The week’s lead: Trump hints at a new Venezuela escalation
In a Dec. 29, 2025 interview, President Donald J. Trump suggested the U.S. had “knocked out” a “big plant or big facility” tied to drug-trafficking operations linked to Venezuela, saying it happened “two nights ago,” without providing location, method, or evidence. [1] NBC News reported it could represent the first known U.S. land strike in the administration’s counternarcotics campaign, though the outlet said it could not independently confirm the attack and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. [1]
Supporting narrative: The administration has framed its Venezuela pressure campaign as a counternarcotics and national security effort, following months of U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats and other coercive measures. [1]
Opposing narrative: Critics and some lawmakers have questioned the evidentiary basis for the strikes and warned that expanding to land targets risks mission creep and escalation without clear legal and congressional grounding; NBC noted the government has not publicly provided evidence for its claims about the boats. [1]
Middle East diplomacy: Netanyahu meeting amid fragile Gaza ceasefire
Trump was scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Dec. 29, 2025 at Mar-a-Lago to try to inject momentum into a U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire entering a difficult second phase. [2] The Associated Press reported the plan’s next steps include creating an international stabilization force, establishing a technocratic governing committee for Gaza, addressing Hamas’ weapons, and further Israeli troop withdrawals—issues that remain unsettled. [2]
Supporting narrative: Trump allies argue his personal leverage with Netanyahu could accelerate implementation of the U.S.-brokered framework and stabilize the region. [2]
Opposing narrative: Analysts cited by AP said key elements of the second phase face major political resistance and operational risk, including concerns that an international force could be viewed as an “occupation force.” [2]
Courts: A judge blocks Trump’s security-clearance retaliation move
On Dec. 24, 2025, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) granted a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of a March presidential memorandum targeting attorney Mark S. Zaid—a Washington lawyer known for representing whistleblowers—after Zaid sued over the revocation of his security clearance. [3] The order does not bar the government from pursuing revocation through ordinary processes, and the injunction was set not to take effect until Jan. 13, 2026. [3]
Supporting narrative: The White House said the targeted individuals were no longer suitable to hold clearances because it was “no longer in the national interest.” [3]
Opposing narrative: Zaid argued the move was “improper political retribution,” and the judge wrote that courts have repeatedly barred “summary revocation” of clearances used to penalize lawyers for representing adverse parties. [3]
Immigration enforcement litigation: DOJ loses New York “Green Light” case
On Dec. 23, 2025, a federal judge dismissed the U.S. Department of Justice challenge—announced earlier by Attorney General Pam Bondi—to New York’s 2019 Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act (“Green Light Law”), which allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. [4] Reuters reported the administration argued the law impeded immigration enforcement; the court rejected that claim. [4]
Supporting narrative: DOJ has cast the suit as part of a broader campaign against “sanctuary” policies it says obstruct federal enforcement. [4]
Opposing narrative: New York officials and the court’s ruling signaled that state licensing policy, as structured, does not unlawfully block federal immigration actions—setting up potential limits on similar federal challenges. [4]
Citations
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-land-strike-venezuela-facility-drug-boats-rcna251329 [2] https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-gaza-ceasefire-arab-nations-229253766673f18c1195550572edd2ce [3] https://apnews.com/article/trump-whistleblower-security-clearance-mark-zaid-2a6f7d23dc85d7e1db2ac9a38e548b8e [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/us-judge-tosses-trump-challenge-new-york-immigration-related-law-2025-12-23/