Arto Sillanpää
@artosillanpaa.bsky.social
USA, Russia, propaganda, media, and subversion. Writer @ulkopolitist.fi
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
NEW: Alan Dershowitz tells Jeffrey Epstein prosecutor "You are a real mensch:" Newly released emails show that Florida federal prosecutors had "social" meetings with Epstein's lawyers as they worked to mitigate the sex trafficker's sentence. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
As Epstein’s cushy jail sentence raised concerns, his lawyers went on charm offensive
The Epstein Files show how his attorneys mixed personal and business relationships with prosecutors who had agreed to settle Epstein’s case.
www.miamiherald.com
December 25, 2025 at 11:53 AM
NEW: Alan Dershowitz tells Jeffrey Epstein prosecutor "You are a real mensch:" Newly released emails show that Florida federal prosecutors had "social" meetings with Epstein's lawyers as they worked to mitigate the sex trafficker's sentence. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
"If you don't fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition.”
-James Mattis as Secretary of Defense testifying before Congress in 2017.
Succeeding with soft power is greatly preferable—and a lot cheaper—than having to address something with hard power.
-James Mattis as Secretary of Defense testifying before Congress in 2017.
Succeeding with soft power is greatly preferable—and a lot cheaper—than having to address something with hard power.
Context for Trump withdrawing dozens of ambassadors
*China has invested heavily in expanding diplomacy
*The US has significantly degraded soft power
*The US already has scores of diplomatic vacancies
*China has invested heavily in expanding diplomacy
*The US has significantly degraded soft power
*The US already has scores of diplomatic vacancies
December 25, 2025 at 12:33 AM
"If you don't fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition.”
-James Mattis as Secretary of Defense testifying before Congress in 2017.
Succeeding with soft power is greatly preferable—and a lot cheaper—than having to address something with hard power.
-James Mattis as Secretary of Defense testifying before Congress in 2017.
Succeeding with soft power is greatly preferable—and a lot cheaper—than having to address something with hard power.
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
“Like prime, but with human beings”
December 24, 2025 at 6:17 PM
“Like prime, but with human beings”
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
The US State Department is now going to be deporting people and/or revoking visas over Benz, Taibbi, and Shellenberger’s “censorship industrial complex” hoax.
Let that sink in. This is what the Twitter Files pretext was actually about. Water boys for authoritarians.
www.state.gov/releases/off...
Let that sink in. This is what the Twitter Files pretext was actually about. Water boys for authoritarians.
www.state.gov/releases/off...
Announcement of Actions to Combat the Global Censorship-Industrial Complex - United States Department of State
The State Department is taking decisive action against five individuals who have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose....
www.state.gov
December 23, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The US State Department is now going to be deporting people and/or revoking visas over Benz, Taibbi, and Shellenberger’s “censorship industrial complex” hoax.
Let that sink in. This is what the Twitter Files pretext was actually about. Water boys for authoritarians.
www.state.gov/releases/off...
Let that sink in. This is what the Twitter Files pretext was actually about. Water boys for authoritarians.
www.state.gov/releases/off...
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
After Jan 6, the U.S. far right had to find a frame that could distract and shift blame from their election fraud lies. They settled on “censorship” — which made their lying villains into “free speech” heroes, and allowed them to target all of the people and orgs that tried to hold them to account.
Nina Jankowicz: “They’re not doing this because they have any evidence of censorship — they lost a Supreme Court case that made those claims… They’re doing this because the group of researchers and advocates have stood up to liars like Donald Trump and the platforms that enable them.”
“Chilling and unconstitutional” — @attorneynora.bsky.social @freepress.bsky.social
December 24, 2025 at 3:09 PM
After Jan 6, the U.S. far right had to find a frame that could distract and shift blame from their election fraud lies. They settled on “censorship” — which made their lying villains into “free speech” heroes, and allowed them to target all of the people and orgs that tried to hold them to account.
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
A violent Neo Nazi organization with close ties to and funding from the Kremlin appears suddenly to get a green light from Kash Patel's FBI.
Neo-Nazi terror group steps up US operations as FBI pulls back
Online activity shows the Base, headed by alleged Russian asset Rinaldo Nazzaro, sees US and Ukraine as key centers
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:03 PM
A violent Neo Nazi organization with close ties to and funding from the Kremlin appears suddenly to get a green light from Kash Patel's FBI.
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
Nähdäkseni Yläjärvi katsoo asetelmaa ruusunpunaisten lasien läpi. MAGA-liikkeelle olennaista ei ole Euroopan maahanmuutto, vaan MAGAn kansallispopulististen hengenheimolaisten ajaminen valtaan myös Euroopassa.
www.hs.fi/paakirjoituk...
www.hs.fi/paakirjoituk...
Kolumni | Suomen tuki ja turva ajaa valkoisten valtaa
Presidentti Donald Trumpille somalit ovat ”roskaa” ja ”patriootit” Euroopan toivo.
www.hs.fi
December 22, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Nähdäkseni Yläjärvi katsoo asetelmaa ruusunpunaisten lasien läpi. MAGA-liikkeelle olennaista ei ole Euroopan maahanmuutto, vaan MAGAn kansallispopulististen hengenheimolaisten ajaminen valtaan myös Euroopassa.
www.hs.fi/paakirjoituk...
www.hs.fi/paakirjoituk...
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
In 2016, when Russia first moved to demand payback for getting Trump elected, they tested two envoys to get to Trump. First, a buddy of Jared Kushner's. Then, W/DMITRIEV SPECIFICALLY, W/Erik Prince.
Prince & Bannon then deleted texts about what went on.
The plan has literally not changed at all.
Prince & Bannon then deleted texts about what went on.
The plan has literally not changed at all.
Did you know that the US hasn’t had an ambassador in Moscow in 6 months?
Or that our chief envoy to Russia won’t take briefings from the CIA?
But wait, there’s more. Much more in this 6-byline WSJ piece on the Witkoff-Putin axis.
Free link www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
Or that our chief envoy to Russia won’t take briefings from the CIA?
But wait, there’s more. Much more in this 6-byline WSJ piece on the Witkoff-Putin axis.
Free link www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
December 20, 2025 at 6:10 PM
In 2016, when Russia first moved to demand payback for getting Trump elected, they tested two envoys to get to Trump. First, a buddy of Jared Kushner's. Then, W/DMITRIEV SPECIFICALLY, W/Erik Prince.
Prince & Bannon then deleted texts about what went on.
The plan has literally not changed at all.
Prince & Bannon then deleted texts about what went on.
The plan has literally not changed at all.
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
Just such an asshole move to see a beloved Hollywood icon murdered, and your first thought is "How can I use this to defend Russia?"
Yes, this is what the actor in one of the most popular shows of all time, and director of some of the most popular movies of all time, will be most remembered for.
December 15, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Just such an asshole move to see a beloved Hollywood icon murdered, and your first thought is "How can I use this to defend Russia?"
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
Markus Frohnmaier’s rapprochement with the MAGA movement signals more than US interest in cooperation with anti-EU forces. Given his long-standing ties to Russian operatives, he has emerged as a conduit linking Kremlin interests to MAGA, reinforcing anti-EU transatlantic alliances: buff.ly/catIYI0
From Moscow to MAGA
AfD’s Markus Frohnmaier and the Transnational Far-Right Convergence
shekhovtsov.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Markus Frohnmaier’s rapprochement with the MAGA movement signals more than US interest in cooperation with anti-EU forces. Given his long-standing ties to Russian operatives, he has emerged as a conduit linking Kremlin interests to MAGA, reinforcing anti-EU transatlantic alliances: buff.ly/catIYI0
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
If we are banning cell phones for kids we need to be talking about banning chatbots for boomers
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
December 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM
If we are banning cell phones for kids we need to be talking about banning chatbots for boomers
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
The Pulitzer Board is actually fighting back against one of Trump’s vexatious lawsuits, saying, ‘If you were harmed, prove it — with medical and financial records.’
Not rolling over like some of the capitulating companies we’ve seen.
newrepublic.com/post/204475/...
Not rolling over like some of the capitulating companies we’ve seen.
newrepublic.com/post/204475/...
Pulitzer Board Demands Trump’s Tax and Psych Records in Lawsuit Twist
Donald Trump isn’t going to be happy about this one.
newrepublic.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The Pulitzer Board is actually fighting back against one of Trump’s vexatious lawsuits, saying, ‘If you were harmed, prove it — with medical and financial records.’
Not rolling over like some of the capitulating companies we’ve seen.
newrepublic.com/post/204475/...
Not rolling over like some of the capitulating companies we’ve seen.
newrepublic.com/post/204475/...
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
He will make it up, just like he made up the lie that my team censored 22 million tweets. Except this time, he’ll be making up lies about people living outside of the US, pretending they are “linked to the CIA” —his usual bullshit trope, which has real consequences in some countries. He won’t care.
Conspiracy theorist Mike Benz will start looking for proof of non-existent plots at USAID. He won't find any. What then?
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
USAID Hired the Right-Wing Influencer Responsible for Its Decimation
Mike Benz was brought aboard to find evidence for his claims that the agency is secretly a spy operation.
www.theatlantic.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
He will make it up, just like he made up the lie that my team censored 22 million tweets. Except this time, he’ll be making up lies about people living outside of the US, pretending they are “linked to the CIA” —his usual bullshit trope, which has real consequences in some countries. He won’t care.
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
Matt Taibbi’s replies lean on a familiar playbook: shift criticism into motive attack, drown the issue in procedural minutiae, blur key distinctions, move the goalposts when errors are exposed, and treat correction itself as proof of bias.
And here is a supplementary companion piece on my Substack in which I include Matt Taibbi's 1800+ word response to questions in full, in the interests of fairness. (Note: this one is for the nerds)
www.jamesrball.com/p/disinforma...
www.jamesrball.com/p/disinforma...
Disinformation Wars: The Extended Edition
Want to see several people argue over *extremely granular* detail? This is your lucky day!
www.jamesrball.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Matt Taibbi’s replies lean on a familiar playbook: shift criticism into motive attack, drown the issue in procedural minutiae, blur key distinctions, move the goalposts when errors are exposed, and treat correction itself as proof of bias.
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
Delighted this piece is now live on @theverge.com: I've spent months investigating how a supposed war against the "censorship-industrial complex" has been used by the US right to wage war against misinformation research – and free speech itself – across the world. Please do give it a read.
The disinformation wars are here
How Joe Biden’s administration caved to the right in the battle for truth.
www.theverge.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Delighted this piece is now live on @theverge.com: I've spent months investigating how a supposed war against the "censorship-industrial complex" has been used by the US right to wage war against misinformation research – and free speech itself – across the world. Please do give it a read.
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
September 17, 2024.
December 7, 2025 at 5:08 PM
September 17, 2024.
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
Bongino saying the quiet--and cynical--part out loud.
In other words: I was making money shoveling conspiracy bullshit without having any facts and conning my audience to make a buck. After I leave the FBI, I will get back to that.
What a confession.
In other words: I was making money shoveling conspiracy bullshit without having any facts and conning my audience to make a buck. After I leave the FBI, I will get back to that.
What a confession.
December 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Bongino saying the quiet--and cynical--part out loud.
In other words: I was making money shoveling conspiracy bullshit without having any facts and conning my audience to make a buck. After I leave the FBI, I will get back to that.
What a confession.
In other words: I was making money shoveling conspiracy bullshit without having any facts and conning my audience to make a buck. After I leave the FBI, I will get back to that.
What a confession.
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
New, from me: Trump’s justification for invading American cities and other countries is to reduce the crime he is actively encouraging through his pardons.
It’s emblematic of how corrupt the pardon process has become under Trump.
Deep dive 🧵 to follow.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/pardon-the...
It’s emblematic of how corrupt the pardon process has become under Trump.
Deep dive 🧵 to follow.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/pardon-the...
Pardon the Corruption
Trump’s justification for invading American cities and other countries is to reduce the crime he is actively encouraging through his pardons
donmoynihan.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:10 PM
New, from me: Trump’s justification for invading American cities and other countries is to reduce the crime he is actively encouraging through his pardons.
It’s emblematic of how corrupt the pardon process has become under Trump.
Deep dive 🧵 to follow.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/pardon-the...
It’s emblematic of how corrupt the pardon process has become under Trump.
Deep dive 🧵 to follow.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/pardon-the...
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
The White House’s new anti-media website includes denunciations of:
-ABC, which bribed the president
-CBS, which bribed the president and moved away from fact-based journalism trying to appeal to him and his fans
-WaPo, which spiked a Harris endorsement and tilts coverage in Trump’s favor
Fools.
-ABC, which bribed the president
-CBS, which bribed the president and moved away from fact-based journalism trying to appeal to him and his fans
-WaPo, which spiked a Harris endorsement and tilts coverage in Trump’s favor
Fools.
November 30, 2025 at 3:15 AM
The White House’s new anti-media website includes denunciations of:
-ABC, which bribed the president
-CBS, which bribed the president and moved away from fact-based journalism trying to appeal to him and his fans
-WaPo, which spiked a Harris endorsement and tilts coverage in Trump’s favor
Fools.
-ABC, which bribed the president
-CBS, which bribed the president and moved away from fact-based journalism trying to appeal to him and his fans
-WaPo, which spiked a Harris endorsement and tilts coverage in Trump’s favor
Fools.
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
Yes, russia is indeed rapidly rebuilding its missile arsenal. The problem is that the "solution" being offered — pausing the war & restoring economic ties with russia, giving it back most of frozen assets, lifting sanctions, rewarding for war crimes — will only accelerate that buildup.
November 27, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Yes, russia is indeed rapidly rebuilding its missile arsenal. The problem is that the "solution" being offered — pausing the war & restoring economic ties with russia, giving it back most of frozen assets, lifting sanctions, rewarding for war crimes — will only accelerate that buildup.
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
November 27, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
Had a great big picture conversation last week with Rachel Nelson at @newlinesinst.bsky.social on antisemitism in the MAGA movement, what a principled anti-Zionism looks like, changing views on Israel/Palestine in the American Jewish community and more. Give it a listen! bit.ly/49IwVnr
November 24, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Had a great big picture conversation last week with Rachel Nelson at @newlinesinst.bsky.social on antisemitism in the MAGA movement, what a principled anti-Zionism looks like, changing views on Israel/Palestine in the American Jewish community and more. Give it a listen! bit.ly/49IwVnr
Reposted by Arto Sillanpää
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen