Ellin Stein
@ellinst.bsky.social
Arts journo (now mostly Slate and Byline Times),
MA Screenwriting lecturer @Goldsmiths UoL, authorina https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393074093, tech fumbler
MA Screenwriting lecturer @Goldsmiths UoL, authorina https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393074093, tech fumbler
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Rogue Tory peers preventing labour Labour government
January 3, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Rogue Tory peers preventing labour Labour government
Well, isn't that nice? She and Trump can compare notes. Game recognizes game.
Cilia Flores, who was captured by the U.S. with her husband, Venezuela’s longtime authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro, is one of the country’s most powerful political figures. She helped consolidate his rule while controlling the judiciary and amassing wealth through corruption, experts say.
Who Is Cilia Flores, the Power Broker Captured Alongside Maduro?
www.nytimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Well, isn't that nice? She and Trump can compare notes. Game recognizes game.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
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 Ellin Stein
Again, Ed Davey is Keir Starmer's conscience.
BREAKING: Ed Davey’s response to Keir Starmer’s statement
January 3, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Again, Ed Davey is Keir Starmer's conscience.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Regime change in Venezuela was a goal in Project 2025. Plus it’s been a pet project of Marco Rubio, who believes Venezuela is key to change in Cuba.
Also in Project 2025: Iran, whom Trump snapped at yesterday.
currentevents.blog/2026/01/02/s...
Also in Project 2025: Iran, whom Trump snapped at yesterday.
currentevents.blog/2026/01/02/s...
Venezuela, Iran among Predefined Priorities for U.S. Department of State
Aggression against Venezuela was foretold The portions of Project 2025 dedicated to the State Department identified five nations which should be monitored for activities counter to U.S.’ inte…
currentevents.blog
January 4, 2026 at 1:59 AM
Regime change in Venezuela was a goal in Project 2025. Plus it’s been a pet project of Marco Rubio, who believes Venezuela is key to change in Cuba.
Also in Project 2025: Iran, whom Trump snapped at yesterday.
currentevents.blog/2026/01/02/s...
Also in Project 2025: Iran, whom Trump snapped at yesterday.
currentevents.blog/2026/01/02/s...
Reposted by Ellin Stein
U.S. military spending is set to hit a record $1 trillion.
Roughly half of defense spending goes to private contractors that routinely price-gouge the government.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has failed EIGHT straight audits.
This is the military industrial complex on steroids.
Roughly half of defense spending goes to private contractors that routinely price-gouge the government.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has failed EIGHT straight audits.
This is the military industrial complex on steroids.
January 3, 2026 at 10:01 PM
U.S. military spending is set to hit a record $1 trillion.
Roughly half of defense spending goes to private contractors that routinely price-gouge the government.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has failed EIGHT straight audits.
This is the military industrial complex on steroids.
Roughly half of defense spending goes to private contractors that routinely price-gouge the government.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has failed EIGHT straight audits.
This is the military industrial complex on steroids.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Reposted by Ellin Stein
In 2019, Mark Lutter—whose nonprofit received $$$ from the Thiel-backed Emergent Ventures in 2018—said, “we’re putting out a white paper looking at Venezuela…assuming this transfer of power does go thru … And if you u can get charter cities to be part of the conversation,” there is “opportunity…” 1/
The team trying to end poverty by founding well-governed 'charter' cities
"China looked & said, 'Wait, Hong Kong's rich. Taiwan's rich. We're all Chinese. Why are they doing well and we're starving?'"
80000hours.org
December 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
In 2019, Mark Lutter—whose nonprofit received $$$ from the Thiel-backed Emergent Ventures in 2018—said, “we’re putting out a white paper looking at Venezuela…assuming this transfer of power does go thru … And if you u can get charter cities to be part of the conversation,” there is “opportunity…” 1/
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Joshua Steinman was in the 1st Trump admin. Tech billionaire Peter Thiel backs Steinman’s company, Galvinick, via Founders Fund. Yesterday, Steinman wrote, “Nobody wants to talk about this, but the # of men one wld need to take South Africa right now is embarrassingly small.” He cc’d Erik Prince. 1/
February 4, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Joshua Steinman was in the 1st Trump admin. Tech billionaire Peter Thiel backs Steinman’s company, Galvinick, via Founders Fund. Yesterday, Steinman wrote, “Nobody wants to talk about this, but the # of men one wld need to take South Africa right now is embarrassingly small.” He cc’d Erik Prince. 1/
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Btw, the answer to "why did we strike / invade Country X" is rarely, "doing the bidding of this particular industry".
January 4, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Btw, the answer to "why did we strike / invade Country X" is rarely, "doing the bidding of this particular industry".
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Fascinating
1. Admin may not have informed Congress but has been talking regime change w US oil industry
2. Oil at $60, US firms not excited about major capex to get VZ heavy sour crude
3. Sounds like WH wants to prod oil firms to make their vision happen, more than WH doing US oil's bidding
1. Admin may not have informed Congress but has been talking regime change w US oil industry
2. Oil at $60, US firms not excited about major capex to get VZ heavy sour crude
3. Sounds like WH wants to prod oil firms to make their vision happen, more than WH doing US oil's bidding
a lot of interesting revelations between the lines of this story www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 4, 2026 at 1:07 AM
Fascinating
1. Admin may not have informed Congress but has been talking regime change w US oil industry
2. Oil at $60, US firms not excited about major capex to get VZ heavy sour crude
3. Sounds like WH wants to prod oil firms to make their vision happen, more than WH doing US oil's bidding
1. Admin may not have informed Congress but has been talking regime change w US oil industry
2. Oil at $60, US firms not excited about major capex to get VZ heavy sour crude
3. Sounds like WH wants to prod oil firms to make their vision happen, more than WH doing US oil's bidding
Reposted by Ellin Stein
8/ How’d I forget Canada? bsky.app/profile/jenn...
If u do a Google search for “Marc Andreessen and Canada”, this turns up: “Canada will welcome us as liberators”. If you go to X, however, Andreessen (a DOGE advisor) deleted his tweet. I wonder why. 1/
January 4, 2026 at 1:25 AM
8/ How’d I forget Canada? bsky.app/profile/jenn...
Reposted by Ellin Stein
7/ Related thread. bsky.app/profile/jenn...
What’s happening with American media, American education, and America’s approach to places like Greenland & Honduras harmonizes with the “network state” movement (backed by Thiel, Lonsdale, Andreessen, etc), which calls for the construction of “parallel institutions” and “parallel societies”. 1/
IMHO, you can’t understand what’s happening to the US if u don’t know about the “network state” movement & its “parallel establishment” strategy, which includes building “parallel societies” (w/ their own physical territories) & “parallel institutions” in media, education, finance, science, etc. 1/
December 28, 2025 at 2:16 AM
7/ Related thread. bsky.app/profile/jenn...
Reposted by Ellin Stein
This, alone, would be sufficient grounds for the House to commence hearings on articles of impeachment
Donald Trump is now reposting videos on Truth Social suggesting that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had Melissa Hortman assassinated.
This is objectively evil, and calling it out should not be political.
This is objectively evil, and calling it out should not be political.
January 4, 2026 at 1:26 AM
This, alone, would be sufficient grounds for the House to commence hearings on articles of impeachment
Reposted by Ellin Stein
The oil companies knew about this before the U.S. Congress www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 3, 2026 at 10:53 PM
The oil companies knew about this before the U.S. Congress www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Ellin Stein
😤🤬
‼️ ALERT. The Trump Administration is dismantling NASA’s Goddard Library and destroying irreplaceable archives. While Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Jared Isaacman talk about Mars, Russ Vought pushes deep cuts to NASA Science. You do not reach Mars by burning knowledge.
NASA’s Largest Library Is Closing Amid Staff and Lab Cuts
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:37 PM
😤🤬
Always, always about the grift.
A high-ranking official in the Interior Department is drawing scrutiny from ethics experts because she failed to disclose her family’s financial interest in the nation’s largest lithium mine that had been approved by her agency, according to state and federal records.
The Trump Administration Approved a Big Lithium Mine. A Top Official’s Husband Profited.
Karen Budd-Falen, the No. 3 at the Interior Department, didn’t disclose a $3.5 million water-rights contract between her husband and the developers of a Nevada mine, records show.
nyti.ms
January 3, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Always, always about the grift.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Last year, Trump promised American oil executives “a great deal” if they donated $1 billion to his campaign.
Today, he gave them Venezuela — home to the largest oil reserves in the world.
This new war is not only illegal and reckless; it is deeply corrupt.
Today, he gave them Venezuela — home to the largest oil reserves in the world.
This new war is not only illegal and reckless; it is deeply corrupt.
January 3, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Last year, Trump promised American oil executives “a great deal” if they donated $1 billion to his campaign.
Today, he gave them Venezuela — home to the largest oil reserves in the world.
This new war is not only illegal and reckless; it is deeply corrupt.
Today, he gave them Venezuela — home to the largest oil reserves in the world.
This new war is not only illegal and reckless; it is deeply corrupt.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Again, the VP is currently in Moscow. How about them apples.
January 3, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Again, the VP is currently in Moscow. How about them apples.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Know what changed? Court rulings in early December. That's why the Skipper tanker was seized. Guess who is about to be installed as Venezuela's caretaker government? A committee of creditors. I wrote this on December 15:
January 3, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Know what changed? Court rulings in early December. That's why the Skipper tanker was seized. Guess who is about to be installed as Venezuela's caretaker government? A committee of creditors. I wrote this on December 15:
Reposted by Ellin Stein
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 Ellin Stein
The House Armed Services Committee also was not briefed, I've confirmed.
News: Gang of Eight in Congress were only notified about Trump's Venezuela operation after it began, source familiar tells me. That means the heads of the Intelligence Committees in Senate and House were *not* consulted. Just crazy.
January 3, 2026 at 3:58 PM
The House Armed Services Committee also was not briefed, I've confirmed.
Dear Sen. Schumer and Rep. Jefferies -- this is how you do it. Short, sweet, and to the point.
The Mayor of New York City @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social has released a statement:
January 3, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Dear Sen. Schumer and Rep. Jefferies -- this is how you do it. Short, sweet, and to the point.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Ilya Lichtenstein, who pled guilty to money laundering charges tied to his role in the massive hack of crypto exchange Bitfinex, has apparently been released early from prison.
Bitfinex hacker Ilya Lichtenstein credits Trump for early release from prison | TechCrunch
Ilya Lichtenstein, who pled guilty to money laundering charges tied to his role in the massive hack of crypto exchange Bitfinex, has apparently been released early from prison.
techcrunch.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Ilya Lichtenstein, who pled guilty to money laundering charges tied to his role in the massive hack of crypto exchange Bitfinex, has apparently been released early from prison.