Episode 37 | A Week in…
…and many are asking for a refund on 2026 already! Shortly after midnight on January 3, the Trump administration took military action against Venezuela, which resulted in the extradition of Maduro and his wife to the US to be accused and tried for drug trafficking. All of this was performed without congressional approval. Strangely, Trump let Fox and Friends know before informing our elected officials! While there is a precedent for not obtaining approval for military action, the event underscores the broadening authority modern presidents exercise over military force. The jury is out on whether the actions taken were illegal, though many say they were a violation of international law. We’ll see how the UN responds.
What a way to start the New Year. Trump continues to show that he is willing to exploit the law to achieve power and usurp constitutional law. Our civic leaders are violating the ethics of their professions to appease a feckless leader. This story is still unfolding, and we will continue to follow it.
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Resources:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-trumps-claims-after-u-s-strike-on-venezuela-and-capture-of-maduro
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/making-sense-of-the-us-military-operation-in-venezuela/
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-3-2026