Lawmakers return to Washington facing Venezuela concerns,...

What’s Happening

Listen up: Congress faces major decisions on how to address rising costs of healthcare, prevent another government shutdown and deal with the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files.

Lawmakers face a January deadline to avoid another government shutdown. Above, tourists are seen outside the U. (and honestly, same)

(Rahmat Gul / Associated Press) By Ana Ceballos Staff Writer Follow Jan.

The Details

5, 2026 3 AM PT 7 min Click here to listen to this article via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X LinkedIn Threads Reddit WhatsApp Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read voice.

Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . Lawmakers return to Washington this week demanding questions about the Trump administration’s plans in Venezuela.

Why This Matters

They also face major challenges, including averting another government shutdown. P]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix mb-10 md:max-w-170 md:mx-auto” data-dateline data-r-content WASHINGTON — Lawmakers are returning to Washington this week confronting the fallout from the stunning capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — and familiar complaints about the Trump administration deciding to bypass Congress on military operations that have led to this moment. Democratic leaders are demanding the administration ASAP brief Congress.

Diplomats and experts are analyzing what this means for international relations.

The Bottom Line

“Congress should have been informed about the operation earlier and needs to be involved as this situation evolves,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) dropped in a socials post Saturday.

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