How Venezuelans View Maduro’s Ouster and Capitol Hill’s Partisan Split Screen

Summary

Podcast Summary: Here’s the Scoop – “How Venezuelans View Maduro’s Ouster and Capitol Hill’s Partisan Split Screen”
Date: January 6, 2026
Host: Yasmin Vossoughian, NBC News

---

Episode Overview

On the fifth anniversary of the January 6th Capitol riot, “Here’s the Scoop” dives into two intertwined stories shaping both international and US politics:

1. How Venezuelans are reacting on the ground to the ouster and arrest of longtime leader Nicolas Maduro, and
2. The sharply partisan response on Capitol Hill to both Venezuela’s upheaval and the legacy of January 6th.

Yasmin Vossoughian is joined by NBC contributor Ana Vanessa Herrero reporting from Caracas, and Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles, to unpack the local and global reverberations of these events.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

---

1. Breaking News from Venezuela: Life in Caracas Post-Maduro Arrest

(Main Segment: 00:48 – 10:29)

• Safety and Tension on the Ground

• Ana Vanessa Herrero reports from Caracas, describing recent nights marked by drone attacks and bombings.
• “I live very close by to where one of the bombs was dropped... hope, thank God that I'm here. I'm safe... stayed like that.” – Ana Vanessa Herrero [01:57]
• Despite explosive events, Venezuelans are not acting as if they’re in a full-scale war. Instead, Herrero notes, “It was tension, but a calm tension...” [02:41]

• Public Reaction: Trauma, Disbelief, and Hope

• Many Venezuelans are in disbelief over Maduro’s capture in the US, with some hopeful this could mark “the beginning of a transition, a long awaited transition for many Venezuelans.” – Herrero [03:56]
• Maduro’s loyalists draw parallels with the 2002 Chavez coup, hoping he might return.

• US Rhetoric and Venezuelan Sovereignty

• Mixed feelings among Venezuelans regarding President Trump’s claim that the US is “in charge” of Venezuela.
• Some, weary of Maduro, welcome outside intervention: “If you want to be in charge... there is no country right now” [05:47]
• Others fiercely reject foreign control:
  • “‘I draw the line right there. I am not going to accept that someone else comes into our country and tells us how to live.’” – Caracas resident, reported by Herrero [06:21]
  • Herrero notes a “gathering chorus” of people agreeing with this sentiment.

• The Question of Elections and Real Power

• A US intelligence report suggests only top Maduro regime members are in a position to lead should he lose power; this influenced Trump’s support for interim leader Delsey Rodriguez over opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
• President Trump: Machado “does not have the respect of the Venezuelan people in order to govern,” despite her candidate winning 2/3 of the recent vote.
• Herrero explains the complex split between popular support and state power:
  • “...the state has become an apparatus of absolute control over every single aspect of the country. So it is not the same to have popular support than to have the factual power...” [08:29]
  • Even lacking popular support, Maduro’s regime maintained control because the opposition “has never achieved a real victory,” and “the continuance of the governance is happening right now hand in hand with Delce Rodriguez.” [09:19]

---

2. US Political Response: Capitol Hill’s Partisan Split Screen

(Main Segment: 12:16 – 20:48)

• Congressional Frustrations and Foreign Policy Nuance

• Congress is back in session, facing division over the Trump administration’s handling of Maduro’s arrest and a host of domestic issues (health care, government funding).
• Ryan Nobles:
  • “Democrats... are unhappy with the fact that the Trump administration did not loop Congress in on this... but the actual extrication of Nicolas Maduro... is not something they're necessarily up in arms about.” [13:15]
  • There’s “widespread agreement among Republicans and Democrats that Maduro was a bad guy and no longer should be in charge in Venezuela.” [13:51]

• War Powers Showdown and Lessons from History

• Big concern: US ownership of the Venezuelan crisis and potential for military intervention.
• “...Republicans and Democrats do not want the United States to become the owner of Venezuela... We've been through this at least two different times when you look back at... Iraq and Afghanistan.” – Nobles [14:26]
• Congress will vote on a War Powers Resolution to require approval for future military operations in Venezuela.
  • “...universal agreement that it's really just paper... but it sends an important signal...” [15:32]

• Pressure of an Election Year and Legislative Gridlock

• Lawmakers’ struggle to appear effective with midterms looming, balancing Venezuela, lapsing health care subsidies, and government shutdown threats (shutdown “meter” not at DEFCON yet).
• “The window of opportunity... to prove that this intervention is worthwhile is extremely small because the American people have been through this before.” – Nobles [17:16]
• Upcoming health care and appropriations fights could see Venezuela policy attached as amendments.

---

3. The Legacy of January 6: Memory and Mistrust

(Main Segment: 18:41 – 20:48)

• Split Observance of the Anniversary

• Democrats mark January 6 with remembrance and ceremonies at the Capitol.
• House Republicans are absent, holding an off-site retreat as “there's this attempt to rewrite, in many ways whitewash history.” – Nobles [19:43]
• Donald Trump attempts to retitle the Kennedy Center in his name, symbolizing the deep partisan divide.

• How Division Shapes Everything

• Nobles links the mistrust and alternative narratives arising from January 6 to Congress’s inability to act cohesively on other major issues.
  • “...the perception that these two groups of people have about what happened... is part of the reason that you can't get an agreement on healthcare... or an authorization for war... the two sides just don't trust each other anymore. And that's honestly, it's scary.” [20:26]

---

4. Headlines & Memorable Moments

(Segment: 20:51 – 25:26)

• Unexpected Congressional Loss

• Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California dies suddenly, further narrowing the GOP House majority. [20:51]

• Trump’s House Republican Address

• Trump predicts an “epic midterm victory,” warns of impeachment risk, and discusses plans for health care, energy, and ongoing meetings with insurance and oil industries. [21:07]

• Global Fallout Over Venezuela

• European NATO allies issue stern warning over Trump’s suggestion of possible intervention in Greenland, emphasizing sovereignty and UN Charter principles. [22:10]

• Uvalde School Shooting Police Trial

• Opening statements begin for officer Adrian Gonzalez, accused in the 2022 school shooting response. [22:43]

• CDC Childhood Vaccine Policy Shift

• Routine shots for flu, RSV, and hepatitis B no longer standard for all children; new self-administered HPV tests for women to be insurance-covered starting 2027. [23:40]

• Olympics Spotlight: Isabeau Levito Interview

• 18-year-old figure skating hopeful on unexpected items in her skate bag (“my prescription numbing cream for my toes”), music selection (“my coach does it for me”), and her dream to compete in the team event. [24:05–24:44]

---

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Ana Vanessa Herrero, on the ground in Caracas:

  • “I live very close by to where one of the bombs was dropped… I am safe… my family's safe.” [01:57]
  • “Venezuela doesn't really understand what a War is... it was tension, but a calm tension.” [02:41]
  • “It’s a great time to understand the psyche behind trauma. First, a lot of them... are in disbelief... others privately are hopeful...” [03:56]
  • “I draw the line right there. I am not going to accept that someone else comes into our country and tells us how to live.” [06:21]
  • “It is not the same to have popular support than to have the factual power and control over the country.” [08:29]

• Ryan Nobles, Capitol Hill Correspondent:

  • “...the actual extrication of Nicolas Maduro and removing him from the role that he played in Venezuela is not something that they're necessarily up in arms about.” [13:51]
  • “There’s also pretty widespread common ground that Republicans and Democrats do not want the United States to become the owner of Venezuela.” [14:26]
  • “It's really just paper, right? Like it's not really gonna prevent Donald Trump or the administration from doing anything they want militarily. But it sends an important signal...” [15:32]
  • “The perception that these two groups of people have about what happened... is part of the reason that you can't get an agreement on healthcare... or an authorization for war.” [20:26]

---

Takeaways

• In Venezuela, daily life is marked by tension, trauma, and uncertainty as the political future hangs in the balance—and while foreign intervention is tempting to some, many reject any idea of US “ownership.”
• On Capitol Hill, while the parties agree Maduro had to go, the paths forward (and who gets to decide them) are bitterly contested, with past quagmires weighing heavily.
• The shadow of January 6 lingers, deepening mistrust and gridlock in Congress—suggesting that national memory continues to profoundly shape the politics of today’s headlines.
• The episode blends urgent international developments with domestic policy, showing just how much the two now intersect.

---

For listeners who missed the episode, this summary captures the urgency, complexity, and human dimension of both Venezuela’s ongoing turmoil and the fractious state of US democracy on a pivotal anniversary.

Transcript

[A]

Hi, I'm Angie Hicks, co founder of angie. When you use Angie for your home projects, you know all your jobs will be done well, from roof repair to emergency plumbing and more done well. So the next time you have a home project, leave it to the pros. Get [e-mail] hey, guys, I'm Hoda Kotb.

[B]

Look, I know how busy life can get, and sometimes we all just need a moment to pause and connect. Well, that's what my podcast Making Space is all about. Real conversations with people who've learned how to live with purpose and heart. Think authors, thought leaders, actors, performers. And every time I walk away with something that changes how I see the world. And I think you will, too. Join me for Making Space every week wherever you get your podcasts.

[C]

Hey, everybody. Welcome to here's the scoop from NBC News. I'm Yasmin Desugian. Coming up on the show, it is the fifth anniversary of January 6th. I remember this day very well. I was on the steps of the Capitol all day covering the breaking news for both NBC and and MSNBC. The D.C. metro Police, they've managed to push the protesters all the way off the Capitol Hill lawn. So just a couple of hours ago and five years later, some Democratic lawmakers are marking the moment with a special congressional hearing and remarks to the media. Without Republicans, we're going to be talking about the partisan divide and what else is on lawmakers agenda. Up first, though, Venezuela officials in the capital Caraca say police fired at unidentified drones overnight, leaving locals on edge there in the morning, Venezuela's national assembly was back in session after swearing in interim leader Delsey Rodriguez on Monday. I want to bring in Venezuelan journalist and NBC contributor Ana Vanessa Herrero. She's on the ground for us in Caracas. Hi, Ana.

[D]

Hi. How are you?

[C]

I'm good. It's great to have you on the podcast today. I first want to talk about how you're doing amidst all of this.

[D]

Well, I am safe. I am now a little bit more rested. My family's safe. My little one is safe. I live very close by to where one of the bombs was dropped. And we did hear the sound very close by the planes. Now I understand why. I was listening. I was hearing them so close. But you know, hope, thank God that I'm here. I'm safe. And I served the reporting at 2am on Saturday, being safe and stayed like that.

[C]

Does it feel as if Venezuela is at war right now? Are people acting as if this is a country at war?

[D]

Venezuela doesn't really understand what a War is so people are not acting as how you expect. It was tension, but a calm tension on the streets of Caracas. Everyone I talked to on the first day was expecting new bombings on Sunday. A couple of people I interviewed, they said that they couldn't sleep because they were just waiting for the next attack to come, even though we already knew that no more attacks were expected according to the Trump administration. But, you know, people here were just like, nope, it's going to happen and we're going to be ready and we have to be ready. So that is why they were running to the supermarkets and pharmacies to get water, food, whatever they needed, because they told me this happened and I wasn't ready. I need to be ready for the next step, for the next one.

[C]

Maduro was arraigned on Monday here in.

[E]

The United States, just down the street.

[C]

From where I'm sitting now, alongside his wife, pleading not guilty.

[E]

How are people feeling about their capture?

[D]

You know, this is a great time to understand the psyche behind trauma. First, a lot of them, most of them are in disbelief of what they're seeing. Others privately are hopeful that this might be, in fact, the beginning of a transition, a long awaited transition for many Venezuelans and others. Followers of Nicolas Maduro are hoping that this could be a scenario similar to the one in 2002 when Chavez was ousted out of power through a coup d' etat and he returned two days later. So followers of him are hoping that Nicolas Maduro might return to the country because they claim he's innocent. He's the president, he should have immunity. And it's very interesting to see how internally this debate develops while in the US all the details of the criminal indictment and the judicial process show a very different light into the future of whatever he's going to face.

[C]

You mentioned how there's kind of this.

[E]

Mixed domestic response to Maduro and his wife's capture. The president, President Trump, that is for his part, has been making a lot of statements about Venezuela. He said that Venezuela, quote, unquote, stole oil from this country, from the United States.

[C]

And when asked who was ultimately in.

[E]

Charge of the country, he said he was. He said, quote me, how are these statements reaching Venezuelans? How are they reacting to hearing those things?

[D]

Well, people I've talked to have very different opinions about this small group that I've found. But I found people who say, well, yes, then let's do it. If you want to be in charge, if you want to control the country, because there is no country right now, these are people who have suffered the many consequences of very bad decisions and policymakings in Venezuela by the hands of Nicolas Maduro. So they believe that not Maduro nor any other person around his government is able to return stability when they were the ones who destabilized the country in the first place. But then on the other hand, a lot of people are being very open about the fact that they don't agree with that assumption of someone else from another country being in charge of their own country. I actually spoke to this woman and she was telling me, I draw the line right there. And I quote that I draw the line there. I am not going to accept that someone else comes into our country and tells us how to live. I don't go to their country and tell them how to live. And around when she started talking to me, around her, others gathered and said, yes, she's right, she's right. And people were also talking about elections, which is a huge thing here in Venezuela.

[C]

I want to talk about elections.

[E]

As you mentioned them, we have learned via a US Official that a recent classified intelligence report determined that top members of the Maduro regime were actually in the best position to run the country if in fact Maduro lost power. That same official said that was also a factor in the President's decision to back the interim president, Delsey Rodriguez.

[C]

Another option, as we have talked about.

[E]

Repeatedly, was the opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, as you well know. And the President has said she, quote, does not have the respect of the Venezuelan people in order to govern, even though, by the way, her standing candidate won the election last year with 2/3 of the vote because Maduro made it so that she couldn't run herself.

[C]

The President also said that Venezuelans are not ready for an election.

[E]

They need to fix the country, as he put it. Is that consistent with what you have been hearing and seeing in the streets of Venezuela?

[D]

Let's start with political power and factual governance and popular support. Those are very two different things. In Venezuela for the past 20 something years, the state has become an apparatus of absolute control over every single aspect of the country. So it is not the same to have popular support than to have the factual power and control over the country. Those are two different things. So maybe when Donald Trump said that Maria Corinne Machado didn't have support, maybe he means that she doesn't have the support within the state apparatus to actually control the country.

[C]

So what you mean is within the political structure of the country, the military apparatus for instance, versus voters.

[D]

Exactly like that. Because if we go up, if we talk about popular support, well, Nicolas Maduro didn't really have popular support. The majority of the people are not supporters of him. And we see that because we don't see the streets burning down asking the United States to bring him back. But it is, I mean, and I think it's, it's been demonstrated that the continuance of the governance is happening right now hand in hand with Delce Rodriguez and no one else. During the past 10 years, we've seen many attempts from the opposition supported and backed by the US to try to oust Nicolas Maduro. There is no one case of those actions that has been considered as a victory. Part of that was experienced by Donald Trump himself during his first term in office. And I think this is the chance that he's doing that differently.

[C]

Ana Vanessa Herrero, thank you so much. And please you and your family remain safe. Thank you.

[D]

Thank you, guys.

[C]

We're going to take a very quick break and when we are back, Congress is back in session. How lawmakers are dealing with Venezuela and marking the fifth anniversary of the Capitol riot.

[E]

Stick with us.

[A]

Hi, I'm Angie Hicks, co founder of angie and one thing I've learned is that you buy a house, but you make it a home. Because with every fix, update and renovation, it becomes a little more your own. So you need all your jobs done well. For nearly 30 years, Angie has helped millions of homeowners hire skilled pros for the projects that matter, from plumbing to electrical roof repair to deck upgrades. So leave it to the pros who will get your jobs done well. Hire high quality [e-mail] Stay informed with.

[F]

The NBC News app.

[G]

Breaking news just coming in moments ago.

[F]

Watch, read and listen throughout your day. And now unlock even more with a subscription. It's the best of NBC News with fewer ad interruptions, including ad free articles, podcasts and full NBC News shows, plus deeper access and exclusive content.

[C]

Let's just take a step back.

[F]

It's more context and clarity from the reporters you trust. Download the NBC News app now and subscribe for more.

[H]

Hey, guys, Willie Geist here reminding you to check out the Sunday Sit down podcast. On this week's episode, I get together with one of the most influential voices in the country right now, Mel Robbins on her rise from rock bottom to an empire with a top podcast, best selling books and an international tour with the message let them. You can get my conversation with Mel for free wherever you download your podcasts.

[C]

Welcome back to here's the scoop from NBC News. So Congress is back in session. And lawmakers have a lot on their plate. Members are divided on how to respond to the administration's capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. And of course, they have other issues on the agenda as well, from health care plans to a looming government shutdown. It's all happening. As we mark five years since the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. With so much going on in D.C. i want to bring in NBC News chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles and podcast regular.

[G]

That's my favorite title. Yeah, podcast regular is my favorite title.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

So, Ryan, all eyes are on Capitol Hill right now with Congress back in session. And I want to start with Venezuela, because Trump administration officials, they brief the so called Gang of Eight, which includes the top lawmakers in both the House and the Senate, as well as the leaders of the intelligence committees. And reactions to that seem divided along party lines, which is not surprising necessarily.

[G]

No, especially in this era of American politics. But I do think there's some nuance here. I think that Democrats most especially are unhappy with the fact that the Trump administration did not loop Congress in on this, that they just decided to go for it. I think they're concerned about what their plans are going forward. But when you really kind of unpeel the disagreements that they have with the administration, the actual extrication of Nicolas Maduro and removing him from the role that he played in Venezuela is not something that they're necessarily up in arms about. Democrats were not a fan of Maduro in any way, shape or form. They feel like he stole the last election in Venezuela. They believe that the opposition leader won that election. They believe that he is the root of a lot of these problems that exist in Latin America. The prior administration, Joe Biden's administration, had a 50 million million dollar bounty on Maduro. So there was widespread agreement among Republicans and Democrats that Maduro was a bad guy and no longer should be in charge in Venezuela.

[C]

So then the issue comes with what happens next. Is that really what they're concerned most about when the President says, we're in charge now I'm in charge?

[G]

You know, there's common ground that Maduro was a bad guy. There's also pretty widespread common ground that Republicans and Democrats do not want the United States to become the owner of Venezuela. We've been through this at least two different times when you look back at the quagmires in Iraq and Afghanistan. And there's a real worry that this power vacuum that exists in the country right now is gonna have to be filled by someone and could that mean the United States? And if it means the United States, does that mean boots on the ground? You have to keep in mind that the people that elected Donald Trump in large part were these America First MAGA Republicans who were very much opposed to this type of foreign intervention. And Democrats certainly are also interested in the idea of Donald Trump and people aligned with him deciding the future of Venezuela. They would much prefer the Venezuelan people decide that.

[C]

Well, then it leads me to the vote that's happening on Thursday, I believe, which is over the War Powers Resolution, which essentially would require the administration to get congressional approval before future military operations. Do we feel as if that vote is going to land along party lines or. Not necessarily.

[G]

It's a really hard read right now. I think most Democrats will vote for it. If not all, maybe John Fetterman won't vote for it. But I am interested, interested to see how many Republicans vote for it, because I do think that Republicans want some buy in here. They don't necessarily want the administration to go it alone. And I also think that there's kind of universal agreement that it's really just paper, right? Like it's not really gonna prevent Donald Trump or the administration from doing anything they want militarily. But it sends us an important signal to the White House that Congress wants to be involved. So this was a bipartisan resolution, so it already had Republican support going in. And there's even possibility that the administration embraces it because it would be much easier for them if there was congressional buy in as they move forward in this process. I do think one of the big things that this demonstrates is just how inert Congress has come, especially when it comes to foreign military action.

[C]

I think it's so important that you brought it up right, because it seemed as if, especially in this election year, with midterms looming in November, Congress has to prove its effectiveness. Right? And they are coming back into this session with so much on their legislative agenda, from more Epstein files being released to the Affordable Care subsidies that have lapsed, premiums doubling for some Americans up to 22 million Americans. And then now, by the way, they have what is happening with Venezuela, how are they going to balance all of that, prove their effectiveness and look towards November, knowing that, by the way, if they make the wrong decision about Venezuela and we land ourselves in a place in which we were with, for instance, Iraq and Afghanistan, that could be very detrimental, especially to the party in power, which is the Republicans.

[G]

To make that point even finer, the window of opportunity that you have to prove that this intervention is worthwhile is extremely small because the American people have been through this before. So you're 100% right in that regard. But then there's also all these other big issues and I do think they really are gonna come to a head by the end of this month because we do have another spending deadline. And I'm not. We're not gonna get the shutdown meter out yet. We're not talking DEFCON for the shutdown meter yet. But I do think a lot of these big issues that we're talking about are gonna crystallize during this conversation about government funding. And you can include Venezuela in that because the Pentagon still has to have their budget passed, you know, their spending plan passed by the end of this month. So there could be provisions that are inserted into that package that have to do with Venezuela. But then healthcare, of course, is the other big question here. They're gonna need some sort of resolution relatively quickly. They're gonna vote on an extension of the subsidies in the House that is probably gonna pass, but then it's going to move to the Senate, which where I believe we're now gonna see real substantive negotiations over healthcare in a way that we haven't seen up until now, that they'll use the vehicle of this two year extension to craft a bill that both Republicans and Democrats can get on board. And the question is, will it be the kind of substantive reform to health care that Americans need and could have an impact on those elections in the fall?

[C]

You know, Ryan, we're also having this conversation on the fifth anniversary of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. I was covering it for NBC News at the time and MSNBC on the steps of the Capitol from the very front of that building all the way late into the night. I mean, it was just a couple of hours ago that you had thousands of folks lined up here all the way up to those Capitol steps, breaching Capitol ground, breaching the Capitol building. And now everybody has subsequently been pushed all the way back. There is a real split screen moment happening here though, amongst how Republicans and Democrats are actually viewing this anniversary.

[G]

You know, Yaz, you know, it's great that you were here on that day to get your perspective. I was not here on that day. I always joke my first day as a full time Capitol Hill Reporter was 1-7-2021. And you were there, you witnessed it, you saw what happened. And now you are seeing Republicans led by Donald Trump try and rewrite the narrative of what happened that day.

[C]

Right.

[G]

Democrats are spending the entire day devoted to remembering and honoring the people who were injured or hurt or killed on that day. The House Republicans aren't even here. They're holding a retreat off campus at the Kennedy center, which Donald Trump has attempted to rename the Trump Kennedy Center. I think they don't wanna be here on a day like January 6th, cuz they don't wanna answer the questions. There's this attempt to rewrite, in many ways whitewash history. And I also think, Yaz, if you kind of expand it even further, I do think the perception that these two groups of people have about what happened on that day and the fact that they're so diametrically opposed is part of the reason that you can't get an agreement on healthcare. It's part of the reason you can't get an agreement on government funding or an authorization for war. Because the two sides just don't trust each other anymore. And that's honestly, it's scary. Like, what does that mean for where the country is headed? And I think it's partly our responsibility to make sure people don't forget about it.

[C]

Ryan Nobles, thank you.

[G]

Thanks, Jazz.

[C]

And one last thing. On Capitol Hill, California Representative Doug LaMalfa died suddenly on Monday at age 65. The Republican congressman had served in the House since 2013 and in various state offices before that. His death shrinks an already slim Republican major in the House. All right, let's get to some headlines. President Donald Trump opened his hour long address of House Republicans at the Kennedy center by predicting a, quote, epic midterm victory. But he also warned that failure to win would put him at risk of impeachment. Trump touched on numerous other topics during his remarks, including trans women in sports, border security, crime in Washington, D.C. the 2024 election and prescription drug prices. He also announced upcoming meetings with insurance companies, quote, in a few days to discuss health care and IVF benefits, as well as a separate meeting with oil companies about expanding domestic drilling to lower prices. In the wake of the attacks in Venezuela, European allies are warning President Trump over his team's suggestions that Greenland could be next. France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark issued a joint statement reminding the US that Denmark and its territory Greenland, are part of NATO. They said they would, quote, not stop defending the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty and borders. The threats are complicating European security talks on Ukraine being held in Paris. Opening statements have begun in the trial of former Uvalde School police officer Adrian Gonzalez, one of the first to respond to the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary. He faces 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment. Gonzalez has pledged not guilty. 400 additional officers from state and federal agencies responded to the event that left 19 students and two teachers dead, but waited over an hour to confront the shooter. Gonzalez and ex police chief Pete Arredondo are the only two officers who have been criminally charged. Arrondo's trial has not been scheduled. He also pleaded not guilty. In a major shakeup to public health, the CDC has cut the number of recommended childhood vaccines from 18 down to 11. Routine shots for the flu, flu, RSV and hepatitis B will no longer be standard for every child, but left up to the discretion of parents and doctors. Staying on the healthbeat, new federal guidelines will allow women ages 30 to 65 to use self administered HPV tests instead of pap smears to screen for cervical cancer. Insurers will be required to cover them starting in 2027. Research shows the at home swabs are just as accurate as clinic administered tests while potentially being more comfortable and accessible. Women should be tested every five years. You know what that music means. We are officially one month out from the Winter Olympics in Milano. Cortina figure skating trials are about to kick off and 18 year old Isabeau Levito is shaping up as one of the athletes to watch. We sat down with her for a lightning round. If we looked inside your escape bag right now, what's the most unexpected thing we'll find?

[I]

I don't know if this is unexpected. My prescription. Numbing cream for my toes.

[C]

That's unexpected. None of us have that in our bags. Well, most of us do not have that in our bags. How do you choose your music for your routines?

[I]

Funny enough, I don't find myself to be that creative. My coach does it for me. She's constantly listening to music since I've been with her since the very beginning. She knows me so well and my skating style so well.

[C]

Do you ever get sick of hearing the same song over and over again?

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

You do?

[A]

I do.

[I]

It happens.

[C]

What's your favorite move on the ice?

[I]

Illusion in the spin.

[C]

If you make it to the Olympics after nationals, what's your goal?

[I]

Honestly, my biggest goal is to be in the team event. We have three girls, so either one or two of us do it. I just think it's such a fun event and I love when we get those small opportunities to be a team sport, you know, And I think it's so cool and so fun. So that's my main goal, is to be considered for the team eventually.

[C]

Thank you, Isabeau. We're going to be rooting for you. All right. And that is going to do it for us at here's this scoop from NBC News. I'm Yasmin Vasugin. We'll be back tomorrow with whatever the day may bring. And if you like what you heard, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. We will see you tomorrow.

[A]

Hi, I'm Angie Hicks, co founder of Angie. One thing I've learned is that you buy a house, but you make it a home. And for decades, Angie's helped millions of homeowners hire skilled pros for the projects that matter, get all your jobs done [e-mail].