The President's Daily Brief
The President's Daily Brief

Venezuela’s Acting Leader Rebels Against Washington & Israel Backs Militias In Gaza

January 27, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Venezuela’s Acting Leader Rebels Against Washington & Israel Backs Militias In Gaza

Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, the former vice president under Nicolas Maduro, has publicly declared that the country has "had enough of taking orders from the U.S." — a direct challenge to the Trump administration just weeks after American forces helped remove Maduro from power. The statement was unmistakably aimed at Washington, but as Mike Baker notes on this episode of The President's Daily Brief, "some of this, and by that I mean quite a bit of it, may be political theater." Rodriguez is speaking to a domestic audience steeped in anti-American rhetoric, and pushing back against Washington helps her shore up nationalist credentials while deflecting criticism that she is simply a U.S.-backed placeholder.

Venezuela's Economic Opening, Political Stasis

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:24) **Venezuela's Acting Leader Defies Washington** - Delcy Rodriguez rejects claims she governs at US direction, while pursuing rapid economic liberalization
  • 2 (09:46) **Israel Backs Palestinian Militias in Gaza** - Wall Street Journal report details Israeli support for armed groups to weaken Hamas from within
  • 3 (13:52) **Last Hostage Remains Recovered, Clearing Ceasefire Hurdle** - Israel identifies remains of Master Sergeant Ron Gavili, fulfilling key condition of initial ceasefire phase
  • 4 (20:50) **TikTok Finalizes US Restructuring Deal** - New US-based entity with 80% American/global investor control avoids ban, but algorithm questions remain
  • 5 Standout Quotes
  • 6 (01:51) "Venezuela has had enough of taking orders from the U.S."
  • 7 (11:02) "The price of betrayal will be severe." - militia leader threatening Hamas fighters

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Mike Baker

Show Notes

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:

  • First up—sharp words out of Caracas, where Venezuela’s acting leader is openly defying the Trump administration and rejecting claims she’s governing at Washington’s direction.


  • Later in the show—we return to a story we’ve been tracking for some time: Israel’s quiet support for armed Palestinian militias inside Gaza, with new reporting shedding light on its effort to weaken Hamas from within. Plus—a somber milestone in the Gaza conflict, as Israel recovers the remains of the last remaining hostage, clearing a major hurdle in the ongoing peace plan.


  • And in today’s Back of the Brief—TikTok survives Washington’s ban threat, agreeing to create new U.S.-based operations in an effort to ease national security concerns.


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