By Zythi Geopolitical Insights January 28, 2026 Three days after the stunning U.S. raid that extracted Nicolás Maduro from Caracas, the former Venezuelan leader appeared—virtually and under heavy guard—in a Manhattan federal courtroom for his formal arraignment. Flanked by U.S. marshals in a secure facility, Maduro, visibly strained but defiant, pleaded not guilty to a litany of narco-terrorism, corruption, and sanctions-evasion charges. The hearing, broadcast partially to the public, lasted less than thirty minutes but reverberated globally, underscoring the extraordinary nature of trying a sitting (or recently sitting) head of state on American soil. Meanwhile, Venezuela teeters on the brink. Caracas has witnessed sporadic outbreaks of violence as loyalist militias, opposition supporters, and opportunistic criminal elements clash in the streets. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a state of emergency, while military units appear divided. The power vacuum created by...
By Zythi Geopolitical Insights January 28, 2026 Barely a week into his second term, President Donald Trump has unleashed a barrage of executive orders reshaping U.S. immigration policy with unprecedented scope and speed. Announced from the Oval Office, these measures revive and amplify hallmarks of his first administration—expanded border wall funding, expedited deportations, and severe restrictions on asylum claims—while introducing new enforcement mechanisms. The orders, framed as essential for national security and economic protection, have triggered immediate nationwide protests, defiant statements from state leaders, and a flurry of legal challenges. This is not subtle recalibration; it is a deliberate, aggressive pivot toward maximum enforcement. Supporters hail it as fulfillment of campaign promises to restore "law and order" at the border. Critics decry it as cruel, chaotic, and constitutionally dubious. In cities from New York to Los Angeles, streets have filled wi...