Trump Escalates in Venezuela, White House Power Struggles, Immigration Costs, and a Porsche Shutdown

TMI Show Ep 285

Today’s episode of The TMI Show with Ted Rall and Manila Chan dives into a fast-moving mix of geopolitics, power politics, money, and a mystery wrapped in luxury.

The show opens with President Donald Trump dramatically escalating pressure on Venezuela, formally designating Nicolás Maduro’s regime a foreign terrorist organization and ordering a “total and complete” blockade of sanctioned oil tankers moving in and out of the country. With U.S. sanctions tightening, military actions expanding, and Trump warning that operations could soon move onto land, the confrontation raises serious questions about sovereignty, energy markets, and the risk of regional conflict in South America.

Next, a bombshell Vanity Fair profile pulls back the curtain on the White House’s most powerful behind-the-scenes figure. Based on months of on-the-record interviews, the piece reveals blunt internal assessments, sharp criticism of senior officials, and rare insight into how the modern presidency actually functions when the cameras are off. The fallout has triggered public denials — but notably, no direct factual disputes.

The conversation then shifts to immigration and public spending, comparing U.S. welfare policy with Switzerland’s far stricter model. As new estimates put the long-term taxpayer cost of the recent immigration surge in the hundreds of billions — and potentially over a trillion dollars — Switzerland’s emphasis on financial self-sufficiency, integration, and repayment before citizenship offers a stark contrast to America’s approach.

Finally, the episode closes with a strange tech mystery unfolding in Russia: luxury Porsche vehicles suddenly shutting down nationwide. With satellite connections severed and engine immobilizers triggered, high-end cars have become immobile overnight — raising questions about software control, sanctions, cybersecurity, and the hidden vulnerabilities built into modern vehicles.

From global power plays to bureaucratic infighting, fiscal realities, and the risks of over-engineered technology, today’s episode connects the dots on how control — of oil, money, systems, and narratives — is increasingly contested.

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