Officials told me they found the timing of the planned Patel trip to Russia bizarre - coming just weeks before the midterms- given the pressure that FBI leadership is putting on agents to substantiate election conspiracy theories at home that Russian intelligence services continuously amplify.

The Atlantic@theatlantic.com · 2d ago

Exclusive: A pair of senior House Democrats are taking the unusual step of asking FBI Director Kash Patel to scrap his reported visit to Russia, citing national-security concerns, @sfitz787.bsky.social reports. theatln.tc/RyYrTeC4

Exclusive: A pair of senior House Democrats are urging FBI Director Kash Patel to call off a reported planned trip to Russia, according to a letter @sfitz787.bsky.social obtained. “In the interest of national security, we ask you to reconsider,” they wrote. theatln.tc/e0fGwbrC

Exclusive: A pair of senior House Democrats are taking the unusual step of asking FBI Director Kash Patel to scrap his reported visit to Russia, citing national-security concerns, @sfitz787.bsky.social reports. theatln.tc/RyYrTeC4

Exclusive: A pair of senior House Democrats are urging FBI Director Kash Patel to call off a reported planned trip to Russia, according to a letter @sfitz787.bsky.social obtained. “In the interest of national security, we ask you to reconsider,” they wrote. theatln.tc/e0fGwbrC

NEW EXCLUSIVE: I’ve spent months reporting on the campaign within the FBI to urge senior leadership to cancel Patel’s trip to Russia before the midterms. Current & former FBI officials told me their many efforts to pass apprehensions up the chain went unanswered www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

Why Is Kash Patel Planning to Visit Russia?

Democrats in Congress are asking the FBI director to cancel the reported trip.

theatlantic.com

NEW EXCLUSIVE: Why Is Kash Patel Planning to Visit Russia? Democrats in Congress are asking the FBI Director to call off the reported trip weeks before the midterms, according to a letter I obtained: “in the interest of national security, we ask you to reconsider” www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

Why Is Kash Patel Planning to Visit Russia?

Democrats in Congress are asking the FBI director to cancel the reported trip.

theatlantic.com

New from Radio Atlantic: @hannarosin.bsky.social interviews @sfitz787.bsky.social about her reporting from inside the FBI. Current and former officials believe that Kash Patel is desperate to please Trump ahead of the midterms.

Why FBI Officials Are Worried About the Midterms

People inside the bureau believe that Kash Patel is “desperate” to deliver indictments—and generate headlines—that would please the president.

bit.ly

I joined Radio Atlantic to discuss my latest reporting “Is There Anything Kash Patel Won’t Do for Trump Before the Midterms?” I hope you’ll tune in: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...

How Far Is Kash Patel Willing to Go for Trump?

Podcast Episode · Radio Atlantic · October 8 · 30m

podcasts.apple.com

As a journalist, some stories stay in your heart and mind forever. I produced this interview and will always be grateful to the families of the American hostages for their trust. Thinking of all those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones today. youtu.be/xGYwuY2TQqE?...

'We want our loved ones back' Families of hostages speak out

YouTube video by NBC News

youtu.be

Is there anything Kash Patel won’t do for Trump before the midterms? @sfitz787.bsky.social reports from inside the FBI. theatln.tc/yBThhOWF

EXCLUSIVE: Agents across the country have been seeking counsel in recent weeks about how to respond to FBI directives related to the election, per 6 current and former FBI and DOJ supervisors + outside defense attorneys who told me they have received calls. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Is There Anything Kash Patel Won’t Do for Trump Before the Midterms?

“The president wants indictments. He wants people in handcuffs.”

theatlantic.com

Is there anything Kash Patel won’t do for Trump before the midterms? @sfitz787.bsky.social reports from inside the FBI. theatln.tc/yBThhOWF

Exclusive: Is there anything Kash Patel won’t do for Trump before the midterms? @sfitz787.bsky.social reports from inside the FBI.

Is There Anything Kash Patel Won’t Do for Trump Before the Midterms?

“The president wants indictments. He wants people in handcuffs.”

bit.ly

NEW: Patel responded to The Atlantic’s questions about the FBI’s election investigations by referring to a graphic that appeared on an unrelated news story on another media company’s website www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

EXCLUSIVE: Agents across the country have been seeking counsel in recent weeks about how to respond to FBI directives related to the election, per 6 current and former FBI and DOJ supervisors + outside defense attorneys who told me they have received calls. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Is There Anything Kash Patel Won’t Do for Trump Before the Midterms?

“The president wants indictments. He wants people in handcuffs.”

theatlantic.com

Exclusive: Is there anything Kash Patel won’t do for Trump before the midterms? @sfitz787.bsky.social reports from inside the FBI.

Is There Anything Kash Patel Won’t Do for Trump Before the Midterms?

“The president wants indictments. He wants people in handcuffs.”

bit.ly

NEW EXCLUSIVE: Is There Anything Kash Patel Won’t Do for Trump Before the Midterms? I report from inside the FBI: www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Nothing will deter us from this work.

NEW: Former intelligence officials expressed bewilderment at the president’s characterizations. “I have never seen raw, unverified reporting pushed out this way: harvested for the pieces that fit, fashioned into a weapon against American elections” www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Trump Still Hasn’t Found What He’s Looking For

The president’s prime-time speech was more notable for what it didn’t prove than what it did.

theatlantic.com

NEW: Former intelligence officials expressed bewilderment at the president’s characterizations. “I have never seen raw, unverified reporting pushed out this way: harvested for the pieces that fit, fashioned into a weapon against American elections” www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Trump Still Hasn’t Found What He’s Looking For

The president’s prime-time speech was more notable for what it didn’t prove than what it did.

theatlantic.com

NEW: Trump Still Hasn’t Found What He’s Looking For: the president’s prime-time speech was more notable for what it didn’t prove than what it did. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Trump Still Hasn’t Found What He’s Looking For

The president’s prime-time speech was more notable for what it didn’t prove than what it did.

theatlantic.com

NEW STORY: “It is general knowledge in our practice that for $2 million, you can have a pardon,” a prominent defense attorney told me. Others said $1-2 million is the going rate, though clients were offering *many* times that amount for challenging cases. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

The White House Considers Granting 250 Pardons for the Nation’s Birthday

The idea has set off a frenzy of appeals for clemency.

theatlantic.com

NEW STORY: “250 pardons for 250 years” The White House is considering issuing mass pardons as part of the Independence Day celebrations- setting off an international frenzy of lobbying + dealmaking, in which even slight proximity to the president can be monetized. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

The White House Considers Granting 250 Pardons for the Nation’s Birthday

The idea has set off a frenzy of appeals for clemency.

theatlantic.com

NEW STORY: “It is general knowledge in our practice that for $2 million, you can have a pardon,” a prominent defense attorney told me. Others said $1-2 million is the going rate, though clients were offering *many* times that amount for challenging cases. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

The White House Considers Granting 250 Pardons for the Nation’s Birthday

The idea has set off a frenzy of appeals for clemency.

theatlantic.com

NEW STORY: “250 pardons for 250 years” The White House is considering issuing mass pardons as part of the Independence Day celebrations- setting off an international frenzy of lobbying + dealmaking, in which even slight proximity to the president can be monetized. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

The White House Considers Granting 250 Pardons for the Nation’s Birthday

The idea has set off a frenzy of appeals for clemency.

theatlantic.com

NEW STORY: Trump’s ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Payouts May Not Be Dead After All www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Trump’s ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Payouts May Not Be Dead After All

Despite insisting that a $1.776 billion fund has been scrapped, the administration is quietly assuring allies that plans remain on track.

theatlantic.com

NEW STORY: MAGA is winning its war against American elections @yvonnewingett.bsky.social @shaneharris.bsky.social and I report, with the universe of people pressing debunked theories now so broad that it’s a feature of the system. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

The Election Deniers Are Winning

The universe of people pressing debunked theories is so broad that it’s a feature of the system.

theatlantic.com

NEW STORY: MAGA is winning its war against American elections @yvonnewingett.bsky.social @shaneharris.bsky.social and I report, with the universe of people pressing debunked theories now so broad that it’s a feature of the system. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

The Election Deniers Are Winning

The universe of people pressing debunked theories is so broad that it’s a feature of the system.

theatlantic.com

Yes ! Thank you for reading!

Matt Greenfield@mattgreenfield.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Wow. You have really gotten a lot done in five months.

This week on @washingtonweekpbs.bsky.social @theatlantic.com : x.com/washingtonwe...

Washington Week with The Atlantic | PBS on X: ""With Kash Patel, though we should be clear, there’s not exactly been a vociferous defense from the president for the FBI director, but he also still has his job, despite questions about his job performance, including those raised within the ranks of the FBI," said @JonLemire. https://t.co/f4ELVMUUKa" / X

"With Kash Patel, though we should be clear, there’s not exactly been a vociferous defense from the president for the FBI director, but he also still has his job, despite questions about his job performance, including those raised within the ranks of the FBI," said @JonLemire. https://t.co/f4ELVMUUKa

x.com