Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) may run for Minnesota governor after Tim Walz suddenly ended his reelection bid today, sources tell Axios' Torey Van Oot and Hans Nichols.

• The four-term senator is one of the state's most popular Democrats, and she'd be an instant front-runner in the race to succeed Walz.

A source familiar with Klobuchar's thinking said she hasn't made a final decision.

• 🏎️ Another source indicated she is likely to jump into the race.
• 🏃‍♀️ Multiple Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party operatives and insiders say they expect her to run.

👩‍💼 If elected, Klobuchar, 65, would be Minnesota's first woman governor.

• 🪑 A win would also create a rare midterm opening in the Senate, with the governor choosing someone to fill her seat after she resigns.

🐝 The Klobuchar buzz comes after Walz unexpectedly announced this morning that he would no longer seek an unprecedented third term.

• 📉 Sagging approval ratings and heightened scrutiny into state safety net fraud claims intensified calls for the onetime VP candidate to step aside.
• Walz defended his administration, saying in a statement that it "made systemic changes to the way we do business" in response to "an organized group of criminals [that] have sought to take advantage of our state's generosity."

🔵 Democrats have won every statewide office in Minnesota since 2006, and most forecasts rate next year's race in their favor.

• 🔴 But Walz's perceived vulnerabilities attracted many could-be GOP challengers, including House Speaker Lisa Demuth and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.

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Trump officials are framing this weekend's shock operation in Venezuela as law enforcement rather than warfare, Axios' Avery Lotz reports.

• 📺 Secretary of State Marco Rubio on NBC's "Meet the Press" yesterday: "We are at war against drug trafficking organizations, not a war against Venezuela."
• 💣 That means President Trump didn't need congressional approval to strike a Venezuelan military base and capture leader Nicolás Maduro, the administration argues.

📰 The White House directed Axios to Rubio's recent interview with The Washington Post, where he said he promised lawmakers to get congressional approval before conducting "military strikes for military purposes."

• "This was not that. This was a law enforcement operation."

Brian Finucane of the nonprofit International Crisis Group told us: "There may have been some DEA agents tagging along for the ride. But that doesn't change the fundamental fact that it's a use of force under international law."

🔮 What's next: Lawmakers will be briefed this evening.

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1. 🇻🇪 Captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty to charges of "narco-terrorism conspiracy" and other alleged crimes on his first day in U.S. federal court. Go deeper.
2. 💉 The Trump administration dramatically overhauled the federal childhood vaccination schedule, cutting the number of recommended shots to 11 to align with "consensus among peer nations." Go deeper.
3. 🪖 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is targeting Sen. Mark Kelly's (D-Ariz.) retirement pay over a video in which Kelly urged military service members to disobey unlawful orders. Hegseth, posting on X: "In response to Senator Mark Kelly's seditious statements ... the Department of War is taking administrative action." Go deeper.
4. 🇬🇱 Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says President Trump is serious about taking over Greenland, telling Danish public media: "I have made it very clear where the Kingdom of Denmark stands, and Greenland has repeatedly said that it does not want to be part of the United States." Go deeper.
5. 🏛️ A new spending package marks the first big move by Congress to avoid another government shutdown, which could start Jan. 30. Go deeper.

Arizona sits atop today's new AP men's college basketball rankings, while the UConn Huskies lead the women's pack.

• The Michigan men have plenty to celebrate, despite being No. 2: They're the first team in AP poll history to rack up three straight 30-point wins against ranked opponents, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello.
• The UConn women, meanwhile, "are off to their best start since 2017-18, when they started 36-0 before losing in the Final Four." (ESPN)

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