The Daily

The 2026 Battle for Control of Congress

This year, the 2026 midterm elections will decide which party controls Congress, and whether Republicans can hold on to every lever of influence in Washington. Annie Karni and Shane Goldmacher, who cover politics, discuss the opportunities and perils for both parties. Guest: * Annie Karni [https://www.nytimes.com/by/annie-karni], a congressional correspondent at The New York Times. * Shane Goldmacher [https://www.nytimes.com/by/shane-goldmacher], a national political correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading:  * Both President Trump and the Democrats are floating unusual midterm conventions [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/us/politics/trump-democrats-midterm-conventions.html]. * Here are six big political questions [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/us/politics/trump-democrats-gop-midterms-venezuela-economy.html] for the new year. * And here are the latest polls for the 2026 elections [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/congressional-vote-2026.html]. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily [http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily]. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

Venezuela, After Maduro

On Monday, President Trump picked Vice President Delcy Rodríguez of Venezuela, now the interim leader, to continue to preside over the country instead of María Corina Machado, the opposition leader. Anatoly Kurmanaev, who reports on Venezuela, explains why Mr. Trump chose a Maduro loyalist to run the country. And Venezuelan citizens reflect on the realities of a post-Maduro era. Guest: Anatoly Kurmanaev [http://nytimes.com/by/anatoly-kurmanaev], a reporter for The New York Times who covers Venezuela. Background reading:  * How Mr. Trump fixed on a Maduro loyalist [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/world/americas/trump-venezuela-leader-rodriguez-machado.html] as Venezuela’s new leader. * Why he refused to back [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/us/politics/trump-venezuela-machado.html] Ms. Machado. Photo: From left, Gaby Oraa/Reuters; Leonhard Foeger, via Reuters For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily [http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily]. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

From President to Defendant: The Legal Case Against Maduro

Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela was brought to New York with his wife over the weekend to face criminal charges. Charlie Savage, who covers national security and legal policy, discusses the legality of Mr. Maduro’s capture and whether the operation could undermine the legal case against him. Guest: Charlie Savage [https://www.nytimes.com/by/charlie-savage], who covers national security and legal policy for The New York Times. Background reading:  * Can the United States legally “run” Venezuela after Mr. Maduro’s capture? Here’s what to know [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/us/politics/maduro-venezuela-trump-legal-issues.html]. * The U.S. indictment of Mr. Maduro cites cocaine smuggling [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/world/americas/venezuela-drug-trade.html]. Venezuela’s role in the trade is believed to be modest. Photo: The New York Times For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily [http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily]. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

Inside the U.S. Operation to Oust Venezuela’s President

The United States captured Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan president, over the weekend in a swift and overwhelming military operation. Mr. Maduro was pictured blindfolded, handcuffed and later brought to New York to face criminal charges. Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times, tells the story of how the operation unfolded, and discusses what comes next. Guest: Eric Schmitt [https://www.nytimes.com/by/eric-schmitt], a national security correspondent for The New York Times based in Washington. Background reading:  * President Trump said at a news conference [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/03/world/trump-maduro-venezuela-us-strikes] that the United States would “run” Venezuela. * Inside “Operation Absolute Resolve, [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/us/politics/trump-capture-maduro-venezuela.html]” the U.S. effort to capture Mr. Maduro. * See maps, videos and photos [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/03/world/americas/maduro-capture-venezuela-strikes-maps.html] of how the capture unfolded. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily [http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily]. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

‘The Headlines’: The U.S. Captures Nicolás Maduro

A special episode from "The Headlines" on the U.S. military operation in Venezuela. Tomorrow, The Daily will publish an episode with more details about Maduro's capture and what comes next for Venezuela.   Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.