# What does "we’re going to run the country" mean? Fucking media do your fucking job!?! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 3, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320 "2026-01-03T21:53:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/61 "2026-01-05T19:25:53Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > 4.) I predict a long guerilla war. Narco kings tend to be well-armed. > [@griffin1977](#): > > Against whom? Trump has done nothing to indicate he’s going to do anything to “run” Venezuela. I assumed that it would be the central government versus the narco kings, if said kings tried to fill in the power gap with their more preferred candidate if it is not the erstwhile veep. Which isn’t outside the realm of possibility, and from this American’s perspective it would be a much safer timeline than the one in which the US actively plays the role against the narco bands. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/62 "2026-01-05T19:27:27Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > From what I remember from a single journalism class in junior high, news stories start with the big picture, and fill in the details further along. I kinda feel like the questions in the OP are skipping to the details while the press is still trying to get the big picture stuff. I don’t think the OP is skipping anything. Our President has launched a surprise-ish attack on a foreign country, capturing their president then promising that we’re going to “run” the country for them. Americans, and the world, deserve to have details, and deserve to get those details from a press that is not just the administration’s Steno Pool. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/63 "2026-01-05T19:28:55Z")
Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/64 "2026-01-05T19:34:49Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Against anyone who comes in and tries to enforce US actions that the Venezuelans don’t want. But why would guerilla actions be needed? seeing as Venezuela still has a completely intact socialist regime and armed forces, and Trump has done nothing to change that. A more likely outcome for me is they simply arrest whatever US oil workers are in country. There are some I believe. Chevron issued a statement (in response to Trump’s “we are going to run things”) press conference saying their priority is the safety of their employees. Which typically none of the media outlets I saw followed up on and asked if there any US workers in Venezuela and what’s being done to protect them. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/65 "2026-01-05T19:36:14Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > the central government versus the narco kings The central government thats still run by self described bolivarian socialists just like it was last week? Why would that happen? ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/66 "2026-01-05T19:45:34Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > A more likely outcome for me is they simply arrest whatever US oil workers are in country (there are some I believe. Chevron issued a statement in response to Trump’s “we are going to run things” press conference saying their priority is the safety of their employees. I’m surprised they haven’t done that yet. If I was VP Rodriguez, fully seizing Chevron assets and detaining all US Chevron employees in-country would be on the top of my shortlist if my my boss was kidnapped out of the country by the US. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/67 "2026-01-05T19:49:08Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > I’m surprised they haven’t done that yet I had same thought. I’m assuming it’s a combination of not wanting to escalate things (they may not be about to roll over and give Trump whatever he wants, but they arent trying to actively antagonize him either) and Chevron taking steps to ensure US employees are not in harms ways (i.e. somewhere the Venezuelan legal system can apprehend them, as they are entirely entitled to do as a sovereign country) Again if we had a half decent media this kind of thing would have been discussed openly rather than just left to our speculation. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/68 "2026-01-05T19:59:02Z")
NY Times: > James Luckey-Lange, an American traveler who went missing in Venezuela in early December, is being held in the detention center run by the country’s military counterintelligence in Caracas, according to a Venezuelan familiar with the matter. > > Mr. Luckey-Lange, a 28-year-old from Staten Island, was detained shortly after crossing into southern Venezuela, a sparsely populated and dangerous area ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/69 "2026-01-05T20:07:39Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Mr. Luckey-Lange, a 28-year-old from Staten Island, was detained shortly after crossing into southern Venezuela, a sparsely populated and dangerous area There is no indication that’s a reaction to this attack. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/70 "2026-01-05T20:12:55Z")
Huh. You’re right (at least from what the article says). IMHO it was a mistake for the Times to insert this within their running series of mini-articles related to Maduro’s capture and its possible consequences. But at least it’s a reminder that there are other Americans the Venezuelan government might unlawfully detain, besides Chevron employees. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/71 "2026-01-05T20:18:26Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Good luck with that. I already know it’s not going to happen, as does the OP, which is why this is in the Pit where we can scream into the void about our crumbling nation. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/72 "2026-01-05T20:18:26Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > unlawfully detain, besides Chevron employees Or lawfully. They are the sovereign government of Venezuela and if they think someone in Venezuela has committed a crime they can arrest them (as with Bolton, Comey, etc. it can be both lawful and blatantly politically motivated) ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/73 "2026-01-05T20:19:48Z")
More lawful than to kidnap Maduro, that’s for sure. Just saw an article that the UN has called this attack and kidnapping illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/74 "2026-01-05T20:21:47Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > > [@griffin1977](#): > > > > A more likely outcome for me is they simply arrest whatever US oil workers are in country (there are some I believe. Chevron issued a statement in response to Trump’s “we are going to run things” press conference saying their priority is the safety of their employees. > > I’m surprised they haven’t done that yet. If I was VP Rodriguez, fully seizing Chevron assets and detaining all US Chevron employees in-country would be on the top of my shortlist if my my boss was kidnapped out of the country by the US. What purpose would this serve? Do you think Trump would care if some American lives were being threatened? ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/75 "2026-01-05T20:22:34Z")
Whether it’s lawful or not is irrelevant at this point, IMO. I’d detain them and hold them hostage in an undisclosed location for as long as Maduro is under US custody. Put some political pressure on the Trump admin. Similar to Iran Hostage crisis. Mind you I’m no fan of Maduro or his government, but politically that would be the prudent thing to do if you consider yourself the legitimate govt of Venezuela. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/76 "2026-01-05T20:23:35Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Do you think Trump would care if some American lives were being threatened? No but the American media would. Interviews with the crying wife and children of Jimbob from Tallahassee currently in prison in Venezuela, would absolutely hurt Trump’s agenda. I don’t trust the American media to report on Trump. But they sure as hell can report the bejesus out of a “Innocent American imprisoned abroad” story ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/77 "2026-01-05T20:24:28Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > What purpose would this serve? Do you think Trump would care if some American lives were being threatened? Trump won’t care, but Chevron will and American voters will. Right now there is zero consequences for Maduro’s capture. And going in and “rescuing” US hostages in Venezuela is not likely to go as smoothly as his capture did. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/78 "2026-01-05T20:25:27Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > But why would guerilla actions be needed? seeing as Venezuela still has a completely intact socialist regime and armed forces, and Trump has done nothing to change that. If Trump decides to put boots on the ground, orv to force the existing government to do what he wants, guerilla action would be effective against the missiles, drones, and land forces arrayed against them. The Philippines fought a twenty year guerilla war against the US after the end of the Spanish-American war. They didn’t want to be reduced to colonial status. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/79 "2026-01-05T20:36:03Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > detain them and hold them hostage in an undisclosed location for as long as Maduro is under US custody Yeah it seems like an obvious response. Be sure to make them do the same perp walk, with the same restraints as Maduro. It would be more damaging to trump than all the condemnations by world leaders and Democrats combined. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-we-re-going-to-run-the-country-mean-fucking-media-do-your-fucking-job/1026320/80 "2026-01-05T20:41:04Z")
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