Global News Podcast US seizes second oil tanker off Venezuela's coast
30 snips
Dec 21, 2025 
Sean Dilley, a Washington correspondent, shares insights on the US seizing oil tankers off Venezuela, citing narco-terrorism as a justification amid rising regional tensions. Yulan Nel discusses the winding down of Israel's Hostages' Families Forum, highlighting how it mobilized families and influenced public opinion. Astrophysicist Maya Belezny captivates with her findings on a bizarre lemon-shaped exoplanet observed by the James Webb Space Telescope, sparking discussions about its strange formation and composition.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
US Escalation Around Venezuelan Waters
- The US has intensified military and naval pressure near Venezuela, seizing tankers it says fund narco-terrorism.
- Sean Dilley says this follows a broader strategy of blockade and escalating presence short of ground strikes.
Venezuela Frames Seizures As Theft
- Venezuela accuses the US of theft and labels its actions as colonialist and piratical.
- Sean Dilley reports Caracas frames the seizures as motivated by desire for Venezuela's oil.
Family-Led Campaign For Hostages' Return
- The Hostages and Missing Families Forum grew from frantic gatherings after the 7 October attacks into a global campaign with thousands of volunteers.
- Yulan Nel describes how it organized daily demonstrations and influenced public opinion and diplomacy.