Staff Reports
Welcome to the surreal world of 2026, where President Trump’s latest escapades have us all scrambling to understand the grand chessboard of international politics. This time, he’s swapped the Middle Eastern deserts for the tropical allure of Venezuela. Yes, you heard it right—for 2026’s first act, President Trump commented on the internal affairs of Venezuela, presumably setting the stage for a new reality series, “Dictators on Trial in New York,” coming soon to a courtroom near you.
Naturally, the MAGA faithful find themselves split over this peculiar twist in the plot. Some are singing praises high enough to echo in the Monroe Doctrine archives. Others are scratching their heads, trying to reconcile this move with the oft-repeated mantra of non-intervention. Yet here we are, watching as the doctrine intended to curtail European meddling in the Western hemisphere now seems to be a topic of discussion for oil futures and geopolitical chess with China. It’s a fine line between safeguarding hemisphere stability and playing at Monopoly with entire nations.
At least Trump isn’t waxing poetic about saving democracy or spreading freedom, as previous presidents might have. No, he’s blunt as ever: It’s about oil and ensuring it doesn’t flow in the wrong direction—towards China, to be specific. One has to appreciate the candidness, if nothing else. It’s almost refreshing to see a leader forego the pageantry of noble causes when the objective is straightforward: Oil—Get it, Don’t Share it with China, End of Story.
But what about Cuba? As if Venezuela wasn’t enough, we’re being treated to whispers of the Cuban government being a potential target for increased U.S. attention. The ghosts of the Bay of Pigs may want to cover their eyes. After all, who doesn’t love a good regime change double feature? Cuba, already feeling the economic pressure, might soon find itself amidst rumors of more than just sanctions. Fingers crossed they’re ready for heightened diplomatic pressure.
And let’s not forget the periodic musings about Mexico, where dreams of intervention float around like the piñatas of policy discussions. Mexican cartels and immigration issues are the perfect boogeymen to drum up some good, old-fashioned patriotic fervor. Fear not, followers of the Monroe Doctrine—when there’s chaos just beyond the border, the rhetoric might be as American as apple pie in the 4th of July parade.
But hey, at least all these maneuvers pave the way for some fascinating televised spectacles. With Mr. Trump at the helm, world politics feels more like binging through a Netflix series—albeit one where the protagonists may not always be clear, and each new episode’s plot twist leaves you asking, “Can they really say that out loud?” Stay tuned, because 2026 has barely begun, and already, reality TV’s got nothing on geopolitics.
