Driving the news: The CBO detailed its findings Wednesday in a letter to Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). The office cautioned its estimate is "uncertain," however, because the Pentagon declined to share information about its implementation. The fine print: Total costs will vary based on how quickly and widely the "War" nomenclature is adopted, including on signs, letterheads and websites. (What was once defense.gov is now war.gov.)
Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro, allegedly captured by American forces during President Trump's ordered air assault on the South American nation early Saturday morning, will be prosecuted on a grand jury indictment handed down in Manhattan, according to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Maduro, the socialist president who had led Venezuela with an iron fist since 2013, and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended as they attempted to fly out of the country, Trump claimed on Jan. 3.
Hours later, the president took questions from reporters at the White House, where one journalist asked if the administration has the legal authority to carry out the strikes. Yes, we do, Trump said. We have legal authority. We're allowed to do that, and if we do by land, we may go back to Congress. But we have this is a national security problem.
Mr. Secretary, what legal authority did the Pentagon invoke to strike that boat full of drug smugglers? she asked. We have the absolute authority and complete authority to conduct that, Hegseth replied. First of all, just the defense of the American people alone. A hundred thousand Americans were killed each year under the previous administration because of an open border and open drug traffic flow. That is an assault on the American people.
