{"id":9020,"date":"2026-01-08T20:30:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T20:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/01\/08\/trump-administration-live-updates-vance-addresses-venezuela-intervention-state-fraud-allegations-nbc-news\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T20:30:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T20:30:19","slug":"trump-administration-live-updates-vance-addresses-venezuela-intervention-state-fraud-allegations-nbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/01\/08\/trump-administration-live-updates-vance-addresses-venezuela-intervention-state-fraud-allegations-nbc-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump administration live updates: Vance addresses Venezuela intervention, state fraud allegations – NBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

15m ago \/ 3:11 PM EST<\/p>\n

Venezuela says it will release an \u2018important number\u2019 of political prisoners <\/h2>\n
\n

Venezuela is releasing an \u201cimportant number\u201d of political prisoners, including foreigners, the head of\u00a0the country\u2019s legislature said today.<\/a><\/p>\n

The announcement could be the first sign that the new government is open to returning some freedom of expression to the country, and bending to pressure from opposition groups and the American government.<\/p>\n

The move has been taken as \u201ca unilateral gesture to maintain the peace and in order to secure our unbreakable decision to consolidate peace in the Republic, and peaceful coexistence,\u201d Jorge Rodr\u00edguez, who is the older brother of the country\u2019s new president, Delcy Rodr\u00edguez, told reporters.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

51m ago \/ 2:36 PM EST<\/p>\n

New DOJ opinion offers legal justification for Maduro seizure, Trump officials tell Congress<\/h2>\n
\n

Trump administration officials briefed lawmakers this week on a new legal opinion justifying the operation to capture of\u00a0Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and his wife,\u00a0<\/a>who are facing narcotics charges in federal court in New York.<\/p>\n

The opinion comes from the Justice Department\u2019s Office of Legal Counsel, according to lawmakers who spoke to NBC News. The lawmakers hadn\u2019t seen details yet, but said it sought to give legal justification for the raid and capture. The Wall Street Journal\u00a0first reported<\/a>\u00a0on the new opinion.<\/p>\n

The office\u00a0serves as a sort of in-house counsel<\/a>\u00a0for the federal government, providing legal justifications and opinions for the federal government. During the George W. Bush\u2019s administration, it produced memos that provided the legal framework for the use of \u201cenhanced interrogation techniques,\u201d including waterboarding.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2h ago \/ 2:12 PM EST<\/p>\n

After Senate vote, Vance calls War Powers Act a ‘fake and unconstitutional law’<\/h2>\n
\n

Vance addressed the Senate’s decision to advance a war powers measure that aimed to restrict Trump’s ability to use military force against Venezuela without congressional approval. <\/p>\n

“We talked to some of the senators who were going to vote the wrong way, in my view, on this resolution today. Much of their argument was based more on a legal technicality than any disagreement of policy,” Vance said during a press briefing.<\/p>\n

“If you look at the people who actually voted, every single one of them has supported the administration’s plan,” he continued, going on to bash the War Powers Act as “a fake and unconstitutional law.”<\/p>\n

“It’s not going to change anything about how we conduct foreign policy over the next couple weeks or the next couple of months,” he said.<\/p>\n

The War Powers Resolution of 1973<\/a> lays out how the president must communicate with Congress before or after using the military. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2h ago \/ 2:08 PM EST<\/p>\n

Vance addresses Minneapolis ICE shooting<\/h2>\n
\n

At the briefing, Vance addressed the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The vice president at first offered very firm remarks that the woman attempted to ram agents with her car. He said it was a \u201clie\u201d that this was \u201csome innocent woman\u201d when she was out protesting ICE action in the area.<\/p>\n

Asked whether Vance risked pre-empting an investigation by laying out specific claims as a probe was just underway, Vance argued that \u201cwhat you see is what you get in this case.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYou have a woman who aimed her car at a law enforcement officer and pressed on the accelerator. Nobody debates that,\u201d he said, despite those claims being under debate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can believe that her death is a tragedy while also recognizing that it\u2019s a tragedy of her own making and a tragedy of the far left who has marshaled an entire movement, a lunatic fringe, against our law enforcement officers,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Many Democrats have slammed the administration\u2019s conclusions, arguing that the video does not appear to show the woman trying to hit officers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2h ago \/ 1:55 PM EST<\/p>\n

Trump says Republicans who voted for war powers measure ‘should never be elected to office again’<\/h2>\n
\n

Trump slammed five Republican senators who voted along with Democrats to advance a bipartisan resolution to block him from using military force \u201cwithin or against Venezuela\u201d unless he gets prior approval from Congress. <\/p>\n

The vote of 52-47 on the war powers measure came after an unsuccessful plea by Republican leaders to sink it and preserve Trump\u2019s authority, as he threatens a \u201csecond wave\u201d of attacks on Venezuela.<\/p>\n

GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Todd Young of Indiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri joined with Democrats to move the legislation forward. <\/p>\n

Trump slammed those five Republicans, calling their votes an act of \u201cstupidity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRepublicans should be ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our Powers to fight and defend the United States of America. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young should never be elected to office again,\u201d Trump\u00a0wrote<\/a>\u00a0on Truth Social. \u201cThis Vote greatly hampers American Self Defense and National Security, impeding the President\u2019s Authority as Commander in Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2h ago \/ 1:44 PM EST<\/p>\n

Vance announces White House is creating a position to investigate alleged fraud in states<\/h2>\n
\n

Vance announced at a White House briefing that the administration is creating a new assistant attorney general position to investigate alleged fraud across various states.<\/p>\n

“We know that the fraud isn’t just happening in Minneapolis; it’s also happening in states like Ohio. It’s happening in states like California,” Vance said.<\/p>\n

“What we’re doing in order to help coordinate this remarkable interagency effort from the Trump administration, but also to make sure that we prosecute the bad guys, and do it as swiftly and efficiently as possible, is we are creating a new assistant attorney general position who will have nationwide jurisdiction over the issue of fraud,” he said.<\/p>\n

\n

The vice president said the position will be run out of the White House, supervised by him and Trump.<\/p>\n

Vance said the administration will nominate someone for the role in the coming days and that he’s spoken to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who he said has “promised me swift confirmation for this official.”<\/p>\n

“This is the person who is going to make sure that we stop defrauding the American people,” Vance said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

3h ago \/ 12:45 PM EST<\/p>\n

Judge rules that a fifth federal prosecutor appointed by Pam Bondi is serving unlawfully <\/h2>\n
\n

The top federal prosecutor in the Northern District of New York is serving in the position unlawfully,\u00a0a judge ruled today.<\/a><\/p>\n

U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield\u2019s\u00a0ruling\u00a0<\/a>against acting U.S. Attorney John Sarcone III is the fifth time that a judge has ruled that a top prosecutor appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi was serving in the position unlawfully.<\/p>\n

Similarly to other cases, Schofield ruled the Justice Department had tried to use impermissible work-arounds to keep Sarcone in office despite a 120-day limit for U.S. attorneys whose nominations had not been confirmed by the Senate.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

3h ago \/ 12:41 PM EST<\/p>\n

Hakeem Jeffries commemorates anniversary of mass shooting that injured then-Rep. Gabby Giffords<\/h2>\n
\n

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., delivered remarks commemorating the 15th anniversary of a 2011 shooting that left then-Rep. Gabby Giffords injured and six dead.<\/p>\n

Giffords, D-Ariz., sat next to Jeffries on the House floor as he made his remarks.<\/p>\n

“House Democrats stand with Gabby and with all Americans who say, ‘Enough is enough,'” Jeffries said in remarks on the House floor. “Enough with the gun violence epidemic being the leading cause of death for the children in this country. Enough with mass shootings being as frequent as the common cold.”<\/p>\n

Jeffries called for tightening gun background checks and banning assault weapons \u2014 two of Democrats’ main priorities in addressing gun violence.<\/p>\n

Democrats planned to introduce a joint resolution honoring the memory of the six people killed in the shooting, the gun violence prevention group Giffords said in a news release. A dozen others were injured in the shooting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

4h ago \/ 12:06 PM EST<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy says U.S. security guarantees document set to be finalized with Trump<\/h2>\n
\n

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today that the text of a\u00a0bilateral security guarantee between Kyiv and Washington<\/a>\u00a0was \u201cessentially ready\u201d to be finalized with Trump.<\/p>\n

As a cornerstone of any postwar settlement, Ukraine\u00a0has sought strong guarantees<\/a>\u00a0that commit the U.S. and other Western allies to come to Ukraine\u2019s aid if Russia invades again.<\/p>\n

Ukrainian and U.S. envoys, joined by a coalition of Ukraine\u2019s allies, have been negotiating in Paris this week to iron out remaining disagreements in a peace framework Washington is seeking to hash out with Kyiv before presenting it to Russia. On Tuesday, the U.S. endorsed the idea of providing security guarantees for Ukraine for the first time.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

4h ago \/ 11:58 AM EST<\/p>\n

IRC says it stands ready to expand humanitarian response in Venezuela, Colombia and region<\/h2>\n
\n

The International Rescue Committee said today that it stands ready to expand its humanitarian response in Venezuela, Colombia and the surrounding region if the current instability there worsens.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecent events in Venezuela create new uncertainty for people long grappling with political and economic instability,\u201d said IRC President and CEO David Miliband in a statement.<\/p>\n

Miliband said there are regional implications, including in Colombia, which he noted is \u201calready home to nearly 3 million Venezuelan refugees hosted in neighboring states.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said that Colombia is on the IRC\u2019s\u00a02026 Emergency Watchlist<\/a> \u201cas the potential for a new and major economic crisis and displacement out of Venezuela grows, coupled with risks of escalating internal conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

4h ago \/ 11:50 AM EST<\/p>\n

Senate advances measure to restrict Trump\u2019s power to use military force in Venezuela<\/h2>\n
\n

The Senate fired a warning shot at Trump, voting this morning to advance a\u00a0bipartisan resolution to block him from using military force \u201cwithin or against Venezuela\u201d unless he gets prior approval from Congress.<\/p>\n

The vote of 52-47 on the war powers measure came after an unsuccessful plea by Republican leaders to sink it and preserve Trump\u2019s authority, as he threatens a \u201csecond wave\u201d of attacks on Venezuela. Trump has declared that the U.S. would \u201crun\u201d the country temporarily after he ordered a military operation last week to capture and extradite leader Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/p>\n

The legislation, led by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., was co-sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

4h ago \/ 11:48 AM EST<\/p>\n

Trump has announced deals with drugmakers to cut costs. Will they save people money?<\/h2>\n
\n

Trump\u2019s deals with pharmaceutical companies are likely to have only a limited impact on Americans\u2019 drug spending, experts say.<\/p>\n

Since Sept. 30, the Trump administration has struck deals with 14 drugmakers in exchange for tariff relief, according to the\u00a0White House<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The agreements \u2014 which haven\u2019t gone into effect yet \u2014 adopt a \u201cmost favored nation<\/a>\u201d pricing model. They tie U.S. prices to those paid in other wealthy countries, lowering what Medicaid pays for the drugs, as well as offer discounts for people paying in cash through TrumpRx, a new self-pay platform.<\/p>\n

Most of the deals, however, don\u2019t affect what people with private insurance or Medicare pay for the drugs. People with Medicaid \u2014 who typically have minimal or no copays for prescriptions \u2014 already pay very little.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

5h ago \/ 11:17 AM EST<\/p>\n

Reality TV star Spencer Pratt launches campaign for Los Angeles mayor<\/h2>\n
\n

Spencer Pratt, a reality TV star best known for his role on MTV’s “The Hills,” announced today that he would run for mayor of Los Angeles this year.<\/p>\n

Pratt, who married fellow “The Hills” star Heidi Montag, went viral last year for his online commentary about the wildfires that ravaged the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Pratt and Montag lost their house in the fires.<\/p>\n

In a speech he posted on social media this week, Pratt told a crowd, “I have to tell you the most heartbreaking part of the past year wasn\u2019t being displaced or losing everything I own. It was the realization that all of this was preventable.”<\/p>\n

\n

Pratt took aim at California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who faced criticism last year for being in Ghana when the wildfires first broke out.<\/p>\n

“Our elected officials were warned for years about brush management, about the homeless crisis interrupting our fire safety, about our city\u2019s crumbling infrastructure, but they did nothing,” Pratt told the crowd in his video. “They all stood by while our community became a tinder box, and when the photo-ops were done, they retreated into their office and buried fire victims in bureaucracy.”<\/p>\n

“This isn\u2019t just a political failure, it\u2019s a moral one,” he added.<\/p>\n

In the speech, Pratt reflected on the last year since his family lost its home, telling attendees, “I have realized that the city I love is being managed into the ground by people who don\u2019t have the courage to actually lead.”<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m done waiting for someone to take real action. That\u2019s why I am running for mayor,” he added. “Let me be clear. This just isn\u2019t a campaign. This is a mission, and we are going to expose the system. We are going into every dark corner of L.A. politics and disinfecting the city with our light. And when we are done, L.A. is going to be camera-ready again.”<\/p>\n

Bass last month launched<\/a> her re-election campaign. Before she was mayor, she served California in Congress.<\/p>\n

The nonpartisan mayoral primary will be on June 2, after which the two candidates who receive the most votes will advance to a general election.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

5h ago \/ 11:15 AM EST<\/p>\n

Thune throws cold water on clean extension of ACA subsidies<\/h2>\n
\n

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., reiterated that the clean three-year extension of expired ACA tax credits that the House will vote on today has no future in the Senate without changes, saying, \u201cThere\u2019s no appetite to do a straight-up extension.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had that vote, as you know, already, but we\u2019ll see what happens from the working group, and if they can come up with something that has reforms, and we\u2019ll go from there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Separately, Thune said the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the president \u201cgreenlit\u201d yesterday would probably originate in the House. Thune added that although Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had not yet said he would bring that bill to the floor, he anticipated that the House leader would do so given that the legislation is a priority for the White House.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

5h ago \/ 10:43 AM EST<\/p>\n

White House ballroom plans to be presented at hearing <\/h2>\n
\n

The Trump administration is expected to present updated plans for the controversial new White House ballroom at a National Capital Planning Commission hearing this afternoon as part of a formal review process. It comes after growing pressure from historic preservationists and a federal lawsuit objecting to the changes. The ballroom is expected to be completed by the summer of 2028. NBC News\u2019 Peter Alexander reports for “Today.”<\/p>\n

\n

\"New<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

6h ago \/ 9:46 AM EST<\/p>\n

California loses $160M for delaying revocation of 17,000 commercial driver\u2019s licenses for immigrants <\/h2>\n
\n

California will lose $160 million for delaying the revocations of 17,000 commercial driver\u2019s licenses for immigrants, federal transportation officials announced yesterday.<\/p>\n

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy already withheld $40 million in federal funding because he said California isn\u2019t enforcing English proficiency requirements for truckers.<\/p>\n

The state notified these drivers in the fall that they would lose their licenses after a federal audit found problems that included licenses for truckers and bus drivers that remained valid long after an immigrant\u2019s visa expired. Some licenses were also given to citizens of Mexico and Canada who don\u2019t qualify. More than one-quarter of the small sample of California licenses that investigators reviewed were unlawful.<\/p>\n

But then last week California said it would delay those revocations until March after immigrant groups sued the state because of concerns that some groups were being unfairly targeted. Duffy said the state was supposed to revoke those licenses by Monday.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

7h ago \/ 9:04 AM EST<\/p>\n

European leaders warn U.S. is undermining world order<\/h2>\n
\n

Key European allies are criticizing U.S. global leadership in the wake of tensions over Venezuela, Ukraine and Greenland.<\/p>\n

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who has a largely ceremonial role, warned of a major realignment in unusually strong remarks at an event in Berlin last night.<\/p>\n

Steinmeier said there had been a \u201cbreakdown of values by our most important partner, the USA, which helped build this world order,\u201d according to a translation by Reuters.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cIt is about preventing the world from turning into a den of robbers, where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want, where regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers.\u201d<\/p>\n

France\u2019s President Emmanuel Macron also criticized U.S. leadership in separate remarks this morning, saying that events in recent days have confirmed \u201cmajor global powers are seeking to divide the world among themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Macron told a gathering of ambassadors that the U.S. was \u201cgradually turning away from some of its allies and giving up on established rules.\u201d<\/p>\n

Macron also criticized China, Russia and Iran, adding: \u201cWe are in a world where might is right, and perhaps Europe is the only forum now where we can reaffirm these values and rules so dear to us.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

7h ago \/ 8:29 AM EST<\/p>\n

House Democrat to introduce impeachment articles against Kristi Noem<\/h2>\n
\n

Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., announced yesterday that she will introduce articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for what Kelly calls \u201cobstruction of justice, violation of public trust, and self-dealing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Any member of the House can introduce articles of impeachment against a Cabinet official.\u00a0No action has to be taken on those articles. Republicans, who control the floor and committees, will not bring this impeachment resolution forward.<\/p>\n

\n

Kelly could try to introduce this impeachment under the privileges of the House, which would request a vote on the matter within two legislative days. In that scenario, Republicans can offer a \u201cmotion to table\u201d or \u201cmotion to refer to committee,\u201d to sideline the effort. Kelly does not specify in her press release that she will attempt this route.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Other Democrats have introduced impeachment resolutions of Trump and Cabinet officials this Congress that have gone nowhere:<\/p>\n

Rep. Al Green, of Texas, has introduced articles of impeachment against Trump several times.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rep. Shri Thanedar, of Michigan, introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.<\/p>\n

Rep. Haley Stevens, of Michigan, introduced articles of impeachment against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kelly is currently running for the Senate in Illinois.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

7h ago \/ 8:28 AM EST<\/p>\n

U.S. halts assistance to Somali government, accusing it of seizing food aid<\/h2>\n
\n

The State Department said it had paused all U.S. assistance to Somalia\u2019s federal government, citing reports that officials had destroyed a U.S.-funded World Food Program warehouse and \u201cillegally seized\u201d 76 metric tons of food aid meant for civilians in the East African country, one of the world\u2019s poorest.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance,\u201d the department said yesterday in a post on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny resumption of assistance will be dependent upon the Somali Federal Government, taking accountability for its unacceptable actions and taking appropriate remedial steps,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

Somali officials have not yet responded to the allegations. It is unclear how much assistance will be affected, as the Trump administration made drastic cuts to U.S. foreign aid last year.<\/p>\n

The pause in assistance comes amid mounting White House attacks on Somali immigrants in the U.S., including over unsubstantiated claims of fraud at child care centers<\/a> in Minnesota. The Trump administration has increased immigration raids in Minneapolis, home to the country\u2019s largest Somali community, and Somalia is one of 19 countries whose nationals are barred from entering the U.S., as well as continuing their immigration applications. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

8h ago \/ 7:43 AM EST<\/p>\n

Steny Hoyer, longtime Pelosi No. 2, to retire from Congress<\/h2>\n
\n

Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., will announce this morning that he is not seeking re-election, a spokesperson for the congressman confirmed to NBC News. <\/p>\n

The 86-year-old is among the longest-serving members of Congress, having held his seat since he won a special election in 1981<\/a>. Hoyer plans to make his formal announcement when he speaks on the House floor at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not want to be one of those members who clearly stayed, outstayed his or her ability to do the job,\u201d Hoyer told The Washington Post<\/a> about his retirement plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

8h ago \/ 7:43 AM EST<\/p>\n

Gov. Josh Shapiro announces he’s running for re-election <\/h2>\n
\n

Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pa., announced in a video this morning that he is running for re-election. <\/p>\n

“We’ve gotten s— done all across our commonwealth to make a real difference in people’s lives,” he said in a video posted <\/a>on<\/a> X<\/a>, laying out his credentials for issues including job growth, championing public safety and cutting taxes.<\/p>\n

Shapiro won his 2022 race for governor with 56.5% of the vote, while his Republican opponent Doug Mastriano garnered 41.7%. The swing state is often a bellwether for the direction of the country’s politics.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, he announced that his campaign for governor ended last year with more than $30 million <\/a>on hand. <\/p>\n

The governor has often been floated as a potential 2028 presidential contender.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

8h ago \/ 7:43 AM EST<\/p>\n

Congress to vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies <\/h2>\n
\n

Congress is one step closer to providing some relief to the millions of Americans who saw their health care premiums skyrocket at the start of the year. With a handful of Republicans bucking their party\u2019s leaders, the House approved a procedural step to force a vote on a two-year extension of their Affordable Care Act subsidies. NBC\u2019s Ryan Nobles reports for “TODAY.”<\/p>\n

\n

\"Congress<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

8h ago \/ 7:43 AM EST<\/p>\n

Senate to vote on whether to advance war powers resolution<\/h2>\n
\n

The Senate will vote this morning on whether to advance a resolution that would require\u00a0congressional authorization before the military can engage in additional hostilities within or against Venezuela.<\/p>\n

The resolution, which only needs a simple majority to advance, is the first congressional test of whether Republicans will publicly oppose Trump\u2019s actions against Venezuela after the capture of Nicol\u00e1s\u00a0<\/strong>Maduro.<\/p>\n

The vote would be to discharge the resolution to the full Senate. It was introduced by Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y, and Adam Schiff, D-Calif.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not the surgical execution of an arrest warrant, it was much bigger than that before last Saturday, and it\u2019s going to be much bigger than that from now for the next few years,\u201d Kaine told reporters yesterday. \u201cSo, this is something that shouldn\u2019t happen without Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., released a statement opposing the resolution, calling it \u201cthe wrong message to send to hardened drug traffickers and to dictators.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s be clear about what that resolution does and what it does not do,\u201d Barrasso said in a statement. \u201cIt does not reassert Congress\u2019s powers. It does not make America stronger. It makes America weaker and less safe. It would weaken the President\u2019s legitimate, constitutional authority.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

15m ago \/ 3:11 PM EST Venezuela says it will release an \u2018important number\u2019 of political prisoners Venezuela is releasing an \u201cimportant number\u201d of political prisoners, including foreigners, the head of\u00a0the country\u2019s legislature said today. The announcement could be the first sign that the new government is open to returning some freedom of expression to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9021,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9020"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9020\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}