Developments in U.S. Policy and Governance: A News Roundup

A synthesis of recent reports reveals a series of developments in U.S. foreign policy, domestic governance, and administrative actions.

Foreign Policy and International Actions

Venezuela

Following a U.S. military operation in Caracas that resulted in the apprehension of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were taken to New York for arraignment, President Donald Trump made statements regarding the U.S. role in Venezuela.

"We're going to keep the oil."

The President stated that the United States would "run" Venezuela and that "we're in charge" of the country. He indicated that large U.S. oil companies would invest to repair Venezuela's oil infrastructure, with these investments to be reimbursed.

President Trump stated his administration's involvement in Venezuela is driven by perceived business opportunities, asserting that "the oil business in Venezuela has been a bust" and that "we are going to be taking a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground." According to a report from Joe Scarborough of "Morning Joe," President Trump drew a distinction between the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and current operations in Venezuela, stating that President George W. Bush "didn't keep the oil" in Iraq, whereas for Venezuela, "We're going to keep the oil."

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey reported President Trump's approval rating on the Iran conflict at 33% and the economy at 34%.

Regarding Venezuela's oil industry, industry executives expressed caution about immediate investment, citing low quality and high extraction costs of Venezuelan oil, low global oil prices, and political instability. An industry source noted, "Just because there are oil reserves – even the largest in the world – doesn't mean you're necessarily going to produce there."

Elliott Investment Management, a hedge fund, secured a bid in November for Citgo, a refiner owned by Venezuela's state-run petroleum company. A judge approved Elliott's bid of approximately $6 billion for Citgo assets, which analysts have estimated to be worth more. The acquisition, opposed by President Maduro, awaits approval from the U.S. Treasury. Paul Singer, founder of Elliott Investment Management, has contributed at least $5 million to President Trump's reelection campaign.

A trader on the crypto-based betting platform Polymarket placed a $32,000 wager predicting the removal of President Maduro by the end of January, reportedly yielding a $400,000 profit. Some experts have suggested the timing and size of the bet could indicate trading based on non-public information.

Greenland and European Relations

President Trump reportedly imposed tariffs on Denmark and other European countries critical of his interest in acquiring Greenland. The tariff was stated to be removable only upon Greenland's transfer to U.S. control.

"We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security."

A letter from President Trump to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and other European leaders linked the lack of a Nobel Peace Prize award to a shift toward U.S. interests and asserted the U.S. need for "Complete and Total Control of Greenland."

The President threatened military action against Colombia, Mexico, and Greenland. In response, European nations reportedly considered negotiation or retaliation. A small European military exercise in Greenland occurred as a show of support for Denmark. European officials expressed concern regarding the U.S. actions and statements toward allies.

Other International Incidents

• Russian officials claimed 91 Ukrainian drones were targeting President Vladimir Putin's residence near Valdai; U.S. intelligence reportedly dismissed this claim.
• Ukrainian intelligence revealed the previously reported death of Denis Kapustin, a commander of a pro-Ukraine Russian volunteer force, was a staged event designed to thwart a Russian assassination attempt. This operation reportedly resulted in the Russian government paying a $500,000 bounty for Kapustin's presumed death.
• Canada announced a new strategic partnership with China aimed at reducing trade and travel barriers.
• The FAA issued seven alerts warning civilian aviation of potential increased military activity in the Eastern Pacific off Latin America.
• The Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey reported President Trump's approval rating on the economy at 34% and immigration at 40%.

Domestic Political Developments

Polling Data

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey reports President Donald Trump's overall approval rating at 37%. On specific issues, approval ratings include:

Minnesota Political Situation

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he would not seek re-election. This announcement occurred during a political crisis involving allegations of significant state fraud under his administration. Governor Walz had previously served as his party's vice presidential nominee.

President Trump made a social media post accusing Governor Walz of ordering the murder of former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman last year.

The Pentagon issued prepare-to-deploy orders to 1,500 troops from two infantry battalions of the Army's 11th Airborne Division, based in Alaska, for potential deployment in Minnesota. President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in the state but later indicated he did not think it was needed at that time.

U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez of Minneapolis issued a ruling barring federal agents from arresting peaceful protesters and from using nonlethal munitions or crowd control tools against them.

Immigration Enforcement and Detention

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) admitted in a social media post that speaking Spanish or having a Mexican accent is considered sufficient grounds for federal agents to demand proof of U.S. citizenship.

A "60 Minutes" report on the Trump administration's deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador's CECOT prison aired, detailing the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants, some without criminal records. Administration officials stated they had the right to deport migrants based on "intelligence reports," that they had no responsibility for their well-being as they were not U.S. citizens, and that focus should be on victims rather than migrants' narratives.

A Washington Post investigation reports a 37% increase in guard use of force in ICE detention centers under President Trump, with 1,330 individuals subjected to force (up 54%). Most detainees have not been accused of crimes.

Justice Department Investigations

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the Justice Department is not investigating the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good. The decision to suspend the federal investigation, which had initially been reviewed by the FBI with sufficient grounds for a civil rights probe, occurred after Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen reportedly excluded state investigators. Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, reportedly decided against a Civil Rights Division investigation, leading to resignations from several career lawyers within the division.

Instead of investigating the shooting, higher-ups at the DOJ ordered an investigation into the political activities of Good's wife, which led to further resignations in the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office. A criminal investigation was launched into Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly conspiring to impede federal immigration agents. Deputy Attorney General Blanche had previously accused Walz and Frey of "terrorism" on social media.

The Department of Justice has also been noted for non-compliance with the Jeffrey Epstein transparency law passed by Congress last year. Representative Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) stated her view that the matter is no longer in her hands.

Redistricting

After the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais, Southern states are moving to redraw congressional maps. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee called a special session; Alabama and Louisiana may reschedule primaries. President Trump urged legislatures to proceed.

White House and Smithsonian Developments

Architect Shalom Baranes reported plans for a ballroom addition to the White House, proposed to be as tall as the White House itself, to the National Capital Planning Commission. The project's approval process is expected to be expedited, with commission members including Trump appointees.

The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery adjusted the label for Donald Trump's portrait in the "America's Presidents" exhibition. Initially, references to his two impeachments and the January 6th Capitol Hill attack were present, then removed, and subsequently restored. A new photo of Trump with minimal text (birth year and presidential term dates) was later installed. Other presidential portraits in the exhibition include short biographies, with Bill Clinton's entry mentioning his impeachment.

Clemency

President Trump granted clemency for a second time to Adriana Camberos, who was convicted of a new fraud in 2024 after being released from prison by a previous pardon in his first term. She was freed from prison, where she was serving 12 months on the new conviction and additional months for violating probation on an earlier conviction.

Media and Commentary

CBS News and 60 Minutes

A 60 Minutes segment concerning Alien Enemies Act detainees was broadcast after a delay of nearly a month beyond its advertised air date. The report was reportedly lengthened with additional content after CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss held up the piece.

President Trump reportedly conveyed a threat through his press secretary regarding the unedited broadcast of his 13-minute interview with CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil. The interview aired in full, which CBS stated was its original plan.

Commentary on Leadership

William Kristol's article compared current U.S. leadership unfavorably with historical figures, referencing Winston Churchill's 1940 speech and noting that under President Trump, the U.S. is no longer leading the "Free World." The piece highlighted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Pope Leo XIV, and Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar as examples of those defending liberal democracy.

General Mark Hertling discussed the need for singular accountability in complex operations, referring to this principle as the "belly-button rule." Hertling critiqued the President's implication of collective responsibility for the Venezuela operation, suggesting it could hinder success.

Other Developments

Strait of Hormuz Incident

President Trump proposed guiding neutral ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, offering Iran a "humanitarian gesture." Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned it would attack any US attempt to enter. An incident early Monday is disputed: Iran claims to have fired on a US destroyer; US Central Command denies this.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observance

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday established on November 2, 1983, by President Reagan, was observed on the third Monday in January. The current administration's only official action concerning the holiday was an announcement in late November to eliminate it from the list of days with free entry to America's national parks. In contrast, "Flag Day/President Trump's birthday" on June 14, 2026, has been added to the schedule of "resident-only patriotic fee-free" days.

Other Actions

• President Trump publicly endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) to challenge Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
• Bruce Springsteen dedicated his song "The Promised Land" to Renee Good during a performance in New Jersey, while also calling for ICE to leave Minneapolis.