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Friday, January 16, 2026

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December 1, 2025
Health
News

White House Discloses Details of Trump’s MRI.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The White House released details regarding President Donald J. Trump’s recent MRI, describing the results as “perfectly normal.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump and Physician to the President Sean P. Barbabella.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Details were released on Monday, December 1, 2025, by the White House.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The findings confirm that Trump remains in excellent overall health.” – Sean P. Barbabella

🎯IMPACT: The report highlighted the President’s continued good health following advanced imaging tests.

IN FULL

Details regarding President Donald J. Trump‘s recent MRI were released by the White House on Monday afternoon. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the results of the scan as being “perfectly normal” and simply part of a routine physical. According to a summary provided by Physician to the President Sean P. Barbabella, the MRI was ordered merely as a precautionary scan.

“Men in his age group benefit from a thorough evaluation of cardiovascular and abdominal health,” Barbabella wrote in a statement read by Leavitt during Monday’s White House press briefing. The Physician to the President added that “this level of detailed assessment is standard for an executive physical at President Trump’s age.”

Importantly, Barbabella’s report noted that the MRI scan revealed no evidence of arterial narrowing, inflammation, clotting, or abnormalities in the heart, major blood vessels, or any abdominal organs—with all appearing healthy and functioning within expected medical parameters. Barbabella concluded that the physical exam and MRI confirm that President Trump “remains in excellent overall health.”

The National Pulse reported earlier on Monday that President Trump personally cleared the release of the MRI results. “If they want to release it, it’s OK with me to release it. It’s perfect,” he said, speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday while addressing rumors pushed by the corporate media that the scan had been of his brain.

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24 minutes ago
Crime
News

Mexico Claims Successful Cartel Crackdown as Trump Threatens Intervention.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that efforts to combat cartels and migration are yielding “compelling results” amid U.S. pressure for tougher action and threats of military intervention on Mexican soil.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Mexican Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Statements were made during Sheinbaum’s press briefing on Friday, following a joint U.S.-Mexico call on Thursday and a phone conversation between Sheinbaum and Trump on Monday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There are very compelling results from the joint cooperation and the work that Mexico has been doing.” – Claudia Sheinbaum.

🎯IMPACT: The U.S. is working to address cartels and illegal immigration, but tensions with the Mexican government remain over sovereignty.

IN FULL

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum claimed her administration has made progress in combating organized crime and reducing northward illegal immigration during a press briefing on January 16, emphasizing cooperation with the United States. Her remarks come after President J. Donald Trump recently suggested taking direct action against Mexican cartels on Mexican soil, saying, “We’ve knocked out 97 percent of the drugs coming in by water. And we are going to start now hitting land, with regard to the cartels.”

Sheinbaum pointed to a reduction in homicides, decreased fentanyl seizures at the U.S. border, and a major methamphetamine seizure earlier in the week as evidence of progress. “There are very compelling results from the joint cooperation and the work that Mexico has been doing,” she said.

A joint statement issued Thursday night by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mexican Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente emphasized the need for further efforts to address shared security threats. The statement followed a phone call between Sheinbaum and Trump, which the Mexican president described as “very good.” She said Mexico’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity were respected” and added, “We told him, so far it’s going very well, it’s not necessary, and furthermore, there is Mexico’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and he understood.”

Sheinbaum also called on the United States to address its domestic drug consumption crisis and curb the flow of firearms into Mexico from the U.S. “The other side also has to do its part. This consumption crisis they have over there also has to be addressed from a public health perspective, through education campaigns,” she said.

Mexico has one of the strictest gun control regimes in the world, but officials say most weapons seized at crime scenes come from the United States, often through illegal purchases and smuggling. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed Mexico’s lawsuit seeking damages from U.S. gun companies, ruling that it did not meet the legal standards required under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

Tensions have also arisen over the U.S. designation of certain cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, which Mexico protested, warning that any action violating its territorial sovereignty would be unacceptable.

Image via Mexico City Government.

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1 hour ago
NatSec
Politics

A Gubernatorial Donation Is Raising More Concerns About This Dem Congressman’s Ties to China.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Eric Swalwell’s (D-CA) gubernatorial campaign received $9,999 from a California-based office of the DeHeng Law Offices, a firm with deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Eric Swalwell, DeHeng Law Offices, and Keliang “Clay” Zhu, a partner at the firm’s Silicon Valley office.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The donation was revealed in election filing earlier this week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Congressman Swalwell must finally stop playing footsie with America’s foremost adversary: Communist China.” – Michael Lucci, founder of the anti-CCP nonprofit group, State Armor Action

🎯IMPACT: The donation raises questions about foreign influence in U.S. politics and has prompted calls for campaign finance reform.

IN FULL

Representative Eric Swalwell‘s (D-CA) gubernatorial campaign recently received a $9,999 donation from the Pleasanton, California-based office of DeHeng Law Offices, according to a filing released this week. The law firm has deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), having been originally established as a subsidiary of the CCP’s Ministry of Justice in the early 1990s before rebranding as DeHeng Law Offices in 1995.

Keliang “Clay” Zhu, the sole partner at the firm’s Silicon Valley office, has a history of assisting Chinese state-owned enterprises in acquiring stakes in U.S. companies. Zhu’s bio highlights his role in facilitating over $9 billion in investments across sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), industrial automation, and biopharmaceuticals in the United States. He has also represented Chinese enterprises in negotiations with U.S. federal departments, including the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Treasury.

Michael Lucci—founder and CEO of State Armor Action, an anti-CCP nonprofit research group—criticized the donation and called for immediate reforms to campaign finance laws. “Congressman Swalwell must finally stop playing footsie with America’s foremost adversary: Communist China,” Lucci stated. He also urged Congress to define donations made on behalf of foreign adversaries as bribes and to impose criminal penalties on those involved.

DeHeng Law Offices is known for its longstanding cooperation with the Chinese government, including major state-owned enterprises and CCP departments. Several senior partners at the firm have direct ties to Chinese political organizations, such as the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which operates as a key mechanism for CCP influence and policy consultation.

Swalwell’s previous ties to China have also drawn scrutiny. He was romantically linked to Christine Fang (Fang Fang), a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, during his time in Congress. Although Swalwell claimed to have cut ties with Fang after being warned by U.S. intelligence, Republicans removed him from the House Intelligence Committee in 2023.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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2 hours ago
William Upton
NatSec

Trump Admin Considers Venezuelan Oil Swap to Fill Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is considering an agreement to exchange heavy Venezuelan oil for U.S. medium-sour crude to fill the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Department of Energy, President Donald J. Trump, U.S. oil companies, and Venezuela.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The proposal was first reported on Friday, January 16, 2026.

🎯IMPACT: The oil swap would be used to fill the SPR with ready-to-use American medium-sour crude while sending Venezuelan heavy crude to storage tanks in Louisiana, where it will later be refined for sale by U.S. oil companies.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is considering an agreement to exchange heavy Venezuelan oil for U.S. medium-sour crude. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the oil swap would be used to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) with ready-to-use American medium-sour crude while sending Venezuelan heavy crude to storage tanks in Louisiana, where it will later be refined for sale by U.S. oil companies.

Currently, Venezuela lacks the ability to refine much of its own oil due to its heavy, sour quality, which requires a specialized refining process. The United States, India, and China are among the few nations with refineries capable of processing Venezuela’s crude oil. Following the U.S. military operation ousting the South American country’s now former Marxist dictator, Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela has begun almost exclusively sending its oil to the United States.

In the past, SPR exchange programs have seen U.S. oil companies swap unrefined crude for refined petroleum products. However, under the current Trump administration proposal, the process would work essentially in the inverse. The former Biden government engaged in a substantial drain of the SPR in a bid to buy down gas prices ahead of the 2022 midterm elections and subsequently did little to refill the reserve—leaving the Trump administration to address a serious national security risk.

The National Pulse reported in June of last year that President Donald J. Trump’s Department of the Interior (DOI) released a draft analysis proposing reopening up to 82 percent of the 23-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) to oil and gas leasing. In 2022, the Biden government closed nearly half of the NPR-A to oil and gas drilling, reversing policies from the first Trump administration aimed at boosting energy development.

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2 hours ago
News

Trump Threatens Tariff Hike on Nations Opposing U.S. on Greenland.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump suggested imposing tariffs on countries that oppose his administration’s efforts to acquire Greenland.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and other leaders from Denmark and Greenland.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Comments were made during a rural health care roundtable on Friday, following meetings earlier in the week between U.S. and Danish officials.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security.” – President Trump

🎯IMPACT: Denmark and Greenland have rejected the acquisition, viewing it as a threat to NATO alliance integrity. Military exercises in Greenland have increased, and U.S.-Danish tensions remain high.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump stated on Friday that he is considering imposing tariffs on countries that oppose his administration’s plans to acquire Greenland. Speaking during a rural health care roundtable, he emphasized the importance of Greenland for U.S. national security, saying, “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security.” The America First leader did not specify a tariff rate during his remarks, although he had previously mentioned 25 percent tariffs in other contexts.

The comments follow a meeting earlier in the week between Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland. Denmark had requested the meeting to ease tensions over the U.S.’s interest in Greenland, but the rhetoric has continued. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen described the notion of disregarding Denmark’s territorial integrity as “totally unacceptable.”

Denmark has warned that a military takeover of Greenland would be considered a threat to NATO. Non-U.S. NATO countries have already begun deploying small numbers of troops to Greenland, ostensibly for military exercises, further escalating the situation.

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3 hours ago
News
War

Zelensky Announces State of Emergency as Grid Fails and Temperatures Plummet.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in its energy sector amid ongoing Russian attacks on power infrastructure, leaving many regions without electricity or heating during subzero winter conditions.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, and Russian forces targeting energy facilities.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The state of emergency was introduced on Wednesday, with the most severe impacts reported in Kiev, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkov, Odessa, and frontline towns.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There is not a single power plant left in Ukraine that the enemy has not attacked,” said Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal.

🎯IMPACT: Thousands of Ukrainians face harsh winter conditions without adequate heating or electricity, with aid groups warning of “severe consequences” for families unable to afford basic necessities.

IN FULL

Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in its energy sector as continued Russian strikes on power infrastructure have pushed the system to the brink during one of the coldest periods of winter. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal told parliament the situation is “very difficult,” saying there is “not a single power plant left in Ukraine that the enemy has not attacked.” He said winter preparations had failed in several regions, including Kiev, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkov, and Odessa, leaving thousands of households without reliable heat or electricity.

President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of deliberately exploiting extreme weather conditions, with temperatures dropping to around −20°C (-4°F), to intensify the impact of its attacks. “The consequences of Russian strikes and deteriorating weather conditions are severe,” Zelensky said. He explained that the state of emergency was introduced to give authorities “more options and flexibility” to manage the crisis, including importing electricity, expanding warming centres, and accelerating repairs.

Humanitarian organisations have warned that civilians are facing growing hardship as energy shortages combine with rising living costs. Jaime Wah, Deputy Head of Delegation in Ukraine for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said many families have exhausted their savings and are being forced to choose between basic necessities. “These are choices no one should make,” Wah said.

In Kiev, Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents who are able to leave the capital to do so in order to reduce pressure on strained services. At the same time, he rejected criticism from Zelensky over the city’s response to the crisis. Klitschko said heating had been restored to most affected apartment buildings and that support and warming centres were operating around the clock. “Such statements, first of all, undermine the dedicated work of thousands of people, professionals,” he complained on Telegram.

The energy emergency comes as fighting continues across the country, with Russia intensifying missile and drone attacks on major cities. On the diplomatic front, tensions remain high, with President Donald J. Trump recently accusing Zelensky of delaying peace talks, a claim the Ukrainian leader has rejected.

Ukraine has also denied Russian allegations of a drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence, calling them false and potentially aimed at justifying further escalation.

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4 hours ago
Crime

D.C. Public Transit System Reports Lowest Crime Rate in 25 Years Amid Trump’s National Guard Deployment.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which operates the Washington, D.C. area Metro subway and bus system, reported a significant drop in crime rates for 2025, reaching a 25-year low.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD), President Donald J. Trump, and National Guard troops.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The report was discussed at a board meeting on January 15, 2026, covering the year 2025.

🎯IMPACT: A crackdown on fare evasion and increased enforcement contributed to a safer Metro system, enabled in large part by President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which operates the Washington, D.C. area Metro subway and bus system, has announced that 2025 marked the lowest crime rate in over two decades. According to data from the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD), the subway system—which serves D.C., Maryland, and Virginia—saw a 35 percent drop across the board in violent crime and theft last year.

Notably, the dramatic fall in criminality on the Metro system comes as President Donald J. Trump deployed several thousand National Guard troops to the nation’s capital in a major crackdown on crime. These soldiers have been instrumental in deterring crime in high-traffic areas—including Metro stations—allowing Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the MTPD to focus on crime prevention in areas that previously lacked policing.

At a Thursday meeting of WMATA’s board of directors, MTPD chief Michael Anzallo explained that in 2025, transit police refocused and dedicated new resources to bus policing—an area that had been an ongoing problem for the transit system. Overall, crime on Metrobuses fell 37 percent, while Metrorail saw a 34 percent decline, and crime in Metro parking facilities fell 40 percent.

The decline in criminality on D.C.’s rail and bus system coincides with an overall decline in crime in the city during 2025—again largely attributed to President Trump’s National Guard deployment and crime crackdown. While WMATA’s crime rate has fallen, arrests on the transit system increased by five percent—likely due to increased police presence—and infraction tickets rose by 34 percent as WMATA ramped up fare evasion enforcement.

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4 hours ago
News

Water Recall Hits Six States After Black Substance Found in 40,000 Gallons.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. grocery and retail giant Meijer is recalling nearly 39,000 gallons of distilled water due to reports of a black foreign substance found in the containers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Meijer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and consumers in six Midwest states.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The recall was initiated in November 2025 and expanded in early 2026, affecting Meijer stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

🎯IMPACT: Consumers in affected states are urged to stop using the recalled water immediately and follow FDA guidance to avoid potential health risks.

IN FULL

Meijer has expanded its voluntary recall for nearly 39,000 gallons of distilled water after reports surfaced of a black foreign substance being found in the containers. The product in question, Meijer Steam Distilled Water, is sold in one-gallon red-capped containers and was recalled in November 2025.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the affected water jugs bear a best-by date of October 4, 2026, and lot code 39‑222 #3, with a UPC of 041250841197. The recall now impacts Meijer stores in six Midwest states, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. A total of 38,043 gallons of the product are covered under the recall.

The FDA has not yet classified the recall for health risk, as the exact source and composition of the black substance remain unidentified. However, the agency has urged consumers to stop using the water immediately. The FDA advises that customers either discard the product or return it to Meijer for a refund or replacement.

Distilled water is commonly used in CPAP machines, humidifiers, and sinus rinses due to its high purity, which helps prevent mineral buildup and reduces the risk of infection. It is also used in the preparation of infant formula to ensure the water is free of contaminants. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled water thus far.

Image by 42-BRT.

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5 hours ago
Immigration
NatSec

Biden Let in 36,000 Afghan Refugees Without IDs, Including at Least 50 Terrorists.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Senate hearing revealed that tens of thousands of Afghan refugees lacked key identification when entering the United States under a Joe Biden-era parole program.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Deputy Inspector General Craig Adelman, Republican and Democratic lawmakers, and so-called Afghan refugees.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The hearing took place on January 14, 2026, before the Senate Border Security and Immigration and Crime and Counterterrorism subcommittees.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There was missing information from the [Operation Allies Welcome] population, including first, last names, and date of birth… There was about 11,000 to 12,000 that did not know their date of birth.” — Craig Adelman

🎯IMPACT: Concerns have been raised about the safety and security of Americans due to flaws in the vetting process for Afghan refugees.

IN FULL

The Deputy Inspector General (IG) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told members of the U.S. Senate this week that thousands of Afghan evacuees were admitted to the United States without essential identification documents as part of the Biden government’s Operation Allies Welcome initiative. Craig Adelman, who serves as the deputy IG, stated that around 36,000 of these Afghans arrived without any form of identification, and between 11,000 and 12,000 claimed they could not even supply their date of birth.

Operation Allies Welcome began in 2021 and was designed to resettle Afghans who were believed to be allies of the U.S. after the American military pullout from Afghanistan. However, former President Joe Biden’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan resulted in a concerning number of alleged refugees entering the United States with little to no federal vetting, subsequently raising serious national security concerns.

“There was missing information from the [Operation Allies Welcome] population, including first, last names, and date of birth,” Adelman said on Wednesday, continuing, “There was about 11,000 to 12,000 that did not know their date of birth.”

Concerningly, Adelman told senators that his office found no evidence that the former Biden government conducted any systematic interviews or mental health screenings of refugees before allowing them into the United States. On November 26, 2025, an Afghan national who entered the United States under Biden’s special immigrant visa program (SIV) shot two National Guard soldiers near the White House, killing one.

Just days before, another Afghan national, who entered the country under Operation Allies Welcome, was arrested and federally charged with transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce. The incidents prompted the Trump administration to begin “actively re-examining” all Afghan nationals who entered the United States under former President Biden.

The hearing also saw lawmakers reveal that the former Biden government allowed at least 50 confirmed or suspected terrorists into the country.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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6 hours ago
William Upton
News

Stephen Miller’s Professor Says He Predicted Being #2 in a Trump White House… in 2003!?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A former Duke University professor claims that, in 2003, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was a student of his and accurately predicted that he would be the number two staffer in the White House and that the President would be Donald J. Trump in the next 15 years.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Stephen Miller, Professor H. E. (Hein) Goemans, and President Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The interview surfaced on social media on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I asked him in 2003 what he wanted to be when he grew up, and he said, ‘I want to be number two in the White House.’ And I said, ‘Oh, when do you want to achieve that?’ He says, ‘In the next fifteen years.'” — Prof. Goemans

🎯IMPACT: The fact that Miller is the number two White House staffer and that the President is Donald Trump proves incredible prescience.

IN FULL

A former Duke University professor claims that, in 2003, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was a student of his and accurately predicted that he would be the number two staffer in the White House and that the president would be Donald J. Trump in the next 15 years.

“I asked him in 2003 what he wanted to be when he grew up,” Professor H. E. (Hein) Goemans—who now teaches at the University of Rochester—said in a recent radio interview, continuing, “And he said, ‘I want to be number two in the White House.’ And I said, ‘Oh, when do you want to achieve that?’ He says, ‘In the next fifteen years.'”

“I said, ‘Wow, okay, but who would be the president?’ In 2003. And he said, ‘Donald Trump, maybe,'” Prof. Goemans stated, to the astonishment of the host. The professor added, “The guy is very smart,” while noting the conversation took place “at Duke, in PoliSci 122.”


Shortly after President Trump’s landslide 2024 election victory, Miller was named White House Deputy Chief of Staff, subordinate only to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. In this role, Miller oversees a significant portion of U.S. public policy—especially the administration’s enforcement of federal immigration laws and certain national security issues.

He also served as U.S. Homeland Security Advisor.

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6 hours ago
World

CIA Director Holds Talks With Venezuelan Interim Leader.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe met with interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas to discuss economic cooperation and efforts to combat drug trafficking.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: CIA Director John Ratcliffe, interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, President Donald J. Trump, and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The meeting took place on Thursday in Caracas, Venezuela.

💬KEY QUOTE: “During the meeting in Caracas, Director Ratcliffe discussed potential opportunities for economic collaboration and that Venezuela can no longer be a safe haven for America’s adversaries, especially narcotraffickers,” an American official confirmed.

🎯IMPACT: The meeting signals potential shifts in U.S.-Venezuela relations and efforts to stabilize the region while addressing narcotrafficking and economic concerns.

IN FULL

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Caracas on Thursday to meet with interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez. Ratcliffe and Rodríguez are believed to have discussed future economic cooperation between Venezuela and the United States, as well as the South American country’s role in American efforts to end cartel drug trafficking operations across the region.

Rodríguez, who spoke with President Donald Trump during a phone call on Wednesday, became the interim leader of Venezuela after American forces captured the country’s now former Marxist dictator, Nicolás Maduro. “During the meeting in Caracas, Director Ratcliffe discussed potential opportunities for economic collaboration and that Venezuela can no longer be a safe haven for America’s adversaries, especially narcotraffickers,” an American official confirmed.

The Trump administration contends that allowing Rodríguez to remain in power for now helps to prevent Venezuela from “descending into some chaotic situation” and would allow her to “cooperate and coordinate with the U.S. government.” The National Pulse reported earlier this week that Diosdado Cabello, Maduro’s Minister of the Interior and Justice, remains at large and is believed to be behind a colectivo insurgency targeting anti-Maduro Venezuelans and American citizens.

Earlier this month, President Trump announced an oil deal with Venezuela in which the country would provide the United States with between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned crude oil. With the money made from oil sales, Trump said that Venezuela would purchase American agricultural, medical, and electrical equipment.

Ratcliffe’s meeting with Rodríguez came after Trump met with Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado. “María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done,” said Trump, adding, “Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you, María!” Top Trump officials have reiterated the administration’s commitment to long-term democratic elections in Venezuela; however, the president has not set a timeline for when elections might take place. “We have to fix the country first. You can’t have an election. There’s no way the people could even vote,” Trump said in an interview last week, stating, “No, it’s going to take a period of time. We have to nurse the country back to health.”

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