This is what Dem leaders need to understand. The murder yesterday and the shootings today in Portland are the result of POLICY. This is exactly what they intend. If you collaborate with the GOP in any way, blood is on your hands too.

During the operation to capture Maduro, the tomb site of Hugo Chaves was bombed.

Far right-wing capitalists and organized crime go hand-in-hand. They share common interests and common enemies.

Geopolitical interests aside, this has been a major refutation of both Democrats & the progressive left.

Trump recently pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was indicted for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, and related firarms offenses.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had family connections growing up who were caught importing cocaine.

Maduro is a progressive hero. Trump knows the Democrats can't say otherwise. When they say "Maduro is a bad guy, but..." they're confirming that the progressive movement can be divided and conquered. Or worse, that they also can't even recognize an ideological ally right in front of them.

The Democrats took the bait, and the major media companies in the U.S. have limited coverage on the ground in Venezuela, but their CIA sources are happy to "inform" them of what's going on

So we hear the same story from them. Govt. crackdowns, refusing to concede election losses. Don't fall for it.

When Democrats say "Maduro is a bad guy," they've already lost the argument. Whether they can't say otherwise for fear of revealing classified information, or because they believe the propaganda, the result is the same. Trump has access to the classified information, and he sets a rhetorical trap.

Organized crime families ousted from Cuba have historically aligned with the CIA, sharing both common interests (income streams), and common enemies. CIA has historically propped up right-wing counterrevolutions in Latin America.

The Venezuelan opposition are no different.

It's not just about oil. Successful left-wing movements, whether in Cuba or Venezuela, are a threat to organized crime in Latin America, and are therefore a threat to the CIA's income streams that it uses to fund itself, so as to avoid Congressional oversight.

Wow it's so crazy that in 1997 Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman starred in the documentary specifically about 2025, Wag the Dog

The YouTube algorithm seems really convinced that just because I follow @johnkiriakou.bsky.social's content, I must also want to see Andrew Bustamante content on my YT home feed.

I, in fact, do not.

How’s it going with that materialist worldview, @hankgreen.bsky.social ? Are the philosophers in the room with you right now? Worried they might hear you if you say it too loudly? 😛

Source (well worth the watch): youtu.be/5CKuiuc5cJM

Lina Khan is such a shining beacon of hope in today's dark political climate, and enshittogenic regulatory environment

Last night, tragically, 8 Democrats caved.

But the struggle continues.

Short term, we must not allow health care premiums to double for more than 20 million Americans.

Long term, we must provide health care to all as a human right.

Donald Trump’s approval rating has tanked and Republican suffered heavy losses in last week’s elections. There’s never been a better time for Senate Democrats to cave on the ACA extension.

This "Big Beautiful Bill" really ought to be referred to by its more apt title: the Ominous Omnibus