Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
@robvgr.bsky.social
Executive Director of *culture is not optional / The Huss Project. Mennonite. Chicago sports fan.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
Even if this were not explicitly prohibited by the United States Constitution, it means we kidnapped Venezuela's President and are now extorting money with the threat of future harm.
January 7, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Even if this were not explicitly prohibited by the United States Constitution, it means we kidnapped Venezuela's President and are now extorting money with the threat of future harm.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
If Trump is really stealing spending power from Congress then it would be insanity for Democrats to vote to fund the government later this month. Shut it down until the president stops wiping his ass with the Constitution.
January 7, 2026 at 12:50 AM
If Trump is really stealing spending power from Congress then it would be insanity for Democrats to vote to fund the government later this month. Shut it down until the president stops wiping his ass with the Constitution.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
I vividly remember watching it live on CNN and hearing Jake Tapper say something like "don't ever forget what you are watching right now because someday soon Trump and his sycophants will tell you it didn't actually happen."
No amount of gaslighting will convince sane and rational Americans that we didn’t see what we saw on January 6, 2021.
Let’s cut through some of the bullshit and lies…
Let’s cut through some of the bullshit and lies…
January 7, 2026 at 3:15 AM
I vividly remember watching it live on CNN and hearing Jake Tapper say something like "don't ever forget what you are watching right now because someday soon Trump and his sycophants will tell you it didn't actually happen."
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Right.
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
a lot of problems wouldn't exist if we had a congress with even an ounce of self interest
January 4, 2026 at 11:52 PM
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
Rubio is claiming that they did not need Congress permission because it was a law enforcement mission. The US is behaving as a global police state, extending its own arbitrary legal decisions to the whole world.
This is not a problem just for Venezuela.
This is not a problem just for Venezuela.
January 3, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Rubio is claiming that they did not need Congress permission because it was a law enforcement mission. The US is behaving as a global police state, extending its own arbitrary legal decisions to the whole world.
This is not a problem just for Venezuela.
This is not a problem just for Venezuela.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
I’ll respond to this disingenuous question exactly one time.
Maduro’s rule does is immaterial to the violation of sovereignty and international law that this strike represents. Go bother someone else with this nonsense.
Maduro’s rule does is immaterial to the violation of sovereignty and international law that this strike represents. Go bother someone else with this nonsense.
Do you dispute their description of maduro’s rule?
January 3, 2026 at 5:44 PM
I’ll respond to this disingenuous question exactly one time.
Maduro’s rule does is immaterial to the violation of sovereignty and international law that this strike represents. Go bother someone else with this nonsense.
Maduro’s rule does is immaterial to the violation of sovereignty and international law that this strike represents. Go bother someone else with this nonsense.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
My latest on this Venezuela insanity
January 3, 2026 at 8:19 PM
My latest on this Venezuela insanity
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
I think we need to be able to balance the reactions "this is another expression of 250 years of American imperialism" and "what do you MEAN we kidnapped the president of Venezuela and renditioned him to the US and are now claiming to run the country"
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
January 3, 2026 at 5:34 PM
I think we need to be able to balance the reactions "this is another expression of 250 years of American imperialism" and "what do you MEAN we kidnapped the president of Venezuela and renditioned him to the US and are now claiming to run the country"
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
Disgusting.
And there ya have it…
Officials from top Wall Street firms will be traveling to Venezuela to investigate “investment prospects” of the country. “The trip will feature about 20 officials from the finance, energy and defense sectors.”
Officials from top Wall Street firms will be traveling to Venezuela to investigate “investment prospects” of the country. “The trip will feature about 20 officials from the finance, energy and defense sectors.”
Finance Industry Eyes Investment Opportunities in Venezuela
Some on Wall Street are already considering possible investment opportunities in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, according to Charles Myers, chairman of consulting firm Signum Globa...
www.wsj.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Disgusting.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
Im in my late 40s, and im just flashing back to every ‘justified’ regime change and invasion for decades, every ‘weapons of mass destruction’ lie, every ‘evil communists’ trope bought and sold by politicians, journalists and people, and all the incredible suffering that followed
January 3, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Im in my late 40s, and im just flashing back to every ‘justified’ regime change and invasion for decades, every ‘weapons of mass destruction’ lie, every ‘evil communists’ trope bought and sold by politicians, journalists and people, and all the incredible suffering that followed
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
📣⚖️👀 Screams into the void: “Only the U.S. Congress has the power to declare war according to the Constitution!”
"WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND"--Donald Trump
January 3, 2026 at 7:56 PM
📣⚖️👀 Screams into the void: “Only the U.S. Congress has the power to declare war according to the Constitution!”
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
Not that crazy IMO
➡️ The Republican-run Supreme Court has ruled the President can't be prosecuted for doing crimes in office
➡️ The Republican-run Congress has decided Trump's the boss and they are mere spectators
Historically, tell a guy he's a god-king with no consequences and this is the result
➡️ The Republican-run Supreme Court has ruled the President can't be prosecuted for doing crimes in office
➡️ The Republican-run Congress has decided Trump's the boss and they are mere spectators
Historically, tell a guy he's a god-king with no consequences and this is the result
News: Gang of Eight in Congress were only notified about Trump's Venezuela operation after it began, source familiar tells me. That means the heads of the Intelligence Committees in Senate and House were *not* consulted. Just crazy.
January 3, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Not that crazy IMO
➡️ The Republican-run Supreme Court has ruled the President can't be prosecuted for doing crimes in office
➡️ The Republican-run Congress has decided Trump's the boss and they are mere spectators
Historically, tell a guy he's a god-king with no consequences and this is the result
➡️ The Republican-run Supreme Court has ruled the President can't be prosecuted for doing crimes in office
➡️ The Republican-run Congress has decided Trump's the boss and they are mere spectators
Historically, tell a guy he's a god-king with no consequences and this is the result
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
Two things can be true:
1. This is a criminal and immoral act by the US.
2. That's it. Nothing else matters.
1. This is a criminal and immoral act by the US.
2. That's it. Nothing else matters.
January 3, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Two things can be true:
1. This is a criminal and immoral act by the US.
2. That's it. Nothing else matters.
1. This is a criminal and immoral act by the US.
2. That's it. Nothing else matters.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
A13. In case you're wondering how newsy it is to have the President dead to rights.
January 3, 2026 at 3:26 AM
A13. In case you're wondering how newsy it is to have the President dead to rights.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
THIS ISN’T GETTING ENOUGH ATTENTION.
More than 100 immigration judges have been fired nationwide since Trump took office. 21 in San Francisco alone, many without explanation.
Why? Because these judges provided due process under US law.
The Trump admin doesn’t want hearings or fairness.
1/2
More than 100 immigration judges have been fired nationwide since Trump took office. 21 in San Francisco alone, many without explanation.
Why? Because these judges provided due process under US law.
The Trump admin doesn’t want hearings or fairness.
1/2
January 2, 2026 at 9:26 PM
THIS ISN’T GETTING ENOUGH ATTENTION.
More than 100 immigration judges have been fired nationwide since Trump took office. 21 in San Francisco alone, many without explanation.
Why? Because these judges provided due process under US law.
The Trump admin doesn’t want hearings or fairness.
1/2
More than 100 immigration judges have been fired nationwide since Trump took office. 21 in San Francisco alone, many without explanation.
Why? Because these judges provided due process under US law.
The Trump admin doesn’t want hearings or fairness.
1/2
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
Every American should read this.
America is embarrassingly backward on energy.
America is embarrassingly backward on energy.
Today on Volts: you've probably heard that Australia has cheap rooftop solar power. You've probably also heard some rumors & myths about it. (Is it destabilizing the grid?) I called my favorite Australian energy expert to clear it all up. This is a fun one!
www.volts.wtf/p/whats-the-...
www.volts.wtf/p/whats-the-...
What's the real story with Australian rooftop solar?
Saul Griffith joins me to debunk the myths surrounding Australia's massive influx of solar energy.
www.volts.wtf
January 2, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Every American should read this.
America is embarrassingly backward on energy.
America is embarrassingly backward on energy.
Great. Just great.
5 million-plus kindergartners now live in counties where schools don’t have “herd immunity” for measles, Washington Post reporters found.
WaPo also built a tool to look up your own county.
Exceptional, and alarming work by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social et al.
(Gift link.)
WaPo also built a tool to look up your own county.
Exceptional, and alarming work by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social et al.
(Gift link.)
U.S. vaccination rates are plunging. Look up where your school stands.
Take a look to see what the kindergarten measles vaccination rates are in your area.
wapo.st
January 1, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Great. Just great.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
Trump does not grasp that if parks nationwide are degraded, thousands of small businesses located in or near the parks will suffer, and tens of thousands of people will be out of work.
President Trump is dismantling our national parks | Opinion
www.inquirer.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Trump does not grasp that if parks nationwide are degraded, thousands of small businesses located in or near the parks will suffer, and tens of thousands of people will be out of work.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
Glad she’s fighting back but it’s still ridiculous that she’s in this situation at all.
Universities can’t give a heckler’s veto to its dumbest and laziest students.
Universities can’t give a heckler’s veto to its dumbest and laziest students.
Statement Re: OU Discrimination Investigation
Today, my client, Mel Curth, submitted her appeal of the University's Institutional Equity Office finding that she engaged in arbitrary and capricious grading of a student's assignment in violation of that student's religious liberty.
Today, my client, Mel Curth, submitted her appeal of the University's Institutional Equity Office finding that she engaged in arbitrary and capricious grading of a student's assignment in violation of that student's religious liberty.
December 30, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Glad she’s fighting back but it’s still ridiculous that she’s in this situation at all.
Universities can’t give a heckler’s veto to its dumbest and laziest students.
Universities can’t give a heckler’s veto to its dumbest and laziest students.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
To be sure, Joe Biden had some embarrassing gaffes, and his Atlanta debate performance made clear he wasn't up for a second term
But never once did Biden blurt out the details of a CIA covert op by going on a B-list radio show
Can you imagine the uproar if he had?
But never once did Biden blurt out the details of a CIA covert op by going on a B-list radio show
Can you imagine the uproar if he had?
December 30, 2025 at 5:17 PM
To be sure, Joe Biden had some embarrassing gaffes, and his Atlanta debate performance made clear he wasn't up for a second term
But never once did Biden blurt out the details of a CIA covert op by going on a B-list radio show
Can you imagine the uproar if he had?
But never once did Biden blurt out the details of a CIA covert op by going on a B-list radio show
Can you imagine the uproar if he had?
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
This is not hard. Artists are not responsible for ensuring the Kennedy Center remains relevant and successful. The center’s board is responsible for that, in a fiduciary way. All of this energy being directed at artists should be re-directed at the board.
December 30, 2025 at 4:07 PM
This is not hard. Artists are not responsible for ensuring the Kennedy Center remains relevant and successful. The center’s board is responsible for that, in a fiduciary way. All of this energy being directed at artists should be re-directed at the board.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
An attack in violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and the Take Care Clause of the Constitution.
Seemingly conducted as covert action and then casually disclosed by POTUS while calling into a radio show.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/29/p...
Seemingly conducted as covert action and then casually disclosed by POTUS while calling into a radio show.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/29/p...
Exclusive: CIA carried out drone strike on port facility on Venezuelan coast | CNN Politics
The CIA carried out a drone strike earlier this month on a port facility on the coast of Venezuela, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, marking the first known US attack on a target inside that...
www.cnn.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:46 AM
An attack in violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and the Take Care Clause of the Constitution.
Seemingly conducted as covert action and then casually disclosed by POTUS while calling into a radio show.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/29/p...
Seemingly conducted as covert action and then casually disclosed by POTUS while calling into a radio show.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/29/p...
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
Now seems like a swell time to point out that Frontline just released this excellent 11-minute mini-documentary about what happened inside CECOT.
Surviving CECOT (full documentary) | Deported to a Maximum-Security Prison | FRONTLINE + ProPublica
YouTube video by FRONTLINE PBS | Official
m.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Now seems like a swell time to point out that Frontline just released this excellent 11-minute mini-documentary about what happened inside CECOT.
Reposted by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma
JD Vance cozying up to the sort of white supremacists who would consider his wife and children insufficiently white (and hence American) is pretty bleak, and says a lot about his character.
December 22, 2025 at 1:46 AM
JD Vance cozying up to the sort of white supremacists who would consider his wife and children insufficiently white (and hence American) is pretty bleak, and says a lot about his character.