The Trump administration on Thursday sanctioned three of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s nephews for alleged narco-trafficking as part of its ongoing pressure campaign against the dictator’s &#8220;illegitimate regime.”
The move comes as Trump has repeatedly demanded that Maduro resign and authorized military strikes against suspected narco-trafficking vessels.
Two of the three nephews are convicted narco-traffickers who were granted clemency in October 2022 by the Biden administration as part of a prisoner exchange for seven U.S. nationals. Both men returned to Venezuela and were active in drug trafficking as of 2025, according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Pigott said the sanctions also target Venezuela&#8217;s oil sector, an unnamed businessman, and six shipping companies, while designating six vessels as blocked property.
“As the leader of the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) Cartel de los Soles, Maduro continues to destabilize our region,” Pigott said. “He and his cronies have flouted the will of the Venezuelan people and devastated the country’s economy.”
Maduro was sworn in as president earlier this year to serve a third six-year term despite evidence that his opponent, Edmundo González, won twice as many votes. González ran for the position after opposition leader María Corina Machado was barred from running by the Maduro regime.
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“The U.S. government will continue to deny financial lifelines to the illegitimate Maduro regime, which he uses to oppress the Venezuelan people,” Pigott added. “The United States is committed to keeping the American people safe by using all available means to eliminate threats of narco-trafficking and crime throughout our hemisphere.”
Machado arrived in Oslo on Thursday, where she was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her decades‑long struggle for democracy in Venezuela. After secretly fleeing Venezuela despite a travel ban, Machado missed the ceremony in the Norwegian capital by just a few hours. 
Machado has expressed support for President Donald Trump’s hard-line stance on Venezuela and has publicly called for American intervention, citing the presence of Russian and Iranian agents as well as drug cartels in her country. At the time she received the award, she dedicated it in part to Trump.
On Sunday, Trump declared Venezuelan airspace effectively off-limits. Trump has ramped up his attack on suspected narco-vessels from Venezuela and has said that he would soon expand the strikes.
“We’re going to start doing those strikes on land too,” the president said last week. “The land is much easier. It’s much easier. And we know the routes they take. We know everything about them. We know where they live. We know where bad ones live, and we’re going to start that very soon, too.”
Any country trafficking illegal narcotics is a possible target, Trump added, specifically mentioning Colombia and Venezuela. 
“Not just Venezuela. Venezuela has been very bad. Venezuela has been really bad in something else, probably worse than most, but a lot of other people do it too,” Trump said. 
Trump said his administration’s efforts have already cut drug trafficking through maritime routes by more than 90%.

Maduro and Trump

Trump Admin Sanctions Maduro’s Nephews In Move To Cripple Venezuela’s Narco-Network

cartel

Donald Trump

Global Politics

narco-terrorism

Nicolas Maduro

Politics

Venezuela

American forces seize an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, the Senate shoots down competing bills on the future of health care, and a prominent college football coach is fired—then arrested.
It’s Friday, December 12, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below, and the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/mrn-251212-member-exclusive">video version can be seen on The Daily Wire</a>:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker Off Venezuela Coast</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1013813" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Tanker-Seizure-Shock-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Tanker-Seizure-Shock-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Tanker-Seizure-Shock-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Tanker-Seizure-Shock-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Tanker-Seizure-Shock-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Tanker-Seizure-Shock.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: The United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday in an escalation of President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign against dictator Nicolás Maduro.
Bloomberg was the first to report that a tanker had been seized earlier Wednesday, and President Trump confirmed the news later in the day at a roundtable with business leaders.
“An interesting day from the standpoint of news. As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large–largest one ever seized, actually,” <a href="https://x.com/nicksortor/status/1998847332616421875">said</a> Trump.
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Some administration officials posted a video of the operation that showed American forces dropping onto the tanker and taking control of it. Attorney General Pam Bondi explained that the United States “executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.” She added that the oil tanker had been sanctioned because of “its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.”
Maduro’s response: The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure in a statement that said Venezuela “strongly denounces and repudiates what constitutes blatant theft and an act of international piracy.”
This development has to be concerning to Maduro. Venezuela is a petrostate, with petroleum accounting for nearly the entire economy. The money the Maduro regime receives from oil sales is the key to its stability. Because the United States has sanctions on Venezuelan oil, Maduro has been forced to do business with regimes that typically are opposed to American interests, such as China. And then at deep discounts to offset the risk of violating American sanctions. If Venezuela is no longer able to sell its oil, that’s a huge blow to Maduro’s revenue.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">The Battle Over Obamacare Continues</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1013815" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Senate-Subsidies-Split-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Senate-Subsidies-Split-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Senate-Subsidies-Split-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Senate-Subsidies-Split-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Senate-Subsidies-Split-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Senate-Subsidies-Split.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: The battle over Obamacare is in full swing, with Democrats advocating for extended subsidies and Republicans offering alternative healthcare options.
Two votes took place in the Senate on Thursday regarding the looming Obamacare deadline. Neither of the bills passed, but it’s important to break down what Democrats and Republicans are pushing forward, because this deadline is coming up in a matter of weeks.
The Democrat bill: The Democrat-backed bill, called the “Lower Health Care Costs Act,” would extend Obamacare subsidies, which are technically tax credits, for another three years. These started back in 2021 and were only supposed to be in place for two years, but Democrats extended them until December 31.
The plan is pricey; it’s expected to cost taxpayers about $83 billion. But Democrats argue that the extension is necessary, otherwise more than 20 million Americans will see their healthcare costs more than double, on average. Republicans dispute that.
“Twenty-two million of the 24 million people will still get their subsidies, the original Obamacare subsidies, which subsidize the insurance at 91% of the premiums. So, their premiums won’t double,” GOP Sen. Ron Johnson told Morning Wire last month. “Going from zero to a negligible amount is an infinite increase. You can’t put that as ‘doubling premiums.’ The people we’re talking about, the 1.6 million people whose subsidies completely go away—I’m willing to work with Democrats on that.”
Republicans also argue that Obamacare, and specifically these subsidies, are creating massive fraud–another burden on the American taxpayer.
The GOP bill: The GOP-backed bill, called the “Health Care Freedom for Patients Act of 2025,” does let the Obamacare subsidies expire on the timeline Democrats set. But it also offers Americans direct payments to help cover healthcare costs. This was an idea floated by President Trump last month.
The health savings accounts created by the bill would be available to Americans earning up to 700% of the federal poverty limit, and the funds would range from $1,000 to $1,500 for 2026 and 2027. The accounts would restrict use for abortion and certain gender-transition coverage.
Republicans needed 60 votes, which would have to include a handful of Democrats, but that didn’t happen.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Michigan Head Coach Arrested</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1013817" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Sherrone-Moore-Saga-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Sherrone-Moore-Saga-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Sherrone-Moore-Saga-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Sherrone-Moore-Saga-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Sherrone-Moore-Saga-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/Sherrone-Moore-Saga.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: The University of Michigan finds itself engulfed in controversy after administrators abruptly <a href="https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/michigan-fires-football-coach-sherrone-moore-621eb019?mod=hp_lead_pos9">fired</a> head football coach Sherrone Moore with cause. Now, he’s in custody on suspicion of assault. Morning Wire spoke to former Michigan quarterback and Daily Wire Crain &amp; Company co-host David Cone about the Moore saga. (This interview has been lightly edited.)
Morning Wire: I&#8217;ve been, honestly, kind of shocked by this story. We looked at it initially and thought, oh, this will be an Evening Wire. And then it turned into a full-blown story that we felt like was worth covering here. What exactly is happening in this case?
Cone: A sad day for Michigan football. A sad day for this country. I just want to say that first and again, I&#8217;m praying for this man because there&#8217;s some very serious allegations here. I&#8217;ll just say to you now that I heard as far back as September, following Michigan&#8217;s loss to Oklahoma, I had a very reliable source closely associated with Michigan football call me and just say it&#8217;s widely known that Sherrone Moore has engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a staff member, and that conduct likely resulted in a pregnancy that was terminated. I heard this in September. I did some due diligence, but every time I would hear something that corroborated that, I would hear something else that says, that&#8217;s just rumor. Come to find out, throughout the fall, many other people and former players close to the program have been hearing something very similar. Wednesday, Warde Manuel, the athletic director, decided to fire head coach Sherrone Moore. … The reports out of Ann Arbor are that Sherrone Moore did not take that news very well, and that allegedly threatened to take his own life. I don&#8217;t know if this was directly with his wife or with the staff member. There is a question here, possibly threatening to even take her life, and he was arrested. I do want to go to as reliable of a source as it gets with the University of Michigan. This is John Bacon, and this is directly from <a href="https://x.com/Johnubacon/status/1998978431154008380">him</a>: “The UM employee presented irrefutable documentation about Moore&#8217;s conduct to UM leaders this morning (Wednesday). The president and regents had seen enough, and Manuel fired him (Wednesday) afternoon. Moore is now detained in protective custody in a mental health institution.”
Morning Wire: One of the big questions here is who knew what when. You say you have the source, it&#8217;s pretty shocking you heard this all the way back in September. Do you feel that this is a cover-up situation by the administration? And that&#8217;s a major allegation to make, but is that possibly the case?
Cone: That is a critical question that you&#8217;re asking, particularly since we are a week now removed from National Signing Day. You have national recruits here who, in good faith, signed their name to a national letter of intent because they thought Sherrone Moore was going to be the head football coach–how does that impact their decision? I lived through this as a recruit at this very place. This was my alma mater. But again, this is way bigger than football. We&#8217;re talking about someone&#8217;s life or family at stake here. So again, I can&#8217;t answer what board members will do when I just know that if I&#8217;m hearing about something in September, the athletic director certainly must have heard about this sooner. At the same time, how does he separate rumors that he must hear on a daily basis versus something that is credible and he must investigate?

MRN_251212_V1

Morning Brief: Oil Tanker Tango, Obamacare Subsidy Standoff, & Major College Football Coach Arrested

Morning Brief: Oil Tanker Tango, Obamacare Battle Continues, And UM Football Coach Arrested

Michigan

Morning Wire

Obamacare

University of Michigan

The United States has seized a very large <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/venezuela-cries-international-piracy-after-u-s-seizes-oil-tanker?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=9&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Venezuela+Cries+%E2%80%98International+Piracy%E2%80%99+After+U.S.+Seizes+Oil+Tanker">oil tanker</a> off the Venezuelan coast.
President Trump confirmed that the United States had pursued the seizure. According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, it was headed to Cuba.
There’s been talk about establishing a no-fly zone around Venezuela. All of this is external pressure, presumably designed to force the possibility of a regime change in Venezuela without any serious threat to American troops going in on the ground.
In <a href="https://x.com/DHSgov/status/1998909254854746523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1998909254854746523%7Ctwgr%5E8f093637fc0050e48ee90200825bb3534d8c39c8%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Fvenezuela-cries-international-piracy-after-u-s-seizes-oil-tanker">a video</a>, you can see an American helicopter hovering over a gigantic oil tanker as soldiers begin rappelling down onto the deck. The soldiers, with guns drawn, move toward the control booth, presumably to stop the tanker from moving toward its target.
The United States military is unparalleled at what it does and does not play around.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
KNOCKOUT.
If you threaten our nation, or break the law, there is no place on land or sea where we won’t find you.
Thank you to the brave service members from <a href="https://twitter.com/USCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCG</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ICEgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICEGOV</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/FBI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBI</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofWar</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheJusticeDept</a>. <a href="https://t.co/KUCRjES267">pic.twitter.com/KUCRjES267</a>
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1998909254854746523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
President Trump has always been clear in his belief that if the United States is engaged in armed conflict somewhere, we should keep the spoils that we reap. He said that about the Iraq War, suggesting that if you&#8217;re going to go to war, then you may as well take the oil as some form of compensation.
When it comes to the Venezuelan government shipping oil over to Iran in violation of sanctions or allowing the Iranians to combine their oil with Venezuelan oil and ship that elsewhere and ship the money back to Iran, keeping the spoils would be worthwhile.
If it turns out that the United States is now prepared to interdict all oil that may or may not be headed for Iran or from Iran, then this could absolutely cripple the Venezuelan economy even more than it has suffered before.
Venezuela’s economy is highly dependent on oil, mainly through its impact on exports and government revenue. Oil accounts for over 80 to 90% of all total export earnings in recent years. So if that were to shut down, whatever is left of the Venezuelan economy would basically collapse. That seems to be something that the United States is pursuing at this point.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-2332-us-seizes-venezuelan-tanker?elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowHeadline=The+Ben+Shapiro+Show&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974957" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp" alt="DailyWire+" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-300x50.webp 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-768x128.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1536x256.webp 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-2048x341.webp 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
Trump has also made clear he is going to put pressure on Gustavo Petro, the president of Colombia, which has historically been a relatively conservative state. But Petro, a far-left socialist, is more oriented toward China and Iran.
President Trump was asked about Petro describing the seizure as “barbarian.”
“He&#8217;s been fairly hostile to the United States. I haven&#8217;t given him a lot of thought,” Trump replied. “And he’s going to have himself some big problems if he doesn&#8217;t wise up. Colombia is producing a lot of drugs. &#8230; He better wise up or he&#8217;ll be next.”
The United States could put pressure on the Petro regime in Colombia. The next scheduled election for president in Colombia happens in May of 2026. So there&#8217;s every possibility that Petro could be in trouble as well.
All of this seems to be part of a broader national security strategy pursued by the White House. According to the new national security document, the foreign influence of China, Iran, or Russia in the Western hemisphere has to stop.
The national security strategy of the United States is very much a muscular Monroe Doctrine, suggesting that the Western hemisphere be cleared of outside influence.
It’s about time.

US-POLITICS-TRUMP

U.S. Seizes Venezuelan Tanker. The Trump Doctrine Is Working.

Ben Shapiro

Colombia

Gulf of America

Iran

Opinion

President Trump

U.S. Military

On Thursday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/belarus-lukashenko-meets-venezuela-envoy-again-trump-seeks-maduros-removal-2025-12-11/">held his second meeting</a> in 17 days with Venezuela’s ambassador to Russia, telling him that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — who informed President Trump on November 21 that he would be prepared to step down and depart Venezuela if he and his family were granted full legal amnesty — was always welcome in Belarus and he should visit there now.
The Belarusian state news agency Belta said Lukashenko told the ambassador, “We agreed that you should coordinate certain matters with the Venezuelan leadership, with Nicolás Maduro. We agreed that, after resolving certain issues, you would find time to come to me and meet again so we could make the appropriate decision, which is within our competence. And if necessary, we will then involve the president of Venezuela.”
Trump’s administration has played a direct role in prompting these developments. For years, Washington has rejected Maduro’s legitimacy, citing a 2018 election it deemed fraudulent. In recent months, however, Trump significantly escalated political and military pressure on Caracas, including a large military buildup in the Caribbean and increasingly explicit public statements suggesting Maduro’s rule was nearing its end.
In a recent interview, Trump <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/09/donald-trump-full-interview-transcript-00681693">asserted</a> that the Venezuelan leader’s “days are numbered,” while refusing to rule out the possibility of military action. This mix of private communication and public pressure appears to have contributed to Maduro’s exploration of potential exit guarantees.
Lukashenko’s actions fit into this broader geopolitical moment. Belarus has historically maintained warm ties with Venezuela. Belarusian state media described Lukashenko urging the Venezuelan envoy to coordinate matters directly with Maduro and return for further discussions before any high-level decisions are made, even hinting that Maduro himself could become involved if needed. Reuters sought clarification on whether Belarus might provide sanctuary, but Lukashenko’s office did not respond.
These meetings unfold as Lukashenko simultaneously engages in renewed dialogue with the Trump administration, which has recently eased sanctions on Belarus and appointed a special envoy to negotiate further political concessions. This creates a diplomatic environment in which Belarus could become a convenient political and logistical player in discussions surrounding Maduro’s potential departure.

Nicolás Maduro

Russian Ally Offers Maduro A Way Out As U.S. Ramps Up Pressure

Belarus Offers Maduro A Way Out — And He Might Take It

Belarus

María Corina Machado, the exiled Venezuelan opposition leader and newest Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said on Thursday that the Venezuelan regime is &#8220;weaker than ever&#8221; thanks to President Donald Trump&#8217;s pressure.
Machado visited Norway on Thursday, where she answered questions from reporters and spoke positively about Trump&#8217;s recent moves to ramp up pressure on Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/world/americas/maria-corina-machado-nobel-venezuela-maduro-trump.html">reported</a>. Her comments came one day after the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela that the Trump administration believes was part of an illegal shipping network transporting oil from Venezuela and Iran.
While Machado did not address the oil tanker seizure, she said that Trump&#8217;s recent &#8220;actions have been decisive to reach the point where we are right now, in which the regime is weaker than ever.”
“Venezuela has already been invaded. We have the Russian agents, we have the Iranian agents, we have terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, operating freely in accordance with the regime. We have the Colombian guerrilla, the drug cartels,&#8221; Machado added while speaking at a press conference alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.
Maduro&#8217;s regime has close ties to China, Russia, and Iran, and the United States has accused the Venezuelan dictator of taking part &#8220;in a corrupt and violent narco-terrorism conspiracy&#8221; that has shipped deadly drugs to American shores.
Machado fled Venezuela after she helped organize protests against the socialist government after it claimed that Maduro won the 2024 presidential election over opposition leader Edmundo González despite evidence showing that Maduro lost. Machado said on Thursday that she escaped the country with &#8220;support from the United States government.&#8221;
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Trump and Machado have spoken positively about each other in recent months after the Venezuelan leader beat out Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, a recognition that Trump has been aggressively seeking since coming back to the White House. After winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Machado said she was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nobel-peace-prize-winner-dedicates-award-to-trump-for-his-decisive-support">dedicating</a> the award to President Trump “for his decisive support of our cause.” Trump said that Machado called him after she was announced as the Nobel Prize winner.
“A very nice thing to do,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/10/politics/trump-nobel-peace-prize-winner-machado">said</a> of Machado&#8217;s call in October. &#8220;I didn’t say, ‘Then give it to me,’ though I think she might have. She was very nice.&#8221;
“I’ve been helping her along the way,” he added. “They need a lot of help in Venezuela, it’s a basic disaster. So, and you could also say it was given out for ’24 and I was running for office in ‘24.”
Trump also praised Machado in January, shortly after the Venezuelan opposition leader was forced to flee the country. Trump said that Machado was &#8220;peacefully expressing the voices and the WILL of the Venezuelan people with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against the regime.&#8221;

NORWAY-VENEZUELA-NOBEL-PEACE-PRIZE

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Says Maduro Regime ‘Weaker Than Ever,’ Praises Trump’s Actions

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Says Maduro Regime 'Weaker Than Ever,' Praises Trump's Actions

The Venezuelan socialist government accused the United States of committing &#8220;blatant theft&#8221; and &#8220;international piracy&#8221; after American forces, in coordination with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-seizes-venezuelan-oil-tanker-amid-pressure-campaign-against-maduro">took control</a> of an oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast on Wednesday.
The Trump administration said that the oil tanker was involved in an &#8220;illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations&#8221; and would regularly transport oil from Venezuela and Iran. The Venezuelan government, led by dictator Nicolás Maduro, condemned the United States and said on Wednesday that the seizure was part of President Donald Trump&#8217;s &#8220;long-standing plan to seize [Venezuelan] resources.&#8221;
&#8220;The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounces and strongly repudiates what constitutes a blatant theft and an act of international piracy, publicly announced by the President of the United States, who confessed to the assault on an oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea,&#8221; the socialist government <a href="https://correodelorinoco.gob.ve/venezuela-denuncia-acto-de-pirateria-internacional-por-el-robo-descarado-de-un-buque-petrolero-en-el-caribe/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">said</a>.
Maduro has remained defiant following pressure from Trump and has attempted to rally his country against the United States. Earlier on Wednesday, Maduro spoke at a rally and told Venezuelans to be prepared to act like &#8220;warriors&#8221; and &#8220;smash the teeth of the North American empire if necessary,&#8221; the Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/10/us-forces-reportedly-seize-oil-tanker-off-venezuela-coast">reported</a>. Maduro has kept a tight grip on Venezuela after declaring himself the winner of the 2024 presidential election despite evidence showing that he lost.
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-seizes-venezuelan-oil-tanker-amid-pressure-campaign-against-maduro">confirmed</a> the oil tanker seizure after he was asked about the news by Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan.
&#8220;As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large — largest one ever seized, actually,” Trump said during a roundtable event on Wednesday afternoon. The president added that the tanker was seized &#8220;for very good reasons&#8221; and suggested that the United States would keep the oil on board.
The Trump administration released video of the seizure, showing American forces deploying out of a helicopter onto the large ship in the South Caribbean.
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&#8220;If you threaten our nation, or break the law, there is no place on land or sea where we won’t find you,&#8221; the Department of Homeland Security posted on social media alongside a video of the operation.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
KNOCKOUT.
If you threaten our nation, or break the law, there is no place on land or sea where we won’t find you.
Thank you to the brave service members from <a href="https://twitter.com/USCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCG</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ICEgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICEGOV</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/FBI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBI</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofWar</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheJusticeDept</a>. <a href="https://t.co/KUCRjES267">pic.twitter.com/KUCRjES267</a>
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1998909254854746523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The oil tanker seized by the United States has often attempted to hide its location while transporting oil from sanctioned countries, The New York Times reported. The vessel, called &#8220;Skipper,&#8221; hides by broadcasting fake location data. Tracking experts believe that the tanker &#8220;has transported nearly 13 million barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan oil since joining the global dark fleet of tankers in 2021,&#8221; according to the Times.
Venezuela&#8217;s oil-rich land is its main source of revenue and is often sold at steep discounts to American nemeses such as Iran and China. Trump has ramped up the pressure on Maduro in recent weeks, deploying U.S. battleships and forces to the Caribbean and taking out suspected drug boats near the Venezuelan coast. The White House accuses Maduro&#8217;s regime of funneling deadly drugs to the United States and has placed a $50 million <a href="https://www.state.gov/nicolas-maduro-moros">bounty</a> on Maduro for engaging &#8220;in a corrupt and violent narco-terrorism conspiracy.&#8221;

Venezuela Cries ‘International Piracy’ After U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker

Trump Administration

Attorney General Pam Bondi posted video of the U.S. raid on an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday.
The video shows U.S. forces boarding and taking control of the vessel as part of an operation to enforce U.S. sanctions on the sale of Venezuelan oil.
“[T]he Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran,” said Bondi.
“For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations,” she added. “This seizure, completed off the coast of Venezuela, was conducted safely and securely—and our investigation alongside the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil continues.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. For multiple… <a href="https://t.co/dNr0oAGl5x">pic.twitter.com/dNr0oAGl5x</a>
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/1998875795151024337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
President Donald Trump confirmed news of the tanker seizure on Wednesday. Trump said that the tanker was seized “for very good reasons.” Asked about what will happen to the oil, the president <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/1998860261915242721">said</a>, “We’ll keep it, I guess.”
U.S. forces <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-seizes-venezuelan-oil-tanker-amid-pressure-campaign-against-maduro">seized</a> the tanker off the coast of Venezuela as the White House has increasingly pressured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro to step down. The president has placed a $50 million bounty on Maduro and threatened to order military strikes on drug cartel infrastructure and other targets in Venezuela.
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The U.S. military has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-strikes-another-drug-vessel-targeting-narco-terrorists-as-trump-floats-talks-with-venezuela">sunk</a> more than 20 vessels off Venezuela’s coast that were believed to be carrying illicit drugs such as fentanyl and cocaine.
The decision to seize the oil tanker strikes directly at Venezuela’s main source of revenue, its state-controlled oil industry. The oil it can produce through its state-owned oil company, PDVSA, is often sold internationally to countries such as Iran and China at steep discounts because of the risk of running afoul of U.S. sanctions.
The United States has oil interests in Venezuela, as well. Earlier this year, the U.S. Treasury Department granted Chevron a waiver from U.S. sanctions to be able to drill in Venezuela in partnership with PDVSA. A portion of the oil drilled by Chevron is paid to the government of Venezuela in exchange for access.

Screenshot

Trump Admin Drops Video Showing U.S. Forces Swarming Oil Tanker Off Venezuelan Coast

Trump Admin Drops Video Showing U.S. Forces Swarm Oil Tanker

Pam Bondi

The United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday. 
President Donald Trump confirmed the news during a roundtable discussion on Wednesday afternoon after he was asked about reports of the seizure by Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan. The seizure comes as the president has ramped up a pressure campaign targeting Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro.
“An interesting day from the standpoint of news. As you probably know, we&#8217;ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large — largest one ever seized, actually,” the president <a href="https://x.com/nicksortor/status/1998847332616421875">said</a>.
Trump added that the tanker was taken by the United States &#8220;for very good reasons.&#8221;
Bloomberg first <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-10/us-seizes-oil-tanker-off-the-coast-of-venezuela">reported</a> the tanker seizure.
Until Wednesday, the Trump administration’s military efforts off the coast of Venezuela have been limited to destroying drug boats and submarines. Wednesday’s actions represent a significant escalation in the White House pressure campaign, targeting Venezuela’s state-owned oil industry and primary source of funding.
Most of Venezuela’s oil is sold to China. Chinese buyers are typically able to get Venezuelan oil at a discount because of the risk of running afoul of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela.
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U.S.-based Chevron has some oil operations in Venezuela. Chevron has received a waiver from the Treasury Department to work with Venezuela’s state-owned oil giant PDVSA to develop the country’s massive oil reserves. To drill in Venezuela, Chevron gives a portion of its oil to the government.
Since September, the U.S. military has knocked out over 20 boats and submarines in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean in strikes targeting drugs and narcoterrorists. The strikes are part of the Trump administration’s efforts to curb the flow of illicit drugs into the United States as well as destroy operations that empower cartels in Central and South America and destabilize the region.
Trump has escalated pressure on Maduro in particular after failing to oust the South American strongman from office during Trump’s first term. Trump has approved CIA operations in Venezuela to target drug operations and Maduro, whom the Trump administration has called a drug kingpin. The Trump administration has placed a $50 million bounty on information that leads to Maduro’s arrest.

Trump/Maduro

U.S. Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker Amid Pressure Campaign Against Maduro

Trump Says U.S. Has Seized Venezuelan Oil Tanker Amid Pressure Campaign Against Maduro

Secretary of State Marco Rubio laid out the crisis at America’s southern border and the growing danger emanating from Venezuela during a candid exchange with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Tuesday night.
Rubio blasted Venezuelan socialist President Nicolás Maduro&#8217;s regime, calling it a failing dictatorship that is funneling chaos toward the United States. The secretary of state said that Maduro &#8220;suckered Joe Biden,&#8221; but added, “They’re not going to sucker Donald Trump.”
Rubio noted that more than eight million Venezuelans have fled the country, overwhelming neighbors and adding to the migrant flow reaching America’s doorstep. But he stressed that the conversation can’t stop at humanitarian collapse. The sharper danger, he argued, is the Iranian foothold inside Venezuela, a reality the media rarely touches. He explained that Iran’s IRGC — and even Hezbollah — have entrenched themselves in South America, with Venezuela serving as one of their “anchor” sanctuaries.
Rubio also discussed the unavoidable limits of vetting migrants with a level of sobriety absent from most political rhetoric.
&#8220;You can only vet information that exists,&#8221; he said. &#8220;So it is possible that in many cases, there are things about these people that you just don&#8217;t know, and no matter how much you vet them, you just don&#8217;t have certain information.&#8221;
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Rubio explained that in many corners of the world — especially countries overrun by terrorists or lacking functioning institutions — documentation is nonexistent or impossible to verify. He warned that someone with no extremist record could be pulled into ideology once inside the United States, particularly if they struggle to assimilate or are vulnerable to propaganda in their native language. The Afghan national who allegedly shot two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., last week — killing one and wounding the other — was &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/suspected-national-guard-shooter-was-radicalized-through-connections-in-afghanistan-noem-says">radicalized</a>&#8221; through connections he maintained in Afghanistan after coming to the United States, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
&#8220;The bottom line is there is no effective way to allow hundreds of thousands of people to enter any country in the world and not face consequences,&#8221; Rubio added.
Turning back to Venezuela, Rubio said the Biden administration made a major mistake by believing that Maduro could be negotiated into good behavior.
&#8220;The Biden administration made a deal with Maduro. No one talks about this,&#8221; Rubio told Hannity. &#8220;He made a deal with Maduro. Here was the deal: Maduro asked that his nephews – convicted drug traffickers – be released from U.S. prisons. He asked that his chief money launderer, his money man, his bag man, be released from U.S. custody before he stood trial. In exchange he promised to hold free and fair elections. He got the nephews back, the drug dealers. He got the bag man back. And he never did the free and fair elections.&#8221;

President Trump Hosts Philippines President Marcos At White House

‘They’re Not Going To Sucker Donald Trump’: Rubio Crystal Clear On Venezuela, Immigration

Immigration

Marco Rubio

President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday during a Cabinet meeting that the Pentagon’s lethal strikes on narco-terrorists will soon move from the ocean to land.
Trump said that narco-terrorists are responsible for drugs killing 200,000 Americans annually and announced plans to expand “Operation Southern Spear” from maritime interdictions to land strikes.
“We’re going to start doing those strikes on land too,” the president said. “The land is much easier. It&#8217;s much easier. And we know the routes they take. We know everything about them. We know where they live. We know where bad ones live, and we’re going to start that very soon, too.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: Trump says he will begin striking narco-terrorists by land.
&#8220;We&#8217;re going to start doing those strikes on land too. You know, the land is much easier&#8230; we know where the bad ones live.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/Sb7W1DBnEn">pic.twitter.com/Sb7W1DBnEn</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1995936378212008205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
Any country trafficking illegal narcotics is a possible target, Trump added, mentioning Colombia and Venezuela. 
“Not just Venezuela. Venezuela has been very bad. Venezuela has been really bad in something else, probably worse than most, but a lot of other people do it too,” Trump said. 
Trump said the administration’s efforts have already slashed drug trafficking through maritime routes by more than 90%, crediting naval strikes with saving “hundreds of thousands of lives” and warning narco-terrorist groups that “we’ve only just begun.”
“We&#8217;re saving hundreds of thousands of lives with our pinpoint attacks,” Trump added.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the administration has “only just begun” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-doubles-down-on-authority-to-kill-narco-terrorists-ahead-of-oval-office-meeting?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=White+House+Doubles+Down+On+Authority+%E2%80%98To+Kill%E2%80%99+Narco-Terrorists+Ahead+Of+Oval+Office+Meeting">targeting narco-terrorists</a>, vowing to put traffickers “at the bottom of the ocean” for &#8220;poisoning the American people.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: Secretary Pete Hegseth says U.S. has &#8220;only just begun&#8221; sinking narco-terrorist vessels. <a href="https://t.co/UYo7ffvzfF">pic.twitter.com/UYo7ffvzfF</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1995930132155125858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
The United States has been ramping up its military presence in the Caribbean as part of Operation Southern Spear, while continuing strikes on vessels tied to narco-terrorists.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, deployed to the region last month to back the operation, which is disrupting drug trafficking networks. More than 15,000 troops and a dozen warships have reportedly amassed in the region.
More than 80 people have been killed in strikes on alleged drug vessels, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/politics/trump-venezuela-meeting">reported CNN.</a>
Trump issued a warning Sunday, declaring Venezuelan airspace effectively off-limits.
“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115633041089714842">Trump posted</a> to Truth Social.
Despite that warning, both commercial and private aircraft have continued flying through Venezuelan airspace, flight-tracking services show.
The Maduro regime responded, calling the president’s comments a “colonialist threat.”
“No authority outside the Venezuelan institutional framework has the power to interfere with, block, or condition the use of international airspace,” the statement said.
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Trump, who designated Nicolás Maduro as the leader of the Cartel de Los Soles, has been pressuring him to resign and flee the country. Trump confirmed he has spoken with Maduro but did not share the details of what was discussed. 
Pope Leo encouraged the United States against invading Venezuela on Tuesday while speaking to reporters on the papal plane.
“It seems there is the possibility that there be some activity, even an operation to invade Venezuelan territory,” <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/americas/pope-leo-us-venezuela-immigrants-western-countries-intl-latam">Leo said</a>. “I truly believe that it is better to look for ways of dialogue, maybe pressure, including economic pressure, but looking another way to change, if that is what they want to do in the United States.”

President Trump Meets With His Cabinet At The White House

Trump Says Pentagon Will Strike Narco-Terrorists On Land During Cabinet Meeting

Trump Says Pentagon Will Begin Striking Narco-Terrorists On Land

Pete Hegseth

The White House doubled down Monday on its authorization of lethal strikes against narco-terrorist groups ahead of a high-level Oval Office meeting amid escalating tensions with Venezuela.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that President Donald Trump has the authority to use lethal force against members of designated narco-terrorist groups and has directed the military to treat suspected traffickers as lawful targets.
“The president has made it quite clear that if narco-terrorists, again, are trafficking illegal drugs towards the United States, he has the authority to kill them—and that’s what this administration is doing,” Leavitt told reporters.
She added that “many options at the president’s disposal remain on the table.”
Leavitt’s comments come ahead of a scheduled Oval Office meeting Monday afternoon, where top Trump administration officials are set to discuss the administration’s pressure campaign against Venezuela&#8217;s socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro.
Officials will include Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
Leavitt said the meeting is part of Trump’s “responsibility to ensure that peace is ongoing throughout the world.”
The United States has continued to increase its military presence in the Caribbean and conduct strikes on vessels linked to narco-terrorist groups under “Operation Southern Spear.” 
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, arrived in the Caribbean last month to support the operation, which is aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks heading toward the U.S. More than 15,000 troops and a dozen warships have reportedly amassed in the region. 

More than 80 people have been killed in strikes on alleged drug vessels, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/politics/trump-venezuela-meeting">reported CNN.</a>
On Sunday, Trump warned that Venezuela’s airspace should be considered closed.
“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115633041089714842">Trump posted</a> to Truth Social.
Some flights have continued to operate in Venezuelan airspace despite Trump’s warning, including commercial and private jets, <a href="https://www.flightradar24.com/9.24,-65.53/6">Flightradar24</a> shows.
Maduro’s government responded, calling the president’s comments a “colonialist threat.”
“No authority outside the Venezuelan institutional framework has the power to interfere with, block, or condition the use of international airspace,” the statement said.
Trump, who designated Maduro as the leader of the Cartel de Los Soles, has been pressuring him to resign and flee the country. Trump confirmed he has spoken with Maduro but did not share the details of what was discussed.

White House Doubles Down On Authority ‘To Kill’ Narco-Terrorists Ahead Of Oval Office Meeting

Cartels

The Trump administration tightens immigration restrictions following a fatal attack on National Guardsmen, illegal alien access to federal benefits comes under scrutiny, and is the United States about to strike narco-terrorists on Venezuelan soil?
It’s Monday, December 1, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below, and the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/mrn-251201">video version can be seen on The Daily Wire</a>:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/capital-attack-fallout-venezuelan-skies-closed-12-1-25/id1576594336?i=1000739099845" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Launches Immigration Crackdown After D.C. Shootings</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1007687" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Guardsmen-Shooting-Fallout-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Guardsmen-Shooting-Fallout-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Guardsmen-Shooting-Fallout-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Guardsmen-Shooting-Fallout-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Guardsmen-Shooting-Fallout-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Guardsmen-Shooting-Fallout.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: The tragic shooting of two National Guard members from West Virginia by an Afghan national has triggered a massive immigration response from the Trump administration. And the president does not appear to be done with his sweeping actions.
Over the course of last week and then into the weekend, President Donald Trump has taken a series of aggressive actions in response to this attack, about which some very harrowing details continue to emerge.
The attack: Police say the 29-year-old suspect approached with a revolver and was shooting at a point-blank distance. He was also reportedly shouting “Allah Akbar!”
One heroic guardsman, armed with only a pocketknife, was able to stop the shooter. The guardsman heard the gunfire, charged the shooter, and then stabbed him with the knife.
Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old woman who was one of the guardsmen shot in the attack, died as a result of her injuries. The other guardsman who was shot, Andrew Wolf, is still fighting for his life. There continues to be an outpouring of support and prayers for his recovery and his family.
The suspect was also severely wounded, but he is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/national-guard-shooting-suspect-expected-to-survive?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=National+Guard+Shooting+Suspect+Expected+To+Survive">expected</a> to survive.
Where the prosecution stands: U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/charges-upgraded-against-afghan-shooting-suspect-after-national-guard-soldier-dies">said</a> that the charges have been upgraded to first-degree murder since Beckstrom’s death. Pirro said that this appears to be a case of an ambush-style attack. The FBI is even looking at this as a possible act of terrorism.
In response, President Trump said he is considering dispatching 500 more troops to the nation’s capital to keep the peace, doubling down on his earlier executive order to protect the city and quell crime.
The suspect: He came into the United States as part of Operation Allies Welcome, launched by the Biden administration after the botched 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. Many soldiers, including Afghan and American soldiers, were killed during that process, and the Taliban was able to retake the country.
The suspect fought with a group of elite Afghan fighters known as &#8220;Zero Units.&#8221; They were all so-called “death squads” working with the CIA to help fight the Taliban. A friend of the suspect’s told the New York Post that he suffered from serious mental health issues as a result of his years in combat.
Immigration crackdown: Trump has said the United States is not admitting any more Afghan nationals. The president has ordered a review of how Afghans were vetted during and after the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Notably, tens of thousands of Afghan nationals came to the United States as refugees following the withdrawal.
The State Department has said it is refusing visas to Afghan nationals until it conducts further vetting of the country. The president has said that he will “deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Steps Up Enforcement Against Illegals Receiving Benefits</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1007689" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Illegal-Benefits-Axed-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Illegal-Benefits-Axed-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Illegal-Benefits-Axed-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Illegal-Benefits-Axed-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Illegal-Benefits-Axed-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Illegal-Benefits-Axed.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: The Trump administration is working to remove federal benefits for people who are in the country illegally.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he will “end all Federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens.” He added that many recent arrivals depend on taxpayer-supported welfare programs while coming from “failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels.”
Bessent’s turn: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has moved to implement the president’s order. Bessent said that his department is working to cut off federal benefits to illegals and stressed that these must be preserved for American citizens.
Specifically, Bessent said the Treasury “will issue proposed regulations clarifying that the refunded portions of certain individual income tax benefits are no longer available to illegal and other non-qualified aliens.”
The Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network also issued an alert to better crack down on the exploitation of the U.S. financial system by illegals who are seeking to move illegally obtained funds. 
The department <a href="https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-issues-alert-cross-border-funds-transfers-involving-illegal-aliens#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%94Today%2C%20the%20U.S.%20Department,to%20move%20illicitly%20obtained%20funds">said</a> that over the past several years, the United States has witnessed a “significant volume of cross-border funds transfers, including remittances” from illegals.
MN Somalis: City Journal has reported in detail on a massive fraud scheme in Minnesota under the tenure of Democrat Gov. Tim Walz, where billions of taxpayer dollars intended for social services were funneled through fake nonprofits and shell companies, and — alarmingly — some of that money <a href="https://www.city-journal.org/article/minnesota-welfare-fraud-somalia-al-shabaab">ended up in the hands</a> of the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
Much of the fraud has been traced back to Minnesota’s Somali community, where fraudsters have allegedly exploited numerous loopholes in the state’s welfare system. But the story has been overlooked for a long time.
“I think it’s fair to say there was an unwillingness or inability from Democratic state officials in Minnesota to recognize some pretty obvious alarm bells here. Claims were skyrocketing, spiraling out of control,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpQQ9nJPBhg&amp;t=216s">said</a> investigative reporter Ryan Thorpe, who helped break the story. “The reality is, the Somali community … is a voting bloc you have to win if you&#8217;re going to win political office in Minneapolis.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Clears The Skies Over Venezuela</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1007691" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Venezuela-Tensions-Strike-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Venezuela-Tensions-Strike-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Venezuela-Tensions-Strike-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Venezuela-Tensions-Strike-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Venezuela-Tensions-Strike-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Venezuela-Tensions-Strike.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: Tensions are escalating after President Trump announced that the airspace over Venezuela should be considered closed. The announcement has raised new questions over potential U.S. strikes inside Venezuela amid the president’s war on drug cartels.
The situation around Venezuela appears precarious. Trump on Saturday posted on <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115633041089714842">Truth Social</a>: “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
That post has again sparked predictions about when airstrikes could occur.
“We should read into it that strikes are very probably going to occur over the course of this week,” retired Admiral James Stavridis <a href="https://x.com/stavridisj/status/1994895666242257322">told</a> CNN. “When you hear the president of the United States throw that warning out there, to me it sounds like strikes are coming probably sooner rather than later.”
The fallout: Venezuela’s foreign minister called Trump’s post an “extravagant, illegal, and unjustified aggression against the people of Venezuela.” A country can’t actually close another country&#8217;s airspace, but that seems to be a technicality in this situation.
Ten days ago, the FAA had already warned about a “potentially hazardous situation” for flights over Venezuela. Commercial air traffic has avoided the area since. Venezuela has <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuela-trump-airspace-migrant-repatriation-flights/">said</a> that U.S. migrant repatriation flights have stopped.
Diplomacy? The New York Times and <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-declares-that-airspace-around-venezuela-should-be-considered-closed-07b748ee?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqdYROyIVy7gClY9Bq41wnncsq-Qat1oRTlqYoKx0V6tbAonb7EZrT7QkEcL4N8%3D&amp;gaa_ts=692c8335&amp;gaa_sig=FZG9XNJCxmFvKFgy6onM_3SgPB5tUMSPwJXqN2n4szJLOt3sdRVw2O24SgzgHNBcNUGqk8fn_gJ-kgAiYrOD0w%3D%3D">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported that Trump and Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan leader, spoke by phone recently. Trump confirmed the call on Sunday while speaking to reporters on board Air Force One. Trump did not provide details, but the call represents a shift after the U.S. cut off diplomatic talks in October.
Reportedly, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was on the call, as well, and Trump and Maduro spoke of the possibility of a meeting, which would be a significant shift after Trump called on Maduro to step down and authorized CIA operations in Venezuela.
Allies of the president have maintained that this is a drug operation–a very intense one, but one that will not lead to war.

MRN_251201_V2 (2)

Morning Brief: Capital Attack Fallout, No Aid For Illegals, & Venezuelan Airspace Closed?

Morning Brief: Trump Cracks Down On Afghans, No Aid For Illegals, And Clear Skies Over Caracas

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