Fresh off the shock of the U.S. operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, the Net Assessment team debates the merits of the operation and what it means for Venezuela's future. They also discuss why it caught (some of) them off guard, and what it implies about the Trump administration's decision-making going forward. Chris also questions Trump's proposed defense budget increase, Melanie gives Denmark a badly needed attaboy, and Zack critiques Pete Hegseth's punishment of Mark Kelly.

*The Net Assessment Podcast is hosted by the Stimson Center and produced by University FM.

Show Links:

• Emma Salisbury, "The Trump-Class Battleship," Behind the Front, January 8, 2026.

• Leo Shane III, "The 5 Republicans who voted against Trump on Venezuela," Politico, January 8, 2026.

• Eric Boehm, "Did Marco Rubio Lie to Congress About Venezuela?" Reason, January 5, 2026.

• Matthew Cullen, "Trump Said His Global Power Was Limited Only by His 'Own Morality'," New York Times, January 8, 2026.

• "TCS: President Trump's $1.5 Trillion Budget Proposal Must Be Rejected," Taxpayers for Common Sense, January 7, 2026.                                                                                            

• "$1.5 Trillion Military Budget Would Add $5.8 Trillion to Debt Over Decade," Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, January 7, 2026.

• Stephen Collinson, "Trump's new US mission statement: Strength, force, power," CNN, January 6, 2026.

• David E. Sanger et al., "Trump Lays Out a Vision of Power Restrained Only by 'My Own Morality'," New York Times, January 8, 2026.