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8:45 AM ET, January 4, 2026

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
Wall Street Journal:
After Maduro Ouster, Trump Takes On the Risks of Governing Venezuela  —  The administration is racing to get an interim government in place, even as pushback from Maduro's allies raise fears of instability  —  With Nicolás Maduro out of power, the Trump administration is racing …
RELATED:
Max Tani / Semafor:
News organizations held off on reporting Venezuela raid  —  The Scoop  —  The New York Times and Washington Post learned of a secret US raid on Venezuela soon before it was scheduled to begin Friday night — but held off publishing what they knew to avoid endangering US troops …
Politico:
Trump admin sends tough private message to oil companies on Venezuela … But people in the industry said the administration's message has left them still leery about the difficulty of rebuilding decayed oil fields in a country where it's not even clear who will lead the country for the foreseeable future.
New York Times:
Mamdani Called Trump to Criticize Venezuela Strikes  —  Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York accused President Trump of violating international law.  It was the first time he had criticized the president since their White House meeting.  —  Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York City …
Wall Street Journal:
Trump Wants to Unlock Venezuela's Oil Reserves.  A Huge Challenge Awaits.  —  The president wants to put Venezuela's viscous crude into play.  The problem is the world doesn't have much appetite for more oil.  —  Click for Sound  —  For months, the U.S. sold its pressure campaign …
Isaac Chotiner / New Yorker:
The Brazen Illegality of Trump's Venezuela Operation  —  A scholar of international law on the implications of the U.S. arrest of President Nicolás Maduro.  —  On Saturday morning, President Donald Trump announced that the United States military, working with American law-enforcement officials …
New York Times:
How Trump Fixed On a Maduro Loyalist as Venezuela's New Leader  —  Nicolás Maduro balked at a gilded exile.  U.S. officials then saw a more pliant option in his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, known for stabilizing Venezuela's economy.  —  It was one dance move too many for Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro.
Steve Kopack / NBC News:
U.S. will look to tap Venezuelan oil reserves, Trump says  —  President Donald Trump said U.S. oil companies will invest billions to upgrade the country's aging oil infrastructure.  —  President Donald Trump said Saturday that the removal of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro from power …
Jack Nicas / New York Times:
Venezuela's Interim Leader Defies Trump and Calls Maduro the ‘Only President’  —  President Trump said that Venezuela's new leader, Delcy Rodríguez, would help the United States run Venezuela.  She quickly said the opposite.  —  President Trump said Delcy Rodríguez was sworn …
Foreign Affairs:
Venezuela After Maduro
Discussion: THISDAYLIVE
Ryan Mancini / The Hill:
Washington Post editorial board backs Maduro capture, Venezuela strikes
Donica Phifer / Axios:
Venezuela's VP throws cold water on Trump's solution for running the country
NBC News:
Some lawmakers criticize Trump's attack in Venezuela, fearing a costly new war
Andrew Solender / Axios:
Furious Dems float retaliation over Trump's “insane” Venezuela attack
Andrew Childers / Axios:
After capturing Maduro, Trump ramps up pressure on Mexico
James Fallows / Breaking the News:   ‘Blind Into Caracas’  —  Less than 24 hours in, members of the Trump team are celebrating victory.
New York Times:   In Toppling Maduro, Trump Risks Blowback from ‘America First’ Base
Melissa Goldin / Associated Press:   FACT FOCUS: Trump repeats false claims as he discusses US raid to extract Venezuela's president
Nick Taylor-Vaisey / Politico:
Mark Carney urges Venezuelan-led transition following Maduro's capture
Discussion: Bloomberg and Breitbart
Derek Wallbank / Bloomberg:
Maduro Captured, Indicted After US Airstrikes on Venezuela
Washington Post:
Justice in Venezuela  —  The next challenge is setting the country up for long-term success.
NPR:
Trump says U.S. will ‘run’ Venezuela and sell seized oil in remarks on the strikes
Jill Lawless / Associated Press:
What we know about a US strike that captured Venezuela's Maduro
Jack Goldsmith / Executive Functions:
On the Legality of the Venezuela Invasion  —  Executive branch precedents can be garnered to support the action—which does not, of course, mean that it is lawful.  —  Please click here to opt in to receive via email our Roundup—brief daily summaries of news developments and commentary related to executive power.
Discussion: Reason, Law Dork and New York Post
RELATED:
Matt Ortega / Matt Ortega for Congress:
Statement on Illegal U.S. Strike on Venezuela  —  Matt Ortega, Democratic candidate for California's 14th Congressional District, issued the following statement on the illegal strike against Venezuela:  —  The president's imperialist actions in Venezuela are illegal under U.S. and international law.
RELATED:
Brian Schwartz / Wall Street Journal:
Finance Industry Eyes Investment Opportunities in Venezuela
Discussion: Business Insider
Nathaniel Weixel / The Hill:
HHS escalates Minnesota fraud fight, prompting fear among daycare providers  —  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is escalating the Trump administration's attacks on Minnesota by freezing all federal funding to the state's childcare providers.
Discussion: Fox News
Reuters:
Spain ‘strongly condemns’ violation of international law in Venezuela, PM says  —  Spain condemned what it called a violation of international law in Venezuela, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote in a letter sent to members of his Socialist Party on Sunday after U.S. President Donald Trump's raid to capture Nicolas Maduro.
Discussion: The Hill
Josephine Walker / Axios:
Maduro likely headed for “inhumane” jail that housed Ghislaine Maxwell … The center is also notoriously decrepit, unsanitary and unsafe. … - “They'll be heading to, ultimately, New York, and then a decision will be made, I assume, between New York and Miami or Florida.”
Discussion: Washington Examiner and Fox News
Paul Rosenzweig / The Atlantic:
What Role Does ‘Wrath’ Play in American Justice?  —  Attorney General Pam Bondi transgresses basic principles of criminal law.  —  Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been forcibly taken from Venezuela and are being moved to the United States to face criminal drug-trafficking charges.
Discussion: Associated Press
Constant Méheut / New York Times:
Ukrainian Politics Has Reawakened.  Zelensky Must Tread Carefully.  —  The Ukrainian leader is reshuffling his cabinet as a corruption scandal reshapes the political landscape at a pivotal point in peace negotiations.  —  For several weeks, with peace talks at a critical moment, Ukraine faced a power vacuum.
Discussion: Politico and France 24
Anvee Bhutani / Wall Street Journal:
Democrats Face Steep Climb to Reclaim Senate in 2026 Races  —  Strong map for Republicans leaves Democrats focusing on a narrow set of battlegrounds  —  WASHINGTON—Democrats enter the 2026 midterm campaigns hoping history is on their side, but confronting a Senate map that is not.
Discussion: New York Post
 
 
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 More Items: 
Politico:
The text of Trump's October deal with Xi Jinping is still MIA
 Earlier Items: 
The Hill:
Maduro, wife face new indictment: What we know about the case
 

 
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