Monday, January 5, 2026

'I am still president': Defiant Maduro in court

The deposed Venezuelan leader appeared in a Manhattan courtroom and pleaded not guilty to narcoterrorism and other charges. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Short List

Mon Jan 5 2026

 

Phaedra Trethan National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hi there! I'm Phaedra Trethan, back from an extended holiday break and wishing Short List readers a happy, healthy New Year!

In Monday's news:

Captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores made their first appearances in a New York courtroom.
U.S. Senator Mark Kelly will not face a court martial, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is still aiming to penalize him for remarks he made addressing current service members.
Hollywood's awards season kicked off this weekend with the Critics Choice Awards.

But first: I love scented candles, but I avoid the ones that smell like food (they make me hungry!). But these scents ... well, let's say they won't make me hungry. 🤢

'I am still president of my country'

Venezuela's deposed leader, Nicolás Maduro, was defiant as he faced a U.S. district judge in New York Monday, on narcoterrorism and other charges.

Dressed in prison garb days after he and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by U.S. forces, Maduro entered a not guilty plea. What he said — and what comes next.

What President Trump says about Cuba, Greenland and Colombia.
Watch: The U.N. Security Council meets after the U.S. strikes on Venezuela.
Polling: What Americans think of the strike.
Mapping the raid and capture in Venezuela.
Fake images circulated online after the strike. Here are the real images.

Usa Venezuela Maduro New York

DEA agents move captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores out of a helicopter before an initial court appearance to face U.S. federal charges including narco-terrorismin New York City, U.S., January 5, 2026.

Adam Gray, REUTERS

Mark Kelly censured

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth backed down from previous threats to court-martial U.S. Senator (and retired Navy captain) Mark Kelly for the Democrat's role in a video telling service members they can refuse illegal orders.

Instead, Hegseth censured Kelly, and prepared to demote Kelly, which would affect his pension. But it's unclear whether than can even happen.

20251201_VPC_MARK KELLY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST POLITICAL VIOLENCE_THUMB_GETTY.00_00_00_00.Still004.jpg

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) speaks at a news conference in the U.S. Capitol on December 1, 2025, in Washington, DC. Kelly held the event to address what he described as intimidating actions by U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Real quick

The U.S. revised its childhood vaccine schedule. What that means for parents. 💉
Minnesota Governor and former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz will not run for reelection. Why he's opted out.
A popular online game says it's rolling out new features aimed at protecting kids. 📱
Could another government shutdown be imminent? 🤔

⭐️ And the award goes to...

The 2026 Hollywood awards season kicked off Sunday with the Critics Choice Awards. The big winners? "Frankenstein," "Sinners," "Adolescents" and "The Pitt." See the complete list.

Photos from the red carpet. 🤩
Next up: The Golden Globes. When and how to watch. 📺

🏈 NFL playoff picture set

The NFL regular season's final whistle has sounded and the playoff picture is set with a little more than a month to go before Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. Fourteen teams are set to compete, starting with this weekend's wildcard games.

The end of the season inevitably means coaching changes. Here's who's out.
Did the Steelers get some divine intervention in their win over the Ravens Sunday night?

A break from the news

Start 2026 off on a happy note with these heartwarming videos from 2025. 😇
Welcome to the Phillies, Donnie Baseball! (Is it time for pitchers & catchers yet?) ⚾️ 🌻
Thinking about getting more fit in the new year? Check out these expert tips. 💪

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and your New Year's resolutions. Hers: Same as last year, scroll less and read more. 📚 Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.

Disney Cruise Line crew worked quickly to safely rescue a father and child who went overboard on the Disney Dream on June 29, 2025.

Cruise ship overboard detection systems haven't been as commonplace as travelers might expect.

Brewers star Jackson Chourio celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Cubs during Game 2 of the NL division series at American Family Field in Milwaukee on Oct. 6, 2025.
 

MLB teams monitor players during Venezuela winter baseball halt

The United States' attack on Venezuela and capture of president Nicolas Maduro has had a minimal impact on Major League Baseball, at least for now.

Manuel Noriega is shown in this file photo taken during his arrest by U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agents in 1990.
 

US intervention in Panama offers clues to what's next for Venezuela

Trump administration's capture of Nicolás Maduro bore some familiar echoes to 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama.

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a New Year's Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 31, 2025.
 

Is Trump already becoming a lame-duck president?

With Congress passing just 61 laws last year, Trump's influence may already be slipping heading into his second year in office.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Latin American Affairs Qiu Xiaoqi meet at the Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela, on Jan. 2, 2026, a day before Maduro was captured by the U.S..
 

World leaders condemn, support, and appear torn over Maduro capture

China accused the US of acting like a 'world judge' in its capture of Venezuela's leader. But Argentina's leader said 'freedom moves forward.'

U.S. Vice President JD Vance exits Air Force Two at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 16, 2025.
 

Man arrested after JD Vance's Ohio home damaged, Secret Service says

Vice President JD Vance and his family were not home when the alleged property damage took place, officials said.

Boston Celtic Paul Pierce (bottom) leans over in pain as team trainer Ed Lacerte watches during the second quarter play of their game against the Seattle Supersonics in Seattle, 11 February of 2003. AFP PHOTO/Dan Levine (Photo by DAN LEVINE / AFP) (Photo credit should read DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images)
 

He took care of NBA's top players. Now they want to save his life

Athletic trainer Ed Lacerte took care of the Boston Celtics and USA Basketball players for decades. Now, they're trying to help save his life.

Gynecologist talking with a young female patient during a medical consultation in the gynecological office
 

Updated cervical cancer, HPV testing guidelines: What to know

HHS released updated cervical cancer screening guidelines on Jan. 5, allowing for self-administered HPV tests as an alternative to Pap smears.

Local memory care communities can be a powerful partner in your caregiving journey.
 

AI predicted my long term care needs, and how much it will cost

I used an AI tool to predict my long term care needs, including if and when I'll need help bathing and eating, and how much that care will cost.

Kathy Griffin attends Out Magazine's Out100 Celebration on Nov. 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
 

Kathy Griffin 'fell in love' with a 23-year-old: The truth about age gaps

Kathy Griffin recently revealed she "accidentally fell in love" with a 23-year-old. Here's what to know about age-gap relationships.

Play Your Way to a Relaxing Break

Unwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. 

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