Jodi Vittori
@jodi1994.bsky.social
Professor/scholar of nexus of corruption, illicit finance, conflict, and national security. Military Veteran. Views are my own; likes are not endorsements.
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
If you're looking for a Sunday morning read, our website team spent a lot of time writing code to make the animations on this article work, so give it a look, will ya?
www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
Building on Ruins: The Russification of Mariupol, One Apartment Block at a Time - bellingcat
Bellingcat has identified 23 multi-storey housing complexes being built in occupied Mariupol and advertised for sale to Russian citizens.
www.bellingcat.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:47 AM
If you're looking for a Sunday morning read, our website team spent a lot of time writing code to make the animations on this article work, so give it a look, will ya?
www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
In case you missed it: our investigation into how Sky Bet relocated to Malta to avoid £55m of tax/year This kind of thing is often reported as "perfectly proper, and there's no suggestion that any laws were broken".
But here it looks improper. Laws may have been broken.
🧵
But here it looks improper. Laws may have been broken.
🧵
November 23, 2025 at 9:34 AM
In case you missed it: our investigation into how Sky Bet relocated to Malta to avoid £55m of tax/year This kind of thing is often reported as "perfectly proper, and there's no suggestion that any laws were broken".
But here it looks improper. Laws may have been broken.
🧵
But here it looks improper. Laws may have been broken.
🧵
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
Last month, five Peruvian investigative outlets, including several ICIJ media partners, filed constitutional petitions in Lima courts to challenge the so-called “APCI Law,” passed by Peru’s Congress in April and enacted soon after by its then president.
‘Censorship disguised as law’: Investigative journalists in Peru push back against government crackdown - ICIJ
ICIJ media partners are spearheading an attempt to overturn a law that could curtail crucial foreign funding.
buff.ly
November 22, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Last month, five Peruvian investigative outlets, including several ICIJ media partners, filed constitutional petitions in Lima courts to challenge the so-called “APCI Law,” passed by Peru’s Congress in April and enacted soon after by its then president.
So rich soccer fans (or those pretending to be soccer fans & who buy a ticket) get a special visa portal & priority over students, scientific researchers, children in need of medical care in the US, etc.
Says a lot about US govt values these days 🇺🇸
www.wired.com/story/the-us...
Says a lot about US govt values these days 🇺🇸
www.wired.com/story/the-us...
The US Will Prioritize Visa Processing for Fans With World Cup Tickets
In the face of heavy travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, the United States announced that soccer fans going to the World Cup will enjoy a certain priority for processing tourist v...
www.wired.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
So rich soccer fans (or those pretending to be soccer fans & who buy a ticket) get a special visa portal & priority over students, scientific researchers, children in need of medical care in the US, etc.
Says a lot about US govt values these days 🇺🇸
www.wired.com/story/the-us...
Says a lot about US govt values these days 🇺🇸
www.wired.com/story/the-us...
“PennState trustee Paterno questioned the need for secrecy…Given that the Big10 is about to create “a for-profit company using what are essentially public dollars,” he argued, boards need to know more in order to be able to advise their insts accordingly.”
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
Secretive Big Ten Deal Riles Trustees
The Big Ten is weighing a $2.4 billion private equity deal. But multiple trustees at member institutions say they aren’t getting enough information and the proposal has been rushed.
www.insidehighered.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:07 PM
“PennState trustee Paterno questioned the need for secrecy…Given that the Big10 is about to create “a for-profit company using what are essentially public dollars,” he argued, boards need to know more in order to be able to advise their insts accordingly.”
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
Fun fact: The Tates and Trump Org use the same bank: Paxum bank. Paxum was created as niche bank for porn. It’s owned by the nephew of a former high ranking Russian official. A Paxum account gave Truth Social a loan for $8m
www.icij.org/inside-icij/...
www.icij.org/inside-icij/...
November 20, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Fun fact: The Tates and Trump Org use the same bank: Paxum bank. Paxum was created as niche bank for porn. It’s owned by the nephew of a former high ranking Russian official. A Paxum account gave Truth Social a loan for $8m
www.icij.org/inside-icij/...
www.icij.org/inside-icij/...
Article says Americans also took part in sick safari. Will the US govt investigate? Is there anyone left in FBI or DoJ currently who hasn’t been purged or reassigned to immigration enforcement to do so?
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11...
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11...
Italy probes Sarajevo ‘sniper safaris’: What were they, who was involved?
According to a lawsuit, participants would be flown from Italy to Bosnia where they would pay to shoot people.
www.aljazeera.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Article says Americans also took part in sick safari. Will the US govt investigate? Is there anyone left in FBI or DoJ currently who hasn’t been purged or reassigned to immigration enforcement to do so?
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11...
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11...
Judge Mark Wolf, one of the leading proponents of an International Anti-Corruption Court—has very publicly resigned as a judge in this morning’s Atlantic Magazine
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why I Am Resigning
A federal judge explains his reasoning for leaving the bench.
www.theatlantic.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Judge Mark Wolf, one of the leading proponents of an International Anti-Corruption Court—has very publicly resigned as a judge in this morning’s Atlantic Magazine
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
💥 BREAKING 💥
Scottish Government commits to anti-corruption strategy with improved transparency of trust structures (as proposed by Rhoda Grant in parliament).
This is an important commitment that will help prevent kleptocrats and oligarchs investing their ill-gotten gains in Scottish property.
Scottish Government commits to anti-corruption strategy with improved transparency of trust structures (as proposed by Rhoda Grant in parliament).
This is an important commitment that will help prevent kleptocrats and oligarchs investing their ill-gotten gains in Scottish property.
November 4, 2025 at 8:22 PM
💥 BREAKING 💥
Scottish Government commits to anti-corruption strategy with improved transparency of trust structures (as proposed by Rhoda Grant in parliament).
This is an important commitment that will help prevent kleptocrats and oligarchs investing their ill-gotten gains in Scottish property.
Scottish Government commits to anti-corruption strategy with improved transparency of trust structures (as proposed by Rhoda Grant in parliament).
This is an important commitment that will help prevent kleptocrats and oligarchs investing their ill-gotten gains in Scottish property.
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
👀 Scoop: IRS Direct File, the free government-backed program that let you file your taxes for free, is dead.
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax-prep giants
The tax agency has quietly built its own prototype system for filing tax returns digitally and free of charge, according to current and former officials.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
👀 Scoop: IRS Direct File, the free government-backed program that let you file your taxes for free, is dead.
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
Former US Vice President Dick Cheney has died aged 84. The Republican politician was VP to President George W Bush from 2001-09 and was a key architect in the US ‘war on terror’.
His death was announced in a statement by his family on Tuesday.
His death was announced in a statement by his family on Tuesday.
November 4, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Former US Vice President Dick Cheney has died aged 84. The Republican politician was VP to President George W Bush from 2001-09 and was a key architect in the US ‘war on terror’.
His death was announced in a statement by his family on Tuesday.
His death was announced in a statement by his family on Tuesday.
Extremity Care has secretly donated $2.5m toward the construction of a new WH ballroom…The WH publicly released a list of donors last month, but Extremity Care was not included. According to The New York Times, the company was permitted to donate anonymously.
open.substack.com/pub/populari...
open.substack.com/pub/populari...
UPDATE: Medicare freeze beneficiary secretly donates $2.5 million to Trump ballroom
Earlier this year, Popular Information broke the news that Extremity Care – a company that sells bandages to Medicare for thousands of dollars per square inch – donated $5 million to MAGA Inc., Presid...
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Extremity Care has secretly donated $2.5m toward the construction of a new WH ballroom…The WH publicly released a list of donors last month, but Extremity Care was not included. According to The New York Times, the company was permitted to donate anonymously.
open.substack.com/pub/populari...
open.substack.com/pub/populari...
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
Trump family will profit from links w 2x rypto betting firms where people can bet on economic issues/political contests where the Trump family has influence & non-public info 💰
Donald Trump’s Truth Social Is Launching a Polymarket Competitor | WIRED www.wired.com/story/trump-...
Donald Trump’s Truth Social Is Launching a Polymarket Competitor | WIRED www.wired.com/story/trump-...
Donald Trump’s Truth Social Is Launching a Polymarket Competitor
As crypto-based prediction services attract a flood of attention and capital, the US president’s social media platform has announced plans to muscle in.
www.wired.com
November 2, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Trump family will profit from links w 2x rypto betting firms where people can bet on economic issues/political contests where the Trump family has influence & non-public info 💰
Donald Trump’s Truth Social Is Launching a Polymarket Competitor | WIRED www.wired.com/story/trump-...
Donald Trump’s Truth Social Is Launching a Polymarket Competitor | WIRED www.wired.com/story/trump-...
If #SpaceShuttleDiscovery could be moved without destroying it (which seems unlikely), the exhibit would no longer be free for the public to see…instead, the public would have to 💰. Below is the admissions prices for its destination, #SpaceCenterHouston.
October 25, 2025 at 11:59 AM
If #SpaceShuttleDiscovery could be moved without destroying it (which seems unlikely), the exhibit would no longer be free for the public to see…instead, the public would have to 💰. Below is the admissions prices for its destination, #SpaceCenterHouston.
In addition to the clear abuse of public authority for private company gain, many investors to AI data centers include authoritarian regimes (and their sovereign wealth funds) who partner with China.
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
The Air Force wants to put private AI data centers on its bases, raising security, land-use fears
The service will offer upwards of 3,000 acres across five U.S. bases to qualified developers.
www.defenseone.com
October 24, 2025 at 10:38 AM
In addition to the clear abuse of public authority for private company gain, many investors to AI data centers include authoritarian regimes (and their sovereign wealth funds) who partner with China.
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
At end of Trump’s 1st Admin, US passed legislation to end shell companies. At beginning of 2nd Trump Admin, Trump said he wouldn’t enforce those laws and his #FINCEN director said she wants to destroy the shell company database.
National security nightmare
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
National security nightmare
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Russia acquired Western technology to protect its nuclear submarine fleet
Russia secretly used front companies to buy Western technology and erect a surveillance net in the Arctic where its submarines operate, an investigation shows.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM
At end of Trump’s 1st Admin, US passed legislation to end shell companies. At beginning of 2nd Trump Admin, Trump said he wouldn’t enforce those laws and his #FINCEN director said she wants to destroy the shell company database.
National security nightmare
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
National security nightmare
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
“By the time Chow and Davis launched $MELANIA in January, they had refined a “repeatable six-step ‘playbook’ for pump-and-dump fraud,” the investors claim.”
#crypto #kleptocracy
www.wired.com/story/melani...
#crypto #kleptocracy
www.wired.com/story/melani...
Melania Trump Used as ‘Window-Dressing’ in Elaborate Memecoin Fraud, Legal Filing Claims
The first lady of the United States became a pawn in an intricate memecoin scam that resulted in millions of dollars in losses, crypto investors have alleged.
www.wired.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:01 PM
“By the time Chow and Davis launched $MELANIA in January, they had refined a “repeatable six-step ‘playbook’ for pump-and-dump fraud,” the investors claim.”
#crypto #kleptocracy
www.wired.com/story/melani...
#crypto #kleptocracy
www.wired.com/story/melani...
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
"As of Monday, roughly 8 per cent of American warships deployed globally were in the Caribbean, according to a fleet tracker from the US Naval Institute." ft.com/content/dc10...
The US forces threatening Venezuela
Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire to see Nicolás Maduro ousted. Here are the forces he has sent to the region
ft.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:51 AM
"As of Monday, roughly 8 per cent of American warships deployed globally were in the Caribbean, according to a fleet tracker from the US Naval Institute." ft.com/content/dc10...
#Trump found a loophole so any POTUS can take extraordinary amounts of our tax payments and put it right in his pocket: just have his DOJ approve bogus lawsuits. 💰#kleptocracy #corruption
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Trump has claimed millions from the government. He could order payment.
President Trump has claimed he was damaged by investigations and wants compensation. “It sort of looks bad. I’m suing myself,” he acknowledged.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:55 AM
#Trump found a loophole so any POTUS can take extraordinary amounts of our tax payments and put it right in his pocket: just have his DOJ approve bogus lawsuits. 💰#kleptocracy #corruption
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
The wildest thing about every Trump pardon and commutation?
“Mr. Santos will also no longer be required to pay more than $370,000 in court-ordered restitution to his victims…”
“Mr. Santos will also no longer be required to pay more than $370,000 in court-ordered restitution to his victims…”
October 18, 2025 at 3:32 AM
The wildest thing about every Trump pardon and commutation?
“Mr. Santos will also no longer be required to pay more than $370,000 in court-ordered restitution to his victims…”
“Mr. Santos will also no longer be required to pay more than $370,000 in court-ordered restitution to his victims…”
This Russian sovereign wealth fund is the RDIF and is considered Putin’s slush fund; it has a history of making deals with tons of red flags for corruption.
The head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund is pitching Elon Musk and his tunneling business on an idea for a “Putin-Trump Tunnel” connecting Russia with Alaska.
Putin envoy pitches Elon Musk on a tunnel connecting Russia and Alaska
President Donald Trump was noncommittal when asked about the idea by a reporter during a lunch Friday at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 18, 2025 at 2:17 AM
This Russian sovereign wealth fund is the RDIF and is considered Putin’s slush fund; it has a history of making deals with tons of red flags for corruption.
My alumni association is considering giving Charlie Kirk an honorary membership/degree despite his well-documented history of racist and misogynist comments. (His only ties to USAFA were a few months on the Board of Visitors as a political appointee.)
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
Air Force Academy alumni group’s board considers giving honorary membership to Kirk
A separate motion to award Kirk an honorary degree from the prestigious military institution in Colorado Springs is also being considered.
www.stripes.com
October 17, 2025 at 9:05 PM
My alumni association is considering giving Charlie Kirk an honorary membership/degree despite his well-documented history of racist and misogynist comments. (His only ties to USAFA were a few months on the Board of Visitors as a political appointee.)
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
Reposted by Jodi Vittori
"The undertaking aims to install allies of President Trump at the IRS criminal-investigative division...to exert firmer control over the unit and weaken the involvement of IRS lawyers in criminal investigations.... The proposed changes could open the door to politically motivated probes..."
Exclusive | Trump Team Plans IRS Overhaul to Enable Pursuit of Left-Leaning Groups
The effort would install a Trump ally at the IRS’s criminal unit who has drawn up a list of investigative targets.
www.wsj.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:46 AM
"The undertaking aims to install allies of President Trump at the IRS criminal-investigative division...to exert firmer control over the unit and weaken the involvement of IRS lawyers in criminal investigations.... The proposed changes could open the door to politically motivated probes..."