Joseph Kominkiewicz
@metaiconic.com
Visual storyteller and film/video IT. Documentary shooter. Background in the humanities (German lit, medieval studies).
I take issue with a lot in my Catholic education. But the one thing that I’m grateful for is how my Catholic high school made a point to invite a Holocaust survivor to speak every two years. They were unsettling, transformative accounts. They introduced me to the moral possibilities of oral history.
January 6, 2026 at 10:32 AM
I take issue with a lot in my Catholic education. But the one thing that I’m grateful for is how my Catholic high school made a point to invite a Holocaust survivor to speak every two years. They were unsettling, transformative accounts. They introduced me to the moral possibilities of oral history.
I guess we're doing gunboat diplomacy again.
January 4, 2026 at 11:42 PM
I guess we're doing gunboat diplomacy again.
Trump’s going to be dust before they start producing oil in Venezuela:
“If Trump et al can produce a peaceful transition with little resistance, then in 5 to 7 years there is a significant oil-production ramp up as infrastructure is repaired and investments get sorted out.”
“If Trump et al can produce a peaceful transition with little resistance, then in 5 to 7 years there is a significant oil-production ramp up as infrastructure is repaired and investments get sorted out.”
No quick wins in tapping Venezuela's oil reserves
Venezuela is unlikely to see any meaningful boost to crude output for years even if U.S. oil majors do invest the billions of dollars in the country that President Donald Trump promised just hours fol...
www.reuters.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Trump’s going to be dust before they start producing oil in Venezuela:
“If Trump et al can produce a peaceful transition with little resistance, then in 5 to 7 years there is a significant oil-production ramp up as infrastructure is repaired and investments get sorted out.”
“If Trump et al can produce a peaceful transition with little resistance, then in 5 to 7 years there is a significant oil-production ramp up as infrastructure is repaired and investments get sorted out.”
The US intelligence apparatus is looking pretty threadbare at the moment.
I believe this is the latest social media post from the US Director of National Intelligence, who hasn’t otherwise been heard from today.
![Tulsi Gabbard @TulsiGabbard
X.com
My heart is filled with gratitude, aloha and peace
/ #2026
[various beach yoga and sunrise photos]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:on5oeywiqx32fh2zau473wz6/bafkreiadxukjsnyrzfaycc5mcaorvfz2yjijulhuog66jkkpzpwcl3vli4@jpeg)
January 4, 2026 at 8:52 AM
The US intelligence apparatus is looking pretty threadbare at the moment.
Obviously this was the deal all along with Putin: Russia gets Ukraine, and the US gets Venezuela. Only problem with this sort of realpolitik is that 1) the citizens of Ukraine and Venezuela don’t want it and 2) Russia/US are ill equipped to provide the security necessary to maintain stability.
During Fiona Hill's testimony to Congress on Oct 14, 2019, she described how Trump and Putin discussed exchanging Ukraine for Venezuela. The quid pro quo was if Trump refuses to help Ukraine fight off a Russian invasion, Putin would not help Venezuela (a Russian ally) resist a US takeover.
January 4, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Obviously this was the deal all along with Putin: Russia gets Ukraine, and the US gets Venezuela. Only problem with this sort of realpolitik is that 1) the citizens of Ukraine and Venezuela don’t want it and 2) Russia/US are ill equipped to provide the security necessary to maintain stability.
Democrats are falling into the Iraq War trap of half-supporting a war. The party needs to call for impeachment and protest nonstop. They must go on record of opposing this absolutely before it becomes the disaster it obviously will. If they do it when it’s obvious, their opposition is meaningless.
January 4, 2026 at 12:41 AM
Democrats are falling into the Iraq War trap of half-supporting a war. The party needs to call for impeachment and protest nonstop. They must go on record of opposing this absolutely before it becomes the disaster it obviously will. If they do it when it’s obvious, their opposition is meaningless.
This is currently the stage we’re at in Venezuela. The media breathlessly covering jubilant crowds in Miami needs to be reminded that what came after Firdos Square’s celebrations was what really mattered.
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
January 4, 2026 at 12:07 AM
This is currently the stage we’re at in Venezuela. The media breathlessly covering jubilant crowds in Miami needs to be reminded that what came after Firdos Square’s celebrations was what really mattered.
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
Our Democratic leaders need denounce what happened as illegal and go after Trump with a fury. They need to become the anti-war party. Otherwise, like w/ Iraq, they’re going to be blamed for the disaster for decades.
And stop using the fascist slogan “America First.” What party do you lead anyways?
And stop using the fascist slogan “America First.” What party do you lead anyways?
January 3, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Our Democratic leaders need denounce what happened as illegal and go after Trump with a fury. They need to become the anti-war party. Otherwise, like w/ Iraq, they’re going to be blamed for the disaster for decades.
And stop using the fascist slogan “America First.” What party do you lead anyways?
And stop using the fascist slogan “America First.” What party do you lead anyways?
Kremlin operatives seem to have planted the newest Kremlin-benefitting “peace plan” story by playing US journalists like a fiddle.
November 21, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Kremlin operatives seem to have planted the newest Kremlin-benefitting “peace plan” story by playing US journalists like a fiddle.
One concrete thing for Congress to do either now or after the midterms is to improve by passing legislation independent oversight at government prisons as well as ensure that Congressional members/staff can visit at any moment without needing approval.
"A Chinese immigrant was found dead in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, with his hands and feet tied behind him, an attorney has alleged."
www.newsweek.com/ice-detainee...
www.newsweek.com/ice-detainee...
Man detained by ICE found dead, hanging with hands and feet tied—attorney
The Chinese national died in Pennsylvania in August, but his family's requests for answers from DHS have gone unmet.
www.newsweek.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:07 AM
One concrete thing for Congress to do either now or after the midterms is to improve by passing legislation independent oversight at government prisons as well as ensure that Congressional members/staff can visit at any moment without needing approval.
Reposted by Joseph Kominkiewicz
Private prison executives casually discussed the "3,000 arrests per day" quota in earnings calls—despite the Department of Justice previously denying any quota exists. This is fueling immigration raids nationwide while companies rake in record profits.
In Earnings Calls, Private Prison Executives Revel in Profiting Off ICE Arrests
“Our business is perfectly aligned with the demands of this moment,” CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger said on the call.
truthout.org
October 25, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Private prison executives casually discussed the "3,000 arrests per day" quota in earnings calls—despite the Department of Justice previously denying any quota exists. This is fueling immigration raids nationwide while companies rake in record profits.
Reposted by Joseph Kominkiewicz
Thousands of fired up people who LOVE AMERICA out in the East Bay to say NO KINGS!
100% peaceful all across the USA - MAGA means LIAR
100% peaceful all across the USA - MAGA means LIAR
October 18, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Thousands of fired up people who LOVE AMERICA out in the East Bay to say NO KINGS!
100% peaceful all across the USA - MAGA means LIAR
100% peaceful all across the USA - MAGA means LIAR
Excellent turnout for the Stand Up for Science rally in Berkeley! Speakers included Fernando Pérez (known for IPython and Jupyter) and Jennifer Doudna (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2020; developed the essential basis of CRISPR gene editing).
March 8, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Excellent turnout for the Stand Up for Science rally in Berkeley! Speakers included Fernando Pérez (known for IPython and Jupyter) and Jennifer Doudna (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2020; developed the essential basis of CRISPR gene editing).
Stand Up for Science rally in Berkeley.
March 8, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Stand Up for Science rally in Berkeley.
The Stand Up for Science rally at Berkeley today.
March 8, 2025 at 12:37 AM
The Stand Up for Science rally at Berkeley today.