Odds and Ends — 13 December 2024

A Justice Department watchdog found that there were no undercover FBI employees at the US Capitol during the January 6, 2021, riot, rejecting speculation from allies of President-elect Donald Trump who have for years suggested that the violence that day was provoked by federal agents.

https://twitter.com/MeidasTouch/status/1867339644800839891

Tracking Putin’s Most Feared Secret Agency

Scanning the passengers, he locked his eyes squarely on one of those prisoners—me. He said nothing, staring in silence for nearly a minute. Then he turned and walked back to his curtained-off section of the presidential jet. I was left to wonder about this man at the helm of the exchange, who appeared to hold my fate in his hands.
When I was arrested by Russia’s security forces in 2023—the first foreign correspondent charged with espionage since the Cold War—I never stopped reporting. On my release I set out to identify the man who had taken me, and to learn more about the spy unit that had carried out his orders.”
During my 16 months’ imprisonment, colleagues at The Wall Street Journal had been asking parallel questions.
Together, we have identified the man behind the curtain as Lt. Gen. Dmitry Minaev and can now reveal a trove of fresh details about the unit that he runs: the Department for Counterintelligence Operations. Known as DKRO, it is at the very core of Putin’s opaque wartime regime.

https://twitter.com/JayinKyiv/status/1867175881912819922
https://twitter.com/KhaterDiana/status/1867140635867718080

Ex-FBI Informant to Plead Guilty to Lying About Bidens

A former FBI informant accused of fabricating a claim that President Biden and his son Hunter were each paid a $5 million bribe by a Ukrainian oligarch has agreed to plead guilty to a range of federal charges.
Alexander Smirnov, a profiteer, fixer and gossip based in Las Vegas, reached a deal with the special counsel overseeing the investigation into Hunter Biden, David C. Weiss, that could lead to 48 to 72 months in prison.

https://twitter.com/emptywheel/status/1867219016387059825

RFK Jr. Lawyer Asked FDA to Revoke Polio Vaccine

The lawyer helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pick federal health officials for the incoming Trump administration has petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine, which for decades has protected millions of people from a virus that can cause paralysis or death.

The big changes coming to UK and European travel in 2025

https://twitter.com/BharatRamamurti/status/1867232415275717106

Musk’s Foundation Gave Away Less Money Than Required

For the third year in a row, Elon Musk’s charitable foundation did not give away enough of its money.
And it did not miss the mark by a small amount.
New tax filings show that the Musk Foundation fell $421 million short of the amount it was required to give away in 2023. Now, Mr. Musk has until the end of the year to distribute that money, or he will be required to pay a sizable penalty to the Internal Revenue Service.

https://twitter.com/DeanObeidallah/status/1867192852482302402

SEC Charges Firm of Trump Transition Chief

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday charged global financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald with violating laws related to regulatory disclosures by so-called blank-check companies before they raise money from the public.
Cantor’s chairman and CEO, Howard Lutnick, was recently nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Commerce Department. Lutnick is co-chair of Trump’s transition team.

https://twitter.com/TVietor08/status/1867295841880617279

Los Angeles Times Owner Spikes Another Piece

Hours before the editorial was set to be sent to the printer for the next day’s newspaper, Dr. Soon-Shiong told the opinion department’s leaders that the editorial could not be published unless the paper also published an editorial with an opposing view.
Baffled by his order and with the print deadline approaching, editors removed the editorial, headlined ‘Donald Trump’s cabinet choices are not normal. The Senate’s confirmation process should be.’ It never ran.

Serendipity:

Humans may not have survived without Neanderthals

https://twitter.com/MusicJim2/status/1867334176808288266

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2 comments

@kwick 64

9 days ago

Much updates about Trump, when he will be taking oath? Many people including me are looking for the day when Trump will take it officially and what is he going to do thereafter.

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@preparedwombat 77

9 days ago

Supposedly, January 20th.

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