Good afternoon, everyone. This afternoon, I want to talk about something that isn’t getting nearly enough attention. The United States is edging dangerously close to war with Venezuela. Caracas has mobilized troops and militias in direct response to the growing U.S. military presence just off its coast. And now, the U.S. has detained two survivors from one of its so-called “lethal strikes” on alleged narco-terrorist boats, strikes that were never supposed to leave any survivors.
The truth is, Washington wasn’t prepared for this moment. With senior military leaders resigning, some in quiet protest, the chain of command is fracturing and the Pentagon is in chaos.
Meanwhile, I’ve spoken directly with the organizers of the No Kings Day protest. They tell me this will be the largest demonstration in American history, a show of power that could reshape the political landscape overnight.
I’ll be on the ground tomorrow bringing you exclusive coverage throughout the day. Subscribe and support independent journalism, because in moments like this, it’s all that stands between truth and silence.
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With that, here’s what you missed:
The U.S. military has two survivors in custody after a strike on a Venezuelan boat allegedly tied to drug cartels in international waters, marking the fifth such operation under the Trump administration, which has drawn concern from lawmakers over transparency and CIA involvement in Venezuela.
Venezuela has mobilized troops and militias along its Caribbean coast as U.S. military forces amass offshore in the largest Caribbean buildup since the 1980s, with President Maduro rallying citizens through anti-American propaganda despite his military’s limited resources.
Adm. Alvin Holsey, head of U.S. Southern Command, resigned a year into his term amid growing controversy over Trump administration missile strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats, reportedly expressing concern about the legality and conduct of the operations as the Pentagon vows to continue the campaign.
When asked about Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump said Maduro “has offered everything” because “he doesn’t want to fuck around with the United States,” signaling an aggressive stance toward Venezuela.
Maj. Gen. William “Hank” Taylor said he has grown “close” with ChatGPT and even relies on it for key command decisions, highlighting the U.S. Army’s growing use of AI for predictive analysis, reporting, and decision-making in South Korea.
According to Move On, one of the organizations behind the No Kings Day protest, since Mike Johnson and Republicans started attacking tomorrow’s protests, sign-ups have doubled. This afternoon, I spoke with one of the organizers of the No Kings Day protest, and he told me that this will be the largest protest in modern American history.
According to Reuters, Trump administration will pay more than 70,000 DHS law enforcement officers, including ICE, Border Patrol, and air marshals, during the ongoing government shutdown—shielding key immigration and security personnel from missed paychecks while most federal workers remain unpaid and furloughed.
ICE has rapidly expanded its surveillance capabilities, purchasing iris scanners, facial recognition tools, phone-hacking software, and cellphone location tracking systems to monitor immigrants and antifa, raising major privacy and civil rights concerns.
Trump said he’d “think about” a Russian proposal for Elon Musk’s Boring Company to build a $65 billion “Putin–Trump” tunnel linking Alaska and Russia via the Bering Strait, calling it “interesting” after Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev pitched the project as a symbol of unity.
When asked why Budapest was chosen for the upcoming Trump–Putin summit, White House officials Karoline Leavitt and Steven Cheung responded dismissively with “Your mom,” drawing criticism for the unprofessional remarks.
Trump budget chief Russell Vought announced that the Army Corps of Engineers will pause over $11 billion in “lower-priority” infrastructure projects in cities like New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Baltimore due to the ongoing government shutdown, framing the move as part of the administration’s effort to cut federal spending and target Democratic priorities.
Legal filings in Smartmatic’s $2.7 billion defamation suit reveal Fox News employees privately criticized the network in 2020 for promoting pro-Trump content and conspiracy theories, expressing moral distress and urging stronger editorial ethics, while Fox dismissed the survey as irrelevant and the case moves toward a key court hearing next month.
As the U.S. government shutdown reaches its 17th day, the National Nuclear Security Administration will furlough 80% of its 1,775 employees after depleting reserve funds, halting most nuclear stockpile and research operations while maintaining only essential safety and nonproliferation functions.
Prince Andrew will relinquish his Duke of York title and royal honors after renewed scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, saying ongoing accusations distract from the Royal Family’s work, though he continues to deny all allegations.
Former national security adviser John Bolton pleaded not guilty to federal charges of mishandling classified information, denying politically motivated accusations that he unlawfully transmitted and kept top-secret defense documents, as prosecutors allege he shared sensitive intelligence via personal channels.
President Donald Trump has refiled a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and three reporters, accusing them of publishing false and malicious statements about his business and 2024 campaign after a judge dismissed his initial suit as improper last month.
Aid remains critically scarce in Gaza despite a ceasefire, with the UN warning that Israel’s delays at crossings have limited convoys to less than half their agreed frequency, deepening famine and disease risks. Trump said he may allow Israel to resume fighting if Hamas fails to uphold the truce, declaring, “If Israel could go in and knock the crap out of them, they’d do that.”
A new study finds the world’s oceans are losing their green hue due to declining phytoplankton caused by global heating, signaling reduced marine productivity and a weakening ability to absorb carbon dioxide—threatening food chains, oxygen levels, and global climate stability.
Former Des Moines superintendent Ian Roberts has been indicted for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally possessing firearms after ICE detained him; authorities say the Guyana-born educator fled agents before being found with a handgun, and investigators later seized three more weapons from his home.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
