Subject: Meanwhile, in Venezuela...
...Trump gets Rodriguez to free a number of political prisoners:

(this website marked safe for left wingers)

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/09...

GUATIRE, Venezuela — Venezuela released a number of imprisoned high-profile opposition figures, activists and journalists — both citizens and foreigners — Thursday in what the government described as a gesture to "seek peace" less than a week after former President Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces to face drug-trafficking charges.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been pressuring Maduro allies now leading the country to fold to his vision for the future of the oil-rich nation, said the releases came at the request of the United States. In the interview on Fox News on Thursday night, Trump praised the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, saying: "they've been great. ... Everything we've wanted, they've given us."

Jorge Rodríguez, brother of the acting president and head of Venezuela's National Assembly, said a "significant number" of people would be freed, but as of late Thursday night it was still not clear who or how many people would be released. The U.S. government and Venezuela's opposition have long demanded the widespread release of imprisoned politicians, critics and members of civil society. The Venezuelan government insists it does not hold prisoners for political reasons.

"Consider this a gesture by the Bolivarian (Venezuelan) government, which is broadly intended to seek peace," he announced.

Trump is also working with Big Oil to get them to work on upping production there.