Politix Venezuela, Vidi, Vici?
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Jan 7, 2026 The hosts dive into Trump's controversial military actions in Venezuela, highlighting the confusion surrounding Maduro's arrest and global destabilization concerns. They question if it was a distraction tactic and explore the varied reactions from Latin leaders. The discussion touches on how domestic politics were reset, the role of conservative media, and implications for U.S. allies like Taiwan. They also examine political responses by Democrats and the implications of U.S. oil policy, all while revealing how this operation overshadowed major issues like the Epstein files.
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Wag-The-Dog And Power Projection
- Matthew Yglesias suggests Trump's Venezuela action may be partly wag-the-dog to distract from domestic problems.
- The narrower aim was to show Trump can order reckless military actions with no consequences, resetting political discourse.
Make The Operation Unpopular
- Matthew Yglesias argues Democrats must make the operation unpopular to deter escalation.
- Use public opinion as the main brake since congressional restraint is unlikely.
Global Shock Depends On Follow-Through
- Brian Beutler emphasizes the international consequences hinge on follow-through and backlash.
- Past instances (Iran strikes) show bold acts can cause little blowback if other states don't retaliate.