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What Happened Today – January 11, 2026

Trump signed a national emergency order Friday night to shield $2.5 billion in Venezuelan oil from legal claims.

Officials say the US will manage those sales “indefinitely.” The military operation took three hours. The paperwork to keep the spoils took a week.

Sunday he posted a meme calling himself “Acting President of Venezuela” and shared a post suggesting Rubio should be president of Cuba. He told Cuba to “make a deal before it is too late.” He’s calling it the “Donroe Doctrine” now, and he’s put his name on it because he is proud of invading countries while simultaneously calling for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Beyond Cuba, he’s threatened Colombia and Panama. Ask Venezuela if those countries should take him seriously.

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🟠 GovBrief Intensity Score 115
Elevated Activity. Watch for distractions.
Volume: Low (9)
Severity: Moderate (2.11)
Defining Moments: 0
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Today's Quote
These are professional agitators and law enforcement should not be put in a position where they have to put up with this stuff. That woman and her friend and their other friends - what they were doing to law enforcement and not just ICE law enforcement - was outrageous.
Donald Trump speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on January 11, 2026 about an ICE officer killing Renee Good last week.
Yesterday's Most Read

Smithsonian replaces Trump portrait at National Portrait Gallery and removes text about his two impeachments and January 6; Clinton's impeachment text remains.

Today’s GovBrief News


Foreign Relations 1 of 9

Trump posts doctored Wikipedia screenshot on Truth Social showing himself as "Acting President of Venezuela" eight days after ordering military capture of Maduro.

Elections "eventually" after oil industry rebuilt

Source: Mediaite

January 11, 2026

Foreign Relations 2 of 9

Trump threatens Cuba on Truth Social, warning "make a deal before it is too late" after cutting off Venezuelan oil, then shares post suggesting Rubio should be "president of Cuba."

Cuba FM: "US behaves like criminal hegemon"

Source: Euronews

January 11, 2026

Foreign Relations 3 of 9

Trump threatens to block Exxon from Venezuela after CEO told him at White House meeting the country is "uninvestable" without legal reforms.

Exxon assets seized twice before

Source: USA Today

January 11, 2026

War 4 of 9

Trump declares national emergency to shield $2.5 billion in Venezuelan oil revenue from private creditors, with officials saying US will manage sales "indefinitely."

Order signed same day as oil exec meeting

Source: Axios

January 11, 2026

Health 5 of 9

German Health Minister calls RFK Jr.'s claim that Germany prosecuted doctors over COVID vaccines "completely unfounded" and "factually incorrect."

Kennedy cited no sources or examples

Source: Politico

January 11, 2026

Economy 6 of 9

Justice Department threatens Fed Chair Powell with criminal charges over congressional testimony about building renovations; Powell calls it 'pretext' for resisting Trump on interest rates.

Jeanine Pirro's office leading investigation

Source: UPI

January 11, 2026

Criminal Justice 7 of 9

Secret Service found suspicious object near Palm Beach airport, rerouted Trump's motorcade and parked Air Force One on opposite side of tarmac with lights off.

Second security incident since October

Source: WPBF West Palm Beach, FL

January 11, 2026

Immigration 8 of 9

DHS issues new policy requiring 7-day notice for congressional ICE visits, using OBBBA funding to bypass December court order that blocked identical restriction.

Noem calls oversight visits "circus-like publicity stunts"

Source: CBS News

January 11, 2026

Immigration 9 of 9

Noem announces "hundreds more" federal agents heading to Minneapolis, doubles down on calling Renee Good a "domestic terrorist" who "weaponized her car."

Tens of thousands marched Sunday

Source: BBC

January 11, 2026