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Alex Finley

@alexzfinley.bsky.social
6.3K followers 603 following 2K posts

Former CIA, author of the Victor Caro series, watcher of yachts, alexzfinley.com alexzfinley.substack.com

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Reposted by Alex Finley
Sarah Kirchberger @sarahkirchberger.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
🦠 This might be an excellent time to close Schengen borders to travelers from Russia…
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Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Latest piece. The discussion of a possible Russian escalation against European NATO often misses the main point that it indicates. It is not about Europe, it is about the USA. phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/the-key-po...
phillipspobrien.substack.com
The Key Point Being Overlooked
The Russian escalation talk proves one key thing
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Some personal news: I did not win the Nobel prize for medicine.
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Reuters @reuters.com · 05/10/2026
US accuses California woman of spying for China, surveilling Taiwan leader's son reut.rs/3ThW8PO
reut.rs
US accuses California woman of spying for China, surveilling Taiwan leader's son
US authorities arrested a California woman on Sunday and accused her of spying on a son of Taiwan's president at the behest of Chinese officials, the FBI said.
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
All this time I’ve been worried about US biolabs in Ukraine. Go figure.
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 04/10/2026
With the midterms less than five weeks away, the Trump administration has halted intelligence briefings, trainings and other resources for states, according to state officials. Only in recent days have federal agencies begun offering briefings to states.
washingtonpost.com
With threats to midterms, states say Trump administration isn’t helping
U.S. spy agencies see Russia and others plotting to sow distrust and misinformation in the upcoming elections.
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Darth Putin @darthputinkgb.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Russia Feb 2022: We need to invade Ukraine as they have biolabs producing Russophobic weaponised bats that make people gay. Russia Oct 2026: Someone died at one of our biolabs that makes the bubonic plague.
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Jake Broe @realjakebroe.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
This was a two act play by the Russians. It’s both a tragedy and a comedy.
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Andrej Matisak @matisaksk.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
#Russia declares war on #Europe. Europe strongly condemns it, but doesn’t do much else, @alexzfinley.bsky.social writes. substack.com/app-link/pos... #Putinswar #Ukraine
substack.com
Russia Declares War on Europe
Europe strongly condemns it, but doesn’t do much else
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Reposted by Alex Finley
Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 03/10/2026
Negotiations to end the war in Ukraine "have expanded to include a multibillion-dollar oil deal that would benefit Middle Eastern business executives with ties to the two main U.S. negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner" reports @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/10/03/u...
nytimes.com
U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine Now Involve an Oil Deal Tied to Trump Allies (Gift Article)
President Vladimir V. Putin brought up a sale of Russian energy assets with President Trump’s envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, pushing a deal that raises new questions about conflicts of inter...
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Jen Mercieca @jenmercieca.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
64% of US adults say it is bad for democracy
pewresearch.org
Across the Globe, People Increasingly Say Social Media Is Harming Democracy
Most think social media leads to manipulation and division, but they also say it informs people and gives them a voice in politics.
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
This week’s Rant! is basically a laundry list of Russian attacks on Europe, followed by some ideas on how to respond. alexzfinley.substack.com/p/russia-dec...
alexzfinley.substack.com
Russia Declares War on Europe
Europe strongly condemns it, but doesn’t do much else
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Oh, hey! That’s me!
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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
NEW: The Georgia State Election board is requesting Justice Department "intervention" ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The board sent request letters to Todd Blanche, Harmeet Dhillon, and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Docs obtained by @lawfaremedia.org: www.documentcloud.org/documents/28...
documentcloud.org
Formal Request for DOJ Intervention to Todd Blanche
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Michael Li (李之樸) @mcpli.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Spotted in the DC Metro
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Oh, great.
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
This is creepy and very much a Russian mode of working
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UNITED24 Media @united24media.com · 01/10/2026
⚡ Latvian authorities arrested two individuals accused of gathering sensitive NATO military intelligence for Russia’s GRU spy agency. united24media.com/world/latvia...
united24media.com
Latvia Arrests Two Accused of Collecting NATO Intelligence for Russia’s GRU
The suspects allegedly gathered information on Latvian defense infrastructure, NATO-allied activity, military aviation, and support for Ukraine.
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Alina Pereverzieva 🇺🇦 @perevaa.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
🇺🇸 A second major U.S. newspaper is now urging #Trump to increase pressure on Russia – this time The Washington Post. Its editorial board says de-escalation requires strength, not concessions, and that every Russian escalation should make Moscow’s position worse.
washingtonpost.com
Opinion | ‘Take it easy’ on Russia? Trump’s words signal weakness.
Only counterpressure, not concessions, will lead Russia to lay off Ukraine and NATO.
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Anton Gerashchenko @antongerashchenko.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Polish FM Sikorski: "Kremlin’s assets frozen in Europe are never going back to Russia. They can be used in the future as war reparations or to help Ukraine rebuild, or they can be used now to help prevent further destruction and make future reconstruction cheaper."
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Someone once pitched my dad (a physician) a wearable sensor to tell people when to hydrate. My dad responded, "Have you ever heard of thirst?" and declined to invest.
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www.slowtravelberlin.com @slowberlin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
West Berliners (or tourists) peering over the wall into East Berlin in 1971 (Bernauer Strasse). Photo by Bob Mardling.
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The Onion @theonion.com · 30/09/2026
Trump Warns Iran To Accept His Ultimatum Or Face Wrath Of Next Ultimatum theonion.com/trump-warns-iran-to-ac…
Trump Warns Iran To Accept His Ultimatum Or Face Wrath Of Next Ultimatum
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John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
In a fight you are meant to hit back.
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Colorado peeps! Go see @joshgondelman.bsky.social ! He's super funny and very nice!
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Christy Quirk @cequirk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
“Impeccable reputation. No disciplinary punishments. You’ve never barked in the Sejm,” he read from her files. “OK, signed. As of tomorrow, you are free.” @darthbluesky.bsky.social notesfrompoland.com/2026/09/30/s...
notesfrompoland.com
Speaker of Polish parliament signs off on service dog's retirement after eight years of "exemplary" service
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The same Dmitri Simes who helped Trump write his first foreign policy speech in 2016 calling for the US to renew relations with Russia? That Dmitri Simes? Probably just a coincidence.
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Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 30/09/2026
⚠️ Trump’s DOJ has not denied that the administration has considered plans to seize ballots during the midterms. It has also not produced any records about such plans — despite a lawsuit requiring the department to do so.
democracydocket.com
Trump DOJ responds to DNC lawsuit, offers no records on ballot seizure plans
The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) 13-page answer did not deny whether the Trump administration has considered such plans, identify whether responsive records exist or offer a timeline for producing th...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 30/09/2026
Opinion: The seizure of Auchan and Nestlé is an unmistakable signal that even playing by the rules won't protect foreign businesses from forced nationalization in Russia, warns Charles Hecker.
themoscowtimes.com
Moscow's Audacious Asset Grab Is a Warning to Western Companies - The Moscow Times
Opinion | Two more Western giants have fallen to the Kremlin.
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Cethan Leahy @cethanleahy.com · 30/09/2026
I think we underrate that JCO came up in 20th century New York literary circles where everyone said five most devastating insults before breakfast and as one of the last one standing, her competition is guys who get sad if their chatbot isn't sufficiently nice to them.
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Minor Spear Carrier @tyrellmayfield.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The U.S. joins Russia and Belarus as it departs an international anti-corruption panel. apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com
US withdraws from European anti-corruption panel in latest shift away from global groups
The Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from a top European anti-corruption watchdog.
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Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
FBI Director Kash Patel this week has faced the worst data breach in FBI history, a deputy who quit because Patel was doing too many unconstitutional things, and partied with a suspected double agent. And it's only Tuesday. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/the-disgra...
doomsdayscenario.co
The Disgrace and Danger of Kash Patel, Part II
A quick check-in on the FBI director's latest raft of scandals (including, of course, the bestiality).
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
EU finally sanctions Xenia Fedorova, meaning French oligarch Vincent Bolloré can no longer platform her on any of his media platforms, even if she appears from outside Europe (he can't pay her!). Here is some background: alexzfinley.substack.com/p/france-mov...
alexzfinley.substack.com
France Moves to Expel a Russian Propagandist
Will the move set up a court battle to test the line between freedom of expression and protection of the constitutional order?
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 29/09/2026
Jack Smith: "Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation ... rather than accept his defeat in the 2020 election, he engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results and prevent the lawful transfer of power"
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 29/09/2026
Jack Smith: "History teaches that the rule of law is rarely destroyed all at once. It's often weakened by attacks on the institutions and the public servants sworn to uphold it. Since January 2025, we have witnessed precisely such an effort."
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Still very little reporting on Martin Ryan, the French national supposedly released from an Azerbaijan prison in return for the lifting of sanctions on Usmanov. This story still doesn't make sense.
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McSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 28/09/2026
"Words do not blast stim at the rate we enjoy today. Words are old, older than TikTok. Back then, a human would read, 'Fireworks exploded above two (or more) trad-attractive nudes copulating on a sandy beach,' and the reader would have to imagine that in their mind." buff.ly/oZe8zx4
buff.ly
How to Read Good or Maybe Great
“First, accept how fun reading isn’t. Words do not blast stim at the rate we enjoy today. Words are old, older than TikTok. Back then, a human would read, ‘F...
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Prashant 🌊 @prasshant.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Fair play to Arsenal skipper Martin Ødegaard's father, he refused an offer from a law firm to set up an offshore company in a tax haven to manage his son's image rights when Martin signed for Real Madrid, saying everyone should pay taxes. 🔴⚪
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This could be his Hinge profile
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
He sounds nice.
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
news.err.ee/1610149216/m...
news.err.ee
Marko Mihkelson: Defeatism is not deterrence
The snowball of speculation about an imminent Russian attack on Europe is gathering pace. Isolated facts are being mixed with wishful thinking, worst-case scenarios and, at times, little more than the...
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Eric Lipton NYT @ericlipton.nytimes.com · 27/09/2026
What an odd moment in United States history. A U.S. president is running an overtly political camaign advertisement, right before midterm elections, paid for by the U.S. government. Trump appears to believe he is immune from any kind of legal limit. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/u...
nytimes.com
A Trump 2024 Campaign Ad Returns, Now Brought to You by the Government (Gift Article)
The ad, which ethics experts said could violate federal law, shows Mr. Trump vowing to “expel the warmongers” from the government and fight the “deep state,” even as he wages a war with Iran.
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
France is getting vocal about the threat from Russia’s “hybrid” war, but then convinces Europe to lift sanctions on Putin’s buddy Alisher Usmanov, who helps fund that war. What gives? I have a theory! But maybe I’ve written too much spy fiction. alexzfinley.substack.com/p/the-strang...
alexzfinley.substack.com
The Strange Tale of Lifting Sanctions on Alisher Usmanov
France loudly warns about the threat from Russia, but forces sanctions relief for one of Putin’s besties. What gives?
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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 27/09/2026
Why is so much untraceable dark money flooding elections? Because the Supreme Court demolished campaign finance laws. bit.ly/4d1GYVr
brennancenter.org
$1 Billion in Secret Cash Is Reshaping the Midterms
We may never know where most of the money came from.
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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 27/09/2026
Billions of dollars in undisclosed, dark money are already flooding the election. New York Times’ Theodore Schleifer, Kareem Crayton, and Dan Weiner join The Briefing with Michael Waldman to discuss what can be done about corruption. bit.ly/3VdPc6K
youtube.com
Are the Midterms for Sale? (with Theodore Schleifer, Kareem Crayton & Dan Weiner)
We are weeks away from a consequential midterm election, which will set the course for the president’s final two years in office and beyond. Yet we have no w...
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Andrej Matisak @matisaksk.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Quoi the fuck? The Strange Tale of Lifting Sanctions on Alisher #Usmanov, by @alexzfinley.bsky.social. substack.com/home/post/p-... #France #EU #Russia #Putinswar
substack.com
The Strange Tale of Lifting Sanctions on Alisher Usmanov
France loudly warns about the threat from Russia, but forces sanctions relief for one of Putin’s besties. What gives?
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Alex Finley @alexzfinley.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
France is getting vocal about the threat from Russia’s “hybrid” war, but then convinces Europe to lift sanctions on Putin’s buddy Alisher Usmanov, who helps fund that war. What gives? I have a theory! But maybe I’ve written too much spy fiction. alexzfinley.substack.com/p/the-strang...
alexzfinley.substack.com
The Strange Tale of Lifting Sanctions on Alisher Usmanov
France loudly warns about the threat from Russia, but forces sanctions relief for one of Putin’s besties. What gives?
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Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 26/09/2026
Does my Speak-n-Spell feel pain when I type O-U-C-H? The jury is out. Philosophers and neuroscientists say that's fucking stupid, but I called a guy from the Center for Pretending that Household Electronics Are Sentient and he said there's no way to know for sure.
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Olga Diem 🇺🇦🌊🇺🇸 @olgadiem.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"The primary aim of Moscow's war on Ukraine is, paradoxically, not in Ukraine. It is the survival of the "Russian Federation" itself, and the Kremlin's grip on the internal colonies that make it up." The main threat to russia is the existence of democracy, that's why it will continue fighting.
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Andrew Chakhoyan 🇺🇦 @andrewchak.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
There is no “conflict” to resolve, no misunderstanding, no magical win-win formula russia’s war persists because russia keeps waging it Reagan's doctrine of strength worked. Attempts to sacrifice 🇺🇦 on the altar of peace-through-weakness had the opposite effect kyivindependent.com/washington-a...
kyivindependent.com
Washington attempts dealmaking, Moscow sticks with warmaking
"I can't die now. I still need to do the Russia sanctions," Lindsey Graham joked hours before his passing. Nine weeks later, the bill bearing his name became law with the U.S. president's signature. ...
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