THE AMERICAN POSEIDON ADVENTURE

As I have said before, the use of force may at times be necessary. Nicolás Maduro is a bad actor; no argument there. Venezuela is a nation under severe political and economic stress; again, no dispute. Its democracy is effectively defunct after the sitting president suppressed free and fair elections. Maduro’s regime is responsible for thousands of deaths and imprisonments. Sounds like Russia?

Yes, Maduro’s government has been involved in cocaine trafficking, and some of that cocaine reached the United States. That is true. But consider this: the former president of Honduras, who exported far more cocaine to the U.S., inflicting demonstrably greater harm, was indicted, convicted by an American jury, and sentenced to prison… only to be pardoned by Trump. What coherent policy principle explains that contradiction? There is none.

There is no consistent policy focused on the well-being or security of the United States. There is only a twisting, convulsive pathway that bends whenever Trump sees an opportunity to make money or announce a PR “deal.” These deals generate headlines, not results. At least not for ordinary Americans.

Trump claims Venezuela confiscated American oil assets and that he is now “taking them back.” He began with a so-called drug-enforcement operation that used the U.S. military to kill defenseless drug mules, people who, if apprehended, might have led authorities to actual kingpins. But apprehending drug lords was never the objective. The operation was driven by Trump’s obsession with money and power. As he told oil executives earlier this year, “Get ready.”

The Venezuelan incursion was a dramatic demonstration of American military power, but at what cost, and for what purpose? It risked American lives and taxpayer dollars for no clear national-security benefit. It could easily have gone badly, resulting in the deaths of U.S. service members. And let us not forget roughly 80 people are dead as a result of our actions.

Trump appears to believe that “reclaiming” Venezuelan oil, assuming that even occurs, justifies the risk. Yet the subsequent press conferences descended into farce. Trump declared “we” are running Venezuela. The next day, Venezuela’s vice president was sworn in while denouncing Trump. Trump then claimed Venezuela would ship 30–50 million barrels of oil to the U.S. Marco Rubio insisted we are not running the country, merely “influencing” it. Pete Hegseth offered yet another version. When Trump circled back, the story changed again.

It was Abbott and Costello’s ‘Who’s on First’ except with real lives, real money, and real global consequences. This is governance by improvisation: an unprincipled, moment-to-moment “church of whatever’s happening now,” packed into a clown car searching for a deal that flatters the Orange Clown King and preserves his courtiers’ access, all while grinding down America’s credibility, pride, and principles.

And here is the core truth:
America does not need Venezuelan oil.

For decades, the U.S. depended on imports. That began to change in the 1990s with shale discoveries and fracking technology. In the mid-2000s, the Bakken Formation in North Dakota and Montana dramatically expanded domestic production. In 2015, the U.S. lifted its long-standing ban on crude oil exports. Since then, America has become a net exporter of petroleum, exporting crude oil, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemicals to Europe, Asia, and Canada.

The U.S. produces enough oil to meet national demand. It still imports some oil, not out of necessity, but for economic convenience. Many U.S. refineries were designed for heavy crude, while much domestic shale oil is light crude. With additional investment, refiners could adapt. Importing oil benefits oil-company bottom lines, but it is not essential to America’s survival.

Using the U.S. military, risking American lives and spending taxpayer money, to enhance oil-company profits is gunboat diplomacy, pure and simple.

And where does that money go? Not to lowering the health-insurance premiums Trump has just driven higher for middle- and lower-income Americans. Not to expanding affordable housing. Not to helping young families buy homes. Not to shoring up Social Security. Not to strengthening healthcare, education, or workforce preparedness.

Under Trump’s BBB (Big Beautiful Betrayal) tax law, revenue that could serve public needs is diverted into the already bloated coffers of the top 1%, exploding the national debt by trillions and leaving the bill to middle- and lower-income Americans and their children.

To compound this domestic betrayal, Trump’s tariffs, threats, and trashing of allies are driving them away from American trade. Yet again today, Bloomberg reports accelerating global realignment as former allies forge new trade relationships because the United States has become economically unreliable. As America increasingly threatens its allies, those allies seek stability elsewhere. In that context, the old adage applies: “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

It is long past time for Republicans in Congress to step up. Yesterday’s lies about the January 6th seditious assault on the Capitol and the craven submission that followed do not inspire confidence that help is coming anytime soon. Relief may not arrive until November 3, 2026.

I hope we can endure until then. And I pray that at least some Republicans will finally put America first, forsaking Trump’s ruinous MAGA cult before irreparable damage is done.

RESIST!!! & EDUCATE!!!