Opinion Today: Topline
Selected links from the January 8, 2026, edition of Opinion Today
Actions in Venezuela divide Americans as they look for clarity on Trump admin. goals Anthony Salvanto, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Kabir Khanna, CBS News The U.S. military action removing Nicolás Maduro from power divides Americans, and their views on it connect to what they think the U.S. goals are and what they believe comes next. At the moment, most think the Trump administration is among other aims trying to get access to Venezuela's oil and expand U.S. power in the region — and when Americans think those are big parts of the goals, they tend to disapprove.
Democrats and Republicans agree more about Venezuela's future than about its recent past Carl Bialik and Taylor Orth, YouGov
Decade of Distress Clouds Venezuela's Future Benedict Vigers, Gallup
Trump's MAGA base backs his handling of Venezuela and Maduro capture, allies say Katherine Doyle and Jonathan Allen, NBC News Trump’s Venezuela Moves Pose a Challenge for G.O.P. in Congress Robert Jimison, New York Times [unlocked] What’s Really Driving Trump’s Moves in Venezuela and Greenland Michael Schaffer, Politico Magazine The Wrath of Stephen Miller Ashley Parker, Michael Scherer, and Nick Miroff, The Atlantic [unlocked] A blowout win for Democrats in 2026? Stuart Rothenberg, Roll Call Economy Worries Voters: But Trump Tries to Change the Subject with Venezuela Snatch Markschulman’s Substack Life Under a Clicktatorship Don Moynihan, Can We Still Govern? Cynicism About Government Is Hard to Escape John Halpin, The Liberal Patriot As Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point Pushes Into High Schools, Dissension Follows Pooja Salhotra, New York Times [unlocked] Minnesota’s Fraud Should Be a Wake-Up Call for Democrats Ruy Teixeira (American Enterprise Institute), New York Times [unlocked] Traders Bet on the U.S.’s Next Airstrike Target Jack Pitcher and Alexander Osipovich, Wall Street Journal [unlocked] Could this mysterious California news site influence the 2026 election? Colin Lecher, The Markup
There’s more in the FULL edition of Opinion Today, sent to paid subscribers today at 5 a.m. ET:
PLAYLIST
The good, the bad and the meh: What we're watching in 2026
Political TheaterThe Growing Power & Influence Of White Supremacy In America
Fresh AirRegime Change (with Natalie Haynes)
Strong Message HereAmericans split on removing Maduro from power
CBS News