Earlier today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responded to a classified briefing members of Congress received about the situation in Venezuela.
In the video, she makes a simple but devastating point: Congress has not authorized any direct military action against Venezuela, yet here we are facing a potential war.
Her reaction captures the disbelief that many of us feel right now as this regime accelerates toward a war that no one (besides the oil companies) is asking for.
“There was not a single piece of intelligence that was shared that even rises to the level of any other briefing that we’ve seen on Ukraine, China, anything.
There was no serious, this was not a serious intelligence briefing. This was a communication of opinion.
And if this administration wants to go to war, they need to go get it from Congress. And if Republicans want to defend this argument that cocaine is a weapon, they can go vote on that.
But this is kind of, this is just conjecture at this point.”
This moment matters because it shows even some members inside Washington understand how illegal this truly is.
Yesterday, the House of Representatives held a key vote on a war powers resolution aimed at limiting President Trump’s military operations involving Venezuela. The resolution was rejected 213 to 211.
Because official roll call details are still being published, the full list of members who did not vote, and their party affiliations were not yet available. I will update you when the final tally is released so we can see exactly who chose not to show up for this crucial constitutional moment, because not voting here is effectively the same as supporting a presidential war by default.
Do you think the United States shou go to war with Venezuela? Please comment below, or respond directly to this email (for those of you who don’t have the Substack app).
This Isn’t Just Words. Trump Seized a Venezuelan Oil Tanker Last Week
Just days ago, the Trump administration seized a Venezuelan oil tanker off the coast. The White House says it was carrying oil in violation of sanctions, but Venezuela and international observers have rightly called this an act of theft and piracy.
This is more than just another escalation. It’s part of an intensifying campaign that includes:
U.S. military strikes on dozens of boats in international waters near Venezuela
A naval buildup with warships and troops off the Venezuelan coast
A declared “blockade” on sanctioned tankers entering and leaving Venezuela
Threats of land attacks inside Venezuelan territory
We’ve talked about this previously, but this is nothing more than a coup. The bottom line is - Trump wants to overthrow this government & install a leader who will let American oil companies have whatever they want.
Where We Are Right Now
Let’s be clear: the Constitution vests the power to declare war in Congress, not the presidency, but we know Trump doesn’t care about the law.
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 was supposed to guard against exactly this kind of unilateral military action, but this regime is pushing forward anyway, and most members of Congress just voted to let it happen.
The “anti-war” party is at it again.
Meanwhile, lawmakers like AOC are rightly sounding the alarm behind closed doors because they see what the public doesn’t: this is not a contained operation. It has the potential to spiral into a full-blown conflict that could cost lives on all sides, infuriate our neighbors in Latin America, destabilize the entire region, and deepen global tensions all while benefiting no one, but corporate oil interests.
If you thought the idea of war with Venezuela was overblown months ago, look at where we are now.
What We Can Still Do About It
This moment feels heavy because it is. But every time people speak up, share information, and refuse to act like nothing is happening, we make it harder for dangerous actions like this to be swept under the rug.
If you think what’s happening matters:
👉 Share this post - text it to friends, post it on Facebook and Instagram, drop it in group chats.
👉 Talk about it - the more people know that Congress is failing to check an unauthorized war, the harder it gets for leaders to claim legitimacy for their actions.
👉 Stay informed - I’ll keep bringing you updates, analysis, and context that corporate media ignores, and I’ll always point you directly to the facts so you can make up your own mind.
We are living in a moment where the Constitution is being sidelined, military action is being deployed without consent, and oil politics are shaping life and death decisions for millions of people.
Until next time,
Desmond
If you liked this post, please click the heart ❤️ button & 🔄 button. This helps Independent Thought get recommended more within Substack.
