Key Updates
The Venezuela Intervention: After Nabbing Maduro, the US is Now 'In Charge'
The story we were tracking yesterday has exploded. The US intervention in Venezuela wasn't just a grab-and-dash. President Trump has now made it explicitly clear that the US intends to "run the country" until it's stabilized. In a statement today, January 5th, he reiterated that the US is "in charge," and any talk of new elections is on hold indefinitely. This moves the operation far beyond the stated goal of extraditing a wanted narcotrafficker and into the realm of overt nation-building, or perhaps more accurately, nation-managing.
The initial operation, dubbed 'Operation Absolute Resolve,' saw US special forces (Delta Force and the 160th SOAR) capture Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas on Saturday. They were flown to New York City and are now guests at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, awaiting arraignment on narco-terrorism charges that have been on the books since 2020. While Venezuelan Americans celebrate in the streets of Florida, the situation on the ground in Venezuela is murky. Maduro's , Delcy Rodríguez, has been sworn in as acting president, a move the US is pointedly ignoring.
The international and domestic fallout is exactly what you'd expect. At home, it's a perfect partisan split-screen: Republicans, led by point-man Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are framing it as a decisive blow against a drug-running tyrant threatening US security. Democrats are largely condemning it as an illegal, reckless act of war initiated without congressional approval. Abroad, Russia and China have issued stern condemnations, calling it a violation of sovereignty, while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, in a moment of either genius trolling or wishful thinking, publicly mused that the US should apply the same strategy to Vladimir Putin.
Analytical Take: This is a textbook case of mission creep, except the creep happened in about 48 hours. The initial justification was a law enforcement action against an indicted criminal, a premise that was already on shaky legal ground internationally. Now, it's an open-ended occupation. Trump's statement that Cuba is "ready to fall" next suggests this is less about Maduro himself and more about a broader, highly assertive doctrine in Latin America. The key player to watch here is Marco Rubio, who has a long and deep history with this issue; this is his policy vision being enacted with military force. The biggest risk is, of course, a quagmire. The US is now responsible for a failed state's economy, security, and political future, with no clear exit strategy and against the wishes of regional powers and global rivals. Declaring you're "in charge" is easy; actually being in charge of a country like Venezuela is another matter entirely.
New York City's Growing Pains: A Socialist Mayor, Economic Headwinds, and Unhappy Commuters
The political experiment in New York City is off to a rocky start, colliding with some harsh economic realities. As we noted yesterday, the city's new democratic socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is already generating controversy. That situation has deepened with his repeal of several executive orders related to antisemitism and his appointment of figures like Cea Weaver, a tenant advocate with a history of criticizing the concept of private property, to key housing posts. While a recent poll shows voter support for his agenda, the city's establishment is clearly rattled.
This ideological battle is unfolding against a grim economic backdrop. New data shows that 's tourism sector, a critical engine of its economy, failed to recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2025. The city saw 64.7 million visitors, short of its 67 million goal and still below the 2019 peak of 66.6 million. The main culprit is a nearly 5% drop in high-spending international tourists. To add insult to injury for residents, today marks the start of another fare hike. A subway ride now costs $3, and and bus fares are up, too. Critics, like Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, are blaming Governor Kathy Hochul, but for the average New Yorker, it's just another hit to the wallet.
Analytical Take: This is a perfect storm for New York. You have a new administration pushing a left-wing agenda focused on wealth redistribution and tenant power at the exact moment the city's economic pillars—tourism, finance, and real estate—are looking shaky. Mamdani's policies, like rent freezes, could further spook investors and property owners. The decline in international tourism, blamed on tariffs and negative sentiment towards the US, is a national problem with local consequences. The hike, while likely necessary for the beleaguered transit authority, feels tone-deaf and will only amplify the narrative that the city is becoming unlivable for the middle and working class. The core tension is whether Mamdani's social programs can function, let alone succeed, if the tax base that's supposed to pay for them is eroding.
The Mind of a Killer: Kohberger's Sister Reveals His Troubled Past
We're getting a new, more personal look into the background of Bryan Kohberger, the man who murdered four University of Idaho students in November 2022. Following up on the ongoing story of the aftermath, his sister, Mel Kohberger, has spoken out, detailing his past struggles with heroin addiction and being severely bullied. She describes a family in shock, trying to reconcile the man they knew—who had seemingly recovered and was pursuing a Ph.D. in criminology—with the brutal killer he became.
This provides some context to the case that concluded last summer when Kohberger pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty. He is now serving four consecutive life sentences. According to his sister, the family was blindsided by his arrest, having believed he was on a positive trajectory. Her account paints a picture of a deeply troubled individual hiding behind a veneer of academic ambition.
Analytical Take: This doesn't change the legal outcome, but it adds a crucial, and often missing, layer to the narrative of a monstrous crime. The "why" is always more complex than the "what." The details of addiction and social isolation fit a familiar, albeit tragic, pattern seen in many violent offenders. It highlights the chasm that can exist between a family's perception and an individual's reality. For the public, it's a chilling reminder that the path to such violence is often paved with personal demons that can remain invisible even to those closest. This isn't an excuse for his actions, but it's a vital piece of the puzzle in understanding how such a thing could happen.
Under the Radar & Noteworthy
The Playoff Picture is Set, and It's Weird
The 2025 NFL regular season wrapped up this weekend, finalizing the playoff brackets with some classic drama and a few statistical oddities. The Pittsburgh Steelers clawed their way into the final spot by beating the Ravens. In the , the Carolina Panthers have become the champions of the historically weak South division, making the playoffs despite a losing record—a feat made possible by the Atlanta Falcons beating the Saints. That final act of futility wasn't enough to save the Falcons' leadership, however; both their head coach and GM were promptly fired. On the other end of the spectrum, the Las Vegas Raiders have officially secured the coveted #1 overall pick in the 2026 Draft, capping off a truly miserable season. The top seeds are locked in, with the Seattle Seahawks in the and the Denver Broncos in the getting a first-round bye.