Will Saletan
@saletan.bsky.social
Writer, @thebulwark.com. Email: saletan@thebulwark.com. You can also find me at https://www.threads.net/@wsaletan and http://substack.com/@saletan
Reposted by Will Saletan
Trump said he invaded Venezuela to stop drug trafficking, seize oil, save democracy, reassert American dominance, and punish the country for sending migrants to the United States. Those rationales could be recycled for many other countries. @saletan.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/4aCZLWG
Which Countries Will Trump Invade Next? He’s Given Us a Guide.
The reasons he listed for toppling Venezuela’s Maduro apply just as well to many other governments.
lnk.thebulwark.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Trump said he invaded Venezuela to stop drug trafficking, seize oil, save democracy, reassert American dominance, and punish the country for sending migrants to the United States. Those rationales could be recycled for many other countries. @saletan.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/4aCZLWG
Reposted by Will Saletan
"We're going to take Venezuela's oil to protect it from China and Russia. And then, we're gonna sell it to China and Russia. See, we're the good guys who go in to protect the oil from the bad guys, and then we sell it to the bad guys."
@saletan.bsky.social on Trump's flimsy justifications:
@saletan.bsky.social on Trump's flimsy justifications:
January 5, 2026 at 4:05 PM
"We're going to take Venezuela's oil to protect it from China and Russia. And then, we're gonna sell it to China and Russia. See, we're the good guys who go in to protect the oil from the bad guys, and then we sell it to the bad guys."
@saletan.bsky.social on Trump's flimsy justifications:
@saletan.bsky.social on Trump's flimsy justifications:
Reposted by Will Saletan
This is probably the clearest, most succinct rundown of wtf just happened & wtf is currently ongoing, from Will Saletan of the Bulwark:
Trump says he'll send American companies to extract Venezuela's oil. When asked about Russia and China, he says, "We're in the oil business. We're going to sell it to them."
If we're plundering a country and selling its resources to the bad guys, "maybe, just maybe, we're now one of the bad guys."
If we're plundering a country and selling its resources to the bad guys, "maybe, just maybe, we're now one of the bad guys."
Trump's Venezuela Presser Triggered a Full Media Cleanup Tour
YouTube video by The Bulwark
www.youtube.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:20 AM
This is probably the clearest, most succinct rundown of wtf just happened & wtf is currently ongoing, from Will Saletan of the Bulwark:
Trump says he'll send American companies to extract Venezuela's oil. When asked about Russia and China, he says, "We're in the oil business. We're going to sell it to them."
If we're plundering a country and selling its resources to the bad guys, "maybe, just maybe, we're now one of the bad guys."
If we're plundering a country and selling its resources to the bad guys, "maybe, just maybe, we're now one of the bad guys."
Trump's Venezuela Presser Triggered a Full Media Cleanup Tour
YouTube video by The Bulwark
www.youtube.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Trump says he'll send American companies to extract Venezuela's oil. When asked about Russia and China, he says, "We're in the oil business. We're going to sell it to them."
If we're plundering a country and selling its resources to the bad guys, "maybe, just maybe, we're now one of the bad guys."
If we're plundering a country and selling its resources to the bad guys, "maybe, just maybe, we're now one of the bad guys."
Reposted by Will Saletan
@saletan.bsky.social says what so many of us are thinking: "Maduro’s regime isn’t the first government Trump has tried to topple in our hemisphere. It’s the second." www.thebulwark.com/p/which-coun...
Which Countries Will Trump Invade Next? He’s Given Us a Guide.
The reasons he listed for toppling Venezuela’s Maduro apply just as well to many other governments.
www.thebulwark.com
January 4, 2026 at 8:26 PM
@saletan.bsky.social says what so many of us are thinking: "Maduro’s regime isn’t the first government Trump has tried to topple in our hemisphere. It’s the second." www.thebulwark.com/p/which-coun...
"Five years ago, Trump launched an assault on our Capitol, watched the battle on a screen—just as he did during the Venezuela operation—and egged on his forces as they hunted our vice president. Maduro’s regime isn’t the first government Trump has tried to topple in our hemisphere. It’s the second."
Which Countries Will Trump Invade Next? He’s Given Us a Guide.
The reasons he listed for toppling Venezuela’s Maduro apply just as well to many other governments.
www.thebulwark.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:44 PM
"Five years ago, Trump launched an assault on our Capitol, watched the battle on a screen—just as he did during the Venezuela operation—and egged on his forces as they hunted our vice president. Maduro’s regime isn’t the first government Trump has tried to topple in our hemisphere. It’s the second."
Reposted by Will Saletan
"Trump has always viewed war as a financial enterprise." - @saletan.bsky.social
Trump Only Believes in Wars for Profit
By framing conflicts as money-making ventures, Lindsey Graham has convinced the former president to send troops and weapons.
lnk.thebulwark.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:12 PM
"Trump has always viewed war as a financial enterprise." - @saletan.bsky.social
Looks like NYT wrote its editorial against the Venezuela attack at least 3 days ago and then forgot to change the reference. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
January 3, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Looks like NYT wrote its editorial against the Venezuela attack at least 3 days ago and then forgot to change the reference. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
2026 dark-horse predictions from @thebulwark.com team!
Mine is: the return of @lizcheney.bsky.social. When Democrats retake the House, she'll be back to chair a commission to investigate the crimes of the current Trump administration.
More predictions here from @timmiller.bsky.social and the gang.
Mine is: the return of @lizcheney.bsky.social. When Democrats retake the House, she'll be back to chair a commission to investigate the crimes of the current Trump administration.
More predictions here from @timmiller.bsky.social and the gang.
Dark Horse Predictions for 2026! Is Kash Patel on Borrowed Time?
YouTube video by The Bulwark
www.youtube.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:10 PM
2026 dark-horse predictions from @thebulwark.com team!
Mine is: the return of @lizcheney.bsky.social. When Democrats retake the House, she'll be back to chair a commission to investigate the crimes of the current Trump administration.
More predictions here from @timmiller.bsky.social and the gang.
Mine is: the return of @lizcheney.bsky.social. When Democrats retake the House, she'll be back to chair a commission to investigate the crimes of the current Trump administration.
More predictions here from @timmiller.bsky.social and the gang.
In Jack Smith's deposition, I found only one false statement. It was that Cassidy Hutchinson said Trump tried to seize the steering wheel of his car on Jan. 6.
Fact check: She attributed that story to Trump's deputy COS.
Who made the false statement? Not Smith. It was the committee's GOP counsel.
Fact check: She attributed that story to Trump's deputy COS.
Who made the false statement? Not Smith. It was the committee's GOP counsel.
Jack Smith Deposition
YouTube video by House Judiciary GOP
youtu.be
January 2, 2026 at 3:00 AM
In Jack Smith's deposition, I found only one false statement. It was that Cassidy Hutchinson said Trump tried to seize the steering wheel of his car on Jan. 6.
Fact check: She attributed that story to Trump's deputy COS.
Who made the false statement? Not Smith. It was the committee's GOP counsel.
Fact check: She attributed that story to Trump's deputy COS.
Who made the false statement? Not Smith. It was the committee's GOP counsel.
Ten years ago, when Trump proposed a ban on Muslims, leading Republicans spoke up against him.
But this month, he delivered a tirade against Somali Americans, calling them "garbage"—and his whole cabinet applauded.
Horrifying. My nomination for @thebulwark.com's list of astonishing events of 2025.
But this month, he delivered a tirade against Somali Americans, calling them "garbage"—and his whole cabinet applauded.
Horrifying. My nomination for @thebulwark.com's list of astonishing events of 2025.
Yes, These Things All Happened in 2025
YouTube video by The Bulwark
www.youtube.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Ten years ago, when Trump proposed a ban on Muslims, leading Republicans spoke up against him.
But this month, he delivered a tirade against Somali Americans, calling them "garbage"—and his whole cabinet applauded.
Horrifying. My nomination for @thebulwark.com's list of astonishing events of 2025.
But this month, he delivered a tirade against Somali Americans, calling them "garbage"—and his whole cabinet applauded.
Horrifying. My nomination for @thebulwark.com's list of astonishing events of 2025.
Five stars from Judge @monacharen.bsky.social! And boo to textualist killjoy @samsteindc.bsky.social for docking me on a technicality. 😉 As Justice Charen points out, my answer was clearly encompassed under the penumbra of pardoning. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nrA...
We Reviewed Last Year's Predictions!
YouTube video by The Bulwark
www.youtube.com
December 28, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Five stars from Judge @monacharen.bsky.social! And boo to textualist killjoy @samsteindc.bsky.social for docking me on a technicality. 😉 As Justice Charen points out, my answer was clearly encompassed under the penumbra of pardoning. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nrA...
"If I had a nickel for everything everybody said about me on television ... I'd be rich," says ... the CEO of Bank of America. www.cbsnews.com/news/brian-m...
Transcript: Bank of America Chairman and CEO Brian Moynihan on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Dec. 28, 2025
The following is the transcript of the interview with Bank of America Chairman and CEO Brian Moynihan that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Dec. 21, 2025. Editor's note: This interv...
www.cbsnews.com
December 28, 2025 at 5:08 PM
"If I had a nickel for everything everybody said about me on television ... I'd be rich," says ... the CEO of Bank of America. www.cbsnews.com/news/brian-m...
Turner: We need to be on the side of what [Ukrainians] want, which is sovereignty. They're on the side of democracy, liberty. And Russia's on the side of authoritarianism and aggression.
Karl: Which side is Trump on?
Turner: uh — I — you know, clearly — um —you know—Trump is on the side of peace.
Karl: Which side is Trump on?
Turner: uh — I — you know, clearly — um —you know—Trump is on the side of peace.
Video ‘You can't be America first and be pro-Russia’: Rep. Turner
ABC News’ Jonathan Karl interviews Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, on “This Week.”
abcnews.go.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Turner: We need to be on the side of what [Ukrainians] want, which is sovereignty. They're on the side of democracy, liberty. And Russia's on the side of authoritarianism and aggression.
Karl: Which side is Trump on?
Turner: uh — I — you know, clearly — um —you know—Trump is on the side of peace.
Karl: Which side is Trump on?
Turner: uh — I — you know, clearly — um —you know—Trump is on the side of peace.
Reposted by Will Saletan
"Donald Trump calls himself the “Peace President.” But this week, as he outlined his plans to capture Greenland and hijack Venezuelan oil, his real agenda became obvious. It’s not peace. It’s extortion, conquest, and theft."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
The Politics of Plunder
His domestic and foreign policies have one consistent theme.
open.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:03 PM
"Donald Trump calls himself the “Peace President.” But this week, as he outlined his plans to capture Greenland and hijack Venezuelan oil, his real agenda became obvious. It’s not peace. It’s extortion, conquest, and theft."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Reposted by Will Saletan
As the president outlined his plans to capture Greenland and hijack Venezuelan oil, his real agenda became obvious. It’s extortion, conquest, and theft. Remember when he was the peace president?
Today's Morning Shots, from @saletan.bsky.social and @cathyyoung63.bsky.social:
Today's Morning Shots, from @saletan.bsky.social and @cathyyoung63.bsky.social:
The Politics of Plunder
His domestic and foreign policies have one consistent theme.
lnk.thebulwark.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:31 PM
As the president outlined his plans to capture Greenland and hijack Venezuelan oil, his real agenda became obvious. It’s extortion, conquest, and theft. Remember when he was the peace president?
Today's Morning Shots, from @saletan.bsky.social and @cathyyoung63.bsky.social:
Today's Morning Shots, from @saletan.bsky.social and @cathyyoung63.bsky.social:
Santa hats off to @eggerdc.bsky.social and @adamkeiper.com for their starring roles in our goofy but fun parody of 12 days. Written by secret lyricist @crampell.bsky.social! youtu.be/D2XX4TMC_SY
The Bulwark Wishes You a Very Corrupt Christmas
YouTube video by The Bulwark
youtu.be
December 26, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Santa hats off to @eggerdc.bsky.social and @adamkeiper.com for their starring roles in our goofy but fun parody of 12 days. Written by secret lyricist @crampell.bsky.social! youtu.be/D2XX4TMC_SY
Reposted by Will Saletan
It’s probably too much to hope that today’s modified limited coverup will end in a failure as resounding as Nixon’s. Hope or no, keep holding their feet to the fire.
Today's Morning Shots from @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social and @saletan.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/4jbW64f
Today's Morning Shots from @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social and @saletan.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/4jbW64f
December 22, 2025 at 2:55 PM
It’s probably too much to hope that today’s modified limited coverup will end in a failure as resounding as Nixon’s. Hope or no, keep holding their feet to the fire.
Today's Morning Shots from @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social and @saletan.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/4jbW64f
Today's Morning Shots from @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social and @saletan.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/4jbW64f
Reposted by Will Saletan
They can't even keep their lies about Epstein straight…
Read more from @saletan.bsky.social and @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social in Morning Shots, only @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-and-...
Read more from @saletan.bsky.social and @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social in Morning Shots, only @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-and-...
Trump and Co. Can’t Keep Their Lies Straight
From the Epstein files to the Justice Department, it’s hard for the mooks to remember which lie they’re supposed to tell.
www.thebulwark.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:31 PM
They can't even keep their lies about Epstein straight…
Read more from @saletan.bsky.social and @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social in Morning Shots, only @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-and-...
Read more from @saletan.bsky.social and @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social in Morning Shots, only @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-and-...
My wife has broken out the Jewish holiday music.
"It's beginning to smell a lot like brisket ..." 🎵 🎶
"It's beginning to smell a lot like brisket ..." 🎵 🎶
December 21, 2025 at 9:25 PM
My wife has broken out the Jewish holiday music.
"It's beginning to smell a lot like brisket ..." 🎵 🎶
"It's beginning to smell a lot like brisket ..." 🎵 🎶
This @peterbakernyt.bsky.social paragraph is a perfect summary of our descent into authoritarianism.
He’s not even editorializing. He’s just reporting what’s happened, and what we’ve become numb to. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/u...
He’s not even editorializing. He’s just reporting what’s happened, and what we’ve become numb to. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/u...
December 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM
This @peterbakernyt.bsky.social paragraph is a perfect summary of our descent into authoritarianism.
He’s not even editorializing. He’s just reporting what’s happened, and what we’ve become numb to. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/u...
He’s not even editorializing. He’s just reporting what’s happened, and what we’ve become numb to. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/u...
Welker asks about Trump's public demands to prosecute Comey, James, and Schiff: "Does President Trump speak to you or to the attorney general directly about individual criminal cases and investigations?"
Deputy AG Blanche: "I will never talk about the communications I have with President Trump."
Deputy AG Blanche: "I will never talk about the communications I have with President Trump."
Deputy AG Blanche says DOJ ‘not redacting information’ on Trump in Epstein files: Full interview
In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defends the Justice Department’s release of thousands of records related to Jeffrey Epstein amid criticism over the ...
www.nbcnews.com
December 21, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Welker asks about Trump's public demands to prosecute Comey, James, and Schiff: "Does President Trump speak to you or to the attorney general directly about individual criminal cases and investigations?"
Deputy AG Blanche: "I will never talk about the communications I have with President Trump."
Deputy AG Blanche: "I will never talk about the communications I have with President Trump."
Reposted by Will Saletan
Two kinds of people think it's impossible to advocate for a Palestinian state without killing Jews: antisemitic terrorists, and hardline right-wing Israel supporters. ICYMI @saletan.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/4oYhjQo
Don’t Blame the Australia Attack on Palestinian Statehood
Advocates for Israel are claiming that support for Palestinian statehood entails violence against Jews. That’s wrong—and it’s a recipe for terrorism.
lnk.thebulwark.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Two kinds of people think it's impossible to advocate for a Palestinian state without killing Jews: antisemitic terrorists, and hardline right-wing Israel supporters. ICYMI @saletan.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/4oYhjQo
Heads up to GSK CEO Dame Emma Walmsley, for her next visit to the White House:
1) there are three syllables in "medicine"
2) there is only one R in "Marsha"
Thank you for your attention to this matter. 😉 🇬🇧 youtu.be/16OUgQjUQQs?...
1) there are three syllables in "medicine"
2) there is only one R in "Marsha"
Thank you for your attention to this matter. 😉 🇬🇧 youtu.be/16OUgQjUQQs?...
President Trump Makes an Announcement, Dec. 19, 2025
YouTube video by The White House
youtu.be
December 20, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Heads up to GSK CEO Dame Emma Walmsley, for her next visit to the White House:
1) there are three syllables in "medicine"
2) there is only one R in "Marsha"
Thank you for your attention to this matter. 😉 🇬🇧 youtu.be/16OUgQjUQQs?...
1) there are three syllables in "medicine"
2) there is only one R in "Marsha"
Thank you for your attention to this matter. 😉 🇬🇧 youtu.be/16OUgQjUQQs?...
The only problem with working out is the subsequent onset of post-workout dessert rationalization.
December 20, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The only problem with working out is the subsequent onset of post-workout dessert rationalization.