Source: Caitlin Johnstone, Rogue Journalist
by Caitlin Johnstone
“If you were wondering why the US establishment was so much more chill about Trump becoming president this term than they were the first time around, you’re watching the reason now. The powers that be were assured that he’d carry out longstanding imperial agendas like kidnapping Maduro, bombing Iran and overseeing a final solution to the Palestinian problem, and they trusted him to carry out those plans. The MAGA narrative that the establishment hates Trump because he’s fighting the Deep State has never been true; there were certain factions within the US imperial power structure which disliked Trump, but that was only because he was not a proven commodity like Hillary Clinton and they didn’t trust him to be a reliable steward of the empire.” (01/06/25)
“Venezuela’s main opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, has vowed to return home quickly, praising U.S. President Donald Trump for toppling her enemy Nicolas Maduro and declaring her movement ready to win a free election. Trump appears, however, to hope for now to work with interim President Delcy Rodriguez and other senior officials from Maduro’s government, disappointing the opposition and contributing to nervousness in Venezuela. ‘I’m planning to go back to Venezuela as soon as possible,’ said Machado, 58, who escaped from Venezuela in disguise in October to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which she dedicated to Trump. ‘We believe that this transition should move forward,’ she told Fox News’ ‘Hannity’ program.” (01/06/25)
“At a time when principles are tested and passions run high, we have to return to the heart of what America stands for. It’s not just about who raises a flag, but who upholds the values of generosity, unity and a shared future. In the end, the question is about the soul of our nation. Who stands with America’s deepest ideals, and who does not? I came to America chasing a basketball dream, but I stayed because I found something far greater: freedom. As a Muslim and a legal immigrant, I came to the United States because freedom here is not just an idea. It is a way of life. I did not come to impose my beliefs on anyone. I did not come to burn flags or hate this nation. I did not come to conquer America.” (01/06/25)
“President Donald Trump says the US oil industry could be ‘up and running’ with increased operations in Venezuela within 18 months, after a surprise military operation removed President Nicolás Maduro from power. Trump told NBC News that ‘a tremendous amount of money will have to be spent, and the oil companies will spend it, and the oil companies will spend it, and then they’ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue’. Representatives from major US petroleum companies planned to meet the Trump administration later this week, BBC’s partner CBS News reported.” (01/06/25)
“The White House published a new website Tuesday detailing the timeline of the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump, taking aim at Democrat lawmakers for allegedly promoting a ‘gaslighting narrative’ surrounding the protest to silence their political opponents. ‘The Democrats masterfully reversed reality after January 6, branding peaceful patriotic protesters as ‘insurrectionists’ and framing the event as a violent coup attempt orchestrated by Trump — despite no evidence of armed rebellion or intent to overthrow the government,’ the new website states. ‘In truth, it was the Democrats who staged the real insurrection,’ the website continued, pointing to the certification of the 2020 election that the White House described as ‘fraud-ridden’ and for allegedly ‘weaponizing federal agencies to hunt down dissenters.'” (01/06/25)
“On January 3, the US launched an illegal attack in Venezuela that resulted in the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Attorney General Pamela Bondi wrote via Twitter-X that the couple has been indicted and ‘will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.’ For Vice President JD Vance, because ‘Maduro has multiple indictments in the United States for narcoterrorism,’ these military strikes were legal. This, despite the fact that these strikes were conducted without congressional approval in a clear violation of the Constitution and the separation of powers. With Maduro out of power, President Donald Trump announced that, ‘We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.'” (01/06/25)
“A gambler made nearly half a million dollars on the capture of Venezuela’s president just before it was officially announced, raising questions about whether someone profited from inside knowledge of the US operation. Wagers on Polymarket, a crypto-powered platform, that Nicolás Maduro would be out of power by the end of January rose in the hours before President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the Venezuelan leader had been seized. One account, which joined the platform last month and took four positions, all on Venezuela, made more than $436,000 (£322,000) from a $32,537 bet. It remains unclear who placed the bet.” (01/06/25)
“Is there any media outlet in the country that does actual journalism? I’ll save you the time, the answer is a resounding ‘no!’ None, not one, is worth their weight in post-digested food, and neither are the people who work there (and I say this as someone who knows a lot of people who work there, and likes some of them). It is getting harder and harder to come away from consuming any ‘news’ from anywhere and not be dumber for the experience. No matter how much you dislike these people and that profession, you cannot hate them enough. How many ‘journalists,’ upon seeing the original video about fraud in the Minnesota welfare system committed by Somalis, set out to report on the substance of the story versus how many reports did you see of reporters calling Nick Shirley’s reporting ‘a viral video’ by ‘a right-wing blogger?'” (01/06/25)
“Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, said ‘fuck you’ to the Supreme Court over its decision to temporarily uphold Texas'[s] new congressional districts. In a video posted to her YouTube account on Sunday, Crockett commented on what she claims are efforts by President Donald Trump and the Republican Party to ‘rig the system’ ahead of the 2026 midterm elections using redistricting tactics. ‘Obviously, Trump is still doing his bidding with these state Houses and state Senates and governor’s mansions to try to rig the system,’ Crockett said. ‘Kudos to Indiana for saying f— you. Kudos to California for saying we’re going to fight back.’ She continued, ‘Definitely kudos to the Trump justice who wrote the 160-page opinion denouncing what took place in Texas and fuck you to the Supreme Court for what they did as well …'” (01/06/25)
“Republican Doug LaMalfa, a seven-term U.S. representative from California and a reliable vote on President Donald Trump’s agenda, has died, reducing the GOP’s narrow control of the House. He was 65. A former state lawmaker and rice farmer, LaMalfa had more than a dozen years in Congress, where he regularly helped GOP leaders open the House floor and frequently gave speeches. His death, confirmed by Majority Whip Tom Emmer and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson, trims the Republicans’ margin of control of the House to 218 seats to Democrats’ 213.” (01/06/25)
