Jen Bendery
@jbendery.bsky.social
I report on Congress, the Trump administration and now authoritarianism for HuffPost.
Tips: jen.bendery@huffpost.com / jbendery@proton.me
Signal: jbendery.41
Tips: jen.bendery@huffpost.com / jbendery@proton.me
Signal: jbendery.41
Pinned
Jen Bendery
@jbendery.bsky.social
· Oct 6
Speaking of Jane Goodall, my favorite quote by her:
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Reposted by Jen Bendery
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.
Reposted by Jen Bendery
The Trump administration is lying to Congress and ignoring our constitutionally required approval for military action. This is what dictators do.
This war is not just unjustified—it is unauthorized.
This war is not just unjustified—it is unauthorized.
January 3, 2026 at 3:36 PM
The Trump administration is lying to Congress and ignoring our constitutionally required approval for military action. This is what dictators do.
This war is not just unjustified—it is unauthorized.
This war is not just unjustified—it is unauthorized.
Reposted by Jen Bendery
Republican leaders were briefed. Democratic leaders were not. This is the Trump approach.
January 3, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Republican leaders were briefed. Democratic leaders were not. This is the Trump approach.
Reposted by Jen Bendery
Read the unsealed indictment against Maduro: www.justice.gov/opa/media/14...
January 3, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Read the unsealed indictment against Maduro: www.justice.gov/opa/media/14...
Reposted by Jen Bendery
And there it is:
FOX & FRIENDS: What do you see as the future of Venezuela's oil industry?
TRUMP: Well I see that we're gonna be very strongly involved in it. That's all. What can I say. We have the greatest oil companies in the world.
TRUMP: Well I see that we're gonna be very strongly involved in it. That's all. What can I say. We have the greatest oil companies in the world.
January 3, 2026 at 3:31 PM
And there it is:
Reposted by Jen Bendery
So for months they have tried to blame the entire fentanyl crisis on Venezuela and the indictment only mentions cocaine, which they pardoned a different guy for weeks ago
January 3, 2026 at 2:03 PM
So for months they have tried to blame the entire fentanyl crisis on Venezuela and the indictment only mentions cocaine, which they pardoned a different guy for weeks ago
Reposted by Jen Bendery
“It is a sickening irony that Pam Bondi—who has helped lead the Epstein files coverup to protect Trump and various other lawless actions—announced that Maduro and his wife ‘will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.’" open.substack.com/pub/america/...
Can We Weaken Trump's Criminal Rule?
A Saturday Prompt as Trump attacks Venezuela
open.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:26 PM
“It is a sickening irony that Pam Bondi—who has helped lead the Epstein files coverup to protect Trump and various other lawless actions—announced that Maduro and his wife ‘will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.’" open.substack.com/pub/america/...
Sen. Tim Kaine, member of foreign relations committee, on Trump's "unauthorized military attack on Venezuela to arrest Maduro":
"...it makes it difficult to make the claim with a straight face that other countries should respect the United States’ sovereignty when we do not do the same."
"...it makes it difficult to make the claim with a straight face that other countries should respect the United States’ sovereignty when we do not do the same."
January 3, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Sen. Tim Kaine, member of foreign relations committee, on Trump's "unauthorized military attack on Venezuela to arrest Maduro":
"...it makes it difficult to make the claim with a straight face that other countries should respect the United States’ sovereignty when we do not do the same."
"...it makes it difficult to make the claim with a straight face that other countries should respect the United States’ sovereignty when we do not do the same."
Reposted by Jen Bendery
We’re starting to get statements from the *checks notes* …opposition party?
January 3, 2026 at 2:20 PM
We’re starting to get statements from the *checks notes* …opposition party?
Reposted by Jen Bendery
When I teach my seminar on coups we keep a running tab on how many regime changes were motivated at least in part by desire for oil or other valuable commodities...
January 3, 2026 at 2:33 PM
When I teach my seminar on coups we keep a running tab on how many regime changes were motivated at least in part by desire for oil or other valuable commodities...
Reposted by Jen Bendery
Airlines cancel dozens of Caribbean flights after U.S. attacks on Venezuela
Airlines cancel dozens of Caribbean flights after U.S. attacks on Venezuela
U.S. airlines cancel dozens of Caribbean flights after U.S. strikes on Venezuela.
www.cnbc.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Airlines cancel dozens of Caribbean flights after U.S. attacks on Venezuela
Reposted by Jen Bendery
The legal justification the WH gave us for attacking Venezuelan boats in int’l waters without Congressional approval was weak, and exposes the WH and military staff to domestic and international criminal prosecution. They have not even sought to justify strikes within Venezuela.
January 3, 2026 at 2:32 PM
The legal justification the WH gave us for attacking Venezuelan boats in int’l waters without Congressional approval was weak, and exposes the WH and military staff to domestic and international criminal prosecution. They have not even sought to justify strikes within Venezuela.
Reposted by Jen Bendery
Reposted by Jen Bendery
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.
A reminder that the U.S. military officials who briefed senators on the Sept. 2 boat strikes confirmed none of these Venezuelan boats targeted by Trump's strikes have had fentanyl on them.
They had cocaine, and in at least one case, it was bound for Europe.
They had cocaine, and in at least one case, it was bound for Europe.
President Trump on Fox News
- says 2 US military injured
- refers to 300,000 US deaths (eg fentanyl)
- says we're (USG) deciding that now - on what comes next for VZ government
- asked about lack of congressional authorization, says they'll say "Oh Gee maybe it's not constitutional"
- says 2 US military injured
- refers to 300,000 US deaths (eg fentanyl)
- says we're (USG) deciding that now - on what comes next for VZ government
- asked about lack of congressional authorization, says they'll say "Oh Gee maybe it's not constitutional"
January 3, 2026 at 2:35 PM
A reminder that the U.S. military officials who briefed senators on the Sept. 2 boat strikes confirmed none of these Venezuelan boats targeted by Trump's strikes have had fentanyl on them.
They had cocaine, and in at least one case, it was bound for Europe.
They had cocaine, and in at least one case, it was bound for Europe.
Reposted by Jen Bendery
LOL
👺 Russia backs Maduro, says disputes must be settled through dialogue
Russia backs Maduro, says disputes must be settled through dialogue
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned what it called US armed aggression against Venezuela on 3 January and said it is deeply concerned.
www.pravda.com.ua
January 3, 2026 at 11:41 AM
LOL
Reposted by Jen Bendery
<eyeblink>
Nope. I’m going back to bed. See y’all in 2027.
Nope. I’m going back to bed. See y’all in 2027.
The US Attorney General confirms Maduro is being charged with "conspiracy to possess machine guns" - something Republicans usually call a constitutional right.
January 3, 2026 at 2:16 PM
<eyeblink>
Nope. I’m going back to bed. See y’all in 2027.
Nope. I’m going back to bed. See y’all in 2027.
Reposted by Jen Bendery
NEW: Trump got a fair number of his judicial picks confirmed in 2025, but more interestingly, he was stymied all year by retirement-eligible judges not retiring, denying him lots more court vacancies to fill.
“One of the biggest stories this year." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
“One of the biggest stories this year." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
The Surprising Trend That Hampered Trump’s Ability To Confirm Judges In 2025
The president got a decent number of his nominees confirmed to lifetime federal judgeships. But some sitting judges seem reluctant to let Trump replace them.
www.huffpost.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
NEW: Trump got a fair number of his judicial picks confirmed in 2025, but more interestingly, he was stymied all year by retirement-eligible judges not retiring, denying him lots more court vacancies to fill.
“One of the biggest stories this year." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
“One of the biggest stories this year." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Reposted by Jen Bendery
Pam Bondi's golden rule: names that shouldn't be redacted, like Donald Trump, always are. Names that should be redacted, like victims and their confidential info, never are.
NEW: Epstein survivor Danielle Bensky confirms to me that the DOJ has failed to properly redact her name in the Epstein files.
This is her name, and she has confirmed this is an old phone number of hers. Both should have been redacted. Neither were.
This is her name, and she has confirmed this is an old phone number of hers. Both should have been redacted. Neither were.
December 29, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Pam Bondi's golden rule: names that shouldn't be redacted, like Donald Trump, always are. Names that should be redacted, like victims and their confidential info, never are.
Reposted by Jen Bendery
Go, stubborn federal judges. 💪
NEW: Trump got a fair number of his judicial picks confirmed in 2025, but more interestingly, he was stymied all year by retirement-eligible judges not retiring, denying him lots more court vacancies to fill.
“One of the biggest stories this year." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
“One of the biggest stories this year." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
The Surprising Trend That Hampered Trump’s Ability To Confirm Judges In 2025
The president got a decent number of his nominees confirmed to lifetime federal judgeships. But some sitting judges seem reluctant to let Trump replace them.
www.huffpost.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Go, stubborn federal judges. 💪
Reposted by Jen Bendery
With some thoughts from me
NEW: Trump got a fair number of his judicial picks confirmed in 2025, but more interestingly, he was stymied all year by retirement-eligible judges not retiring, denying him lots more court vacancies to fill.
“One of the biggest stories this year." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
“One of the biggest stories this year." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
The Surprising Trend That Hampered Trump’s Ability To Confirm Judges In 2025
The president got a decent number of his nominees confirmed to lifetime federal judgeships. But some sitting judges seem reluctant to let Trump replace them.
www.huffpost.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:18 PM
With some thoughts from me
NEW: Trump got a fair number of his judicial picks confirmed in 2025, but more interestingly, he was stymied all year by retirement-eligible judges not retiring, denying him lots more court vacancies to fill.
“One of the biggest stories this year." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
“One of the biggest stories this year." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
The Surprising Trend That Hampered Trump’s Ability To Confirm Judges In 2025
The president got a decent number of his nominees confirmed to lifetime federal judgeships. But some sitting judges seem reluctant to let Trump replace them.
www.huffpost.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
NEW: Trump got a fair number of his judicial picks confirmed in 2025, but more interestingly, he was stymied all year by retirement-eligible judges not retiring, denying him lots more court vacancies to fill.
“One of the biggest stories this year." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
“One of the biggest stories this year." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Reposted by Jen Bendery
Reposted by Jen Bendery
They're gonna be real upset when they read about literally any of Trump's appointees for anything.
December 28, 2025 at 4:16 PM
They're gonna be real upset when they read about literally any of Trump's appointees for anything.