The Venezuelan saga now has enough twists to resemble a hard-boiled detective novel

Venezuelan Plot Twists

The Venezuelan saga now has enough twists to resemble a hard-boiled detective novel.

On the side of the alleged good guys, the United States seized a vessel off Venezuela’s coast, claiming it was carrying “sanctioned oil” of Venezuelan and Iranian origin. Donald Trump, never one to understate a threat, floated the possibility of a ground incursion against what he memorably labeled the “narco-government” of dictator Nicolás Maduro.

On the side of the alleged bad guys, Vladimir Putin rang up his “pana” Maduro to reaffirm his support — and, rumor has it, to offer him a comfortable asylum in a kind of post-Soviet viceroyalty known as Belarus. China, for its part, would not take kindly to the world’s largest proven oil reserves falling into the hands of “American imperialism.”

Of course, “good” and “bad” are mostly rhetorical conveniences. No one ignores Washington’s longstanding appetite for Venezuelan crude, just as no one can overlook the suffering Venezuelans have endured under Maduro’s iron fist. In short, stay tuned.

Indiana’s Anti-Trump Revolt

“Republicans in the Indiana State Senate, who voted against a Majority in the US House of Representatives, should be ashamed of themselves!” President Donald Trump wrote on social media, sounding less like a head of state and more like an aggrieved party chairman. As if foreign entanglements weren’t enough, Trump now finds himself grappling with rebellion at home. The spark came from Indiana, where 20 — yes, 20 — Republican state senators voted against the White House’s plan to redraw the state to squeeze out two additional House seats, thereby making it more likely that the Republicans could retain control of Congress.

The backlash was swift and theatrical. Trump called for a political purge, declaring that “every one of these people should be primaried,” and promising personal involvement. Beyond the threats, the episode hints at something more interesting than a simple tantrum: a possible erosion of Trump’s once ironclad grip on his party. Will it happen in other states?

Australia Logs Off

Australia has become the first country to ban social media for minors — a move celebrated by many parents and greeted with horror by the companies whose business models depend on adolescent attention spans. Under a new law that took effect a few days ago, platforms must bar Australians under the age of 16 from holding accounts. The decision is being watched closely around the world, like a social experiment conducted on a continental scale.

Tech company Reddit has already launched a challenge in Australia’s highest court. Though complying with the ban for now, the company argues that the policy carries serious implications for privacy and political rights. Two Australian teenagers are also awaiting a High Court hearing, claiming the law infringes on the implied freedom of political communication. “Despite the best intentions, this law is missing the mark,” Reddit said, suggesting — politely — that governments might protect children without upending the Internet as we know it.

Communications Minister Anika Wells remains unmoved. “We will not be intimidated by big tech,” she told Parliament, speaking on behalf of Australian parents everywhere.

Obamacare’s Last Legs?

Republican lawmakers now face an uncomfortable dilemma over whether to extend key Obamacare tax credits that help more than 20 million Americans pay for health insurance. Democrats want to renew the subsidies for another three years; most Republicans, following President Trump’s lead, oppose the move. The catch is the timing: Without an extension, the credits expire on December 31, and health care costs are expected to spike dramatically.

Trump insists, “I want to give the money to the people, not to the insurance companies,” a line that polls well and explains little. Privately, many Republicans fear that rising health care costs could be disastrous for the GOP’s chances in the 2026 midterms. Trump’s own political contract runs safely until 2029. Many members of Congress, however, must secure their seats far sooner. In American politics, principles may be eternal, but reelection deadlines are brutally finite.

$40 Billion

Crypto entrepreneur Do Kwon, whose digital creations imploded with spectacular efficiency, wiping out an estimated $40 billion, has been sentenced by a New York judge to 15 years in prison. In delivering the sentence, the judge remarked, “In the history of federal prosecutions, there are few frauds that have caused as much harm as you have.” Kwon, cofounder of Singapore-based Terraform Labs, was the architect behind TerraUSD and LUNA — coins that promised stability and delivered catastrophe.

You already know what you’re thinking: 15 years for $40 billion sounds, on paper, like a tolerable exchange. Forget it. Kwon’s collapse vaporized the savings of small families, impoverished retirees who trusted him with their nest eggs, and erased investments belonging to charitable organizations. This was not abstract market pain but personal financial ruin.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1091)