Who’s in command of Venezuela? And, what to anticipate from Maduro’s court docket look

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President Trump instructed reporters on Air Power One yesterday that the U.S. is in command of Venezuela. This comes two days after U.S. troops seized President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse within the nation’s capital, Caracas. Federal authorities are anticipated to carry Maduro into court docket within the U.S. as we speak. The U.S. has left the Venezuelan authorities in place for now, anticipating it to obey. Listed below are seven takeaways from Trump’s incursion into Venezuela.

• 🎧 It’s not clear how the U.S. expects to be in command of Venezuela, NPR’s Greg Myre tells Up First. There are now not any U.S. troops within the nation following the navy operation to grab Maduro early Saturday morning. There may be additionally no U.S. diplomatic presence within the nation, as a result of the U.S. embassy there shut down in 2019. If Trump’s plan is to run the place from afar, his administration could have restricted affect on what occurs contained in the nation, Myre says. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U.S.’ objective is to form insurance policies within the nation, citing points resembling stopping drug trafficking.

Venezuela’s Supreme Courtroom has confirmed that it has sworn in Venezuela’s Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, as appearing president. Yesterday, Rodríguez made a press release addressing Trump, saying folks in Venezuela and the area deserve peace and dialogue, not warfare. She is now providing cooperation with the U.S., which is a change of tone from Saturday, when she referred to as the U.S.’ actions “barbaric” and stated she nonetheless thought-about Maduro the nation’s chief.

• 🎧 Rodríguez is an insider for Venezuela with an intensive hardline resume, NPR’s Carrie Kahn says. Her two essential roles have been overseeing the oil trade and the regime’s intelligence company, and he or she has good relations with the navy. However Kahn says that, if Rodriguez seems to be aligning too intently with the U.S. authorities, it’s unclear how these relations will maintain up.

Maduro is about to make his first look in U.S. federal court docket as we speak on prices together with narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy. Prosecutors charged Maduro with federal crimes in 2020, throughout Trump’s first time period. Maduro denied the accusations on the time. Maduro’s spouse, Cilia Flores, additionally faces federal felony prices, together with conspiracy to import cocaine.

• 🎧 The Trump administration seems to be counting on a controversial 1989 Justice Division memo written by Invoice Barr throughout his time within the Workplace of Authorized Counsel to justify its operation, NPR’s Carrie Johnson says. The memo paved the best way for American legislation enforcement to arrest suspects in international international locations, even when these actions violate worldwide legislation. In court docket as we speak, it’s doable that Maduro will problem his seize. Nevertheless, authorized students observe that Supreme Courtroom precedent permits the federal government to prosecute defendants no matter how they reached American soil.

Particular sequence

Trump has tried to bury the reality of what occurred on Jan. 6, 2021. NPR constructed a visible archive of the assault on the Capitol, exhibiting precisely what occurred by way of the lenses of the individuals who have been there. In “Chapter 1: The run-up,” we take a look at how the overlapping crises of 2020 set the stage for violence.

Forward of the 2020 election, the nation was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and protests following the police homicide of George Floyd. Throughout a debate with Joe Biden, Trump refused to sentence far-right violence, sparking a membership surge for the Proud Boys. Trump additionally often claimed that the one method he might lose the election was by way of dishonest. These movies spotlight what set the stage for violence on Jan. 6, 2021.

To be taught extra, discover NPR’s database of federal felony circumstances from Jan. 6. You may also see extra of NPR’s reporting on the subject, together with a brief documentary the place two officers relive the riot by way of bodycam footage.

Life recommendation

Loss of life is commonly an uncomfortable subject. However J.S. Park, a hospital interfaith chaplain, says speaking about it will possibly assist us put together for the truth that it might occur to any of us at any time. Park, writer of As Lengthy As You Want: Permission to Grieve, talks to Life Package about what dying appears like and what Hollywood will get flawed a few affected person’s closing moments.

• 💛 Whenever you go to a liked one who has been hospitalized, you would possibly see bodily deterioration, even when they’ve solely been there for a brief period of time. They might not have the ability to keep their regular hygiene or train routine.
• 💛 Park says it’s uncommon for an individual to know they’re having a final dialog with somebody. He advises households that, as an individual is dying, it is best to inform them the whole lot you at all times needed them to know.
• 💛 Attempt to not burden somebody who’s hurting with one thing we predict they are going to want or by asking so many questions. For instance, supply to carry over dinner somewhat than telling them to let in the event that they want something.

For extra steering on tips on how to speak about loss of life and dying, hearken to this episode of NPR’s Life Package. Subscribe to the Life Package e-newsletter for skilled recommendation on love, cash, relationships and extra.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

The French authorities confirmed this week that it has granted citizenship to George and Amal Clooney — pictured on a London crimson carpet in October — and their 7-year-old twins.

Henry Nicholls/AFP through Getty Photographs

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Henry Nicholls/AFP through Getty Photographs

1. George Clooney, his spouse and their 7-year-old twins have been granted French citizenship. The French authorities confirmed the transfer, citing the couple’s contributions to the nation’s worldwide affect and cultural outreach.
2. The worldwide phenomenon of Dry January, which inspires folks to abstain from alcohol for the primary month of the brand new 12 months, began within the U.Okay. as a single particular person’s private experiment.
3. Pea-sized human cell clusters referred to as mind organoids mannequin human mind growth within the lab. Their connection to our sense of self makes many individuals uneasy, prompting consultants to debate tips on how to use them responsibly for analysis into circumstances like autism and mind most cancers.

This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.