The Trump administration is set to withdraw from a number of international organizations, including the U.N.’s population agency and the U.N. treaty for climate negotiations. This move follows a review of U.S. participation and funding for international organizations, with many of the targeted entities focusing on climate, labor, and migration. The administration views these institutions as “redundant” and detrimental to U.S. interests. This decision continues a pattern of the U.S. exiting global agencies and shifting its approach to multilateralism, prioritizing cooperation on its own terms.
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Stephen Miller’s daily conference calls are notorious for his aggressive behavior, as he routinely berates staff and launches into tirades. These calls, often held daily including Saturdays, provide Miller an opportunity to push his agenda, often demanding immediate action and updates on detention and deportation numbers. Miller’s leadership style is characterized by “hectoring” and public criticism, with officials describing the atmosphere as intense and demanding, leading to comparisons to a “wartime general.” While some view his behavior as an act, others acknowledge his confrontational nature and sharp personality, further highlighting his influence within the Trump administration.
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The Department of Homeland Security launched a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in the Minneapolis area, deploying approximately 2,000 federal agents and officers. This operation, described as the largest ever by DHS, is partly tied to alleged fraud involving Somali residents and includes agents from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations. Immigration rights groups and elected officials reported an increase in federal agent sightings, and the state’s governor criticized the operation, citing lack of coordination. The operation also involved the arrest of 150 people Monday, with authorities focusing on fraud investigations, as the Trump administration intensifies immigration crackdowns in the region.
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The Trump administration has initiated a freeze on federal funding for childcare and food programs in Colorado, impacting initiatives like the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), citing concerns about non-citizen benefit fraud. Over $300 million in federal funds, totaling $10 billion across five Democratic-led states, is currently frozen. State and local officials have expressed uncertainty and concern over the freeze, as families in need rely on the services provided by these funds. Several state politicians have denounced the move, suggesting legal challenges may be pursued, as this act is viewed as another in a line of the Trump Administration’s attacks on Colorado.
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The Trump administration used the alleged existence of a “Cartel de los Soles” led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as justification for his removal. However, now that the Department of Justice must prove this in court, the claim is being walked back, effectively admitting the non-existence of the organization. This narrative, initially used to garner support for US aggression, described Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. But the new indictment omits the existence of a formal cartel, portraying it as a culture of corruption instead.
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The Trump administration has expanded its list of countries whose passport holders must post bonds, up to $15,000, to apply for entry to the United States, including seven new countries, five of which are in Africa. This brings the total number of countries on the list to thirteen, making the visa process unaffordable for many, according to the State Department. This action, which took effect January 1, is part of a broader effort to tighten entry requirements, alongside other measures such as in-person interviews and social media history disclosure. U.S. officials maintain the bonds ensure visa holders comply with visa terms.
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The Department of Justice has conceded that the “Cartel de los Soles,” a drug cartel previously cited by the Trump administration to justify military action in Venezuela, does not exist. The original claim, appearing in a 2020 indictment that identified Nicolás Maduro as its leader, has been revised to state that Maduro merely supported a system of drug-money patronage. Experts suggest the term “Cartel de los Soles” was a slang term, and the revised indictment more accurately reflects the reality of the situation. Despite the DOJ’s shift, some officials continue to invoke the name of the non-existent cartel.
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During a CNN interview, White House advisor Stephen Miller articulated the Trump administration’s stance on foreign policy, asserting the United States’ right to take control of other nations for its interests, particularly concerning resources. Miller’s comments, which included the view that sovereign countries do not have sovereignty if the US wants their resources, were described as “imperialistic” by Senator Bernie Sanders. The administration has set its sights on Venezuela’s oil reserves and Greenland’s untapped resources, even though Greenland is part of Denmark, a NATO ally. Danish and Greenlandic officials have strongly condemned Trump’s threats, with the Danish Prime Minister warning that an attack on another NATO country would end the alliance.
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The Trump administration announced a freeze on billions of dollars in social services funds for California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. This action, totaling approximately $10 billion, includes programs like the Child Care and Development Fund, the Social Services Block Grant, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The decision follows unproven fraud allegations, specifically related to a child nutrition scheme in Minnesota, but officials have not clarified the specific reasons for the funding freeze. Critics, like Josh McCabe, have argued that this action will undermine efforts to protect program integrity and reduce improper payments.
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Okay, so the buzz is all about these meetings the Trump administration is supposedly setting up with oil companies, all centered around Venezuela. Honestly, my first thought is, this is probably going to be a lot of corporate cheerleading, a chance for these companies to tell the former President how amazing he is and then quietly negotiate for some juicy tax breaks or subsidies somewhere down the line. It’s the kind of thing you can see from a mile away.
The core issue here is that investing heavily in Venezuelan oil right now is incredibly risky, and those oil company executives are probably fully aware of that fact.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood