AP-The Morning Wire

"Maduro arrives in US after stunning capture" and "Widening protests in Iran."

Views expressed in this geopolitical news and analysis are those of the reporters and correspondents.  Accessed on 04 January 2026, 1553 UTC.

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By Amy Langfield January 04, 2026

Good morning and welcome to the Sunday edition of Morning Wire, where we give you the weekend rundown to get ready for the week ahead. Today, widening protests in Iran sparked by the Islamic Republic’s ailing economy are putting new pressure on its theocracy; Marjorie Taylor Greene is leaving Capitol Hill on Monday after five years as one of the most well-known members of Congress; and survivors recount the fatal Swiss Alpine bar fire.   But first, deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro arrived in the United States after the most assertive American action to achieve regime change since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. UP FIRST Government supporters burn a U.S. flag in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Maduro arrives in US after stunning capture in operation that Trump says will let US ‘run’ Venezuela Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro arrived in the United States to face criminal charges after being captured in an audacious nighttime military operation that President Donald Trump said would set the U.S. up to “run” the South American country and tap its vast oil reserves to sell to other nations. Legal experts raised questions about the lawfulness of the operation, which was done without congressional approval. Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, demanded that the United States free Maduro and called him the country’s rightful leader. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump’s plan to seize and revitalize Venezuela’s oil industry faces major hurdles Capture of Maduro and US claim that it will run Venezuela raise new legal questions How the US captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro After capture and removal, Venezuela’s Maduro is being held at notorious Brooklyn jail FACT FOCUS: Trump repeats false claims as he discusses US raid to extract Venezuela’s president Photos show people reacting to the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro WATCH: Trump says Cuba 'not doing very well' and Rubio hints it could be next after Maduro out of Venezuela TOP STORIES Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., listens during a hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 11. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Marjorie Taylor Greene made waves. Her constituents don’t agree on whether it was worth it Marjorie Taylor Greene is leaving Capitol Hill after five years as one of the most well-known members of Congress. In her northwest Georgia House district, there is little consensus on whether the roller-coaster of headlines was worth it. Greene's hard-core supporters stand by her despite her break with President Donald Trump. They see her as a fighter who spoke for them. Others in Greene's district say her high-profile battles, conspiracy theories and bareknuckle politics did nothing to help the people she represented. Greene steps down on Monday, resigning in the middle of her third term. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ President Trump orders divestment in $2.9 million chips deal to protect US security interests Appeals panel says California’s ban on open carry in more populated counties is unconstitutional Minnesota must provide documents to US government in child care fraud probe by Jan. 9 Wisconsin judge convicted of obstructing arrest of immigrant resigns as GOP threatens impeachment Japan says Trump has invited its leader to the US. It comes as ties with China are strained What to know about the protests now shaking Iran as tensions remain high over its nuclear program Widening protests in Iran sparked by the Islamic Republic’s ailing economy are putting new pressure on its theocracy. Tehran is still reeling from a 12-day war launched by Israel in June that saw the United States bomb nuclear sites in Iran. Economic pressure, intensified in September by the return of United Nations sanctions on the country over its atomic program, has put Iran’s rial currency into a free fall. A new threat by U.S. President Donald Trump warning Iran that if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the U.S. “will come to their rescue” has taken on new meaning after American troops captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a longtime ally of Tehran. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Yemen’s separatists announce a constitution for an independent south British and French warplanes strike suspected IS weapons facility in Syria Bedouin man killed during police raid on village in southern Israel, local official says

ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS Cars drive on highway 101 flooded by the "King Tides", occurring when the sun, moon and Earth align, causing a stronger gravitational pull Saturday, near Corte Madera in Marin County, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) READ Highest tides in more than two decades: Heavy rain, high tides cause flooding along stretch of Northern California Northern Nigeria: Gunmen raid village, killing at least 30 people and abducting others Indonesia: New penal code takes effect, marking historic break with colonial law Major economic shift: Turkmenistan, one of the world’s most closed nations, legalizes crypto mining In their words: Survivors and others talk about fatal Swiss Alpine bar fire Remote Colorado trail: Man fought off a mountain lion weeks before a suspected fatal attack ‘The chillest dog I’ve ever seen in my life’: Rhode Island firefighters rescue a yellow Lab from an icy pond Save money, get organized, live better: Common New Year’s resolutions can also cut climate impact Today in History: In 2007, Nancy Pelosi becomes first female speaker of the House WATCH Ukraine: Zelenskyy on Maduro: If you can do that with dictators, then the United States knows what to do next Carnival: Louisiana's weeks-long celebration starts Tuesday Belgium: Swimmers brave cold for New Year's dip in rough North Sea waters No-buy challenge: Could you go 90 days without buying something new?

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