President Trump declared a national emergency to shield Venezuelan oil revenue held by the U.S. government from seizure by private creditors, framing it as critical to U.S. national security and regional stability.
The big picture: Control of Venezuelan oil — some $2.5 billion worth — is now a cornerstone of the White House's strategy in the Western Hemisphere and an opening for U.S. companies in the wake of Nicolás Maduro's capture.
U.S. oil giants signaled interest in Venezuela on Friday but stopped well short of committing to massive and rapid new investments there during a meeting with President Trump.
Why it matters: The White House envisions a key role for U.S. companies in reviving output from Venezuela following the toppling of President Nicolás Maduro.
Some of President Trump's critics allege that his decision to pull the U.S. out of UN climate agencies' work is illegal — but legal experts aren't as certain.
Why it matters: Trump's withdrawal of the U.S. from nearly 70 groups — including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — is among his biggest retreats from the global stage.
Meta on Friday unveiled nuclear power deals with three firms — Vistra, TerraPower, and Oklo — to back large existing plants and help spur construction of advanced reactor designs.
Why it matters: It's the latest sign of big tech companies looking to nuclear as they seek electrons for building and using AI models.
