{"id":2604,"date":"2025-12-11T08:25:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T08:25:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=2604"},"modified":"2025-12-11T08:25:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T08:25:22","slug":"us-lawmakers-voice-concerns-about-venezuelan-tanker-seizure-sounds-a-lot-like-the-beginning-of-a-war-us-politics-live-us-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=2604","title":{"rendered":"US lawmakers voice concerns about Venezuelan tanker seizure: \u2018sounds a lot like the beginning of a war\u2019 \u2013 US politics live | US news"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"liveblog-body\"><span class=\"dcr-90inr0\"><gu-island name=\"KeyEventsCarousel\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;keyEvents&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;693a74a58f08b47a6373e62a&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;US lawmakers have shared their concerns over escalating tensions between the &lt;strong&gt;US&lt;\/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Venezuela&lt;\/strong&gt; after &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/dec\/10\/us-forces-reportedly-seize-oil-tanker-off-venezuela-coast\\&quot;&gt;US forces seized an oil tanker off the coast of &lt;\/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/dec\/10\/us-forces-reportedly-seize-oil-tanker-off-venezuela-coast\\&quot;&gt;Venezuela&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/strong&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;7a3e07c0-f2af-493f-b712-38d262343c85&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Senator &lt;strong&gt;Rand Paul&lt;\/strong&gt; told NewsNation, as reported by &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/senate\/5643306-us-venezuela-war-fears\/\\&quot;&gt;the Hill&lt;\/a&gt;, that the action \u201csounds a lot like the beginning of a war\u201d and it was not \u201cthe job of the American government to go looking for monsters around the world, looking for adversaries and beginning wars\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;6f558bda-0881-4aee-bb21-6cb2de6d4f43&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;The major escalation of &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/nov\/24\/visual-guide-us-military-presence-caribbean\\&quot;&gt;Donald Trump&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/nov\/24\/visual-guide-us-military-presence-caribbean\\&quot;&gt;\u2019s four-month pressure campaign&lt;\/a&gt; against the South American country\u2019s dictator, &lt;strong&gt;Nicol\u00e1s Maduro&lt;\/strong&gt;, was described by the Venezuelan government as &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/dec\/10\/us-forces-reportedly-seize-oil-tanker-off-venezuela-coast\\&quot;&gt;\u201can act of international piracy\u201d&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;7b4adeed-4458-4c59-b761-8026bdaebbbe&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Trump confirmed the operation on Wednesday, saying:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;813b4e65-9bc9-4fb1-99a8-cabad09d3264&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;We\u2019ve just seized a tanker on the coast of &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/venezuela\\&quot;&gt;Venezuela&lt;\/a&gt; \u2013 a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized actually.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;565f84a1-c45c-4991-ada6-ea51fa1004cf&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;\u201cIt was seized for a very good reason,\u201d the US president added, declining to say who owned the 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image from video posted on attorney general Pam Bondi\u2019s X account, and partially redacted by the source, shows an oil tanker being seized by US forces off the coast of Venezuela.&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;This image from video posted on attorney general Pam Bondi\u2019s X account, and partially redacted by the source, shows an oil tanker being seized by US forces off the coast of Venezuela.&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Photograph: AP&quot;}},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Pam Bondi&lt;\/strong&gt;, the US attorney general, posted footage of the seizure on X. She said the tanker had been sanctioned by the US for \u201cmultiple years\u201d due to its \u201cinvolvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;50981d3e-347a-4249-a26d-8aeac6fda8e0&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Venezuela\u2019s government said in a statement that the seizure \u201cconstitutes a blatant theft and an act of international piracy\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;aae30405-20de-4f11-97b1-6aaa4988a9ac&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;It continued:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;3b6ed4fd-e08b-4091-9b89-7ec8dda1a4ea&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;Under these circumstances, the true reasons for the prolonged aggression against Venezuela have finally been revealed \u2026 It has always been about our natural resources, our oil, our energy, the resources that belong exclusively to the Venezuelan people.&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;ad2d32f4-cf3e-43e2-a1bd-e46b0d512bab&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Also speaking to NewsNation, senator Chris Coons said that while he did not know the details of the incident, he was \u201cgravely concerned that [Trump] is sleepwalking us into a war with Venezuela\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;bd910258-1698-413e-bde5-91200d122207&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;In other developments:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;65186045-5921-49c6-893e-f69de26b7a33&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;ul&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\\&quot;&gt;Donald Trump&lt;\/a&gt; launched a new program that will allow wealthy foreign individuals to buy a US \u201cgolden visa\u201d for $1m, and trailed a \u201cplatinum\u201d version for $5m. &lt;\/strong&gt;\u201cA direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people. SO EXCITING! Our Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable Talent,\u201d Trump &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/115697029631709665\\&quot;&gt;wrote&lt;\/a&gt; on Wednesday on social media.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The US &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/federal-reserve\\&quot;&gt;Federal Reserve&lt;\/a&gt; announced on Wednesday that it was cutting interest rates by a quarter point for the third time this year,&lt;\/strong&gt; as the embattled central bank appeared split over how best to manage the US economy.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The US House voted 312-112 to pass a sweeping defense policy bill on Wednesday that authorizes $900bn in military programs&lt;\/strong&gt;, including a pay raise for troops and an overhaul of how the Department of Defense purchases weapons.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The governor of Washington, Bob Ferguson, declared a statewide emergency on Wednesday in response to heavy rain in the Pacific north-west state since an atmospheric river smacked the region a day earlier&lt;\/strong&gt; with rains that triggered mudslides and washed out roads and submerged vehicles.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A senior Democratic senator is calling for an investigation into potential insider trading by fossil-fuel billionaires close to the Trump administration, after a &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2025\/dec\/04\/venture-global-shares\\&quot;&gt;Guardian investigation raised questions&lt;\/a&gt; about an unusual share-buying spree. &lt;\/strong&gt;Robert Pender and Michael Sabel, the &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/ventureglobal.com\/about-us\/leadership\/\\&quot;&gt;founders and co-chairs of Venture Global&lt;\/a&gt;, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company headquartered in Virginia, bought more than a million shares worth almost $12m each, just days after meeting with senior Trump officials in March.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Immigrant students across the US have experienced increased bullying, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdowns causing declines in attendance and a \u201cculture of fear\u201d among immigrant students in public schools, according to a new &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/idea.gseis.ucla.edu\/publications\/files\/fear-is-everywhere-report\\&quot;&gt;survey&lt;\/a&gt; of high school principals. &lt;\/strong&gt;Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles\u2019s Institute for Democracy, Education and Access (Idea) conducted a \u201cnationally representative\u201d survey of more than 600 principals about the toll of raids and deportations, and how schools were responding.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n&lt;\/ul&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;3d04e506-0006-422c-88b5-0c6a0c5c1d29&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:false,&quot;summary&quot;:true},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1765440411000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;08.06\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1765440724000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;08.12\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1765440411000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;08.06\u00a0GMT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;08.06&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Opening summary&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Thu 11 Dec 2025 08.19 GMT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Thu 11 Dec 2025 08.06 GMT&quot;}],&quot;filterKeyEvents&quot;:false,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;key-events-carousel-mobile&quot;,&quot;renderingTarget&quot;:&quot;Web&quot;,&quot;serverTime&quot;:1765441522427}\"><span id=\"key-events-carousel-mobile\"\/><span class=\"dcr-90inr0\"><\/p>\n<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/gu-island><gu-island name=\"FilterKeyEventsToggle\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;filterKeyEvents&quot;:false,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;filter-toggle-mobile&quot;}\"><span id=\"filter-toggle-mobile\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-alru3r\"><label id=\"src-component-60485_description\" data-component=\"filter-key-events\" data-link-name=\"filter-key-events-on\" class=\"dcr-rrspei\"><button id=\"src-component-60485\" role=\"switch\" aria-checked=\"false\" aria-labelledby=\"src-component-60485_description\" class=\"dcr-dh5oqp\"\/>Show key events only<\/p>\n<p><span>Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/label><\/div>\n<p><\/gu-island><\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"block-693a7d5f8f08f437968be38e\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\"\/>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">When <strong>Pete Hegseth<\/strong> was made <strong>Donald Trump\u2019<\/strong>s secretary of war, there was shock and consternation. Since then he has put highly classified plans to bomb <strong>Yemen<\/strong> on a group chat and ordered executions of <strong>Venezuelans<\/strong> in the sea, reportedly insisting they \u201ckill everybody\u201d, even when the survivors who were seen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/dec\/06\/hegseth-boat-strikes\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">clinging to a boat<\/a> could pose no threat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The former Fox News talkshow host holds one of the most powerful jobs in the world and has come to it with a clear ideology. He wants to bring his \u201cwarrior culture\u201d to the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/us-military\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">US military<\/a><\/strong>. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/profile\/joseph-gedeon\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Joseph Gedeon<\/a><\/strong>, a breaking news reporter for the Guardian US, tells <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/profile\/nosheen-iqbal\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Nosheen Iqbal<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>His whole thing is about what he calls the warrior ethos. His whole message is that America fights with one hand tied behind its back because of lawyers, oversight and cultural distractions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Now strikes on Venezuelans in the <strong>Caribbean Sea<\/strong> have led to him being accused of war crimes and a damning report into his handling of classified information has come back. Can he survive? Listen to the latest episode of the Guardian\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/series\/todayinfocus\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Todqay in Focus<\/a> podcast for a discussion on this:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"0d9d3a08-7d03-49b6-b837-7d72d4497968\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:4,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Pete Hegseth unleashes his \u2018warrior culture\u2019 on the world \u2013 podcast&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;0d9d3a08-7d03-49b6-b837-7d72d4497968&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/audio\/2025\/dec\/11\/pete-hegseth-unleashes-warrior-culture-on-world-podcast&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;us-news\/live\/2025\/dec\/11\/us-seizes-venezuela-tanker-democrats-republicans-donald-trump-latest-news&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-693a7d5f8f08f437968be38e&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-693a7d5f8f08f437968be38e&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;US lawmakers voice concerns about Venezuelan tanker seizure: \u2018sounds a lot like the beginning of a war\u2019 \u2013 US politics live &quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=US lawmakers voice concerns about Venezuelan tanker seizure: \u2018sounds a lot like the beginning of a war\u2019 \u2013 US politics live &amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2025\/dec\/11\/us-seizes-venezuela-tanker-democrats-republicans-donald-trump-latest-news?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-693a7d5f8f08f437968be38e#block-693a7d5f8f08f437968be38e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-693a74a58f08b47a6373e62a\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Opening summary<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">US lawmakers have shared their concerns over escalating tensions between the <strong>US<\/strong> and <strong>Venezuela<\/strong> after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/dec\/10\/us-forces-reportedly-seize-oil-tanker-off-venezuela-coast\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">US forces seized an oil tanker off the coast of <\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/dec\/10\/us-forces-reportedly-seize-oil-tanker-off-venezuela-coast\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Venezuela<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Senator <strong>Rand Paul<\/strong> told NewsNation, as reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/senate\/5643306-us-venezuela-war-fears\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">the Hill<\/a>, that the action \u201csounds a lot like the beginning of a war\u201d and it was not \u201cthe job of the American government to go looking for monsters around the world, looking for adversaries and beginning wars\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The major escalation of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/nov\/24\/visual-guide-us-military-presence-caribbean\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/nov\/24\/visual-guide-us-military-presence-caribbean\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">\u2019s four-month pressure campaign<\/a> against the South American country\u2019s dictator, <strong>Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/strong>, was described by the Venezuelan government as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/dec\/10\/us-forces-reportedly-seize-oil-tanker-off-venezuela-coast\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">\u201can act of international piracy\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Trump confirmed the operation on Wednesday, saying:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>We\u2019ve just seized a tanker on the coast of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/venezuela\">Venezuela<\/a> \u2013 a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized actually.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cIt was seized for a very good reason,\u201d the US president added, declining to say who owned the vessel.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"8fdf9c83-41c4-4b87-9e14-ead523e71005\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">This image from video posted on attorney general Pam Bondi\u2019s X account, and partially redacted by the source, shows an oil tanker being seized by US forces off the coast of Venezuela.<\/span> Photograph: AP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Pam Bondi<\/strong>, the US attorney general, posted footage of the seizure on X. She said the tanker had been sanctioned by the US for \u201cmultiple years\u201d due to its \u201cinvolvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Venezuela\u2019s government said in a statement that the seizure \u201cconstitutes a blatant theft and an act of international piracy\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It continued:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>Under these circumstances, the true reasons for the prolonged aggression against Venezuela have finally been revealed \u2026 It has always been about our natural resources, our oil, our energy, the resources that belong exclusively to the Venezuelan people.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Also speaking to NewsNation, senator Chris Coons said that while he did not know the details of the incident, he was \u201cgravely concerned that [Trump] is sleepwalking us into a war with Venezuela\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In other developments:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a> launched a new program that will allow wealthy foreign individuals to buy a US \u201cgolden visa\u201d for $1m, and trailed a \u201cplatinum\u201d version for $5m. <\/strong>\u201cA direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people. SO EXCITING! Our Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable Talent,\u201d Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/115697029631709665\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">wrote<\/a> on Wednesday on social media.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>The US <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/federal-reserve\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Federal Reserve<\/a> announced on Wednesday that it was cutting interest rates by a quarter point for the third time this year,<\/strong> as the embattled central bank appeared split over how best to manage the US economy.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>The US House voted 312-112 to pass a sweeping defense policy bill on Wednesday that authorizes $900bn in military programs<\/strong>, including a pay raise for troops and an overhaul of how the Department of Defense purchases weapons.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>The governor of Washington, Bob Ferguson, declared a statewide emergency on Wednesday in response to heavy rain in the Pacific north-west state since an atmospheric river smacked the region a day earlier<\/strong> with rains that triggered mudslides and washed out roads and submerged vehicles.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>A senior Democratic senator is calling for an investigation into potential insider trading by fossil-fuel billionaires close to the Trump administration, after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2025\/dec\/04\/venture-global-shares\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Guardian investigation raised questions<\/a> about an unusual share-buying spree. <\/strong>Robert Pender and Michael Sabel, the <a href=\"https:\/\/ventureglobal.com\/about-us\/leadership\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">founders and co-chairs of Venture Global<\/a>, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company headquartered in Virginia, bought more than a million shares worth almost $12m each, just days after meeting with senior Trump officials in March.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Immigrant students across the US have experienced increased bullying, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdowns causing declines in attendance and a \u201cculture of fear\u201d among immigrant students in public schools, according to a new <a href=\"https:\/\/idea.gseis.ucla.edu\/publications\/files\/fear-is-everywhere-report\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">survey<\/a> of high school principals. <\/strong>Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles\u2019s Institute for Democracy, Education and Access (Idea) conducted a \u201cnationally representative\u201d survey of more than 600 principals about the toll of raids and deportations, and how schools were responding.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;us-news\/live\/2025\/dec\/11\/us-seizes-venezuela-tanker-democrats-republicans-donald-trump-latest-news&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-693a74a58f08b47a6373e62a&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-693a74a58f08b47a6373e62a&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;US lawmakers voice concerns about Venezuelan tanker seizure: \u2018sounds a lot like the beginning of a war\u2019 \u2013 US politics live &quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=US lawmakers voice concerns about Venezuelan tanker seizure: \u2018sounds a lot like the beginning of a war\u2019 \u2013 US politics live 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1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2025-12-11T08:12:04.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Thursday, 11 December 2025 at 08:12 Greenwich Mean Time\">08.12 GMT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<p>#lawmakers #voice #concerns #Venezuelan #tanker #seizure #sounds #lot #beginning #war #politics #live #news<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key events Show key events onl&hellip; 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