Thursday morning news: January 8, 2026

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Tanker seizures » The United States seized two more Venezuelan-linked oil tankers on Wednesday after US officials say they were found illegally operating on the high seas.

These are the first tankers seized since the U-S captured and extradited Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro to the United States on drug trafficking charges.

US officials are now making new oil deals with the country’s interim government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio:

RUBIO: We are going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil. We're going to sell it in the marketplace, at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting. That money will then be handled in such a way that we will control how it is dispersed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people, not corruption, not the regime.

The U-S has now seized a total of four illegal oil tankers within the last month for violating sanctions.

It’s part of a continued pressure campaign aimed at keeping the Venezuelan regime in line.

ICE self-defense shooting » A federal agent shot and killed a woman during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis Wednesday.

ICE says an officer fired after the driver tried to run him over with her vehicle.

City leaders dispute that account, and state and federal authorities are now investigating.

The incident has sparked protests. And Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz remarked:

WALZ:  To Minnesotans. I say this, I feel your anger. I'm angry.

He lashed out at the Trump administration, suggesting federal law enforcement was not welcome there.

And Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey asserted that the officer’s self-defense explanation was false.

But Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem countered:

NOEM:  He doesn't know what he's talking about. Our officer followed his training, did exactly what he's been taught to do in that situation.

The shooting happened in a residential neighborhood south of downtown. Witness video shows officers approaching an SUV stopped in the road. As the vehicle moved forward, an officer opened fire.

HHS nutritional guidelines » The Trump administration says it has a new message aimed at making America healthy again:

Eat more real food. Cut back on sugar. Skip most snacks that come in a package. That is part of new nutrition advice issued by the government this week.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary:

MARKARY: We have 40% of our kids now with a chronic disease. It is not their fault. This is something that is the result of bad advice from the government and a medical establishment that for decades pedaled research from a flawed 1960s model.

The updated guidelines encourage Americans to eat more vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and protein.

They also warn against foods that come in bags or boxes and are high in sugar or refined carbs — like chips, cookies, and candy.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr:

KENNEDY: The new guidelines recognize that whole nutrient dense food is the most effective path to better health and lower healthcare costs.

The guidance keeps limits on saturated fat but says it’s better to get fats from whole foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy instead of processed oils.

Officials say the shorter, simpler advice is meant to be easier to follow and will shape school lunches and other federal food programs serving millions of people every day.

Rubio plans to meet with Danish officials about Greenland » Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he will meet with Danish officials next week to discuss U.S. interest in Greenland. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has that story.

BENJAMIN EICHER: The talks come after President Trump again said the island is important to U.S. security, citing growing activity by China and Russia in the Arctic.

Danish and Greenland leaders requested the meeting. Rubio told lawmakers the administration’s focus is on diplomacy and discussion, not military action.

He also noted that past U.S. presidents have explored similar ideas.

European leaders pushed back, saying Greenland belongs to its people and warning against pressure on a NATO ally.

Some U.S. lawmakers see great strategic value in Greenland, but others say they fear President Trump’s rhetoric on the matter could harm key alliances. Rubio said he plans to address those concerns directly during the meeting.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

DeSantis calls for special session to redraw district lines » Florida. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis says he plans to call lawmakers into a special session in April to redraw the state’s congressional map ahead of midterm elections.

He pointed to a US Supreme Court case in which he says the justices are likely to rule that racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional.

DESANTIS: Uh, we have a couple districts that has been thought that the Voting Rights Act mandates racial gerrymandering, so that's gonna force it one way or another.

He said the state is getting out ahead of that.

Republicans currently hold 20 of Florida’s 28 House seats. Any changes could influence control of the closely divided U.S. House.

Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2010 aimed at limiting partisan map drawing. The state Supreme Court later upheld a map backed by DeSantis.

Democrats argue new maps would violate that amendment, while Republicans say the courts may soon change the legal landscape.

I'm Kent Covington.

Still ahead: the turf war over controversial changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. Plus, how the U.S. military operation in Venezuela may affect relations with China.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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