Hegseth says terror designation provides Pentagon with 'new options' to go after Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a warning to all pilots to exercise caution when flying over Venezuela due to a deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in the region.

Federal investigators are probing claims that Venezuela assisted in stealing the 2020 election from Donald Trump. Multiple individuals promoting this conspiracy theory have been interviewed by the Department of Justice, sharing witnesses and documents with officials. The investigation raises concerns about the credibility of these allegations and their potential implications for U.S.-Venezuela relations.

Experts indicate that drug boats intercepted by the U.S. military in the Caribbean are primarily transporting cocaine from Venezuela to Europe, rather than fentanyl to the United States. This assessment comes amid ongoing military operations targeting suspected drug trafficking vessels.

Documents released to mark the 50th anniversary of a Senate report reveal that the Gerald Ford administration attempted to block the report detailing the CIA's involvement in assassination plots against foreign leaders. This effort ultimately led to significant changes in how the agency was held accountable. The release coincides with speculation that Donald Trump may have authorized CIA actions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro amid heightened U.S. military presence in the region.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to provide a classified briefing to the Senate regarding the Trump administration's military operations in Venezuela. Schumer emphasized the need for transparency as military activities in the region are reportedly increasing.

The senior military lawyer for the combatant command overseeing lethal strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela expressed legal concerns regarding the operations, contradicting the Trump administration's stance that they are lawful. His views were reportedly sidelined, according to multiple sources familiar with the legal advice.