Winston Wells
@wwells.bsky.social
Findley Family Professor of International Affairs, Illinois College. Comparative Politics, IR, and African Studies. UCLA PhD. All opinions mine and mine alone.
Reposted by Winston Wells
“When an individual enters their residence, conceals themselves behind a closed door, and attempts to go about their everyday life, they are willfully impeding the important work of law enforcement officers and engaging in domestic terrorism,” said DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin
ICE Deems Being In Privacy Of Own Home Obstruction Of Justice
WASHINGTON—Warning that any attempt to spend time inside a personal residence constituted hostile interference with federal operations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials announced Thursday...
theonion.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:00 AM
“When an individual enters their residence, conceals themselves behind a closed door, and attempts to go about their everyday life, they are willfully impeding the important work of law enforcement officers and engaging in domestic terrorism,” said DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin
Reposted by Winston Wells
After illegally abducting Maduro, Trump has just sold $250M of Venezuela's oil to Vitol.
John Addison, a senior trader at Vitol who helped broker the deal, gave $6M to Trump's 2024 campaign.
Pay-to-play imperialism.
John Addison, a senior trader at Vitol who helped broker the deal, gave $6M to Trump's 2024 campaign.
Pay-to-play imperialism.
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 AM
After illegally abducting Maduro, Trump has just sold $250M of Venezuela's oil to Vitol.
John Addison, a senior trader at Vitol who helped broker the deal, gave $6M to Trump's 2024 campaign.
Pay-to-play imperialism.
John Addison, a senior trader at Vitol who helped broker the deal, gave $6M to Trump's 2024 campaign.
Pay-to-play imperialism.
Reposted by Winston Wells
Political science, since 2015
modern american politics consists of experts patiently explaining why something insane that people are talking about could never happen, followed by that exact thing happening
January 20, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Political science, since 2015
Reposted by Winston Wells
“.. foreign exporters absorbed only about 4% of the burden of last year’s U.S. tariff increases by lowering their prices, while American consumers and importers absorbed 96%.” 🤡
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/economy/trad...
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/economy/trad...
January 19, 2026 at 3:37 PM
“.. foreign exporters absorbed only about 4% of the burden of last year’s U.S. tariff increases by lowering their prices, while American consumers and importers absorbed 96%.” 🤡
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/economy/trad...
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/economy/trad...
Absolutely insane.
Breaking News: President Trump told Norway’s prime minister that one reason he’s pushing to acquire Greenland is because he didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Denied Peace Prize, Trump Tells Norway He’ll Push for Greenland
In a text message, President Trump told Norway’s prime minister he no longer felt obliged to “think purely of Peace” and that the world would not be secure until America controlled the island.
nyti.ms
January 19, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Absolutely insane.
Reposted by Winston Wells
CANADA PM CARNEY CONSIDERS SENDING SOLDIERS TO GREENLAND — CBC
January 19, 2026 at 12:00 AM
CANADA PM CARNEY CONSIDERS SENDING SOLDIERS TO GREENLAND — CBC
Reposted by Winston Wells
It takes incompetence of very high order to force Canada—long the most desirable neighbor any state could wish for—to reach out for closer ties with our main geopolitical foe. www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
Canada, China cut tariffs and announce new partnership as Trump brings old foes together
Prime Minister Mark Carney hailed a “new strategic partnership” in Beijing on Friday that included a break with the United States on tariffs.
www.nbcnews.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:09 PM
It takes incompetence of very high order to force Canada—long the most desirable neighbor any state could wish for—to reach out for closer ties with our main geopolitical foe. www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
Reposted by Winston Wells
The past 11 years have been the warmest since records began, with the past three topping the leader board. Climate researchers expect 2026 to be another record-breaker
Hotter still, and hotter
More worrying news about the climate
econ.st
January 17, 2026 at 9:20 PM
The past 11 years have been the warmest since records began, with the past three topping the leader board. Climate researchers expect 2026 to be another record-breaker
This is simply astounding.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/w...
Renfrew Christie Dies at 76; Sabotaged Racist Regime’s Nuclear Program
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:42 AM
This is simply astounding.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/w...
Reposted by Winston Wells
I see we’re at the, “C’mon, the Alabama state troopers were really being treated disrespectfully at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Also, a couple of them got scratches that day,” level of ICE apologetics.
January 14, 2026 at 10:24 PM
I see we’re at the, “C’mon, the Alabama state troopers were really being treated disrespectfully at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Also, a couple of them got scratches that day,” level of ICE apologetics.
Reposted by Winston Wells
Really unsettling when scanning or scrolling the news not to know on first glance if the image you’re seeing of mass protests being violently suppressed by unchecked agents of the state is from Tehran or Minneapolis.
January 14, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Really unsettling when scanning or scrolling the news not to know on first glance if the image you’re seeing of mass protests being violently suppressed by unchecked agents of the state is from Tehran or Minneapolis.
Reposted by Winston Wells
IR Realists saying farewell to the Rational Actor Assumption
January 12, 2026 at 12:05 PM
IR Realists saying farewell to the Rational Actor Assumption
Reposted by Winston Wells
Attempting to criminalize the actions of an independent public servant, Fed Chair Jay Powell, for the sin of acting independently is an outrage. It's bad economics, bad politics, bad for the rule of law, bad for the public sector, bad for American credibility and bad for Americans.
January 12, 2026 at 1:28 AM
Attempting to criminalize the actions of an independent public servant, Fed Chair Jay Powell, for the sin of acting independently is an outrage. It's bad economics, bad politics, bad for the rule of law, bad for the public sector, bad for American credibility and bad for Americans.
Reposted by Winston Wells
WELKER: Where is that $50,000? Did you keep it?
HOMAN: I didn't take $50k from anybody & that's a question for the FBI. Bottom line I did nothing illegal.
WELKER: But was there $50k in the bag?
HOMAN: I'm not addressing it
WELKER: But did you keep the money?
HOMAN: $50k is ridiculous
HOMAN: I didn't take $50k from anybody & that's a question for the FBI. Bottom line I did nothing illegal.
WELKER: But was there $50k in the bag?
HOMAN: I'm not addressing it
WELKER: But did you keep the money?
HOMAN: $50k is ridiculous
January 11, 2026 at 3:12 PM
WELKER: Where is that $50,000? Did you keep it?
HOMAN: I didn't take $50k from anybody & that's a question for the FBI. Bottom line I did nothing illegal.
WELKER: But was there $50k in the bag?
HOMAN: I'm not addressing it
WELKER: But did you keep the money?
HOMAN: $50k is ridiculous
HOMAN: I didn't take $50k from anybody & that's a question for the FBI. Bottom line I did nothing illegal.
WELKER: But was there $50k in the bag?
HOMAN: I'm not addressing it
WELKER: But did you keep the money?
HOMAN: $50k is ridiculous
Reposted by Winston Wells
Treaties are federal law. As a signatory to the 1949 NATO treaty, the U.S. is barred by law from attacking another NATO member. Therefore, an order to draw up plans to attack Greenland is an illegal one. Military leaders are obligated to disobey illegal orders.
Lawyers correct me if I'm wrong.
Lawyers correct me if I'm wrong.
Cool, cool.
"According to sources, Trump has asked Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare the invasion plan, but it is being resisted by the joint chiefs of staff on the grounds that it would be illegal - and not be supported by Congress."
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
"According to sources, Trump has asked Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare the invasion plan, but it is being resisted by the joint chiefs of staff on the grounds that it would be illegal - and not be supported by Congress."
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Trump 'orders US army chiefs to draw up plan to invade Greenland'
Donald Trump has ordered his special forces commanders to draw up a plan for the invasion of Greenland - but is being resisted by senior military figures, The Mail on Sunday has learned.
www.dailymail.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 3:42 AM
Treaties are federal law. As a signatory to the 1949 NATO treaty, the U.S. is barred by law from attacking another NATO member. Therefore, an order to draw up plans to attack Greenland is an illegal one. Military leaders are obligated to disobey illegal orders.
Lawyers correct me if I'm wrong.
Lawyers correct me if I'm wrong.
Reposted by Winston Wells
The real problem is not foreigners. It is the failure to take advantage of one of Japan’s greatest strengths—that it is a wonderful place to live and work
Does Japan have a “foreigner problem”?
Yes—but it is not what populist politicians say it is
econ.st
January 9, 2026 at 2:40 AM
The real problem is not foreigners. It is the failure to take advantage of one of Japan’s greatest strengths—that it is a wonderful place to live and work
Reposted by Winston Wells
Reposted by Winston Wells
10,000 people honoring Renee Nicole Good
at the site of her murder
at the site of her murder
January 8, 2026 at 3:09 AM
10,000 people honoring Renee Nicole Good
at the site of her murder
at the site of her murder
Reposted by Winston Wells
Arrest the murderer and arrest Bovino. Not complicated.
January 7, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Arrest the murderer and arrest Bovino. Not complicated.
Reposted by Winston Wells
If Maduro was smart he would just cut to the chase and hire Pam Bondi’s brother as a pardon attorney and bypass all this trial stuff.
January 6, 2026 at 2:57 AM
If Maduro was smart he would just cut to the chase and hire Pam Bondi’s brother as a pardon attorney and bypass all this trial stuff.
Reposted by Winston Wells
The foreign policy of a personalist dictatorship. There are no constraints.
Trump in a single gaggle on Air Force One just threatened:
-- a second strike against Venezuela
-- Cuba
-- Mexico
-- Colombia
-- Iran
-- Greenland (which in turn would be an attack on the EU and Denmark)
-- a second strike against Venezuela
-- Cuba
-- Mexico
-- Colombia
-- Iran
-- Greenland (which in turn would be an attack on the EU and Denmark)
January 5, 2026 at 2:08 AM
The foreign policy of a personalist dictatorship. There are no constraints.
Reposted by Winston Wells
What happens when democracy dies in a global hegemon?
January 4, 2026 at 3:47 PM
What happens when democracy dies in a global hegemon?
Reposted by Winston Wells
Reposted by Winston Wells
I fully expect Marco Rubio to announce tomorrow that Donald Trump is personally eligible to receive the State Department’s $50 million “Rewards for Justice” bounty for capturing Maduro.
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 3:03 PM
I fully expect Marco Rubio to announce tomorrow that Donald Trump is personally eligible to receive the State Department’s $50 million “Rewards for Justice” bounty for capturing Maduro.
Reposted by Winston Wells
Also this:
“Despite what interveners hope, regime change implemented by outsiders is not a force for stability. More than 40 percent of states that experience foreign-imposed regime change have a civil war within the next ten years.”
www.bostonreview.net/forum/downes...
“Despite what interveners hope, regime change implemented by outsiders is not a force for stability. More than 40 percent of states that experience foreign-imposed regime change have a civil war within the next ten years.”
www.bostonreview.net/forum/downes...
Regime Change Doesn't Work
History shows that forcing rulers from power rarely works. Even apparently successful regime changes often leads to bitter civil war.
www.bostonreview.net
January 3, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Also this:
“Despite what interveners hope, regime change implemented by outsiders is not a force for stability. More than 40 percent of states that experience foreign-imposed regime change have a civil war within the next ten years.”
www.bostonreview.net/forum/downes...
“Despite what interveners hope, regime change implemented by outsiders is not a force for stability. More than 40 percent of states that experience foreign-imposed regime change have a civil war within the next ten years.”
www.bostonreview.net/forum/downes...