Mona Burns
@monaburns.bsky.social
Political writer. Covering Congress. Vincit Omnia Veritas.
Diversity is our strength. Unity is our power. 🩵
No DMs please
Diversity is our strength. Unity is our power. 🩵
No DMs please
Reposted by Mona Burns
Chuck Schumer puts out a statement saying "Let me be clear: Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate dictator. But launching military action without congressional authorization and without a credible plan for what comes next is reckless"
January 3, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Chuck Schumer puts out a statement saying "Let me be clear: Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate dictator. But launching military action without congressional authorization and without a credible plan for what comes next is reckless"
Reposted by Mona Burns
And there it is!
January 3, 2026 at 5:57 PM
And there it is!
Reposted by Mona Burns
Mark Kelly puts out a statement saying "The President of the United States just overthrew a foreign ruler and explained to the American people that this is about taking control of the oil reserves of a foreign nation." This is probably the strongest statement alongside Gallego's I've read.
January 3, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Mark Kelly puts out a statement saying "The President of the United States just overthrew a foreign ruler and explained to the American people that this is about taking control of the oil reserves of a foreign nation." This is probably the strongest statement alongside Gallego's I've read.
Reposted by Mona Burns
Pelosi puts out a forceful statement saying "If the President grounds his actions on the basis of drug trafficking charges, it is entirely hypocritical in light of his recent pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández who was responsible for bringing more than 400 tons of cocaine."
January 3, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Pelosi puts out a forceful statement saying "If the President grounds his actions on the basis of drug trafficking charges, it is entirely hypocritical in light of his recent pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández who was responsible for bringing more than 400 tons of cocaine."
Reposted by Mona Burns
Sen. Kaine tells reporters he has "reviewed the classified legal memo that the State Department prepared … and find it laughably weak. But even that memorandum contained no legal justification for war inside of Venezuela”
January 3, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Sen. Kaine tells reporters he has "reviewed the classified legal memo that the State Department prepared … and find it laughably weak. But even that memorandum contained no legal justification for war inside of Venezuela”
He sounds unusually bad this morning
Trump brain flits to Washington DC: "We haven't had a killing. We had the terrorist attack a few weeks ago. Uhhh. A little bit of a different kind of a threat. But we haven't had a killing in a long period of time. Six, seven months." (This is a lie.)
January 3, 2026 at 4:54 PM
He sounds unusually bad this morning
Reposted by Mona Burns
It’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
January 3, 2026 at 3:34 PM
It’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
A *heavily* slurring Trump says in his Venezuela presser:
“SO WE ARE GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY.. for such time” until they can conduct a “peaceful and just transfer” of power
“We can’t take a chance that someone else will take over who doesn’t have the good of Venezuela in mind”
“SO WE ARE GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY.. for such time” until they can conduct a “peaceful and just transfer” of power
“We can’t take a chance that someone else will take over who doesn’t have the good of Venezuela in mind”
January 3, 2026 at 4:46 PM
A *heavily* slurring Trump says in his Venezuela presser:
“SO WE ARE GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY.. for such time” until they can conduct a “peaceful and just transfer” of power
“We can’t take a chance that someone else will take over who doesn’t have the good of Venezuela in mind”
“SO WE ARE GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY.. for such time” until they can conduct a “peaceful and just transfer” of power
“We can’t take a chance that someone else will take over who doesn’t have the good of Venezuela in mind”
Ohh look:
Joe Pompliano:
"A newly created Polymarket account invested over $30,000 yesterday in Maduro's exit. The US then took Maduro into custody overnight, and the trader profited $400,000 in less than 24 hours. Insider trading is not only allowed on prediction markets; it's encouraged."
Joe Pompliano:
"A newly created Polymarket account invested over $30,000 yesterday in Maduro's exit. The US then took Maduro into custody overnight, and the trader profited $400,000 in less than 24 hours. Insider trading is not only allowed on prediction markets; it's encouraged."
January 3, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Ohh look:
Joe Pompliano:
"A newly created Polymarket account invested over $30,000 yesterday in Maduro's exit. The US then took Maduro into custody overnight, and the trader profited $400,000 in less than 24 hours. Insider trading is not only allowed on prediction markets; it's encouraged."
Joe Pompliano:
"A newly created Polymarket account invested over $30,000 yesterday in Maduro's exit. The US then took Maduro into custody overnight, and the trader profited $400,000 in less than 24 hours. Insider trading is not only allowed on prediction markets; it's encouraged."
Reposted by Mona Burns
January 3, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Hearing that MTG's retirement letter to Congress was just read into the Congressional Record on the House floor
During a Saturday pro-forma session
Meeting the constitutional requirement that Congress can't adjourn for more than 3 days without the Senate's consent
Very disrespectful to Greene, tho
During a Saturday pro-forma session
Meeting the constitutional requirement that Congress can't adjourn for more than 3 days without the Senate's consent
Very disrespectful to Greene, tho
January 3, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Hearing that MTG's retirement letter to Congress was just read into the Congressional Record on the House floor
During a Saturday pro-forma session
Meeting the constitutional requirement that Congress can't adjourn for more than 3 days without the Senate's consent
Very disrespectful to Greene, tho
During a Saturday pro-forma session
Meeting the constitutional requirement that Congress can't adjourn for more than 3 days without the Senate's consent
Very disrespectful to Greene, tho
MTG on Venezuela:
“This is what..MAGA thought they voted to end. Boy were we wrong. ..
The electoral future will be decided for candidates that focus on American economic populism and promising prosperity for Americans only.
As of right now, neither party is offering a solution."
She's gonna run
“This is what..MAGA thought they voted to end. Boy were we wrong. ..
The electoral future will be decided for candidates that focus on American economic populism and promising prosperity for Americans only.
As of right now, neither party is offering a solution."
She's gonna run
MTG: “This is what many in MAGA thought they voted to end.
Boy were we wrong.”
Boy were we wrong.”
January 3, 2026 at 4:33 PM
MTG on Venezuela:
“This is what..MAGA thought they voted to end. Boy were we wrong. ..
The electoral future will be decided for candidates that focus on American economic populism and promising prosperity for Americans only.
As of right now, neither party is offering a solution."
She's gonna run
“This is what..MAGA thought they voted to end. Boy were we wrong. ..
The electoral future will be decided for candidates that focus on American economic populism and promising prosperity for Americans only.
As of right now, neither party is offering a solution."
She's gonna run
Reposted by Mona Burns
MTG: “This is what many in MAGA thought they voted to end.
Boy were we wrong.”
Boy were we wrong.”
January 3, 2026 at 4:28 PM
MTG: “This is what many in MAGA thought they voted to end.
Boy were we wrong.”
Boy were we wrong.”
Trump is now 26 minutes late to his presser on Venezuela
But hey .. 👇
But hey .. 👇
Trump just posted this photo of Maduro with the caption, "Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima." truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
January 3, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Trump is now 26 minutes late to his presser on Venezuela
But hey .. 👇
But hey .. 👇
Dem Senator Tim Kaine (VA) on Venezuela:
“It is long past time for Congress to reassert its critical constitutional role .. My bipartisan resolution stipulating that we should not be at war with Venezuela absent a clear congressional authorization will come up for a vote next week.”
“It is long past time for Congress to reassert its critical constitutional role .. My bipartisan resolution stipulating that we should not be at war with Venezuela absent a clear congressional authorization will come up for a vote next week.”
January 3, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Dem Senator Tim Kaine (VA) on Venezuela:
“It is long past time for Congress to reassert its critical constitutional role .. My bipartisan resolution stipulating that we should not be at war with Venezuela absent a clear congressional authorization will come up for a vote next week.”
“It is long past time for Congress to reassert its critical constitutional role .. My bipartisan resolution stipulating that we should not be at war with Venezuela absent a clear congressional authorization will come up for a vote next week.”
Reposted by Mona Burns
In 2019, Tulsi Gabbard warned that Trump’s desire to intervene in Venezuela is “about the oil ... again.”
January 3, 2026 at 4:01 PM
In 2019, Tulsi Gabbard warned that Trump’s desire to intervene in Venezuela is “about the oil ... again.”
From the currently very quiet Trump DNI Tulsi Gabbard
Before she became DNI in 2019:
Before she became DNI in 2019:
Tulsi Gabbard in 2019:
“The United States needs to stay out of Venezuela.
Let the Venezuelan people determine their future.
We don't want other countries to choose our leaders--so we have to stop trying to choose theirs.”
“The United States needs to stay out of Venezuela.
Let the Venezuelan people determine their future.
We don't want other countries to choose our leaders--so we have to stop trying to choose theirs.”
January 3, 2026 at 4:16 PM
From the currently very quiet Trump DNI Tulsi Gabbard
Before she became DNI in 2019:
Before she became DNI in 2019:
Reposted by Mona Burns
None of these words are in the Bible.
MAGA Senator Eric Schmitt (MO) on Fox this morning:
"The days of narco-terrorist thugs and tinpot third-world dictators down south pushing us around is over.
We are a superpower. This is our hemisphere. And we're going to start acting like it again."
"our hemisphere"
Rubbing their hands together
"The days of narco-terrorist thugs and tinpot third-world dictators down south pushing us around is over.
We are a superpower. This is our hemisphere. And we're going to start acting like it again."
"our hemisphere"
Rubbing their hands together
January 3, 2026 at 4:07 PM
None of these words are in the Bible.
GOP Senator Tom Cotton (Ark) with the GOP 'messaging' on Venezuela 👇
Expect to hear a lot more of this kind of nonsense in the coming days
Expect to hear a lot more of this kind of nonsense in the coming days
Tom Cotton: "Congress isn't notified when the FBI is going to arrest a drug trafficker or cyber criminal here in the US, nor should Congress be notified when the executive branch is executing arrests on indicted persons. And that's really what you can make the analogy to here."
January 3, 2026 at 4:06 PM
GOP Senator Tom Cotton (Ark) with the GOP 'messaging' on Venezuela 👇
Expect to hear a lot more of this kind of nonsense in the coming days
Expect to hear a lot more of this kind of nonsense in the coming days
MAGA Senate Majority Ldr John Thune on Venezuela:
Says he spoke to Rubio "early this morning"
Thune is "looking forward" to briefings
Absolutely nothing about Trump admin ignoring Congress
Says he spoke to Rubio "early this morning"
Thune is "looking forward" to briefings
Absolutely nothing about Trump admin ignoring Congress
Thune says he spoke to Rubio. This comes as many Democrats say they were not briefed.
January 3, 2026 at 4:03 PM
MAGA Senate Majority Ldr John Thune on Venezuela:
Says he spoke to Rubio "early this morning"
Thune is "looking forward" to briefings
Absolutely nothing about Trump admin ignoring Congress
Says he spoke to Rubio "early this morning"
Thune is "looking forward" to briefings
Absolutely nothing about Trump admin ignoring Congress
Dem Senator Andy Kim (NJ):
“Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said [Venezuela] wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress.”
“Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said [Venezuela] wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress.”
January 3, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Dem Senator Andy Kim (NJ):
“Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said [Venezuela] wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress.”
“Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said [Venezuela] wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress.”
Reposted by Mona Burns
Some preliminary legal context on the overnight strike on Caracas and the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife on US drug trafficking charges. open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
Trump Strikes Venezuela; Arrests President Maduro
As you’re likely aware by now, overnight, the Trump administration, without alerting Congress first, went into Venezuela and arrested its President, Nicolás Maduro, on charges stemming from a newly an...
open.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Some preliminary legal context on the overnight strike on Caracas and the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife on US drug trafficking charges. open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
Senator Mark Warner with a *scathing* statement on Trump's actions in Venezuela this morning:
"You cannot credibly argue that drug trafficking charges demand invasion in one case, while issuing a pardon in another”
"You cannot credibly argue that drug trafficking charges demand invasion in one case, while issuing a pardon in another”
Senate Intel RM Mark Warner on Venezuela:
"The hypocrisy underlying this decision is especially glaring. This same president recently pardoned Honduran President .. Hernandez..yet now, the admin claims that similar allegations justify the use of military force against another sovereign nation .."
"The hypocrisy underlying this decision is especially glaring. This same president recently pardoned Honduran President .. Hernandez..yet now, the admin claims that similar allegations justify the use of military force against another sovereign nation .."
January 3, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Senator Mark Warner with a *scathing* statement on Trump's actions in Venezuela this morning:
"You cannot credibly argue that drug trafficking charges demand invasion in one case, while issuing a pardon in another”
"You cannot credibly argue that drug trafficking charges demand invasion in one case, while issuing a pardon in another”
Reposted by Mona Burns
Act first, justify later. Trump is acting like Putin, and we’re paying Congress to be a rubber stamp after the fact.
January 3, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Act first, justify later. Trump is acting like Putin, and we’re paying Congress to be a rubber stamp after the fact.
Reposted by Mona Burns
Heads up, Canada.
MAGA Senator Eric Schmitt (MO) on Fox this morning:
"The days of narco-terrorist thugs and tinpot third-world dictators down south pushing us around is over.
We are a superpower. This is our hemisphere. And we're going to start acting like it again."
"our hemisphere"
Rubbing their hands together
"The days of narco-terrorist thugs and tinpot third-world dictators down south pushing us around is over.
We are a superpower. This is our hemisphere. And we're going to start acting like it again."
"our hemisphere"
Rubbing their hands together
January 3, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Heads up, Canada.