In the aftermath of JPMorgan’s $5.8 billion trading loss this spring, the firm’s outspoken chief executive seemed to dial back the brashness factor a little bit, and whether you thought that was a happy thing, because the guy was a little too cocky for someone who took $25 billion in bailout funds during the diciest moments of the financial crisis, or else a sad thing, because itwas always fun to listen to him get in front of a speaker phone and say things no one else had confidence or track record to speak aloud, it was subjectively an observable thing nonetheless.

Well, we’re not sure we want to go so far as to say that the old Jamie Dimon is back, but we thought the JPMorgan CEO spoke a little more boldly today at an appearance today at the Council on Foreign Relations. And whether it was because getting sued last week over mortgage-packaging practices of Bear Stearns, which Mr. Dimon’s firm acquired at a discounted price in 2008, got the CEO’s fighting spirit up, or that he feels he’s eaten enough crow over the London Whale fiasco, or neither—today’s talk left us thinking we’re in store for a dose of Real Talk with Jamie when JPMorgan hosts a conference call to discuss third-quarter earnings on Friday.

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