Why 2026 could be Trump's most volatile year yet
1/7/202634 min
The plan to taken down Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro, was months in the making. And yet, when it did finally happen, it not only took Caracas by surprise but even Washington was stunned by the speed of the incursion.
What does the operation in Venezuela tell us about how Trump might be planning to take over other territories? Why has he got his eyes on oil tanks, and is he prepared to go battle with Putin? We speak to The Crisis Room's Marc Polymeropoulos.
Later, Tim Walz has ended his campaign to run for Minnesota governor after ongoing fraud accusations became the focus of Republicans. Are fraud claims a new effective weapon for MAGA to attack the Democrats?
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:02
This is a Global Player original podcast.
Chuck Schumer· Soundbite0:05
... plan for the US running Venezuela is vague, based on wishful thinking, and unsatisfying. I did not receive any assurances that we would not try to do the same thing in other countries. And in conclusion, when the United States engages in this kind of regime change and so-called nation building, it always ends up hurting the United States. I left the briefing feeling that it would again.
Jon Sopel· Host0:37
That is Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democrat minority Senate leader, expressing his dissatisfaction with the explanations about what happened in Venezuela and what happens next. And if he's worried that there might be further attempts at regime change elsewhere, it seems he has good ground to be concerned. Welcome to The News Agents USA.
Speaker 01:04
The News Agents USA, with Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel.
Jon Sopel· Host1:09
We're now five days on from the military operation in Venezuela that saw US Special Forces capture Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Moments later, they're squirreled out of the country, and then they're in New York in court, and