Ball of Thread cover art

Ball of Thread

Ball of Thread

By: emptywheel's Marcy Wheeler
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 Independent journalist Marcy Wheeler unwinds the true story of the attack on democracy that is bringing the United States to the brink of fascism.2024 True Crime
Episodes
  • The Conspiracy Theory that Got NSA's Top Math Whiz Purged

    The Conspiracy Theory that Got NSA's Top Math Whiz Purged
    Aug 23 2025
    Tulsi Gabbard just stripped the security clearances of 37 intelligence officials, including one of the NSA's top math whizzes. Her excuse for doing so stems from conspiracy theories invented by a disgruntled whistleblower.
    Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbdY69KYf3U Read more: https://www.emptywheel.net/2025/08/21/quantum-leaps-the-so-called-whistleblower-that-got-nsas-top-mathematician-fired/ Support emptywheel: https://www.emptywheel.net/about/support/
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    14 mins
  • Stop Looking for a F@%king Pee Tape!

    Stop Looking for a F@%king Pee Tape!
    Aug 17 2025

    We know why Vladimir Putin has leverage over Trump, and it's not the goddamned pee tape. Trump has survived for the last eight years--not just the Russian investigation, but his first impeachment, his second impeachment, January 6, stealing classified documents--by claiming every push for accountability was just a hoax by Hillary Clinton.

    Russia Russia Russia.

    But Putin has proof that Trump knows Hillary didn't frame him--instead, Russian spies framed her.

    And if he released that, it would destroy the very means by which Trump has avoided accountability for eight years.
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    17 mins
  • How a Batshit Letter May Help Trump Bankrupt America

    How a Batshit Letter May Help Trump Bankrupt America
    Aug 15 2025

    Solicitor General John Sauer wrote a batshit letter to the appeals court reviewing Trump's tariffs. It's little more than Trump's Truth Social posts slapped on a page -- not even on DOJ letterhead! But here's why it might work with SCOTUS.

    Read more: https://www.emptywheel.net/2025/08/13/trump-confesses-he-will-bankrupt-the-country-unless-scotus-lets-him-break-the-law/

    Support emptywheel: https://www.emptywheel.net/about/support/

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    19 mins
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