Minneapolis Fed's Kashkari indicates interest rates don't need to be cut much more -Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari said Monday that he thinks the central bank is close to the point where it should stop lowering interest rates. In a CNBC interview, the central banker said the key calculus now is whether the Fed should be more focused on a slowing labor market or stubbornly high inflation."My guess is we're pretty close to neutral right now," Kashkari said in a live CNBC "Squawk Box" interview. "We just need to get more data to see which is the bigger force. Is it inflation or is it the labor market? And then we can move from a neutral stance, whatever direction is necessary."Calibrating neutral is critical for Fed policymakers as a divided group decides whether to continue the streak of three consecutive rate cuts implemented in the latter part of 2025 or hold pat as policymakers watch economic conditions unfold. The key federal funds rate is currently targeted in a range between 3.5%-3.75%. According to projections made at the December meeting, that's only about half a percentage point from the committee consensus on the neutral rate, or one that neither supports nor restrains growth. "I think inflation is still too high. And the big question in my mind is, how tight is monetary policy?" Kashkari said. "Over the last couple of years, we kept thinking the economy is going to slow down, and the economy has proven to be far more resilient than I had expected. That tells me, well, monetary policy must not be putting that much downward pressure on the economy." Kashkari's voice carries a little extra weight in 2026 as he is a voting member on the Federal Open Market Committee, which sets benchmark interest rates. Recently, he has said he would have opposed recent cuts as he worries about inflation, which could be influenced yet by President Donald Trump's tariffs. Even though he said he is concerned about the labor market, he indicated that the committee's work is close to being done on cutting. The unemployment rate has drifted higher to 4.6% this year while the Fed's preferred core inflation measure most recently was at 2.8%, albeit according to data whose accuracy has been questioned due to impacts from the government shutdown. "Inflation risk is one of persistence, that these tariff effects take multiple years to work their way all the way through the system, whereas I do think there's a risk that the unemployment rate could pop from here," Kashkari said. On a separate matter, Kashkari said he would be happy if Jerome Powell stays on board after his term as chair ends in May. Though he is certain to be replaced as chair, his term as governor lasts until January 2028. "I have no idea whether he stays on. I think he's done a wonderful job as chair. None of us are perfect. I think he's not perfect. I'm not perfect. As a committee, we're not perfect," Kashkari said. "But overall, I think he's done an excellent job, and I would love to see him remain as a colleague for as long as he likes." Trump has indicated he will name a successor to Powell sometime in January.
Fed's Barkin says future rate changes should be fine-tuned based on incoming data (Reuters) - Further changes to the Federal Reserve's short-term interest rate will need to be "finely tuned" to incoming data given the risks to both the U.S. central bank's employment and inflation goals, Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin said on Tuesday. "Both sides of our mandate bear watching. Unemployment remains low on a historic basis but has ticked up. Inflation has come down but remains above target," Barkin told the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce in North Carolina. Interest rates are now "within the range of estimates of neutral," the level that will neither encourage nor discourage investment and spending, Barkin said. "Going forward, policy will require finely tuned judgments balancing progress on each side of our mandate." The Fed is charged by Congress to maintain maximum employment and stable prices, defined by policymakers as 2% annual inflation. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation, the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, was rising at a 2.8% annual rate as of September, the most recent data available in a series delayed by last fall's federal government shutdown. "No one wants the labor market to deteriorate much further," Barkin said. "With inflation above target now for almost five years, no one wants higher inflation expectations to get embedded. It's a delicate balance." The Fed cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point at its December 9-10 meeting, but officials indicated they were likely to pause further reductions in borrowing costs for now to get a better sense of the economy's direction, a process still hampered by the interruption of statistical reports last fall. In new economic projections issued after last month's meeting, the median Fed policymaker anticipated only one quarter-percentage-point rate cut in 2026. But opinion was broadly split, with a debate already emerging about where the economy stands after a year of widespread uncertainty stoked by changes in trade, tax and immigration policy, but also of resilient growth driven by an investment boom in artificial intelligence and spending by higher-income consumers. Fed Governor Stephen Miran, reiterating the stance he brought to the central bank while on leave as a top adviser to President Donald Trump, told Fox Business he felt the Fed could cut rates sharply this year to boost growth without a jump in inflation. "Policy is clearly restrictive and holding the economy back," Miran said, arguing that "well over 100 basis points of cuts are going to be justified this year." His outlook makes him the most dovish Fed official by far, with a 2026 rate outlook at least half a percentage point below the rest of his colleagues and a full percentage point under current market expectations. That outlook could shift under a new head of the U.S. central bank, with Trump expected this month to announce a successor to current Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whose term as the central bank's top policymaker ends in May. In the meantime, Fed officials like Barkin have adopted a more nuanced approach to their analysis of where the economy and monetary policy are likely to head, with an emphasis on coming jobs and inflation data that will continue to fill an information gap left by the shutdown. The Labor Department's employment report for December, due to be released on Friday, will put reporting on job growth and the unemployment rate back on a regular schedule. Barkin said he is watching layoff data with particular interest to see if firms are shifting out of their current "low-hiring, low-firing" approach to managing employment. "We're in a low-hiring, low-firing world. That could change. It could change either way," Barkin said. Barkin said he was also paying attention to consumer sentiment surveys for any signs that households are starting to become more cautious and putting the so-far resilient path of consumption at risk. "Should the environment get to be one that people say "I've got to save for tomorrow, that would be a significant pullback in the economy," he said. "It's something to watch for." The Fed's next policy meeting is on January 27-28.
Fed's Barkin optimistic about market uncertainty in 2026 -- Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Tom Barkin struck a cautiously optimistic tone on the economy Tuesday, saying progress on inflation and labor markets could eventually allow policy to normalize, though risks remain on both sides of the Fed's mandate.
- Key Insight: Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin believes that as businesses gain confidence in the country's robust economic demand and adjust to the new policy environment in Washington, hiring and investment should increase in the year ahead.
- Expert Quote: "Going forward, policy will require finely tuned judgments balancing progress on each side of our mandate." — Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Tom Barkin.
- What's at stake: After three consecutive interest rate cuts late last year, the Federal Reserve has signaled it will take a wait-and-see approach in 2026.
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Tom Barkin said economic uncertainty should ease in the coming year as businesses gain confidence in sustained demand and adapt to the new policy environment.
Fed Balance Sheet Drops by $67 Billion for the Week | by Wolf Richter -Total assets on the Fed’s weekly balance sheet dropped by $67 billion from the prior week to $6.57 trillion as of Wednesday, according to the Fed today. The drop,which was expected, reversed a big part of the $104 billion spike in the prior week when Wednesday, the cut-off for the Fed’s balance sheet, was December 31, the point of maximum year-end liquidity shifts.That drop of $67 billion was caused by the Standing Repo Facility (SRF), whose balance dropped from $75 billion on December 31 to $23 billion on Friday January 2, and to zero on January 5 and stayed at zero through today.The SRF is an asset on the Fed’s balance sheet, and that $75 billion uptake on December 31 happened on the day of the Fed’s weekly balance sheet, and so it increased the Fed’s total assets for one day by $75 billion. And that has been completely unwound.These repos (repurchase agreements) at the SRF unwind the next business day, when the Fed gets its money back and the banks get their collateral back. Then the counter parties can take up new repos for another business day. But there has been no uptake since January 2.The 43 or so approved counterparties at the SRF, mostly big broker-dealers and banks, can borrow overnight at the SRF via repos at 3.75%. The idea is that these counterparties will keep repo market rates from blowing out during liquidity shifts by lending to the repo market when rates in the repo market exceed the SRF rate and earn a quick profit from the spread.On December 31, rates in the portion of the repo market that SOFR tracks rose as high as 4.0%, so banks borrowed $75 billion at the SRF for two days (including January 1) and lent to the repo market at higher rates, and profited from the spread. As rates in the repo market dropped below the SRF rate, the spread vanished, and banks unwound the SRF repos.T-bills on the Fed’s balance sheet rose by $8 billion from the prior week, to $241 billion. T-bills are short-term Treasury securities with terms of 1 month to 1 year.In December, the Fed started adding T-bills for two purposes, within its new effort to shift the composition of its balance sheet toward T-bills:
- Replace the MBS that come off its balance sheet to reach its goal of shedding all of its MBS over time;
- “Reserve Management Purchases” (RMPs) to increase reserve balances (bank cash on deposit at the Fed) as needed for reserves to remain at “ample” levels.
Until December, the Fed held only $195 billion in T-bills – only 3.0% of its total assets at the time. The only reason it had any T-bills at all was the repo market blowout in late 2019 when it purchased T-bills in addition to engaging in repos to bring that back under control. Before the repo market blowout, T-bills were at zero.On December 12, the Fed started buying T-bills for RMP purposes and to replace MBS that come off the balance sheet.Since then, the Fed added $46 billion in T-bills:
- $15 billion replaced MBS that came off its balance sheet
- $31 billion for RMP purposes.
When the Fed made that announcement in December, it said that RMPs for the month from December 12 to January 12 would amount to $40 billion.The Fed will announce in a few days the amount of the RMPs to be purchased during the next 30-day period. The amounts will vary by season. The Fed is currently frontloading for April 15 Tax Day, when big liquidity strains are expected. After that it will slow the RMPs, it said. Before 2008 and before QE, the Fed always let its balance sheet grow roughly with the nominal economy (at the time, largely a function of currency in circulation and inflation). It did so by purchasing T-bills and Treasury securities, and by engaging in repos. QE changed that in 2008, when the Fed suddenly began to balloon its balance sheet out of all proportion. Note the growth of the Fed’s T-bill holdings before 2008 QE. This pre-QE method of letting the balance sheet grow roughly with nominal economic growth and shifting more of its assets to T-bills is what the Fed is reverting to.From January 2003 to August 2007, the Fed’s total assets increased by 18%. That was not QE but standard balance sheet management, to keep the balance sheet in line with the economy.
Fed's Kashkari flags concern about labor market - - Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari said on CNBC that both sides of the central bank's dual mandate show signs of imbalance, with the labor market appearing more vulnerable.
Goldman Sees Middle Class "Outperforming", Yet K-Shaped Economy Persists -All of Goldman’s 2026 global outlooks across macroeconomics, markets, and the consumer were rolled out Monday for Premium and Pro readers, offering more visibility for how the firm’s top desks are viewing this year. In this note, we focus more closely on the consumer outlook, where Goldman expects middle-income households to outperform while lower-income consumers remain under pressure, reinforcing the view that the K-shaped economy is alive and well. For 2026, Goldman Sachs Managing Director Kate McShane said her economists expect faster disposable personal income growth as tariff-related inflation subsides and President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) takes effect, particularly benefiting middle-income households, while easier monetary policy and lower household obligations support borrowing and mortgage equity withdrawals. "Ultimately, we expect these factors to drive an acceleration in discretionary cash inflow for the US consumer in 2026, up to +5.1% (vs. +4.1% in 2025), with the mid-income (i.e., third) quintile to see +6.9% discretionary cash inflow growth in 2026," McShane said. She continued, "Our economists expect Medicaid and SNAP cuts to weigh disproportionately on real income growth amongst the bottom-income quintile, which will drive deceleration in discretionary cash inflow for the fifth quintile in 2026 of +3.2% (vs. 3.3% in 2025)." McShane noted, "However, our economists also highlight a fragile job market (with rising unemployment rates) as a potential risk that could spark recession fears ahead, especially if companies increase their focus on lowering labor costs in the year as AI-led applications drive a faster underlying improvement in productivity." What's evident is that the K-shaped economy is intact this year as Democrats have hounded the Trump administration on this topic, but fail to even mention that the crippling of lower-income consumers was a byproduct of failed Bidenomics. However, the White House has made progress, especially on the energy front, but sticky food inflation, such as beef, remains a major headache this year.
Johnson faces growing unrest from House GOP centrists --Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) may be bracing for a rocky return from winter recess, as mounting frustration among moderate House Republicans over the administration’s handling of foreign policy and health care is expected to reach a breaking point in the new year. Johnson has routinely struggled to keep his caucus unified, as he balances a razor-thin majority in the House while trying to satisfy President Trump. Now with an election year looming — and some moderate members headed for the exit at the end of their terms — they will likely take bolder swings on key issues, either to lock down support back home or to show independence from the White House. Several centrists left for their two-week break seething after GOP leadership blocked their efforts to bring to the floor a vote on an Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidy extension. That left some of them no choice but to back a Democratic discharge petition that would force a vote on a three-year subsidy extension bill in January. And moderates are ready to do everything in their power to ensure that the bill goes through bipartisan reform in the Senate and returns to the House for another vote. “We’ve taken yet another extreme measure today,” Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), who signed the petition and serves as co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, told reporters in December. “This will result in the bill coming to the floor. It will pass. It will go to the Senate, and the Senate, we just met with them, are going to take it up. They’re going to send something back, and we will find a way to get that bill to the floor.” The subsidies expired on Dec. 31, driving up millions of Americans’ health insurance premiums. Trump said at the end of November that he’d “rather not” extend the subsidies. But he said in December he could work with Democrats on health care and planned to meet with major insurance company executives to bring down consumer prices as the subsidies expired. Either way, Johnson is in a tough spot, as he will likely need to navigate a potential revolt over a subsidy extension from within his own ranks. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.) told The Hill that if the Senate can advance a compromise package with 60 votes — one that includes “meaningful long-term reforms” alongside a short-term subsidy extension — he thinks many House Republicans would be “interested” in it. “There is a much greater willingness and openness than I think people realize if you can do both of those things together,” said Mackenzie, who also signed the Democrats’ discharge petition. “But we have never had that opportunity on the floor to vote for a package like that. You know, it’s just always been … it’s just been a Republican option or a Democrat option.”
Congress unveils final energy, environment spending bills - Congressional appropriators Monday morning unveiled final, bipartisan spending bills for the Interior Department, EPA and the Department of Energy, as well as a host of scientific research programs. The package of three fiscal 2026 bills comes after weeks of negotiations between House and Senate appropriators and aides on both sides of the aisle, and it represents a crucial step forward for Congress’ efforts to fund the government as lawmakers scramble to avoid another shutdown after Jan. 30.The “minibus” includes the Interior-Environment, Energy-Water and Commerce-Justice-Science bills. The House Rules Committee will hold a hearing on the measure Tuesday, and it could get a vote on the House floor before the end of the week. “This bipartisan, bicameral package reflects steady progress toward completing FY26 funding responsibly,” House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said in a statement. “It invests in priorities crucial to the American people: making our communities safer, supporting affordable and reliable energy, and responsibly managing vital resources.”
Takeaways from Congress’ latest spending package - Congressional appropriators’ latest bipartisan spending package, unveiled Monday, would reduce funding for a host of energy and environment programs while rejecting the Trump administration’s requests for even greater cuts. The House and Senate are set to take up the compromise three-bill “minibus” this month with hopes of providing updated funding levels for the Department of Energy, the Interior Department, EPA and a number of science agencies for the first time in nearly two years.The release of the fiscal 2026 measures — Energy-Water, Interior-Environment and Commerce-Justice-Science — marks significant progress for appropriators, who have struggled to coalesce on a strategy to fund the government after passing an initial batch of three funding bills late last year.Congress’ funding deadline of Jan. 30 is four weeks away, and the bipartisan, bicameral agreement on three more bills provides badly needed momentum as lawmakers try to avoid another costly government shutdown.“President Trump set an important foundation by signing three appropriations bills into law in November, and we are carrying that momentum into the new year,” said House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) in a statement.“Developed through committee-led negotiations and thoughtful deliberation,” Cole added, “this package demonstrates how an accountable process produces strong policy.”Indeed, the negotiated minibus contains provisions supported by leaders on both sides of the aisle and funding levels that reflect a compromise between the severe cuts that Republicans proposed and the boosts that Democrats were aiming for. In general, the package would cut spending relative to a continuation of Biden-era spending levels.Negotiators left out so-called poison-pill policy riders that would have undermined bipartisan support, including a proposal about federal lands favored by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah).Still, the GOP majority secured a number of conservative wins. Beyond cuts to EPA and the Department of the Interior overall, the package proposes to eliminate DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and defund the Office of Energy Justice and Equity.Some bipartisan priorities were left on the cutting room floor, and appropriators sought a middle ground on others, such as an effort to create a new, consolidated wildland firefighting agency. “There’ll always be hurdles, and it’s not a perfect bill, but I’m proud of it,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), chair of the Senate Energy-Water Appropriations Subcommittee. Appropriators sprinkled cuts to some energy and environment programs throughout the spending package but avoided the much steeper reductions to Democratic-favored initiatives that the Trump administration proposed last year.A number of energy and environment programs would maintain their current funding levels under the legislation.EPA is facing a $320 million, or 4 percent, cut to its top-line budget — a much smaller slash than the more than $4 billion reduction President Donald Trump requested.DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy would face a cut much smaller than the one proposed by Republicans. Democrats said the bill rejects Trump’s proposal to “zero out funding for critical solar, wind, and hydrogen research programs.”“It’s no secret that reduction in spending came primarily from nondefense, and more specifically, the Green New Deal provisions under President [Joe] Biden,” Kennedy said in a brief interview, adding that nondefense spending in the Energy-Water bill would decrease by more than 3 percent.“President Biden spent an enormous amount of money — enormous amount of money — on the Green New Deal, and it’s time we spent money on things we need more right now, like nuclear,” Kennedy added. Republicans often use “Green New Deal” to refer to renewable energy and climate programs. The Energy-Water bill would boost funding for advanced nuclear energy development, as well as for nuclear weapons programs.At the Department of Energy, negotiators are proposing to eliminate the Biden-era Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and to zero out funding for the Office of Energy Justice and Equity, as DOE proposed in a reorganization last year.Appropriators rebuffed the White House’s bid to zero out funding for the popular Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant program, which would get the same amount of money as last year. The Targeted Airshed Grant Program would also be level-funded.The Interior Department overall would get about $14.5 billion, a cut of more than $200 million, with some of those cuts coming from renewable energy programs. Oil, gas and mineral production programs would see increases.The Bureau of Land Management would get $1.34 billion, which is slightly less than Biden-era funding levels but hundreds of millions of dollars more than Trump proposed. The legislation proposes increases for oil production programs at both BLM and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. For the Forest Service, appropriators proposed $8.61 billion in discretionary spending and rejected the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to state forestry grant programs and research.The National Park Service would be spared a 37 percent cut requested by the White House. Appropriators would instead give the public land agency $3.27 billion, a moderate drop from the current level. […]The bipartisan agreement shores up funding for the Army Corps of Engineers after a year in which Congress did not approve any earmarks for water infrastructure projects. Without new congressional direction for water projects, the Trump administration unilaterally canceled or froze funding for numerous Army Corps projects, almost entirely in Democratic-led states.Under the new spending package, the Army Corps would get $10.4 billion, an increase of nearly $2 billion relative to the fiscal 2025 levels. The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund would receive an estimated $3.5 billion, an increase of $702 million, according to a bill summary.The House is expected to vote on the minibus as soon as Thursday. But first, it will have to go through the Rules Committee on Tuesday, where conservatives may protest some of the funding levels or argue that the legislation does not go far enough in advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda. If the package passes the House, it will head to the Senate, where Colorado’s Democratic senators have already placed holds on he legislation because it does not address the Trump administration’s decision last month to “dismantle” the National Center for Atmospheric Research in their home state.“We’re going to consider all our options,” Sen. Michael Bennet said Monday. “I wish the language were in there. There’s a broad, I think, bipartisan view that NCAR does incredibly important work for this country, and I still hope we’ll find a way to fund it.” A spokesperson for Sen. John Hickenlooper confirmed that the senator is prepared to block progress on the package due to similar concerns. The minibus could also face opposition from conservative senators who have previously protested the billions of dollars in funding earmarked for projects in lawmakers’ home states and districts.The potential opposition means it could take a couple of weeks for Senate leaders to strike an agreement to vote on the measure, pinning a final vote on the package up against the funding deadline.
House poised to extend ACA subsidies as hope grows for deal - The House is poised to pass legislation Thursday extending contentious ObamaCare tax credits for three years, marking a hard-fought victory for Democrats and fueling hope among centrist Republicans that it will lead to a bipartisan compromise to revive the subsidies. The proposal has no chance of moving through the Senate as-is. The same three-year extension was sunk by upper-chamber Republicans in December. But the looming vote spurred a group of bipartisan senators to craft a compromise that can win the support of both chambers. And Republican supporters in the House — including the centrist rebels who signed a Democratic discharge petition forcing the vote — are hoping a bipartisan vote in the lower chamber Thursday will encourage the Senate to address the issue quickly. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), one of the four Republicans who broke with leaders to sign the discharge petition, said he expects “a significant number of Republicans” to vote for the bill as a way to push for a bipartisan deal to revive, reform and extend the subsidies. “We’ve been working with the senators for weeks, and the framework that they are … trying to finalize is very much in line with what I have been saying from the start, about a two-year extension with reforms,” Lawler added. “I think that’s ultimately where we can get.” The battle over the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies has raged on Capitol Hill for months, rehashing old clashes over the government’s role in the nation’s health care system and leading directly to the record 43-day government shutdown last fall. With no deal in hand, roughly 22 million people benefiting from the subsidies will see their health care costs spike in the first months of this year. It was the threat of those cost hikes that spurred the Republican moderates to force Thursday’s vote. And Democrats, who see health care as a winning issue at the polls in November, are pushing from the sidelines with warnings of a political rout if GOP leaders don’t act to extend the subsidies, which expired Dec. 31. “Something better happen,” Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) said. “I don’t think that Trump will be able to Venezuela his way out of the problems around not extending these credits.” The bipartisan effort has highlighted the challenges facing President Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other GOP leaders when it comes health care, which has divided Republicans for years and poses what is perhaps the greatest obstacle in their fight to keep control of the House in November’s midterms. Many Republicans wanted to avoid the topic altogether by allowing the enhanced ACA subsidies — which were adopted under former President Biden as an emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic — to expire for good. There are plenty of sticking points that lawmakers must sort through to get to any compromise — the biggest of which concerns Republican demands for restrictions against federally funded ACA marketplace plans from covering abortion services. “You’ve got to deal with the Hyde issue,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Tuesday when talking about what he wants to see in the bill, in reference to the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds from going directly to abortions. Plans in some states, though, cover abortion — with Democrats and moderates arguing state and private funds cover those plan costs. That’s a nonstarter for Democrats, who say current law sufficiently ensures only state and private funds go to abortion services. “There are already restrictions due to the Hyde amendment,” Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) said. “That would be a poison pill, for sure.” President Trump gave fuel to GOP moderates’ hopes of overcoming the impasse on abortion and striking a bipartisan deal when he pleaded in a speech to House Republicans on Tuesday to be “flexible on Hyde” when talking about health care. “Most people in our party are firmly in support of the Hyde Amendment in its current form and fashion,” said Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.), another one of the four Republicans who signed the discharge petition to force the vote. “Some people have been trying to move or change the goalposts on that, trying to introduce new language or an update to that. That, I think, complicates a negotiation or a solution here.”
Live updates: House greenlights ACA subsidies extension with backing of 17 Republicans - The House on Thursday approved the renewal of the expired ObamaCare subsidies, delivering a blow to Republican leadership and underlining conference divides. Seventeen Republicans joined 213 Democrats in support of the three-year extension after the Affordable Care Act tax credits lapsed at the end of last year. The bill, which passed 230-196, will now head to the Senate, where it has a slim chance of moving to the floor. Earlier Thursday, the House shot down an effort to override President Trump’s vetoes on two bipartisan bills, underscoring GOP lawmakers’ loyalty to the president. Five Senate Republicans also joined Democrats to advance a war powers resolution, which would limit any further military action in Venezuela after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro last weekend. Trump ripped GOP Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Todd Young (Ind.), stating they “should never be elected to office again.” A final vote is expected next week. In Minneapolis, meanwhile, a fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) officer has sparked condemnation from Democrats, while Trump and his allies have characterized it as an act of self-defense.Earlier this afternoon, the White House also detailed its plans for the ballroom replacing the East Wing to the National Capital Planning Commission. Trump on Thursday will receive his intelligence briefing, meet with U.S. attorneys general for a photo and attend a policy meeting.
House passes bill to extend ObamaCare tax credits with GOP support - The House passed legislation Thursday to revive and extend expired ObamaCare tax credits in a bipartisan vote that is boosting hopes of centrist Republicans for a bipartisan deal to revive the tax credits. The tally, 230 to 196, highlighted the tenuous grip Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has over his restive GOP conference. Seventeen centrist Republicans crossed the aisle to join every voting Democrat in support of the measure. The measure, which would provide a three-year extension to the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that originally passed in response to COVID-19, now heads to the Senate, which defeated the same proposal last month in a largely partisan vote. Indeed, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has suggested he’ll ignore the House bill altogether. Still, lawmakers think it could light a fire and pressure the bipartisan Senate group working to reach a bipartisan deal. Negotiators from both parties in the Senate, who revived compromise talks in response to centrist Republicans forcing the vote in the House, have said they are close to a deal to bring back the tax credits, which expired at the end of 2025, and extend the open enrollment period. “We want to show momentum coming out of the House today,” said Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), who has been working with GOP moderates on the subsidy extension plans. “And the Senate is very far along on finding an agreement on their side.” Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), who huddled with bipartisan Senate negotiators Thursday, said the vote should be a pressure point for the Senate. “Senators made it abundantly clear that, but for this action in the House … that that was incredibly important for them to breathe life back into this issue and really force the Senate to take this up,” Fitzpatrick told reporters. The 17 GOP members voting yes on the bill were Fitzpatrick and Reps. Rob Bresnahan (Pa.), Mike Carey (Ohio), Monica De La Cruz (Texas), Andrew Garbarino (N.Y.), Jeff Hurd (Colo.), Dave Joyce (Ohio), Tom Kean Jr. (N.J.), Nick LaLota (N.Y.), Mike Lawler (N.Y.), Ryan Mackenzie (Pa.), Max Miller (Ohio), Zach Nunn (Iowa), Maria Elvira Salazar (Fla.), David Valadao (Calif.), Derrick Van Orden (Wis.), and Robert Wittman (Va.). The vote marked an uptick in support for the extension compared with the previous day, when nine Republicans supported a procedural vote on the matter — a vote seen as a signal in support of the bipartisan negotiations on a compromise. Passage in the House marked a major victory for Democrats and the handful of centrist Republicans who had bucked their leadership to endorse a procedural gambit, known as a discharge petition, that forced the bill to the floor over the opposition of Johnson and other GOP leaders.
House approves minibus spending bills - The House on Thursday passed three appropriations bills with broad bipartisan support, moving lawmakers closer to avoiding an end-of-month shutdown. The bills would fund the Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, key science agencies and other related entities; the Department of Energy and water development; and the Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency and other related agencies. The vote tally on the final passage of the package was 397-28, and it now will head to the Senate. “This bipartisan, bicameral package reflects steady progress toward completing FY26 funding responsibly. It invests in priorities crucial to the American people: making our communities safer, supporting affordable and reliable energy, and responsibly managing vital resources,” House Appropriations Chair Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) previously said in a statement. Hard-line conservatives in the lower chamber had grumbled about various earmarks included in the package, including one from Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) that would provide a Somali-led organization in her district with community project funding. As part of their agreement with House GOP leadership, the Omar earmark was stripped out of the bill. House lawmakers were also able to vote on the Justice and Commerce bill separately, allowing them to register their objections independently. So far, Congress has passed three out of the 12 appropriations bills needed to fund the government. If these three bills pass the Senate and are signed by President Trump, lawmakers will still need to pass six more appropriations bills by the end of January. If they aren’t able to pass the remaining bills, they will need to pass a temporary stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution, to fund the rest of the government. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas.) told reporters Wednesday he had gotten some assurances from leadership on the process for the remaining six bills, without going into details. “We got assurances. I’m being a little careful here, but in broad terms about process over the next several weeks for the remaining six bills, in terms of time, amendments, earmarks, and what we’re going to be able to do. I’m not going to give the specifics on that, but more process, more time, more amendments, more review to avoid, you know, last-minute crazy earmarks like that,” he said. House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said during a House Rules Committee hearing on Tuesday that ongoing conversations over the last six bills have been “productive” and that negotiations are “progressing at a pace that is very encouraging.” “As of this evening, I am confident we will be able to complete our work and avoid any kind of continuing resolution prior to the Jan. 30 deadline,” she said.
Trump Says He Wants a $1.5 Trillion Military Budget - President Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday that he wants a $1.5 trillion military budget for 2027, a 50% increase from his $1 trillion budget for 2026.“After long and difficult negotiations with Senators, Congressmen, Secretaries, and other Political Representatives, I have determined that, for the Good of our Country, especially in these very troubled and dangerous times, our Military Budget for the year 2027 should not be $1 Trillion Dollars, but rather $1.5 Trillion Dollars,” the president said.He added that $1.5 trillion would enable the US to build a “dream military” and claimed it would be possible thanks to his tariff policy.“If it weren’t for the tremendous numbers being produced by Tariffs from other Countries, many of which, in the past, have ‘ripped off’ the United States at levels never seen before, I would stay at the $1 Trillion Dollar number but, because of Tariffs, and the tremendous Income that they bring, amounts being generated, that would have been unthinkable in the past … we are able to easily hit the $1.5 Trillion Dollar,” Trump wrote.He also claimed that tariff revenue would also allow him to “pay down Debt, and likewise, pay a substantial Dividend to moderate income Patriots within our Country!”When he first came into office in 2025, Trump suggested he could substantially cut military spending, but then went on to request the first-ever $1 trillion US military budget. He got it by combining the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which Congress finalized at $901 billion, with a supplemental military spending bill worth about $150 billion that was included in the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” passed earlier in 2025.While 2026 marks the first time the US had an official military budget over $1 trillion, the true cost of annual US military and national security spending has exceeded $1 trillion for many years, when taking into account factors such as the budgets for theDepartments of Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs, and the national security share of the interest accrued on the US debt.
Global leaders react to Trump's capture of Maduro --President Trump’s shocking operation capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife polarized the international community on Saturday. Exiled opposition figures welcomed the overthrow of a dictator, while authoritarians cried foul and democratic leaders fretted over the precedent. In Latin America, Trump’s critics condemned the U.S. military operation as a call back to American interventionism and disregard for national boundaries and legal sovereignty. “The Government of Mexico strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally in recent hours by armed forces of the United States of America against targets in the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations (UN),” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum posted on X in Spanish. Likewise, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the U.S. operation as crossing “an unacceptable line.” “These acts represent a most serious affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community,” he posted on X. “Attacking countries, in flagrant violation of international law, is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos, and instability, where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism.” Lula said Trump’s action “recalls the worst moments of interference in the politics of Latin America and the Caribbean and threatens the preservation of the region as a zone of peace.” Colombia’s outgoing President Gustavo Petro said the national government had mobilized to “preserve stability on the Colombian-Venezuelan border,” institute security and respond to humanitarian or migratory needs. Petro said Colombia observed with “deep concern” the initial reports of the U.S. operation and said it rejected “any unilateral military action that could aggravate the situation or put the civilian population at risk.” “Colombia’s Foreign Ministry must maintain open diplomatic channels with the involved governments and will promote, in the relevant multilateral and regional spaces, initiatives aimed at the objective verification of the facts, and the preservation of peace and regional security,” he wrote. El Salvador’s President Nayeb Bukele, a close ally to Trump, was more cryptic, reposting on Saturday a July 21 statement attacking Maduro at the time as indignant following negotiations for Venezuela to accept migrant deportees from the U.S. Bukele’s July statement said the Venezuelan strongman had “run out of hostages from the world’s most powerful country.” Venezuela’s opposition and other figures fighting against authoritarian regimes struck a celebratory tone. Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, wrote on X that “the hour of freedom has arrived.” Machado, who had secretly escaped the country last month to travel to Norway and accept the international prize, was recognized for her efforts to certify the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election and prove that opposition figure Edmundo González was the rightful winner of the contest. While in Europe, Machado said she planned to return to Venezuela, but her whereabouts are currently unknown. Other exiled opposition figures were quick to voice support for Maduro’s ousting. “Dictators are not eternal — and today, it seems [Belarus’s President Alexander] Lukashenka has lost yet another illegitimate crony,” Svetlana Tsihanouskaya posted on X. Tsihanouskaya was recognized by Western countries as the legitimate winner of Belarus’s 2020 presidential contest but fled the country at the time amid Lukashenka’s crackdown and claim to power. “Today my heart is with the people of Venezuela. I hope recent events will bring justice, freedom, and the rule of law that Venezuelans have long deserved and bravely fought for,” she wrote. Likewise, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha underscored Maduro’s illegitimacy, pointing to the Venezuelan leader’s reliance on Russian President Vladimir Putin as an ally. But Sybiha also pointed to respect for “principles of international law, prioritising democracy, human rights, and the interests of Venezuelans.” Kyiv has worked to hold Russia to account under international law for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022. “Democratic countries and human rights organizations across the globe have emphasized his regime’s widespread crimes, violence, torture, oppression, abuse of all basic freedoms, stolen votes, and destruction of democracy and the rule of law,” Sybiha posted on X. “Ukraine has not recognised Maduro’s legitimacy following rigged elections and violence against protestors, along with dozens of other countries in different parts of the world,” he continued. “The people of Venezuela must have a chance for a normal life, security, prosperity, and human dignity. We will continue to support their right to such normality, respect, and freedom.” Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of committing an “act of armed aggression against Venezuela” and said “the pretexts used to justify these actions are untenable.” European countries offered measured reactions, aware of Maduro’s crimes against the people and the global community but cautious in putting its support behind the U.S. for a military strike that risks undermining international law. “Following very closely the situation in Venezuela. We stand by the people of Venezuela and support a peaceful and democratic transition. Any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter,” President of the European Union Commission Ursula von der Leyen posted on X.Likewise, Spain’s President Pedro Sánchez, whose government had provided amnesty to González, the opposition presidential contender, called for respect of international law and the principles of the United Nations charter, but said Madrid was “conducting a thorough monitoring of the events in Venezuela.”French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned that the U.S. military operation violated international law and contributed further to the weakening of global institutions meant to avoid armed conflict between states and promote dialogue. “The military operation that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro contravenes the principle of the non-use of force that underpins international law. France recalls that no lasting political solution can be imposed from outside, and that sovereign peoples alone decide their future,” he posted on X.
Rep. Massie Calls Out Trump’s Venezuela Oil Grab - Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has called out the Trump administration’s attempt to take over Venezuela’s oil industry following the US attack on the country that resulted in the US abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and the killing of dozens of people.“It’s not American oil. It’s Venezuelan oil,” Massie wrote on X in response to Vice President JD Vance justifying the US military intervention by pointing to the Venezuelan government’s nationalization and expropriation of US-owned oil projects decades ago.“Oil companies entered into risky deals to develop oil, and the deals were canceled by a prior Venezuelan government. What’s happening: lives of US soldiers are being risked to make those oil companies (not Americans) more profitable,” Massie added.In another post, Massie noted that one person who stands to gain from the intervention is Paul Singer, a billionaire and GOP mega-donor known for being extremely pro-Israel. Singer has funded a super PAC seeking to oust Massie, who has been under fire from pro-Israel Republicans for his opposition to US aid to the country. “According to Grok,” Massie wrote on X, referring to the AI chatbot, “Paul Singer, globalist Republican mega-donor who’s already spent $1,000,000 to defeat me in the next election, stands to make billions of dollars on his distressed Citgo investment, now that this administration has taken over Venezuela.”A US judge recently approved the sale of Citgo, the US-based oil refiner that’s owned by a subsidiary of Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA, to an affiliate of Elliott Management, a firm founded by Singer. Since 2019, the US has frozen all of PDVSA’s assets in the US, cutting off the Venezuelan government from Citgo.Installing a US-friendly government in Caracas could be extremely beneficial for Amber Energy, the Elliott Management affiliate purchasing Citgo for about $5.9 billion. Though, as things stand now, the Trump administration remains a long way from that goal, as Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, is now serving as the acting president.According to a report from POLITICO, the Trump administration has asked private US oil firms that seek assets from Venezuela to be prepared to go back into the country and invest heavily. “They’re saying, ‘you gotta go in if you want to play and get reimbursed,'” an oil executive told the outlet.The report said that the offer has been on the table for 10 days, signaling oil companies may have been aware of Trump’s plans to kidnap Maduro, something Massie suggested in response to Trump saying that US oil firms will go into Venezuela and spend billions.“It seems obvious from this video that the administration worked with big US oil companies before the attack to line up billions of dollars in capital for developing Venezuela’s oil reserves, yet they couldn’t be bothered to consult Congress,” Massie said.
Paul: Lindsey Graham was behind Trump’s decision to topple Maduro - Conservative Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Monday pointed the finger directly at his colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), as the primary instigator behind President Trump’s surprise mission to send U.S. special operators into Caracas to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Paul lamented what he sees as a reversal from Trump’s previous staunch opposition to nation-building and said Graham was a major factor in changing the president’s thinking on foreign policy. “This is Lindsey Graham. Lindsey Graham has gotten to the president who expressed — I saw a clip — there’s like 20 clips of [Trump] saying he’s not for regime change and how regime change has always gone wrong. Somehow they’ve convinced him it’s different if it’s in our hemisphere,” Paul told reporters Monday, lamenting the growing influence of hawkish Republicans such as Graham on Trump’s Venezuela policy. Graham expressed his frustration last month when Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio told senators in a classified briefing that regime change in Venezuela was not an option the administration was considering. “I want to know what’s going to happen next. Is it the policy to take Maduro down? It should be, if it’s not. And if he goes, what’s going to happen next? I’d like a better answer as to what happens when Maduro goes,” Graham said after the briefing with Hegseth and Rubio. Graham says the communist Cuban government may fall next. The South Carolina senator responded to the capture of Maduro on Saturday with two words: “Free Cuba.” “With Maduro’s capture, the drug caliphate is moving toward collapse. Free Cuba,” Graham wrote on social media. He told Fox News’s “Sunday Night in America” that Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s days in power are numbered, predicting the Cuban regime is “ready to fall.” “There’s no way that the communist dictatorship in Cuba survives after the takedown of Maduro. It is over, it’s just a matter of time,” Graham told Fox host Trey Gowdy. Some of Trump’s MAGA allies have expressed their disappointment over Trump’s evolving foreign policy views. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a longtime Trump ally, said the president “campaigned on Make America Great Again” and people who voted for him “thought [he] was putting America first.” She argued that Venezuela is not an immediate U.S. concern. “Our neighborhood is right here in the 50 United States, not in the Southern Hemisphere,” she said.
Marjorie Taylor Greene hopes Americans 'push back' on Venezuelan regime change Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), on her last day in Congress, expressed hope that Americans will speak out against the Trump administration’s actions in Venezuela. “I really hope to see the American people push back and say, ‘Let’s focus on the United States of America, Mr. President,’ because that’s what the American people deserve,” Greene told host Kaitlan Collins on CNN’s “The Source.” Days after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, the short-term role the U.S. will play in the South American country’s governance remains unclear. President Trump said Saturday that his administration will “run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” noting that American oil companies will take control of Venezuela’s vast petroleum reserves, the largest in the world. “We don’t want to be involved with having somebody else get in, and we have the same situation that we had for the last long period of years,” the president added. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio deflected Sunday about the idea of the U.S. running day-to-day operations in Venezuela, telling NBC News that the administration’s immediate focus is to halt the flow of drugs, gangs and sanctioned oil from the country. “All of the problems we had when Maduro was there, we still have those problems in terms of them needing to be addressed,” Rubio added. “We are going to give people an opportunity to address those challenges and those problems.” Lawmakers from both parties, meanwhile, left Monday’s briefing with administration officials still unclear about the future of Venezuela. “There’s more questions, ultimately about how it resolves, probably, than answers at the moment, but that’s to be expected,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters. Greene said Monday that Maduro is a “bad guy,” and expressed hope that Venezuelans will have a “good and stable government.” However, that is up to Venezuelans, not the administration, which she believes should be focusing on issues such as lowering health care costs and tackling the national debt. ”I would like to see a continued focus on domestic policy that helps the American people,” she said. “That’s the country that they are supposed to be running.”
Smith on Maduro capture: ‘I don’t think it fundamentally changed drug trafficking in America at all’ -- Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said on Sunday he doesn’t think capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will have a significant impact on the scope of drug trafficking in the United States. “No, I don’t,” Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said in an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill,” when asked if he thinks America is safer today without Maduro in power. “Maduro was certainly part of the drug problem, but the cartels didn’t go anywhere. They didn’t just disappear yesterday because Maduro is no longer running Venezuela. I don’t think it fundamentally changed drug trafficking in America at all,” Smith continued. U.S. forces carried out a stunning operation overnight into Saturday morning to capture and arrest Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and bring them back to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking, terrorism and firearms. Maduro is in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The covert operation, which had been in the works since late summer, followed months of threats and dozens of boat strikes on suspected “narco-terrorists.” Smith acknowledged the administration’s point that Maduro was not the rightfully elected leader of Venezuela, but the Democrat suggested details about what comes next for the country “seem to have escaped the Trump administration.” “They took out Maduro. They don’t know what comes next, and they’re kind of making it up as they go along. And that is deeply concerning,” Smith said in the interview. “We don’t want this to turn into chaos. And yet, we removed the leader of the country.” “He wasn’t the legitimate leader of the country, and that’s fair, but he was the leader of the country, the person who was in charge of it,” Smith added, referring to Maduro, “and we exercised a regime change operation to remove him. And the reasons for that are problematic as well.
MAGA divide emerges as Trump leaves door ajar to regime change in Venezuela - President Trump’s decision to leave the door open to putting boots on the ground and to regime change in Venezuela is getting a frosty reception from conservatives, who are warning that he is risking a key campaign pledge to end “forever wars” and keep out of foreign conflicts. The president for years railed against Bush-era policies that saw lengthy conflicts in the Middle East, having taken on the mantle of the “America First” movement. That standing has taken hits in recent months, though, headlined by the weekend’s events — and more importantly what’s to come after Trump laid out plans to “run” the South American country until a proper transition can take place. “MAGA fully supported President Trump and a precision military exercise, and Maduro’s Maduro. You want to take him and try him? Go take him and try him,” said Steve Bannon, a former Trump White House aide, on his “War Room” podcast on Monday. “The bigger issues here people are concerned about is like President Trump saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to do boots on the ground,’ and last night, ‘We’re going to rebuild the country.’” Bannon went on to note a number of pictures and videos showing Maduro being moved from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn through parts of the surrounding area, sarcastically calling them “lovely.” “I’m just noticing that when Maduro was taken from the Brooklyn detention through lovely parts of Brooklyn and I think some of the Bronx, the United States looks worse than Caracas,” Bannon said. “Maybe some of that focus should be here.” Trump’s remarks came at different points of the weekend, prompting officials to slowly backtrack and insist nothing of that sort is happening. Sign up for the Morning ReportThe latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Email addressBy signing up, I agree to the Terms of Use, have reviewed the Privacy Policy, and to receive personalized offers and communications via email, on-site notifications, and targeted advertising using my email address from The Hill, Nexstar Media Inc., and its affiliates Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Sunday interviews that American troops are not in the country at present. The president, however, has continued to sing in a different key. The initial remarks that alarmed some in the MAGA orbit centered on petroleum and a potential plan to leave troops in the country in order to keep the oil industry in business. “We’re going to rebuild the oil infrastructure,” Trump told reporters. “We’re going to run it properly and make sure the people of Venezuela are taken care of.” Later in the weekend, he also brushed aside concerns about the future of the nation formerly led by Maduro. “You know, rebuilding there and regime change, anything you want to call it, is better than what you have right now,” he told The Atlantic in an interview. “Can’t get any worse.” The spate of remarks has spooked a number of top MAGA allies, including a number of those who are younger and came of age amid the backdrop of the years-long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In their eyes, what’s happening in Venezuela is not what they supported.
Venezuela briefing leaves lawmakers questioning what’s ahead -- Top Senate and House lawmakers from both parties emerged from a classified briefing given by President Trump‘s most senior officials with little clarity on the future of Venezuela, days after the president declared the U.S. would “run” the country after apprehending its president, Nicolas Maduro. Trump has given a green light for Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to remain in the role of president for now, although lawmakers said the goal is eventually to have elections. Rodriguez is a close ally of Maduro and stalwart of the Venezuelan socialist movement popularized by Hugo Chavez. “This is still developing, this has all just happened within the last couple of days,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) responded when asked if the briefers indicated they wanted a change in leadership. “There’s more questions, ultimately about how it resolves, probably, than answers at the moment, but that’s to be expected,” he added. Earlier, Johnson said he expects an election to be called in Venezuela “in short order,” but added that “some of these things are still being determined.” Trump on Monday night ruled out elections taking place in Venezuela within that country’s constitutionally-mandated 30-day period, in an interview with NBC News. “We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election,” Trump said. “There’s no way the people could even vote. No, it’s going to take a period of time. We have — we have to nurse the country back to health.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) described the briefing as “extensive and long” with “far more questions than it ever answered.” “Their plan for the U.S. running Venezuela is vague, based on wishful thinking and unsatisfying,” he told reporters. The briefing was carried out by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Attorney General Pam Bondi. The briefing was provided to the so-called Gang of Eight, who are the House and Senate leaders of both parties and heads of intelligence committees, as well as the heads of the foreign affairs and armed services committees in both chambers. Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Brian Mast (R-Fla.) said that while Rodríguez is not the preferred ally of the U.S., it is necessary to keep her in place to prevent a power vacuum. “What you have in place is somebody that, while they wouldn’t be the preference, they are in place, they are in communication with the United States of America… they know how to answer the phones and they are also well aware that the Department of Navy is directly off the shores protecting the American people,” he said. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said there’s “no clarity” when it comes to putting troops on the ground in Venezuela. “He has the option of putting troops on the ground,” Meeks told reporters, referring to Trump. “He’s not going to take anything off the table. This is what the president has said. So I don’t think that there was anything that was said differently.“ Meeks voiced concerns about the U.S. government’s next move in Caracas. “Clearly, it’s not about democracy. I don’t think, I think, clearly, it’s about — a lot about oil.”
Rubio Says US Will Maintain Oil 'Quarantine' on Venezuela To Pressure Government - Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday said the US will maintain an oil “quarantine” on Venezuela to pressure the government to do what the Trump administration wants. Before launching an attack on Venezuela to abduct President Nicolas Maduro, President Trump declared a “total and complete embargo” on “sanctioned” oil tankers leaving and entering Venezuelan ports.“That remains in place, and that’s a tremendous amount of leverage that will continue to be in place until we see changes that not just further the national interest of the United States, which is number one, but also that lead to a better future for the people of Venezuela,” Rubio said in an interview with CBS News’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday.So far, the US oil blockade on Venezuela has involved seizing two tankers carrying Venezuelan oil. Just one of the tankers was under US sanctions, which still doesn’t give the US the legal right to seize the vessel in international waters.Rubio made the comments about the oil “quarantine” when asked about President Trump’s comments that the US will now “run” Venezuela to ensure US companies get access to Venezuela’s oil. Rubio said the US could achieve Trump’s goals through the blockade and other pressure.“And so that’s the sort of control the President is pointing to when he says that. We continue with that quarantine, and we expect to see that there will be changes,” he said.In another interview, Rubio said that multiple US agencies will be involved in “running” Venezuela, including the State Department, Pentagon, and Department of Justice. “This is a team effort by the entire national security apparatus of our country. But it is running this policy. And the goal of the policy is to see changes in Venezuela that are beneficial to the United States first and foremost,” he said.President Trump has suggested the US could send troops to Venezuela to achieve his goals, saying he was not afraid of “boots on the ground.” Rubio said the president didn’t want to rule out any options.
Trump Threatens Venezuela's Acting President With Fate Worse Than Maduro's - President Trump on Sunday threatened that Venezuela’s new acting president, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, would have a fate worse than Nicolas Maduro’s if she doesn’t do the bidding of the US.“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump told The Atlantic a day after his military abducted Maduro from the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and flew him to New York, where he is now in a jail cell in Brooklyn.Trump claimed on Saturday that Rodriguez was willing to work with the US and outlined his plan to “run” Venezuela to ensure US companies get access to the country’s oil. But later in the day, Rodriguez strongly denounced the US attack on her country, calling it “an atrocity that violates international law” and vowing that Venezuela “will never again be a colony of any empire.”The Venezuelan military has also struck a defiant tone after the US attack, with Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez calling it a “cowardly kidnapping” that occurred “after cold-bloodedly assassinating a large part of the president’s security detail, soldiers, and innocent civilians.”During his press conference on Saturday, Trump threatened that he’d be willing to launch a “second wave” of attacks on Venezuela if he deems it necessary.Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a key driver of the US attack on Venezuela, said that he would wait to see what Rodriguez does. “We’re going to make decisions based on their actions and their deeds in the days and weeks to come,” he told The New York Times.The Times also reported that several weeks ago, the US had settled on Rodriguez as an acceptable candidate to replace Maduro, at least temporarily, despite her being a long-time ally of the Venezuelan leader. The report said the US was pushing for Maduro to voluntarily flee to Turkey before launching the attack, which killed at least 80 people, including military personnel and civilians.One of the motives for the US taking military action to kidnap Maduro was the Venezuelan leader’s public dancing and calls for peace with the US, as Trump officials took his behavior as mocking the US threat, according to the Times report.
After Trump Threat, Venezuela's Acting President Calls for Cooperation With the US - Venezuela’s acting president, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, issued a statement on Sunday calling for cooperation with the US after President Trump threatened her with a fate worse than President Nicolas Maduro’s if she did not do the US’s bidding.“Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to peace and peaceful coexistence. Our country aspires to live without external threats, in an environment of respect and international cooperation,” Rodriguez said in a statement on Telegram that was published in English.“We prioritise moving towards balanced and respectful international relations between the United States and Venezuela, and between Venezuela and other countries in the region, premised on sovereign equality and non-interference,” Rodriguez added.She invited the US to “collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence,” and added a plea to President Trump, telling him “our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war.”Throughout the US military buildup in the Caribbean, which led to the US attack on Caracas, Maduro had been calling for peace and cooperation with the US and continued to accept deportation flights from the US despite the US’s escalations. According to a report from The New York Times, he also offered US companies access to Venezuela’s oil and other natural resources as a way to avoid war, but the deal was rejected by the Trump administration.“He’s offered everything; you’re right. You know why? Because he doesn’t want to fuck around with the United States,” President Trump said back in October. In an interview on Fox News, the morning Maduro was abducted by US forces, Trump said, “Maduro wanted to negotiate at the end, but I said no, too late.” Now, Trump is demanding that Rodriguez comply with his demand for the US to “run” Venezuela and ensure US oil companies get oil assets inside the country. If not, Trump has threatened to launch a second wave of attacks on the country.
Venezuela's Delcy Rodríguez sends conciliatory message to Donald Trump, US-- Delcy Rodríguez, the acting president of Venezuela following the U.S. capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, offered a conciliatory message to the United States and President Trump on Sunday. Rodriguez invited the U.S. to collaborate with her government in strengthen “coexistence,” just a day after she had struck a defiant tone by saying Maduro was the only president of Venezuela. It was a sharp turn from her initial statements following the U.S. attack on Venezuela over the weekend that resulted in Maduro’s arrest. “We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence,” Rodríguez said in a post on Instagram. “President Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. This has always been President Nicolás Maduro’s message, and it is the message of all of Venezuela right now,” the post continued. Rodríguez had given an intense defense of Maduro in a speech Saturday, only hours after the captured leader was indicted on drug charges and sent to New York. “There is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolás Maduro Moros,” Rodríguez said during a televised address. Trump threatened Rodriguez on Sunday, saying “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” in an interview with The Atlantic. At the same time, reports initially emerged that Trump saw Rodriguez as someone who could handle a redevelopment of the Venezuelan oil sector, and as someone the U.S. could work with. Trump notably did not offer a public endorsement of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, instead saying she “doesn’t have the support” to lead the country. Rodríguez said in her post Sunday that her country “has the right to peace, development, sovereignty and a future.”
Starlink says it will provide service to people of Venezuela through Feb. 3 -- SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said Starlink, the company’s satellite internet provider, will provide the service free of charge to the people of Venezuela for the next month. Musk reposted a statement from Starlink’s account on the social platform X, which Musk owns, announcing the policy shift. “Starlink is providing free broadband service to the people of Venezuela through February 3, ensuring continued connectivity,” Starlink’s statement said late Saturday. Shortly after midnight Sunday, Musk reposted the statement, adding, “In support of the people of Venezuela,” including a Venezuelan flag. The announcement comes on the heels of the U.S. carrying out a stunning covert operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and flying them back to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking, terrorism and firearms. Maduro is in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and is expected to make a court appearance Monday at noon. Musk has expressed his strong support for the Venezuelan operation. The Starlink announcement also came after Musk had dinner with President Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Saturday. The White House did not respond for comment on Starlink’s announcement.
Rubio explains how U.S. might 'run' Venezuela after Maduro's ouster - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday appeared to backtrack on President Donald Trump's claim that the U.S. will "run" Venezuela after U.S. forces on Saturday captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and hauled him to the U.S. Asked for details on how the U.S. plans to run Venezuela, Rubio said the U.S. would use leverage gained from its oil blockade on the country and regional military buildup to achieve its policy aims. He did not say the U.S. would directly govern Venezuela. The U.S. in recent months has seized tankers associated with the country and moved military ships and warplanes into the Caribbean. "What's going to happen here is we have a quarantine on their oil, that means their economy will not be able to move forward until the conditions that are in the national interest of the United States and the interests of the Venezuelan people are met, and that's what we intend to do," Rubio said on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." "That leverage remains, that leverage is ongoing and we expect that it's going to lead to results here," Rubio said. Pressed by the host of NBC's "Meet the Press," Kristen Welker, on who is running Venezuela, Rubio was more direct. "Well, it's not running," Rubio said. "It's running policy, the policy with regard to this. We want Venezuela to move in a certain direction." Trump said on Saturday said the U.S. would "run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." The comments sparked a firestorm of criticism from Trump's adversaries and some allies, who warned against a nation-building exercise in Venezuela. "We have learned through the years when America tries to do regime change and nation building in this way, the American people pay the price in both blood and dollars," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on ABC on Sunday. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as president following Maduro's capture. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived in New York on Saturday night to face charges related to drug trafficking.Rubio's comments suggest that the U.S. will take a softer approach with Venezuela than Trump's initial suggestions of ruling the country with a "group." Though Rubio said Trump still may take further military action to achieve U.S. goals. Asked on "Meet the Press" about further military action in Venezuela, Rubio said Trump "retains all his optionality." Rubio also extrapolated on the U.S.' aims with Venezuela's oil reserves. Trump on Saturday said the U.S. is "going to have our very large United States oil companies — the biggest anywhere in the world — go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure." Venezuela sits on the largest proven oil reserves in the world. "Ultimately, this is not about securing the oil fields; this is about ensuring that no sanctioned oil can come in and out until they make changes to the governance of that entire industry," Rubio said on ABC. "The way to address it to the benefit of the Venezuelan people is to get private companies that are not from Iran or somewhere else to go in and invest in the equipment." Rubio said he has not spoken to specific U.S. oil companies about the prospect of starting business in Venezuela. Currently, only Chevron operates in the country.
Oil, minerals and Trump’s blockbuster Venezuela takeover - The Trump administration says it can’t wait to get Venezuela’s oil “flowing the way it should be” and boost the nation’s mining industry after the Trump team removed the country’s leader and announced a U.S. takeover. President Donald Trump and his aides are looking to boost fossil fuel extraction, secure U.S. influence over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves and juice mineral production following the U.S. operation to capture the South American leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday. The takeover of Venezuela — with its oil reserves and vast gold and critical mineral supplies — previews a new foreign policy playbook for the administration that’s focused on access to resources and fending off other global superpowers in the region, experts say. “It’s a window into the centrality of resource politics to Trump’s worldview,” said Paul Bledsoe, a former Clinton administration Interior Department official who’s now a professorial lecturer at American University’s Center for Environmental Policy. Maduro, his wife and adult son are facing federal drug trafficking charges detailed in a 25-page indictment unsealed Saturday.. But energy and foreign policy observers say Venezuela’s natural resources and geopolitical concerns were major factors in Maduro’s ouster. “If this was another country that didn’t have large oil reserves, it just wouldn’t have happened,” Bledsoe said. “And that’s a window into the administration’s thinking.” Trump labeled Maduro’s ouster an example of an emboldened foreign policy agenda as he kicks off the second year of his second term, one focused on “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.” “The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but we’ve superseded it by a lot,” Trump said Sunday. “They now call it the Don-roe Doctrine.” U.S. intervention in Venezuela is raising big questions about what’s next for the nation’s mining sector. “You have steel, you have minerals, all the critical minerals, they have great mining history that’s gone rusty,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. “President Trump is going to fix it and bring it back.” Minerals have repeatedly emerged at the forefront of Trump’s dealmaking from African nations to Ukraine and Greenland. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it,” Trump said on Sunday. The administration is likewise intervening in Venezuela for minerals — not drugs — Krystal Kauffman, a research fellow with the Distributed AI Research Institute, asserted in a recent op-ed in The Hill. Southern Venezuela hosts deposits of gold, iron ore, bauxite, nickel and rare earth elements, which Maduro tried unsuccessfully to leverage over the years as the nation’s oil sector collapsed. In 2016, Maduro created the “Orinoco Mining Arc” to boost production. Lutnick on Sunday highlighted the district’s rich deposits of nickel, bauxite and gold on X, calling it “one of the largest mineral and mining regions in the hemisphere.” And yet the region has emerged as a hub for organized crime and illegal mining. That risk, combined with U.S. sanctions and the presence of armed groups, has hampered investments from U.S. and Canadian mining companies, said Bram Ebus, a consultant for International Crisis Group in Latin America. “Nevertheless, the gold deposits are too significant to ignore if there’s a significant change of power in Caracas,” he said. Another reason for U.S. intervention: preventing China from getting the upper hand. Beijing, Ebus said, has “direct but discreet access to Venezuelan gold,” as well as a host of minerals needed for aerospace, defense industries and renewable energy. “Many of these critical mineral mines are under control of armed groups allied to the interests of Caracas … most of the minerals are shipped to China, with Chinese buyers often directly showing up in the mining districts,” he added. Ebus is also the founder of Amazon Underworld, a research collective covering organized crime in the Amazon. Trump’s move toppling Maduro will help curb the influence of China, Russia and Iran in the resource-rich nation, said Tom Pyle, president of the American Energy Alliance. “This is more of a story about three adversaries working their will in Venezuela,” Pyle said. “China, through the extraction of and movement of critical minerals, I think, is the most important.” George David Banks, who served as a White House energy adviser during Trump’s first term, also sees countering China as a cornerstone of the U.S. stance toward the South American nation. The “presence of all that crude matters,” Banks said. “We didn’t want it to all fall into the hands of Chinese companies and then that becomes the foundation for China to essentially dominate the Venezuelan economy and then build military bases.”
Trump’s Venezuela gambit relies on oil boom for payback - Leaders around the world questioned the geopolitics and legality of Saturday’s U.S. raid in Venezuela, but President Donald Trump presented it as a business transaction. The United States plans to get its money back. The South American petrostate has the world’s largest oil reserves. So, Trump said, there should be plenty of money to revive oil production, pay back oil companies who say they were wronged years ago by nationalization and lift the fortunes of the beleaguered population of Venezuela. “We’re going to get reimbursed for all of that. We’re going to get reimbursed for everything that we spend,” Trump said during a Saturday news conference. The “money coming out of the ground is very substantial, so it’s not going to cost us anything.” But reimbursement is not as simple as it might seem in the wake of the dramatic U.S. capture of President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday morning and drug trafficking charges. Analysts say restoring the Venezuelan oil industry won’t happen fast and won’t be easy — and there are some early warning signs.For one thing, oil companies are not rushing in to set up shop. POLITICO reported over the weekend that some industry officials are waiting whether the conflict-ridden country will hospitable to oil development. Some observers say the Trump administration hasn’t done much to show it will be. Part of the reluctance is tied to the current glut of oil, which has driven prices so low that U.S. oil companies are starting to back off some of their production plans in the United States. The International Energy Agency has said there are nearly 2 million extra barrels per day of oil in the global market, or about twice what Venezuela has been supplying. U.S. benchmark crude traded last week below $60 a barrel, a level considered at or below the breakeven point for many oil projects. And there are other big international plays, including some in more stable areas of South America such as off the coast of Guyana, that promise years of supply. While Trump says the previous Venezuelan administrations “stole” American oil, the reserves never belonged to the United States or companies based in the United States. The Venezuelan government nationalized and took control of wells, pipelines and other infrastructure. Beyond all of that, it’s not clear what Trump and his top leaders mean when they talk about “reimbursement” and funding Venezuela operations with the country’s oil money. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday, though Trump told reporters that the U.S. action in Venezuela is about “peace on earth.” “The phrase ‘take the oil’ has been used a lot in articles and punditry, but just like energy dominance, there’s a lot of room to define it within the broader context of how things really work,” “It’s just not that simple.” Venezuela, which is about 1,300 miles from Florida, has the world’s largest proved oil reserves with nearly 304 billion barrels. By contrast, U.S. reserves are pegged at 69 billion barrels. Production in Venezuela, however, has plummeted amid economic collapse while U.S. crude production has surged in record levels in recent years. Texas-based Chevron is the one U.S. oil producer still operating in Venezuela under a license the Trump administration renewed earlier this year. ConocoPhillips left Venezuela in 2007 amid a nationalization of oil. The company is “monitoring developments in Venezuela,” ConocoPhillips said in a statement Sunday, adding that “it would be premature to speculate on any future business activities or investments.” Exxon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday. London-based Shell, which also previously operated in Venezuela, declined to comment. Increasing Venezuelan oil production to reimburse the U.S. government and oil companies or support the Venezuelan people would be no simple task.The country’s production infrastructure has eroded during years of chronic underinvestment, León said, and much of the skilled workforce has left the country. Rystad estimates that it would take about $110 billion worth of investment to increase production from about 1 million barrels a day to 2 million barrels by early 2030. By comparison, the United States last year produced more than 13 million barrels of oil a day. It is “difficult for international companies to justify new investments in Venezuela at present,” León said.
Markey presses oil companies over Venezuela involvement - Climate hawk Sen. Ed Markey on Tuesday continued his pursuit of information about the exact role President Donald Trump allowed oil companies to play in the administration’s recent military action in Venezuela. The Massachusetts Democrat pressed three companies — Chevron, Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips — to provide any communications they had with the Trump administration about the U.S. military operation in Venezuela and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. “President Trump and his Administration lied about and concealed their plans to attack the territory of, and conduct regime change in, Venezuela, keeping the American public and Members of Congress — who have the sole constitutional power to declare war — in the dark. The only outside entities that appear to have known the truth are oil executives,” Markey wrote in letters to the three companies. Trump told reporters over the weekend that he had communicated with U.S. oil companies both “before and after” the military operation.
Tulsi Gabbard Reportedly Kept In Dark On Venezuela Operation As Nation's Intelligence Chief --Longtime Tulsi Gabbard supporters have wondered why she has seemed to be missing in action in terms of weighing in on Trump's militarily invading Venezuela to oust longtime socialist leader Nicolás Maduro, given that as a prior member of Congress before taking up the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) position, she had been quite vocal against any move on Venezuela. While the DNI position - which is the top intelligence post in the US government (overseeing all the agencies and coordinating intelligence at the NSC and for the White House) - is not fundamentally an office weighing in on the policy side of things, many have still wondered just where her 'non-interventionist' voice has been - at least behind the scenes in internal administration deliberations. The Wall Street Journal reports she was intentionally sidelined from any and all planning for the mission to oust Maduro. "White House officials excluded the top U.S. intelligence officer, Tulsi Gabbard, from Venezuela planning since last summer, according to people with knowledge of the matter," WSJ writes Thursday. "As President Trump’s national-security team huddled last week to make final preparations for the operation to snatch Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Gabbard was posting social-media photos of herself on a beach in Hawaii, where she grew up, ignorant of the operation’s details," according to more details. So she was not only sidelined as intelligence director from being let in on the single biggest foreign military and intelligence mission of the Trump administration thus far, but she was literally thousands of miles away from decision-making centers when it went down. One anonymous US official did say that her office was involved in providing "intelligence analysis that assisted in the overall mission from the analytical side" - but clearly she was nowhere near the situation room, and essentially blocked from any foreknowledge. "Trump isn’t particularly close with Gabbard, a senior administration official said, and wanted to limit the number of people who knew about the Venezuela mission. She didn’t need to know about it, the official said," according to more details. This means that intel would have been primarily handled by the Central Intelligence Agency, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe - who is seen as increasingly having Trump's ear.
Maduro pleads not guilty in N.Y. court as Democrats condemn Trump's Venezuela attack – NBC News - What we know
- Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty today in their first New York court appearance after the U.S. captured them in a surprise attack.
- Maduro faces a narco-terrorism conspiracy charge. He and his wife were both charged with cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons offenses.
- Maduro, who called himself the president of Venezuela, said he was "kidnapped" and "captured" from his home in Caracas. "I am a prisoner of war," he added in Spanish. Flores also described herself as the first lady of Venezuela in court.
- President Donald Trump said the U.S. is "in charge" of Venezuela and warned its interim leader to cooperate or pay a "very big price."
- Delcy Rodríguez, who was Venezuela’s vice president under Maduro, has been sworn in as the country’s new president in the capital, Caracas.
- Trump has said America will tap into Venezuela's vast oil reserves. He has also issued new threatsagainst Colombia, Mexico and Greenland and predicted Cuba's regime will fall.
- Sigue las actualizaciones en vivo en español en Noticias Telemundo. (Follow live updates in Spanish on Noticias Telemundo.)
Maduro’s Wife Seen in Court With Visible Injuries - Nicolás Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, 69, who were captured by the United States military on Jan. 3, entered a New York courtroom for the first time on Monday. They were described by CNN’s legal analyst Laura Coates as “having difficulty sitting and getting up from their chairs.” Flores, who just like her husband pleaded not guilty to charges of cocaine importation and weapons offenses, was reportedly seen with “visible injuries” and “bandages on her right temple and on her forehead.” Flores’ attorney, Mark Donnelly, told 92-year-old Judge Alvin Hellerstein that she had sustained “significant injuries during her abduction,” suggesting she might have a rib fracture and would need a physical evaluation, according to CNN. “During the conversation, he would look over to his wife,” Coates said about Maduro, who told the judge that he is “president of Venezuela” when asked to confirm his name. According to the legal analyst, Flores appeared much more “demure” and “withdrawn” than her husband during their court appearance, and maintained that she was the first lady of Venezuela. Their next court date is expected on March 17.
Maduro's wife suffered 'significant injuries' in dramatic capture, attorney alleges - Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's wife arrived to court in New York City wearing bandages on her face and complaining of bruises on her ribs, according to her lawyer. Her attorney, veteran prosecutor Mark Donnelly, told the court that Cilia Flores suffered "significant injuries" when U.S. forces raided the couple's compound in Caracas on Saturday. Donnelly requested that Flores receive a full X-ray to determine whether she fractured a rib in the incident. Flores was already wearing two bandages on her face, one on her forehead and another above her eye. Both she and her husband pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism and other charges in their first appearance on Monday. Maduro faces four charges: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.Flores faces three charges, including cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. Donnelly filed a motion to serve as counsel for Flores earlier Monday. He previously served 12 years at the Department of Justice, including as senior advisor to the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. "Mark has extensive experience investigating white collar cases, having run the Southern District’s fraud division for over two years. His white collar practice included FCPA investigations, Healthcare Fraud, joint SEC matters, large scale investor fraud, and cyber security matters," Donnelly's biography on the website for the Parker Sanchez & Donnelly law firm reads. The Texas House of Representatives also enlisted Donnelly to assist in the 2023 investigation and impeachment trial for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton's impeachment case made it to the Texas Senate, but he was ultimately acquitted on all charges. Maduro and Flores, who have been married for 12 years, were first introduced while working closely with Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chávez. At the time, Maduro described her as having a "fiery character," according to Reuters. The pair did not marry until nearly two decades after first meeting, after Maduro was elected president in 2013.
Justice Department Walks Back Claim Maduro is the Leader of a Narco-Terrorist Cartel - The Department of Justice has significantly revised its indictment against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro was kidnapped by US forces in Venezuela on Saturday, and pleaded not guilty to charges in a New York court on Monday. The New York Times’ Charlie Savage reported that the Department of Justice had removed nearly all mentions of “Cartel de los Soles” from the indictment against Maduro. The White House previously designated Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization and claimed Maduro was the leader. However, experts have disputed the Trump administration’s assertions, arguing that Cartel de los Soles is not an actual group and that Maduro is not the leader of a cartel. The new indictment appears to be more in line with the expert assessment of Cartel de los Soles and Maduro. Maduro appeared in court along with his wife earlier this week, and the couple pleaded not guilty to all charges. Savage reports that the new indictment mentions Cartel de los Soles only twice, compared with 32 times in the initial charging document. Additionally, it no longer describes Maduro as its leader. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have claimed that Maduro was responsible for smuggling narcotics into the US that were killing hundreds of thousands of Americans. But Venezuela is not a source of drug production, and only a small percentage of the cocaine that enters the US transits the South American nation.
Trump issues threats against multiple countries following Venezuela strike - President Trump levied a barrage of new threats against various countries following the U.S. operation capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend. Trump was not shy when asked about what the strike on Venezuela meant for other countries in the region, including Cuba and Colombia, during his trip back to Washington from Florida on Sunday. “Colombia is very sick, too. Run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, and he’s not going to be doing it very long,” the president said, referring to Colombian President Gustavo Petro. When asked by NewsNation’s Libbey Dean whether the U.S. would embark on a military operation against Colombia, Trump replied “it sounds good to me.” Trump also issued a stark warning to Mexico to “get their act together,” citing drug cartels in the country. “You have to do something with Mexico,” Trump said. “We’re going to have to do something. We’d love Mexico to do it, they’re capable of doing it, but unfortunately the cartels are very strong in Mexico.” He noted he has offered to send U.S. assistance to Mexico in an effort to combat the cartels. The president also targeted Cuba in his remarks to reporters, highlighting the communist country’s economic situation. “Cuba is ready to fall. Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall. I don’t know if they’re going to hold out,” the president told reporters. “But Cuba now has no income. They got all of their income from Venezuela, from the Venezuelan oil. They’re not getting any of it. Cuba is literally read to fall, and you have a lot of great Cuban Americans who are going to be happy about this.” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who was traveling with Trump, separately noted Cuba’s days “are numbered.” “We’re going to wake up one day, hopefully in ‘26, and in our backyard we’re going to have allies in these countries doing business with America, not narcoterrorist dictators killing Americans,” Graham said. Trump’s remarks were not only limited to countries in Latin America, but also to the north in Greenland. The president re-upped his calls for the U.S. to annex the Danish territory. “We need Greenland, from the standpoint of national security,” Trump said. Trump also turned his sights east to Iran, which has been grappling with widespread protests in recent days. “If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States,” Trump said, referring to the regime’s handling of the protests. Trump sent shock waves throughout the world in the early hours of Saturday when the U.S. carried out a mission to capture Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from Caracas. While he has received praise from Republicans and Latin American communities in the U.S., he has faced pushback from other countries, including Mexico and Colombia. “The history of Latin America is clear and compelling: Intervention has never brought democracy,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters Monday, noting Mexico’s sovereignty is sacred. Petro hit back at Trump’s threats in a lengthy social media post, reasserting his role as “the supreme commander of the military and police forces of Colombia by constitutional order.”
Claudia Sheinbaum responds to Donald Trump's threats of military moves in Mexico - Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rebuffed last week’s U.S. military action in Venezuela and reaffirmed her country’s sovereignty, pushing back against President Trump’s veiled threats of intervention. “We categorically reject intervention in the internal affairs of other countries. The history of Latin America is clear and compelling: intervention has never brought democracy, never generated well-being, nor lasting stability,” Sheinbaum said in a statement Monday.. “Only the people can build their own future, decide their path, exercise sovereignty over their natural resources, and freely define their form of government,” she continued. Trump has repeatedly threatened to take military action against drug cartels in Mexico, threats that gained renewed attention after the weekend moves against Venezuela. Sheinbaum said international law “unequivocally” establishes “respect for the sovereignty of states, their territorial integrity, and the right of peoples to self-determination.” “Therefore, we state clearly that, for Mexico, and so it must be for all Mexicans: the sovereignty and self-determination of peoples are not optional or negotiable, they are fundamental principles of international law and must always be respected without exception,” she said. Following the U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump issued veiled threats to Mexico, warning the country “has to get their act together,” saying drugs are “pouring through Mexico, and we’re going to have to do something.” “We’d love Mexico to do it,” the president added, in remarks to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday. “They’re capable of doing it, but unfortunately the cartels are very strong in Mexico.” Sheinbaum appeared to respond to Trump’s remarks, pointing to their partnership in recent months aimed at combating the trafficking of drugs and controlling cartels. “Mexico cooperates with the United States, including for humanitarian reasons, to prevent fentanyl and other drugs from reaching its population, particularly young people,” she said. “As we’ve said before: we don’t want fentanyl, or any drug, to reach any young person, not in the United States, not in Mexico, not anywhere else in the world. We are acting responsibly and decisively.” But Sheinbaum stressed that the importance of sharing responsibility and addressing the “root causes,” of the problem, which she said flow from both sides of their border. “It is important to emphasize that when we talk about shared responsibility, respect, and mutual trust, this violence experienced in our country has, among its causes, the illegal entry of high-powered weapons from the United States into Mexico, as well as the serious problem of drug use in the neighboring country,” she said. “Similarly, we have pointed out that groups that distribute drugs and launder money in both Mexico and the United States must be firmly combated.” Sheinbaum underscored her desire to work with the U.S. without further threats of intervention. “Finally, it is necessary to reaffirm that in Mexico the people rule and that we are a free, independent and sovereign country,” she said. “Cooperation, yes; subordination and intervention, no.”
‘Out with the Yanks!’: Thousands protest in Colombia as anger builds over Trump’s intervention in Venezuela -- Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of cities across Colombia to decry Donald Trump’s threats to expand his military campaign in South America into their territory, after last weekend’s deadly attack on Venezuela.In Cúcuta, a city on Colombia’s eastern border with Venezuela, several hundred demonstrators marched towards its 19th century cathedral waving the country’s yellow, blue and red flag and shouting: “Fuera los yanquis!” (“Out with the Yanks!”) “Trump is the devil … he’s the most abhorrent person in the world,” said one demonstrator, a 55-year-old businesswoman called Janet Chacón. Another marcher, José Silva, 67, said the abduction of Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, during Saturday’s attack made a mockery of Trump’s claim to be “the president of peace”.“He’s the president of war … he’s a maniac,” Silva declared. “The US congress needs to do something to get him out of the presidency … He’s a thug. Colombia’s leftwing president, Gustavo Petro, called Wednesday’s rallies after Trump indicated he favoured the idea of military action in Colombia, after Saturday’s audacious assault on Venezuela’s capital. Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and first lady Cilia Flores were captured, while dozens of Cuban and Venezuelan bodyguards were killed, during the dramatic US special forces raid on a military base in Caracas.“What happened in Venezuela was, in my opinion illegal,” Petro told thousands of supporters who had gathered at a rally in Bolívar plaza in Colombia’s capital, Bogotá. In front of the stage a protester held a placard reading: “Go to hell shitty yanks”. However, Petro took a less combative line after talking to Trump for the first time, shortly before his public statement.“It was a great honor to speak with the president of Colombia … I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. Petro indicated he was willing to meet Trump but added: “We cannot lower our guard.”“Words need to be followed by deeds,” he added.
Trump invites Colombian president to White House after threatening his country with military strike : NPR — President Donald Trump abruptly changed his tone Wednesday about his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, saying they had exchanged a friendly phone call and he'd even invited the leader of the South American country to the White House. "It was a Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had," Trump posted on his social media site. "I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future." He wrote that the upcoming meeting would take place at the White House. That came mere days after Trump said in the wake of the U.S. operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend that "Colombia is very sick too" and accused Petro of "making cocaine and selling it to the United States." In comments to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump added of Petro, "He's not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you." Asked whether U.S. intervention was possible, Trump responded, "Sounds good to me." Later Wednesday, addressing thousands of protesters that he had mobilized to rally against U.S. military threats, Petro said he had spoken with Trump for roughly one hour. "I talked about two things: Venezuela and the issue of drug trafficking," he told the crowd in downtown Bogotá, where demonstrators had just minutes earlier chanted slogans against the United States at Petro's behest. Petro explained to the audience that Colombian politicians allegedly linked to narco-trafficking misled the U.S. president about Petro's record to turn Trump against him. "Those (people) are responsible for this crisis — let's call it diplomatic for now, verbal for now — that has erupted between the U.S. and Colombia," he said. Trump now suddenly warming to Petro is especially surprising since Colombia's president called the U.S. operation in Venezuela an "abhorrent" violation of Latin American sovereignty. He also suggested it was committed by "enslavers" and constituted a "spectacle of death" comparable to Nazi Germany's 1937 carpet bombing of Guernica, Spain. Colombia has long been among America's staunchest Latin American allies, a pillar of Washington's counternarcotics strategy abroad. For three decades, the U.S. has worked closely with Colombia, the world's largest producer of cocaine, to arrest drug traffickers, fend off rebel groups and boost economic development in rural areas. Still, before Trump's conciliatory post, tensions had been rising between the U.S. and Colombia for months. The Trump administration imposed sanctions in October on Petro, his family and a member of his government over accusations of involvement in the global drug trade. Colombia is considered the epicenter of the world's cocaine trade. Trump began his monthslong pressure campaign on Maduro by ordering dozens of lethal strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats launched from Venezuela in the Caribbean. He eventually expanded the operations to also target suspected vessels in the eastern Pacific that came from Colombia. The U.S. in September added Colombia, the top recipient of American assistance in the region, to a list of nations failing to cooperate in the drug war for the first time in almost 30 years. The designation led to a slashing of U.S. assistance to the country. "He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories," Trump said of Petro on Sunday. "He's not going to be doing it."
Danish prime minister says a US takeover of Greenland would mark the end of NATO (AP) — Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Monday an American takeover of Greenland would amount to the end of the NATO military alliance. Her comments came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed call for the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island to come under U.S. control in the aftermath of the weekend military operation in Venezuela. The dead-of-night operation by U.S. forces in Caracas to capture leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife early Saturday left the world stunned, and heightened concerns in Denmark and Greenland, which is a semiautonomous territory of the Danish kingdom and thus part of NATO. Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens Frederik Nielsen, blasted the president’s comments and warned of catastrophic consequences. Numerous European leaders expressed solidarity with them. “If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2 on Monday. “That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.” Trump called repeatedly during his presidential transition and the early months of his second term for U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland, and has not ruled out military force to take control of the island. His comments Sunday, including telling reporters “let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days,” further deepened fears that the U.S. was planning an intervention in Greenland in the near future. Vance attacks Crockett's 'street girl persona'; Dems eyeing 2028 race get makeovers? Frederiksen also said Trump “should be taken seriously” when he says he wants Greenland. “We will not accept a situation where we and Greenland are threatened in this way,” she added.
Danish PM Warns US Attack on Greenland Would Destroy NATO - Denmark’s premier has warned that US military action against Greenland would unravel the NATO alliance and the entire international order, after President Donald Trump reiterated hopes to take over the country.Speaking to Danish broadcasters on Monday, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen condemned “unacceptable pressure” by the Trump administration to acquire Greenland – an autonomous territory of Denmark – warning of catastrophic consequences should Washington opt to take the country by force.“If the United States were to choose to attack another NATO country, then everything would come to an end,” Frederiksen said. “The international community as we know it, democratic rules of the game, NATO, the world’s strongest defensive alliance – all of that would collapse if one NATO country chose to attack another.” The PM’s comments came soon after Trump doubled down on earlier statements about taking control of Greenland, telling reporters on Air Force One last Sunday that “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security.” He added that the country was “covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” but offered no evidence for the claim.The US president has repeatedly floated the idea since his first term in office, initially suggesting that Washington could simply purchase Greenland in 2019, a move he compared to “a large real estate deal.” While Frederiksen rejected the comments as “absurd” at the time, Trump has continued to push the proposal.On Tuesday evening, the White House escalated the matter further, issuing a veiled threat to seize the mineral-rich nation by force.“The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the US military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, calling Greenland a “national security priority.” Though senior Trump aide Stephen Miller had previously hinted that Washington could seize the territory, he downplayed the prospect for military action. Still, Miller challenged Danish rule over the country – which dates back to the 18th century – asking “by what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland?”Along with the Danish PM, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and various European states have denounced the renewed push by the US administration, with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain publishing a critical joint statement earlier on Tuesday. “Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
‘Greenland belongs to its people’: European leaders unite over Trump’s threats to annex territory - European leaders on Tuesday issued a joint statement to push back against U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed interest in Greenland, saying security in the Arctic must be achieved collectively."The Kingdom of Denmark – including Greenland – is part of NATO," the statement said, according to a letter published by Denmark's Prime Minister's Office on X."Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with NATO allies including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders. These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them," they continued."Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland." The letter was signed by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as the leaders of Italy, Spain and Poland.A group of European leaders on January 6, 2026 underlined their support for Denmark after US President Donald Trump again voiced designs on its autonomous Arctic territory of Greenland. The coordinated message, which also described the U.S. as "an essential partner" in the push for Arctic security, comes as Trump once again sets his sights on the vast, mineral-rich and sparsely populated territory.The U.S. president, who has long advocated for control over the self-governing Danish territory, told NBC News on Monday that he was "very serious" with his intent to acquire Greenland. Trump also said he had "no timeline" for doing so, however.Alarm bells have been ringing in Denmark, which is responsible for the defense of Greenland, given that Trump's remarks follow Washington's major military operation in Venezuela.Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed the joint statement from European leaders and urged the U.S. "to seek a respectful dialogue" through the appropriate diplomatic channels."Our country is not something that can be annexed or taken over because you feel like it," Nielsen said Tuesday in a Facebook post, according to a Google translation."This support is important in a situation where fundamental international principles are being challenged. I would like to express my deepest gratitude for this support," he continued. “I must again urge the United States to seek a respectful dialogue through the correct diplomatic and political channels and the use of already existing forums, building on agreements that already exist with the United States. The dialogue must be conducted with respect for the fact that Greenland's status is rooted in international law and the principle of territorial integrity."
Senate Republican: Greenland invasion would be ‘weapons-grade stupid’ --Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) says a U.S. military invasion of Greenland would be “weapons-grade stupid” and that he doesn’t think that President Trump or Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attempt such a move, despite tough talk from some White House officials. “Let me give you my perspective: Even a modestly intelligent ninth grader knows that to invade Greenland would be weapons-grade stupid,” Kennedy told CNN’s Kasie Hunt. “Now, President Trump is not weapons-grade stupid, nor is Marco Rubio. They do not plan to invade Greenland,” he declared, citing a briefing earlier in the day from Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Kennedy said the administration will instead seek “a legal, formal partnership with Greenland as to their and our national defense,” which is something other GOP senators note already exists in treaty form between the United States and Greenland. But Kennedy added that while he considers an invasion is off the table, “that doesn’t mean … the president’s not going to try to buy Greenland,” and he floated the possibility the island could vote to become a territory of the U.S., pointing out that it would take 20,501 of Greenland’s 41,000 voters to approve such a move. Kennedy’s comments come amid broader pushback from Republicans against talk by senior White House adviser Stephen Miller that Greenland rightfully belongs to the United States and no country would attempt to challenge the United States militarily if it seizes the vast ice-covered island. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said Wednesday that talk of seizing Greenland should be “dropped.” “This is a topic that should be dropped,” said Wicker, arguing it would be smart of the Trump administration not to antagonize NATO allies. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), who has jurisdiction over the nation’s defense budget, said the bold talk of taking over Greenland is “very unfortunate.” “I wish that the administration would stop talking about taking control of Greenland. It makes no sense whatsoever,” she said. “Denmark is a member of NATO and that only makes it more offensive to that country and to Greenland,” she said.
Trump officials weigh direct payments to Greenlanders in takeover push: Report - White House officials have weighed possibly giving lump sum payments to Greenlanders in an attempt to sway them into seceding from Denmark, as the Trump administration brings back its calls to have Greenland join the U.S., Reuters reported.Government officials, including White House aides, have discussed different figures, from $10,000 to $100,000 per person, sources told Reuters.One source said internal discussions have become more serious after U.S. strikes on Venezuela ended with the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.The White House is trying to enter a Compact of Free Association (COFA) agreement with Greenland, a White House official told Reuters. In such an agreement, the U.S. only provides mail delivery and military protection operations in exchange for the U.S. military to operate freely and duty-free trade.When asked for comment by The Hill, the White House referred to comments that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday. “President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States,” she told reporters. In March, Trump did not rule out using the military to take over Greenland. He has returned to making similar threats following Maduro’s ousting. Other Trump administration officials, including White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, have joined the growing chorus calling for Greenland to join the U.S. One source told Reuters that the strikes on Venezuela carried momentum for those in the White House calling for Greenland to join the U.S. Greenlanders support separating from Denmark, but the outlet reported that they mostly do not want to join the U.S.“Greenland is not for sale,” Jacob Isbosethsen, head of representation of Greenland to the U.S. and Canada, said. “I think our Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and our Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, have made it very, very clear. Our country belongs to the Greenlandic people.”
Cuba claims 32 citizens died in Venezuela raid --The Cuban government claimed that 32 of its citizens were killed during the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, according to a statement read on Cuban state TV on Sunday night, multiple outlets reported. The Cuban government said all the dead were members of the Cuban armed forces and intelligence agencies, Reuters reported, citing the televised statement and adding that few other details were provided. Havana said there would be two days of mourning, on Monday and Tuesday, in honor of those killed. “True to their responsibilities concerning security and defense, our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism and fell, after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombings on the facilities,” the statement said, according to the Associated Press. President Trump on Sunday night told reporters that “a lot of Cubans were killed” when discussing the U.S. operation to capture Maduro and that was launched early on Saturday, but did not detail the number of casualties. The New York Times quoted a Venezuela official saying that 40 people were killed, to include civilians and military personnel. “There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio has claimed Cubans filled out Maduro’s security services and Venezuela’s spy agencies, and said the island nation “tried to basically colonize it from a security standpoint.”
At Least 24 Venezuelan Security Officers Killed in US Operation to Capture Maduro, Officials Say - At least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed in the U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s military announced Monday, bringing the official death count up to at least 56 people.According to the Pentagon, seven U.S. servicemembers were injured in Saturday’s raid in Caracas, and the injuries included gunshot wounds and shrapnel-related injuries, a U.S. official told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive situation. Of the servicemembers, five have already returned to duty while two are still recovering.In addition to the 24 Venezuelan security officers, 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela were also killed, according to Cuba’s government, prompting two days of mourning on the Caribbean island. More civilians in Venezuela were killed in the strikes, AP reporting shows, but it wasn’t immediately clear how many.
Trump Rules Out Elections in Venezuela, Anticipates Sending Troops to Occupy Venezuela - President Donald Trump said the US had no plans to hold elections in Venezuela. He said elections are currently impossible, and the country must first be helped by the US. “We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election. There’s no way the people could even vote,” Trump said about the possibility of a vote in the next month. “No, it’s going to take a period of time. We have — we have to nurse the country back to health.”The President explained that the Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and White House adviser Stephen Miller would be responsible for running Venezuela. While Trump is laying out a massive nation-building project, he insisted that the US was not at war with Venezuela. “No, we’re not [at war],” Trump said. “We’re at war with people that sell drugs. We’re at war with people that empty their prisons into our country and empty their drug addicts and empty their mental institutions into our country.”Since returning to office, Trump has ordered extensive sanctions on Venezuela, the seizure of two oil tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, strikes on Caracas, and the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro, all acts of war. The President went on to say that he is anticipating sending US troops to occupy Venezuela and enforce his will on the country. The US continues to conduct surveillance flights near Venezuela. Trump believes the rebuilding of Venezuela will take about 18 months and come at a massive cost to US energy firms. “It’ll be a lot of money.” The President continued, “A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent, and the oil companies will spend it, and then they’ll get reimbursed by us or through revenue.”
Trump Impeachment Calls Gain Pace Amid Venezuela Fallout - President Donald Trump has heralded his operation in Venezuela as a victory, praising the "spectacular assault” that led to the successful capture of fallen President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. However, while the Trump Administration celebrates what it considers to be a win, others have voiced serious concerns about the way in which the U.S. conducted its assault.The United Nations on Tuesday said the action from the U.S. has made “all States less safe around the world.” This follows significant criticism and caution from world leaders regarding the Venezuela operation. Furthermore, since Saturday’s pre-dawn raid in Caracas, Trump has threatened that the U.S. may carry out interventions elsewhere in the world, prompting further concern and disapproval.At home in the U.S., calls for the President’s impeachment are now gaining momentum, as some Democratic lawmakers, along with prominent figures in the political space, demand that action be taken. Rep. April McClain Delaney of Maryland on Monday called for the Democratic Caucus to “imminently consider impeachment proceedings” against Trump in response to his military action in Venezuela.“Over the weekend, we saw the President—without authorization or approval from Congress, as required by our Constitution—launch an attack on Venezuela and voice his intention to ‘run’ the country,” said Delaney, who criticized her Republican colleagues, accusing them of “allowing Trump to defy the rule of law.”Urging a response from Congress, Delaney added: “It is time—full stop—for Congress to step up to the plate and stop this Administration's unauthorized and harmful actions.”This was just the latest serious call for impeachment, as many Democrat lawmakers have labeled Trump’s actions in Venezuela an “impeachable” matter.California state Sen. Scott Wiener, who is running for Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s Congress seat, has called for Trump to be impeached over, what he refers to as, the “illegal invasion and coup in Venezuela.”“Trump illegally invaded Venezuela, seizing and bombing the capitol, seizing the country’s oil assets, and taking President Maduro and his wife prisoner,” said Weiner in a press release issued on Jan. 3. “Trump has no legal authority to invade Venezuela, given lack of authorization by Congress. This lawless act is yet another impeachable offense by this thug President,” claimed Wiener, who cited concerns that the President’s actions could prompt “China to invade Taiwan and Russia to escalate its conquest in Ukraine.”Rep. Delia C. Ramirez of Illinois described Maduro’s capture as a “kidnapping” and insisted the operation was “illegal” and amounted to “dangerous violations of international and U.S. law.”“Trump and his Administration are out of control because they believe they are untouchable. But they are not… Trump must be impeached,” said Ramirez, who called for the War Powers Resolution, submitted by Rep. Ilhan Omar last September, to be passed.
House Democrats race to put Republicans on record on Venezuela — but face key obstacles - House Democrats are working behind scenes to get a privileged war powers resolution on Venezuela on the floor this week but are grappling with a problem that could limit GOP support, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions. Democrats have a war powers resolution that is ready for the floor — meaning it has ripened under procedural rules. But the author is Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, a liberal member who has alienated Republicans and even some in her own party.Democrats privately worry that she would prevent those members from signing onto the measure, those sources said. There are also some potential issues with the underlying bill, one of the sources said.Top Democrats are meeting this evening to figure out a path forward.Democrats have drafted a flurry of war powers measures, including on Mexico and Cuba. One is also in the works on Greenland, the source said. But the measures must comply with strict rules to make it to the floor.
Venezuela to export $2 billion worth of oil to US in deal with Washington (Reuters) - Caracas and Washington have reached a deal to export up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude to the United States, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, a flagship negotiation that would divert supplies from China while helping Venezuela avoid deeper oil production cuts. The agreement is a strong sign that the Venezuelan government is responding to Trump's demand hat they open up to U.S. oil companies or risk more military intervention. Trump has said he wants interim President Delcy Rodriguez to give the U.S. and private companies "total access" to Venezuela's oil industry. Sign up here. Venezuela has millions of barrels of oil loaded on tankers and in storage tanks that it has been unable to ship due to a blockade on exports imposed by Trump since mid-December. The blockade was part of rising U.S. pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro that culminated in U.S. forces capturing him this weekend. Top Venezuelan officials have called Maduro's capture a kidnapping and accused the U.S. of trying to steal the country's vast oil reserves. Venezuela will be "turning over" between 30 and 50 million barrels of "sanctioned oil" to the U.S., Trump said in a social media post. "This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!," he added. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is in charge of executing the deal, Trump said, adding that the oil will be taken from ships and sent directly to U.S. ports. Supplying the trapped crude to the U.S. could initially require reallocating cargoes originally bound for China, two sources had told Reuters earlier on Tuesday. The Asian country has been Venezuela's top buyer in the last decade and especially since the United States imposed sanctions on companies involved in oil trade with Venezuela in 2020. "Trump wants this to happen early so he can say it is a big win," an oil industry source said. Venezuelan government officials and PDVSA did not provide comment. U.S. crude prices fell more than 1.5% after Trump's announcement, with the agreement expected to increase the volume of Venezuelan oil exported to the U.S. That flow of oil is currently controlled entirely by Chevron, PDVSA's main joint venture partner, under a U.S. authorization. Chevron, which has been exporting between 100,000 and 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Venezuelan oil to the U.S., is the only company that has been loading and shipping crude without interruption from the South American country in recent weeks under the blockade. It was not immediately clear if Venezuela would have any access to proceeds from the supply. Sanctions mean PDVSA is excluded from the global financial system, its bank accounts are frozen and it is blocked from executing transactions in U.S. dollars. Venezuela has been selling its flagship crude grade, Merey, at around $22 per barrel below Brent for delivery at Venezuelan ports, giving a value for the deal at up to $1.9 billion. Rodriguez, sworn in as interim president on Monday, is herself under U.S. sanctions imposed in 2018 for undermining democracy. Venezuelan and U.S. officials this week discussed possible sales mechanisms, including auctions to allow interested U.S. buyers to bid for cargoes, and issuing U.S. licenses to PDVSA's business partners that could lead to supply contracts, two sources told Reuters. Those licenses have in the past allowed PDVSA's joint venture partners and customers, including Chevron, India's Reliance, China National Petroleum Corporation, and European Eni and Repsol to have access to Venezuelan oil to refine or to resell to third parties. This week, some of those companies have begun making preparations for receiving Venezuelan cargoes again, two separate sources said. The U.S. and Venezuela have also discussed if Venezuelan oil can be used in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve in the future, one of the sources said. Trump did not refer to this possibility. ' U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on Tuesday that an increased flow of Venezuelan heavy oil to the U.S. Gulf would be "great news" for job security, future gasoline prices in the U.S. and for Venezuela. "Venezuela has an opportunity now to actually have capital come in and rebuild their economy and take advantage," he told Fox News, when asked about talks between the governments on oil exports. "With American technology, American partnership, Venezuela can be transformed." U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast can process Venezuela's heavy crude grades and were importing some 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) before Washington first imposed energy sanctions on Venezuela. PDVSA has already had to cut production due to the embargo, because it is running out of storage for the oil. Without a way to export oil soon, it would have to cut production more, one of the sources said. Oil traders reacted to news of the deal talks on Tuesday. Differentials for some heavy oil grades in the U.S. Gulf slipped around 50 cents per barrel on Tuesday on the prospect of more Venezuelan supplies.
Trump says Venezuela to give up to 50 million barrels of oil to U.S. -- Venezuela will be turning over between 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States on the heels of the U.S.'s dramatic ouster of the South American country's authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro. Trump, in a social media post, said the oil will be sold at its market price, "and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!" "I have asked Energy Secretary Chris Wright to execute this plan, immediately," Trump wrote. "It will be taken by storage ships, and brought directly to unloading docks in the United States." Trump said that the oil being turned over the U.S. was "high quality" and "sanctioned." U.S. crude futures fell 1.3% to $56.39 per barrel on the heels of Trump's announcement. The announcement came three days after U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife in Caracas, and took them to New York, where they are charged in a federal drug-trafficking conspiracy indictment. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Trump plans to meet with representatives from the major U.S. oil companies Chevron , ConocoPhillips , and Exxon Mobil , along with other domestic producers, at the White House on Friday "to discuss making significant investments in Venezuela's oil sector." Trump has said that U.S. oil companies would end up investing billions of dollars to rehabilitate Venezuela's aging oil production capabilities. Chevron currently operates in Venezuela, the only U.S. oil company to do so. The assets of ConocoPhillips and Exxon were nationalized by Venezuela's then-President Hugo Chávez in the mid-2000s.
Trump's Energy Boss Discusses US Control Of Venezuelan Oil Sales, Failed Green Energy, And Nuclear Power - Following President Trump's overnight Truth Social post that Venezuela would transfer "30 to 50 million barrels of high-quality, sanctioned oil" to the U.S., Energy Secretary Chris Wright outlined next steps for both the oil and the sales proceeds during remarks at a Goldman Sachs conference. Earlier, Wright was featured at the Goldman Energy, Clean Tech & Utilities Conference in Miami. He told the audience, including executives from Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and other major oil and gas majors, about the Trump administration's plans for Venezuela's oil sector following last weekend's regime change led by America's Delta Force operators (implying the toppling of Nicolás Maduro). Wright opened the discussion by describing the "horrific" two-decade decline of Venezuela under the Maduro socialist regime. He said the country was once "one of the shining stars" of South America but, under socialist rule, descended into a hellhole of narcoterrorism. "We want to change the game in Venezuela, fix the country so it's a productive member of the Western Hemisphere. So it's an ally of the United States and a major oil supplier to the world. But the old ways weren't working. This started with an oil blockade. They [Maduro's socialist regime] get money two ways: selling oil and selling drugs," Wright explained. He continued, "We ultimately want to be cut off completely from drugs and grow the selling of oil. But in the short term, there was a blockade - a major cash flow source - that pinched the heads of Venezuela to get them out of power." Wright went on to describe Venezuela's oil market in a post-Maduro world: "Now we have a different arrangement. Instead of the oil being blockaded, as it is right now, we're going to let the oil flow. Sell that oil to U.S. refineries and to markets around the world to improve global oil supplies. But those sales will be conducted by the U.S. government, with the proceeds deposited into accounts controlled by the U.S. government. From there, the funds can flow back into Venezuela to benefit the Venezuelan people." "We need to use the leverage from those oil sales to drive the change that simply must happen in Venezuela, so it is no longer a drug threat, a kidnapping threat, a gun-running threat, or an enabler of our adversaries in the hemisphere. Venezuela has been a train wreck for the U.S. and the American people, and under Trump's leadership, we are committed to changing and restoring it in a way that benefits not only Americans, but Venezuelans as well," he said. On the subject of Venezuelan energy infrastructure, Wright emphasized that it is "not good." He said, "Decades of underinvestment and corruption have degraded infrastructure, and it's not just oil and gas; it's also the power grid."
U.S. to Control Venezuelan Oil Sales Indefinitely -- The Trump administration will sell Venezuelan oil “indefinitely” and control the proceeds, Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced Wednesday, as part of the administration’s broader strategy to manage Venezuela’s oil exports and rebuild its energy sector. Speaking at a Goldman Sachs conference in Miami, Wright said the U.S. will initially market backed-up crude currently stored in Venezuelan facilities and tankers, then continue selling all Venezuelan oil production going forward. “We’re going to market the crude coming out of Venezuela—first this backed up, stored oil, and then indefinitely, going forward, we will sell the production that comes out of Venezuela into the marketplace,” Wright said. President Trump said Tuesday that Venezuela will provide between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil—worth approximately $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion at current market prices—to be transported by ship to U.S. docks. In a Truth Social post Wednesday, Trump said he had directed Wright to execute the plan and that he would personally control how the money is used. “This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!,” Trump wrote. The proceeds will be held in U.S. Treasury-controlled accounts at globally recognized banks, protecting the funds from Venezuela’s creditors while the administration maintains leverage over the country’s transition. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the funds would be “dispersed for the benefit of the American people and the Venezuelan people at the discretion of the United States.” The plan comes after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro and Trump announced American oil companies would rebuild the country’s decaying infrastructure. On Friday, the president is scheduled to meet with executives from Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Exxon Mobil at the White House to discuss investments in Venezuela. The influx of Venezuelan crude is particularly valuable for Gulf Coast refineries, which are specifically configured to process heavy crude and have been seeking new sources since losing access to Venezuelan barrels in recent years. The complex refining infrastructure along the Gulf Coast can handle the heavier, sulfur-rich Venezuelan oil that simpler refineries around the world cannot process, making these barrels especially suited for U.S. consumption. The immediate availability of heavy crude could benefit U.S. consumers through lower prices for jet fuel, diesel, gasoline, and other refined products. The administration has selectively rolled back sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector to enable the transport and sale of crude that had been blocked by U.S. enforcement actions. Wright said the U.S. would also import parts, equipment, and services to increase Venezuelan oil flow, with the goal of attracting major American oil companies that previously operated in the country before nationalization under Hugo Chávez. Venezuela’s oil production has fallen to less than 1 million barrels per day due to years of corruption, underinvestment, and neglect. Wright estimated that output could increase by several hundred thousand barrels daily in the short to medium term, though fully restoring the industry would require an estimated $10 billion per year over the next decade, according to Francisco Monaldi, director of Latin American energy policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The quantity Trump announced—up to 50 million barrels—represents approximately 15 percent of Venezuela’s annual oil production and would require as many as 25 of the world’s largest oil tankers to transport. U.S. forces have seized multiple sanctioned oil tankers in recent days, including two more vessels Wednesday—one flying a Russian flag seized in the Atlantic Ocean south of Iceland, and another apprehended in the Caribbean—as the Trump administration moves to control all exports of Venezuelan crude. Global oil futures slipped 1.3 percent Wednesday, trading around $60 per barrel. Brent and WTI crude—the international and U.S. oil-price benchmarks—both dropped roughly 1 percent following Wright’s announcement. This suggests that oil traders are confident the Trump administration will succeed at increasing the amount of Venezuelan oil brought to global markets. Trump has threatened Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, to cooperate with U.S. demands. “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump said Sunday. Chevron is currently the only U.S. major operating in Venezuela under a special license from Washington. Exxon and ConocoPhillips previously operated in the country but left after Chávez nationalized their assets in the mid-2000s. Oil companies will likely want assurances of a stable Venezuelan government and confidence that Washington will support their presence beyond Trump’s term before committing to the massive long-term investments required to rebuild the country’s oil infrastructure.
Chevron Contracts 11 Tankers For Venezuela Port Calls As Don-Roe Doctrine Begins - Chevron stands out as the clear winner among U.S. oil majors, given its unique positioning already in Venezuela. The company already produces a quarter of the country's oil output under a U.S. sanctions waiver and exports crude, giving it an operational and regulatory moat no other oil major can match.With the Monroe Doctrine effectively rebranded as the "Don-Roe Doctrine," reflecting the Trump administration's new approach to exerting control and influence across the Western Hemisphere and rooting out China and Russia, the developments this past weekend involving U.S. Delta Force operators capturing Maduro do not come as much of a surprise. Consistent with the Don-Roe Doctrine, Chevron has contracted a fleet of tankers scheduled to arrive in Venezuela later this month, reinforcing its role as the dominant player, for now, a critical conduit for Venezuelan crude into US refineries along the Gulf of America. Key highlights from the Bloomberg report that first pointed out Chevron's 11 tankers headed to Venezuela:
- Number of Chevron-chartered ships is the highest since October and up from nine in December, with arrivals planned at the Jose and Bajo Grande ports.
- Of the 11 Chevron vessels, one has already loaded crude and two are currently docked; the oil is bound for U.S. refiners including Valero Energy, Phillips 66, and Marathon Petroleum.
- Chevron operates under a U.S. Treasury license and remains the only Western firm permitted to produce and export Venezuelan crude under U.S. sanctions.
On Monday, shares of Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and ExxonMobil jumped on news of regime change in Venezuela. However, Chevron shares had given up most of those gains by late trading on Tuesday. Here's more color on the Venezuelan crude industry from UBS and Goldman:
Venezuela tense while White House says it’s discussing ‘options’ for acquiring Greenland - As Venezuelans attempt to regain a semblance of normalcy after the US capture of President Nicolás Maduro, authorities are cracking down on any show of support for the leader’s removal. President Donald Trump said that Venezuela’s interim government will turn over 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the US. Meanwhile, the White House said it is “discussing a range of options” to acquire Greenland, noting that using the US military is not off the table. Trump had said the US needs the Danish territory, which spurred a statement of support for Denmark from European leaders. CNN's Jim Sciutto breaks down two treaties that protect Greenland as President Trump is “discussing a range of options” to acquire the island, according to the White House, and making clear that using the US military is not off the table. In a 1916 declaration, the US said it would not object to Denmark's rule over Greenland. A historic document from more than 100 years ago may come under the spotlight as US President Donald Trump renews his interest in acquiring Greenland over the furious objections of the Danish government and its European allies.It’s called the Lansing Declaration.On August 4, 1916, US Secretary of State Robert Lansing under President Woodrow Wilson issued the declaration notifying Denmark that the US would not object to the Danish government establishing control over the entire territory of Greenland.To quote the document: “The undersigned Secretary of State of the United States of America, duly authorized by his Government, has the honor to declare that the Government of the United States of America will not object to the Danish Government extending their political and economic interests to the whole of Greenland.”This declaration was part of a larger agreement formalizing Denmark selling Danish West Indies to the United States. Today, that territory is called US Virgin Islands.You can also see the original document in the Danish National Archives. In an interview yesterday with CNN’s Erin Burnett, Danish lawmaker and European Parliament member Anders Vistisen blasted the US president over his remarks about Greenland, describing them as “very frankly stupid” while noting that the United States had affirmed Danish ownership. He said that if the Trump administration had any doubts, it could look back over its own records to see that United States said that “the territory of Greenland belongs to the kingdom of Denmark.“
Chris Wright: US will control Venezuelan oil ‘indefinitely’ - Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday the United States plans to sell Venezuelan oil “indefinitely” and “create the conditions” for oil majors to operate in the South American country. The comments at a Goldman Sachs conference in Florida mark deepening ties with Venezuela and a reversal from President Donald Trump’s first term, when sanctions were imposed on the country. On Tuesday, Trump said in a social media post that Venezuela’s interim authorities would be “turning over” between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the U.S. According to Wright, the U.S. will first market crude in storage floating off Venezuela’s coast and then “sell the production that comes out of Venezuela into the marketplace.”“Instead of the oil being blockaded, as it is right now, we’re going to … let the oil flow, sell that market to United States refineries … and around the world to bring better oil supplies,” Wright said. Proceeds from the sales would be deposited into accounts controlled by the U.S. government so funds could flow back to Venezuela to benefit its people and help build out the industry, the secretary said.“We need to have that leverage and that control of those oil sales to drive the changes that simply must happen in Venezuela,” he said, adding that the U.S. would supply chemicals to enable greater oil production.“We’ll enable the importing of parts and equipment and services to kind of prevent the industry from collapsing, stabilize the production, and then as quickly as quickly as possible, start to see it growing again,” Wright said.Chevron is the only U.S. major currently operating in Venezuela, which has the largest oil reserves in the world. In December, the administration imposed a partial blockade of the country, spurring storage of oil in ships off the coast.It remains unclear whether other oil companies might try to operate in the country. Some industry leaders have raised concerns privately that it could be challenging to persuade shareholders to invest when opportunities exist in other countries with less turmoil.“We’re closely watching developments involving Venezuela and any potential implications for global energy markets. Events like this underscore the importance of strong U.S. energy leadership. Globally, energy companies make investment decisions based on stability, the rule of law, market forces, and long-term operational considerations,” said American Petroleum Institute spokesperson Bethany Williams in an emailed statement.Trump, Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum are expected to meet with industry leaders at the White House on Friday to discuss plans for Venezuela. Wright also is slated to meet with company executives Wednesday in Miami, according to a DOE statement. At the conference, Wright said he’s asking many companies “what are the necessary conditions it would take you to put billions of dollars to develop fields and build infrastructure?”
White House Says It Will 'Dictate' the Decisions of the Venezuelan Government - The White House on Wednesday claimed that the US would be “dictating” the decisions of the Venezuelan government moving forward, as the Trump administration is attempting to control Venezuela’s oil supply following the US abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.“We’re continuing to be in close coordination with the interim authorities,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, referring to Maduro’s government, which is now led by Acting President Delcy Rodriguez.Leavitt added that “their decisions are going to continue to be dictated by the United States of America.” In Caracas, Rodriguez and other Venezuelan officials are putting a very different message.“The government of Venezuela is in charge in our country, and no one else. There is no foreign agent governing Venezuela,” said Rodriguez, who has called for the US to free Maduro so he can return to his position.In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance said that the US can control Venezuela by deciding where it’s allowed to sell its oil.“We control the energy resources, and we tell the regime, you’re allowed to sell the oil so long as you serve America’s national interest, you’re not allowed to sell it if you can’t serve America’s national interest,” Vance said.President Trump is also threatening to bomb Venezuela again and potentially send troops if the government doesn’t do the bidding of the US, and appeared to threaten Rodriguez’s life by saying she would have a fate worse than Maduro if she didn’t fall in line.On Tuesday night, Trump said that Venezuela will be “turning over” between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the US. He said the oil will be “sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.”Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, said in a statement that it was advancing an oil sale to the US and that it would be similar to deals with Chevron, the US oil firm that has continued to operate in the country. “The process … is based on strictly commercial transactions under terms that are legal, transparent and beneficial for both parties,” PDVSA said.US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that the US will control Venezuela’s oil sales “indefinitely”and will deposit revenues from the deals into US-controlled bank accounts.In a follow-up post on Wednesday, Trump claimed that under the deal, Venezuela will be purchasing US goods with the money made from the sale. “I have just been informed that Venezuela is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products, with the money they receive from our new Oil Deal,” he said.The president continued, “These purchases will include, among other things, American Agricultural Products, and American Made Medicines, Medical Devices, and Equipment to improve Venezuela’s Electric Grid and Energy Facilities. In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner – A wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States.”
Trump says US will run Venezuela for years - President Trump, in an interview with The New York Times, said the U.S. could be in control of Venezuela for years. “I would say much longer,” Trump told the Times in a two-hour interview published Thursday, when asked if the U.S. would oversee Venezuela for months, a year or longer. He added, “Only time will tell.”The president continued, noting the U.S. is looking to “rebuild” Venezuela “in a very profitable way.” “We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil,” he told the outlet. “We’re getting oil prices down, and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, which they desperately need.”Trump added that his administration is in “constant communication” with Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, formerly the vice president, noting Secretary of State Marco Rubio “speaks with her all the time.” The lengthy interview comes as questions grow over what U.S. control of the South American nation will look like following the capture and subsequent indictment of the country’s former leader Nicolás Maduro over the weekend.
Trump Says He Expects To ‘Run’ Venezuela for Years --President Trump has told The New York Times that he expects to “run” Venezuela for many years following the US attack on Caracas to abduct President Nicolas Maduro.By “running” Venezuela, the president appears to mean controlling its oil industry and getting access to the country’s vast oil reserves, the largest in the world, for more American companies.“We will rebuild it in a very profitable way,” he told the paper. “We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil. We’re getting oil prices down, and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, which they desperately need.”When asked how long he expects the US to remain Venezuela’s “political overlord,” three months, six months, or a year, the president said, “I would say much longer.”Trump has threatened to attack Venezuela again and potentially send troops, but declined to say what sort of situation could lead to that. “I wouldn’t want to tell you that,” he said.Trump and his top officials have said that the US will be controlling Venezuela’s oil sales and will start by acquiring 30 million to 50 million barrels. However, Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, has framed the deal as a routine sale of oil to the US, similar to its dealings with Chevron, which continues to operate in the country.Trump insisted to the Times that Venezuela’s government, which is currently led by Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s vice president, is “giving us everything that we feel is necessary.”Rodriguez has said that no “foreign agent” is running Venezuela and has maintained that Maduro is the rightful president and must be released by the US. “Today, more than ever, the Bolivarian political forces stand firm and united to guarantee the stability of our nation,” she said in a post on Telegram on Thursday.
Trump says US will start hitting drug cartels on land - President Trump on Thursday said the United States will soon strike drug cartels on land. “We are going to start now hitting land with regard to the cartels. The cartels are running Mexico,” Trump said during an appearance on Fox News’s “Hannity,” without providing further details about the plans.His comments follow a monthslong U.S. military operation attacking vessels alleged to be transporting drugs in the Caribbean Sea and elsewhere. White House and Pentagon officials justified some of the lethal strikes by noting that boat occupants were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which was designated as a foreign terrorist organization last year.The Trump administration on Saturday captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were transported to the U.S. to face narco-trafficking charges.U.S. military forces also struck infrastructure in the northern region of Venezuela before raiding Maduro’s residence in Caracas. The Trump administration has also sought to exert control of Venezuela’s oil industry and said the country would turn over 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S.
US Seizes Russian-Flagged Oil Tanker in the North Atlantic, Drawing Rebuke From Moscow - US forces on Wednesday boarded and took by force a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic Ocean that it initially tried to seize off the coast of Venezuela weeks ago, an action that drew condemnation from Moscow.The tanker was named the Bella 1 when the US first tried to capture it, but it changed its name to the Marinera and began flying a Russian flag as it was being chased by the US Coast Guard across the Atlantic. Russia had reportedly asked the US to stop pursuing the ship.“On December 24, 2025, the Marinera received a temporary permit to fly the Russian flag, issued in accordance with Russian and international law,” the Russian Transportation Ministry said in a statement on the seizure.The Transportation Ministry said that the seizure violated international law. “In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in the high seas, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states,” the ministry said.Russia’s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement, calling for the US to treat any Russian nationals on the crew “humanely” and for them to be allowed to return home as quickly as possible. A Russian warship and submarine were reportedly in the vicinity of the Marinera during the seizure, but there was no confrontation between US and Russian forces. US European Command announced the seizure and said the ship was taken for “violating US sanctions,” though US economic sanctions don’t give the US government the legal right to capture a ship in international waters. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the “blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT – anywhere in the world.”
Moscow pushes back on tanker seizure, says it had ‘temporary permission’ to use Russian flag --Moscow criticized the U.S. seizure of a Venezuela-linked oil tanker flying the Russian flag on Wednesday. The U.S. Coast Guard captured the Motor Tanker Bella 1, located in the North Atlantic, during a pre-dawn operation. The tanker had reportedly changed its name to the Marinera and was reflagged from a Guyanese to a Russian vessel. Russia’s transportation ministry released a statement saying U.S. Navy forces boarded the ship at roughly 3 p.m. Moscow time, or 7 a.m. EST, upon which “contact with it was lost.” It also confirmed the ship received temporary permission to fly the Russian flag on Dec. 24. “No state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states,” the ministry added.Russia, a staunch supporter of captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime, had also reportedly deployed a submarine to help escort it across the ocean.
Donroe Doctrine: US Seizes Russian-Flagged Tanker In Atlantic, Intercepts Dark-Fleet Ship In Caribbean - In what can only be described as straight out of a Cold War techno-thriller, The Hunt for Red October vibes, the U.S. Coast Guard is chasing a rusting oil tanker formerly known as Bella 1, now renamed Marinera, flying the Russian flag about 300 miles south of Iceland as it heads toward the North Sea. On Tuesday, Russian outlet RT News posted an exclusive video on X showing Marinera being chased by a U.S. Coast Guard cutter in the North Atlantic. https://t.co/sNbqJkm5O5pic.twitter.com/XtbBML3a6j Update (0814ET): The Russian outlet RT News has posted footage that appears to show U.S. military forces attempting to board the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera early Wednesday morning in the North Atlantic. ❗️ Military forces, presumably American, are attempting to board Russian-flagged civilian tanker 'Marinera' RIGHT NOW — RT source RT has obtained first exclusive visual confirmation of the boarding attempt https://t.co/lWf62lN7hH pic.twitter.com/rn9xfLmNxi Reuters reports that the U.S. is "attempting" to seize the Venezuela-linked oil tanker after a two-week chase involving a U.S. Coast Guard vessel and surveillance aircraft. From like an hour ago or more, as the Americans got into position to attempt boarding. A massive swarm of RAF jets were patrolling around the north sea, potentially shadowing the Russian Naval fleet on route to escort it. pic.twitter.com/DxxioNbLw6 The Wall Street Journal then reported overnight that Russia is countering the Trump administration's attempt to seize Marinera by deploying a submarine and other warships to escort the allegedly now-empty tanker. The chase in the North Atlantic follows last month's incident near Venezuelan waters, when the tanker - then stateless and flying a false flag - was subject to a U.S. judicial seizure order. As the Coast Guard attempted to board, the crew switched the ship's registration to Russia, prompting Moscow to demand that the U.S. halt its pursuit. One key question is why Washington is hyper-focused on this particular tanker, given that the global dark fleet numbers more than 1,000 tankers hauling sanctioned crude worldwide. The ship's quick registration in Russia, without inspection or formalities, may only suggest that the tanker, which departed Venezuelan waters, could be carrying other cargo bound for Russia. Update (0920ET): U.S. European Command (EUCOM) confirmed on X that the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Department of Defense, seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera (formerly Bella 1) for violating U.S. sanctions. "The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by the USCGC Munro," EUCOM said. NBC News reports that the U.S. Special Forces operation in the North Atlantic to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker, the Marinera (formerly Bella 1), was successful. U.S. officials told the outlet that the Marinera "has been secured" following a dramatic, weeks-long chase on the high seas. The U.S. seized two oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela last month as part of President Trump's gunboat diplomacy.But why would a U.S. Coast Guard cutter and surveillance planes chase an empty, rusted, Russian-flagged tanker across the Atlantic unless there was potentially something far more valuable on board? The seizure of Marinera is the headliner this morning, given that Russian warships and a submarine are nearby, raising the risk that the situation could spiral out of control after Moscow warned the Trump administration in recent days to back off the tanker. Within the last hour, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) wrote on X that U.S. forces "apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark-fleet motor tanker without incident." SOUTHCOM said, "The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the U.S. for final disposition." SOUTHCOM concluded the post by signaling the Donroe Doctrine: "Through Operation Southern Spear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere. We will defend our Homeland and restore security and strength across the Americas."
US seizes Russian-flagged tanker and a second Venezuela-linked ship - What you need to know:
- • Tankers seized: The US seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela after tracking it across the Atlantic, according to the US European Command. The US said it also seized another Venezuela-linked vessel in the Caribbean early this morning. Sigue nuestracobertura en español.
- • Venezuela’s oil to US: President Donald Trump said Venezuela will turn over 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the US, to be sold at market value.
- • Briefings for Congress: House and Senate lawmakers will receive classified briefings today on the Venezuela attack from top officials.
- • Spotlight on Greenland: Elsewhere, emboldened by his claimed control of Venezuela, Trump is “discussing a range of options” to acquire Greenland, the White House said, making clear that using the military is not off the table. Greenland has asked for a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio following the president’s renewed interest in the Arctic island.
Russia’s foreign ministry has demanded that the United States return the Russian citizens aboard a seized oil tanker “to their homeland,” according to the Russian state news agency TASS. The foreign ministry said Moscow is closely monitoring the US seizure of the Marinera, TASS reported. Until recently, the ship was called the Bella 1. US forces had attempted to interdict the sanctioned ship near Venezuela last month but did not board it after it turned around and fled. Russia then filed a formal diplomatic request – with a new name for the ship –asking the US to end its pursuit. The Russian foreign ministry also demanded that the US “ensure humane and dignified treatment” for the Russian citizens aboard the tanker and must not “obstruct” their return to Russia. As we’ve been reporting, two vessels linked to Venezuela were seized by the US this morning, according to US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Details on their seizure have now begun to be released. Catch up on what we know so far about what went down:
- At 8:43 a.m. ET, US European Command announced on X that it hadseized a Russian-flagged tanker in the north Atlantic Ocean. Previously named the Bella 1, it was since renamed the Marinera, with a crude Russian flag painted on its side.
- Shortly after this announcement, US Southern Command announced that the US had also seized a vessel in the Caribbean. The vessel is considered to be stateless and, according to the Southern Command, it was “conducting illicit activities.”
- Both vessels were “either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it,” Noem said in a post on X. US Coast Guard teams worked with their counterparts at the US’ Defense, Justice and State departments, she said, using “their specialized expertise to conduct these operations and conduct two safe, effective boardings within hours of each other.”
- Russia’s Transport Ministry confirmed that it lost contact with the Marinera tanker after US forces boarded the ship at 7 a.m. ET this morning. It condemned the operation, adding that “no state has the right to use force against vessels that are properly registered in the jurisdictions of other nations” under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The US did not sign that convention.
- The UK’s defense ministry said that it helped the US with its seizure of the Marinera “following a US request for assistance.” British Defense Secretary John Healey accused the ship of being “part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fueling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.”
Trump says ‘own morality’ is only limit on his power: ‘I don’t need international law’ - President Trump said his “own morality” guides his decisions on foreign intervention in a interview published Thursday, following weeks of scrutiny for U.S. strikes overseas. “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me,” Trump told the The New York Times Wednesday night when asked if there were any limits on his international power.
Trump vows to ‘cut a deal’ with oil companies - Oil industry officials met with senior Trump administration officials at the White House on Friday as President Donald Trump pledged a forthcoming “deal” with oil companies to access Venezuela’s crude oil reserves. The meeting included representatives of major oil companies and Trump’s top energy and international officials. The White House discussion comes as the Trump administration says U.S. oil firms are eager to invest in the oil-rich South American nation following the Trump team’s removal of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, on Saturday. The administration is “going to cut a deal with the companies” they are “going to allow to go in,” Trump said Friday. “We’ll probably do that today or very shortly thereafter,” he told the crowd. “We’re dealing with the country, so we’re empowered to make that deal, and you have total safety, total security.” Trump posted on social media prior to the meeting, “The largest Oil Companies in the World are coming to the White House. … Everybody wants to be there. It’s too bad that the Ballroom hasn’t completed because, if it were, it would be PACKED.” A big factor in the U.S. involvement in Venezuela, Trump said, will be “the reduction of Oil Prices for the American People.” Trump took a moment at the start of the event to survey the progress on the ballroom construction and invited the “fake news” in the room to check it out as well. “We’re ahead of schedule on the ballroom and under budget,” he said. Trump then turned to praising his team for their work in Venezuela and urging oil companies to seize the opportunity. The president said Thursday that the world’s biggest oil companies had pledged to invest at least $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela’s oil sector. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former oil and gas executive, is leading private sector engagement in the wake of Maduro’s ouster, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday. Wright also met on Wednesday with oil executives in Florida. “They’re eager about these opportunities,” Leavitt said Wednesday of oil companies. “And Secretary Wright is a very well knowledgeable guy when it comes to oil and energy, and he’s the perfect man for the job.” Wright, as well as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller were among the administration officials in attendance.
Trump Tells Oil Executives Venezuela Deal Will Create “Tremendous Wealth” - President Trump on Friday framed a sweeping new Venezuela oil deal as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for U.S. energy companies and the American economy, telling executives that the agreement would generate “tremendous wealth” for industry and “great wealth” for the American people. Speaking to a group of oil majors and traders, Trump called the companies “treasured partners in bringing the nation of Venezuela back to life,” while making clear that participation was optional, but competitive. If companies were unwilling to invest, he said, there were “25 people that aren’t here today that are willing to take your place.” The message was blunt: Venezuela’s oil sector is being reopened under U.S. leverage, and those willing to move quickly stand to benefit.Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking earlier to Fox News, described the strategy as a fundamental break from decades of failed policy. “For 25 years we’ve seen the collapse of the Venezuelan regime—everything going the wrong direction,” Wright said, arguing that previous approaches had failed to halt corruption, criminal activity, and economic collapse. He said the current strategy relies on enforcing sanctions that already existed but were not meaningfully applied, using military presence as leverage rather than direct conflict. “This is using military force without firing bullets, without soldiers on the ground, but getting the full impact of that force,” Wright said, adding that the result would be lower energy prices, reduced criminal flows, and a reversal of Venezuela’s economic decline.The administration’s approach follows the capture of Nicolás Maduro and what Senator Dave McCormick described as “an incredible, magnificently orchestrated law enforcement, military, and intel operation” that created the conditions for what he called “Phase 2.” That phase, McCormick said, centers on leveraging control over oil resources to pursue four goals: cutting drug flows into the United States, ending Venezuela’s role as a haven for U.S. adversaries, reviving the oil sector with Western investment and expertise, and laying a long-term path toward democratic self-rule.The scale of the opportunity is significant. Venezuela produced about 4 million barrels per day in 1975. Today, output sits near 800,000 barrels per day after decades of underinvestment and mismanagement. Restoring even part of that capacity would reshape regional energy flows.Companies represented at the meeting included Chevron, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Halliburton, Valero, Marathon, Shell, Vitol, Trafigura, Repsol, Eni, and others spanning upstream, refining, and infrastructure.Trump made clear the administration sees oil as the economic engine of Venezuela’s recovery — and a strategic tool for the United States. Whether companies step in quickly or hesitate, the White House signaled the door is now open, and the clock is ticking.“One thing I think everyone has to know is that if we didn’t do this, China or Russia would have done it,” Trump told oil executives.
‘Vast wealth Trump imagines’ from Venezuelan oil doesn’t exist: Krugman -Economist Paul Krugman on Wednesday said there’s no wealth to be gained after President Trump said that U.S. oil companies would take control of Venezuela’s oil production following the ousting of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. “Donald Trump’s Venezuela venture is a very different story,” Krugman wrote on his Substack. “During his triumphalist press conference after the abduction of Nicolás Maduro, Trump never used the word ‘democracy.’ He did, however, say ‘oil’ 27 times, declaring, ‘We’re going to take back the oil that, frankly, we should have taken back a long time ago.'”“Even so, whatever it is we’re doing in Venezuela isn’t really a war for oil,” Krugman continued. “It is, instead, a war for oil fantasies. The vast wealth Trump imagines is waiting there to be taken doesn’t exist.” Krugman argued that while Venezuela has the world’s largest known oil reserves, it was because heavy oil was reclassified as “proved” oil. He cited economist Torsten Slok, who previously wrote that most of the oil “is extra-heavy, which has low recovery and a high cost to produce.”“This suggests that Venezuela’s claims to have immense usable oil reserves were politically motivated hype,” Krugman continued. Krugman added the oil is cheap because of the increased supply due to fracking, with a break-even price at $62 a barrel. This would not be enough for oil companies to make a profit.“In short, Trump’s belief that he has captured a lucrative prize in Venezuela’s oil fields would be an unrealistic fantasy even if he really were in control of a nation that is, in practice, still controlled by the same thugs who controlled it before Maduro was abducted,” Krugman concluded.
Oil giants eye Venezuela, yet remain cautious at Trump meeting - Major oil firms expressed interest — with reservations — about doing business in Venezuela as President Trump said Friday he’s seeking a deal to decide which companies will drill in the Latin American nation. During a meeting at the White House, Trump said he would try to “cut a deal” to determine which firms get to produce Venezuelan oil. “We’re going to be making the decision as to which oil companies are going to go in — that we’re going to allow to go in. [We’re] going to cut a deal with the companies,” he said. “We’ll probably do that today or very shortly thereafter,” he added. Following the meeting, Trump told reporters that his administration had “sort of” come to a deal with the oil companies. “We just had a great meeting with oil executives. We’ve sort of formed a deal,” Trump said as he left the White House. Representatives of the nation’s biggest oil firms said they want to go into the country but also expressed concerns during the portion of the meeting that was public. “As a depletion business, the biggest challenge we have is finding resources. There’s an opportunity in Venezuela with all the resources,” ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods said. However, he said that today, Venezuela is “uninvestable” and significant changes have to be made to the country’s commercial framework and legal system. Exxon, along with ConocoPhillips, were operating in Venezuela until they left in 2007. Chevron is the only U.S. oil firm still operating there. Woods added that Exxon would like to start assessing the situation and said that the company could eventually be involved in Venezuela in some way. “We think it’s absolutely critical in the short term that we get a technical team in place to assess the current state of the industry and the assets to understand what would be involved,” he said. “With the invitation of the Venezuelan government and with appropriate security guarantees, we are ready to put a team on the ground there. We also have an integrated set of capabilities, from production to refining to trading, and I think we can be of assistance to getting the Venezuelan crude to market,” he added. Since the U.S. captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, Trump has repeatedly touted the country’s large oil reserves and said the U.S. would be involved in developing the resource.
Report: US Oil Companies Want Guarantees from Trump Administration Before Investing in Venezuela - US oil companies want “serious guarantees” from the Trump administration before making large investments in Venezuela, according toa report from the Financial Times. After launching the attack on Caracas that killed around 100 people and resulted in the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro, Trump said the US would “run” Venezuela and that US oil companies would be investing heavily in the country, but oil executives appear to be worried about the risks.Trump is set to meet with oil executives at the White House on Friday, and, according to the Financial Times report, they are expected to ask the president for strong legal and financial guarantees before committing capital to Venezuela. “There would have to be some serious guarantees from the government to get the big boys back in Venezuela,” an unnamed executive of a major US energy firm told Financial Times. “It’s going to take a while to see real investment in the country and then longer to get production up.” Amos Hochstein, who worked as an energy advisor in the Biden administration and is now a managing partner at the investment group TWG Global, noted that by the time the oil companies saw revenue from new investments in Venezuela, Trump would no longer be president.One major question about Trump’s plan for Venezuela is whether the Venezuelan government will go along with it. While Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has said she’s open to “cooperation” with the US, it’s unclear if she will capitulate to all of Trump’s demands, which he is making under the threat of a new US attack.
US Senate advances measure curbing Trump's Venezuela war powers (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate advanced a resolution on Thursday that would bar President Donald Trump from further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, a rare rebuke of the Republican leader. The vote on a procedural measure to advance the war powers resolution was 52 to 47, as five of Trump's Republicans voted with every Democrat in favor of moving ahead. One Republican senator did not vote. The vote took place days after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a dramatic military raid in Caracas on Saturday. The rebuke for Trump, a day after senior cabinet members briefed every member of Congress about its Venezuela policy, marked a shift in the 100-member Senate. It was a significant victory for lawmakers who have been arguing that Congress, not the president, should have the power to send troops to war, as spelled out in the Constitution. However, the resolution faces steep hurdles before going into effect. Even if it passes the Senate, the resolution must also pass the Republican-led House of Representatives and garner two-thirds majorities in both the House and Senate to survive an expected Trump veto. Trump's Republicans had blocked two previous attempts to advance similar resolutions in the Senate last year, as the administration ramped up military pressure on Venezuela with attacks on boats in the southern Caribbean and eastern Pacific. However, the vote blocking the last resolution in November was only 51-49, just after top Trump advisors told lawmakers they did not plan to change the government or conduct strikes on Venezuelan territory. After Maduro's capture, some lawmakers accused the administration of misleading Congress, including Democrats publicly and some Republicans behind the scenes. Maduro's capture and Trump's rhetoric have also raised concerns of military action to capture Greenland, an Arctic island that is a territory of Denmark, or against Colombia, Cuba or Iran. Thursday's vote paved the way for Senate debate and a vote on final passage in the Senate next week. Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who co-sponsored the resolution, had said some of his fellow Republicans were considering supporting the measure. "I can't guarantee you how they vote, but at least two are thinking about it, and some of them are talking publicly about their misgivings over this," Paul told a press conference on Wednesday with Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, another co-sponsor. Both senators are members of the Foreign Relations Committee. After the vote, Kaine said it was a "big victory," telling reporters: "None of us should want this president, or any president, to take our sons and daughters to war without notice, consultation, debate and vote in Congress." The five Republicans who voted to move ahead were Paul, Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Todd Young of Indiana. Trump's party holds a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Trump said the five "should never be elected to office again." He said on his Truth Social website: "Republicans should be ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats attempting to take away our Powers to fight and defend the United States of America." Backers acknowledge the hurdles facing the measure, but said many Republicans may be wary of a prolonged and expensive campaign of government change in Venezuela, as the U.S. faces vast budget deficits. Trump on Wednesday called for a huge increase in U.S. military spending, to $1.5 trillion from $1 trillion. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York noted months of U.S. strikes on Venezuelan boats, and Trump's statement in a New York Times interview that the U.S. would be involved in Venezuela for more than a year. "The president is openly signaling a long-term military and financial commitment abroad with no authorization, with no plan, another endless war," Schumer told a press conference.
Senate Advances Bill Aimed at Preventing Trump From Launching Another Attack on Venezuela - The Senate on Thursday advanced a War Powers Resolution aimed at preventing President Trump from launching another attack on Venezuela without congressional authorization.The bill advanced in a procedural vote to discharge it from committee, which sets up a final vote in the Senate next week, when it will need a simple majority to go to the House. It advanced on Thursday by a 52-47 vote, with five Republicans joining Democrats in support of the bill.The five Republicans who voted for the bill include Senators Rand Paul (KY), who co-sponsored the legislation, Lisa Murkowski (AK), Susan Collins (ME), Todd Young (IN), and Josh Hawley (MO). President Trump responded to the vote by harshly criticizing the five Republicans, saying they “should never be elected to office again.”The bill received support from three more Republicans than the previous Venezuela War Powers Resolution, which was voted on in November and failed 49-51.“With regard to Venezuela, my read of the Constitution is that if the President feels the need to put boots on the ground there in the future, Congress would need to vote on it,” Hawley said in a post on X explaining his vote. “That’s why I voted yes on this morning’s Senate resolution.”Since the US launched the attack on Venezuela that resulted in the killing of around 100 people and the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, President Trump has been threatening to bomb the country again if it doesn’t do his bidding. Trump has also said the US will “run” Venezuela and suggested that he could put “boots on the ground” in Venezuela.“I believe invoking the War Powers Act at this moment is necessary, given the President’s comments about the possibility of ‘boots on the ground’ and a sustained engagement ‘running’ Venezuela, with which I do not agree,” Collins said in a statement on the vote.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley explains yes vote on war powers resolution -- Republican Sen. Josh Hawley (Mo.) justified voting with Democrats to advance a bipartisan resolution on the War Powers Act to block President Trump from using military force against Venezuela.“With regard to Venezuela, my read of the Constitution is that if the President feels the need to put boots on the ground there in the future, Congress would need to vote on it,” Hawley, a constitutional lawyer, wrote Thursday on social platform X. “That’s why I voted yes on this morning’s Senate resolution.”Article 1 of the Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to declare war. The Trump administration has argued that the military deployment to Venezuela over the weekend was necessary to support the “law enforcement operation” that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The Missouri Republican joined Republican Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.) — who co-sponsored the measure — Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine) and Todd Young (Ind.) in voting with the entire Senate Democratic caucus to discharge the resolution out of committee and bring it to the floor. A vote on the resolution itself is expected next week. If it passes, it will need to pass the House before heading to the president’s desk.Trump, meanwhile, condemned Hawley and his four GOP colleagues, saying they “should never be elected to office again.” Hawley, first elected to the upper chamber in 2018, is not up for reelection until 2030.
Trump dials Collins with ‘profanity-laced rant’ over Venezuela war powers vote - President Trump on Thursday laid into Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) with a “profanity-laced” phone call after she supported a Democratic-led war powers resolution over his actions in Venezuela. According to two sources familiar, a fuming Trump dialed up Collins, the foremost Senate GOP centrist, during the vote aimed at blocking the White House from using military force against Venezuela. “He called her and then basically read her the riot act,” one Senate GOP member told The Hill, describing it as a “profanity-laced rant” on Trump’s end. The GOP member also noted that the call came “out of the blue” as the two do not talk frequently. A second source familiar with the call said Trump told Collins that the resolution, which passed, 52-47, was limiting his ability to do his job as commander-in-chief. “He was very mad about the vote,” the source said. “Very mad. Very hot.” A Collins spokesperson confirmed the call took place but declined further comment. The Hill reached out to the White House with a request for comment. Trump followed up the vote by posting on Truth Social that Collins and the four other Senate Republicans who backed discharging the resolution — Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Todd Young (Ind.) — “should never be elected to office again.” “Republicans should be ashamed of the senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our Powers to fight and defend the United States of America,” Trump posted. “This Vote greatly hampers American Self Defense and National Security, impeding the President’s Authority as Commander in Chief.” Collins is widely considered the most vulnerable Republican incumbent up for reelection in November. She fired back at Trump’s criticism to reporters shortly after, saying that it means he “would prefer to have” one of her potential general election opponents in the seat. Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) and Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and progressive candidate, are vying for the Democratic nod.
Senate Republicans miffed over Trump’s angry rant targeting Collins, others - Senate Republicans on Thursday lamented President Trump’s call for the ouster of five GOP members who voted with Democrats and dealt him a blow on the Venezuela war powers resolution, indicating the president’s angry rant was a mistake as the party enters an election year. Trump fumed on social media shortly after the vote, saying the handful of Republican lawmakers who backed the measure that would block further military action — Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Josh Hawley (Mo.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Todd Young (Ind.) — “should never be elected to office again.” The remark did not sit well with some GOP lawmakers, who said they believed it was unnecessary. “I would encourage the people around the president to understand what’s at stake in this election,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who is retiring at the end of the year. “We’ve got several seats in play. We’ve got even more so in the House. This is a time for Republicans to put their differences behind closed doors and support each other.” “That will absolutely be material that people will use against members if they can, and we’ve just got to be careful with it,” he added. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), a member of Republican leadership, said: “I respect my colleagues, even though I disagree with them, for their ability to express their opinion through their vote. I guess the president’s free to express his displeasure.” The most acute concern for the Senate GOP conference is the potential effect on Collins, the Maine centrist, who is seeking a sixth term in office in November. Collins is the lone Republican in the chamber who represents a state former Vice President Kamala Harris carried in 2024. Republican leaders swiftly made clear they steadfastly support the Maine Republican. “Yes, of course,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said when asked if he still wants her reelected. “This was a short-term, immediate reaction to something he felt strongly about.” “But I think he — like all of us — wants to make sure that we have a Republican majority in the Senate, and we all know … in the state of Maine, the way to make that happen,” he said. Collins didn’t back down from her decision. “The president, obviously, is unhappy with the vote,” she told reporters. “I guess this means that he would prefer to have Gov. Mills or somebody else with whom he’s not had a great relationship,” she said, referring to Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D), who is battling with Graham Platner, an oyster farmer-turned-progressive darling, for the right to take on the incumbent senator. When asked if she was frustrated by the post, Collins quickly retorted: “No.”
Witkoff: Significant Progress Made on Security Guarantees for Ukraine - Following talks with European and Ukrainian leaders, President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, said significant progress had been made in establishing security guarantees and a “prosperity agreement” for Ukraine. On Tuesday, Witkoff and Ukrainian President Zelensky met with the “Coalition of the Willing” to discuss the war in Ukraine. “We have made significant progress on several critical workstreams, including our bilateral security guarantee framework and a prosperity plan,” Witkoff wrote on X after the summit. “We agree with the Coalition that durable security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace in the Ukraine and we will continue to work together on this effort.”At a press conference, Witkoff said the prosperity agreement would involve BlackRock and that he is working with the firm’s CEO, Larry Fink. The Coalition of the Willing is a bloc of European nations led by the UK, France, and Germany, with the goal of supporting Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday’s meeting resulted in a “significant step” towards ending the war in Ukraine. During the summit, Kiev, Paris, and London signed an agreement to send troops and weapons to Ukraine after a ceasefire is established. The Coalition of the Willing said the deployment will receive support from the US. “Military officials from France, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine worked in detail on force deployment, numbers, specific types of weapons, and the components of the Armed Forces required and able to operate effectively,” Zelensky wrote on X. “We had very substantive discussions with the American side on monitoring — to ensure there are no violations of peace. The United States is ready to work on this.”However, Russia opposes the US and other NATO members providing security guarantees to Ukraine. Moscow says it will not end its war in Ukraine until Kiev agrees to its demand of neutrality, and not to host Western troops. The Kremlin has said that European leaders’ involvement in the peace process is unproductive.
Israeli Officials Use US Venezuela Attack To Threaten Iran - Former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who now leads the opposition in the Knesset, used the US attack on Venezuela to issue a threat to Iran, as the US and Israel are moving toward another war against the Islamic Republic.“The regime in Iran should pay close attention to what is happening in Venezuela,” Lapid wrote on X after the US bombed Caracas and abducted President Nicolas Maduro. Amichai Chikli, Israel’s diaspora minister, said that the attack delivered a blow to the “global axis of evil” and sent a “clear message” to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The US assault on Caracas came after President Trump appeared to threaten war with Iran over the protests taking place inside the country.“If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, responded to Trump’s threat by warning that if the US attacks, US troops in the region would be targeted.“Moreover, the disrespectful President of America should also know that with this official admission, all American centers and forces across the entire region will be legitimate targets for us in response to any potential adventurism; Iranians have always been united and determined to act in the face of an aggressor enemy,” Ghalibaf wrote on X.
President Trump Poses With Sen. Graham and a 'Make Iran Great Again' Hat - Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) posted a photo on X on Monday of himself and President Trump posing with a hat that reads “Make Iran Great Again” amid threats of another US and Israeli war against Iran.“Another great day with [President Trump], who has brought America back, stronger than ever, at home and abroad. God bless our Commander in Chief and all of the brave men and women who serve under him,” wrote Graham, who traveled back to Washington from Florida with the president aboard Air Force One.“I’m proud to be an American. God bless and protect the brave people of Iran who are standing up to tyranny,” Graham added.During the 12-day US-Israeli war on Iran, appeared to threaten Iran with regime change. “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” he wrote on Truth Social on June 22.Graham’s post comes amid protests in Iran that President Trump has suggested he may use as a pretext to attack the country. “If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday, not long before his military bombed and invaded Venezuela to kidnap President Nicolas Maduro.During his flight with Graham, Trump threatened Colombian President Gustavo Petro with a similar raid and suggested Cuba was ready to “fall.”
Trump Threatens To Hit Iran 'Very Hard' Over Protests - President Trump on Thursday issued a new threat against Iran amid continued protests in the country, saying he will hit the country “very hard” if Iranian authorities kill protesters.“I have let them know that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots… we’re going to hit them very hard,” Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.Hewitt claimed dozens of people had already been killed, which is based on reports from Western-backed NGOs, and Trump responded by saying some were killed by stampedes and other incidents not caused by the action of law enforcement.“I’m not sure I can necessarily hold somebody responsible for that, but… they’ve been told very strongly — even more strongly than I’m speaking to you right now — that if they do that, they’re going to have to pay hell,” he said.Iran has said that its security forces have conducted operations against “armed terror cells” and arrested “foreign-linked” operatives amid the protests. An Farsi-language X account affiliated with the Israeli Mossad has previously suggested it had agents on the ground among the protesters in Iran, a claim echoed by Mike Pompeo, who served as the CIA director and then secretary of state during the first Trump administration. “Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them,” Pompeo wrote on X on January 2.
Iran protests catch fire as Trump, Khamenei escalate war of words- President Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are escalating a war of words as the Islamic Republic cracks down on mass protests that saw buildings set on fire in cities across the country overnight Friday. Khamenei claimed Friday that nearly two weeks of protests amounted to rioters and “hirelings” acting on Trump’s behalf, in a barrage of social media posts that largely took aim at the U.S. president for his repeated threats to intervene militarily in Iran to protect demonstrators. “The US President who judges arrogantly about the whole world should know that tyrants & arrogant rulers of the world, such as Pharaoh, Nimrod, Mohammad Reza [Pahlavi] & other such rulers saw their downfall when they were at the peak of their hubris. He too will fall,” read a Friday post on Khamenei’s account on social platform X. Later in the day, Trump repeated warnings that he is prepared to strike against Iran if protesters are killed. The threats come as Trump has reveled in the military successes in capturing Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, Christmas strikes in Nigeria, and attacks on Iranian nuclear sites in June. “Iran’s in big trouble. … I’ve made the statement very strongly that if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved; we’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts,” Trump said Friday from the White House. “That doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very hard where it hurts. We don’t want that to happen.” Human rights groups have said that dozens of protesters have been killed since demonstrations first began Dec. 28, sparked by economic grievances but that have exploded into mass discontent with the regime. “The regime has likely determined that these protests represent an extremely dire security threat and has intensified its crackdown accordingly,” the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based public policy research organization, wrote in an analysis published Thursday. The regime has deployed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ground forces in at least one province and possibly others, the institute wrote, describing the move as a “rare step.” “Protest activity in Iran has expanded dramatically in both rate and magnitude since January 7, including in major cities like Tehran and in northwestern Iran,” the institute wrote, recording 156 protests across 27 provinces. Trump’s remarks on the unrest can provide “wind beneath the wings of Iranian protesters,” said Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank. But he warned that Trump’s characterization of protesters as “rioters” and claims of protesters killed in “stampedes” risks legitimizing the Iranian regime’s crackdown. “That’s the way the regime tries to cast anyone with a political grievance is that it turns out they’re all rioters and thugs. This is classic Khamenei and it would be a mistake for the West to fall into that rhetorical trap,” he said. The Iranian government shut down the internet Thursday, with internet monitor NetBlocks recording the digital blackout for at least 24 hours.
Trump Opens 2026 With Three Days of Airstrikes in Somalia - The US began the New Year with three straight days of airstrikes in Somalia, according to a press release from US Africa Command, as the Trump administration appears poised to continue its record-shattering bombing campaign in the country throughout 2026.AFRICOM said in a press release on Monday that its forces launched airstrikes against the ISIS affiliate in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region on January 1, January 2, and January 3. It’s unclear how many strikes were conducted each day, but the attacks bring the total for US airstrikes in Somalia this year to a bare minimum of three.AFRICOM said the strikes were launched about 43 miles to the southeast of the Gulf of Aden port city of Bossasso and offered no other details about the attacks as it stopped sharing casualty estimates and assessments on potential civilian harm early last year. “Specific detail about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security,” the command said.The Puntland Counter-Terrorism Operations has not released a statement on its operations in recent days. The US-backed force occasionally details its operations or releases images of the bodies of dead people they claim are ISIS fighters they killed.The Puntland forces are under the control of the local Puntland government, which withdrew from the federal system in 2024. The US also continues to back the Mogadishu-based Federal Government by launching airstrikes against al-Shabaab in southern Somalia. The most recent confirmed US strike targeting al-Shabaab was conducted on December 29, though according toSomali media, US forces took part in a helicopter raid in southern Somalia on Sunday.
US Launches Airstrike in Somalia During Helicopter Raid Against al-Shabaab - The US launched an airstrike against al-Shabaab in southern Somalia during an attack overnight, January 3 to January 4, according to a press release from US Africa Command.“The airstrike occurred in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, approximately 100 km north of Kismayo,” AFRICOM said. The command offered no other details about the strike, but the date and location are the same area where Somali media reported that the US and Somali government forces launched a helicopter raid supported by drones against al-Shabaab.According to the Somali Guardian, the US-backed Somali military claimed the attack killed 15 al-Shabaab militants and wounded eight others. Al Shabaab gave a different account, saying that the operation killed one civilian and wounded several others. Neither side offered evidence, and the claims are unverified.AFRICOM offered no details after it stopped sharing casualty estimates or assessments of civilian harm last year. “Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security,” the command said.The US launched airstrikes in Somalia’s northeast Puntland region, targeting the small ISIS affiliate in the region on January 1, January 2, and January 3, meaning the US bombed Somalia for the first four days of 2026, signaling President Trump will continue his record-shattering bombing campaign in the country.
Talks Between Syria, Israel to Resume Tuesday, With US Mediation - The direct talks between Syria and Israel began last year in April, and aimed to resolve long-standing disagreements as well as active Israeli military aggression against Syrian territory. The talks have hit multiple stumbling blocks, but on Tuesday they will give them another try.Officials confirmed that the new talks will be held in Paris and that the United States will participate as a mediator in the process. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and Intelligence Director Hussein Salameh will participate on the Syrian side. The Israeli side has not been announced, but historically it has included former Ambassador Ron Dermer. Immediately after the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power in Syria in December of 2024, Israel launched an invasion of southwestern Syria, seizing the demilitarized zone between the two nations, and pushing deeper in operations that continue to this day. Syria is reportedly prioritizing their sovereignty in these talks, and are seeking an assurance that under the deal, Israeli troops would actual withdraw militarily from Syria. Though Israeli officials have suggested Syria is making other substantial demands, there has been no evidence of that, and Syria has repeatedly emphasized their goal to be the removal of Israeli troops.That’s seemingly a non-starter, with multiple Israeli officials ruling out withdrawing from the demilitarized zone under any circumstances, and Prime Minister Netanyahu demanding that a new demilitarized zone be established between the old, conquered one and the Syrian capital city of Damascus as a condition for any deal.The Trump Administration has embraced HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa as strong and “good-looking” and has pressed Israel not to complicate the rise of Syria as a prosperous state. Israel’s stance precluding withdrawing from Syrian territory, however, makes that easier said than done.
US-Brokered Paris Talks between Israel and Syria Result in De-escalation Deal, Intelligence Sharing - The high-profile Paris talks between Syrian and Israeli officials on Tuesday marked the resumption of direct negotiations under US mediation, and reportedly are going much better than anticipated, with substantial deals already in hand and reports that they will continue into Wednesday with further talks.The Syrian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, while the Israeli delegation included Ambassador Yechiel Leiter. The US delegation was particularly high profile, including not just Ambassador Tom Barrack, but also envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot did not participate directly in the talks, but did meet with Shaibani afterward.On the first day, the countries agreed to the creation of a de-escalation mechanism which includes direct contacts and communication between the two sides to avoid misunderstandings. Thismechanism will be managed by the United States. Perhaps even more significantly, they agreed to intelligence sharing and to explore commercial opportunities across the border. Which isn’t to say that all issues have been resolved. There is the matter of the ongoing Israeli occupation of the demilitarized zone between the Golan Heights and the rest of Syria, as well as theIsraeli demands that Syria create a new demilitarized zone stretching from the old zone through the entire rest of southern Syria to the capital city of Damascus.Reportedly Israel is open to withdrawing from the old demilitarized zone only if the new zone is also created, which amounts to progress since Netanyahu suggested previously that both Israel keeping the old zone and the new zone being created as conditions for a deal being reached.Israel invaded the demilitarized zone in December of 2024, almost immediately after former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by the current government. Since then, Israel has repeatedly launched incursions deeper into Syria, along with enormous numbers of air strikes on old Assad-era military assets within Syria.Syria approached the talks as a potential to go back to the 1974 agreement, which created the demilitarized zone in the first place. That deal didn’t end the state of war between Israel and Syria, which has existed for the entire history of Israel, but created a UN monitored demilitarized zone between them that more or less ended active fighting between the two.Since the demilitarized zone includes the strategically valuable Mount Hermon, that was one of the first targets of the Israeli invasion, and officials have repeatedly insisted they are ruling out withdrawing from that site under any deal with Syria.The direct talks initially began in April of 2025, but the persistent disagreements over what a deal would look like have led to them stalling multiple times, and meant many were pessimistic about this week’s Paris talks.Yet the US seems to have managed to make some progress this time, and even if the final agreement on the demilitarized zone isn’t ultimately settled, the fact that the two sides are talking intelligence sharing and even mutual commercial interests suggests the posture between the two is going to be changed for the better.
U.S. strike on Venezuela puts China's Taiwan saber-ratting in focus --China and other foreign governments have sharply criticized the U.S.'s removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, but experts are split on whether the Trump administration's actions could set the table for President Xi Jinping to make a move on Taiwan. U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Jan. 3 and brought them to New York on drug and terrorism charges in a move with little modern precedent. While allies of President Donald Trump cheered the ouster of the Venezuelan leader, critics worried about the example it set, particularly as China takes an increasingly aggressive posture. "If Donald Trump can walk into a country and take it over … then why is Putin wrong about Ukraine, and why is China not entitled to take over Taiwan?" David Roche of Quantum Strategy told CNBC. Other experts are unconvinced. In an appearance on CNBC on Monday, Carlos Gutierrez, a former U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President George W. Bush, characterized China's relationship with Venezuela as a "tactical convenience," and one unlikely to catalyze military action in East Asia. "I don't believe that China will use this as an excuse or justification to attack Taiwan. It's just not the way they think," Gutierrez said. “China will make statements, very aggressive statements. That's expected. They have to do that, but i don't see any tangible significant action on China's behalf," he continued. The U.S. has asserted what it calls a "Trump Corollary" in its recently released National Security Strategy, reviving the Monroe Doctrine of the 1820s, where the U.S. had a sphere of influence over the Western Hemisphere. A sphere of influence refers to a region where a powerful country seeks to dominate political, military or economic decisions without formally annexing territory. The concept echoes the Roosevelt Corollary, which historically justified U.S. intervention in Latin America. A statement from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he was "deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected," calling the developments in Venezuela a "dangerous precedent." Roche warned the action could create unintended consequences: "On one hand, you've created a series of threats, and on the other, you've created a series of permissions to every dictatorial, autocratic regime, who wants to act to take over territory which is not currently within its ambit." Even before Trump's attack on Venezuela, questions swirled around whether China was feeling emboldened to increase pressure on Taiwan, which Beijing has long considered part of its territory. China staged live-fire drills around Taiwan in December, framing them as a warning against foreign interference. In his New Year's address, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared unification with Taiwan "unstoppable," echoing U.S. intelligence assessments that Beijing could attempt to seize the island by force within this decade.
Trump says China leader Xi Jinping taking Taiwan is 'up to him’ President Trump on Thursday said his counterpart, Chinese President Xi Jinping, would have to determine himself if he will use military force against Taiwan. The president told The New York Times regarding a potential operation led by Beijing that Xi considers Taiwan “to be a part of China and that’s up to him what he’s going to be doing.” “You know, I’ve expressed to him that I would be very unhappy if he did that and I don’t think he’ll do that. I hope he doesn’t,” Trump said, days after the United States captured Venezuelan regime leader Nicolás Maduro. “He may do it after we have a different president, but I don’t think he’s going to do it with me as president,” Trump continued. He noted that Maduro’s capture came after signs of a “real threat,” adding the circumstances faced by China are not similar to those around the U.S. and Venezuela. “You didn’t have people pouring into China. You didn’t have drugs pouring into China. You didn’t have all of the bad things that we’ve had. You didn’t have the the jails of Taiwan opened up and the people pouring into China,” Trump said. “There aren’t that many people in the jails. But you didn’t have hundreds of thousands of people coming from jails and mental institutions,” he added.
Hegseth moves to demote Mark Kelly over illegal orders video -Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday moved to demote Sen. Mark Kelly’s (D-Ariz.) military rank over his participation in a November video with five other Democrats in which they reminded U.S. service members they can refuse illegal orders from higher-ups.Hegseth said in a statement that the Pentagon has initiated retirement grade determination proceedings, also called officer grade determinations, with “reduction in his retired grade resulting in a corresponding reduction in retired pay.” The Pentagon chief also said he issued a formal letter of censure, which “outlines the totality of Captain (for now) Kelly’s reckless misconduct.” “This Censure is a necessary process step, and will be placed in Captain Kelly’s official and permanent military personnel file,” Hegseth wrote on the social platform X.The moves avoid a court-martial, which would have subjected Kelly to a military tribunal.Kelly fired back at Hegseth over the threat, saying the Pentagon chief wants to send a message to every U.S. service member that if they say something Hegseth or Trump does not like, the administration “will come after them the same way.” “It’s outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that. If Pete Hegseth, the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in our country’s history, thinks he can intimidate me with a censure or threats to demote me or prosecute me, he still doesn’t get it,” Kelly said in a statement. “I will fight this with everything I’ve got — not for myself, but to send a message back that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump don’t get to decide what Americans in this country get to say about their government.”
Two GOP senators caution Pete Hegseth on punishing Sen. Mark Kelly - Two high-profile Republican senators on Monday warned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth against reducing Sen. Mark Kelly’s (D-Ariz.) military rank or pension as punishment for filming a video with several other Democratic lawmakers urging service members not to follow unlawful orders. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who has jurisdiction over the Pentagon’s budget as chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, said it’s not “appropriate” to target Kelly’s retired rank or pension because of the video urging members of the military to defy orders they view as unlawful. “I don’t think that’s appropriate,” Collins said Monday of the proceedings Hegseth announced earlier in the day against Kelly, a retired Navy captain who flew 39 combat missions as a naval aviator and four space missions as an astronaut. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) called the Pentagon’s censure of Kelly “ridiculous,” even though he strongly criticized the Democrats’ video urging service members to ignore orders they view as unjust or illegal. “That video was rage bait … but my gosh, he is a U.S. senator who operates in a political world,” Tillis said, according to a reporter for HuffPost. “I think it has a chilling effect on speech, and I’ve got a real problem with it. And I think Hegseth overreached,” Tillis warned. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that Kelly will have a chance to defend himself during what he said would be an “adjudication process.” “My understanding is that there’s an adjudication process and I think we should let the adjudication process work its way through,” he said. Asked if the disciplinary proceedings are appropriate given Kelly’s position as a senator and member of the Armed Services panel, Rounds said, “I think we’ll let the process play out.” “I think Sen. Kelly is perfectly capable of working his way through this issue,” he said. Other Republican senators declined to comment on the sensitive matter affecting one of their colleagues.
Kelly fires back at Hegseth over demotion threat: ‘I will fight this with everything I’ve got’ - Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) fired back at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his threat to demote the senator’s military rank on Monday following the Pentagon’s investigation, saying he “will fight this with everything I’ve got.” Kelly said Hegseth wants to send a message to every U.S. service member that if they say something the Pentagon head or President Trump does not like, they will “come after them the same way.” “It’s outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that. If Pete Hegseth, the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in our country’s history, thinks he can intimidate me with a censure or threats to demote me or prosecute me, he still doesn’t get it,” Kelly said Monday in a statement on social platform X. “I will fight this with everything I’ve got — not for myself, but to send a message back that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump don’t get to decide what Americans in this country get to say about their government,” he added. Hegseth said Monday morning he is moving to demote Kelly’s military rank over taking part in a November video alongside five other Democrats with either an intelligence or military background, in which they told the military they can refuse illegal orders from the Trump administration. Hegseth said the Pentagon kick-started the retirement grade determination proceedings, also known as officer grade determinations, with a “reduction in his retired grade resulting in a corresponding reduction in retired pay.” The Defense secretary said he also issued a formal letter of censure, which “outlines the totality of Captain (for now) Kelly’s reckless misconduct.” Sign up for the Morning ReportThe latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Email addressBy signing up, I agree to the Terms of Use, have reviewed the Privacy Policy, and to receive personalized offers and communications via email, on-site notifications, and targeted advertising using my email address from The Hill, Nexstar Media Inc., and its affiliates “This Censure is a necessary process step, and will be placed in Captain Kelly’s official and permanent military personnel file,” Hegseth wrote on X. Hegseth’s move avoids a court-martial, which would have subjected the Senate Democrat to a military tribunal. Kelly was notified of the Defense Department’s action and has 30 days to respond, Hegseth said, adding that the retirement grade determination process will be done within 45 days. Kelly is a decorated retired Navy captain who was in the Navy for more than two decades and has deployed multiple times.
DHS blasts Hilton Hotels for ‘coordinated campaign’ to cancel agents’ reservations - -The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) went after Hilton Hotels on Monday, accusing it of engaging in an effort to cancel agents’ reservations in Minnesota. The company pushed back on the claim. “@HiltonHotels has launched a coordinated campaign in Minneapolis to REFUSE service to DHS law enforcement,” the department wrote in a post on the social platform X. “When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations,” the department added. In an emailed statement to The Hill, a Hilton spokesperson said the chain’s “hotels serve as welcoming places for all.” “This hotel is independently owned and operated, and these actions were not reflective of Hilton values,” a Hilton spokesperson said. “We have been in direct contact with the hotel, and they have apologized for the actions of their team, which was not in keeping with their policies. They have taken immediate action to resolve this matter. Hilton’s position is clear: Our properties are open to everyone and we do not tolerate any form of discrimination.”
Immigration Agents Surge Into Minneapolis In 'Largest Operation Ever' - The Trump administration has launched what officials described as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever Tuesday in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, initiating the deployment of federal agents and officers in a crackdown tied to widespread fraud investigations allegedly involving mainly Somali residents.Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem participating in an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on Jan. 6, 2026, that resulted in the arrest of Tomas Espin Tapia, a fugitive wanted for murder and sexual assault in Ecuador. (DHS) Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was on the ground early Tuesday as the sweep started, adding to the number of top federal officials focused on the state as federal investigations expand this week.The Department of Homeland Security has made more than 1,000 arrests of illegal immigrants, many with criminal convictions, in Minnesota, including 150 in Minneapolis Monday, the agency reported.“We have the largest immigration operation ever taking place right now,” acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons told Newsmax on Tuesday. Federal agents and officers were going door to door at businesses in the area suspected of being involved in illegal hiring and fraud, Lyons said.“We’re not leaving until the problem is solved,” DHS wrote on X Tuesday.DHS and ICE did not return requests to confirm how many agents and officers were involved in the operations.According to Noem, Minnesota authorities are not allowing immigration officers to access state detention centers to detain illegal immigrants with pending deportation orders. A large number of federal officers was needed after a lack of local support, Noem indicated in a social media post Tuesday. “You won’t steal from Americans or break our laws and get away with it,” Noem said. Included in Tuesday’s arrests was Tomas Espin Tapia, a fugitive wanted for murder in Ecuador, DHS reported. Tapia illegally entered the U.S. in October 2022 and was released into the country by the Biden administration, according to the agency. Tapia’s criminal history also includes sexual assault in Connecticut and previous convictions in Ecuador for robbery and extortion. Mong Cheng, a criminal illegal immigrant from Laos who was convicted of homicide, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, assault, and arson, was also among those arrested Tuesday, DHS reported.'
Woman fatally shot by ICE in Minnesota was mother with three kids - The Minneapolis woman fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on Wednesday was a mother and new to the city, The Associated Press reported. Renee Nicole Macklin Good, whose death has sparked widespread outrage in the last 24 hours, was 37 years old and had three children. Originally from Colorado, her move to Minnesota was recent, according to the AP. Macklin Good said she was a “poet and writer and wife and mom” on social media accounts and “experiencing Minneapolis,” per the news wire. The fatal shooting intensified fervent debate over President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration and deportation agenda.Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the shooting occurred after “violent rioters” were trying to get involved in an immigration operation in the city. The administration has asserted Macklin Good was acting as a domestic terrorist and accused her of using her car as a weapon. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday during a press conference that the responding officer was hit by Macklin Good‘s vehicle. “The officer was hit by the vehicle. She hit him,” Noem said. “He went to the hospital. A doctor did treat him. He has been released, but he’s going to spend some time with his family. She added that the agency would not pause ICE actions in the city.Trump also responded to the shooting Wednesday afternoon after reviewing a video of the incident.“It is a horrible thing to watch,” he wrote. “The woman screaming was, obviously, a professional agitator, and the woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense.”“The situation is being studied, in its entirety, but the reason these incidents are happening is because the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis,” Trump added.The president doubled down on the argument during an interview with The New York Times later Wednesday. Democrats have pushed back heavily on the Trump administration‘s claims. “There’s no evidence that has been presented to justify the shooting of an unarmed woman in Minneapolis. The so-called Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has zero credibility,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told The Hill’s sister network NewsNation on Wednesday. “She’s a stone-cold liar,” he continued. “We’ve got to make sure that the rogue ICE agent who pulled the trigger resulting in the death of an American citizen is criminally investigated to the full extent of the law.” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, who comes from Minnesota, also ripped the administration over its justification. “The federal government under Donald Trump’s command is not protecting the peace,” he wrote online. “Trump has provoked chaos and violence in our towns and cities as part of his sick political theater. ICE has to leave Minnesota now.”Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Wednesday afternoon issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard as protests continue. He also condemned the administration’s explanation for the shooting, urging the public to reject DHS’s “propaganda machine.”
Border Patrol shooting in Portland leaves two injured - Two people were hospitalized on Thursday after a shooting involving U.S. Border Patrol agents in Portland, Ore., according to officials. Local police said they responded to a call from one of the people wounded at around 2:24 p.m. local time. “Officers applied a tourniquet and summoned emergency medical personnel. The patients were transported to the hospital,” Portland Police wrote in a Thursday news release. “Their conditions are unknown. Officers have determined the two people were injured in the shooting involving federal agents.” The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to The Hill and NewsNation that the incident involved Border Patrol agents. The shooting comes a day after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed an unarmed woman in Minneapolis after she attempted to flee from authorities in her car. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said agents in Portland were attempting to conduct a “targeted vehicle stop” when a driver attempted to “weaponize” his vehicle. “Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired a defensive shot. The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene. This situation is evolving, and more information is forthcoming,” McLaughlin told The Hill in a statement. DHS said the driver is believed to be a member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, but local leaders have pushed back on that narrative. “Huge concern about a reported shooting of two individuals by federal agents outside Portland Adventist Hospital. My team and I are closely monitoring this situation and are working hard to get answers. I will share any updates as I learn more,” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) wrote in a post on the social platform X. “Please keep protests of Trump’s ICE/CBP peaceful, as Trump wants to generate riots. Don’t take the bait,” he added. The mayor of Portland shared similar comments, calling on ICE to pause operations until a full investigation can be completed. “We cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts. Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarized agents, and the ‘full force’ threatened by the administration has deadly consequences,” Mayor Keith Wilson (D) said in a statement to KATU Portland. “As Mayor, I call on ICE to end all operations in Portland until a full investigation can be completed. Federal militarization undermines effective, community‑based public safety, and it runs counter to the values that define our region. I will use every legal and legislative tool available to protect our residents’ civil and human rights,” he continued.
Jeh Johnson criticizes ICE recruitment strategy after Minneapolis shooting -Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Friday questioned the “type of people” being recruited by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after two shootings involving immigration authorities. “I also worry about the type of people that are being recruited now for ICE. The recruitment rhetoric is ‘Defend your culture.’ What does that mean? I think that’s a dog whistle, basically, for ‘Let’s go after the great replacement,’” Johnson, who served in the Obama administration, said during an appearance on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe.” “If you’re Mexican American, for example, in south Texas, interested in enforcing the law, ‘Defend your culture’ is not a message for you. If you’re a Muslim American in Michigan or Minneapolis interested in enforcing the law, going into law enforcement, ‘Defend your culture’ is not a message for such person. Basically, you need not apply,” he added. His comments come after a woman was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis Wednesday while attempting to flee in her vehicle. One day later, two people were shot by a Border Patrol agent in Portland, Ore. The Department of Homeland Security has said in both instances, shots were fired in self defense. Vice President Vance also said the officer involved in the Minneapolis shooting will be offered “absolute immunity.”
GOP rep: Obey federal officers and ‘you get to keep your life’ - Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) on Wednesday said if Americans obey orders from federal officers, “you get to keep your life,” hours after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed a Minnesota woman. “The bottom line is this: When a federal officer gives you instructions, you abide by them and you get to keep your life,” Hunt said on Newsmax’s “Carl Higbie Frontline.” “And it is clear that she tried to use her vehicle as a weapon, mow over an ICE agent, and now she is dead,” the Texas Republican continued. “And her death is tragic, but at the end of the day it was completely avoidable if she would have simply followed the commands of the ICE agents.” Renee Nicole Macklin Good, 37, was shot in the head as she appeared to be driving away from ICE officers who ordered her to leave the SUV during an ICE operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday. One officer near the front of her vehicle fired directly at her windshield and into her open driver’s side window as she appeared to accelerate forward. Macklin Good crashed into two nearby parked cars, with onlookers filming the shooting and yelling at the officers. Her death drew outrage and condemnation from many, including local officials and Democrats. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended ICE’s actions in a press conference, accusing Macklin Good of attempting to user her car as a weapon in what she called “an act of domestic terrorism.” “[The officer] used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers,” Noem said. “The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. The ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries.” She doubled down on the assertions on Thursday. Other Trump administration officials have also defended the unnamed immigration enforcement officer.
Medicaid Will 'Claw Back' Fraud Funds From Minnesota: Agency Head -Minnesota will feel an “increasing vise grip of financial penalties” to help make up for taxpayer dollars lost to fraud, Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service, said Jan. 6. His agency is auditing all 14 Medicaid programs that Minnesota flagged as vulnerable to fraud; that excludes 73 other Medicaid programs Minnesota runs. The agency also will “claw back that money” from current Medicaid payments that were to be made to Minnesota, Oz told Fox News. “This is a major problem for the state, because they’ve got to own the fact that they have been bilking the federal taxpayer [because of] their sloppy behavior for years,” Oz said. The Epoch Times sent a message to Gov. Tim Walz’s office seeking comment but received no immediate reply. During a news conference earlier in the day, Walz said he would refuse to step down from the governorship amid the fraud scandals, although he announced Jan. 5 that he was abandoning his reelection bid. His current term in office expires in January 2027. The governor also criticized President Donald Trump for clamping down on Somalis. Amid increasing concerns over Somalis being accused of defrauding government programs, the president recently halted a deportation protection that had been afforded to Somali refugees for decades and also ramped up federal scrutiny. A large percentage of Minnesota fraud defendants charged so far are of Somali descent, federal prosecutors have said.
US Expands List Of Countries Subject To Visa Bonds Of Up To $15,000 -The U.S. State Department has expanded its list of nations whose citizens will be subject to visa bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the United States, adding 25 more nations, according to its website.The latest additions will bring the total number of nations to 38, according to the department’s website, with visa bonds for the newly listed countries set to take effect on Jan. 21.The newly added countries include Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Côte D’Ivorie, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.The expansion came just a week after the department added Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan to the list, with visa bonds going into effect on Jan. 1.Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia were placed on the list in August and October of last year.Citizens of those nations who are deemed eligible for B1/B2 visas, which are used for short-term tourism and business travel, are required to post a bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, with the amount being determined during the visa interview.The department said that the visa bond policy is intended to deter visa overstays by poor citizens of the listed nations.Bond payments will be returned when a visa holder departs from the United States before the expiration of the authorized date of stay, or if the person is denied admission at a U.S. port of entry, it stated.“A bond does not guarantee visa issuance. If someone pays fees without a consular officer’s direction, the fees will not be returned,” the department states on its website.The list of nations stems from a 12-month visa bond pilot program the department launched in August last year. It targeted countries with high visa overstay rates, insufficient screening and vetting, or those that offer citizenship to individuals via investment. In an Aug. 5, 2025, federal register document, the department said the program is “intended to encourage foreign governments to take immediate action to reduce the overstay rates of their nationals when traveling to the United States for temporary visits, and to encourage countries to improve screening and vetting and the security of travel and civil documents, including in the granting of citizenship.”The Trump administration has sought to tighten entry requirements for foreign nationals, including imposing visa restrictions and entry limits on citizens of certain countries identified as having “severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing,” according to a White House fact sheet published in December. Other steps include adding an online presence review to the vetting requirements last year for H-1B visa applicants and their dependents, as well as for student visa and exchange visitor applicants, in an effort to safeguard Americans and national interests, according to the department.
US Announces Revision Of American Citizenship Tests - The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has revised the naturalization tests that all applicants must pass to officially become citizens, the agency said in a Jan. 5 post on X. “Our new version of the test will ensure all new citizens understand the privilege of citizenship and what it means to be an American,” the agency said. USCIS did not provide more details regarding the specific changes it has made in the tests.There are two naturalization tests administered by USCIS to applicants—one for English language skills and another for civics knowledge. On the agency’s Naturalization Interview and Tests resource page, last updated on Oct. 31, 2025, USCIS said it was implementing an updated 2025 naturalization civics test to align with a Jan. 20 national security presidential action from President Donald Trump. “During the civics test, you will answer important questions about American history, U.S. government, and civics,” the agency said.“The 2025 naturalization civics test is an oral test consisting of 20 questions from the list of 128 civics test questions. You must answer 12 questions correctly to pass the 2025 test. You will fail the test if you answer nine of the 20 questions incorrectly.”The new 2025 civic test is applicable to people who filed Form N-400 for naturalization after Oct. 20, 2025. Individuals who applied prior to this date will be administered the 2008 naturalization civics test, which requires applicants to correctly answer six out of 10 questions from a list of 100.Some of the questions asked in the 2025 civics tests include the form of government in the United States, the number of amendments in the U.S. Constitution, explanation of rule of law, parts of the U.S. Congress, number of seats on the Supreme Court, the individual who wrote the Declaration of Independence, the war that ended slavery in the United States, and the name of an American Indian tribe, according to the test document. There are special exemptions for lawful permanent residents aged 65 or older who have been residents for 20 or more years.Such individuals need to study a set of 20 questions rather than the usual list of 128. Moreover, “you may also take the civics test in the language of your choice. The USCIS officer will ask you to answer 10 out of the 20 civics test questions with an asterisk. You must answer at least six out of 10 questions (or 60 percent) correctly to pass the 2025 version of the civics test,” the document said.The language test for naturalization requires that the applicant “demonstrate an understanding of the English language, including the ability to read, write, and speak basic English,” according to the USCIS.Speaking and understanding skills will be determined by a USCIS officer during the eligibility interview.In the reading test, an applicant has to read aloud one out of three sentences provided to demonstrate their ability. And for writing, they must write one out of three given sentences accurately.
Trump quits pivotal 1992 climate treaty, in massive hit to global warming effort - President Donald Trump is withdrawing the United States from the world’s overarching treaty on climate change in a move that escalates his attempts to reverse years of global negotiations toward addressing rising temperatures.The announcement to sever ties with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change came as Trump quit dozens of international organizations that the White House said no longer serve U.S. interests by promoting what it called radical climate policies and other issues.Trump has pressured other countries to abandon their carbon-cutting measures, and the move appears to be his latest attempt to destabilize global climate cooperation.The 1992 UNFCCC serves as the international structure for efforts by 198 countries to slow the rate of rising climate pollution. It has universal participation. The U.S. was the first industrialized nation to join the treaty following its ratification under former President George H.W. Bush — and it will be the only nation ever to leave it.The move marks an intensifying effort by Trump to topple climate efforts compared to his first term, when he decided against quitting the treaty. “Many of these bodies promote radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programs that conflict with U.S. sovereignty and economic strength,” stated a White House fact sheet. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the 66 organizations the U.S. is leaving seek to “constrain American sovereignty,” referring to gender equity campaigns and “climate orthodoxy.”“President Trump is clear: It is no longer acceptable to be sending these institutions the blood, sweat, and treasure of the American people, with little to nothing to show for it,” Rubio said in a statement. “The days of billions of dollars in taxpayer money flowing to foreign interests at the expense of our people are over.” The move comes as Trump tears down U.S. climate policies amid the hottest decade ever recorded and threatens other nations for pursuing measures to address global warming, which Trump has called a hoax and a “con job.”The U.S. did not send a delegation to Brazil for the COP30 climate talks late last year. Instead, administration officials have been working to strike fossil fuel deals with other nations or, in one case, grab their resources using military force. Trump captured Venezuela’s strongman president, Nicolás Maduro, in an assault using U.S. commandos Saturday and said he would take control of the country’s vast oil resources. The plan to leave the UNFCCC stems from Trump’s order last February requiring Rubio to identify treaties and international organizations that “are contrary to the interests of the United States” and recommend withdrawing from them.Trump also pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, the landmark 2015 pact that’s underpinned by the UNFCCC. That withdrawal will take effect later this month. “This is a shortsighted, embarrassing, and foolish decision,” said Gina McCarthy, who served as EPA administrator under former President Barack Obama and who now leads a coalition of state and business leaders known as America Is All In. “As the only country in the world not a part of the UNFCCC treaty, the Trump administration is throwing away decades of U.S. climate change leadership and global collaboration.
US will exit 66 international organizations as it further retreats from global cooperation (AP) — The Trump administration will withdraw from dozens of international organizations, including the U.N.’s population agency and the U.N. treaty that establishes international climate negotiations, as the U.S. further retreats from global cooperation. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order suspending U.S. support for 66 organizations, agencies, and commissions, following his administration’s review of participation in and funding for all international organizations, including those affiliated with the United Nations, according to a White House release. Many of the targets are U.N.-related agencies, commissions and advisory panels that focus on climate, labor, migration and other issues the Trump administration has categorized as catering to diversity and “woke” initiatives. Other non-U.N. organizations on the list include the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the Global Counterterrorism Forum. “The Trump Administration has found these institutions to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own, or a threat to our nation’s sovereignty, freedoms, and general prosperity,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. Trump’s decision to withdraw from organizations that foster cooperation among nations to address global challenges comes as his administration has launched military efforts or issued threats that have rattled allies and adversaries alike, including capturing autocratic Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and indicating an intention to take over Greenland. Noem incentivies migrants with 'holiday stipend' of $3,000 to self-deport | RISING The administration previously suspended support for agencies like the World Health Organization, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees known as UNRWA, the U.N. Human Rights Council and the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO. It has taken a larger, à la carte approach to paying dues to the world body, picking which operations and agencies it believes align with Trump’s agenda and those that no longer serve U.S. interests. “I think what we’re seeing is the crystallization of the U.S. approach to multilateralism, which is ‘my way or the highway,’” said Daniel Forti, head of U.N. affairs at the International Crisis Group. “It’s a very clear vision of wanting international cooperation on Washington’s own terms.” It has marked a major shift from how previous administrations — both Republican and Democratic — have dealt with the U.N., and it has forced the world body, already undergoing its own internal reckoning, to respond with a series of staffing and program cuts. Many independent nongovernmental agencies — some that work with the United Nations — have cited many project closures because of the U.S. administration’s decision last year to slash foreign assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. Despite the massive shift, Trump administration officials say they see the potential of the U.N. and want to instead focus taxpayer money on expanding American influence in many of the standard-setting U.N. initiatives where there is competition with China, like the International Telecommunications Union, the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization. The withdrawal from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, or UNFCCC, is the latest effort by Trump and his allies to distance the U.S. from international organizations focused on climate and addressing climate change. UNFCCC, the 1992 agreement between 198 countries to financially support climate change activities in developing countries, is the underlying treaty for the landmark Paris climate agreement. Trump — who calls climate change a hoax — withdrew from that agreement soon after reclaiming the White House. Gina McCarthy, former White House National Climate Adviser, said being the only country in the world not part of the treaty is “shortsighted, embarrassing, and a foolish decision.” “This Administration is forfeiting our country’s ability to influence trillions of dollars in investments, policies, and decisions that would have advanced our economy and protected us from costly disasters wreaking havoc on our country,” McCarthy, who co-chairs America Is All In, a coalition of climate-concerned U.S. states and cities, said in a statement.
US-based multinational companies will be exempt from global tax deal (AP) — U.S. multinational corporations will be exempted from paying more corporate taxes overseas in a deal finalized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The OECD announced Monday that nearly 150 countries have agreed on the plan, initially crafted in 2021, to stop large global companies from shifting profits to low-tax countries, no matter where they operate in the world. The amended version excludes large U.S.-based multinational corporations from the 15% global minimum tax after negotiations between President Donald Trump’s administration and other members of the Group of Seven wealthy nations. OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said in a statement that the agreement is a “landmark decision in international tax co-operation” and “enhances tax certainty, reduces complexity, and protects tax bases.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the agreement “a historic victory in preserving U.S. sovereignty and protecting American workers and businesses from extraterritorial overreach.” The most recent version of the deal waters down a landmark 2021 agreement that set a minimum global corporate tax of 15%. The idea was to stop multinational corporations, including Apple and Nike, from using accounting and legal maneuvers to shift earnings to low- or no-tax havens. Those havens are typically places like Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, where the companies actually do little or no business. Former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was a key driver of the 2021 OECD global tax deal and made the corporate minimum tax one of her top priorities. The plan was widely panned by congressional Republicans who said it would make the U.S. less competitive in a global economy. The Trump administration in June re-negotiated the deal when congressional Republicans rolled back a so-called revenge tax provision from Trump’s big tax and spending bill that would have allowed the federal government to impose taxes on companies with foreign owners, as well as on investors from countries judged as charging “unfair foreign taxes” on U.S. companies. Tax transparency groups have criticized the amended OECD plan. “This deal risks nearly a decade of global progress on corporate taxation only to allow the largest, most profitable American companies to keep parking profits in tax havens,” said Zorka Milin, policy director at the FACT Coalition, a tax transparency nonprofit. Tax watchdogs argue the minimum tax is supposed to halt an international race to the bottom for corporate taxation that has led multinational businesses to book their profits in countries with low tax rates. Congressional Republicans applauded the finalized deal. Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith, R-Mo., said in a joint statement: “Today marks another significant milestone in putting America First and unwinding the Biden Administration’s unilateral global tax surrender.”
Congressional Republicans Wimp Out on Cutting Bloated EPA Budget -- Marcellus Drilling News --In a major disappointment, Republicans caved to Democrats in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, releasing a so-called bipartisan spending package on Monday morning that keeps the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget largely intact. The spending package would fund several federal agencies and scientific bodies, including the EPA, the Departments of Interior and Energy, and the National Science Foundation, through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. The “minibus” bills, which will likely move to the House floor for a vote this week, allocated more than $38 billion to Interior, Environment, and related agencies, or $9.5 billion more than the Trump administration’s budget request.
House moves to override Trump vetoes -The House will attempt to override President Trump’s vetoes of two GOP-backed bills Thursday, a move that could showcase GOP division. Veto override votes are standard procedure, and a matter of high privilege in the House that forces the vote. A White House official said that the votes do not indicate any disunity with the White House and House GOP. But lawmakers may be inclined to break with the White House, seeking to appease their constituents back home and bolster their reelection prospects. It also sets up a loyalty test for congressional Republicans, who can use the vote to register their support for the president. The two bills concern niche issues: one to fund a pipeline delivering clean water to southeastern Colorado and another granting the Miccosukee Tribe authority to manage part of the Florida Everglades. The bills were seen as so bipartisan and uncontroversial that they passed through Congress by voice, without a recorded vote. Both bills passed the House in July and the Senate in December. But the issues intersect with Trump’s political grudges in the two states. Trump has targeted Colorado over the prosecution of former Mesa County elections clerk Tina Peters, who aligned with Trump’s claims of fraud in the 2020 election. Many observers see the veto as a form of political retribution. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who had introduced the pipeline bill, slammed Trump in a statement, arguing that she must have “missed the rally where he stood in Colorado and promised to personally derail critical water infrastructure projects.” “But hey, if this administration wants to make its legacy blocking projects that deliver water to rural Americans; that’s on them,” she added. “I’m going to continue fighting for Colorado and standing up for our rural communities, our farmers, and every family that deserves safe, reliable drinking water without decades more delay.” Trump in a statement cited the cost of the pipeline as his reasoning for vetoing the bill, arguing that he is committed to preventing taxpayers from “funding expensive and unreliable policies.” But Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), who sits on the House Natural Resources Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee, told The Hill that he doesn’t understand what the rationale was for the veto and added that he’s leaning toward overriding it. “I understand the importance of the pipeline. We’re trying to sort out why the veto. We can’t figure out why the veto,” he said, adding that he is going to review how much money is truly being spent on the project. “My recollection is that it was an acceptable amount for many reasons,” he added. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) also said that while Republicans will do their due diligence in reviewing both bills, he added that, “We’re not afraid to override a veto. We’re going to do what’s right by our districts.” The Miccosukee Tribe, meanwhile, has clashed with the Trump administration over the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention facility in Florida. The tribe joined a lawsuit that argued authorities did not follow laws requiring environmental review before building the facility in the wetlands.
House fails to override 2 Trump vetoes as Republicans back president -The House on Thursday failed to override President Trump’s vetoes of two previously uncontroversial bills concerning a Colorado water project and expanding lands of a tribe in Florida.The move showcases House Republicans’ loyalty to the president and support for his political battles, as the vetoes had been seen as instances of Trump acting on political grudges.A vote to override Trump’s veto on a Colorado water project — a bill spearheaded by Trump ally Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) — failed 248-177-1, with 35 Republicans voting with Democrats to override the veto and one Republican, Rep. Nancy Mace (S.C.), voting present. A vote to override Trump’s veto on expanding lands for the Miccosukee Tribe in Florida failed 236-188, with 24 Republicans joining with all Democrats to override it.Each of the votes needed a two-thirds majority to succeed and send the matter to the Senate. GOP leaders in the Republican-controlled House did not whip the override votes — which are standard procedure after presidential vetoes — allowing each member to make up their minds themselves.
Trump administration freezes $10 billion in child, family aid - The Trump administration on Tuesday said it was freezing $10 billion in federal grant funds for certain child care and family assistance programs in five states because of "serious concerns about widespread fraud" in state-administered programs.All five states targeted by the freeze — California, Colorado, Illinois,Minnesota, and New York — are led by Democrats.The action applies to three programs overseen by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department's Administration for Children and Families: Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Social Services Block Grant.The move comes a day after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz dropped his bid for a third term amid political fallout from widespread fraud in social service programs in the state, including child-care services, which a federal prosecutor has estimated cost more than $9 billion."Families who rely on child care and family assistance programs deserve confidence that these resources are used lawfully and for their intended purpose," said Deputy HHS Secretary Jim O'Neill in a statement."This action reflects our commitment to program integrity, fiscal responsibility, and compliance with federal requirements," O'Neill said.More than $7.3 billion in TANF funds have been frozen, and nearly $2.4 billion in CCDF funds have been frozen. Nearly $840 million in Social Services Block Grant funding was frozen.Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker blasted President Donald Trump for the freeze."Rather than making it more affordable for families, Trump is stripping away child care from those just trying to go to work," Pritzker wrote in a post on X."Thousands depend on these programs, and now their livelihoods are at risk," Pritzker wrote. "It's wrong and cruel — we'll take every step possible to defend Illinoisians." New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, in a tweet, wrote, "Trump is threatening to freeze $10 billion in child care funding in blue states to make life harder and more expensive for kids and families. It's vindictive. It's cruel. And we'll fight it with every fiber of our being."HHS on Monday announced that it was rescinding a series of child-care rules implemented under the Biden administration "that required states to pay providers before verifying any attendance and before care was delivered.""The change will roll back provisions in the 2024 Child Care and Development Fund rule that weakened oversight and increased the risk of waste, fraud and abuse in federally-funded state child care — including programs now under investigation in Minnesota," HHS said in a statement on Monday. The department last week froze all federal child care funding for Minnesota, which totals about $185 million annually.
HHS announces unprecedented overhaul of US childhood vaccine schedule -Federal officials today announced an unprecedented overhaul of the US childhood immunization schedule, paring the number of universally recommended immunizations from 17 to 11. The new vaccination policy, which takes effect immediately, is modeled after the schedule used by Denmark. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue to recommend 11 shots for all children, six others will be recommended only for children deemed to be at high risk of infection, said the agency’s acting director, Jim O’Neill. A third group of vaccines will be available through “shared clinical decision-making” with medical providers. Public health experts immediately decried the change. Experts said there’s no reason to change a system that has prevented 1.1 million deaths over the past 30 years. “Abandoning the U.S. evidence-based process is a dangerous and potentially deadly decision for Americans,” said Jason M. Goldman, MD, president of the American College of Physicians. “The evidence is clear that vaccines prevent deaths, hospitalizations, and spread of disease.” New schedule recommends shots against 11 diseases, down from 17 The CDC will continue to recommend vaccines against 11 diseases for all children, including measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus (HPV), and varicella (chickenpox). The CDC is recommending six shots for “high-risk groups,” including vaccines that protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, dengue and two vaccines targeting bacterial meningitis (MenACWY and MenB). Dengue vaccines have always been targeted only to a relatively small number of children in specific circumstances. The vaccines recommended for shared clinical decision-making are for rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B. In another important change, the CDC is now recommending only one dose of HPV vaccine. Until today, the CDC recommended two or three HPV vaccines, depending on the age at which children receive their first shot. The new policy emphasizes that all vaccines recommended for any of the three categories will remain covered by insurance. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long claimed that US children receive “too many” vaccines. Today’s announcement addresses his long-held wish to reduce the number of immunizations that children receive. It also fulfills a directive issued by President Donald Trump last month calling for HHS to align the US vaccination schedule with that of Denmark and other countries that recommend fewer vaccines. The CDC said the changes followed an assessment of 20 developed nations, most of which have national health care systems that provide free health care to their citizens from birth to death. “This is a very dark day for children and for their parents and for our country generally,” said Jesse Goodman, MD, MPH, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at Georgetown University, who spoke at a press conference of vaccine experts following the announcement. Goodman compared the announcement to a “torpedo” blowing up vaccination policy. “There will be more diseases, more infection, more hospitalization,” said Goodman, a former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief scientist and former director of the agency’s center for biologics evaluation and research. Officials with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which has not changed its childhood vaccination recommendations, also oppose the new schedule. Many pediatricians and family doctors tell CIDRAP News that they will continue to follow AAP’s guidance, rather than that of the CDC. “I’m not sure why they want to bring the diseases back but that’s their goal,” said Sean O’ Leary, MD, who chairs the AAP’s infectious disease committee, during a separate press conference held after the announcement. “With RSV we’ve already seen population-level impact. Why do they want more hospitalizations? Hepatitis A is a miserable disease, and it’s particularly bad as children age.” “Eliminating vital US childhood vaccine recommendations without public discussion or transparent review of the data the decision was based on is a radical and dangerous decision,” Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, of the Vaccine Integrity Project said. “This wildly irresponsible decision will put lives at risk.”
RFK Jr., CDC, in seismic shift, reduce number of recommended vaccines for children --Federal health officials announced an unprecedented shift in the childhood vaccine schedule Monday, reducing the number of shots the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends for children. Officials said the unilateral decision will bring the U.S. closer to other developed countries, though medical and public experts said they were worried the change would undercut Americans’ confidence in immunizations and increase the chances of disease outbreaks. The move, which is effective immediately, fulfills a longtime goal of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other vaccine skeptics who have questioned the number and benefit of the vaccines children receive. The CDC will now recommend children receive 11 vaccines, rather than the current list of 17, putting it line with the much smaller country of Denmark. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a physician who voted to confirm Kennedy despite misgivings over Kennedy’s vaccine views, lamented the change in a social media post, echoing concerns from public health groups. “The vaccine schedule IS NOT A MANDATE,” Cassidy wrote on X. “It’s a recommendation giving parents the power. Changing the pediatric vaccine schedule based on no scientific input on safety risks and little transparency will cause unnecessary fear for patients and doctors, and will make America sicker.” The move comes just weeks after President Trump ordered health officials to compare the childhood vaccine schedule with “peer nations” and weigh recommending fewer shots. “After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent,” Kennedy said in a statement. “This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health.” According to materials released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the CDC will no longer routinely recommend every child receive vaccines for rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis A and hepatitis B. The agency will recommend immunization for high-risk groups and populations only, or through consultation with a physician, “when it is not possible for public health authorities to clearly define who will benefit from an immunization.” Officials said they didn’t undertake any new assessment of who is considered high risk. The CDC said it will recommend all children are vaccinated against diseases “for which there is international consensus.” Senior HHS officials on a press call said the change is meant to increase confidence in the vaccine schedule and address the decreased uptake in routine vaccines such as measles. They also said knowledge gaps about vaccine safety and limited data on the risks of vaccination informed their decision. One top official, who declined to speak on the record, said the goal is to make it clear that while some vaccines are important, there are other vaccines that not every child needs. Officials said the change will not require the evidence-based review and input of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the agency’s advisory panel that recommends vaccines. Senior HHS officials insisted they were not sidelining the committee from future policy decisions, though the panel previously said it would focus its efforts on the childhood vaccine schedule and vaccines recommended during pregnancy. Kennedy was the co-founder of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense before leaving to run for president and eventually join the Trump administration. The announcement Monday follows a year of more targeted efforts by Kennedy and his top aides to reshape vaccine policy.
Sen. Bill Cassidy rips RFK Jr. vaccine schedule change, says it's 'based on no scientific input' -Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who cast a critical vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of the Health and Human Services Department, on Monday blasted the reduction of the childhood immunization schedule by Kennedy and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC announced Monday it would be reducing the number of recommended vaccines for children from 17 to 11, putting the U.S. in line with that of other developed countries like Denmark, a nation which anti-vaccine skeptics and critics often cite as a model to be emulated. Cassidy, a physician and longtime proponent of vaccinations, said this move will “make America sicker.” “As a doctor who treated patients for decades, my top priority is protecting children and families. Multiple children have died or were hospitalized from measles, and South Carolina continues to face a growing outbreak. Two children have died in my state from whooping cough. All of this was preventable with safe and effective vaccines,” Cassidy wrote on the social media platform X. “The vaccine schedule IS NOT A MANDATE. It’s a recommendation giving parents the power. Changing the pediatric vaccine schedule based on no scientific input on safety risks and little transparency will cause unnecessary fear for patients and doctors, and will make America sicker,” he added. HHS officials said on Monday that the change will not require the evidence-based review and input of the agency’s vaccine advisory panel. While the agency claimed this reduction is meant to increase vaccines, medical experts have expressed concerns this will have the opposite effect. Critics of Kennedy have argued that Denmark, with a population of roughly 6 million people and a healthcare system far different from that of the U.S., is a poor comparison when it comes to vaccine policy.
Confusion surrounds CDC’s ‘shared clinical decision-making’ paradigm for childhood vaccines -Yesterday, in introducing drastic cuts to the nation’s childhood immunization schedule, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said “shared clinical decision-making” would be used for pediatric vaccines against rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A and B, and meningococcal disease.But most Americans are confused by the idea of shared clinical decision-making, according to data from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC), which asked adults about the term in two separate surveys in August and December of last year. The polls were conducted in light of the CDC’s decision to move COVID-19 vaccines to a shared clinical decision-making model, which resulted in low uptake and confusion at pharmacies and clinics across the country.According to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), shared clinical decision-making consists of a discussion between the health care provider and the patient or parent/guardian. “Unlike routine, catch-up, and risk-based recommendations, shared clinical decision-making vaccinations are not recommended for everyone in a particular age group or everyone in an identifiable risk group,” ACIP states. The Annenberg polls found that 68% of adults understood shared decision-making means they should review their or their child’s medical history with their health care provider for any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines.One in five people (22%) believe shared decision-making means that “taking the vaccine may not be a good idea for everyone but would benefit some.” Furthermore, more than one in 10 are not sure what shared decision-making means, either for a new vaccine (13%) or for vaccinating children against COVID-19 (12%).Twenty-five percent said shared decision-making means that vaccination need to be discussed with family members, which is not in ACIP’s definition.Americans are also confused about which health care providers can engage in shared clinical decision-making. Most (86%) chose a physician when polled, and 66% chose a physician assistant or nurse practitioner. But only half (50%) chose a registered nurse, and just 33% chose a pharmacist, both of whom can administer vaccines.“Expecting parents to engage in shared decision-making with health care providers about routine, thoroughly studied childhood vaccinations suggests that the public health community has doubts about the safety and efficacy of these vaccines when it does not,” said Patrick E. Jamieson, PhD, director of APPC’s Health and Risk Communication Institute. “These vaccines have been part of the recommended childhood schedule because the benefits of taking them substantially outweigh the risks.”
Spot The Odd One Out: Life Expectancy Vs Healthcare Spending - As Warren Buffett popularized: “Price is what you pay, value is what you get”. As Visual Capitalist's Jeff Desjardins details below, just because someone pays the most, doesn’t mean that they extract the biggest payoff from a product or service.Today’s visual from Our World in Data that compares life expectancy with healthcare spending per capita hints at exactly this paradox.Below is the data for 51 countries for the year 2023:The clear takeaway is that while most high and upper-middle income countries cluster around the same trajectory, the United States is a clear outlier.On average, the countries on the above list have a life expectancy of 79.74 years for a cost of $3,986 per person, while the U.S. has a life expectancy of 79.3 and spend of $12,023 per person.Peer countries (Canada, UK, Germany, Japan, France, Italy) spend about half of what the U.S. does on healthcare per capita on average, but all have better life expectancy outcomes. While the U.S. excels in advanced and specialized medical care, life expectancy outcomes are held back by lifestyle and social factors rather than clinical capability. Higher rates of obesity, chronic disease, opioid overdoses, gun violence, and traffic fatalities all weigh on average lifespan.At the same time, healthcare access is uneven, with large gaps by income, race, and geography. As a result, additional spending often goes toward higher prices and end-of-life care, producing diminishing returns in overall life expectancy. View the highest and lowest life expectancy rates around the world in this map.
Thomas Massie, Ro Khanna ask judge for special master on Epstein files release - Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) are calling on a federal judge to appoint a special master to oversee the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) mandatory release of files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a letter Thursday to Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York, the two lawmakers sought to increase the pressure on DOJ to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which they co-authored. The legislation gave the federal government until Dec. 19 to produce files related to Epstein, allowing for few exceptions, largely to protect the privacy of victims. “As the leads of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, we have urgent and grave concerns about DOJ’s failure to comply with the Act as well as the Department’s violations of this Court’s order,” Massie and Khanna wrote in the letter They noted DOJ failed to produce all documents by Dec. 19, releasing only some files on that date and continuing to release additional material in the days and weeks that followed. The duo also pointed to the DOJ’s Jan. 5 court filing stating that it has produced “approximately 12,285 documents (compromising approximately 125,575 pages),” while claiming there are still “more than 2 million documents potentially responsive to the Act in various phases of review.” The letter referenced another report suggesting more than 5 million pages could be under review. “Because these figures are self-reported and internally inconsistent with prior representations, there is reasonable suspicion that the DOJ has overstated the scope of responsive materials, thereby portraying compliance as unmanageable and effectively delaying disclosure,” they wrote in the letter. Massie and Khanna also expressed concern that DOJ violated the Epstein Files Transparency Act by “applying extensive redactions that appear inconsistent with the Act’s expressed prohibition on withholding or redacting records to protect politically exposed persons.”
Trump-Defying Conservatives Shower Massie With Cash After President's Latest Rant -In a new iteration of a seemingly self-defeating tactic, President Trump's latest social media rant against Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has triggered a deluge of contributions to the man Trump has targeted for a primary challenge in May. However, with three billionaires on his side, Massie's challenger is building a formidable war chest, making this -- at least in dollar terms -- the most serious challenge he's faced to date. On Monday, Trump used a lengthy Truth Social post to reiterate his endorsement of Massie's primary challenger, Ed Gallrein, a donor to Sen. Lindsey Graham and former Navy SEAL. Trump called Massie "the Worst 'Republican' Congressman we have had in many years...a Weak and Pathetic RINO." In his parting shot, Trump accused Massie of insufficient affection for a foreign country, calling him "a true hater of Israel." It happened again today! Why do I get attacked weekly? Because I’m the only Republican who refuses to rubber stamp foreign aid, endless deficits, and unnecessary wars. I’m also exposing sex traffickers. My primary is in May. Please help if you can: https://t.co/AgJY01IWPLpic.twitter.com/AAHNPtCU8H— Thomas Massie for Congress (@MassieforKY) January 6, 2026 Though Trump urged "all MAGA Warriors" to rally behind Gallrein, money immediately started flowing into the Massie campaign. In a Tuesday evening post on X, Massie celebrated having received over $41,000 in donations from 667 people in 24 hours. "Maybe we schedule a tweet from Donald Trump every week ... because every time he does it, it boosts my fundraising," Massie previously told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Trump accidentally disclosed December jobs report data before release: White House - The White House said Friday it is reviewing its policies regarding economic data releases after an “inadvertent disclosure” of jobs report data by President Trump. In a series of Thursday evening posts on Truth Social, the president shared infographics including information from the December jobs report, which was released Friday morning. Presidents are routinely briefed on major economic data reports the night before they are released. But the president and all other White House officials are banned from publicly discussing or sharing sensitive economic data until one hour after it is released, in order to avoid financial market manipulation. “Following the regular procedure of presidents being prebriefed on economic data releases, there was an inadvertent public disclosure of aggregate data that was partially derived from pre-released information,” a White House official said in a Friday statement. “The White House is accordingly reviewing protocols regarding economic data releases,” the official continued.
Kai is the queen of Generation Alpha Trumps --Americans hate to love, or love to hate, the country’s First Family, the Trumps, a melodramatic cast of characters that makes the Ewings, the Carringtons, the Bridgertons or the Roys seem small by comparison. But a gee-whiz protagonist for everyone has emerged in the persona of Kai Trump, the President’s granddaughter and the eldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr. Kai, 18, stands out among the Generation Alpha Trumps. Barron, the President’s son, is a dark crypto prince who seems to have adopted his mother’s reclusive profile. The rest of the Trump babies have yet to receive their media debuts. But Kai is everywhere. This week, she appeared on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, saying that American politics is too divisive – thanks, grandpa. “I don’t want anything to do with politics because politics is a dangerous thing,” she said.Among Kai’s other words of wisdom: “Radical left, radical right–people get too extreme”, “Social media algorithms push you one way or another” and “If both sides met in the middle, everyone would be happier.” Ah, yes, but then Nick Fuentes and Heather Cox Richardson would be poor. Young Kai, heir to a vast fortune, doesn’t consider that political division is profitable for the world’s second- and third-tier elite. “There’s not a lot of things on social media where you’re very much in the middle and I think that kinda makes some people crazy and some people buy into it too much,” she said. She also said she has zero “bad blood” with Kamala Harris, though, really, why would she? “I’m very much in the middle. I’m kind of like ‘It is what it is.’ They ran against each other – obviously I’m going to support my grandpa, my family member, but that’s pretty much it.”
Conservative investors are fighting child sexualization at Netflix --Those in the business of fighting corporate bias often hear the refrain the refrain that abandoning biased policies is “the right thing to do.”Believe it or not, that’s actually not the argument that ends up being most effective when fighting corporate bias. The more compelling method involves pointing corporations to the unmistakable results of what leftward drift does to their returns, brand reputations and investor trust.It’s one thing to say that Target should ditch DEI because quotas and lectures about unconscious bias are bad. It is another to say the Americans who invest in Target shouldn’t have their financial futures jeopardized because of the pet activist tendencies of a few swayable executives. The argument over corporate wokeness is, at its heart, an economic argument. Perhaps no brand epitomizes this dual decline better than Netflix. Netflix’s “kids” programming is … anything but. During the past few years, the company has taken unbelievable amounts of flack for content that completely merits the blowback.Probably the most controversial media product under Netflix’s umbrella was the 2020 film “Cuties” — so controversial that an East Texas county grand jury indicted the company for lewd depictions of children. Another example, the 2018 series “Baby,” has been flagged by advocacy groups like the National Center on Sexual Exploitation for a glamorized portrayal of teenage prostitution. Netflix apparently learned nothing from these fiascos, even as it seeks to expand its streaming audience by acquiring Warner Bros. The recent show “Dead End: Paranormal Park” features a transgender main character despite having a TV-Y7 rating, indicating that the Netflix worldview considers it suitable for children as young as seven years old. Another example is “Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City,” a show with transgender characters with a rating indicating that Netflix considers it suitable for children of all ages. “The Baby-Sitters Club” even features a scene with a child criticizing doctors for using biological pronouns. Consumers aren’t having it. Perhaps the most prominent consumer in America, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, announced he was canceling of his Netflix subscription over the sexualized content and urged others to do the same: “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids.” Musk’s denouncement received more than 90 million views on X, leading to a drop in Netflix’s stock estimated between 2 and 5 percent. As someone working in corporate engagement, the Netflix debacle is indicative of the red line we remind companies about every June, when activists show up at boardrooms to bring the Pride Month pressure. Sexualizing children is the red line that most American consumers will never tolerate crossing. DEI, ESG and net-zero policies rub approximately half of America the wrong way, but people are almost unanimously opposed to pushing sexual content on children.The moral issues at Netflix have obvious economic ramifications. Netflix’s investors shouldn’t be expected to bear the burden of the company’s choice to promote sexualized content to its youngest viewers.Netflix, like all publicly traded companies, has a responsibility to act in the best interest of the company and its investors. In the business world, it is called a “fiduciary duty.” And it is hardly pro-business to engage in the kind of behavior that creates massive drops in stock price. Netflix’s employees, investors, and viewers all deserve better.Mother of one of Elon Musk’s sons ‘horrified’ at use of Grok to create fake sexualised images of her -The mother of one of Elon Musk’s sons has said she felt “horrified and violated” after fans of the billionaire used his AI tool, Grok, to create fake sexualised images of her by manipulating real pictures. The writer and political strategist Ashley St Clair, who became estranged from Musk after the birth of their child in 2024, told the Guardian that supporters of the X owner were using the tool to create a form of revenge porn, and had even undressed a picture of her as a child. Grok has come under fire from lawmakers and regulators worldwide after it emerged it had been used to virtually undress images of women and children, and show them in compromising sexualised positions. The widespread sexual abuse consists of X users asking Grok to manipulate pictures of fully clothed women to put them in bikinis, on their knees, and cover them in what looks like semen. “I felt horrified, I felt violated, especially seeing my toddler’s backpack in the back of it,” St Clair said of an image in which she has been put into a bikini, turned around and bent over. “It’s another tool of harassment. Consent is the whole issue. People are saying, well, it’s just a bikini, it’s not explicit. But it is a sexual offence to non-consensually undress a child.” Acolytes of Musk had disliked her since she went public about his desire to build a “legion” of children, she said. Musk is the father of 13 other children, with three other women. She said: “It’s funny, considering the most direct line I have and they don’t do anything. I have complained to X and they have not even removed a picture of me from when I was a child, which was undressed by Grok.” The abuse started over the weekend, and she said that since it began she had been reporting it to X and Grok, to no avail. “The response time is getting longer as well,” she added. “When this first started, Grok was removing some of them.” The manipulated image of her as a 14-year-old had been up for 12 hours by Monday afternoon. It and several other images highlighted by St Clair were finally removed after the Guardian sought comment from X. She said: “Grok said it would not produce these images any more but they continued to get worse. People took pictures of me as a child and undressed me. There’s one where they undressed me and bent me over and in the background is my child’s backpack that he’s wearing right now. That really upsets me.” St Clair said the abuse became worse when she publicly complained about her images being manipulated. Since speaking out, other abuse victims have been in contact. She has been sent other disturbing sexual images the AI tool has made, including some of children. “Since I posted this I have been sent a six-year-old covered in what’s supposed to be semen,” said St Clair. “She was in a full dress. They said to put her in a blue bikini and cover her in what looks like semen.”
The mother of one of Elon Musk's children says his AI bot won't stop creating sexualized images of her --When Ashley St. Clair asked Grok, the generative artificial intelligence reply bot built into the X platform, to stop creating sexually suggestive pictures of her, Grok said it would stop. But it didn’t. Since then, St. Clair, known as a high-profile conservative content creator who has a child with X’s owner, Elon Musk, said she has seen Grok generate numerous other images of her, some based on photos from when she was a minor.Grok “stated that it would not be producing any more of these images of me, and what ensued was countless more images produced by Grok at user requests that were much more explicit, and eventually, some of those were underage,” St. Clair said. “Photos of me of 14 years old, undressed and put in a bikini.”The introduction in December of an image editing feature in Grok has sparked intense scrutiny as people have used it to generate a wave of images depicting women and children with their clothes removed down to highly revealing swimsuits or underwear. St. Clair is one of many women whose photos have been altered by Grok, with some turned into sexualized videos.On Saturday, Musk wrote, “Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content,” in response to another user’s post defending Grok from criticism over the controversy. X’s safety account also posted that it would be removing posts, as well as “permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary” to address the issue.The tool allows users to prompt Grok to adjust any image uploaded to the platform by any user by using AI prompts. In a nonsexual example posted Sunday, a user prompted Grok to insert a swastika onto an image of a surrealist, crying face.But a scroll through Grok’s replies shows that overwhelmingly, Grok’s ability to remove or alter clothes from images has become the prominent meme for the tool.xAI, the company that created Grok and now owns X, didn’t respond to a request for comment addressing St. Clair’s statements. Musk didn’t respond to a request for comment.St. Clair, best known for her fiery online commentary, began posting about the issue Sunday after a friend brought it to her attention, she said in an interview Monday.St. Clair said that in the first post she saw, a user asked Grok to put her in a bikini. She said that when she asked Grok to remove the post and told it she didn’t consent to the image, it replied that the post was “humorous.” From there, the posts only got worse, she said. More people began prompting Grok to create sexualized deepfakes of her, and some of the deepfakes were turned into videos. NBC News has reviewed a selection of the images. Many of the images remained online Monday evening, though some accounts that made the requests to Grok have been suspended and the images have been removed. Ofcom, which regulates communications industries in the United Kingdom, said Monday that it is “aware of serious concerns raised about a feature on Grok on X that produces undressed images of people and sexualised images of children” and that it “made urgent contact with X and xAI to understand what steps they have taken to comply with their legal duties to protect users in the UK.” The use of generative AI to create realistic images has exploded in recent years and along with it growing outcry over using such programs to create sexually explicit images and videos of real people, often called deepfakes. Many platforms have instituted rules against creating or posting fake, sexualized images of people without their consent. Musk has embraced using AI to create sexually charged content, integrating a sexualized “spicy” mode into text chats and conversations with Grok “companions.” xAI’s policy states that it forbids users to create content that sexualizes children but doesn’t have rules against generating sexual images of adults. But it’s not clear that xAI’s policies were implemented in the guardrails imposed on the new image editing feature.Last week, after the rollout of that update, users quickly began asking the bot to generate lewd images, like the ones depicting St. Clair. While many inappropriate images that Grok has posted have been taken down, Grok continues to produce sexualized images of nonconsenting parties, including children, according to an NBC News review of Grok’s output. xAI and Musk didn’t respond to a request for comment. St. Clair told NBC News she has “lost count” of how many AI-generated images of herself she has seen in the past few days. She added that she believes Musk has “probably seen it” but that she has “zero desire” to reach out to him personally. “I don’t think that would be right for me to handle this with resources not available to the countless other women and children this has been happening to, so I have been going through the primary resources available to everyone else,” she said.
Grok’s violation of Ashley St. Clair - The soap opera that is Elon Musk’s personal life has taken a predictably Black Mirror turn. Ashley St. Clair, Elon’s most recent baby mama (to Cockburn’s knowledge), started complaining on X last week that people were using Grok, X’s AI tool, to create unauthorized sexually explicit images of her, including “Photos of me of 14 years old, undressed and put in a bikini.” Over the weekend, Musk wrote, “Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.” But St. Clair claims the images are still being manufactured. Democratic politicians petitioned Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from their app stores over the debacle. Across the pond, Prime Minister Keir Starmer might use Grok’s stripping of teens as a premise to ban X entirely in the UK, saying these CSAMs (child-abuse sexual material) are “disgusting and not to be tolerated.” Musk has now limited Grok’s image-making tools to paying customers. But those customers don’t include St. Clair – who woke up a few days ago to find that X had removed her blue checkmark and her Twitter Premium account, which means that she can’t generate revenue from her more than 1 million followers. What a revolting mess. “Hey guys im starting to think the $44 billion wasn’t for free speech,” St. Clair posted. And then this morning she wrote, “shoutout to the uk, sorry about 1776 u guys may have been right after all.” This tawdry episode is enough to turn off Cockburn from X for good. In the meantime, if someone tries to deepfake into a dental-floss bikini, there’s going to be hell to pay.
Gmail adds new AI features, turning it into a personal assistant -More artificial intelligence is being implanted into Gmail as Google tries to turn the world’s most popular email service into a personal assistant that can improve writing, summarize far-flung information buried in inboxes and deliver daily to-do lists. The new AI features announced Thursday could herald a pivotal moment for Gmail, a service that transformed email when it was introduced nearly 22 years ago. Since then, Gmail has amassed more than 3 billion users to become nearly as ubiquitous as Google’s search engine. Gmail’s new AI options will only be available in English within the United States for starters, but the company is promising to expand the technology to other countries and other languages as the year unfolds. The most broadly available tool will be a “Help Me Write” option designed to learn a user’s writing style so it can personalize emails and make real-time suggestions on how to burnish the message. Google is also offering subscribers who pay for its Pro and Ultra services access to technology that mirrors the AI Overviews that’s been built into its search engine since 2023. The expansion will enable subscribers pose conversational questions in Gmail’s search bar to get instant answers about information they are trying to retrieve from their inboxes.
Fed's Kashkari says AI is causing a hiring slowdown in big companies - Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari said Monday that artificial intelligence is causing big companies to slow hiring, and that many businesses are seeing "real productivity gains" because of the technology. Kashkari said companies have told him that AI is affecting their hiring plans, and he expects to see continued low hiring and low firing in the labor market. This is less true for smaller companies, however, he said. "AI is really a big company story," Kashkari told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday. Since OpenAI kickstarted the AI boom with the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, companies across the U.S. have been spending billions of dollars to try and bring the technology to their employees. But as investors and executives chase promises of greater efficiency and productivity, AI's rapid rise has also sparked concerns about safety and job security. Even so, Kashkari said businesses are beginning to see some returns on their investments. "There's no question that there's some mis-investment or mal-investment that's going on, but there are too many anecdotes of businesses using this and actually seeing real productivity gains," Kashkari said. "Businesses that I talked to that two years ago were skeptical are saying, 'No, we're actually using it now.'"
Older Australians face rising scam losses as AI fuels fraud -Artificial intelligence is accelerating scam activity among Australians aged 50 and over, with one in four reporting AI-related scams and more than one in five suffering financial losses, new research shows. The Australian Seniors Scams Report 2025 found that 25% of Australians aged 50+ have experienced an AI-related scam, most often through AI-generated phishing emails or messages. The report, based on an online survey of more than 1,200 respondents conducted in September 2025, shows that AI-driven deception is making fraudulent activity harder to detect and increasing exposure across digital channels. Financial losses remain material. About 22% of respondents reported losing money or assets to scams, with 37% of those affected saying they were victimised more than once. While 58% of reported losses were under $1,000, 3% involved losses of $50,000 or more. Nearly one-quarter of those who lost money said they cut back on everyday spending, and 19% drew on savings or emergency funds. The findings sit alongside national data showing older Australians carry a disproportionate share of scam losses. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported that people over 65 were the only age group to record an increase in reported losses in 2023, rising 13.3% to $120 million, according to figures cited by National Seniors Australia. Investment scams accounted for a large share of these losses, often initiated through social media contact. Exposure remains frequent. The Australian Seniors report found that 84% of respondents have encountered or been victims of a scam at some point, while 63% believe they were targeted in the past 12 months. Among those targeted, 53% said they received suspected scam contact at least weekly. Phone calls were the most common method at 73%, followed by emails at 70% and SMS messages at 59%. Parcel delivery scams linked to AusPost were reported by 47%, overdue payment scams by 40%, phishing or impersonation scams by 36%, and ATO or MyGov scams by 34%. AI-related risks extend beyond direct financial loss. About 38% of respondents said they had encountered AI-generated images, videos, or news articles they initially believed were real, while 31% were unsure. More than half, or 51%, believe all types of AI-generated content will soon be equally hard to detect. Nearly nine in 10 respondents said older Australians are being left behind in understanding AI risks. “AI and deepfake technology are now used by cybercriminals to make scam look more real,” Reporting gaps persist. While 56% of those who lost money reported incidents to a bank or financial institution, 16% did not report losses to any organisation. Banks and financial institutions were also cited by 47% of respondents as a primary source of scam-prevention information, alongside government resources at 46%.
Education 2.0 Experts Outline Why Students Are The Primary Targets Of AI-Powered Scam Offenses | Education - Artificial intelligence is reshaping education at an unprecedented pace. From virtual classrooms and adaptive learning platforms to automated admissions support and global scholarship discovery tools, AI has made education more accessible than ever. However, this rapid digitization has also created fertile ground for fraud. As education systems increasingly move online, students have emerged as the primary targets of AI-powered education fraud. As highlighted by experts at the Education 2.0 Conference, modern educational scams are no longer easy to detect. They are highly sophisticated, deeply personalized, and often indistinguishable from legitimate academic services. Understanding why students are targeted and how AI amplifies education fraud has become essential in today’s digital learning environment. The education sector has undergone a massive digital transformation. Universities offer online degrees, certification platforms advertise career-ready courses, and admissions processes are increasingly automated. AI-driven chatbots respond to queries in real time, while recommendation engines guide students toward programs and institutions. This digital expansion has increased convenience but reduced face-to-face verification. Fraudsters exploit this gap by using AI tools to replicate institutional workflows, academic language, and communication styles. As a result, students often interact with trusted systems without realizing they may be fraudulent. In an increasingly digital education ecosystem, students have become the most attractive targets for AI-driven fraud schemes. Here are some reasons: Education decisions carry long-term consequences. Students invest time, money, and emotional energy into choosing institutions, programs, and career paths. Fraudsters leverage this emotional investment by presenting opportunities that promise academic success, financial relief, or faster career outcomes. AI-powered messaging enhances persuasion by tailoring content to individual goals and anxieties. Many students, especially first-generation learners or those applying internationally, lack familiarity with admissions procedures, accreditation standards, and funding structures. This knowledge gap makes it easier for scammers to introduce false claims without immediate suspicion. AI removes obvious warning signs, making fraudulent communication appear polished and credible. Students are highly active online. They search for programs, follow education influencers, join student forums, and engage with ads related to learning and career growth. AI-driven fraud schemes track these behaviors and target students precisely when they are most receptive to offers.
Broad global uptake of dollar-denominated stablecoins is no sure thing -- Noelle Acheson questions the optimistic forecasts of global dollar stablecoin adoption, pointing out that they overlook the friction of local politics. President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law last year, creating a framework for the issuance of payment stablecoins in the U.S. However, rosy predictions of broad global uptake of dollar-denominated stablecoins may not be taking full account of the political resistance likely to arise in other jurisdictions. In the glow of last year's passage of the GENIUS Act in the U.S., it's easy to forget that most of the world has not yet formed a comprehensive stablecoin policy. Surprisingly few jurisdictions have frameworks in place, and fewer still have regulations that are live.
Crypto industry ramps up Senate lobbying ahead of key committee votes --The cryptocurrency industry is ramping up efforts to get market structure legislation past a key hurdle, as two Senate committees prepare to vote on the bill next week. Both the Senate Banking and Senate Agriculture panels will hold markups on Jan. 15, even as Republicans and crypto-friendly Democrats seemingly have yet to reach an agreement on bill text after six months of negotiations. Ahead of the markups next week, The Digital Chamber, a digital asset and blockchain trade association, is flying in more than 50 industry participants to meet with senators Thursday. “The goal is to hit as many Senate offices as possible to continue to show that there is industry support to move this bill forward, that we need to get to this markup and to be a resource for every single Senate office,” The Digital Chamber CEO Cody Carbone told The Hill. “We’re eagerly pushing for this markup to go off with a bipartisan vote at the end, and for both committees to have their markups … but really just excited that we’re finally at this point in the process where we’re seeing real legislative progress,” he added. Among the participants in Thursday’s fly-in are exchanges like Crypto.com and Binance.US, token issuer Cardano, crypto ATMs including CoinFlip and Bitcoin Depot and financial services company eToro. Republican senators have long been pushing to hold markups on the market structure legislation, which seeks to clearly delineate what portions of the industry fall under the regulatory purview of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) versus the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Yield issue in play as Senate looks to crypto bill markup— The Senate Banking Committee is looking to mark up crypto market structure legislation early in the new year, possibly as early as next Thursday, even as critical pillars of the bill remain in contention.
- Key insight: Lawmakers from both parties discussed concerns that weak restrictions on stablecoin rewards could displace billions from community bank lending, potentially harming small businesses, farmers, students, and homebuyers who depend on local credit availability.
- Forward look: Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., may push for a markup of crypto market structure legislation as soon as next week — even without full bipartisan agreement — as senators continue negotiating key provisions of the bill.
- What's at stake: The American Bankers Association and other banking groups are lobbying for stricter language to prevent stablecoin issuers from offering yield-like rewards, arguing companies are exploiting loopholes that allow them to indirectly provide returns to holders through partner exchanges.
As the Senate Banking Committee stands poised to mark up crypto market legislation within days, banks are focused on blocking crypto exchanges from offering rewards on stablecoins, which they fear could siphon deposits away from community banks.
How JPMorganChase plans to jolt 'on-chain' finance -- As rivals such as Citi stake a position in digital assets, JPMorganChase is preparing its blockchain unit for what it hopes is a much larger world.
- Key insights: JPMorganChase's Kinexys blockchain unit is looking to scale digital assets, and is betting on growing demand.
- What's at stake: Banks and fintechs are selling services for stablecoins, cryptocurrency and tokenized deposits.
- Forward look: JPMorganChase is looking to attract banks as partners to scale on-chain finance.
The bank's Kinexys blockchain unit processes a fraction of the institution's overall payment volume. It's betting that an appetite for the technology's promise of speedy processing and liquidity will make that larger.
BankThink A fragmented landscape of bespoke stablecoins will serve nobody - Everyone is launching their own stablecoin. Image: A $1 note issued by Augusta Insurance & Banking in 1861, during the 19th century "free banking era" in the U.S. The current proliferation of stablecoins risks repeating the mistakes of this volatile era. The real value of stablecoins lies in their ability to provide instant and secure transfers of value. But, in a world where every company has a bespoke stablecoin, that promise begins to break down quickly.
Trump crypto venture World Liberty applies for bank charter — World Liberty Financial, the crypto venture co-founded by President Donald Trump, is seeking a national trust bank charter for one of its entities that would allow it to expand its USD1 stablecoin operations. World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture co-founded by President Trump, applied for a national trust charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The move comes as several prominent crypto companies have applied for and received conditional approval for trust charters since the beginning of the Trump administration.
Conflict of interest concerns cloud Trump firm's banking bid -Tuesday's announcement that World Liberty Trust, an affiliate of President Trump's crypto firm World Liberty Financial, had applied for a national trust charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is raising concerns about a conflict of interest amongst banking experts.
- Key insight: President Donald Trump's crypto firm World Liberty Financial is asking the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national trust bank charter, leading some to question whether the agency has a choice in approving the application.
- Supporting data: The OCC conditionally approved five national trust charters for similar crypto firms in December.
- Forward look: The application will be considered by the OCC, but banking experts say the president could lean on the agency for a variety of reasons, including regulatory treatment.
Banking experts say World Liberty Trust's application for a trust charter with a regulatory body directed by the White House creates inherent conflicts of interest, while the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said the application will be considered on its merits.
Bitcoin ATM Fraud Is Draining Millions from Americans, the FBI Warns -It’s 2026, and the FBI is sounding the alarm over Bitcoin ATM fraud.Americans lost at least $333 million in 2025 to cryptocurrency ATM scams, the law enforcement agency says. While anyone can fall victim, older adults are especially vulnerable, often because scammers exploit fear, a sense of urgency, and a lack of familiarity with cryptocurrency.Bitcoin ATMs may look like ordinary cash machines, but they operate very differently. Transactions are irreversible, and the funds are extremely hard to trace. Paired with a lack of consumer protection legislation, this makes an ideal combo for scammers who want a quick and easy paycheck. How Bitcoin ATM Scams Typically Happen:
- Scenario 1: The “Urgent Government Call” - You or a family member receives a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, Social Security Administration, or local police.“There’s a problem with your account. If you don’t act immediately, your benefits will be suspended, or you could face legal action.”The caller instructs you to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM, providing step-by-step instructions. Once the transaction is finalized, your money is gone for good.
- Scenario 2: The Tech Support Lockout. A pop-up alert appears on a computer claiming the device is infected with malware. “Call this number immediately to avoid losing your files.” A fake “support agent” convinces the victim that the only way to pay for repairs or unlock their system is through a Bitcoin ATM.
- Scenario 3: The Family Emergency Scam. Victims receive a call or message claiming a loved one has been arrested, injured, or stranded. Scammers often target grandparents, knowing emotional pressure can override caution.
Signs of a Bitcoin ATM Scam:
- Anyone demanding payment via Bitcoin ATM
- Urgent threats or pressure to act immediately
- Requests for secrecy (“Don’t tell your family”)
- Unexpected calls, emails, or pop-ups
- Instructions to convert cash into cryptocurrency
A simple rule to remember: No legitimate organization will ever ask you to pay through a Bitcoin ATM.
'Chaotic web' of tech keeps bank fraud victims in limbo - A recent fraud case shines a spotlight on the many communication disconnects caused by disjointed software systems common at larger banks. Here's what happened to one American Banker editor. For the past two months, I have been caught in a no-man's-land between my bank's fraud and customer service departments.
Maine secures $1.9M settlement for bitcoin kiosk scam victims - A major cryptocurrency ATM operator will pay $1.9 million to Maine residents who were defrauded by scammers using the company’s kiosks, according to a consent agreement with the state. The agreement, between Bitcoin Depot and the Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection, follows a two-year investigation that included the Office of the Maine Attorney General. It was signed in December and announced Monday. Bitcoin Depot is based in Atlanta and operates over 25,000 kiosks in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Mexico and Hong Kong, according to its website. The company operated about 80 unlicensed kiosks in Maine — until the state passed emergency legislation in June to regulate virtual currency ATMs. Bitcoin Depot’s website no longer lists kiosks in Maine. “They’ve been gone since last summer,” said Linda Conti, bureau superintendent. Most of the company’s machines were in York, Cumberland, Kennebec and Penobscot counties, Conti said. It’s unclear how many Mainers have been scammed through Bitcoin Depot kiosks, exactly where they were located or how much money each victim might receive. “We will not know how much each refund will be until we have received and reviewed all of the claims,” according to information posted on the bureau’s website. Claims must be filed on or before April 1, 2026, and may be submitted online. The bureau will begin issuing refunds in May. The bureau said the scams involved transactions made at Bitcoin Depot kiosks, where people purchased cryptocurrency and deposited it into “unhosted wallets” provided by third-party fraudsters. An unhosted wallet is a type of digital wallet that is hosted and controlled by a user, rather than by a financial institution, money transmitter, exchange or other virtual asset service provider. Although Bitcoin Depot no longer has kiosks in Maine,nearly 100 other cryptocurrency ATMs are still operating across the state, Conti said, including CoinFlip, CoinStar and Coinme machines. In March 2023, bureau investigators found that Bitcoin Depot kiosks in Maine appeared to provide money transmission functions and invited the company to apply for a money transmitter license, according to the consent agreement. The company applied for a license that month, but the application wasn’t deemed complete until February 2025 and was denied in April 2025. Bitcoin Depot appealed the decision in May. In July 2025, the bureau provided Bitcoin Depot with a list of consumer transactions at its kiosks in which Maine consumers may have suffered financial loss and harm as a result of third-party fraudsters. As part of the consent agreement, Bitcoin Depot must send a $1.9 million check to Maine’s attorney general by Feb. 2 and has agreed to fully comply with Maine’s consumer protection laws as a now-licensed money transmitter. Bitcoin Depot is still licensed to transmit funds in Maine through online transactions, Conti said.
Scam Notification Promising Triple Crypto Returns Sent to Betterment Accounts -- Users of Betterment reported receiving a scam-like notification on Friday that urged them to send large amounts of cryptocurrency in exchange for guaranteed returns, prompting confusion and concern across social media. Betterment users were targeted by a scam message promising to triple crypto deposits using urgency and guaranteed returns. The company said the notification was unauthorized and sent through a third-party communications system. The incident shows ongoing crypto risks driven by social engineering and deceptive wallet-related scams. According to posts shared on Reddit, the message claimed Betterment was “giving back” after its best-performing year and promised to triple Bitcoin and Ethereum deposits sent within a limited three-hour window. The notification instructed users to transfer as much as $10,000 in crypto to specified wallet addresses, with assurances that $30,000 would be returned to the sender. Screenshots circulating online showed the message framed as an official promotion, with some users saying they received similar language by email. The structure and wording closely resembled common crypto scams that rely on urgency and unrealistic guarantees to prompt quick action. Betterment later acknowledged the incident, saying the message was not authorized. In a statement posted on X, the company said the notification was sent through a third-party system used for marketing and customer communications and should be disregarded. “This is not a real offer,” Betterment said, adding that it apologized for the confusion caused by the message. Betterment is an automated investing service (a “robo-advisor”) that builds and manages diversified portfolios of low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs). As reported, blockchain security firm PeckShield documented 26 major exploits in December, with address-poisoning scams and private-key leaks accounting for substantial losses. One victim lost $50 million after mistakenly copying a fraudulent address that visually mimicked their intended destination. Another major incident involved a private key leak tied to a multi-signature wallet, resulting in losses of approximately $27.3 million.
Man Accused of Stealing Billions in Crypto Scam Is Captured Abroad - The New York Times -A man who U.S. federal prosecutors said ran one of the largest criminal networks in the world, relying on thousands of enslaved workers in Southeast Asia to bilk victims out of billions of dollars, has been arrested and extradited to China, Cambodian authorities announced on Wednesday. The man, Chen Zhi, 38, is a citizen of several countries, including China and Cambodia, though the Cambodian government said his passport has been revoked. He was arrested in Cambodia, where his company is based, and extradited to China on Tuesday, according to a news release from Cambodia’s ministry of the interior. Mr. Chen was the founder and chairman of the Prince Group, a Cambodian holding company that seemingly focused on luxury real estate. But in reality, federal prosecutors said, he used the company to mastermind an operation in which scammers persuaded unwitting victims to fork over their money, often via cryptocurrency. Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York announced Mr. Chen’s indictment in October, while he was still at large, and said that they had seized Bitcoin worth about $15 billion — proceeds from his scheme, they said. One of the networks that worked with Mr. Chen, prosecutors said, targeted more than 250 victims in Brooklyn and Queens, who lost more than $18 million. Other victims were in Russia, Taiwan, Vietnam and other countries. His extradition to China, which Cambodian authorities said followed months of cooperation between the two governments, complicates the chances that Mr. Chen will ever face justice in an American courtroom. The United States does not have an extradition agreement with China, an economic and geopolitical archrival. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn declined to comment. Representatives for the Cambodia’s Ministry of Information and the Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A lawyer for Mr. Chen, who also represents the Prince Group in civil litigation, did not respond to a request for comment.
Venezuela-focused crypto startup loses $341K in cybertheft -- Attackers stole over $340,000 in stablecoin from the Venezuela-focused app. The incident adds to recent troubles including frozen accounts at JPMorganChase.
- Key insight: The theft occurred shortly after the startup lost access to the U.S. banking system, with former partners like Checkbook and JPMorgan Chase citing compliance risks.
- Supporting data: Attackers drained nearly $341,000 in USDC from 1,005 user accounts, though the company says it has now processed refunds for 100% of the impacted amounts.
- What's at stake: Kontigo's operations face heightened uncertainty as U.S. military actions and the recent arrest of Nicolás Maduro complicate the already difficult compliance landscape in Venezuela.
Overview bullets generated by AI with editorial review.
For now, Maduro's capture changes little for US banks -- The capture of Nicolás Maduro and the Trump administration's announced plan to "run" Venezuela has sparked political controversy, driven up oil stocks and could alter energy prices in the long term, but the impact on the U.S. financial system will be minimal for some time, banking experts said.
- Key insight: The U.S. financial system's banking and trade linkages to Venezuela were already scant prior to the capture of Nicolás Maduro, since the South American country is subject to U.S. sanctions.
- Supporting data: Venezuela's current oil production accounts for less than 1% of global oil demand, and experts say companies will be averse to investing in an unstable country.
- Forward look: National security experts argue that immediate gains in oil supply are unlikely.
Even as oil stocks jump and lawmakers clash over Trump's decision to intervene in Venezuela, experts say U.S. banks face little short-term risk, and any energy payoff is years away.
Why the CFPB's EWA opinion won't dramatically impact fintechs - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's advisory opinion on earned wage access has been touted as a win for the industry, but legal experts warn it lacks finality and does little to quell the patchwork of state-specific regulations.
- Key insights: Earned wage access fintechs say that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's advisory opinion on EWA provides important clarity on the finance product, but legal experts warn that its practical impact could be minimal.
- What's at stake: States have been quick to enact EWA legislation in the absence of a broader, federal statute.
- Forward look: States will likely continue to be active in regulating EWA despite signals that a federal regulator favors a defined EWA model.
Earned wage access fintechs say the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's advisory opinion provides important clarity on the finance product, but legal experts warn that its practical impact could be minimal.
BankThink As QT ends, bank regulators now hold the real growth lever -As the Federal Reserve winds down quantitative tightening and brings the balance-sheet runoff it began in 2022 to an end, markets have already moved on to handicapping the next acronym. Will the Fed's coming "reserve management purchases" of Treasuries amount to QE-lite? Will bill-buying quietly resume as soon as money markets creak? As the Federal Reserve's quantitative tightening efforts fade into history, the major engine of economic growth in the U.S. will be bank lending. Regulators should keep a close eye on where those dollars are going, writes Emir Phillips, of Lincoln University.
OCC moves to formalize non-fiduciary activities for trust banks -The proposed rule codifies the ability for trust companies to conduct non-fiduciary activities, something banks say Congress never intended, but that OCC says has long been the case. Key insight: With a proposed rule, OCC is codifying non-fiduciary trust bank activities.
FDIC watchdog pushes back on Ernst whistleblower claims The FDIC inspector general said internal and external reviews found little evidence to support a whistleblower's allegations of fraud, retaliation and abuse within the FDIC's watchdog office. Key insight: The FDIC's inspector general concluded that most whistleblower allegations relayed by Sen. Joni Ernst were unsupported, previously resolved or based on incorrect assumptions about spending, staffing and travel.
Bowman details regulatory relief agenda for community banks - The Federal Reserve's top banking regulator outlined several priorities Wednesday that she said could ease regulatory burdens for community banks.
- Key Insight: Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman is considering changes to the central bank's regulatory framework aimed at easing burdens on smaller institutions, including separating oversight of community banks from supervision of large and midsize banks and reducing data requirements.
- Expert Quote: "Community banks should be subject to strict supervisory oversight, but it must be commensurate with their smaller size, simpler business activities, and the modest risks they pose to U.S. financial stability." — Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman.
- What's at stake: Bowman has emphasized the need to reform the central bank's supervisory practices, but some critics have expressed concern that moving away from proactive oversight could lead to a buildup of risk.
Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman outlined several priorities affecting community banks, including potential changes to asset thresholds for smaller institutions.
Rep. Hill rolls out community bank deregulation package— House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill, R-Ark., is pushing community-bank deregulation in a legislative package that he unveiled on Wednesday.
- Key insight: French Hill said his bill would reduce regulatory flip-flop when administrations change.
- Forward look: Hill said he would introduce the bill this week and ask House leadership for floor time.
- What's at stake: The items in the package are eagerly anticipated by bankers, but it's a tight legislative calendar for a package to pass both chambers before midterm campaigning picks up.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill's community-banking package includes reciprocal deposits, tailoring and many other items on community bankers' wish lists
BankThink: The CFPB's small-dollar lending rule has clearly backfired on consumers - Since the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released its small-dollar lending rule in 2017, it has been the source of controversy and litigation. For an agency that's been criticized for pursuing political objectives over sound policy since its inception, the small-dollar lending rule might be the perfect example of this in practice. The effort by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, meant to benefit consumers, has instead led to higher delinquency rates, increased defaults and more loans being sent to collections, writes Andrew Duke, of the Online Lenders Alliance.
Vought capitulates to court order, asks for CFPB funding -- Acting CFPB Director Russell Vought agreed to request $145 million in funding from the Federal Reserve, yielding to a court order to avoid a contempt citation.
Fed to reopen penny deposits after industry outcry --The Federal Reserve will resume accepting pennies from banks and credit unions at all commercial coin distribution locations beginning Jan. 14. The central bank had ceased accepting pennies at some distribution centers late last year, but bankers praised Thursday's reversal.
FHA records stable capital ratios amid softer performance -- The Federal Housing Administration's mortgage insurance fund capital ratios were largely stable this past federal fiscal year, its annual report, delayed by the government shutdown, showed. The Mortgage Bankers Association is examining the data to see if the high ratio warrants a new push for a premium cut but said rising arrears call for caution.
Trump orders $200B mortgage bond purchase to cut costs -- President Trump said Thursday he ordered the purchase of $200 billion in mortgage bonds with the goal of easing housing costs through lower interest rates. In a Thursday post on Truth Social, the president said he instructed unspecified “Representatives” to buy $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities, which he argued would “drive Mortgage Rates DOWN, monthly payments DOWN, and make the cost of owning a home more affordable.” Mortgage-backed securities are bonds funded by payments on home loans. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two government-sponsored enterprises under federal control since 2008, purchase billions of dollars in mortgages, package them into bonds and sell those securities to investors. Lenders can then use proceeds from selling to Fannie and Freddie to help fund more home loans than they might otherwise be able to offer. While Trump didn’t specify which federal entities would buy the new tranche of bonds, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte — the head of the agency in charge of Fannie and Freddie — appeared to confirm their involvement. “We are on it. Thanks to President Trump, Fannie and Freddie will be executing,” Pulte posted on social platform X, quoting Trump’s announcement. The Hill has asked the White House for details about the timing of the intended purchases. Trump’s announcement comes after a year of growing voter dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy.
Trump backs ban on institutional buyers in housing market — President Donald Trump said on social media that he will prohibit institutional investors from purchasing single family homes.
- Key insight: President Donald Trump said he would ban institutional investment in single-family homes, and called on Congress to codify the changes.
- What's at stake: Banks are often financiers of institutional investments in single-family housing stock.
- Forward look: The White House doesn't have unilateral power to ban institutional investors from purchasing single family homes, but Trump can pressure Congress and leverage the Treasury and other regulators to make progress toward that end.
President Trump said he would prohibit large institutional investors from buying single-family homes. While the executive couldn't bar such investments on its own, a legislative ban could gain bipartisan support.
How Trump's institutional investor homebuying ban could impact loans -- President Trump's plan to restrict institutional investor purchases of single-family homes through bipartisan legislation to promote consumer access to affordable housing does match a past goal pursued by Democrats but has many practical challenges, industry professionals said Thursday. President Trump's concept, which is framed as a potential bipartisan effort, could mean a new route to a goal Dems targeted via foreclosure sale restrictions.
Blackstone Craters After Trump Teases Institutional Ban On Single-Family Homes Shares in Blackstone cratered on Wednesday after President Donald Trump announced that he would be 'immediately taking steps to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes,' and will be calling on Congress 'to codify it."For a very long time, buying and owning a home was considered the pinnacle of the American Dream. It was the reward for working hard, and doing the right thing," Trump posted on Truth Social. "but now, because of the Record High Inflation caused by Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress, that American Dream is increasingly out of reach for far too many people, especially younger Americans."Trump said he would discus the topic - along with other cost-of-living initiatives, during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos later this month."People live in homes, not corporations," Trump said in his post. The US president said last month he was planning to unveil “some of the most aggressive housing reform plans in American history” in the coming year.The cost of housing has soared in recent years due to a historic supply shortage, after construction rates fell in the wake of the global financial crisis. A pandemic boom exacerbated the problem: As of August, the S&P Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Home Price Index had risen 68% since January 2020. Both parties have been keen to show they take the housing problem seriously heading into the November midterms. -BloombergShares of Blackstone, widely considered the nation's largest landlord, were off to the tune of 9.3% on the news.
Fed's Flow of Funds: Household Net Worth Increased $6.1 Trillion in Q3 - The Federal Reserve released the Q3 2025 Flow of Funds report today: Financial Accounts of the United States -- The net worth of households and nonprofits rose to $181.6 trillion during the third quarter of 2025. The value of directly and indirectly held corporate equities increased $5.5 trillion and the value of real estate decreased $0.3 trillion.... Household debt increased 4.1 percent at an annual rate in the third quarter of 2025. Consumer credit grew at an annual rate of 2.3 percent, while mortgage debt (excluding charge-offs) grew at an annual rate of 3.2 percent. The first graph shows Households and Nonprofit net worth as a percent of GDP. Net worth increased $6.1 trillion in Q3. As a percent of GDP, net worth increased in Q3 but is still below the peak in 2021.This includes real estate and financial assets (stocks, bonds, pension reserves, deposits, etc.) net of liabilities (mostly mortgages). Note that this does NOT include public debt obligations. The second graph shows homeowner percent equity since 1Household percent equity (as measured by the Fed) collapsed when house prices fell sharply in 2007 and 2008. In Q3 2025, household percent equity (of household real estate) was at 71.6% - down from 72.0% in Q2, 2025Note: This includes households with no mortgage debt.The third graph shows household real estate assets and mortgage debt as a percent of GDP. Mortgage debt increased by $108 billion in Q3.Mortgage debt is up $2.99 trillion from the peak during the housing bubble, but, as a percent of GDP is at 43.9% - down from Q2 - and down from a peak of 73.1% of GDP during the housing bust.The value of real estate, as a percent of GDP, decreased in Q3 and is below the recent peak in Q2 2022, but is well above the median of the last 30 years.
Mortgage Rates Holding at 2-Month Low - The two days of 2025 with the lowest rates were September 16th and October 28th. Both days happened to be the Tuesdays that preceded Fed rate cuts. On both occasions, those rate cuts were delivered with other comments from the Fed that the bond market didn't like. The net effect is/was two very obvious dips and spikes. The second half of December saw the average 30yr fixed mortgage rate inch closer and closer to those previous lows, but we're still not quite there yet. Today was just another day in that saga as the average lender held right in line with Friday's latest levels. Bottom line: at current levels, any day that rates spend holding steady or moving microscopically lower will technically result in the lowest rates since October 28th. It would take a more noticeable improvement to break below that floor. When and if that happens, rates will be the lowest since early 2023.
ICE: "Annual home price growth ended 2025 at just +0.7%" - The ICE Home Price Index (HPI) is a repeat sales index. ICE reports the median price change of the repeat sales. From ICE (Intercontinental Exchange): Annual home price growth ended 2025 at just +0.7% — the smallest calendar-year increase since 2011, when prices fell by 2.9%. With income growth outpacing home price gains and 30-year mortgage rates starting 2026 at 6.15%, housing affordability is at its best level in nearly four years. At current prices and rates, purchasing an average-priced home with 20% down and a 30-year loan requires a monthly payment of $2,093 — 27.8% of median household income. That’s down from $2,256 (31.1%) at the start of 2025. “Improved affordability and income growth have provided a much-needed boost to housing market dynamics, even as regional trends and property types show significant variation. The Northeast and Midwest have emerged as clear leaders, while condos continue to face headwinds in most markets.” Drilling down into regional and property type specifics:
• Regional Standouts: New Haven, CT led all markets with an impressive 8.6% price growth, followed by Syracuse, NY (+6.8%) and Hartford, CT (+6.25%). Notably, 24 of the 25 fastest-appreciating markets were in the Northeast and Midwest.
• Price Declines: On the flip side, 35 of the 100 largest U.S. markets saw home prices decline in 2025 — up from just 10 in 2024 and marking the largest share of declines since 2011.
• Property Type Trends: Single-family homes outperformed condos, with prices rising 1.0% compared to a 1.7% decline for condos. Condos underperformed in 90% of markets nationwide.
As ICE mentioned, "regional trends ... show significant variation". The Northeast and Midwest are saw solid house price gains in 2025, whereas cities in the South and West have been leading the way in inventory increases and price declines (especially Florida and Texas).
Housing Starts Decreased to 1.246 million Annual Rate in October -From the Census Bureau: Permits, Starts and Completions Housing Starts:Privately-owned housing starts in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,246,000. This is 4.6 percent below the revised September estimate of 1,306,000 and is 7.8 percent below the October 2024 rate of 1,352,000. Single-family housing starts in October were at a rate of 874,000; this is 5.4 percent above the revised September figure of 829,000. The October rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 347,000.Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,412,000. This is 0.2 percent below the revised September rate of 1,415,000 and is 1.1 percent below the October 2024 rate of 1,428,000. Single-family authorizations in October were at a rate of 876,000; this is 0.5 percent below the revised September figure of 880,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 481,000 in October.The first graph shows single and multi-family housing starts since 2000. Multi-family starts (blue, 2+ units) decreased month-over-month in October. Multi-family starts were down 7.9% year-over-year. Single-family starts (red) increased in October and were down 7.8% year-over-year.The second graph shows single and multi-family housing starts since 1968. Total housing starts in October were well below expectations. We are still missing data for November due to the government shutdown.
Update: Lumber Prices Mostly Unchanged Year-over-year --Here is another update on lumber prices. NOTE: The CME group discontinued the Random Length Lumber Futures contract on May 16, 2023. I switched to a physically-delivered Lumber Futures contract that was started in August 2022. Unfortunately, this impacts long term price comparisons since the new contract was priced about 24% higher than the old random length contract for the period when both contracts were available. This graph shows CME random length framing futures through August 2022 (blue), and the new physically-delivered Lumber Futures (LBR) contract starting in August 2022 (Red). On January 2, 2026, LBR was at $534.00 per 1,000 board feet, down 1.6% from a year ago.There is somewhat of a seasonal demand for lumber, and lumber prices frequently peak in the first half of the year.The pickup in early 2018 was due to the Trump lumber tariffs in 2017. There were huge increases during the pandemic due to a combination of supply constraints and a pickup in housing starts. Now, even with the tariffs, prices are mostly unchanged year-over-year suggesting weak demand for framing lumber.
Asking Rents Decline Year-over-year Today, in the Real Estate Newsletter: Asking Rents Decline Year-over-year - Brief excerpt: Another monthly update on rents. Tracking rents is important for understanding the dynamics of the housing market. Slower household formation and increased supply (more multi-family completions) has kept asking rents under pressure. More recently, immigration policy has become a negative for rentals.Apartment List: Asking Rent Growth -1.3% Year-over-year... The national median rent fell 0.8% in December, and now stands at $1,356. This closes the book on 2025, with five consecutive months of rent declines. Based on recent years, we expect another 1-2 months of rent drops before the market turns a corner in early Spring.
Realtor.com: 28th Consecutive Month with Year-over-year Decline in Rents: Across the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the United States, median asking rent for 0-2 bedroom units fell for the 28th consecutive month on a year-over-year basis.
Wholesale Used Car Prices Increased Slightly in December; Up 0.4% Year-over-year - From Manheim Consulting today: Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index: December 2025 Trends The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (MUVVI) rose to 205.5, reflecting a 0.4% increase for wholesale used-vehicle prices (adjusted for mix, mileage, and seasonality) compared to December 2024. The December index is up 0.1% month over month. This index from Manheim Consulting is based on all completed sales transactions at Manheim’s U.S. auctions. The Manheim index suggests used car prices increased in December (seasonally adjusted) and were up 0.4% YoY.
Light Vehicle Sales Increased to 16.0 Million SAAR in December - The BEA reported that light vehicle sales were at 16.0 million in December on a seasonally adjusted annual basis (SAAR). This was up 1.9% from the sales rate in November, and down 4.9% from December 2024. This graph shows light vehicle sales since 2006 from the BEA (blue) through December. Vehicle sales were over 17 million SAAR in March and April as consumers rushed to "beat the tariffs". Then sales were depressed in May and June. Sales were boosted in August and September due to the termination of the EV credit at the end of September. The second graph shows light vehicle sales since the BEA started keeping data in 1967. Sales in December were slightly above the consensus forecast. Light vehicle sales were up 2.4% in 2025 compared to 2024.
Heavy Truck Sales Collapsed in Q4; Down 32.5% Year-over-year in December -This graph shows heavy truck sales since 1967 using data from the BEA. The dashed line is the December 2025 seasonally adjusted annual sales rate (SAAR) of 311 thousand. Note: "Heavy trucks - trucks more than 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight." Heavy truck sales were at 311 thousand SAAR in December, down from 336 thousand in November, and down 32.5% from 461 thousand SAAR in December 2024. Sales were down 15.3% in 2025 compared to annual sales in 2024. Usually, heavy truck sales decline sharply prior to a recession, and sales have collapsed recently.
Vehicle Sales Up 1.9% in December - Vehicle sales rose for a second straight month in December, coming in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 16.022 million units. That represents a 1.9% increase from the previous month but a -4.9% decline from one year ago. The first chart shows the series since 2007, which illustrates the dramatic impact of the Great Recession. This is quite a noisy series - the absolute average month-over-month change is 4.3% therefore we've added a nine-month exponential moving average (at the suggestion of Bob Bronson of Bronson Capital Markets Research). The moving average reduces the distortion of seasonal sales events (e.g., Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend) and thus helps us visualize the trend. The latest moving average is at an annual rate of 16.054 million units.Here is the complete series data from 1976. We've added a linear regression to further illustrate the direction of the long-term trend. The latest moving average value is 9.9% below its record high in July 2005. Heavy truck sales fell 7.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.311 million units, the lowest level since May 2020. This marks the sixth consecutive monthly increase and puts the nine-month exponential moving average at 0.380 million units, its slowest pace in over ten years. Compared to a year ago, heavy truck sales are down -32.5%.
U.S. Trade Deficit Fell to Lowest Level Since 2009 as Tariffs Reshape Trade - The New York Times - The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services shrank to $29.4 billion in October, down from $48.1 billion the prior month as the Trump administration’s tariffs reshaped global trade, data from the Commerce Department showed on Thursday. The figure was the lowest monthly trade deficit recorded since June 2009. U.S. imports have fallen while exports have remained strong, decreasing the trade deficit and seemingly accomplishing a major goal for President Trump. But economists cautioned that some of the trend resulted from temporary fluctuations in trade in certain products, like gold and pharmaceuticals. Because of a surge in imports earlier this year, the overall trade deficit from January to October was still up 7.7 percent from the previous year. Imports in October fell 3.2 percent to $331.4 billion from the previous month, while exports rose 2.6 percent to $302 billion. Because exports grew more than imports, the U.S. trade deficit narrowed. U.S. monthly imports Note: Data shows goods and services.Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis.The New York Times Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said that there was a lot of noise in the data for the month, and that gold and silver markets in particular had been “bonkers.” Another force narrowing the trade deficit in the month was a collapse in pharmaceutical imports, he said. Drug companies stockpiled pharmaceuticals ahead of tariffs going into effect on the sector on Oct. 1, though many firms were ultimately spared from tariffs. “Cutting through the noise and getting to the underlying signal in the data, it suggests to me that the deficit is as large as its ever been,” Mr. Zandi said. Trade flows have fluctuated wildly this year because of Mr. Trump’s tariffs. The president announced sweeping global tariffs in April, before pausing them for several months to carry out trade negotiations. Those tariffs went back into effect on Aug. 7. On Aug. 29, the Trump administration also ended the “de minimis” exemption, which allowed foreign shipments valued at less than $800 to come into the United States tariff-free. The administration has also imposed a variety of tariffs on products and sectors it deemed important to national security, including steel, copper and upholstered furniture. As of November, the U.S. effective tariff rate had climbed to more than 16 percent, the highest level since 1935, according to the Budget Lab at Yale, making it significantly more expensive for importers to bring goods into the country.. The Trump administration has pointed to the lower monthly trade deficits in recent months as evidence that its trade policies were working. Mr. Trump has long seen the trade deficit as a sign of an ailing American economy. He and his supporters argue that tariffs will narrow it, by boosting U.S. factory production and reducing imports. But economists argue that bigger economic forces typically determine the size of the trade deficit, like savings rates and government spending. They have also cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from a few months of data in a particularly volatile year. Companies imported large amounts of inventory earlier this year before tariffs went into effect, then subsequently reduced their purchases. The question for economists now is whether trade will return to more normal levels as company stockpiles go down, or if tariffs will continue to depress imports and decrease the trade deficit. For the year through October, exports are up 6.3 percent annually, while imports have risen 6.6 percent, according to the data, which is compiled by the Census Bureau. Tariffs could undergo more changes in the weeks to come. The Supreme Court is set to rule soon on the legality of many of the tariffs that Mr. Trump issued using a 1970s emergency law. But Trump officials have said that if those tariffs were struck down, they would use other authorities to impose new duties. Diane Swonk, an economist at KPMG, described the monthly drop in the trade deficit as “stunning,” but said that it was largely driven by trade in gold. Investors have been buying and selling gold in part to offset uncertainty related to the tariffs this year. Gold made up nearly 90 percent of the rise in exports in October and about 13 percent of the decline in imports, she said. Americans imported slightly more passenger cars, cellphones, toys and appliances in the month. And imports of high-tech goods remained strong because of tariff waivers for the electronics sector and the building of American data centers to feed A.I. demand, Ms. Swonk said. The U.S. trade deficit with China continued to shrink in October, while trade deficits with Mexico, Thailand and Taiwan all hit record highs, in part reflecting A.I.-related imports. Beyond gold and precious metals, exports of other products looked relatively weak. Shipments abroad of American aircraft, computers, soybeans and pharmaceutical goods all fell on a monthly basis in October. Soybean exports were down $3.3 billion in the year through October, as China curtailed its purchases of U.S. beans and bought from South America instead.
ISM® Manufacturing index Decreased to 47.9% in December; "Lowest Reading of 2025" - The ISM manufacturing index indicated contraction. The PMI® was at 47.9% in December, down from 48.2% in November. The employment index was at 44.9%, up from 44.0% the previous month, and the new orders index was at 47.7%, up from 47.4%. From ISM: Manufacturing PMI® at 47.9% December 2025 ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in December for the 10th consecutive month, following a two-month expansion preceded by 26 straight months of contraction, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report. “The Manufacturing PMI® registered 47.9 percent in December, a 0.3-percentage point decrease compared to the reading of 48.2 percent in November and the lowest reading of 2025. The overall economy continued in expansion for the 68th month after one month of contraction in April 2020. (A Manufacturing PMI® above 42.3 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy.) The New Orders Index contracted for a fourth straight month in December following one month of growth; the figure of 47.7 percent is 0.3 percentage point higher than the 47.4 percent recorded in November. The December reading of the Production Index (51 percent) is 0.4 percentage point lower than November’s figure of 51.4 percent. The Prices Index remained in expansion (or ‘increasing’ territory), registering 58.5 percent, the same as November’s reading. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 45.8 percent, up 1.8 percentage points compared to the 44 percent recorded in November. The Employment Index registered 44.9 percent, up 0.9 percentage point from November’s figure of 44 percent. This suggests manufacturing contracted for the tenth consecutive month in December. This was below the consensus forecast, and employment was very weak and prices very strong.
US Service Activity Expands At Fastest Pace Since 2024, In Mirror Image To Manufacturing Slump --It's only fitting that two days after we got the weakest US Manufacturing ISM print in over a year, earlier this morning we got a diametrically opposite report from the Service sector, which according to the Institute for Supply Management expanded in December at the fastest pace in more than a year, fueled by solid demand growth and a pickup in hiring. As the chart below shows, while the Service sector grew at the fastest pace since October 2024, the Manufacturing sector contracted at the fastest pace since November 2024. The Institute for Supply Management’s index of services rose 1.8 points to 54.4, the highest since October 2024 (recall readings above 50 indicate expansion in the largest part of the economy). The December figure exceeded all projections in a Bloomberg survey of economists. Ironically, it printed at the exact same time as the latest JOLTs report which as we noted earlier, printed below all Wall Street estimates. New orders expanded by the most since September 2024 and a measure of business activity, which parallels the ISM’s factory output gauge, climbed to a one-year high. Export bookings grew at the fastest pace in more than a year. Meanwhile, ISM’s index of prices paid for services and materials showed the slowest growth in nine months. The supplier deliveries index fell 2.3 points from the highest level in a year. Inventories expanded at the fastest pace since October 2024, based on the ISM’s gauge. Even so, a measure of inventory sentiment fell for a third month, suggesting fewer service providers saw their stockpiles as being too high. The pickup in demand helped spark the biggest growth in services employment since February, and comes just days before the December jobs report out Friday is projected to show moderate payrolls growth in December and a slightly lower unemployment rate than a month earlier. “The broad-based strength in the headline index suggests that conditions in the services sector are picking up, hinting at the potential for some more broad-based economic growth,” Alexandra Brown, North America economist at Capital Economics, said in a note. Eleven industries reported growth last month, led by retail trade, finance and insurance, and accommodation and food services. Five contracted, including management of companies and support services. Below we share Select ISM survey respondent comments:
Job Openings Plunge Below Lowest Estimate As Gov't Openings Crater; Hiring Plummets -While today's ADP report was a solid rebound from the worst monthly report in years (even if it missed expectations due to a sudden plunge in California payrolls), the same could not be said for the JOLTS job opening report that followed less than two hours later, and which was another epic disaster: for the month of November (recall JOLTS lags the payrolls report by a month), the US had only 7.146 million job openings, a huge drop from the 7.670 million in October (which was conveniently revised lower to 7.449 million) and the lowest since September 2024. The November print was also a 3+ sigma miss to expectations and came in below the lowest estimate (that of TD Securities). According to the BLS, the number of job openings decreased in accommodation and food services (-148,000); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-108,000); and wholesale trade (-63,000). Job openings increased in construction (+90,000). But the most notable drop by far, was that in government, where the number of workers collapsed to the lowest level since early 2021. Meanwhile, after four years of the US labor market dodging the bullet, its luck has finally run out because while until just a few months ago, the labor market was supply-constrained, with more job openings than unemployed workers in the US, in November we are finally back to sharply demand constrained, with 685k fewer job openings than unemployed workers, the most since March 2021... ... and translating into a 0.9 ratio of job openings to unemployed workers, the first sub-1.0x print in 4 years. While the job openings data was ugly and potentially another harbinger of the coming jobs recession - things were even uglier below the surface, as the number of new hires tumbled by 253K - the biggest one month drrop since June 2024 - to 5.1156MM the lowest since June 2024. The only silver lining is that the number of people quitting their jobs - also known as the take this job and shove it indicator - rebounded by almost 200K, to 3.161MM, from 2.994MM. Putting it all together, despite a rather solid ADP print earlier, today's JOLTS report was quite terrible and certainly enough to ensure that Fed rate cuts continue (assuming no dramatic improvement in Friday's job report). The flip side, of course, is that this report took place when the government was still mostly shut down, so our advice would be to just ignore everything since it is not indicative of the current state of the US economy after it reopened shortly after Democrats captiulated without achieving anything.
ADP Private Payrolls Rebound But Miss Estimates After California Jobs Tumble - One month after ADP reported a dismal -29K private payrolls print for November, tied for the worst month since March 2023, and just in time to validate the Fed's latest rate cut, moments ago ADP reported that in December, the US added 41K payrolls, which while a solid jump from last month's -29K, missed consensus estimates of a +50K print. The breakdown showed continued weakness in manufacturing jobs, which shrank by 3K in December, offset by a 44K increase in Service jobs, despite another notable drop in Information (-12K) and Professional/Business services (-29K) jobs. Also notable is that all the weakness was in the Western region (read California) where 61K jobs were lost, while a breakdown of establishments by size saw solid hiring by small and medium companies, offset by a modest 2K increase amid Large companies. “Small establishments recovered from November job losses with positive end-of-year hiring, even as large employers pulled back,” said ADP chief economist Nela Richardson. There was more good news for the Trump admin which appears to have halted the sharp deterioration in the labor market: year-over-year pay for job-stayers rose 4.4% in December, unchanged from November while jobchangers saw their pay growth accelerate to 6.6% from 6.3%.
December Employment Report: 50 thousand Jobs, 4.4% Unemployment Rate - From the BLS: Employment Situation; Both total nonfarm payroll employment (+50,000) and the unemployment rate (4.4 percent) changed little in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment continued to trend up in food services and drinking places, health care, and social assistance. Retail trade lost jobs.... The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for October was revised down by 68,000, from -105,000 to -173,000, and the change for November was revised down by 8,000, from +64,000 to +56,000. With these revisions, employment in October and November combined is 76,000 lower than previously reported. The first graph shows the jobs added per month since January 2021. Total payrolls increased by 50 thousand in December. Private payrolls increased by37 thousand, and public payrolls increased 13 thousand. Payrolls for October and November were revised down by 76 thousand, combined. The economy has only added 93 thousand jobs since April (8 months).The second graph shows the year-over-year change in total non-farm employment since 1968. In December, the year-over-year change was 0.594 million jobs. Year-over-year employment growth has slowed sharply. The third graph shows the employment population ratio and the participation rate.The Labor Force Participation Rate decreased to 62.4% in December, from 62.5% in November. This is the percentage of the working age population in the labor force. The Employment-Population ratio increased to 59.7% from 59.6% in November (blue line). I'll post the 25 to 54 age group employment-population ratio graph later. The fourth graph shows the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate was decreased to 4.4% in December from 4.5% in November. This was slightly below consensus expectations, however, October and November payrolls were revised down by 76,000 combined. Overall another weak report.
December jobs report: ringing the alarm bells for imminent recession* (*with caveats) -This morning’s jobs report for December was the most important single datapoint we have received since the end of the government shutdown two months ago - and to cut to the chase it was in all respects except the headlines recessionary. Below is my in depth synopsis.
- 50,000 jobs gained in total.
- Private sector jobs increased 37,000, and government jobs added 13,000
- October was revised downward by -68,000 and November by -8,000, for a total of -76,000.
- The alternate, and more volatile measure in the household report, rose by 232,000 jobs (Important note: this does not take into account the annual population revisions which as usual were added at all once this month).
- The U3 unemployment rate declined -0.1% to 4.5%.
- The U6 underemployment rate declined -0.3% to 8.4%.
- Further out on the spectrum, those who are not in the labor force but want a job now rose 69,000 since September to 6.208 million, aside from August the highest level since September 2021.
- The average manufacturing workweek, one of the 10 components of the Index of Leading Indicators, declined -0.1 hour to 41.2 hours, down -0.4 hours from its 2021 peak of 41.6 hours.
- Manufacturing jobs decreased by -8,000, the eighth decline in a row. It is now at a 3.5+ year low.
- Truck driving was unchanged.
- Construction jobs declined -11,000.
- Residential construction jobs, which are even more leading, declined -4,200.
- Goods producing jobs as a whole declined -21,000, the sixth declinine in the last eight months.
- Temporary jobs, which have declined by over -650,000 since late 2022, declined again by -5,700, a new post-pandemic low.
- The number of people unemployed for 5 weeks or fewer declined -253,000 to 2,289,000 (note that this might also be influenced by the annual Household Survey revisions.
- Average Hourly Earnings for Production and Nonsupervisory Personnel increased 0.1%, with a YoY gain of +3.6%, the lowest reading but for one month in 2021 since the pandemic, although it remains above the current YoY inflation rate.
- The index of aggregate hours worked for non-managerial workers was increased 0.1%, and is up only 0.7% YoY. With the exception of 1967 and one month in 1994, in the last 60 years before the pandemic such a low YoY increase always took place in or just before a recession.
- The index of aggregate payrolls for non-managerial workers also rose 0.1%, and is up 4.2% YoY.
- Professional and business employment declined -9,000 in October. These tend to be well-paying jobs. This is the sixth decline in seven months, and is the lowest number in over 3 years. It is also lower YoY by -0.4%, which in the past 80+ years - until now - has almost *always* meant recession.
- The employment population ratio increased 0.1% to 59.7%.
- The Labor Force Participation Rate declind -0.1% to 62.4% from September through November, vs. 63.4% in February 2020.
SUMMARY: Last month I concluded that the combined October and November report showed “a jobs market is either a hairs-breadth above contraction, or actually in contraction.” This month showed a contracting jobs market in all important metrics except the headlines (which, for the record, were positive). But all of the important leading metrics, except for the noisiest one (short term layoffs) were negative, or in one case (trucking jobs) unchanged. All the other important goods-producing sectors - manufacturing, construction (including residential construction), and temporary jobs - declined, as did the goods-producing sector as a whole. In the Household Survey, those who want a job but aren’t in the labor force increased. And it is a near certainty that once we have the inflation data we will find out that real aggregate nonsupervisory payrolls declined. Indeed, without the callbacks to government jobs, when we count just private sector jobs, there was only an increase of 37,000.Let me be clear: the jobs market is being entirely held up by service providing jobs, which tend to rise even in the earliest stages of recessions.This is a jobs report which is ringing the alarms for imminent recession. The caveats are, as above, how well services spending holds up (we’ll finally get an updated personal consumption report in a couple of weeks), and whether this downturn was a temporary one influenced by the record length autumn government shutdown.
Comments on December Employment Report – McBride - The headline jobs number in the December employment report was slightly below expectations, however October and November were revised down by 76,000. The unemployment rate decreased to 4.4%.Earlier: December Employment Report: 50 thousand Jobs, 4.4% Unemployment Rate. Since the overall participation rate is impacted by both cyclical (recession) and demographic (aging population, younger people staying in school) reasons, here is the employment-population ratio for the key working age group: 25 to 54 years old. The 25 to 54 years old participation rate was unchanged in December at 83.8%% from 83.8% in November. The 25 to 54 employment population ratio increased to 80.7% from 80.6% the previous month. Both are down slightly from the recent peaks, but still near the highest level this millennium. The graph shows the nominal year-over-year change in "Average Hourly Earnings" for all private employees from the Current Employment Statistics (CES). There was a huge increase at the beginning of the pandemic as lower paid employees were let go, and then the pandemic related spike reversed a year later. Wage growth has trended down after peaking at 5.9% YoY in March 2022 and was at 3.8% YoY in December, up from 3.6% YoY in November. From the BLS report: "The number of people employed part time for economic reasons, at 5.3 million, changed little in December but is up by 980,000 over the year. These individuals would have preferred full-time employment but were working part time because their hours had been reduced or they were unable to find full-time jobs." The number of persons working part time for economic reasons decreased in December to 5.34 million from 5.49 million in November. This is well above the pre-pandemic levels and near the highest levels since mid-2021. These workers are included in the alternate measure of labor underutilization (U-6) that decreased to 8.4% from 8.7% in November. This is down from the record high in April 2020 of 22.9% and up from the lowest level on record (seasonally adjusted) in December 2022 (6.6%). (This series started in 1994). This measure is well above the 7.0% level in February 2020 (pre-pandemic). This graph shows the number of workers unemployed for 27 weeks or more. According to the BLS, there are 1.95 million workers who have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks and still want a job, up from 1.91 million in November. This is down from post-pandemic high of 4.171 million, and up from the recent low of 1.056 million. This is above pre-pandemic levels. Summary: The headline jobs number in the December employment report was slightly below expectations, however October and November were revised down by 76,000. The unemployment rate decreased to 4.4%. This was another weak employment report.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to shut down after losing legal battle with union --The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is ceasing operations on May 3, it announced Wednesday, following a series of legal losses that capped off a years-long labor strike.Block Communications Inc., the Post-Gazette’s parent company, said it has lost more than $350 million operating the paper over the last two decades. The company said that the realities facing local journalism make “continued cash losses at this scale no longer.”The union said in a release Wednesday that the company has spent years “wasting millions of dollars losing court battles to deny their workers’ basic rights,” and noted employees had not received any across-the-board wage increases over the prior 20 years.The paper was founded in 1786 and formed under its present name in 1927, via a merger of the Pittsburgh Gazette Times and The Pittsburgh Post. It has an average paid circulation of more than 83,000 subscribers and produces print editions on Thursdays and Sundays, according to its website. The paper’s staff won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for its coverage of the October 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Eleven people were killed in the antisemitic attack. The announcement came after the Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the paper’s emergency appeal to block a lower-court order requiring the paper to abide by an earlier labor agreement it reached with its union, the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh. Justice Samuel Alito, who handles emergency cases arising from Pennsylvania by default, had temporarily halted the order until the high court issued its ruling.Post-Gazette workers returned in November, more than three years after beginning a strike over claims the publisher violated its collective bargaining agreement and “unilaterally imposed work rules that worsened health care coverage and other benefits.”“Instead of simply following the law, the owners chose to punish local journalists and the city of Pittsburgh,” said Andrew Goldstein, the president of the union. “Post-Gazette journalists have done award-winning work for decades and we’re going to pursue all options to make sure that Pittsburgh continues to have the caliber of journalism it deserves.”Block Communications had warned of the consequences of losing the legal fight, saying the labor contract, agreed to in 2014, imposes “outdated and inflexible operational practices” that would make continued publication impossible.Trump administration freezes $10 billion in child, family aid - The Trump administration on Tuesday said it was freezing $10 billion in federal grant funds for certain child care and family assistance programs in five states because of "serious concerns about widespread fraud" in state-administered programs.All five states targeted by the freeze — California, Colorado, Illinois,Minnesota, and New York — are led by Democrats.The action applies to three programs overseen by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department's Administration for Children and Families: Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Social Services Block Grant.The move comes a day after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz dropped his bid for a third term amid political fallout from widespread fraud in social service programs in the state, including child-care services, which a federal prosecutor has estimated cost more than $9 billion."Families who rely on child care and family assistance programs deserve confidence that these resources are used lawfully and for their intended purpose," said Deputy HHS Secretary Jim O'Neill in a statement."This action reflects our commitment to program integrity, fiscal responsibility, and compliance with federal requirements," O'Neill said.More than $7.3 billion in TANF funds have been frozen, and nearly $2.4 billion in CCDF funds have been frozen. Nearly $840 million in Social Services Block Grant funding was frozen.Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker blasted President Donald Trump for the freeze."Rather than making it more affordable for families, Trump is stripping away child care from those just trying to go to work," Pritzker wrote in a post on X."Thousands depend on these programs, and now their livelihoods are at risk," Pritzker wrote. "It's wrong and cruel — we'll take every step possible to defend Illinoisians." New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, in a tweet, wrote, "Trump is threatening to freeze $10 billion in child care funding in blue states to make life harder and more expensive for kids and families. It's vindictive. It's cruel. And we'll fight it with every fiber of our being."HHS on Monday announced that it was rescinding a series of child-care rules implemented under the Biden administration "that required states to pay providers before verifying any attendance and before care was delivered.""The change will roll back provisions in the 2024 Child Care and Development Fund rule that weakened oversight and increased the risk of waste, fraud and abuse in federally-funded state child care — including programs now under investigation in Minnesota," HHS said in a statement on Monday. The department last week froze all federal child care funding for Minnesota, which totals about $185 million annually.
Dumbocracy? US Falls Below The OECD Average At Math - Math skills are a foundational input into modern economies. They support innovation, productivity, and long-term competitiveness. As technology and data-driven work become more central, countries with stronger math outcomes often gain an edge. This infographic, via Visual Capitalist's Bruno Venditti, ranks countries by their average math scores among 15–16 year-olds. The data for this visualization comes from the OECD’s PISA 2022 assessment. PISA measures how well students can apply math knowledge to practical problems, offering a global comparison of education systems. Scores typically range from below 400 to above 600. Top performers in this dataset score well above the OECD average of 472. Singapore ranks first with an average math score of 575. Macau (SAR), Taiwan, Hong Kong (SAR), Japan, and South Korea also appear near the top of the ranking. These economies have consistently prioritized math education through rigorous programs and high academic expectations.
Smartphone use cuts into school hours, with social media leading the way - University of California, San Francisco investigators measured smartphone app activity during school hours among US adolescents and reported an average of 1.16 hours of use, with social media apps taking up the most time.Adolescents aged 13 to 18 years are estimated to spend more than 8.5 hours daily on screen-based entertainment. Smartphone use has been associated with poor physical health, mental health, and academic outcomes.Nearly all US public schools have a smartphone policy, but compliance is difficult to enforce and objective evidence about use during school hours has been limited. Few investigations have measured app activity during school using passive sensing technology rather than relying on self-reports. In the study, "Smartphone Use During School Hours by US Youth in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study," published in JAMA, researchers used passive sensing technology to measure smartphone usage in schools in a diverse sample of adolescents. The sample included 640 adolescents around the age of 15 years. Male participants accounted for 59.2%, and female participants accounted for 40.8%. Data were collected using the Effortless Assessment Research System phone app. Adolescents spent a mean 1.16 hours using smartphones during school hours. Social media, video, games, communication, and entertainment ranked as the top five app categories, with the greatest time spent on social media apps at around 30 minutes, followed by video apps such as YouTube for around 15 minutes, and games for about another 15 minutes. Researchers conclude that US adolescents, on average, spent more than an hour using smartphones during school, with social media use accounting for most of that time.Private equity acquired more than 500 autism centers over the past decade, new study shows - Private equity firms have acquired more than 500 autism therapy centers across the U.S. over the past decade, with nearly 80% of those acquisitions occurring over a four-year span, according to a new study from researchers at the Brown University Center for Advancing Health Policy through Research. Study author Yashaswini Singh said the work highlights how financial firms are rapidly moving into a sensitive area of health care without much public scrutiny or data on where this is happening or why. "The big takeaway is that there is yet another segment of health care that has emerged as potentially profitable to private equity investors and it is very distinct from where we have traditionally known investors to go, so the potential for harm can be a lot more serious," Singh said. "We're also dealing with children who are largely insured by Medicaid programs, so if private equity increases the intensity of care, what we're really looking at are impacts to state Medicaid budgets down the road." The findings of the analysis were published in JAMA Pediatrics and offer one of the first national assessments of private equity's growing role in autism therapies and services. Autism diagnoses among U.S. children have risen sharply in recent years, nearly tripling between 2011 and 2022, and the condition has been in the national spotlight amid political debate falsely linking autism to childhood vaccines. The researchers, Singh said, did not evaluate the impacts of private equity ownership on access to treatment, quality of care or the experience of families seeking services. The findings do suggest that investment has been concentrated in states with higher rates of autism diagnoses among children and states that have fewer limits on insurance coverage. The researchers identified a total of 574 autism therapy centers owned by private equity firms as of 2024, spanning 42 states. Most of those centers were acquired between 2018 and 2022, the result of 142 separate deals. The largest concentrations of centers were in California (97), Texas (81), Colorado (38), Illinois (36) and Florida (36). Sixteen states had one or no private equity-owned clinics at the end of 2024. States in the top third for childhood autism prevalence were 24% more likely to have private equity–owned clinics than others, according to the study. The scale and speed of acquisitions underscore the growing trend of private equity's entry into the market. According to Singh, researchers were prompted to investigate after hearing anecdotal reports from families and health providers about changes following private equity takeovers.
Spot The Odd One Out: Life Expectancy Vs Healthcare Spending - As Warren Buffett popularized: “Price is what you pay, value is what you get”. As Visual Capitalist's Jeff Desjardins details below, just because someone pays the most, doesn’t mean that they extract the biggest payoff from a product or service.Today’s visual from Our World in Data that compares life expectancy with healthcare spending per capita hints at exactly this paradox.Below is the data for 51 countries for the year 2023:The clear takeaway is that while most high and upper-middle income countries cluster around the same trajectory, the United States is a clear outlier.On average, the countries on the above list have a life expectancy of 79.74 years for a cost of $3,986 per person, while the U.S. has a life expectancy of 79.3 and spend of $12,023 per person.Peer countries (Canada, UK, Germany, Japan, France, Italy) spend about half of what the U.S. does on healthcare per capita on average, but all have better life expectancy outcomes. While the U.S. excels in advanced and specialized medical care, life expectancy outcomes are held back by lifestyle and social factors rather than clinical capability. Higher rates of obesity, chronic disease, opioid overdoses, gun violence, and traffic fatalities all weigh on average lifespan.At the same time, healthcare access is uneven, with large gaps by income, race, and geography. As a result, additional spending often goes toward higher prices and end-of-life care, producing diminishing returns in overall life expectancy. View the highest and lowest life expectancy rates around the world in this map.
Higher intake of food preservatives linked to increased cancer risk --A higher intake of food preservatives, widely used in industrially processed foods and beverages to extend shelf-life, is associated with a modestly increased risk of cancer, finds a study from France published in The BMJ. While further research is needed to better understand these links, the researchers say these new data call for the reevaluation of regulations governing the use of these additives by the food industry to improve consumer protection. Preservatives are substances added to packaged foods to extend shelf life. Some experimental studies have shown that certain preservatives can damage cells and DNA, but firm evidence linking preservatives to cancer risk remains scarce. Study design and participant detailsTo address this, researchers set out to examine the association between exposure to preservative food additives and risk of cancer in adults, using detailed dietary and health data from 2009–2023. Their findings are based on 105,260 participants aged 15 years and older (average age 42 years; 79% women) enrolled in the NutriNet-Santé cohort study who were free of cancer and completed regular 24-hour brand-specific dietary records over an average 7.5 year period. Health questionnaires and official medical and death records were then used to track cancer cases up to 31 December 2023. A total of 17 individual preservatives were analyzed, including citric acid, lecithins, total sulfites, ascorbic acid, sodium nitrite, potassium sorbate, sodium erythorbate, sodium ascorbate, potassium metabisulfite, and potassium nitrate. Preservatives were grouped into non-antioxidants (which inhibit microbial growth or slow chemical changes that lead to spoilage) and antioxidants (which delay or prevent food deteriorating by removing or limiting oxygen levels in packaging). Key findings on cancer riskDuring the follow-up period, 4,226 participants received a diagnosis of cancer, comprising 1,208 breast, 508 prostate, 352 colorectal, and 2,158 other cancers. Of the 17 individually studied preservatives, 11 were not associated with cancer incidence, and no link was found between total preservatives and cancer incidence. However, higher intakes of several preservatives (mostly non-antioxidants, including potassium sorbate, potassium metabisulfite, sodium nitrite, potassium nitrate, and acetic acid) were associated with a higher risk of cancers, compared with risks in non-consumers or lower consumers. For example, total sorbates, specifically potassium sorbate, were associated with a 14% increased risk of overall cancer and a 26% increased risk of breast cancer, while total sulfites were associated with a 12% increased risk of overall cancer. Sodium nitrite was associated with a 32% increased risk of prostate cancer, while potassium nitrate was associated with an increased risk of overall cancer (13%) and breast cancer (22%). Total acetates were associated with an increased risk of overall cancer (15%) and breast cancer (25%), while acetic acid was associated with a 12% increased risk of overall cancer. Among antioxidant preservatives, only total erythorbates and specific sodium erythorbate were found to be associated with a higher incidence of cancer. While more studies are needed to better understand these potential risks, the researchers note that several of these compounds can alter immune and inflammatory pathways, possibly triggering the development of cancer. This is an observational study, so no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect, and the researchers can't rule out the possibility that other unmeasured factors may have influenced their results. However, they say this was a large study based on detailed dietary records linked to food databases over 14 years, and the results are consistent with existing experimental data suggesting adverse cancer-related effects of several of these compounds.
Study: 87% of primary care providers say drug shortages lower quality of care --A research letter yesterday in JAMA Network Open highlights the high perceived prevalence of US drug shortages and the negative outcomes related to patient care, primary care practice, and physician well-being. The study was based on answers to a web-based survey conducted from July to August 2024 among primary care providers (PCPs) affected by drug shortages, with 902 participants included in the final analysis. Overall, the perceived prevalence of drug shortages was high, at 88%, and participants said one in five patients had an outcome associated with drug shortages, such as pervasiveness, treatment changes and outcomes, and administrative burdens. The drug categories with the highest rate of severe outcomes were endocrinologic drugs (54%), stimulants (52%), and drugs for infectious diseases (26%).Among the 87% of respondents who said drug shortages changed their quality of care, altering the drug of choice was more common (92%) than postponing prescribing (63%). PCPs said drug shortages resulted in more work for themselves and staff, especially in terms of prior-authorization paperwork.
CDC pares list of recommended childhood vaccines - The U.S. is dropping universal recommendations for certain childhood vaccines, the Trump administration said Monday, in a dramatic overhaul of the immunization schedule that recommends fewer shots and marks a major policy shift under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The new recommendations, set to take effect immediately, are designed to align the U.S. schedule more closely with that of Denmark, which has one of the leanest childhood vaccination schedules among developed nations. Under the change, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that children be vaccinated against 11 diseases, down from 17 under previous guidelines. The CDC is doing away with recommendations that all children receive vaccines for rotavirus, Covid-19, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. The CDC is instead advising that decisions about those shots be made by parents and their children’s healthcare providers, while only recommending the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines in limited cases. The CDC is also changing vaccine guidelines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), dengue and meningitis. It is now recommending those shots only for high-risk populations. “After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent,” Kennedy said. “This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health.” Kennedy had been considering whether to match Denmark’s childhood vaccine schedule, which recommends routine immunization for only 10 of the 17 diseases on the U.S. schedule. Unlike Denmark, the U.S. will continue recommending that children be vaccinated against chickenpox. While vaccination requirements are set by states, CDC guidance has a significant impact on shaping state policy and can also influence insurance coverage. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Mehmet Oz suggested the changes shouldn’t affect parents who wish to vaccinate their children. “All vaccines currently recommended by CDC will remain covered by insurance without cost-sharing,” he said. “No family will lose access.” In a call with reporters, senior HHS officials said the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel won’t vote on the changes. Public-health experts criticized the move for circumventing the government’s usual vaccine recommendation procedures. They also pushed back on the notion that the U.S. should mirror Denmark, arguing that vaccination policies reflect each country’s distinct needs and priorities. Many other developed countries, including Australia, Britain and Canada, have vaccine schedules similar to those the CDC is doing away with. Physicians have said Denmark’s vaccine recommendations and coverage are informed by a far smaller population and nationalized healthcare system—an approach that doesn’t necessarily translate to the U.S. They also point to epidemiological differences, such as the fact that different strains of meningococcal meningitis are more prevalent in Europe than in the U.S. “I think that the goal of this administration is to make vaccines optional,” said Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious-disease physician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “And that’s just wrong. It puts children in harm’s way.” Offit noted that prior to the rotavirus vaccine, up to 70,000 infants and toddlers were hospitalized annually for dehydration and other complications from the common gastrointestinal illness. Studies have shown that use of the vaccine has resulted in dramatic reductions to that number. The American Academy of Pediatrics, a leading pediatrics group that has made childhood vaccine recommendations since the 1930s, said it wouldn’t be changing its own guidelines and will continue recommending routine childhood vaccinations for diseases that had previously been on the schedule. “Tragically, our federal government can no longer be trusted in this role,” Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the AAP’s committee on infectious diseases, told reporters following the announcement. Last month, the CDC dropped a recommendation that all newborns receive a dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. The move was widely criticized by public-health experts. Kennedy has spent the past year reshaping the federal government’s approach to vaccines. He has rolled back Covid-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women, dismissed all members of a key vaccine advisory panel and replaced most of them with skeptics, and revised a government website to suggest a possible link between vaccines and autism. Kennedy said the changes are intended to provide Americans with gold-standard science on vaccines. President Trump described the U.S. childhood vaccination schedule as “ridiculous” in a Truth Social post last month and called on Kennedy to fast-track a review of vaccination schedules overseas, with an eye toward bringing U.S. recommendations more in line with other countries. Trump called the revised schedule announced Monday “far more reasonable.”
HHS announces unprecedented overhaul of US childhood vaccine schedule -Federal officials today announced an unprecedented overhaul of the US childhood immunization schedule, paring the number of universally recommended immunizations from 17 to 11. The new vaccination policy, which takes effect immediately, is modeled after the schedule used by Denmark. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue to recommend 11 shots for all children, six others will be recommended only for children deemed to be at high risk of infection, said the agency’s acting director, Jim O’Neill. A third group of vaccines will be available through “shared clinical decision-making” with medical providers. Public health experts immediately decried the change. Experts said there’s no reason to change a system that has prevented 1.1 million deaths over the past 30 years. “Abandoning the U.S. evidence-based process is a dangerous and potentially deadly decision for Americans,” said Jason M. Goldman, MD, president of the American College of Physicians. “The evidence is clear that vaccines prevent deaths, hospitalizations, and spread of disease.” New schedule recommends shots against 11 diseases, down from 17 The CDC will continue to recommend vaccines against 11 diseases for all children, including measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus (HPV), and varicella (chickenpox). The CDC is recommending six shots for “high-risk groups,” including vaccines that protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, dengue and two vaccines targeting bacterial meningitis (MenACWY and MenB). Dengue vaccines have always been targeted only to a relatively small number of children in specific circumstances. The vaccines recommended for shared clinical decision-making are for rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B. In another important change, the CDC is now recommending only one dose of HPV vaccine. Until today, the CDC recommended two or three HPV vaccines, depending on the age at which children receive their first shot. The new policy emphasizes that all vaccines recommended for any of the three categories will remain covered by insurance. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long claimed that US children receive “too many” vaccines. Today’s announcement addresses his long-held wish to reduce the number of immunizations that children receive. It also fulfills a directive issued by President Donald Trump last month calling for HHS to align the US vaccination schedule with that of Denmark and other countries that recommend fewer vaccines. The CDC said the changes followed an assessment of 20 developed nations, most of which have national health care systems that provide free health care to their citizens from birth to death. “This is a very dark day for children and for their parents and for our country generally,” said Jesse Goodman, MD, MPH, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at Georgetown University, who spoke at a press conference of vaccine experts following the announcement. Goodman compared the announcement to a “torpedo” blowing up vaccination policy. “There will be more diseases, more infection, more hospitalization,” said Goodman, a former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief scientist and former director of the agency’s center for biologics evaluation and research. Officials with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which has not changed its childhood vaccination recommendations, also oppose the new schedule. Many pediatricians and family doctors tell CIDRAP News that they will continue to follow AAP’s guidance, rather than that of the CDC. “I’m not sure why they want to bring the diseases back but that’s their goal,” said Sean O’ Leary, MD, who chairs the AAP’s infectious disease committee, during a separate press conference held after the announcement. “With RSV we’ve already seen population-level impact. Why do they want more hospitalizations? Hepatitis A is a miserable disease, and it’s particularly bad as children age.” “Eliminating vital US childhood vaccine recommendations without public discussion or transparent review of the data the decision was based on is a radical and dangerous decision,” Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, of the Vaccine Integrity Project said. “This wildly irresponsible decision will put lives at risk.”
RFK Jr., CDC, in seismic shift, reduce number of recommended vaccines for children --Federal health officials announced an unprecedented shift in the childhood vaccine schedule Monday, reducing the number of shots the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends for children. Officials said the unilateral decision will bring the U.S. closer to other developed countries, though medical and public experts said they were worried the change would undercut Americans’ confidence in immunizations and increase the chances of disease outbreaks. The move, which is effective immediately, fulfills a longtime goal of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other vaccine skeptics who have questioned the number and benefit of the vaccines children receive. The CDC will now recommend children receive 11 vaccines, rather than the current list of 17, putting it line with the much smaller country of Denmark. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a physician who voted to confirm Kennedy despite misgivings over Kennedy’s vaccine views, lamented the change in a social media post, echoing concerns from public health groups. “The vaccine schedule IS NOT A MANDATE,” Cassidy wrote on X. “It’s a recommendation giving parents the power. Changing the pediatric vaccine schedule based on no scientific input on safety risks and little transparency will cause unnecessary fear for patients and doctors, and will make America sicker.” The move comes just weeks after President Trump ordered health officials to compare the childhood vaccine schedule with “peer nations” and weigh recommending fewer shots. “After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent,” Kennedy said in a statement. “This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health.” According to materials released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the CDC will no longer routinely recommend every child receive vaccines for rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis A and hepatitis B. The agency will recommend immunization for high-risk groups and populations only, or through consultation with a physician, “when it is not possible for public health authorities to clearly define who will benefit from an immunization.” Officials said they didn’t undertake any new assessment of who is considered high risk. The CDC said it will recommend all children are vaccinated against diseases “for which there is international consensus.” Senior HHS officials on a press call said the change is meant to increase confidence in the vaccine schedule and address the decreased uptake in routine vaccines such as measles. They also said knowledge gaps about vaccine safety and limited data on the risks of vaccination informed their decision. One top official, who declined to speak on the record, said the goal is to make it clear that while some vaccines are important, there are other vaccines that not every child needs. Officials said the change will not require the evidence-based review and input of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the agency’s advisory panel that recommends vaccines. Senior HHS officials insisted they were not sidelining the committee from future policy decisions, though the panel previously said it would focus its efforts on the childhood vaccine schedule and vaccines recommended during pregnancy. Kennedy was the co-founder of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense before leaving to run for president and eventually join the Trump administration. The announcement Monday follows a year of more targeted efforts by Kennedy and his top aides to reshape vaccine policy.
Confusion surrounds CDC’s ‘shared clinical decision-making’ paradigm for childhood vaccines -Yesterday, in introducing drastic cuts to the nation’s childhood immunization schedule, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said “shared clinical decision-making” would be used for pediatric vaccines against rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A and B, and meningococcal disease.But most Americans are confused by the idea of shared clinical decision-making, according to data from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC), which asked adults about the term in two separate surveys in August and December of last year. The polls were conducted in light of the CDC’s decision to move COVID-19 vaccines to a shared clinical decision-making model, which resulted in low uptake and confusion at pharmacies and clinics across the country.According to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), shared clinical decision-making consists of a discussion between the health care provider and the patient or parent/guardian. “Unlike routine, catch-up, and risk-based recommendations, shared clinical decision-making vaccinations are not recommended for everyone in a particular age group or everyone in an identifiable risk group,” ACIP states. The Annenberg polls found that 68% of adults understood shared decision-making means they should review their or their child’s medical history with their health care provider for any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines.One in five people (22%) believe shared decision-making means that “taking the vaccine may not be a good idea for everyone but would benefit some.” Furthermore, more than one in 10 are not sure what shared decision-making means, either for a new vaccine (13%) or for vaccinating children against COVID-19 (12%).Twenty-five percent said shared decision-making means that vaccination need to be discussed with family members, which is not in ACIP’s definition.Americans are also confused about which health care providers can engage in shared clinical decision-making. Most (86%) chose a physician when polled, and 66% chose a physician assistant or nurse practitioner. But only half (50%) chose a registered nurse, and just 33% chose a pharmacist, both of whom can administer vaccines.“Expecting parents to engage in shared decision-making with health care providers about routine, thoroughly studied childhood vaccinations suggests that the public health community has doubts about the safety and efficacy of these vaccines when it does not,” said Patrick E. Jamieson, PhD, director of APPC’s Health and Risk Communication Institute. “These vaccines have been part of the recommended childhood schedule because the benefits of taking them substantially outweigh the risks.”
A unilateral change to childhood vaccines: What it means for you - Katelyn Jetelina - Your Local Epidemiologist - Well, he did it. He actually did it. RFK Jr. unilaterally made sweeping changes to the routine vaccination schedule for children in the United States. This change isn’t based on new data or new evidence, but rather on political and ideological reasons. He bypassed every scientific and clinical process we have, including not taking public comment. It is one of the most opaque and destabilizing public health decisions I’ve seen—it could blow up a lot of progress in childhood vaccines, which have been one of the most successful public health interventions in history. In its wake there will be confusion among parents, schools, and hospital systems, disruption of clinical workflows, possibility of increased liability, and complications with school vaccine requirements. The result is painfully predictable: fewer children will be vaccinated, and children will be harmed. This is overwhelming, but we are far from powerless. So let’s dig into: What the heck just happened? RFK Jr. directed the CDC Acting Director to formally update the U.S. childhood immunization schedule, effective immediately, to the following:
- The CDC will now routinely recommend vaccines for 11 diseases instead of 17.
- Several vaccines previously recommended for all children are now:
- Limited to high-risk groups.
- Left to “shared clinical decision-making.”
RFK Jr. is moving away from population-level prevention and toward individualized risk assessment. This is a fundamental shift in how the U.S. has protected vulnerable groups, how families are guided, and how parents will be asked to make decisions. That shift matters. A lot. The administration’s justification for this shift relies on comparisons to “peer countries” that recommend fewer vaccines. Denmark protects against 10 diseases, Germany 15, and Japan against 14. But terrain matters. Denmark’s health and social system is well organized, well funded, and built for consistency, seamless integration for patients, and to provide a safety net for every family. Prenatal care is reliable. Nearly every child receives care on schedule. Follow-up is immaculate. And families have 46 paid weeks of maternity leave. It’s like a smooth, meticulously maintained highway where a sports car can thrive. The U.S. health system is more like off-road trails in Utah. It’s fragmented, uneven, expensive, and wildly variable depending on where you live. Access depends on insurance, geography, clinic capacity, transportation, and state policy. This needs a 4-Runner built to handle potholes, steep drop-offs, and unpredictable conditions. Take flu and Hepatitis B, again:
- For Hepatitis B, 1 in 5 pregnant women in the U.S. aren’t tested, and only 1 in 3 of those who test positive complete follow-up care. This is because care is fragmented and many don’t have prenatal care. Hep B is also often asymptomatic and poorly explained, follow-up requires extra visits, and once the baby is born the system shifts its focus away from the mother. Also, family members can give the disease to the infant. Before universal birth-dose recommendations, tens of thousands of U.S. babies fell through the cracks. There were infections each year, and 90% developed chronic infection, leading to liver failure, cancer, and early death.
- For flu, families will now hear mixed messages, especially when federal leaders suggest flu shots aren’t necessary while pediatricians continue to recommend them. Some parents delay or skip vaccination. Some clinicians stop recommending it. Others soften their language, framing vaccination as optional rather than standard care. We saw this also play out years ago when the flu vaccine was recommended for only high risk. This resulted in poor coverage.
It is beyond time we fix our roads so there are fewer health potholes in the United States. Until then, the U.S. needs a vaccine schedule designed for our messy reality. Now, we will be driving a Porsche (made for smooth roads) through those off-road trails in Utah, which is highly problematic.
COVID-19 still claims more than 100,000 US lives each year - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers report national estimates of 43.6 million COVID-19-associated illnesses and 101,300 deaths in the US during October 2022 to September 2023, plus 33.0 million illnesses and 100,800 deaths during October 2023 to September 2024. People 65 years and older accounted for the majority of hospitalizations and deaths. COVID-19 has continued to affect the US health care system through outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and deaths long after the public health emergency declaration ended in May 2023. SARS-CoV-2 circulation has added pressure during winter respiratory illness seasons while other respiratory viruses continue to circulate.Current estimates feed decisions on resource allocation and public health policy, but they cannot react to what they cannot see. Case reporting to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended with the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, removing a national stream of case-based data used earlier in the pandemic.Mortality tracking often relies on death certificates listing COVID-19 as an underlying or contributing cause of death. Relaxed reporting requirements, new variants, and reduced testing complicate estimates of disease burden. Even symptomatic people often do not seek care or testing, creating gaps in attributable illness and death.In the study, "Estimated Burden of COVID-19 Illnesses, Medical Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths in the US From October 2022 to September 2024," published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers applied hierarchical Bayesian modeling and probabilistic mathematical multiplier models to estimate COVID-19-associated illnesses, outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the US from October 2022 to September 2024.COVID-19 Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) data came from 89 counties and jurisdictional equivalents in 12 states, covering approximately 10% of the US population. Data included 94,363 participants for October 2022 to September 2023 and 72,176 participants for October 2023 to September 2024.During the 2022–2023 period, there were an estimated 43.6 million COVID-19-associated illnesses, 10.0 million outpatient visits, 1.1 million hospitalizations, and 101,300 deaths.During the 2023–2024 period, there were an estimated 33.0 million COVID-19-associated illnesses, 7.7 million outpatient visits, 879,100 hospitalizations, and 100,800 deaths.Adults aged 65 years and older made up 17.7% of the total US population during 2023–2024 and accounted for 47.9% of COVID-19-associated illnesses. 65 and older accounted for 64.3% of COVID-19-associated outpatient visits, 67.6% of associated hospitalizations, and 81.2% of deaths.Vaccination and early antiviral treatment may prevent severe COVID-19 consequences. Estimates in 2024 indicate 18% of US adults aged 18 years and older and 30% of nursing home residents received a recent COVID-19 vaccine. Outpatient antiviral treatment in 2024 reached fewer than one-half of adults aged 65 years and older. Assumptions can begin to shape personal choices as well as national policy when a surveillance network stops reporting and there is a real danger that people will assume the risk is gone. COVID-19 hasn't gone away, and vaccines are still actively preventing severe illness and death.
COVID continues to exact heavy toll on older US adults, study suggests --Even after the COVID-19 public health emergency ended in May 2023, the virus continued to cause millions of illnesses and more than 100,000 deaths annually from October 2022 to September 2024, with the majority of severe outcomes and deaths concentrated among older adults, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.Using hospitalization data from the COVID-19 Hospitalization Surveillance Network, which covers approximately 10% of the US population, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research team estimated that COVID caused roughly 43.6 million illnesses, 10 million outpatient visits, 1.1 million hospitalizations, and 101,300 deaths during the 2022–23 respiratory illness season. In the following season, COVID-related illnesses declined to roughly 33 million, outpatient visits fell to 7.7 million, and hospitalizations dropped to 879,100. But the number of deaths in the 2023–24 respiratory season—an estimated 100,800—remained essentially the same.Adults 65 years and older shouldered a disproportionate share of the burden. Although they make up less than 20% of the US population, older adults accounted for nearly half (47.5%) of all COVID illnesses, roughly two-thirds (67.5%) of hospitalizations, and over 80% of deaths (81.3%) during the study period. On average, approximately 1 in 100 adults aged 65 years and older were hospitalized for COVID each year.“While COVID-19 burden estimates from October 2022 to September 2023 and from October 2023 to September 2024 indicate declines in hospitalizations and deaths compared with earlier years during the COVID-19 pandemic, a substantial burden of COVID-19 disease persisted in the US in this period,” write the authors, adding that the virus “continues to disproportionately affect people 65 years and older whose immunity may wane faster than younger adults.”In an accompanying commentary, David C. Grabowski, PhD, of Harvard Medical School, said the results make clear that COVID should still be viewed as a major threat to older Americans. “COVID-19 has had particularly devastating consequences for older adults, especially those frailest individuals receiving care in postacute and long-term care facilities,” he writes. “Based on the findings…we can assume COVID-19 will continue to have a major impact on health care use and mortality for the foreseeable future. Moreover, this impact will continue to be concentrated among older adults.”Grabowski emphasizes that vaccines and antiviral treatments are effective at preventing severe disease and death, particularly in high-risk groups. But uptake among vulnerable populations has lagged. Only about 30% of nursing home residents are up to date with COVID booster doses, and just 17.9% of adults are up to date. What’s more, vaccine hesitancy is common among nursing home staff, with only about 7% current on their vaccines.
In utero COVID exposure linked to brain changes, developmental delays, anxiety, and depression - In utero SARS-CoV-2 exposure may predispose children to altered brain volumes, impaired cognition, and internalizing emotional problems such as anxiety and depression, researchers from Children’s National Hospital and George Washington University write in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. The team enrolled 39 mother-baby pairs in Washington, DC, who had been exposed to COVID-19 during pregnancy from 2020 to 2022 and compared them with 103 normative pairs from before the pandemic (2016 to 2019). None of the infected women had been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. When infants were 2 weeks old, they underwent quantitative 3D volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Two years later, they were assessed with the Third Edition of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) and the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (ITSEA). Mothers were also evaluated with the Perceived Stress Scale to account for psychological distress that may have exacerbated the effects of SARS-CoV-2 exposure on the fetus. From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to December 2023, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped collecting data on SARS-CoV-2, 163,140 infants were born to mothers infected with the virus, the study authors noted. “In historical viral epidemics, such as the H1N1 influenza and Zika viruses, prenatal exposures were correlated with risk for neuropsychiatric conditions in offspring,” they wrote. “However, the long-term effects of prenatal COVID-19 viral exposure on offspring neurodevelopment are still being discovered.” In utero SARS-CoV-2 exposure was tied to significantly larger cortical gray matter and left hippocampal volumes and significantly smaller subcortical gray matter and white matter volumes. In unadjusted analyses at 2 years, 14% of toddlers in the prepandemic group were at high risk for developmental delays on the BSID-III, in contrast to 51.6% in the COVID-19 group. While there was no significant association between SARS-CoV-2 exposure and overall BSID-III composite language score, receptive language (ability to understand written and spoken language) scores dropped significantly with in utero viral exposure. On the ITSEA, 11% of children in the prepandemic group were at high risk for internalizing behavioral difficulties, compared with 24.7% in the SARS-CoV-2 group. There was no significant link between viral exposure and the ITSEA externalizing, dysregulation, or competence domains. Likewise, no statistically significant difference was noted in reported maternal psychological distress between the prepandemic group (21.7%) and those who had COVID-19 (29.4%). The researchers said the findings highlight the potential effects of in utero SARS-CoV-2 exposure on this generation of children, including the internalizing behaviors in toddlers, an independent risk factor for the development of mood disorders over time. While many mechanisms behind the elevated risks in this group have been proposed, none have been fully elucidated. "Further work is required to see how children exposed to the virus potentially differ from their peers who grew up with similar societal and lifestyle constraints, and if these early differences persist or diminish over time,”
Study outlines recurring symptom clusters that define long COVID - Long COVID is best understood as a collection of overlapping symptoms rather than a single post-viral condition, suggests a new systemic review published in eClinicalMedicine. The review identified the main symptom patterns associated with long COVID, including neurologic, respiratory, olfactory and/or gustatory, cardiopulmonary, and fatigue. A team led by Lanzhou University researchers in Gansu, China, analyzed 64 studies from 20 countries involving 2.4 million people. They classified long-COVID patients into subtypes, either according to the co-occurrence of symptoms (30 studies), affected organ systems (16), severity of symptoms (nine), clinical indicators (three), or other factors. Across the studies that used symptom co-occurrence as the main method of classification, fatigue was the most frequently identified symptom cluster, either on its own or together with other symptoms, such as muscle and joint pain, cognitive symptoms, or shortness of breath. Other frequently paired symptoms included loss of smell and taste, anxiety and depression, and musculoskeletal pain. In studies that used organ systems as the primary classification, respiratory symptoms were the most common symptom cluster, affecting an estimated 47% of patients. Neurologic symptoms followed, at 31%, and gastrointestinal symptoms affected 28%. The authors emphasized that these figures reflect the proportion of long-COVID patients experiencing each symptom cluster within the studies, not the prevalence within the general population. A handful of studies used severity as a classification, ranking symptoms as mild, moderate, or severe based on symptom scores, symptom counts, or quality-of-life assessments. Three studies categorized patients based on clinical indicators such as abnormal triglyceride levels and restrictive lung function on imaging. The review also suggests that long-COVID subtypes are influenced by demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors. Women were more likely to experience fatigue and neuropsychiatric symptoms, while men more frequently reported respiratory symptoms. Older people were more likely to experience respiratory, cardio-renal, and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) symptoms. Black and Hispanic populations were more prone to respiratory/cardiac and neuropsychiatric symptoms, and White individuals had higher rates of fatigue and musculoskeletal symptoms. COVID variants also appeared to play a role in symptom clusters. “The Alpha variant was strongly associated with olfactory and respiratory symptoms, while the Delta variant increased the risk of ENT-related symptoms,” write the authors. Plus, “a high BMI [body mass index], socioeconomic deprivation, and comorbidities such as COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] were significantly associated with an increased risk of cardiopulmonary symptom clusters and Long COVID symptom burden.” The findings underscore that long COVID rarely affects a single organ system in isolation and highlight common classification methods and symptom clusters that support personalized care. The authors urge future research to focus on standardizing classification methods, uncovering underlying mechanisms, and validating specific subtype interventions. “This will be crucial for advancing precision medicine and improving outcomes for Long COVID patients,” they conclude.
30 states are in CDC’s worst tier for flu as ‘super’ variant spreads– New data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday shows a massive spike in flu activity nationwide. In just one week, between Dec. 20 and Dec. 27, the country saw a 33% increase in people testing positive for influenza. There was also an 8% increase in people visiting a health care provider with flu symptoms. The updated data, whose release was delayed by the New Year holiday, now includes the week of Christmas – a time when people travel and gather and respiratory illness tends to spread. In mid-December, before the peak holiday season, only six states were considered to have “very high” flu activity. As of Dec. 27, 30 states from New England to the South and the Midwest have moved into that highest tier. (See the full list of states considered “very high” at the bottom of this story.) Is it too late to get a flu shot against the ‘super’ K variant? Only a small handful of states are still considered to have “low” or “moderate” flu levels: Montana, South Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia. We likely haven’t reached the peak yet. Influenza activity “continues to increase across the country,” the CDC said Monday. The rapid rise is largely being driven by a new variant of the flu virus known as “subclade K.” This subtype of influenza A led to outbreaks in Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom, where flu season starts earlier than here in the U.S. In the United Kingdom, NHS National Medical Director Meghana Pandit said the “unprecedented wave of super flu” was straining the country’s health care system. Experts fear low vaccination rates in the U.S. could lead to a historically bad flu season, but they say there’s still time to course-correct. “It is not too late to get a flu shot,” said Dr. Andrew Pekosz, a virologist and professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said during a media briefing in December. “We’re really at the beginning of the influenza season here in the U.S.” Since the early 1980s, the most commonly observed peak of flu season has come in February, but cases often ramp up starting in December.
Flu season already rivals last winter's harsh epidemic (AP) — U.S. flu infections surged over the holidays, and health officials are calling it a severe season that is likely to get worse. New government data posted Monday — for flu activity through the week of Christmas — showed that by some measures this season is already surpassing the flu epidemic of last winter, one of the harshest in recent history. The data was released the same day that the Trump administration said it will no longer recommend flu shots and some other types of vaccines for all children. Forty-five states were reporting high or very high flu activity during the week of Christmas, up from 30 states the week before. The higher numbers appear to be driven by the type of flu that's been spreading, public health experts say. One type of flu virus, called A H3N2, historically has caused the most hospitalizations and deaths in older people. So far this season, that's the type most frequently reported. Even more concerning, more than 90% of the H3N2 infections analyzed were a new version — known as the subclade K variant — that differs from the strain in this year's flu shots. Flu seasons often don't peak until January or February, so it's too early to know how big a problem that mismatch will be. "The fact that we've seen steady increases over the last several weeks without much of a decline or even a flattening would suggest to me that we've got the peak ahead of us," said Dr. Robert Hopkins, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Last flu season was bad, with the overall flu hospitalization rate the highest since the H1N1 flu pandemic 15 years ago. Child flu deaths reached 288, the worst recorded for regular U.S. flu season. Nine pediatric flu deaths have been reported so far this season. For children, the percentage of emergency department visits due to flu has already surpassed the highest mark seen during the 2024-2025 season. Hopkins said H3N2 typically hits older adults hardest, and rising rates among children and young adults suggest a severe flu season across all age groups. Another ominous sign: The percentage of doctor's office and medical clinic visits that were due to flu-like illness also was higher late last month than at any point during the previous flu season. Deaths and hospitalizations have not reached last year's levels, but those are lagging indicators, Hopkins noted. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates at least 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths from flu have already occurred this season.
Flu surges in 45 states as doctor visits reach highest level in nearly 30 years - -Doctors’ visits for flu-like symptoms — fevers, sore throat, extreme fatigue and body aches — have hit the highest level in nearly 30 years, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, and are likely to continue to rise in the coming weeks. At least 5,000 people have died this season, including nine children.For the week ending Dec. 27, the CDC reported that nearly 1 in 10 outpatient visits nationwide — 8.2% — were for flu-like illnesses. That’s the highest logged since the CDC started tracking such visits in 1997. The flu has accounted for more than 11 million illnesses this season and 120,000 hospitalizations.Only Montana, South Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia are experiencing low to moderate flu spread. Data for Nevada was “insufficient,” the agency said.Because the latest data is from the week of Christmas, it doesn’t yet reflect illnesses caused by holiday travel and gatherings.“It’s still too soon to know what the impact of the holiday season is going to be on flu activity,” said Krista Kniss, an epidemiologist in the CDC’s influenza division. “We’re not anywhere close to being done.”Dr. Nick Cozzi, emergency medical services director for Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said the flu is keeping his team “incredibly busy.”“I see a lot of patients coming in with cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, diarrhea and bone-chilling body aches,” he said.Compounding the problem, many patients are dealing with other viruses, like Covid or RSV, on top of flu, Cozzi said.A significant number of patients, he said, are also having trouble breathing. “We’re admitting patients at a higher rate than we normally do,” he said. “Their oxygen levels are lower than normal, creating a potential situation which can be life-threatening unless they receive supplemental oxygen.”At Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, flu hospitalizations more than doubled in the last two weeks compared with the previous two-week period, said Dr. Emily Boss, director of pediatric otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.“This rise is earlier than last year by about a month,” Boss said. “We don’t know yet what the peak will look like compared to prior seasons.” The 2025-26 flu season, which is just getting started, follows the deadliest season for children since the CDC began tracking pediatric deaths. On Monday, the CDC reported an additional death of a child last season, bringing the total to 289, eclipsing even the number of pediatric deaths from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. On Monday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a major overhaul of the childhood vaccination schedule. Effective immediately, the administration said, the flu vaccine will be taken off of the official childhood vaccine schedule. “To back off on a flu recommendation in the midst of a pretty severe flu year seems to me to be pretty tone-deaf,” “And that’s coming off an influenza year where we had the most childhood deaths from influenza in many years.”
Boston reports first pediatric flu deaths since 2013 as flu illness surges across US -Two young children are dead from flu complications in Boston, city officials said yesterday, noting that these are the first pediatric flu deaths in the city since 2013.The two children were both under the age of 2 years; earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said nine pediatric influenza deaths had been recorded so far in the 2025-26 flu season as of January 5, before the two deaths in Boston were confirmed.“Flu cases are surging in Boston, and we are seeing an uptick in serious cases involving children, including the tragic deaths of two very young children,” said Bisola Ojikutu, MD, MPH, commissioner of public health for the city of Boston, in a press release “While the flu is usually mild, it can cause hospitalization and death. Children under the age of two are at higher risk. Parents should get their children ages six months and older vaccinated as soon as possible to decrease the risk of severe complications.” Between December 14 to December 27, Boston reported a 126% increase in confirmed flu cases, and hospitalizations almost tripled. Massachusetts has now reported four pediatric flu deaths so far this season.Other states have raised the alarm this week that flu activity is high. In South Carolina, health officials said there were nine flu-associated deaths in the last week of December, raising the total to 16 deathsin the state for the 2025-26 season.The CDC said that, nationwide, at least 11 million people have had the flu this season, 120,000 have been hospitalized for flu, and 5,000 people have died. The CDC is classifying this flu seasons as “moderately severe.”Most of the flu activity is being driven by a strain of influenza A(H3N2) called subclade K, which caused early and high activity in Asia and the United Kingdom this fall. Experts warned that subclade K was a mismatch for the current influenza vaccines, but recent preprint papers on medRxiv suggest the current vaccine does elicit antibodies, and should provide at least some protection against infection and severe illness.
Flu Season Hits Worst Level in 25 Years as Cases Explode - The U.S. is experiencing its worst flu season in more than a quarter-century, according to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The total number of patients presenting with flu symptoms is the highest recorded since the flu season of 1997-98, believed to be due to the spread of a strain called subclade K. “This is definitely a banner year,” Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security epidemiologist Dr. Caitlin Rivers told CNN. “It’s the worst we’ve had in at least 20 years. We’re seeing a majority of the country is experiencing very high levels of activity, and we’re still in the thick of it.” In all, the CDC estimates 11 million people have had the flu this season. In a written press statement, Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein said, “This is a moment for clarity, urgency, and action. These viruses are serious, dangerous, and life-threatening. We are seeing children who are seriously ill, families grieving devastating losses, and hospitals under capacity strain.”
Flu is up, up, and away. SNAP restrictions, measles milestone, and good news! - Katelyn Jetelina. Your Local Epidemiologist - There’s one big thing we need to talk about: flu. It’s everywhere, as this is shaping up to be a rough season. There are so many sick people out there. Influenza-like illness (ILI)—the number of patients clinicians see with cough, fever, and sore throat—is a metric to gauge the state of respiratory health in the U.S. Levels are high and exponentially increasing. In fact, it’s the highest it’s been in the past 6 years. Rates dramatically vary across states, but 32 jurisdictions have “very high” levels. Eventually, I expect the entire map below to be deep red and purple. Flu, though, is having a year. Thus far this season, CDC estimates 11,000,000 illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths from the flu. (Here’s why we still trust CDC numbers.) New York, one of the leading states for the flu season, is breaking records for both acceleration and the total number of flu hospitalizations compared with previous years. We’re seeing similar patterns in Colorado and Massachusetts, among others. If you squint, New York seems to be slowing down, so hopefully the leaders are at the peak soon. Data from New York, Colorado, and Massachusetts Health Departments. Annotated by Your Local Epidemiologist. Why is this flu season so intense? Two main reasons:
- One flu strain—called influenza A (H3N2)—mutated over the summer as it circulated in the Southern Hemisphere, shifting from one form (J subclade) to another slightly different form (K subclade). Mutations are very normal for flu; it’s notorious for throwing curveballs. But this year’s changes were more substantial than usual—not enough to spark a pandemic, but enough to fuel a severe season. The timing of this mutation was also terrible, as it occurred after the flu vaccine formula was finalized in February. That means this year’s vaccines likely recognize part—but not all—of the updated virus. This is just bad luck.
- Vaccination rates, especially among children, continue to decline substantially. Last year was the deadliest non-pandemic flu season for U.S. children on record. It also happened to have one of the lowest flu vaccination rates. This season, the vaccination rate is even lower. Already, nine children have died from the flu, including an influencer’s 5-year-old son as well as a healthy 16-year-old. The “true” number of deaths is higher, as reporting is delayed.
Even a mismatched flu vaccine still provides some protection against severe illness. This is because the vaccines still train the immune system to recognize viral components that haven’t changed. Also, there is more than one flu strain circulating (not just H3N2). Preliminary data from the U.K. show that flu vaccination reduces hospitalization by 70–75% in kids and 30–40% in older adults.
- RSV - RSV activity continues to increase among our youngest, but man, this has been a relatively mild year. Parents and hospital systems sure are thankful.
- Covid-19 -Covid-19 transmission remains low nationally, but is increasing. This is a late wave, as this will be the first winter Covid-19 doesn’t peak in the first week of January.
- Norovirus- The stomach bug—diarrhea, cramping, vomiting—is also increasing, though not as high as last year when the virus mutated. Norovirus is extremely contagious, so wash hands frequently, disinfect surfaces (bleach works), and don’t cook while sick. Hand sanitizer does not work.
Last year, USDA and HHS encouraged states to request SNAP food restriction waivers to limit purchases of non-nutritious food items as part of the Make America Healthy Again strategy. So far, 18 states have received approval to test these restrictions for two years. In previous years, similar waiver requests were denied due to cost, implementation challenges, and limited evidence of health impact. I will let Megan, YLE’s registered dietitian nutritionist, take it from here on this topic…
US respiratory virus activity reaches high levels as flu, RSV spread --Respiratory virus activity across the United States has climbed to high levels, driven by increases in influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) weekly respiratory illness update. Meanwhile, COVID-19 levels remain relatively low but show signs of an uptick.As respiratory illnesses surge and emergency department (ED) visits for influenza hit high levels, US government leaders and federal agencies continue to minimize the need for vaccines. This week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told CBS News that it might be a “better thing” if fewer children receive the influenza vaccine, despite the fact that 289 children—about 90% of whom were not fully vaccinated—died of influenza-related causes in the 2024–25 respiratory virus season. Kennedy’s comment followed the announcement of drastic changes to the US childhood vaccination schedule, which slashed the number of recommended vaccines from 17 to 11. The influenza vaccine is among those no longer broadly recommended for children. In an interview with The New York Times yesterday, President Donald Trump signaled his support for the changes, saying, “I think it’s good.” No new data or scientific evidence was presented when announcing the new vaccine schedule. Career staff at the CDC reported being “blindsided” by the change. Some indicators of flu activity have decreased or remained the same for the week ending January 3 compared to the previous week. Last week, positive lab tests for influenza, for example, dropped from 32.9% to 24.7%. In the previous week, 8.2% of outpatient visits to a health care provider were for respiratory illness, compared with 7.2% of visits last week—the first decline the CDC has noted this season. New York City has likewise reported a declining number of flu cases after hitting its highest level in a decade in December. The number of jurisdictions reporting very high respiratory illness activity dropped from 48 to 44. But seasonal flu activity remains high across the country, and elevated levels are expected to continue for several more weeks. Hospital admissions for the flu rose this week, with 39,945 admitted, up from 33,301 patients last week. Eight flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week, compared with one last week, including Louisiana’s first child flu death of 2026, for a US season total of 17.Today's FluView report reflects eight new flu-related deaths in children nationwide, all in mid-December to early January. All were attributed to influenza A. Of the six deaths that had subtyping performed, all were caused by the H3N2 strain.RSV, long a leading cause of hospitalizations for children, is also elevated in many regions. Data show that ED visits and hospital admissions for children aged 0 to 4 years have increased this week. Vaccination coverage for both influenza and RSV remain “suboptimal,” according to the update. COVID activity remains low at a national level, but activity is increasing, as indicated by the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System. Pertussis (whooping cough) levels are lower than their peak in November 2024, although they remain at overall higher levels than before the COVID pandemic. Pertussis is highly contagious, and babies under age one year are at high risk for severe disease and complications. Vaccination is the best way to prevent complications from pertussis, but many Americans are confused or unsure about current vaccination recommendations. Pneumonia levels are elevated in some regions of the country.
South Carolina reports 26 more measles cases, 214 total --South Carolina now has 211 measles cases in a growing outbreak in the Upstate region, and 214 statewide, according to officials who confirmed26 new cases today. The state now has the same case count as Arizona, which confirmed nine new infectionstoday. Nineteen of the 26 new cases in South Carolina involved exposures in known households, or previously reported school exposures. Four patients reported an exposure at a church. The department of health said 144 people are in quarantine and seven are in isolation. Of note, officials said today that four people, adults and children, have required hospitalization during this outbreak. Others required outpatient medical care.Today Reuters reported that some Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials are working to prove the current outbreak in South Carolina is not genetically linked to the West Texas outbreak that started last year and sickened almost 800 people.Sustained measles transmission from the same strain for 12 months is the main requirement for considering measles elimination status. This month the United States could lose its status, which it gained in 2000, if the current circulating strains can be tied back to the West Texas outbreak. The United States recorded more than 2,000 measles cases in 2025, the highest activity in more than 30 years.
Utah confirms 20 new measles infections as US cases in 2025 top 2,100 --Officials have confirmed 20 more measles cases in Utah, raising the state total to 176, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released nationwide totals for 2025, noting 2,144 confirmed casesOf the 176 infections in Utah, 129 (73%) are in the Southwest Utah health district, which has seen high measles activity alongside neighboring Mohave County, Arizona.In other hot spot news, three North Carolina siblings who had recently visited Upstate South Carolina now have measles infections, according to an update from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.“The family had visited Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where there is a large ongoing measles outbreak approximately 1-2 weeks before the children became sick,” North Carolina officials said.South Carolina has reported 211 cases associated with an outbreak in the Upstate region.In the first weekly measles update of the year, the CDC confirmed three measles infections in the United States in 2026 as of January 6, with cases noted only in North and South Carolina and none of them travel related.The 2,144 confirmed US measles cases for all of 2025 reflect an increase of 79 infections. Eighty-eight percent of those cases were part of 49 outbreaks. For comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported during 2024, and 69% of cases (198 of 285) were outbreak-associated, the CDC said. The 2025 total is the most since 1992, when officials recorded 2,200 cases.
Prenatal antibiotics linked to higher risk of group B streptococcus in newborns - A population-based cohort study in Sweden suggests prenatal antibiotic exposure is associated with increased risk of group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease in newborns, researchers reported last week in the Journal of Infection. The study, led by researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet, used four Swedish national registries to examine prenatal antibiotic exposure during all singleton live births in Sweden from 2006 to 2016. Although intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (prevention), guided by risk-based strategies, was implemented by Sweden in 2008 to prevent GBS transmission from mother to newborn during the intrapartum period (all stages of labor and delivery) and reduce early-onset GBS disease, GBS still accounts for 40% of severe early-onset infections in Swedish newborns. Some research has suggested a moderately increased risk of infection in children who had prenatal antibiotic exposure. Among 1,095,644 liveborn singletons, prenatal antibiotic exposure was recorded in 24.5%, of which 4.9% were exposed in more than one trimester. During the study period, the overall incidence of GBS disease was 0.71 per 1,000 live births. Compared with unexposed newborns, GBS incidence within four weeks postpartum was higher among exposed newborns (0.86 vs 0.66 per 1,000 live births), for an increased risk of 29% (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.29). Among pregnancies without any GBS risk factors, prenatal antibiotic exposure was associated with a 34% higher risk of GBS disease (aOR, 1.34), while no association was observed among pregnancies with at least one risk factor (aOR, 0.91). The strongest association was observed with early third-trimester antibiotic exposure (aOR, 1.67). Although the authors say it’s too early to draw causal conclusions and further confirmation of the association is needed, they suggest the findings hint at a possible mechanism involving antibiotic-induced disruption of the maternal microbiota, particularly a decline in Lactobacillus species, which dominate the vaginal microbiome and help prevent GBS colonization.
Study: Non-prescription antibiotic prescribing common in retail medicine settings in sub-Saharan Africa - More than two-thirds of retail medicine outlets in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regularly dispense antibiotics without a prescription, according to a study published today in JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance. To evaluate current antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) practices in regulated retail medicine settings, which include community pharmacies, accredited drug dispensing outlets (ADDOs), and patient proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs), British and Nigerian researchers conducted a review and meta-analysis of 26 studies examining the types of AMS interventions that are available in those settings, the factors that facilitate or hinder the implementation of such interventions, and the level of knowledge about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and AMS activities among regulated retail medicine staff. They also analyzed data on antibiotic dispensing practices.While the review found that community pharmacists generally have an awareness of the role that inappropriate antibiotic use plays in AMR, knowledge gaps among ADDO and PPMV staff, who have limited formal training, were more pronounced. Few studies documented AMS activities that have been implemented in these settings. Furthermore, in the 10 studies with extractable numeric data, the reported prevalence of non-prescription antibiotic dispensing ranged from 9% to 97%, with a median prevalence of 67.5%. Community pharmacies and medicine vendors reported dispensing antibiotics on demand for common self-limiting illnesses, including respiratory infections, diarrhea, and urinary tract infections. Non-prescription antibiotic prescribing was driven by patient demand, economic motives, and weak regulatory enforcement, the researchers found.The authors say the findings reveal a "concerning disconnect" between knowledge of appropriate antibiotic use and actual dispensing behaviors, along with substantial barriers to proper AMS in these settings.
Analysis suggests HPV vaccine protects unvaccinated people through herd immunity -A new nationwide cohort study from Sweden suggests that widespread human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination could substantially reduce the risk of precancerous lesions even among people who never received the vaccine. The study, published in The Lancet Public Health, examined rates of high-grade cervical lesions (HSIL+) among more than 850,000 unvaccinated girls and women born from 1985 to 2000 by using national vaccination registries. A team led by researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm compared outcomes across cohorts exposed to different HPV vaccination strategies, including largely opportunistic vaccination (when people are offered a vaccine as part of a routine doctor visit or other interaction with the health care system), subsidized vaccination, catch-up vaccination, and school-based vaccination. Among unvaccinated women born in 1999 or 2000 and eligible for school-based vaccination programs that attained coverage greater than 80%, HSIL+ incidence was about 50% lower than in unvaccinated women from birth cohorts before vaccination was widespread. At age 23 years, the incidence rate ratio for the 1999–2000 cohort was 0.53 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39 to 0.77). In the subsidized vaccination cohort (1989–92), the age-adjusted incidence rate ratio was 1.18 (95% CI, 1.15 to 1.20). In the catch-up vaccination cohort (1993–98), the age-adjusted incidence rate ratio was 1.03 (0.99 to 1.06). Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV infection, and vaccination has been shown to sharply reduce infections and precancerous lesions. Herd protection refers to the indirect benefit of HPV vaccines for unvaccinated people. When enough people are vaccinated, the virus’s overall spread in the community drops. As a result, unvaccinated women and girls are less likely to be exposed to HPV infection and related disease.
FDA needs sharper focus on foodborne-illness prevention, accountability office says A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released yesterday finds that while the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made strides in carrying out the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), gaps remain in implementing the rules and in establishing the systems needed to measure whether the FDA’s efforts are working. Tens of millions of Americans get foodborne illnesses each year, and thousands die from them. The FDA oversees nearly 80% of the US food supply, including fruits and vegetables, and Congress enacted FSMA to help shift the FDA’s focus from foodborne-illness response to prevention. Since 2015, the FDA has issued nine rules for preventing foodborne illnesses at key points in the food chain. These regulations set standards for growers, harvesters, and packers to help prevent contamination. In addition, the FDA has completed 41 of 46 FSMA tasks, such as issuing compliance guidelines and conducting required studies. At the same time, the agency has not completed several crucial components identified in FSMA, such as issuing guidance on hazard analysis and reporting on the progress of a national food emergency response laboratory network.
Mpox antibodies wane 2 years after infection or vaccination, study finds - Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against mpox decline substantially, often becoming undetectable, within two years of either mpox infection or vaccination with the modified vaccinia Ankara–Bavarian Nordic (Jynneos) vaccine, according to a small new study led by researchers at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan, Italy. The study, published today in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, followed up with 90 men—48 with prior mpox infection and 42 who received Jynneos vaccination—and measured mpox virus (MPXV)–specific neutralizing antibodies more than two years after infection or vaccination. At the two-year mark, antibodies were frequently low or undetectable in both previously infected participants and vaccine recipients, though participants with prior infection were more likely than vaccine recipients to retain some detectable antibodies (33 of 48 [68.8%] vs 20/42 [47.6%]). Antibody levels measured at six months were also predictive: Participants with higher early titers were more likely to retain detectable antibodies at two years. In multivariate analysis, previous smallpox vaccination was also associated with higher titers at two years or later, while previous mpox infection was only marginally associated. Four mpox cases occurred among vaccine recipients during follow-up, but no cases occurred in participants who had a previous mpox infection.
High prevalence of sexually transmitted infections found in prisons globally -A review and meta-analysis of more than 200 studies shows a “persistently high” prevalence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in prisons, particularly among incarcerated adolescents and women, researchers reported yesterday in The Lancet Public Health. For the study, a team led by researchers from McGill University analyzed data from 206 studies examining the prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis among adolescents aged 10 to 19 and adults older than 19 who were incarcerated. The studies included 1.4 million incarcerated individuals in 43 countries, with most conducted in North America (47.1%) and South and Central America (22.3%) and in high-income (64.6%) and middle-income (34.5%) countries. The study authors note that the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified people in prison and other closed settings as one of the key populations in the global response to sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections (STBBIs). But previous studies of bacterial STIs among the incarcerated have had limited generalizability. “Bacterial STIs remain understudied despite their disproportionate burden on people who are incarcerated,” they wrote. “Given the high burden of bacterial STI in prisons and other closed settings, understanding their prevalence is critical for refining global estimates and informing testing and treatment practices, to ultimately advance bacterial STI elimination efforts both within and beyond carceral settings.” Risky sexual behaviors, poor access to testing Among female adults, the pooled prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis was 6.5%, 1.5%, and 5.9%, respectively; among male adults, the corresponding estimates were 4.7%, 0.4%, and 3.7%. Among female adolescents, the pooled prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis was 16.8%, 6.0%, and 1.9%, respectively; among male adolescents, the corresponding estimates were 7.4%, 2.0%, and 1.9%. The authors say the findings potentially reflect both sexual behaviors that increase the risk of STIs and poor access to bacterial STI testing and treatment in carceral and community settings.
First case of CWD confirmed in Clark County, Wisconsin, deer -The first detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Clark County, Wisconsin, has triggered an extension of the county’s 2-year deer baiting and feeding ban. In a press release yesterday, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said the free-ranging adult doe was harvested by a hunter. Clark County is in the west-central part of the state. “Clark County was already under a 2-year baiting and feeding ban prior to this detection,” the DNR said. “That ban will be extended for another three years and will reset following any future detections, as required by state law.” Because the detection wasn’t within 10 miles of any bordering county, the baiting and feeding ban extension will be limited to Clark County at this time. The DNR began tracking the state's free-ranging white-tailed deer population for CWD in 1999, with the first positive cases found in 2002. The fatal neurodegenerative disease, which affects cervids such as deer, moose, and elk, is caused by infectious misfolded proteins called prions. “Baiting or feeding deer encourages them to congregate unnaturally around a shared food source where infected deer can spread CWD through direct contact with healthy deer or indirectly by leaving behind infectious prions in their saliva, blood, feces and urine,” the press release said.
Louisiana logs first CWD case in Concordia Parish wild deer -The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced the first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a wild deer in Concordia Parish. Concordia Parish is in east-central Louisiana, on the Mississippi River. The infected buck was taken by a hunter in the Richard K. Yancey Wildlife Management Area, LDWF said this week. The department said that it is implementing its CWD response plan. “We will continue to count on our hunters, property owners, deer processors and taxidermists for their assistance in monitoring CWD as their continued partnership with our department will help manage the expanse of CWD in the state keeping our deer population healthy,’’ LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth, JD, said in the news release. Since CWD was first found in Louisiana in 2022, the state has tallied 49 positive cases. CWD is a neurodegenerative disease of cervids such as deer, moose, and elk. It spreads from animal to animal and via environmental contamination through infectious misfolded proteins called prions. It causes symptoms such as emaciation, excessive salivation and thirst, lack of coordination, loss of fear of humans, and eventually, death.
Judge finds Alaska's bid to reauthorize wolf-shooting program on Kenai Peninsula is unconstitutional ---A judge has ordered the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to pay $115,220 in attorney's fees to a retired Anchorage lawyer and wildlife advocate who successfully sued the state over a wolf-killing policy on the southern Kenai Peninsula.Anchorage Superior Court Judge Una Gandbhir found the state violated the Alaska Constitution when it reauthorized a predator control policy first approved over a decade ago without considering new scientific population estimates for animals in the area. The order is the latest in a series of Alaska court rulings challenging state rule-making procedures over predator control programs designed to boost populations of moose or caribou by eliminating wolves and bears from game units.The order was handed down in October and reaffirmed in December.Plaintiff Kneeland Taylor was awarded the money on Dec. 17 as part of a summary judgment in his favor. He and other critics of Alaska's predator control programs say the state could face mounting costs if officials opt to keep vigorously contesting legal challenges to predator control—especially nonurgent programs like the one on the Kenai, which has been defunct for over more than a decade.The predator control program was originally approved in 2012, intended to boost the moose population for hunters by shooting wolves from aircraft. But the program hasn't been used for years because moose populations in the region are healthy.Still, Fish and Game not only sought to reauthorize the wolf program after it expired, but did so without conducting the basic scientific and technical work required by the law for such predator control operations, according to Gandbhir's Oct. 7 decision. The decision found that Fish and Game "violated ... the Alaska Constitution when they reenacted (the program) without conducting a review of the population objectives for game and wolves."Taylor, who describes himself as an advocate and "a voice for non-consumptive users of Alaska's wildlife," has been involved in efforts to stop or curb predator control since a 1996 effort launched to curb aerial wolf hunting."Sometimes the laws and the facts matter. And this is one of them," he said. Taylor sued the state on constitutional grounds, arguing that Fish and Game, as well as the Board of Game, essentially rubber-stamped the Kenai wolf program without doing due diligence. The program had already expired in 2022 by the time the Board of Game voted in favor of the department's request to extend it in 2023, according to filings in the case record.What's more, the lawsuit contended, the state did not bother to do new surveys of moose or wolves in a broad area known as Game Management Unit 15C.Both parties in the case agreed that the number of moose in the area, which stretches roughly from Kasilof down to Kachemak Bay, is currently within the target range of 2,500 to 3,500 animals. The law is hazier on specific requirements for wolf numbers. A 2011 survey cited by the department estimated 44 to 52 wolves in the upper part of the game management sub-unit.According to a draft of the predator control plan from 2012, the goal was to kill wolves through trapping, hunting and aerial gunning to get their numbers down to around 15.For more than a decade now, the populations of both species have been close enough to managers' goals that there's been no aerial wolf hunting at all.Still, in 2023, the department told the Board of Game it wanted the program reauthorized just in case.
Scientists Finally Identify the Cause Behind U.S. Biggest Honey Bee Die-off Ever Recorded - The scale of recent honeybee losses in the United States has prompted renewed scrutiny of pollinator health and the systems that support it. Beekeepers across commercial operations reported mounting colony failures over the 2024–2025 season, many of them clustered in the critical winter months. While colony fluctuations are not uncommon in modern apiculture, these figures surpassed familiar thresholds. Scientists tracking the situation initially considered a range of causes, from weather and forage shortages to pesticide exposure. Yet as samples were collected and data analysed, patterns began to emerge that narrowed the scope. A small group of researchers, working across USDA labs, began to focus on a long-standing adversary in U.S. hives—Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite known to weaken bees and transmit disease. The link between mites and colony health has been documented for decades. But this time, the nature of the relationship—and the limitations of current treatments—has taken on a new dimension. What appeared to be a recurring problem has become something less manageable. Data released in April by the 2024–2025 U.S. Colony Loss Survey, coordinated by Project Apis m. and Auburn University, show that 55.6% of managed honeybee colonies in the U.S. were lost between April 2024 and April 2025. The figure marks a second consecutive year of historically high losses, exceeding the prior season’s rate of 55.1% and surpassing all previous records since annual tracking began in 2010.The most substantial losses were recorded during the winter months, with a reported 40.2% mortality rate between October and March. States varied widely, with losses ranging from 34.3% to 90.5% depending on region and operation scale. Commercial beekeepers experienced disproportionately high losses, particularly in western states.“These high losses were unfortunately anticipated given reports from commercial operations earlier in the season,” said Dr Geoff Williams, an entomologist at Auburn University and director of its Bee Center. The survey drew participation from 2,453 beekeepers managing over 219,000 colonies, representing approximately 8.4% of the total honey-producing hives in the country. While not comprehensive, the dataset provides the most detailed available picture of national trends. A parallel investigation by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) found that the majority of collapsed colonies were infected with viruses known to be vectored by Varroa destructor. According to a preprint study published on bioRxiv in May 2025, samples collected from 113 affected colonies revealed near-universal infection with Deformed Wing Virus A and B and Acute Bee Paralysis Virus—both of which have been associated with high mortality in infected bees.Crucially, the study also found that all mites analysed carried genetic markers linked to resistance to amitraz, the most widely used miticide in U.S. beekeeping. The finding confirms what had long been suspected by field experts—that amitraz resistance, once a localised issue, is now widespread.Amitraz had remained the most viable chemical defence after mites developed resistance to other compounds, such as pyrethroids and organophosphates. Its efficacy, low cost, and limited toxicity to bees made it a staple in commercial operations. But USDA researchers concluded that the compound may no longer provide reliable protection. “The resistance discovery is concerning,” said Dr Aaron Gross, a toxicologist at Virginia Tech, according to Science magazine. “Even a miticide like amitraz, widely considered one of the least toxic options to humans and bees alike, can weaken colonies when applied in high doses. Losing amitraz could be a major blow.”
Plant sex life is more complicated than you probably imagine - About 90% of flowering plants are hermaphroditic, which means that their flowers have both male and female function. This is what we call perfect flowers. Take the tomato, for example. If you open one of its flowers, you will see it has an ovary (part of the female organ) and anthers with pollen (part of the male organ). In tomatoes, pollen from a flower can pollinate the ovary of the same flower. This means that a tomato plant doesn't need another tomato nearby to reproduce. Pretty convenient, especially if there are not many other plants of your species around. However, this is not the case for all hermaphroditic plants. Some of them can't self-pollinate, like apples. In those species, you do need two individual plants to produce fruit. Scientists think that the first flowering plant to appear on Earth was probably hermaphroditic. But what about this other 10% that are not hermaphroditic? What are they and where do they come from? Let's dive in.Funding bill excludes controversial pesticide provision hated by MAHA -A government funding bill released Monday excludes a controversial pesticides provision, marking a win for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement for at least the time being. The provision in question is a wonky one: It would seek to prevent pesticides from carrying warnings on their label of health effects beyond those recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).Known as Section 453 for its position in a House bill released earlier this year, it has drawn significant ire from MAHA-aligned activists. Opponents of the provision argue that it can be a liability shield for major chemical corporations, preventing them from facing failure-to-warn lawsuits by not disclosing health effects of their products. MAHA figures celebrated the provision’s exclusion from the legislation.“MAHA WE DID IT! Section 453 granting pesticide companies immunity from harm has been removed from the upcoming House spending bill!” MAHA Action, a political action committee affiliated with the movement, wrote on X.Democrats were also among those cheering the language’s exclusion.“This provision would have handed pesticide manufacturers exactly what they’ve been lobbying for: federal preemption that stops state and local governments from restricting the use of harmful, cancer-causing chemicals, adding health warnings, or holding companies accountable in court when people are harmed. It would have meant that only the federal government gets a say — even though we know federal reviews can take years, and are often subject to intense industry pressure,” said Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine).
Forest Service timber deal has greens seeing red - The Trump administration has signed a formal agreement with the state of Utah to accelerate timber harvesting on potentially millions of acres of Forest Service lands in the name of improved forest health and greater cooperation with state and local leaders.The formal cooperative agreement signed Thursday by Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz and Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox would “expand sustainable timber production,” including forest thinning to reduce wildfire threats.It’s part of a model the Trump administration has been advancing with states over the past year to give them more input into managing federal lands, including national forests.The Forest Service in June approved a similar shared stewardship agreement with Montana, which has 17 million acres of forestland and last month signed a separate agreement with Idaho, where the agency manages about 16 million acres.
Trump admin summons Forest Service supervisors to DC - The Forest Service will gather dozens of forest supervisors from around the country next week in Washington, in part to explain how the nation’s capital is becoming less relevant to their work. The meeting, initially scheduled for November but delayed by the government shutdown, runs from Monday to Thursday, according to a forest supervisor and others familiar with the agency’s plans. A Forest Service spokesperson said the meeting isn’t related to the agency’s pending reorganization. Instead, the agency said, it’s a training session to promote the Trump administration’s goals on active forest management and expanding timber production, which the reshuffling is intended to make more achievable. Such gatherings are infrequent but not unprecedented, and this one comes as the administration looks to put more authority in the hands of local managers and potentially move Forest Service leadership out of Washington, D.C., altogether.
Where a Saudi company pumps desert groundwater, Arizona considers imposing limits -- Lush green fields of alfalfa spread across thousands of acres in a desert valley in western Arizona, where a dairy company from Saudi Arabia grows the thirsty crop by pulling up groundwater from dozens of wells. The company, Fondomonte, is the largest water user in the Ranegras Plain groundwater basin, shipping hay overseas to feed its cows in the Middle East. Like other landowners in the area, it has been allowed to pump unlimited amounts from the aquifer, even as water levels have declined. That soon could change, as Arizona officials are considering a plan to start regulating groundwater pumping in the rural area 100 miles west of Phoenix. At a meeting in mid-December, more than 150 residents of La Paz County sat listening in folding chairs as state officials underlined the severity of the declines in groundwater levels by showing graphs with lines sloping steeply downward. "This is where the heaviest pumping is. This is where we're seeing the most decline," said Ryan Mitchell, chief hydrologist for the Arizona Department of Water Resources, as he showed charts of the plummeting aquifer levels. The data from wells told the story: In one, water levels dropped a staggering 242 feet since the early 1980s. Another declined 136 feet. Mitchell said current pumping in the Ranegras basin isn't sustainable, and that in places it's causing the land surface to sink as much as 2 inches per year. "That is a trend that is alarming," he said. "The water budget for the basin is out of balance, significantly out of balance." As he read the numbers, murmurs arose in the crowded hall. In recent years, some residents' household wells have gone dry, forcing them to scramble for solutions. The problem of declining groundwater is widespread in many rural areas of Arizona. Gov. Katie Hobbs has said Arizona needs to address unrestricted overpumping by "out-of-state corporations." She also said the declines in the Ranegras basin are especially severe, with water being depleted nearly 10 times faster than it is naturally replenished in the desert. The Arizona Department of Water Resources proposed a new "active management area" to preserve groundwater in this part of La Paz County, which would prohibit the irrigation of additional farmland in the area and require landowners with high-capacity wells to start measuring and reporting how much water they use. It also would bring other measures, including forming a local advisory council and developing a plan to reduce water use. Some residents say this kind of regulation is overdue. "What it is now is a free-for-all," said Denise Beasley, a resident of the town of Bouse. "It's just the Wild West of water." She believes the change will bring much-needed controls and help ensure that her well, and those of others in her community of about 1,100, will be protected. Fondomonte, part of the Saudi dairy giant Almarai, started its Arizona farming operation in 2014. It is part of a trend: Saudi companies have been buying farmland overseas because groundwater is being exhausted in Saudi Arabia, and as a result, the country banned domestic growing of alfalfa and other forage crops.
EPA proposes tap water limits for rocket fuel toxin -EPA proposed drinking water limits for a rocket fuel ingredient to satisfy a court order, in a rare example of the Trump administration setting a new regulation despite its deregulatory focus. Monday’s proposal would set maximum allowable levels for perchlorate, a substance that interferes with thyroid functions and can hamper the brain development of fetuses. Used in explosives and rocket fuel, perchlorate is estimated to taint the tap water of millions of Americans, with people living near military sites most at risk of exposure. The proposed legal limits exceed the concentrations environmentalists have previously suggested as safe, raising questions about whether the new regulation will end — or spur additional — litigation.The agency proposed a maximum level in tap water of 20, 40 or 80 parts per billion and a nonenforceable maximum contaminant goal of 20 parts per billion. By comparison, California’s drinking water limit for perchlorate is 6 parts per billion, while the maximum limit in Massachusetts is 2 parts per billion.
EPA says it will propose drinking water limit for perchlorate, but only because court ordered it - The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday said it would propose a drinking water limit for perchlorate, a harmful chemical in rockets and other explosives, but also said doing so wouldn't significantly benefit public health and that it was acting only because a court ordered it. The agency said it will seek input on how strict the limit should be for perchlorate, which is particularly dangerous for infants, and require utilities to test. The agency's move is the latest in a more than decade-long battle over whether to regulate perchlorate. The EPA said that the public benefit of the regulation did not justify its expected cost. "Due to infrequent perchlorate levels of health concern, the vast majority of the approximately 66,000 water systems that would be subject to the rule will incur substantial administrative and monitoring costs with limited or no corresponding public health benefits as a whole," the agency wrote in its proposal. Perchlorate is used to make rockets, fireworks and other explosives, although it can also occur naturally. At some defense, aerospace and manufacturing sites, it seeped into nearby groundwater where it could spread, a problem that has been concentrated in the Southwest and along sections of the East Coast. Perchlorate is a concern because it affects the function of the thyroid, which can be particularly detrimental for the development of young children, lowering IQ scores and increasing rates of behavioral problems. Based on estimates that perchlorate could be in the drinking water of roughly 16 million people, the EPA determined in 2011 that it was a sufficient threat to public health that it needed to be regulated. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, this determination required the EPA to propose and then finalize regulations by strict deadlines, with a proposal due in two years. It didn't happen. First, the agency updated the science to better estimate perchlorate's risks, but that took time. By 2016, the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council sued to force action. During the first Trump administration, the EPA proposed a never-implemented standard that the NRDC said was less restrictive than any state limit and would lead to IQ point loss in children. It reversed itself in 2020, saying no standard was necessary because a new analysis had found the chemical was less dangerous and its appearance in drinking water less common than previously thought. That's still the agency's position. It said Monday that its data shows perchlorate is not widespread in drinking water. "We anticipate that fewer than one‑tenth of 1% of regulated water systems are likely to find perchlorate above the proposed limits," the agency said. A limit will help the small number of places with a problem, but burden the vast majority with costs they don't need, officials said. The NRDC challenged that reversal and a federal appeals court said the EPA must propose a regulation for perchlorate, arguing that it still is a significant and widespread public health threat. The agency will solicit public comment on limits of 20, 40 and 80 parts per billion, as well as other elements of the proposal. "Members of the public deserve to know whether there's rocket fuel in their tap water. We're pleased to see that, however reluctantly, EPA is moving one step closer to providing the public with that information," said Sarah Fort, a senior attorney with NRDC.
Asbestos advocates sue Trump admin for East Wing demolition docs - A public health advocacy group sued the Trump administration Wednesday, seeking any documents about treatment for hazardous materials such as asbestos before the sudden demolition last fall of the White House’s East Wing.The complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia says multiple federal agencies and President Donald Trump’s office violated the public records law by not responding to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s numerous requests for information on what was done to manage the release of dangerous materials when the building was torn down.Plans for the demolition and project for what Trump has touted as a 90,000-square-foot ballroom have been largely kept out of the public eye, but a federal planning commission on Thursday is scheduled to hold a public meeting to learn more about the White House’s vision. Shortly after construction crews started to raze the East Wing in late October, experts raised concerns about the exposure of nearby workers and others to asbestos, the cancer-causing fibers historically used in building materials.
Global study reveals widespread burning of plastic for heating and cooking - A new Curtin University-led study has shed new light on the widespread number of households in developing countries burning plastic as an everyday energy source, uncovering serious international health, social equality and environmental concerns. Published in Nature Communications, the research surveyed more than 1,000 respondents across 26 countries working closely with low-income urban neighborhoods, such as researchers, government workers and community leaders.One in three respondents said they were aware of households burning plastic, with many personally witnessing neighbors or community members doing so. A smaller but significant group reported having burned plastic themselves. Lead researcher Dr. Bishal Bharadwaj, from the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition (CIET), said the study was the first to provide broad global evidence of households burning plastic to not only dispose of waste, but also cook food, heat homes, light fires and keep insects away."This is an issue that has largely been happening out of sight in communities and has been difficult to get accurate data on. However, this survey provides additional insights into what is going on," Dr. Bharadwaj said."When families can't afford cleaner fuels and have no reliable waste collection, plastic becomes both a nuisance and a last-resort energy source. We found evidence of people burning everything from plastic bags and wrappers to bottles and packaging, just to meet basic household needs."The practice is far more widespread than anyone realized, but because it happens in marginalized communities and is often hidden, it has escaped meaningful global attention despite the severe risks to health and the environment." The team found households frequently used simple stoves such as three-stone fires, charcoal stoves and makeshift burners to burn plastic, producing toxic smoke inside homes and densely populated areas. Women, children, older residents and people with disabilities were identified as those most exposed. Co-author Professor Hari Vuthaluru from Curtin's Western Australian School of Mines (WASM) said the burning of materials such as mixed plastics and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) posed severe risks from toxic emissions. "When PVC is burned, it releases highly toxic dioxins and furans, which are among the most dangerous pollutants known," Professor Vuthaluru said. "These compounds persist in the environment, accumulate in the food chain and can cause serious health problems including cancer, reproductive disorders and immune system damage. PVC ranks as the third most commonly burned plastic, which is extremely concerning." Co-researcher Dr. Pramesh Dhungana from Curtin's School of Molecular and Life Sciences said the study highlighted the risks of food contamination from plastic burning. "Our survey found 60% of respondents thought it extremely likely that toxic chemicals from burning plastic could contaminate food and water," Dr. Dhungana said. "This isn't just theoretical: Studies near plastic burning sites have found toxic compounds in eggs and soil samples. When plastic burns near homes and food preparation areas, these toxins can settle on crops, enter water sources and accumulate in foods, creating a hidden health crisis for communities already facing significant challenges." Co-author and CIET Director Professor Peta Ashworth said addressing the issue required far more than simply telling households not to burn plastic, and targeted action was required quickly, given that plastic use is projected to triple by 2060. "People only do this because they have no safer alternatives, due to root causes such as extreme energy poverty, unaffordable cleaner fuels and inadequate waste services," Professor Ashworth said. "It's essential that solutions include improving sanitation, supporting access to modern cooking energy and working with communities on practical, culturally relevant options.
Severe multi-state heatwave drives extreme bushfire risk across southern Australia – (news video)_Australia is enduring one of its most intense heatwaves since the 2019–20 Black Summer, with extreme temperatures, strong winds and dry lightning fuelling catastrophic fire danger across multiple states. Emergency-level bushfires have been reported in South Australia and Victoria, while BOM forecasts indicate the threat will intensify through Friday, before cooler air reaches southern regions at the weekend. A vast mass of hot, dry air continues to move eastwards from Western Australia into South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, generating widespread extreme heat and dangerous fire weather. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said the event may represent the most severe multi-day heatwave in southeastern Australia since the 2019–20 season. Maximum temperatures are reaching 45°C (113°F) across inland regions, with Adelaide and Melbourne forecast to peak at 42°C (107.6°F) — Melbourne’s hottest day since January 2020. In Tasmania, Launceston is forecast to reach 32°C (89.6°F), with high fire danger extending across northern and eastern districts. Total fire bans are in effect for multiple regions, including the Melbourne metropolitan area. BOM forecaster Dean Narramore said the most critical period will occur between Wednesday, January 7 and Friday, January 9, as much of southeastern Australia experiences consecutive days of extreme heat. “We’re likely to see extreme heatwave conditions over a huge part of New South Wales and northern Victoria, practically everywhere between Melbourne and Sydney and extending well inland,” he said. “It is looking like the most significant burst of heat for southeastern Australia, particularly in terms of multiple days in a row of mid-40 temperatures, since the summer of 2019–20.” According to BOM meteorologist Sarah Scully, extreme fire danger is already established across large parts of southern South Australia and western and central Victoria. A Fire Weather Warning is active across the orange-coded areas of the national map, indicating total fire bans and very high ignition potential. Maximum temperatures are combining with strong north-northwesterly winds and extremely low humidity to produce erratic fire behavior. Emergency-level bushfires have been reported in parts of South Australia and Victoria, prompting evacuation orders and advice for residents to leave early. Severe thunderstorms are forecast to develop across parts of Victoria and South Australia on Thursday, January 8, bringing damaging wind gusts and the potential for large hail, with minimal rainfall, and dry lightning. “Now, significantly, there is very little, if any, rainfall expected with these thunderstorms as the thunderstorms are forming from a very high base, with the rainfall mostly evaporating before it reaches the ground as it moves through that really hot and dry air mass,” Scully said. “So this leads to a risk of dry lightning that could potentially ignite new fires But as well, you’ve got the damaging wind gusts that will hit the ground and spread out, creating potentially erratic fire behavior.”
3 missing amid bushfires, 'catastrophic' conditions in Australia | CBC - Three people were unaccounted for as out-of-control bushfires raged in the Australian state of Victoria, destroying homes and burning through vast swathes of bushland, authorities said on Friday. Damaging winds and temperatures up to 46 C were forecast for Victoria's north. Victoria Premier Jacinda Allen said it was "one of the most dangerous fire days that this state has experienced in years." A blaze near the town of Longwood has burned through more than 35,000 hectares of bushland, while a blaze near Walwa has grown to around 20,000 hectares. Both started on Wednesday amid an intense summer heatwave in Australia's south. Meteorologists have said conditions are on par with 2019, when bushfires destroyed wide swathes of southeastern Australia, killing 33 people, in what became known as the Black Summer. An analysis released Tuesday by Climate Central shows human-caused climate change made the heat at least two to five times more likely in many regions of Australia. Friday's fire danger rating was set at "catastrophic," the highest level, and both Longwood and Walwa fires pose a real risk of loss of life and property, authorities said. The Walwa fire has created its own weather system, with a pyrocumulonimbus cloud causing lightning and thunder. Premier Allen said that has made existing fire conditions more extreme "with the fires themselves creating additional weather, lightning starting new fires in a number of locations across the state and also with strong winds and with more strong winds predicted to come over the course of today.” Residents in dozens of neighbouring towns have been told to evacuate. Some 450 schools in Victoria were closed on Friday and many regional train services were cancelled. A total fire ban was imposed across the whole state on Friday. In New Zealand, the country's weather provider, MetService, also warned of record warm temperatures over the weekend as the heatwave moves across the Tasman Sea. It has issued heat alerts for parts of the eastern coast of New Zealand and the north of the South Island.
New bushfire warnings issued in Victoria and NSW as Townsville braces for cyclone – as it happened - As New South Wales continues to grapple with a major heatwave, there are 53 bushfires and grass fires burning across the state, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has confirmed. Ten of those fires have not yet been contained. There is one fire at a “watch and act” level burning within the Wadbilliga national park, around 20km north-west of Cobargo. The village, in the Bega shire, was decimated during the 2019–2020 black Saturday bushfires.The NSW RFS said fire activity had “increased across the fire ground and is burning in an easterly and south-easterly direction”.
- More than 100 buildings have been destroyed and 300,000 hectares burned in Victoria’s bushfires. Fire danger warnings have been imposed across much of New South Wales and all of Victoria as the southern state experiences the worst fire conditions since the black summer bushfires.
- The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has declared a state of emergency in 18 local government areas and an alpine resort.
- Despite a change in conditions on Saturday, the fire threat remained as strong westerly winds pushed existing fire fronts east to threatened additional communities.
- The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, warned of an “incredible threat” as fire bans were imposed, and asked residents not to take risks.
- Queensland’s premier, David Crisafulli, said the state has been as prepared as it ever has been for the cyclone developing off the Queensland coast.
- A man was found dead in his car near an active fire, but his death appears not to have been related to the bushfires, authorities said.
- Three people reported missing in Victoria’s north on Friday were found alive and well.
- Meanwhile, former Adelaide festival leaders wrote to the current board to voice their criticism over the dumping of a Palestinian writer from the program.
LA fires: Chemicals from the smoke lingered inside homes long after the wildfires were out. Studies tracked the harm - When wildfires began racing through the Los Angeles area on Jan. 7, 2025, the scope of the disaster caught residents by surprise. Forecasters had warned about high winds and exceptionally dry conditions, but few people expected to see smoke and fires for weeks in one of America's largest metro areas. Environmental health scientist Yifang Zhu studies air quality at UCLA and began collecting samples from inside and outside homes the day after the fires began. In this Q&A, she describes findings by her team, a consortium of universities and local projects, that are painting a picture of the health risks millions of Los Angeles-area residents faced.Their research offers both a warning and steps people everywhere can take to protect their homes and themselves from wildfire smoke in the future.Urban fires are unique in a sense that it's not just trees and other biomass burning. When homes and vehicles catch fire, plastics, electronics, cleaning chemicals, paints, textiles, construction material and much more burns, releasing chemicals and metals into the air.More than 16,000 buildings burned in LA. Electric vehicles burned. A dental clinic burned. All of this gets mixed into the smoke in complicated ways, creating complex mixtures that can have definite health risks.One thing we've found that is especially important for people to understand is that the concentration of these chemicals and metals can actually be higher inside homes compared with outside after a fire.To understand the health risks from air pollution, you need to know what people are exposed to and how much of it.The LA Fire HEALTH Study, which I'm part of, is a 10-year project combining the work of exposure scientists and health researchers from several universities who are studying the long-term effects of the fire. Many other community and health groups are also working hard to help communities recover. A local program called CAP.LA, or Community Action Program Los Angeles, is supporting some of my work, including establishing a real-time air quality monitoring network in the Palisades area called CAP AIR. During an active wildfire, it's extremely difficult to collect high-quality air samples. Access is restricted, conditions change quickly, and research resources are often limited and take time to assemble. When the fires broke out not far from my lab at UCLA, my colleagues and I had been preparing for a different study and were able to quickly shift focus and start collecting samples to directly measure people's exposure to metals and chemicals near and around the fires.My group has been working with people whose homes were exposed to smoke but didn't burn and collecting samples over time to understand the smoke's effects. We're primarily testing for volatile organic compounds off-gassing from soft goods—things like pillows, textiles and stuffed animals that are likely to absorb compounds from the smoke.Our testing found volatile organic compounds that were at high levels outdoors during the active fire were still high indoors in February, after the fires were contained. When a Harvard University team led by environmental scientist Joe Allen took samples in March and April, they saw a similar pattern, with indoor levels still high.We have found high levels of different kinds of volatile organic compounds, which have different health risks. Some are carcinogens, like benzene. We have also found metals like arsenic, a known carcinogen, and lead, which is a neurotoxin.Mike Kleeman, an air quality engineer at the University of California Davis, found elevated levels of hexavalent chromium in the nanometer-size range, which can be a really dangerous carcinogen. In March, he drove around collecting air samples from a burn zone. That was testing which government agencies would not have routinely done.Fires have a long list of toxic compounds, and many of them aren't being measured.
Even after wildfires are extinguished, smoke damage may continue to pose risks to residents – A new study of the impact of the 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires has found that even after fires are extinguished, residents who return to their homes may remain at risk of exposure to known carcinogens because of smoke damage. In the study—"Indoor and Outdoor Volatile Organic Compound Levels during and after the 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires," published online Jan. 2 in Environmental Science & Technology Letters—a research team led by UCLA Fielding School of Public Health scientists found that the levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were significantly higher in the post-fire period (vs. when the fire was burning) and were particularly evident in uninhabited homes within burn zones, suggesting ongoing indoor emissions from smoke-impacted materials. "These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to minimize indoor exposures during the recovery phase," said study co-author Michael Jerrett, the Jonathan Fielding Chair in Climate Change and Public Health. "These findings raise concerns about indoor air quality post-wildfire, and the potential for prolonged exposure leading to significant health impacts." The January 2025 blazes in Los Angeles County, in both the Pacific Palisades-Malibu area in western Los Angeles, adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains, and the Altadena-Pasadena communities in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, claimed at least 31 lives, burned more than 37,000 acres, and damaged or destroyed more than 18,000 structures, according to county estimates. Both fires erupted in open areas on Jan. 7, spread into neighborhoods and were only fully contained by Jan. 31. The researchers began fieldwork on the second day of the blazes, collecting air samples indoors and outdoors, and continued through the post-fire period, ending Feb. 18, 2025. The team of UCLA faculty, staff and students was focused on the prevalence of volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX). "Some of these are carcinogenic and definitely harmful to human health," said Yifang Zhu, professor in the department of environmental health sciences and a co-author of the study. "What made these urban wildfires particularly concerning was the potential toxicity of the resulting smoke, because VOCs are ubiquitous in residential areas, with common sources including building materials and household products, like cooking and cleaning supplies." The analysis found the presence of different VOCs peaked at different points during the fires and post-fire phases; the median benzene concentrations outdoors, for example, were 0.38 parts per billion (ppb) during the fires and dropped to 0.06 ppb at the end of the sampling period. This compares to pre-fire background concentrations that ranged from 0.00007 to 0.23 ppb, highlighting the significantly elevated benzene levels observed during the first week of the 2025 Los Angeles fires.The presence of other compounds—toluene and n-hexane, for example—were found to have peaked in the later stage of active burning, both over the pre-fire background levels and, in some cases, the levels recorded during the blazes, which makes clear the risks of staying in a burn area, researchers said. "In these cases, the indoor concentrations during active fires remained comparable to outdoor levels, indicating that staying indoors did not fully prevent exposure to fire-related pollutants," said Yuan Yao, a UCLA Fielding researcher and first author of the study. "This indoor/outdoor pattern shifted during the post-fire recovery phase, likely driven by off-gassing from smoke-impacted materials, which highlights the potential for prolonged indoor VOC exposure—even after outdoor fire activity subsides."
New California bill would speed up post-disaster property insurance claims - — State Sen. Steve Padilla and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara introduced a legislative proposal on Tuesday to overhaul how property insurance companies pay out claims after disasters like the Los Angeles wildfires. Padilla (D), whom state Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón recently named chair of the Senate Insurance Committee, and Lara are pushing a suite of measures aimed at speeding up post-disaster recovery in SB 876. Among the changes they’re pushing is a 30-day deadline for property insurers to pay out the actual cash value of a home if a total loss occurs, a doubling of penalties during a declared emergency for violations of fair claims practice and settlement law, and a requirement insurers cover the costs of building code upgrades at the time of the rebuild instead of the loss to account for updated rules. Lara and Padilla cast the proposal as a response to continued delays in recovery experienced by LA residents who suffered losses in the wildfires that tore through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena one year ago.
Storm Francis triggers severe floods across Málaga Province, Spain - videos - Severe flooding struck Málaga Province, southern Spain, through Sunday and Monday, January 4 and 5, 2026, as Storm Francis brought torrential rainfall, dropping totals of up to 200 mm (8 inches) in parts of the Guadalhorce Valley and Costa del Sol. A Red Alert was issued for parts of the region as rivers overflowed, prompting evacuations and emergency rescues across Cártama, Alhaurín de la Torre, and Málaga city. Storm Francis brought heavy rainfall across southern Spain through January 4–5, triggering severe floods in Málaga Province. The Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) put the Guadalhorce Valley and Costa del Sol Occidental under a Red Alert due to extreme rainfall and flood risk. Rainfall totals reached about 120 mm (4.7 inches) in 12 hours in parts of the Guadalhorce Valley. Meanwhile, cumulative totals of around 200 mm (7.9 inches) were reported in the Cártama–Alhaurín corridor. Three rivers, the Guadalhorce, Fahala, and Campanillas, overflowed their banks, flooding nearby homes and roads. Emergency services in Málaga Province responded to over 120 flood related incidents in 24 hours between January 4 and 5. YouTube videoThree families were evacuated in the area of La Dehesa late in the afternoon on January 4. A woman was rescued from her car after it became trapped in waist-deep water in a tunnel near Málaga Airport. At least 30 residents were evacuated from flooded homes in Cártama as water levels rose rapidly along the Guadalhorce River. Road closures were reported along the MA-5401, which connects El Burgo with Casarabonela, and the MA-8302, in Genalguacil.
Flash floods kill 9 in Sitaro Islands, North Sulawesi, Indonesia - Deadly flash floods swept across the Sitaro Islands Regency in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi Province on January 5, 2026, displacing over a hundred people and leaving at least 17 injured. Flash floods and landslides struck parts of Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, at about 02:30 LT on January 5, after heavy overnight rainfall. According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), nine people were confirmed dead, five were still missing, and 17 were left injured, state owned news agency Antara reported. The floods triggered multiple landslides, displacing 102 people who had to take shelter in a nearby church and other temporary shelters. Five homes were destroyed, with multiple others being damaged as floodwaters and debris swept through hillside settlements. Rescue operations continued through the day, with BNPB reporting challenges in reaching isolated areas due to damaged roads and limited ferry schedules connecting the islands. Power supply and telecommunications in affected areas were disrupted, complicating emergency communication and logistics.
Record-breaking King Tides flood San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California coast, U.S. – (videos) Record-breaking King Tides struck the San Francisco Bay Area and parts of the Northern California coast on Friday and Saturday, January 2-3, 2026, causing widespread coastal flooding across multiple counties. Tide gauges across the region recorded water levels up to 0.76 m (2.5 feet) above normal, breaking multiple records and prompting road closures, flood warnings, and emergency advisories. Record-breaking high tides struck parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Pacific Coast on Saturday, triggering significant flooding across the region during the weekend. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a coastal flood warning for the San Francisco Bay shore through Saturday, warning that tides could bring water 0.76 m (2.5 feet) above normal levels, breaking a 28-year record for high tide. NWS Eureka reported that the tide gauge at the North Spit of Humboldt Bay broke the all-time high tide record twice between Friday and Saturday. The gauge recorded its highest tide on record, reaching 3.05 m (10.01 feet) on Friday, breaking the previous record of 3.04 m (9.98 feet) set on December 31, 2005. The same gauge then set another record, with the tide reaching 3.16 m (10.37 feet) on Saturday. NWS Bay Area reported that all 10 stations in the region saw tides ranking in the top 10 highest on record, including three stations that set new all-time high tide records. Stations at Redwood City, Richmond, and Martinez saw their highest tides on record, reporting tides of 0.82 m (2.70 feet), 0.80 m (2.61 feet), and 0.75 m (2.46 feet), respectively. Meanwhile, the San Francisco station saw its fourth-highest tide on record, reaching 0.78 m (2.56 feet). It was also the highest tide for the station since 1998. Both Point Reyes and Monterey were hit by their third-highest tides on record, with the stations recording tides of 0.83 m (2.73 feet) and 0.74 m (2.43 feet), respectively. Coastal flooding was reported in coastal areas across Marin County, Sonoma County, Alameda County, San Mateo County, and San Francisco due to the King Tide event. In Marin County, flooding prompted the closure of Lucky Drive and Fifer Avenue in Corte Madera and Doherty Drive in Larkspur, which remained in effect as of Saturday afternoon. Flooding was also reported along San Francisco’s Embarcadero, where traffic had to be rerouted around floodwaters. On Friday, the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services urged residents to stay away from the King Salmon area due to extreme flooding. “Due to extreme flooding from the King Tide, the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services is asking all residents to avoid the King Salmon area,” the agency said. Officials added that residents whose homes have been damaged and who need temporary shelter should contact the American Red Cross at 800-733-2777. Meanwhile, the Humboldt County Planning & Building Department warned of serious health and life-safety risks tied to flooding in coastal neighborhoods. The department said many homes built in low-elevation areas near Humboldt Bay, its estuaries, and nearby rivers and creeks are experiencing flooding and water damage due to the combination of King Tides and rainfall.
Strong winds leave thousands without power in Humboldt County, rare tornado warning issued for Shelter Cove, California - -A rare tornado warning was issued for Shelter Cove as high winds downed trees and power lines, leaving nearly 2 000 people without power, and prompted road closures in Humboldt County on Saturday, January 3, 2026. A strong atmospheric river produced high winds that downed multiple trees and power lines in parts of northern California, leaving thousands without power and prompting multiple road closures across parts of the region.A rare Tornado Warning was issued for Shelter Cove due to the storm, along with a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, with winds of 113 km/h (70 mph) forecast as the storm moved through the region.Up to 2 000 customers in Humboldt County were left without power, according to the PG&E outage map.Highway 254 was fully closed south of Phillipsville near Ohman Creek due to downed utility poles. Caltrans District 1 said there was no estimated time for reopening, suggesting U.S. 101 as a detour for travelers. Alderpoint Road was completely blocked at Cemetery Road, about 8 km (5 miles) north of Blocksburg, according to the California Highway Patrol. Sprowl Creek Road was also reported blocked at Old Briceland Road because of fallen trees, limiting access for residents in the area.The winds were associated with a strong atmospheric river that is forecast to bring heavy precipitation across central and northern California through early next week.The same system brought record-breaking king tides that triggered widespread coastal flooding across the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California, including Humboldt County, over the weekend.
Winter storm triggers snow squall warnings and crashes along the I-90 near Spokane, Washington - videos - Snow squall warnings were issued for parts of Washington on January 7, 2026, as a severe winter storm brought heavy snowfall across the region, triggering multiple crashes, and prompting road closures. Winter storm triggers snowsquall warnings and multiple collisions prompting closures along the I-90, on January 7, 2026.The warning affected multiple key routes near Spokane, Washington, and Moscow, Idaho, including the I-90, US-195, US-395, US-95 and US-2.“This is a life threatening situation! Delay or avoid travel!” said the National Weather Service (NWS). Visibility dropped to less than 0.4 km (0.25 miles) in parts of the warnings.All lanes of the westbound I-90 were blocked near the Four Lakes interchange at milepost 270 due to collisions involving multiple semi trucks blocking the route. The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) advised motorists to use SR 904 or SR 902 as alternate routes at this time.The route was partially reopened at around 23:30 local time (LT), with one lane being operational while cleanup continued on other lanes by WSDOT crews.. The winter storm that triggered the heavy snow was one of two frontal systems forecast to bring widespread precipitation and heavy mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest between January 6 and 8. The first, associated with a weakening atmospheric river, brought rainfall to the region on Tuesday, followed by a second, stronger system on January 7–8. Snowfall totals of 30–120 cm (12–48 inches) are expected across the Cascades and Olympic Mountains, with locally higher amounts above 1 500 m (5 000 feet).watchers.news
Oswego County pounded with 4 feet of snow in 24 hours: ‘It’s absolutely nuclear’ - -- The lake effect snow machine that dropped record snow on Syracuse three days ago has turned its attention to Oswego County. As much as 4 feet of snow has fallen on several towns in Oswego County since New Year’s Day, and it’s still coming. Businesses have closed and residents have been trapped inside, according to posts on social media.Pulaski, Sandy Creek and Orwell appeared to be the hardest hit. Some local fire departments have been unable to respond to emergencies. Most firefighters at the Ringgold Fire Department can’t get out of their driveways, and the two firefighters who did make it couldn’t get the engine out because 3 to 5 feet of snow blocked the bay doors, said Justin Crowl, first assistant chief. “It’s a tough time for volunteer fire departments right now,” Crowl said. “This snow really hitting us, just adds on top of the stress.” Snow fell heavily through the night and into this morning. The National Weather Service predicted snowfall rates of 3 to 5 inches an hour. “It’s been absolutely nuclear for over 2 hours now” in Pulaski, wrote X user Maines Abominable SnowBART at 4:45 a.m. today. “3 to 5/hour rates easy!” Residents are used to dealing with heavy snow in a region that routinely sees 20 feet or more in a typical winter. But the sheer volume of snow coming down in so short a period taxes even long-time residents. “We’ve had it before but we haven’t had snow like this in a long time,” Jen Harvey said, who had to clear 4 feet of snow from her driveway at home before she could get to Pit Pond BBQ, the restaurant she co-owns. One to 3 feet of additional snow could fall today as winds whipping from the west draw moisture from Lake Ontario and drop it on the cold slope of the Tug Hill plateau. Winter storm warnings are in effect for Oswego, Lewis and Jefferson counties. The nearby Lacona Fire Department has been able to pull together one crew if an engine is needed, but others are still stuck at home, said Lieutenant Connor Rowell. Rowell said many of his calls today have been for carbon monoxide alarms. Outside ducts can be blocked by snow, causing a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide in both homes and commercial buildings. Most fire hydrants in their area are entirely hidden by massive six-foot snowbanks, Rowell said. They will have to spend time today locating and digging out the hydrants, he said.
Oswego Co. residents still digging out from nearly 5 feet of snow (WWNY) - Lake effect snow has dumped nearly 5 feet of snow on Oswego County over the past week. The communities of Pulaski and Sandy Creek received 3 feet of snow between Thursday and Friday, forcing residents to shovel daily and rely on snow blowers to keep driveways clear. Paul Mahaffy, a Pulaski resident of 40 years, said he has been shoveling every day. “Seems like I’ve been doing it every day so far. It’s been like that, but I’ve got a snow blower so I can do it, we have to have something like that,” Mahaffy said. In Sandy Creek, Donald Burnett recently purchased a snow blower to help clear his driveway. With a prosthetic leg, the equipment allows him to maintain his property while his son-in-law helps clear snow from the roof. “It’s piled up over there, it’s piled up over here, and across the road. And the town comes through. They don’t bury me in here too bad, but the minute they go through, I’m cleaning it up,” Burnett said. Snow piles line roads and reach up to signs throughout the area. Burnett said he helps neighbors who cannot clear their own driveways. “I go down to my neighbors and take care of him and I take care of the lady across the road, she’s got an autistic boy, you know, keep their driveways open up for them,” Burnett said. Mahaffy said recent winters have been milder, but this season appears to be making up for lost time. “The winters haven’t been as bad, but I guess we’re catching up to it again. You got to just roll with it cause that’s where we live,” Mahaffy said.
Arctic cold blast expands across Europe as Greenland block steers polar air south - An Arctic cold wave is moving across Europe as a persistent Greenland block redirects polar air southward. Forecast models show temperature anomalies between −10°C and −15°C (14°F and 5°F) at 850 hPa with extensive snow cover developing over much of the continent, with heavy snow already affecting parts of the UK and Balkans at the start of January 2026. A powerful Greenland blocking pattern that developed during the first week of January 2026 is creating a strong north–south jet stream configuration across the North Atlantic and Europe. This pattern is steering Arctic air deep into Europe, initiating one of the coldest outbreaks of the season so far, according to an analysis by Marko Korosec from Severe Weather Europe (SWE).Ad ends in 10 At the mid-tropospheric level (850 hPa), both ECMWF and GFS analyses show extensive negative temperature anomalies exceeding −10°C (14°F) over Central Europe and the Balkans, and up to −15°C (5°F) below average across parts of Germany, Poland, and eastern France. The core of the cold pool originates from northern Scandinavia and the Barents Sea, extending southwestward under strong northeasterly flow. Ensemble guidance from ECMWF indicates that below-normal temperatures will persist at least through January 15, with gradual moderation expected only in the western fringe of Europe. GFS ensemble members support this scenario, showing recurring Arctic air advection events driven by renewed ridge amplification over Greenland and a displaced polar vortex centered between Siberia and northern Canada.Snowfall forecasts remain significant. ECMWF snow depth projections for January 6–10 show accumulations exceeding 40–60 cm (16–24 inches) in the northern Balkans and 20–30 cm (8–12 inches) across central Europe, including southern Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. GFS suggests similar totals, with additional snow belts extending into northern France and the Low Countries due to secondary cyclogenesis over the western Mediterranean. Strong temperature gradients between Arctic and subtropical air masses are enhancing baroclinic development over the Mediterranean Basin. Multiple low-pressure systems are forecast to track eastward across the Adriatic and Aegean Seas, producing locally heavy snow and high winds. Bora wind gusts along the Adriatic coast could exceed 120–150 km/h (75–93 mph), creating blizzard conditions and hazardous travel. Observed impacts are already significant across parts of northern and western Europe. The United Kingdom Met Office has issued amber warnings for snow and ice across Scotland, where up to 30 cm (12 inches) of snow has accumulated and temperatures have fallen below −10°C (14°F) in the Highlands. Ireland remains under nationwide warnings for frost and snow, with overnight minima around −4°C (25°F) and widespread road disruptions.
Six dead in France and Bosnia as severe cold snap grips Europe, disrupting transport and power networks - 5 YouTube videos -A severe winter storm has killed at least six people and disrupted transport across Europe since Monday, January 5, 2026. Heavy snow, freezing rain, and temperatures below −10°C (14°F) caused deadly accidents in France, flight cancellations in Paris and Amsterdam, along with widespread power and travel disruptions. At least six people have died as a severe cold snap hit many parts of Europe with heavy snow, ice, and sub-zero temperatures across Europe starting Monday, January 5. The Arctic outbreak caused multiple accidents, flight cancellations, and train disruptions across France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the western Balkans. Five fatalities were reported in France following multiple collisions caused by icy roads and black ice, including several crashes in the southwest and in the Paris region. The sixth fatality was a woman who died in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, after being hit by a tree that collapsed under the weight of the snowfall on Monday. The cold air mass, originating in the Arctic and spreading south through Scandinavia, has brought one of the most significant early-January cold events in recent years. Temperatures dropped sharply across western and central Europe over the weekend. The United Kingdom recorded lows of −12.5°C (9°F) in parts of eastern England, the coldest so far this winter. Northern and central France registered temperatures near −10°C (14°F), while the Netherlands and Belgium reported night-time lows between −6°C and −9°C (21–16°F). Heavy snowfalls affected northern France, the Low Countries and parts of Germany, disrupting transport and grounding hundreds of flights. YouTube video Paris–Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports operated on reduced schedules as snow removal and de-icing operations continued throughout Monday. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport temporarily suspended all departures and arrivals due to poor visibility and frozen taxiways grounding around 600 flights. Train services across the Netherlands were halted early in the day because of ice accumulation on overhead power lines and frozen track switches. Météo-France maintained cold weather and snow-ice alerts for much of the country and activated additional measures to shelter homeless and vulnerable populations as part of its winter contingency plan. In Paris, emergency shelters extended capacity overnight as wind chill values pushed perceived temperatures well below −10°C (14°F). Across the United Kingdom, the Met Office issued yellow and amber warnings for snow and ice across England, Scotland and Wales. Snow accumulations reached up to 20 cm (8 inches) in higher terrain of Yorkshire and the Scottish Highlands. Freezing rain led to localized ice accretion on power lines and trees, resulting in scattered power interruptions. Several mountain roads were closed due to drifting snow and near-zero visibility. In central Europe, Germany, Poland and Czechia experienced widespread frost and moderate snowfalls. Berlin recorded lows near −9°C (16°F) overnight, with freezing fog and black ice reported across Brandenburg. The Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management noted snow depths up to 15 cm (6 inches) in southern and central regions. In the western Balkans, heavy snow and strong winds disrupted transport and damaged power lines. Sarajevo recorded about 30 cm (12 inches) of snow within 24 hours, while Zagreb measured around 20 cm (8 inches). Snowdrifts blocked mountain passes and caused power outages in several rural communities. YouTube video The Arctic wave is associated with cold, stable high-pressure over northern Scandinavia, combined with a trough over the Mediterranean, which maintains persistent northeasterly flow and below-normal temperatures across much of the continent. The resulting temperature anomaly remains 8–12°C (14–22°F) below average in several regions.
Tornado kills up to 40 000 chickens and damages Kalpaki military camp near Ioannina, Greece - YouTube video - A powerful tornado ripped through Kalpaki near Ioannina in northwestern Greece late Wednesday, January 7, 2026, killing about 30 000 chickens and damaging military buildings nearby. A damaging tornado struck the Kalpaki area near Ioannina in northwestern Greece late Wednesday, January 7, destroying a poultry farm, damaging military facilities, and uprooting dozens of trees, local authorities said. Kalpaki Mayor Kostas Kapsalis told the state-run Athens-Macedonian News Agency that the twister flattened a poultry farm with about 30 000 chickens. Meanwhile, some local media reports estimate up to 40 000 chicken’s being killed; however, authorities have not verified this number. Strong winds tore the roofs off three buildings before the walls collapsed, killing the birds inside. The tornado also caused damage at the nearby Kalpaki military camp, which is in the process of being shut down. Multiple personnel were transferred to a different location for safety reasons.
At least two dead in England and Wales as storm Goretti leaves nearly 1.2 million without power - Storm Goretti struck the United Kingdom on January 9, 2026, causing at least 2 fatalities in England and Wales. Winds reached 160 km/h (100 mph) as the storm brought heavy snow and significant coastal flooding, leaving nearly half a million customers without power — approximately 1.2 million people. The Met Office issued rare red wind warnings for southwest England as power cuts, flight cancellations, and travel disruption spread across the country. Storm Goretti, the seventh named storm of the 2025–26 European storm season, struck the United Kingdom on January 9 with destructive winds and widespread disruption. The system deepened rapidly over the Atlantic Ocean, with its central pressure falling to around 947 hPa, before moving northeast across Ireland and western Britain. The UK Met Office placed parts of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, and Devon under red wind warnings (the highest level) with gusts locally reaching 160 km/h (100 mph) in some areas. Amber and yellow warnings covered much of the rest of the country for strong winds, rain, and snow. Snow accumulations reached up to 30 cm (12 inches) in the higher parts of northern England and the Scottish Highlands. At least two people were killed by falling trees in England and Wales, with emergency services reporting multiple injuries and hundreds of road accidents caused by debris, ice, and poor visibility. Over 250 schools in Scotland remained closed due to heavy snowfall and ice.
Harsh winter delays school reopening in Punjab - Punjab has extended winter vacations by one week for all schools and colleges due to harsh weather and student health concerns. Educational institutions will now reopen on January 19 instead of January 12. The move follows public feedback highlighting severe cold and dense fog across the province. The decision was announced by Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, who cited a social media survey for guidance. The survey showed overwhelming support, with 87 percent favoring the January 19 reopening. Only 13 percent preferred returning on January 12, reflecting widespread concern over student safety. The minister emphasized that the government prioritizes student well-being amid the ongoing cold spell. He instructed Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of education departments across Punjab to enforce the holiday extension strictly. Authorities are also monitoring weather conditions to make further adjustments if needed. Parents and students welcomed the extension, citing low temperatures, heavy fog, and increased health risks during early mornings. Many expressed relief, saying the decision reduces exposure to cold-related illnesses and allows safer travel for children. Officials noted that the government’s survey approach reflects growing public participation in policy decisions. The extension sets a precedent for responsive planning during extreme weather events, balancing education continuity with student safety.
Death toll reaches 16 in North Sulawesi as floods and landslides impact Indonesia - videos - The death toll from flash floods in North Sulawesi rose to 16 after floods and landslides affected several Indonesian provinces between January 5 and 7, 2026, destroying hundreds of homes and affecting more than 4 000 people, BNPB reported. The death toll rose to 16 following deadly flash floods that struck Sitaro Islands Regency on January 5, displacing hundreds, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). At least 22 people were injured by the flooding, which washed away seven homes, severely damaged 29 homes, and lightly damaged 112 housing units. The floods impacted at least four sub-districts, including East Siau, Central Siau, West Siau, and Southwest Siau districts, with affected areas spread across two sub-districts and six villages. The BNPB reported that multiple flooding disasters struck Indonesia between January 5 and 7. Around 320 homes in Way Khilau District of Pesawaran Regency were damaged by flash floods that struck the region at around 21:00 local time (LT) on January 5. Floodwaters reached a height of 70 cm (28 inches) in Mada Jaya Village, while in Penengahan Village the water level was approximately 30 cm (12 inches) on January 5. Flooding continued to affect Mada Jaya Village but began to recede in Penengahan Village on January 6. A landslide was reported in the Mount Kaupas area of Cibodas Village, in Padarincang District, Serang Regency, at around 10:40 LT on January 6. The slide occurred about 1 km (0.6 miles) from the nearest residential area. Flooding was also reported in Nunukan Regency in North Kalimantan, where at least 10 villages across three sub-districts were reportedly submerged. The flooding affected 4 461 people across Sembakung, Lumbis, and Sebuku districts. At least nine schools and nine public healthcare facilities, along with two temples, were also affected by flooding across the three districts.
Alert Level 3 issued for Mayon volcano as dome collapse triggers pyroclastic density currents, Philippines - The PHIVOLCS raised Mayon Volcano’s alert status to Level 3 on January 6, 2026, following intensified dome collapse events and effusive lava extrusion at the summit crater. The next day, Tokyo VAAC reported a brief ash emission to 2 700 m (9 000 feet), consistent with ongoing shallow magmatic activity. Mayon volcano’s alert status was elevated from Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) to Alert Level 3 (increased tendency toward a hazardous eruption) at 13:20 LT (05:20 UTC) on January 6, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) announced in an official bulletin. The decision followed sharp increases in volcanic activity, including the collapse of the growing summit dome, generation of pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), and persistent ground inflation along the volcano’s eastern and southeastern slopes. Since the previous alert raise on January 1, 2026, PHIVOLCS recorded 346 rockfall events and four volcanic earthquakes, with durations of one to five minutes and lava debris reaching up to 1 km (0.6 miles) down the southern upper slopes. The events showed increased incandescence at night, marking the onset of slow extrusion of new degassed lava at the summit. On January 6, at 12:26 LT (04:26 UTC), a series of PDCs were generated from newly extruded lava on the Bonga (southeast) Gully, lasting about three minutes and extending up to 2 km (1.2 miles) from the crater. SO2 emission rates remained at background levels, but continuous GPS, electronic tilt, and EDM measurements confirmed ongoing inflation since June 2024. PHIVOLCS concluded that very slow extrusion of shallow magma is occurring, indicating an effusive magmatic eruption at the summit. The following day, January 7, at 11:21 LT (03:21 UTC), the Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) reported an ash emission from Mayon reaching about 2 700 m (9 000 feet), extending northeast. The event was detected by Himawari-9 satellite imagery and PHIVOLCS monitoring data. No further ash was observed in subsequent satellite scans. Under Alert Level 3, PHIVOLCS warns of possible lava flows, dome-collapse PDCs, and potential explosive activity within days or weeks. Residents within the 6 km (3.7 miles) Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) are advised to evacuate due to hazards from rockfalls, PDCs, and lava flows. Civil aviation authorities are instructed to restrict flights near the summit due to possible ash hazards, while communities along the southern drainages are urged to remain alert for lahars and sediment-laden flows during rain events. Based on prevailing wind direction, any ash fall is expected to affect areas south of the volcano. The video below shows live 4K views of Mayon volcano, courtesy AfarTV:
Trump quits pivotal 1992 climate treaty, in massive hit to global warming effort - President Donald Trump is withdrawing the United States from the world’s overarching treaty on climate change in a move that escalates his attempts to reverse years of global negotiations toward addressing rising temperatures.The announcement to sever ties with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change came as Trump quit dozens of international organizations that the White House said no longer serve U.S. interests by promoting what it called radical climate policies and other issues.Trump has pressured other countries to abandon their carbon-cutting measures, and the move appears to be his latest attempt to destabilize global climate cooperation.The 1992 UNFCCC serves as the international structure for efforts by 198 countries to slow the rate of rising climate pollution. It has universal participation. The U.S. was the first industrialized nation to join the treaty following its ratification under former President George H.W. Bush — and it will be the only nation ever to leave it.The move marks an intensifying effort by Trump to topple climate efforts compared to his first term, when he decided against quitting the treaty. “Many of these bodies promote radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programs that conflict with U.S. sovereignty and economic strength,” stated a White House fact sheet. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the 66 organizations the U.S. is leaving seek to “constrain American sovereignty,” referring to gender equity campaigns and “climate orthodoxy.”“President Trump is clear: It is no longer acceptable to be sending these institutions the blood, sweat, and treasure of the American people, with little to nothing to show for it,” Rubio said in a statement. “The days of billions of dollars in taxpayer money flowing to foreign interests at the expense of our people are over.” The move comes as Trump tears down U.S. climate policies amid the hottest decade ever recorded and threatens other nations for pursuing measures to address global warming, which Trump has called a hoax and a “con job.”The U.S. did not send a delegation to Brazil for the COP30 climate talks late last year. Instead, administration officials have been working to strike fossil fuel deals with other nations or, in one case, grab their resources using military force. Trump captured Venezuela’s strongman president, Nicolás Maduro, in an assault using U.S. commandos Saturday and said he would take control of the country’s vast oil resources. The plan to leave the UNFCCC stems from Trump’s order last February requiring Rubio to identify treaties and international organizations that “are contrary to the interests of the United States” and recommend withdrawing from them.Trump also pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, the landmark 2015 pact that’s underpinned by the UNFCCC. That withdrawal will take effect later this month. “This is a shortsighted, embarrassing, and foolish decision,” said Gina McCarthy, who served as EPA administrator under former President Barack Obama and who now leads a coalition of state and business leaders known as America Is All In. “As the only country in the world not a part of the UNFCCC treaty, the Trump administration is throwing away decades of U.S. climate change leadership and global collaboration.
Trump’s shadow looms over EU aviation emissions plan -— Donald Trump blew up global efforts to cut emissions from shipping, and now the EU is terrified the U.S. president will do the same to any plans to tax carbon emissions from long-haul flights.The European Commission is studying whether to expand its existing carbon pricing scheme that forces airlines to pay for emissions from short- and medium-haul flights within Europe into a more ambitious effort covering all flights departing the bloc.If that happens, all international airlines flying out of Europe — including U.S. ones — would face higher costs, something that’s likely to stick in the craw of the Trump administration. “God only knows what the Trump administration will do” if Brussels expands its own Emissions Trading System to include transatlantic flights, a senior EU official told POLITICO.
Ocean temperatures hit another record high in 2025 -- A new international analysis published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences on 9 January finds that Earth's oceans stored more heat in 2025 than in any year since modern measurements began.The 2025 heat increase was 23 Zetta Joules (23,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Joules of energy), which is equivalent to ~37 years of global primary energy consumption at the 2023 level (~620 Exa Joules per year). The finding is the result of a major international collaboration, involving more than 50 scientists from 31 research institutions worldwide.The ocean absorbs more than 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases, making it the main heat reservoir of the climate system. Because ocean heat content (OHC) reflects the accumulation of heat stored in the ocean, it provides one of the best indicators of long-term climate change.The assessment combines data from major international data centers and independent research groups, including three observational products (Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Copernicus Marine; and NOAA/NCEI) and an ocean reanalysis (CIGAR-RT) from three continents: Asia, Europe, and America. These groups confirm that the 2025 OHC reached the highest level on record, confirming continued ocean heat gain.The ocean warming is not uniform; some areas are warming faster than others. In 2025, about 16% of the global ocean area reached a record-high OHC, and about 33% ranked among the top three warmest values in their historical records. The warmest areas included the tropical and South Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, and the Southern Ocean.The overall record is characterized by stronger ocean warming trends since the 1990s than before. The increase in upper 2000m OHC is fairly steady in recent decades, though a small increase in rate can be detected. Ocean heat content reached a record high in 2025 as it has in each of the past nine years.
Oceans struggle to absorb Earth's carbon dioxide as microplastics invade their waters -A new study reveals that microplastics are impairing the oceans' ability to absorb carbon dioxide, a process scientists find crucial for regulating Earth's temperature.Defined as tiny plastic fragments smaller than five millimeters in size, microplastics have become ubiquitous. They are found almost everywhere, from deep ocean waters, freshwater sources, air, soil, Arctic ice, and even human bodies.Their pervasiveness poses serious risks to the environment. They carry toxins that living creatures, including humans, ingest, triggering a host of diseases, disrupting the ecosystem, harming aquatic life, and reducing soil fertility.Now researchers have found that despite the global urgency of climate change, the role of microplastics in this crisis, particularly their presence in marine environments, has received limited attention."Climate disruption and plastic pollution are two major environmental challenges that intersect in complex ways. MPs (microplastics) influence biogeochemical processes, disrupt oceanic carbon pumps, and contribute directly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions," they write in a study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials: Plastics. "In marine ecosystems, MPs alter the natural carbon sequestration by affecting phytoplankton and zooplankton, which are key agents of carbon cycling. Additionally, the plastisphere, a microbial community colonizing MPs, plays a significant role in GHG(greenhouse gas production) due to its diverse microbial networks."While widely recognized as pollutants, "our study shows they also interfere with the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, a process critical for regulating Earth's temperature," said Dr. Ihsanullah Obaidullah, Associate Professor of Integrated Water Processing Technologies at the University of Sharjah and the study's corresponding author.Dr. Obaidullah added, "Microplastics disrupt marine life, weaken the 'biological carbon pump,' and even release greenhouse gases as they degrade. Over time, these changes could lead to ocean warming, acidification, and biodiversity loss, threatening food security and coastal communities worldwide."
Oil residues can travel over 5,000 miles on ocean debris, study finds -- When oily plastic and glass, as well as rubber, washed onto Florida beaches in 2020, a community group shared the mystery online, attracting scientists' attention. Working together, they linked the black residue-coated debris to a 2019 oil slick along Brazil's coastline. Using ocean current models and chemical analysis, the team explains in Environmental Science & Technology how some of the oily material managed to travel over 5,200 miles (8,500 kilometers) by clinging to debris. "The research findings of our study would not have been possible without the dedication of the Friends of Palm Beach," says Bryan James, lead author of the study and a researcher at Northeastern University. "Their long-term knowledge of the local marine debris enabled them to notice when unique and interesting items like oily plastic comes ashore. If they hadn't been willing to investigate and share their observations, this discovery would still be lost at sea."Although some plastics can drift thousands of miles on ocean currents, crude oil or refined petroleum usually doesn't. Instead, sunlight and microbes break down oil within a few hundred miles (300 kilometers) of where it entered the water. So, in 2020, the source of oily plastic bottles and glass containers along the shore in Palm Beach, Florida, was curious to the Friends of Palm Beach cleanup group.With no spills reported nearby, the group's main clues about the oil's source were the bottle labels in Portuguese, Spanish and English, and large chunks of rubber that had also washed up. The group became community scientists as some members teamed up with international researchers led by James and Christopher Reddy at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to find the origin of the oil and plastic pollution. James, Reddy and their colleagues hypothesized that the oily plastic and rubber littering the beach in Florida could have the same origin as similar pollution found on Brazil's coast in late 2019. And the source of the oil and rubber might be the SS Rio Grande, a sunken World War II supply ship in the Atlantic Ocean. To test their hypothesis, the researchers conducted computer simulations and oil spill forensic analyses.
- Origin: Ocean current models traced the plastic bottles backward in time, predicting origins spanning from the Gulf of Mexico, Central America and Brazil.
- Travel time: Additional models estimated that the oily debris drifted for 240 days, which is a timeframe consistent with currents carrying material from the 2019 Brazil oil spill to the Florida coast.
- Chemical analyses: Several of the oily residues collected from the Florida debris showed evidence of refining, and the "chemical fingerprints" of the oily plastic matched those collected from the Brazil oil spill.
Reddy concludes that this work demonstrates an additive contaminant effect where plastic pollution can transport oil pollution far beyond its origin, and it expands on the current understanding of "petroplastic"—a recently recognized form of plastic pollution from humans.
US advances toward approving mining in international waters - The Trump administration is formally vetting two applications from a Canadian mining company that wants to explore international waters for precious metals.NOAA plans to hold virtual hearings later this month on two applications that a subsidiary of The Metals Co. submitted this summer, according to a Federal Register notice. The Vancouver-based company has said it hopes to begin commercial mining in a part of the Pacific Ocean dubbed the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in 2027.President Donald Trump has prioritized deep-sea mining, a process through which mineral-rich nodules are extracted from the ocean floor. In April he signed an executive order calling for permits in both domestic and international waters.But the prospect has alarmed environmental groups concerned about damage to pristine seafloor habitats, and nearly 40 countries have called for a moratorium or ban on seabed mining.
Duke Energy Claims to Have First “100% Green Hydrogen” Power -- Marcellus Drilling News - Duke Energy breathlessly announced the launch of the DeBary Hydrogen Production Storage System, claiming to be the first U.S. project to demonstrate an end-to-end process for producing, storing, and combusting 100% green hydrogen. Located in Volusia County, Florida (near Daytona Beach), the facility uses solar energy to power electrolyzers that extract hydrogen from water. This stored hydrogen then fuels a turbine modified to burn hydrogen to meet peak electricity demand. Duke thinks that it can overcome the unreliable nature of solar power by using solar when the sun is shining to split water into oxygen and hydrogen, and storing the explosive hydrogen for later use. Below, we bring you the big claims by Duke Energy—in their own words—and then tell you why we consider their claims lacking.
Production Begins at Woodside’s Beaumont New Ammonia Facility --Ammonia production has begun at Woodside Energy’s Beaumont New Ammonia facility in southeast Texas following the completion of systems testing, representing the first phase of operations commissioning of the facility, the company said. Commercial production of ammonia from the facility (see map below) is expected to begin following the handover to Woodside from OCI Global in early 2026, with production of blue ammonia targeted to start in H2 2026. Woodside said global demand for lower-carbon ammonia continues to develop, especially from customers in Europe and Asia pursuing energy security and decarbonization objectives. The company said it has also finalized agreements with leading global customers to supply significant volumes of conventional gray ammonia from the facility. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2026 and continue through year-end, under contracts that reflect prevailing market prices. Additional agreements are being advanced to align with expected output, including for blue ammonia. “These outcomes confirm the facility’s production readiness and our ability to move toward commercial startup following handover.”Beaumont New Ammonia has a production capacity of 1.1 million MT/year and is designed to support growing demand for ammonia, lower-carbon ammonia and hydrogen-adjacent products. Once operational, the facility has the potential to approximately double U.S. ammonia exports, the company said.Woodside acquired the project from OCI Global in August 2024 for $2.35 billion, citing expectations that global ammonia demand would double by 2050, with lower-carbon ammonia making up about two-thirds of total demand. Woodside said at the time it would be the first ammonia plant paired with auto thermal reforming with a carbon-capture rate of at least 95%. It would have the capacity to abate 3.2 million MT of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) at full development, or more than 60% of Woodside’s Scope 3 abatement target.
With No Offtakers in Place, Canadian Project Pivots from Green Hydrogen to Wind Power -- World Energy GH2 has canceled plans for a 1.2-GW green hydrogen and ammonia complex in Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador province, underscoring the widening gap between hydrogen ambition and commercial reality. Known as Project Nujio’qonik — and once promoted as a cornerstone of Canada’s hydrogen export strategy to Europe — the initiative has been shelved after the company failed to secure a single long-term offtake agreement for its output. The project was designed to be supplied by roughly 2 GW of new wind capacity and had attracted a $50 million investment from South Korea’s SK Ecoplant. But with no viable export market and limited domestic demand, World Energy GH2 concluded that clean hydrogen remains uneconomic under current conditions. Rather than abandoning wind development altogether, the company is pivoting to a new concept, Clean Grid Atlantic, which would focus on building a pair of transmission lines (see map below) to deliver wind power from onshore and offshore projects to the Hydro-Quebec power grid in eastern Canada. Hydro-Quebec has been exporting power to the U.S. since the 1980s.The proposal is a 50:50 joint venture with Pattern Energy, which was acquired by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) in 2020. The partners expect to spend more than $300 million on development work ahead of a final investment decision (FID) in 12 to 18 months.World Energy Chairman John Risley told the CBC that hydrogen could eventually be part of the project. “Where are our future energy prices going to go? My crystal ball is no better than anyone else’s, but I think it would be wrong to say that hydrogen is never going to be part of the equation. I think hydrogen will be part of the equation one day, we just don’t know when,” he said.
White Hydrogen Emerges as a Wild Card in the Global Clean Energy Race - The white hydrogen boom could be within sight based on recent finds in France, the United States, and other parts of the world. However, developers are still not sure of the costs involved with exploiting white hydrogen resources, as well as the technical challenges to accessing reserves, making the outlook uncertain. Unlike other low-carbon forms of hydrogen, such as blue and green hydrogen, white hydrogen is naturally occurring. The geologic hydrogen, often referred to as natural or white hydrogen, is produced naturally when underground water crosses paths with iron-rich rocks in a process known as serpentinization. Hydrogen is so light that it naturally seeps through porous rocks and cracks before rising to the atmosphere. However, in some instances, hydrogen can become trapped under rocks with low permeability, which allows the gas to accumulate. If researchers could better understand how and where natural hydrogen accumulates, they could exploit the resources to provide an alternative supply of clean hydrogen. A U.S. Geological Survey study from 2024 suggests that there could be anywhere between 1 billion and 10 trillion tonnes of hydrogen in the subsurface. As companies worldwide race to produce or access a variety of low-carbon energies, white hydrogen could be the natural resource researchers have been hoping for to provide clean energy to various regions worldwide. The global demand for low-carbon hydrogen is expected to reach nearly 200 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) by 2050, from 1 Mtpa at present, according to estimates from the research and consulting firm Wood Mackenzie. The cost of producing green hydrogen, the most popular low-carbon hydrogen, is extremely high, ranging from $6 a to $12 per kilogram, which deters many companies from producing green hydrogen, opting instead for blue or grey hydrogen, using natural gas rather than renewable energy as an input. If researchers could determine how and where to mine white hydrogen, it could provide a clean, lower-cost alternative to green hydrogen. It is thought that white hydrogen produced at scale from reservoirs located in proximity to end-users could be produced at a cost of below $1/kg. At present, the only operational white hydrogen project is the Bourakébougou field in Mali, which provides electricity to a small village. Few companies are investing in white hydrogen production at present, as little is known about how and where to exploit the resource. However, there is a slowly growing interest in the industry, with projects emerging in both France and the United States. In May 2023, in France, a team of scientists discoveredwhite hydrogen deposits when exploring abandoned mines in the Lorraine region. Further exploration in the nearby Moselle this year has resulted in the discovery ofadditional reserves, with a combined value of approximately 92 million tonnes and a value of roughly $92 billion.In February 2024, the geological research company Mantle8 secured financing to test an innovativetechnology, which uses geology, geophysics, and geochemistry data and sensors to produce 4D images of the Earth’s mantle to understand where white hydrogen reservoirs are located and monitor the volume of hydrogen in these reservoirs. The company is expected to commence exploratory drilling in the southwest of France in 2028. Meanwhile, in the United States, researchers at Oklahoma State University have secured $25,000 in funding to explore white hydrogen reserves in the state. The School of Chemical Engineering’s research team will survey various areas for natural hydrogen deposits in a project that will run until July 2026.
Interior moved fast in 2025. Plenty is still on the table. - The Interior Department moved lickety-split on multiple policy fronts as the Trump administration returned to office last year, while setting the stage for an even more consequential year in 2026.Oil-and-gas and mining permitting got easier. Wind and solar energy projects were hamstrung, with the Trump administration making its most aggressive push against offshore wind in late December.American history lessons came under scrutiny at national parks. The groundwork was laid for an aggressive rewrite of Endangered Species Act regulations, while the administration eyed a restructuring of how the federal government fights wildfires.In part through President Donald Trump’s use of aggressive executive orders and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s own orders, Interior has sought to speed through the notoriously slow regulatory or legislative processes, with conservation advocates decrying both the pace and direction. At the same time, many of the administration’s signature initiatives are still in the pipeline, with more action needed this year.
California gives SoCal solar farm the nod for sped-up permitting - California energy regulators took a key step Dec. 29 toward approving a major new solar energy project that could become one of the largest renewable energy sources in the state. The California Energy Commission recommended approving the Soda Mountain Solar Project, a solar-plus-storage plant proposed in San Bernardino County, for expedited permitting under the state’s 2022 law that allows renewable energy projects to override local opposition. If approved, Soda Mountain will be the second project to successfully make it through the CEC opt-in process, which was created under AB 205 to streamline permitting but drew criticism from renewable energy advocates when the agency denied Fountain Wind, its first applicant. The project has been trying to get through local opposition for a decade. In 2016, the San Bernardino County board of supervisors voted against the proposal, citing its potential impact on wildlife, dimming its prospects until the CEC process was created.
California boosts estimate of data centers’ power demand - California energy regulators increased their projections Monday of data centers’ electricity use, predicting that new facilities in Northern California in particular will be a leading driver of demand through midcentury. The California Energy Commission published data showing that Pacific Gas and Electric’s pipeline of data center energy capacity requests increased from about 12,000 megawatts in September to about 15,000 MW in December. That increase was driven by projects in the “inquiry” stage, which means that the developers have not yet filed a formal application and may not end up actually constructing the data center. However, the data shows that PG&E nearly doubled its number of data center capacity requests that have penned an agreement between September and December, increasing from 2,000 MW to 4,000 MW. After nearly two decades of relatively stable electricity demand, regulators are now predicting that Golden State electricity consumption could rise by more than 50 percent by 2045. The top end of the forecast rose significantly in the past year as the data center boom came into focus. In 2024, regulators predicted that the high case could bring 3 percent compounding annual energy growth until 2030. Now, they say that figure could exceed 4 percent.
How offshore wind permits handled DOD concerns before Interior’s pause - Citing classified reports, the Interior Department last month shut down construction of five offshore wind projects off the East Coast.A Department of Defense classified assessment, completed in November, contained information about “the rapid evolution of relevant adversary technologies and the resulting direct impacts to national security from offshore wind projects,” according to copies of the similar letters sent to each project’s owner.“These impacts are heightened by the projects’ sensitive location on the East Coast and the potential to cause serious, immediate, and irreparable harm to our great nation,” said the letters, which were sent by Matthew Giacona, acting director at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. All five of the projects that were halted were approved during the Biden administration in coordination with military officials. A review of their government agreements shows that the developers all agreed to a largely standardized set of conditions related to radar, including a commitment to pay at least $80,000 to assist military officials in adjusting radar systems in the vicinity of a wind farm.
Greens challenge White House air pollution pass - Environmental groups, racing to keep up with a White House brand of deregulatory hopscotch, are again challenging the Trump administration’s quest to delay stricter hazardous pollutant requirements for the coke industry. A White House proclamation issued in November “violates the Clean Air Act and exceeds the President’s lawful authority,” the Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution and seven other organizations said in a lawsuit brought before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The decision tapped rarely used Clean Air Act authority to give 11 plants that make the distilled coal product until mid-2027 to begin monitoring for airborne benzene around their operations, a rule intended to better protect nearby communities from the cancer-causing compound. That and other requirements were mostly supposed to take effect last July. Coke serves as a crucial blast furnace fuel in one type of steelmaking.
‘Loud, thunderous boom’: West Virginia bridge collapses into waterway, injuring three people -Three people were injured Wednesday afternoon after a bridge in a residential area of Wheeling, W.Va., collapsed into the waterway. The call came in around 1:45 p.m. after nearby residents heard what they described as a “very loud, thunderous boom.” Multiple departments arrived on scene to find the Washington Avenue Bridge had collapsed. Upon arrival, first responders immediately began rescue operations for three people who were working on the structure at the time of the accident. They were all safely evacuated and transported to Wheeling Hospital. One person sustained serious injuries, and two others suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The Washington Avenue Bridge closed last month as part of a demolition project that the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) oversees. Dismantling of the structure began Monday, according to Philip Stahl, the City of Wheeling’s Public Information Officer. The fire department responded as well as the police department, emergency management, the sheriff’s office, city officials all working in collaboration to figure out how to get the individuals trapped below onto the roadway to be transported to the hospital,” Stahl said. “We were able to do that pretty quickly.” “So, at this point, the contractor here along with the division of highways are going to be working to figure out how to remove the existing bridge from the waterway and clean that up and continue the demolition safely,” he added. The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) said in a Facebook post that an excavator and a dump truck were on top of the bridge deck when the superstructure collapsed, dropping that section of the bridge into the water below West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) spokesperson Brent Walker provided Nexstar’s WTRF with a statement said that in part: “The city-owned bridge was closed and being demolished for a replacement project WVDOH is administering as part of the federal off-system bridge program,” Walker wrote. “The steel superstructure is currently in the water, but the remaining deck and construction equipment are above water.” First responders were able to clear the scene around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
2 Workers Die from Explosion Plugging Old Well in Ohio Wayne NF-- Marcellus Drilling News -- click for larger version -- We have some very sad news to report. Back in August, MDN reported that a crew from Monroe Drilling Operations, LLC, was working to plug an abandoned well located in Wayne National Forest (in Washington County, OH, in the “Marietta Unit”) when natural gas and crude oil traveled up through the well to the surface and ignited, causing an explosion (see 5 People Critically Injured Plugging Old Well in Ohio Wayne NF). In addition to five members of Monroe Drilling, a mineral resources inspector from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) was also on-site. All six people on-site were injured by the blast, with five of the six “critically injured.” We’re sad to report that two of the five critically injured have died.
Carroll County Commissioners Review EOG Well Pad Flash Fire Incident -- Marcellus Drilling News -- MDN previously reported news of an explosion and fire on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at an EOG Resources shale well pad located on June Road in Malvern (Carroll County), Ohio (see EOG Shale Oil Pad in Carroll County, OH Explodes During Fracking). According to the scant news we could find, a well on the pad was actively being fracked at the time of the incident. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The fire was contained to a vapor tank on the pad and extinguished quickly. The wellheads themselves were not involved or damaged. During the Dec. 18 Carroll County Commissioners meeting, the commissioners were briefed “to clear up public misconceptions about the incident.”
OH Board Rules Asphalt Supplier’s Natural Gas is Tax-Exempt - Marcellus Drilling News - An interesting case in Ohio deals with whether or not natural gas can be taxed, depending on how it’s used. The Ohio Board of Tax Appeals ruled on Tuesday, January 6, that MGQ Terminal, Inc. is exempt from use tax on natural gas purchases used to process asphalt to customer specifications. Although Tax Commissioner Patricia Harris had assessed use tax for the period between 2013 and 2016 based on the determination that the company was engaged in a storage business, the board reversed this decision, finding that the company’s activities qualify as tax-exempt “manufacturing operations.” The board held that MGQ’s use of natural gas to heat, agitate, and blend refinery waste into homogeneous, specification-compliant products constitutes a transformative manufacturing process rather than mere storage.
26 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 22 - 28 - Marcellus Drilling News - The combined number of new permits issued to drill shale wells across the Marcellus/Utica region was 26 for the week of Dec. 22 – 28, more than double the 12 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 15 new permits, Ohio issued 6, and West Virginia issued 5. Among the companies receiving new permits were Antero, EOG, EQT, Hilcorp, INR, and Range Resources. Antero Resources | Columbiana County | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | Greene County (PA) | Hilcorp Energy | Indiana County | INR/Infinity Natural Resources | Range Resources Corp | Tuscarawas County | Tyler County | Washington County
Range Well Suffers Casing Failure/Loss of Control During Fracking -- Marcellus Drilling News -- On December 17, 2025, a casing failure and loss of well control occurred at one of three wells during fracking operations at a Range Resources pad in Washington County, PA. After gas pressure spiked to 2,000 psi, the company stabilized the well and later installed two kill plugs. Despite Range sending an immediate email notification, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) cited Range for failing to use the required website portal for instant alerts. Additionally, the company missed deadlines for a mandatory Area of Review report regarding potential “communication” with other O&G wells and/or water wells in the area.
PA DEP Adopts Enviro Justice Policy as Blunt Tool Against Shale -- Marcellus Drilling News - In August 2023, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) posted an Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy to guide DEP’s permit application reviews and outreach efforts in environmental justice areas throughout the Commonwealth (see PA DEP Issues Interim “Final” Shale-Drilling-is-Racist Regulation). New Environmental Justice (or EJ) policies are a euphemism for regulations that prohibit drilling and pipelines built in neighborhoods of color or economic hardship zones because, says the left, those people can’t fight them. It is a dystopian and prejudiced view of the world. We call it “all shale drilling is racist” regulations. Completely repugnant. But the Shapiro DEP forged ahead and yesterday released a final version of these odious new policies and a new website tool to help identify EJ regions.
Will Trump Admin Challenge PA’s Odious New Enviro Justice Regs? -- Marcellus Drilling News -- The short answer to the question posed in our headline is, “We sure hope so!” Yesterday, MDN reported that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has officially adopted a final version of updated Environmental Justice (EJ) regulations (see PA DEP Adopts Enviro Justice Policy as Blunt Tool Against Shale). The new regs clearly violate an executive order signed by President Trump in April. PA now runs the risk of (a) being sued, and (b) losing federal funds earmarked for the environment, due to its new EJ regulations.
Pa. groups appeal permit for Homer City gas power plant meant to fuel data center - The Allegheny Front --Three environmental groups are objecting to a permit granted to a proposed natural gas plant meant to power a massive data center at the site of the former Homer City coal-fired power plant. The proposed 4.4 gigawatt gas-fired plant would generate enough power for more than 3 million homes and emit more greenhouse gases each year than all the cars on Pennsylvania’s roads, according to the groups appealing the permit. Clean Air Council, PennFuture, and the Sierra Club said the state Department of Environmental Protection made several errors by granting the permit, including failure to follow its own environmental justice policy by not adequately engaging with the surrounding community and accepting flawed methodology for the amount of emissions the plant will create. They also say letting this plant go forward is a violation of the state’s Environmental Rights Amendment, which guarantees the right to a healthy environment for Pennsylvanians today and into the future. Lawrence Hafetz, legal director for Clean Air Council, said public health will suffer if the plant is allowed to be built as proposed. He said the added pollution could especially harm vulnerable groups and people with respiratory conditions, such as asthma. The appeal also said the applicant, Homer City Generation, failed to show the benefits of the project would “significantly outweigh the environmental and social costs.” “ Most of that power will likely go to the data center, which is a private company as opposed to that power going to the public grid,” said Sarah Gordon, a staff attorney at Clean Air Council. “And so there’s a really different calculation in the cost benefit analysis of that pollution.” Hafetz was critical of what he said is the DEP’s piecemeal approach to permitting. He said the power plant is only one part of the planned 3,200-acre data center campus. “ You can’t look at the environmental impacts of a project unless you look at the totality of the project,” Hafetz said. Gordon said they believe it’s DEP’s duty under the Environmental Rights Amendment to do a comprehensive review of the entire project, including water use and noise pollution. Hafetz said it appears the DEP prioritized speed over accuracy in reviewing the permit application. Gordon said a Right-to-Know request of communication about the Homer City project found that a DEP staffer said the goal was “to provide a concierge level of service.” “DEP’s job is to protect us and to protect Pennsylvania residents who are living alongside these major industrial projects. Their duty is not to be a concierge for industry,” Gordon said.PA Dem Senator Intros 6 Bills to Block $92B Data Center Investment -- Marcellus Drilling News --January 9, 2026 Last October, a seven-member, all-Democrat group of Pennsylvania House of Representatives members announced a six-bill legislative package aimed at regulating the “responsible development” of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in the state (see PA Dems Intro Multiple Bills to Block AI Data Centers in the State). “Responsible development” is a euphemism for “no development” of new AI data centers. The proposed onerous legislation focuses on environmental and community impacts related to the centers’ water and energy use, emergency preparedness, community standards, and transparency. This week, PA State Senator Lisa Boscola of Bethlehem (near Allentown, north of Philadelphia) put out a call for a package of six bills she plans to introduce in the Senate to “protect” the good citizens of PA from data centers. Here we go again.
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania Could Lose $200+ Million In Federal Funding For Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Plugging Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners Under Budget Bill Passed By US House --On January 9, Laura Legere of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the US House of Representatives Thursday passed a budget bill that cut $785 million from programs to restore abandoned coal mine lands and plug abandoned oil and gas wells saying it was “a blow to Pennsylvania efforts to clean up those scars.” If no changes are made by the US Senate, Pennsylvania could see a cut of $169 million in abandoned mine reclamation funds and a reduction of at least $24 million in funds for plugging conventional oil and gas wells abandoned by their owners.The bill shifts the abandoned mine and well cleanup funds to programs that would primarily benefit western states: wildland fire management by the Department of the Interior and general operations for the U.S. Forest Service.The Post-Gazette quoted DEP Press Secretary Neil Shader as saying, “Cutting federal funding for these projects will hurt Pennsylvania’s ability to continue its historic work to create jobs and protect public health and safety.”“DEP has made significant progress plugging more than 350 orphaned and abandoned wells,” said Shader, with 227 of those wells plugged using the infrastructure law funding. Another 43 plugging projects are currently underway.Click Here to read the full article. [PDF of Article] Kurt Klapkowski, Director of DEP's Bureau of Oil and Gas Planning and Program Management, told the PA Grade Crude Development Advisory Council December 4 the chaos surrounding the federal budget in 2025 had a major impact on the well plugging program.“There's been a pretty significant hiring freeze in place given the chaos at the federal level with the budget, and then the state budget impasse this year. Our human resources department has basically locked down any hiring. So, we’ve got significant vacancies.”“We didn’t know, honestly, six months ago if the [federal Bipartisan] Infrastructure Act was going to continue to be funded at all.”He added-- “I feel a lot better about where we are today. I feel a lot better about the assurances that we've gotten from the federal government. This funding is not going to be cut off.” Read more here.Obviously, there was no warning the US House would act to cut off funding for plugging wells and reclaim abandoned mines.
DEP Invites Comments On Renewal Of Title V Air Quality Permit For 750 MW Marcus Hook Energy Natural Gas Power Plant, Delaware County -- The Department of Environmental Protection invites comments on the renewal of the Title V Air Quality Permit for the 750 MW natural gas-fired Marcus Hook Energy power plant in Marcus Hook Borough, Delaware County. (PA Bulletin, page 8784) No public hearing has been scheduled, but one may be requested. Comments are due January 26 -- 30 days from notice. Comments should be sent to: Janine Tulloch-Reid, Facilities Section, Air Quality Program, at DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street, Norristown, PA 19401 or at RA-EPSEROAQPUBCOM@pa.gov.Documents related to the application are available for public review by contacting Janine Tulloch-Reid at 484-250-5920 or at RA-EPSEROAQPUBCOM@pa.gov or jtullochre@pa.gov.Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for more information. (PA Bulletin, page 8784)
Xpress Natural Gas Truck Hauling CNG Catches Fire on NY Thruway -- Marcellus Drilling News -- Photo from viewer of tractor-trailer fire on Thruway, courtesy WHEC-TV (click for larger version) At 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, an Xpress Natural Gas (XNG) tractor-trailer carrying a full load of compressed natural gas (CNG) canisters caught fire on the New York Thruway (I-90) in Montgomery County, triggering a hazardous materials emergency and closing the highway between Little Falls and Canajoharie. The intense blaze required firefighters to call in water tankers from surrounding areas due to a lack of local hydrants. Following federal safety protocols, authorities evacuated 165 residents within a one-mile radius of the scene. The situation was successfully brought under control by 11 a.m., allowing residents to return home. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The question is, why did the rig catch on fire? And, did any of the CNG canisters explode?
Antis, Township Sue to Block Iroquois Compressor Expansion in CT -- Marcellus Drilling News -- Iroquois Gas Transmission’s Enhancement by Compression (ExC) project would increase horsepower at three compressor stations — two in New York and one in Connecticut — by an extra 125 MMcf/d, to flow more Marcellus/Utica gas into New York City and New England. The two NY compressors are in Dover and Athens. The CT compressor is located in Brookfield. In September, we told you that the Sierra Club paid for a fake study bashing the Connecticut portion of the project (see Antis Attack Iroquois Plan to Expand Connecticut Compressor Stn). The left continues its attack. A Big Green puppet group, Save the Sound, along with the Town of Brookfield, is using Connecticut’s Superior Court to try to block the project. Read More
Northeast Gas Demand Started New Year with a Bang - Demand for natural gas in the Northeast was 2.1 Bcf/d higher for the week ended January 6 relative to the prior week. The region’s weekly gas demand averaged 33.1 Bcf/d, with the peak daily demand of 34.9 Bcf/d occurring on New Year’s Day. The 2.1 Bcf/d week-on-week increase in total demand was driven by a 2.2 Bcf/d week-on-week Res/Comm demand jump that coincided with cold Northeastern weather. However, forecasts call for the weather to warm considerably in the coming week. As seen in the dotted dark-purple line in the graph below, our models predict that Northeast demand will be below the 5-year minimum from Wednedsay through Saturday of this week. For the week ended January 6, the demand surge led to a tighter gas balance and a 0.6 Bcf/d week-on-week decline in net outflows to other regions. Outflows on the Southeast/Gulf corridor fell by 0.8 Bcf/d to 6.6 Bcf/d as Transco averaged only 37% full heading south of Station 165 into North Carolina. Outflows to the Midwest were up 0.2 Bcf/d to 5.3 Bcf/d, led by a 0.3-Bcf/d increase on Rockies Express. Meanwhile, net inflows from Canada were flat at 1.1 Bcf/d.
Higher Prices, Better Economics Could Find More Appalachian Natural Gas Fueling LNG Exports --Skyrocketing demand on the Gulf Coast, driven primarily by LNG exports, is likely to necessitate an increase in southbound natural gas flows from the Appalachian Basin.Chart showing NGI’s forward fixed natural gas prices for Henry Hub and Texas Eastern M-2, 30 Receipt from February 2026 through November 2035, highlighting recurring seasonal price spikes with Henry Hub generally trading above Texas Eastern M-2, with prices ranging roughly from $2.00/MMBtu to $4.75/MMBtu.At A Glance:Production expected to grow by over 50%
Haynesville, Permian volumes could fizzle
Higher prices could incentivize more pipelines
Propane Inventories Draw, but Stocks Remain Historically High --The EIA reported a 2.2 MMbbl draw in total U.S. propane/propylene inventories, exceeding industry expectations for a 1.8 MMbbl decline but falling short of the average draw for the week of 2.4 MMbbl. Despite the draw, total inventories remain 19% higher than the same period last year. U.S. propane inventories remain well above historical norms, with the majority of the recent draw occurring in PADDs 1, 2, 4, and 5. Total U.S. propane/propylene stocks stand at 98.1 MMbbl (red line in chart below), which is 15.5 MMbbl above the same week in 2025 (blue line) and above the five-year maximum. Inventories are also 23 MMbbl, or 31%, above the five-year average.The chart below illustrates days of supply using the EIA’s methodology, which divides total stocks by the four-week average of “product supplied,” a proxy for domestic demand. On this basis, days of supply are estimated at about 83 days (red line), roughly 20 days higher than the same week in 2025 and above the five-year maximum, marking the highest days-of-supply level for this week on record. This highlights the extent to which inventories remain elevated relative to recent demand levels.
Lee County, NC Residents Duped into Opposing Gas Well, Data Center --- Marcellus Drilling News --Deep River Data, a company with connections to the cryptocurrency industry, wants to drill for natural gas in Lee County, North Carolina. However, production from the well would not be used to power crypto mining, but instead to fuel an AI data center. If approved, the project would be the first commercial well drilled into the Triassic Basin, a natural gas repository underlying North Carolina and other Eastern Seaboard states. The planned well is conventional, not shale, so itinvolves no (or very little) fracking. Yet lefty environmentalists have whipped up opposition from the locals by urging them to “ban fracking.”
Texas Eastern Line 31 Expansion Project to Feed MS Power Plant-- Marcellus Drilling News -- Another new (to us) pipeline project in the Southeast with the potential to flow Marcellus/Utica molecules. We recently became aware of Enbridge’s Texas Eastern Line 31 Expansion Project. The project is designed to expand the capacity of the Texas Eastern (TETCO) interstate natural gas system in Madison County, Mississippi. The current proposal (not yet officially filed with FERC) includes approximately 10.2 to 11.5 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline looping, a 1.7-mile delivery lateral, and the construction of the new Ridgeland Compressor Station. The project is expected to provide between 125,000 and 160,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of additional natural gas transportation capacity, primarily intended to serve Entergy’s proposed Ridgeland Advanced Power Station (gas-fired power station) in Madison County
EOG’s 2026 Outlook Shaped by LNG Growth, Regional Natural Gas Dynamics - Houston’s EOG Resources Inc. is heading into 2026 leaning on growing natural gas demand from LNG exports and power generation, while keeping a tight grip on capital spending and efficiencies in the Lower 48, a top executive said this week. Map illustrating EOG Resources’ diverse U.S. marketing strategy, highlighting oil, natural gas, and NGL sales markets across the Permian, Gulf Coast, Rockies, Midwest, Northeast, West Coast, and Southeast, with access to Henry Hub, Waha, CIG, Chicago, SoCal Border, Agua Dulce, and LNG export corridors.At A Glance:Power generation drives incremental gas use
Capital spending trimmed
Oil oversupply pressures prices near term
Carnival LNG Offtake Deal Advances Stabilis’ Planned Galveston Bunkering Hub -Stabilis Solutions Inc. has landed an agreement to supply LNG to a major cruise line, securing its second long-term agreement for a developing bunkering project in Galveston, TX. At A Glance:
- Carnival marks second long-term customer
- Stabilis has covered 55% of capacity
- LNG demand for marine fuel expected to accelerate
Lake Charles LNG Project Still Alive With Talks for Potential Sale Said Advancing --At least two buyers, including MidOcean Energy LLC, have been lined up to purchase Energy Transfer LP’s (ET) Lake Charles LNG project after it suspended development last month. The sales and purchase agreements that ET has already signed would be transferred to those buyers along with the site and other assets held by ET subsidiaries, sources with knowledge of the matter told NGI.
Mild U.S. Weather Cuts Heating Demand While LNG Exports Appear Muted - Forecasts show weather patterns are setting up for a warmer-than-average January in North America, leaving U.S. exporters to seek opportunities in a seemingly well-supplied global market. Four-panel chart showing trailing 365-day mean temperatures versus normal for Northwest Europe, Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo, with daily mean temperatures tracking seasonal warming into summer and cooling into winter, measured in °Fahrenheit, based on NGI calculations and Bloomberg data as of Jan. 5, 2025. At A Glance:
Early January temperatures near record highs
Warm Texas, Louisiana favor liquefaction operations
Asian LNG imports near multi-year lows
LNG exports expanding through 2026
Permian oil slowdown risks associated gas volumes
Infrastructure spending tops $35 billion
Data Centers ‘Playing Second Fiddle’ to LNG as Haynesville, Permian Ramp up Natural Gas Supply - Although data centers seem to capture all the headlines, LNG is poised to drive the bulk of U.S. natural gas demand growth this year, with incremental supply mostly coming from the Haynesville Shale and Permian Basin. Line chart showing NGI’s forward look basis prices in $/MMBtu for Houston Ship Channel, Katy, and Waha from February 2026 through February 2028, with Houston Ship Channel and Katy trading near flat to slightly negative, while Waha remains deeply discounted below minus $3/MMBtu in early 2026 before gradually improving toward around minus $1/MMBtu by late 2027. At A Glance:
LNG to lead demand growth
Data center outlook less certain
Permian decongestion seen flattening basis spreads
LNG market moves from famine to feast on wave of new supply - A record-breaking surge in liquefied natural gas supply is creating a long-term buyers’ market, marking a major shift from the post-Ukraine invasion shortage. Global output rose 6% in 2025, with massive projects in Texas and Qatar poised to add capacity equivalent to 11% of global exports. This supply glut is driving spot prices to year-long lows, allowing developing nations like Vietnam and India to secure fuel to meet rising electricity demand and displace coal. As supply growth outpaces demand through the decade’s end, energy majors are increasingly targeting Southeast Asia to find new buyers for this surplus fuel.
Record Broken in 2025: U.S. First Country to Export 100 MMT of LNG - Marcellus Drilling News - In 2025, the United States became the first nation to exceed 100 million metric tons (mmt) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports annually, reaching a record 111 mmt. This 24% year-on-year growth, fueled by high terminal utilization and the rapid ramp-up of facilities like Venture Global’s Plaquemines plant, solidified the U.S. as the world’s leading exporter over Qatar. Europe remains the primary market as it shifts away from Russian energy, while shipments to Turkey and Egypt also stayed strong. Experts anticipate further growth in 2026 as new projects, including the Golden Pass LNG venture, begin production.
More U.S. LNG Growth Expected After Record-Breaking Year --U.S. LNG feedgas demand ended 2025 with record-breaking growth, and 2026 started with the same momentum. Last week, U.S. LNG feedgas demand averaged about 19.3 Bcf/d, up 0.8 Bcf/d week-on-week, with all terminals operating at or above nameplate capacity and most at winter peak levels. The levels now are about 5 Bcf/d higher than a year ago, when feedgas demand hovered around 14 Bcf/d. See the far left-hand side of the chart below in January 2025 compared to the right-hand side of the chart in January 2026. Intake at the commissioning Plaquemines was back above 4 Bcf/d, after being around 3.8 Bcf/d for most of December. The terminal is operating at peak levels. Venture Global is currently marketing all cargoes produced at Plaquemines itself and will continue to do so until at least the middle of this year. Feedgas demand will continue to grow this year and we expect more records to take place. Intake at Corpus Christi will rise and Golden Pass will soon take significant feedgas volumes. So far, Golden Pass has only taken minuscule amounts of feedgas, but that is expected to change this month as the terminal prepares to start up. For more insights on the U.S. LNG Feedgas industry, check out our LNG Voyager Weekly Report.
U.S. LNG Profits Exposed as Market Again Shifts, Global Natural Gas Prices Converge - A wave of global LNG supply and increasing natural gas demand in the United States are pushing international price benchmarks closer together, creating new opportunities and more volatility for U.S. energy exports. Line chart showing NGI’s prompt-month Henry Hub natural gas futures versus JPN/KOR (JKM) and TTF futures prices from 2026 through 2030, with Henry Hub trading near $3–$4/MMBtu and international benchmarks ranging roughly from $7–$10/MMBtu. At A Glance:JKM, TTF near parity in 2026
Henry Hub sees sustained rise through 2030
Shipping, feed gas costs threaten affordability
Prospects Dim for U.S. LNG Projects Left Behind in 2025, but Some Still Close to Reaching FID - While 2025 was a banner year for new North American LNG projects, a coterie of U.S. projects that were considered close to advancing have seen their timelines for final investment decisions (FID) slip into the new year. Global LNG capacity under development by region, highlighting North America’s growing share in recent years. At A Glance:
FIDs delayed for U.S. projects
Most targeting 1Q2026 to advance
Market shifting into oversupply
Clearer Timeline Emerges for Next Wave of U.S. LNG Projects as Buildout Hits Overdrive - LNG exports are expected to be the biggest growth driver of the U.S. natural gas market in 2026 with output soaring and two more facilities expected to enter service. Chart showing North America operational and sanctioned LNG facility peak export capacity rising from near zero in 2016 to more than 35 Bcf/d by the early 2030s, highlighting major U.S. projects including Sabine Pass, Freeport LNG, Corpus Christi, Calcasieu Pass, Plaquemines LNG, Golden Pass, Port Arthur LNG, Louisiana LNG, Rio Grande LNG, and Energia Costa Azul, compiled by NGI using DOE and EIA data. At A Glance:
CCL Stage 3, Golden Pass next up
New capacity could be online by June
Biggest pipeline buildout in a decade coming
Will Henry Hub Premium Hold? Natural Gas Outlook Still Murky --Click here to listen to the latest episode of NGI’s Hub & Flow, in which NGI’s Christopher Lenton, managing editor of Mexico, and Patrick Rau, senior vice president of research and analysis, sit down to discuss the natural gas market in a shifting supply landscape.While industry sentiment is overwhelmingly bullish, the discussion explores a critical tension. Can a 6% Henry Hub price premium survive the current storage surplus on top of the unpredictability of winter weather?From the massive growth in LNG exports to the regulatory hurdles facing power generation and data center expansion, the conversation delves into whether North American producers can ramp up production in time to meet the 4 Bcf/d demand surge projected for the coming year.
New Year Starts With a Whimper for Sinking Global Natural Gas Prices -Ample LNG and pipeline supplies have offset the frigid weather gripping Europe as the new year gets underway, keeping global natural gas prices under pressure despite colder conditions.European Union natural gas storage chart showing gas in storage at 691.8 TWh and inventories 60.5% full as of Jan. 3, 2025, compared with five-year averages and prior-year levels, highlighting tighter EU gas balances during winter. At A Glance:
Supplies strong in Europe, Asia
LNG offsetting arctic air in Europe
Maduro’s capture didn’t move energy markets
Henry Hub & Appalachian Spot Prices Crash; Futures Price Down, Too --- Marcellus Drilling News -- Henry Hub spot gas prices “collapsed to $2.86 per MMBtu” on Monday. Less than a month ago, on Dec. 8, the HH spot price was $5.01. Yeah, that constitutes a collapse! What about across the Marcellus/Utica region? The Appalachian Regional Average yesterday (as near as we can tell) was $2.28/MMBtu, down from $4.80 on Dec. 8. Also a collapse. Why the drop in the M-U? We’ll tackle some reasons below. What about the NYMEX futures price for natgas? That price was $3.35 yesterday, down for the fifth consecutive trading session and the lowest since Oct. 28.
Henry Hub Spot Gas Prices 'Collapse' | Rigzone- In an EBW Analytics Group report sent to Rigzone by the EBW team on Tuesday, Eli Rubin, an energy analyst at the company, highlighted that Henry Hub spot gas prices “collapse[d] to $2.86 per MMBtu [million British thermal units]” on Monday. “Physical natural gas prices are crashing, with Henry Hub spot prices trading at a mere $2.86 per MMBtu yesterday,” Rubin stated in the report. “Last month, December 2025 averaged $4.13 per MMBtu - and yesterday’s $2.86 average sits 45 cents (-14 percent) below even subdued physical pricing over an extraordinarily mild Christmas holiday,” he added. “Regionally, while extended cold in the Northeast has Algonquin City Gates at $9.91 per MMBtu, prices have fallen apart to just $2.02 per MMBtu in the Rockies. Houston Ship Channel traded at $1.78 per MMBtu - nearing levels often associated with price-induced shut-ins during the lower demand shoulder season,” Rubin warned. “Daily demand is expected to average 2.3 Bcfpd [billion cubic feet per day] lower on Wednesday-Friday than during today’s session, implying continued pressure on spot prices likely to bleed into the NYMEX futures market,” he continued. In the report, Rubin noted that the NYMEX front-month contract “tested as low at $3.355 [per MMBtu] yesterday before finding support and rallying 17 cents into the close”. “While technicals attempted to fill the gap down at the open, however, the near-term outlook (i) continues to bleed heating demand and (ii) may be weighed down by Henry Hub spot market collapse to $2.86 per MMBtu,” he added. The EBW report highlighted that the February natural gas contract closed at $3.523 per MMBtu on Monday. It outlined that this was a 9.5 cent, or 2.6 percent drop, from Friday’s close. In the report, Rubin said “weather driven demand will weaken further into Friday’s record warmth”, adding that “next week’s national gHDD total may approximate Week 1”. “Eventually, a colder back half of January remains on tap - but even that may do little to offset blowtorch early-month warmth eviscerating January gHDDs to the third warmest since 2017,” he added. In Tuesday’s report, EBW predicted a “test lower and rebound” trend for the NYMEX front-month natural gas contract price over the next 7-10 days and an “upside cold dependent” trend over the next 30-45 days. In a separate report sent to Rigzone by the EBW team on Monday, Rubin outlined that “mild weather forecasts” were “refashion[ing] [the] January natural gas outlook”. “Weather forecasts continued to melt down over the weekend, sending natural gas hurtling lower. While January is barely 100 hours old, DTN’s forecast has already shed 55 gHDDs and 85 Bcf [billion cubic feet],” Rubin said in that report. “Other widely followed meteorologists predict even larger gHDD losses,” he stated. In that report, Rubin warned that “daily demand may lose another nine Bcfpd into Friday’s record warmth” and added that “weather has amplified bearish technicals with risks of the February contract falling to $3.25”. Rubin went on to state in that report that “weather normalized fundamentals are stout”, noting that “weekly average production readings stumbled two Bcfpd to open 2026, virtually erasing supply gains since Thanksgiving”. “Weekly LNG feedgas reached a record 19.9 Bcfpd. Both offer a degree of fundamental support,” he said. “In the middle of winter, however, weather remains king. Chances for a sharply colder back half of January could still spark upside, and more than half of winter remains ahead,” Rubin pointed out. “If forecasts cannot arrest gHDD declines, however, bulls will run out of time before the March contract becomes the NYMEX front-month in just three weeks,” Rubin warned. EBW highlighted in Monday’s report that the February natural gas contract closed at $3.618 per MMBtu on Friday. This was down 6.8 cents, or 1.8 percent, from Thursday’s close, the report outlined. In Monday’s report, EBW predicted a “volatile pattern continues” trend for the NYMEX front-month natural gas contract price over the next 7-10 days and an “upside cold dependent” trend over the next 30-45 days.
US natgas futures slide 5% to 10-week low as mild winter weather curbs demand (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures fell about 5% to a 10-week low on Tuesday on forecasts for milder weather and lower heating demand over the next two weeks than previously expected. Front-month gas futures for February delivery NGc1 on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 17.3 cents, or 4.9%, to settle at $3.350 per million British thermal units, their lowest close since October 28. That put the front month down for a fifth day in a row for the first time since June and pushed it into technically oversold territory for the first time in two weeks. The decline in futures also helped reduce the stock prices of the two biggest U.S. gas producers, Expand Energy and EQT, by over 1% to their lowest levels since October. In the cash market, meanwhile, average prices at the Waha Hub in the Permian Shale in West Texas fell into negative territory for the first time this year as pipeline constraints trapped gas in the nation's biggest oil-producing basin. That compares with an average of $1.15 per mmBtu in 2025 and $2.88 during the past five years (2021-2025). Waha first averaged below zero in 2019. It did so 17 times in 2019, six times in 2020, once in 2023, a record 49 times in 2024, and 39 times in 2025. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 states fell to 109.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) so far in January, down from a monthly record high of 109.7 bcfd in December. On a daily basis, output was on track to drop to a three-week low of around 108.0 bcfd on Tuesday due in part to declines in Louisiana and Texas, down from 109.3 bcfd on Monday and a daily record high of 111.2 bcfd on December 21, according to LSEG data. Meteorologists forecast weather across the country would remain mostly warmer than normal through January 21, keeping the amount of gas needed to heat homes and businesses lower than usual for this time of year. LSEG projected average gas demand in the Lower 48 states, including exports, would rise from 130.8 bcfd this week to 132.3 bcfd next week. Those forecasts were lower than LSEG's outlook on Monday. Average gas flows to the eight large U.S. LNG export plants rose to 18.7 bcfd so far in January, up from a monthly record high of 18.4 bcfd in December.
US natgas futures jump 5% on forecasts for seasonally cold weather in late January (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures jumped about 5% on Wednesday on a decline in output and forecasts for cooler weather and more heating demand later in January. Front-month gas futures for February delivery NGc1 on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 17.5 cents, or 5.2%, to settle at $3.525 per million British thermal units. On Tuesday, the contract closed at its lowest price since October 28. Looking ahead, however, the 12-month futures strip NG12Mst fell to $3.46 per mmBtu, its lowest price since December 2024. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 states has fallen to 109.0 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) so far in January, down from a monthly record high of 109.7 bcfd in December. On a daily basis, output was on track to drop to a three-week low of around 108.1 bcfd on Wednesday, due in part to declines in Arkansas and Texas, down from 108.5 bcfd on Tuesday and a daily record high of 111.1 bcfd on December 21, according to LSEG data. Despite a slight cooldown in the forecasts, meteorologists projected weather across the country would remain mostly warmer than normal through January 22, keeping the amount of gas needed to heat homes and businesses lower than usual for this time of year. LSEG projected average gas demand in the Lower 48 states, including exports, would rise from 131.2 bcfd this week to 132.4 bcfd next week. The forecast for this week was higher than LSEG's outlook on Tuesday. Average gas flows to the eight large U.S. LNG export plants have risen to 18.6 bcfd so far in January, up from a monthly record high of 18.5 bcfd in December. Gas was trading around $10 per mmBtu at both the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) benchmark in Europe and the Japan-Korea Marker benchmark in Asia. Global prices have declined to multi-month lows over the past month or so on hopes that peace talks over Ukraine could result in the lifting of sanctions against Moscow. Such a development could allow Russia, the world's second-biggest gas producer behind the U.S., to export more fuel in the future.
US natural gas futures dip 3% on forecasts for mild weather and low heating demand (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures slid about 3% on Thursday on a small rise in daily output and forecasts for the weather to remain mostly mild over the next two weeks, keeping heating demand lower than usual. Front-month gas futures for February delivery NGc1 on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 11.8 cents, or 3.3%, to settle at $3.407 per million British thermal units. Futures fell despite a federal report showing last week's storage withdrawal was bigger than usual for this time of year, near-record liquefied natural gas exports, and - despite the current mild weather - forecasts for seasonally cold weather and higher demand for at least a few days in late January. The decline in futures also helped reduce the stock prices of the two biggest U.S. gas producers to their lowest levels since October, with Expand Energy down about 2.8% and EQT down about 3.9%. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said energy firms pulled 119 billion cubic feet of gas out of storage during the week ended January 2. That was slightly bigger than the 114 bcf draw analysts forecast in a Reuters poll, and compares with a decline of 51 bcf during the same week last year and an average withdrawal of 92 bcf over the past five years (2021-2025). In the cash market, average prices at the Waha Hub in the Permian Shale in West Texas fell into negative territory for the second time this month as pipeline constraints trapped gas in the nation's biggest oil-producing basin. Negative prices have caused Waha prices to average negative 73 cents per mmBtu so far this year, compared with an average of $1.15 per mmBtu in 2025 and $2.88 during the past five years (2021-2025). Daily Waha prices first averaged below zero in 2019. They did so 17 times in 2019, six times in 2020, once in 2023, a record 49 times in 2024, and 39 times in 2025. Financial firm LSEG projected average gas demand in the Lower 48 states, including exports, would rise from 132.0 bcfd this week to 133.6 bcfd next week. Those forecasts were higher than LSEG's outlook on Wednesday. Average gas flows to the eight large U.S. LNG export plants have risen to 18.5 bcfd so far in January, up from a monthly record high average of 18.4 bcfd in December.
Hold On ... I’m Comin’ – Producers, Midstreamers Preparing for Rising Tide of Permian-Sourced NGLs | RBN Energy -- Even if Permian crude oil production were to stagnate over the next few years — a big if — the region’s output of NGLs would likely increase by half, from the current 3.2 MMcf/d to about 4.8 MMcf/d in 2030. NGL shippers, all too aware of the double-barrel impacts of the Permian’s rising gas-to-oil ratios (GORs) and rising gallons of NGLs per Mcf of gas, have been supporting the development of new pipeline capacity from West Texas to the Gulf Coast, most recently evidenced by the plan to expand the throughput of the Bahia NGL Pipeline to a cool 1 MMb/d. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss the ongoing buildout of NGL pipeline capacity out of the nation’s largest NGL production area.As we said a few months ago in Don’t Worry, Be Happy, the stresses on crude-oil-focused drilling in the Permian — especially the ramp-up in OPEC+ production and the slump in WTI prices — have led at least some NGL folks to wonder what a leveling off (or an outright decline) in Permian crude production would mean for the volumes of mixed NGLs (Y-grade) being piped to fractionation hubs. We noted that while U.S. oil production has increased by more than 160% since 2008 and natural gas output has nearly doubled, the volume of Y-grade produced at gas processing plants has quadrupled, from 1.8 MMb/d 17 years ago to 7.3 MMb/d today.The Permian accounts for more than 40% of that NGL total because oil-focused drilling in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico generates vast amounts of NGL-saturated associated gas. And this is all-important: Over the past 10-plus years, the Permian’s GOR has increased from about 3.4:1 to 4.2:1, and the gallons of NGLs per Mcf of gas has risen from about 4.5 to 5.2. This trend toward gassier, more NGL-packed production continues, and we’ve calculated that — if you assume the basin’s average GOR continues to increase by 4% annually and that its average GPM rises by 4.5% a year — the Permian’s NGL output is almost sure to keep climbing even under the bleakest crude oil production scenario.More specifically, continued gradual growth in Permian oil production (to nearly 8 MMb/d in 2030) would lead to 5.8 MMb/d of NGL output in 2030 (up 2.6 MMb/d from current levels), flat oil production (as we said in the intro to today’s blog) would boost NGL production to about 4.8 MMb/d that year, and even a 5%/year decline in oil production would leave the Permian’s NGL output about 500 Mb/d higher than it was in 2025. (In other words, at about 3.7 MMb/d.) With that near certainty of a significant increase in Permian NGL volumes, Y-grade shippers of all stripes (producers, marketers, fractionators, etc.) have been supporting the development of new NGL pipeline capacity from West Texas to fractionation centers along the Texas coast. This rising tide of NGLs also has been attracting new entrants to this space. The most recent example is ExxonMobil’s November 20 announcement that it had reached an agreement to acquire a 40% undivided interest in Enterprise Products Partners’ new 550-mile, 600-Mb/d Bahia NGL Pipeline from West Texas’s Ector County to the Mont Belvieu fractionation hub east of Houston (green line in Figure 1 below). The Bahia Pipeline is just beginning commercial service. As part of the ExxonMobil/Enterprise deal, which is expected to close in the next few weeks, Bahia’s capacity will be increased by 400 Mb/d by Q4 2027 and ExxonMobil will build a 92-mile pipeline connection (dashed red-and-black line) — to be known as the Cowboy Connector — between its Cowboy Central Delivery Point (CDP; yellow star) in southeastern Eddy County, NM, and Bahia’s current origination point. Enterprise will serve as operator of the combined Cowboy/Bahia system.ExxonMobil’s XTO Energy subsidiary owns and operates the Cowboy CDP, an oil and gas complex in the Northern Delaware Basin with 1.2 Bcf/d of gas processing capacity as well as 600 Mb/d of oil processing capacity and 1.2 MMbbl of onsite oil storage capacity. In a statement, ExxonMobil said the Bahia investment and Cowboy Connector will “improv(e) logistics flexibility associated with our growing Permian production in the Delaware and Midland basins.” The parent company said in a December 5 presentation that it expects to produce about 1.8 MMboe/d in the Permian in 2026 and to increase its output there to 2.5 MMboe/d by 2030.In addition to the Bahia Pipeline, Enterprise has interests in other pipelines that transport NGLs out of the Permian, including a 67% stake in the Shin Oak NGL Pipeline (yellow; Kinetik owns the rest) and all of the Mid-American Pipeline (MAPL; purple and orange lines) and Seminole (magenta line) systems.Other big Permian NGL takeaway projects are in the works too. For example, Targa Resources in February 2025 announced plans for Delaware Express, a 100-mile, 30-inch-diameter NGL pipeline (dashed yellow-and-black line in Figure 2 below) that in Q2 2026 will expand and expedite Y-grade flows from the company’s growing fleet of processing plants in the Delaware Basin to Targa’s 1-MMb/d Grand Prix/Daytona NGL pipeline system (blue line), which transports NGLs to Mont Belvieu. Then, in September 2025, Targa said it also will build the Speedway NGL Pipeline (dashed black-and-white line), a ~500-mile, 30-inch conduit that will run from the heart of the Midland Basin (and the terminus of Delaware Express) to Mont Belvieu, part of it alongside Grand Prix/Daytona and the rest along a new right of way. Speedway’s initial capacity will be 500 Mb/d but Targa noted it will be expandable to 1 MMb/d; that would push the company’s total NGL takeaway capacity out of the Permian to more than 2 MMb/d. And then there’s Phillips 66’s Coastal Bend NGL Pipeline (blue line in Figure 3 below), which until the company’s April 2025 purchase of the facility was known as the EPIC NGL Pipeline. Soon thereafter, Phillips 66 completed an expansion of the pipeline’s capacity to 225 Mb/d (from the original 175 Mb/d); a further expansion to 350 Mb/d is slated to come online in Q4 2026. Phillips 66 also owns the 1,400-mile Sand Hills Pipeline (green line), which transports up to 500 Mb/d of Y-grade from the Permian and the Eagle Ford to the Sweeny, TX, and Mont Belvieu fractionation hubs. Also, through its 50/50 Chevron Phillips Chemical (CPChem) JV, Phillips 66 holds a half-interest in the two-part CPChem Line EZ system (red line), whose pipes run from (1) Artesia, NM, to Benedum, TX, (where CPChem owns an NGL salt-dome cavern to support the pipeline’s operations) and (2) from Benedum to CPChem’s fractionation, storage and steam-cracker complex in Sweeny. (The latter pipe’s capacity is 100 Mb/d.)
Record $9.6M fine for Third Coast after substantial oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - Pipeline safety regulators on Monday assessed their largest fine ever against the company responsible for leaking 1.1 million gallons of oil into the Gulf off the coast of Louisiana in 2023. But the $9.6 million fine isn’t likely to be a major burden for Third Coast to pay.This single fine is close to the normal total of $8 million to $10 million in all fines that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration hands out each year. But Third Coast has a stake in some 1,900 miles of pipelines, and in September, the Houston-based company announced that it had secured a nearly $1 billion loan.Pipeline Safety Trust Executive Director Bill Caram said this spill “resulted from a company-wide systemic failure, indicating the operator’s fundamental inability to implement pipeline safety regulations,” so the record fine is appropriate and welcome.“However, even record fines often fail to be financially meaningful to pipeline operators. The proposed fine represents less than 3% of Third Coast Midstream’s estimated annual earnings,” Caram said. “True deterrence requires penalties that make noncompliance more expensive than compliance.”The agency said Third Coast didn't establish proper emergency procedures, which is part of why the National Transportation Safety Board found that operators failed to shut down the pipeline for nearly 13 hours after their gauges first hinted at a problem. PHMSA also said the company didn't adequately assess the risks or properly maintain the 18-inch Main Pass Oil Gathering pipeline.The agency said the company “failed to perform new integrity analyses or evaluations following changes in circumstances that identified new and elevated risk factors” for the pipeline.That echoed what the NTSB said in its final report in June, that “Third Coast missed several opportunities to evaluate how geohazards may threaten the integrity of their pipeline. Information widely available within the industry suggested that land movement related to hurricane activity was a threat to pipelines.”The NTSB said the leak off the coast of Louisiana was the result of underwater landslides, caused by hazards such as hurricanes, that Third Coast, the pipeline owner, failed to address despite the threats being well known in the industry.A Third Coast spokesperson said the company has been working to address regulators' concerns about the leak, so it was taken aback by some of the details the agency included in its allegations and the size of the fine.“After constructive engagement with PHMSA over the last two years, we were surprised to see aspects of the recent allegations that we believe are inaccurate and exceed established precedent. We will address these concerns with the agency moving forward," the company spokesperson said.
USGC 3-2-1 Crack Spread Reflects Higher Diesel, Lower Gasoline --The U.S. Gulf Coast 3-2-1 crack spread is near $18.33/bbl. Over the most recent period, the diesel crack increased from approximately $25.45/bbl on December 29 to $27.68/bbl on January 5, while gasoline cracks declined almost continuously since the start of December, reaching $13.66/bbl on January 5. Recent movements in the USGC 3-2-1 crack spread coincide with higher diesel cracks and lower gasoline cracks over the period. As of January 5, there was a $14/bbl difference between diesel and gasoline cracks on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Holiday Demand Weakness Drives Motor Gasoline Inventory Build - The EIA’s Weekly Petroleum Status Report released this morning points to a loosening in U.S. motor gasoline balances for the week ending January 2, 2026. As highlighted in our Crude Billboard, implied motor gasoline demand declined by nearly 400 Mb/d last week, reflecting typical holiday-related consumption weakness around the New Year. Against this backdrop, total motor gasoline inventories (red line in the chart below) recorded a 7.7 MMbbl build, with the bulk of the increase concentrated in PADDs 2 and 3. Midwest gasoline stocks rose nearly 3.6 MMbbl, the largest weekly build for the region since January 2022. Meanwhile, Gulf Coast inventories increased by 2.3 MMbbl, lifting regional stocks to their highest level since January 2020. Going forward, it will be important to monitor whether supply-side momentum outpaces near-term demand, adding further pressure to gasoline markets.
Glenfarne Goes for Gold to Strengthen Alaska LNG Economics - The developer of the Alaska LNG export terminal is pursuing a deal to supply natural gas to one of the largest gold mining operations in the state as a part of its strategy to improve the economics of the massive project. At A Glance:
- Deal covers up to 50 MMcf/d gas supply
- 315-mile pipeline, power plant proposed
- First phase serves in-state demand
Exports exceed November peak by 0.2 Mt
Train 2 restart adds 370 MMcf/d in demand
Phase 1 ramping to nameplate capacity
The Sky’s the Limit - Alberta Sets Crude Oil Production Record in November ---Alberta’s crude oil output in November 2025 rose to a record of 4.40 MMb/d (height of stacked columns in dashed rectangle in chart below), a gain of 0.26 MMb/d over October and 0.20 MMb/d greater than a year ago according to data released by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER). The monthly increase was driven by a gain of 0.12 MMb/d in synthetic crude oil (red columns) to a record 1.48 MMb/d and a 0.11 MMb/d increase in non-upgraded bitumen (green columns) to 2.24 MMb/d. Small gains were recorded for other production categories with the output of light conventional crude reaching 0.41 MMb/d, its highest level since March 2015. The conclusion of turnarounds at various oil sands production and upgrading sites in October, as well as the start up of expansions, led to the November production record. Unsurprisingly, with production at a record level, exports of crude oil from Alberta also set a record in November at 4.55 MMb/d (green text and arrow in chart below), consistent with strong export levels to the United States via pipelines and record levels of waterborne exports via the Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX). With additional production gains expected in 2026, exports are likely to continue to trend higher to a new record.
Trans Mountain Waterborne Crude Exports Fall to 10-Month Low in December --Waterborne crude oil exports from the Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX) averaged 383 Mb/d in December 2025 (rightmost stacked columns in chart below), a sharp decrease of 130 Mb/d versus a revised record November export level of 513 Mb/d, and an increase of 40 Mb/d from a year ago based on tanker tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. The latest exports are a 10-month low just ahead of February 2025 at 366 Mb/d. The reduction is surprising given that prior anecdotal market information and management at TMX had suggested that export levels were looking strong heading into December. However, there are indications that regional pricing differentials may have partly moved against TMX barrels as Russian medium sour crude became more heavily discounted in December due to additional sanctions on Russian producers and crude oil tankers, leading to additional purchases by importers such as China.China (red columns in above chart) held its position for the past 12 months as the largest purchaser of Canadian crude from TMX with December intake of 258 Mb/d, a sizeable reduction of 115 Mb/d versus November’s record of 374 Mb/d and 93 Mb/d more than one year ago. The United States (blue columns) was the second largest buyer at 108 Mb/d, down 14 Mb/d from the prior month and 69 Mb/d less than a year ago. South Korea (green columns), a small and irregular purchaser, emerged for a second consecutive month, buying 17 Mb/d, down 1 Mb/d from November and 17 Mb/d above a year ago.Combining the latest waterborne exports with RBN’s estimates of crude oil and refined product flows from TMX to land-based destinations in British Columbia and Washington state, resulted in a pipeline utilization rate for TMX of 79% in December, a pullback from the record 94% computed for November and the second lowest rate in 2025.
U.S. to Control Venezuelan Oil Sales Indefinitely -- The Trump administration will sell Venezuelan oil “indefinitely” and control the proceeds, Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced Wednesday, as part of the administration’s broader strategy to manage Venezuela’s oil exports and rebuild its energy sector. Speaking at a Goldman Sachs conference in Miami, Wright said the U.S. will initially market backed-up crude currently stored in Venezuelan facilities and tankers, then continue selling all Venezuelan oil production going forward. “We’re going to market the crude coming out of Venezuela—first this backed up, stored oil, and then indefinitely, going forward, we will sell the production that comes out of Venezuela into the marketplace,” Wright said. President Trump said Tuesday that Venezuela will provide between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil—worth approximately $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion at current market prices—to be transported by ship to U.S. docks. In a Truth Social post Wednesday, Trump said he had directed Wright to execute the plan and that he would personally control how the money is used. “This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!,” Trump wrote. The proceeds will be held in U.S. Treasury-controlled accounts at globally recognized banks, protecting the funds from Venezuela’s creditors while the administration maintains leverage over the country’s transition. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the funds would be “dispersed for the benefit of the American people and the Venezuelan people at the discretion of the United States.” The plan comes after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro and Trump announced American oil companies would rebuild the country’s decaying infrastructure. On Friday, the president is scheduled to meet with executives from Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Exxon Mobil at the White House to discuss investments in Venezuela. The influx of Venezuelan crude is particularly valuable for Gulf Coast refineries, which are specifically configured to process heavy crude and have been seeking new sources since losing access to Venezuelan barrels in recent years. The complex refining infrastructure along the Gulf Coast can handle the heavier, sulfur-rich Venezuelan oil that simpler refineries around the world cannot process, making these barrels especially suited for U.S. consumption. The immediate availability of heavy crude could benefit U.S. consumers through lower prices for jet fuel, diesel, gasoline, and other refined products. The administration has selectively rolled back sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector to enable the transport and sale of crude that had been blocked by U.S. enforcement actions. Wright said the U.S. would also import parts, equipment, and services to increase Venezuelan oil flow, with the goal of attracting major American oil companies that previously operated in the country before nationalization under Hugo Chávez. Venezuela’s oil production has fallen to less than 1 million barrels per day due to years of corruption, underinvestment, and neglect. Wright estimated that output could increase by several hundred thousand barrels daily in the short to medium term, though fully restoring the industry would require an estimated $10 billion per year over the next decade, according to Francisco Monaldi, director of Latin American energy policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The quantity Trump announced—up to 50 million barrels—represents approximately 15 percent of Venezuela’s annual oil production and would require as many as 25 of the world’s largest oil tankers to transport. U.S. forces have seized multiple sanctioned oil tankers in recent days, including two more vessels Wednesday—one flying a Russian flag seized in the Atlantic Ocean south of Iceland, and another apprehended in the Caribbean—as the Trump administration moves to control all exports of Venezuelan crude. Global oil futures slipped 1.3 percent Wednesday, trading around $60 per barrel. Brent and WTI crude—the international and U.S. oil-price benchmarks—both dropped roughly 1 percent following Wright’s announcement. This suggests that oil traders are confident the Trump administration will succeed at increasing the amount of Venezuelan oil brought to global markets. Trump has threatened Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, to cooperate with U.S. demands. “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump said Sunday. Chevron is currently the only U.S. major operating in Venezuela under a special license from Washington. Exxon and ConocoPhillips previously operated in the country but left after Chávez nationalized their assets in the mid-2000s. Oil companies will likely want assurances of a stable Venezuelan government and confidence that Washington will support their presence beyond Trump’s term before committing to the massive long-term investments required to rebuild the country’s oil infrastructure.
Trump’s Venezuela gambit relies on oil boom for payback - Leaders around the world questioned the geopolitics and legality of Saturday’s U.S. raid in Venezuela, but President Donald Trump presented it as a business transaction. The United States plans to get its money back. The South American petrostate has the world’s largest oil reserves. So, Trump said, there should be plenty of money to revive oil production, pay back oil companies who say they were wronged years ago by nationalization and lift the fortunes of the beleaguered population of Venezuela. “We’re going to get reimbursed for all of that. We’re going to get reimbursed for everything that we spend,” Trump said during a Saturday news conference. The “money coming out of the ground is very substantial, so it’s not going to cost us anything.” But reimbursement is not as simple as it might seem in the wake of the dramatic U.S. capture of President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday morning and drug trafficking charges. Analysts say restoring the Venezuelan oil industry won’t happen fast and won’t be easy — and there are some early warning signs.For one thing, oil companies are not rushing in to set up shop. POLITICO reported over the weekend that some industry officials are waiting whether the conflict-ridden country will hospitable to oil development. Some observers say the Trump administration hasn’t done much to show it will be. Part of the reluctance is tied to the current glut of oil, which has driven prices so low that U.S. oil companies are starting to back off some of their production plans in the United States. The International Energy Agency has said there are nearly 2 million extra barrels per day of oil in the global market, or about twice what Venezuela has been supplying. U.S. benchmark crude traded last week below $60 a barrel, a level considered at or below the breakeven point for many oil projects. And there are other big international plays, including some in more stable areas of South America such as off the coast of Guyana, that promise years of supply. While Trump says the previous Venezuelan administrations “stole” American oil, the reserves never belonged to the United States or companies based in the United States. The Venezuelan government nationalized and took control of wells, pipelines and other infrastructure. Beyond all of that, it’s not clear what Trump and his top leaders mean when they talk about “reimbursement” and funding Venezuela operations with the country’s oil money. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday, though Trump told reporters that the U.S. action in Venezuela is about “peace on earth.” “The phrase ‘take the oil’ has been used a lot in articles and punditry, but just like energy dominance, there’s a lot of room to define it within the broader context of how things really work,” “It’s just not that simple.” Venezuela, which is about 1,300 miles from Florida, has the world’s largest proved oil reserves with nearly 304 billion barrels. By contrast, U.S. reserves are pegged at 69 billion barrels. Production in Venezuela, however, has plummeted amid economic collapse while U.S. crude production has surged in record levels in recent years. Texas-based Chevron is the one U.S. oil producer still operating in Venezuela under a license the Trump administration renewed earlier this year. ConocoPhillips left Venezuela in 2007 amid a nationalization of oil. The company is “monitoring developments in Venezuela,” ConocoPhillips said in a statement Sunday, adding that “it would be premature to speculate on any future business activities or investments.” Exxon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday. London-based Shell, which also previously operated in Venezuela, declined to comment. Increasing Venezuelan oil production to reimburse the U.S. government and oil companies or support the Venezuelan people would be no simple task.The country’s production infrastructure has eroded during years of chronic underinvestment, León said, and much of the skilled workforce has left the country. Rystad estimates that it would take about $110 billion worth of investment to increase production from about 1 million barrels a day to 2 million barrels by early 2030. By comparison, the United States last year produced more than 13 million barrels of oil a day. It is “difficult for international companies to justify new investments in Venezuela at present,” León said.
Reviving Venezuela’s oil industry no easy feat: Update - President Donald Trump's call on US producers to invest billions of dollars to help revive Venezuela's battered oil sector will likely face an uphill struggle. After announcing the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro over the weekend, Trump said US oil firms will be given the job of rebuilding the Latin American nation's long-neglected oil industry, a task that analysts said will prove a tough slog following decades of neglect, underinvestment and sanctions. A meaningful turnaround will demand costly repairs to basic energy infrastructure covering everything from pipelines to power supplies, as well as access to the latest equipment and a skilled labor force that is ready to go. US producers will also need clarity around legal frameworks regarding contracts, as well as sharply higher oil prices to justify the massive investments needed. "This is a multi-year repair and investment cycle, not a quick restart," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. "Even US oil majors would need sustained price signals, stable governance and durable sanctions relief before committing meaningful capital." Shares of US oil producers advanced on Monday following the weekend US strikes on Venezuela and ouster of Maduro, in anticipation of a potential windfall, even though that may be years away. Chevron climbed as much as 5pc while ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips also posted gains. Oil services stocks including SLB and Halliburton jumped more than 10pc each. In contrast, shares of Canadian heavy crude producers such as Cenovus Energy tumbled on speculation that an eventual revival of Venezuelan output could pose a direct threat to demand from US Gulf coast refineries. Chevron said it remains focused on the safety and wellbeing of its employees in Venezuela, as well as the integrity of its assets. "We continue to operate uninterrupted and in full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations," a company spokesman said. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips said it is monitoring developments in Venezuela, as well as potential implications for global energy supplies and stability. "It would be premature to speculate on any future business activities or investments," the company said. ExxonMobil did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Venezuela's crude output was 934,000 b/d in November, according to an average of Opec secondary sources including Argus. Production has fallen from more than 3mn b/d in the early 2000s, largely because of the impact of falling investment and US sanctions. Chevron would have a headstart over rivals in responding to Trump's call to help rebuild Venezuela's energy infrastructure, given its role as the only major US producer left in the nation. The second-biggest US producer operates in Venezuela with state-owned PdV under a special waiver from US sanctions and imported about 120,000 b/d of crude from Venezuela to the US in December, according to data from Kpler ship tracking. During a press conference on 3 January, Trump dubbed Venezuela's seizure of assets from US oil companies under former president Hugo Chavez as one of the "largest thefts of property" in US history. Both ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, which lost assets in Venezuela in 2007, have since won awards in international tribunals and US courts for the expropriation of their assets. While Venezuela holds the world's biggest proven reserves, with an estimated 303bn bl, its extra-heavy crude is costly and complex to produce, posing an additional hurdle to reviving the nation's oil industry. "It remains unclear which companies would be willing to invest in Venezuela at current oil prices, especially amid ongoing political, security and legal uncertainties," added Giovanni Staunovo, a strategist at UBS. "Additionally, Venezuelan oil is primarily extra-heavy crude — highly viscous and with elevated sulfur and metals content — making it less valuable than sweet light crude."
Ex-Chevron executive reveals huge fund for Venezuelan oil projects -- A huge fund is being raised to develop Venezuelan oil projects following the capture of Nicolas Maduro, a former top executive for Chevron has said. Chevron’s former head of Latin American operations Ali Moshiri told the Financial Times his Amos Global Energy Management fund had identified Venezuelan assets and was talking to institutional investors. He said Amos had a $2bn private placement memorandum that was “ready to go with several investment targets identified.” However, energy industry analyst Allen Good, told Newsweek in a statement that Venezuela’s oil industry will require tens of billions of dollars in investment to lift production.and the bulk of its reserves are extra-heavy oil, which is costly and capital-intensive to extract. The capture of Maduro and Trump’s warning that Washington would dictate terms to Venezuela’s new leaders has raised the prospect of a corporate rush into the country whose oil reserves are reportedly larger than those of Saudi Arabia. Trump has called for “billions of dollars” to be poured into the country to tap its immense oil resources. Amos’s fundraising effort is a litmus test of whether Wall Street will want to fund the rebuilding of Venezuela’s decrepit oil infrastructure. The Trump administration has signaled that U.S. companies would be involved in the restoration of Venezuelan crude production following the capture of Maduro. Moshiri, Amos CEO, told the FT that the U.S. Special Forces’ capture of Maduro and Trump’s call had created a sudden opportunity and that interest in Venezuelan oil had “gone from zero to 99 per cent.” He said that Amos had a $2 billion private placement memorandum, which details the terms and the risks for potential investors. The FT said that the memorandum shows the fund intends to acquire 20,000-50,000 barrels a day of oil production and 500,000 barrels of reserves from the state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), predicting an exit within seven years and a 250 percent return on investment. Chevron is the only major U.S. operator remaining in Venezuela, since Exxon and ConocoPhillips left in 2007 after the government nationalized their assets.Take Me Money and Run Venezuela – Venezuela’s Oil Industry Could Be Poised for a Rebound, But It Will Take Time | RBN Energy - Venezuela took center stage over the weekend when U.S. forces removed President Nicolás Maduro from power, triggering a flood of speculation and market commentary about the country’s vast oil reserves and the potential for reviving its now-moribund upstream and refining sectors. Of course, there is a lot of uncertainty about how this might play out, but one thing seems clear: The upheaval could impact everything from crude oil flows and price differentials to refining slates and export economics. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll take a deep dive into the outlook for Venezuela’s oil and refined product sectors in the short, middle and long term. Venezuela was once a critical supplier of heavy sour crude to Gulf Coast refineries, providing more than 1 MMb/d in the late 1990s and early 2000s before Venezuelan production entered a long period of decline soon after Hugo Chavez came into power (see It's Tricky). Today, the country produces less than 1 MMb/d of crude oil, barely one-quarter of where it was in the late ’90s at around 3.5 MMb/d. Most Venezuelan production is low-API, high-sulfur crude, coming primarily from Venezuela’s Orinoco Belt (dark-blue-shaded area in Figure 1 below). Because the crude is so dense and viscous, it needs to be blended with diluent — typically condensate or natural gasoline — or upgraded to a lighter synthetic crude oil (SCO) before it can be easily transported, which is similar to crude produced in the Canadian oil sands. Yet, while Venezuelan oil requires significant expertise and investment to produce, it tends to be less expensive to extract than similar quality Canadian bitumen as in-situ combustion (ISC) techniques, a type of enhanced oil recovery (EOR), can be utilized there. Venezuelan crude also requires more complex refining equipment than lighter crudes, making it a good fit for U.S. Gulf Coast plants that have invested specifically in such facilities. Venezuela was also once a major regional supplier of refined products and is home to five operating refineries (black pentagons), all of which have operated far below their full capacity in recent years. Currently, Chevron is the only major U.S. oil company allowed to extract and export Venezuelan crude, and only under a special U.S. Treasury license that permits it to ship barrels to the U.S. despite sanctions — that license accounts for the recent increase in the share of Venezuelan production headed to the U.S. (red line in Figure 3 above). Most of Chevron’s production is from the Orinoco Belt mentioned above, along with the Petroboscan project in western Venezuela. It’s important to note that Venezuelan production and export capacity are limited by a lack of crude upgrading capacity (due to the shutdown of their JV upgraders in Jose during the Chavez/Maduro years) as all four of its crude upgraders (white pentagons along the coast in Figure 1 above) appear to be shut down. With no upgrading capacity to process its heavy crude, Venezuela is limited to exporting volumes that can be blended with diluent, which is a big constraint on its operations. This appears to be a big problem and is likely causing a massive bottleneck. (We believe that most of the diluent has been coming from Iran, with some coming from Russia and the U.S.) Before we get to the specifics of our short-, medium- and long-term outlooks, we should emphasize that there are many unknowns about how this might play out. Here are a few examples. Will Maduro’s successor cooperate with the U.S., and to what degree? How soon will it be safe for heavy-oil production specialists to come in and assess what’s needed to increase output? Will U.S. oil companies and oilfield service providers agree to spend billions of dollars without guarantees they will recoup those investments? What is the condition of the idled oilfield assets, particularly the Jose upgraders? And how long will it take to make the necessary repairs and refurbishments and implement other required improvements?With that in mind, let’s start with what’s happening right now. Chaos pretty much rules the day. Except for Chevron, which resumed shipments after a four-day pause, all other crude oil export cargoes are on hold, storage is filling up, and operators are shutting in wells because there is nowhere for extra barrels to go. With exports constrained and shipments disrupted, it will take a while before anything close to a steady flow pattern returns.As for Venezuelan refiners, we don’t expect any meaningful short-term progress in improving Venezuela’s domestic plants. Utilization is sitting at roughly 19% and, for now, that is about as good as it will get (more on this below). With the country’s refining capacity mostly offline, any capital that eventually shows up is far more likely to chase upstream barrels than downstream upgrades. That’s because money will likely go where it can generate cash flow the fastest, and that is most likely upstream, not into rebuilding refineries. It should also be noted that Iran’s national oil refining company (NIORDC) has been involved in repairing Venezuela’s struggling refineries (to limited effect) and even those efforts will likely cease in the aftermath of the Maduro removal. Another issue to consider is that in the next six months, the eight-year battle over CITGO’s parent company could be resolved (see Aint' No Stoppin' Us Now). [Venezuela’s state-owned PDVSA owns PDV Holding (PDVH), which in turn is the sole shareholder of CITGO Petroleum.] There’s been a primarily below-the-radar battle playing out in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware since 2017 about how best to help satisfy the claims of a dozen-plus creditors who collectively lost more than $20 billion when the government of Venezuela defaulted on its bonds. Long story short, while the sale has been signed off on by the judge, it has not been finalized. If the Trump administration is successful in its efforts to “run” Venezuela, over the next two years the story would shift from stranded barrels and paralyzed exports to one of Venezuela — and the oil companies working there — slowly rebuilding its upstream and export system. This isn't just about a gradual increase in output but also a rerouting. There will be efforts to redirect heavy crude that had been moving to Asia (especially China) toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. (Many of China’s refineries are configured to process Venezuelan barrels, and Venezuela owes Chinese lenders billions that were being repaid in crude, raising questions about how those obligations might be handled.) On Tuesday, President Trump indicated that Venezuela will give the U.S. between 30-50 MMbbl of crude oil. As this oil moves to the Gulf Coast, that will nudge the heavy-light differential a bit wider and boost the economics of complex Gulf Coast refiners that can run heavy sour crude, although we are talking about an incremental move, not a massive blowout. Venezuela’s long-term outlook will hinge on whether capital can push past politics, legal issues and crumbling infrastructure. The country’s self-reported resource base is enormous. In 2023, Venezuela reported about 303 billion barrels of proven reserves, which would be roughly 17% of the global total, although there’s skepticism about that estimate. Despite those doubts, what’s really holding production back are classic “aboveground issues,” especially the lack of outside investment tied to political instability. Long term, we still see meaningful upside for heavy crude production, although that would likely require a more stable government. That said, we do think progress could come faster than what we expected before Maduro’s ouster, but it would still take many years. Restoring full production in Venezuela will likely take tens or hundreds of billions of dollars over a decade or more. With today’s oil industry focused on capital discipline and shareholder returns, it’s hard to see many international companies committing that kind of money without very strong guarantees. The bottom line is it will likely take years for real change, and there is still much chaos and uncertainty.
Continental Grows Vaca Muerta Exposure as Argentina Natural Gas Output Rises --A look at the global natural gas and LNG markets by the numbers. North America LNG Export Flow Tracker showing daily U.S. LNG feed gas volumes from Dec. 29, 2025 through Jan. 7, 2026, with exports ranging from about 17.6 to 19.1 million Dth. The graphic details deliveries, operating capacity and utilization rates for major U.S. LNG export terminals, including Sabine Pass, Corpus Christi, Freeport and Plaquemines, alongside a U.S. map of facility locations.
- 7 Bcf/d: Harold Hamm’s Continental Resources Inc. is expanding its interest in Argentina’s gas-rich Vaca Muerta shale play in a deal with Pan American Energy (PAE). The firm disclosed it has inked a purchase agreement with PAE for non-operating interests in four blocks in the Vaca Muerta’s Neuquén Basin. Hamm previously met with Argentinian officials to acquire assets in the oil-heavy Los Toldos II Oeste field. Continental, the Anadarko Basin’s top producer, has been increasingly seeking international exposure with project investments in Argentina and Türkiye’s Diyarbakır Basin. The International Energy Agency recently estimated investment in Vaca Muerta could boost Argentine gas production to more than 7 Bcf/d in 2035.
- 17.65 million Dth/d: Feed gas nominations to U.S. LNG terminals have backed off from the near-record highs of the past week as global spot cargo demand appears muted. After hitting around 19.33 million Dth/d at the beginning of the week, nominations have slumped to 17.65 million Dth/d, according to Wood Mackenzie pipeline data. The drop has been led by reduced nominations from the Corpus Christi and Sabine Pass export facilities, cutting into the sustained gains at Plaquemines LNG.
- 10.72 Mt: U.S. LNG exports are expected to grow 2.39 million tons (Mt) month/month in January despite a drop in demand from Europe, according to Kpler predictive data. Volumes from the nation’s terminals are expected to reach 10.72 Mt by the end of the month. Imports from European countries are estimated to drop 1.71 Mt year/year in January as buyers rely on storageand affordable spot cargoes during mild winter temperatures. Meanwhile, Asian buyers could be incentivized to buy an additional 1.67 Mt over last January.
- 466 miles: Project partners of the 12 Mt/y capacity Ksi Lisims LNG export project planned for British Columbia (BC) are honing in on a final investment decision in the coming months. Representatives for Western LNG told local officials that the partnership could sanction the floating LNG facility sometime during “early 2026,” according to the Prince George Citizen newspaper. The partners also plan to adjust the path of the 466-mile associated pipeline further north through Nisga’a Nation territory. Ksi Lisims is being developed by the Nisga’a Nation, a consortium of producers and Houston-based Western LNG. The partnership is currently constructing the pipeline planned to move up to 2 Bcf/d from northeastern BC to the west coast.
22-hour trading begins Feb. 23
HH–TTF spreads adjust more quickly
Forward curves signal price compression
EU accused of fuelling Putin’s war by importing Russian liquefied natural gas -European governments have been accused of fuelling Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine as new data shows the Kremlin earned an estimated €7.2bn (£6.2bn) last year from exporting its liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU. Brussels has pledged to ban imports of Russian LNG – natural gas that is supercooled to make it easier to transport – by 2027 but an analysis suggests there is yet to be any letup in the vast quantities being received at European ports from Russia’s LNG complex on the Yamal peninsula in Siberia. More than 15m tonnes of Yamal LNG was transported through the Arctic ice to reach EU terminals in 2025, according to the human rights NGO Urgewald, earning the Kremlin an estimated €7.2bn. While Europe has cut supplies of pipeline gas from Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU’s share of global shipments from Yamal increased in the last year, the fourth of the war in Ukraine, rising to 76.1%, up from 75.4% in 2024, the report said. The imports remain legal and the EU has been reluctant to ban Russian shipments of LNG, particularly due to the dependency of central and eastern Europe on the energy source. One of the two European shipping companies who are said to form the logistical backbone for Yamal LNG is Seapeak, which is based in the UK. The latest analysis suggests Seapeak transported 37.3% of Yamal LNG on its ships, while Greece’s Dynagas transported 34.3%. The two companies have been contacted for comment. Eleven of the 14 specialist ice-breaking Arc7 tankers that transport LNG from Yamal are owned by Seapeak, which is owned by the American investment firm Stonepeak, and Dynagas. The UK has said it will transition towards a ban this year on the provision of maritime services for vessels carrying Russian LNG. “While Brussels celebrates the latest agreement to phase out Russian gas, our ports continue serving as the logistics lung for Russia’s largest LNG terminal, Yamal. “In the current geopolitical situation, we cannot afford another year of complicity. We are not just customers, we are the essential infrastructure keeping this flagship project alive. Every cargo that offloads at an EU terminal is a direct deposit into a war chest that fuels the slaughter in Ukraine. We must stop providing the oxygen for Russia’s energy profits and shut the Yamal loophole now.” Russia’s Yamal plant is dependent on access to EU ports and the use of ice-breaking LNG tankers of the Arc7 class, which were built specifically for the project. The ships would have to accept significantly longer transport routes if they did not have the unloading or reloading opportunities in EU ports including Zeebrugge in Belgium. According to Urgewald, 58 ships reached the Belgian terminal in 2025, delivering 4.2m tonnes of LNG. During the same period, only 51 ships reached Chinese ports, delivering 3.6m tonnes. A total of 87 ships delivered 6.3m tonnes of LNG to the French ports of Dunkirk and Montoir in 2025, making France the largest importer. France’s energy major TotalEnergies remains a key investor in Russia’s Yamal project. Access to the European ports enables the ice-class tankers to quickly return to the Arctic to pick up more gas, rather than being tied up on weeks-long voyages to Asia.
Norwegian Natural Gas Output Decline Widens Path for More U.S. LNG to Europe - - Norway’s oil and natural gas production is expected to fall before 2030 unless investments are made to maintain output from Europe’s top supplier, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD) warned in an annual update. At A Glance:
- Investments forecast to fall 6.5%
- Oil, gas production could weaken
- 2025 Norwegian output near record levels
Sweden receives $3.9m compensation for Marco Polo oil spill - The Swedish state is receiving SEK35.6 million ($3.9 million) in compensation for the Swedish Coast Guard’s environmental rescue work following the oil spill from the ship Marco Polo. The payment was made by the ship’s insurance company to cover the authority's efforts, vessel readiness, equipment, and personnel costs. Nina Andersson, head of the coast guard’s legal unit, stated that international regulations ensure taxpayers receive compensation when oil reaches the sea. The Marco Polo, a Ro-Pax ship operated by TT-Line, ran aground on October 22, 2023, in Pukaviksbukten off the coast of Blekinge, leaking at least 60,000 litres of oil. The environmental rescue operation lasted 19 days, involving approximately 75 coast guard personnel and rescue divers. Efforts included four kilometres of dredging and were carried out in collaboration with local municipalities, the Swedish Maritime Rescue Society (SSRS), and the Home Guard. A separate water pollution fee of SEK1.4 million, determined in accordance with the act on measures against pollution from ships, has been appealed by TT-Line to the Stockholm District Court. The Marco Polo was towed away on November 9, 2023, for repairs at a shipyard in Poland. The compensation received will be reported directly to the national treasury.
Oil spill reported at "M-25" field in Boysun - According to the Ministry of Energy, an oil spill occurred at the “M-25” oil field in Boysun. To prevent further spread and protect the environment, additional containment ponds were built around the site and along the stream. The collected oil is continuously transported to a special site. There, there are two isolated sludge ponds with a capacity of 5,000 cubic meters each, which allow safe storage of oil and its later efficient use. According to the ministry, all work is being carried out in full compliance with current industrial and environmental safety requirements. Oil samples are being analyzed, and based on the results, the possibilities for processing will be studied. Geological studies are also ongoing. Currently, the situation is under constant monitoring, and the oil has been contained. In the first days, cleanup work is being carried out for oil that entered the canal.
Exploration plans spark fear of another Santos WA oil spill - WA's peak environmental body warns that proposed drilling by Santos to find oil under the seabed north of Port Hedland is a risk to marine parks, commercial fishing and protected species. Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) director Matt Roberts said Santos’ own modelling showed that spills from the drilling could cause wide-ranging devastation to WA’s iconic Pilbara coastline. “Santos wants permission to drill near some of our most iconic marine parks and around 40 kilometres from the Rowley Shoals Marine Park,” he said. Adelaide-based Santos plans to drill up to seven wells sometime in the next five years in the Bedout Basin, more than 100km from the WA coast (see pink outlined areas below). In December Santos lodged an environment plan for the drilling to be assessed by the Federal offshore environment regulator NOPSEMA. The Adelaide-based company's analysis showed that the environment that may be affected (EMBA - see blue outlined area above) was a vast swathe of ocean stretching from off Carnarvon, northwards to near Timor Leste. The most serious possible incident is a loss of well control, which Santos predicted in the worst case could last for 77 days until it could drill a relief well to stem the flow from the initial hole. "Hydrocarbons will persist within the environment for a longer period of time, although the hydrocarbon released is expected to weather quickly through evaporation and dispersion," the Santos environment plan stated. According to the CCWA, inside the area that may be affected are three World Heritage Areas - Shark Bay, Ningaloo and Murujuga - and nine marine parks. The area also contains fisheries for economically important crayfish, scallops, abalone and prawns and is home to 13 protected species. Roberts pointed to Santos' "dire record of ongoing leaks and spills in the Northern Territory and WA." In August, the ABC revealed that a tank holding liquified natural gas at a Santos gas export plant near Darwin had been leaking for two decades. In 2022 three dead dolphins were found within 200m of an oil spill at Santos' Varanus Island gas processing plant off the Pilbara coast. The Adelaide-based company denied any link between the two events as, according to a company spokeswoman, the carcasses were found a few hours after the spill "in which time no harm would have resulted from this incident.” However, SA Museum honorary mammal researcher Dr Catherine Kemper said in 2022 that the fact that the dead dolphins were floating suggested a sudden death. In 2025 Santos plead guilty in the Karratha criminal court to "failing to operate its licensed pipeline in a proper and workmanlike manner, failing to prevent the escape of petroleum." A whistleblower whose anonymous statement was tabled in Federal parliament in 2023 accused Santos of a cover up. “Santos lied to us all. It is not a coincidence to find dead dolphins in the middle of an oil spill," he said. “It indicates a belief within Santos that they can operate to avoid public interest through misinformation, supported by a cosy relationship with regulators and government.” The oil spill was just one of five known serious safety and environmental incidents that occurred in just two years at Santos' operations around Varanus Island.
Oil residues can travel over 5,000 miles on ocean debris, study finds -- When oily plastic and glass, as well as rubber, washed onto Florida beaches in 2020, a community group shared the mystery online, attracting scientists' attention. Working together, they linked the black residue-coated debris to a 2019 oil slick along Brazil's coastline. Using ocean current models and chemical analysis, the team explains in Environmental Science & Technology how some of the oily material managed to travel over 5,200 miles (8,500 kilometers) by clinging to debris. "The research findings of our study would not have been possible without the dedication of the Friends of Palm Beach," says Bryan James, lead author of the study and a researcher at Northeastern University. "Their long-term knowledge of the local marine debris enabled them to notice when unique and interesting items like oily plastic comes ashore. If they hadn't been willing to investigate and share their observations, this discovery would still be lost at sea."Although some plastics can drift thousands of miles on ocean currents, crude oil or refined petroleum usually doesn't. Instead, sunlight and microbes break down oil within a few hundred miles (300 kilometers) of where it entered the water. So, in 2020, the source of oily plastic bottles and glass containers along the shore in Palm Beach, Florida, was curious to the Friends of Palm Beach cleanup group.With no spills reported nearby, the group's main clues about the oil's source were the bottle labels in Portuguese, Spanish and English, and large chunks of rubber that had also washed up. The group became community scientists as some members teamed up with international researchers led by James and Christopher Reddy at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to find the origin of the oil and plastic pollution. James, Reddy and their colleagues hypothesized that the oily plastic and rubber littering the beach in Florida could have the same origin as similar pollution found on Brazil's coast in late 2019. And the source of the oil and rubber might be the SS Rio Grande, a sunken World War II supply ship in the Atlantic Ocean. To test their hypothesis, the researchers conducted computer simulations and oil spill forensic analyses.
- Origin: Ocean current models traced the plastic bottles backward in time, predicting origins spanning from the Gulf of Mexico, Central America and Brazil.
- Travel time: Additional models estimated that the oily debris drifted for 240 days, which is a timeframe consistent with currents carrying material from the 2019 Brazil oil spill to the Florida coast.
- Chemical analyses: Several of the oily residues collected from the Florida debris showed evidence of refining, and the "chemical fingerprints" of the oily plastic matched those collected from the Brazil oil spill.
Reddy concludes that this work demonstrates an additive contaminant effect where plastic pollution can transport oil pollution far beyond its origin, and it expands on the current understanding of "petroplastic"—a recently recognized form of plastic pollution from humans.
Oil prices fall as capture of Maduro raises questions over supply | Khaleej Times - Oil prices opened the first full trading week of 2026 with a muted reaction to one of the most dramatic geopolitical events in recent history: the weekend US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Benchmarks such as Brent crude edged slightly lower, with WTI also dipping as investors weighed whether the upheaval in Caracas could meaningfully alter the supply–demand balance in a market already grappling with oversupply and subdued demand growth. The Wall Street Journal and other outlets noted that markets were awaiting clarity on the oil supply implications of the US action, but initial trading suggested traders saw limited near-term disruption. Brent, the global oil benchmark, has hovered around $60 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate — the US marker — has remained near mid-$50s, continuing the downtrend that marked 2025 as one of the poorest years for crude in half a decade. Analysts point out that Venezuela’s current contribution to global oil production is minimal. Once a petrostate powerhouse, the country’s output has plummeted over the last two decades due to mismanagement, sanctions and deteriorated infrastructure — a decline that means Venezuela now accounts for less than 1 per cent of actual global oil supply despite holding some 17–20 per cent of proven reserves. As a result, the market’s limited near-term price reaction reflects the view that political headlines alone do not equate to real supply shocks. Energy strategists argue that even if US companies were to re-enter the Venezuelan oil sector, the timeframes involved are measured in years, not weeks or months. Upgrading facilities in Venezuela’s heavy-crude-rich Orinoco Belt requires massive capital investment, robust logistics and a sustained security environment — prerequisites that do not materialize overnight. Reviving production meaningfully could take well into the latter part of the decade. “Washington’s operational success over the weekend does not automatically translate into increased barrels on the global market,” says an industry trader in London. “Markets are correct to distinguish between geopolitical noise and tangible supply shifts.” This fundamental weakness in demand relative to supply is underscored by official forecasts. The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects Brent and WTI prices to remain under downward pressure through 2026 as production growth outpaces consumption, with Brent averaging near the mid-$50s and WTI near the low-$50s over the next year. EIA data highlights record U.S. output levels contributing to a supply surplus that threatens to swamp inventories further. Global oil market consultancies echo the bearish consensus. Analysts at Goldman Sachs have maintained 2026 price forecasts at around $56 for Brent and $52 for WTI, emphasising that any Venezuelan recovery would be gradual and dependent on substantial investment and political stability — factors that remain uncertain despite the recent regime change. Meanwhile, forecasts from multiple agencies suggest supply could exceed demand by nearly 4 million barrels per day in 2026 — a glut equivalent to roughly four per cent of world consumption — keeping downward pressure on crude. Beyond fundamentals, geopolitical dynamics still play a secondary role. The International Energy Agency and other forecasters warn that structural surpluses, rather than geopolitical shocks, will ultimately define price trajectories through 2026 and possibly beyond — unless coordinated supply discipline emerges from major producers. While the US strike in Venezuela has added a dramatic twist to oil market narratives, it has not fundamentally altered the bearish undercurrents driving prices: chronic oversupply, production growth in the US and other regions, and the complexities of returning Venezuelan oil to international markets, analysts note.
Oil Prices Edge Lower On Supply Glut Concerns - Oil prices were moving lower on Monday after OPEC+ decided to keep output unchanged through the first three months of the year. Concerns over sluggish demand in China, a stronger dollar and the prospect of a production revival in Venezuela also weighed on prices. Benchmark Brent crude futures fell over 1 percent to $60.13 a barrel, while WTI crude futures were down 1 percent at $56.73. OPEC+ agreed to maintain stable oil production at its meeting on Sunday, despite falling oil prices on fears of oversupply, and tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The eight countries - Saudi Arabia, Russia, UAE, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria, and Oman - raised their production targets by 2.9 million barrels per day from April to December 2025, which is almost 3 percent of global oil demand. On the data front, a private survey showed that China's services activity expanded at its slowest pace in six months in December, as growth in new business softened and foreign demand declined. Amid weak consumer spending at home and growing scrutiny from global trading partners, China's broader economic backdrop remains worrisome. Meanwhile, the dollar rose on increased geopolitical uncertainty after the U.S. moved to oust Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro over the weekend. It is feared that U.S. President Donald Trump's pledge to run the county and unlock vast reserves could deepen a global supply glut.
The Oil Market Assessed the Impact on Venezuela's Oil Flows - The oil market posted an outside trading day as the market assessed the situation in Venezuela, whose crude exports have been under a U.S. embargo, and the potential impact on Venezuela’s oil flows following the U.S. capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro over the weekend. In volatile trading, the crude market, which initially traded higher in overnight trading, sold off to a low of $56.31 as traders expect little impact to the overall supply of crude oil, as President Trump stated that the embargo remained in place and any further disruption to Venezuela’s exports could be offset by increased output elsewhere. However, the crude market bounced off its low and extended its gains to almost $1.20 as it posted a high of $58.51 by mid-morning. The market later settled in a sideways trading range during the remainder of the session. The February WTI contract settled up $1 at 58.32 and the February Brent contract settled up $1.01 at $61.76. The product markets ended the session higher, with the heating oil market settling up 2.77 cents at $2.1428 and the RB market settling up 2.18 cents at $1.72. Bloomberg reported that realizing President Donald Trump’s plan for a US-led revival of Venezuela’s struggling oil industry could be a years-long and challenging process costing upwards of $100 billion. It said a significant impact on the oil market following the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro could take years to materialize. Francisco Monaldi, director of Latin American energy policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, said rebuilding Venezuela’s oil industry to increase Venezuela’s output back to its peak levels of the 1970s would require companies that could include Chevron Corp, Exxon Mobil Corp and ConocoPhillips to invest about $10 billion per year over the next decade. He said a faster recovery would require even more investment. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during an interview with ABC on Sunday that he expects U.S. oil companies will be eager for the opportunity to drill for Venezuela’s heavy crude, which is key for refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast. However, according to Lino Carrillo, a former manager at PDVSA, companies will want to be certain the country is stable. He said “For any oil companies to actually get serious about investing in Venezuela would require that there will be a new congress or National Assembly.” On Sunday, OPEC+ kept oil output unchanged following a quick meeting that avoided discussion of the political crises affecting several of the producer group’s members. The eight OPEC+ members, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria and Oman, raised their oil output targets by around 2.9 million bpd in 2025, equal to almost 3% of world oil demand, to regain market share. The eight members agreed in November to pause output hikes for January, February and March due to relatively low demand in the northern hemisphere winter. Sunday’s brief online meeting affirmed that policy. The eight countries are scheduled to meet next on February 1st.
Oil Prices Under Pressure Amid Oversupply and Developments in Venezuela -Brent crude futures declined 0.5% (28 cents) to $61.48 per barrel by 07:35 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 0.6% (32 cents) to $58.00 per barrel. Brianka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at brokerage firm Philip Nova, noted that oil prices have responded only weakly to major geopolitical events, such as U.S. military moves in Venezuela and ongoing attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, indicating that fundamental supply and demand factors remain the main price drivers. “From a supply perspective, the oil market remains well-stocked,” she added. “According to the latest data from the International Energy Agency and the U.S. Energy Information Administration, global crude supplies continue to outpace consumption growth, pushing inventories higher and maintaining downward pressure on prices.” A Reuters survey conducted in December showed that market participants expect oil prices to remain under pressure throughout 2026 due to increased supply and weak demand. Pressure on prices could intensify following Maduro’s arrest on Saturday, raising the possibility of lifting U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil and boosting production. Maduro appeared in a New York court on Monday, pleading not guilty to drug-related charges. A source told Reuters that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump plans to meet this week with executives from American oil companies to discuss ways to increase Venezuelan oil output. Ed Mayer, a market analyst at Marex, said: “Even a partial implementation of Trump’s approach is likely to increase Venezuelan oil production, adding more pressure to a market already facing oversupply.” Venezuela, a founding member of OPEC, holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, estimated at 303 billion barrels, but its oil sector has declined over the years due to underinvestment and U.S. sanctions. Last year, Venezuelan production averaged around 1.1 million barrels per day. Analysts suggest production could rise by up to 500,000 barrels per day over the next two years if political stability is achieved and U.S. investments flow in. However, ANZ Research noted in a report that political instability remains the most likely scenario, adding that increasing production beyond Venezuela’s current effective capacity would require substantial investment.
Oil falls as investors weigh supply outlook, Venezuelan uncertainties - (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Tuesday as the market weighed expectations of ample global supply this year against uncertainty around Venezuelan crude output after the U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro, the South American country's leader. Brent crude futures fell $1.06, or 1.7%, to settle at $60.70 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.19, or 2%, to $57.13 a barrel. "It is premature to evaluate the impact of Nicolas Maduro's capture on the oil balance. What seems obvious, nonetheless, is that oil supply will be sufficient in 2026, with or without an increase in production from the OPEC member," Global oil demand likely grew by around 900,000 barrels per day last year, compared to a historical trend rate of 1.2 million bpd, Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note on Tuesday. OPEC supply grew 1.6 million bpd and non-OPEC supply grew about 2.4 million bpd between the fourth quarters of 2024 and 2025, the Morgan Stanley analysts said. "This means both sources of supply enter 2026 at a very strong level," they said, adding that could put oil markets in a surplus of as much as 3 million bpd in the first half of 2026. Market participants polled by Reuters in December also said they expected oil prices to be under pressure in 2026 because of rising supply and weak demand. "As the evolving global oil surplus becomes more transparent, the stage for a renewed downturn by next week will be set," Price pressure could be exacerbated by the U.S. capture of Maduro on Saturday and its potential to hasten an end to a U.S. embargo on Venezuelan oil, leading to higher output. Market participants were also debating the future trajectory of Venezuelan supply after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed U.S. oil companies were ready to invest in the South American country to boost its production and exports. U.S. oil company CEOs are expected to visit the White House as early as Thursday to discuss investments in Venezuela, according to three sources familiar with the planning.Venezuela's oil sector has long been in decline, due in part to underinvestment and U.S. sanctions. Oil production from the country averaged 1.1 million bpd last year. "We estimate only 300,000 barrels per day of additional supply within the next two to three years on limited incremental spending," "Some of this can be financed organically by (state-run oil company) PDVSA but international capital would need to be committed to make 3 million bpd by 2040 possible," Meanwhile, U.S. crude inventories fell last week while fuel stocks rose, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. The API figures showed a 2.77 million barrel decline in U.S. crude oil stocks. Official U.S. government statistics on the country's oil inventories are due at 10:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday. Eight analysts polled by Reuters ahead of the report estimated on average that crude inventories rose by about 500,000 barrels in the week ending January 2.
The Market Weighed Uncertainty Regarding Venezuela's Oil Output - Sprague Energy The oil market erased its early gains and ended the session lower as the market weighed the uncertainty regarding Venezuela’s oil output after the U.S. capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and the concerns about an oversupply. The crude market traded mostly sideways before it breached its previous high and rallied to a high of $58.87 early in the morning. However, the market held resistance at that level and erased its earlier gains, posting a low of $57.03 ahead of the close. The February WTI contract settled down $1.19 at $57.13 and continued to sell off, trading to a low of $56.84 in the post settlement period in light of the news that the U.S. and Venezuela are in talks to export Venezuelan oil to the United States. The March Brent contract settled down $1.06 at $60.70. The product markets ended the session lower, with the heating oil market settling down 5.98 cents at $2.0830 and the RB market settling down 1.94 cents at $1.7006. Late Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela will be “turning over” 30-50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States. Earlier, the Trump administration dismissed analysts’ estimates that it would take years to increase Venezuela’s oil production, saying there were ways to quickly increase the country’s output. U.S. Interior Secretary, Dough Burgum, said one option was for the U.S. to lift sanctions on Venezuela that had prevented the country from accessing crucial oil field equipment and other technologies to maximize production. U.S. President Trump has stated that the U.S. industry could expand operations in Venezuela in less than 18 months, possibly with the help of subsidies. Venezuela’s main opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has vowed to return home quickly, praising U.S. President Donald Trump for toppling Nicolas Maduro and declaring her movement ready to win a free election. U.S. President Trump has stated the United States needs to help address Venezuela’s problems before any new elections, calling a 30-day timeline for a vote unrealistic. President Trump has given little indication of backing the opposition leader. The U.S. administration appears so far to be hoping to work with interim President Delcy Rodriguez, a Maduro ally who has denounced his “kidnapping” while also calling for cooperation and respectful relations with Washington. Shipping data showed that Venezuela’s main oil ports on Tuesday entered their fifth day without delivering crude for state-run PDVSA’s customers in Asia, as the U.S. pressures the nation through an oil embargo. On Monday, Chevron resumed exports of Venezuelan oil to the U.S. after a four-day pause and called workers abroad back to its Venezuela offices as flights to the country restarted. The U.S. firm has emerged in recent weeks as the only company fluidly exporting Venezuela’s crude. The administration of President Donald Trump is planning to meet with executives from U.S. oil companies later this week to discuss increasing Venezuelan oil production after U.S. forces ousted its leader Nicolas Maduro.
Oil prices fall again after Trump says Venezuela to send oil to U.S. -- Oil prices continued to fall on Wednesday morning, on fears of a supply increase after U.S. President Donald Trump said Venezuela will send up to 50 million barrels to the United States. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, Trump said Venezuela’s interim government would hand over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of “sanctioned oil” to the U.S., in a move he framed as benefiting both nations. A barrel contains 159 litres. The amount is the equivalent of one to two months of Venezuelan oil production. The oil would be sold at market prices, and proceeds would be controlled by him as president to ensure they were used “to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States,” Trump posted. A barrel of North Sea Brent for delivery in March fell on Wednesday morning by 56 cents, or nearly 1 per cent, to 60.14 dollars, after the price fell by nearly 2 per cent on Tuesday. The price for a barrel of U.S. grade WTI for delivery in February fell by 73 cents, or 1.3 per cent, to 56.40 dollars. It was initially unclear over what period the volume of crude oil cited by Trump would be made available by Venezuela. Oil is Venezuela’s most important source of revenue and foreign currency. The new leadership in Caracas did not immediately comment on Trump’s announcement.
The U.S. Reached a Deal to Import $2 Billion of Venezuelan Crude - The crude oil market on Wednesday sold off sharply following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement late Tuesday that the U.S. reached a deal to import up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude. The oil market quickly sold off to a low of $55.76 during the overnight session following the announcement that the U.S. would refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude that had been stuck in Venezuela under the U.S. blockade. The market later bounced off its low and retraced all of its earlier losses as it posted a high of $57.17 amid the news that the U.S. seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker after a more than two-week long pursuit across the Atlantic. However, the market once again erased its gains and traded back towards its low and held support at $55.86 during the remainder of the session. The February WTI contract settled down $1.14 at $55.99 and the March Brent contract settled down 74 cents at $59.96. The product markets ended the session settled in negative territory, with the heating oil market settling down 2.63 cents at $2.0567 and the RB market settling down 61 points at $1.6945. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said Caracas and Washington reached a deal to export up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude to the United States, a negotiation that would divert supplies from China while helping Venezuela avoid deeper oil production cuts.CNBC reported that oil sales from Venezuela will continue indefinitely and sanctions will be reduced. Citing a source close to the White House, CNBC said the 50 million barrels were only the first tranche, with sales expected to continue indefinitely, and that U.S. sanctions on Venezuela would be rolled back as part of the deal.The U.S. seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker that was being shadowed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday, after a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic as part of a U.S. “blockade” of Venezuelan oil exports. Separately, the U.S. Coast Guard has also intercepted another Venezuela-linked tanker in Latin American waters, as the U.S. continues enforcing its blockade of sanctioned vessels from Venezuela.Russia said that the U.S. seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic was a violation of maritime law. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Russia is demanding that the U.S. ensure humane and decent treatment of its citizens aboard a seized oil tanker and their swift return home. Morgan Stanley analysts estimated the oil market could reach a surplus of as much as 3 million bpd in the first half of 2026, based on weak growth in demand last year and increasing supply from OPEC and non-OPEC producers. IIR Energy said U.S. oil refiners are expected to shut in about 391,000 bpd of capacity in the week ending January 9th, decreasing available refining capacity by 206,000 bpd.
Oil settles down more than 1% after Trump statements on Venezuelan oil (Reuters) - Oil prices settled lower for a second straight session on Wednesday as investors digested U.S. President Donald Trump's deal to import up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude, a move that would lift supplies to the world's largest oil consumer. Brent crude futures closed down 74 cents, or 1.2%, at $59.96 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.14, or 2%, to $55.99 a barrel. Both benchmarks slid more than $1 a barrel during the previous trading session, with market participants expecting ample global supply this year. Venezuela will be "turning over" between 30 million and 50 million barrels of "sanctioned oil" to the U.S., Trump wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. The deal between Washington and Caracas initially could require the rerouting of cargoes that were bound for China, sources told Reuters. "Crude futures continuing on the defensive after the late day sell-off yesterday on news that Venezuela will be giving the US between 30 to 50 million barrels of oil," said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial. Venezuela has millions of barrels of oil loaded on tankers and in storage tanks that it has been unable to ship since mid-December due to a blockade on exports imposed by Trump. The blockade was part of a U.S. pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government that culminated in U.S. forces capturing him over the weekend. Top Venezuelan officials have called Maduro's capture a kidnapping and accused the U.S. of trying to steal the country's vast oil reserves. The U.S. also seized an empty Russian-flagged, Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday. Providing some support to prices, U.S. crude stocks dropped by 3.8 million barrels to 419.1 million barrels in the week ended January 2, the Energy Information Administration said. Analysts had estimated a rise of 447,000 barrels. U.S. gasoline stocks increased by 7.7 million barrels in the week, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a build of 3.2 million barrels. Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, climbed by 5.6 million barrels in the week versus expectations for a rise of 2.1 million barrels. Morgan Stanley analysts estimated the oil market could reach a surplus of as many as 3 million barrels per day in the first half of 2026, based on weak growth in demand last year and rising supply from OPEC and non-OPEC producers. However, the prospect of higher, cheaply extracted Venezuelan oil exports could pause expansion of productive capacity in the U.S. and elsewhere, analysts at BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, said in a note on Wednesday. Venezuela has been selling its flagship Merey crude grade at around $22 per barrel below Brent for delivery at its ports. "That raises the expected price of oil over the medium term, especially if the Venezuelan regime survives,"
Venezuelan Supply Expectations Weigh On Oil Prices -- Oil prices came under renewed pressure on Thursday after Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA said talks to sell crude to the US are progressing, while signals from Washington pointed to a selective easing of sanctions that could allow Venezuelan oil back into global markets, Anadolu Ajansi reported. International benchmark Brent crude stood at $59.96 per barrel at 9.13 a.m. local time (0613 GMT), down 0.3 per cent from the previous close of $60.13. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 0.2 per cent to $56.06 per barrel, compared with $56.20 in the prior session. PDVSA said negotiations with Washington are being conducted under frameworks similar to existing commercial arrangements with international producers such as Chevron and are based on principles of legality, transparency and mutual benefit. Markets interpreted the developments as increasing the likelihood of additional Venezuelan crude supply, reinforcing concerns over a growing global surplus at a time when demand growth remains fragile. The supply outlook was further underscored by comments from US officials. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that interim authorities in Venezuela had agreed to transfer between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the US to be sold at market prices, with proceeds directed toward benefiting both Venezuela and the US. Venezuela and the US. The White House also said Trump will host a meeting with US oil executives on Friday to discuss potential industry involvement in Venezuela's energy sector, part of a broader effort to selectively ease sanctions and enable the transport and sale of Venezuelan crude and refined products globally. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the US has already begun marketing Venezuelan crude internationally, adding that leading commodity traders and major banks will be involved in executing sales and providing financing. She said proceeds from the sales will initially be held in US-controlled accounts at internationally recognised banks before being allocated at the discretion of the US government. Leavitt also said Energy Secretary Chris Wright met with oil company executives in Florida on Thursday, with a follow-up meeting scheduled at the White House on Friday, highlighting growing engagement between Washington and the energy industry over Venezuela's oil sector. The prospect of Venezuelan barrels re-entering global trade flows has added to oversupply concerns, limiting upside for crude prices. On the other hand, data showing a draw in US commercial crude inventories helped cap further price declines. US commercial crude stocks fell by about 3.8 million barrels, or 0.9 per cent, to 419.1 million barrels in the week ended Jan. 2, according to data released by the Energy Information Administration on to data released by the Energy Information Administration on Wednesday. However, strategic petroleum reserves — which are excluded from commercial inventories — rose by 200,000 barrels to 413.5 million barrels, while gasoline inventories jumped by around 7.7 million barrels to 242 million barrels. The rise in strategic reserves and gasoline stocks underscored ample supply and soft demand, reinforcing bearish sentiment across oil markets.
The Oil Market Continued to Assess Developments in Venezuela - The oil market traded sharply higher on Thursday after two days of declines as the market continued to assess the developments in Venezuela and was well supported by the news that progress was made on a proposed U.S. sanctions legislation against countries doing business with Russia. The market rebounded over last week’s closing levels, recovering from the Venezuela-related selling, on expectations that a meaningful amount of Venezuelan crude coming into the Gulf Coast region could be years away. U.S. oil companies are reportedly seeking guarantees from the U.S. before they decide to make large investments in Venezuela ahead of a meeting with the Trump administration scheduled for Friday. The market was also supported by the news that U.S. President Donald Trump is allowing a Russian sanctions bill to advance, raising concerns of further disruption to Russian oil exports. The market was further supported by news that a Russia-bound oil tanker suffered a drone attack in the Black Sea. The crude market posted a low of $55.97 in overnight trading before it retraced its previous losses. The market retraced more than 62% of its move from a high of $58.88 to a low of $55.76 as it rallied to a high of $57.84 ahead of the close. The February WTI contract settled up $1.77 at $57.76 and later continued to extend its gains in the post settlement period, posting a new high of $58.50. The March Brent contract settled up $2.03 at $61.99. The product markets ended the session higher, with the heating oil market settling up 6.28 cents at $2.1195 and the RB market settling up 6.58 cents at $1.7603. The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. President Donald Trump and his advisers are planning an initiative to dominate the Venezuelan oil industry for years to come, and the president told aides he believes his efforts could help lower oil prices to $50/barrel. It reported that a plan under consideration includes the U.S. exerting some control over Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA, including acquiring and marketing the majority of the company’s oil production. In an interview published by the New York Times, U.S. President Donald Trump said that “only time will tell” how long the United States will maintain oversight of Venezuela. He said U.S. oversight of Venezuela could last for years. He made no commitments about when elections would be held in Venezuela. In the interview, President Trump also added that that the U.S. was “getting along very well” with the government of the interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, a longstanding Maduro loyalist who had served as the ousted leader’s vice president. The Financial Times reported that U.S. oil companies want “serious guarantees” from Washington before they make large investments in Venezuela as President Donald Trump urges them to back his bid to reshape energy markets. The U.S. Senate advanced a resolution on Thursday that would bar President Donald Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, paving the way for further consideration in the 100-member chamber. Late Wednesday, U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that President Trump had “greenlit” a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill after the pair met on Wednesday. Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said the text of a bilateral security guarantee between Kyiv and Washington was “essentially ready” to be finalized with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Oil Surges 3% on Russia Sanctions, Biggest Jump Since July -- Crude futures jumped 3% on Thursday, Jan. 8, their most in a day since July, driven by White House approval for new sanctions on Russian oil. A weekly draw in U.S. crude inventories also helped the market claw back most of the losses from the prior two sessions that had been triggered by concerns over Venezuela's oil sector. Data showing the smallest U.S. trade deficit in 17 years -- along with expectations that the Friday, Jan. 9, release of U.S. jobs numbers for December could prompt the Federal Reserve to consider a rate cut later this month -- added to the bullish sentiment. Oil futures settled higher Friday with their biggest weekly advance in three months as market participants covered short positions amid fresh buying in... The rally got off to an early start on news that U.S. President Donald Trump had approved a bipartisan Senate bill to impose sanctions on buyers of Russian oil, including China and India, in bid to further restrict the Kremlin's energy revenues over the Ukraine war. Data from Wednesday, Jan. 7, by the Energy Information Administration showing U.S. commercial crude stocks declining by a combined 5.7 million bbl over the past two weeks was a catalyst as well to the early run-up in oil. Market momentum picked up after the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported the October trade balance at $29.4 billion versus Wall Street's forecast of $58.9 billion. Analysts noted that it was the smallest deficit since 2009. Futures markets have priced in a 90% probability that the Fed will hold U.S. rates steady in a range of between 3.5% and 3.75% at its Jan. 28 policy decision. But some economists say the central bank might consider another 25-basis point cut this month, like it did three times last year, if the U.S. unemployment rate hits a four-year high of 4.7% in Friday's jobs data. The NYMEX WTI contract for February delivery settled up by $1.77, or 3.2%, at $57.76 bbl. It was the highest percentage rise for a front-month contract in U.S. crude since July 29. ICE Brent for March delivery closed up by $2.03, or 3.4%, at $61.99. RBOB futures for February climbed by $0.0738 to $1.7929 gallon while the front-month ULSD for February advanced by $0.07473 to $2.1314.
Oil Prices Climb as Geopolitical Risk Rises Rapidly | OilPrice.com -Oil prices continued to climb in early Asian trade on Friday morning after posting a sharp increase on Thursday, with the market again pricing in geopolitical risk across multiple key producers and shipping routes.At the time of writing, West Texas Intermediate was trading around $58.27 per barrel, up by 0.85% or $0.49. On Thursday, both WTI and Brent climbed by over 3%, with Brent on the brink of breaking the $62 mark. Venezuela remained a major driver of the risk premium after the U.S. escalated enforcement against sanctioned flows by seizing two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Atlantic on Wednesday, including one sailing under Russia’s flag, amid an intensifying push to constrain Venezuelan crude movements. One of those seizures was of a Venezuela-linked tanker that had been renamed and registered under a Russian flag after a weeks-long pursuit across the Atlantic. The willingness of the Trump administration to board a tanker under the apparent protection of Russia was a clear warning for the shadow fleet being used to avoid sanctions.Meanwhile, the risk of a major supply shock related to Iran is climbing as protests swept the country, leading to a nationwide internet blackout. President Trump's earlier threat to come to the rescue of any peaceful protesters killed by the Iranian regime adds to concerns in oil markets that these protests could result in direct action by the U.S. in Iran.Developments in Iran's neighbor, Iraq, added to the broader geopolitical support for crude, as the cabinet approved plans to nationalize operations at the giant West Qurna 2 oilfield to avert potential disruptions linked to U.S. sanctions on Russian stakeholder Lukoil. While that won't lead to an immediate export outage, the prospect of operational or contractual instability at one of the world’s largest oilfields is adding to supply uncertainty.Finally, a Russia-bound oil tanker was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea, prompting a request for Turkish Coast Guard assistance and a course diversion. While no party has claimed responsibility for the attack, it does highlight further instability in the region and a broader threat to oil flows.Geopolitical risk risen rapidly at the start of the year and, even in a heavily oversupplied market, is pushing prices higher on concerns of a significant supply disruption.
Oil prices gain on concerns about supply disruptions in Venezuela, Iran - Oil prices rose for a second day on Friday, set for their third weekly gain, on uncertainty about the future of supply from Venezuela and as Iranian unrest increases concerns about output there. Brent futures rose 40 cents, or 0.7%, to $62.39 per barrel at 0400 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 35 cents, or 0.6%, to $58.11. Both benchmark prices climbed more than 3% on Thursday, following two straight days of declines, and Brent is set to climb 2.7% for the week, while WTI has gained 1.4% for the week. "Bottlenecks in the flow of sanctioned barrels and steady demand signals appear to counter the backdrop of an oversupplied 2026, at least for now," said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova. "Escalation in geopolitical stress adds to the current momentum in oil prices." Prices have gained following U.S. President Donald Trump's seizure of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro last week and his claims the U.S. will control the South American country's oil sector. Civil unrest in major Middle Eastern producer Iran and concerns about the spread of the Russia-Ukraine war to target Russian oil exports have also increased supply concerns. "The price surge has been primarily due to Trump's claim to control Venezuela's oil export, which could see a price increase from previously discounted sales," said Tina Teng, market strategist at Moomoo ANZ. Oil major Chevron Corp, global trading houses Vitol and Trafigura, and other firms are competing for U.S. government deals to export crude oil from Venezuela, according to sources familiar with the matter. Trump has demanded that Venezuela give the U.S. full access to its oil sector just days after it captured Maduro on Saturday. U.S. officials have said Washington will control the country's oil sales and revenues indefinitely. The companies are contesting initial deals to market the up to 50 million barrels of oil that state-run oil company PDVSA has accumulated in inventories amid a severe oil embargo that has involved four tanker seizures, two of the sources said. "The market will focus on the outcome in the coming days for how the Venezuelan oil in storage will be sold and delivered. Oversupply concerns could remain a concern if there is no limitation on sales," said Teng. Oil prices surged after several subdued days, partly correcting earlier neglect of geopolitical risks, Haitong Futures said in a report on Friday. A nationwide internet blackout was reported in Iran on Thursday, internet monitoring group NetBlocks said, as protests in the capital Tehran and the major cities of Mashhad and Isfahan and other areas around the country over economic hardships continued. Still, global inventories are rising, and oversupply remains the main driver that could cap the gain, Haitong Futures said. Unless risks around Iran escalate, the rebound is likely limited and hard to sustain, Haitong Futures added.
Oil jumps more than 2% to post third weekly gain amid Venezuela and Iran supply risks -Oil prices jumped by more than 2 per cent on Friday and posted a third consecutive weekly gain as tensions in major Opec members Venezuela and Iran stoked supply concerns. Crude, which rallied 3 per cent at the close on Thursday, extended gains because of risks associated with US President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs of 500 per cent on countries that buy Russian oil, seeking to break the deadlock in Moscow's peace talks with Ukraine. Brent, the benchmark for two thirds of the world's oil, gained 2.18 per cent to settle at $63.34 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate, the gauge that tracks US crude, added 2.35 per cent to close at $59.12 per barrel. From last Friday’s close, Brent and WTI rose more than 4 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively. Crude prices fell about 20 per cent in 2025 as geopolitical and economic pressures affected markets. Venezuelan gold rush The US is considering more action against Venezuela, following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro on January 3. He has appeared in federal court in New York to face charges including drug trafficking. After taking over Venezuelan oil assets, the US plans to sell 30 million to 50 million barrels of crude worth $2 billion in the markets. Mr Trump also plans to hold talks with American oil companies, which have been encouraged to enter Venezuela and develop its oil reserves – the largest in the world. Relations between the Trump administration and Venezuela’s political and military leaders are critical variables that will determine the course of matters such as oil, said Jim Burkhard, vice president for oil markets at S&P Global. But he does not expect the developments in Venezuela to alter S&P Global's view of a 1.4 million barrel per day global crude stock build in the first quarter of 2026. "There is risk relative to our outlook in the near term, both to the upside [up 200,000 bpd] and downside [down 350,000 bpd] in terms of production and exports, but not enough either way to significantly alter the global oil balance in the first quarter," Mr Burkhard said. The White House intends to keep sanctions on Venezuelan oil in place as influence against the country's interim leadership. But the easing of sanctions would only allow Venezuelan crude production to return to its previous 1.1 million bpd level, analysts at London market intelligence firm Energy Aspects said. Chevron, the only US oil company currently operating in Venezuela, and major trading houses Trafigura and Vitol are among the organisations reportedly competing to secure deals from Washington to export oil from Venezuela. "Traders are closely watching for the potential impact of regime change on Venezuela’s oil production, reflecting hopes for a swift upswing ... however, excitement about a rapid rebound in Venezuelan oil output risks putting the cart before the horse," Energy Aspects said. "Even with Mr Maduro gone, the path to recovery will be uneven. If Mr Trump is satisfied with how Venezuela acts over the next few weeks or months, he may start to reshape oil sanctions." In Iran, protests over economic woes entered a 13th day on Friday amid a nationwide internet blackout, further increasing supply concerns. Iran is the world's seventh largest producer of crude. Markets are also keeping an eye on the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy direction this year. Mr Trump has pushed for lower interest rates, arguing it would help to boost the world's largest economy. The Fed's decisions remain a critical macro driver for oil markets in 2026, primarily through its influence on economic growth, inflation expectations, the strength of the US dollar and broader risk sentiment, said Yousef Alshammari, president of the London College of Energy Economics. "Markets and many economists price in more easing ... potentially starting as early as March or June, driven by labour market softness and political pressures, which could weaken the dollar [and be a] modest upside for Brent and WTI," he said.
At Least 80 Separatists Killed as Saudi-Backed Forces Retake South Yemen Cities - The situation in southern Yemen seems to be coming to a head once again, with the Saudi-backed “National Resistance Forces” entering into direct conflict with the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group that controls an ever-growing amount of Yemen’s south.The STC grew out of long-standing secessionist ambitions in southern Yemen, which was merged into North Yemen in 1990. When Saudi Arabia invaded Yemen in 2015, the STC pretty quickly emerged and started contesting control of the southern part of the country, which was effectively all the Saudis ever managed to control to begin with.As it stands, the STC controlled almost all of what was once South Yemen, while the Saudi faction, which styles itself the real government of Yemen, controlled only a portion of Yemen’s western coast. The Shi’ite Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, control Yemen’s capital city and a large portion of what used to be North Yemen, an area where most of Yemen’s population lives.This came to another head with recent fighting between the Saudi-backed faction and the STC, leading the STC to declare their intention to hold a referendum on independence from Yemen, and a warning that if fighting continued they’d eschew the referendum for a unilateral declaration of independence. Fighting hasn’t stopped, and between heavy airstrikes and ground conflicts, at least 80 STC fighters have been reported killed since Friday, with over 150 wounded and another 130 captured by the Saudis and their affiliate forces.The Saudi-backed faction claims that all the facilities in the key port city of Mukallah have been retaken and are under their control now. Mukallah is the capital of the key southeastern Hadhramaut Governorate, which extends north into the mountains along the Saudi border.The claim extended later to say that the Saudi-backed forces control all the districts within Hadhramaut Governorate, and that they had further retaken all of the al-Mahra Governorate. Mahra is the relatively sparsely populated easternmost part of Yemen, along the Oman border. Territorily, that’s a substantial amount of southern Yemen that has changed hands in the offensive. Hadhramaut is considered far more important because of the natural resources within the mountainous north, though Mukallah is also an import port.The STC retains South Yemen’s largest city, Aden, however, and while this was a relatively high-profile loss in the decade of historical clashes between UAE-backed and Saudi-backed forces over control of South Yemen, it’s unlikely that the fighting of the last few days is anything like a decisive battle.
Saudis Launch New Strikes on South Yemen as Separatist Delegation ‘Disappears’ in Riyadh - Fighting between UAE-backed separatists and Saudi-backed forces in Southern Yemen seem to be further escalating today, with Saudi-brokered peace talks seemingly in ruins and Saudi forces carrying out heavy airstrikes against the separatist STC’s positions.Indications are that the talks never actually got a chance to begin. The STC sent a delegation of some 50 people to Riyadh for the talks, and after their plane was delayed for three hours they arrived, were ushered onto a bus by Saudi officials, and were never seen again. The STC is reporting that they have had no contact with their delegation since they were put on the bus, and all their phones were switched off. At the same time, Saudi warplanes started bombing the STC again, at the time when talks were nominally meant to just be getting underway. The Yemeni “government,” which is a Saudi-backed faction that controls little of Yemen’s actual territory, used this opportunity to oust the STC entirely from their coalition government, and accused top STC leader Aidrous al-Zubaidi of fleeing rather than going to Riyadh as ordered. It’s not clear what Zubaidi’s status is, but if he indeed didn’t go to Riyadh, that suggests that he’s still present within Yemen and not simply disappeared. Given what apparently happened to the rest of the delegation, it might well have been prudent for him to not attend.Forces loyal to the “government” officials attacked more STC targets in the interim capital city of Aden. This included the airport and the presidential palace. Pro-Saudi forces also claimed the easternmost governorates of Hadhramaut and al-Mahra in offensives over the weekend, killing at least 80 STC fighters in the process.With heavy Saudi warplane backing, the goal seems to be to prop up a non-separatist force with meaningful territory in south Yemen, though the Saudis have been trying to do this for over a decade with only intermittent success, and styling their faction as anything resembling the rightful government of Yemen means little in practice for a country that’s been torn apart and which they haven’t controlled significant territory within for years.
Yemen Separatist Leader Flees to UAE; Saudis Declares Him a ‘Fugitive’ - Adding to questions about the situation in southern Yemen, STC President Aidarous Zubaidi hasreportedly fled the country and arrived in the United Arab Emirates. The Saudi military accused the UAE of smuggling him out of the country by way of Somaliland.The separatist STC movement has been seeking to reassert South Yemen as an independent country for years, and Saudi-backed forces attacked them over the weekend, reclaiming territory in the country’s southeast, leading the Saudis to offer to host negotiations between the two sides in Riyadh. Talks were agreed to, and an STC delegation departed for Riyadh early morning Wednesday.That’s where things get strange, as after a flight delay, the STC negotiating team went to Riyadh, was loaded into a bus by Saudi officials, and promptly disappeared. The STC officials who remained in Yemen said they had lost all contact with them, though by Thursday morning, some media were reporting the Saudis were holding talks with the delegation.While this was going on, Saudi forces attacked the Dhale Governorate and the city of Aden, and the Saudi-backed government expelled STC from their coalition government while Saudi warplanes were pounding the country. Zubaidi apparently made his way out of the country, to Somaliland and later to Mogadishu, where he was flown to Abu Dhabi. The Saudis are now calling him a “fugitive” and claiming he committed “high treason” against the government which the Saudis have been propping up for 15 years, but which until the weekend didn’t control much of any territory.The government now claims to control Aden, after the fighting, though the STC has claimed to retake the al-Mahra Governorate from them, and the odds of anything being resolved by the Riyadh talks that may or may not be happening seems uncertain, at best. Southern Yemen seems, as ever, in a state of uncertainty, with multiple rival factions vying for control.
Israeli Officials Use US Venezuela Attack To Threaten Iran - Former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who now leads the opposition in the Knesset, used the US attack on Venezuela to issue a threat to Iran, as the US and Israel are moving toward another war against the Islamic Republic.“The regime in Iran should pay close attention to what is happening in Venezuela,” Lapid wrote on X after the US bombed Caracas and abducted President Nicolas Maduro. Amichai Chikli, Israel’s diaspora minister, said that the attack delivered a blow to the “global axis of evil” and sent a “clear message” to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The US assault on Caracas came after President Trump appeared to threaten war with Iran over the protests taking place inside the country.“If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, responded to Trump’s threat by warning that if the US attacks, US troops in the region would be targeted.“Moreover, the disrespectful President of America should also know that with this official admission, all American centers and forces across the entire region will be legitimate targets for us in response to any potential adventurism; Iranians have always been united and determined to act in the face of an aggressor enemy,” Ghalibaf wrote on X.
Israeli Minister: Gaza Is 'Ours,' Palestinians Are Just 'Guests' Who Will Leave - Miki Zohar, Israel’s culture minister and member of the ruling Likud party, has claimed Gaza belongs to Israel and referred to the Palestinians who live there as “guests” who will one day leave.Zohar made the comments on Thursday when asked about his decision to cut government funding to an Israeli film award that went to “The Sea,” a move that depicts a Palestinian boy from the Israeli-occupied West Bank being denied an entry permit to visit the beach in Israel.When pressed about why he opposed a movie that depicts the reality of the Israeli occupation, Zohar denied there was an occupation at all and claimed Israel had the right to Gaza and the West Bank, which he referred to as Judea and Samaria. “Judea and Samaria are ours,” Zohar said. “Gaza is also ours. We’re just letting them stay there as guests until a certain point, but Gaza is ours.”Other Israeli officials have expressed similar sentiments after Israel and Hamas signed a US-backed Gaza ceasefire deal, which the IDF continues to violate by launching attacks against Palestinians and conducting daily military operations.Just a few days after the US-backed deal was signed, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrichvowed there “will be Jewish settlements” in Gaza. “So, we have patience, but we have determination, and faith, and with God’s help, we will continue the series of victories, and the big miracles,” he said.More recently, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli occupation of Gaza will be permanent and suggested Israel will establish a type of settlement that is established by IDF soldiers.“We are deep inside Gaza and will never leave all of Gaza – that will not happen. We are here to defend and to prevent what happened,” Katz said last month. “With God’s help, when the time comes, also in northern Gaza, we will establish Nahal pioneer groups in place of the settlements that were evacuated.”
Netanyahu: Gaza Border Crossing with Egypt Will Remain Closed Until Hamas Returns Final Hostage - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas must release the body of the final Israeli hostage before he allows aid to enter Gaza from Egypt. On Tuesday, the Israeli broadcast Kan News reports that Netanyahu received approval from President Donald Trump to keep the Rafah crossing closed until the remains of Sgt. Maj. Ran Gvili are returned to Israel. According to Itzik Gvili, Ran’s father, President Trump said that reconstruction of Gaza would not begin until his son’s body is returned to Israel. In October, Hamas and Tel Aviv agreed to a ceasefire and hostage exchange that was intended to bring an end to the Israeli onslaught in Gaza. Hamas freed the 20 living Israeli hostages and returned the bodies of 27 of the 28 deceased captives. Finding some of the bodies is a difficult task as they are buried under the rubble of Gaza and the exact location of the remains may not be known. While Hamas has largely complied with the agreement, Israel has violated the truce daily. On Tuesday, Mosab Abu Toha reported a 14-year-old Palestinian boy, Hamad al-Fajim, was killed by an Israeli tank shell in Khan Younis. Additionally, Israel continues to restrict aid deliveries in Gaza. The Rafah crossing could provide a key lifeline of aid for the hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians suffering from a lack of food, shelter, clean water, and medical care.
Internet and phones cut in Iran as protesters heed exiled prince’s call for mass demonstration (AP) — Iran’s government cut off the country from the internet and international telephone calls Thursday night as a nighttime demonstration called by the country’s exiled crown prince drew a mass of protesters to shout from their windows and storm the streets. The protest that went on into Friday morning represented the first test of whether the Iranian public could be swayed by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whose fatally ill father fled Iran just before the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Demonstrations have included cries in support of the shah, something that could bring a death sentence in the past but now underlines the anger fueling the protests that began over Iran’s ailing economy. The demonstrations that have popped up in cities and rural towns across Iran continued Thursday. More markets and bazaars shut down in support of the protesters. So far, violence around the demonstrations has killed at least 42 people while more than 2,270 others have been detained, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The growth of the protests increases the pressure on Iran’s civilian government and its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. CloudFlare, an internet firm, and the advocacy group NetBlocks reported the internet outage, both attributing it to Iranian government interference. Attempts to dial landlines and mobile phones from Dubai to Iran could not be connected. Such outages have in the past been followed by intense government crackdowns. Iranian state television’s 24-hour news channel did not acknowledge the internet outage that cut the nation over 85 million people off from the world, highlighting instead food subsidies in their 7 a.m. Friday broadcast. Meanwhile, the protests themselves have remained broadly leaderless. It remains unclear how Pahlavi’s call will affect the demonstrations moving forward. “The lack of a viable alternative has undermined past protests in Iran,” “There may be a thousand Iranian dissident activists who, given a chance, could emerge as respected statesmen, as labor leader Lech Wałęsa did in Poland at the end of the Cold War. But so far, the Iranian security apparatus has arrested, persecuted and exiled all of the country’s potential transformational leaders.”
Iran protests catch fire as Trump, Khamenei escalate war of words- President Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are escalating a war of words as the Islamic Republic cracks down on mass protests that saw buildings set on fire in cities across the country overnight Friday. Khamenei claimed Friday that nearly two weeks of protests amounted to rioters and “hirelings” acting on Trump’s behalf, in a barrage of social media posts that largely took aim at the U.S. president for his repeated threats to intervene militarily in Iran to protect demonstrators. “The US President who judges arrogantly about the whole world should know that tyrants & arrogant rulers of the world, such as Pharaoh, Nimrod, Mohammad Reza [Pahlavi] & other such rulers saw their downfall when they were at the peak of their hubris. He too will fall,” read a Friday post on Khamenei’s account on social platform X. Later in the day, Trump repeated warnings that he is prepared to strike against Iran if protesters are killed. The threats come as Trump has reveled in the military successes in capturing Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, Christmas strikes in Nigeria, and attacks on Iranian nuclear sites in June. “Iran’s in big trouble. … I’ve made the statement very strongly that if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved; we’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts,” Trump said Friday from the White House. “That doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very hard where it hurts. We don’t want that to happen.” Human rights groups have said that dozens of protesters have been killed since demonstrations first began Dec. 28, sparked by economic grievances but that have exploded into mass discontent with the regime. “The regime has likely determined that these protests represent an extremely dire security threat and has intensified its crackdown accordingly,” the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based public policy research organization, wrote in an analysis published Thursday. The regime has deployed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ground forces in at least one province and possibly others, the institute wrote, describing the move as a “rare step.” “Protest activity in Iran has expanded dramatically in both rate and magnitude since January 7, including in major cities like Tehran and in northwestern Iran,” the institute wrote, recording 156 protests across 27 provinces. Trump’s remarks on the unrest can provide “wind beneath the wings of Iranian protesters,” said Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank. But he warned that Trump’s characterization of protesters as “rioters” and claims of protesters killed in “stampedes” risks legitimizing the Iranian regime’s crackdown. “That’s the way the regime tries to cast anyone with a political grievance is that it turns out they’re all rioters and thugs. This is classic Khamenei and it would be a mistake for the West to fall into that rhetorical trap,” he said. The Iranian government shut down the internet Thursday, with internet monitor NetBlocks recording the digital blackout for at least 24 hours.
Russia Repeats Long-Standing Objection To Any Deal That Puts NATO Troops in Ukraine - The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday repeated its long-standing objection to troops from NATO countries deploying to Ukrainian territory as part of a potential future peace deal, as Ukraine and its Western backers continue to push the idea. “The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that the deployment of military units, military facilities, warehouses, and other infrastructure of Western countries on Ukrainian territory will be classified as foreign intervention, posing a direct threat to the security of not only Russia but also other European countries,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. “All such units and facilities will be considered legitimate combat targets of the Russian Armed Forces,” Zakharova added. Her statement came after the UK and France signed a “declaration of intent”committing to lead a troop deployment to Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the declaration “paves the way for the legal framework, under which British, French and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil,” though the document is lacking in details on what the force would actually look like.
Russia says it used new Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine -- Russia said Friday it has used the new Oreshnik ballistic missile along with other weapons in a massive strike on Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said four people were killed and at least 22 wounded in the capital overnight. Russia didn’t say where Oreshnik hit, but Russian media and military bloggers said it targeted a huge underground natural gas storage facility in Ukraine’s western Lviv region. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia attacked Ukraine with 242 drones and a combination of 36 missiles. It said one medium-range ballistic missile was used, but did not specify this as the Oreshnik. It said this missile was launched from the Kasputin Yar test site in Russia’s Astrakhan region, believed to be the site of the Oreshnik missile launcher. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the attack was a retaliation to what Moscow said was a Ukrainian drone strike on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence last month. Both Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump have rejected the Russian claim of the attack on Putin’s residence. The attack comes amid a new chill in relations between Moscow and Washington after Russia condemned the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker in the North Atlantic. It also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled he is on board with a hard-hitting sanctions package meant to economically cripple Moscow.
Putin sends warning to Ukraine and West with weapon not used since 2024 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin's launch of an Oreshnik hypersonic missile appears aimed at intimidating Ukraine and sending a signal of Russian military might to Europe and the United States at a crucial juncture in talks to end the war. Putin has repeatedly boasted of the speed and destructive power of the Oreshnik, which Russia first fired at Ukraine in November 2024. Since then, it has kept the weapon in reserve. The overnight Oreshnik strike in western Ukraine came after a week of setbacks for Russia. On Saturday, President Donald Trump sent U.S. special forces to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a close Putin ally, and on Wednesday U.S. forces seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the north Atlantic. On Tuesday, Britain and France announced plans to deploy troops in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire - prompting Moscow to respond that it would view foreign soldiers as legitimate combat targets. Gerhard Mangott, a Russia specialist at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, said Moscow was frustrated at being sidelined during weeks of diplomacy between the U.S., Ukraine and the Europeans, and "particularly mad" about the planned potential troop deployment by Kyiv's European allies. The use of the Oreshnik should be seen in that context, he said. "It's a signal to the United States and the Europeans about the military capabilities of the Russian army," Mangott said in a telephone interview. He said Moscow wanted to convey that "Russia is to be taken seriously, given its military arsenal, and that the Europeans and Trump should return to a minimum of respect for the Russian position in the negotiations." The Oreshnik is capable of carrying nuclear as well as conventional warheads, although there was no suggestion of any nuclear component to the latest attack. A senior Ukrainian official told Reuters that the missile struck a state enterprise in the western city of Lviv and was likely carrying inert or "dummy" warheads - as in 2024, when Russia first fired it to test the weapon in war. "It does appear that at this point Russia is using Oreshnik for signaling purposes, so the destruction is not necessarily the goal," Pavel Podvig, director of the Russian Nuclear Forces Project, told Reuters when asked if the use of dummy warheads would diminish the capacity of Moscow's action to intimidate Ukraine and its allies. "It's probably a general signal of resolve to escalate. My guess is that it will be read this way by the West," he said. Western reaction to the attack, around 60 km (40 miles) from Ukraine's border with NATO member Poland, was swift. The leaders of Britain, France and Germany called it "escalatory and unacceptable". European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said it was "a clear escalation against Ukraine and meant as a warning to Europe and to the U.S.". Russia specialist Mangott was sceptical about the official statement from Russia's Defence Ministry that the Oreshnik launch was in response to an alleged Ukraine drone strike targeting one of Putin's residences, in the northern region of Novgorod, late last month. Ukraine has denied any such attack took place, accusing Moscow of lying about it in order to derail peace talks. Several high-profile Russian war bloggers also criticised the official framing of the strike as a revenge attack. One, Yuri Baranchik, suggested it would have "looked more convincing" if Moscow had fired the missile at President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's bunker in Kyiv. Mick Ryan, an Australian military expert, linked the weapon's use to Russia's recent setbacks, especially over Venezuela. He said the point was "to demonstrate that Russia remains a nuclear-armed world power. In this guise, it is a psychological weapon – an instrument of Putin’s cognitive war against Ukraine and the West – rather than a weapon of mass physical destruction." Russian arch-hawk Dmitry Medvedev, a former president who is now deputy chairman of Putin's Security Council, alluded in a social media post to the capture of Maduro, the oil tanker seizure by the U.S. and the possibility of further U.S. sanctions against Russia, which he said had made for a "stormy" start to the year. In comments highly critical of Washington, he said international relations had descended into a madhouse and compared the Oreshnik strike to "a life-saving injection of haloperidol", an anti-psychotic drug. Prominent Russian war blogger Fighterbomber, a former military serviceman, said he thought the use of the Oreshnik was a display of power to convey a message and that Moscow would not be resorting to it often. He noted that some Oreshnik systems had been transferred to Belarus and that Russia would have some of its own in reserve, but suggested that there was not an endless supply of the relatively new missile. "Taking all these constants into account, we can assume that we can afford to conduct such demonstrations two or three times a year," he wrote. He expressed hope that no further launches would be needed for now, concluding: "The signals have been sent and they have been heard."
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