You Must Stare Into the Heart of the $400 Million Machine Gizmodo
This might be the most creative way to show your POV without saying a single word. 👀
The “swan eyes” are incredible. 🦢pic.twitter.com/H4sbTbVANj
— Curiosity (@MAstronomers) January 3, 2026
Climate and Environment
Is This Where The Human Evolution Journey Ends? The George Tsakraklides View
Pandemics
The COVID generation: the neurodevelopmental consequences of in-utero COVID-19 exposure Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
South of the Border
The ongoing crisis in Venezuela has captured significant media attention. Today’s links compel a reflection on the broader global implications of this situation, organized into various themes to navigate through the flood of information and misinformation.
Mission Accomplished?
Venezuela live updates: interim president offers to ‘collaborate’ with US after Trump warns of further strikes The Guardian
Major Questions Finally Answered About Trump’s Venezuelan Adventure Simplicius
Rubio clarifies US role in Venezuela following Maduro capture Intellinews
Regime Tweaking, Not Regime Change, Is What The US Just Achieved In Venezuela Andrew Korybko
Legal Matters
The only “crime” they’ve charged the dictator of Venezuela with is… possession of machine guns.
Which the Constitution of the United States says is not a crime at all.
Trump can’t even start an illegal war without Pam Bondi assaulting the Second Amendment! https://t.co/dLAB6xOZRC pic.twitter.com/TI2v5V16GK
— Classical Liberal Caucus (@LP_CLC) January 3, 2026
Corporations Invested In Lawsuits Before Venezuela Invasion The Lever
Imperial Presidency
“But Wiles conceded that attacking targets on Venezuela’s mainland would force Trump to get congressional approval. ‘If he were to authorize some activity on land, then it’s war, then [we’d need] Congress.’”
– White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, November 2025 interview pic.twitter.com/xeajLbi3tM
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) January 3, 2026
Maduro Capture Operation and the President’s Duty to Faithfully Execute U.N. Charter Just Security
Poll: Americans Not Onboard With Trump on Venezuela American Conservative
Bipartisanship?
Chuck Schumer Says Democrats Want ‘All the Facts Out’ About Venezuela Mission NOTUS
The illegal attack on Venezuela is not foreign policy; it’s gangsterism on an international scale. pic.twitter.com/nEGS1W7LDv
— Graham Platner for Senate (@grahamformaine) January 4, 2026
Bipartisanship?
“It looks weak”: Dems fume at their party’s response to Maduro capture Axios
Finance Industry Eyes Investment Opportunities in Venezuela WSJ. Paywalled but here’s a snapshot:
Wall Street Journal (WSJ): Charles Myers, chairman of consulting firm Signum Global Advisors, said in an interview he is planning a trip to Venezuela with officials from top hedge funds and asset managers to determine whether there are investment prospects in the country under… pic.twitter.com/pCBL3j4DGZ
— Vineet (@cozyduke_apt29) January 3, 2026
The Venezuelan investment junket will be led by major Dem Party donor Charles Myers, whose hobbies include maximizing the profitability of illegal foreign wars and “resisting what he sees as the party’s socialist tilt.”
The tent is too big! Excommunicate the vultures! https://t.co/iRNWRmQYN7 pic.twitter.com/nQzUPYX0S6
— Lee Hepner (@LeeHepner) January 3, 2026
The Narco-Terrorist Elite Moe Tkacik, The American Prospect
Starlink says it will provide service to people of Venezuela through Feb. 3 The Hill
Resources
Following U.S. coup in Venezuela, the CIA’s former station chief is advertising support for corporate exploitation of the country’s oil All-Source Intelligence
The Venezuela plot thickens:
While Venezuela holds 303 BILLION barrels of oil reserves, much of this is HEAVY crude oil.
Texas and Louisiana also *happen* to have 6 of the LARGEST HEAVY crude oil refineries in the world.
What does this mean? Let us explain.
(a thread) pic.twitter.com/klfm4Lv2sy
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) January 4, 2026
Is Trump’s Venezuela Oil Plan a $100 Billion Gamble? Bloomberg
Famously Free Press
US Murders Sleeping Civilians, Media Calls It “Audacious, Stunning” Nate Bear
This original headline is infinitely funnier with this new information https://t.co/dCZSV2cd8n pic.twitter.com/rb1m9vXbyG
— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) January 4, 2026
A Newly Created Polymarket Account Made $436,759.61 on Nicolás Maduro’s Capture Gizmodo
Absolutely fantastic, bang-up job from “independent media”: spreading mega-viral fake videos to millions, all to serve the US Government’s war propaganda aims.
Putting corporate media to shame! Just keep re-tweeting these fake videos! Even if false, they spread joy and purpose! pic.twitter.com/EdiE9IdnlH
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 4, 2026
Immigration
Venezuelans under TPS can apply for refugee status, Kristi Noem says The Guardian
China
Chinese FM responds to whether China will continue importing Venezuelan oil Global Times
China asks banks to report exposure to Venezuela after US raid Business Times
Blow to China from loss of Venezuela oil blunted by hoard at sea Business Times
The US plan for countering China in South America Asia Times. From May, still relevant.
China social media hails Trump’s Maduro move as Taiwan template Straits Times
Wider Implications
We will regret the dawn of a ‘might makes right’ world Thomas Fazi, The Telegraph
‘Only a Nuclear Arsenal’ Provides Sufficient Security: Russia’s Medvedev Warns U.S. Attack on Venezuela Makes Deterrence Vital Military Watch
North Korea tests hypersonic missiles as Kim cites ‘geopolitical crisis’ UPI
Global defense stocks soar as U.S. strike on Venezuela heralds new ‘hard power’ era CNBC
UPDATED LIST of countries the Trump administration has threatened to invade, annex, or otherwise attack in the 85 hours of 2026 so far:
🇻🇪 Venezuela
🇨🇺 Cuba
🇬🇱 Greenland
🇮🇷 Iran
🇨🇦 Canada
🇨🇴 Colombia
🇲🇽 MexicoInsane.
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) January 4, 2026
14 Points on Trump Kidnap of Venezuelan President Maduro on the Sixth Anniversary of the Trump Assassination of Haj Qassem Soleimani Vanessa Beeley
IS THE MADURO KIDNAPPING A PRELUDE TO ATTACKING IRAN? Larry Johnson
U.S. Ambassador To Israel, Mike Huckabee, Boasts That Regime Change In Venezuela Is Good For Israel. The Dissident
🇮🇷🇺🇸| Iranian foreign affairs specialist, @khoshcheshm says US had planned Venezuela-style abduction operations inside Iran during the 12-day war.
Using dual nationals and local support teams as cover. Iranian intelligence uncovered the plot, arrested the entire support network,… pic.twitter.com/0qa6Vjlmal
— Arya – آریا (@AryJeay) January 3, 2026
While Europeans dutifully read from the script in support of the US, here’s the wife of Trump’s homeland security advisor:
SOON pic.twitter.com/XU6VmZxph3
— Katie Miller (@KatieMiller) January 3, 2026
What credibility?
One by one, European leaders are tossing their remaining credibility on Ukraine into the bonfire of Trump appeasement.
Unbelievable hypocrisy. https://t.co/iNCpVsEGUs
— Dave Keating (@DaveKeating) January 3, 2026
Popular Culture References
What Year Is This? Phantom Heresy with Jack Hanson. Drawing on Twin Peaks.
Trump sets his military operation in Venezuela to the soundtrack of “Fortunate Son,” a song about how the people who start wars are not the ones who pay its costs, it’s ordinary working-class Americans who fight and die and pay the price https://t.co/vudQXE7QM6
— John Hudson (@John_Hudson) January 3, 2026
Thinking about this today pic.twitter.com/Qg6s8GAs6X
— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) January 3, 2026
China?
China escalates Nexperia dispute as Malaysia shift looms Asia Times
Syraqistan
Iran arrests rioters in possession of ‘weapons and bombs’ as protests enter second week The Cradle
UK, France bomb suspected Islamic State arms dump in Syria New Arab
European Disunion
Financing war with climate funds: how Europe made weapons “sustainable” GeoPolitiQ
Sergio Cesaratto – EU SCENARIO/ Left-wing and neo-liberal delusions leave Brussels with nothing but war Il Sussidiario
45,000 homes in Berlin without power after politically motivated attack by ‘left-wing extremists’ Euronews
Leader of movement “defending Polish border” from German migrant transfers to stand trial Notes from Poland
Old Blighty
Starmer signals new plan to unpick Brexit harm a decade on from EU referendum The Independent
New Not-So-Cold War
Latvia Police Board Vessel After Baltic Sea Telecom Cable Breach Reuters
Shadow Fleet Tanker ‘Qendil’ Runs Aground in Turkey Following Ukrainian Drone Strike gCaptain
Budanov’s Israelization, military indignation Events in Ukraine
Trump says Ukraine did not target Vladimir Putin’s residence in Novgorod as the Kremlin claims Euronews
L’affaire Epstein
Epstein, health care and a shutdown fight: Here’s what the House faces in January The Hill
Minnesota Fraud
HHS escalates Minnesota fraud fight, prompting fear among daycare providers The Hill
Mamdani
Mamdani, Trump and the “A” Word Ken Klippenstein
Imperial Collapse Watch
The Permanent War Machine: The Modern State as Organized Crime Landmarks: A Journal of International Dialogue
We Are the Bad Guys Hamilton Nolan
Starlink to lower orbits of thousands of satellites over safety concerns The Register
Big Brother Is Watching You Watch
NYC Wegmans is storing biometric data on shoppers’ eyes, voices, and faces Gothamist
Well this is the most cooked thing I’ve ever seen. Real estate tracking your social media with an app and any updates you do. Increasing your rent based on any work promotions you get. pic.twitter.com/feeK4Cfgs3
— Nath_Sparky (@NatedawgO7) January 4, 2026
AI
The dark conspiracy that OpenAI can’t shake San Francisco Standard. On the death of whistleblower Suchir Balaji.
Cops Forced to Explain Why AI Generated Police Report Claimed Officer Transformed Into Frog Futurism
Antitrust
Reddit overtakes TikTok in UK thanks to search algorithms and Gen Z The Guardian. “A recent deal with Google that allows the company to train its AI model on Reddit’s content also appears to have provided a boost. Reddit is the most-cited source for Google AI overviews…”
The Bezzle
The LinkedIn job scam is global. The hook is local Rest of World
Class Warfare
The gap between farm costs and prices received hits a decade high Investigate Midwest
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
