Tracy Mumford

Meanwhile, The Times has learned that several weeks ago, officials at ICE headquarters sent out a stark warning to its agents across the country.

In an email, they were told about an increase in protests and threats against officers.

And the email said that they should be, quote, prepared to take appropriate and decisive action should you be faced with an imminent threat.

It was signed by the head of enforcement and removal operations, who wrote, I have full faith and confidence that each of you possess the training and knowledge to exercise the appropriate response.

In an interview with The Times this week, President Trump laid out the most blunt articulation yet of his worldview, saying that he is the only check on his power as commander-in-chief when it comes to foreign affairs.

He said, quote, I don't need international law.

Trump asserted that he has complete freedom to use military, economic, or political power to secure American dominance around the world, brushing aside things like treaties.

On topic after topic, while sitting down with Times reporters, Trump made clear that in his mind, previous presidents had been too cautious to use American force to its full potential.

And he also made clear that he intentionally uses his reputation for unpredictability, as well as his willingness to quickly resort to military action, as a way of coercing other countries.

The Senate delivered a rare bipartisan rebuke of Trump yesterday, with 52 lawmakers voting to advance a measure that would curb the president's use of force in Venezuela.

Trump launched the U.S.

's recent actions there with no consultation or authorization by Congress.

And Senator Rand Paul suggested that part of what convinced a handful of Republicans to join with Democrats in the vote was Trump saying this week that the U.S.

could be involved in Venezuela for years.

The stage is now set for another vote next week that would force Trump to get congressional approval for continued operations in Venezuela, though the resolution will almost certainly fail in the House.

In a post on social media, Trump lashed out at the five Republicans who voted to assert congressional authority over his war powers, calling it stupidity and urging voters to push them out of office.

In Iran, nationwide protests against the country's authoritarian government escalated last night.

Crowds gathered in Tehran and other major cities, setting cars and government buildings on fire.

For weeks, unrest has been building in the country as people have taken to the streets in anger over a range of issues.

The biggest one?