PDB Afternoon Bulletin | January 29th, 2026: CIA Launches New Venezuela Operation & EU Terror Listing for Iran’s IRGC
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
It's Thursday, the 29th of January. Welcome to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage, still on the road and still battling a hoarse voice. And by the way, thank you to all the folks who have sent me tips on how to deal with this voice. All right, let's get briefed.
What new CIA operations are planned for Venezuela?
First up, according to new reporting, the CIA is launching a new operation inside post-regime Venezuela, putting U.S. intelligence at the center of Washington's early efforts on the ground. Later in the show, the European Union labels Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization, citing Tehran's brutal response to nationwide protests. But first, today's afternoon spotlight. New reporting from CNN suggests the US is moving quickly to establish a new intelligence footprint inside Venezuela, and the CIA, as you might suspect, is leading the way. According to multiple sources familiar with the planning, the CIA is quietly preparing to spearhead America's return to Venezuela in the wake of Nicolas Maduro's capture.
While the State Department is expected to reestablish a diplomatic mission over time, the early phase will likely be led by U.S. intelligence, reflecting the political uncertainty and fragile security environment inside the country. Officials say the CIA's immediate focus would be establishing a small operational foothold, potentially through a CIA annex, before any formal embassy reopening. That allows US officials to begin building relationships, assessing power dynamics, and quietly engaging with Venezuelan security services and political factions in ways that traditional diplomacy often can't. CNN's reporting also points to a broader strategic aim. Venezuela is no longer being viewed as just a regional issue.
US officials expect intelligence briefings with the new leadership to focus heavily on external threats, including, of course, the activities of China, Russia, Cuba, and Iran. Those conversations would almost certainly be led by intelligence professionals, not diplomats, given the sensitivity of the material and the need to decide what information can be shared and when. That strategic signal was reinforced earlier this month when CIA Director John Ratcliffe became the first senior U.S.
How is the CIA adapting to the post-Maduro landscape?
official to visit Venezuela following the operation that removed Maduro from power. His message to the interim leadership was that Venezuela will no longer be allowed to serve as a safe haven for America's adversaries. According to the reporting, CIA's officers were already operating inside Venezuela months before Maduro's capture. A small team was reportedly inserted to track the former president's movements and patterns, aided by a source within the Venezuelan government. Intelligence assessments also shaped Washington's decision to back the current interim leadership, weighing the risks of instability against the alternatives. Now, the agency's role is shifting from disruption to influence, quietly evaluating the new leadership, maintaining security, and helping Washington navigate a delicate transition.
But, of course, as always, there are still some unanswered questions. Even as the CIA prepares to move in, U.S. officials involved in early planning say the White House has yet to clearly articulate a long-term mission. President Trump has publicly suggested the U.S. will, quote, run the country during the transition, but the specifics of timelines and benchmarks and exit conditions remain undefined. That uncertainty complicates everything from embassy reopening plans to the scale and duration of the intelligence presence. State Department teams have already begun assessing the U.S. embassy compound in Caracas, but security conditions and infrastructure challenges could delay a full return. For years, Maduro cast the CIA as a convenient scapegoat, accusing the agency of plotting his downfall.
Well, there's irony there, I suppose. Now with the regime gone, U.S. intelligence is poised to play a significant role in shaping what comes next.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:12–0:30
2
What new CIA operations are planned for Venezuela?
0:30–2:25
3
How is the CIA adapting to the post-Maduro landscape?
2:25–5:36
4
What are the implications of the EU designating Iran's IRGC as a terrorist organization?
5:36–6:44
5
What evidence led to the EU's decision against the Iranian regime?
6:44–8:57
6
How does the IRGC's power affect Iran's political landscape?
8:57–11:16
7
What are the potential consequences of the IRGC's designation for Iran?
11:16–11:56
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from The President's Daily Brief
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