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Friday, January 16, 2026

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3 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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13 minutes 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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46 minutes 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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1 hour 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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2 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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3 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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4 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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By Popular Demand.
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4 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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5 hours ago
Immigration
News

Dem Bill Could Dox Thousands of ICE Agents, Admin Warns.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Democrat congressman proposed a bill requiring ICE and CBP agents to wear uniforms featuring QR codes for identification, sparking backlash from the Trump administration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY), the Trump administration, and DHS officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The bill is set to be introduced next week; the debate centers on immigration enforcement nationwide.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Surely this cannot be a serious proposal,” said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson.

🎯IMPACT: The proposal has reignited debates over law enforcement transparency and the role of immigration agencies.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has strongly opposed a legislative proposal from Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) that would mandate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to have QR codes displayed on their uniforms. Torres has explained that scanning these codes would provide the public with the officer’s name, badge number, and employing agency. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson denounced the idea, describing it as a “widescale doxxing campaign” and cautioning that it would prompt protesters to disrupt law enforcement activities.

“This is all because Democrats want to defend criminal illegal aliens,” Jackson stated. Torres pushed back in defense of his proposal, asserting that the Trump administration is afraid of “transparency and accountability.” Speaking to AMNewYork, Torres claimed it is an urgent necessity to “unmask ICE” both “physically and digitally,” while positioning QR codes as a safer method than directly requesting an officer’s identification. He labeled ICE a “systemically corrupt institution” and vowed to resist any efforts to boost the agency’s funding.

Administration officials pointed to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statistics indicating a 1,300 percent increase in assaults on ICE officers, linked to “dangerous and untrue smears” promoted by Democrats.

Torres’s measure has received backing from fellow Democrats, such as foreign-born Representative Shri Thanedar of Michigan, who has advocated for eliminating ICE entirely.

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18 hours ago
News

Newsom Denies Request to Extradite CA Doctor for Providing Mail-Order Abortions.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) denied a request from Louisiana to extradite a doctor accused of mailing abortion pills to a Louisiana woman.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Newsom, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R), Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill (R), and San Francisco-based physician Remy Coeytaux.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The extradition request was denied on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I know Gavin Newsom supports abortion in all its forms, but that doesn’t work in Louisiana. We are unapologetically pro-life.” – Gov. Jeff Landry

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights the ongoing legal and political battles surrounding abortion laws between states with differing policies post-Roe v. Wade.

IN FULL

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has rejected Louisiana’s request to extradite a San Francisco Bay Area physician accused of sending abortion pills to a woman in Louisiana, intensifying the ongoing clash between states over abortion enforcement after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The decision was announced on January 14 in a statement posted to Newsom’s official press office X (formerly Twitter) account. “Louisiana’s request is denied,” Newsom said, adding, “We will not allow extremist politicians from other states to reach into California and try to punish doctors based on allegations that they provided reproductive health care services. Not today. Not ever.”

Louisiana authorities are seeking to prosecute Dr. Remy Coeytaux for allegedly mailing mifepristone and misoprostol to a Louisiana woman through Aid Access, a Europe-based telemedicine service. Attorney General Liz Murrill (R-LA) announced the charges earlier this month, saying Coeytaux could face years in prison if convicted under the state’s abortion laws. Louisiana enacted a near-total abortion ban after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and has since adopted additional measures targeting abortion-inducing drugs and out-of-state prescribers.

Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) criticized Newsom’s refusal to extradite Coeytaux, saying the California governor was disregarding Louisiana law. “I know Gavin Newsom supports abortion in all its forms, but that doesn’t work in Louisiana. We are unapologetically pro-life,” Landry said.

Physicians convicted of providing abortions in Louisiana can face up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $200,000. The Coeytaux case marks the second time Louisiana has attempted to pursue criminal charges against a doctor located outside the state for alleged abortion-related violations.

The dispute comes as abortion-related criminal cases continue to emerge nationwide. In Kentucky, a woman was recently charged with fetal homicide after allegedly taking abortion pills obtained online. Authorities said the woman also faces additional charges related to the handling of her baby’s remains.

In Texas, law enforcement arrested eight individuals accused of operating an illegal abortion network, with officials saying several of those charged are foreign nationals. The arrests were tied to allegations of providing abortions and practicing medicine without proper licenses, violations that carry significant penalties under Texas law.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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By Popular Demand.
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19 hours ago
World

Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Presents Her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald J. Trump during a private White House meeting.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: María Corina Machado, President Trump, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday at the White House, followed by remarks outside to supporters and a visit to Congress.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I presented the President of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize,” said Machado, calling it “a recognition for his unique commitment [to] our freedom.”

🎯IMPACT: The meeting comes nearly two weeks after President Trump authorized a U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture and extradition of Venezuela’s now-former dictator, Nicolás Maduro.

IN FULL

2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said on Thursday that she presented her Nobel medal to President Donald J. Trump during a private meeting at the White House. Machado did not specify whether Trump accepted the medal.

“I think today is a historic day for us Venezuelans,” Machado remarked following the meeting, which marked the first time the two leaders met in person. Meanwhile, later on Capitol Hill, the opponent of the former Maduro regime stated, “I presented the President of the United States the medal, the Nobel Peace Prize.”

“I told him this: 200 years ago, General Lafayette gave Simon Bolivar a medal with George Washington’s face on it. Bolivar kept that medal the rest of his life,” she said, adding: “It was given by General Lafayette as a sign of the brotherhood between the people of the U.S. and the people of Venezuela in their fight against tyranny. Two hundred years on in history, the people of Bolivar are giving back to the heir of George Washington a medal, in this case, a medal of the Nobel Peace Prize.”

While it had been speculated that Machado would grant the medal to President Trump, the Nobel Committee insists that the award is not transferable.

During her visit to Washington, D.C., Machado also met with lawmakers in Congress and was greeted by supporters chanting “María, presidente” and waving Venezuelan flags. Earlier on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described Machado as “a remarkable and brave voice for many of the people of Venezuela,” adding that President Trump was looking forward to hearing directly from her about the situation on the ground in the South American country.

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