Read the sensational Vanity Fair profile on The eXile, and founding editors Mark Ames and Matt Taibbi:
The demise of The Exile began, as so many demises have in Russia, with an official letter. Faxed to the offices of the newspaper late on a Friday afternoon the spring before last from somewhere within the bowels of Rossvyazokhrankultura, the Russian Federal Service for Mass Media, Telecommunications, and Cultural Heritage Protection, it announced the imminent “conducting of an unscheduled action to check the observance of the legislation of the Russian Federation on mass media.” The Exile, a Moscow-based, English-language biweekly, stood accused of violating Article Four of that legislation by encouraging extremism, spreading pornography, or promoting drug use. The letter scheduled the unscheduled action to take place between May 13 and June 11. This being Russia, it wasn’t faxed until May 22…[Read more]
From “The eXile” to “The eXiled Online”: In the summer of 2008, Kremlin officials chased The eXile editors out of Russia and back to America, where we regrouped as “The eXiled Online” bringing together founding eXile editor Mark Ames, eXile editors Yasha Levine and John Dolan, eXile film critic Eileen Jones, and cult-hero defense analyst Gary “The War Nerd” Brecher.
We’ve put together a little eXile Cheat Sheet of a few of our most sensational scoops and our most controversial scandals, over past decade-plus:
The eXiled Online’s Most Sensational Stories Since Getting Thrown Out of Russia in 2008:
- We were the first to expose the Tea Party movement as an Astroturf campaign organized by Freedomworks, the rightwing Republican machine, and its links to the notorious billionaire Koch family. Our expose forced CNBC’s Rick Santelli to issue a giant apology to President Obama and cancel his appearance on the Daily Show…
- A blog post by editor Mark Ames sparked riots across the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, resulting in nearly 200 arrests, torched businesses and gas stations, and the forced closure of a popular TV news channel in Hyderabad. Ames’ post speculated on links between Larry Summers and the billionaire Ambani brothers, and the mysterious death of a popular Indian politician.
- Editor Yasha Levine’s expose on how a handful of California big-agro oligarchs cornered the market on California’s water, fleecing the state’s taxpayers through Wall Street-like financial schemes
- Our co-editor Mark Ames was the first reporter to expose Georgia as the real aggressor in the Russia-Georgia war in 2008, months before the New York Times admitted that it had got the story wrong when it blamed Russia for starting the war, amid the insane US media hysteria pumping a manufactured “New Cold War” with Russia. Ames also reported from the war zone from the Ossetian/Russian side of the story.
- Levine’s hit scoop exposing Rep. Michelle Bachman’s big-government farm subsidies that she takes from taxpayers, despite her anti-government pose.
- Exiled finance writer “Mr. Walker” blew open the Commercial Real Estate threat in the summer of 2009, months before the mainstream media caught on.
- Ames first exposed the shady story of how Larry Summers sat on the board and owned a stake in Revolution Money, an online predatory lending start-up, which received millions from banks Summers was bailing out, and which was eventually taken over by another bailed-out firm, American Express. Ames also warned that Larry Summers would be a disaster for the country months before he took office.
- Shocking dispatches from a California subprime disaster zone by Yasha Levine, who moved to Victorville, in the High Desert, in March 2009.
- Controversial reports by Ames on several American mass-shootings over the past year in Fort Hood, Texas; Samson, Alabama; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- We were the first to reveal Debra Medina, the anti-government Tea Party Republican candidate for Texas Governor, as a longtime beneficiary of federal and local government handouts.
Also check out the archives of our first notorious incarnation “The eXile” in Moscow, Russia: 11 years of sheer reading Hell:
- The “War Nerd” column by Gary Brecher, the wildest, funniest and most popular regular feature in eXile history, a no-bullshit look at humanity’s favorite pastime: mass murder. Brecher predicted disaster in Iraq 9 months before Dumbfuck’s invasion, and made asymmetrical warfare easy for readers.
- John Dolan’s scoop calling out author James Frey as a literary fraud before the Smoking Gun story broke.
- Mark Ames’ articles predicting Russia’s 1998 financial crisis before any Western journalist, and his 2006 article predicting the global financial.
- Yasha Levine’s immersion-journalism features working as a Moscow taxi driver and as a wheelchair-bound “invalid” in a handicap-unfriendly city
- The notorious “horse sperm pie” story when editors Matt Taibbi, Mark Ames and “Krazy” Kevin McElwee threw a pie filled with horse sperm at the New York Times’ bureau chief, after he was named “Russia’s worst foreign correspondent”
- Jake Rudnitsky’s wrenching story about a Siberian orphanage.
- Mark Ames broke the story about how Georgia’s 2003 “Color Revolution” was really an American-run coup engineered to secure Caspian Sea oil.
- Alexander Zaitchik and Yasha Levine’s gruesome story about the mass murders of local prostitutes in a wretched provincial Russian mining town.
- Articles by original eXile columnist Edward Limonov, the controversial Kremlin opposition leader…and our exclusive stories about Limonov’s arrest and jailing from 2001-3, when he was the first political prisoner under Vladimir Putin–including one column that we published while Limonov was still in prison, which he’d passed along secretly to our Moscow office.
- Our biggest and most dangerous pranks, including the “Kiriyenko Letter” prank that caused a pissed-off Republican Congressman to publicly declare that he had petitioned Russia’s government to arrest Mark Ames; our epic punking of Moscow’s notoriously cheesy, uber-VIP nightlife club scene; and the Adam Levine/Maroon 5/Maria Sharapova lawsuit scandal.
About us:
Mark Ames is the founding editor of The eXile and co-editor of The eXiled. His articles have appeared in The Nation, Playboy, Daily Beast, Alternet, Radar, The New York Press, and elsewhere. He is the author of “Going Postal: Rage, Murder and Rebellion from Reagan’s Workplaces to Clinton’s Columbine and Beyond” which became the basis of the critically-acclaimed 90-minute BBC documentary film, “Going Postal”; and Ames is co-author with Matt Taibbi of the book “The eXile: Sex, Drugs and Libel in the New Russia.” Ames has made several guest appearances on MSNBC’s The Dylan Ratigan Show, along with radio appearances on Dylan Ratigan’s ABC radio program; radio spots on Chuck Mertz’s “This Is Hell” show, Scott Horton’s “Antiwar.com Radio” show, Michelangelo Signorile’s radio show, KFPK radio, Air America and elsewhere. He is currently at work on a new book for Wiley.
Yasha Levine is the former editor of The eXile and founding editor of The eXiled. Levine’s articles have appeared in Wired, Slate, Penthouse, Time magazine and elsewhere. Levine currently lives in a trailer home in Victorville, California, with his two guns, and is currently working on a book.
Gary Brecher writes the “War Nerd” column. Brecher has been published in The American Conservative and Alternet, and is the author of the book “The War Nerd.” Brecher has been cited on FoxNews, and was once accused by neocon historian Victor Davis Hanson—guru to Dick Cheney and “Scooter” Libby—of setting fire to Hanson’s vineyards. Brecher has been interviewed on Wisconsin Public Radio and on Chuck Mertz’s “This Is Hell” radio show. He lives in Fresno, California.
Eileen Jones is the world’s greatest movie reviewer. She teaches film theory at UC Berkeley.
John Dolan, who taught The eXile editors how to write, is the author of Pleasant Hell, along with several books of poetry and a book about the ruthless Darwinian struggle for fame among 18th century England’s poets, “Poetic Occasion from Milton to Wordsworth.”
Media inquiries:
For media inquiries call The eXiled Hotline at (260) 6-EXILED. Or email us at press[at]exiledonline.com.
Go here for more contact information…
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Got something to say to us? Then send us a letter.
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Twitter twats can follow us at twitter.com/exiledonline
28 Comments
Add your own1. mydick | February 24th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
Eileen Jones writes the way I wish I could, maybe that’s why I’m a lonely troll here…Thing is, you’re not supposed to write well if you also have academic credentials. Oh well. I’ll just sign this “mydick” because I’m a fucking idiot.
2. mydick | February 24th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
Jesus christ, you guys made it into Vanity Fair? I think I’ll up my trolling activities, it’s my way of communicating with my heroes.
3. mydick | February 24th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Me again. Miss me?
4. Shitter Island | February 25th, 2010 at 2:25 am
I have spent years reading both Ames and Taibbi. Sometimes I wonder why no one spent years reading my stuff. At least I can look in the mirror and say, “Hey, I’m not one of those obnoxious moralizers who offer no theory, just finger pointing.” I can say, “Hey, I like myself, and you know what? That’s okay.” Because I’m at peace with who I am.
5. BlottoBonVismarck | February 25th, 2010 at 2:31 am
FIVE STARS – THE EXILED
“The Exiled – a low class rag of extreme cynicism and gallows humour – so you’ll probably fit right in. It also sees _entirely_ through the US Reality Distortion Field – tm Steve Jobs of Apple. Marketing genius but truth? HA! — as only those who have travelled or lived abroad can do.” – written _before_ this major plug in Vanity Fair.
It’s great to have one’s utter contempt for all things Neocon vindicated. It was feeling distinctly chilly as late as two years ago. Much less so today. Chilly that is, before discovering the like-minded nutters, in-no-way-loyal-opposition muckrakers and invective-spewing, not-goosestepping-in-formation-into-oblivion reprobates at the Exiled.
All in a good way.
NEOCON NAZIS – EIN REICH, EIN VOLK, EIN BATHWATER
Tea-Partiers of the USA salute their leader – Comrade Cheney – For it is he! – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1LFWONlP_k
Ein Reich, Ein Volk, Ein Fuhrer – The inspiration for Our Dear Leader, Comrade Cheney. – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV71QNHnNMQ
Illegitimi non carborundum – The Neocons’s Princess Erika (Prince) of Bathwater as ‘Mr. Bimmler’ – After the War – Monty Python – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVxM5IBLeU4#t=02m35s
6. T. Hallman | February 25th, 2010 at 2:41 am
Just another weirdo who wants to throw a shout out to you, don’t mind my blathering.
7. Iok Sotot, Eater of Souls | February 25th, 2010 at 5:36 am
I’ve just started my first full time journalism job (amazing in these times, I know) and look up to the Exiles for inspiration. You guys have testicles the size of footballs.
Total Respect.
8. George | February 25th, 2010 at 6:10 am
man, do i miss the exile. after work, a cold beer and the latest issue of the exiled. guaranteed quality time. those were the days.
exiledonline is not a bad substitution though but could offer a bit more of action journalism like the cream pie
9. Scott | February 25th, 2010 at 6:28 am
What’s the point of this self abuse excercise? It reads almost like an obituary. Is it finally over?
10. Nicolai Cesky | February 25th, 2010 at 7:36 am
Who knew that Taibbi was such a spoiled little girl? I laughed at his temper tantrum.
Otherwise, interesting recount of Ames in Moscow. Didn’t learn anything I didn’t already know, but it was funny to see mainstream journalists– who Ames costantly whipped for being douchebags– kissing his ass so that they could look cool in Vanity Fair. Fraudulent, spineless, suck ups to the last.
What’s your next great project, Ames? Your angst ridden 20’s and 30’s may have lapsed but that incisiveness still exists. We want more and we need more. Who else is going to expose these sellout phonies and dangerous monsters at the top?
11. Doom | February 25th, 2010 at 9:16 am
Who’s surprised Ames is “married”?
12. aleke | February 25th, 2010 at 9:31 am
Sorry you guys aint friends no more or whatever
13. jonny.m | February 25th, 2010 at 9:36 am
Been reading you guys online for years now, and I’m actually sorry you guys are getting mainstream attention. It’s more fun to think of you as a kind of “dirty little secret” of modern journalism. But hey, maybe you guys will start seeing real money now. I’m surprised this profile-raising didn’t happen sooner; it should’ve started after your appearance in Vice.
14. matt | February 25th, 2010 at 10:07 am
That was a good read, but more importantly, where the fuck is Dolan? This site needs more Dolan!
15. Mike | February 25th, 2010 at 11:06 am
Interesting article, glad you guys aren’t reflexively slagging the writer to maintain
your cred. Would have been too predictable.
I hope an Exiled film is made. Taibbi is right that some watered down version of what happened is a bad idea and boring, but I disagree that a film couldn’t be made that captured the essence of what went on then if
it wasn’t the typical hollywood fare.
Maybe a young director who was the same age as Ames and Taibbi were back in the day and share their passion for cutting through BS. No heroes, just a fascinating story.
bla bla bla bla redemption bla bla
16. tam | February 25th, 2010 at 11:15 am
@10
‘it was funny to see mainstream journalists– who Ames costantly whipped for being douchebags– kissing his ass’
Actually, credit where it’s due, I thought that was an extremely gracious comment from that Economist Moscow hack considering how rude you were about him. I note that there were no quotes by the Guardian’s Luke Harding though, so I guess he hasn’t yet buried the hatchet. (like you’d care…)
17. afrop | February 25th, 2010 at 11:34 am
I’m amused that out of everyone involved in the article, it seemed to me like Colin McMahon came out looking the best.
18. Erik Bramsen | February 25th, 2010 at 11:53 am
Our co-editor Mark Ames was the first reporter to expose Georgia as the real aggressor in the Russia-Georgia war in 2008…
Bollocks! The MSM – here in Europe, anyway – reported this correctly for the first two or three days before they apparently had a mass epiphany and did a 180 turnabout. Oh wait–I just realized Ames’ report was on the first day of the war, and he never did a 180–so that means I’m wrong. Sorry, it’s my Old Europe brain malfunctioning again.
19. Mike | February 25th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Guess my comment is treated like pollution. Wow, who’d've thought?
20. Diet Coke | February 25th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Haha come on we all know Matt Taibbi is Dolan.
21. zerez | February 25th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
10 years later…
sure you’re still great, but look at what I’ve become. Anonymous commenter. Which is what I was 10 years ago. So you’re big in Russia and you’re now huge in America with a massive Vanity Fair article. I’d like to write something that would hurt you, but since I’m at your mercy, I’ll just lie down and beg for a quick end.
22. Jim Waddell | April 3rd, 2010 at 5:31 pm
You cretins will go down
23. EJK | May 7th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Speaking of Dolan, holy shit — has anyone taken a look at this new “creative” site?:
http://www.fictionaut.com/
A collection of the most precious, self-regarding shitheads on the planet. And man! those comments.
John, where are you??
24. clarence swinney | May 8th, 2010 at 8:24 am
1945 to 1980–Great Middle Class Years
Each percentile gained almost evenly in Wealth-Income
1980-2009 Great years top 10% –Middle Class Stagnated
1980–top 1% owned 20% Total Financial Wealth
2008–
1%–43%
10%-70%
20%-93%
80%–7% (120,000,000 workers)
Policies of Reagan + Bush.
clarence swinney
25. my help comes from the Lord Jesus | May 16th, 2010 at 1:49 am
yall are sadly beyond freaks! why are you so angry? at the God of the universe who gave you your very breath and the “right” to post your filth and oh so erudite opinions..your “right” will very soon be taken away by the American government controlled by the forces of satan..but ultimitately by the Lord Jesus…”good luck with that” as you believe in luck and all that nonsense….
26. Michael Roach | June 7th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
“Hello, I would like to introduce myself, I am Michael Roach.
I am the Economy editor for Before It’s News, a people powered news web site that currently receives more than 600,000 unique visitors a month (and growing). Before It’s News specializes in publishing the news that the mainstream media ignores.
I am writing to you to request permission to republish your blog RSS feed in our economy and other media sections.
With as many as 35,000 readers per day, BeforeItsNews.com is a fantastic place to get the word out and obtain new readers of your own. We do not alter your feed or stories in any way, and you are free to put as many links back to your site(s) as you like. Our only requirement is that your feed contain full stories (not snippets).
I believe our audience is particularly suited to your message, and that you will be rewarded with new visitors and subscribers.
I appreciate your time and consideration, and I hope to hear back from you soon.”
I have been receiving your email’s for sometime now and would appreciate and oppurtunity to promote all your articles and your website.
My email is mike@pourit.com Sincerely Michael Roach
27. Michael | July 7th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I just read the Vanity Fair article. I’d like very much to write for you. Here’s my writing sample, taken from a recent post:
“Maybe we all should just start referring to the inside-the-beltway press corps and the demagogues enabled by them as Romanovs: Karl Romanov, Cokie Romanov, George F. Romanov, Glenn Romanov, Rush Romanov, Sean Romanov, Candy Romanov, Wolf Romanov, Bill O’Romanov, and so on. It certainly befits the historical cycle they’re currently riding into the ground with their incomes, investments and retirement savings intact. They’re done. They’re of no use except to make a bad situation even worse in a more obviously diminishing return.”
28. Ryan | September 2nd, 2010 at 8:17 am
@27 – keep your day job, unless it’s mixing long-dead metaphors and missing the more apt Baron Karl Harkonnen analogy.
Comrade Beck’s invective demagoguery is infinitely more subtle and effective.
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