The U.S. Keeps Killing Venezuelans on Boats. Is That Legal?
The Daily
09/25/25
•35m
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The U.S. military has blown up three boats in the Caribbean Sea in the past three weeks, killing 17 people aboard.
Each time, President Trump has claimed that the boats were carrying drugs to the United States and that those killed were “narcoterrorists.” But he has offered no concrete evidence to back up this claim.
Charlie Savage, who covers national security for The New York Times, tells us what he has learned about what may be the true objective behind these airstrikes and whether any of this is even legal.
Guest: Charlie Savage, who writes about national security and legal policy for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Last week, Mr. Trump said the U.S. military had attacked a third boat suspected of carrying drugs, killing three.
- He has claimed the power to kill those suspected of drug smuggling.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Elizabeth Frantz for The New York Times
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Previous Episode
The U.A.E. Got A.I. Chips. Trump’s Inner Circle Got Crypto Riches.
September 24, 2025
•25m
President Trump and his inner circle are making millions of dollars from agreements that intersect with America’s national security interests, a New York Times investigation found.
Eric Lipton, who wrote the article, explains why these conflicts of interest are unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Guest: Eric Lipton, an investigative reporter for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Read the full investigation here, or see five takeaways.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Next Episode
The Indictment of James Comey
September 26, 2025
•30m
A grand jury indicted James Comey, the former F.B.I. director, on Thursday night. It is a case that President Trump has personally demanded that federal prosecutors pursue despite their own doubts about whether Mr. Comey committed a crime.
Devlin Barrett, who covers the Justice Department and F.B.I. for The New York Times, explains what’s in the indictment and what that means for Mr. Trump’s ongoing campaign of retribution.
Guest: Devlin Barrett, a New York Times reporter covering the Justice Department and the F.B.I.
Background reading:
- A grand jury indicted Mr. Comey, a longtime Trump target.
- With the indictment, Mr. Trump is getting the retribution he wanted but shattering norms.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
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