Voices
The Media Refuses to Call Trump’s Venezuela Attack an Act of War
By framing this brazen act of aggression in euphemistic terms, the media is falling in line with Trump.
License to Kill
Since September 2025, the Trump administration has conducted an undeclared war in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, killing scores of civilians by deploying drone strikes on boats they allege are carrying drugs.
Experts in the laws of war and members of Congress say the strikes are illegal extrajudicial killings because the military is not permitted to deliberately target civilians — even suspected criminals — who do not pose an imminent threat of violence.
The Intercept is covering how the war on terror and the war on drugs are becoming one and the same.
“We Are Going to Run the Country”: Trump Boasts of Regime Change in Venezuela
U.S. forces attacked Caracas and multiple states in Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
CIA Was Behind Venezuela Drone Strike, Source Says
The December 24 drone strike in Venezuela is the latest in a long tradition of CIA interventions in Latin America — which often lead to destabilization and blowback.
Did Trump Just Confess to Attacking Venezuela?
“They have a big plant or a big facility where the ships come from. Two nights ago, we knocked that out. We hit them very hard.”
U.S. Military Killed Boat Strike Survivors for Not Surrendering Correctly
Before ordering a second strike on their boat, Adm. Frank Bradley sought legal advice from JSOC’s top lawyer, Col. Cara Hamaguchi, The Intercept has learned.
Congress Squanders Last Chance to Block Venezuela War Before Going on Vacation
“At least George Bush had the decency to come to Congress for approval in 2002. Don’t the American people deserve that respect today?”
U.S. Military Willing to Attack “Designated Terrorist Organizations” Within America, General Says
“If I had no concerns and I was confident in the lawful order, I would definitely execute that order.”
Chilling Dissent
White House Refuses to Rule Out Summary Executions of People on Its Secret Domestic Terrorist List
The Trump administration ignored questions about whether it would order the killings of those on its NSPM-7 list — even while answering our other queries.
The Intercept Briefing
“Trump Has Appointed Himself Judge, Jury, and Executioner”
The Trump administration is killing civilians in the Caribbean and Pacific and trying to suppress videos of boat strikes and press coverage.
U.S. Realizes It Can Seize Boats After All
After months of extrajudicial killings in the waters off Venezuela, the Trump administration opted instead to capture an oil tanker.