News from the Note…
A round up of the day’s news that might be of interest to you.
This is an OPEN THREAD, folks. Chat about any of the stories listed, share links to stories that caught your eye today, and generally have a good time discussing whatever you want.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on NBC News' "Meet the Press" says the U.S. does not have "forces on the ground" in Venezuela, and that Cuba's government is in "a lot of trouble."
— NBC News (@nbcnews.com) January 4, 2026 at 10:19 AM
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Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife will appear before a federal judge on Monday, a spokesperson for the U.S. district court in the Southern District of New York confirmed Sunday.
— CBS News (@cbsnews.com) January 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM
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President Trump wants more U.S. oil companies to "go in" to Venezuela. But there are economic, historical, and climate reasons that may not be easy. Here's what you need to know about oil in Venezuela. n.pr/4sp63PX
— NPR (@npr.org) January 4, 2026 at 9:06 AM
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Marco Rubio may have just acquired his most challenging title yet: Viceroy of Venezuela. The top U.S. diplomat has pushed for regime change for over a decade. Now the hard part begins.
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) January 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM
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President Trump said on Saturday that Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president and would act as a partner in letting the U.S. run the country. Less than two hours later, Rodríguez made clear she viewed the U.S. as an illegal invader that must be rejected.
— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) January 3, 2026 at 6:55 PM
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Venezuela’s new leader, vice president and oil minister Delcy Rodríguez, is a socialist true believer who helped Nicolás Maduro maintain his grip on power for more than a decade. 🔗 on.wsj.com/3YUnbzx
— The Wall Street Journal (@wsj.com) January 4, 2026 at 12:19 PM
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A tense calm held in Venezuela on Sunday, one day after President Nicolás Maduro was deposed and captured in an American military operation. https://to.pbs.org/3N4b28Q
— PBS News (@pbsnews.org) January 4, 2026 at 12:06 PM
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The Secret Service is seeking to hire 4,000 new employees to ease the strain on its overstretched workforce and prepare for multiple major events in 2028, including the presidential election and the Olympics.
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) January 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM
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Business owners and families in Minneapolis' deeply rooted Somali community say they have been threatened, harassed and bullied on social media since a video was posted online alleging fraud at multiple child care facilities. https://cnn.it/4sqmb3E
— CNN (@cnn.com) January 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM
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South Korean president visits China
— Politico (@politico.com) January 4, 2026 at 9:40 AM
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Myanmar’s military government granted amnesty to more than 6,100 prisoners and reduced other inmates’ sentences to mark the 78th anniversary of the country's independence from Britain
— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) January 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM
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Heavy rain and high tides believed to be the most severe in two decades caused flooding in parts of Northern California on Saturday, prompting road closures and rescues of people trapped in cars. https://cnn.it/4jrnrQ3
— CNN (@cnn.com) January 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM
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