Dan Simonds
@djsimonds.bsky.social
Concerned Citizen, Forester, small-time Entrepreneur from a little town in the mountains of Maine (2nd district). I make a living with 3rd party certification standards for sustainable wood products (FSC, SFI, PEFC).
Reposted by Dan Simonds
Congressman Thomas Massie’s first reaction to the invasion/abduction of Venezuelan leader.
January 3, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Congressman Thomas Massie’s first reaction to the invasion/abduction of Venezuelan leader.
A useful summary here (thread)
There are really four levels to what happened last night: US, regional, global and Venezuela.
I'll go through them in that order, as it moves from easiest to hardest in terms of making sense of them.
🧵
I'll go through them in that order, as it moves from easiest to hardest in terms of making sense of them.
🧵
January 4, 2026 at 3:54 PM
A useful summary here (thread)
Reposted by Dan Simonds
There are really four levels to what happened last night: US, regional, global and Venezuela.
I'll go through them in that order, as it moves from easiest to hardest in terms of making sense of them.
🧵
I'll go through them in that order, as it moves from easiest to hardest in terms of making sense of them.
🧵
January 3, 2026 at 7:47 PM
There are really four levels to what happened last night: US, regional, global and Venezuela.
I'll go through them in that order, as it moves from easiest to hardest in terms of making sense of them.
🧵
I'll go through them in that order, as it moves from easiest to hardest in terms of making sense of them.
🧵
Reposted by Dan Simonds
Very important signal here. You can say it's abt oil. And part of it is. But the White House is actually being forced to strongarm the oil companies to get involved. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Trump admin sends tough private message to oil companies on Venezuela
The White House has told companies they must rebuild Venezuela's crude-pumping infrastructure if they want compensation for assets seized by Caracas.
www.politico.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Very important signal here. You can say it's abt oil. And part of it is. But the White House is actually being forced to strongarm the oil companies to get involved. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Dan Simonds
Ya think?
Trump would like to coordinate all his predatory conduct in Venezuela with the US-based fossil fuels industry, whose interests he firmly believes he is serving. The industry, however, is increasingly afraid of being associated with him. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Trump admin sends tough private message to oil companies on Venezuela
The White House has told companies they must rebuild Venezuela's crude-pumping infrastructure if they want compensation for assets seized by Caracas.
www.politico.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Ya think?
Reposted by Dan Simonds
VP Delcy Rodriguez, whom Trump indicated earlier today was collaborating with the US government, is live on television right now.
Earlier reports that she's in Russia are false. She's in Caracas with the rest of the cabinet.
Rodriguez: "We will never again be a colony for any empire"
Earlier reports that she's in Russia are false. She's in Caracas with the rest of the cabinet.
Rodriguez: "We will never again be a colony for any empire"
January 3, 2026 at 7:17 PM
VP Delcy Rodriguez, whom Trump indicated earlier today was collaborating with the US government, is live on television right now.
Earlier reports that she's in Russia are false. She's in Caracas with the rest of the cabinet.
Rodriguez: "We will never again be a colony for any empire"
Earlier reports that she's in Russia are false. She's in Caracas with the rest of the cabinet.
Rodriguez: "We will never again be a colony for any empire"
Clearly illegal, but maybe similar to other illegal acts from the past. Congress can and should impeach, but almost certainly won’t.
Cowardice
Cowardice
January 3, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Clearly illegal, but maybe similar to other illegal acts from the past. Congress can and should impeach, but almost certainly won’t.
Cowardice
Cowardice
Reposted by Dan Simonds
The suspiciously lucky account, created on December 27, has only bet on two things: the U.S. invading Venezuela, and its president, Nicolás Maduro, being forced out of leadership by January 31.
In less than a day, the mysterious user made over $400,000. trib.al/4rnJbxR
In less than a day, the mysterious user made over $400,000. trib.al/4rnJbxR
January 3, 2026 at 6:23 PM
The suspiciously lucky account, created on December 27, has only bet on two things: the U.S. invading Venezuela, and its president, Nicolás Maduro, being forced out of leadership by January 31.
In less than a day, the mysterious user made over $400,000. trib.al/4rnJbxR
In less than a day, the mysterious user made over $400,000. trib.al/4rnJbxR
Reposted by Dan Simonds
Just as a practical matter, how is the United States going to “run Venezuela” after the overnight abduction raid. Do US forces currently control an airport? A television station? A major road?
January 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Just as a practical matter, how is the United States going to “run Venezuela” after the overnight abduction raid. Do US forces currently control an airport? A television station? A major road?
cc: Susan Collins
#mepolitics
#mepolitics
What I am saying here is every self-righteous Federalist Society type who is not loudly calling for the president’s impeachment is a bootlicking little bitch whose opinions about the law and the Constitution you never need to take seriously again
January 3, 2026 at 3:15 PM
cc: Susan Collins
#mepolitics
#mepolitics
Reposted by Dan Simonds
Im seeing discussions about consultations with congress, authorizations of force etc. I have to say this transcends any of what I would call sub constitutional technicalities. The president has gone to war with a foreign power and, it seems, kidnapped a foreign head of state on the basis of nothing.
January 3, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Im seeing discussions about consultations with congress, authorizations of force etc. I have to say this transcends any of what I would call sub constitutional technicalities. The president has gone to war with a foreign power and, it seems, kidnapped a foreign head of state on the basis of nothing.
Reposted by Dan Simonds
Unfortunately this is less unprecedented than people reacting right now might like. We prosecuted Hernández like a month after his presidency ended and Noriega was captured after we invaded while he was dictator there. That doesn't make it OK but it does make me skeptical there'll be consequences.
January 3, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Unfortunately this is less unprecedented than people reacting right now might like. We prosecuted Hernández like a month after his presidency ended and Noriega was captured after we invaded while he was dictator there. That doesn't make it OK but it does make me skeptical there'll be consequences.
Reposted by Dan Simonds
The aging pedophile who wants to be a king has kidnapped the leader of a sovereign nation without congressional approval.
If the United States had an opposition party, they would treat this as an illegitimate act and start impeachment proceedings immediately.
If the United States had an opposition party, they would treat this as an illegitimate act and start impeachment proceedings immediately.
January 3, 2026 at 2:33 PM
The aging pedophile who wants to be a king has kidnapped the leader of a sovereign nation without congressional approval.
If the United States had an opposition party, they would treat this as an illegitimate act and start impeachment proceedings immediately.
If the United States had an opposition party, they would treat this as an illegitimate act and start impeachment proceedings immediately.
Excellent thread here
Some thoughts on what Trump has done in Venezuela and what it might mean for US national security. Caveat: not a Latin America scholar so this is focused on US policy. Clearly huge consequences for Venezuela that others can address.
First, despite the buildup, I didn't think Trump would do it.
1/
First, despite the buildup, I didn't think Trump would do it.
1/
January 3, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Excellent thread here
Reposted by Dan Simonds
Some thoughts on what Trump has done in Venezuela and what it might mean for US national security. Caveat: not a Latin America scholar so this is focused on US policy. Clearly huge consequences for Venezuela that others can address.
First, despite the buildup, I didn't think Trump would do it.
1/
First, despite the buildup, I didn't think Trump would do it.
1/
January 3, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Some thoughts on what Trump has done in Venezuela and what it might mean for US national security. Caveat: not a Latin America scholar so this is focused on US policy. Clearly huge consequences for Venezuela that others can address.
First, despite the buildup, I didn't think Trump would do it.
1/
First, despite the buildup, I didn't think Trump would do it.
1/
Reposted by Dan Simonds
Maybe Trump will also issue perma-pardons to everyone including himself at the Big Show this morning
January 3, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Maybe Trump will also issue perma-pardons to everyone including himself at the Big Show this morning
Reposted by Dan Simonds
A functioning Congress will have articles of impeachment drafted by the end of the day.
Our Congress will just go to social media to basically say “We don’t like this, but what are you gonna do?”
Our Congress will just go to social media to basically say “We don’t like this, but what are you gonna do?”
January 3, 2026 at 1:30 PM
A functioning Congress will have articles of impeachment drafted by the end of the day.
Our Congress will just go to social media to basically say “We don’t like this, but what are you gonna do?”
Our Congress will just go to social media to basically say “We don’t like this, but what are you gonna do?”
Reposted by Dan Simonds
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Reposted by Dan Simonds
My main takeaway from the Jack Smith testimony: we should push our presidential candidate to make him Attorney General in 2029.
January 1, 2026 at 8:54 PM
My main takeaway from the Jack Smith testimony: we should push our presidential candidate to make him Attorney General in 2029.
Reposted by Dan Simonds
“It is proper, constitutional, and legal for a federal grand jury to indict a sitting president for serious criminal acts that are... contrary to, the president’s official duties. In this country, no one... is above the law.”
--Kenneth Starr (May 13, 1998)
www.nytimes.com/2017/07/22/u...
--Kenneth Starr (May 13, 1998)
www.nytimes.com/2017/07/22/u...
Can the President Be Indicted? A Long-Hidden Legal Memo Says Yes (Published 2017)
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:30 PM
“It is proper, constitutional, and legal for a federal grand jury to indict a sitting president for serious criminal acts that are... contrary to, the president’s official duties. In this country, no one... is above the law.”
--Kenneth Starr (May 13, 1998)
www.nytimes.com/2017/07/22/u...
--Kenneth Starr (May 13, 1998)
www.nytimes.com/2017/07/22/u...
Reposted by Dan Simonds
Yes, confront GOP House and Senate members endlessly. But don't ASK them questions about TRUMP--that always fails.
ASK them about themselves: About what they are DOING to impeach Trump for having given such pardons. Don't give them a choice to outsource this to Trump.
ASK them about themselves: About what they are DOING to impeach Trump for having given such pardons. Don't give them a choice to outsource this to Trump.
Now confront GOP house and senate members endlessly with these facts and ask them why someone who pardons a criminal like that should be president?
January 2, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Yes, confront GOP House and Senate members endlessly. But don't ASK them questions about TRUMP--that always fails.
ASK them about themselves: About what they are DOING to impeach Trump for having given such pardons. Don't give them a choice to outsource this to Trump.
ASK them about themselves: About what they are DOING to impeach Trump for having given such pardons. Don't give them a choice to outsource this to Trump.
Reposted by Dan Simonds
Mayor Mamdani has nullified every executive order issued by Eric Adams after he struck his corrupt bargain with Trump to secure dismissal of the indictment against him.
January 1, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Mayor Mamdani has nullified every executive order issued by Eric Adams after he struck his corrupt bargain with Trump to secure dismissal of the indictment against him.
A detailed summary of the web of corruption made possible by Susan Collins and the Republican Party.
#mepolitics
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
#mepolitics
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches
The president, his family and some of their closest associates have engaged in a sprawling campaign of deals that stretches across industries and the globe.
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:17 PM
A detailed summary of the web of corruption made possible by Susan Collins and the Republican Party.
#mepolitics
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
#mepolitics
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Dan Simonds
Is this the year, people? #MEpolitics
January 1, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Is this the year, people? #MEpolitics