From Greenland to Venezuela to Iran the world is on edge this evening after the United States' actions over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, at home, the Trump DOJ is violating the law again.
By Aaron Parnas•January 5, 2026•6 min read
Opinion & Commentary
Good evening, everyone. The past 48 hours have been intense and nonstop, with major developments unfolding across the globe, from Iran to Greenland to Venezuela, and you need to be fully up to speed. At the same time, I am continuing to press on the Epstein files, and today I broke new reporting showing that the Justice Department is once again violating the law by failing to notify Congress by the legally required deadline about its redactions to those files.
This is a rapidly accelerating and high-stakes news cycle, and additional developments are expected later tonight and into the overnight hours.
Donald Trump warned Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez that she will face severe consequences if she does not comply with US demands, signaling openness to further military action, rejecting near-term elections, and framing US intervention, regime change, and reconstruction as preferable to continued rule linked to Nicolás Maduro, while Marco Rubio emphasized sustained pressure and dismissed the legitimacy of Venezuela’s current political system.
Several governments, including Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay, condemned US actions in Venezuela as a dangerous precedent that threatens regional peace and civilian safety, implicitly criticizing claims by Donald Trump that the US would “run” Venezuela and control its oil production.
Venezuela’s National Electoral Council condemned the US military action as an illegal act of war, accused the government of Donald Trump of kidnapping President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, blamed the strikes for civilian and public servant deaths, and demanded proof of life, respect for human rights, and their immediate release after the couple was transferred to New York to face federal charges.
Venezuela’s defense minister publicly recognized Delcy Rodríguez as acting president while denouncing the US seizure of Nicolás Maduro and his wife as a “cowardly kidnapping,” reaffirming military rejection of US intervention.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to downplay comparisons to past US invasions, insisting the Venezuela operation was fundamentally different from conflicts such as the Iraq war.
A senior Venezuelan official said the death toll from the US attacks on Venezuela on Saturday has risen to 80, underscoring the human cost of the operation ordered by Trump.
Rubio confirmed the US will intensify pressure by intercepting Venezuelan oil shipments, aligning with the Trump administration’s stated goal of gaining leverage over Venezuela’s oil resources following Maduro’s removal.
Senior US Republicans, including Rubio and Senators Tom Cotton and Jim Jordan, retreated from Trump’s claim that the US would “run” Venezuela, reframing US policy as pressuring Venezuelan leaders rather than direct governance.
Pope Leo, the first American pope, called for respect for Venezuela’s independence and human rights, emphasizing that the welfare of the Venezuelan people must come first.
Greenland:
In an interview with the Atlantic, Donald Trump renewed calls to annex Greenland shortly after the US captured Nicolás Maduro, framing control of the Arctic island as a national security necessity because of its strategic location and critical minerals, prompting firm rebukes from Denmark and Greenland’s leaders and warnings that any forced takeover would trigger a NATO-wide response.
Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen told Donald Trump to stop threatening to annex Greenland, stressing that Denmark and Greenland are NATO members, not for sale, and entitled to territorial integrity, after renewed US rhetoric and social media posts suggested American takeover ambitions following the US intervention in Venezuela.
Several NATO members, including Finland, Norway, and Sweden, publicly expressed support for Denmark and Greenland, reinforcing alliance solidarity and opposition to any threats against Greenland’s sovereignty.
Greenland’s premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen sharply rejected rhetoric from Donald Trump linking Greenland to Venezuela and suggesting annexation, calling it disrespectful and unacceptable, reaffirming Greenland’s status as a democratic nation and NATO member, and warning that alliances with the United States and NATO must be based on trust, respect, and international law rather than threats or pressure.
Iran:
Widening protests across Iran driven by economic collapse and rising prices are intensifying pressure on the country’s leadership, as Tehran faces weakened regional allies, renewed sanctions, and heightened fears after Donald Trump warned the US could intervene to protect protesters, a threat made more credible following the US capture of Nicolás Maduro, while Iranian authorities denounce US and Israeli actions and the West remains alarmed about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
According to the New York Times, Iran’s leadership moved into crisis mode as the Supreme National Security Council held an emergency meeting to curb protests while preparing for possible military strikes, with senior officials privately acknowledging the regime’s limited options amid economic collapse and threats from Israel and the United States, and President Masoud Pezeshkian convening urgent economic talks as advisers urged deflecting blame toward Iran’s power structure dominated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
American news:
Source familiar with the Epstein files release tells me that Congress has yet to receive the Justice Department’s explanation for the Epstein files redactions. The Justice Department was required to inform Congress why it made redactions to the Epstein files. It failed to do so. This is another violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
According to the Guardian, emergency management and climate experts warn that under Donald Trump the United States has become significantly less prepared for natural disasters due to deep cuts to FEMA, NOAA, climate science, and disaster preparedness programs, leading to delayed responses, weakened forecasting, rising disaster costs, and growing risks to vulnerable communities as extreme weather intensifies.
According to the NYT, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani moved to intervene in the bankruptcy of the Pinnacle Group to protect thousands of rent-stabilized tenants, citing widespread neglect, safety hazards, and violations across the landlord’s buildings, and pledging city action to ensure repairs, uphold rent laws, and prevent tenant displacement as the properties head to auction.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Venezuelans previously protected under TPS can apply for refugee status while stressing that the Trump administration wants a Venezuelan leader who cooperates with US security goals on drugs and terrorism, as critics warn that ending TPS leaves hundreds of thousands vulnerable amid instability following the US capture of Nicolás Maduro and mounting protests over US intervention.
The Guardian has confirmed that Canadian officials and health experts warn that US health institutions can no longer be trusted for accurate vaccine information due to misinformation promoted under Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, raising fears that anti-vaccine messaging from agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is fueling rising vaccine hesitancy and worsening outbreaks such as Canada’s loss of measles elimination status.
