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U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all U.S.-sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, adding pressure to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The order from Trump comes after weeks of escalating military tension in the Caribbean Sea, and four months of US air strikes on vessels off the coast of Venezuela. The US government claims to be fighting ‘narcoterrorism’.

Details of the blockade

The blockade is meant to stifle Venezuela’s main source of income: oil exports. The Venezuelan economy depends heavily on oil exports for its revenue, and the US blockade squeezes oil shipments to international markets, potentially crippling the country’s economy and weakening Maduro’s grasp on power. Critics are calling the blockade an overt act of war and are questioning its legality.

The blockade consists of 12 U.S. warships, led by the USS Gerald Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world. There is also a smattering of other supporting vessels. Amongst them are guided‑missile destroyers USS Winston S. Churchill, USS Bainbridge, USS Mahan, cruisers USS Lake Erie and USS Gettysburg, and amphibious ships USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale. There are also 30-50 US aircraft deployed in the area, including F-18s, F-35s and P-series military drones.

Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before

The U.S.’s seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker earlier this month is an example of how the blockade will operate, with US military forces boarding and seizing control of the vessel. The vessel was taken under the authority of a federal warrant and detained pending legal proceedings, halting the movement of its cargo of crude oil. US forces will most likely continue to maintain high readiness in the area, rotating vessels and aircraft as needed, while President Trump deals with the global diplomatic impact of his actions.

Trumps comments

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump announced that Venezuela was “completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever.” And that the blockade will “only get bigger” and that the shock to Venezuela will be like “nothing they have ever seen”. It certainly seems like an overt act of war. Trump continues to call Maduro “illegitimate,” something that experts across both sides of the aisle agree on. Maduro lost the Venezuelan election in June of last year, and Venezuela proved it with its own polling technology. Regardless of the loss, Maduro is still in power and has refused to step down. Polling data has found that Maduro only won 30% of the Venezuelan vote, compared to the oppositions 67%. Not only did Maduro lose, but it was a landslide loss. While human rights activists also want Maduro ousted, the way that Donald Trump is doing it brings into question the legality of his actions.

Since September, Trump has been carrying out what many human rights experts call illegal airstrikes in the name of fighting narcoterrorism. Trump has repeatedly accused Venezuela of supporting cartels in smuggling drugs into the US. The US has killed more than 100 people since September, and has not provided concrete proof that these vessels were actually carrying drugs. Venezuela held an emergency meeting on Wednesday regarding the US’s blockade.

In an interview with CNN, Marjorie Taylor Greene made a slew of critical comments about US President Donald Trump and the Republican Party as a whole. The interview comes after Trump has attacked Greene over interview and via Truth Social, leading to Greene receiving death threats from the MAGA-verse. Greene also announced her retirement from Congress in late November. In the wide-ranging interview with CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, Greene is asked about her relationship with Donald Trump, the state of the Republican party, and what Donald Trump needs to do next.

The interview began with Greene criticizing Trump’s comments on the recent murder of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. The Reiners were found dead in their home by their daughter, and their son Nick was criminally charged with their murders. Trump claimed that the Reiners were killed because of Rob’s dislike of Donald Trump, with the President claiming it was ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ that did them in. When asked about the statement, Greene claimed that it was “absolutely completely below the office of the president of the United States, classless, it was just wrong.” She continued to say that the President should have responded with compassion, and the statement was “below what we expect our president to talk like.” Later in the interview, Greene said that she would like to see Trump show empathy for Americans.

Later, when asked about the affordability crisis, Greene was critical of right-media and the Republican party, stating that while CNN has been talking about affordability, Fox News refused to until, “Republicans got crushed in that election not too long ago.” According to Greene, only then was “Fox News all of a sudden willing to talk about affordability.” She also criticized Trump’s comments, claiming the affordability crisis was a hoax, citing the irony of a billionaire telling working-class Americans that everything is affordable. Greene said Trump’s statements on the state of inflation in America were “not true”.

‘I think the dam is breaking’

Collin’s spent a good chunk of the nearly 15-minute interview asking about Republicans’ willingness to go against Trump, especially after the backlash Greene has received directly from the president. Greene claimed that when it comes to going against Trump, “the dam is breaking”. She went on to explain that last week, “13 Republicans voted with Democrats to overturn one of President Trump’s executive orders, which enabled him to fire federal workers.” Greene cited the election season and souring voter numbers as reasons for the GOP unhappiness, and said that the 8-week government shutdown has hurt the Republican party’s favorability amongst voters. Greene continued to mention how “lame duck season” is starting, as Republicans gear up for midterm elections. According to Greene, “I think the midterms are going to be very hard for republicans. I don’t see Republicans winning the midterms right now.”

That is a sign, Republicans, they’re entering the campaign phase for 2026, which is a large signal that lame duck season has begun and that Republicans will go all in for themselves in order to save their own re-elections.

According to Greene, the message is being received by Trump that Republicans are struggling in the polls and are dissatisfied with some of Trump’s decisions, right before outlining her voting record with Trump (97%). 

What Trump needs to do next

Greene also gave Trump tips for the rest of his presidency; clearly, she also sees his historic disapproval rating and hears the cries of the GOP; I’m sure she has social media. Greene was straight up when asked what Donald Trump needs to do, stating that “he needs to keep Air Force One parked in the hangar,” referencing he needs to stop what she calls a “revolving door of foreign leaders into the White House”. She was also critical of his recent meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, once labelled a “specially designated global terrorist,” and now an honoured guest in Donald Trump’s White House. Greene said that Trump, “needs to stop embracing al-Qaida ISIS terrorists who were once wanted by the us who are now president.”

Greene claims that Trump “needs to focus on the American economy that he promised his voters,” an economy that Trump claims is doing perfectly fine. With Marjorie Taylor Greene announcing her retirement from Congress and announcing her new engagement on Monday, it looks like one of MAGA’s most popular faces is finally putting politics behind her.  

In an interview with CNN, Marjorie Taylor Greene made a slew of critical comments about US President Donald Trump and the Republican Party as a whole. The interview comes after Trump has attacked Greene over interview and via Truth Social, leading to Greene receiving death threats from the MAGA-verse. Greene also announced her retirement from Congress in late November. In the wide-ranging interview with CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins, Greene is asked about her relationship with Donald Trump, the state of the Republican party, and what Donald Trump needs to do next.

The interview began with Greene criticizing Trump’s comments on the recent murder of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. The Reiners were found dead in their home by their daughter, and their son Nick was criminally charged with their murders. Trump claimed that the Reiners were killed because of Rob’s dislike of Donald Trump, with the President claiming it was ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ that did them in. When asked about the statement, Greene claimed that it was “absolutely completely below the office of the president of the United States, classless, it was just wrong.” She continued to say that the President should have responded with compassion, and the statement was “below what we expect our president to talk like.” Later in the interview, Greene said that she would like to see Trump show empathy for Americans.

Later, when asked about the affordability crisis, Greene was critical of right-media and the Republican party, stating that while CNN has been talking about affordability, Fox News refused to until, “Republicans got crushed in that election not too long ago.” According to Greene, only then was “Fox News all of a sudden willing to talk about affordability.” She also criticized Trump’s comments, claiming the affordability crisis was a hoax, citing the irony of a billionaire telling working-class Americans that everything is affordable. Greene said Trump’s statements on the state of inflation in America were “not true”.

‘I think the dam is breaking’

Collin’s spent a good chunk of the nearly 15-minute interview asking about Republicans’ willingness to go against Trump, especially after the backlash Greene has received directly from the president. Greene claimed that when it comes to going against Trump, “the dam is breaking”. She went on to explain that last week, “13 Republicans voted with Democrats to overturn one of President Trump’s executive orders, which enabled him to fire federal workers.” Greene cited the election season and souring voter numbers as reasons for the GOP unhappiness, and said that the 8-week government shutdown has hurt the Republican party’s favorability amongst voters. Greene continued to mention how “lame duck season” is starting, as Republicans gear up for midterm elections. According to Greene, “I think the midterms are going to be very hard for republicans. I don’t see Republicans winning the midterms right now.”

That is a sign, Republicans, they’re entering the campaign phase for 2026, which is a large signal that lame duck season has begun and that Republicans will go all in for themselves in order to save their own re-elections.

According to Greene, the message is being received by Trump that Republicans are struggling in the polls and are dissatisfied with some of Trump’s decisions, right before outlining her voting record with Trump (97%). 

What Trump needs to do next

Greene also gave Trump tips for the rest of his presidency; clearly, she also sees his historic disapproval rating and hears the cries of the GOP; I’m sure she has social media. Greene was straight up when asked what Donald Trump needs to do, stating that “he needs to keep Air Force One parked in the hangar,” referencing he needs to stop what she calls a “revolving door of foreign leaders into the White House”. She was also critical of his recent meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, once labelled a “specially designated global terrorist,” and now an honoured guest in Donald Trump’s White House. Greene said that Trump, “needs to stop embracing al-Qaida ISIS terrorists who were once wanted by the us who are now president.”

Greene claims that Trump “needs to focus on the American economy that he promised his voters,” an economy that Trump claims is doing perfectly fine. With Marjorie Taylor Greene announcing her retirement from Congress and announcing her new engagement on Monday, it looks like one of MAGA’s most popular faces is finally putting politics behind her.  

According to Reuters, Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of the Truth Social platform, said it has agreed to an all-stock merger with TAE Technologies in a transaction valued at about $6 billion, a pivot that would fold the social-media business into a broader holding company betting on nuclear fusion and power demand tied to AI data centers. The announcement lands as Trump Media remains deeply unprofitable: the company has posted continuing losses and reported a $54.8 million net loss in the third quarter ended September, while generating revenue of roughly $972,900 for that quarter, largely from advertising. The stock has also been under heavy pressure in 2025, with Reuters reporting it was down nearly 70% for the year before the merger news lifted shares in early trading.

The proposed merger stands out as highly unusual, marking an abrupt and unconventional pivot for a company best known for operating a politically aligned social media platform into one of the most speculative and capital-intensive corners of the global energy sector. By seeking to merge with a nuclear fusion firm, Trump Media appears to be positioning itself to ride what many in Silicon Valley and Washington increasingly view as the next strategic bottleneck of the A.I. boom: electricity. If completed, the transaction would create one of the world’s first publicly traded nuclear fusion companies, with the combined group planning to develop what it describes as a “utility-scale fusion power plant” and aiming to bring first power online in the early 2030s, a timeline that reflects both the ambition and uncertainty surrounding commercial fusion. The move suggests a bet that soaring demand from A.I. data centers will make access to vast, stable and carbon-free energy sources a defining advantage, even as fusion remains an unproven technology at scale. Framing the deal as a transformational leap rather than a financial turnaround, Devin Nunes, the chief executive of Trump Media, said: « Fusion power will be the most dramatic energy breakthrough since the onset of commercial nuclear energy in the 1950s ».

Global electricity demand

The logic behind the Trump Media–TAE bet taps into a broader, fast-intensifying constraint: power. In the U.S., data centers already account for roughly 4% of total electricity use, and multiple forecasts expect demand to climb sharply as AI workloads expand, pushing utilities to rethink generation and grid capacity on timelines that often lag permitting and construction realities. That looming squeeze is also showing up in the political debate, with lawmakers warning that rapid data-center buildouts could translate into higher household bills and contentious cost-sharing arrangements between tech firms and local utilities. In that context, Bill Gates has argued that the AI rush is fundamentally a power story as much as a software story, saying: « The AI people are chasing some mind-blowing profit streams », while warning the surge could lift global electricity demand by as much as 10% and create supply-chain and permitting bottlenecks. The bridge to this merger is straightforward: fusion is being sold as the kind of always-on, utility-scale energy source that could feed data centers at a scale renewables and grids may struggle to match quickly, even though the underlying technology remains experimental and the timelines extend well beyond today’s AI boom.

Trump Media and TAE Technologies are presenting the transaction as a near-equal merger rather than an acquisition, a structure that underscores how far Trump Media is stretching beyond its original business. According to Reuters and the Associated Press, shareholders of Trump Media & Technology Group and shareholders of TAE are each expected to own roughly 50 percent of the combined company once the all-stock deal is completed, effectively placing the Truth Social parent and the nuclear fusion firm on the same footing. The arrangement would fold Trump Media’s social media, streaming and crypto activities into a much broader group centered on energy and advanced technology, while allowing existing Trump Media investors to retain a direct stake in the future of TAE’s fusion ambitions. The structure also reflects the balance of risk embedded in the deal, pairing a publicly traded but loss-making media company with a privately held fusion developer whose commercial prospects remain uncertain and long term.

Since the start of his second term, Trump has reshaped parts of the White House to reflect his own political narrative, including the creation of what he calls the Presidential Walk of Fame. Unveiled several months earlier, the installation features a corridor lined with portraits of former presidents of the United States, presented as a visual sequence of the office’s history. The display drew attention for a jarring exception: Joe Biden was left out and replaced with an image of an autopen, a move that read as a direct provocation. Trump has now escalated that approach by adding descriptive plaques beneath the portraits, extending the concept beyond imagery and turning the corridor into a more pointed set of messages about past presidents.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt publicly embraced the confrontational tone of the new plaques, saying in a statement that «many were written directly by the President himself», confirming that Donald Trump personally authored part of the language now displayed beneath the portraits. A brief look at the inscriptions makes that authorship immediately apparent, as the plaques abandon any pretense of neutrality in favor of blunt political attacks and self-praise. Joe Biden is labeled with familiar epithets such as «Sleepy» and «Crooked», Barack Obama is described as «one of the most divisive» figures to hold the office, while Trump’s own entry veers sharply in the opposite direction, praising his presidency as delivering «the Greatest Economy in the History».

Joe Biden

Beneath the image of an autopen used to stand in for Joe Biden’s presidency, the plaque delivers one of the display’s harshest attacks, declaring: «Sleepy Joe Biden was, by far, the worst President in American History.» It goes on to accuse Biden of «Taking office as a result of the most corrupt Election ever seen in the United States» and of having taken «our Nation to the Brink of destruction.», while listing as supposed hallmarks of his tenure the «Green New Scam» and the «Afghanistan Disaster». The text also claims he allowed «21 million people from all over the world» to enter the country, including people «from prisons, jails, mental institutions, and insane asylums.». It further assigns blame to Biden for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and for the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, extending the plaque’s scope from domestic policy insults into sweeping allegations about global events.

Under the plaque, Trump extends his vengeful spite against Biden by insisting he was known as «Sleepy» and «Crooked», and by claiming he was controlled by his «Radical Left Handlers», who, along with their «Fake News Media» allies, «cover up his severe mental decline and his unprecedented use of the Autopen». The text also accuses Biden of having «weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent», before ending with a triumphant flourish that shifts the focus back to Trump himself: «President Trump would ger Re-Elected in a Landslide, and SAVE AMERICA!».

Trump’s insults do not spare Barack Obama, whose plaque adopts the same confrontational tone that runs through the entire installation. Obama is described as «one of the most divisive political figures in American History.», with the text deliberately using the name «Barack Hussein Obama», a formulation long favored by Trump and his allies. The plaque also takes aim at Obama’s signature domestic achievement, dismissing health care reform as the «highly ineffective ‘Unaffordable Care Act.», reducing a landmark policy to a line of derision. Bill Clinton is treated with comparatively less venom, though not without a jab, with his presidency briefly summed up as being marked by «scandals that plagued his presidency.». Even there, however, the plaque quickly shifts away from Clinton himself to highlight Trump’s own political victory, concluding with the assertion that «In 2016, President Clinton’s wife, Hillary Clinton, lost the Presidency to President Donald J. Trump!», once again turning a supposed historical display into a vehicle for personal triumph and grievance.

The Greatest Economy in the History

Trump also takes aim at several other presidents, using the plaques to replay old grievances while elevating his own record. George W. Bush is blamed for having «started wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, both of which should not have happened», while John F. Kennedy’s plaque highlights a «painful setback» tied to the «failed Bay of Pigs Invasion.». Even Ronald Reagan is drafted into the narrative in service of Trump, with a plaque claiming Reagan was «a fan of President Donald J. Trump long before» Trump ever entered office. Trump then reserves his most expansive praise for himself across his two portraits, calling his presidency «the Greatest Economy in the History», describing his 2016 Electoral College result of 304-227 as a «landslide.», and pointing to his popular-vote victory in 2024 as another marker of political legitimacy and vindication.

Thailand has gone on the offensive after two weeks of border skirmishes with Cambodia, a country with a significantly smaller military. The attack came just a day after the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh announced that it would be shutting the border to Thailand amidst consistent Thai attacks on Cambodian border patrolmen. According to the Royal Thai Navy, Thai forces “Launched a military operation to reclaim Thai sovereign territory. The sovereign territory in question is the region of Trat, the southernmost province on mainland Thailand. According to the Royal Thai Navy, Cambodia conducted attacks on Thai military personnel in Trat, and Thailand responded.

The operation began in the early morning hours with heavy clashes, conducted under the principles of self-defence according to international law and the preservation of national sovereignty,

The Thai military claims it “successfully controlled and reclaimed the area, expelling all opposing forces.” The Cambodian military has not confirmed whether it committed offensives in Trat, but Cambodian media have reported Thai attacks in at least seven areas, including Pursat province, where the Thai military reportedly used F-16 fighter jets to drop bombs in the commune of Thma Da. The Thai military also allegedly fired artillery shells southward into Boeung Trakoun village in the Banteay Meanchey province. During the attacks, the Thai government also imposed a curfew on the province of Trat. Thailand and Cambodia have been engaged in border skirmishes since May 2025.

Trump falsely reports ceasefire

Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to announce that Thailand and Cambodia “have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim.” Thailand has denied the claim, and Cambodia hasn’t commented on the social media post. There have been violent border clashes every day since Trump’s post, further proving that it was either a lapse of consciousness or a full-on delusion as fighting between the two nations has killed at least 20 people and displaced about half a million on both sides of the disputed border just this week.

Trump continued to say that “the roadside bomb that originally killed and wounded numerous Thai Soldiers was an accident, but Thailand nevertheless retaliated very strongly,” which most likely prompted the Thai government to refute his statement. He also mentioned both Thai and Cambodian Prime Ministers, claiming that it was an “honor to work with Anutin and Hun in resolving what could have evolved into a major War.” A strange and seemingly random statement from the president of the United States, and certainly a futile one as well, with Thai authorities claiming it as falsehood almost immediately.

The original ceasefire between the two nations in July was indeed brokered by Malaysia and pushed through by pressure from Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges from both Thailand and Cambodia, unless the two nations agreed. The ceasefire was formalized in October, but Thailand suspended the agreement in November after Thai soldiers were wounded by landmines at the border. Thailand has reportedly stressed to Trump that the onus is on Cambodia to halt the conflict, but Thailand has a significantly more advanced military than Cambodia.

Thailand’s military is significantly larger than Cambodia’s, with Thailand funding an annual budget of almost $7bn USD and operating with more than 360,000 military personnel. Cambodia’s military operates with an annual budget of $1bn USD, and carries just under 125,000 total personnel. The stark difference in these nations’ military capabilities comes from the sky. Thailand owns more than 120 operational fighter aircraft, while Cambodia doesn’t have any. It’s no surprise that Cambodia remains dedicated to upholding the ceasefire, while Thailand appears to be willing to continue offensive aggression.

In a court filing from the Department of Justice submitted on Monday, the Trump administration has said it’s too late to halt the demolition of the White House’s historic East Wing, calling statements in the lawsuit submitted against the White House “moot”. Trump began demolition of the East Wing in October as part of his project to build a 90,000-sq-ft ballroom at an estimated cost of $300m before his term ends in 2029. The court filings also claim the construction’s continuation is a matter of national security, but doesn’t list any reasons why.

On Friday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation – a privately funded nonprofit organization – submitted a lawsuit, attempting to delay Donald Trump’s destruction of the White House’s East Wing. The suit says that the administration should have gotten approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, the Commission of Fine Arts and Congress before ground was broken. The Trump administration maintained in the filing that the president has the authority to modify the White House, and cited the multitude of changes made to the White House in its 200-year history. This is the first major change done to the White House since the East Wing was built in the 1940s, save for some necessary renovations during the Truman administration.

Court filings in response to lawsuit

The filing included a declaration from the deputy director of the US Secret Service claiming that more work to the East Wing is still needed to meet the agency’s “safety and security requirements”.  The filing also included the fact that there are still no finalized plans for the $300m ballroom. The administration has offered to share classified details with the judge without the plaintiffs present, as long as it happens in an in-person setting. The East Wing was originally built to conceal a WWII-era bunker, meant to protect the president and their family in the event of a foreign attack.

With the lawsuit attempting to delay Trump’s ballroom until it goes through design reviews, environmental assessments, public comments and congressional debate and ratification, the DOJ’s court filings are claiming Trump doesn’t need permission. The filings also claim that the continuation of the construction is necessary for the assurance of national security, but doesn’t say why. It may be that in its current state, the East Wing cannot protect the bunker underneath. The ballroom is being privately funded, in part by a slough of donors, and partly from Trump himself.