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Aaron Schaffer

@aaronschaffer.com
6.5K followers 471 following 292 posts

news researcher doing OSINT things and more at @washingtonpost.com. signal: aaronschaffer.01 www.washingtonpost.com/people/aaron…

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Reposted by Aaron Schaffer
Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 24/09/2026
Our Flock reporting just got five cops arrested. The Indianapolis officers were just criminally charged for spying on women. @aaronschaffer.com, @douglasmac.bsky.social and I found suspicious searches and got their agency to investigate. How many bad cops are still getting away? wapo.st/4xDOH3d
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Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to Natalie Harp and two other close aides, per financial disclosures. Washington Post exclusive from @aaronschaffer.com and Cat Zakrzewski
washingtonpost.com
Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to Natalie Harp, two other close aides
Financial disclosures show the sums were equivalent to nearly one-third of each of their salaries. Experts say the gifts are without precedent and may violate the law.
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 07/09/2026
wow, thanks for sharing @johncoulthart.com!
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 30/08/2026
Exclusive: Several U.S. military leaders have advised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that prolonging large-scale operations against Iran is unsustainable and risks weakening their ability to confront threats elsewhere, including the U.S. homeland.
washingtonpost.com
Military leaders warn Hegseth against extending Iran war operations
A recent classified assessment advised that prolonged large-scale operations in the Middle East risk weakening U.S. capabilities elsewhere.
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 30/08/2026
Hi @triales.bsky.social - I noticed that @upnextcriterion.bsky.social hasn't been on for a while. Could you resume it? If not I can try to start up a similar bot
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 27/08/2026
wtf is happening this week yayoi-kusama.jp/en/news4518/
yayoi-kusama.jp
草間彌生 Yayoi Kusama Official Site
前衛芸術家、草間彌生の公式サイト。最新ニュースや世界各地での展覧会歴、出版された書籍情報のほか、詳細なバイオグラフィーを掲載。 Yayoi Kusama’s official website | Featuring news, exhibition history, books, and biography of the world-renowned avant-garde artist.
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 26/08/2026
what
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Reposted by Aaron Schaffer
Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 19/08/2026
We unmasked the cops who misused Flock to spy on their spouses. Their police departments weren't checking their searches, so we did it for them. One just got arrested. Here's how we did it. Gift link: wapo.st/4xSDfS4 witth all stars @douglasmac.bsky.social @aaronschaffer.com
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 19/08/2026
Police departments weren’t looking for officers abusing Flock. We did it for them. wapo.st/4xSDfS4
wapo.st
Police departments weren’t looking for officers abusing Flock. We did it for them.
An investigation by The Post led to the discipline of two officers accused of misusing license-plate readers. Their departments and many others had not done basic oversight.
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Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
New from 404 Media: we solved which AI company is buying massive shipments of rare books, scanning and destroying them to train AI. We put an Apple AirTag in a rare book, followed it. It ended up at an Amazon facility. Its logo is a dinosaur ripping through a book www.404media.co/we-tracked-a...
404media.co
We Tracked a Shipment of Rare Books. It Ended at an Amazon AI Training Facility
We placed a tracking device in a shipment of rare books to see which AI company was buying it, and found an Amazon facility where Amazon scans and destroys books.
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 13/08/2026
Covert CIA program said to be behind mysterious attacks on Galápagos boats. www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
washingtonpost.com
Covert CIA program said to be behind mysterious attacks on Galápagos boats
A surveillance plane flew from El Salvador toward the fishing boats before drones attacked, flight data shows.
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Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
This whole thing is really disturbing. I don’t know of any previous case in which the government subpoenaed a reporter for asking a question, let alone a question that not even the government has suggested implicated classified information. 1/
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Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Here’s the Washington Post’s now-unsealed motion to quash the subpoena served on Ellen Nakashima. “These are not examples of the normal give-and-take that all administrations have with the press.” www.courtlistener.com/docket/73704...
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 10/08/2026
🚨 Contradicting public statements, Trump took secret flight from Turkey amid Iranian threat wapo.st/4i1OByh
wapo.st
Contradicting public statements, Trump took secret flight from Turkey amid Iranian threat
The White House said the president was aboard Air Force One as he left a NATO summit. Instead, his departure included an elaborate ruse that concealed his travel.
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Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 02/08/2026
New: We found 50 cops who misused Flock cameras and other license-plate readers for personal purposes, often to spy on their girlfriends or ex-wives. He "watched every single move I made. ... Who do you turn the chief of police in to?" wapo.st/3S6rTuo
wapo.st
She left her ex. He secretly tracked her through a network of policing cameras.
Flock’s array of license-plate cameras was built to fight crime. But at least 50 law enforcement officers were charged with or accused of misusing it and other systems.
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Maria Sacchetti - reporter - The Washington Post @mariasacchetti.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
NEW The ICE officer allegedly involved in the shooting of an immigrant in Maine testified in 2025 that he lost his driver's license and had new health issues. A judge found him not credible. Credibility will be key in the shooting probe, lawyers say. Link: www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
washingtonpost.com
ICE officer linked to Maine shooting was deemed not credible in court last year
State and local officials are rebutting David Brouillette’s claims in court about losing his driver’s license and being employed as a local officer.
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 06/07/2026
Uhhhhhhh is this bit from US prosecutors' sentencing memorandum in the Reza Zarrab case new? A fellow inmate apparently showed Zarrab a homemade knife and told Zarrab that he was paid to kill Zarrab for cooperating with US prosecutors against “big people in Turkey”
In early November 2017, after Zarrab had pleaded guilty in a sealed proceeding and before his cooperation had been publicly revealed, another inmate at the MDC approached Zarrab and advised that he had been paid to kill Zarrab for being a cooperator. The MDC inmate said he expected Zarrab’s cooperation to be confirmed in the near future and Zarrab would be killed because he was cooperating against “big people in Turkey.” The MDC inmate showed Zarrab a homemade knife to confirm his threat. After this threat, Zarrab was taken out of the MDC and held in FBI custody until trial was complete.
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Steven Goff @stevengoff.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Yahoo Sports has confirmed a report from @TheAthletic that Folarin Balogun’s suspension has been lifted by FIFA and he’s eligible to play tomorrow for USMNT vs Belgium.
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 30/06/2026
NPR retracts story saying Alito retiring. "It was published in error," it says www.npr.org/2026/06/30/n...
npr.org
Editor's note: NPR retracts story
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 21/06/2026
You're gonna want to read this. Gift link: wapo.st/4viLSnW
wapo.st
Tulsi Gabbard, her guru and the mysterious messages that helped shape her political career
I obtained hundreds of confidential memos detailing politics and policy guidance for Gabbard from her years in Congress, then embarked on a quest to identify who was behind them.
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 06/06/2026
The CIA gold bars story just got crazier www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
washingtonpost.com
CIA officer accused of stealing gold created fake ‘black box’ spy program
David J. Rush worked on highly secretive intelligence programs and is alleged to have funneled millions of dollars for personal use via a fraudulent contract.
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 27/05/2026
Wow -- DOJ alleging that Google security engineer @miki.it is "AlphaRaccoon," the Polymarket user who made more than $1 million on Polymarket trades on Google search trends. Good scoop by Aaron Katersky and @kfaulders.bsky.social abcnews.com/US/google-em...
abcnews.com
Google employee charged with using inside information to make $1 million on Polymarket
A Google staffer fraudulently made more than $1 million by using inside information to place Polymarket bets on what users were searching for on Google, authorities say.
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 04/05/2026
The Washington Post won a Pulitzer Prize for public service for coverage of DOGE and the federal workforce. It’s the second time The Post has won the prestigious award in five years. Read more about our winning coverage here: wapo.st/3OX3l5A
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 04/05/2026
Incredible graphic
A chart titled "Average word count in narratives of use-of-force incident reports" that shows a drop after Trump's inauguration
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kottke.org @kottke.org · 23/04/2026
Twin Peaks × LCD Soundsystem: a video mashup of Dance Yrself Clean and the Twin Peaks theme music. Perfect. A damn fine cup of coffee, even. [youtube.com]
youtube.com
"Dance Yrself Clean (Theme from Twin Peaks)" (LCD Soundsystem cover) | FrogOnHead
Minor spoilers for Twin Peaks S1/S2/FWWM. If you want, close your eyes and imagine your own music video. “Dance Yrself Clean” Written by James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) “Twin Peaks Theme” composed and originally performed by Angelo Badalamenti https://frogonhead.bandcamp.com/ If you can believe it,
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memeorandum @memeorandum.com · 10/04/2026
Cardinal's meeting at Pentagon was 'unusual,' Vatican official says (Washington Post) Main Link | memeorandum Permalink
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 17/03/2026
Top Gabbard counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigns in opposition to Iran war www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
washingtonpost.com
Top Gabbard counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigns in opposition to Iran war
Kent, a top counterterrorism official and close aide to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, cited deliberate Israeli “misinformation” and lies to President Donald Trump about a “swift pat...
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 04/03/2026
new rembrandt just dropped
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 01/03/2026
Am working my way through my podcast queue and loved this @hyperfixedpod.bsky.social episode about ducks and FOIA www.hyperfixedpod.com/listen/hyper...
hyperfixedpod.com
Hyperfixed | Cry Fowl
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 27/02/2026
How obsession to ‘liberate Cuba’ led men on deadly speedboat journey wapo.st/3OQBd3v
wapo.st
How obsession to ‘liberate Cuba’ led men on deadly speedboat journey
Family members described the men as poorly trained activists who hoped to make a statement. Cuban forces opened fire on the boat, killing four and wounding six.
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 26/02/2026
Huh -- this week, the FBI uploaded 35 pages on Phrack to its FOIA Library vault.fbi.gov/phrack/phrac...
vault.fbi.gov
Phrack (Final)
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 24/02/2026
NEW: Judge blocks DOJ from searching reporter Hannah Natanson's seized devices, says court will review them. The judge also said a DOJ filter team's search of work-product would be "the equivalent of leaving the government’s fox in charge of the Washington Post’s henhouse" wapo.st/4kR9c7P
wapo.st
Judge says government may not search devices seized from Post reporter
A federal judge in Virginia denied the Justice Department’s request to search a Washington Post reporter’s devices in a national security leak probe.
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Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 13/02/2026
FT Exclusive: Goldman Sachs general counsel Kathy Ruemmler said she will resign this summer after documents released by the US Department of Justice revealed the extent of her ties with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ft.trib.al/E7RdaEU
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 09/02/2026
It's always a good idea to read @geoffreyfowler.bsky.social substack.com/@geoffreyfow...
substack.com
The truth about covering tech at Bezos’s Washington Post
And why ‘We the users’ matters more than ever
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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Paige’s last story for us, now atop the homepage, shows what we lost. She could have done a quick hit on Oz telling Americans to delay retirement, but instead delivered a comprehensive piece rich in policy analysis, data, voices of real people and a rare non-TV interview with Oz wapo.st/4rHUCC6
wapo.st
Why Dr. Oz wants you to retire later
Mehmet Oz says Americans should get healthier so they can work an extra year and boost the economy. That’s hard for the poor and less educated, who tend to retire earlier.
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Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
2. Just incredible, backbreaking work to do this sort of forensic investigation in general… to do it when there was no internet in Iran is staggering. Please follow @ntabrizy.bsky.social and @yjtorbati.bsky.social
bit.ly
Iranian forces massacred protesters fleeing burning market, witnesses say
A rare detailed account of Iran’s crackdown, produced by The Post, reveals the brutality used by security forces in one of many such cities rocked by violence.
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Harry @harry.bsky.team · 08/02/2026
Haven't seen a sports-specific starter pack for Washington Post folks affected by recent layoffs so created one below - please show them your support and give a follow (let me know if I've missed anyone too!)
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Washington Post Guild @postguild.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
So many have given to The Post Guild’s fundraising effort, and we are floored. But we also ask you to consider supporting the fundraiser for our international staff and staff in our bureaus who aren’t Guild eligible. They are absolutely vital to coverage. www.gofundme.com/f/support-fo...
gofundme.com
Donate to Support for Washington Post international employees, organized by Michelle Lee
Among the hundreds of journalists laid off by The Washington Post on … Michelle Lee needs your support for Support for Washington Post international employees
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 07/02/2026
"No Subject"
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Dan Thomas @danielthomasldn.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Will Lewis has just told staff at the Washington Post he is stepping down
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 07/02/2026
One of the best parts of my job at The Washington Post is that I get to work with journalists in every section of the newspaper and see them work behind-the-scenes. To say they are collegial and talented does not do them justice. They are the best.
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 06/02/2026
Proud to have worked on this story (and many others) with @joemenn.bsky.social. He is a legend and it is so stupid that he was laid off. www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
washingtonpost.com
Epstein’s network included Russian tech investors with past Kremlin ties
Documents released by the Justice Department show that Epstein had links with Russian tech investors who had drawn scrutiny from U.S. intelligence officials.
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 06/02/2026
I've been on a different team than this group for years but I've (greedily) tried to work with them as much as possible because they're an awe-inspiring group of journalists and so fun to work with. Hire them ASAP or you'll be sorry!
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 06/02/2026
THEY ARE THE BEST IN THE BIZ. HIRE THEM ASAP @geoffreyfowler.bsky.social @joemenn.bsky.social @naominix.bsky.social @heatherkelly.bsky.social @tatumhunter.bsky.social @ceodonovan.bsky.social @lisabonos.bsky.social x.com/evadou @danielleabril.bsky.social @pranshuverma.bsky.social
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Will Oremus @willoremus.com · 06/02/2026
imagine having one of the best tech reporters of all time on your staff and then choosing to lay them off
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Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 06/02/2026
. @nickijhabvala.bsky.social: "Will Lewis was too busy to join the call to tell his staff he’s destroying the @washingtonpost.com sports department yesterday … but he did have time to walk the red carpet at NFL Honors here in San Francisco today. Amazing."
Will Lewis was too busy to join the call to tell his staff he’s destroying the  
@washingtonpost
 sports department yesterday … but he did have time to walk the red carpet at NFL Honors here in San Francisco today. Amazing.
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John Williams @johnwilliams.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Definitely worth noting since it wasn't announced in that way.
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Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 04/02/2026
I expected the cuts would be bad but I'm honestly stunned and sickened seeing how many great journalists the Washington Post just lost. People who nailed huge investigations, documented war zones, exposed horrific crimes, dropped all at once for failures they did not cause.
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Aaron Schaffer @aaronschaffer.com · 04/02/2026
So many incredible journalists got laid off today. Heroes, mentors, friends. Just an absolutely devastating day. Starting a thread here with some of their incredible work, and how to follow and support them.
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Will Oremus @willoremus.com · 04/02/2026
I wasn't laid off today and I don't know why. So many better people and better reporters were and there's no way to make it make sense.
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