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Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 195

Shake Up

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Trial Balloon · Ep. 195: Shake Up

FBI Scours Its Records to Discredit Trump Opponents

January 18, 2026 · 7:06 am ET · Leave a Comment

“The FBI has had many missions in the more than half-century since its founding director, J. Edgar Hoover, died. It has chased spies, foiled terrorist attacks, ushered in a modern era of innovation and decreased crime rates,” the New York Times reports.

“But under its current chief, Kash Patel, the bureau has added payback to its portfolio. Agents now scour the FBI’s vast holdings to root out negative information about President Trump’s perceived political enemies.”

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Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

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