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
ICE and CBP are at the head of Trump's campaign to terrorize Minnesotans. But the Justice Department is not far behind.
ICE’s No. 1 Ally
The Department of Justice has rushed to shield federal agents from accountability and launched needless criminal investigations into Minnesota officials and residents.
www.theatlantic.com
January 28, 2026 at 4:56 PM
ICE and CBP are at the head of Trump's campaign to terrorize Minnesotans. But the Justice Department is not far behind.
"They killed him because they wanted to kill him. It was the gun that gave them the excuse...I don’t care what kind of weaponry you own. I don’t care how much of it you own. When the government decides to kill you, they’re not going to have a problem doing so."
open.substack.com/pub/michaeli...
open.substack.com/pub/michaeli...
Good Guy With a Gun
I’m going to ask the question nobody on my side wants to ask because doing so risks blaming an innocent victim for his own murder: why was Alex Pretti carrying a handgun?
open.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 4:57 PM
"They killed him because they wanted to kill him. It was the gun that gave them the excuse...I don’t care what kind of weaponry you own. I don’t care how much of it you own. When the government decides to kill you, they’re not going to have a problem doing so."
open.substack.com/pub/michaeli...
open.substack.com/pub/michaeli...
Administration Social Media Posts Echo White Supremacist Messaging
www.nytimes.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by John Sipher
OTD in 2003 Prez & then Ukrainian president signed “Treaty Between the Russian Federation and Ukraine on the Russian–Ukrainian State Border”. It set Ukraine’s borders as they were in 1991 & was lodged with the UN.
So you can trust Russia on a new deal on Ukraine's borders
So you can trust Russia on a new deal on Ukraine's borders
January 28, 2026 at 8:16 AM
OTD in 2003 Prez & then Ukrainian president signed “Treaty Between the Russian Federation and Ukraine on the Russian–Ukrainian State Border”. It set Ukraine’s borders as they were in 1991 & was lodged with the UN.
So you can trust Russia on a new deal on Ukraine's borders
So you can trust Russia on a new deal on Ukraine's borders
Administration “posts have referred to neo-Nazi literature, ethnic cleansing and QAnon conspiracies, mused about deporting nearly a third of the U.S. population, and promoted lyrics from an anthem bellowed by the far-right militants of the Proud Boys.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
Administration Social Media Posts Echo White Supremacist Messaging
www.nytimes.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Administration “posts have referred to neo-Nazi literature, ethnic cleansing and QAnon conspiracies, mused about deporting nearly a third of the U.S. population, and promoted lyrics from an anthem bellowed by the far-right militants of the Proud Boys.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
Reposted by John Sipher
Police Ask For Public’s Help In Falsifying Report
January 27, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Police Ask For Public’s Help In Falsifying Report
Reposted by John Sipher
JD Vance Places Candle Outside Hooters Where ICE Agents Were Heckled
January 27, 2026 at 5:30 PM
JD Vance Places Candle Outside Hooters Where ICE Agents Were Heckled
“ten versus one and somehow they couldn’t find a way to subdue the guy or use a less than lethal [means]…They all carry belts and vests with 9,000 pieces of equipment on them and the best they can do is shoot a guy in the back?”
open.substack.com/pub/kenklipp...
open.substack.com/pub/kenklipp...
ICE Unloads
Immigration officers speak out: “Fuck this.”
open.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:24 PM
“ten versus one and somehow they couldn’t find a way to subdue the guy or use a less than lethal [means]…They all carry belts and vests with 9,000 pieces of equipment on them and the best they can do is shoot a guy in the back?”
open.substack.com/pub/kenklipp...
open.substack.com/pub/kenklipp...
Reposted by John Sipher
❗️Reportedly, this is a Ukrainian ground robotized drone taking three Russian soldiers into captivity.
January 27, 2026 at 10:45 AM
❗️Reportedly, this is a Ukrainian ground robotized drone taking three Russian soldiers into captivity.
And we know that Trump “guarantees” can be taken to the bank.
The Trump admin has indicated to Ukraine that US security guarantees are contingent on Kyiv first agreeing a peace deal that would likely involve ceding the Donbas region to Russia…
Scoop with FT comrades
@maxseddon.bsky.social
@henryjfoy.ft.com
@a-mackinnon.bsky.social
Scoop with FT comrades
@maxseddon.bsky.social
@henryjfoy.ft.com
@a-mackinnon.bsky.social
US links security guarantees for Ukraine to peace deal ceding territory
[FREE TO READ] Washington signalled Kyiv would receive more backing after any withdrawal from the Donbas, say people familiar with talks
as.ft.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:47 PM
And we know that Trump “guarantees” can be taken to the bank.
Reposted by John Sipher
Kristi Noem Calls On Minneapolis Residents To Stop Obstructing Murders https://theonion.com/kristi-noem-calls-on-minneapolis-residents-to-stop-obstructing-murders/
January 26, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Kristi Noem Calls On Minneapolis Residents To Stop Obstructing Murders https://theonion.com/kristi-noem-calls-on-minneapolis-residents-to-stop-obstructing-murders/
Reposted by John Sipher
Trump Alleges That Democrats Secretly Paid Alex Pretti To Be Model Citizen https://theonion.com/trump-alleges-that-democrats-secretly-paid-alex-pretti-to-be-model-citizen/
January 26, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Trump Alleges That Democrats Secretly Paid Alex Pretti To Be Model Citizen https://theonion.com/trump-alleges-that-democrats-secretly-paid-alex-pretti-to-be-model-citizen/
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...