Ryan Mueller
The Latest
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Trump Floats $2,000 Tariff Rebate Checks for Late 2026 as Legal and Fiscal Hurdles Mount
President Donald Trump has again raised expectations for direct cash payouts tied to tariff revenue, signaling that proposed $2,000 rebate checks for American households would not arrive until "toward the end of the year" in 2026, even as legal, fiscal and constitutional questions continue to cloud the plan's viability. 
President Donald Trump has again raised expectations for direct cash payouts tied to tariff revenue, signaling that proposed $2,000 rebate checks for American households would not arrive until "toward the end of the year" in 2026, even as legal, fiscal and constitutional questions continue to cloud the plan's viability. -
Trump Posts Fake ‘Acting President of Venezuela’ Wikipedia Image as U.S. Role Faces Global Scrutiny
President Donald Trump triggered a fresh round of diplomatic and political controversy after posting a manipulated image of his Wikipedia page that falsely listed him as "Acting President of Venezuela," a move that landed amid heightened tensions following the U.S.-backed capture of Nicolás Maduro and Washington's disputed role in the country's transition. 
President Donald Trump triggered a fresh round of diplomatic and political controversy after posting a manipulated image of his Wikipedia page that falsely listed him as "Acting President of Venezuela," a move that landed amid heightened tensions following the U.S.-backed capture of Nicolás Maduro and Washington's disputed role in the country's transition. -
Trump Mocks Putin After U.S. Forces Seize Russian-Linked Oil Tanker
President Donald Trump said Russian naval forces withdrew rapidly from the North Atlantic as U.S. and allied forces seized a sanctions-evading oil tanker, publicly mocking Vladimir Putin and framing the episode as a blow to Moscow's claims of maritime dominance. 
President Donald Trump said Russian naval forces withdrew rapidly from the North Atlantic as U.S. and allied forces seized a sanctions-evading oil tanker, publicly mocking Vladimir Putin and framing the episode as a blow to Moscow's claims of maritime dominance. -
Newsom Challenges Trump to Public Cognitive Test After President Questions His Fitness
President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are now publicly sparring over cognitive fitness, after Trump questioned Newsom's mental capacity and proposed mandatory cognitive testing for top elected officials, prompting a direct challenge that Trump has yet to answer. 
President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are now publicly sparring over cognitive fitness, after Trump questioned Newsom's mental capacity and proposed mandatory cognitive testing for top elected officials, prompting a direct challenge that Trump has yet to answer. -
U.S. Seizes Russian-Flagged Oil Tanker After Weekslong Atlantic Pursuit Tied to Venezuela Sanctions
The United States has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after a weekslong pursuit that turned the vessel into a flashpoint among Washington, Moscow and Caracas, underscoring the Trump administration's expanding blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil. U.S. officials said the tanker-formerly known as Bella 1 and later renamed Marinera-was taken pursuant to a federal court warrant for violating U.S. sanctions linked to illicit Venezuelan crude shipments. The United States has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after a weekslong pursuit that turned the vessel into a flashpoint among Washington, Moscow and Caracas, underscoring the Trump administration's expanding blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil. U.S. officials said the tanker-formerly known as Bella 1 and later renamed Marinera-was taken pursuant to a federal court warrant for violating U.S. sanctions linked to illicit Venezuelan crude shipments. -
U.S. Scales Back Childhood Vaccine Recommendations After Trump Orders Review
The U.S. government is moving to scale back routine childhood vaccination recommendations, a shift prompted by a directive from Donald Trump and framed by officials as an effort to align American practice more closely with other developed nations while emphasizing parental choice. 
The U.S. government is moving to scale back routine childhood vaccination recommendations, a shift prompted by a directive from Donald Trump and framed by officials as an effort to align American practice more closely with other developed nations while emphasizing parental choice. -
Maduro Held at Notorious Brooklyn Jail as U.S. Narco-Terrorism Case Advances
Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is being held in a U.S. federal jail long criticised for violence, deaths and systemic failures, following his capture by American forces and transfer to New York to face sweeping criminal charges. 
Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is being held in a U.S. federal jail long criticised for violence, deaths and systemic failures, following his capture by American forces and transfer to New York to face sweeping criminal charges. -
Trump’s Seizure of Maduro Triggers Global Alarm as Experts Warn of ‘Might Is Right’ Precedent
President Donald Trump's decision to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation has set off alarm among security experts and diplomats, who warn the move risks legitimizing the use of raw power in international affairs and could be exploited by Russia to justify its war in Ukraine. 
President Donald Trump's decision to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation has set off alarm among security experts and diplomats, who warn the move risks legitimizing the use of raw power in international affairs and could be exploited by Russia to justify its war in Ukraine. -
Venezuela and Colombia Signal Armed Resistance as Trump Threats Ignite Regional Alarm
Venezuela and Colombia moved to high alert in the opening days of 2026 as their leaders issued stark warnings of armed resistance in response to threats and actions by U.S. President Donald Trump, escalating fears of a broader regional confrontation across Latin America. Venezuela and Colombia moved to high alert in the opening days of 2026 as their leaders issued stark warnings of armed resistance in response to threats and actions by U.S. President Donald Trump, escalating fears of a broader regional confrontation across Latin America. -
Trump Clears Path for U.S. Oil Firms in Venezuela After Military Ouster of Maduro
President Donald Trump has moved to grant American oil companies access to Venezuela's vast petroleum reserves following a U.S. military operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power, bypassing new congressional authorization and igniting debate over executive authority, war powers and global energy politics. President Donald Trump has moved to grant American oil companies access to Venezuela's vast petroleum reserves following a U.S. military operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power, bypassing new congressional authorization and igniting debate over executive authority, war powers and global energy politics.
