Zeeshan Aleem
@zeeshanaleem.bsky.social
Political columnist and editor MS NOW.
Say hello: zeeshan.aleem@versantmedia.com
Sign up for my free politics newsletter: http://zeeshanaleem.substack.com/subscribe
Say hello: zeeshan.aleem@versantmedia.com
Sign up for my free politics newsletter: http://zeeshanaleem.substack.com/subscribe
Pinned
Zeeshan Aleem
@zeeshanaleem.bsky.social
· Nov 12
an intro note to pin to my profile:
Hello! I’m a political columnist & editor. I have left-wing views but I value independence and critique actors and ideas across the political spectrum — including those on my side. It's okay if you don't always agree with me; I often don't agree with myself.
Hello! I’m a political columnist & editor. I have left-wing views but I value independence and critique actors and ideas across the political spectrum — including those on my side. It's okay if you don't always agree with me; I often don't agree with myself.
This happened during the "rules-based order." As did lots of other acts of aggression.
January 6, 2026 at 2:19 AM
This happened during the "rules-based order." As did lots of other acts of aggression.
This outrageous quasi-endorsement of Trump's operation is maybe one or two degrees more deferential to Trump than statements by Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. This party -- which voted unanimously to put Maduro abduction point man Marco Rubio in the Trump admin -- loves empire.
Democratic Senator Jack Reed calls the Venezuela operation "well conceived and courageously executed" before adding the campaign is "illegal"
January 6, 2026 at 12:04 AM
This outrageous quasi-endorsement of Trump's operation is maybe one or two degrees more deferential to Trump than statements by Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. This party -- which voted unanimously to put Maduro abduction point man Marco Rubio in the Trump admin -- loves empire.
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
Some career diplomats have volunteered to travel to Caracas and open up the U.S. embassy, viewing it as an opportunity to chart a new path in U.S.-Venezuela relations. Other diplomats have sworn off the assignment, seeing it as akin to representing an occupying force, per source
On opening the U.S. embassy in Venezuela, a major step in legitimizing the rump Maduro regime, a senior State Department official says "we are making preparations to allow for a reopening should the President make that decision.”
January 5, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Some career diplomats have volunteered to travel to Caracas and open up the U.S. embassy, viewing it as an opportunity to chart a new path in U.S.-Venezuela relations. Other diplomats have sworn off the assignment, seeing it as akin to representing an occupying force, per source
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
On opening the U.S. embassy in Venezuela, a major step in legitimizing the rump Maduro regime, a senior State Department official says "we are making preparations to allow for a reopening should the President make that decision.”
January 5, 2026 at 6:48 PM
On opening the U.S. embassy in Venezuela, a major step in legitimizing the rump Maduro regime, a senior State Department official says "we are making preparations to allow for a reopening should the President make that decision.”
I've seen very little coverage or discussion of Venezuelan perspectives on all this.
January 5, 2026 at 6:40 PM
I've seen very little coverage or discussion of Venezuelan perspectives on all this.
I don't buy this, but it's hilarious reporting anyway.
January 5, 2026 at 6:02 PM
I don't buy this, but it's hilarious reporting anyway.
Amazing round-up.
amazing how the entire machine can pivot within 24 hours. no need to slowly upsell the argument; just issue new marching orders
January 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Amazing round-up.
Regime Change Lite -- brought to you by the unholy alliance of neocons and right-wing nationalists with the attention span of a toddler. I pray that this does not end up with Venezuela being torn apart by the power vacuum.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/u...
January 4, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Regime Change Lite -- brought to you by the unholy alliance of neocons and right-wing nationalists with the attention span of a toddler. I pray that this does not end up with Venezuela being torn apart by the power vacuum.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/u...
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
Captain America in 1990
January 4, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Captain America in 1990
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
just one more regime change bro, one more regime change i swear
January 4, 2026 at 5:31 PM
just one more regime change bro, one more regime change i swear
Ukraine's position is to quasi-endorse the kidnapping of Maduro. They also support Israel's domination of Gaza. Nice window into what it means to try to vie for entry into the West's "rule-based" order.
January 4, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Ukraine's position is to quasi-endorse the kidnapping of Maduro. They also support Israel's domination of Gaza. Nice window into what it means to try to vie for entry into the West's "rule-based" order.
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
Good thread on the many motives behind Maduro’s kidnapping
I'm seeing a lot of people say this is all ultimately really about oil. I think that's way too simplistic.
Trump's assault on Venezuela has a lot of causes (and is probably over-determined) including:
- Marco Rubio's longheld fixation on left-wing regime change in Latin America
Trump's assault on Venezuela has a lot of causes (and is probably over-determined) including:
- Marco Rubio's longheld fixation on left-wing regime change in Latin America
January 3, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Good thread on the many motives behind Maduro’s kidnapping
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
This.
I'm seeing a lot of people say this is all ultimately really about oil. I think that's way too simplistic.
Trump's assault on Venezuela has a lot of causes (and is probably over-determined) including:
- Marco Rubio's longheld fixation on left-wing regime change in Latin America
Trump's assault on Venezuela has a lot of causes (and is probably over-determined) including:
- Marco Rubio's longheld fixation on left-wing regime change in Latin America
January 3, 2026 at 7:48 PM
This.
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
Finally, a good MO thread
I'm seeing a lot of people say this is all ultimately really about oil. I think that's way too simplistic.
Trump's assault on Venezuela has a lot of causes (and is probably over-determined) including:
- Marco Rubio's longheld fixation on left-wing regime change in Latin America
Trump's assault on Venezuela has a lot of causes (and is probably over-determined) including:
- Marco Rubio's longheld fixation on left-wing regime change in Latin America
January 3, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Finally, a good MO thread
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
I think “opportunity for cheap projection of a semblance of hemispheric dominance that aligns with ambitions of a key Republican constituency” has more explanatory heft than resource adventurism this time around
January 3, 2026 at 7:53 PM
I think “opportunity for cheap projection of a semblance of hemispheric dominance that aligns with ambitions of a key Republican constituency” has more explanatory heft than resource adventurism this time around
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
Yeah I think is mostly correct
I'm seeing a lot of people say this is all ultimately really about oil. I think that's way too simplistic.
Trump's assault on Venezuela has a lot of causes (and is probably over-determined) including:
- Marco Rubio's longheld fixation on left-wing regime change in Latin America
Trump's assault on Venezuela has a lot of causes (and is probably over-determined) including:
- Marco Rubio's longheld fixation on left-wing regime change in Latin America
January 3, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Yeah I think is mostly correct
I'm seeing a lot of people say this is all ultimately really about oil. I think that's way too simplistic.
Trump's assault on Venezuela has a lot of causes (and is probably over-determined) including:
- Marco Rubio's longheld fixation on left-wing regime change in Latin America
Trump's assault on Venezuela has a lot of causes (and is probably over-determined) including:
- Marco Rubio's longheld fixation on left-wing regime change in Latin America
January 3, 2026 at 7:47 PM
I'm seeing a lot of people say this is all ultimately really about oil. I think that's way too simplistic.
Trump's assault on Venezuela has a lot of causes (and is probably over-determined) including:
- Marco Rubio's longheld fixation on left-wing regime change in Latin America
Trump's assault on Venezuela has a lot of causes (and is probably over-determined) including:
- Marco Rubio's longheld fixation on left-wing regime change in Latin America
Well, it is in fact normal by the standards of US postwar history. The issue is that it is substantively bad to subvert other countries' governments.
none of this is legal. none of this is normal. feel free to tell anyone who says otherwise to fuck off.
January 3, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Well, it is in fact normal by the standards of US postwar history. The issue is that it is substantively bad to subvert other countries' governments.
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
“The display of force and unity undermined President Trump's earlier comments that Washington would work with Rodriguez to run Venezuela.”
January 3, 2026 at 7:27 PM
“The display of force and unity undermined President Trump's earlier comments that Washington would work with Rodriguez to run Venezuela.”
Trump remains yet another example of a president who campaigns against needless war and then gets the keys to the war machine and decides to take it for a spin.
January 3, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Trump remains yet another example of a president who campaigns against needless war and then gets the keys to the war machine and decides to take it for a spin.
Awful -- and genuinely not sure if this would've been different pre-Bezos.
The Washington Post editorial board comes out in favor of the Venezuela attack/operation to capture Maduro
January 3, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Awful -- and genuinely not sure if this would've been different pre-Bezos.
The Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado looks even dumber and spookier now. What is the point of that institution?
January 3, 2026 at 4:46 PM
The Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado looks even dumber and spookier now. What is the point of that institution?
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
Like, not even GRE scores. SAT scores.
January 2, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Like, not even GRE scores. SAT scores.
Recommendations for podcasts about movies? I have two that I listen to regularly but would love some more.
January 2, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Recommendations for podcasts about movies? I have two that I listen to regularly but would love some more.