The hottest Energy Politics Substack posts right now

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The Nord Stream Anniversary & Europe’s Stockholm Syndrome

Glenn’s Substack • 1798 implied HN points • 27 Sep 24
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The Nord Stream pipeline attack severed Europe's energy ties with Russia, leading to significant economic changes for both regions.
  2. Initially, the US and NATO blamed Russia for the attack, but later reports suggested that Ukraine might have been involved while evidence pointed to a possible US connection.
  3. As the narrative around the attack evolved, European nations began to turn against each other, showing tensions and doubts about their alliances.

The Oligarchical Corridor

Thinking about... • 724 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. A small network of wealthy private actors and close advisers — an "oligarchical corridor" — is shaping major foreign policy choices by bypassing official institutions and public debate.
  2. The war with Iran appears to benefit foreign states and wealthy interests (notably Israel, Saudi Arabia, and in some respects Russia) while harming US strategic interests by wasting weapons, weakening allies, and showing tactical unpreparedness.
  3. This dynamic erodes American institutions and citizen influence, leaving force and policy to private deals and personal loyalties, and recognizing that trend is the first step toward restoring democratic accountability.

Monopoly Round-Up: A Gunboat Oligarchy Goes After Venezuelan Oil

BIG by Matt Stoller • 29107 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The U.S. seizure of Venezuelan oil marks a return to gunboat-style intervention where government action is clearly serving big finance and energy interests.
  2. Widespread anger at oligarchs and weak Democratic leadership is opening space for new, populist reformers, highlighted by Zohran Mamdani’s early moves and proposals like a billionaire tax.
  3. America’s deindustrialization and China’s manufacturing rise are shifting global power, while domestic deregulation and a merger boom favor financiers and risk deeper consolidation and backlash.

If You Think The US Wants To Bring Democracy To Iran, Watch What They're Currently Doing To Iraq

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2211 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The US is using economic levers—like control of Iraq’s oil revenue—to pressure Iraqi political choices, for example by pushing against Nouri al‑Maliki’s bid for prime minister.
  2. America often reshapes governments and economies to keep friendly rulers in power, so its talk of bringing democracy can mask direct control and interference.
  3. Policy toward Iran looks aimed at weakening or fragmenting the country to maintain dominance rather than promoting democracy, with some strategists even advocating balkanization.

Midweek Update #1: What Are The US And Israel Trying To Accomplish? (It May Be Different).

Phillips’s Newsletter • 297 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The US and Israel are pursuing different objectives: the US is focused on degrading Iran's military command-and-control, air defenses, and naval capabilities, while Israel is also striking energy and fuel infrastructure to more deeply weaken Iran's resilience.
  2. American public support for the war is low and sharply partisan, with Republicans mostly backing the president, Democrats largely opposed, and independents generally unconvinced.
  3. How long the war lasts will be driven by US political pressures and oil market effects; rising oil prices and the 2026 midterms create strong incentives for a quick end, and Washington can largely determine the campaign's duration.
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They Kidnapped Maduro Because The World Is Ruled By Unaccountable Tyrants

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 3413 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The U.S. carried out a military operation in Venezuela that abducted President Maduro, and its leaders openly framed the action as a move to seize and profit from Venezuela’s oil and to run the country.
  2. This episode shows a pattern where powerful states pursue regime change and resource grabs with little accountability, while official stories about drugs or democracy are used to mask true motives.
  3. Unchecked use of force backed by compliant media undermines global stability and harms the future of people and the planet, so citizens should learn these patterns and be skeptical of official justifications for intervention.

A crime and a tragedy: the Iran war

World Game • 21 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The attack came when Iran posed little immediate threat and aimed to topple the regime without a plan, but destroying a state will create a vacuum and unpredictable, likely hostile consequences.
  2. The violence spread quickly across the region, hitting Gulf states and energy infrastructure, driving oil prices up and helping rivals while hurting Europe.
  3. The US approach favored spectacle over strategy, lacking a roadmap or understanding of the fallout, so the chaos could spiral out of control and backfire politically.

Why Tump's Venezuela Invasion is "Good"

Erik Examines • 716 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The US kidnapping of Venezuela's leader is a blatant violation of international law and sets a dangerous precedent, even if it also exposes and weakens Trump’s political support.
  2. Venezuela has an existing opposition and some democratic traditions, so a US intervention might avoid the chaos seen in Iraq, but heavy-handed control or an attempt to seize oil could unite Venezuelans and spark violent resistance.
  3. Europe and other democracies need to stop appeasing the US and act together with coordinated, legal measures like sanctions and diplomacy to defend the rules-based order and deter further aggression.

Trump kidnaps Venezuela’s president to steal the country's oil

Aaron Mate • 317 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The U.S. carried out a military attack that kidnapped Venezuela’s president and reportedly killed at least 80 people.
  2. Trump framed the operation as a new “Donroe Doctrine,” openly asserting renewed American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
  3. The apparent goal was to seize Venezuela’s vast oil reserves for U.S. oil interests, and the operation was compared to Mafia-style theft using violence and intimidation.

The US Is Attempting Regime Change In Venezuela

Phillips’s Newsletter • 320 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The U.S. appears to be conducting a military operation aimed at ousting Maduro, with air strikes and possible special forces reported in and around Caracas.
  2. Cuba is a key backer of Maduro through thousands of operatives and relies on Venezuelan oil, so removing Cuban influence will be central to any successful regime change.
  3. Getting rid of Maduro may be the easiest part; who replaces him matters most, and a stable democratic outcome will depend on Venezuelan participation, the military, and regional cooperation rather than outside control.

Alberta Clipper

Doomberg • 6739 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Politics
  1. Canada has huge oil resources known as the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, which can supply energy for over a century.
  2. There is ongoing conflict between Alberta's provincial government and the federal government over climate policies and emissions caps that could hurt Alberta's oil industry.
  3. The battle between local and federal powers in Canada is heating up, especially with approaching elections bringing more attention to these energy issues.

Crude Ideology

Unpopular Front • 189 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. U.S. action in Venezuela reflects a crude, openly materialist imperialism where control over oil and power is presented as the motive instead of the old democracy pretense.
  2. The oil industry doesn’t present a unified push for intervention: big firms fear huge costly investments while smaller investors and refiners see opportunities, so economic interests are fractured and messy.
  3. Domestic factional politics and the desire for spectacle — from neocons to immigration hardliners — helped drive the move, raising the risk that political needs will produce more risky foreign adventures.

Complete Disregard for International Law (MOATS w/ George Galloway)

The Chris Hedges Report • 167 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. There is a complete disregard for international law in recent military interventions and foreign actions.
  2. Those interventions are argued to be motivated by the seizure of vast oil reserves rather than legitimate legal or humanitarian reasons.
  3. Independent commentators and reader-supported outlets are highlighting and criticizing this pattern, urging the public to recognize resource-driven motives.

Can You Do Regime Change Without Changing A Regime?

Phillips’s Newsletter • 179 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The US operation ousted Maduro but left the regime's military, political, and foreign backers largely intact, so power simply shifted to figures like Delcy RodrĂ­guez or Diosdado Cabello.
  2. Because a genuine opposition leader wasn't installed, American influence in Venezuela has weakened and the remaining options—full invasion or more leader abductions—are costly and politically unpalatable.
  3. The drug‑trafficking rationale looks like a pretext while strategic goals (like oil) seem central, highlighting a recurring US overconfidence in its ability to remake foreign regimes and a misunderstanding of doctrines like the Monroe Doctrine.

To Catch a President

Taipology • 124 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The US carried out a rapid, low-casualty removal of Maduro that looked like a polished PR victory and may have relied on deals or a military stand-down rather than heavy fighting.
  2. This action signals a push to reassert US dominance in Latin America — aiming to secure influence, resources, and compliant governments while European actors largely appeased it.
  3. China is unlikely to directly intervene over Venezuela, and the episode won’t by itself reshape BRICS or Taiwan policy; the bigger contest will be economic and strategic control of supply chains and resources, with Venezuela’s political future still uncertain.

The Oil War

Diane Francis • 1099 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. Illicit oil trade is booming, with many ships smuggling oil from Russia and Iran. This trade helps fund wars and poses environmental risks due to poorly maintained vessels.
  2. China and India play a major role in supporting Russia's economy by importing significant amounts of oil. This trend allows them to profit while indirectly supporting Russia's actions in Ukraine.
  3. Despite existing sanctions, the criminal activity in the oil sector continues to thrive. It's important for international authorities to step up enforcement and regulation to stop this dangerous trade.

Weekend Update #158: The Long Dark Winter Has Come Early

Phillips’s Newsletter • 219 implied HN points • 09 Nov 25
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. Ukrainian attacks on Russian power facilities are increasing, causing blackouts and showing vulnerabilities in the Russian power grid. This shift could change the dynamics of the conflict as both sides face harsh winter conditions.
  2. The battle for Pokrovsk is ongoing, with Ukraine holding most of the area but facing constant pressure from Russian forces. The significance of this location has shifted as analysts debate its strategic value amidst the costly confrontations.
  3. Recent sanctions on Russian oil trade are proving ineffective, as countries like India and China continue to purchase oil at similar rates. Political dealings, such as those involving Hungary, highlight the challenges in enforcing punitive measures against Russia.

WHAT IS TRUMP’S GAMBIT IN VENEZUELA?

Seymour Hersh • 41 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The Venezuela operation wasn’t just about ousting Maduro — it aimed to cut China off from cheap Venezuelan oil and weaken rivals’ access to energy.
  2. Top U.S. officials framed the action as a superpower prerogative, saying the U.S. can set the rules in its hemisphere and enforce embargoes to control resources.
  3. This approach traces back to a Cheney-era energy strategy, showing the move is driven by long-standing energy geopolitics and could be used next against other suppliers like Iran.

Chartbook 329 Yelling at the TV - The non-debate about climate in the US Presidential debate and what it hides.

Chartbook • 1244 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Politics
  1. The US presidential candidates aren't talking much about climate change, even as extreme weather events keep happening. This shows how climate issues are largely ignored in political debates.
  2. Both Trump and Harris seem to agree on the need for more energy production, but they approach energy policy very differently. This creates a situation where neither candidate is fully addressing climate change solutions.
  3. There’s a growing coalition in the US that supports new energy solutions, from renewable energy to nuclear power. This shows that despite political divides, many people want change in how energy is produced and consumed.

A New Dark Age

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 20 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. Operation Absolute Resolve marks a turn away from the old international order toward blunt, resource-driven imperialism that sidesteps legal and congressional limits.
  2. The United States and its oil companies have long dominated Venezuela’s resources, and Chávez’s redistribution of oil revenue dramatically cut poverty and inequality.
  3. U.S. strategy shifted from coup support to harsh sanctions and economic strangulation that harmed civilians, showing bipartisan continuity and culminating in recent military moves that flout diplomatic norms.

Top Links 650 Why Europe and India are still buying Russian energy. Friedman and Schwartz disaggregated. Cuba in Africa and the decline of the all-nighter.

Chartbook • 386 implied HN points • 15 Feb 25
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. Europe and India continue to purchase Russian energy because it remains cheap and reliable. This reliance is significant even amidst global tensions.
  2. The discussion includes analysis from Friedman and Schwartz, providing insights into different perspectives regarding energy purchases.
  3. There are broader topics addressed, like Cuba's role in Africa and cultural shifts such as the decline of late-night activities, suggesting a variety of social dynamics at play.

Asking for Big Trouble in Venezuela

John’s Substack • 14 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. The US move in Venezuela isn’t presented as traditional regime change or a push for democracy; it’s about installing a cooperative leadership and using economic pressure to control outcomes.
  2. This represents a form of old‑fashioned imperialism updated for the modern era — aiming to exploit Venezuela’s oil without boots on the ground, which frustrates neoconservatives who want democratization.
  3. The strategy is likely to fail, and the hope is that policymakers will cut their losses and withdraw rather than escalate further.

Kazakhstan Defies Vlad

Diane Francis • 679 implied HN points • 21 Jul 22
🌍 World Politics Energy Politics
  1. Kazakhstan is standing up to Russia and has openly criticized Putin's actions in Ukraine. This shows that Kazakhstan wants to assert its independence and build better ties with other countries.
  2. Kazakhstan is rich in resources like oil and uranium and is making plans to export its resources to Europe without relying on Russia. They are working on new pipelines to connect to European markets.
  3. The Kazakh leader has been reforming the country and moving closer to allies like Turkey and China. This shift could help Kazakhstan become a key player in Central Asia and beyond.