Venezuelan Leader Speaks Out on Maduro
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, said Nicolás Maduro remains the country’s rightful leader during an interview with NBC News moderator Kristen Welker. The conversation marked her first sit down with an American journalist since she assumed office in Caracas.
Rodríguez pushed back on claims tied to Maduro’s removal in a U.S. raid earlier this year. She insisted that both Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores are innocent. Although she strongly criticized the U.S. operation at first, her tone has since shifted. In recent weeks, she has held phone calls with President Donald Trump and signaled a possible visit to the United States.
Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Chris Wright traveled to Caracas as both countries discussed Venezuela’s oil sector. He said cooperation between Washington and Caracas has started on a positive note. According to Wright, Rodríguez has already introduced key changes, including adjustments to the country’s hydrocarbon laws.
Still, concerns remain. Opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa was briefly released from prison but later placed under house arrest, according to his family. In addition, relatives of political detainees have gathered outside prisons, testing the limits of the interim government.
House Approves SAVE Act
On Capitol Hill, the Republican led House passed the SAVE America Act, a sweeping election bill focused on voter identification. The legislation would require proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, when registering for federal elections. It also mandates photo ID for in person voting and identification copies for mail in ballots.
Democrats strongly oppose the measure. They argue that noncitizen voting is already illegal and rare. Current law requires voters to confirm their citizenship under oath, with penalties for violations. Critics say the bill could make voting harder for eligible Americans.
The debate follows recent remarks from Trump about increasing federal oversight of elections. At the same time, federal agents seized ballots and records from an election office in Georgia as part of an ongoing investigation tied to the 2020 race.
Lawmakers Vote on Canada Tariffs
In a separate vote, the House moved to end Trump’s tariffs on Canada. Six Republicans joined Democrats in support of the measure. However, the vote serves mainly as a symbolic challenge to the administration’s trade policy.
Trump warned that Republicans who oppose his tariff agenda could face political consequences. Even so, the president retains the power to veto the legislation if it clears the Senate.
