Veronica
@veronicafrance.bsky.social
Former archaeologist and web developer living in southern France since 1997. Cook, photographer, reader, francophile, now hispanophile.
Reposted by Veronica
“Sure, Maduro’s regime was corrupt, but Trump doesn’t mind corrupt regimes, only corrupt regimes where he doesn’t get a piece of the action.”
No, YOU forgot to post the link to your own piece. thecritic.co.uk/the-trump-ga...
The Trump Game | Robert Hutton | The Critic Magazine
The first rule of the Trump Game, played by politicians around the world, is you do not talk about the rules of the Trump Game. The object of the game is to pretend that the President of the United…
thecritic.co.uk
January 4, 2026 at 6:32 PM
“Sure, Maduro’s regime was corrupt, but Trump doesn’t mind corrupt regimes, only corrupt regimes where he doesn’t get a piece of the action.”
Reposted by Veronica
Surely the whole bloody point of the law is that you can’t Both Sides it - that it gives the news a clear guide to how to objectively assess a situation and better inform the reader of what has happened. And yet…
The U.S. capture of Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, has drawn wide-ranging reactions. Many Venezuelans celebrated the leader’s ouster. Opponents of the military operation called it illegal, with Americans taking to the streets to protest what they called an act of imperialism. trib.al/woauLUf
January 4, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Surely the whole bloody point of the law is that you can’t Both Sides it - that it gives the news a clear guide to how to objectively assess a situation and better inform the reader of what has happened. And yet…
Beautiful artwork. I’d happily have it on my wall.
The first full moon of 2026 is known as the #WolfMoon when the wolves howl with hunger.
Kiki Smith, Cathedral, 2012,
jacquard tapestry #WomensArt
Kiki Smith, Cathedral, 2012,
jacquard tapestry #WomensArt
January 3, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Beautiful artwork. I’d happily have it on my wall.
Reposted by Veronica
Neat that all the marketing photos and videos are meant to communicate what serious shit is being done by these serious guys when in fact the exact opposite message is sent.
They’ve got Twitter up on the big screens in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago makeshift “situation room.”
Photos from Trump’s Truth Social account.
Photos from Trump’s Truth Social account.
January 3, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Neat that all the marketing photos and videos are meant to communicate what serious shit is being done by these serious guys when in fact the exact opposite message is sent.
Reposted by Veronica
My understanding was that when you did regime change it was customary to change the regime.
“The display of force and unity undermined President Trump's earlier comments that Washington would work with Rodriguez to run Venezuela.”
January 3, 2026 at 7:37 PM
My understanding was that when you did regime change it was customary to change the regime.
Reposted by Veronica
Amazing record for the FIFA
January 3, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Amazing record for the FIFA
Reposted by Veronica
French news bulletin speaking with very well-informed commentators speculating (with apparently good evidence) that regime change in Caracas is step one to getting the oil supply to Cuba cut off by its replacement, with the aim of toppling the Cuban government: Rubio’s long term political project.
January 3, 2026 at 2:33 PM
French news bulletin speaking with very well-informed commentators speculating (with apparently good evidence) that regime change in Caracas is step one to getting the oil supply to Cuba cut off by its replacement, with the aim of toppling the Cuban government: Rubio’s long term political project.
Reposted by Veronica
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 Veronica
You don't have to listen to these professional liars who are barely trying. 9 months ago they were saying they were powerless to return a man they illegally sent to an El Salvador gulag because it would violate that country's national sovereignty
Vance pushes back and says this was not illegal, arguing "Maduro has multiple indictments in the United States for narcoterrorism. You don't get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the United States because you live in a palace in Caracas."
January 3, 2026 at 3:19 PM
You don't have to listen to these professional liars who are barely trying. 9 months ago they were saying they were powerless to return a man they illegally sent to an El Salvador gulag because it would violate that country's national sovereignty
Reposted by Veronica
Thoughts with @ianleslie.bsky.social at this difficult time.
June 22, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Thoughts with @ianleslie.bsky.social at this difficult time.
Reposted by Veronica
This AFTER remains of a 30 ft boat washed ashore, with burned bodies inside & packages (small) of what residue tests establish was nothing more than Marijuana; which is legal for recreational use in several states. It's just murder.
apnews.com/article/boat...
apnews.com/article/boat...
US military strikes 5 more alleged drug boats, killing 8 and possibly leaving survivors
The U.S. military says it has struck five alleged drug-smuggling boats over two days. The attacks killed a total of eight people while others jumped overboard and may have survived.
apnews.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:37 PM
This AFTER remains of a 30 ft boat washed ashore, with burned bodies inside & packages (small) of what residue tests establish was nothing more than Marijuana; which is legal for recreational use in several states. It's just murder.
apnews.com/article/boat...
apnews.com/article/boat...
Reposted by Veronica
What the KENNEDY Center used to be…
Remember that time Aretha Franklin performed at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors, paying tribute to Carole King, who co-wrote “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman,” and it brought a tear to Obama’s eye and everyone to their feet? And Carole King’s reaction. Wow.
Remember that time Aretha Franklin performed at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors, paying tribute to Carole King, who co-wrote “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman,” and it brought a tear to Obama’s eye and everyone to their feet? And Carole King’s reaction. Wow.
January 1, 2026 at 5:04 AM
What the KENNEDY Center used to be…
Remember that time Aretha Franklin performed at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors, paying tribute to Carole King, who co-wrote “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman,” and it brought a tear to Obama’s eye and everyone to their feet? And Carole King’s reaction. Wow.
Remember that time Aretha Franklin performed at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors, paying tribute to Carole King, who co-wrote “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman,” and it brought a tear to Obama’s eye and everyone to their feet? And Carole King’s reaction. Wow.
Reposted by Veronica
Tomorrow marks 10 years since the greatest piece of art of our generation
December 30, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Tomorrow marks 10 years since the greatest piece of art of our generation
Reposted by Veronica
Spoiler: They used the money just as wisely as anyone else would, and it's so frustrating that this still isn't a common sense assumption to make.
December 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Spoiler: They used the money just as wisely as anyone else would, and it's so frustrating that this still isn't a common sense assumption to make.
Reposted by Veronica
This is literally what the Telegraph campaigned for.
December 27, 2025 at 9:42 AM
This is literally what the Telegraph campaigned for.
Reposted by Veronica
This is perfect. The DOJ's embarrassing snafu with disappearing redactions was the fault of Elon Musk. Musk cancelled government subscriptions to Adobe programs that would have made the redactions permanent. What a pack of fools.
December 26, 2025 at 9:02 PM
This is perfect. The DOJ's embarrassing snafu with disappearing redactions was the fault of Elon Musk. Musk cancelled government subscriptions to Adobe programs that would have made the redactions permanent. What a pack of fools.
Oh Gloria 🙄
Gloria Gaynor revealed as MAGA donor after being picked by Trump for Kennedy Center Honor
Gloria Gaynor revealed as MAGA donor after Trump picks her for Kennedy Center Honor
‘I Will Survive’ singer has reportedly donated nearly $22,000 to right-wing politicians and organizations since 2023
www.the-independent.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Oh Gloria 🙄
Reposted by Veronica
Thinking again of Priti Patel’s Christmas Playbook answer on what got her through lockdown:
December 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Thinking again of Priti Patel’s Christmas Playbook answer on what got her through lockdown:
The Palestine Action Hunger Strikers
open.substack.com/pub/mattcarr...
open.substack.com/pub/mattcarr...
The Palestine Action Hunger Strikers
A Tragedy Made in Downing Street
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The Palestine Action Hunger Strikers
open.substack.com/pub/mattcarr...
open.substack.com/pub/mattcarr...
Reposted by Veronica
In English we know it as “Carol of the Bells,” but the melody arises from a Ukrainian folk tradition of songs welcoming the new year and summoning the forces of nature to meet human labor and bring prosperity.
Do listen.
I wrote about the history here: snyder.substack.com/p/o-generous...
Do listen.
I wrote about the history here: snyder.substack.com/p/o-generous...
Another beautiful Shchedryk performance amidst ruins.
It was set in what used to be a DTEK thermal power plant — now destroyed by russia.
The contrast between russia’s destructive nature and the Ukrainian will to create beauty even in the darkest times is palpable.
It was set in what used to be a DTEK thermal power plant — now destroyed by russia.
The contrast between russia’s destructive nature and the Ukrainian will to create beauty even in the darkest times is palpable.
December 21, 2025 at 9:37 PM
In English we know it as “Carol of the Bells,” but the melody arises from a Ukrainian folk tradition of songs welcoming the new year and summoning the forces of nature to meet human labor and bring prosperity.
Do listen.
I wrote about the history here: snyder.substack.com/p/o-generous...
Do listen.
I wrote about the history here: snyder.substack.com/p/o-generous...
Reposted by Veronica
When you write an email like this, you want it leaked. As you should. Nobody is surprised that this is Bari Weiss’s cbs.
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
December 22, 2025 at 7:43 AM
When you write an email like this, you want it leaked. As you should. Nobody is surprised that this is Bari Weiss’s cbs.
Reposted by Veronica
Meanwhile, the UK’s equivalent of the Dutch SyRi scandal (excessive data sharing and surveillance of benefit recipients, resulting in flat-out wrong and occasionally batshit errors) has been met not with government resignations but with a shrug.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Labour admits 60% of parents wrongly targeted in HMRC child benefit fraud crackdown
Exclusive: Scale of government’s anti-fraud fiasco is four times higher than previously admitted
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Meanwhile, the UK’s equivalent of the Dutch SyRi scandal (excessive data sharing and surveillance of benefit recipients, resulting in flat-out wrong and occasionally batshit errors) has been met not with government resignations but with a shrug.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Veronica
Vance comes down against “purity tests”—i.e., against criticizing the neo-Nazis. He’s happy to have them as part of his coalition.
JD Vance: "When I say that I'm going to fight alongside of you, I mean all of you — each and every one. President Trump did not build the greatest coalition in politics by running his supporters through endless, self-defeating purity tests."
December 21, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Vance comes down against “purity tests”—i.e., against criticizing the neo-Nazis. He’s happy to have them as part of his coalition.
Reposted by Veronica
Perhaps the vice president should have considered utilizing the services of the vast law-enforcement apparatus at his disposal, rather than googling conspiracy theories on the Internet.
JD Vance: "I remember watching every video of the assassination looking for clues, trying to understand what happened. I tried to hide my friend and that terrible bullet hitting him, but I would try to look around. I stayed up all night for many nights in a row researching every conspiracy theory."
December 21, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Perhaps the vice president should have considered utilizing the services of the vast law-enforcement apparatus at his disposal, rather than googling conspiracy theories on the Internet.
Reposted by Veronica
Well, this worked. I've completely forgotten that Trump is a rapist and all over the Epstein files now.
December 21, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Well, this worked. I've completely forgotten that Trump is a rapist and all over the Epstein files now.