Jeff Colgan
@jeffcolgan.bsky.social
Professor of International Relations and Political Science. Interests: international order, energy, climate change, historical IR
Pinned
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism. To understand what just happened in Venezuela, look at oil politics and U.S. foreign policy.
goodauthority.org
US attack on Venezuela is, among other things, a regrettable turn towards petro-imperialism. My take at @goodauth.bsky.social
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
In functioning democracies, ministers resign all the time, under threat of a no confidence vote in the parliament. We have a system where legislative confirmation totally fails ex ante to screen out wildly unqualified people, & ex post accountability depends on a toothless extraordinary measure.
Impeach Kristi Noem.
As you evaluate this from Kristi Noem, remember that when a federal agent shot a woman in Chicago last year, DHS's initial version of events was full of lies that fell apart under subsequent scrutiny:
newrepublic.com/article/2019...
newrepublic.com/article/2019...
January 7, 2026 at 7:35 PM
In functioning democracies, ministers resign all the time, under threat of a no confidence vote in the parliament. We have a system where legislative confirmation totally fails ex ante to screen out wildly unqualified people, & ex post accountability depends on a toothless extraordinary measure.
From Andor: "The pace of oppression outstrips our ability to understand it. And that is the real trick of the Imperial thought machine. It's easier to hide behind 40 atrocities than a single incident."
Here's the ICE agent "defending himself" by shooting into the driver's side window of a car that's pulling *away* from him.
Put this photo on the front page of every newspaper in America.
Put this photo on the front page of every newspaper in America.
January 7, 2026 at 7:26 PM
From Andor: "The pace of oppression outstrips our ability to understand it. And that is the real trick of the Imperial thought machine. It's easier to hide behind 40 atrocities than a single incident."
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
1. Look, there are basically just two ways to run the global oil market: petro-imperialism and petro-consumerism. Historically USA has embraced both, varying over time. The attack on #Venezuela is a return to naked petro-imperialism. Thread.
January 3, 2026 at 6:51 PM
1. Look, there are basically just two ways to run the global oil market: petro-imperialism and petro-consumerism. Historically USA has embraced both, varying over time. The attack on #Venezuela is a return to naked petro-imperialism. Thread.
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
January 6, 2026 at 8:15 PM
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
I’ve learned much from @jeffcolgan.bsky.social over the years and his take on Trump’s Venezuela antics is well worth reading. goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism. To understand what just happened in Venezuela, look at oil politics and U.S. foreign policy.
goodauthority.org
January 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM
I’ve learned much from @jeffcolgan.bsky.social over the years and his take on Trump’s Venezuela antics is well worth reading. goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
THIS. 👇
What is just crazy about this, aside from the need for this statement at all, is that Greenland already IS in the US sphere of influence. It's far cheaper for the US, in material, security, and reputational terms, to have Denmark continue administering Greenland and work within NATO on security.
Joint Statement of major EU/NATO countries on Greenland, together with Denmark:
January 6, 2026 at 1:09 PM
THIS. 👇
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
“Our neighbour’s autocratic and avaricious leader is demonstrably eager to use his country’s massive military power to advance his interests. We must get ready.”
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Opinion: We need to prepare for the possibility that the U.S. uses military coercion against Canada
After the capture of Venezuela’s president and Trump’s musing about Greenland, Canada must prepare for the worst-case scenario
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:51 AM
“Our neighbour’s autocratic and avaricious leader is demonstrably eager to use his country’s massive military power to advance his interests. We must get ready.”
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
“.. Chavez came to power in 1999 when audited reserves were about 75 billion barrels of reserves. The year he died in 2013, they magically jumped to 300 billion unaudited.” 🇻🇪
January 6, 2026 at 12:38 PM
“.. Chavez came to power in 1999 when audited reserves were about 75 billion barrels of reserves. The year he died in 2013, they magically jumped to 300 billion unaudited.” 🇻🇪
China's largest imports from Greenland are halibut and shrimp. None of China's mining projects have worked out.
Russia has approximately zero economic exchange with Greenland.
The issue is about naval activity, but the US already has the only foreign military base in Greenland.
Russia has approximately zero economic exchange with Greenland.
The issue is about naval activity, but the US already has the only foreign military base in Greenland.
Trump: We need Greenland. Right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships.
Reporter: What would the justification be for a claim to Greenland?
Trump: The EU needs us to have it.
Reporter: What would the justification be for a claim to Greenland?
Trump: The EU needs us to have it.
January 6, 2026 at 12:43 PM
China's largest imports from Greenland are halibut and shrimp. None of China's mining projects have worked out.
Russia has approximately zero economic exchange with Greenland.
The issue is about naval activity, but the US already has the only foreign military base in Greenland.
Russia has approximately zero economic exchange with Greenland.
The issue is about naval activity, but the US already has the only foreign military base in Greenland.
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
US attack on Venezuela is, among other things, a regrettable turn towards petro-imperialism. My take at @goodauth.bsky.social
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism. To understand what just happened in Venezuela, look at oil politics and U.S. foreign policy.
goodauthority.org
January 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM
US attack on Venezuela is, among other things, a regrettable turn towards petro-imperialism. My take at @goodauth.bsky.social
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
As usual, The Onion nails it
January 5, 2026 at 8:33 PM
As usual, The Onion nails it
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
“This mode of foreign policy prioritizes corporate profits and hegemonic control over consumer welfare and international legitimacy.”
US attack on Venezuela is, among other things, a regrettable turn towards petro-imperialism. My take at @goodauth.bsky.social
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism. To understand what just happened in Venezuela, look at oil politics and U.S. foreign policy.
goodauthority.org
January 5, 2026 at 5:18 PM
“This mode of foreign policy prioritizes corporate profits and hegemonic control over consumer welfare and international legitimacy.”
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
🧵 All the academics who are smarter than I am are doing "explainer" threads.
I'll just provide some readings on indirect rule that might be increasingly relevant over the next few years.
1. David Lake's work on indirect rule and U.S. foreign policy.
I'll just provide some readings on indirect rule that might be increasingly relevant over the next few years.
1. David Lake's work on indirect rule and U.S. foreign policy.
Indirect Rule by David A. Lake | Paperback | Cornell University Press
Indirect Rule examines how states indirectly exercise authority over others and how this mode of rule affects domestic and international politics. Indirect rule has long characterized interstate relat...
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu
January 5, 2026 at 5:29 PM
🧵 All the academics who are smarter than I am are doing "explainer" threads.
I'll just provide some readings on indirect rule that might be increasingly relevant over the next few years.
1. David Lake's work on indirect rule and U.S. foreign policy.
I'll just provide some readings on indirect rule that might be increasingly relevant over the next few years.
1. David Lake's work on indirect rule and U.S. foreign policy.
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
Great @jeffcolgan.bsky.social analysis of Trump's return to petro-imperialism, for @goodauth.bsky.social
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism. To understand what just happened in Venezuela, look at oil politics and U.S. foreign policy.
goodauthority.org
January 5, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Great @jeffcolgan.bsky.social analysis of Trump's return to petro-imperialism, for @goodauth.bsky.social
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
US attack on Venezuela is, among other things, a regrettable turn towards petro-imperialism. My take at @goodauth.bsky.social
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism
Trump made a clear choice: return to petro-imperialism. To understand what just happened in Venezuela, look at oil politics and U.S. foreign policy.
goodauthority.org
January 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM
US attack on Venezuela is, among other things, a regrettable turn towards petro-imperialism. My take at @goodauth.bsky.social
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
Heck of a coincidence. 🙄 #Venezuela
Breaking news: Shares in some major US-listed oil companies have risen sharply in pre-market trading.
Follow our live blog for the latest updates: ft.trib.al/LElkVHb
Follow our live blog for the latest updates: ft.trib.al/LElkVHb
January 5, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Heck of a coincidence. 🙄 #Venezuela
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
I mean a guy can't even kidnap a foreign leader in an unauthorized military operation without getting criticized anymore
Some Democrats hate that their party is largely positioning itself in opposition to the operation that resulted in Maduro's capture.
"Everything Trump touches must be bad according to the base," one House Dem told @axios.com
Said another: "It looks weak." www.axios.com/2026/01/04/m...
"Everything Trump touches must be bad according to the base," one House Dem told @axios.com
Said another: "It looks weak." www.axios.com/2026/01/04/m...
"It looks weak": Some Democrats want their party to shut up and clap for Maduro's capture
"Everything Trump touches must be bad according to the base," fumed one House Democrat.
www.axios.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:43 PM
I mean a guy can't even kidnap a foreign leader in an unauthorized military operation without getting criticized anymore
Crucial point on Cuba by @christinecheng.bsky.social, in advance of Marco Rubio's troubling comments today:
bsky.app/profile/atru...
bsky.app/profile/atru...
Venezuela supplies ~40% of Cuba’s oil imports.
Now that Maduro is out, then Trump has A LOT of leverage over Cuba.
Cuba is already in deep economic crisis with blackouts and food shortages. Will Trump turn the screws? Will we see regime change there as well?
seekingalpha.com/news/4533853...
Now that Maduro is out, then Trump has A LOT of leverage over Cuba.
Cuba is already in deep economic crisis with blackouts and food shortages. Will Trump turn the screws? Will we see regime change there as well?
seekingalpha.com/news/4533853...
seekingalpha.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Crucial point on Cuba by @christinecheng.bsky.social, in advance of Marco Rubio's troubling comments today:
bsky.app/profile/atru...
bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
Best take I’ve heard, IRL: “This operation looks like it was designed by the same people who did the East Wing.”
This makes the Iraq War seem well planned.
January 4, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Best take I’ve heard, IRL: “This operation looks like it was designed by the same people who did the East Wing.”
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
3) Even in the presence of congressional authorization, using the US Military to depose leaders we don't like (even illegitimate ones) sets a very bad precedent and invites other strong militaries around the world to do the same, risks destabilizing global peace, and is against the US interests
January 4, 2026 at 1:59 PM
3) Even in the presence of congressional authorization, using the US Military to depose leaders we don't like (even illegitimate ones) sets a very bad precedent and invites other strong militaries around the world to do the same, risks destabilizing global peace, and is against the US interests
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
"following BOEM’s proposal to issue leases in the entire Wind Energy Area, “the DOD concluded that site-specific stipulations, designed in consultation with the DOD, could
mitigate the impact”
[and].."impacts would be negligible and avoidable.”
#Wind
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
mitigate the impact”
[and].."impacts would be negligible and avoidable.”
#Wind
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Complaint – #1 in REVOLUTION WIND, LLC v. BURGUM (D.D.C., 1:25-cv-02999) – CourtListener.com
COMPLAINT against BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT, DOUGLAS J. BURGUM, Matthew Giacona, Kenneth Stevens, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ( Filing fee $...
storage.courtlistener.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:08 PM
"following BOEM’s proposal to issue leases in the entire Wind Energy Area, “the DOD concluded that site-specific stipulations, designed in consultation with the DOD, could
mitigate the impact”
[and].."impacts would be negligible and avoidable.”
#Wind
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
mitigate the impact”
[and].."impacts would be negligible and avoidable.”
#Wind
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Jeff Colgan
Venezuela may seem like a tactical loss for Russia, but in fact it's a strategic win for Putin's vision of the world. new essay:
hegemon.substack.com/p/venezuela-...
hegemon.substack.com/p/venezuela-...
Venezuela Is a Gift to Putin
and a harbinger of more Russian aggression in Europe
hegemon.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Venezuela may seem like a tactical loss for Russia, but in fact it's a strategic win for Putin's vision of the world. new essay:
hegemon.substack.com/p/venezuela-...
hegemon.substack.com/p/venezuela-...
And then you've got the WaPo Ed board's insanely bad take
#Venezuela
#Venezuela
January 3, 2026 at 8:05 PM
And then you've got the WaPo Ed board's insanely bad take
#Venezuela
#Venezuela
1. Look, there are basically just two ways to run the global oil market: petro-imperialism and petro-consumerism. Historically USA has embraced both, varying over time. The attack on #Venezuela is a return to naked petro-imperialism. Thread.
January 3, 2026 at 6:51 PM
1. Look, there are basically just two ways to run the global oil market: petro-imperialism and petro-consumerism. Historically USA has embraced both, varying over time. The attack on #Venezuela is a return to naked petro-imperialism. Thread.
Something barn door something something after the horse ...
Also they are doing the war powers act resolution right now thehill.com/homenews/sen...
Senate to vote next week to block Trump’s military action against Venezuela
The Senate will vote next week on a bipartisan war powers resolution to block President Trump from continuing military against Venezuela — a vote that takes on heightened importance after U.S. forc…
thehill.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Something barn door something something after the horse ...