Reposted by Marie
Hi All, just sent out my free weekend update. Started with Russian strategy on the ground in 2025. By historical standards its a failure that should lead to defeat. Russian strength is flatlining, its casualties are up, and it took less than 1 percent of Ukraine. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Weekend Update #166: The Russian Strategy Would Normally Be Seen As A Failure
Zelensky Chooses Budanov; Putin Says Jump, Trump Says "How High?"
open.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Hi All, just sent out my free weekend update. Started with Russian strategy on the ground in 2025. By historical standards its a failure that should lead to defeat. Russian strength is flatlining, its casualties are up, and it took less than 1 percent of Ukraine. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Marie
"his [Trump's] plan appears to be for Venezuela to remain under the day-to-day rule of a senior chavista, with its democratically elected leaders excluded and its wealth controlled by American corporations." www.economist.com/the-americas...
Donald Trump wants to run Venezuela, and dominate the western hemisphere
Snatching Nicolás Maduro and attempting to take control of Venezuela and its oil is an extraordinary display of the new “Donroe doctrine”
www.economist.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:48 PM
"his [Trump's] plan appears to be for Venezuela to remain under the day-to-day rule of a senior chavista, with its democratically elected leaders excluded and its wealth controlled by American corporations." www.economist.com/the-americas...
Reposted by Marie
The party of “national security”
Danes lost the most per capita in America's war in Afghanistan. Canada lost the second most per capita (if we discount the tiny Baltics).
Allies bled for the US after 9/11, and this is the thanks they get.
Allies bled for the US after 9/11, and this is the thanks they get.
Again, it is utterly shameful & demonstrates the total failure of all of our political institutions that threatening our closest NATO allies with territorial conquest has not immediately ended this presidency.
December 27, 2025 at 7:19 PM
The party of “national security”
Reposted by Marie
They have made a mockery of the venerable institution that is the FIFA Peace Prize
January 3, 2026 at 8:49 AM
They have made a mockery of the venerable institution that is the FIFA Peace Prize
Reposted by Marie
I feel like I haven’t even been properly lied to about the purposes of this war
January 3, 2026 at 9:13 AM
I feel like I haven’t even been properly lied to about the purposes of this war
Reposted by Marie
Good Morning and welcome to another episode of regime change by the USA. The US seems to be militarily trying to get rid of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro right now. There are reports of US ground forces in action. However, watch the Cubans too. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
The US Is Attempting Regime Change In Venezuela
Watch Cuba
open.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Good Morning and welcome to another episode of regime change by the USA. The US seems to be militarily trying to get rid of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro right now. There are reports of US ground forces in action. However, watch the Cubans too. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Marie
Reposted by Marie
Reposted by Marie
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches (Gift Article)
The president, his family and some of their closest associates have engaged in a sprawling campaign of deals that stretches across industries and the globe.
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Marie
“The biggest disappointment of 2025 may well have been not what Trump did but how so many let it happen.” @sbg1.bsky.social reviews the year in politics.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me/7co9Uv
newyorkermag.visitlink.me/7co9Uv
December 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
“The biggest disappointment of 2025 may well have been not what Trump did but how so many let it happen.” @sbg1.bsky.social reviews the year in politics.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me/7co9Uv
newyorkermag.visitlink.me/7co9Uv
Reposted by Marie
Ukraine hit Russian energy infrastructure at least 24 times in December — more than any previous month of the war, Bloomberg reports.
euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/31/b...
euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/31/b...
Bloomberg: Ukraine hit more Russian energy targets this month than in any previous month of the war
Refineries, offshore platforms, port facilities, and shadow fleet tankers all came under attack as Kyiv expanded its campaign.
euromaidanpress.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Ukraine hit Russian energy infrastructure at least 24 times in December — more than any previous month of the war, Bloomberg reports.
euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/31/b...
euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/31/b...
Reposted by Marie
On the last day of 2025, I tried to sum up in this free piece the big stories of the year. Boil it down, however, and one story surpasses all others, be that for the Russo-Ukraine war or global geopolitics overall.
2025 was the year when the USA changed sides
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
2025 was the year when the USA changed sides
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
2025 In Review: The Year The US Changed Sides
Amongst many stories, one stands out
open.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:41 AM
On the last day of 2025, I tried to sum up in this free piece the big stories of the year. Boil it down, however, and one story surpasses all others, be that for the Russo-Ukraine war or global geopolitics overall.
2025 was the year when the USA changed sides
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
2025 was the year when the USA changed sides
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Marie
Wish everyone were as upset by this as about the supposed (probably nonexistent) Ukrainian attack on Putin’s dacha.
news.un.org/en/story/202...
news.un.org/en/story/202...
Ukrainian civilian casualties rise 27 per cent compared to last year
Civilian casualties in Ukraine were 27 per cent higher from January to October 2025, compared to the same period last year, according to the latest UN human rights report on the situation in the easte...
news.un.org
December 31, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Wish everyone were as upset by this as about the supposed (probably nonexistent) Ukrainian attack on Putin’s dacha.
news.un.org/en/story/202...
news.un.org/en/story/202...
Reposted by Marie
Defying Trump, Miami’s biker archbishop celebrated Christmas Mass at Alligator Alcatraz — the migrant camp where the Trump–Vance White House once barred Catholic clergy and banned Bibles.
Pope Leo later condemned the crackdown as a violation of religious freedom.
Pope Leo later condemned the crackdown as a violation of religious freedom.
Defying Trump, Miami Archbishop Celebrates Christmas Mass at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
Miami’s archbishop spent Christmas Day behind barbed wire — celebrating Mass for migrants in Florida’s infamous “Alligator Alcatraz” camp. It capped a year-long fight for their dignity.
www.thelettersfromleo.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Defying Trump, Miami’s biker archbishop celebrated Christmas Mass at Alligator Alcatraz — the migrant camp where the Trump–Vance White House once barred Catholic clergy and banned Bibles.
Pope Leo later condemned the crackdown as a violation of religious freedom.
Pope Leo later condemned the crackdown as a violation of religious freedom.
This bears repeating.
"Where is their condemnation of the fact that our children are being bombed and people are being killed all this time? I don't hear India, frankly, nor the United Arab Emirates," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 30.
kyivindependent.com/where-is-the...
kyivindependent.com/where-is-the...
Zelensky calls out India, UAE over their support of Putin's 'assassination attempt' claim
"Where is their condemnation of the fact that our children are being bombed and people are being killed all this time? I don't hear India, frankly, nor the United Arab Emirates," President Volodymyr Z...
kyivindependent.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:46 PM
This bears repeating.
Reposted by Marie
"The post-truth US is not a reliable partner. US security guarantees are not worth much."
Trump is always grateful for a new reason to "be angry" at Ukraine. He gladly repeats Putin's lies. One can easily imagine how things would go if Putin attacked a NATO member. The post-truth US is not a reliable partner. US security guarantees are not worth much.
December 30, 2025 at 8:42 AM
"The post-truth US is not a reliable partner. US security guarantees are not worth much."
Reposted by Marie
Putin’s complaint that Ukraine tried to bomb one of his residences—denied by Kyiv—is yet another excuse for him not to engage in peace talks. But as I note, he wasn’t engaging anyway. wapo.st/3N5e24y
Opinion | Putin was the missing man at Mar-a-Lago
Ukraine peace won’t come until the Russian dictator realizes he can’t win militarily.
wapo.st
December 30, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Putin’s complaint that Ukraine tried to bomb one of his residences—denied by Kyiv—is yet another excuse for him not to engage in peace talks. But as I note, he wasn’t engaging anyway. wapo.st/3N5e24y
Reposted by Marie
Trump on the highly convenient Russian claims of a Ukrainian attack: "I learned about it this morning from President Putin, I was very angry about it." Putin and Trump are demonstrating how entirely worthless a Trump security guarantee for Ukraine would be.
Trump to a reporter: "You're saying maybe the attack didn't place? That's possible too I guess. But President Putin told me this morning it did."
December 29, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Trump on the highly convenient Russian claims of a Ukrainian attack: "I learned about it this morning from President Putin, I was very angry about it." Putin and Trump are demonstrating how entirely worthless a Trump security guarantee for Ukraine would be.
Reposted by Marie
It’s so dumb! I cant believe we have to have this dumb discussion.... Nobody attacked Putin’s house, which you would know if you bothered to ask your intelligence 🤦♀️
Trump on a report that Ukraine tried to strike Putin's residence: "I don't like it. It's not good. I heard about it this morning. You know who told me about it? President Putin told me about it ... I was very angry about it."
December 29, 2025 at 7:11 PM
It’s so dumb! I cant believe we have to have this dumb discussion.... Nobody attacked Putin’s house, which you would know if you bothered to ask your intelligence 🤦♀️
Reposted by Marie
The Russians have tried to assassinate Zelensky many times. Never seems to have bothered Trump.
Trump on a report that Ukraine tried to strike Putin's residence: "I don't like it. It's not good. I heard about it this morning. You know who told me about it? President Putin told me about it ... I was very angry about it."
December 29, 2025 at 6:50 PM
The Russians have tried to assassinate Zelensky many times. Never seems to have bothered Trump.
Yup!
Did the United States really spend trillions of dollars on winning the Cold War, only for its president in 2025 take orders from a Russian dictator?
This is an earth-shattering humiliation for America of which its reputation may never recover.
This is an earth-shattering humiliation for America of which its reputation may never recover.
December 28, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Yup!
Just delusional.
Trump:
"Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed... Putin was very generous in his feeling towards Ukraine succeeding."
"Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed... Putin was very generous in his feeling towards Ukraine succeeding."
December 28, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Just delusional.
Reposted by Marie
Compare this to the Anchorage ceremony.
December 28, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Compare this to the Anchorage ceremony.