The Opinions Is This MAGA Foreign Policy or Something Else Entirely?
45 snips
Jan 5, 2026 
Masha Gessen, a renowned writer and expert on authoritarianism, joins David French, a former JAG officer and political columnist, to dissect the controversial U.S. operation against Nicolás Maduro. They explore whether this act qualifies as law enforcement or war, scrutinize its legal ramifications, and connect it to historical military precedents. Gessen warns of the implications for global order, while French analyzes how such actions resonate with MAGA politics, ultimately questioning the meaning of 'America First' in this new context.
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Seizing Maduro Was Aggressive War
- David French argues the Maduro seizure was an act of aggressive war that violates the UN Charter and bypasses constitutional war powers.
- He warns using indictments to bootstrap military action dangerously expands executive war-making authority.
Operation Signals A Return To Power Politics
- Masha Gessen says the scale and rhetorical framing of the operation create a new, terrifying precedent for U.S. behavior.
- She argues this aligns with a worldview where powerful leaders carve up spheres of influence, which pleases Putin.
Why The Postwar Order Matters
- David French emphasizes the post‑World War II order aims to prevent total war and relies on U.S. participation and norms.
- He warns pulling the U.S. away from that order risks collapse and a return to chaotic great-power competition.
