Pinned
ericfarns
@natsecguy.bsky.social
· Jul 28
Venezuela’s Lost Year | Journal of Democracy
A year ago Nicolás Maduro stole Venezuela’s election and entrenched his power by jailing and killing those who opposed him. But the world’s democracies don’t need to sit on the sidelines.
www.journalofdemocracy.org
NEW: my latest, in the blue chip Journal of Democracy, on #Venezuela one year after the stolen elections. Please have a read and let me know you views!
www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclu...
www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclu...
Reposted by ericfarns
Too afraid to protest, and exhausted by the opposition’s repeated promise that the end of Nicolás Maduro’s regime is nigh, most Venezuelans just get on with their lives
Christmas in Caracas with Donald Trump on the doorstep
Venezuelans are tiring of hope as their dictator digs in against the might of the United States
econ.st
December 25, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Too afraid to protest, and exhausted by the opposition’s repeated promise that the end of Nicolás Maduro’s regime is nigh, most Venezuelans just get on with their lives
Reposted by ericfarns
"Trump’s invocation of war and his revival of a medal from a long-buried era of American military intervention in Mexico leave Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in a bind."
Claudia Sheinbaum’s Impossible Dilemma
The threat of U.S. strikes on cartels could upend a century of delicate relations with Mexico.
www.theatlantic.com
December 25, 2025 at 3:44 AM
"Trump’s invocation of war and his revival of a medal from a long-buried era of American military intervention in Mexico leave Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in a bind."
As I told @cnn.com just today:
As President Trump continues the boat strikes and with the declaration of a “blockade” of all sanctioned vessels transporting Venezuelan oil, he has all but abandoned the public pretense that his goal is simply stopping migrants and drugs.
Trump faces narrowing options on Venezuela action
The Trump administration has backed itself into a corner on Venezuela, with President Nicolás Maduro’s removal by force or war the only compelling options.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:08 AM
As I told @cnn.com just today:
Baby
For the first time since 2020, the Chicago Bears are officially playoff-bound.
Chicago Bears clinch their 1st playoff spot since 2020
The Chicago Bears have clinched a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
trib.al
December 22, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Baby
The Maduro regime is not the legit Venezuelan government, and this is the enforcement of sanctions against a criminal, drug running group holding hostage and impoverishing an entire nation. Who cares what agitprop Maduro and company promote?
The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure as "a serious act of international piracy;" meanwhile, a US official said the Coast Guard was pursuing a third tanker in the Caribbean.
Trump Ramps Up Aggression Against Venezuela With Seizure of Ship Not Under US Sanctions
The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure as "a serious act of international piracy;" meanwhile, a US official said the Coast Guard was pursuing a third tanker in the Caribbean.
www.commondreams.org
December 21, 2025 at 11:09 PM
The Maduro regime is not the legit Venezuelan government, and this is the enforcement of sanctions against a criminal, drug running group holding hostage and impoverishing an entire nation. Who cares what agitprop Maduro and company promote?
Out of control
Opinion: Has public debt in the developed world become unmanageable? Recent debt numbers starkly underline how far we have moved beyond the ancient public finance paradigm whereby debt was racked up in wars and paid down in peacetime ft.trib.al/CCWRAox
December 21, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Out of control
Reposted by ericfarns
The Chicago Bears erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, scored a tying touchdown from an undrafted rookie with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter and won 22-16 in overtime on a miraculous heave from their second-year quarterback.
Inside the Caleb Williams-to-DJ Moore OT touchdown for a Chicago Bears win that ‘blew up’ Soldier Field
When DJ Moore came down with a 46-yard pass to give the Chicago Bears a 22-16 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, pandemonium broke out at Soldier Field.
trib.al
December 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The Chicago Bears erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, scored a tying touchdown from an undrafted rookie with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter and won 22-16 in overtime on a miraculous heave from their second-year quarterback.
Reposted by ericfarns
El mandatario argentino saluda presión de Trump y el brasileño habla de catástrofe en caso de guerra.
Milei y Lula chocan sobre la crisis de Venezuela en cumbre del Mercosur
El mandatario argentino saluda presión de Trump y el brasileño habla de catástrofe en caso de guerra.
bit.ly
December 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
El mandatario argentino saluda presión de Trump y el brasileño habla de catástrofe en caso de guerra.
Reposted by ericfarns
ICYMI: Hugo Chavez was a coup plotter who bombed the #Venezuela presidential palace killing hundreds of citizens.
December 19, 2025 at 2:36 AM
ICYMI: Hugo Chavez was a coup plotter who bombed the #Venezuela presidential palace killing hundreds of citizens.
Extraordinary development
Surveys show that Americans’ trust in clergy has hit a record low. More people now pray in their cars than in churches. Perhaps inevitably, tech bros in Silicon Valley are taking the wheel
The race for an AI Jesus is on
A chatbot offers personalised counsel on faith
econ.st
December 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Extraordinary development
Europe is protectionist on ag and South America is globally competitive on ag and Europe doesn’t want the competition. French, Irish, Polish, now Italian farmers are against it. Where does that lead? Decades of excuses and delay, and a bigger incentive to sell food products to China…
A last-minute turnaround from Italian leader Giorgia Meloni upended a self-imposed objective of signing the Mercosur agreement by Dec. 20.
The delay shows that after two decades of negotiations, the pact continues to be a political minefield.
🔗 politi.co/48LFuNj
The delay shows that after two decades of negotiations, the pact continues to be a political minefield.
🔗 politi.co/48LFuNj
December 19, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Europe is protectionist on ag and South America is globally competitive on ag and Europe doesn’t want the competition. French, Irish, Polish, now Italian farmers are against it. Where does that lead? Decades of excuses and delay, and a bigger incentive to sell food products to China…
ICYMI: Hugo Chavez was a coup plotter who bombed the #Venezuela presidential palace killing hundreds of citizens.
December 19, 2025 at 2:36 AM
ICYMI: Hugo Chavez was a coup plotter who bombed the #Venezuela presidential palace killing hundreds of citizens.
It’s only been 25 years. What’s another couple weeks 🫣
The EU's behemoth trade agreement with South America’s Mercosur bloc was — once again — kicked down the road today, as familiar internal rifts again proved stronger than the push to seal the deal.
EU delays Mercosur signing as 25-year curse drags on
Italy forcing a further postponement to the beleaguered trade deal leaves it open to being torpedoed by the European Parliament.
www.politico.eu
December 19, 2025 at 1:53 AM
It’s only been 25 years. What’s another couple weeks 🫣
In Chile presidential elections today, right wing Kast defeats left wing Jara. The regional shift continues.
December 15, 2025 at 2:01 AM
In Chile presidential elections today, right wing Kast defeats left wing Jara. The regional shift continues.
Consistent with the new NSS it is a significant oversight not to include Latin American countries like Costa Rica, the Domincian Republic, and Mexico.
And the US launches Pax Silica, an initiative focused on AI, critical minerals, etc, supply chains with Australia, Israel, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, the UAE, the UK (and “guests” from Canada, EU, Taiwan and the OECD) www.state.gov/releases/off...
December 14, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Consistent with the new NSS it is a significant oversight not to include Latin American countries like Costa Rica, the Domincian Republic, and Mexico.
Reposted by ericfarns
"a manifesto for a radically different American project. It is narrower, more partisan, more inwardly focused, and more personalized than any of its predecessors.”
Ten Jolting Takeaways from Trump’s New National Security Strategy
The new National Security Strategy is out, and it’s a shock to the system. It is not just the latest public articulation of principles, ambitions, and
warontherocks.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:11 PM
"a manifesto for a radically different American project. It is narrower, more partisan, more inwardly focused, and more personalized than any of its predecessors.”
Reposted by ericfarns
"A Chinese hospital ship quietly docked in hurricane-hit Jamaica this week, projecting soft power into the heart of the Caribbean where a US armada is conducting a controversial anti-narcotics mission targeted at Venezuela."
Chinese Hospital Ship Visits Jamaica as US Gunboats Ply Caribbean
A Chinese hospital ship quietly docked in hurricane-hit Jamaica this week, projecting soft power into the heart of the Caribbean where a US armada is conducting a controversial anti-narcotics mission ...
www.bloomberg.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:02 PM
"A Chinese hospital ship quietly docked in hurricane-hit Jamaica this week, projecting soft power into the heart of the Caribbean where a US armada is conducting a controversial anti-narcotics mission targeted at Venezuela."
Reposted by ericfarns
Breaking news: The World Cup group stage is set. The U.S. men’s national team will face Australia, Paraguay and a European playoff winner in Group D.
See the full list of what teams are competing against each other.
See the full list of what teams are competing against each other.
At the World Cup draw, Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT learns its fate
The United States will face Australia, Paraguay and a European playoff winner in group stage play when the tournament opens next summer.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Breaking news: The World Cup group stage is set. The U.S. men’s national team will face Australia, Paraguay and a European playoff winner in Group D.
See the full list of what teams are competing against each other.
See the full list of what teams are competing against each other.
Reposted by ericfarns
New U.S. National Security Strategy #NSS released ... www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov
December 5, 2025 at 3:58 AM
New U.S. National Security Strategy #NSS released ... www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
Reposted by ericfarns
"Two recent killings — one of an outspoken representative of the lime growers, the other a popular mayor standing up to the cartels — have made a long-known truth impossible to ignore: Organized crime controls much of Michoacan and its economy."
How 2 killings exposed the depths of cartels' grip in Mexico's Michoacan state
Two recent killings — one of an outspoken representative of the lime growers, the other a popular mayor standing up to the cartels — in Mexico's western Michoacan state have sent a clear message that ...
apnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:39 AM
"Two recent killings — one of an outspoken representative of the lime growers, the other a popular mayor standing up to the cartels — have made a long-known truth impossible to ignore: Organized crime controls much of Michoacan and its economy."
Reposted by ericfarns
Deportation flights carrying Venezuelan migrants were scheduled to resume from the U.S. on Wednesday, officials in Caracas said, despite President Trump’s warning that Venezuela’s airspace should be considered closed as the threat of a U.S. attack loomed.
Venezuela lets deportation flights resume despite Trump’s airspace threat
The scheduled deportation flight marks a rare moment of cooperation between the Trump administration and Venezuela, as the threat of a U.S. attack looms.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Deportation flights carrying Venezuelan migrants were scheduled to resume from the U.S. on Wednesday, officials in Caracas said, despite President Trump’s warning that Venezuela’s airspace should be considered closed as the threat of a U.S. attack loomed.
Reposted by ericfarns
Putin is trying to call Europe's bluff by threatening war. The problem is that many Europeans are bluffing, they completely lack the bravery and stamina needed to win a war. This is what 35 years of appeasement has done to us.
December 2, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Putin is trying to call Europe's bluff by threatening war. The problem is that many Europeans are bluffing, they completely lack the bravery and stamina needed to win a war. This is what 35 years of appeasement has done to us.
Reposted by ericfarns
Danish Energy Minister Lars Aagaard is confident the EU's Russian gas ban, once imposed, will be almost impossible to reverse.
For Moscow's gas exports, it’s "game over," he said.
📺 Full interview: www.politico.eu/article/sust...
#POLITICOSustainableSummit
For Moscow's gas exports, it’s "game over," he said.
📺 Full interview: www.politico.eu/article/sust...
#POLITICOSustainableSummit
December 2, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Danish Energy Minister Lars Aagaard is confident the EU's Russian gas ban, once imposed, will be almost impossible to reverse.
For Moscow's gas exports, it’s "game over," he said.
📺 Full interview: www.politico.eu/article/sust...
#POLITICOSustainableSummit
For Moscow's gas exports, it’s "game over," he said.
📺 Full interview: www.politico.eu/article/sust...
#POLITICOSustainableSummit
Reposted by ericfarns
The Chinese government operates an advanced system of monitoring and censoring politically sensitive content online.
But a new report reveals that Chinese officials are using AI to turbocharge these processes.
But a new report reveals that Chinese officials are using AI to turbocharge these processes.
How China is using AI to extend censorship and surveillance
China is expanding the use of AI throughout its criminal justice system and developing tools to deepen its monitoring of ethnic minorities, a new report finds.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The Chinese government operates an advanced system of monitoring and censoring politically sensitive content online.
But a new report reveals that Chinese officials are using AI to turbocharge these processes.
But a new report reveals that Chinese officials are using AI to turbocharge these processes.
Reposted by ericfarns
One of the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is set to plead guilty to narcotics trafficking charges in Chicago on Monday.
Son of ‘El Chapo’ Guzman who flew cartel boss to U.S. expected to plead guilty in Chicago
One of the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is set to plead guilty to narcotics trafficking charges in Chicago on Monday, nearly a year and a half after his stunning flight across the Mexico borde…
trib.al
December 1, 2025 at 6:02 PM
One of the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is set to plead guilty to narcotics trafficking charges in Chicago on Monday.