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January 4, 2026 at 6:22 PM
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Trump's entire worldview is shaped by his career as a thuggish, corrupt, outer borough real estate bidnessman. The "Deep State" shtick is his substituting the diplomatic and legal framework for those meddling zoning board members and building inspectors who blocked his plans.
Another galling example of this: It's been said that Trump's hatred of the "deep state" is rooted in hatred of its "warmongering." But Trump hates the deep state because it tried to hold him accountable for his crimes and because a professional civil service is a barrier to authoritarian corruption!
January 4, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Trump's entire worldview is shaped by his career as a thuggish, corrupt, outer borough real estate bidnessman. The "Deep State" shtick is his substituting the diplomatic and legal framework for those meddling zoning board members and building inspectors who blocked his plans.
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President Trump wants more U.S. oil companies to "go in" to Venezuela. But there are economic, historical, and climate reasons that may not be easy. Here's what you need to know about oil in Venezuela.
Trump wants U.S. oil companies in Venezuela. Here's what to know
President Trump wants more U.S. oil companies to "go in" to Venezuela. But there are economic, historical, and climate reasons that may not be easy. Here's what you need to know about oil in Venezuela.
n.pr
January 4, 2026 at 6:22 PM
President Trump wants more U.S. oil companies to "go in" to Venezuela. But there are economic, historical, and climate reasons that may not be easy. Here's what you need to know about oil in Venezuela.
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Sad. Those who think this operation was about the illegal capture of Maduro rather than a massive armed robbery by the US of Ven oil are either not paying attention or consciously regurgitating admin spin. The reality: Giving him a pass on this only invites more disasters.
Some Democrats hate that their party is largely positioning itself in opposition to the operation that resulted in Maduro's capture.
"Everything Trump touches must be bad according to the base," one House Dem told @axios.com
Said another: "It looks weak." www.axios.com/2026/01/04/m...
"Everything Trump touches must be bad according to the base," one House Dem told @axios.com
Said another: "It looks weak." www.axios.com/2026/01/04/m...
"It looks weak": Some Democrats want their party to shut up and clap for Maduro's capture
"Everything Trump touches must be bad according to the base," fumed one House Democrat.
www.axios.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Sad. Those who think this operation was about the illegal capture of Maduro rather than a massive armed robbery by the US of Ven oil are either not paying attention or consciously regurgitating admin spin. The reality: Giving him a pass on this only invites more disasters.
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Himes: "I was delighted to hear that Tom Cotton, chairmen of the Senate Intel Committee, has been in regular contact with the admin. I've had zero outreach and no D I'm aware of has. So apparently we're now in a world where the legal obligation to keep Congress informed only applies to your party."
January 4, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Himes: "I was delighted to hear that Tom Cotton, chairmen of the Senate Intel Committee, has been in regular contact with the admin. I've had zero outreach and no D I'm aware of has. So apparently we're now in a world where the legal obligation to keep Congress informed only applies to your party."
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I want to remind everyone that the US has sanctioned members of the International Criminal Court for going through a formal legal process to identify international leaders who engaged in war crimes, making them vulnerable to arrest.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Why wasn't congressional authorization necessary?
RUBIO: It wasn't necessary because this was not an invasion. We didn't occupy a country. This was an arrest operation.
RUBIO: It wasn't necessary because this was not an invasion. We didn't occupy a country. This was an arrest operation.
January 4, 2026 at 4:50 PM
I want to remind everyone that the US has sanctioned members of the International Criminal Court for going through a formal legal process to identify international leaders who engaged in war crimes, making them vulnerable to arrest.
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It seems like a dodge but it’s actually quite damning that the Secretary of State was not even asked for his input on the pardon of a recent head of state of another country.
RUBIO: Maduro was indicted. Nobody ever did anything about it.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Hernandez was convicted by a jury
RUBIO: The pardon authority is something I'm not involved in
STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you support it?
RUBIO: I wasn't involved in those deliberations. I haven't looked at the case file.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Hernandez was convicted by a jury
RUBIO: The pardon authority is something I'm not involved in
STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you support it?
RUBIO: I wasn't involved in those deliberations. I haven't looked at the case file.
January 4, 2026 at 5:01 PM
It seems like a dodge but it’s actually quite damning that the Secretary of State was not even asked for his input on the pardon of a recent head of state of another country.
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The ethical and legal damage will be with us forever but it’s the raging incompetence that will strike first, within the next few days.
Director of the CIA is in the room but you have OSINTdefender's twitter page up on the screen
January 4, 2026 at 3:52 PM
The ethical and legal damage will be with us forever but it’s the raging incompetence that will strike first, within the next few days.
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A comment on the inclusion of machine gun charges in the Maduro indictment. I laughed and I do think it ridiculous that DOJ included it even while DOJ is suing DC to force it to accept semi-automatic weapons.
It's a traditional charge designed to up sentences.
It's a traditional charge designed to up sentences.
January 4, 2026 at 3:11 PM
A comment on the inclusion of machine gun charges in the Maduro indictment. I laughed and I do think it ridiculous that DOJ included it even while DOJ is suing DC to force it to accept semi-automatic weapons.
It's a traditional charge designed to up sentences.
It's a traditional charge designed to up sentences.
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Exactly. Colonialists are always xenophobic. They merely have no respect for others.
The idea that Trump-MAGA are "anti-interventionist" is based on a confused reading of their hatred of multilateralism and international law and institutions. I argued this during Iran bombing debate (h/t @zackbeauchamp.bsky.social and @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social):
newrepublic.com/article/1969...
newrepublic.com/article/1969...
January 4, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Exactly. Colonialists are always xenophobic. They merely have no respect for others.
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How about “both Mr. Maduro and Mr. Trump denied the results of a national election which they lost, and both returned to power, but through different paths.”
NYT gonna NYT: "Both Mr. Mamdani and Mr. Maduro identify as socialists, though they have no relationship.” — would be funny if they did this every time you write about two capitalists.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...
Mamdani Called Trump to Criticize Venezuela Strikes
www.nytimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:27 PM
How about “both Mr. Maduro and Mr. Trump denied the results of a national election which they lost, and both returned to power, but through different paths.”
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Jeffries: "It was an act of war…Only Congress has the power to declare war…We've got to make sure when we return to Washington, DC, that legislative action is taken to ensure that no further military steps occur absent explicit Congressional approval."
January 4, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Jeffries: "It was an act of war…Only Congress has the power to declare war…We've got to make sure when we return to Washington, DC, that legislative action is taken to ensure that no further military steps occur absent explicit Congressional approval."
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A pro-voting group filed complaints against a federal election agency over potentially unlawful behavior and partisanship. One filing cited comments from a top official who accused Democrats of supporting “open borders,” because “they need the votes.”
Following Democracy Docket reporting, Election Advocates File Complaints Against Federal Election Panel
Read more here.
bit.ly
January 4, 2026 at 2:21 PM
A pro-voting group filed complaints against a federal election agency over potentially unlawful behavior and partisanship. One filing cited comments from a top official who accused Democrats of supporting “open borders,” because “they need the votes.”
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It's embarrassing that this far in reporters still treat Trump personally lying to them as incredible access.
The essence of this article is that a NY Times reporter called Trump’s cellphone at 4:30am and that Trump answered the call but said nothing of importance, other than wait for the press conference.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/i...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/i...
Why I Cold-Called President Trump at 4:30 in the Morning
www.nytimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:21 PM
It's embarrassing that this far in reporters still treat Trump personally lying to them as incredible access.
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They love being special little boys and girls. The access and prestige is their drug. It's why when critiques are leveled against them, they simply dismiss it all together. Who are we to deliver criticism of them? Don't we know what they do and how smart they are?
From the perspective of reporting the news, it doesn’t strike me that there is a functional difference between a president who answers the phone at 4:30am in the morning but doesn’t answer a reporter’s questions, versus a president who doesn’t agreed to be interviewed.
January 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM
They love being special little boys and girls. The access and prestige is their drug. It's why when critiques are leveled against them, they simply dismiss it all together. Who are we to deliver criticism of them? Don't we know what they do and how smart they are?
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One point I made in this post is that Diosdado Cabello, currently Venezuela's interior minister and one of the key players in the trafficking, remains in the newly unsealed indictment. He was the first person to condemn the invasion yesterday.
www.emptywheel.net/2026/01/04/d...
www.emptywheel.net/2026/01/04/d...
DOJ's Politically Illegitimate Basis for Political Illegitimacy in Nicolás Maduro Indictment - emptywheel
While the guts of the superseding indictment against Nicolás Maduro and his wife and son remains as sound as the one obtained in 2020, Trump's DOJ has added several things -- like Mexican cartels, a t...
www.emptywheel.net
January 4, 2026 at 2:23 PM
One point I made in this post is that Diosdado Cabello, currently Venezuela's interior minister and one of the key players in the trafficking, remains in the newly unsealed indictment. He was the first person to condemn the invasion yesterday.
www.emptywheel.net/2026/01/04/d...
www.emptywheel.net/2026/01/04/d...
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This October report notes that Delcy Rodriguez, nominally in charge, is also part of the trafficking. But she was not indicted.
Of course, Trump/CIA could have tried to snatch Cabello yesterday too. Will they demand Rodriguez extradite him, if she could?
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
Of course, Trump/CIA could have tried to snatch Cabello yesterday too. Will they demand Rodriguez extradite him, if she could?
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
January 4, 2026 at 2:26 PM
This October report notes that Delcy Rodriguez, nominally in charge, is also part of the trafficking. But she was not indicted.
Of course, Trump/CIA could have tried to snatch Cabello yesterday too. Will they demand Rodriguez extradite him, if she could?
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
Of course, Trump/CIA could have tried to snatch Cabello yesterday too. Will they demand Rodriguez extradite him, if she could?
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
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And this was always cited by people who excuse their asymmetric treatment of Biden's and Trump's age.
"Oh, Trump talks to the press all the time," they said, as if that was proof Trump still had his wits.
Which, of course, required not talking too much about Trump no longer having his wits.
"Oh, Trump talks to the press all the time," they said, as if that was proof Trump still had his wits.
Which, of course, required not talking too much about Trump no longer having his wits.
From the perspective of reporting the news, it doesn’t strike me that there is a functional difference between a president who answers the phone at 4:30am in the morning but doesn’t answer a reporter’s questions, versus a president who doesn’t agreed to be interviewed.
January 4, 2026 at 1:56 PM
And this was always cited by people who excuse their asymmetric treatment of Biden's and Trump's age.
"Oh, Trump talks to the press all the time," they said, as if that was proof Trump still had his wits.
Which, of course, required not talking too much about Trump no longer having his wits.
"Oh, Trump talks to the press all the time," they said, as if that was proof Trump still had his wits.
Which, of course, required not talking too much about Trump no longer having his wits.
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Trump said he’d reduce the debt. Didn’t.
Said he’d cut grocery prices. Didn’t.
Said he'd bring health care. Didn't.
Said he’d avoid wars. Didn't.
Yet his diehard fans hang on.
He'd lose their support if he stopped being racist and sexist, but there's not much chance of that.
Said he’d cut grocery prices. Didn’t.
Said he'd bring health care. Didn't.
Said he’d avoid wars. Didn't.
Yet his diehard fans hang on.
He'd lose their support if he stopped being racist and sexist, but there's not much chance of that.
January 4, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Trump said he’d reduce the debt. Didn’t.
Said he’d cut grocery prices. Didn’t.
Said he'd bring health care. Didn't.
Said he’d avoid wars. Didn't.
Yet his diehard fans hang on.
He'd lose their support if he stopped being racist and sexist, but there's not much chance of that.
Said he’d cut grocery prices. Didn’t.
Said he'd bring health care. Didn't.
Said he’d avoid wars. Didn't.
Yet his diehard fans hang on.
He'd lose their support if he stopped being racist and sexist, but there's not much chance of that.
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MAGA's supposed "anti-interventionism" is actually pro-pillage and pro-plunder.
Trump says Venezuela's oil wealth "goes also to the United States of America in the form of reimbursement for the damages caused us by that country"
January 4, 2026 at 2:28 PM
MAGA's supposed "anti-interventionism" is actually pro-pillage and pro-plunder.
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No discussion of democracy. No discussion of elections. Plenty of talk by Trump about running the country and taking the oil. Let’s not forget to thank John Roberts for his role in immunizing this international criminal.
January 3, 2026 at 5:57 PM
No discussion of democracy. No discussion of elections. Plenty of talk by Trump about running the country and taking the oil. Let’s not forget to thank John Roberts for his role in immunizing this international criminal.
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Get in loser, we’re going geopoliticking.
New euphemism for "bottomless corruption and naked abuses of power" just dropped
January 4, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Get in loser, we’re going geopoliticking.
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— What happens next if Venezuela’s remaining government leadership refuses to defer to and cooperate with Trump?
— How does the Trump Administration plan to control Venezuela’s oil? Will Trump deploy military assets to do so?
— How does the Trump Administration plan to control Venezuela’s oil? Will Trump deploy military assets to do so?
January 4, 2026 at 2:16 AM
— What happens next if Venezuela’s remaining government leadership refuses to defer to and cooperate with Trump?
— How does the Trump Administration plan to control Venezuela’s oil? Will Trump deploy military assets to do so?
— How does the Trump Administration plan to control Venezuela’s oil? Will Trump deploy military assets to do so?
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A few questions among many that Donald Trump avoided today, and the American people deserve an answer to:
— What is the Trump Administration’s actual plan to “run” Venezuela?
— Will President Trump deploy American troops to Venezuela? If so, how many and at what cost?
— What is the Trump Administration’s actual plan to “run” Venezuela?
— Will President Trump deploy American troops to Venezuela? If so, how many and at what cost?
January 4, 2026 at 2:16 AM
A few questions among many that Donald Trump avoided today, and the American people deserve an answer to:
— What is the Trump Administration’s actual plan to “run” Venezuela?
— Will President Trump deploy American troops to Venezuela? If so, how many and at what cost?
— What is the Trump Administration’s actual plan to “run” Venezuela?
— Will President Trump deploy American troops to Venezuela? If so, how many and at what cost?
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Andor 2x09
ou Mundo, 3 de janeiro de 2026
ou Mundo, 3 de janeiro de 2026
January 3, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Andor 2x09
ou Mundo, 3 de janeiro de 2026
ou Mundo, 3 de janeiro de 2026