ah
@wavewatchr.bsky.social
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Stronger together 💙
Specific opinions, random thoughts
Stronger together 💙
Specific opinions, random thoughts
Read the entire 🧵
So many in media are ill-equipped to interview officials about what’s happening because they begin with the presumption of legitimacy and don’t know enough about history or U.S. foreign policy to foment intelligent pushback and hold officials accountable.
January 5, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Read the entire 🧵
What is he getting us into, and for what? To boost his ego, deflect from the Epstein files, deflect from his abysmal poll numbers, what? He's never getting the Nobel Peace prize, so why not go all out and "Donroe Doctrine" this side of the globe?
He may have immunity but Rubio and Hegseth don't.
He may have immunity but Rubio and Hegseth don't.
Trump Threatens Venezuela’s New Leader With a Fate Worse Than Maduro’s
The president told The Atlantic that Delcy Rodríguez needs to comply with U.S. wishes—or else.
www.theatlantic.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:25 AM
What is he getting us into, and for what? To boost his ego, deflect from the Epstein files, deflect from his abysmal poll numbers, what? He's never getting the Nobel Peace prize, so why not go all out and "Donroe Doctrine" this side of the globe?
He may have immunity but Rubio and Hegseth don't.
He may have immunity but Rubio and Hegseth don't.
Good thread for bkgrnd info
I’ve been working full time to stop this war since last summer and the one scenario I feared the most is materializing — Trump is making a play for Venezuela’s oil. I’m not saying an insurgency will definitely form, but Trump’s ploy creates the perfect storm for an absolutely disastrous occupation.🧵
Trump: "We're going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure and start making money for the country. And we are ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so."
January 4, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Good thread for bkgrnd info
If Congress had any self-respect, they would impeach the cabinet members who blatantly lied to them about the plans for Venezuela. Impeach them on principle. You can't have a functioning government when co-equal branches lie to each other, especially about something as critical as this.
January 4, 2026 at 2:23 PM
If Congress had any self-respect, they would impeach the cabinet members who blatantly lied to them about the plans for Venezuela. Impeach them on principle. You can't have a functioning government when co-equal branches lie to each other, especially about something as critical as this.
One voice out of 30 million.
It's what everybody wants--to live without fear.
If Maduro's corruption brought them to this point, good luck being "run" by the most corrupt President *we've* ever had.
It's what everybody wants--to live without fear.
If Maduro's corruption brought them to this point, good luck being "run" by the most corrupt President *we've* ever had.
Opinion | This Is What Venezuelans Really Want
www.nytimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:15 PM
One voice out of 30 million.
It's what everybody wants--to live without fear.
If Maduro's corruption brought them to this point, good luck being "run" by the most corrupt President *we've* ever had.
It's what everybody wants--to live without fear.
If Maduro's corruption brought them to this point, good luck being "run" by the most corrupt President *we've* ever had.
Why should American oil companies invest $B to revive the Venezuelan oil industry -- provided the Venezuelans even want that to happen -- when the return on investment isn't clear? Trump can't accept that the world may be using more sustainable energy sources than oil. The market is changing.
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 4, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Why should American oil companies invest $B to revive the Venezuelan oil industry -- provided the Venezuelans even want that to happen -- when the return on investment isn't clear? Trump can't accept that the world may be using more sustainable energy sources than oil. The market is changing.
Is anyone following Venezuelan media or people on the ground through social media? And can translate how they are responding to this sudden upheaval in their country?
According to NPR, Venezuelan expats here are thrilled to have Maduro gone from power.
According to NPR, Venezuelan expats here are thrilled to have Maduro gone from power.
January 3, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Is anyone following Venezuelan media or people on the ground through social media? And can translate how they are responding to this sudden upheaval in their country?
According to NPR, Venezuelan expats here are thrilled to have Maduro gone from power.
According to NPR, Venezuelan expats here are thrilled to have Maduro gone from power.
From 2020, about the indictment apparently behind Maduro and wife's capture last night
US indicts Venezuela's Maduro on narcoterrorism charges
MIAMI (AP) — Nicolás Maduro effectively converted Venezuela into a criminal enterprise at the service of drug traffickers and terrorist groups as he and his allies stole billions from the South Americ...
apnews.com
January 3, 2026 at 12:51 PM
From 2020, about the indictment apparently behind Maduro and wife's capture last night
This administration can't have anyone around who's smarter than they are. Science is made suspect. Funding is stopped. Scientists, intellectuals leave.
We are suffering the result.
We are suffering the result.
The Trump Administration’s Most Paralyzing Blow to Science
Cuts to research may have spoiled the country’s appetite for bold exploration.
www.theatlantic.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This administration can't have anyone around who's smarter than they are. Science is made suspect. Funding is stopped. Scientists, intellectuals leave.
We are suffering the result.
We are suffering the result.
Bulletproof glass, "drone-free roof," indoor inaugurations, guest suites, and more!
But he's mad at Powell, and mad that the Federal Reserve building is getting a major renovation. Has to top that somehow, so his ballroom will have to out-glitz that.
www.thedailybeast.com/trump-admits...
But he's mad at Powell, and mad that the Federal Reserve building is getting a major renovation. Has to top that somehow, so his ballroom will have to out-glitz that.
www.thedailybeast.com/trump-admits...
Trump Admits True Vast Scale of His Tacky Ballroom
The president said his ever-expanding ballroom could be used for future Inauguration Day events.
www.thedailybeast.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Bulletproof glass, "drone-free roof," indoor inaugurations, guest suites, and more!
But he's mad at Powell, and mad that the Federal Reserve building is getting a major renovation. Has to top that somehow, so his ballroom will have to out-glitz that.
www.thedailybeast.com/trump-admits...
But he's mad at Powell, and mad that the Federal Reserve building is getting a major renovation. Has to top that somehow, so his ballroom will have to out-glitz that.
www.thedailybeast.com/trump-admits...
We are NOT a Christian nation, even if a majority of people living here profess some form of Christianity. The Founding Fathers coming from Christian backgrounds doesn't make us a Christian nation. If fact, they were very careful to say that we are free of a state-sanctioned religion.
Opinion | One of America’s Most Successful Experiments Is Coming to a Shuddering Halt
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We are NOT a Christian nation, even if a majority of people living here profess some form of Christianity. The Founding Fathers coming from Christian backgrounds doesn't make us a Christian nation. If fact, they were very careful to say that we are free of a state-sanctioned religion.
Hopeful.
We keep fighting.
We keep fighting.
Just an excellent read. We are winning. Trust me. The fight is worth it. Read this from my friend Dan Barkhuff. open.substack.com/pub/dbarkhuf...
Not Losing
Is Winning
open.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Hopeful.
We keep fighting.
We keep fighting.
Make sure you look for news/info outside of US media
Context you rarely hear: global stocks are up about 30% over the past year. U.S. stocks? Around 18%. That means American investors underperformed the world by about 12 percentage points, even while headlines called it a “fantastic year.”
December 27, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Make sure you look for news/info outside of US media
A real goon squad.
Todd Lyons is the acting director of ICE. His name is not mentioned enough in connection with the bad actions of his henchmen.
Todd Lyons is the acting director of ICE. His name is not mentioned enough in connection with the bad actions of his henchmen.
Under Kristi Noem, ICE is essentially little more than a criminal syndicate.
ICE Agents Arrest Man on Christmas Eve—and Then Steal His Groceries
Trump’s immigration agents are doing whatever they want.
newrepublic.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:34 PM
A real goon squad.
Todd Lyons is the acting director of ICE. His name is not mentioned enough in connection with the bad actions of his henchmen.
Todd Lyons is the acting director of ICE. His name is not mentioned enough in connection with the bad actions of his henchmen.
Wasting money on marble armrests, which are not the most comfortable. Can't this madness be stopped?
(saved from The Daily Beast on the Wayback Machine)
(saved from The Daily Beast on the Wayback Machine)
Billionaire Trump Threatens Kennedy Center With Tacky Marble Makeover
The president is far from finished tampering with the historic arts center.
web.archive.org
December 27, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Wasting money on marble armrests, which are not the most comfortable. Can't this madness be stopped?
(saved from The Daily Beast on the Wayback Machine)
(saved from The Daily Beast on the Wayback Machine)
"The balance of power is shifting toward cheap drones and away from expensive ships."
Trump is wasting money on vanity projects. This one will weaken our national security. He is the opposite of a visionary--no sense or interest at all in anything but feeding his insatiable ego.
Trump is wasting money on vanity projects. This one will weaken our national security. He is the opposite of a visionary--no sense or interest at all in anything but feeding his insatiable ego.
A ‘Trump Class’ Folly on the High Seas
Ukraine sees the future of naval warfare. The White House doesn’t.
www.theatlantic.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:36 PM
"The balance of power is shifting toward cheap drones and away from expensive ships."
Trump is wasting money on vanity projects. This one will weaken our national security. He is the opposite of a visionary--no sense or interest at all in anything but feeding his insatiable ego.
Trump is wasting money on vanity projects. This one will weaken our national security. He is the opposite of a visionary--no sense or interest at all in anything but feeding his insatiable ego.
I'd rather hear from Jack Smith.
Let everyone see how biased this judge is.
Let everyone see how biased this judge is.
Get Ready to Start Hearing About Aileen Cannon Again
The Florida-based judge is likely to once again play a central role in politics in the new year.
www.theatlantic.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I'd rather hear from Jack Smith.
Let everyone see how biased this judge is.
Let everyone see how biased this judge is.
Shenanigans with the files.
"Many people on X felt that the publicity photo was purposefully redacted to hide the faces of Ross and Jackson’s children to make it seem unwholesome, despite the lack of any clear connection to the Epstein investigation."
"Many people on X felt that the publicity photo was purposefully redacted to hide the faces of Ross and Jackson’s children to make it seem unwholesome, despite the lack of any clear connection to the Epstein investigation."
DOJ Caught Attempting to Pass Off Old PR Photo as New Epstein Evidence
A publicly available photo of Diana Ross and Michael Jackson with their kids ended up redacted and included in the Epstein files.
www.thedailybeast.com
December 21, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Shenanigans with the files.
"Many people on X felt that the publicity photo was purposefully redacted to hide the faces of Ross and Jackson’s children to make it seem unwholesome, despite the lack of any clear connection to the Epstein investigation."
"Many people on X felt that the publicity photo was purposefully redacted to hide the faces of Ross and Jackson’s children to make it seem unwholesome, despite the lack of any clear connection to the Epstein investigation."
On brand
It's a shell game. Trump is taking money from soldiers' housing subsidies to "give" them $1,776 "warrior dividend" checks.
Trump rebrands Congressionally-approved troop housing subsidy as ‘warrior dividend’ bonus
More than $2.9 billion in reconciliation funds was allocated to beef up troop housing allowances. Now it’s being used for $1,776 checks.
www.defenseone.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:59 PM
On brand
"There has never been anything like this in the history of our country."
One sentence from the speech that's true--but not in the way he means it.
One sentence from the speech that's true--but not in the way he means it.
This Is What Presidential Panic Looks Like
Donald Trump delivered a fear-drenched rant live from the White House.
www.theatlantic.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
"There has never been anything like this in the history of our country."
One sentence from the speech that's true--but not in the way he means it.
One sentence from the speech that's true--but not in the way he means it.
He'll drop the lawsuit before handing over any personal records
Trump, 79, Told to Hand Over His Medical Records
The president’s revenge tour against the “fake news media” is coming back to bite him.
www.thedailybeast.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:07 PM
He'll drop the lawsuit before handing over any personal records
May be illegal if Congress doesn't approve it. These would be EB-1 or EB-2 visas--the kind the Melania got.
And why does he like that scowling portrait so much?
And why does he like that scowling portrait so much?
Applicants for Trump’s Tacky Gold Card Warned of Million-Dollar Problem
There is also the possibility that the president’s visa program will be declared illegal.
www.thedailybeast.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:23 PM
May be illegal if Congress doesn't approve it. These would be EB-1 or EB-2 visas--the kind the Melania got.
And why does he like that scowling portrait so much?
And why does he like that scowling portrait so much?