Venezuela's Maduro Mobilizes 4.5 Million Militia Members
The Venezuelan president's official website stated on Aug. 18 that Maduro's call-up will mobilize around 4.5 million militia members across the South American country.
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Politico
31 minutes ago
- Politico
Brazilians go with Ballard
With help from Daniel Lippman BRAZILIAN INDUSTRY HIRES BALLARD FOR TARIFF FIGHT: The largest industry group in Brazil, the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry, has hired Ballard Partners to represent it in the ongoing battle over President Donald Trump's severe tariffs on imports from the South American country, according to a newly filed disclosure report. — Earlier this week, PI brought you the news that CNI has been shopping around for a Washington lobbyist that can help Brazilian industry get in the door with the Trump administration after the country was hit with a 50 percent tariff rate last month. Hiring Ballard, which has become the most sought-after firm in Trump's Washington, is a strong start. — Brian Ballard and former White House senior adviser for policy and strategy Hunter Morgen will handle the account, according to the filing. Morgen primarily worked on trade and immigration issues while serving in the first Trump administration and, most importantly, was a deputy to trade adviser Peter Navarro. — Ballard and the industry leaders will likely face stiff resistance on any efforts to lower the tariffs. Complicating matters in Washington is Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of disgraced former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The younger Bolsonaro has been living in the U.S. since February and lobbying the Trump administration to take a harsh position toward the Brazilian government in apparent retaliation for Brazil's prosecution of his father on charges of conspiring to overturn the country's 2022 presidential election. — Bolsonaro's lobbying may have succeeded in escalating Trump's rhetoric and economic vindictiveness toward Brazil, but today it also earned him a formal accusation of obstruction of justice by the Brazilian federal police. — News of Ballard's hiring comes one day after CNN Brasil reported that Brazilian business leaders are set to fly out to Washington next month to press their case in person. The report indicated leaders plan to meet with U.S. officials, but didn't provide specifics. One official who's unlikely to open his door? Peter Navarro — who posted 'Free Jair Bolsonaro!' on X in response to PI's earlier reporting. Happy Thursday and welcome to PI. Hope you enjoyed today's brief sweater weather. Another gentle reminder that PI is off all next week so submit your tips now to dbarnes@ and coprysko@ We're also on Signal at danielbarnes.13 and caitlinoprysko.17. And follow us on X at @dnlbrns and @caitlinoprysko. FIRST COMES LOVE: Donald Trump's other son-in-law Michael Boulos and his family have financially benefited from their ties to the Trump clan ever since Boulos proposed to younger Trump daughter Tiffany in 2021, Justin Scheck, Tariq Panja, Jo Becker and Bradley Hope report for The New York Times. — The Times report details two transactions involving Boulos and his cousin that included either investment from a Trump family member or attempts to sell the appearance of closeness to the first family. Boulos personally received $400,000 from the two deals and denies any wrongdoing. — In the first deal, Boulos and his cousin's yacht brokerage firm convinced the more famous Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner to invest in a yacht flipping enterprise to the tune of approximately $15 million. Text messages obtained by the Times show the firm overcharged Kushner by $2.5 million, though it's unclear if Boulos was aware. — The second deal involved the same Boulos cousin and a Saudi businessman seeking the appearance of closeness to the Trump family as part of an effort to regain real estate holdings that had been seized by the Saudi government as part of a corruption crackdown in 2017. The businessman would eventually pay $100,000 in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to secure an invite to the Boulos-Trump wedding. QUID PRO BONO: Two of the major law firms that struck deals with the Trump administration earlier this year have been quietly doing free work for the Commerce Department, Michael Schmidt, Matthew Goldstein and Maggie Haberman report for The New York Times. — Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Kirkland & Ellis have been working with Commerce on a 'range of matters' that potentially includes trade deals with other countries. The Times had previously reported that a third deal-making firm, Skadden Arps, had been connected to Commerce by Trump lawyer Boris Epshteyn, though it's not clear if Skadden has performed any work for the department. — 'The Commerce Department is not only taking an active role in trade and tariff negotiations but also discussing taking equity stakes in some U.S. companies like the chip maker Intel. In a statement, the department said it and its secretary, Howard Lutnick, 'are working with some of America's top law firms and legal minds to cement the truly historic trade deals that President Trump negotiated for the American people.'' — SUBSTACK SPAM: Former DNC Chair Jaime Harrison had some folks grumbling last week when they learned they had been subscribed to his new Substack against their will. 'Harrison appears to have run afoul of Substack's terms of service by mass-subscribing his former campaign email list and other personal contacts,' Daniel L. scoops. — 'Last week, Harrison's Substack showed that he had a million subscribers, but most of Harrison's posts have less than a dozen likes. After POLITICO started asking questions, the number of subscribers became private. A Harrison spokesperson declined to comment on why the subscription number is no longer public.' HOLLAND & KNIGHT HIRES TRUMP 1.0 OFFICIAL: Demand for high-ranking Trump 1.0 officials remains high, even as Trump 2.0 officials start their moves to K Street. Today, Holland & Knight announced its hiring of former State Department official Ambassador Nathan Sales, who served as acting undersecretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights and ambassador-at-large and coordinator for counterterrorism. — 'Nathan's extensive capabilities and connections to the current Trump administration will be integral to a wide variety of the firm's lobbying and government contract clients,' leader of the firm's public policy & regulation group Rich Gold said in a statement. 'His wide-ranging contacts in foreign governments will be especially helpful with the firm's trade and tariff policy engagements and U.S. consular matters around the world.' Jobs report — David Meale is now China practice head of the Eurasia Group. He most recently was a senior foreign service officer at the State Department, where he spent more than three decades, with his last overseas assignment as the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. — Former Biden deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology Anne Neuberger has joined Andreessen Horowitz as a senior adviser. She previously spent more than 11 years at the National Security Agency before heading to the White House. — The Edison Electric Institute has added three new members to its C-suite. Rachael Marsh joins the association as chief legal officer, coming from Calpine Corporation, where she served as vice president of government affairs and managing counsel. Emily Schillinger has been tapped to serve as EEI's new chief communications officer, moving on from the American Investment Council, where she was executive vice president of public affairs. Finally, Kiel Weaver joins as chief advocacy officer. He was most recently director of environmental policy for NextEra Energy. — Kendra Wharton, most recently associate deputy attorney general at the Justice Department and a former member of Trump's personal defense team, has left government to return to Wharton Law. — Best Best & Krieger LLP has added two new Interior Department alums to its environment and natural resources practice group. Michael Brain, who will also lead the firm's government affairs team, joins as partner, and Gary Gold joins as of counsel. New Joint Fundraisers Fight And Win Fund (Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Fight PAC) Quality Tile (Quality tile) Hold the Senate (Sens. Steve Daines, Dan Sullivan, John Cornyn, Markwayne Mullin, Big Sky Opportunity PAC, True North PAC, Alamo PAC, Boots Political Action Committee, NRSC) Committee to Elect Gavin Solomon Restore Justice In New York (Gavin Solomon for U.S. House, NY-12, GS Constitutional Affiant - TWU Guilty Debtor & Shadow Banker Reform PAC) New PACs Electing Women National Capital Region PAC (Hybrid PAC) American Mission (Super PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Dimension Energy Capitol Pillar LLC: North Star Manganese Inc Miller & Wenhold Capitol Strategies: Leica Geosystems Inc. Bgr Government Affairs: Bp America Inc. Bgr Government Affairs: Nvidia Corporation Bgr Government Affairs: The Procter & Gamble Company Bgr Government Affairs: Inductivehealth Informatics Dla Piper LLP (US): Newspace Nexus The Jackson Group, LLC: Grain Chain Capitoline Consulting, LLC: International Sleep Products Association Ballard Partners: Confederacao Nacional Da Industria (Cni) Sightline Advocacy, LLC: Fierce Government Relations Obo Cultural Care Au Pair Tholos Government Relations: Equifax Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Engine Manufacturers Association Corcoran & Associates, Inc. Dba Corcoran Partners: University Of West Florida Foundation New Lobbying Terminations 7Streams The Geological Society Of America Hercules Anti Jackknife The Washington Tax & Public Policy Group: Interest Deductibility Working Group Bgr Government Affairs: Better World Fund Forza Dc, LLC: Peterson's, LLC Congressional Partners: Cen-Clear Child Services The Jackson Group, LLC: Skylark Services, LLC Mr. Richard Goodstein: Lexmark International Inc
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Evening Edition: U.S. Warships To Patrol Waters Around Venezuela
The U.S. military is sending three destroyers, thousands of Marines, and submarine support toward international waters around Venezuela as President Trump promises to take on deadly drug cartels head-on. The U.S. and Venezuela have long clashed over international issues across many issues including President Trump labeling the regime in Venezuela a 'narco-terror cartel.' Attorney General Pam Bondi last week also announced a historic $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, indicted in New York in 2020 on narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracy charges. Fox's John Saucier speaks to Bryan Stern, former Navy officer and Founder and Chairman of 'Grey Bull Rescue', a non-profit group who helps extract Americans from war zones and other hotspots all over the world including Afghanistan Ukraine, who says he is not surprised by the move and it could bring much needed stability on multiple problem fronts. For more information and to donate to the 'Grey Bull Rescue Foundation', visit: Click Here To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Miami Herald
5 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Venezuelan priest denied entry to the U.S., then something unexpected happened
Immigration authorities denied reentry into the United States to a Venezuelan-born priest from Miami-Dade County, despite his valid religious visa. The Archdiocese of Miami intervened and succeeded in overturning the decision. Father Gustavo Santos was returning from an international trip via London to Miami on Tuesday, August 19, when he was 'unexpectedly and wrongfully' denied entry into the United States, according to a statement released by the Archdiocese of Miami. Santos holds an R-1 religious worker visa that is valid through November 2025. 'Through the swift intervention of Archbishop Thomas Wenski and the efforts of immigration counsel from Catholic Legal Services Pro bono council Mary Kramer and Jose W. Alvarez, the matter was brought before a federal judge', the Archdiocese said. Following that intervention, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reconsidered the case, and Father Santos was released and allowed to reenter the country. The White House issued a proclamation that 'fully restricts and limits' the entry of Haitian nationals and 'partially restricts and limits' the entry of Cuban and Venezuelan nationals into the United States. The travel ban has been in effect since June 9, 2025. The proclamation argued that Venezuela lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures. 'Historically, Venezuela has refused to accept the return of its nationals subject to deportation. According to the Overstay Report, Venezuela had an overstay rate of 9.83% for B-1/B-2 visas,' the proclamation stated. The measure suspends the entry of Venezuelan nationals into the United States both as immigrants and as nonimmigrants with B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas. Additionally, consular officers will reduce the validity of any other nonimmigrant visas issued to Venezuelans, to the extent permitted by law. The priest was assigned by Archbishop Thomas Wenski as parochial vicar at St. John Neumann Church in Miami in June 2023. On August 4, Father Santos announced to parishioners that he was resigning to begin a new mission, without providing further details. 'I'll be leaving the parish soon. I want to thank all of you for supporting me, helping me, and making me a better priest. I will pray for you and ask that you pray for me in my new assignment,' Santos said in a video posted on St. John Neumann Church's social media. The priest was born on May 20, 1993, in Valencia, Venezuela. He is the oldest of four siblings: two brothers and two sisters. He arrived in the United States in 2012. He entered St. John Vianney Seminary in August 2015, was ordained a deacon on April 2, 2022, and served one year as a deacon at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in the city of Doral.
