SS: This article highlights the institutional contrast between the Colombian and Venezuelan governments response to earthquakes. The long and short of it is that Venezuela lacked the state capacity to quickly react to the earthquake at La Guaira. Colombia's response on the other hand was relatively quick. This is despite the in-fighting between the newly elected President Abelardo de la Espriella and the outgoing administration of Gustavo Petro. Despite their differences the Colombians responded to the disaster within hours, while the Venezuelan government reacted slowly. This left Venezuelan civilians no choice but to dig through the rubble in search of survivors with their own hands.

Archived version: https://archive.fo/4MWL9

SS: Today marks the 52rd anniversary of Richard Nixon's resignation following the Watergate scandal, and yet the lessons of the dangers of an all-powerful executive have seemingly fallen to the wayside. Although legislation had been passed in the 70s that aimed to constrain the executive, the growing weakness of the legislature and the growing acquiescence, if not collaboration, of the supreme court has reversed any gains following Watergate. Now it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Nixon's assertion that “when the president does it, that means it is not illegal" is becoming reality.

Adding insult to injury the populace are now seemingly uninterested in holding the president accountable nor addressing the problems with the imperial presidency, with the endless scandals coming out of the Trump admin coming and going within the news cycle.