[Wednesday, December 17] US News Headlines from r/politics
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DAILY BRIEFING
By Dr. Headline, HeadlineSquare December 17, 2025
Executive Summary
- Venezuela Crisis Explodes: President Trump orders a naval blockade and “terrorist” designation, sparking bipartisan fury in Congress over a subsequent naval strike officials call legally unjustified.
- House GOP Leadership Humiliated: Speaker Johnson’s authority collapses as moderate Republicans revolt with Democrats, forcing a floor vote on ACA subsidies against leadership’s will.
- DOJ & FBI in Turmoil: Amid FBI leadership changes and threats to halt nominations over the Epstein files, former Special Counsel Jack Smith testifies to having “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” of a Trump criminal scheme.
- Economic Strain & Policy Shifts: The administration moves to reclassify marijuana while dismantling a climate center as the President’s economic approval hits a new low.
1. Foreign Policy & National Security: The Venezuela Crisis
1.1 U.S. Blockade and Military Strike Provoke Backlash
The Trump administration has dramatically escalated its posture toward Venezuela, prompting a major military and diplomatic crisis. President Trump ordered a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers and formally designated the Venezuelan government a “’terrorist’ regime,” while also issuing demands for U.S. access to the country’s crude oil reserves [1, 2]. The U.S. then released video reportedly showing the seizure of a tanker, signaling active enforcement [3].
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