by Maximillian Alvarez | Jan 5, 2026 | baltimore, Politics and Movements: International, Politics and Movements: US, Venezuela, video
Around 100 Baltimore residents and local organizers marched through the streets of downtown on Saturday, Jan. 3, to protest the Trump regime’s lawless military invasion of the sovereign country of Venezuela and kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. Numerous organizations were represented at the protest, including: Party for Socialism and Liberation – Baltimore, the People’s Power Assembly, Black Alliance for Peace, Veterans for Peace, and more. Here’s what the protest looked and sounded like on the ground…
Additional links/info:
Michael Fox, The Real News Network, “Trump invades Venezuela, kidnaps Maduro, and hurls the Western hemisphere into chaos”
Credits:
Production/Post-Production: Maximillian Alvarez
Transcript
The following is a rushed transcript and may contain errors. A proofread version will be made available as soon as possible.
Crowd Chants:
No more coups, no more war. Venezuela is it yours. Venezuela isn’t yours. Venezuela isn’t yours. Hands off Venezuela. Hands off Venezuela.
Maximillian Alvarez:
I’m here in downtown Baltimore on Saturday, January 3rd. It’s a little after 3:00 PM and dozens and dozens of Baltimore residents and local organizers are marching through the streets of downtown in protest of the Trump regime’s lawless invasion of Venezuela and kidnapping of its president Nicolas Maduro earlier this morning. I’m here on the ground for The Real News Network.
Protestor 1:
I’m just out here today because I’m outraged because I’m in disbelief that our country’s being run by this person that does whatever the F he wants and it’s shocking, it’s scary and I’m terrified. So this is what I’m doing. I’m doing what I can.
Protestor 2:
I’m a cadre member of an organization called the All African People’s Revolutionary Party. My comrade here, Nancy
by Jon Queally | Jan 5, 2026 | Article, Oil, Politics and Movements: International, Politics and Movements: US, Reprint, Venezuela
This story originally appeared in Common Dreams on Jan. 05, 2026. It is shared here under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) license.
President Donald Trump on Sunday told reporters that the heads of American oil companies were informed of the US military’s attack on Venezuela—described as “brazenly illegal” by scholars and experts—even before it took place.
Trump’s admission, a renowned liar, sparked condemnation because the administration refused to consult with US lawmakers about the operation, citing fears of a leak that would compromise operational security.
“Before and after,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday when asked if he’d spoken with oil executives or perhaps “tipped them off” about the operation. “They want to go in, and they’re going to do a great job for the people of Venezuela.”
Reporter: Did you speak with the oil companies before the operation? Did you tip them off?Trump: Before and after. They want to go in and they’re going to do a great job. pic.twitter.com/zxOG648Ww0— Acyn (@Acyn) January 5, 2026
Trump’s remarks were condemned by those critical of the president’s actions in recent days, including his failure to consult with or seek authorization from Congress.
“I can’t begin to tell you how insane this is,” said Fred Wellman, an Army combat veteran now running for Congress as a Democrat in Missouri. “He did not inform Congress, but he’s saying he informed the oil companies.”
“Keep in mind who he means,” Wellman added. “The billionaire mega donor that just got control of Citgo. Our service members were used directly to move the interests of Trump’s donors.”
“The oil companies were notified before Congress,” said Melanie D’Arrigo, executive director of the Campaign for New York Health. “This
by Michael Fox | Jan 3, 2026 | Article, Politics and Movements: International, Politics and Movements: US, Under the Shadow, Venezuela
by Maximillian Alvarez | Dec 29, 2025 | east palestine, Economy and Inequality, Politics and Movements: US, railroad, sacrifice zones, video
On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern ‘bomb train’ carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in the small town of East Palestine, Ohio. Three days later, Norfolk Southern pressured local authorities to dump and burn five tanker cars full of vinyl chloride, blasting a toxic mushroom cloud into the air and exposing residents to toxins that have poisoned their bodies and homes. In the weeks, months, and years following the East Palestine derailment and chemical disaster, the Environmental Protection Agency assured residents that the air, soil, and water in their community was safe. But when independent testing expert and Blue Shirt Justice League founder Scott Smith began testing for toxins in and around East Palestine, his findings revealed a horrifying truth that, according to Smith, Norfolk Southern and the EPA have tried to cover up.
Additional links/info:
Scott Smith Facebook page
Blue Shirt Justice League website and Facebook page
Government Accountability Project, “Initial FOIA Findings Suggest EPA Efforts to Surveil and Discredit Environmental Whistleblower”
Kelly Kennedy, WHSV 3, “Independent testing finds dangerous chemicals at East Palestine family’s farm”
Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, “Residents in this small town ‘left for dead’ after industrial disaster”
Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, “An industrial disaster wrecked my home. Now I’m living out of a hotel”
Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, “A billion-dollar company poisoned my home and destroyed my town”
Maximillian Alvarez, Steve Mellon, & Mike Balonek, The Real News Network, “Trainwreck in ‘Trump Country’: Partisan politics hasn’t helped East Palestine, OH (DOCUMENTARY)”
CreditsProduction: Maximillian AlvarezPost-Production: Maximillian Alvarez, David Hebden
Transcript
The following is a rushed transcript and may contain errors. A proofread version will be made available as soon as possible.
Ashley McCollum:
Oh God. What caused it?
East Palestine Resident:
Train derailed.
Ashley
by Maximillian Alvarez | Dec 19, 2025 | documentary, east palestine, Economy and Inequality, Politics and Movements: US, railroad, sacrifice zones, video
On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern ‘bomb train’ carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in the small town of East Palestine, Ohio. Three days later, Norfolk Southern pressured local authorities to dump and burn five tanker cars full of chemicals, blasting a mushroom cloud of toxic phosgene and hydrogen chloride into the air. Nearly three years later, residents like Jami Wallace and her family are still suffering the toxic fallout.
Additional links/info:
Jami Wallace Facebook page
Jami’s fundraiser for Chemically Impacted Communities Coalition (CICC)
Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, “An industrial disaster wrecked my home. Now I’m living out of a hotel”
Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, “A billion-dollar company poisoned my home and destroyed my town”
Maximillian Alvarez, Steve Mellon, & Mike Balonek, The Real News Network, “Trainwreck in ‘Trump Country’: Partisan politics hasn’t helped East Palestine, OH (DOCUMENTARY)”
Credits:
Production: Maximillian Alvarez
Post-Production: Maximillian Alvarez, David Hebden
Additional photos courtesy of Jami Wallace
Transcript
The following is a rushed transcript and may contain errors. A proofread version will be made available as soon as possible.Jami Wallace:
It’s not fair. We’re people, our lives matter. My daughter’s life matters, and that’s what everybody is telling me is that you guys are just accosted doing business. We can kill a whole community and who cares? It didn’t hit the bottom line, so we’ll do it again.
[TEXT ON-SCREEN]:
On Feb. 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern ‘bomb train’ carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in the small town of East Palestine, Ohio. Three days later, Norfolk Southern pressured local authorities to dump and burn five tanker cars full of chemicals, blasting a mushroom cloud of toxic phosgene and hydrogen chloride into the air. Nearly 3 years
by Maximillian Alvarez | Dec 18, 2025 | Economy, Economy and Inequality, labor, Podcast, Politics and Movements: US, Unions, Working People
On Monday, Nov. 24, after more than 1,100 days on strike, Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh members were cheered on by supporters at a rally in downtown Pittsburgh before returning to work at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Even though strikers have returned to work, however, many issues at the center of the strike are still in legal limbo—and their fight for a fair contract is not over. In this episode of Working People, we speak with three Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh members—Bob Batz. Jr, Natalie Duleba, and Steve Mellon—about where things stand now, how their lives have changed since returning to work, and what it takes to hold the picket line for over three years.
Additional links/info:
Pittsburgh Union Progress website
Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh website, Facebook page, and Instagram
Bob Batz Jr. & Steve Mellon, Pittsburgh Union Progress, “Pittsburgh journalists vote to end country’s longest strike and notify the PG they are returning to work”
Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, “Post-Gazette strikers send company return to work offer”
Sara Scire, Nieman Lab, “What newsroom organizers learned from the years-long strike at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette”
Featured Music:
Jules Taylor, Working People Theme Song
Credits:
Audio Post-Production: Alina Nehlich
Transcript
The following is a rushed transcript and may contain errors. A proofread version will be made available as soon as possible.
Maximillian Alvarez:
Alright. Welcome everyone to Working People, a podcast about the lives, jobs, dreams, and struggles of the working class today. Working People is a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network and is brought to you in partnership within these Times Magazine and the Real News Network. This show is produced by Jules Taylor and made possible by the support of listeners like you. My name is Maximillian Alvarez, and as we reach the
