Bloomberg Talks

Episode: Senator Jeanne Shaheen Talks Greenland
Date: January 7, 2026
Host: Bloomberg
Guest: Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Member, Senate Armed Services Committee

Episode Overview

This episode centers on critical geopolitical developments, focusing on U.S. foreign policy regarding Venezuela and Greenland. Senator Jeanne Shaheen discusses the military and diplomatic implications of U.S. actions in Venezuela, her concerns about proposed U.S. efforts to acquire Greenland, and ongoing domestic policy issues, particularly the extension of Obamacare subsidies.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. U.S. Military Operations and Oil Embargo in Venezuela

(00:02–03:27)

• Senator Shaheen's Security Concerns:
  Shaheen expresses her apprehensions following a classified briefing on the U.S. military’s role in enforcing an oil embargo off Venezuela’s coast. She underscores uncertainties regarding the mission's length, the safety of service members, and ultimate goals for Venezuelan democracy.

  “Our ability to control that Venezuelan oil depends a lot on ... our ships in the waters off the Venezuelan coast, our effort to seize ships. While I certainly think whatever we can do to shut down the shadow fleet ... is important, it does put at greater risk our men and women in the military.”
  — Sen. Shaheen (00:43)

• Resource Allocation and Civilian Impact:
  Shaheen warns that maintaining a significant U.S. fleet (20%) in the region diverts attention and resources from pressing domestic issues like health care and cost of living.

  “That’s going to cost a lot of money ... It means that the focus is going to be on that as opposed to on health care, the millions of people in this country who are losing their health insurance because ... premiums are going up...”
  — Sen. Shaheen (02:28)

• Government Leverage Through Oil Control:
  Energy Secretary Christopher Wright highlights U.S. leverage by restricting Venezuelan oil flows.

  “If we control the flow of oil, the sales of those oil and the flow of the cash that comes from those sales, we have large leverage.”
  — Sec. Christopher Wright (01:51, via host)

  “We need to have that leverage and that control of those oil sales to drive the changes that simply must happen in Venezuela.”
  — Host referencing administration stance (02:01)

2. U.S. and Greenland – Pushback Against U.S. Acquisition Proposals

(03:27–06:22)

• Shaheen Denounces Greenland Acquisition Plans:
  Shaheen responds forcefully to reports of the Trump administration’s intention to “buy” or take over Greenland, calling the idea “crazy” and warning it would undermine critical alliances.

  “I think that’s a crazy idea. Greenland is an important place... Denmark has been very clear that they’re willing to partner with us ... So the fact that the president and his advisers would be talking about undermining the transatlantic alliance NATO over his notion that Greenland needs to be part of the United States makes no sense at all. It’s a crazy notion and it needs to be stopped.”
  — Sen. Shaheen (03:56)

• Reassuring Allies:
  Shaheen is scheduled to meet the Danish ambassador to express bipartisan opposition to the administration’s proposal and to reaffirm U.S. support for Denmark and NATO.

  “We are going to try and reassure the Danish ambassador that we think this is a crazy notion ... and that we are very appreciative of the work that we have done with our ally Denmark. ... And it makes no sense for the president to alienate our ally Denmark as well as other allies in Europe, undermine NATO, the strongest security agreement in history, because he wants to be a strong man and thump his chest and talk about how he’s going to take control of Greenland.”
  — Sen. Shaheen (04:47)

• Potential Areas for U.S.-Denmark-Greenland Cooperation:
  Denmark has shown willingness to work closely with the U.S. on economic cooperation, critical minerals, and defense without any hostile takeover.

  “The Danish prime minister has suggested that Denmark is willing to work with the United States and Greenland ... So I think, yes, there is a willingness to do that. ... We haven’t heard anything from the White House in terms of ... how to move forward in a way that works cooperatively instead of trying to take over Greenland.”
  — Sen. Shaheen (05:48)

3. Domestic Focus: Obamacare Subsidies and Bipartisan Prospects

(06:22–07:42)

• Senate Prospects for Health Care Legislation:
  Shaheen emphasizes the urgency of extending Obamacare premium tax credits and outlines ongoing bipartisan work in the Senate.

  “What I hope is that the House is going to give a strong vote on those extension of the premium tax credits that will send the bill over to the Senate. ... Hopefully, we’ll get that House bill and have a vehicle that we can then pass out of the Senate and send it back to the House. And I hope that the president will finally get engaged on this issue in a way that will allow us to make progress and get this done...”
  — Sen. Shaheen (06:51)

• Impact on Constituents:
  Shaheen links foreign policy resource allocation to domestic needs, citing her home state’s vulnerable residents.

  “We have thousands of people in my home state of New Hampshire that are going to lose their health insurance, that are already seeing their premiums spike in a way that they can’t afford, millions of people across the country.”
  — Sen. Shaheen (07:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Strategic Risk:
  “We now have 15,000 service members in the Caribbean area of operation, and it’s not clear how long they’re going to be there...”
  — Sen. Shaheen (00:43)

• On U.S.-Denmark Relations:
  “It makes no sense for the president to alienate our ally Denmark as well as other allies in Europe, undermine NATO, the strongest security agreement in history, because he wants to ... take control of Greenland.”
  — Sen. Shaheen (04:47)

Important Timestamps

• 00:43 — Senator Shaheen outlines risks and uncertainties of the Venezuela embargo and military presence.
• 01:51 — Administration’s rationale for using oil embargo as leverage summarized.
• 02:28 — Shaheen discusses domestic cost and focus tradeoffs linked to Venezuela operations.
• 03:56 — Shaheen’s forceful rejection of U.S. ambitions for Greenland.
• 04:47 — Preview of bipartisan meeting with Danish ambassador.
• 05:48 — Discussion of areas for U.S.-Denmark-Greenland cooperation.
• 06:51 — Shaheen details bipartisan efforts to extend Obamacare subsidies.

Tone and Takeaways

Senator Shaheen was direct and unsparing about her criticisms of the administration’s foreign policy, especially proposals concerning Greenland, emphasizing U.S. alliances, diplomatic cooperation, and the risk of undermining NATO. She connects military resource allocation to domestic challenges like health care affordability, underscoring constituent concerns and bipartisan compromise efforts in Congress.

Summary Value

This episode provides listeners with a candid inside view of current Congressional thinking on two major foreign policy issues—Venezuela and Greenland—while linking them to the ongoing struggles of domestic policy negotiation. Shaheen’s clarity, bipartisan focus, and defense of alliances stand out throughout the conversation.