CleverPeople.com: All Site Blogs: October 2025}

We Need Whistleblowers

Gary Wright II — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:59:46 -0400

The Espionage Act is antiquated and broken, and it has been used to prosecute whistleblowers so they are unable to mount a legal defense. It's hard to present any evidence when everything in the case is classified.

We've had Chelsea Manning and Reality Winner who served jail time. Chelsea revealed our war crimes in Iraq to WikiLeaks, and so the CIA tried to assassinate Julian Assange. Reality leaked a NSA document that was evidence that Russia hacked our election systems. Edward Snowden tried to warn us about the mass surveillance problem, but only a small percentage of his leaked documents ever made it to the public. They tried to abduct Ed, so he was whisked off to Russia in quite an amazing operation. All of these persecutions and prosecutions of these heroes has served as a deterrent for future whistleblowers.

The good news is that hackers haven't stopped hacking, and leakers haven't stopped leaking. They're just being much more careful with their leaks. Instead of using WikiLeaks, there are sites like DDOSecrets which has had their .com URL censored on all of the social media platforms because of all of their information on police officers. Hacking collectives like Enlace Hacktivista have their own websites, and the dark web is chock full of stolen secrets (most are fake on the dark web, but some are real if you know where to look).

Chelsea is working on her memoirs, and I can't wait for them to be released. Here's an interview she just did, and it's really good to see her again and know she is readapting to a normal life: https://english.elpais.com/usa/2025-10-31/chelsea-manning-former-intelligence-analyst-if-someone-were-to-publish-a-massive-leak-today-people-would-say-oh-this-isnt-true.html

The Seven Steps of the "Authoritarian Playbook"

Gary Wright II — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:47:04 -0400

The seven steps of the "authoritarian playbook" were identified by the organization Protect Democracy to describe the tactics used by aspiring autocrats to gradually undermine democratic norms and consolidate power. This process is distinct from the military coups of the past, happening piece by piece to normalize and legitimize power grabs.

The seven steps are:

Politicizing independent institutions: Authoritarians attack independent functions of the government, such as the judiciary, intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and central banks. The goal is to capture or neutralize these checks on their power.
Spreading disinformation: While politicians may engage in "spin," authoritarians systematically propagate and amplify falsehoods to confuse the public and undermine the notion of objective truth. This disinformation often takes the form of coordinated efforts through aligned media outlets and other channels.
Aggrandizing executive power: Authoritarians weaken the other branches of government—such as legislatures and courts—and justify expanding their own power. This can involve rewriting rules or simply staffing competing institutions with loyalists.
Quashing dissent: Aspiring autocrats seek to silence opposition and criticism from a strong, independent press and political opponents. This can take many forms, from rhetoric to punitive actions.
Scapegoating vulnerable communities: Authoritarians attack marginalized or minority groups to sow division and turn parts of the population against one another. This strategy reinforces solidarity among their own supporters and demonizes those deemed "outsiders".
Corrupting elections: Rather than openly rigging elections, modern authoritarians maintain the facade of democracy while tilting the rules in their favor. This can include suppressing votes, biasing election administration, and even attempting to overturn results.
Stoking violence: Autocrats can use or deliberately turn a blind eye to political violence. This tactic can intimidate opponents, justify new restrictions on civil liberties, and discourage voters from participating.

Legal Immigration Is Being Dismantled

Gary Wright II — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:20:47 -0400

Trump has reduced the number of refugees accepted from 125,000 to only 7,500 which is the lowest in history. Of those 7,500, they are giving preference to white South Africans who claim they are being persecuted by having a majority Black nation. That claim doesn't hold water. Does anyone remember the apartheid in South Africa where whites controlled the country despite being a minority? The apartheid lasted for 46 years, and only ended when they held democratic elections in 1994 and Nelson Mandela became president.

Through their actions and their speeches, it's clear that Trump, Marco Rubio, and Stephen Miller only want rich white people to enter the country. Trump created his $1,000,000 "golden visa" so anyone with the money can bypass the system. They've increased the fees significantly for all of the immigration filing fees and there's a huge backlog of cases. It can take years for even a spouse to get a visa and over a decade for other family members. Trump created a $1,000 fee for refugees, but thankfully it looks like a federal judge is about to overturn that. They have been threatening the sponsors of immigrants with lawsuits and fines for any immigrant that uses public assistance. They've started charging $100,000 fees for H1-B worker visas which is used by a lot of rural hospitals to recruit physicians. Their entire immigration agenda is racist and despicable. Immigrants are the fabric of our communities and they are badly needed. We have to fight back against these changes!

Reporting from BBC on the changes for refugees: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy40jj71243o

NDAA Section 1122 Program Enables Police Militarization

CleverNews.Net — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:45:38 -0400

Section 1122 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 1994 established the authority for state and local governments to buy law enforcement equipment through federal channels, as long as the equipment is used for counter-drug activities. The Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 amended 10 U.S.C. 381 to expand the procurement authority under Section 1122 to include equipment for homeland security and emergency response activities. Biden had placed restrictions on the program, but Trump has since removed them and police are being militarized at an alarming rate with military equipment that they're not trained to use properly.

Another problem with the 1122 program is lack of transparency. I've written in years past about the woefully incomplete and inadequate public disclosures about what military equipment was sold and where it went. If you've ever wondered how the local and state police are obtaining tanks, body armor, weapons, and heavy equipment - then Section 1122 is to blame!

Chicago - DHS Appeals to 7th Circuit

CleverNews.Net — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:49:37 -0400

DHS had time to make propaganda videos from bodycams and drone footage, but they've turned over no video evidence to the plaintiffs. After a Motion to Compel was filed to force DHS to turn over their video evidence as part of their rolling discovery, DHS appealed to the 7th Circuit who just granted a stay regarding the daily check-in's by Gregory Bovino. They've requested a Writ of Mandamus and an administrative stay. The 7th Circuit responded: "IT IS ORDERED that the government’s request for an administrative stay is GRANTED. Pending a decision on the petition for a writ of mandamus, the district court’s October 28, 2025 order is temporarily STAYED only to the extent it required Gregory Bovino to appear in court, in person, each weekday at 5:45 PM."

Here's the full order from the 7th Circuit: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71559589/154/chicago-headline-club-v-noem/

Alabama Man Deported By ICE Despite Court Order

CleverNews.Net — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:06:04 -0400

Many have been following the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, but this abuse is happening to hundreds, if not thousands, of immigrants.

A 44 year old Alabama father Chanthila "Shawn" Souvannarath had been a lawful permanent resident since his first birthday. During his annual check-in with immigration, they arrested him in front of his two children, and then he was locked up in an immigration detention facility at Louisiana's notorious maximum-security Angola prison. He was then finally deported to Laos despite a restraining order issued by US District Judge Shelly Dick.

Federal agents are completely ignoring the Constitutional rights of both immigrants and citizens, as well as ignoring court orders because they've been told by fascist Stephen Miller that they have complete and absolute immunity (which is not true).

Here's reporting on the ICE abuse of Souvannarath: https://www.tag24.com/politics/refugees/ice-overrides-court-order-to-deport-alabama-father-to-laos-3433507

CIA and Venezuela Regime Change

Gary Wright II — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:16:19 -0400

Our imminent war with Latin America is all about regime change and has nothing to do with drugs. Members of the military involved in the operation are being forced to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) in order to hide their war crimes.

During Trump's first term, the CIA carried out various cyberattacks against Maduro in order to satisfy Trump's demand for them to do something. During one attack they disabled the network used by Maduro's intelligence agencies, but that was an easy attack. Cyber Command then interrupted the Wagner Group's satellite services (Putin supports Venezuela and has his "little green men" mercenaries in the country). In 2024 (during Biden's term) CIA agent Edwin Lopez offered Maduro's pilot General Bitner Villegas $50 million if he would divert his plane to another location where the USA could apprehend him. According to the Vice President of Venezuela, they captured CIA operatives who were planning a false flag operation in order to provide a pretext to war. The agents planned to attack a US ship and make it look like the attack was carried out by Venezuela.

During Trump's first term there were people in charge who resisted his ideas of a land invasion, but now in his second term he has enablers like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. After the CIA failed to cause a regime change, Trump has now chosen the path of a kinetic ground war to eliminate Maduro.

Here's some reporting in the cyberattacks: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/29/politics/maduro-cyberattack-trump-cia

Reporting on the NDAs: U.S. Troops Reportedly Required To Sign NDA Before Taking Part In Campaign In The Caribbean

Reporting on the pilot plot: U.S. Officer Sought To Convince Maduro's Pilot To Divert His Flight So He'd Be Taken By American Forces, Report Claims

Reporting on the capture of CIA agents: Venezuela Claims Capture of Alleged CIA-Linked Mercenaries As U.S. Conducts Naval Drills Near Its Coast

Court Orders for Chicago

CleverNews.Net — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:58:21 -0400

Agents must wear visible identification, must wear body cameras that are recording, border chief Gregory Bovino must check in daily with the judge, and he is still scheduled to give a 5 hour deposition. All of their reports to the court will be under seal. Here's the complete order:

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sara L. Ellis: Court hearing held. The Court enters and continues Plaintiffs' motion to modify the TRO 142 to the date of the preliminary injunction hearing on 11/5/2025. The Court orders Defendants to have all Federal Agents operating in Operation Midway Blitz to place an identifier conspicuously on their uniform where one can easily view it and the Agent's equipment does not obscure it. Custom and Border Protection will strive to ensure that all CBP agents working in Operation Midway Blitz have body-worn cameras. Additionally, Defendant Bovino has agreed to have a body-worn camera assigned to him by 10/31/2025 and have completed BWC training. The Court orders Defendants to provide to the Court, under seal, all CBP use of force reports relating to Operation Midway Blitz from 9/2/2025 through 10/25/2025, by COB 10/31/2025. The Court further orders Defendants to provide to the Court, under seal, all BWC video corresponding to the use of force reports from 9/2/2025 through 10/25/2025 filed with the Court by COB 10/31/2025. The Court orders Defendants to provide to the Court, under seal, all additional CBP use of force reports and corresponding BWC video within 24 hours of finalization of the CBP reports. The Court orders Defendant Bovino to appear in court, in person, week days at 5:45 PM (modifying the Court's oral order during the hearing to account for the security needs of the Dirksen Courthouse) in courtroom 1403 to report on the use of force activities for each day. Finally, the Court orders Defendants to provide to the Court, under seal, by COB 10/31/2025 a chart containing the names, dates of arrest or detention, charges or citations, and resolution of the arrest or detention (e.g., released with charging, charged with misdemeanor, charged with felony, given summons, or given citation) for all individuals detained or arrested by CBP from 9/2/2025 through 10/29/2025 that is not directly related to an immigration enforcement violation, such as a failure to appear for an immigration appointment or an outstanding order of removal. The Court denies Defendants' oral motion to stay this order. The Court denies Defendants' oral motion to stay Defendant Bovino's deposition.

What Gaza Ceasefire?

Gary Wright II — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:40:27 -0400

Israeli Crime Minister Netanyahu has just ordered a large military strike on Gaza. Neither side has been honoring the cease fire agreement, but the agreement was faulty from the start. There were no concrete plans on how to get Hamas to disarm, and Israel created a "yellow line" where they claim half of their land. Israeli settlers have been committing acts of violence against those trying to return home. Hamas is an evil terrorist organization, but Israel has been carrying out war crimes and attempting a genocide. There are plenty of hacked files on DDOSecrets that document what both sides have been doing. USA has been helping, and so we are just as guilty as Israel. Hopefully the International Criminal Court (ICC) will either have Netanyahu and Trump arrested, or go ahead and try them in absentia like they did George W. Bush. Philippines dictator Duterte is currently at the ICC being tried for his crimes against humanity during his brutal "war" on drugs. We know what all of them did, it's just a matter of bringing them to justice and exposing their crimes to the world. Keep hacking!

Reporting from BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c891ex72nj7t

ICE Court Cases to Watch

CleverNews.Net — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:02:27 -0400

Another notice of TRO violations has been filed in federal court. At 10AM tomorrow (Tuesday) there is a hearing where border patrol chief Gregory Bovino must appear in front of Judge Sara Ellis. They have violated her temporary restraining order in multiple ways and on multiple occasions that have now been documented with the court. Not only are they violating with their use of force and deployment of chemical agents, they are also not wearing clearly visible identification. In this notice filed, we can see the officers deploying tear gas but their faces are covered and there is no way to identify them. They are also supposed to be wearing body cameras. During an interview with the media, Bovino questioned the TRO and said he takes his orders from the executive branch, including President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Federal judges really don't like it when you question their authority and flout their orders. Let's hope Judge Ellis throws the book at all of them!

By 5PM, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is also supposed to release their decision on the deployment of national guard troops to Portland, Oregon. The feds have lied to the court about the numbers of troops being deployed, so that may irritate the court. "Plaintiffs write to alert the Court of a material factual error by defendants on which the panel relied to grant a stay pending appeal. Given that reliance, and the gravity of the interests at stake, plaintiffs ask that the panel immediately withdraw its order or, in the alternative, that the en banc court immediately vacate it."

Here's a link to the latest notice of TRO violations for the Lakeview incident:
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71559589/140/chicago-headline-club-v-noem/

Venezuela Claims Arrest of CIA Agents

Gary Wright II — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:46:51 -0400

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez didn't give details, but she said they have captured CIA mercenaries who were planning a false flag operation in order to justify an armed conflict and regime change. Congress is expecting to be briefed on Trump's planned land war, but a bill invoking the War Powers Resolution failed with a vote of 51-48. The GOP-led Congress has again given up its powers as an equal branch of government, and is allowing Trump to do whatever he wants. He's now approaching war crimes territory as he intends to start a war against Latin American countries. He is violating international law as well as the US Constitution. Who will stop him?

Media coverage from Latin Times: Venezuela Claims Capture of Alleged CIA-Linked Mercenaries As U.S. Conducts Naval Drills Near Its Coast

More ICE Antics in Chicago and Portland

CleverNews.Net — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 12:22:12 -0400

Cellphone video shows federal agents have violated the federal TRO at least four times in Chicago by deploying tear gas against protestors. A status hearing is set for 10/28/2025 at 10:00 AM as Judge Sara Ellis has ordered border patrol chief Gregory Bovino to personally appear before her after he was caught personally throwing a tear gas canister.

In Portland, Oregon, federal agents have painted a blue line to show what is federal property and what is public property. Video shows on agent pulling a protestor across the line, and then other agents move in to arrest them. We have to record everything these masked goons do, so carry a whistle and a cellphone to record EVERYTHING! Here's the video from Portland:
https://www.kptv.com/2025/10/26/video-portland-ice-building-shows-arrest-after-agents-appear-pull-protester-over-line/

Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino Violates Restraining Order

CleverNews.Net — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 18:35:59 -0400

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino is accused of violating a temporary restraining order blocking federal agencies from using certain tactics to suppress protests or prevent media coverage of immigration enforcement operations in Illinois.
The same group of journalists and first amendment advocates that obtained the TRO earlier in October filed a notice of alleged violation to U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis after Bovino was caught on video throwing at least one canister of tear gas during a confrontation between federal agents and protesters in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood."

Here's the Notice of Alleged Violation filing in federal court.

Media Coverage: Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino accused of violating restraining order by throwing tear gas in Little Village - CBS Chicago

War With Venezuela

Gary Wright II — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 18:06:38 -0400

The strikes on alleged "narco-terrorist boats" in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea violate international law and the UN Charter. Without evidence or a trial in court, these attacks are extra-judicial murders of foreign citizens in international waters, which is considered an act of war. We have over 10,000 troops, special forces, and lots of military assets operating under CIA directions to force a regime change. Maduro needs to be taken out of power, but it isn't the role of the USA to do that - it should be done by Venezuelans. Today Trump says a ground war is next, as special forces and CIA have already been operating inside the country. Most of the refugees from Latin America are created because we previously interfered in their governments to put in the leader of our choice. Will we ever learn? The military industrial complex needs to be busted up and the defense budget cut to at least one-eighth of what it is in order to defund the defense contractors and "dark" programs that have billions of dollars with zero accountability. Do we really need another never-ending war? I think not, but idiot Trump wants regime change at any cost. He's crazy!

Marriage Equality Revisited by Supreme Court

CleverNews.Net — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 15:18:01 -0400

SCOTUS at their private conference on November 7th will decide whether to grant certiorari to hear the Kim Davis case trying to overturn same-sex marriages. It takes four justices to vote to grant cert before they hear the case. I've posted the censored link to the Liberty Counsel hacked files in the Liberty Counsel Exposed group.

Coverage by The Advocate: https://www.advocate.com/news/supreme-court-marriage-equality-reconsideration

Homeland Security Won't Stop Lying About Who Immigration Enforcers Are Arresting

CleverNews.Net — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:56:32 -0400

In case after case, Homeland Security's Public Affairs Office releases incorrect information about arrests carried out by federal immigration officers. The story that DHS gave about the arrest of WGN-TV producer Debbie Brockman was proven to be a lie by bystander videos. This is not the only lie that ICE is telling!

Source: https://reason.com/2025/10/22/homeland-security-wont-stop-lying-about-who-immigration-enforcers-are-arresting/

DHS/ICE Lies

CleverNews.Net — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:31:56 -0400

They dismantled their oversight and are lying about everything. They've lied about crime statistics, they've lied about their tactics, they've illegally accessed Flock camera data, they're wearing masks to hide their identities, they've lied about being assaulted, they've lied about peaceful protestors, and they've lied about who they are arresting. When our corrupt Supreme Court allowed them to use racial profiling, Beer Boy Kavanaugh said any US citizens swept up in the enforcement actions wouldn't have anything to worry about. Well, he lied, too! Already at least 170 citizens have been arrested and had their rights (and often their bodies) abused. We must #AbolishICE

Source: https://www.propublica.org/article/immigration-dhs-american-citizens-arrested-detained-against-will

Federal Agents Get Doxxed (Again)!

CleverNews.Net — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 20:23:50 -0400

"The Com" that I wrote about earlier that first doxxed hundreds of DHS and ICE officers now has gathered data from the Salesforce hack and has created dossiers on tens of thousands of federal agents including: National Security Agency (NSA), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), members of the US Air Force, and several other agencies.

Source: https://www.404media.co/hackers-say-they-have-personal-data-of-thousands-of-nsa-and-other-government-officials/

ICE Becomes Militarized

CleverNews.Net — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:51:37 -0400

ICE boosted spending on "small arms, ordnance, and ordnance accessories manufacturing" by 700% over the last year. New spending in the small arms category totaled $71,515,762. Most of that money went toward guns and armor, but ICE also bought chemical weapons and "guided missile warheads and explosive components." Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" gave $170 billion for immigration enforcement and border measures, including $75 billion in additional funding for ICE. If immigration enforcement was a national military, it would be the 13th most heavily funded in the world. We have no choice but to #AbolishICE as soon as possible!

Source: https://www.tag24.com/politics/refugees/ice-buying-guided-missile-warheads-as-spending-skyrockets-under-trump-3430906

200 Pages of Stingray IMSI Catcher Manuals

CleverNews.Net — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 18:47:50 -0400

How these devices operate is supposed to be a secret, so let's take a look at their capabilities and operating manuals to see how they work:

(Use Tor browser to skip the email signup)

https://theintercept.com/2016/09/12/long-secret-stingray-manuals-detail-how-police-can-spy-on-phones/

ICE Buys More IMSI Catchers

CleverNews.Net — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:34:11 -0400

IMSI Catchers like HailStorm and Harris' Stingray violate the 4th Amendment, so police want them to be a secret. They work by simulating a cell phone tower which then collects data on every cell phone within its range. Even if the police get a warrant for a particular target, these devices search every innocent person in the area. I've seen them deployed in surveillance vans, as well as DHS airplanes that circle above crime scenes and protests to collect data. The best defense is to not carry a cell phone, carry a burner phone, or put your phone in airplane mode when attending public events where you don't want to be tracked.

TechCrunch has a good article showing the public records documenting the recent ICE purchase and explaining how the devices work. Also check our Bookmarks for a link to over 200 pages of Stingray manuals to learn more about them. Here's the TechCrunch article:

ICE bought vehicles equipped with fake cell towers to spy on phones | TechCrunch

2,600 Emails of Organized Anti-Trans Hate

CleverNews.Net — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 15:05:44 -0400

Learn how the anti-LGBTQ groups organize and write legislation. These 2,600 emails show how nonprofit 501c3 organizations are violating IRS rules by engaging in politics. You can see how anti-transgender hate and legislation is being organized by a small group of people.

Download: 2600-emails-of-organized-anti-trans-hate.pdf

SPLC Designates October as Hate Crimes Awareness Month

Gary Wright II — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:37:30 -0400

Here's an interactive map where you can track the hate groups in your area. There are 1,371 hate and anti-government groups and 118 white nationalist groups terrorizing our nation, and the problem is getting worse. It's time to expose these folks for what they do! They are well-funded and well-organized, so we must also get organized and put some effort into stopping them. This month I'm going to expose the inner workings of one of the most insidious hate groups that uses religion as their shield - so stay tuned!
https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map/