Undercurrents Trump declares WAR on Rand Paul & Thomas Massie
6 snips
Oct 22, 2025 Tensions rise as Donald Trump clashes with libertarian Republicans Rand Paul and Thomas Massie over military strikes near Venezuela. The legality and transparency of these actions come under fire, with Paul making strong legal objections. Lindsey Graham's backing of Trump's intervention raises eyebrows about regime change intentions. Meanwhile, the aftermath reveals troubling casualties and the shadow of covert operations. The podcast dives deep into the fractures within the MAGA coalition and the philosophical rift on military adventurism.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump Targets Libertarian Critics
- Donald Trump publicly attacked Rand Paul and Thomas Massie for opposing his Venezuela strikes and painted them as disloyal to the GOP.
- Emily Jashinsky highlights this as an escalation showing intra-MAGA conflict over interventionist policy.
Graham Signals Regime-Change Ambition
- Lindsey Graham publicly signaled that Trump aims for regime change in Venezuela and will "set the conditions" to remove Maduro.
- Jashinsky suggests that rhetoric alarms libertarian-leaning Republicans and escalates the risk of broader conflict.
Strikes Conducted 'In The Dark'
- Axios reported at least 32 killed in seven strikes off Venezuela with little public or congressional explanation.
- Jashinsky argues the administration's "trust us" stance raises legal and transparency concerns about presidential war powers.