Venezuela

Newsweek -  Pope Leo has warned Donald Trump not to launch a war to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro using military force. The Pope said Tuesday: "It is better to search for ways of dialogue, or perhaps pressure, including economic pressure. NPR - President Trump and his advisers met yesterday evening to discuss next steps with Venezuela as tensions continue to intensify with the U.S. The Trump administration has faced scrutiny over its strikes against what it alleges are drug boats traveling from Venezuela to the U.S. These strikes have killed dozens of people. On Friday, The Washington Post reported that U.S. forces struck a boat on Sept. 2, leaving survivors. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly gave an order to kill those survivors. Some Congress members believe this may constitute a war crime.

🎧 Press secretary Karoline Leavitt yesterday didn’t deny Hegseth ordered the second strike, but said he authorized U.S. Navy Adm. Frank M. Bradley to take those actions, NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben tells Up First. NPR’s Tom Bowman spoke yesterday with a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly. This official disputed the White House’s account, stating that Hegseth issued the command for “two strikes to kill” and two additional strikes to “sink the boat.”