Erika Wittekind
@erikalyn.bsky.social
Freelance writer and editor. Believer in democracy, science, gun control, local journalism, and empathy. Mom to two cats and two teen boys. She/her.
Dane County, WI
Dane County, WI
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
"The stock story was the US managed a successful decapitation of the Iraqi state but made little plans for how to stabilize it afterward. We have a vaguely parallel situation in Venezuela, only the US hasn’t even overthrown the regime. It’s difficult to overstate how absurd this state of affairs is"
Venezuela Regime Change and the Theater of the Absurd
On Saturday, a friend and I were comparing notes on the events...
talkingpointsmemo.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:17 PM
"The stock story was the US managed a successful decapitation of the Iraqi state but made little plans for how to stabilize it afterward. We have a vaguely parallel situation in Venezuela, only the US hasn’t even overthrown the regime. It’s difficult to overstate how absurd this state of affairs is"
I understand why but this makes me sad.
Walz announces he's changed his mind and will no longer run for reelection next year
January 5, 2026 at 6:54 PM
I understand why but this makes me sad.
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
If Romania bombed a Miami building and killed innocent people while arresting Andrew Tate so he could stand trial in their country for child sex trafficking, the Trump administration would be having a collective fit. One, because it would be a war crime on US soil. Two, because they love pedophiles.
January 5, 2026 at 6:42 PM
If Romania bombed a Miami building and killed innocent people while arresting Andrew Tate so he could stand trial in their country for child sex trafficking, the Trump administration would be having a collective fit. One, because it would be a war crime on US soil. Two, because they love pedophiles.
A law enforcement operation in which we send in the military, "run" the country somehow, and seize all the oil?
Sure, Marco.
Sure, Marco.
marco rubio is calling this a law enforcement operation; not a congressional one.
January 5, 2026 at 2:03 PM
A law enforcement operation in which we send in the military, "run" the country somehow, and seize all the oil?
Sure, Marco.
Sure, Marco.
There is no legal basis to strike a sovereign state just because Trump doesn't get his way.
A former staffer said that U.S. officials would not be performing a formal occupation like in Iraq. “We’re going to tell them: ‘Hey, this is what you have to do in order for there not to be another strike. That’s what [Trump] sees as running the country.” www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Rubio takes on most challenging role yet: Viceroy of Venezuela
The top U.S. diplomat has pushed for regime change for over a decade. Now the hard part begins.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:16 PM
There is no legal basis to strike a sovereign state just because Trump doesn't get his way.
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
As the framers of the Constitution famously intended, a president’s “personal geopolitics.”
New euphemism for "bottomless corruption and naked abuses of power" just dropped
January 4, 2026 at 12:25 PM
As the framers of the Constitution famously intended, a president’s “personal geopolitics.”
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
Imagine being the person brave enough to leak this in the hopes that media attention could stop it and then the media just……buries it.
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 4:36 AM
Imagine being the person brave enough to leak this in the hopes that media attention could stop it and then the media just……buries it.
Smart interview and worth reading in full. Here's the archived link for those of us without a New Yorker subscription:
January 4, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Smart interview and worth reading in full. Here's the archived link for those of us without a New Yorker subscription:
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
My whole life, advocating war has been fed to me as “the adult position,” akin to drinking your coffee black or reading the business section of the newspaper. Let’s be very clear — war is the childish nonsense of impulsive destructive idiots playing baby-brained video games with real human lives.
January 4, 2026 at 2:02 AM
My whole life, advocating war has been fed to me as “the adult position,” akin to drinking your coffee black or reading the business section of the newspaper. Let’s be very clear — war is the childish nonsense of impulsive destructive idiots playing baby-brained video games with real human lives.
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
This right here:
“Not introducing articles of impeachment is a message that Trump hasn't committed impeachable offenses.”
“Not introducing articles of impeachment is a message that Trump hasn't committed impeachable offenses.”
How are voters meant to understand how serious things are if in lieu of shouting fire AND going into building with hoses, you're simply posting fire safety suggestions on social media?
Not introducing articles of impeachment is a message that Trump hasn't committed impeachable offenses.
Not introducing articles of impeachment is a message that Trump hasn't committed impeachable offenses.
January 4, 2026 at 1:28 AM
This right here:
“Not introducing articles of impeachment is a message that Trump hasn't committed impeachable offenses.”
“Not introducing articles of impeachment is a message that Trump hasn't committed impeachable offenses.”
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
Trump is trying to force US oil companies to rebuild Venezuelan oil fields that are too expensive to invest in at current crude prices while a full blown energy revolution is happening with cheap solar and electrification growing exponentially.
This is a dying empire shit.
This is a dying empire shit.
a lot of interesting revelations between the lines of this story www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 4, 2026 at 1:34 AM
Trump is trying to force US oil companies to rebuild Venezuelan oil fields that are too expensive to invest in at current crude prices while a full blown energy revolution is happening with cheap solar and electrification growing exponentially.
This is a dying empire shit.
This is a dying empire shit.
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
We have seen no official death toll but the New York Times is reporting at least 40 people were killed in last night's attack on Venezuela with reports of civilian structures directly targeted.
Celebrating this is disgusting.
Celebrating this is disgusting.
January 4, 2026 at 2:07 AM
We have seen no official death toll but the New York Times is reporting at least 40 people were killed in last night's attack on Venezuela with reports of civilian structures directly targeted.
Celebrating this is disgusting.
Celebrating this is disgusting.
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
Friendly reminder that W's Iraq invasion had 65% bipartisan approval when it started, even with debate about whether or not Saddam Hussein actually had WMDs. So the fact that this can't even crack 60% within the GOP is telling. 60% own-party support would typically kill a policy immediately.
Jan 3 poll of 1,902 U.S. adults (+/-2.8 points)
% who support | oppose the U.S. running Venezuela following the U.S. military's capture of President Nicolás Maduro
U.S. adults 34% | 41%
Democrats 16% | 64%
Independents 26% | 43%
Republicans 60% | 16%
today.yougov.com/topics/polit...
% who support | oppose the U.S. running Venezuela following the U.S. military's capture of President Nicolás Maduro
U.S. adults 34% | 41%
Democrats 16% | 64%
Independents 26% | 43%
Republicans 60% | 16%
today.yougov.com/topics/polit...
January 4, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Friendly reminder that W's Iraq invasion had 65% bipartisan approval when it started, even with debate about whether or not Saddam Hussein actually had WMDs. So the fact that this can't even crack 60% within the GOP is telling. 60% own-party support would typically kill a policy immediately.
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
Historically, the U.S. has done a lot of this. But, seldom without even an attempt to persuade the public that it did so for good reason and on the side of right.
This does feel like a break.
I refuse to let it be a new age. After elections, the lame duck's power will be more contained. Then gone.
This does feel like a break.
I refuse to let it be a new age. After elections, the lame duck's power will be more contained. Then gone.
Quick update for US media: the story is not about Maduro or what’s going on in Venezuela. It’s about the massive rupture in US history where the country now stands for invading and occupying any country it likes.
Trump in his press conference made it very clear this is a new age. Did you miss that?
Trump in his press conference made it very clear this is a new age. Did you miss that?
January 4, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Historically, the U.S. has done a lot of this. But, seldom without even an attempt to persuade the public that it did so for good reason and on the side of right.
This does feel like a break.
I refuse to let it be a new age. After elections, the lame duck's power will be more contained. Then gone.
This does feel like a break.
I refuse to let it be a new age. After elections, the lame duck's power will be more contained. Then gone.
This is so grim.
16 hours in, my guess this was all intended basically as a coup to put VP Delcy Rodriguez in power (likely without her knowledge but 🤷).
At least for democracy & human rights, that might be even worse than the "opening shots in a war" scenario.
All speculation, but let me explain:
At least for democracy & human rights, that might be even worse than the "opening shots in a war" scenario.
All speculation, but let me explain:
January 4, 2026 at 12:28 AM
This is so grim.
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
Not looking forward to the 2044 controversy about whether a Dem president handled the withdrawal from Venezuela right
Veteran New York Times national security reporter David Sanger says what Trump is describing in Venezuela is an "American occupation."
January 3, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Not looking forward to the 2044 controversy about whether a Dem president handled the withdrawal from Venezuela right
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
Trump talked with oil companies about invading Venezuela before he talked with Congress.
a lot of interesting revelations between the lines of this story www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 3, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Trump talked with oil companies about invading Venezuela before he talked with Congress.
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
*endless screaming*
And there ya have it…
Officials from top Wall Street firms will be traveling to Venezuela to investigate “investment prospects” of the country. “The trip will feature about 20 officials from the finance, energy and defense sectors.”
Officials from top Wall Street firms will be traveling to Venezuela to investigate “investment prospects” of the country. “The trip will feature about 20 officials from the finance, energy and defense sectors.”
Finance Industry Eyes Investment Opportunities in Venezuela
Some on Wall Street are already considering possible investment opportunities in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, according to Charles Myers, chairman of consulting firm Signum Globa...
www.wsj.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:33 PM
*endless screaming*
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
Hard to watch US TV media discussing how the US might occupy and run a foreign country as if it’s a perfectly normal political development.
January 3, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Hard to watch US TV media discussing how the US might occupy and run a foreign country as if it’s a perfectly normal political development.
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
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 Erika Wittekind
This war and extra-judicial kidnapping is patently illegal and unconstitutional. Political leaders on both sides must condemn it. It’s not about whether Maduro is a tyrant but whether the US is still governed by laws and the Constitution. As if this morning, we are clearly not.
January 3, 2026 at 12:27 PM
This war and extra-judicial kidnapping is patently illegal and unconstitutional. Political leaders on both sides must condemn it. It’s not about whether Maduro is a tyrant but whether the US is still governed by laws and the Constitution. As if this morning, we are clearly not.
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
Ummm anyone notice that Hegseth is just wearing a sweater over the tie he wore at the press conference this morning? And Trump just took off his tie? Are they staging these pix now?
January 3, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Ummm anyone notice that Hegseth is just wearing a sweater over the tie he wore at the press conference this morning? And Trump just took off his tie? Are they staging these pix now?
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
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 5:55 PM
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.
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
Rep. Seth Moulton comes on CNN and starts by saying: "Is anyone going to just stop for a second and be honest? This is insane. What the hell are we doing? We've got a lot of problems in America today, and invading / occupying / running Venezuela does not solve any of them."
January 3, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Rep. Seth Moulton comes on CNN and starts by saying: "Is anyone going to just stop for a second and be honest? This is insane. What the hell are we doing? We've got a lot of problems in America today, and invading / occupying / running Venezuela does not solve any of them."
Reposted by Erika Wittekind
Best thing I’ve read this morning, from a human rights lawyer in Mexico. Translation is in the ALT-text.
January 3, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Best thing I’ve read this morning, from a human rights lawyer in Mexico. Translation is in the ALT-text.