Matthew Bell
@matthewjbell.bsky.social
Radio journalist with The World public radio program at GBH Boston - TheWorld.org
Watching Asia, the Middle East and religion. Irrational Boston Celtics fan. And yes to funk, soul, R&B, jazz and other American roots music, esp rhythm guitar.
Watching Asia, the Middle East and religion. Irrational Boston Celtics fan. And yes to funk, soul, R&B, jazz and other American roots music, esp rhythm guitar.
Pinned
“Pritchard can’t be stopped,” -Brian Scalabrine
Reposted by Matthew Bell
I pressed Rubio on whether he and Hegseth lied to Congress when promising to seek congressional approval before attacking Venezuela. This was his response:
January 4, 2026 at 1:43 PM
I pressed Rubio on whether he and Hegseth lied to Congress when promising to seek congressional approval before attacking Venezuela. This was his response:
“Trump repeatedly promised that the occupation of Venezuela would pay for itself via oil revenue. That was exactly what the Bush administration said about Iraq.“ www.forever-wars.com/a-criminal-e...
A Criminal Empire
The United States launches a conquest and occupation of Venezuela to extract its oil wealth. The neocon dream is the America First dream
www.forever-wars.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:19 PM
“Trump repeatedly promised that the occupation of Venezuela would pay for itself via oil revenue. That was exactly what the Bush administration said about Iraq.“ www.forever-wars.com/a-criminal-e...
Reposted by Matthew Bell
The kidnapping of Maduro inaugurates a highly dangerous era of U.S. empire that for perhaps the first time in an era of mass media is not pretending to be anything other than a violent, extractive enterprise of domination.
A Criminal Empire
The United States launches a conquest and occupation of Venezuela to extract its oil wealth. The neocon dream is the America First dream
www.forever-wars.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:50 PM
The kidnapping of Maduro inaugurates a highly dangerous era of U.S. empire that for perhaps the first time in an era of mass media is not pretending to be anything other than a violent, extractive enterprise of domination.
US will be ‘strongly involved’ in Venezuela oil industry, Trump says after US attacked Caracas and captured Maduro – www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
US will be ‘strongly involved’ in Venezuela oil industry, Trump says after Caracas attacked and Maduro captured – live
Donald Trump says Nicolás Maduro and wife will be taken to New York after being captured during US attack on Venezuela
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:46 PM
US will be ‘strongly involved’ in Venezuela oil industry, Trump says after US attacked Caracas and captured Maduro – www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Reposted by Matthew Bell
CIA had a source in the Venezuelan government who helped them track and locate Maduro - two sources familiar with the operation tell Reuters.
January 3, 2026 at 2:42 PM
CIA had a source in the Venezuelan government who helped them track and locate Maduro - two sources familiar with the operation tell Reuters.
“Mr. Trump has not yet offered a coherent explanation for his actions in Venezuela. He is pushing our country toward an international crisis without valid reasons. If Mr. Trump wants to argue otherwise, the Constitution spells out what he must do: Go to Congress.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 1:40 PM
“Mr. Trump has not yet offered a coherent explanation for his actions in Venezuela. He is pushing our country toward an international crisis without valid reasons. If Mr. Trump wants to argue otherwise, the Constitution spells out what he must do: Go to Congress.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
Reposted by Matthew Bell
"By proceeding without any semblance of international legitimacy, valid legal authority or domestic endorsement, Mr. Trump risks providing justification for authoritarians in China, Russia and elsewhere who want to dominate their own neighbors."
NYT Editorial Board
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
NYT Editorial Board
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 1:25 PM
"By proceeding without any semblance of international legitimacy, valid legal authority or domestic endorsement, Mr. Trump risks providing justification for authoritarians in China, Russia and elsewhere who want to dominate their own neighbors."
NYT Editorial Board
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
NYT Editorial Board
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
Reposted by Matthew Bell
Today is the anniversary of the capture of Noreiga in Operation Just Cause.
January 3, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Today is the anniversary of the capture of Noreiga in Operation Just Cause.
Reposted by Matthew Bell
"Mexico strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally ... by armed forces of the United States of America against targets in the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the [UN] Charter"
www.gob.mx/sre/prensa/m...
www.gob.mx/sre/prensa/m...
January 3, 2026 at 12:41 PM
"Mexico strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally ... by armed forces of the United States of America against targets in the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the [UN] Charter"
www.gob.mx/sre/prensa/m...
www.gob.mx/sre/prensa/m...
Reposted by Matthew Bell
Colombia mobilizes its armed forces amid concern about a potential "massive influx" of refugees fleeing Venezuela after the US attacks. President Gustavo Petro is calling for an emergency session of the UN security council to discuss this"aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela."
January 3, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Colombia mobilizes its armed forces amid concern about a potential "massive influx" of refugees fleeing Venezuela after the US attacks. President Gustavo Petro is calling for an emergency session of the UN security council to discuss this"aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela."
Reposted by Matthew Bell
A US government that was serious about protecting Iranian people would not be deporting Iranians back to Iran against their will. www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
55 more Iranians deported from U.S., Iran says
The U.S. government has not acknowledged the deportation flight.
www.pbs.org
January 2, 2026 at 4:19 PM
A US government that was serious about protecting Iranian people would not be deporting Iranians back to Iran against their will. www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
Reposted by Matthew Bell
universalize this please
If you are a resident of California, the state now has a portal where you can demand deletion of your personal data from 500+ registered data brokers with a single request form, for free.
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
January 2, 2026 at 3:35 AM
universalize this please
Bikes, radio, D&D, and good 80s music?!?! Sure it’s corny. But you’ll hear no complaints about ST from this viewer.
January 2, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Bikes, radio, D&D, and good 80s music?!?! Sure it’s corny. But you’ll hear no complaints about ST from this viewer.
Reposted by Matthew Bell
"What a year for the ultra wealthy. The world’s 500 richest people added a record $2.2 trillion to their collective fortunes in 2025’s… booming markets, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. And about a quarter of this year’s gains went to just eight billionaires.” — Bloomberg Morning Brief
December 31, 2025 at 1:32 PM
"What a year for the ultra wealthy. The world’s 500 richest people added a record $2.2 trillion to their collective fortunes in 2025’s… booming markets, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. And about a quarter of this year’s gains went to just eight billionaires.” — Bloomberg Morning Brief
Reposted by Matthew Bell
For the second year in a row, the wealth gains for the 100 richest Americans exceeded what ALL American households spent on groceries combined.
~$995B for billionaires vs ~$775B in total grocery spending.
We have an oligarchy and inequality problem masquerading as an affordability crisis.
~$995B for billionaires vs ~$775B in total grocery spending.
We have an oligarchy and inequality problem masquerading as an affordability crisis.
December 14, 2025 at 11:28 PM
For the second year in a row, the wealth gains for the 100 richest Americans exceeded what ALL American households spent on groceries combined.
~$995B for billionaires vs ~$775B in total grocery spending.
We have an oligarchy and inequality problem masquerading as an affordability crisis.
~$995B for billionaires vs ~$775B in total grocery spending.
We have an oligarchy and inequality problem masquerading as an affordability crisis.
“All of that time and energy that we spend is taking away from things that would be actually productive for our business … like new products, customer relations, employee relations, all of those things.” www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/29/n...
‘It’s been a challenging year.’ Trump’s tariffs have taken a toll on small businesses. - The Boston Globe
It's been a year of complications and cost-cutting for business owners struggling to deal with unpredictable levies on imported goods.
www.bostonglobe.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:16 PM
“All of that time and energy that we spend is taking away from things that would be actually productive for our business … like new products, customer relations, employee relations, all of those things.” www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/29/n...
Britain’s pitiful Christmas bonuses
economist.com/britain/2025...
economist.com/britain/2025...
Britain’s pitiful Christmas bonuses
What an obscure handout says about the British state
economist.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Britain’s pitiful Christmas bonuses
economist.com/britain/2025...
economist.com/britain/2025...
Reposted by Matthew Bell
In Shenzhen, China, driverless delivery vans, autonomous sanitation robots, surveillance drones and other experimental vehicles are already operating in public spaces, offering a view of how cities may function in the coming decades.
In China, the future of transportation is already here - The World from PRX
Self-driving cars and electric vehicles tend to dominate global headlines, but some of the most consequential innovations in transportation are happening in far humbler machines. In Shenzhen, China, d...
theworld.org
December 19, 2025 at 12:02 AM
In Shenzhen, China, driverless delivery vans, autonomous sanitation robots, surveillance drones and other experimental vehicles are already operating in public spaces, offering a view of how cities may function in the coming decades.
Reposted by Matthew Bell
On The World 🌎 today:
🌐 @orlabarry.bsky.social: Europe debates tapping Russian assets
🌐 @joshuacoe.bsky.social: Invasive quagga mussels found in Northern Ireland
🌐 @ghadden.bsky.social: Unease in Mali, even as fuel blockade of capital loosens
Tune in 📻 bit.ly/3xyRRfD
🌐 @orlabarry.bsky.social: Europe debates tapping Russian assets
🌐 @joshuacoe.bsky.social: Invasive quagga mussels found in Northern Ireland
🌐 @ghadden.bsky.social: Unease in Mali, even as fuel blockade of capital loosens
Tune in 📻 bit.ly/3xyRRfD
December 18, 2025 at 7:27 PM
On The World 🌎 today:
🌐 @orlabarry.bsky.social: Europe debates tapping Russian assets
🌐 @joshuacoe.bsky.social: Invasive quagga mussels found in Northern Ireland
🌐 @ghadden.bsky.social: Unease in Mali, even as fuel blockade of capital loosens
Tune in 📻 bit.ly/3xyRRfD
🌐 @orlabarry.bsky.social: Europe debates tapping Russian assets
🌐 @joshuacoe.bsky.social: Invasive quagga mussels found in Northern Ireland
🌐 @ghadden.bsky.social: Unease in Mali, even as fuel blockade of capital loosens
Tune in 📻 bit.ly/3xyRRfD
Reposted by Matthew Bell
Putin calls European leaders ‘little pigs’ and says Russia will achieve Ukraine goals by diplomacy or force - Europe live
Putin calls European leaders ‘little pigs’ and says Russia will achieve Ukraine goals by diplomacy or force - Europe live
Russian leader says aims of its ‘special military operation’ will be met ‘unconditionally’
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Putin calls European leaders ‘little pigs’ and says Russia will achieve Ukraine goals by diplomacy or force - Europe live
The Russian leader is not a big fan of Europe either. www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Putin calls European leaders ‘little pigs’ and says Russia will achieve Ukraine goals by diplomacy or force - Europe live
Russian leader says aims of its ‘special military operation’ will be met ‘unconditionally’
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The Russian leader is not a big fan of Europe either. www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Reposted by Matthew Bell
If we can't even identify our enemies then how can we fight them?
Trump's National Security Strategy is the longest suicide note in American history
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump's National Security Strategy is the longest suicide note in American history
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
The Longest Suicide Note in American History
The Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy targets liberal democracy itself.
www.theatlantic.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
If we can't even identify our enemies then how can we fight them?
Trump's National Security Strategy is the longest suicide note in American history
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump's National Security Strategy is the longest suicide note in American history
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Matthew Bell
Being a professional athlete and pushing your body to its limit is hard enough. Add in cross-country flights on a tight schedule? And not enough recovery resources?
"Travel-wise, it's insane. It's crazy for your body. We are humans, we're not robots."
theworld.org/segments/202...
"Travel-wise, it's insane. It's crazy for your body. We are humans, we're not robots."
theworld.org/segments/202...
Are professional women's soccer teams getting enough resources to match game growth? - The World from PRX
FIFPRO, the union representing professional soccer players around the world, released a report today emphasizing the need for better investment in women’s soccer, plus more mandatory rest periods in t...
theworld.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Being a professional athlete and pushing your body to its limit is hard enough. Add in cross-country flights on a tight schedule? And not enough recovery resources?
"Travel-wise, it's insane. It's crazy for your body. We are humans, we're not robots."
theworld.org/segments/202...
"Travel-wise, it's insane. It's crazy for your body. We are humans, we're not robots."
theworld.org/segments/202...
“Maybe it’s too late. But it seems to me we still ought to try.” margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/america-ha...
America has tragically changed, but journalism is still stuck in old ways
The swift slide into authoritarianism should have been a five-alarm fire for the media
margaretsullivan.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
“Maybe it’s too late. But it seems to me we still ought to try.” margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/america-ha...
Hong Kong convicts Jimmy Lai in landmark national security trial giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Hong Kong convicts Jimmy Lai in landmark national security trial
Billionaire media boss found guilty on charges of conspiring to commit sedition and foreign collusion
giftarticle.ft.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Hong Kong convicts Jimmy Lai in landmark national security trial giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...