Kirk McElhearn
@kirkville.com
Lapsed New Yorker in Shakespeare's home town. Writer, podcaster, photographer, shakuhachi player, cat whisperer. I write and podcast about Apple, Scrivener, computer security, music, and photography.
kirkville.com
kirkville.com
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
I happen to know quite a bit about Venezuelan oil.
TL;DR it’s hard to extract, notoriously investor-endangering, isn’t needed (global crude is oversupplied to the tune of 3.3 min bpd) and isn’t easily refined (it’s too dense so always sold at a heavy discount)
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
TL;DR it’s hard to extract, notoriously investor-endangering, isn’t needed (global crude is oversupplied to the tune of 3.3 min bpd) and isn’t easily refined (it’s too dense so always sold at a heavy discount)
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
Venezuela has the world’s most oil: Why doesn’t it earn more from exports?
Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, more than five times more than the United States.
www.aljazeera.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:06 PM
I happen to know quite a bit about Venezuelan oil.
TL;DR it’s hard to extract, notoriously investor-endangering, isn’t needed (global crude is oversupplied to the tune of 3.3 min bpd) and isn’t easily refined (it’s too dense so always sold at a heavy discount)
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
TL;DR it’s hard to extract, notoriously investor-endangering, isn’t needed (global crude is oversupplied to the tune of 3.3 min bpd) and isn’t easily refined (it’s too dense so always sold at a heavy discount)
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
A very long and important THREAD -
The real reason the US is invading Venezuela goes back to a deal Henry Kissinger made with Saudi Arabia in 1974.
And I'm going to explain why this is actually about the SURVIVAL of the US dollar itself.
Not drugs. Not terrorism. Not "democracy." 1/
The real reason the US is invading Venezuela goes back to a deal Henry Kissinger made with Saudi Arabia in 1974.
And I'm going to explain why this is actually about the SURVIVAL of the US dollar itself.
Not drugs. Not terrorism. Not "democracy." 1/
January 4, 2026 at 9:40 AM
A very long and important THREAD -
The real reason the US is invading Venezuela goes back to a deal Henry Kissinger made with Saudi Arabia in 1974.
And I'm going to explain why this is actually about the SURVIVAL of the US dollar itself.
Not drugs. Not terrorism. Not "democracy." 1/
The real reason the US is invading Venezuela goes back to a deal Henry Kissinger made with Saudi Arabia in 1974.
And I'm going to explain why this is actually about the SURVIVAL of the US dollar itself.
Not drugs. Not terrorism. Not "democracy." 1/
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Hey America, just a reminder, you impeached Clinton for having his winky sucked. Perhaps there is something in the corruption, breaking international law, bombing another country, kidnapping, extrajudicial killing, rendering us citizens to foreign jails, alleged child rape, taking bribes, lying…
January 4, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Hey America, just a reminder, you impeached Clinton for having his winky sucked. Perhaps there is something in the corruption, breaking international law, bombing another country, kidnapping, extrajudicial killing, rendering us citizens to foreign jails, alleged child rape, taking bribes, lying…
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
A nuclear-armed U.S. under full totalitarian control is an existential threat to billions of people. To life on this planet.
It's up to us, U.S. citizens living here in the imperial core, to stop it. Nobody is coming to save us. Not the U.N., not the ICJ. It's us or it's nobody.
It's up to us, U.S. citizens living here in the imperial core, to stop it. Nobody is coming to save us. Not the U.N., not the ICJ. It's us or it's nobody.
December 15, 2025 at 1:45 AM
A nuclear-armed U.S. under full totalitarian control is an existential threat to billions of people. To life on this planet.
It's up to us, U.S. citizens living here in the imperial core, to stop it. Nobody is coming to save us. Not the U.N., not the ICJ. It's us or it's nobody.
It's up to us, U.S. citizens living here in the imperial core, to stop it. Nobody is coming to save us. Not the U.N., not the ICJ. It's us or it's nobody.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Russia signed a treaty to defend Venezuela just two months ago but its crickets this morning from the Kremlin. Utter humiliation and evidence of just how weak it is globally.
January 3, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Russia signed a treaty to defend Venezuela just two months ago but its crickets this morning from the Kremlin. Utter humiliation and evidence of just how weak it is globally.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
THREAD: I'll fact-check all the viral misinformation about the US military operation in Venezuela in this thread
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
January 3, 2026 at 5:55 PM
THREAD: I'll fact-check all the viral misinformation about the US military operation in Venezuela in this thread
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Will never forget the day that both the New York Times and the Washington Post saw a catastrophic war crime and said, huh, seems like a pretty good idea
January 4, 2026 at 2:52 AM
Will never forget the day that both the New York Times and the Washington Post saw a catastrophic war crime and said, huh, seems like a pretty good idea
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
babe wake up, they're doing insider trading on war crimes
“What appears to be a newly created account appeared to invest $30,000 Friday in Maduro's exit. After Maduro went into custody Saturday morning, that same investor netted $436,759.61.”
Someone made $400K by predicting Maduro's capture. Here's what happened
The winnings come as the rules governing prediction markets are still evolving.
www.axios.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:38 PM
babe wake up, they're doing insider trading on war crimes
Don't Ever Antagonize The Horn
January 3, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Don't Ever Antagonize The Horn
Rewatched Red Eye, with Rachel MacAdams and Cillian Murphy. It’s impressive what you can do in less than 90 minutes with a taut screenplay and good actors. It’s on the iPlayer if anyone in the UK wants to watch it.
January 3, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Rewatched Red Eye, with Rachel MacAdams and Cillian Murphy. It’s impressive what you can do in less than 90 minutes with a taut screenplay and good actors. It’s on the iPlayer if anyone in the UK wants to watch it.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
We are sure it’s just a coincidence, but today is the statuatory date for the DOJ to explain its redactions in the Epstein file productions.
We have not forgotten, and we won’t let up - regardless of the President’s new unconstitutional actions.
We have not forgotten, and we won’t let up - regardless of the President’s new unconstitutional actions.
January 3, 2026 at 9:18 PM
We are sure it’s just a coincidence, but today is the statuatory date for the DOJ to explain its redactions in the Epstein file productions.
We have not forgotten, and we won’t let up - regardless of the President’s new unconstitutional actions.
We have not forgotten, and we won’t let up - regardless of the President’s new unconstitutional actions.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
This is probably a good moment to remember that Canada has the third largest proven oil reserves in the world.
January 3, 2026 at 6:13 PM
This is probably a good moment to remember that Canada has the third largest proven oil reserves in the world.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
The nobel peace prize committee has to wear this
At 7:10 or so the winner of the 2025 Nobel peace prize praises Tr*mp & condones extralegal killings in service of regime change. At 14:15 she tells Biz Forum that Venezuela will be the “energy hub of the Americas,” & the “new global frontier of innovation and wealth creation.”
If you want to know what the plan is, traitorous stooge Machado told the America Business Forum back in November: privatizing oil to the tune of $1.7 trillion. She said the same thing at a Saudi forum. It’s remarkable how little pretense there is. youtu.be/l2J2JtO8R9Q?...
January 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM
The nobel peace prize committee has to wear this
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
International law won't constrain Trump's thirst for oil. But every solar panel that goes up makes crude reserves that much less valuable
billmckibben.substack.com/p/just-possi...
billmckibben.substack.com/p/just-possi...
Just possibly it's the oil?
A solar panel is the new peace sign
billmckibben.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 4:11 PM
International law won't constrain Trump's thirst for oil. But every solar panel that goes up makes crude reserves that much less valuable
billmckibben.substack.com/p/just-possi...
billmckibben.substack.com/p/just-possi...
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
“Trump's Venezuela Attack: It’s All About the Oil, Stupid!”
Here are five times Donald Trump himself admitted that illegally attacking Venezuela and toppling Nicolás Maduro was aimed at seizing the country’s massive oil reserves.
My latest for Zeteo:
Here are five times Donald Trump himself admitted that illegally attacking Venezuela and toppling Nicolás Maduro was aimed at seizing the country’s massive oil reserves.
My latest for Zeteo:
Trump's Venezuela Attack: It’s All About the Oil, Stupid!
Here are five times Donald Trump himself admitted that illegally attacking Venezuela and toppling Nicolás Maduro was aimed at seizing the country’s massive oil reserves.
zeteo.com
January 3, 2026 at 1:49 PM
“Trump's Venezuela Attack: It’s All About the Oil, Stupid!”
Here are five times Donald Trump himself admitted that illegally attacking Venezuela and toppling Nicolás Maduro was aimed at seizing the country’s massive oil reserves.
My latest for Zeteo:
Here are five times Donald Trump himself admitted that illegally attacking Venezuela and toppling Nicolás Maduro was aimed at seizing the country’s massive oil reserves.
My latest for Zeteo:
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
The Epstein files must be worse than any of us imagined
January 3, 2026 at 2:23 PM
The Epstein files must be worse than any of us imagined
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
fwiw it’s been about six weeks since Trump pardoned the former president of Honduras who had been convicted of trafficking drugs into the US
January 3, 2026 at 10:47 AM
fwiw it’s been about six weeks since Trump pardoned the former president of Honduras who had been convicted of trafficking drugs into the US
Irish soda bread cooked in a Dutch oven. Definitely a crisper crust this way. 20 minutes covered, then 20 minutes uncovered.
January 3, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Irish soda bread cooked in a Dutch oven. Definitely a crisper crust this way. 20 minutes covered, then 20 minutes uncovered.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
LOL
👺 Russia backs Maduro, says disputes must be settled through dialogue
Russia backs Maduro, says disputes must be settled through dialogue
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned what it called US armed aggression against Venezuela on 3 January and said it is deeply concerned.
www.pravda.com.ua
January 3, 2026 at 11:41 AM
LOL
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Whatever you might think of Maduro, the seizure and kidnapping of a head of state takes us to a very dark place. Vast, arbitrary, extra-legal power, which could be exercised almost anywhere, regardless of the character of the target government.
January 3, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Whatever you might think of Maduro, the seizure and kidnapping of a head of state takes us to a very dark place. Vast, arbitrary, extra-legal power, which could be exercised almost anywhere, regardless of the character of the target government.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
The US is now responsible for the governance of Venezuela. Toppling the regime of a smaller country is always the easy part. The hard part is what comes after. Neo-cons always expect a pro-US nirvana. It rarely works out. But I suppose the oil companies can seize some assets.
January 3, 2026 at 10:15 AM
The US is now responsible for the governance of Venezuela. Toppling the regime of a smaller country is always the easy part. The hard part is what comes after. Neo-cons always expect a pro-US nirvana. It rarely works out. But I suppose the oil companies can seize some assets.
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Does the FIFA peace prize mean nothing?
Venezuela accuses US of attacking Caracas as explosions rock capital
Loud noises and low-flying aircraft were heard in the Venezuelan capital and a southern part of the city was without power
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Does the FIFA peace prize mean nothing?
Reposted by Kirk McElhearn
Two questions:
1. Do we still have a War Powers Act, which prevents a president from carrying out military aggression without Congress’s consent?
2. Do we still have a Congress?
1. Do we still have a War Powers Act, which prevents a president from carrying out military aggression without Congress’s consent?
2. Do we still have a Congress?
January 3, 2026 at 8:32 AM
Two questions:
1. Do we still have a War Powers Act, which prevents a president from carrying out military aggression without Congress’s consent?
2. Do we still have a Congress?
1. Do we still have a War Powers Act, which prevents a president from carrying out military aggression without Congress’s consent?
2. Do we still have a Congress?
PhotoActive Podcast, Episode 201: What’s Real?
Is your phone not accurately capturing the world around you? An article in the Guardian questions whether image processing in smartphones is making photos that aren’t genuine. Also, Leica released a firmware update that radically changes the entire…
Is your phone not accurately capturing the world around you? An article in the Guardian questions whether image processing in smartphones is making photos that aren’t genuine. Also, Leica released a firmware update that radically changes the entire…
PhotoActive Podcast, Episode 201: What’s Real?
Is your phone not accurately capturing the world around you? An article in the Guardian questions whether image processing in smartphones is making photos that aren’t genuine. Also, Leica released a firmware update that radically changes the entire interface, leading to a discussion of how important the UI in our cameras is when making photos.
kirkville.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:28 AM
PhotoActive Podcast, Episode 201: What’s Real?
Is your phone not accurately capturing the world around you? An article in the Guardian questions whether image processing in smartphones is making photos that aren’t genuine. Also, Leica released a firmware update that radically changes the entire…
Is your phone not accurately capturing the world around you? An article in the Guardian questions whether image processing in smartphones is making photos that aren’t genuine. Also, Leica released a firmware update that radically changes the entire…