Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
@maripuerta.com
Venezuelan-American • PoliSci Adj Prof • Media Analyst • PhD in Cultural Studies • @UCarabobo • Democracy & Autocratization • She/Her/Ella • Reposts ≠ endorsement • Spread: joinspread.com/u/maria-isabel-puerta-riera •
www.maripuerta.com
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Venezuela’s Military Won’t Surrender Its Privileges Easily
Problems with the armed forces pre-date Maduro and even Chávez.
foreignpolicy.com
In our piece with Prof. @vasabjit.bsky.social, we argue that the problems with the armed forces predate Maduro and even Chávez; no one should count on the Venezuelan Military surrendering its privileges easily
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/07/v...
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/07/v...
Where’s the Outrage? Universities Need to Speak Up.
www.chronicle.com/article/wher...
www.chronicle.com/article/wher...
Opinion | Where’s the Outrage? Universities Need to Speak Up.
The lack of response to the killing of Renee Nicole Good is shameful.
www.chronicle.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Where’s the Outrage? Universities Need to Speak Up.
www.chronicle.com/article/wher...
www.chronicle.com/article/wher...
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
🪖 On 3 January 2026, US military invaded Venezuela, capturing and removing president #NicolásMaduro.
💡 But @vasabjit.bsky.social and @maripuerta.com caution that beyond the ousting of Maduro, the Trump administration doesn't appear to have a plan for sustaining a democratic regime
👇 bit.ly/4pznACr
💡 But @vasabjit.bsky.social and @maripuerta.com caution that beyond the ousting of Maduro, the Trump administration doesn't appear to have a plan for sustaining a democratic regime
👇 bit.ly/4pznACr
Trump’s strategy for Venezuela must include civil-military relations
On 3 January 2026, US military invaded Venezuela, capturing and removing president Nicolás Maduro. But Vasabjit Banerjee and María Isabel Puerta Riera
bit.ly
January 14, 2026 at 9:50 AM
🪖 On 3 January 2026, US military invaded Venezuela, capturing and removing president #NicolásMaduro.
💡 But @vasabjit.bsky.social and @maripuerta.com caution that beyond the ousting of Maduro, the Trump administration doesn't appear to have a plan for sustaining a democratic regime
👇 bit.ly/4pznACr
💡 But @vasabjit.bsky.social and @maripuerta.com caution that beyond the ousting of Maduro, the Trump administration doesn't appear to have a plan for sustaining a democratic regime
👇 bit.ly/4pznACr
Venezuelans believe Donald Trump has offered them a better future www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
Venezuelans believe Donald Trump has offered them a better future
An exclusive poll for The Economist also reveals an overwhelming desire for democracy
www.economist.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Venezuelans believe Donald Trump has offered them a better future www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
Our piece with @vasabjit.bsky.social for @foreignpolicy.com: Venezuela’s Military Won’t Surrender Its Privileges Easily - Problems with the armed forces predate Maduro and even Chávez. foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/07/v...
Venezuela’s Military Won’t Surrender Its Privileges Easily
Problems with the armed forces pre-date Maduro and even Chávez.
foreignpolicy.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Our piece with @vasabjit.bsky.social for @foreignpolicy.com: Venezuela’s Military Won’t Surrender Its Privileges Easily - Problems with the armed forces predate Maduro and even Chávez. foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/07/v...
Estados Unidos, Venezuela y Colombia estarían coordinando una operación militar contra el ELN en territorio venezolano - Infobae www.infobae.com/colombia/202...
Estados Unidos, Venezuela y Colombia estarían coordinando una operación militar contra el ELN en territorio venezolano
La planificación binacional incluye vigilancia avanzada y monitoreo internacional para anticipar movimientos y contener posibles represalias en la región
www.infobae.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Estados Unidos, Venezuela y Colombia estarían coordinando una operación militar contra el ELN en territorio venezolano - Infobae www.infobae.com/colombia/202...
Venezuela’s new path into a protectorate:
time.com/7345310/trum...
time.com/7345310/trum...
Trump Would Turn Venezuela Into a Protectorate. There Is a Better Way.
"Washington’s role must be limited to helping create the conditions of stability necessary for Venezuelans to decide their own fate," writes Boris Muñoz
time.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Venezuela’s new path into a protectorate:
time.com/7345310/trum...
time.com/7345310/trum...
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
Exclusive: CIA highlighted Cuba's grim economy but gave mixed view on government falling
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
Exclusive: CIA highlighted Cuba's grim economy but gave mixed view on government falling
Trump said the U.S. strike on Venezuela leaves Cuba "ready to fall."
www.reuters.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Exclusive: CIA highlighted Cuba's grim economy but gave mixed view on government falling
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
Big Oil offers reality check to Trump’s Venezuela dream reut.rs/3Ywtidt
Big Oil offers reality check to Trump’s Venezuela dream
Big Oil companies have injected a heavy dose of realism into U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to rapidly invest billions in Venezuela, pointing to complex security, commercial and legal requirements to revitalize the country’s crumbling oil industry.
reut.rs
January 12, 2026 at 7:10 AM
Big Oil offers reality check to Trump’s Venezuela dream reut.rs/3Ywtidt
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
@frankfukuyama.bsky.social speaks about the difficulties of nation building in Venezuela.
The Venezuelan Trap
YouTube video by Frankly Fukuyama
www.youtube.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:31 PM
@frankfukuyama.bsky.social speaks about the difficulties of nation building in Venezuela.
The Problem With America’s Venezuela Policy by @frankfukuyama.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/persuasi...
The Problem With America’s Venezuela Policy
Trump isn’t trying to install democracy. But nor is he succeeding with nation building-lite.
open.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:12 PM
The Problem With America’s Venezuela Policy by @frankfukuyama.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/persuasi...
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
An upside of command economies like China, that Trump wishes he could do, is the state can simply tell companies where to invest. A downside is the state can get it wrong. China lavished billions in loans and investments on Venezuela, got burned, and now is owed $10b it probably won’t get back.
President Donald Trump tried to sell Big Oil executives on the promise of an expansive new drilling campaign in Venezuela.
‘It’s uninvestible’: Trump’s Venezuela pitch met with skepticism from oil executives | CNN Politics
‘It’s uninvestible’: Trump’s Venezuela pitch met with skepticism from oil executives
www.cnn.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:37 AM
An upside of command economies like China, that Trump wishes he could do, is the state can simply tell companies where to invest. A downside is the state can get it wrong. China lavished billions in loans and investments on Venezuela, got burned, and now is owed $10b it probably won’t get back.
Venezuela polling update: Republicans fall in line on comparatively unpopular action
open.substack.com/pub/gelliott...
open.substack.com/pub/gelliott...
Venezuela polling update: Republicans fall in line on comparatively unpopular action
Your weekly political data roundup for January 11, 2026.
open.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Venezuela polling update: Republicans fall in line on comparatively unpopular action
open.substack.com/pub/gelliott...
open.substack.com/pub/gelliott...
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
Crowds of protesters across the U.S. mobilized against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown on Saturday, three days after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. trib.al/RXQlxWj
January 10, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Crowds of protesters across the U.S. mobilized against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown on Saturday, three days after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. trib.al/RXQlxWj
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
Interesting, this piece doesn’t mention how many consumers might lose access to credit entirely.
@apnews.com $V $MA $JPM $COF
apnews.com/article/cred...
@apnews.com $V $MA $JPM $COF
apnews.com/article/cred...
January 10, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Interesting, this piece doesn’t mention how many consumers might lose access to credit entirely.
@apnews.com $V $MA $JPM $COF
apnews.com/article/cred...
@apnews.com $V $MA $JPM $COF
apnews.com/article/cred...
@jpolga.bsky.social: "Delcy Rodríguez gobierna entre Washington y el núcleo duro del chavismo" agendapublica.es/noticia/2054...
John Polga-Hecimovich, analista especializado en el poder chavista: "Delcy Rodríguez gobierna entre Washington y el núcleo duro del chavismo"
El mundo mira con atención a lo que sucede en Caracas tras la detención de Nicolás Maduro. El académico norteamericano John Polga-Hecimovich es uno de los analistas con más conocimiento del régimen ch...
agendapublica.es
January 10, 2026 at 4:01 PM
@jpolga.bsky.social: "Delcy Rodríguez gobierna entre Washington y el núcleo duro del chavismo" agendapublica.es/noticia/2054...
Trump's Venezuela focus frustrates top aides worried about midterm elections www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Trump's Venezuela focus frustrates top aides worried about midterm elections
With voters disgruntled about rising prices and Trump's handling of the economy, some allies fear the president's intense focus on foreign policy could jeopardize the party's tenuous control of Congre...
www.reuters.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Trump's Venezuela focus frustrates top aides worried about midterm elections www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
Hey #Polisky - I'm trying to put together a panel for APSA 2026 that focuses on antisemitism. Is anyone interested in contributing an abstract? If so, let me know!
January 9, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Hey #Polisky - I'm trying to put together a panel for APSA 2026 that focuses on antisemitism. Is anyone interested in contributing an abstract? If so, let me know!
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
Also, here's the column where I talked about that explicitly: newrepublic.com/article/1972...
Mamdani Did All the Things the Establishment Hates. He Won Anyway.
There’s a growing appetite for something new and innovative growing among the electorate—and an opportunity for Democrats to grow that electorate, as well.
newrepublic.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Also, here's the column where I talked about that explicitly: newrepublic.com/article/1972...
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
If you're interested in Dems and messaging and what Dem consultants stuck in the 90s and addicted to an Aaron Sorkin view of politics and bipartisanship can learn from the Mamdani campaign, tune in!
🧵 Despite all that's bad in the world right now, the victory of Zohran Mamdani after having everything thrown at him by Trump and his allies shows that there are signs of hope.
Democrats can have even more hope by actually learning from Mamdani—and from Trump. @espiers.bsky.social and I discussed.
Democrats can have even more hope by actually learning from Mamdani—and from Trump. @espiers.bsky.social and I discussed.
Even Democrats who disagree can learn from Zohran Mamdani
New York Times contributor and long-time city politics observer Elizabeth Spiers on how Mamdani is pointing ways forward for his party
plus.flux.community
January 9, 2026 at 6:08 PM
If you're interested in Dems and messaging and what Dem consultants stuck in the 90s and addicted to an Aaron Sorkin view of politics and bipartisanship can learn from the Mamdani campaign, tune in!
Estados Unidos debe buscar el regreso de la democracia en Venezuela por @luzmelyreyes.bsky.social
es.wired.com/articulos/es...
es.wired.com/articulos/es...
Estados Unidos debe buscar el regreso de la democracia en Venezuela
EE UU tumba a Maduro del poder pero impone una “transición tutelada” que mantiene al madurismo, prioriza el petróleo y deja la democracia en segundo plano. Sin un plan concreto hacia una transición de...
es.wired.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Estados Unidos debe buscar el regreso de la democracia en Venezuela por @luzmelyreyes.bsky.social
es.wired.com/articulos/es...
es.wired.com/articulos/es...
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
Wrote about the tendency of some to file away all inconvenient facts in a drawer marked ‘forgetting'. www.forthedeskdrawer.com/p/political-...
January 8, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Wrote about the tendency of some to file away all inconvenient facts in a drawer marked ‘forgetting'. www.forthedeskdrawer.com/p/political-...
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
Breaking news: The US economy added just 50,000 jobs in December, undershooting expectations, in the latest sign that the labour market is cooling after years of strong growth. ft.trib.al/oqBGTKJ
January 9, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Breaking news: The US economy added just 50,000 jobs in December, undershooting expectations, in the latest sign that the labour market is cooling after years of strong growth. ft.trib.al/oqBGTKJ
Reposted by Maria I. Puerta Riera 🌻
"Trump is destroying the postwar world that America made in favour of a Hobbesian jungle in which the strong take what they must — and he is doing so with racial imagery." My Swamp Notes with @jyshapiro.bsky.social on Trump's predatory boomerang. as.ft.com/r/9f5de7fe-2...
The white man’s burden, Trump edition
[FREE TO READ] America’s president is repudiating the postwar world fashioned by the US
as.ft.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:24 PM
"Trump is destroying the postwar world that America made in favour of a Hobbesian jungle in which the strong take what they must — and he is doing so with racial imagery." My Swamp Notes with @jyshapiro.bsky.social on Trump's predatory boomerang. as.ft.com/r/9f5de7fe-2...