Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 26/06/2026Widespread damage in La Guaira, Venezuela, seen in these new satellite photos from @vantortech.bsky.social These neighborhoods are just 10 miles north of central Caracas 051
Reposted by Avery SchmitzKatherine Pompilio @katherinepomps.bsky.social · 04/06/2026NEW: I found that at least 97 of the more than 1,500 individuals granted clemency by President Trump for their roles in the January 6 Capitol attack have been arrested for, or convicted of crimes separate from Jan. 6 since their participation in the riot. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...lawfaremedia.orgThe Jan. 6 Pardons: How Many Clemency Recipients Have Faced Other Charges?The real count is much higher than the public knew. 19385150
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 10/05/2026NEW: The US has conducted at least 25 intelligence-gathering flights off the coast of Cuba since early February, per data from @flightradar24.com Check out my analysis here: www.cnn.com/2026/05/10/a...cnn.comUS intelligence-gathering flights are surging off Cuba | CNNThe flights are notable not only for their proximity to the island’s coast, but for the suddenness of their appearance and their timing. 052
Reposted by Avery SchmitzJake Godin @godin.bsky.social · 03/04/2026Looking around for this with @aric.bsky.social and @gbrumfiel.bsky.social, geolocated at 30.835153, 50.589567 north of Dehdasht (~30 miles north of Behbahan). Rough annotation with matching terrain + building area in the foreground. CC: @geoconfirmed.org Map link: www.google.com/maps/place/3... 48017
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 20/02/2026NEW: The US military has assembled a massive collection of weapons systems in the Middle East—including 18x F-35 stealth fighters seen clearly for the first time in imagery from Planet Labs Our latest analysis from me and Annette Choi www.cnn.com/2026/02/20/p...cnn.comA look at the military hardware the US has positioned for potential war with Iran | CNN PoliticsThe US military has assembled a massive collection of weapons systems in the Middle East in the midst of ongoing diplomatic negotiations between the US and Iran, flooding ships and aircraft to nearby ... 040
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 17/02/2026Data from @globalfishingwatch.org shows oil tankers moving between Barcelona, Venezuela and US Gulf Coast ports since Maduro’s removal @stepozzebon.bsky.social explains how the US is seeking out new ways to cooperate with Venezuela's leadership: www.cnn.com/2026/02/17/a... 020
Reposted by Avery SchmitzKatie Polglase @katiepolglase.bsky.social · 23/01/2026New: We reconstructed how Maduro was captured used eyewitness videos & helicopter flight paths and found the operation came down to two critical minutes. edition.cnn.com/2026/01/23/a... @isaacyeephoto.bsky.social @averyschmitz.bsky.social @thomasbordeaux.bsky.social @allegragoodwin.bsky.socialedition.cnn.comCapturing a president: CNN analysis reveals extraordinary risks taken to seize Maduro | CNNThe audacious US operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro came down to an intense final firefight in which US helicopters were exposed to an extraordinary level of risk as they descende... 1134
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 23/01/2026NEW: We reconstructed the US operation to capture Venezuelan President Maduro Visual evidence reveals 2 crucial minutes + an intense firefight when US forces faced extraordinary risk w/ @isaacyeephoto.bsky.social @thomasbordeaux.bsky.social @katiepolglase.bsky.social @allegragoodwin.bsky.socialcnn.comCapturing a president: CNN analysis reveals extraordinary risks taken to seize Maduro | CNNThe audacious US operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro came down to an intense final firefight in which US helicopters were exposed to an extraordinary level of risk as they descende... 030
Reposted by Avery SchmitzNatasha Bertrand @natashabertrand.bsky.social · 23/10/2025Great video by @averyschmitz.bsky.social (with some narration help by me 🤭) taking a look at what the US military has built up in the Caribbean. 59944
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 19/10/2025NEW: We tracked over 200 US military flights conducted in the Caribbean since mid-August by 83 separate aircraft, including intelligence-gathering planes and tankers used to refuel jets in midair With @natashabertrand.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2025/10/19/w...cnn.comHere’s what the US military has positioned in the Caribbean as Trump pressures Venezuela | CNNThe US military has been steadily massing a large number of troops, naval and air assets in the Caribbean over the last two months, conducting training missions off the coast of Venezuela, reopening a... 1148
Reposted by Avery SchmitzNatasha Bertrand @natashabertrand.bsky.social · 19/10/2025The US military has been steadily massing a large number of troops, naval and air assets in the Caribbean over the last two months. Here’s what’s been positioned as Trump pressures Venezuela (and, increasingly, Colombia): www.cnn.com/2025/10/19/w...cnn.comHere’s what the US military has positioned in the Caribbean as Trump pressures Venezuela | CNNThe US military has been steadily massing a large number of troops, naval and air assets in the Caribbean over the last two months, conducting training missions off the coast of Venezuela, reopening a... 814180
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 01/10/2025NEW: We spent 6 months digging into the cartel networks recruiting Americans as smugglers Uncovering hundreds of recruitment posts and speaking with cartel recruiters + law enforcement about their tactics With Norma Galeana, David Culver, and Evelio Contreras:cnn.comInside the cartel networks recruiting young Americans on social media | CNNA young mother tells CNN how she was lured into recruiting migrant smugglers in the US after seeing a promise of easy money in her feed. 040
Reposted by Avery SchmitzFrancesca D'Annunzio @francescadnunz.bsky.social · 08/09/2025NEW: Chihuahua, Mexico's most sprawling state, is building a surveillance system. Once complete, it'll have almost 10K cameras, including some w/ facial recognition capabilities. Authorities offered to share access with US police—including Texas DPS. 🧵 www.texasobserver.org/texas-chihua...texasobserver.orgJust Beyond the Texas Border, Chihuahua Is Launching a Burgeoning State Surveillance SystemThe 20-story Torre Centinela looming over Juárez is part of a much larger AI-powered network that won’t stop at the U.S.-Mexico divide. 37651
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 03/07/2025NEW: what’s happening at one Iranian nuclear site following US airstrikes 141
Reposted by Avery SchmitzThomas Bordeaux @thomasbordeaux.bsky.social · 18/06/2025235 people were killed in April when the roof of the Jet Set nightclub came crashing down during a packed concert. We found that for years before the collapse, structural issues and warning signs went unaddressed. w/ @stepozzebon.bsky.social and @averyschmitz.bsky.social for CNN youtu.be/H5UpgvxSc1Ayoutu.beCNN analysis explores cause of deadly Dominican nightclub roof collapseYouTube video by CNN 0104
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 18/06/2025NEW: How structural flaws reduced a Dominican nightclub to rubble Watch our investigation of the Jet Set club collapse which killed over 230 people in April From @stepozzebon.bsky.social, @thomasbordeaux.bsky.social, Anyi Lizardo, Maddie Araujo, and me: youtu.be/H5UpgvxSc1A?...youtu.beCNN analysis explores cause of deadly Dominican nightclub roof collapseYouTube video by CNN 051
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 10/03/2025Amid violence in northwest Syria, some appear to be seeking protection from Russian forces there New satellite images from Maxar show throngs of people and cars crowding an entrance Khmeimim Air Base earlier today--less than 20km from central Latakia 📸: Maxar Technologies 092
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 10/03/2025NEW: Argentina’s military is deploying to surveil hundreds of Chinese fishing boats off its coast. Here’s why: From me, @isaacyeephoto.bsky.social, @yong.bsky.social and Betiana Fernández Martinocnn.comWhy Argentina’s military is deploying to surveil hundreds of Chinese fishing boats off its coast | CNNThe Argentine military is ramping up efforts to combat these fishing operations in a region experts warn is on the brink of environmental collapse. 12714
Reposted by Avery SchmitzEvident @evidentmedia.org · 04/03/2025We are proud to announce the launch of Evident — a nonprofit news organization producing documentary journalism for the public good — here on Bluesky. Evident is building a new kind of newsroom powered by a team of journalists that is covering crucial stories for public good. 418581
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 15/02/2025NEW: Paramilitary forces raid Sudan’s largest refugee camp "Several stray bullets flew over our heads, and a victim fell right in front of me," an eyewitness told us. From me, Aleena Fayaz, and Kaila Nichols:cnn.comParamilitary forces raid Sudan’s largest refugee camp | CNNFighters from Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have torched parts of Sudan’s largest refugee camp, firing indiscriminately at people, including women and children, according to open-sou... 1138
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 10/02/2025NEW: We identified 18 US military flights gathering intelligence on cartels in Mexico since Jan. 28 These missions show how the Trump admin is quickly shifting national security resources to the border From Katie Bo Lillis, Priscilla Alvarez, @natashabertrand.bsky.social and mecnn.comUS spy planes hunt for intel on Mexican drug cartels as surveillance flights surge near border | CNN PoliticsThe US military has significantly increased its surveillance of Mexican drug cartels over the past two weeks, with sophisticated spy planes flying at least 18 missions over the southwestern US and in ... 11711
Reposted by Avery SchmitzNatasha Bertrand @natashabertrand.bsky.social · 10/02/2025The US military has significantly increased its surveillance of Mexican drug cartels over the past two weeks, with sophisticated spy planes flying at least 18 missions over the southwestern US and in international airspace around the Baja peninsula. www.cnn.com/2025/02/10/p...cnn.comUS spy planes hunt for intel on Mexican drug cartels as surveillance flights surge near border | CNN PoliticsThe US military has significantly increased its surveillance of Mexican drug cartels over the past two weeks, with sophisticated spy planes flying at least 18 missions over the southwestern US and in ... 213720
Reposted by Avery SchmitzFrancesca D'Annunzio @francescadnunz.bsky.social · 06/02/2025NEW: Derek Maltz, Trump's pick to lead the DEA, formerly worked at PenLink, a Nebraska-based tech firm that has sold software that can track phone locations without a warrant to agencies like ICE and Texas DPS. www.texasobserver.org/dea-derek-ma...texasobserver.orgNew DEA Chief’s Background Includes Surveillance Tech and Border MisinformationDerek Maltz formerly worked at PenLink, a Nebraska-based tech firm that has sold software that can track phone locations without a warrant to agencies like ICE and Texas DPS. 37562
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 06/02/2025Hey @lemonodor.bsky.social! Can you shoot me a DM? 000
Reposted by Avery SchmitzTexas Observer @texasobserver.org · 30/01/2025“If the facts as you just stated are true, then apparently some people are above the law.” From @francescadnunz.bsky.social and @averyschmitz.bsky.social in 2024: Citizen militias are illegal in both Arizona and Texas, but in some cases police appear to be tacitly approving border vigilantism.texasobserver.orgBorder Vigilantes Are Blurring the Lines of Law EnforcementArmed groups in Arizona and Texas are collaborating with and courting police and immigration agents—with alarming results. 716264
Reposted by Avery SchmitzJacob Ware @jacobware.bsky.social · 16/01/2025"LAFD Capt. Erik Scott has one of the most intense jobs in the nation right now: trying to distribute accurate public information during a historically destructive urban fire in America." Misinformation is a growing problem for frontline workers... www.wsj.com/us-news/los-...wsj.comFighting Fires—and the Rumor Mill—as L.A. Burns‘The worst I’ve ever seen.’ Skyrocketing misinformation is forcing public officials to adopt a new playbook when tragedies hit their communities 59522
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 02/01/2025NEW: Using visual evidence, we pieced together how the Bourbon Street attack unfolded on New Year’s Eve, killing at least 15 people From Caroll Alvarado, Elizabeth Wolfe, and mecnn.comA visual timeline of the New Year’s attack that left at least 14 dead in New Orleans | CNNNew Orleans’ famed Bourbon Street devolved into a grisly crime scene just hours into the new year as a driver plowed a pickup truck through crowds of holiday revelers, killing at least 14 people and i... 031
Reposted by Avery SchmitzTexas Observer @texasobserver.org · 27/12/2024Best of 2024: Citizen militias are illegal in both Arizona and Texas, but in some cases police appear to be tacitly approving border vigilantism. @francescadnunz.bsky.social @azcir.bsky.social & @averyschmitz.bsky.social uncover the alarming collaboration between law enforcement and militias.texasobserver.orgBorder Vigilantes Are Blurring the Lines of Law EnforcementArmed groups in Arizona and Texas are collaborating with and courting police and immigration agents—with alarming results. 109351
Reposted by Avery SchmitzEman El-Sherbiny @emansh.bsky.social · 11/12/2024A lot has been happening in Sudan but very little is talked about, which is a grave mistake given the SAF & RSF often intensify their attacks around December of every year, using the lack of media attention getting closer to the holidays. But one of the dealiest took place just 2 days ago 1/ 211140
Reposted by Avery SchmitzKatie Polglase @katiepolglase.bsky.social · 09/12/2024What was the military strategy behind the takeover of Damascus? We pieced together the videos to find out. @allegragoodwin.bsky.social @averyschmitz.bsky.social @gianlucamezzo.bsky.social @isaacyeephoto.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2024/12/09/w...cnn.comHow the Assad regime fell so quickly | CNNWhat was the military strategy behind the takeover of Damascus? CNN’s Katie Polglase and team analyzed over a hundred videos of the final push to take the Syrian capital, Damascus, finding that it cam... 086
Reposted by Avery SchmitzFrancesca D'Annunzio @francescadnunz.bsky.social · 06/12/2024Rodney Scott, Trump's pick to lead CBP, has a $50,000 consulting contract with the Texas AG's office for the DOJ Rio Grande river buoy lawsuit, I found via public records. His contract ends in August 2025. 35331
Reposted by Avery SchmitzPaweł Wójcik 🦋🇵🇱🇪🇺 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · 17/11/2024Hey, hi, hello. It's Paweł finally appearing with what he said he would do - creating a substack. First introduction post, a short one, explaining myself a bit. Tommorow a first "meat" post, with a review of recent weeks in Sahel. Consider subscribing? open.substack.com/pub/saladina...open.substack.comA start of the Saladinaldronni adventureHello everyone! 1479
Reposted by Avery SchmitzYale Humanitarian Research Lab @hrl-yalesph.bsky.social · 03/12/2024🚨 Special Report: Zamzam Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp attacked by RSF @hrl-yalesph.bsky.social confirms munition impacts, conflict-related damage to structures in Zamzam IDP camp attacked between 1-3 December. Civilians appear to be fleeing. 🛰️: Maxar medicine.yale.edu/lab/khoshnoo... 052
Reposted by Avery SchmitzYale Humanitarian Research Lab @hrl-yalesph.bsky.social · 03/12/2024Putin-controlled aircraft deported Ukrainian children, U.S.-backed research alleges // from @reuters.com www.reuters.com/world/europe...reuters.comPutin-controlled aircraft deported Ukrainian children, U.S.-backed research allegesRussian presidential aircraft and funds were used in a program that took children from occupied Ukrainian territories, stripped them of Ukrainian identity and placed them with Russian families, according to a report by Yale's School of Public Health. 22011
Reposted by Avery SchmitzYale Humanitarian Research Lab @hrl-yalesph.bsky.social · 03/12/2024REPORT: Russia engaged in systematic, intentional, widespread coerced adoption and fostering of children from Ukraine. HRL identifies 314 children placed with Russian citizens or in institutions where they were later listed for adoption and/or guardianship hub.conflictobservatory.org/portal/apps/... 176
Reposted by Avery SchmitzKatie Polglase @katiepolglase.bsky.social · 02/12/2024We looked into the surprise rebel attack in Aleppo, Syria: how it happened and what the videos tell us. OSINT work by @allegragoodwin.bsky.social @isaacyeephoto.bsky.social @averyschmitz.bsky.social + filming by Alex Platt + editing by Oscar Featherstone www.cnn.com/2024/12/02/w...cnn.comCNN pieces together how rebel forces took over Aleppo | CNNIn just over 72 hours last week, a coalition of Syrian armed rebel groups operating under the banner of Deterrence of Aggression captured the city of Aleppo in a surprise attack, dealing a significant... 02913
Reposted by Avery SchmitzAllegra Goodwin @allegragoodwin.bsky.social · 25/11/2024Crucial new @hrw.org report finds US munitions were used in the Israeli attack which killed three journalists at the Hasbaya Village Club Resort in Hasbaya in southern Lebanon on October 25. @hrw.org describes the strike as an “apparent war crime” www.hrw.org/news/2024/11...hrw.orgLebanon: US Arms Used in Israeli Strike on JournalistsAn Israeli airstrike in Lebanon on October 25, 2024, that killed three journalists and injured four others was most likely a deliberate attack on civilians and an apparent war crime, Human Rights Watc... 01710
Reposted by Avery Schmitzthebaldgeek @thebaldgeek.bsky.social · 25/11/2024Just updated the website users guide. The search improvements today are HUGE. Could not have done any of them without the help of a very kind and talented programmer. (And really patient as well!) community.airframes....community.airframes.ioWebsite overview tbg.airframes.ioMassive shoutout and huge heaps of THANK-YOU to airframes.io for hosting my site! Post updated 24th Nov 2024. Updated the Site Search page section. Starting with the home page: Quick overview of site health. tbg has email alerts for zeros, so no need to ‘report’ any odd or zero numbers that you see. (But any numbers you see and don’t understand, be sure and ask about). The home page tables are just there to help you understand the data ‘freshness’ on the rest of the site. Of course if... 1103
Reposted by Avery SchmitzMichael Colborne @colborne.bsky.social · 20/11/2024Follow all of us at @bellingcat.com here, past and present! 37119
Reposted by Avery SchmitzJonathan Collins @joncollins.bsky.social · 11/11/2024📢 Are you an early career researcher examining online extremism (in its many forms) and want your work featured in a @VOX_Pol blog? Feel free to get in touch! We are dedicating a full month of the blog to your work! 12216
Reposted by Avery SchmitzNixintel @nixintel.bsky.social · 18/11/2024Here are few interesting #OSINT resources relating to undersea cables. Semantic Net contains location and status information for undersea cables and data centres. www.semanticnet.netsemanticnet.netSemanticNet: Internet infrastructure dataSemanticNet - Detailed Internet infrastructure data to help untangle the complexity of the Internet’s global architecture. Data, analysis and reports. 14210
Reposted by Avery SchmitzPhil Williams @philinvestigates.com · 15/11/2024My three-month investigation reveals the plans of out-of-state Christian nationalists to establish roots in a tiny Middle Tennessee county, hoping to eventually expand statewide. That’s Monday on NewsChannel 5 and newschannel5.com. 481061370
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 14/11/2024Some really, really good takeaways here 👇 "Start stories at the beginning, not in the middle... Instead of 'Trump vows to impose tariffs,' begin with 'what’s a tariff?'" 162
Reposted by Avery SchmitzTyler McBrien @tylermcbrien.com · 13/11/2024Now on @lawfare.bsky.social: Ben Wittes' personal pledge on what Lawfare will do—and won't do—as we head into the next Trump admin. If our ethos and coverage resonate, we'd appreciate your financial support to keep us afloat these next 4 years and beyond. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...lawfaremedia.orgThe Situation: Lawfare’s Role During the Second Trump AdministrationWho we are, what we do, and why we’re asking for your support. 37719
Reposted by Avery SchmitzNicole Grajewski @nicolegrajewski.bsky.social · 11/11/2024I plan to start posting on Bluesky more now. For those of you who do not know me, my work basically focuses on Russia and Iran - either individually or bilaterally - with an emphasis on nuclear and defense-related matters. I have a forthcoming book on their bilateral ties from Syria to Ukraine. 619027
Reposted by Avery SchmitzPatrick Stotz @patrickstotz.bsky.social · 11/11/2024Bluesky is really coming to life. If you're new here, check out the starter packs.My crowd: DataViz: bsky.app/starter-pack... Maps: bsky.app/starter-pack... RStats: bsky.app/starter-pack... Earth Observation: bsky.app/starter-pack... Directory of starter packs: blueskydirectory.com/starter-pack... 1110533
Reposted by Avery SchmitzKatie Polglase @katiepolglase.bsky.social · 12/11/2024Just joined this platform! Excited to connect with fellow journalists/investigators and anyone who wants to chat about story ideas... 8536
Reposted by Avery SchmitzJoseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 12/11/2024New from 404 Media: got hundreds of internal Secret Service emails where it said tracking peoples' location without a warrant was okay because citizens have clicked 'accept' on app terms of service. This is the data that powers tools like Locate X www.404media.co/fyi-a-warran...404media.co'FYI. A Warrant Isn’t Needed': Secret Service Says You Agreed To Be Tracked With Location DataThe Secret Service has used a technology called Locate X which uses location data harvested from ordinary apps installed on phones. Because users agreed to an opaque terms of service page, the Secret ... 12308209
Avery Schmitz @averyschmitz.bsky.social · 09/11/2024NEW: Russia’s ‘FBI’ was targeting US elections with a barrage of disinformation—just days before Nov. 5 We tracked how this network is carrying out a Russian mercenary’s vision with Clemson's Media Forensics Hub 👇👇 From @gianlucamezzo.bsky.social, Tim Lister, Saskya Vandoorne, and me:cnn.comRussian disinformation network with ties to notorious ‘troll factory’ is taking aim at the US election, analysis finds | CNNAn investigation by researchers at Clemson University with CNN has found that a spinoff of the Russian “troll factory” that targeted the 2016 US presidential race now appears to be at the heart of a d... 13313
Reposted by Avery SchmitzJake Godin @godin.bsky.social · 07/11/2024There's a Bellingcat starter pack here for OSI-related accounts: bsky.app/starter-pack... Climate reporters: bsky.app/starter-pack... FT data and viz: bsky.app/starter-pack... Wired journalists: bsky.app/starter-pack... Some additional packs in the replies to Eliot here: bsky.app/profile/elio... 610038