Alona Ferber
@aloner.bsky.social
Senior editor, @prospectmagazine.co.uk | Co-host, The Prospect Podcast | Ex: NS, Haaretz, TBI | UK, Israel/Palestine, feminism, politics, Ursula K Le Guin | Sign up to my newsletter: http://thebacklash.substack.com |
Pinned
It's the end of a year, so I'm going to make the most of the excuse for some shameless self-promotion. Slightly seriously though, I've produced some journalism I'm proud of in 2025, so here is a thread of some of the pieces I wrote for @prospectmagazine.co.uk .... /1
Reposted by Alona Ferber
"Personal Geopolitics"
New euphemism for "bottomless corruption and naked abuses of power" just dropped
January 4, 2026 at 12:28 PM
"Personal Geopolitics"
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Marvellous column by @edwardluce.bsky.social on Trump’s new world order: “no obvious rules, does not respect allies, celebrates the jungle and is almost always about money”:
Trump now owns Venezuela
The US president has a growing appetite for military adventure
www.ft.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Marvellous column by @edwardluce.bsky.social on Trump’s new world order: “no obvious rules, does not respect allies, celebrates the jungle and is almost always about money”:
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Sunday’s front pages 📰 #TomorrowsPapersToday
January 3, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Sunday’s front pages 📰 #TomorrowsPapersToday
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Nothing about these guys is subtle, I’ll give them that
January 4, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Nothing about these guys is subtle, I’ll give them that
“We’re going to have our very large U.S. oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country”
Trump says US oil companies will spend billions in Venezuela reut.rs/4jmeEPz
Trump says US oil companies will spend billions in Venezuela
President Donald Trump said that American oil companies were prepared to enter Venezuela and invest to restore production in the South American country, an announcement that came just hours after Nicolás Maduro was captured and removed by U.S. forces.
reut.rs
January 3, 2026 at 6:41 PM
“We’re going to have our very large U.S. oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country”
Reposted by Alona Ferber
“ It appears the Trump Administration gave no consideration or plan for what comes next in terms of a functioning government in Venezuela. This vacuum threatens to destabilize South America, will likely have no impact on the drug cartels, and could make the situation worse.”
House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member
@adamsmith.house.gov released the following statement in response to President Trump's announcements regarding U.S. military activities in Venezuela. ⬇️
@adamsmith.house.gov released the following statement in response to President Trump's announcements regarding U.S. military activities in Venezuela. ⬇️
January 3, 2026 at 6:24 PM
“ It appears the Trump Administration gave no consideration or plan for what comes next in terms of a functioning government in Venezuela. This vacuum threatens to destabilize South America, will likely have no impact on the drug cartels, and could make the situation worse.”
Reposted by Alona Ferber
There’s always a tweet.
January 3, 2026 at 6:18 PM
There’s always a tweet.
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Moulton: "When we had briefings on Venezuela, we asked, 'Are you going to invade the country?' We were told no. 'Do you plan to put troops on the ground?' We were told no. 'Do you intend regime change in VZ?' We were told no. So in a sense, we have been briefed, we've just been completely lied to"
January 3, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Moulton: "When we had briefings on Venezuela, we asked, 'Are you going to invade the country?' We were told no. 'Do you plan to put troops on the ground?' We were told no. 'Do you intend regime change in VZ?' We were told no. So in a sense, we have been briefed, we've just been completely lied to"
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Important thread about all the fake videos and disinformation about the invasion of Venezuela.
THREAD: I'll fact-check all the viral misinformation about the US military operation in Venezuela in this thread
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
January 3, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Important thread about all the fake videos and disinformation about the invasion of Venezuela.
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Trump on María Corina Machado: "I think it'd be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn't have the support or the respect within the country. She's a very nice woman but she doesn't have the respect."
January 3, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Trump on María Corina Machado: "I think it'd be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn't have the support or the respect within the country. She's a very nice woman but she doesn't have the respect."
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Donald Trump has multiple indictments in the United States for crimes against the US government. And also pardoned top drug dealers.
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 3:51 PM
Donald Trump has multiple indictments in the United States for crimes against the US government. And also pardoned top drug dealers.
Reposted by Alona Ferber
hey Bluesky por favor share your preferred local Venezuelan and Spanish-first news sources, I usually read El País pero necissito mas hoy porque this US coverage is basura
January 3, 2026 at 3:41 PM
hey Bluesky por favor share your preferred local Venezuelan and Spanish-first news sources, I usually read El País pero necissito mas hoy porque this US coverage is basura
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado: “Venezuelans, the hour of freedom has arrived.
“Today we are prepared to enforce our mandate and take power.
“To Venezuelans inside our country: be ready to carry out what we will very soon communicate to you through our official channels.
1/2
“Today we are prepared to enforce our mandate and take power.
“To Venezuelans inside our country: be ready to carry out what we will very soon communicate to you through our official channels.
1/2
January 3, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado: “Venezuelans, the hour of freedom has arrived.
“Today we are prepared to enforce our mandate and take power.
“To Venezuelans inside our country: be ready to carry out what we will very soon communicate to you through our official channels.
1/2
“Today we are prepared to enforce our mandate and take power.
“To Venezuelans inside our country: be ready to carry out what we will very soon communicate to you through our official channels.
1/2
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Just a few minutes ago I saw a reporter talking about how important mainstream media will be in the coming days, especially the AP and Reuters journalists on the ground in Venezuela
January 3, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Just a few minutes ago I saw a reporter talking about how important mainstream media will be in the coming days, especially the AP and Reuters journalists on the ground in Venezuela
Reposted by Alona Ferber
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 Alona Ferber
The UK "was not involved in the action in Venezuela," says Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "I want to speak to President Trump."
January 3, 2026 at 12:27 PM
The UK "was not involved in the action in Venezuela," says Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "I want to speak to President Trump."
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Trump isn’t predictable or consistent, but this particular action *would* be consistent with the emergence of a G2+1 order where Washington and Beijing, with Moscow as a junior partner, give each other free rein in their purported spheres of influence.
This will go down well in Moscow and Beijing. Goodbye, international order.
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
Trump says Venezuela's Maduro captured after strikes
The U.S. has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, who has been taken out of the country, President Donald Trump said on Saturday.
www.reuters.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Trump isn’t predictable or consistent, but this particular action *would* be consistent with the emergence of a G2+1 order where Washington and Beijing, with Moscow as a junior partner, give each other free rein in their purported spheres of influence.
Reposted by Alona Ferber
David Miller says Jews have been conducting a “centuries-long programme of entryism and subversion.” But this is just anti-Zionism right?
January 3, 2026 at 10:19 AM
David Miller says Jews have been conducting a “centuries-long programme of entryism and subversion.” But this is just anti-Zionism right?
Reposted by Alona Ferber
A US president uses his for-profit (but money losing) social media site to announce a military strike against a foreign sovereign nation and the seizure by military force of a foreign government leader. Says a lot about where things are at in the US in 2026.
January 3, 2026 at 10:22 AM
A US president uses his for-profit (but money losing) social media site to announce a military strike against a foreign sovereign nation and the seizure by military force of a foreign government leader. Says a lot about where things are at in the US in 2026.
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Well this was kinda inevitable. Allows Russia to play the hypocrisy card and makes western allies job very tricky
January 3, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Well this was kinda inevitable. Allows Russia to play the hypocrisy card and makes western allies job very tricky
Reposted by Alona Ferber
This only happens as smoothly as it did if Maduro was sold out by people he thought were on his own side
Exporting Kavanaugh Stops. I guess the “Laws? What laws?” doctrine applies everywhere. Let’s save some money and just dissolve Congress.
January 3, 2026 at 10:22 AM
This only happens as smoothly as it did if Maduro was sold out by people he thought were on his own side
Reposted by Alona Ferber
A gangster state at home, a rogue state abroad: and entirely because Congress and the Supreme Court have abdicated their proper constitutional roles.
January 3, 2026 at 10:11 AM
A gangster state at home, a rogue state abroad: and entirely because Congress and the Supreme Court have abdicated their proper constitutional roles.
Reposted by Alona Ferber
⚠️ The Vice President of Venezuela has spoken by phone to a Venezuelan television news channel.
She confirmed that Venezuelan President Maduro’s whereabouts are unknown, demanded proof of life for Maduro from Trump, and called the people of Venezuela to the streets.
She confirmed that Venezuelan President Maduro’s whereabouts are unknown, demanded proof of life for Maduro from Trump, and called the people of Venezuela to the streets.
![VP
VPItv
@VPITV
X.com
• Translated from Spanish Show original
#LIVE
I Delcy Rodríguez: "The cradle of the Liberator was attacked. In the face of this situation, we do not know the whereabouts of President Maduro.
We demand from Donald Trump proof of life of President Maduro. People to the streets"
Connect: youtu.be/PAr2-2rRqto
Rate this translation:
EN VIVO
CONTACTO TELEFÓNICO
DELCY RODRIGUEZ
[video clip]
4:03 AM • 1/3/26 • 7.3K Views](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gvda6fem6r7selm4gzjjww4a/bafkreien3iio7x7urgfiptuarvdx6jg4yezageoshxdq3gmffagnmad4ca@jpeg)
January 3, 2026 at 10:12 AM
⚠️ The Vice President of Venezuela has spoken by phone to a Venezuelan television news channel.
She confirmed that Venezuelan President Maduro’s whereabouts are unknown, demanded proof of life for Maduro from Trump, and called the people of Venezuela to the streets.
She confirmed that Venezuelan President Maduro’s whereabouts are unknown, demanded proof of life for Maduro from Trump, and called the people of Venezuela to the streets.
It’s like the logic of ICE in the US military. Just going out and arbitrarily capturing people
January 3, 2026 at 10:12 AM
It’s like the logic of ICE in the US military. Just going out and arbitrarily capturing people
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Kidnapping the leader of a foreign state without any declaration of war and announcing it via social media is full-on rogue state stuff. From the world’s number one superpower.
January 3, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Kidnapping the leader of a foreign state without any declaration of war and announcing it via social media is full-on rogue state stuff. From the world’s number one superpower.