Interesting developments that add a more fulsome context to the Axios report about alternative Tech platforms earlier in the day.
Several news outlets are now reporting that Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) will exit his congressional seat at the end of this month and take a position as CEO of the newly formed Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG).
Many people are wondering why hire a congressman and not a technology expert. To wit, I would say Trump’s not hiring a congressman. It looks to me like he’s hiring a professional with specific expertise in the intelligence arena.
If you think about the bigger battleground, a technology CEO with subject matter expertise in the U.S. intelligence system is a skillset to be appreciated.
NY Post – Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), a prominent ally of former President Donald Trump, will leave Congress at the end of this month to head up Trump’s new social media company.
Trump Media & Technology Group announced the appointment of Nunes as CEO in a Monday evening statement.
“The time has come to reopen the Internet and allow for the free flow of ideas and expression without censorship,” Nunes was quoted as saying. “The United States of America made the dream of the Internet a reality and it will be an American company that restores the dream. I’m humbled and honored President Trump has asked me to lead the mission and the world class team that will deliver on this promise.”
Trump described Nunes in the statement as “a fighter and a leader” who “will make an excellent CEO of TMTG.”
“Devin understands that we must stop the liberal media and Big Tech from destroying the freedoms that make America great,” the 45th president added. “America is ready for TRUTH Social and the end to censorship and political discrimination.” (read more)
This announcement follows an interesting sequence of events (citation links in the dates):
♦ October 20 – Donald Trump announces the basic outline of Truth Social, an upstart social media system for MAGA supporters. The financing would come through Digital World Acquisition Group (DWAC). Shares of DWAC skyrocket after the announcement.
♦ October 24 – CTH receives a tip that Patrick Byrne is investing $1 million in Locals (launched by Dave Rubin Dec 2019)
♦ October 26 – Rumble and Locals announce they are merging into one company. Rumble purchases Locals.
♦ November 02 – Rumble announces they are relocating the company HQ to Florida.
♦ December 01 – Rumble announces an IPO through Cantor Fitzgerald.
♦ December 04 – Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG) announce $1+ billion raised in private equity, through Digital World Acquisition Group (DWAC).
♦ December 06 – Axios writes article about rise of “right-wing” social media infrastructure. Focuses on financial aspects.
♦ December 06 – SEC opens an investigation of the equity fundraising through DWAC. “Trading of Digital World’s shares has driven TMTG’s valuation from $875 million in October to close to $4 billion.”
♦ December 06 – Devin Nunes is announced as CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group.
♦ December 06 – Rumble announces a deal with TMTG through Cantor Fitzgerald. “Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Rumble’s parent company Cantor Fitzgerald, stated on Monday that they have worked out a distribution deal with Donald Trump’s planned “Truth” social media platform.” … “Truth and the 45th president are going to use Rumble’s infrastructure, their technology, their cloud distribution capability, so they are going to be a service provider, a tech provider to the president’s Truth Social,” Lutnick told interviewer John Bachman on his “John Bachman Now” show.
Great. So in essence, Trump Media will use the tech architecture of Rumble. There will be a partnership.
That’s the sequence of events as to how these two networks (Rumble & TMTG) came into the position they are now. Let me say with clarity and emphasis, I want to see these platforms succeed. I will support, as we do already, each and every platform against the interests of Big Tech, and I will encourage all Treepers to support each platform. That said, there’s something in this timeline that looks disconcerting to me:
- Patrick Byrne invests in Locals.
- Locals merges with Rumble.
- Rumble goes into an IPO with Cantor Fitzgerald
- Trump forms TMTG.
- TMTG Raises funds from private equity ($1 billion+ DWAC)
- SEC investigates TMTG equity funds from DWAC.
- TMTG announces Devin Nunes CEO
- Cantor Fitzgerald announces Rumble will partner with the newly formed TMTG.
This is the sequence of events.
The Axios article and SEC moves on same day point to someone on the inside of the organizational network (TMTG/Rumble) tipping off someone outside. And the people they are tipping off are not good characters. This is someone deep enough inside this newly forming media/tech operation to walk media and government insiders through the plans and funding sources, and trigger those simultaneous responses.
If you see that pattern, stay with me.
The next logical question is to ask who and how?
From my perspective, there is one big glowing worm in this new social media operation.
Patrick Byrne.
Consider yourself warned.
Eject the Fed.
I’m sure President Trump and Chairman Nunes are well aware of the potential risks. Also, I have zero insider knowledge and only work from what data points are publicly visible, and Byrne as a DC operative is pure analytical conjecture on my part. That said, this wouldn’t be his first rodeo, and sunlight is the best disinfectant.
