John Sipher
@johnsipher.bsky.social
Former CIA clandestine service. Spycraft Entertainment, Atlantic Council, NAFO. Host of Mission implausible podcast. Friend of dogs everywhere.
Reposted by John Sipher
“Trump simply does not care about people. He uses expressions of caring as a political tool, but nothing more.”
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
The Trump "Tell"
How You Can Tell He Does Not Care About An Issue
open.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:46 PM
“Trump simply does not care about people. He uses expressions of caring as a political tool, but nothing more.”
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by John Sipher
pretty wild statement re: Republican Chris Madel drop from race for MN governor:
"Saying he cannot support the national GOP's 'stated retribution on citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so."
"Saying he cannot support the national GOP's 'stated retribution on citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so."
January 26, 2026 at 2:14 PM
pretty wild statement re: Republican Chris Madel drop from race for MN governor:
"Saying he cannot support the national GOP's 'stated retribution on citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so."
"Saying he cannot support the national GOP's 'stated retribution on citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so."
A tiny drop of courage in the GOP?
Two weeks ago this guy announced he was providing legal help to the agent who shot Renee Good. That's how quickly the winds are shifting.
pretty wild statement re: Republican Chris Madel drop from race for MN governor:
"Saying he cannot support the national GOP's 'stated retribution on citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so."
"Saying he cannot support the national GOP's 'stated retribution on citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so."
January 26, 2026 at 3:42 PM
A tiny drop of courage in the GOP?
A stunning read. As an aside, Senator Grassley should be ashamed of himself. (gift article)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Inside Kash Patel’s F.B.I.: Meltdowns, Chaos, Vendettas (Gift Article)
Forty-five current and former employees on the changes they say are undermining the agency and making America less safe.
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:22 PM
A stunning read. As an aside, Senator Grassley should be ashamed of himself. (gift article)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
“In Ron DeSantis’s Florida…parents at one Miami school received a notice that their first graders would need a signed permission slip to “participate and listen to a book written by an African American.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/b...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/b...
Can American Children Point to America on a Map?
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:45 AM
“In Ron DeSantis’s Florida…parents at one Miami school received a notice that their first graders would need a signed permission slip to “participate and listen to a book written by an African American.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/b...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/b...
Reposted by John Sipher
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara: "People have had enough. This is the third shooting in less than 3 weeks. The MPD went the entire year last year recovering about 900 guns from the street, arresting hundreds of violent offenders, and we didn't shoot anyone ... this is not sustainable."
January 25, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara: "People have had enough. This is the third shooting in less than 3 weeks. The MPD went the entire year last year recovering about 900 guns from the street, arresting hundreds of violent offenders, and we didn't shoot anyone ... this is not sustainable."
Reposted by John Sipher
One of the best things I’ve read in a while:
January 25, 2026 at 10:39 PM
One of the best things I’ve read in a while:
Reposted by John Sipher
Just released my free weekend update. This week answered an important riddle. How was the US to be paid from seized Russian assets? why the new "Board of Peace" is the perfect vehicle. Completely unaccountable and unsanctionable, it is a corrupt ruler’s dream. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Weekend Update #169: A Corruption Riddle Solved
Zelensky's Speech In Davos; Ukrainian Plans To Waste The Russian Military
open.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:04 AM
Just released my free weekend update. This week answered an important riddle. How was the US to be paid from seized Russian assets? why the new "Board of Peace" is the perfect vehicle. Completely unaccountable and unsanctionable, it is a corrupt ruler’s dream. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by John Sipher
Reposted by John Sipher
They are telling us in unequivocal terms that if you show solidarity with immigrants who are in the literal crosshairs of Trump/MAGA, you're risking a death sentence.
newrepublic.com/article/2055...
newrepublic.com/article/2055...
January 24, 2026 at 6:27 PM
They are telling us in unequivocal terms that if you show solidarity with immigrants who are in the literal crosshairs of Trump/MAGA, you're risking a death sentence.
newrepublic.com/article/2055...
newrepublic.com/article/2055...
Reposted by John Sipher
What Miller is really saying is that we can kill whomever we want and then make up a bullshit story contradicted by evidence and get away with it.
January 24, 2026 at 7:37 PM
What Miller is really saying is that we can kill whomever we want and then make up a bullshit story contradicted by evidence and get away with it.
Reposted by John Sipher
Imagine having to defend your fatally shot son from Stephen Miller's slurs that he was a "domestic terrorist" trying to "assassinate" ICE officers. This is what Trump and Trumpism has brought to the United States.
Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.
"Please get the truth out about our son."
"Please get the truth out about our son."
January 25, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Imagine having to defend your fatally shot son from Stephen Miller's slurs that he was a "domestic terrorist" trying to "assassinate" ICE officers. This is what Trump and Trumpism has brought to the United States.
Reposted by John Sipher
We're having a Kent State every week.
January 25, 2026 at 4:04 AM
We're having a Kent State every week.
Reposted by John Sipher
Leadership starts at home.
JD Vance continues to appease a base that directs racist attacks at his wife.
He prioritizes his political standing over his own family.
This is the behavior of a man who values power more than principles
JD Vance continues to appease a base that directs racist attacks at his wife.
He prioritizes his political standing over his own family.
This is the behavior of a man who values power more than principles
January 25, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Leadership starts at home.
JD Vance continues to appease a base that directs racist attacks at his wife.
He prioritizes his political standing over his own family.
This is the behavior of a man who values power more than principles
JD Vance continues to appease a base that directs racist attacks at his wife.
He prioritizes his political standing over his own family.
This is the behavior of a man who values power more than principles
“It is not Trump’s genius to recognize America’s unused strength; it is his blindness to see that our strength was a function of our restraint.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/o...
Opinion | Trump Just Proved Carney’s Point
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:28 AM
“It is not Trump’s genius to recognize America’s unused strength; it is his blindness to see that our strength was a function of our restraint.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/o...
“Everything Trump has done over the last week has made him look tawdry, addled and small…For Trump, nothing — not even peace — transcends his brutish transactionalism.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/o...
Opinion | Trump Just Proved Carney’s Point
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:23 AM
“Everything Trump has done over the last week has made him look tawdry, addled and small…For Trump, nothing — not even peace — transcends his brutish transactionalism.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/o...
Reposted by John Sipher
Listen now! Episode 5 of The Steady State Sentinel: The Country is Suffering (recorded 1-5-2026)
Listen at thesteadystate.org/podcast, on Apple at apple.co/45rB0JB or wherever you get your podcasts. @denverr.bsky.social
Listen at thesteadystate.org/podcast, on Apple at apple.co/45rB0JB or wherever you get your podcasts. @denverr.bsky.social
January 24, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Listen now! Episode 5 of The Steady State Sentinel: The Country is Suffering (recorded 1-5-2026)
Listen at thesteadystate.org/podcast, on Apple at apple.co/45rB0JB or wherever you get your podcasts. @denverr.bsky.social
Listen at thesteadystate.org/podcast, on Apple at apple.co/45rB0JB or wherever you get your podcasts. @denverr.bsky.social
Reposted by John Sipher
Also, may I say that I don’t agree with people saying ICE and CBP need “more training.” They’re doing exactly what this administration has trained them to—impose a reign of fear in blue cities. They don’t need more training. They need to be ripped up root and branch.
January 24, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Also, may I say that I don’t agree with people saying ICE and CBP need “more training.” They’re doing exactly what this administration has trained them to—impose a reign of fear in blue cities. They don’t need more training. They need to be ripped up root and branch.
It would be easier if the press only reported when he told the truth.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
Despite Trump’s Words, China and Russia Are Not Threatening Greenland
www.nytimes.com
January 24, 2026 at 6:17 PM
It would be easier if the press only reported when he told the truth.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
Reposted by John Sipher
We're not allowed to see the faces of the taxpayer-funded goon squad who is committing crimes in the streets, but the goon squad is allowed to record the faces of taxpayers who have committed no crimes.
“We have a nice little database, & now you’re considered domestic terrorists” says an ICE agent after photographing a civilian who was videotaping them. Posted today by Brian Allen on X. h/t @allenanalysis.bsky.social
January 23, 2026 at 7:15 PM
We're not allowed to see the faces of the taxpayer-funded goon squad who is committing crimes in the streets, but the goon squad is allowed to record the faces of taxpayers who have committed no crimes.
“History does not record many cases in which a power-mad leader careening toward tyranny suddenly regained his senses and became more moderate. On the contrary, the normal course of the disease is toward ever-accelerating deterioration and debauchery.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/o...
Opinion | The Coming Trump Crackup
www.nytimes.com
January 24, 2026 at 9:11 AM
“History does not record many cases in which a power-mad leader careening toward tyranny suddenly regained his senses and became more moderate. On the contrary, the normal course of the disease is toward ever-accelerating deterioration and debauchery.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/o...