Here's the Scoop – February 12, 2026

Podcast: Here's the Scoop
Host: Yasmin Vasugin
Episode Theme:
A high-stakes interview with Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright amid Venezuela’s political transition post-Maduro, followed by a deep dive into the end of the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis. The episode focuses on shifting power, U.S.-Venezuela relations, America's immigration debates, and socio-political implications on both continents.

Main Segments

1. Venezuela in Transition: Delcy Rodriguez's First American Interview

Overview (00:03–11:17)

• Context: Venezuela faces political turmoil after the ouster of Nicolas Maduro, now in U.S custody. Delcy Rodriguez is acting president, navigating domestic unease, international diplomacy, and rising U.S. influence.
• Guests: Kristen Welker (NBC’s Meet the Press moderator), exclusive interview with Acting President Delcy Rodriguez and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

Key Discussion Points

• Behind the Interview

  • Kristen Welker recounts the abrupt summons to Venezuela and the “monumental assignment” (01:31).
  • Rodriguez’s personal background—a daughter of a political activist lost to Venezuela’s unrest—positions her as a leader “comfortable in the role…this is in her blood” (03:05).

• Who Runs Venezuela?

  • Upon entering the presidential palace, a Maduro portrait signals unresolved allegiances.
    • “She said she is in charge, but also acknowledged the need to work with President Trump… she sees Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.” (Kristen Welker, 04:22)
  • Tension between U.S. and Venezuelan narratives is laid bare; Rodriguez publicly walks a tightrope between internal loyalty and external diplomacy.

• U.S. Leverage and Oil

  • Secretary Chris Wright admits the U.S. exerts enormous leverage due to control over Venezuela’s oil-generated revenue.
    • Quote: “The largest revenue source…that funds the government of Venezuela is now controlled by the United States…If they’re driving positive change…that money will flow. If they steer off that path, we have just simply tremendous leverage.” (Chris Wright, 06:02)
  • Welker presses both on whether oil wealth will aid the Venezuelan people or only the regime.
  • Commitment to “free and fair elections”:
    • Wright estimates elections possible “by the end of this Trump administration.”
    • Rodriguez, more hesitant, ties elections to sanctions relief, refusing a timeline. (Kristen Welker, 07:45)

• Opposition and Maria Karina Machado

  • On the exiled opposition leader, Rodriguez shows visible disdain, declining to guarantee Machado’s safe return or participation in politics.
    • Quote: “She [Rodriguez] became completely defiant...‘I don’t know why people are so focused on her. She has to explain to the Venezuelan people why she supported, basically, the ouster of Nicolas Maduro, why she supported this illegal action that was taken against our country.’” (Kristen Welker recounting, 10:28)
  • Clear divergence between what the U.S. hopes for (opposition participation, democratic process) and Rodriguez’s definition of the Venezuelan path forward.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• "We have been witnessing history unfold here." – Kristen Welker (01:54)
• “You could feel her walking that very challenging, fine line in real time.” – Kristen Welker on Rodriguez’s political balancing act (04:50)
• "She would not commit to doing that. And therein lies the challenge." – Welker on Rodriguez’s refusal to guarantee Machado’s safety or return (11:13)

2. DHS Operation Drawdown in Minneapolis

Overview (13:14–22:37)

• Background: After three months and over 4,000 arrests, the Trump administration ends its high-profile immigration crackdown, "Operation Metro Surge," in Minneapolis, amid national controversy and local trauma.
• Guest: Julia Ainsley (NBC News Senior Homeland Security Correspondent)

Key Discussion Points

• Operation Overview & Motives

  • At its peak: Over 3,000 federal officers deployed.
  • Official line: Drawdown was the intention (“…what he’s saying today will always directly conflict each other because the reason he went…was for a drawdown.” – Julia Ainsley, 14:30)
  • Actual context: The operation became a political liability amid civilian deaths and persistent protests.

• Withdrawal Details

  • Despite drawdown announcements, some personnel remain for ongoing fraud and criminal investigations.
    • Quote: “Federal government personnel assigned to conduct criminal investigations…will remain in place until the work is done…” (Julia Ainsley reads Homan’s statement, 16:28)

• Local & National Fallout

  • Governor Tim Walz: “They left us with deep damage, generational trauma…economic ruin in some cases…Where are our children? Where…is the process…into those that were responsible for the deaths…” (Walz press conference, 17:46)
  • Investigations into fatalities (Renee Nicole Good, Alex Preddy) continue, with state officials demanding accountability.

• Political & Policy Ramifications

  • Congressional testimony shows splits between political appointees. Strong pressure from DHS leaders to maintain harsh enforcement, but some pushback on tactics such as masked ICE officers. (19:51)
    • Quote: “It's not in their best interest to come out and say they went too far…they could still be fired by Kristi Noem.” (Julia Ainsley, 19:51)
  • Trump hints at a “softer touch” for immigration policy, citing public opinion and dropping approval ratings (21:07).
  • Reality check: Increased ICE funding/contracting signals continuing commitment to enforcement and expansion of detention capacity.
    • “There are other indicators…this is still a top priority of this administration to get deportation numbers as high as they possibly can.…There’s an old saying…which is follow the money.” (Julia Ainsley, 22:00)

3. Quick Headlines and Human Stories

Congressional News (23:50)

• Republicans advance the Save America Act (federal voter ID/proof of citizenship); Democrats decry it as disenfranchisement.

Epstein Testimony Fallout (25:55)

• Survivors express feeling “degraded” by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s testimony; call out redactions favoring the powerful over victim privacy.
  • “She sat there in the beginning, she said sorry for what Jeffrey Epstein did to us, but yet she couldn’t apologize…you had one job, was to redact our names, to respect our privacy…but you carefully took the time to redact all these powerful rich men.” – Marina Lacerda (25:55)

EPA Climate Policy Rollback (26:07)

• EPA repeals the 2009 “endangerment finding” on greenhouse gases, threatening U.S. emission standards and climate policy, likely heading for legal battles.

Olympics: Milan Cortina (26:57)

• Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladislav Geraskovich banned for wearing a helmet commemorating war victims; refuses to race in protest.
  • “I didn’t think we should back down because I believe I am right in this case…” – Geraskovich (27:34)
• Cross-country skier Jessie Diggins wins bronze for the U.S.; emotional finish.
• Gold medalist Breezy Johnson’s public engagement after a crash highlights a lighter Olympic moment.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Delcy Rodriguez Interview logistics: 01:31
• Who’s in charge in Venezuela & diplomacy: 03:05–05:46
• Chris Wright on U.S. oil leverage: 06:02
• Free and fair elections debate: 07:45
• Maria Karina Machado, opposition, and exiles: 09:20–11:13
• Operation Metro Surge ends/Minnesota withdrawal: 13:14–17:26
• Governor Walz’s reaction: 17:46
• Congressional immigration testimony & internal tensions: 19:51
• ICE masks, Trump’s ‘softer touch’ comments: 20:36–21:42
• Save America Act, EPA rollback, Epstein survivor reactions: 23:50–26:07
• Olympics, Ukraine protest, Team USA news: 26:57–28:38

Memorable Quotes with Attribution

• Kristen Welker (on Rodriguez):
  “She is someone…who is the daughter of a political activist who died as a part of the political unrest in Venezuela. This is in her blood. This is who she is.” – 03:05

• Chris Wright (on oil leverage):
  “The largest revenue source…that funds the government of Venezuela is now controlled by the United States…If they’re driving positive change…that money will flow. If they steer off that path, we have just simply tremendous leverage.” – 06:02

• Kristen Welker (on opposition):
  “You could feel…her disdain for Machado. And she said, I don't know why people are so focused on her.” – 10:28

• Governor Tim Walz (on Operation Metro Surge aftermath):
  “They left us with deep damage, generational trauma…economic ruin in some cases…Where are our children? Where…and what is the process of the investigations into those that were responsible for the deaths…” – 17:46

• Julia Ainsley (on administration infighting):
  “It's not in their best interest to come out and say that they went too far or that they need to de escalate or that they need to change their tactics in any way because they could still be fired by Kristi Noem.” – 19:51

• Marina Lacerda (Epstein survivor):
  “She sat there in the beginning, she said sorry for what Jeffrey Epstein did to us, but yet she couldn't apologize what she did to us…you had one job, was to redact our names, to respect our privacy…but you carefully took the time to redact all these powerful rich men.” – 25:55

• Vladislav Geraskovich (Olympic protest):
  “I didn't think that we should back down because I believe I am right in this case. And I don't want to betray this athlete who is pictured on the helmet.” – 27:34

Episode Takeaways

• Venezuela’s future remains uncertain: Despite U.S. involvement, Rodriguez is walking a diplomatic and domestic tightrope, balancing demands from all sides.
• U.S. policy pivots: Though the rhetoric around immigration may be softening in reaction to public opinion, substantive enforcement and investment in detention signal continued hardline priorities.
• Local community impact: Federal immigration crackdowns leave lasting scars, prompting state and community leaders to demand accountability and change.
• Global human dimension: From survivors’ voices in U.S. justice hearings to athletes making a stand for their war-torn home countries, the episode highlights the individuals shaping, and shaped by, today’s news.

For more in-depth reporting on any of these stories, listen to the episode or follow NBC News online for continued updates.