World News Random, Random

[ti-amie]

‪The New York Times‬
‪@nytimes.com‬
· 1h
Read the indictment against Nicolás Maduro here.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/202 ... =url-share

[Owendonovan]

So, who is running the show in Venezuela as of right now?

[dryrunguy]

Ponchi, I'm having a difficult time processing all of this, and I need you to tell me how to feel about it. Because...

My Instagram is bursting with one post after another made by people from Venezuela, now living all over the world, screaming with joy about how the Venezuelan people are now finally free. Free. Free?

I understand the expressions of appreciation to the US President. I really do. But do they not understand what his intentions really are? Or the degree to which he loathes them? Or why this is really happening?

I am thrilled there is a sense of hope again among people who have had no reason to feel anything but hopelessness for a long, long time. But I don't understand it, and as punishment, I feel like I should be locked in a dark room and forced to watch The Shawshank Redemption over and over again until Red turns the light bulb on over my head... and it all makes sense.

I also know full well it's not my place to correct anyone. I'm the last person who should be correcting anyone.

I just need you, a level head with more than sufficient perspective and an appreciation for the complexities and nuances involved, to tell me how to feel about it. Because...

[ti-amie]

David Corn
‪@davidcorn.bsky.social‬
One of his prosecutors was Emil Bove, who Trump appointed to the DOJ and then the federal judiciary.
‪The Tennessee Holler‬
‪@thetnholler.bsky.social‬
· 45m
Q: “You said Maduro is responsible for drug trafficking. You recently pardoned the former president of Honduras convicted of drug trafficking. Can you explain?”

TRUMP: “He was persecuted very unfairly.”

Video at the link

https://bsky.app/profile/davidcorn.bsky ... kgisqcbc25

[ti-amie]

‪Acyn‬
‪@acyn.bsky.social‬
· 5h
Trump on the US running Venezuela: It will not cost us anything because the money coming out of the ground is substantial. We’re going to take back the oil.

post malone ergo propter malone
‪@proptermalone.bsky.social‬
if you're looking for an "it's about the oil" conspiracy theory but have realized that our oil companies don't actually want the Venezuelan oil, may I recommend

sorta thought the whole point of pressuring Venezuela and Nigeria is that doing so elevates oil prices a bit but not enough to get the Permian going, thus making Russia and KSA happy.

sorta thought Bessent of all people understood that
11:43 PM · Nov 20, 2025

[ti-amie]

[ponchi101]

Ponchi, I'm having a difficult time processing all of this, and I need you to tell me how to feel about it. Because...

...

I just need you, a level head with more than sufficient perspective and an appreciation for the complexities and nuances involved, to tell me how to feel about it. Because...

You can make the call. If the buffoons at the TV stations can make all their foolish calls, anybody can.

What you can count on:
Some people are not happy. Good or bad, Maduro still had some support. Maybe 15%, but those are obviously displeased.
Some people are ecstatic. There was a considerable number just wanted the guy out, by any means. Therefore, the enemy of my enemy is my friend; Trump is a savior to them.
Some people are cautious. After all, Maduro is gone; the rest of the gang is still here. Who is in charge? Is Maduro out or is the regime out?

Personally: you know I detest Trump. And the USA is, right now, just a little better than Russia or China. But not by much. But I am satisfied that he is gone.
You have to remember. The people of Venezuela have been suffering from a textbook dictatorship. There are thousands of political prisoners, 7.7 million have left the country. So, that some people would rejoice was inevitable.
I will only make my mind when I see what sort of administration we have next Monday. But I believe we will be crying.

[dryrunguy]

The NY Times reported earlier this afternoon that "a group" would be overseeing the Venezuelan government. The members of that group were not named. And that group would remain in power until a suitable leader could be put in place. (A puppet of Trump, his criminal cronies, and the U.S. oil industry.)

Unless some other external factor stops that from happening. But it's Trump. So that plan may have changed five times today.

[ponchi101]

The US oil industry, or for that matter, the entire world's oil companies, are in no way interested in Venezuela's oil.
To begin with. Our famous "largest reserves in the world" are of an oil that is extremely heavy; processing it and transporting it is a major logistical issue.
And the oil industries of the world know better. They are not going to come here unless the conditions are super favorable.
Believe me, our oil is of good quality; the rest of the country, the regime in charge or not, is a nightmare. And all American companies know it.

[Owendonovan]

I suppose American athletes could be regarded the same way as Russian athletes?

[Suliso]

Do we think these events will significantly increase Republican chances in the upcoming Midterm elections?

[ashkor87]

Good question...i would say no .. the MAGA voters, who would be the most enthusiastic, are not going to vote differently

[ponchi101]

He got the Vennie vote in FL in the election. So, he had that already, and that is minimal. He also had most of the Latino vote there. And now, maybe he has to please the Cubans and if he does not, they may feel otherwise.
The actions are clearly outside of the law; people that go by that logic will not vote for him.
I think the memory of Iraq is still clear in the people's minds. So, the people that think Vennieland will become Iraq II will not sway.
Too many people disagree with his handling of immigrants; this will only re-enforce that view.

I think that if he wanted to do this for political gains, they will be minimal or in reverse.

[Suliso]

Also by November it will be very clear whether this is an improvement for Venezuela or no.

[dryrunguy]

This is actually a good reminder how it's a big mistake to talk about all MAGA voters as if they are some uniform, completely like-minded group. Yes, you have the loyal MAGA base that will worship Trump--no matter what. They'll play along. Then you have the MAGA folks, such as the Venezuelans in South Florida or those who are pretty well-informed of Venezuela's history (and other countries victimized by authoritarian regimes), they'll go along with it for sure. (The irony here is they don't see Trump's actions domestically as authoritarian at all, because they like it and agree with it, so it can't be bad.)

The other faction consists of people like Marjorie Taylor Green (sometimes) who oppose all interventionism (well, almost all interventionism) and instead want the problems here at home fixed. They didn't vote for this, and they're fuming about it. They've been fuming about it long before these events unfolded.

What percentage of the overall MAGAsphere is the last faction? That's another really good question. I couldn't venture a guess. But what are their alternatives? Vote for Democrats? What are you really losing if you piss off a bunch of people who have no viable alternative? (Of course, the answer to this question changes substantially if, at some point, a viable conservative alternative emerges.)