World News Tonight with David Muir Full Episode: Sunday, January 4, 2026
Jan 5, 2026
Martha Raddatz, ABC News chief global affairs correspondent, shares explosive details of the U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, highlighting the intricacies of Operation Absolute Resolve. Rachel Scott discusses the Secretary of State's push for regime change through oil blockades, revealing the U.S. strategy moving forward. Whit Johnson provides an update on Maduro's legal troubles as he prepares for his court appearance, while James Longman captures the mixed emotions of Venezuelans at the border, illustrating celebration and uncertainty.
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Complex U.S. Extraction Operation
- The U.S. executed a months-long, high-risk operation using elite forces, aircraft, and covert CIA tracking to capture Nicolás Maduro.
- The raid combined airstrikes, low-altitude helicopter insertions, and a Delta Force replica practice for the safe house.
Contrast Between Rhetoric And Policy
- President Trump publicly declared "We're going to run the country" and signaled potential U.S. boots on the ground in Venezuela.
- Officials then offered a softer line, describing U.S. actions as exerting leverage, including oil quarantines rather than direct governance.
Pressure Through Oil Leverage
- Use economic leverage like oil quarantines to pressure Venezuela's government rather than prolonged occupation.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio framed U.S. involvement as directing policy and using leverage already in motion.