Inside Trump’s military action in the Caribbean

Summary

Apple News Today — Episode Summary

Date: October 20, 2025
Host: Shemitah Basu

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Overview

On this episode, Shemitah Basu and her team unpack several major headlines, with an in-depth focus on President Trump’s escalating military operations in the Caribbean and South America. The episode also discusses the ongoing Gaza ceasefire challenges, a Maryland family tragedy leading to new autism safety laws, the massive “No Kings” protest against Trump, George Santos’s early prison release, and a daring jewel heist at the Louvre.

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Main Story: Inside Trump’s Military Action in the Caribbean

Segment begins: [03:43]

Key Discussion Points

• Escalating Military Strikes

  • [03:46] Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed another U.S. strike on a vessel near Venezuela, marking the seventh operation since September.
  • President Trump claims these are anti-drug cartel operations.
  • [04:04] “Dozens of people have now been killed, leading some U.S. lawmakers, Democrats, and a small number of Republicans to question the legality of the attacks.” — Shemitah Basu

• Legal & Political Debate

  • [04:13] The Department of Justice issued a classified opinion justifying military actions, arguing cartels are an “imminent threat to Americans.”
  • The administration is classifying drug groups as terrorist actors.
  • Secretary Hegseth publicly compared Colombian cartels to Al Qaeda, vowing to “hunt and kill in the same way.”

• Departure from Past Policy

  • [04:39] “CNN notes that historically, drug traffickers have been considered criminals with due process rights and have been arrested by the Coast Guard.” — Shemitah Basu
  • Trump argues the Coast Guard has failed after 30 years and suggests expanded operations.
  • [04:55] Elliot Abrams: “We’ve almost totally stopped it by sea. Now we’ll stop it by land.”
  • [05:01] “But it never worked. It never worked when, when you know, when you did it in a very politically correct manner.” — Elliot Abrams

• Venezuelan Connection and Motives

  • Most military action targets boats near Venezuela, raising concerns about regime change intent.
  • [05:21] Hisela Salim Peyer (The Atlantic) reports the administration is attempting to tie Venezuelan leadership (President Nicolás Maduro) to the trafficking but direct evidence is lacking.
  • [05:41] Hisela Salim Peyer: “The experts I spoke with in Venezuela, they don’t doubt there’s some drug trafficking … there is no evidence that these people who have been arrested for this are part of a centralized drop [sic] operation.”

• Intelligence Community Tensions

  • [06:03] A declassified report found Maduro’s regime is not directly cooperating with the Trenda Aragua gang.
  • National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard fired analysts who authored that report.

• U.S. Military Buildup

  • [06:16] Thousands of U.S. troops deployed to the region; Puerto Rico military base reopened.
  • [06:35] Elliot Abrams: “The military presence in the Caribbean is too big for just hitting a few speedboats, though it is not big enough for an invasion of Venezuela. So what’s in the middle? … a pressure campaign meant to rattle the Venezuelan military and maybe crack the regime and see if it will finally fall.”

• Congressional Pushback & Venezuelan Response

  • [06:55] Senate Democrats, with Sen. Rand Paul, push to restrict U.S. hostilities after Trump authorized covert action.
  • Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corinna Machado (Venezuelan opposition) deflects criticism of Trump:
    • [07:19] “It is on Maduro to stop this war by moving out and facilitating a transition to democracy. We do need the help of other countries and the leadership of President Trump. To stop this war.” — Maria Corinna Machado
  • [07:33] Venezuela ramps up military drills and tells civilians to “prepare for the worst.”

Memorable Quote:

• [06:35] “The military presence in the Caribbean is too big for just hitting a few speedboats, though it is not big enough for an invasion of Venezuela… it’s a pressure campaign meant to rattle the Venezuelan military and maybe crack the regime.” — Elliot Abrams

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Other Featured Stories

Gaza Ceasefire under Strain

Segment begins: [00:34]

• Israeli and Hamas forces exchanged fire over the weekend, each side blaming the other for breaches.
• 600 daily aid trucks pledged in ceasefire, but number halved over hostage dispute.
• High-level U.S. delegation, including VP JD Vance and Jared Kushner, arrives in Israel.
• [02:41] Robin Wright (ABC News): “The big challenge really lies ahead … giving both sides a sense that there is something else beyond the ceasefire still to be resolved: what a transitional government looks like, who pays for reconstruction, and whether Hamas will give up power and disarm.”

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Autism Elopement Tragedy Changes Maryland Law

Segment begins: [07:55]

• Investigative story about Miles McMahon, a Maryland child with autism who drowned after wandering from home.
• [08:47] Jasmine Golden (Washington Post): “This was unfathomable for his parents because they had locked the house up. It had many bolts on the door. They couldn’t really understand how he got out.”
• Maryland passes law requiring schools to notify parents and track elopement.
• The family now campaigning for more protective legislation.

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Major National and Crime Headlines

Nationwide Protests Against Trump (“No Kings” Rallies)

Segment begins: [11:07]

• 2,500+ events held; peaceful protests mostly in states targeted by Trump policies.
• [11:35] House Speaker Mike Johnson labels them “Hate America rallies.”

George Santos Released from Prison

Segment begins: [11:42]

• Trump commuted sentence of ex-congressman convicted of wire fraud/ID theft.
• [11:59] George Santos: “I told this to the president that I’d love to be involved with prison reform and not in a partisan way, in a real human ways … we affect it, that it helps society, it helps these individuals rebuild their lives, and we have a better system with less incarcerated people.”

Louvre Heist Shocks Paris

Segment begins: [12:33]

• Thieves used ladders and power tools, stealing sapphire and emerald jewelry, a Napoleon-era crown.
• [13:14] “France appears to be going through a museum security crisis.”

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• [04:39] Shemitah Basu (on U.S. drug policy): “Historically, drug traffickers have been considered criminals with due process rights and have been arrested by the Coast Guard.”
• [06:35] Elliot Abrams: “The military presence in the Caribbean is too big for just hitting a few speedboats… a pressure campaign meant to rattle the Venezuelan military and maybe crack the regime.”
• [07:19] Maria Corinna Machado: “It is on Maduro to stop this war … we do need the help of other countries and the leadership of President Trump. To stop this war.”
• [08:47] Jasmine Golden: “This was unfathomable for his parents because they had locked the house up… They couldn’t really understand how he got out.”
• [11:35] Mike Johnson: “Hate America rally.”
• [11:59] George Santos: “I’d love to be involved with prison reform and not in a partisan way, in a real human ways…”

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Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive overview of complex international developments, with a sharp focus on the Trump administration’s controversial and unprecedented military push in the Caribbean and South America. Alongside, it highlights meaningful domestic stories: legislative changes after a family tragedy, political tumult, criminal justice news, and an audacious art heist—showcasing Apple News Today’s commitment to a wide scope of journalism with real-world impact.

Transcript

[Shemitah Basu]

Good morning. It's Monday, October 20th. I'm Shemitah Basu, this is Apple News today. On today's show, what's driving escalating US.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Military action in South America?

[Shemitah Basu]

A family tragedy changes state law to.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Better protect autistic kids and the priceless jewels stolen from the world's most famous museum.

[Shemitah Basu]

But first to Gaza, where the ceasefire.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Had its first major test over the weekend, with both sides accusing the other of violations.

[Shemitah Basu]

On Sunday, Israeli forces carried out airstrikes.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

In the southern part of Gaza in.

[Shemitah Basu]

What they said was a response to.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

An attack on its soldiers by hamas fighters.

[Shemitah Basu]

Here's NPR's Rob Schmitz in Tel Aviv reporting to the network what an Israeli.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Government source told him about the incident.

[NPR's Rob Schmitz]

Hamas fighters attacked Israeli soldiers with an anti tank missile and with gunfire. And according to this official, these fighters did so beyond the so called yellow line where the Israeli military is currently positioned in Gaza after pulling back its troops from parts of the territory as part of the ceasefire plan a week ago.

[Shemitah Basu]

Two Israeli soldiers were killed and Gaza health officials say dozens of Palestinians died.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

In the territory on Sunday, some from Israeli airstrikes.

[Shemitah Basu]

Schmidt said that came as there are reports that Hamas has been carrying out.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Deadly crackdowns against Rio, rival militias and clans in Gaza.

[NPR's Rob Schmitz]

Now, for its part, Hamas's military wing denies that they engaged with Israeli forces and Hamas officials said the group is still committed to the ceasefire agreement and it's accused Israel of breaking it on several occasions in the past week. So we're getting kind of a finger pointing from both sides as to who broke the ceasefire first.

[Shemitah Basu]

As part of the ceasefire deal, 600 aid trucks a day are supposed to enter the enclave. But last week, Israel cut that number.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

In half after Hamas did not return the remains of all the dead hostages. The bodies of 16 remain unaccounted for.

[Shemitah Basu]

Hamas has said it's having difficulty finding.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Some remains, but did hand over two additional bodies over the weekend as tensions.

[Shemitah Basu]

Flare between the two sides. A delegation from the US Arrives in Israel this week, which includes Vice President.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

JD Vance, Special envoy to the Middle.

[Shemitah Basu]

East Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

President'S son in law, who the White House has described as a key negotiator in the ceasefire deal. Robin Wright is a foreign policy analyst and expert in military dynamics in the Middle East.

[Shemitah Basu]

She told ABC News that the unresolved.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Issues of the deal's second phase are now starting to become clear.

[Robin Wright]

The big challenge really lies ahead and that is giving both sides a sense that there is something else beyond the.

[Shemitah Basu]

Ceasefire still to be resolved, what a transitional government looks like, who pays for.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Reconstruction, and whether Hamas will give up power and disarm.

[Robin Wright]

This is where we don't have the details of that. One of the problems with finding an alternative to Hamas is talking about technocratic Palestinians and others from the outside world that would be part of this board of peace, which would be chaired by President Trump. So, you know, these are big, big, big questions. And just how does Hamas give up power? And how do you create an alternative idea that will attract Palestinians and help stabilize politically the Gaza Strip?

[Shemitah Basu]

Now to what's driving the escalating US.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Military action in South America.

[Shemitah Basu]

On Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that another strike against a vessel took.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Place in the Caribbean on Friday.

[Shemitah Basu]

This is the seventh known attack of.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Its kind since the beginning of September.

[Shemitah Basu]

And like the others, President Trump said.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

They were targeting drug cartels.

[Shemitah Basu]

Dozens of people have now been killed, leading some US Lawmakers, Democrats, and a small number of Republicans to question the.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Legality of the attacks.

[Shemitah Basu]

CNN reports that the Department of Justice has produced a classified legal opinion justifying.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

The president's moves because cartels pose a, quote, imminent threat to Americans.

[Shemitah Basu]

And the administration has linked vessels to.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Various drug groups that they regard as terrorist actors.

[Shemitah Basu]

Recently, Hegseth compared a Colombian cartel to Al Qaeda and said they would be.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Hunted and killed in the same way.

[Shemitah Basu]

But CNN notes that historically, drug traffickers.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Have been considered criminals with due process rights and have been arrested by the Coast Guard.

[Shemitah Basu]

Trump told reporters last week the Coast Guard had failed to curb the drug.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Trade after 30 years of trying and.

[Shemitah Basu]

Suggest suggested the administration would expand its operations.

[Elliot Abrams]

We've almost totally stopped it by sea. Now we'll stop it by land.

[Shemitah Basu]

What's the next step?

[Elliot Abrams]

But it never worked. It never worked when, when you know, when you did it in a very politically correct manner.

[Shemitah Basu]

Most of the attacks have focused on boats near Venezuela, leading some to question.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Whether the broader goal here is regime change.

[Shemitah Basu]

Hisela Salim Peyer is an associate editor.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

At the Atlantic and covers Venezuela.

[Shemitah Basu]

She told us that the administration was.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Attempting to tie Venezuelan leadership directly to these boats.

[Shemitah Basu]

She said her reporting led her to think they probably contained drugs, but it was more questionable that they were holding.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Large quantities of fentanyl, as Trump has.

[Shemitah Basu]

Claimed, or that they were obviously linked.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

To a larger group or Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro himself.

[Hisela Salim Peyer]

The experts I spoke with in Venezuela, they don't doubt that there's some drug trafficking happening in Venezuela, but there is no evidence that these people who have been arrested for this are part of a centralized drop operation.

[Shemitah Basu]

In a declassified report released in April, US Intelligence community analysts determined the regime.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Does not operate directly with the Trenda Aragua gang.

[Shemitah Basu]

The director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Later fired the officials who signed off on it.

[Shemitah Basu]

As these strikes continue, the US Continues.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

To scale up its presence in Latin America.

[Shemitah Basu]

Thousands of U.S. troops have descended into.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

The region and a military military base in Puerto Rico has reopened.

[Shemitah Basu]

Elliot Abrams was the U.S. special representative.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

For Venezuela during Trump's first term and.

[Shemitah Basu]

Told CNN the military strategy here hints.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

At larger goals than policing drugs.

[Elliot Abrams]

The military presence in the Caribbean is too big for just hitting a few speedboats, though it is not big enough for an invasion of Venezuela. So what's in the middle? What's in the middle, I think is a pressure campaign meant to rattle the Venezuelan military and maybe crack the regime and see if it will finally fall.

[Shemitah Basu]

Senate Democrats, with the support of Republican.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Rand Paul, are now trying to block the US from engaging in hostilities with.

[Shemitah Basu]

Venezuela after Trump said he had authorized.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Covert U.S. action in the country.

[Shemitah Basu]

The recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corinna Machado, wouldn't criticize Trump for his operations and.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Said it was Maduro who was waging war on his own citizens.

[Shemitah Basu]

It is on Maduro to stop this war by moving out and facilitating a transition to democracy. We do need the help of other countries and the leadership of President Trump.

[Elliot Abrams]

To stop this war.

[Shemitah Basu]

Over the weekend, it was reported that Maduro has also ramped up military exercises, urged civilians to help defend the country, and their defense minister warned people to.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Quote, prepare for the worst.

[Shemitah Basu]

And now, as the national conversation around.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Autism has brought attention to the kinds of resources or lack thereof some families have access to. Reporting from the Washington Post highlights an issue that concerns many parents of young kids wandering or eloping.

[Shemitah Basu]

That's the term used when someone with.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Autism manages to slip away from a safe environment, often without anyone realizing right away.

[Shemitah Basu]

According to the National Autism association, nearly.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Half of children with autism are at risk of wandering. The Post tells one family's tragic story. Last October, Maryland parents Dominique and Tom McMahon heard their doorbell ring over and over.

[Shemitah Basu]

It was their neighbor alerting them that she had just seen their five year.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Old son Miles, barefoot outside. Miles was autistic and had not begun speaking yet. Here's Post reporter Jasmine Golden.

[Jasmine Golden]

This was unfathomable for his parents because they had locked the house up. It had many bolts on the door. They couldn't really understand how he got out. But at the time that wasn't really important. Dominique runs outside. They try to find Miles. This turns into a frantic 12 hour search.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

It was after midnight when authorities found that Miles had drowned in a pond near his home.

[Shemitah Basu]

So far this year, at least 75.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Children with autism have eloped and died.

[Shemitah Basu]

Last year, that number was 82, the.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Highest figure since the National Autism association started tracking cases more than 20 years ago.

[Shemitah Basu]

Miles had managed to slip away from.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

His preschool class more than 700 times.

[Shemitah Basu]

A number that his parents weren't aware.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Of until the end of the school year, according to school records obtained by the Post.

[Jasmine Golden]

Parents like the McMahons are really doing everything they can. The McMahons had locked up their house. They even built a backyard fence that had a tarp over it so that he couldn't climb it.

[Shemitah Basu]

The McMahons had attempted to get Miles therapy for speech and social skills, but.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

The pandemic made it hard to get in anywhere.

[Shemitah Basu]

He was on waiting lists for close.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

To two years before he was diagnosed with autism in 2023.

[Shemitah Basu]

The McMahons were always most worried about.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Miles constant attempts to flee, and for the most part, it fell on them to figure it out.

[Jasmine Golden]

They've told me they feel isolated, they feel alone. They have to learn not only how to be there for their child, but also how to address this very serious issue. Even with all the efforts, it almost feels like an uphill battle a lot for these parents.

[Shemitah Basu]

In the year since Miles death, the.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

School system has introduced several changes, including training their teachers and staff and developing a plan to prevent students from wandering.

[Shemitah Basu]

Miles story and the death of another.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Young boy from Maryland triggered a new state law that requires schools to tell parents when their child flees.

[Shemitah Basu]

Track the number of those instances and.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Have a plan to address it.

[Shemitah Basu]

His family is now advocating for a.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Law to require fencing around bodies of water in residential areas to keep kids out.

[Shemitah Basu]

Before we let you go, a few.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Other stories we're following.

[Shemitah Basu]

Millions gathered for a second wave of.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Organized no Kings protests against President Trump over the weekend.

[Shemitah Basu]

Organizers said there were over two and a half thousand events planned for Saturday's.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Mass demonstrations across the country, although a.

[Shemitah Basu]

Map from CNN showed large concentrations in states that Trump has targeted policies toward.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

In recent months, including Illinois, California and New York.

[Shemitah Basu]

ABC notes that the rallies were peaceful.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

And that there had been no immediate reports of arrests.

[Shemitah Basu]

Speaking on Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Called it a Hate America rally.

[Shemitah Basu]

Former Republican Congressman George Santos is out of prison after President Trump commuted the.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Disgraced lawmaker's sentence on Friday.

[Shemitah Basu]

Santos said his experience in prison was humbling and dehumanizing in a Sunday interview.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

On cnn, Santos said he now has a new mission in life.

[George Santos]

I told this to the president that I'd love to be involved with prison reform and not in a partisan way, in a real human ways, in a way that we affect it, that it helps society, it helps these individuals rebuild their lives, and we have a better system with less incarcerated people.

[Shemitah Basu]

Santos served 84 days of a seven.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Year sentence in federal prison in New Jersey.

[Shemitah Basu]

He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Identity theft in 2024. He was elected to Congress in New York in 2022 and was ultimately expelled from the House by fellow lawmakers a little over a year later.

[Shemitah Basu]

And on Sunday, Parisians and tourists alike were shocked to learn that the Louvre museum was.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Closed because thieves had run away with some of the crown jewels.

[Shemitah Basu]

The BBC reports a group broke into the museum and within minutes had made.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Off with priceless heirlooms.

[Shemitah Basu]

They entered through a balcony near the.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

River Seine using mechanical ladders, then used power tools to cut through window panes.

[Shemitah Basu]

Security footage described by French officials showed.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

The thieves then entered calmly and smashed display cases containing the jewelry.

[Shemitah Basu]

Items stolen included a royal sapphire necklace, a royal emerald necklace and matching earrings.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

As well as a crown worn by the wife of Napoleon iii.

[Shemitah Basu]

France appears to be going through a museum security crisis. In September, the Natural History Museum in.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Paris lost $700,000 in gold and robbers took $11 million worth of items from a French porcelain museum.

[Shemitah Basu]

You can find all these stories and.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

More in the Apple News app.

[Shemitah Basu]

And if you're already listening in the news app right now, we've got a.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Narrated article coming up next. Vanity Fair profiles Jessica Buttafuoco, whose father Joey, and his affair with a teenage girl in the 90s led to the attempted murder of her mother and a life of tabloid infamy.

[Shemitah Basu]

If you're listening in the podcast app.

[Co-Host/Reporter]

Follow Apple News plus narrated to find that story. And I'll be back with the news tomorrow.