James L. Bruno
@jameslbruno.bsky.social
Bestselling author, journalist, diplomat. Appeared on CNN, NPR, Fox, SiriusXM, BBC. Contribute to Washington Monthly; POLITICO. Fugitive hunter & raconteur. https://jameslbruno.substack.com/
The clubby deal-making and moral racketeering of the Epstein class is now the United States’ governing philosophy.
The irony is that the vaunted “retribution” Donald Trump promised his followers may end up being turned on him and fellow plutocrats.
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/weekly-min...
The irony is that the vaunted “retribution” Donald Trump promised his followers may end up being turned on him and fellow plutocrats.
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/weekly-min...
November 25, 2025 at 8:21 AM
The clubby deal-making and moral racketeering of the Epstein class is now the United States’ governing philosophy.
The irony is that the vaunted “retribution” Donald Trump promised his followers may end up being turned on him and fellow plutocrats.
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/weekly-min...
The irony is that the vaunted “retribution” Donald Trump promised his followers may end up being turned on him and fellow plutocrats.
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/weekly-min...
It appears Hegseth is back hitting the bottle again.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
It appears Hegseth is back hitting the bottle again.
Yes, he's caught red-handed engaging in corruption. But he's also guilty of first degree stupidity. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
November 23, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Yes, he's caught red-handed engaging in corruption. But he's also guilty of first degree stupidity. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
Huckabee inexplicably meets with Pollard, who served 30 years for spying for Israel. Pollard had also shopped to sell secrets to other govts. Huckabee has no business being an ambassador and should stick to his forte: Bible-pounding in rural Arkansas. www.yahoo.com/news/article...
‘He Is Out of Control’: MAGA Demands Answers After Trump Ambassador Mike Huckabee Covertly Meets With Spy Who Sold American Secrets
Prominent supporters of Trump demanded answers after it was revealed that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee held a secret meeting with Jonathan Pollard.
www.yahoo.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Huckabee inexplicably meets with Pollard, who served 30 years for spying for Israel. Pollard had also shopped to sell secrets to other govts. Huckabee has no business being an ambassador and should stick to his forte: Bible-pounding in rural Arkansas. www.yahoo.com/news/article...
"Trump officials prepare for potential cabinet shakeup after one-year mark"
In keeping with Trump’s track record for Cabinet picks, here are the top contenders.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/p...
In keeping with Trump’s track record for Cabinet picks, here are the top contenders.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/p...
November 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
"Trump officials prepare for potential cabinet shakeup after one-year mark"
In keeping with Trump’s track record for Cabinet picks, here are the top contenders.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/p...
In keeping with Trump’s track record for Cabinet picks, here are the top contenders.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/p...
"U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas as hate symbols"
Oh really?
Explain why to them -
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
Oh really?
Explain why to them -
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
November 21, 2025 at 7:30 AM
"U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas as hate symbols"
Oh really?
Explain why to them -
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
Oh really?
Explain why to them -
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
UCMJ Law Article 92: An order is unlawful if it violates the Constitution, US laws, or military regs, directs one to commit a crime or unethical act, including intentionally targeting civilians and suppressing lawful protests in violation of 1st Amendment rights.
www.ucmjlaw.com/disobey-a-su...
www.ucmjlaw.com/disobey-a-su...
Disobey a superior officer: defenses to UCMJ Article 90 and UCMJ Article 92 - The Law Office of Peter Kageleiry, Jr.
Disobey a superior officer: UCMJ Article 90 and UCMJ Article 92. Are there defenses to violating Art 90 and Art 92? What are Unlawful orders?
www.ucmjlaw.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:25 AM
UCMJ Law Article 92: An order is unlawful if it violates the Constitution, US laws, or military regs, directs one to commit a crime or unethical act, including intentionally targeting civilians and suppressing lawful protests in violation of 1st Amendment rights.
www.ucmjlaw.com/disobey-a-su...
www.ucmjlaw.com/disobey-a-su...
C.D.C. Website No Longer Rejects Link Between Vaccines and Autism www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
November 20, 2025 at 6:26 PM
C.D.C. Website No Longer Rejects Link Between Vaccines and Autism www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
This public message is brilliant and needed. For those of us who took the oath to uphold the Constitution, this should be a no-brainer.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/19/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/19/p...
Democratic lawmakers urge troops to disobey illegal orders | CNN Politics
Half a dozen members of Congress who previously served in the military or intelligence community are urging servicemembers and intelligence officials to disobey illegal orders that might be issued by ...
www.cnn.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:55 AM
This public message is brilliant and needed. For those of us who took the oath to uphold the Constitution, this should be a no-brainer.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/19/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/19/p...
The tempo of Watergate revelations accelerated in a self-reinforcing process driven by developments involving media investigations, judicial pressure, and congressional hearings, each fueling the next stage of public disclosure and legal action.
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/the-waterg...
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/the-waterg...
The Watergate Drum Beat of Doom that Pounds in Trump's Head
This week’s near-unanimous congressional votes to release the Epstein files are akin to the 1974 Supreme Court ruling ordering Nixon to release the tapes, ending his presidency.
jameslbruno.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:55 AM
The tempo of Watergate revelations accelerated in a self-reinforcing process driven by developments involving media investigations, judicial pressure, and congressional hearings, each fueling the next stage of public disclosure and legal action.
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/the-waterg...
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/the-waterg...
Disbarment anyone? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
Judge Says Justice Dept. May Have Committed Misconduct in Comey Case
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Disbarment anyone? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
As revelations emerge about the Trump-Epstein relationship, it's apparent that these men were made for each other: close friends whose shared sociopathy and depravity were such that they could have been brothers spawned in the 9th Circle of Hell.
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/sociopaths...
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/sociopaths...
Sociopaths of a Feather: A Psychological Comparison of Trump & Epstein
Epstein paid for his sins. Trump has yet to. His victims, which mounting evidence is showing were also Epstein’s, may change that. And it can’t come too soon.
jameslbruno.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:17 AM
As revelations emerge about the Trump-Epstein relationship, it's apparent that these men were made for each other: close friends whose shared sociopathy and depravity were such that they could have been brothers spawned in the 9th Circle of Hell.
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/sociopaths...
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/sociopaths...
Only dictators put their face on their nation's currency.
sign.moveon.org/petitions/u-...
sign.moveon.org/petitions/u-...
Do NOT put Donald Trump on any U.S. currency!
Rarely in U.S. history have living presidents minted their image on U.S. currency. Trump wants to change that.
In October, it was reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled plans f...
sign.moveon.org
November 12, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Only dictators put their face on their nation's currency.
sign.moveon.org/petitions/u-...
sign.moveon.org/petitions/u-...
Expect one of two outcomes:
1) she stands firm in which case they bring the house down on her.
2) a corrupt bargain is made in which she is rewarded with committee assignments, a cabinet post, pork for her district, etc. in return for her reversal.
abcnews.go.com/US/top-offic...
1) she stands firm in which case they bring the house down on her.
2) a corrupt bargain is made in which she is rewarded with committee assignments, a cabinet post, pork for her district, etc. in return for her reversal.
abcnews.go.com/US/top-offic...
Top administration officials met with Boebert about House vote on release of Epstein files: Sources
Top administration officials met with Rep. Lauren Boebert Wednesday about the effort to force a vote on the release of DOJ's Epstein files, sources told ABC News.
abcnews.go.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Expect one of two outcomes:
1) she stands firm in which case they bring the house down on her.
2) a corrupt bargain is made in which she is rewarded with committee assignments, a cabinet post, pork for her district, etc. in return for her reversal.
abcnews.go.com/US/top-offic...
1) she stands firm in which case they bring the house down on her.
2) a corrupt bargain is made in which she is rewarded with committee assignments, a cabinet post, pork for her district, etc. in return for her reversal.
abcnews.go.com/US/top-offic...
The degradation of Kennedy Center — and American culture broadly — parallels that of our politics, economics and civic life.
LINK: jameslbruno.substack.com/p/polluting-...
LINK: jameslbruno.substack.com/p/polluting-...
Polluting Culture: the Trumpification of Kennedy Center
Donald Trump would like nothing better than to exercise power over the arts to further his cult of personality. The arts can help defeat him. Listen to JFK.
jameslbruno.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:28 AM
The degradation of Kennedy Center — and American culture broadly — parallels that of our politics, economics and civic life.
LINK: jameslbruno.substack.com/p/polluting-...
LINK: jameslbruno.substack.com/p/polluting-...
Hegseth's purging military ranks serves to consolidate servile loyalty in the single entity that potentially poses the greatest power-threat to Trump's autocratic grip. For strongmen obeisance trumps professionalism. Project 2025 lays it all out clearly.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
Hegseth Is Purging Military Leaders With Little Explanation
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Hegseth's purging military ranks serves to consolidate servile loyalty in the single entity that potentially poses the greatest power-threat to Trump's autocratic grip. For strongmen obeisance trumps professionalism. Project 2025 lays it all out clearly.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
Those having a better chance of being elected NY governor than Elise Stefanik:
-George Santos
-Jeffrey Dahmer's corpse
-Ghislane Maxwell
-Bashar al-Assad
-Sean Combs
-Vladimir Putin
-Elon Musk
-Mel Gibson
-Kim Jong Un
-Vlad the Impaler
-The Joker
-Chernobyl
-Lord Voldemort
-George Santos
-Jeffrey Dahmer's corpse
-Ghislane Maxwell
-Bashar al-Assad
-Sean Combs
-Vladimir Putin
-Elon Musk
-Mel Gibson
-Kim Jong Un
-Vlad the Impaler
-The Joker
-Chernobyl
-Lord Voldemort
November 7, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Those having a better chance of being elected NY governor than Elise Stefanik:
-George Santos
-Jeffrey Dahmer's corpse
-Ghislane Maxwell
-Bashar al-Assad
-Sean Combs
-Vladimir Putin
-Elon Musk
-Mel Gibson
-Kim Jong Un
-Vlad the Impaler
-The Joker
-Chernobyl
-Lord Voldemort
-George Santos
-Jeffrey Dahmer's corpse
-Ghislane Maxwell
-Bashar al-Assad
-Sean Combs
-Vladimir Putin
-Elon Musk
-Mel Gibson
-Kim Jong Un
-Vlad the Impaler
-The Joker
-Chernobyl
-Lord Voldemort
Utterly ignorant of history, Trump has a dim awareness of the country’s dismal record of regime change. But his hubris and incompetence will lead us into foreign disasters, none of which will make the Epstein affair go away.
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/weekly-min...
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/weekly-min...
Weekly Mind Dump: The Folly of Regime Change
When autocrats get mired in failed policies and scandals, they turn to foreign aggression - which only drives them deeper into failure.
jameslbruno.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Utterly ignorant of history, Trump has a dim awareness of the country’s dismal record of regime change. But his hubris and incompetence will lead us into foreign disasters, none of which will make the Epstein affair go away.
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/weekly-min...
jameslbruno.substack.com/p/weekly-min...
"In the first six months of this year, the Trump Organization’s income soared to $864 million, up from just $51 million a year earlier. It’s worth noting that recent Supreme Court decisions have made corruption harder to police."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | In Trump’s America, Are We Losing Our Democracy?
Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:02 PM
"In the first six months of this year, the Trump Organization’s income soared to $864 million, up from just $51 million a year earlier. It’s worth noting that recent Supreme Court decisions have made corruption harder to police."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
America’s most farming-dependent counties overwhelmingly backed President-elect Donald Trump in this year’s election by an average of 77.7%.
FAFO.
x.com/i/status/198...
FAFO.
x.com/i/status/198...
Don Winslow on X: "*NEW* *WATCH* *PLEASE RETWEET + QUOTE TWEET* #TrumpAndTheDeathOfTheAmericanFarmer ―By Don Winslow https://t.co/ePNhXdmBla" / X
*NEW* *WATCH* *PLEASE RETWEET + QUOTE TWEET* #TrumpAndTheDeathOfTheAmericanFarmer ―By Don Winslow https://t.co/ePNhXdmBla
x.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:09 PM
America’s most farming-dependent counties overwhelmingly backed President-elect Donald Trump in this year’s election by an average of 77.7%.
FAFO.
x.com/i/status/198...
FAFO.
x.com/i/status/198...
This says it all.
October 31, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This says it all.
🇺🇸🍾 YOU ARE INVITED TO THE MAGA BALLROOM 2028 #ai #maga #democracy
YouTube video by Ari K
www.youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Take a US president who doesn’t know what he’s doing. Put him up against a wily dictator who’s expert at playing fools. The president gets played. And on-again-off-again summits confuse and worry allies. Here, the canceled meeting is a relief, especially for Ukraine.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
Trump Will Not Meet With Putin Soon, Official Says in a Reversal
www.nytimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Take a US president who doesn’t know what he’s doing. Put him up against a wily dictator who’s expert at playing fools. The president gets played. And on-again-off-again summits confuse and worry allies. Here, the canceled meeting is a relief, especially for Ukraine.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
Draw your own conclusions.
October 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Draw your own conclusions.