Recent posts

#21

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Valmy - January 08, 2026, 11:58:15 PM

Ok I definitely was wrong about Iran earlier:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/08/iran-plunged-into-internet-blackout-as-protests-over-economy-spread-nationwide

I understand not wanting to get your hopes up after 2022 but the situation is just much worse for Iran now.

#22

Off the Record / Re: The Off Topic Topic

Last post by Josquius - January 08, 2026, 11:52:15 PM

My reply vanished

#23

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Admiral Yi - January 08, 2026, 11:21:03 PM

Video of the ICE dude being dragged.

#24

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Jacob - January 08, 2026, 11:02:47 PM

Steve Bannin has apparently said that Le Pen winning in France is the third step to destroying the EU - step 1 being Brexit and step 2 being Trump's current Nationalist-Populist policies.

Coincidentally (?), the Trump administration seems to be talking about sanctioning French judges if they rule against Le Pen at her upcoming trial.

#25

Off the Record / Re: Quo Vadis, Democrats?

Last post by Admiral Yi - January 08, 2026, 09:48:56 PM

"Seven GOP senators voted with Democrats — the most bipartisan impeachment vote in U.S. history — but well short of the 17 needed to convict the former president.

Of those seven Republicans, two are retiring and only one — Alaska's Lisa Murkowski — faces her state's voters in the next election cycle, 2022."

From npr.org.

#26

Off the Record / Re: Trump's Venezuela Vendetta

Last post by Jacob - January 08, 2026, 09:37:52 PM

Krugman has a writeup on how the vast oil reserves of Venezuela may be somewhat overstated: https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-emperors-new-oil-wealth

The two key points IMO are:

You may have heard that Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves — 300 billion barrels. You probably don't know that Venezuela's reported oil reserves tripled while Hugo Chavez was president. This increase, from roughly 100 billion to 300 billion barrels, didn't reflect major new discoveries or exploration. Instead, it reflected the Chavez government's decision to reclassify the country's Orinoco Belt heavy oil as "proved" — oil that can be recovered with reasonable certainty under existing economic and operating conditions

and

As Torsten Slok of Apollo, who recently made this point, notes, "Much of the oil is extra-heavy, which has low recovery and a high cost to produce." This suggests that Venezuela's claims to have immense usable oil reserves were politically motivated hype.

#27

Off the Record / Re: Trump's Venezuela Vendetta

Last post by Zoupa - January 08, 2026, 09:34:25 PM

Mexico will pay for it.

#28

Off the Record / Re: Trump's Venezuela Vendetta

Last post by HisMajestyBOB - January 08, 2026, 09:06:23 PM

 

#29

Off the Record / Re: Quo Vadis, Democrats?

Last post by HisMajestyBOB - January 08, 2026, 09:04:44 PM

Democrat senators go out of line while in office, while Republican senators wait until they leave office.

7 Rep Senators voted to convict Trump at his impeachment trial.

Ok, or are imminently leaving office.

#30

Off the Record / Re: Trump's Venezuela Vendetta

Last post by Jacob - January 08, 2026, 08:44:23 PM

Has there been any news on the 30-50 million barrels of oil Trump expects to receive from Venezuela?