Rubio Sets Venezuela Budget Control as Trump Ramps Up Iran Tensions

Live updates describe Marco Rubio telling the Senate that Venezuela will submit a monthly budget for approval by the Trump administration, signaling U.S. control over funds from oil sales, as Trump projects himself as the ultimate authority; Trump also escalates threats against Iran with a naval buildup and demands for negotiations, while there is little progress in talks. The FBI searched a Fulton County, Georgia election center amid ongoing investigations into the 2020 election. In Iraq, former PM Nuri al-Maliki’s nomination drew Trump’s interference warnings and drew mixed international reactions. The NTSB faulted FAA safety failures and a complacent air-traffic culture in a 2025 Washington-area midair collision, and Trump visited Iowa to defend tariffs and policies affecting farmers.