BULLETIN: TRUMP UNCONSTITUTIONALLY INVADES VENEZUELA, FOR OIL - 1.3.26

Jan 3, 2026

A bold assertion about Trump's unapproved invasion of Venezuela takes center stage, highlighting the constitutional crisis at play. The discussion reveals concerns about setting dangerous international precedents, curtailing democracy, and prioritizing corporate interests over ethical governance. Calls for impeachment echo as the dangers of unilateral military actions are dissected. Olbermann warns of potential chaos if global norms are undermined, emphasizing that America risks becoming a 'bandit nation' under Trump’s blatant disregard for law.

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INSIGHT

Unconstitutional Use Of Military Power

Keith Olbermann argues Trump's seizure of Maduro constituted an illegal, unauthorized act of war without congressional approval.
He warns this breaches the Constitution and makes the U.S. act like a tyrannical bandit nation.

INSIGHT

Dangerous Precedent For Other States

Olbermann highlights that Trump's action sets a precedent other nations could mimic to justify extracting foreign leaders.
He says any country could copy the legal sophistry and endanger global norms and Americans' safety.

ADVICE

Demand Immediate Accountability

Olbermann calls for immediate impeachment and removal of Trump for the unconstitutional invasion.
He urges Democrats to seek international prosecution of Trump and his aides as war criminals if Republicans fail to act.

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BULLETIN: TRUMP'S ILLEGAL WAR WITH VENEZUELA

Two months ago, in an interview, Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles "conceded that attacking targets on Venezuela’s mainland would force Trump to get congressional approval. Quote: "If he were to authorize some activity on land, then it’s war, then [we’d need] Congress.'"

She was entirely right. Yet overnight Trump invaded Venezuela and seized its leader Nicolas Maduro. To paraphrase his own chief of staff he DID authorize some activity on land, then it’s war, then [we’d need] Congress.'" AND TRUMP BROKE THE LAW AND BREACHED THE CONSTITUTION.

And this morning he and his hapless Vice President JD Vance confirmed this is as much about seizing oil - as much about increasing the profits of American corporations - as any supposed "narco-terrorism."

Without any Congressional consent, Trump did this - anyway - from inside his madness, from within his monomaniacal delusional fog - without any legal right to do so - without any legal right THERE and without any legal right HERE. On his own. Without congressional approval. Without the nation's approval. Without even the flimsiest of the fig leaves of democracy. Without any international consensus. Without any concern for the consequences. Without any consideration of the precedent he provides China in Taiwan and Russia in Poland and any other tyrannical bandit nation anywhere in this world.

And we, thanks to Trump, we - the United States of America - are now that tyrannical bandit nation.

It is important to note that on the simple, theoretical scale of who should remain as the leader of a failed rogue state, there is no defense for Nicolas Maduro. There is overwhelming evidence that he fabricated his latest quote “re-election” after first denuding the opposition and the law within his country. Again, by those tokens Trump has just put us on that identical path. And the idea that a country is suffering under a dictator who has no moral right to continue can be said even more easily of Putin. And of Xi in China. And dozens of others, many of whom Trump considers friends, about whom he makes no distinction. Maduro has no moral right to continue as president of Venezuela, and Trump has no moral right to act upon that by himself.

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