Zach Dorfman
@zachsdorfman.bsky.social
National Security Reporter. Features in Politico, Rolling Stone, Wired, Foreign Policy. Working on a book on the history of deep cover for Penguin-Random House.
It’s always Berlin 1989 somewhere. Email: thebrushpass1@protonmail.com
It’s always Berlin 1989 somewhere. Email: thebrushpass1@protonmail.com
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
Venezuela’s government is arresting journalists and sending paramilitary forces to suppress anyone who is too happy about Maduro's removal
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
Venezuela launches wave of repression after US seizure of Nicolás Maduro
Armed militias patrol the streets and journalists arrested as government crackdown on dissent widens
giftarticle.ft.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Venezuela’s government is arresting journalists and sending paramilitary forces to suppress anyone who is too happy about Maduro's removal
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
News: A recent classified CIA assessment concluded Maduro loyalists were more likely to maintain near-term stability than opposition figures if Maduro was removed from power. Trump was briefed on the findings, which motivated posture against Machado. www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
www.wsj.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:24 PM
News: A recent classified CIA assessment concluded Maduro loyalists were more likely to maintain near-term stability than opposition figures if Maduro was removed from power. Trump was briefed on the findings, which motivated posture against Machado. www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
The point is, there will likely be significant and long-lasting global ramifications to the administration’s treatment of the Venezuelan opposition.
Let’s say there was covert-action finding encouraging regime-change in Iran. If you were part of the Iranian opposition, would you trust the US to support you in any substantial way whatsoever down the road? The IRGC could just “do a deal” to gave the US access to Iranian natural resources.
January 5, 2026 at 10:01 PM
The point is, there will likely be significant and long-lasting global ramifications to the administration’s treatment of the Venezuelan opposition.
Let’s say there was covert-action finding encouraging regime-change in Iran. If you were part of the Iranian opposition, would you trust the US to support you in any substantial way whatsoever down the road? The IRGC could just “do a deal” to gave the US access to Iranian natural resources.
January 5, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Let’s say there was covert-action finding encouraging regime-change in Iran. If you were part of the Iranian opposition, would you trust the US to support you in any substantial way whatsoever down the road? The IRGC could just “do a deal” to gave the US access to Iranian natural resources.
You’re telling me “anarchy is what states make of it“? Wow, I’m hearing that for the first time
January 5, 2026 at 9:27 PM
You’re telling me “anarchy is what states make of it“? Wow, I’m hearing that for the first time
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
One of most remarkable US presentations at UN Security Council I've ever seen.
- No reference to UN Charter legal justification
- Claims Panama as precedent (which the UN condemned)
- Energy reserves ⤵️ as justification is illegal
- Sharp contrast with US Ambassador Pickering presentation in 1989
- No reference to UN Charter legal justification
- Claims Panama as precedent (which the UN condemned)
- Energy reserves ⤵️ as justification is illegal
- Sharp contrast with US Ambassador Pickering presentation in 1989
January 5, 2026 at 4:52 PM
One of most remarkable US presentations at UN Security Council I've ever seen.
- No reference to UN Charter legal justification
- Claims Panama as precedent (which the UN condemned)
- Energy reserves ⤵️ as justification is illegal
- Sharp contrast with US Ambassador Pickering presentation in 1989
- No reference to UN Charter legal justification
- Claims Panama as precedent (which the UN condemned)
- Energy reserves ⤵️ as justification is illegal
- Sharp contrast with US Ambassador Pickering presentation in 1989
Well, the first Trump administration did consider rendering Assange from Ecuadorian soil, so there are some parallels there.
Bloomberg Law is reporting that (former?) Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro has hired lawyer Barry Pollack for his US criminal defense team. Pollack had been part of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's legal team.
January 5, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Well, the first Trump administration did consider rendering Assange from Ecuadorian soil, so there are some parallels there.
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
WH sources say Venezuela's opposition leader committed the "ultimate sin": She accepted the Nobel Peace prize.
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one said.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one said.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
January 5, 2026 at 3:02 AM
WH sources say Venezuela's opposition leader committed the "ultimate sin": She accepted the Nobel Peace prize.
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one said.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one said.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
Present at the Destruction
January 5, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Present at the Destruction
Check on the IR scholars in your life right now.
January 5, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Check on the IR scholars in your life right now.
This is nineteenth century Great Power “sphere of influence” talk, essentially no different than Russia‘s view of Ukraine or the rest of its “near abroad.”
It’s been said before, but really worth underlining now: The Trump admin is overthrowing the very post-1945 world order the US itself built.
It’s been said before, but really worth underlining now: The Trump admin is overthrowing the very post-1945 world order the US itself built.
“U.S. officials say that their relationship with Ms. Rodríguez’s interim government will be based on her ability to play by their rules, adding that they reserve the right to take additional military action if she fails to respect America’s interests.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/w...
How Trump Fixed On a Maduro Loyalist as Venezuela’s New Leader
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:25 AM
This is nineteenth century Great Power “sphere of influence” talk, essentially no different than Russia‘s view of Ukraine or the rest of its “near abroad.”
It’s been said before, but really worth underlining now: The Trump admin is overthrowing the very post-1945 world order the US itself built.
It’s been said before, but really worth underlining now: The Trump admin is overthrowing the very post-1945 world order the US itself built.
“U.S. officials say that their relationship with Ms. Rodríguez’s interim government will be based on her ability to play by their rules, adding that they reserve the right to take additional military action if she fails to respect America’s interests.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/w...
How Trump Fixed On a Maduro Loyalist as Venezuela’s New Leader
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:23 AM
“U.S. officials say that their relationship with Ms. Rodríguez’s interim government will be based on her ability to play by their rules, adding that they reserve the right to take additional military action if she fails to respect America’s interests.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/w...
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
It's wild that the PM of a NATO member feels compelled to put out a statement like this vis-à-vis the US government.
January 4, 2026 at 8:23 PM
It's wild that the PM of a NATO member feels compelled to put out a statement like this vis-à-vis the US government.
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
Our article about the Maduro op has received a large update with additional details. Not to toot our own horn but we're far ahead of the big newspapers with this story. Please give it a read.
thehighside.substack.com/p/bold-delta...
thehighside.substack.com/p/bold-delta...
Bold Delta Force raid leads to capture and arrest of Maduro
Trump says JSOC's Operation Absolute Resolve will allow the United States to "run" Venezuela.
thehighside.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Our article about the Maduro op has received a large update with additional details. Not to toot our own horn but we're far ahead of the big newspapers with this story. Please give it a read.
thehighside.substack.com/p/bold-delta...
thehighside.substack.com/p/bold-delta...
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
Germany’s foreign intelligence agency (BND) intercepted phone conversations of former President Barack Obama while he was aboard Air Force One over several years. The interceptions exploited vulnerabilities in the aircraft’s encryption and known frequencies.
www.zeit.de/politik/ausl...
www.zeit.de/politik/ausl...
Spionage: BND hörte jahrelang US-Präsident Barack Obama ab
Der deutsche Geheimdienst überwachte regelmäßig Telefonate des damaligen US-Präsidenten an Bord der Air Force One. Erlaubnis von Angela Merkel hatte der BND nicht.
www.zeit.de
January 4, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Germany’s foreign intelligence agency (BND) intercepted phone conversations of former President Barack Obama while he was aboard Air Force One over several years. The interceptions exploited vulnerabilities in the aircraft’s encryption and known frequencies.
www.zeit.de/politik/ausl...
www.zeit.de/politik/ausl...
“‘I was in a SCIF on three different occasions‘ and the government still lied to me“ is one of those phrases that will live in my head forever.
January 4, 2026 at 12:25 AM
“‘I was in a SCIF on three different occasions‘ and the government still lied to me“ is one of those phrases that will live in my head forever.
One wonders how the Danes, in particular, are digesting this development.
January 3, 2026 at 8:07 PM
One wonders how the Danes, in particular, are digesting this development.
Is Rubio the most powerful administration official since Kissinger? Definitely a case to be made with the Venezuela action.
January 3, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Is Rubio the most powerful administration official since Kissinger? Definitely a case to be made with the Venezuela action.
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
Trump says he will designate people to run Venezuela, and says the people standing behind him on stage will be "largely" running the country. That appears to be Secretaries Hegseth and Rubio and Gen. Caine.
January 3, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Trump says he will designate people to run Venezuela, and says the people standing behind him on stage will be "largely" running the country. That appears to be Secretaries Hegseth and Rubio and Gen. Caine.
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
"Monroe Doctrine, we sort of forgot about it. Very important but we forgot about it we don't forget about it anymore." Talks about the "Donroe doctrine"
January 3, 2026 at 4:57 PM
"Monroe Doctrine, we sort of forgot about it. Very important but we forgot about it we don't forget about it anymore." Talks about the "Donroe doctrine"
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
On one hand, the Iranian regime is weakened and internally divided, and the popular grievances are broad-based and deeply rooted.
On the other, the regime still commands lethal domestic force that it is willing to use, and it is deeply committed to retaining power.
On the other, the regime still commands lethal domestic force that it is willing to use, and it is deeply committed to retaining power.
No one knows what’s going to happen in Iran.
January 3, 2026 at 12:45 AM
On one hand, the Iranian regime is weakened and internally divided, and the popular grievances are broad-based and deeply rooted.
On the other, the regime still commands lethal domestic force that it is willing to use, and it is deeply committed to retaining power.
On the other, the regime still commands lethal domestic force that it is willing to use, and it is deeply committed to retaining power.
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
Ex-Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun has Lunch with the FT and in one of those instances so rare that you know he didn't sign an NDA, says exactly why as.ft.com/r/e503690d-8...
January 2, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Ex-Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun has Lunch with the FT and in one of those instances so rare that you know he didn't sign an NDA, says exactly why as.ft.com/r/e503690d-8...
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
Year-end tally of Trump admin combat actions in 2025:
—Yemen—1,000+ strikes*
—Somalia—140+ strikes, 1 ground raid**
—Syria—78+ strikes, 3 ground raids***
—Iran—3 B-2 strikes
—Iraq—1 strike
—Nigeria—1 set of TLAM strikes
—Caribbean—11 strikes
—Eastern Pacific—20 strikes
—Venezuela—1 known CIA strike
—Yemen—1,000+ strikes*
—Somalia—140+ strikes, 1 ground raid**
—Syria—78+ strikes, 3 ground raids***
—Iran—3 B-2 strikes
—Iraq—1 strike
—Nigeria—1 set of TLAM strikes
—Caribbean—11 strikes
—Eastern Pacific—20 strikes
—Venezuela—1 known CIA strike
First-ever US airstrikes in Nigeria put the second Trump admin’s 2025 combat actions at:
—Nigeria—tonight’s strikes
—Yemen—1,000+ strikes (Mar-Apr)
—Somalia—120 strikes, 1 ground raid
—Syria—78+ strikes, 3 ground raids
—Caribbean—11 strikes
—Eastern Pacific—20 strikes
—Iran—3 strikes
—Iraq—1 strike
—Nigeria—tonight’s strikes
—Yemen—1,000+ strikes (Mar-Apr)
—Somalia—120 strikes, 1 ground raid
—Syria—78+ strikes, 3 ground raids
—Caribbean—11 strikes
—Eastern Pacific—20 strikes
—Iran—3 strikes
—Iraq—1 strike
January 2, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Year-end tally of Trump admin combat actions in 2025:
—Yemen—1,000+ strikes*
—Somalia—140+ strikes, 1 ground raid**
—Syria—78+ strikes, 3 ground raids***
—Iran—3 B-2 strikes
—Iraq—1 strike
—Nigeria—1 set of TLAM strikes
—Caribbean—11 strikes
—Eastern Pacific—20 strikes
—Venezuela—1 known CIA strike
—Yemen—1,000+ strikes*
—Somalia—140+ strikes, 1 ground raid**
—Syria—78+ strikes, 3 ground raids***
—Iran—3 B-2 strikes
—Iraq—1 strike
—Nigeria—1 set of TLAM strikes
—Caribbean—11 strikes
—Eastern Pacific—20 strikes
—Venezuela—1 known CIA strike
Has a new covert action finding been signed permitting lethal action by CIA’s Counternarcotics Center? Or has the “narcoterrorist“ designation re: Venezuela meant that the Counterterrorism Center, with its expanded post-9/11 authorities, is prosecuting this “war”?
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/u...
C.I.A. Conducted Drone Strike on Port in Venezuela
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Has a new covert action finding been signed permitting lethal action by CIA’s Counternarcotics Center? Or has the “narcoterrorist“ designation re: Venezuela meant that the Counterterrorism Center, with its expanded post-9/11 authorities, is prosecuting this “war”?
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/u...
Reposted by Zach Dorfman
