Brian Beutler
@brianbeutler.bsky.social
Off Message, Politix.fm;
Formerly: Crooked Media, TNR, TPM; www.offmessage.net/subscribe
Formerly: Crooked Media, TNR, TPM; www.offmessage.net/subscribe
Reposted by Brian Beutler
Comically over-lawyered and under-inspiring. Just resign, man. Take a lobbying job or something.
This is why Democrats look to a mayor like Zohran Mamdani for national leadership.
This is why Democrats look to a mayor like Zohran Mamdani for national leadership.
January 3, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Comically over-lawyered and under-inspiring. Just resign, man. Take a lobbying job or something.
This is why Democrats look to a mayor like Zohran Mamdani for national leadership.
This is why Democrats look to a mayor like Zohran Mamdani for national leadership.
Reposted by Brian Beutler
The Trump regime repeatedly lied to Congress about their intention to pursue regime change in Venezuela. They didn’t get Congressional approval for regime change, but did it anyway.
Demanding a briefing in response is both pathetic and nonsensical. Calling for impeachment is the obvious response.
Demanding a briefing in response is both pathetic and nonsensical. Calling for impeachment is the obvious response.
January 3, 2026 at 9:20 PM
The Trump regime repeatedly lied to Congress about their intention to pursue regime change in Venezuela. They didn’t get Congressional approval for regime change, but did it anyway.
Demanding a briefing in response is both pathetic and nonsensical. Calling for impeachment is the obvious response.
Demanding a briefing in response is both pathetic and nonsensical. Calling for impeachment is the obvious response.
Reposted by Brian Beutler
Such a stupid response. Trump is breaking the law. Again. For th 100th time. Schumer is making this sound like a policy difference, thus legitimizing it.
January 3, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Such a stupid response. Trump is breaking the law. Again. For th 100th time. Schumer is making this sound like a policy difference, thus legitimizing it.
Reposted by Brian Beutler
if you're playing @brianbeutler.bsky.social prediction bingo #10 is looking good
www.offmessage.net/p/my-non-pre...
www.offmessage.net/p/my-non-pre...
My Non-Prediction Predictions For 2026
The gyre widens..
www.offmessage.net
January 3, 2026 at 11:36 PM
if you're playing @brianbeutler.bsky.social prediction bingo #10 is looking good
www.offmessage.net/p/my-non-pre...
www.offmessage.net/p/my-non-pre...
Reposted by Brian Beutler
NEW: Plans for secret U.S. raid to capture Maduro leaked to the Washington Post and New York Times before it happened, but both decided not to publish to protect U.S. troops - Semafor
January 4, 2026 at 2:04 AM
NEW: Plans for secret U.S. raid to capture Maduro leaked to the Washington Post and New York Times before it happened, but both decided not to publish to protect U.S. troops - Semafor
Reposted by Brian Beutler
absolutely bizarre to see a violent, rogue american regime, which is threatening military attacks on a bunch of major trading partners and close allies, and openly fantasizing about hitler-style wars of territorial conquest, covered in the tone of horse-race political commentary
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
absolutely bizarre to see a violent, rogue american regime, which is threatening military attacks on a bunch of major trading partners and close allies, and openly fantasizing about hitler-style wars of territorial conquest, covered in the tone of horse-race political commentary
Reposted by Brian Beutler
(This is from more than a month ago, not “just.”)
January 4, 2026 at 2:12 AM
(This is from more than a month ago, not “just.”)
Reposted by Brian Beutler
This is why it's also important for domestic elected officials to condemn it as "illegal" and not just gripe about consultation. This is the stuff upon which international law is built. The prohibition against piracy wasn't some entity declaring it illegal worldwide, it was a custom built over time.
For nonlawyers, it’s worth noting that statements like this have—as a formal matter—important legal effects as a matter of international law. If such statements are *not* made, and in volume, future arguments that Trump’s invasion sets a legal precedent will stand on much firmer legal ground.
Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide: "International law is universal and binding for all states. The American intervention in Venezuela is not in accordance with international law."
January 3, 2026 at 10:54 PM
This is why it's also important for domestic elected officials to condemn it as "illegal" and not just gripe about consultation. This is the stuff upon which international law is built. The prohibition against piracy wasn't some entity declaring it illegal worldwide, it was a custom built over time.
Reposted by Brian Beutler
For nonlawyers, it’s worth noting that statements like this have—as a formal matter—important legal effects as a matter of international law. If such statements are *not* made, and in volume, future arguments that Trump’s invasion sets a legal precedent will stand on much firmer legal ground.
Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide: "International law is universal and binding for all states. The American intervention in Venezuela is not in accordance with international law."
January 3, 2026 at 9:57 PM
For nonlawyers, it’s worth noting that statements like this have—as a formal matter—important legal effects as a matter of international law. If such statements are *not* made, and in volume, future arguments that Trump’s invasion sets a legal precedent will stand on much firmer legal ground.
Reposted by Brian Beutler
Either it was a limited operation merely to arrest Maduro and move on, or, it is an ongoing major regime change committment that will open up a transition including international and private sector partners. It really can't be both
January 3, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Either it was a limited operation merely to arrest Maduro and move on, or, it is an ongoing major regime change committment that will open up a transition including international and private sector partners. It really can't be both
Reposted by Brian Beutler
a lot of interesting revelations between the lines of this story www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 3, 2026 at 9:27 PM
a lot of interesting revelations between the lines of this story www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Brian Beutler
The most disturbing presidential press conference I have ever seen.
fallows.substack.com/p/blind-into...
(First 3/4ths before paywall.)
fallows.substack.com/p/blind-into...
(First 3/4ths before paywall.)
‘Blind Into Caracas’
Less than 24 hours in, members of the Trump team are celebrating victory. None of them seem to have wondered what happens a day, a month, a decade from now.
fallows.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:21 PM
The most disturbing presidential press conference I have ever seen.
fallows.substack.com/p/blind-into...
(First 3/4ths before paywall.)
fallows.substack.com/p/blind-into...
(First 3/4ths before paywall.)
Reposted by Brian Beutler
The case of the Twitter purchase shows the bad media strategy from Biden-era top Democrats.
They were “indifferent” to a far-right billionaire oligarch buying a key element of our information infrastructure.
www.semafor.com/article/12/1...
They were “indifferent” to a far-right billionaire oligarch buying a key element of our information infrastructure.
www.semafor.com/article/12/1...
Why The White House isn’t stressed about Elon Musk’s Twitter
Biden’s team has never cared much about the platform and isn’t about to start now.
www.semafor.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:54 PM
The case of the Twitter purchase shows the bad media strategy from Biden-era top Democrats.
They were “indifferent” to a far-right billionaire oligarch buying a key element of our information infrastructure.
www.semafor.com/article/12/1...
They were “indifferent” to a far-right billionaire oligarch buying a key element of our information infrastructure.
www.semafor.com/article/12/1...
Reposted by Brian Beutler
Why would we expect anyone to rally around Trump in the first place? Nobody wanted this war. Nobody believes that Venezuela poses any threat to the US. Everyone knows we could walk away immediately and face no consequences.
The big variable is *not* success or failure of the military action; it's the out-party's reaction. Which in this case has started out pretty negative.
That's short-run. Medium run, which typically comes quickly, is that rally effects don't last.
That's short-run. Medium run, which typically comes quickly, is that rally effects don't last.
January 3, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Why would we expect anyone to rally around Trump in the first place? Nobody wanted this war. Nobody believes that Venezuela poses any threat to the US. Everyone knows we could walk away immediately and face no consequences.
Reposted by Brian Beutler
This might be the only Democratic response I’ve seen that is appropriate
Rep. Seth Moulton: "This is insane. What the hell are we doing? ... this is illegal."
January 3, 2026 at 6:03 PM
This might be the only Democratic response I’ve seen that is appropriate
Reposted by Brian Beutler
if marco rubio and pete hegseth die of natural causes it should be in the hague
January 3, 2026 at 6:45 AM
if marco rubio and pete hegseth die of natural causes it should be in the hague
Reposted by Brian Beutler
News editor of @mississippifreepress.org with a much better sense of journalism than this guy placed by Bari Weiss in the anchor chair.
This isn't about democratizing the news. It's about elevating "vibes" and "feelings" to be on par with lived experience and subject-matter expertise.
January 3, 2026 at 12:19 AM
News editor of @mississippifreepress.org with a much better sense of journalism than this guy placed by Bari Weiss in the anchor chair.
Reposted by Brian Beutler
I mean given that he is constitutionally barred from re-election what exactly can you call this other than legalized bribery?
NEW w/ @kenvogel.bsky.social: Trump’s team raised more than $100 million for MAGA Inc. in the second half of 2025, with much of the money coming from wealthy people and corporations with issues before the administration. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/u...
Trump Super PAC Raised More Than $100 Million in Recent Months
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:48 AM
I mean given that he is constitutionally barred from re-election what exactly can you call this other than legalized bribery?
Reposted by Brian Beutler
The split-screen here is unbelievable - first from yesterday, the others from 2017. Musk’s Twitter has truly driven us mad. People absorb far more of their beliefs from their social environment than they realize, and we’ve created an environment where being a gutter bigot is the baseline expectation
January 2, 2026 at 7:21 PM
The split-screen here is unbelievable - first from yesterday, the others from 2017. Musk’s Twitter has truly driven us mad. People absorb far more of their beliefs from their social environment than they realize, and we’ve created an environment where being a gutter bigot is the baseline expectation
Would like to say this was my most prescient piece of 2025, but turns out I wrote it in 2024 😇 www.offmessage.net/p/the-new-gi...
January 2, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Would like to say this was my most prescient piece of 2025, but turns out I wrote it in 2024 😇 www.offmessage.net/p/the-new-gi...
Reposted by Brian Beutler
Here is the editor of Tablet agreeably reposting someone calling nonwhite NYC immigrants "worthless biotrash." It's astonishing how quickly this stuff has escaped containment
January 2, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Here is the editor of Tablet agreeably reposting someone calling nonwhite NYC immigrants "worthless biotrash." It's astonishing how quickly this stuff has escaped containment
Reposted by Brian Beutler
People of significant influence, including official gov accounts, keep talking in ways that are deeply influenced by the neo-Nazi wing of white supremacy, and it's not major national story that this is happening. I read that as an indictment of the editors of national media orgs.
January 2, 2026 at 1:50 PM
People of significant influence, including official gov accounts, keep talking in ways that are deeply influenced by the neo-Nazi wing of white supremacy, and it's not major national story that this is happening. I read that as an indictment of the editors of national media orgs.
Reposted by Brian Beutler
what’s happening with grok and nudity spam requests should be a global wake up call about AI image gen and instead very few media outlets have even covered it yet
January 2, 2026 at 12:48 AM
what’s happening with grok and nudity spam requests should be a global wake up call about AI image gen and instead very few media outlets have even covered it yet
Reposted by Brian Beutler
AI companies are playing a game wherein these computer programs are presented to the public as autonomous individuals capable of issuing a meaningful apology. The machine is just a machine. Human beings owe the apology for building the machine irresponsibly and unleashing it on the world.
so x dot com’s ai generated CSAM and they admitted it may violate US law and … i haven’t seen in anyone in power say much at all or call to stop using the platform
January 2, 2026 at 1:23 AM
AI companies are playing a game wherein these computer programs are presented to the public as autonomous individuals capable of issuing a meaningful apology. The machine is just a machine. Human beings owe the apology for building the machine irresponsibly and unleashing it on the world.
Reposted by Brian Beutler
so x dot com’s ai generated CSAM and they admitted it may violate US law and … i haven’t seen in anyone in power say much at all or call to stop using the platform
January 2, 2026 at 12:43 AM
so x dot com’s ai generated CSAM and they admitted it may violate US law and … i haven’t seen in anyone in power say much at all or call to stop using the platform