MJ Banias
@mjbanias.bsky.social
Co-founder and Investigations Lead at Permanent Record Research | Bullshit Hunter at bullshithunting.com | OSINT and Analysis | Journalist at TheDebrief.org | Will Probably Die in Winnipeg
I’m a Canadian officially involved in American science politics. I feel oddly honored.
“We’re Going to See An Astronaut Death” @mjbanias.bsky.social
#NASA #Space
Read more below: thedebrief.org/were-going-t...
#NASA #Space
Read more below: thedebrief.org/were-going-t...
"We’re Going to See An Astronaut Death": Government Report Issues Dire Warning Over Trump's Budget Cuts to NASA
The White House wants to slash NASA's budget. Space agency whistleblowers say that poses major safety risks, and could potentially endanger astronauts.
thedebrief.org
October 1, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I’m a Canadian officially involved in American science politics. I feel oddly honored.
Reposted by MJ Banias
More on my unnecessarily deep dive into Commonwealth v. Russ.
This time with more maps.
Do you like maps?
I like maps.
This time with more maps.
Do you like maps?
I like maps.
The house that isn't there.
And how long it hasn’t been.
open.substack.com
July 9, 2025 at 6:40 PM
More on my unnecessarily deep dive into Commonwealth v. Russ.
This time with more maps.
Do you like maps?
I like maps.
This time with more maps.
Do you like maps?
I like maps.
Reposted by MJ Banias
It all started with a Twitter account, some ChatGPT quotes, and someone looking for a good time. This is the breakdown of how a guy convinced Rolling Stone he was the rep for a suddenly popular AI band, Velvet Sundown.
www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
A Free OSINT Lesson: The "Velvet Sundown" Squatter Who Duped the News Media
Andrew Frelon: A fake band manager pretending to manage a band that doesn't exist. How Avant-garde.
www.bullshithunting.com
July 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
It all started with a Twitter account, some ChatGPT quotes, and someone looking for a good time. This is the breakdown of how a guy convinced Rolling Stone he was the rep for a suddenly popular AI band, Velvet Sundown.
www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
Velvet Sundown has drawn a lot of attention in a very short period of time. One internet trickster decided to squat on their social media, and convinced dozens of journalists he was the real deal.
Journalists should, probably, check their sources slightly, if they don’t want to get, what’s the phrase, “dunked on” doesn’t quite cover it, by pirates, shit-stirrers and @mjbanias.bsky.social
A Free OSINT Lesson: The "Velvet Sundown" Squatter Who Duped the News Media
Andrew Frelon: A fake band manager pretending to manage a band that doesn't exist. How Avant-garde.
open.substack.com
July 3, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Velvet Sundown has drawn a lot of attention in a very short period of time. One internet trickster decided to squat on their social media, and convinced dozens of journalists he was the real deal.
Following the Velvet Sundown AI music drama? Turns out- the news media has been duped.
www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
A Free OSINT Lesson: The "Velvet Sundown" Squatter Who Duped the News Media
Andrew Frelon: A fake band manager pretending to manage a band that doesn't exist. How Avant-garde.
www.bullshithunting.com
July 3, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Following the Velvet Sundown AI music drama? Turns out- the news media has been duped.
www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
Reposted by MJ Banias
📚 Cults, books, and OSINT.
In his latest, @mjbanias.bsky.social shows how open-source tools, and 𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, helped trace the hidden power behind a cult’s publishing empire — from a single copyright page to a multi-million dollar network.
🌐 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱: substack.com/home/post/p-...
In his latest, @mjbanias.bsky.social shows how open-source tools, and 𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, helped trace the hidden power behind a cult’s publishing empire — from a single copyright page to a multi-million dollar network.
🌐 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱: substack.com/home/post/p-...
June 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
📚 Cults, books, and OSINT.
In his latest, @mjbanias.bsky.social shows how open-source tools, and 𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, helped trace the hidden power behind a cult’s publishing empire — from a single copyright page to a multi-million dollar network.
🌐 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱: substack.com/home/post/p-...
In his latest, @mjbanias.bsky.social shows how open-source tools, and 𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, helped trace the hidden power behind a cult’s publishing empire — from a single copyright page to a multi-million dollar network.
🌐 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱: substack.com/home/post/p-...
It’s funny that in the Musk/Trump drama, I can’t root for anyone. I hate both of these idiots.
June 6, 2025 at 3:25 AM
It’s funny that in the Musk/Trump drama, I can’t root for anyone. I hate both of these idiots.
I wrote another post that hopefully teaches you all something cool. Or, just enjoy the Reading Rainbow references.
June 4, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I wrote another post that hopefully teaches you all something cool. Or, just enjoy the Reading Rainbow references.
Holy! @justinseitz.bsky.social and @kennedycatherine.bsky.social - we’re way better than Deloitte. Can we start charging Deloitte prices please!?
After being hired to promote Georgia’s Medicaid work requirement program, Deloitte Consulting priced reports about its own marketing performance at $300,000 a month.
A final report, which was due in February, could cost the state nearly half a million.
➡️ Read the full story: propub.li/3YOiJ66
A final report, which was due in February, could cost the state nearly half a million.
➡️ Read the full story: propub.li/3YOiJ66
May 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Holy! @justinseitz.bsky.social and @kennedycatherine.bsky.social - we’re way better than Deloitte. Can we start charging Deloitte prices please!?
Nailed it.
May 2, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Nailed it.
I’m looking for your best cryptid and monster stories. Seen something weird out there? I want to talk to you!
April 16, 2025 at 1:24 AM
I’m looking for your best cryptid and monster stories. Seen something weird out there? I want to talk to you!
Hot. AF.
Ever stand too close to the microwave to see if you become radioactive? What about blasting your junk with a radar gun? Today, Justin dispels myths and legends about junk danger. You’re gonna wanna hear this one.
www.bullshithunting.com/p/go-on-blas...
www.bullshithunting.com/p/go-on-blas...
Go On, Blast Your Junk With a Radar Gun
Why do some of the craziest panics come from cops?
www.bullshithunting.com
March 27, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Hot. AF.
The slippery slope of OSINT morality.
New: the Mozilla Foundation is calling on the tech industry to block an ICE contractor's web scrapers. Amazon, Apple, BlueSky, Duolingo, Etsy, Glassdoor, GoFundMe, Google, LinkedIn, Nextdoor, OnlyFans, Reddit, Snapchat, Substack, TikTok, Tinder, Twitch, Twitter, more
www.404media.co/mozilla-foun...
www.404media.co/mozilla-foun...
Mozilla Foundation Calls on Tech Industry to Block ICE Contractor
The Mozilla Foundation says 30 companies should block web scrapers from ShadowDragon, an ICE contractor.
www.404media.co
March 24, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The slippery slope of OSINT morality.
Well well well… just a bunch of Russian assets working in the highest ranks of the US government.
NEW: I helped Brian Krebs trace the background of one of Elon Musk's top loyalists, Branden Spikes, head of IT at X, who spent 2 mo at DOGE. Spikes and his ex-wife were involved with Russian diaspora websites and groups linked to pro-Kremlin KSORS players, Russian state media while he was at SpaceX.
March 7, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Well well well… just a bunch of Russian assets working in the highest ranks of the US government.
Reposted by MJ Banias
Another week calls for another episode of the
"Debrief Weekly Report" #podcast! This week
@mjbanias.bsky.social joins me in discussing #robots, #cleanenergy and screen detoxing. It's all here and more!
thedebrief.org/hydrogen-min...
@stephgerk.bsky.social
"Debrief Weekly Report" #podcast! This week
@mjbanias.bsky.social joins me in discussing #robots, #cleanenergy and screen detoxing. It's all here and more!
thedebrief.org/hydrogen-min...
@stephgerk.bsky.social
Hydrogen Mining the Misty Mountains
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and MJ climb to the mountain top and talk about mining hydrogen. They also get weird with shapeshifting embryonic robots, and then remember a...
thedebrief.org
February 25, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Another week calls for another episode of the
"Debrief Weekly Report" #podcast! This week
@mjbanias.bsky.social joins me in discussing #robots, #cleanenergy and screen detoxing. It's all here and more!
thedebrief.org/hydrogen-min...
@stephgerk.bsky.social
"Debrief Weekly Report" #podcast! This week
@mjbanias.bsky.social joins me in discussing #robots, #cleanenergy and screen detoxing. It's all here and more!
thedebrief.org/hydrogen-min...
@stephgerk.bsky.social
I assumed the current US administration was going to be an existential threat. But not this existential…
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
Trump says he's 'sick' of how Zelenskyy has handled Ukraine's war with Russia: 'He has no cards'
"I’ve had very good talks with Putin, and I’ve had not such good talks with Ukraine," Trump said of the U.S. negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
www.nbcnews.com
February 22, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I assumed the current US administration was going to be an existential threat. But not this existential…
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
I wrote a thing.
February 12, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I wrote a thing.
My latest piece on AI and that it’s actually really good at scamming you.
thedebrief.org/ai-phishing-...
thedebrief.org/ai-phishing-...
AI Phishing Revolution: Study Reveals Bots Now Out-Scheme Humans in Cyber Deception - The Debrief
New research has revealed that artificial intelligence systems are now capable of crafting phishing emails as effectively as human experts.
thedebrief.org
February 7, 2025 at 10:41 PM
My latest piece on AI and that it’s actually really good at scamming you.
thedebrief.org/ai-phishing-...
thedebrief.org/ai-phishing-...
Spent a day in LA talking about secret Soviet technology, CIA projects, and the Cold War. And oddly enough, a weird zeppelin ghost story made it into the mix.
January 17, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Spent a day in LA talking about secret Soviet technology, CIA projects, and the Cold War. And oddly enough, a weird zeppelin ghost story made it into the mix.
I’m in Los Angeles at Warner Brothers. This is fun.
January 16, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I’m in Los Angeles at Warner Brothers. This is fun.
For all you #OSINT nerds who got your fancy tools and Pythons… sometimes you just got to find the people with the tea, and have em spill it.
www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
A Free OSINT Lesson: Why RUMINT is the Unsung Hero of Intelligence Gathering
Spill the Tea!
www.bullshithunting.com
January 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
For all you #OSINT nerds who got your fancy tools and Pythons… sometimes you just got to find the people with the tea, and have em spill it.
www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
Reposted by MJ Banias
🚨NEW! From @mjbanias.bsky.social - A Free OSINT Lesson: Why RUMINT is the Unsung Hero of Intelligence Gathering www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
A Free OSINT Lesson: Why RUMINT is the Unsung Hero of Intelligence Gathering
Spill the Tea!
www.bullshithunting.com
January 15, 2025 at 2:11 PM
🚨NEW! From @mjbanias.bsky.social - A Free OSINT Lesson: Why RUMINT is the Unsung Hero of Intelligence Gathering www.bullshithunting.com/p/a-free-osi...
You gotta kick at the darkness till
it bleeds daylight.
it bleeds daylight.
December 30, 2024 at 3:37 AM
You gotta kick at the darkness till
it bleeds daylight.
it bleeds daylight.
This meme genuinely made my day.
December 23, 2024 at 5:50 PM
This meme genuinely made my day.