Joel Schectman
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ProPublica Investigative Reporter - espionage, psyops, covert action. Into film, philosophy & astronomy. Ex-Reuters/WSJ. Tell me your story, DM me for signal.
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Articles by Joel Schectman
The CIA Operative Who Spied on the U.A.E.—and Played a Role in Its AI Win
Alexandra Citrin-Safadi/WSJ Updated July 18, 2026 9:04 pm ET Jonny Gannon had one final mission. The longtime CIA operative had exfiltrated the families of spies from the most repressive of Middle Eastern regimes and tattooed the word “ARGONAUT,” an homage to seafaring heroes from Greek mythology, across his right forearm. By 2023 he had a Washington desk job with a rank equivalent to an Army two-star general. That’s when the director tapped him to return to the field.
WSJ ⟩ Spioon pätsas 40 miljoni dollari eest kulda. Ohus on supersalajased CIA programmid
Päevatoimetaja: Urho Meister urho.meister@postimees.ee Saada vihje THE WALL STREET JOURNAL TELLIJALE Artikli sisu pärineb partnerväljaandest The Wall Street Journal. Inimene liikumas üle CIA logo nende Virginia peakorteris 14. augustil 2008. Foto: LARRY DOWNING / REUTERS Loe kokkuvõtet Viis aastakümmet tagasi murdsid viis röövlit sisse ühe miljardäri seifi ning vallandasid ahelreaktsiooni, mis paljastas ja põrmustas ühe CIA ambitsioonikamatest operatsioonidest Nõukogude Liidu vastu.
一桩4,000万美元黄金盗窃案恐曝光中情局绝密间谍计划
50年前，四名窃贼破开了一位亿万富豪的保险箱。这起案件引发连锁反应，导致美国中央情报局(CIA)针对苏联的一次重大行动遭到曝光并最终流产。 如今，中情局的资深人士正忧心忡忡，生怕又一起看似胆大包天的盗窃案会导致另一个绝密计划的泄露——这次盗窃案的嫌疑人是一名中情局官员。之前主管部门称，这名官员竟直接把价值4,000万美元的金条带出了办公室。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
A $40 Million Gold Heist Risks Exposing CIA’s Top-Secret Spy Programs
Veterans of the agency worry the case will compromise legitimate, highly classified operations against American adversaries The Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Virginia. Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS Five decades ago, four burglars broke into a billionaire’s safe, setting off a chain of events that exposed and foiled one of the CIA’s most ambitious operations against the Soviets.
ワシントンで不審な賭け増加、後手に回る米当局
過去数十年の間、インサイダー取引に駆り立てるような情報は、ウォール街や、全米の上場企業のガラス張りのオフィスの中で見つかるものだった。 だが予測市場の台頭により、米首都ワシントンで新たな誘惑が生まれている。トランプ政権が矢継ぎ早に打ち出す政策を背景に、政府の情報に通じた人物らが市場変動を利用して利益を得る機会を手にしているのだ。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Suspicious betting in Washington is on the rise-and authorities are playing catch-up
; ; ; Continue reading More for You ; ; ; Continue reading More for You
Suspicious Betting in Washington Is on the Rise—and Authorities Are Playing Catch-Up
Regulators are seeking information from Kalshi and Polymarket over wagers tied to political events and military operations Gannon Ken Van Dyke, in sunglasses, exiting federal court in New York last month. Prosecutors have charged him with misusing confidential information. David Dee Delgado/Bloomberg News For decades, the information that fueled insider trading was found on Wall Street or inside the glass offices of public companies across the country.
Takeaways from WSJ reporting on the CIA's dealings with an ex-Chevron executive
Joel Schectman In the months before President Trump moved to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the Central Intelligence Agency turned to former Chevron executive Ali Moshiri for advice on who should replace the autocratic leftist. Moshiri's involvement offers a window into how Trump has come to embrace the energy industry's unsentimental playbook for dealing with autocratic regimes.
《华尔街日报》关于CIA与一名前雪佛龙高管往来的报道要点
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Takeaways From WSJ Reporting on the CIA’s Dealings With an Ex-Chevron Executive
The spy agency relied in part on the former executive’s insights into Venezuela’s leadership and the opposition Ali Moshiri in Caracas, Venezuela, earlier this month. Ali Moshiri in Caracas, Venezuela, earlier this month. In the months before President Trump moved to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the Central Intelligence Agency turned to former Chevron executive Ali Moshiri for advice on who should replace the autocratic leftist.
他曾是雪佛龙的委内瑞拉掌门人，也是中情局线人
在美国总统特朗普(Trump)采取行动抓捕委内瑞拉总统尼古拉斯·马杜罗(Nicolás Maduro)之前的几个月，中央情报局(Central Intelligence Agency)曾向一位老朋友征求意见，询问该由谁来取代这位专制的左翼领导人。 据知情人士透露，前雪佛龙(Chevron)高管阿里·莫什里(Ali Moshiri)告诉中情局，如果美国政府试图推翻整个马杜罗政权，并扶植玛丽亚·科里纳·马查多(María Corina Machado)领导的民主反对派上台，美国将再次陷入类似伊拉克那样的泥潭。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
He was Chevron's man in Venezuela—and a CIA informant
Joel Schectman, Christopher M. Matthews, Vera Bergengruen In the months before President Trump moved to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the Central Intelligence Agency turned to an old friend for advice on who should replace the autocratic leftist.
He Was Chevron’s Man in Venezuela—and a CIA Informant
In the months before President Trump moved to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the Central Intelligence Agency turned to an old friend for advice on who should replace the autocratic leftist. Former Chevron executive Ali Moshiri told the agency that if the U.S. government tried to oust the entire Maduro regime and install the democratic opposition led by María Corina Machado it would have another quagmire like Iraq on its hands, according to people familiar with the matter.
WSJ: Mida Trump lendavate taldrikute kohta välja koukida võib
Päevatoimetaja: Urho Meister urho.meister@postimees.ee Saada vihje THE WALL STREET JOURNAL TELLIJALE Artikli sisu pärineb partnerväljaandest The Wall Street Journal. UFO Nevadas maantee ääres. Tegemist on skulptuuriga. Foto: Mikayla Whitmore / WSJ Loe kokkuvõtet 1990. aastatel kaevus CIA sügavatele tulnukaasjandusse ning andis lõpuks teada, mis leidis: enamik eeldatavaid UFO-silmamisi olid ülisalajased üle USA lendavad luurelennukid.
What Trump’s UFO deep dive might reveal to Americans
Global A flying-saucer sculpture along Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway. Summary Past classified reviews looking for alien life have found stranger things about life in Washington. This is a Mint Premium article gifted to you. Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.
What Trump's UFO deep dive might reveal to Americans
Joel Schectman In the 1990s, the Central Intelligence Agency dug into all it knew about the possibility of extraterrestrial visits, ultimately revealing what it found: Most of the supposed early UFO sightings were highly classified spy planes flying over the U.S. The Trump administration is taking another crack at the issue, to see if it can find a different answer.
What Trump’s UFO Deep Dive Might Reveal to Americans
Past classified reviews looking for alien life have found stranger things about life in Washington A flying-saucer sculpture along Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway.
米政府、内国歳入庁改革を計画 左派系団体への捜査強化へ
トランプ米政権は、左派系団体に対する刑事捜査を容易にする内国歳入庁（IRS）の大規模な改革を準備している。事情に詳しい複数の関係者が明らかにした。 この取り組みに関与しているIRSの高官が、民主党の主要な献金者を含む潜在的な捜査対象リストを作成したと、一部の関係者は述べている。 Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
特朗普团队计划改革美国国税局，以便追查左倾团体
据知情人士透露，特朗普政府正准备对美国国税局(Internal Revenue Service)进行全面改革，这些改革将使该机构更容易对左倾团体展开刑事调查。 其中一些知情人士称，一名参与此项工作的国税局高级官员已起草了一份潜在目标名单，其中包括民主党的主要捐赠者。 Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Exclusive | Trump Team Plans IRS Overhaul to Enable Pursuit of Left-Leaning Groups
The Trump administration is preparing sweeping changes at the Internal Revenue Service that would allow the agency to pursue criminal inquiries of left-leaning groups more easily, according to people familiar with the matter. A senior IRS official involved in the effort has drawn up a list of potential targets that includes major Democratic donors, some of the people said.
Trump Confidante Loomer Turns Against MAGA Stalwarts
Try GOLD - Free The Wall Street Journal | October 06, 2025 President Trump confidante Laura Loomer has successfully campaigned for the ouster of more than a dozen national-security officials and others she has accused of secretly working against the president’s “Make America Great Again” agenda. Now in recent weeks, the right-wing conspiracy theorist has begun training her considerable firepower inside the MAGA tent. This story is from the October 06, 2025 edition of The Wall Street Journal.
Laura Loomer’s Newest Target: MAGA Republicans
The Trump loyalist is fighting with Tucker Carlson, others as some White House officials have grown concerned about her influence President Trump confidante Laura Loomer has successfully campaigned for the ouster of more than a dozen national security officials and others she has accused of secretly working against the president’s “Make America Great Again” agenda. Now she is training her considerable firepower inside the MAGA tent. In recent weeks, the right-wing conspiracy theorist has:
Laura Loomer Is Turning Against MAGA Stalwarts
Trump administration officials are considering eliminating age as a factor in deciding whether someone is capable of working. The Trump administration is preparing a plan that will make it harder for older Americans to qualify for Social Security disability payments, part of an overhaul of the …
華爾街日報》美中談判桌下的暗戰：中國駭客冒充議員發動釣魚攻勢，意圖竊取川普談判情報 | 新聞
據知情人士透露，今年7月，就在川普（Trump）政府與中國的緊張貿易談判即將在瑞典開始之際，專注於美中競爭的眾議院委員會工作人員開始收到一些令人費解的詢問。 多家貿易組織、律師事務所以及美國政府機構都收到了一封看似來自該委員會主席、密西根州共和黨眾議員約翰・穆勒納爾（John Moolenaar）的電子郵件，郵件中就議員們計劃針對北京提出的制裁草案徵求意見。 郵件中寫道：「你們的見解至關重要」，並要求這些組織審閱郵件附件中的法案草案。但該委員會主席為何會用一個非政府信箱地址寄送這封郵件呢？ 知情人士稱，這起事件原來是被指與中國政府有關的一系列網路間諜活動中的最新一起，其時機選擇可能旨在向為美國總統川普的貿易談判建言獻策的組織部署間諜軟體。 美國聯邦調查局（FBI）和國會警察正在調查穆勒納爾的郵件事件，網路分析師將嵌入的惡意軟體追溯到一個名為APT41的駭客組織——據信該組織是中國國家安全部的承包商。...
China Hackers Impersonated Lawmaker
The Wall Street Journal | September 09, 2025 As the Trump administration's contentious trade talks with China were set to begin in Sweden last July, staffers on the House committee that focuses on U.S. competition with China began to get puzzling inquiries, according to people familiar with the matter. Several trade groups, law firms and U.S. government agencies had all received an email appearing to be from the committee's chairman, Rep.
Chinese Hackers Pretended to be a Top U.S. Lawmaker During Trade Talks
Chinese Hackers Pretended to be a Top U.S. Lawmaker During Trade Talks FBI is investigating a scheme to spy on trade groups using fake emails from China committee chair Rep. John Moolenaar
中国黑客冒充美国高级议员发送邮件，刺探贸易谈判相关情报 - WSJ
据知情人士透露，今年7月，就在特朗普(Trump)政府与中国的紧张贸易谈判即将在瑞典开始之际，专注于美中竞争的众议院委员会工作人员开始收到一些令人费解的问询。 多家行业组织、律师事务所以及美国政府机构都收到了一封看似来自该委员会主席、密歇根州共和党众议员约翰·穆勒纳尔(John Moolenaar)的电子邮件，邮件中就议员们计划针对北京方面提出的制裁草案征求意见。 Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
9/7/25 National Security News and Commentary
Quotes of the Day: "The discipline of the written word punishes both stupidity and dishonesty." – John Steinbeck "Rebellion is born when rulers forget who they are meant to serve." – Confucius "First you fascinate the fools, then you muzzle the intelligent." – Bertrand Russell 1. Pentagon plan prioritizes homeland over China threat 2. China Uses Military Parade to Cover for Growing Weakness 3. Japan’s Prime Minister to Resign 4. President of Peace, Department of War. A New Name Sends Mixed Signals. 5.
米パランティア株が600%急騰、背景にトランプ政権との蜜月
データ分析ソフトウエアを開発する米パランティア・テクノロジーズ PLTR 7.85%increase; green up pointing triangle のアレックス・カープ最高経営責任者（CEO）は2023年の早い時期に、人工知能（AI）関連の新たな商品を「現在開発中」だと発言した。同社のエンジニアらはそのような商品は手掛けていなかったことから、カープ氏の発言は驚きを持って受け止められたという。 だがカープ氏はこの時点で世界が進む方向を見抜き、その秩序を変えることになる最新トレンドの中心にパランティアを据えた。同氏はエンジニアらが製品を開発できるはずだと賭け、エンジニアらも結果的にこの期待に応える形となった。 Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
How Palantir Won Over Washington-and Pushed Its Stock Up 600%
The blind run into AI is one of a series of decisions by Palantir that have positioned the company today as a power player in the Trump administration, an integral tool for national security and the most expensive stock in the S&P 500. On Monday, it reported its best-ever earnings with more than $1 billion in revenue in the second quarter, 53% growth in earnings from U.S. government contracts and total booked contracts valued at $2.3 billion.
Alien chronicles: Here’s how the Pentagon fabricated evidence and allowed rumors to fester to cover up its secret-weapons programs
GLP Policy & Performance Review, 2024 The GLP is committed to full transparency. Download the report. Global Gene Editing Regulation Tracker Our interactive GLP global map explains the status of each country’s regulations for human and agricultural gene editing and gene drives. GLP 2021 Annual Report The GLP is committed to full transparency. Download our 2021 Annual Report.
A UFO Legend Lands Up at Elite Defense Lab
Try GOLD - Free The Wall Street Journal | June 23, 2025 A piece of metal said to be from space takes an odd, three-decade journey Top and above right driving along the Extraterrestrial Highway in Nevada. Above left bikers gathered for a parade during the 2025 UFO Fest in Oregon. This story is from the June 23, 2025 edition of The Wall Street Journal. Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,500+ magazines and newspapers. Already a subscriber? Sign In
Was It Scrap Metal or an Alien Spacecraft? The Army Asked an Elite Defense Lab to Investigate
The Pentagon man gathered top technology executives from the six largest defense contractors in 2022 to ask an unusual question: Have any of your companies ever gained access to alien technology? “It would just make my job easier if one of you would ’fess up, give me the UFO, or help me find them,” said Sean Kirkpatrick, who had been tapped by the Defense Department to investigate whether Washington had ever had a secret alien program.
Trump to Send 2,000 National Guard Troops to L.A. After Protests
White House says troops are needed to protect ICE agents after two days of skirmishes between demonstrators and federal officers The Trump administration will send at least 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles after two days of protests over deportation operations that erupted into skirmishes between demonstrators and federal officers.
Total of 7 Suspects Arrested in Deadly Dec. 9 Glyfada Shooting
All of the suspects are Turkish nationals; the gangland-style attack reportedly involved rival criminal gangs based in the neighboring country Seven suspects, all Turkish nationals, have been arrested for a gangland-style attack last December in an upscale southeast Athens district that left one man dead and another injured. The arrests come in light of several deadly incidents in Greece with victims and perpetrators belonging to Turkey-based crime gangs.
As Summer Dawns, a Moment to Reflect on the Sea - tovima.com
On the occasion of World Ocean Day, celebrated annually on June 8, we explore the fragile threshold where land and water meet As the first true days of summer arrive in Greece—ushered in by salt-laced breezes, the hum of cicadas, and families returning to beloved beaches—this year’s season begins under the shadow of urgent ecological reckoning. June 8 marks World Ocean Day, a global reminder that while the sea gives us life, beauty, and identity, it also demands our protection.
The Pentagon Disinformation That Fueled America’s UFO Mythology
U.S. military fabricated evidence of alien technology and allowed rumors to fester to cover up real secret-weapons programs A tiny Pentagon office had spent months investigating conspiracy theories about secret Washington UFO programs when it uncovered a shocking truth: At least one of those theories had been fueled by the Pentagon itself.
Pentagon Fueled UFO Mythology, Then Tried Coverup
SHARE SHARE Pentagon Fueled UFO Mythology, Then Tried Coverup BY JOEL SCHECTMAN AND ARUNA VISWANATHA A tiny Pentagon office had spent months investigating conspiracy theories about secret Washington UFO programs when it uncovered a shocking truth: At least one of those theories had been fueled by the Pentagon itself. The congressionally ordered probe took investigators back to the 1980s, when an Air Force colonel visited a bar near Area 51, a top-secret site in the Nevada desert.
The Pentagon Disinformation That Fueled America’s UFO Mythology
A tiny Pentagon office had spent months investigating conspiracy theories about secret Washington UFO programs when it uncovered a shocking truth: At least one of those theories had been fueled by the Pentagon itself. The congressionally ordered probe took investigators back to the 1980s, when an Air Force colonel visited a bar near Area 51, a top-secret site in the Nevada desert. He gave the owner photos of what might be flying saucers.
6/7/25 National Security News and Commentary
Quotes of the Day: “An intellectual is a person who has discovered something more interesting than sex.” – Aldous Huxley “If you want to reach a large audience, appeal to idiots.” – Schopenhauer “The more intelligent a man is, the more he begins to notice suffering.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky 1. Chinese propaganda surges as the U.S. defunds Radio Free Asia 2. The Pentagon Disinformation That Fueled America’s UFO Mythology 3. Chinese Student Trolled Over ‘Humanity’ Speech at Harvard 4.
The Final Moments of Two Promising Lives Cut Short by a Gunman Fixated on Gaza
It was Wednesday evening, around 9 p.m., and Ran Goldstein, a humanitarian aid worker for the Israeli charity IsraAID, had just finished a panel discussion at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The theme: how organizations like his had managed to work in places like Gaza and Syria to alleviate suffering. “Every evening in Washington is like this,” Goldstein said, recalling the usual procession of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and networking.
カタール、米への影響力拡大に巨額資金どう使ったか
中東のカタールは米国の大統領専用機「エアフォースワン」向けに4億ドル（約584億円）のジャンボジェット機を寄贈する計画だが、これはペルシャ湾岸の小国がいかにして国の規模に見合わない外交的影響力を発揮してきたかを浮き彫りにしている。カタールには豊富な資金力と、それを使う覚悟がある。 カタールは、その豊富な天然ガス資源から得た数十億ドルを主に米国の軍や大学などに投じると同時に、ロビー活動への支出も拡大して、政策を自国に有利な方向に導いてきた。 Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
How Qatar Spent Billions to Gain Influence in the U.S.
Subscribe to a bundle to unlock all coverage by Caixin Global and the WSJ. By Stephen Kalin, Eliot Brown and Joel Schectman (The Wall Street Journal) — Qatar’s potential plan to provide a $400 million jumbo jet to the U.S. to use as Air Force One underscores how the tiny Gulf state has managed to diplomatically punch above its weight for years: It has a lot of money and is willing to spend it.
How Qatar Spent Billions to Gain Influence in the U.S. Original
A growing chorus of Republicans and Democrats have criticized President Trump’s pursuit of the plane, arguing it presents national-security concerns. A senior administration official said Wednesday that Trump hopes to have the plane ready to use by the end of the year, and isn’t considering abandoning the plan. “The choice is accepting a gift and saving the American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
How Qatar Spent Billions to Gain Influence in the U.S.
Qatar’s potential plan to provide a $400 million jumbo jet to the U.S. to use as Air Force One underscores how the tiny Gulf state has managed to diplomatically punch above its weight for years: It has a lot of money and is willing to spend it. The country’s ruling monarchy has showered billions of dollars derived from its vast natural gas reserves on U.S. institutions, mainly the military and universities, while ramping up spending on lobbyists to tilt policy in its favor.
トランプ政権、NPOの免税資格に異議を唱える方法を検討
一部のIRS職員は、従来の慣行から逸脱しているようだと懸念示す 【ワシントン】米トランプ政権の当局者が、非営利団体（NPO）の免税資格に異議を唱える方法を検討していることが、事情に詳しい関係者の話で分かった。内国歳入庁（IRS）の一部職員は、この動きが政治と無関係の同庁のアプローチを損なう可能性があると懸念している。 最近の週末に行われた数時間に及ぶ複数の会議で、IRSの弁護士らは、NPOの免税資格を認めない場合の規則を変更できるかどうかを検討した。 Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8 ウォール・ストリート・ジャーナル日本版 今すぐ購読する Special Advertising Section アクセスランキング
Exclusive | Trump Officials Explore Ways of Challenging Tax-Exempt Status of Nonprofits
Some IRS officials fear the deliberations appear to depart from longstanding practice WASHINGTON—Trump administration officials are exploring ways of challenging the tax-exempt status of nonprofits, according to people familiar with the matter, in a move that some IRS staffers fear could damage the agency’s apolitical approach.
Son of CIA Official Was Killed in Ukraine, Fighting for Russia
Former Eagle Scout abandoned his life in the U.S. for Russian-occupied war zone, where he died last year The son of a senior Central Intelligence Agency official was killed last year in eastern Ukraine, the CIA said, after signs that he became increasingly disillusioned with the U.S. and joined the Russian military. Michael Gloss, whose mother, Juliane Gallina, is the CIA’s deputy director for digital innovation, died during an offensive in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
Son of CIA Official Was Killed in Ukraine, Fighting for Russia
1 hour ago Reporting from Vatican City In a solemn and majestic funeral on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Roman Catholic Church on Saturday laid to rest Pope Francis, the first South American pontiff, whose simple style, pastoral vision and outsize footprint on the world stage both reinvigorated and …
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