News for Normies: Vol. 16
Venezuela's president captured; protests rage in Iran; and Mamdani axes official antisemitism definition
Buckle up for the longest News for Normies post to date!
For those new to the Substack, hi and welcome!
Here’s a little more about what you’ll find in News for Normies, the serious part of this otherwise-lighthearted Substack.
News for Normies comes every Monday and is a post on three important news stories, served up with context, insight and some things to follow in the coming week.
Who are you? A normal person who has a whole life to live, and not a lot of time to read or watch news.
What is this? Your go-to newsletter that highlights a few big stories to keep you a little more informed in an ever-saturated news world.
So if you want to know what’s happening in the world but don’t have the time to monitor the headlines, you’re in the right place!
To say this past weekend was news packed is an understatement, but I really enjoyed boiling down these stories for you.
Today we’re talking about the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro by U.S. military forces; continued protests against the Islamic regime in Iran; and a move by New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani that has him facing criticism from the Jewish community.
Let’s get your week started with some simple, thoughtful, and unbiased info. Please share with a fellow news-loving friend!
Story 1: U.S. Captures Venezuelan Dictator from Bed; Trump Says U.S. Will “Run” Venezuela Until Further Notice
There’s no bigger story to start with this week than the U.S. mission that captured Venezuelan president/dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
Early Saturday, President Trump announced that U.S. forces stormed the Venezuelan president’s home, breaking through steel doors and taking Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, right from their beds.
It was part of a broader military operation that also included strikes around the capital of Caracas, and the culmination of months of provocation from the U.S. toward Venezuela, which also included dozens of drug-boat strikes and seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers.
After forces seized Maduro and Flores, they flew them back to the United States where both will face charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. They’re set to appear in court today.
Context and Background
We’ve been following this one on NfN for months; check out some of the backstory here, here, here, here and here. But the TLDR version is that the Trump administration has been positioning itself to intervene with Venezuealan leadership for months now.
Venezuelans, either still in the country or expats, mostly welcomed the news of Maduro’s capture, taking to the streets in celebration in Venezuelan immigrant-heavy cities around the U.S.
Critics of the operation say it was a violation of international law and sets a dangerous precedent. In fact, the U.N. Security Council will meet today to discuss the move—a meeting requested by Colombia, Russia and China.
What happens now?
President Trump has said that the U.S. plans to “run” Venezuela, but did not give specifics on how that would look.
As far as who is being discussed as potential new leaders, there’s María Corina Machado, an opposition political leader and Nobel laureate. But in a press conference Saturday, Trump said he doesn’t believe Machado would be ready to take over, despite the fact that she enjoys widespread support among Venezuelans, and her party was the real winner in the last presidential election.
So why would Trump say that? Some legal experts say it may be a matter of language. If he’s on the record publicly discussing who he believes should lead Venezuela, it would change the classification of this mission as regime change rather than the pursuit of valid drug charges, ultimately hurting her or another leader’s chance of stable rule.
So how Trump speaks about potential future leaders matters: Ultimately it can affect perceptions of their legitimacy.
What are world leaders saying about this mission?
Leaders from countries allied to Maduro’s administration are understandably not in favor of the move; that includes China, Russia, Iran and Brazil.
Countries whose leaders expressed support for the move and considered it a move toward a freer, more democratic Venezuela include Argentina, Israel, and Ecuador.
As for leaders of European countries, the overall sentiment expressed was one of support and joy for the people of Venezuela, paired with criticism about the manner in which this move was carried out.
Here’s a short list of some countries’ reactions to the mission:
Germany — cautious but supportive
England — supportive
Italy — cautious but supportive
Spain — critical
France — supportive from the president; critical from the foreign minister
Greece — cautiously supportive, though its prime minister did not want to comment on the legality of the mission
What to Follow
Maduro’s legal case in the U.S.: With Maduro and his wife set to appear in a New York courtroom today, his legal troubles are just beginning. How will U.S. prosecutors move forward with the charges of drug trafficking and narco terrorism, and what arguments will be made about jurisdiction?
Who’s actually in charge now? A huge question mark remains, who’s in charge in Venezuela? There are plenty of members of Maduro’s cabinet who remain there, and Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is just one of them who’s calling for Maduro’s return. She’s acting president right now, and much of the interim government remains supportive of Maduro.
Changes in oil experts and the oil industry: Will Western oil companies be willing to return to Venezuela? Since the industry was nationalized under Maduro’s rule, many countries involved in the oil trade exited Venezuela. What happens now that Maduro is gone? And what exactly does Trump mean when he says he will “tap” their oil reserves?
Precedent-setting: This mission will continue to spur discussion about not only its own legality, but also the precedent it sets for other world leaders in conflict going forward. For example, China has long maintained that Taiwan is not a sovereign country but rather a breakaway province; will Xi Jinping use similar justification to attempt to remove its leader?
Story 2: Protests Rage on in Iran
Widespread protests continue in Iran, as demonstrators take to the streets all across the country, fueled by anger over an economic crisis, rising inflation, and an overall rejection of the leadership of the Islamic Republic.
Demonstrations have reached over 170 locations in 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces, with at least 16 people have been reported dead so far and the number expected to rise.
Context and Background
These protests reflect citizens’ dissatisfaction not just with the tanking economy, but also with the harsh rule of the Islamic Republic, which has been in charge since the overthrow of the Shah in 1979.
Since then, Iranian people have experienced the brutal rule of the Islamic Republic, where the human rights violations are plenty:
Political dissidents, journalists, activists and opposition leaders are often brutally murdered.
A “morality police” force which punishes women for clothing deemed inappropriate.
Widespread persecution of religious minorities, gay people, and ethnic minorities
Haven’t we been here before with the protests?
In short, yes. Here’s an incomplete list of other protests surrounding the brutal rule of the Islamic regime:
2009: The Green Movement
2010-2011. The Arab Spring movement—a pro-democracy movement
2022: Iranian authorities brutally cracked down on the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in 2022, including “unlawful killing, torture, sexually assault, and enforced disappearances of protestors.”
Why should you care?
What’s happening in Iran isn’t just another protest cycle; it’s a test of how long a deeply unpopular system can hold up after citizens have shown their disdain for it time and time again.
Iran is a major oil producer and original member of the President Bush-declared “axis of evil,” a phrase used to describe dictator- and authoritarian-ruled countries against which the United States comes up again and again.
What happens in the country will not only bear out in practical things like the price of gas, but also will help dictate the future of the region geopolitically.
And with awareness about the dangers of radical Islamism spreading, one has to wonder how much longer the IR can retain power.
What to Follow
Will the protests grow? Watch to see if the protesting continues to spread, or if the regime follows through on promised crackdowns. As a populace subjugated for years by its leadership, the bravery of Iranians cannot be understated.
The regime’s use of force: How will Iran’s security forces respond?
World reaction: How will world leaders react and respond? Groups that showed up to publicly support other issues in the Middle East are noticeably silent on this topic. Will the United Nations or the European Union issue statements condemning the repression of the Iranian people?
Statements from Iran’s leaders: Beyond repudiating them, what else will Supreme Leader Khamenei say about the protests? Is he fearful other countries will intervene?
Story 3: NYC Mayor Mamdani Revokes Executive Orders that Backed Israel
On his first day in office, new New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani sparked controversy by revoking a series of executive orders put into place by former mayor Eric Adams, designed to fight antisemitism in the Big Apple.
Context and Background
Mamdani faced accusations of antisemitism early on in his campaign, with his refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” and his glad-handing with an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombings centerpieces of the argument against him.
Multiple groups as well as the Israeli government condemned his revocation of these executive orders, saying it’s proof of his antisemitism.
His supporters say this has always been part of his agenda, including the director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, who said, “Both of those orders appeared to be last-ditch attempts to suppress viewpoints that [Eric Adams] and his benefactors disagreed with, especially since one of them was issued just in the last few weeks.”
More on Mamdani
In addition to campaigning on ambitious things like free buses, free childcare, subsidies on transit and housing reform, Mamdani has also long been a vocal critic of Israel, even before his days as a mayoral candidate. He’s described Israel’s policies as “apartheid” and has supported the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement against them.
Despite efforts to appeal to the Jewish community as he campaigned for the mayor’s seat, many remain conflicted on his platform.
What was in the executive orders, anyway?
One order barred city agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel-owned companies.
The other order adopted the definition of antisemitism as laid out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA). Adopted in 2016, it defines antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
What is the Jewish community saying about this?
Some local Jewish groups in New York say this move will only lead to more antisemitic attacks, which are already on the rise nationwide.
From a CBS report: “Anybody who cares about American culture, American society, Western society, should be deeply concerned because antisemitism is not only against Jews, it's part of an anti-Western, anti-American ideology that New York is now embracing under the leadership of Mamdani," said Dr. Asaf Romirowsky, executive director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East.
The United Jewish Appeal said about the move: “While we welcome Mayor Mamdani's Executive Order seeking to better protect houses of worship, and his continuation of Mayor’s Office of Combatting Antisemitism, our community will be looking for clear and sustained leadership that demonstrates a serious commitment to confronting antisemitism and ensures that the powers of the mayor’s office are used to promote safety and unity, not to advance divisive efforts such as BDS.
“Singling out Israel for sanctions is not the way to make Jewish New Yorkers feel included and safe, and will undermine any words to that effect.”
What did Mamdani say about this move?
When asked to comment on his revocation of the executive orders at a press conference, Mamdani said said the move will provide a “clean slate” for his administration, which he says will be “relentless in its efforts to combat hate and division ... including fighting the scourge of antisemitism ... by practicing a politics of universality.”
Mamdani went on to say, “Protecting Jewish New Yorkers is going to be a focus of my administration,” adding that “we will deliver on our commitment” to protect them.
Islamic organizations also praised the move, claiming it was a move back toward free speech.
What to Follow
How will New York City define antisemitism going forward? With the revocation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, how will city officials define the offense moving forward, and how will they choose to address these situations? Will incidents now have to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis?
How will this impact hate crime reporting and data? With no formal definition for antisemitic incidents, how will this impact data on antisemitic-related hate crimes?
Community response: How will the local Jewish communities continue to react or respond to this move?
National political response: Will this influence other cities or even universities to consider redefining antisemitism?
If objective, nuanced news makes you smile, can I ask you a small favor?
Please consider forwarding this newsletter to a friend who wants to be a little more informed, without losing their sanity.
Every Monday I drop into your inbox with three news stories—that’s it—to make you smarter, more informed, and more able to engage in conversation about what’s happening in the world.
If the mission of simple, unbiased news appeals to you, I’m grateful for a forward to a friend, a click on the heart icon below, or anything else. Thanks so much for helping me to grow this community.
Appreciate this free post and want to say thanks? You can buy me a cappuccino ☺️! Thanks in advance!
Thanks, Sonni! This is great information. I appreciate the breakdown and the stories you covered!
💕