Paasha Mahdavi
@paashamahdavi.com
UCSB prof, researching climate politics and the oil industry. EGAPE Lab Director and 2035 Initiative co-founder. Wrote a book on oil nationalization (https://tinyurl.com/2zyaf8bd). Working to transition from the fossil fuel era. Posts expire after 30 days.
Climate continues to get short-changed by reporting on Venezuela, so I’m grateful to Dharna Noor @theguardian.com for elevating climate & environmental implications.
If Venezuelan oil ramps up, we as a planet are going to pay the price.
More of my thoughts:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
If Venezuelan oil ramps up, we as a planet are going to pay the price.
More of my thoughts:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump taking ‘drill, baby, drill’ plan to Venezuela ‘terrible’ for climate, experts warn
‘Everybody loses’ if production supercharged in country with largest known oil reserves, critics say
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Climate continues to get short-changed by reporting on Venezuela, so I’m grateful to Dharna Noor @theguardian.com for elevating climate & environmental implications.
If Venezuelan oil ramps up, we as a planet are going to pay the price.
More of my thoughts:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
If Venezuelan oil ramps up, we as a planet are going to pay the price.
More of my thoughts:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Paasha Mahdavi
"Just this week, The Guardian quoted Sharon Wilson, a former oil and gas worker who has documented methane releases for more than a decade, saying that xAi’s Colossus data center in Memphis is spewing more emissions than a large power plant."
AI’s carbon footprint could be enormous: Are there pathways to net-zero?
AI server deployment across the US could generate between 24 to 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually by 2030. That’s like adding 5 to 10 million cars to American roads.
cybernews.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:16 PM
"Just this week, The Guardian quoted Sharon Wilson, a former oil and gas worker who has documented methane releases for more than a decade, saying that xAi’s Colossus data center in Memphis is spewing more emissions than a large power plant."
Reposted by Paasha Mahdavi
It's unclear how US oil majors will respond to Trump’s plans of regime change and increased oil extraction in Venezuela. Any expansion would be “terrible for the climate, terrible for the environment”, said UCSB prof Paasha Mahdavi @paashamahdavi.com
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump taking ‘drill, baby, drill’ plan to Venezuela ‘terrible’ for climate, experts warn
‘Everybody loses’ if production supercharged in country with largest known oil reserves, critics say
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 6:18 AM
It's unclear how US oil majors will respond to Trump’s plans of regime change and increased oil extraction in Venezuela. Any expansion would be “terrible for the climate, terrible for the environment”, said UCSB prof Paasha Mahdavi @paashamahdavi.com
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
So we’re just expropriating foreign oil now? Am I gonna have to write another book about oil nationalization???
Trump: “I am pleased to announce that the Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America. This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President”
January 7, 2026 at 12:25 AM
So we’re just expropriating foreign oil now? Am I gonna have to write another book about oil nationalization???
“The central problem facing Venezuela’s oil sector is therefore not technical or geological. It is political and institutional. These realities are often obscured by wishful thinking or by actors seeking quick profits.”
- @fmonaldi.bsky.social
- @fmonaldi.bsky.social
Fixing the Venezuelan oil industry will take time, money, and—most importantly—institutional change
open.substack.com/pub/fmonaldi...
open.substack.com/pub/fmonaldi...
Fixing the Venezuelan oil industry will take time, money, and—most importantly—institutional change
Francisco Monaldi
open.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:03 PM
“The central problem facing Venezuela’s oil sector is therefore not technical or geological. It is political and institutional. These realities are often obscured by wishful thinking or by actors seeking quick profits.”
- @fmonaldi.bsky.social
- @fmonaldi.bsky.social
In 1947, the Richmond Exploration Co struck oil at the supergiant Boscán field.
79 years and 3 nationalizations later, what’s now Chevron is still standing—waiting for another *apertura petrolera* and the next big payday.
My oil history thoughts for @latimes.com
www.latimes.com/california/s...
79 years and 3 nationalizations later, what’s now Chevron is still standing—waiting for another *apertura petrolera* and the next big payday.
My oil history thoughts for @latimes.com
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Ties between California and Venezuela go back more than a century with Chevron
Chevron, the oil giant founded and until recently headquartered in California, is the only foreign petroleum company still operating in Venezuela and its largest foreign investor.
www.latimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:14 AM
In 1947, the Richmond Exploration Co struck oil at the supergiant Boscán field.
79 years and 3 nationalizations later, what’s now Chevron is still standing—waiting for another *apertura petrolera* and the next big payday.
My oil history thoughts for @latimes.com
www.latimes.com/california/s...
79 years and 3 nationalizations later, what’s now Chevron is still standing—waiting for another *apertura petrolera* and the next big payday.
My oil history thoughts for @latimes.com
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Great to be on @cbcnews.ca's The National last night talking about the carbon footprint of Venezuela's oil production and the "muddy footprints" of the U.S. oil industry in this whole fiasco.
January 5, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Great to be on @cbcnews.ca's The National last night talking about the carbon footprint of Venezuela's oil production and the "muddy footprints" of the U.S. oil industry in this whole fiasco.
Not a surprise. The only ones who thought this was a good idea in the first place were the neocon hawks who… are not Trump’s constituency.
BREAKING: The U.S. won’t govern Venezuela, but will press changes through an oil blockade, Rubio says, after Trump claims of running the country.
Venezuela live updates: Uncertainty and legal questions remain after US captures Maduro
The Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and claims that it will “run” the country are raising stark new questions about the legality of the U.S. actions and its future operations in the South American nation.
bit.ly
January 4, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Not a surprise. The only ones who thought this was a good idea in the first place were the neocon hawks who… are not Trump’s constituency.
Reposted by Paasha Mahdavi
Teenage me who decided to become an oil reporter in '03 because of the Iraq war 🤝 this moment
Here's NPR's explainer about Venezuela's oil industry🇻🇪 🛢️ (and Guyana's too 🇬🇾 🛢️)
Featuring @paashamahdavi.com @fmonaldi.bsky.social and more
Here's NPR's explainer about Venezuela's oil industry🇻🇪 🛢️ (and Guyana's too 🇬🇾 🛢️)
Featuring @paashamahdavi.com @fmonaldi.bsky.social and more
Trump wants U.S. oil companies in Venezuela. Here's what to know
President Trump wants more U.S. oil companies to "go in" to Venezuela. But there are economic, historical, and climate reasons that may not be easy. Here's what you need to know about oil in Venezuela...
www.npr.org
January 4, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Teenage me who decided to become an oil reporter in '03 because of the Iraq war 🤝 this moment
Here's NPR's explainer about Venezuela's oil industry🇻🇪 🛢️ (and Guyana's too 🇬🇾 🛢️)
Featuring @paashamahdavi.com @fmonaldi.bsky.social and more
Here's NPR's explainer about Venezuela's oil industry🇻🇪 🛢️ (and Guyana's too 🇬🇾 🛢️)
Featuring @paashamahdavi.com @fmonaldi.bsky.social and more
Venezuela's oil is among the dirtiest oils in the world to produce when it comes to global warming.
But revitalizing the industry will take years (it’s taken Iraq 20+). Even harder with only ‘concepts of a plan’
My thoughts for @juliaradio.bsky.social @npr.org
www.npr.org/2026/01/04/n...
But revitalizing the industry will take years (it’s taken Iraq 20+). Even harder with only ‘concepts of a plan’
My thoughts for @juliaradio.bsky.social @npr.org
www.npr.org/2026/01/04/n...
Trump wants U.S. oil companies in Venezuela. Here's what to know
President Trump wants more U.S. oil companies to "go in" to Venezuela. But there are economic, historical, and climate reasons that may not be easy. Here's what you need to know about oil in Venezuela...
www.npr.org
January 4, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Venezuela's oil is among the dirtiest oils in the world to produce when it comes to global warming.
But revitalizing the industry will take years (it’s taken Iraq 20+). Even harder with only ‘concepts of a plan’
My thoughts for @juliaradio.bsky.social @npr.org
www.npr.org/2026/01/04/n...
But revitalizing the industry will take years (it’s taken Iraq 20+). Even harder with only ‘concepts of a plan’
My thoughts for @juliaradio.bsky.social @npr.org
www.npr.org/2026/01/04/n...
Reposted by Paasha Mahdavi
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.
The real kicker here is that if US companies do succeed in ramping up Venezuela’s oil, it’s some of the dirtiest and most carbon intensive in the world. And it’s cheap to produce (PdVSA says $5/barrel, probably closer to $25).
ociplus.rmi.org/supply-chain
ociplus.rmi.org/supply-chain
January 3, 2026 at 6:55 PM
The real kicker here is that if US companies do succeed in ramping up Venezuela’s oil, it’s some of the dirtiest and most carbon intensive in the world. And it’s cheap to produce (PdVSA says $5/barrel, probably closer to $25).
ociplus.rmi.org/supply-chain
ociplus.rmi.org/supply-chain
Reposted by Paasha Mahdavi
"We're in the oil business" - Trump
January 3, 2026 at 5:25 PM
"We're in the oil business" - Trump
I spent months in the archives sleuthing for direct quotes on motivations for Western intervention against oil nationalizations in the 70s, and this f’ing guy just blurts it out the morning after
Q: Is it possible that the US ends up administering Venezuela for years?
TRUMP: Well, you know, it won't cost us anything because the money coming out of the ground is very substantial
TRUMP: Well, you know, it won't cost us anything because the money coming out of the ground is very substantial
January 3, 2026 at 6:05 PM
I spent months in the archives sleuthing for direct quotes on motivations for Western intervention against oil nationalizations in the 70s, and this f’ing guy just blurts it out the morning after
Reposted by Paasha Mahdavi
NEW: Spokesperson from Chevron messaged me today.
@atrupar.com reported:
FOX & FRIENDS: What do you see as the future of Venezuela's oil industry?
TRUMP: Well I see that we're gonna be very strongly involved in it. That's all. What can I say. We have the greatest oil companies in the world.
@atrupar.com reported:
FOX & FRIENDS: What do you see as the future of Venezuela's oil industry?
TRUMP: Well I see that we're gonna be very strongly involved in it. That's all. What can I say. We have the greatest oil companies in the world.
January 3, 2026 at 5:26 PM
NEW: Spokesperson from Chevron messaged me today.
@atrupar.com reported:
FOX & FRIENDS: What do you see as the future of Venezuela's oil industry?
TRUMP: Well I see that we're gonna be very strongly involved in it. That's all. What can I say. We have the greatest oil companies in the world.
@atrupar.com reported:
FOX & FRIENDS: What do you see as the future of Venezuela's oil industry?
TRUMP: Well I see that we're gonna be very strongly involved in it. That's all. What can I say. We have the greatest oil companies in the world.
Is fentanyl the new WMD?
January 3, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Is fentanyl the new WMD?
Reposted by Paasha Mahdavi
Petro-Aggression
Cambridge Core - Middle East Studies - Petro-Aggression
www.cambridge.org
January 3, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Lots of talk on here this morning about Trump’s war and Venezuela’s national oil company. Highly recommend this NPR interview with Francisco Monaldi (@fmonaldi.bsky.social) last month for a quick primer.
www.npr.org/2025/12/16/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/16/n...
The U.S. has long had interest in Venezuelan oil, but that's not all
NPR's Scott Detrow talks with Francisco Monaldi, the director of the Latin American Energy Program at the Baker Institute at Rice University about the U.S.'s long interest in Venezuela's oil industry.
www.npr.org
January 3, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Lots of talk on here this morning about Trump’s war and Venezuela’s national oil company. Highly recommend this NPR interview with Francisco Monaldi (@fmonaldi.bsky.social) last month for a quick primer.
www.npr.org/2025/12/16/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/16/n...
“The good Lord didn’t see fit to put oil and gas only where there are democratically elected regimes friendly to the United States. Occasionally we have to operate in places where, all things considered, one would not normally choose to go. But, we go where the business is.”
-Dick Cheney, June 1998
-Dick Cheney, June 1998
The overlap between places we want to dominate and places that have oil is striking
January 3, 2026 at 12:33 PM
“The good Lord didn’t see fit to put oil and gas only where there are democratically elected regimes friendly to the United States. Occasionally we have to operate in places where, all things considered, one would not normally choose to go. But, we go where the business is.”
-Dick Cheney, June 1998
-Dick Cheney, June 1998
“We play a long game… We are committed to the people of the country and would like to be there as part of rebuilding Venezuela’s economy in time when circumstances change.”
-Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, November 2025
www.wsj.com/business/ene...
-Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, November 2025
www.wsj.com/business/ene...
How Chevron Secured Its Place as Venezuela’s Largest Foreign Investor
The U.S. oil company and President Trump agree that opportunity abounds in the Latin American country.
www.wsj.com
January 3, 2026 at 12:24 PM
“We play a long game… We are committed to the people of the country and would like to be there as part of rebuilding Venezuela’s economy in time when circumstances change.”
-Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, November 2025
www.wsj.com/business/ene...
-Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, November 2025
www.wsj.com/business/ene...
Reposted by Paasha Mahdavi
We have to continue to fight this.
Donald Trump may want to make oil spills great again, but Californians don’t.
Donald Trump may want to make oil spills great again, but Californians don’t.
Sable Gets Go-Ahead to Restart Controversial California Pipeline
Sable Offshore Corp. can begin pumping oil from its three platforms off the coast of Santa Barbara, Calif., after a federal appeals court allowed the restart of a contested pipeline Wednesday.
news.bloomberglaw.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:58 PM
We have to continue to fight this.
Donald Trump may want to make oil spills great again, but Californians don’t.
Donald Trump may want to make oil spills great again, but Californians don’t.
Love this @latimes.com op-ed from my colleague Jim Salzman, reminding us with stories from the 1970s on how things used to be so much worse before we had real environmental laws in this country.
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Contributor: Photos of the dirty 1970s will make you appreciate the EPA
The public and politicians in both parties saw the urgency 50 years ago and enacted the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. They're working and paying off.
www.latimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Love this @latimes.com op-ed from my colleague Jim Salzman, reminding us with stories from the 1970s on how things used to be so much worse before we had real environmental laws in this country.
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Great new post from @revkin.bsky.social linking climate & immigration to "authoritarian drift" -- breaking down democratic institutions, while simultaneously widening the gap between executive action and public opinion
revkin.substack.com/p/a-fox-poll...
(and thanks for the h/t!)
revkin.substack.com/p/a-fox-poll...
(and thanks for the h/t!)
A Fox Poll Shows Americans are Very Concerned about Climate Change and ICE Migrant Assaults, Yet Trump Continues Targeting Migrants and Gutting Climate Science
Democracy alarm bells ring when an "imperial leader" doesn't give a hoot about the public
revkin.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Great new post from @revkin.bsky.social linking climate & immigration to "authoritarian drift" -- breaking down democratic institutions, while simultaneously widening the gap between executive action and public opinion
revkin.substack.com/p/a-fox-poll...
(and thanks for the h/t!)
revkin.substack.com/p/a-fox-poll...
(and thanks for the h/t!)
Fox News (!!) poll showing Climate Change is a top 10 concern for voters — slightly more than illegal immigration.
www.foxnews.com/politics/fox...
www.foxnews.com/politics/fox...
December 21, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Fox News (!!) poll showing Climate Change is a top 10 concern for voters — slightly more than illegal immigration.
www.foxnews.com/politics/fox...
www.foxnews.com/politics/fox...
Just got zinged by an Oil VP at a hearing after presenting stats on his company's dire finances:
"A particular UCSB professor made a number of misrepresentations. Misinformed is a good term that he should use for himself. I get concerned when lawyers and polsci professors try to do math."
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
"A particular UCSB professor made a number of misrepresentations. Misinformed is a good term that he should use for himself. I get concerned when lawyers and polsci professors try to do math."
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
December 19, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Just got zinged by an Oil VP at a hearing after presenting stats on his company's dire finances:
"A particular UCSB professor made a number of misrepresentations. Misinformed is a good term that he should use for himself. I get concerned when lawyers and polsci professors try to do math."
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
"A particular UCSB professor made a number of misrepresentations. Misinformed is a good term that he should use for himself. I get concerned when lawyers and polsci professors try to do math."
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣