firm to develop protected Belgrade site
Government established joint venture with Trump’s son-in-law in February 2024 to build hotel, apartments and museum complex
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Jared Kushner has a secret(!) partnership with the Serbian regime, which we've only just learned about: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
This statistic says it all:
"The share of Americans who describe themselves as middle class has dropped from 85 per cent a decade ago to 54 per cent."
www.ft.com/content/2805...
"The share of Americans who describe themselves as middle class has dropped from 85 per cent a decade ago to 54 per cent."
www.ft.com/content/2805...
How the American dream turned out to be pay to play
Big brands from Disney to American Express are profiting from economic divisions and making them wider
www.ft.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:39 PM
This statistic says it all:
"The share of Americans who describe themselves as middle class has dropped from 85 per cent a decade ago to 54 per cent."
www.ft.com/content/2805...
"The share of Americans who describe themselves as middle class has dropped from 85 per cent a decade ago to 54 per cent."
www.ft.com/content/2805...
Reposted by Casey Michel
This is essentially the same story told by the Panama Papers of 2016, the Paradise Papers of 2017 & the Pandora Papers of 2020.
Nearly 7TB of data on released on wealthy people, mostly men, doing terrible things at scale & facing no consequences:barely any prosecutions, miniscule # of convictions.
Nearly 7TB of data on released on wealthy people, mostly men, doing terrible things at scale & facing no consequences:barely any prosecutions, miniscule # of convictions.
The Epstein story gets a something that is tearing at the heart of the electorate: elite impunity. The idea that wealthy and powerful people can do terrible things *at scale* and face no consequences for them. Whatever political party actually stops it could rule the country for a generation.
November 12, 2025 at 11:27 PM
This is essentially the same story told by the Panama Papers of 2016, the Paradise Papers of 2017 & the Pandora Papers of 2020.
Nearly 7TB of data on released on wealthy people, mostly men, doing terrible things at scale & facing no consequences:barely any prosecutions, miniscule # of convictions.
Nearly 7TB of data on released on wealthy people, mostly men, doing terrible things at scale & facing no consequences:barely any prosecutions, miniscule # of convictions.
Reposted by Casey Michel
Years after he first invaded Ukraine, it's time to forget the idea that we can ever convince Putin he won't win in Ukraine. It's a strategy destined for failure. (And probably always was.)
It's time to find a new strategy—one that can actually succeed.
My latest:
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/11/p...
It's time to find a new strategy—one that can actually succeed.
My latest:
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/11/p...
Putin Will Never Compromise on Ukraine
Russia’s president is too committed to his own fantasies to ever accept Ukraine’s independence.
foreignpolicy.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Years after he first invaded Ukraine, it's time to forget the idea that we can ever convince Putin he won't win in Ukraine. It's a strategy destined for failure. (And probably always was.)
It's time to find a new strategy—one that can actually succeed.
My latest:
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/11/p...
It's time to find a new strategy—one that can actually succeed.
My latest:
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/11/p...
Putin will never be convinced he will lose in Ukraine. He can only be outlasted.
My latest for @foreignpolicy.com, calling for a wholesale strategic shift in Ukraine:
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/11/p...
My latest for @foreignpolicy.com, calling for a wholesale strategic shift in Ukraine:
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/11/p...
Putin Will Never Compromise on Ukraine
Russia’s president is too committed to his own fantasies to ever accept Ukraine’s independence.
foreignpolicy.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Putin will never be convinced he will lose in Ukraine. He can only be outlasted.
My latest for @foreignpolicy.com, calling for a wholesale strategic shift in Ukraine:
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/11/p...
My latest for @foreignpolicy.com, calling for a wholesale strategic shift in Ukraine:
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/11/p...
The Heritage Foundation made employees watch Tucker Carlson’s monologues on Ukraine, "which were rife with conspiracy theories about the war," and "to delete past tweets in support of Ukraine aid"
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
The Crack-Up at the Heritage Foundation Is a Warning Sign for MAGA World
By defending a controversial Tucker Carlson interview, think tank president Kevin Roberts unleashed a flood of discontent in the conservative establishment.
www.wsj.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:47 PM
The Heritage Foundation made employees watch Tucker Carlson’s monologues on Ukraine, "which were rife with conspiracy theories about the war," and "to delete past tweets in support of Ukraine aid"
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Can't believe there aren't more movements on the U.S. mainland to support the elimination of America's colonies.
Statehood, independence, free association—whatever those colonized populations want.
www.wsj.com/world/guam-u...
Statehood, independence, free association—whatever those colonized populations want.
www.wsj.com/world/guam-u...
A Campaign to Make Guam the 51st State Is Gaining Traction
A U.S. military buildup stokes efforts to change the political status of the island in China’s crosshairs.
www.wsj.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Can't believe there aren't more movements on the U.S. mainland to support the elimination of America's colonies.
Statehood, independence, free association—whatever those colonized populations want.
www.wsj.com/world/guam-u...
Statehood, independence, free association—whatever those colonized populations want.
www.wsj.com/world/guam-u...
"In the first half of this year, the Trump Organization’s income soared 17-fold to $864 million from $51 million a year earlier... Of the first-half total, $802 million – more than 90% – came from Trump crypto ventures, including sales of World Liberty tokens." www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Inside the Trump family’s global crypto cash machine
The U.S. president’s family raked in more than $800 million from sales of crypto assets in the first half of 2025 alone, a Reuters examination found, on top of potentially billions more in unrealized “on paper” gains. Much of that cash came from foreign sources as Donald Trump's sons touted their business on an international investor roadshow.
www.reuters.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:43 PM
"In the first half of this year, the Trump Organization’s income soared 17-fold to $864 million from $51 million a year earlier... Of the first-half total, $802 million – more than 90% – came from Trump crypto ventures, including sales of World Liberty tokens." www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Would be great if American officials stopped taking trips to foreign dictatorships that were paid for by those same foreign dictatorships.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Justice Dept. Is Said to Be Investigating D.C. Mayor Over Foreign Trip
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Would be great if American officials stopped taking trips to foreign dictatorships that were paid for by those same foreign dictatorships.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
No idea why there isn't more analysis of this—Chinese claims on Russian territory, which Russia first thieved from China in the 19th century—in English-language media.
www.wsj.com/opinion/xi-a...
www.wsj.com/opinion/xi-a...
Opinion | Xi Adopts the ‘Putin Doctrine,’ at Russia’s Peril
China seeks to undo the ‘Century of Humiliation’ in which it ceded great territory to Moscow.
www.wsj.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:55 PM
No idea why there isn't more analysis of this—Chinese claims on Russian territory, which Russia first thieved from China in the 19th century—in English-language media.
www.wsj.com/opinion/xi-a...
www.wsj.com/opinion/xi-a...