Drug boats from Venezuela are mainly moving cocaine to Europe — not fentanyl to the U.S., experts say

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.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the U.S. government's designation of Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization provides the Pentagon with new options to combat the alleged drug cartel, which is purportedly led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump does not intend to execute Democratic lawmakers who urged U.S. military members to ignore illegal orders. This clarification follows Trump's earlier comments suggesting that the lawmakers' actions could be deemed 'punishable by death.'

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.

President Trump has called for the arrest of several Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a video urging U.S. military members to defy illegal orders. This statement has sparked significant controversy and debate regarding the role of military personnel in following lawful commands.

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.