Brian Whitmore
powervertical.bsky.social
Brian Whitmore
@powervertical.bsky.social
A blog and podcast about Russian and post-Soviet politics.
John Sipher (@johnsipher.bsky.social) nails it here. A must-read piece and the best treatment of this subject I have read yet

substack.com/@johnsipher4...
John Sipher (@johnsipher476727)
My latest on Epstein and Russia https://tomorrowsaffairs.com/birds-of-a-feather-epstein-trump-and-russian-intelligence
substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 11:54 PM
I will be moderating a discussion about Russian negotiating strategy on Feb. 18 at 1:30pm US Eastern time at the Atlantic Council. Live stream will be available here:

www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/report...
Report launch: Negotiating with Putin’s Russia
The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series examines how Russia’s strategic culture is reflected at the negotiation table with its adversaries.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
February 17, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Reposted by Brian Whitmore
My message remains the same a year later.

We don’t have kings in America, and I won’t bend the knee to one.
February 16, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Anton @shekhovtsov.substack.com was way ahead of the curve on this. Merz’s Munich speech makes that clear
open.substack.com/pub/shekhovt...
The Case for a Pan-European Nuclear Doctrine
Enhancing Europe’s security and ensuring strategic independence
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 5:32 AM
How does the changing U.S. posture in the world look from the Kremlin? On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, I spoke with the always insightful Mikhail Zygar (@zygaro.bsky.social) to break it all down.

www.powervertical.org/2026/02/13/r...
RUSSIA AND THE EMERGING WORLD ORDER
powervertical · RUSSIA AND THE EMERGING WORLD ORDER One would think that Vladimir Putin is smiling when he looks at the rapidly changing US role in the world. One would assume that the Kremlin is d…
www.powervertical.org
February 14, 2026 at 12:07 AM
Message to the IOC
February 12, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Andy Borowitz (@borowitzreport)
I approve this bunny
substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Reposted by Brian Whitmore
This woman is in charge of the US Agency for Global Media, which is supposed to serve and represent the best American values
February 9, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Reposted by Brian Whitmore
“The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
February 9, 2026 at 4:10 AM
Reposted by Brian Whitmore
People of DC, more than two weeks into being totally iced in, now get news of measles spread—brought in by Right to Life marchers.

Looking for people exposed on the Metro, at DCA, at Children's Hospital, on Amtrak.

Gee, thanks, RFKJr et al.

dchealth.dc.gov/release/heal...
Health Officials Investigating Measles Exposures to DC Residents
(Washington, DC) - DC Health was notified of multiple confirmed cases of measles whose carriers visited multiple locations in the District while contagious. DC Health is informing people who were at t...
dchealth.dc.gov
February 9, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Reposted by Brian Whitmore
February 9, 2026 at 1:35 AM
The Power Vertical Podcast now available directly on Substack
open.substack.com/pub/brianwhi...
THE DARK ART OF GEOPOLITICAL EXTORTION
The Power Vertical Podcast
open.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 12:23 AM
On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, I spoke with Craig Kennedy about his new report on what was really behind Russia's reflagging of the Bella-1 oil tanker. www.powervertical.org/2026/02/06/t...
THE DARK ART OF GEOPOLITICAL EXTORTION
powervertical · THE DARK ART OF GEOPOLITICAL EXTORTION It’s a playbook we’ve seen the Kremlin deploy again and again. And like Charlie Brown getting tricked by Lucy with the football, w…
www.powervertical.org
February 7, 2026 at 6:44 PM
February 6, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Good question
February 6, 2026 at 4:26 PM