Soviet-Style Spying? FBI Bombshell Explodes

New revelations suggest federal investigators obtained phone and toll records connected to current White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles during 2022 and 2023 — actions reportedly tied to the broader special counsel investigation led by Jack Smith into then-former President Donald Trump. Sources indicate at least ten FBI employees were fired following internal review, with more personnel actions possible. FBI Director Kash Patel called the situation “outrageous and deeply disturbing.” Meanwhile, reporting from investigative journalist John Solomon cites a Government Accountability Office review alleging that the FBI opened more than 1,200 “assessments” into political figures, journalists, and clergy using investigative authorities that do not require a criminal predicate. Tara breaks down the timeline, the legal questions, the political implications, and why some lawmakers are calling for sweeping structural reforms inside the Bureau. Is this routine intelligence authority — or something far bigger? 🎙 Opening Monologue (Tara Solo Host Script) Good morning. There are stories that flash across the screen. And then there are stories that change how you look at everything. This is the second kind. We now know that phone and toll records connected to Susie Wiles — now White House Chief of Staff — were obtained during 2022 and 2023. This reportedly fed into the special counsel investigation led by Jack Smith involving then-former President Donald Trump. Some of those records were toll logs — times, dates, call metadata. But here’s the question that should concern everyone: What was the predicate? Reports suggest some investigative steps did not require a traditional criminal threshold. According to coverage from John Solomon, a GAO review found more than 1,200 “assessments” were opened on sensitive political figures, journalists, and clergy — most closed without charges. Let’s pause there. Closed without charges does not necessarily mean harmless. It means a file existed. And that’s where the civil liberties debate begins. FBI Director Kash Patel has called the revelations disturbing. At least ten FBI employees were reportedly fired, with more personnel actions possible. But critics argue this isn’t about a few bad actors. They point to earlier controversies — surveillance of reporters, monitoring of political operatives, and the use of investigative authorities that don’t require a judge’s approval. They ask: When does national security authority become political surveillance? During the same time period, questions were raised about foreign intelligence prioritization, including counter-China operations. Some lawmakers now argue resources were misallocated. And then there’s the political overlay. Former Obama adviser Susan Rice recently warned corporate leaders that political consequences could follow future power shifts. Some interpret that as routine partisan rhetoric. Others see it as confirmation that political leverage and legal systems are increasingly intertwined. Meanwhile, major corporations — from tech to finance — are relocating headquarters and executives to states like Florida. Analysts debate whether that’s about tax policy, regulatory climate, or legal jurisdiction strategy. But here’s the core issue: If Americans believe federal law enforcement is being used as a political tool — even partially — trust erodes fast. And once trust in institutions erodes, it is incredibly difficult to restore. This isn’t about partisanship. It’s about whether investigative power is being used with clear guardrails. Because the moment Americans think the standard is “we don’t like you” instead of “you committed a crime”… That’s when the republic has a problem. 🎯 Key Discussion Points The Susie Wiles phone record revelations Scope and limits of FBI “assessments” GAO findings and lack of criminal predicate Internal firings and accountability Attorney-client privilege concerns Resource allocat ...