{"id":9033,"date":"2026-01-09T20:42:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T20:42:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/01\/09\/live-updates-trump-meets-with-oil-executives-at-white-house-nbc-news\/"},"modified":"2026-01-09T20:42:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T20:42:47","slug":"live-updates-trump-meets-with-oil-executives-at-white-house-nbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/01\/09\/live-updates-trump-meets-with-oil-executives-at-white-house-nbc-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Trump meets with oil executives at White House &#8211; NBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div data-astro-cid-6llnna2y>\n<div data-astro-cid-6llnna2y>\n<p> Updated <\/p>\n<div q:container=\"paused\" q:version=\"1.15.0\" q:render=\"ssr\" q:base=\"https:\/\/nodeassets.nbcnews.com\/libra\/libra-assets\/qwik-assets\/\" q:manifest-hash=\"mk1t0z\" q:instance=\"7uplrxksz0y\">\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-01-09T20:41:12.808Z\" on-document:-l-i-b-r-a_-l-a-t-e-s-t_-c-a-r-d-s_-u-p-d-a-t-e-d_-e-v-e-n-t=\"q-D7LYpGOW.js#s_7ahy7323P2M[0 1]\" q:key=\"iA_0\" q:id=\"1\">January 09, 2026, 3:41 PM EST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p> By  NBC News <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"summary-box-qwik\" q:key=\"jS_2\" q:container=\"paused\" q:version=\"1.15.0\" q:render=\"ssr\" q:base=\"https:\/\/nodeassets.nbcnews.com\/libra\/libra-assets\/qwik-assets\/\" q:manifest-hash=\"mk1t0z\" q:instance=\"8rwe38aps8u\">\n<h2 q:key=\"jS_0\">What to know today&#8230;<\/h2>\n<ul q:key=\"jS_1\">\n<li q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"5\"><strong>OIL EXECUTIVES MEETING: <\/strong>President Donald Trump is meeting with oil executives at the White House following the U.S. operation in Venezuela last week. The meeting comes after Trump announced that the country would &#8220;turn over&#8221; up to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S. <\/li>\n<li q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"7\"><strong>VENEZUELA ATTACK<\/strong>: Trump said this morning that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/trump-administration\/live-blog\/trump-venezuela-mexico-iran-ukraine-greenland-congress-live-updates-rcna252277#rcrd96100\" target=\"_blank\">a \u201cpreviously expected\u201d second wave<\/a> of attacks on Venezuela won&#8217;t be necessary, in part because of the country\u2019s cooperation on U.S. plans to rebuild its oil infrastructure following the extradition of its president, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/li>\n<li q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"9\"><strong>MEXICO CARTELS:<\/strong> The president also said in a Fox News interview last night that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/trump-administration\/live-blog\/trump-venezuela-mexico-iran-ukraine-greenland-congress-live-updates-rcna252277#rcrd96101\" target=\"_blank\">the U.S. would begin striking drug cartels on land<\/a> and pointed to their influence in Mexico.<\/li>\n<li q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"b\"><strong>IRAN UNREST:<\/strong> Iran\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/iran\/iranian-government-shuts-internet-violent-crackdown-continues-rcna253147\" target=\"_blank\">supreme leader accused protesters<\/a> rocking the country of acting on behalf of Trump as Tehran struggles to contain the widespread protests that began two weeks ago over the country&#8217;s economic conditions.<\/li>\n<li q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"d\"><strong>TANKER SEIZED: <\/strong>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/venezuela\/us-seizes-tanker-olina-caribbean-venezuela-russia-oil-rcna253170\" target=\"_blank\">U.S. seized an oil tanker <\/a>in the Caribbean Sea overnight, just days after taking control of another that had fled the U.S. blockade of Venezuela.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div q:id=\"1\" on:qvisible=\"q-rCxGxQy9.js#_hW[0]\" on-document:qidle=\"q-rCxGxQy9.js#_hW[1]\" q:container=\"paused\" q:version=\"1.15.0\" q:render=\"ssr\" q:base=\"https:\/\/nodeassets.nbcnews.com\/libra\/libra-assets\/qwik-assets\/\" q:manifest-hash=\"mk1t0z\" q:instance=\"e9595ebnaga\">\n<div id=\"rcrd96164\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T20:41:12.808Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"d\">\n<p>Just now<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Trump: &#8216;We have an armada&#8217; near Venezuela<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"k\">Speaking about Venezuela, the president said that the U.S. has an &#8220;armada&#8221; nearby but that he didn&#8217;t plan to use it against Venezuelans, whom he said are getting along well with the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"n\">&#8220;We have an armada, a giant armada like nobody\u2019s ever seen in that part of the world, and it\u2019s stationed off the coast,&#8221; Trump said at the White House while meeting with U.S. oil executives. &#8220;And we are getting along so well with the people that are involved representing Venezuela that I don\u2019t think we\u2019re going to have any, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to be necessary to do the second wave.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"rcrd96164-overflow-content\" data-testid=\"markupembeds-overflow\" q:id=\"p\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"s\">Earlier this morning, the president said in a post on Truth Social that a planned second attack against the Venezuelan government <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/trump-administration\/live-blog\/trump-venezuela-mexico-iran-ukraine-greenland-congress-live-updates-rcna252277\/rcrd96100?canonicalCard=true\" target=\"_blank\">was cancelled<\/a>. The first attack came last week, when the U.S. on Saturday captured Venezuela&#8217;s president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"v\">&#8220;We were planning on a second wave, but the first wave was so powerful and so good and so strong, and frankly, the people in the country, they really they did the right thing. They were smart. They did the right thing. They didn\u2019t want to go through a second wave,&#8221; Trump added this afternoon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96162\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T20:24:52.352Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"x\">\n<p>16m ago \/ 3:24 PM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Trump says oil companies will spend $100 billion in Venezuela<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"14\">During his remarks at a roundtable with U.S. oil executives, the president announced that the companies are prepared to spend $100 billion to rebuild the oil infrastructure in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"17\">&#8220;The plan is for them to spend &#8212; meaning our giant oil companies &#8212; will be spending at least $100 billion of their money, not the government\u2019s money,&#8221; Trump told reporters.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1a\">He added, &#8220;They don\u2019t need government money, but they need government protection and need government security that when they spend all this money, it\u2019s going to be there so they get the money back and make a very nice return. The plan is for them to spend at least $100 million to rebuild the capacity and the infrastructure necessary.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"rcrd96162-overflow-content\" data-testid=\"markupembeds-overflow\" q:id=\"1c\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1f\">Trump pointed to different ways Venezuelan oil can be used in the U.S., including to build roads.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1i\">He called Venezuelan oil &#8220;a heavy oil, very good oil, great oil.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1l\">Trump added, &#8220;It\u2019s fantastic for certain things, like asphalt roads. Best there is in the world for asphalt roads and other things.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96161\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T20:19:37.299Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"1n\">\n<p>21m ago \/ 3:19 PM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan will invite Jack Smith to testify at a public hearing<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1t\">House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan will invite former special counsel Jack Smith to testify in a public hearing, a source familiar confirmed to NBC News. This comes after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/justice-department\/jack-smith-tells-congress-prove-trump-engaged-criminal-scheme-overturn-rcna249715\" target=\"_blank\">Smith sat for an eight-hour closed-door deposition<\/a> with the committee in December.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1w\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2026\/01\/09\/congress\/jack-smith-will-testify-in-public-00718945\" target=\"_blank\">Politico first<\/a> reported the news today.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"1z\">\u201cAfter Republicans forced Jack Smith into a backroom interrogation and rejected our calls for an open public hearing, now they decide they want a public hearing with Jack Smith after all,\u201d said Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Judiciary Democrat. He added that a public hearing is \u201ca win for truth-seeking Americans and yet another looming humiliation for Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"22\">The Judiciary Committee released the entire transcript and video of the closed-door deposition.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/congress\/jack-smith-closed-door-testimony-released-house-republicans-judiciary-rcna251732\" target=\"_blank\">Smith told lawmakers<\/a>\u00a0that his team found \u201cproof beyond a reasonable doubt\u201d that Trump engaged in a \u201ccriminal scheme\u201d to overturn the 2020 election results.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96157\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T20:04:02.310Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"24\">\n<p>37m ago \/ 3:04 PM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Trump&#8217;s meeting with oil executives set to kick off shortly<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"2b\">The president&#8217;s roundtable with oil executives is set to kick off momentarily. It comes as the president all week has been promoting his plan to sell Venezuelan oil and allow American oil companies to revitalize the oil infrastructure in the South American nation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96153\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T19:45:34.197Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"2f\">\n<p>55m ago \/ 2:45 PM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Trump announces February meeting with Colombian president <\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"2l\">In a post on Truth Social this afternoon, Trump said he will host Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House in February.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"2o\">&#8220;I look forward to having a meeting with Gustavo Petro, the President of Colombia, in the White House, during the first week of February,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;I am sure it will work out very well for Colombia, and the U.S.A., but, cocaine and other drugs must be STOPPED from coming into the United States.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"2r\">Trump has long accused Petro of supporting the manufacturing of cocaine in Colombia.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"2u\">Last week, after the military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of that country&#8217;s president, Trump told reporters when asked about Petro, &#8220;Well, he has cocaine mills. He has factories where he makes cocaine.\u00a0And\u00a0yeah, I think I stick by my first statement. He\u2019s making cocaine. They\u2019re sending it into the United States. So he does have to watch his ass.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"2x\">In October, in<a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/115401182824973489\" target=\"_blank\"> a post<\/a> on Truth Social, Trump called Petro an &#8220;illegal drug dealer,&#8221; writing, \u201cPresident Gustavo\u00a0Petro, of Colombia, is an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs, in big\u00a0and\u00a0small fields, all over Colombia. It has become the biggest business in Colombia, by far,\u00a0and\u00a0Petro\u00a0does nothing to stop it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96148\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T19:07:57.934Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"2z\">\n<p>2h ago \/ 2:07 PM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">G7 summit shifting to accommodate Trump&#8217;s schedule, White House says<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"36\">The Group of Seven, or G7, summit in France \u201ckindly shifted\u201d its dates to \u201caccommodate\u201d Trump\u2019s schedule, according to a White House official. The original dates were slated for June 14 to June 16 in Evian-les-Bains and now will take place a day later, from June 15 to June 17, so that Trump can participate.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"39\">\u00a0\u201cAs the leader of the free world, our partners believed that President Trump\u2019s attendance at the G7 Summit was essential,\u201d the official said. June 14 is Trump\u2019s birthday and it\u2019s also when a major UFC event will be held on the South Lawn of the White House.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96146\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T19:06:49.919Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"3b\">\n<p>2h ago \/ 2:06 PM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">White House &#8220;reviewing protocols regarding economic data releases&#8221; after &#8220;inadvertent&#8221; early disclosure of jobs data<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"3h\">A White House official says the administration is \u201creviewing protocols regarding economic data releases\u201d after Trump last night posted some information from today\u2019s jobs report well before the information was officially announced.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"3k\">Trump\u2019s post, which <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/115862513677602476\" target=\"_blank\">went out at 8:20 p.m. ET yesterday<\/a>, showed that the private sector added 654,000 jobs &#8220;since January.&#8221; That data accurately matched the jobs report, which did not come out until 8:30 a.m. ET today.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"3n\">A White House official conceded there &#8220;was an inadvertent public disclosure of aggregate data that was partially derived from pre-released information.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<div id=\"rcrd96146-overflow-content\" data-testid=\"markupembeds-overflow\" q:id=\"3p\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"3s\">The \u201cEmployment Situation\u201d report, as it is officially called, is one of the most market-sensitive announcements that the federal government makes and is reviewed intensely by businesses, investors and markets around the world.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"3v\">Friday\u2019s jobs report showed that the economy added 50,000 roles in December, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/business\/economy\/december-jobs-report-unemployment-rate-rcna253115\" target=\"_blank\">capped off the worst year for hiring since 2020.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"3y\">The official said &#8220;President Trump\u2019s policies are laying the groundwork for an economic resurgence.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96139\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T17:51:30.238Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"40\">\n<p>3h ago \/ 12:51 PM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Bessent announces anti-fraud initiatives in Minnesota<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"46\">Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced today that the Trump administration is launching several initiatives to investigate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/justice-department\/trump-bondi-justice-department-minnesota-fraud-investigations-congress-rcna252794\" target=\"_blank\">alleged fraud in Minnesota<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"49\">At a press conference in Minneapolis, Bessent said his department will &#8220;target fraud here in Minnesota, and the Minnesota protocols will serve as a genesis and a launching pad for investigations into other states.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"4c\">Bessent said the administration has &#8220;followed the money&#8221; in Minnesota and has identified money that have serviced businesses &#8220;that may have transferred taxpayer funds overseas.&#8221; He said one of his teams &#8220;has just provided formal notification to these businesses that they are under investigation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"rcrd96139-overflow-content\" data-testid=\"markupembeds-overflow\" q:id=\"4e\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"4h\">He also announced that the IRS civil enforcement is auditing financial institutions that he said &#8220;facilitated the laundering of Minnesota frauds.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"4k\">&#8220;The IRS will also soon announce the formation of a task force to investigate any fraud and abuse involving pandemic era tax incentives and misuse of 501(c)(3) tax exempt status by entities implicated in the Minnesota based social services fraud schemes,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"4n\">The treasury secretary referred to the creation of a new assistant attorney general position, announced yesterday by Vice President JD Vance, who will investigate and oversee these probes by the administration into alleged fraud in various states. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"4q\">&#8220;President Trump has instructed several agencies the in his administration, led by this new assistant attorney general, to end this fraud and recover funds for the American taxpayer,&#8221; Bessent said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96129\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T17:06:14.300Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"4u\">\n<p>4h ago \/ 12:06 PM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Senators urged Apple and Google to remove Musk\u2019s X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes <\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"51\">Three Democratic senators urged Apple and Google to remove Elon Musk\u2019s apps\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/tech\/elon-musk\/mother-one-elon-musks-children-says-ai-bot-wont-stop-creating-sexualiz-rcna252416\" target=\"_blank\">X and Grok from their app<\/a>\u00a0stores yesterday evening after xAI\u2019s Grok artificial intelligence tool had been used to flood X with sexualized nonconsensual images of real people. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"54\">Hours later, X adjusted how Grok operated on the social media site, restricting its image generation to paying premium subscribers, and seemingly restricting what types of images Grok can create on X.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"57\">The Grok reply bot on X has churned out\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/tech\/internet\/x-paywall-ai-image-grok-app-bikini-allows-sexual-deepfakes-rcna252647\" target=\"_blank\">thousands of sexualized images<\/a>\u00a0an hour this week, mostly of women but at times of children. Early today, it appeared to have pivoted to limiting that feature on the social media app. But on the stand-alone Grok app and website, Grok will still create sexualized deepfakes.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"5a\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/tech\/internet\/senators-urged-apple-google-remove-x-grok-app-stores-rcna253048\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96131\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T16:23:27.063Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"5c\">\n<p>5h ago \/ 11:23 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">State Department delegation travels to Venezuela<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"5i\">A U.S. delegation of diplomatic and security personnel from the Venezuela Affairs Unit, including Charg\u00e9\u00a0d\u2019Affaires\u00a0John T. McNamara, traveled to Caracas today \u201cto conduct\u00a0an initial\u00a0assessment for a potential phased resumption of operations,\u201d a U.S. official said. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"5l\">The department is\u00a0making preparations to allow for a reopening of the U.S, Embassy \u201cshould the president make that decision,\u201d a senior official confirmed earlier this week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96125\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T15:47:42.445Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"5n\">\n<p>5h ago \/ 10:47 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Iran cuts off internet as protests for regime change intensify <\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"5t\">Mass anti-government protests are growing across Iran where demonstrators have taken to the streets to demand a regime change. Now authorities are trying to stifle the unrest by shutting down the internet nationwide, making it harder for protesters to organize and get their message to the world. It comes as Trump is warning the U.S. could intervene on the side of the demonstrators. Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded that the president should focus on problems in his own country and claimed the demonstrators are being stoked from abroad. NBC\u2019s Richard Engel reports for &#8220;TODAY.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"jwplayer-with-overlay\" on-document:qidle=\"q-BP0bRgEa.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"GH_16\" q:id=\"5x\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" q:slot=\"poster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,g_auto,w_390,h_220\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_01\/1767962086969_tdy_news_7a_engel_iran_protests_intensify_260109_1920x1080-ktrr8q.avif\" alt=\"Iran cuts off internet as protests for regime change intensify\" width=\"390\" height=\"219.375\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96117\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T14:58:44.805Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"6g\">\n<p>6h ago \/ 9:58 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Exclusive: Blasting Gavin Newsom, Trump weighs California wildfire rebuilding order <\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"6n\">The White House is considering issuing an executive order in the coming days to address what the president views as an unacceptably slow permitting process that is limiting the rebuilding of homes destroyed in last year\u2019s devastating Southern California wildfires.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"6q\">The administration is drafting an order that would allow builders receiving federal funds to self-certify their compliance with California state and local building permits, circumventing local authorities to speed the building process, a source familiar with the White House deliberations told NBC News.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"6t\">Fewer than a dozen homes have been rebuilt in the year since the Palisades and Eaton fires ripped through Southern California,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/year-la-area-wildfires-destroyed-thousands-homes-fewer-dozen-rebuilt-rcna252751\" target=\"_blank\">killing 31 people and destroying more than 16,000 structures, mostly homes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/los-angeles-wildfires-by-numbers-palisades-altadena-9c077a61ab1482638d12885db76dce49\" target=\"_blank\">The A<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/los-angeles-wildfires-by-numbers-palisades-altadena-9c077a61ab1482638d12885db76dce49\" target=\"_blank\">ssociated Press reported<\/a>, citing local and state data.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"6w\">About 900 homes are under construction and could be completed this year, the news agency reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"6z\">The White House\u2019s proposed order would also direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to investigate California\u2019s use of other disaster-related federal funds, according to the source familiar with its contents. Trump has not yet signed off on the final order.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div id=\"rcrd96117-overflow-content\" data-testid=\"markupembeds-overflow\" q:id=\"71\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"74\">The president, who takes great pride in his own background as a builder, has repeatedly attacked Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a possible 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, over their handling of California\u2019s wildfire response and rebuilding effort.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"77\">In a <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/115862665860473431\" target=\"_blank\">Truth Social post <\/a>last night, Trump labeled the pair \u201cincompetent,\u201d writing\u00a0they are \u201cabsolutely unable to get people permits to rebuild there homes. All Federal permits have been issued and received, long ago!\u201d<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"7a\">Newsom, in turn, has accused Trump of failing to respond to his request for billions in relief money and said the state and local governments have moved quickly to clear debris, pass legislation and issue permits to rebuild. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"7d\">\u201cIt\u2019s time for the president of the United States to do his job, not turn his back on Americans who happen to live in the great state of California,&#8221; the governor said in his final State of the State speech yesterday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96120\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T14:54:08.622Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"7h\">\n<p>6h ago \/ 9:54 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Trump plans to make ballroom addition as tall as the White House <\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"7n\">The White House unveiled its plans yesterday for Trump\u2019s expansive ballroom inside a newly constructed East Wing, which includes a one-story addition. The addition would be as tall as the main White House structure, with the ballroom spanning 22,000 square feet and able to seat 1,000 guests for dinners and other events. NBC\u2019s Kelly O\u2019Donnell reports for the &#8220;TODAY&#8221; show.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"jwplayer-with-overlay\" on-document:qidle=\"q-BP0bRgEa.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"GH_16\" q:id=\"7r\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" q:slot=\"poster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,g_auto,w_390,h_220\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_01\/1767965078380_tdy_news_8a_odonnell_trump_ballroom_plans_260109_1920x1080-5ikyz4.avif\" alt=\"Trump plans to make ballroom addition as tall as White House\" width=\"390\" height=\"219.375\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96113\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T14:01:18.632Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"8a\">\n<p>7h ago \/ 9:01 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">U.S. seizes another oil tanker in the Caribbean <\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"8g\">The United States has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/venezuela\/us-seize-russia-flagged-oil-tanker-bella1-marinera-venezuela-rcna252738\" target=\"_blank\">seized another oil tanker<\/a>, two U.S. officials told NBC News today, as it works to control the flow of oil to and from Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"8j\">The Olina was seized overnight in the Caribbean Sea, an operation conducted by the Coast Guard and Joint Task Force Southern Spear.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"8m\">It\u2019s the latest such enforcement action, days after the U.S. seizure of the Bella 1, a Russian-flagged \u201cshadow fleet\u201d tanker that fled the American blockade and led to a weekslong chase. The U.S. also announced the seizure Wednesday of another sanctioned tanker, the Sophia, which it said was \u201cconducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"8p\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/venezuela\/us-seizes-tanker-olina-caribbean-venezuela-russia-oil-rcna253170\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96102\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T13:45:19.136Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"8r\">\n<p>7h ago \/ 8:45 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Trump says oil companies will invest at least $100 billion<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"8x\">The president said ahead of a meeting with oil executives at the White House today that they would\u00a0spend at least $100 billion in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"90\">&#8220;At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House,&#8221; Trump said in his post on Truth Social this morning.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"93\">In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity last night, Trump said: &#8220;We&#8217;re going to meet with the biggest oil people in the world. They&#8217;re all coming here, the top 14 companies are coming here. They&#8217;re going to go in. They&#8217;re going to rebuild the whole oil infrastructure. They&#8217;re going to spend at least 100 billion dollars, and it&#8217;s an unbelievable oil that they have, and an unbelievable quality of oil and amount of oil.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96104\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T13:04:25.401Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"95\">\n<p>8h ago \/ 8:04 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Russia says U.S. freed crew members of seized oil tanker<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"9c\">The Kremlin has thanked the U.S. for the release of two Russian crew members from the oil tanker seized in the North Atlantic after a weekslong chase. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"9f\">Moscow sent a submarine and a destroyer to guard the Bella 1, both of which \u201cleft very quickly when we arrived,\u201d Trump said last night in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"9i\">\u201cThey decided not to mess around with us,\u201d Trump added.\u00a0The oil tanker had fled the U.S. blockade of Venezuela, changing its name to the Marinera and hoisting a Russian flag.<\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"figure-component\" q:key=\"hI_1\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fit,q_auto:eco,w_1250\/rockcms\/2026-01\/260109-Marinera-rs-6713c6.jpg\"  alt=\"US Venezuela\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" q:id=\"9l\"><\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Gg_6\"><span data-testid=\"caption-decoration\" q:key=\"Gg_0\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"caption-body\" q:key=\"Gg_3\">The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Munro shadowing the Bella 1 during the maritime interdiction operation.<\/span><span data-testid=\"caption-suffix-space\" q:key=\"Gg_4\">\u00a0<\/span><span q:key=\"Gg_5\">Department of Defense \/ via AP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div id=\"rcrd96104-overflow-content\" data-testid=\"markupembeds-overflow\" q:id=\"9q\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"9t\">The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement this morning that Trump &#8220;decided to release two Russian citizens from among the crew of the tanker Marinera.\u201d<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"9w\">\u201cWe welcome this decision and express our gratitude to the U.S. leadership,\u201d  ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in the statement on Telegram.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"9z\">Trump evaded a question about whether Putin had called him following the seizure. \u201cI don\u2019t want to say that,\u201d Trump told Hannity last night.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"a2\">The U.S. seized the Bella 1 in the North Atlantic on Wednesday in an operation that defied Russian warnings after a dramatic chase on the high seas. The ship is suspected to be part of Russia\u2019s so-called \u201cshadow fleet\u201d fueling its wartime economy in circumvention of international sanctions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96103\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T12:23:29.284Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"a6\">\n<p>9h ago \/ 7:23 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Iran\u2019s supreme leader accuses protesters of trying to please Trump<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"ad\">Iran\u2019s supreme leader signaled a hard line against protesters rocking the Islamic Republic, accusing them of acting on behalf of Trump as authorities struggling to contain the unrest shut the country off from the world. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"ag\">In his first major address to the nation since widespread demonstrations erupted almost two weeks ago, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said protesters were \u201cruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy,\u201d according to news agencies. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"aj\">After Trump\u2019s repeated threats to intervene, Khamenei said the president should focus on problems in the U.S.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"jwplayer-with-overlay\" on-document:qidle=\"q-BP0bRgEa.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"GH_16\" q:id=\"an\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" q:slot=\"poster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,g_auto,w_390,h_220\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_01\/1767918003372_nn_reng_iran_protests_escalate_260108_1920x1080-lgkua0.avif\" alt=\"Protests escalating across Iran\" width=\"390\" height=\"219.375\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"b7\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/iran\/iranian-government-shuts-internet-violent-crackdown-continues-rcna253147\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Read the full story here.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96101\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T12:23:28.956Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"b9\">\n<p>9h ago \/ 7:23 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Trump says U.S. to start &#8216;hitting land,&#8217; warns drug cartels &#8216;running&#8217; Mexico<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"bg\">Trump said the U.S. will expand operations against drug cartels, warning that  gangs are &#8220;running&#8221; Mexico. <\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"bj\">&#8220;We are going to start now hitting land. With regard to the cartels, the cartels are running Mexico,&#8221; he said on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/trump-announces-expansion-drug-cartel-crackdown-issues-grim-warning-iran\" target=\"_blank\">Fox News last night<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s very, very sad to watch, and see what\u2019s happened to that country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"bm\">Trump has ratcheted up his criticism of the government of Mexico \u2014 whose powerful and violent cartels traffic huge amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin and marijuana  \u2014 since the operation to capture Venezuela&#8217;s Nicol\u00e1s Maduro on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"rcrd96100\" data-pubat=\"2026-01-09T12:23:28.613Z\" on:qvisible=\"q-D1JiDBVy.js#_hW[0]\" q:id=\"bo\">\n<p>9h ago \/ 7:23 AM EST<\/p>\n<h2 q:key=\"r0_1\">Trump says second Venezuela attack not needed given cooperation<\/h2>\n<div data-icid=\"liveBlogCardLink\">\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"bu\">Trump said this morning that he had canceled &#8220;the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed&#8221; on Venezuela because of the country&#8217;s cooperation after he captured President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"bx\">&#8220;The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure,&#8221; Trump said in an early morning post on Truth Social.<\/p>\n<p q:key=\"Il_0\" q:id=\"c0\">The president added that &#8220;all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes,&#8221; referring to the U.S. blockade of oil to and from the Latin American country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated January 09, 2026, 3:41 PM EST By NBC News What to know today&#8230; OIL EXECUTIVES MEETING: President Donald Trump is meeting with oil executives at the White House following the U.S. operation in Venezuela last week. The meeting comes after Trump announced that the country would &#8220;turn over&#8221; up to 50 million barrels of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9034,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9033","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\/9033","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=9033"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9033\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}