Russ Choma
@russchoma.bsky.social
Investigative reporter @Motherjones DC ex OpenSecrets.org tip me at rchoma @ motherjones.com
Trump threatened to “bomb the shit out of” Oman on Monday. But there's a problem for the president: He has a lavish golf course there.
Trump's bombing threats have a golf course problem
His Oman resort sits just miles from the strait where he's promising to send in the US military.
motherjones.com
"There is a bruise that accompanies the injury that appears to be in a handprint... it appears that it was inflicted." We take you inside the room where a child protection specialist speaks to police about the fracture sustained by Rep. Max Miller's toddler. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Police footage shows Rep. Max Miller downplaying his daughter’s broken collarbone.
Go inside the room as detectives probe the abuse allegations.
motherjones.com
sorry but does this seem like the kind of thing a congressman who banned a constituent from all six of his McDonald's franchises would do? or the same congressman who subsequently sold all six of his McDonald's to fund his re-election?
Chris Hayes@chrislhayes.bsky.social · last mo.This just might be the most psychotic act of sexual harassment I’ve ever seen. Not the worst per se, or most menacing but in terms of sheer insanity it’s really up there.
Missed payments. Slashed staffing. Broken security. A patient who froze to death on the roof of a hospital. Inside American Healthcare System, the for-profit healthcare behemoth driving hospitals around the country to financial chaos.
A for-profit hospital slashed costs. Then a patient froze to death on its roof.
A little-known company grew on promises to save distressed hospitals. Instead, it sunk them into financial chaos.
motherjones.com
The success of Emily Wilson's translation had nothing to do with Christopher Nolan. The hardcover edition came out 9 years ago and was a huge success. The paperback has been in steady demand since 2018. My store has sold 75 copies (a lot for 1 book for us) and 66 of those were before January.
Ignacio Gallup-Diaz@igallupd.bsky.social · 2mo ago“A Penn professor thought she’d sell 1000 copies of her ‘Odyssey’ translation. She sold a million this year alone, thanks to Christopher Nolan.” “West Philly's Emily Wilson, who penned a highly acclaimed translation of the epic poem in 2017, is having a big summer.”
Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) previously denied a report, also alleged in court records, that he pushed a girl down a flight of stairs in high school. But the woman recently told Mother Jones the alleged incident remains "one of the more traumatic nights of my life." Inside the investigation:
Assault, misogyny, verbal threats: Records detail new allegations against Rep. Max Miller
Police reports and filings in a bitter custody dispute raise new questions about the conduct of an Ohio Republican as he campaigns for a third term.
ow.ly
Trump borrowed more than $50 million from Charles Schwab Bank last year. But what we don't know— 💰️ why he needed the funds 💰️ how he used the funds 💰️ what assets he pledged as collateral 💰️ the exact amount he borrowed 💰️ when it's due ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ @danalexander21.bsky.social for Forbes
Trump Took Out Mysterious Loan Last Year
Donald Trump secured a massive loan from Charles Schwab Bank last year, leaving his debt profile murkier than it has been in ages.
forbes.com
New: “How the Trumps’ Billion-Dollar Crypto Stake Depends on a Company That Helped Iran Evade Sanctions.” my first report for @publiccitizen.bsky.social 1/
Conflict Coin: How the Trumps' Billion-Dollar Crypto Stake Depends on a Company That Helped Iran Evade Sanctions - Public Citizen
Trumps’ World Liberty Financial is heavily dependent on Binance, a crypto exchange that pleaded guilty to helping Iran evade sanctions
citizen.org
It wouldn't be a Trump financial disclosure day w/out some mystery... like, who is Base Co. LTD, and why did they pay a $2m non-refundable fee to Trump? This from a Korean biz pub back in Feb suggests a construction co &/or liquor conglomerate? dbr.donga.com/kfocus/view/...
Mother Jones@motherjones.com · 2mo agoWhile we're all stuck paying ludicrous prices for gas thanks to the president's tariffs, Trump has added billions to his net worth in the year and a half since his return to the presidency. In total, it appears that Trump added about $2.2 billion to his net worth in 2025.
Looks like JD Vance has become the fall guy if the deal with Iran fails...
Republicans question the U.S.-Iran deal. Many are blaming JD Vance.
“The president is getting, I think, very poor advice when it comes to this deal,” Sen. Ted Cruz said.
motherjones.com
It may not have been worth bringing the accordion.
The “Freedom 250” UFC fight at the White House features ad placement for the Saudis, along with gambling and crypto companies.
After reading this post last year, I saw this start to happen and helped out. It's a very good thing to think about next time you go to the pool.
Trish Greenhalgh@trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 4mo agoEvery summer I repost this article on how to spot drowning. Please read it and pass on. In the last few years I’ve had SIX messages from people who saved a kid’s life after clicking on the link from my feed. slate.com/technology/2...
5/ Just pubbed this @russchoma.bsky.social piece on Javanka's slimy Albanian island resort deal, which has caused huge protests to break out, and why OTHER democracies do better at resisting such his crony capitalism. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The key to fighting a Trump real estate deal: democracy
There's a reason the first family's construction projects go more smoothly in Saudi Arabia than in Albania.
motherjones.com
As someone who covers crypto and thinks about it more than I’d like, I liked this. @benmckenzie.bsky.social has a real knack for articulating, in terms we all understand, what’s so unsettling about crypto. And he did so much better job grilling SBF on campaign donations than any of us journos did…
Mother Jones@motherjones.com · 4mo agoA new documentary from onetime "The O.C." star Ben McKenzie scorches the cult of cryptocurrency.
“Having the IRS agree to no audits of the President, his family and their businesses is unheard of.”
First, a $1.8 billion slush fund. Now Trump aims to weasel out of IRS audits “forever”
We're talking about a man whose company was convicted of criminal tax fraud.
motherjones.com
Republican primary voters reject congressman who pressed for accountability for those involved with Epstein.
Midterms Live Updates: Polls Close in Kentucky, Where Trump Critic Faces Tough Challenge
nytimes.com
NEW: I recently started seeing more and more videos featuring youthful Scientologists from “orgs” around the world, especially on TikTok. It turns out this is part of an coordinated campaign, and I spoke to some of the people who helped develop it: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Scientology’s extremely online pivot to video
On TikTok and Instagram, the church seeks youthful recruits—and a forum to battle critics.
motherjones.com
Trump tried to build Australia’s tallest tower. It didn’t happen.
Trump tried to build Australia’s tallest tower. It didn’t happen.
"The Trump brand was increasingly toxic."
motherjones.com
The president’s crypto partners are offering World Cup box seats to high-ranking coin holders.
Trump meme coin contest: Win exclusive access to “World Football 2026 Final Game”!
The president's crypto partners are offering World Cup box seats to high-ranking coin holders.
motherjones.com
Crypto bloggers bragged about how they got into the Mar-a-Lago gala with trading strategies that meant they spent as little as $500 on $TRUMP, so this could actually be a really cheap way to see the WC final. Or the "World Football 2026 Final Game" as the website calls it...
Mother Jones@motherjones.com · 4mo agoHave you been struggling to get your hands on affordable World Cup tickets? Well, Donald Trump’s meme coin business partners have an “extraordinary” offer for you: A chance to win box seats at the World Cup final in July.
One thing about both the "missing scientists" and "dead holistic doctors" theories is that they tend to keep accruing mass for years. Anyone who has died or disappeared can eventually be drawn in, including people whose family members have begged for privacy. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
How the “missing scientists” conspiracy theory went mainstream after others failed
The fate of similar rumors suggests how our news ecosystem and political environment have mutated.
motherjones.com
Deep, entertaining look at the scam that is crypto!
Ben McKenzie@benmckenzie.bsky.social · 4mo agoAttention folks in the DC area!Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12, I will be hosting a screening of EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU FOR MONEY at the Capitol Visitor Center, SVC 210-200. Film starts @ 6:30pm ET, with a Q&A @ 8:00pm ET. REGISTER HERE docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Thomas Massie has always been Thomas Massie. Sometimes that's disappointing and sometimes it's almost reassuring. Great glimpse from @smencimer.bsky.social www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Thomas Massie has always been a pain in the ass
Can the Kentucky Republican—inventor, farmer, gadfly, genius—survive standing up to Trump?
motherjones.com
For a little while, crypto mogul Justin Sun represented everything the digital currency industry could want from Donald Trump. But Blockchain Camelot is over, and the dueling lawsuits are here.
Trump’s crypto empire descends into warring lawsuits
World Liberty Financial sues its loudest critic.
motherjones.com
Everyone should pay attention to this. Antivaxxers are trying to force you to get another preventable disease and they are better funded than ever. They already got one Lyme vaccine pulled from market with the same tactics of straight-up lying, & climate change keeps making Lyme a much wider problem
Anna Merlan @annamerlan.bsky.social · 4mo agoNEW: I wrote about the ways that Lyme disease conspiracy theories are re-emerging, spurred by a rumor about “boxes of ticks,” an as-yet unreleased vaccine, and the people currently running our government www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
i'm going to take a guess and say it involves a louder version of golf www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
