Good Riddance www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Investigations and a Billion-Dollar ‘Shakedown’: How Trump Targeted Higher Education www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/u...

This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again. www.nature.com/immersive/d4...

The paradox of Violence: Revolution, Crime, and Policing During Chavismo, edited by @dsmilde.bsky.social @beccahanson.bsky.social and Verónica Zubillaga. upittpress.org/books/978082...

I wanted to make a thread about the useful analyses coming out about the situation in Venezuela, but there is a lot, and everyday new things come out. It may be more useful to share some of the existing analysis of how we got here. Books in no particular order and on various themes/issues... 🧵

No, I don’t think VE is cursed by oil. It’s a challenge that can be managed with good government. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/m...

On Thursday, 4 pm Eastern, 3 pm Central, Verónica Zubillaga, Francisco Rodriguez, Alla Rosca and I will discuss Venezuela with Tony Pereira, director of the Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane. Scan QR code for connection information.

All republicans voted down a subpoena of all records and footage related to the murder of Renee Good by ICE agent

Federal Agents Shoot 2 in Portland, Ore., Police Say www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/u...

On only hours notice, hundreds of New Yorkers are gathering in Foley Square to protest the murder of Renee Nicole Good

Is Trump’s capture of Maduro really about drug charges? Joining us to discuss Venezuelan oil and the capture of Maduro is David Smilde @dsmilde.bsky.social. on.soundcloud.com/AaNldF3WzqdH...

If @cbsnews.com is looking for amateur data analysts, perhaps they could talk to Trump administration officials: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

“What has allowed us to thrive, physically and culturally, is not our rootedness but our mobility. Without it, we would already be extinct.”

David’s been making this point for a while: Trump wants to provoke Venezuela into war not because he cares about regime change per se, but because he wants to use the Alien Enemies Act to facilitate mass deportations, including of Venezuelans, and the courts say it can’t be invoked outside of war.

We need to see the video of this (if it hasn’t already been erased) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/24/u...

Stephen Miller Cites Children of Immigrants as a Problem www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...

Trump Takes America’s ‘Imperial Presidency’ to a New Level www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/u...

The government’s long-delayed November inflation report appeared, at first glance, to deliver welcome news. But for many economists, the numbers immediately raised red flags, especially on housing, the single largest component of inflation. trib.al/81r1OpP

“Miller has indicated to colleagues that a strong reaction from Caracas could provide the pretext to invoke the Alien Enemies Act to quickly deport hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants from the United States” wapo.st/4p66tIm

PBS NewsHour: Trump escalates Maduro confrontation with blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers open.substack.com/pub/davidsmi...

I spoke with Geoff Bennett about Venezuela on @pbsnews.org www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...

Trump Administration Aims to Strip More Foreign-Born Americans of Citizenship www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...

Did she know that when she said of her conversations with Trump, “He wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle,” she was underwriting a future war crimes indictment against him? She’s *confessing* that Trump is engaged in the very *definition* of terrorism, *not* drug interdiction.

"What Trump does like to do is drop bombs" open.substack.com/pub/davidsmi...

The US seizes a tanker carrying sanctioned Venezuelan oil to Cuba, upping the pressure on Maduro’s economy. Joining us to analyze the move and discuss what it signals for U.S.-Venezuela policy is @dsmilde.bsky.social. on.soundcloud.com/uO5pOJlLm4eq...

Always a pleasure to talk with @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social about Venezuela soundcloud.com/user-8304426...