Honestly, if you took a nap for a week, you’d probably wake up to a completely different map of the world. Things are moving that fast. The biggest thing on everyone’s radar right now isn't just another tweet or a rally; it's the fact that the U.S. military actually went into Caracas.
The Venezuela Extraction: More Than Just a Headline
On January 3, 2026, President Trump announced something that sounded like a movie script. Operation Absolute Resolve. Basically, U.S. forces conducted an overnight mission to capture Nicolás Maduro. He’s now in custody on the USS Iwo Jima, facing narco-terrorism charges in New York.
It’s wild.
Most people thought the "Monroe Doctrine" was a dusty history book term. Not anymore. Trump’s basically saying the Western Hemisphere is under U.S. oversight, and he’s not waiting for a committee to agree. During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago—with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio by his side—Trump made it clear: the U.S. is "running the country" until a transition happens.
But here’s where it gets messy. While Trump is backing Delcy Rodriguez to keep things stable, the pro-democracy side—folks like Edmundo González and María Corina Machado—are kinda being left in the lurch. It's a massive gamble. Trump wants the oil. He’s said as much. He signed an executive order on January 9 titled "Safeguarding Venezuelan Oil Revenue." He wants that money to reimburse Americans and, in his words, "Make Venezuela Great Again."
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The Visa Freeze: 75 Countries on the List
If you're trying to get a green card right now, things just got a whole lot harder. This is the news about Donald Trump that is actually hitting people’s daily lives the hardest.
Starting January 21, 2026, the State Department is pausing immigrant visas for 75 different countries. We're talking about places like Russia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and even Colombia.
Why?
Marco Rubio says it’s about "public charges." The administration is convinced that people from these countries are a high risk for using welfare. They want a full review. If you already have a visa, you’re likely fine for now. But if you’re in the middle of the process? Everything is at a standstill. It’s a total bottleneck.
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Interestingly, this doesn't touch tourist or business visas. Good thing, too, because the 2026 World Cup is right around the corner. Can you imagine the chaos if soccer fans couldn't get in?
The Fed Fight: Trump vs. Jerome Powell
You’ve probably seen the headlines about the Federal Reserve. It’s getting ugly.
Trump has been trying to oust Lisa Cook from the Fed Board of Governors. That case is literally at the Supreme Court right now. Arguments started on January 12. But the real drama is the "criminal investigation" into Jerome Powell.
The U.S. Attorney’s office in D.C. is looking into the renovation of the Fed’s headquarters. They’re asking if Powell lied to Congress about how much it cost. Powell released a video—which is super rare for a Fed Chair—calling the whole thing "unprecedented."
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Basically, the administration is using every lever it has to pressure the central bank. If you care about your mortgage rates or the price of eggs, keep an eye on this. When the White House and the Fed are at war, the markets get twitchy.
Tariffs and the Supreme Court
We’re all waiting on a ruling. Trump’s big tariff plan is sitting in the hands of the Justices. Prediction markets like Kalshi are betting against the President here. Traders think there’s only about a 32% chance the Court sides with him.
Why does this matter?
If the Court strikes down his ability to unilaterally slap tariffs on imports, it guts a huge part of his "America First" trade policy. It would be a massive legal blow.
What’s Next: Actionable Steps
Things are changing by the hour. If you’re trying to navigate this landscape, here’s what you actually need to do:
- Check Your Visa Status: If you or a family member are from one of the 75 affected countries, contact an immigration attorney immediately. The "pause" starts January 21, and the rules are shifting.
- Watch the SCOTUS Calendar: The rulings on tariffs and the Fed board are expected any day. These will dictate the direction of the U.S. economy for the rest of 2026.
- Monitor Energy Markets: With the U.S. now effectively overseeing Venezuelan oil, gas prices might see some serious volatility. It’s a good time to lock in energy rates if you’re a business owner.
- Follow the Paper Trail: Don't just read the tweets. Look at the actual Executive Orders. The "Prioritizing the Warfighter" order from January 7 is already changing how defense contracts are being handed out.
The 2026 version of the Trump administration is much faster and much more aggressive than the 2017 version. They aren't asking for permission anymore; they're just moving. Whether you like it or not, the "slow crawl" of government is officially dead.