Day: January 5, 2026

The Trump administration is defending a dramatic U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and brought them to the United States to face criminal charges tied to narcotics trafficking and corruption. Officials say the mission was carried out as a law-enforcement action with military support, while critics raise questions about congressional notification and the long-term impact on Venezuela’s governance and regional stability. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR), joins the Rundown to detail the legal authority behind the operation, the decision not to notify Congress in advance, and the administration’s broader strategy for securing the Western Hemisphere. 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year as America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary. President Trump is promising the ‘most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen’ on July 4th—the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. America’s Newsroom co-anchor Bill Hemmer joins the Rundown to discuss the importance of celebrating the nation’s history, the founding principles that continue to shape America, and his role in the new FOX News Audio podcast, The 250 Most Impactful Moments in American History. Plus, commentary by Senior Fellow at the Lexington Institute, Dr. Rebecca Grant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another “shadow fleet” tanker off the coast of Venezuela has switched its flag to Russian in an apparent attempt to avoid interception by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The tanker Hyperion, which is under sanctions from the United States, the EU, and the United Kingdom, has reflagged as Russian.

Hyperion is described as the first tanker known to have operated both in the Russian Arctic and in waters off Venezuela.

In December, the vessel loaded a cargo of naphtha (a petroleum refining intermediate) in Murmansk and delivered it to Venezuela.

A similar maneuver was carried out in December by the crew of the tanker Bella 1, which departed from Iran and was heading to Venezuela to load crude oil.

After U.S. forces attempted to stop the vessel in the Caribbean Sea, the crew painted a Russian tricolor on the hull and informed the Coast Guard that the ship was under Russian control.

Following this, Russia sent an official note to the United States demanding that it halt the pursuit of the tanker, which subsequently disappeared into the Atlantic Ocean.

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) Jan 5, 2026