Adam Isacson
@adamisacson.com
He/Him. I work on security, borders, and migration at the Washington Office on Latin America (my views, not necessarily theirs). I'm also at wola.org, adamisacson.com, borderoversight.org, Mastodon elefanti.co/@adam
Here's this thread as a single post:
January 12, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Here's this thread as a single post:
Congress passed $170 billion for DHS last July. That money—for an unlimited supply of gas and almost nothing for oversight and accountability—is now pouring through the budget pipeline.
Trump's thugs are going hog wild and tossing gas around in one of the busiest commercial districts in Minneapolis, just a mile or so from where I live. Complete insanity.
(vid via Ford Fischer on X)
(vid via Ford Fischer on X)
January 12, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Congress passed $170 billion for DHS last July. That money—for an unlimited supply of gas and almost nothing for oversight and accountability—is now pouring through the budget pipeline.
From @wola-org.bsky.social:
The Trump administration has not ruled out having military “boots on the ground” in Venezuela.
What would that entail? Shouldn’t Congress have a say? That’s what the War Powers Resolution, up for a Senate vote this week, is all about. 🧵
(1/12)
The Trump administration has not ruled out having military “boots on the ground” in Venezuela.
What would that entail? Shouldn’t Congress have a say? That’s what the War Powers Resolution, up for a Senate vote this week, is all about. 🧵
(1/12)
January 12, 2026 at 9:44 PM
From @wola-org.bsky.social:
The Trump administration has not ruled out having military “boots on the ground” in Venezuela.
What would that entail? Shouldn’t Congress have a say? That’s what the War Powers Resolution, up for a Senate vote this week, is all about. 🧵
(1/12)
The Trump administration has not ruled out having military “boots on the ground” in Venezuela.
What would that entail? Shouldn’t Congress have a say? That’s what the War Powers Resolution, up for a Senate vote this week, is all about. 🧵
(1/12)
"How can I make Marco Rubio's job harder?" seems to be a question lots of people ask themselves.
January 12, 2026 at 1:21 PM
"How can I make Marco Rubio's job harder?" seems to be a question lots of people ask themselves.
Latin America-Related Events in Washington and Online This Week
10 events about Latin America this week, that I know about, that can be attended in person in Washington or online anywhere.
10 events about Latin America this week, that I know about, that can be attended in person in Washington or online anywhere.
adamisacson.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Latin America-Related Events in Washington and Online This Week
10 events about Latin America this week, that I know about, that can be attended in person in Washington or online anywhere.
10 events about Latin America this week, that I know about, that can be attended in person in Washington or online anywhere.
There are liars, bad liars, and "nationwide epidemic of middle-class people with no criminal priors boxing in and ramming police vehicles (and only federal ones, not state or municipal)" liars.
January 9, 2026 at 9:12 PM
There are liars, bad liars, and "nationwide epidemic of middle-class people with no criminal priors boxing in and ramming police vehicles (and only federal ones, not state or municipal)" liars.
I don’t write about tech, but I write almost everything in Markdown instead of a big bloated word processing app. Thanks to @daringfireball.bsky.social for developing it and sharing it.
Been working on this one for a while — it's a little bit of history of a key foundation of internet technology, and a little bit of an explainer about how people _actually_ invent things. This is the amazing (true!) story of how Markdown took over the world. www.anildash.com/2026/01/09/h...
How Markdown took over the world - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
www.anildash.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:26 PM
I don’t write about tech, but I write almost everything in Markdown instead of a big bloated word processing app. Thanks to @daringfireball.bsky.social for developing it and sharing it.
In the latest @wola-org.bsky.social Border Update:
The U.S. military operation to extract Nicolás Maduro has changed little for Venezuelan migrants. Updates about smuggling and stranded migrants in Mexico. Updates about new border barriers.
www.wola.org/2026/01/u-s-...
The U.S. military operation to extract Nicolás Maduro has changed little for Venezuelan migrants. Updates about smuggling and stranded migrants in Mexico. Updates about new border barriers.
www.wola.org/2026/01/u-s-...
U.S.-Mexico Border Update: Venezuelan Migration, Notes from Mexico, Border Barriers - WOLA
The U.S. military operation to extract Nicolás Maduro has changed little for Venezuelan migrants. Updates about smuggling and stranded migrants in Mexico. Updates about new border barriers.
www.wola.org
January 9, 2026 at 4:08 PM
In the latest @wola-org.bsky.social Border Update:
The U.S. military operation to extract Nicolás Maduro has changed little for Venezuelan migrants. Updates about smuggling and stranded migrants in Mexico. Updates about new border barriers.
www.wola.org/2026/01/u-s-...
The U.S. military operation to extract Nicolás Maduro has changed little for Venezuelan migrants. Updates about smuggling and stranded migrants in Mexico. Updates about new border barriers.
www.wola.org/2026/01/u-s-...
The man in that video seemed like a 25-year-old hothead who barely made it through the academy. But it turns out he's a seasoned leader who *instructs others* in the use of force. The rot runs so deep.
NEW: Jonathan Ross is former National Guard and Border Patrol and has been part of ICE's SWAT equivalent, a team leader overseeing FBI, ATF, and IRS agents, and a firearms instructor, according to testimony obtained by WIRED. This is from @hudsongiles.bsky.social and me:
ICE Agent Who Reportedly Shot Renee Good Was a Firearms Trainer, Per Testimony
Jonathan Ross told a federal court in December about his professional background, including “hundreds” of encounters with drivers during enforcement actions, according to testimony obtained by WIRED.
www.wired.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:58 AM
The man in that video seemed like a 25-year-old hothead who barely made it through the academy. But it turns out he's a seasoned leader who *instructs others* in the use of force. The rot runs so deep.
Welcome back, Rocío San Miguel. None of this should ever have happened to you.
Rocío San Miguel, Venezuelan Political Prisoner, Was Among Those Released
www.nytimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Welcome back, Rocío San Miguel. None of this should ever have happened to you.
Heads up: Now's the time to buy up stock in flonpfioDy and 4ENII_ so you can cash out when the time comes.
January 8, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Heads up: Now's the time to buy up stock in flonpfioDy and 4ENII_ so you can cash out when the time comes.
Looks like 8 people not immediately killed by the December 30 boat strikes didn't make it.
SCOOP: After Undercounting Boat Strike Killings, U.S. Military Updates Death Toll
After questions from The Intercept, U.S. Southern Command updated its count of civilians killed in boat strikes to 123.
theintercept.com/2026/01/08/u...
After questions from The Intercept, U.S. Southern Command updated its count of civilians killed in boat strikes to 123.
theintercept.com/2026/01/08/u...
After Undercounting Boat Strike Killings, U.S. Military Updates Death Toll
After questions from The Intercept, U.S. Southern Command updated its count of civilians killed in boat strikes to 123.
theintercept.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Looks like 8 people not immediately killed by the December 30 boat strikes didn't make it.
Lashing out at 10% of your party's Senate delegation is a cool way to ease concerns about the wheels coming off.
January 8, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Lashing out at 10% of your party's Senate delegation is a cool way to ease concerns about the wheels coming off.
This is just the motion to discharge, in one of two houses of Congress—but as an expression of doubt/concern about the Venezuela intervention, it is unexpected and a big deal.
The Rs may be Collins, Hawley, Murkowski, Paul, and Young, but not 100% sure.
The Rs may be Collins, Hawley, Murkowski, Paul, and Young, but not 100% sure.
January 8, 2026 at 4:52 PM
This is just the motion to discharge, in one of two houses of Congress—but as an expression of doubt/concern about the Venezuela intervention, it is unexpected and a big deal.
The Rs may be Collins, Hawley, Murkowski, Paul, and Young, but not 100% sure.
The Rs may be Collins, Hawley, Murkowski, Paul, and Young, but not 100% sure.
Here's a video version of today's podcast episode, con letra en español.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CET-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CET-...
January 7, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Here's a video version of today's podcast episode, con letra en español.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CET-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CET-...
Here are excerpts from DHS's 2023 guidelines for the use of deadly force. What we're seeing and hearing from Minneapolis today points to these standards being thrown out the window and stomped on.
See www.dhs.gov/sites/defaul...
See www.dhs.gov/sites/defaul...
January 7, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Here are excerpts from DHS's 2023 guidelines for the use of deadly force. What we're seeing and hearing from Minneapolis today points to these standards being thrown out the window and stomped on.
See www.dhs.gov/sites/defaul...
See www.dhs.gov/sites/defaul...
Do not miss this podcast episode with my @wola-org.bsky.social colleagues Laura Dib and Carolina Jiménez. On the #Venezuela situation of course. We’ll keep them coming.
www.wola.org/multimedia/a...
www.wola.org/multimedia/a...
A Shocking U.S. Attack and "a Transition Without a Transition" in Venezuela - WOLA
As shockwaves from a historic military intervention in Venezuela spread across the hemisphere, WOLA explains what just happened, immediate human rights concerns, who holds power, and the dangerous pre...
www.wola.org
January 7, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Do not miss this podcast episode with my @wola-org.bsky.social colleagues Laura Dib and Carolina Jiménez. On the #Venezuela situation of course. We’ll keep them coming.
www.wola.org/multimedia/a...
www.wola.org/multimedia/a...
Refuse to live in a predator country, always.
Ogles: "It's important that we have a stake in Greenland, that they are quite frankly a protectorate of the US. They've been in relationship with Denmark - that needs to end. We've spilled more blood protecting Greenland than the Danes... we are the dominant predator force in the Western Hemisphere"
January 7, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Refuse to live in a predator country, always.
"Local Man in Need of Therapy Avoids Talking About Himself"
COLLINS: Stephen, you're part of the group the president has said is running Venezuela. What are your day to day responsibilities?
STEPHEN MILLER: ... heh heh. The president has asked Rubio to be the lead
C: But what are you specifically doing?
M: I don't want to talk too much about myself
STEPHEN MILLER: ... heh heh. The president has asked Rubio to be the lead
C: But what are you specifically doing?
M: I don't want to talk too much about myself
January 6, 2026 at 2:43 AM
"Local Man in Need of Therapy Avoids Talking About Himself"
Could this be the reason why Marco Rubio, the archetypal south Florida Republican, had to go on the Sunday morning news shows, swallow hard, and defend the idea of working with the Chavistas instead of the opposition (which must’ve been torture for him)?
January 5, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Could this be the reason why Marco Rubio, the archetypal south Florida Republican, had to go on the Sunday morning news shows, swallow hard, and defend the idea of working with the Chavistas instead of the opposition (which must’ve been torture for him)?
Colombia's president, Gustavo Petro, is a lame duck: his term ends August 7, and elections are in May.
Petro isn't popular, but his party's candidate is within reach of a second-round runoff, and these unhinged comments could give him an unwitting boost.
Petro isn't popular, but his party's candidate is within reach of a second-round runoff, and these unhinged comments could give him an unwitting boost.
TRUMP: Colombia is very sick too. Run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the US, and he's not gonna be doing it very long
Q: So there's will be an operation by the US in Colombia?
TRUMP: Sounds good to me
Q: So there's will be an operation by the US in Colombia?
TRUMP: Sounds good to me
January 5, 2026 at 1:42 AM
Colombia's president, Gustavo Petro, is a lame duck: his term ends August 7, and elections are in May.
Petro isn't popular, but his party's candidate is within reach of a second-round runoff, and these unhinged comments could give him an unwitting boost.
Petro isn't popular, but his party's candidate is within reach of a second-round runoff, and these unhinged comments could give him an unwitting boost.
Is this "strategic clarity?" I don't remember Clausewitz saying stuff like this.
January 4, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Is this "strategic clarity?" I don't remember Clausewitz saying stuff like this.
I'm not WOLA's Venezuela expert, but I sat down overnight and thought through who could generate violence in the country now that the US is "running" it.
Elements of the military. Spies. Colectivos. Militias. Armed/criminal groups from 2 countries. The Trump admin could be blundering into a mess.
Elements of the military. Spies. Colectivos. Militias. Armed/criminal groups from 2 countries. The Trump admin could be blundering into a mess.
Possible Violent Actors in Post-Maduro Venezuela - Adam Isacson
Groups that can generate violence and insecurity in post-Maduro Venezuela include elements of the armed forces and intelligence services, colectivos and militias, and Colombian and Venezuelan armed an...
www.adamisacson.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:14 PM
I'm not WOLA's Venezuela expert, but I sat down overnight and thought through who could generate violence in the country now that the US is "running" it.
Elements of the military. Spies. Colectivos. Militias. Armed/criminal groups from 2 countries. The Trump admin could be blundering into a mess.
Elements of the military. Spies. Colectivos. Militias. Armed/criminal groups from 2 countries. The Trump admin could be blundering into a mess.
Search this transcript of today's White House press conference on Venezuela. Try to find any variant of the word "democracy."
rollcall.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Search this transcript of today's White House press conference on Venezuela. Try to find any variant of the word "democracy."
Last 90 days' Google searches for "Pottery Barn Rule."
("You break it, you bought it" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_bre...)
("You break it, you bought it" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_bre...)
January 3, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Last 90 days' Google searches for "Pottery Barn Rule."
("You break it, you bought it" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_bre...)
("You break it, you bought it" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_bre...)