Nothing But Bet: The NBA Gambling Scandal; Is Trump’s Drug War a Smoke Screen?

Summary

Here's the Scoop – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Nothing But Bet: The NBA Gambling Scandal; Is Trump’s Drug War a Smoke Screen?
Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Yasmin Vesugian
Guests: Jonathan Dietz (NBC News, Chief Investigative Reporter), Kurt Heelan (NBC Sports NBA Writer), Will Freeman (Council on Foreign Relations)

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, the podcast dives deep into two of the day’s biggest stories:

1. The massive NBA gambling scandal with ties to organized crime and two separate criminal schemes shaking the league at the start of the season.
2. The Trump administration’s escalated military strikes on alleged cartel vessels in the Pacific, questioning the stated motives and exploring the geopolitical context.

---

Part 1: NBA Gambling & Poker Scandal

Segments: [00:43] – [14:12]

The News:

Federal officials announced the bust of two major illegal gambling schemes linked to the NBA and organized crime.

• Over 30 people have been charged in “Operation Nothing But Bet” (focusing on prop betting) and “Operation Royal Flush” (centering on mob-backed underground poker games).
• Arrested: Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, Portland Trailblazers coach Chauncey Billups, and former NBA player Damon Jones.
• Charges include: wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, robbery, illegal gambling.

Notable Moment

“Wow, this is a huge day for the NBA... And also, okay, the mob is still out there and they still got their hands in a lot of things.”
— Yasmin Vesugian, [00:43]

---

Breaking Down the Schemes

1. Mob-Backed Poker Rigging ("Operation Royal Flush")

Explained by Jonathan Dietz [02:18 – 04:04]

• Mob families (Gambino, Genovese, Bonanno) allegedly ran high-stakes underground poker games in NYC, the Hamptons, and Miami.
• NBA faces like Chauncey Billups were used to lure “the fish” (wealthy, unsuspecting players) as “street cred” to games later proven rigged.
• Over $7 million swindled from victims through marked decks and behind-the-scenes communication.

“They used these celebrity basketball players and coach to give legitimacy to the game... but the feds are saying it was all a scam.”
— Jonathan Dietz, [02:18]

“You had no chance of winning, very little chance. So a lot of money was lost and a lot of money was gained.”
— Yasmin Vesugian, [05:18]

2. NBA Prop Betting Scheme ("Operation Nothing But Bet")

• Allegations that Terry Rozier and others leveraged insider knowledge (e.g., injuries, reduced playtime) pre-public disclosure to orchestrate prop bets.
• Bets were placed on underperforming stats with knowledge that Rozier would “leave the game early” ([09:49]).
• Profits funneled to Rozier, totaling tens of thousands from over $200,000 wagered.

“If you have inside information, then you know this is essentially insider trading.”
— Kurt Heelan, [10:34]

• Other unnamed players allegedly provided non-public info. No evidence of “fixed” outcomes, but investigation ongoing ([07:59]).

---

The NBA’s Response and Implications

The League’s Position

• Both Rozier and Billups were immediately suspended and are reportedly cooperating.
• NBA, like other leagues, profits from partnerships with betting sites but fears for the integrity of the game.

“The NBA and all the professional leagues out there walk a line... they get a lot of money from these gambling sites. Right. They are literally league partners.”
— Kurt Heelan, [12:50]

On Player Motivations

• Prop betting makes even bench players targets, but Rozier is a veteran with a “$3.2 million minimum” salary.
• Conventional wisdom had been that high salaries would deter scandal.

Season Impact

• With arrests and ongoing investigation, focus shifts from the court to off-court drama.

“It's a huge deal... every tentacle is now going to be both investigated and talked about and it's going to be a major topic around the league for the rest of the year.”
— Kurt Heelan, [13:43]

Notable Statement

“Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight and he looks forward to winning this fight.”
— Attorney for Terry Rozier, [14:12]

---

Part 2: The Drug War Strikes – Motives, Messaging, and Geopolitics

Segments: [15:12] – [21:03]

The News:

The U.S. military, under President Trump, expanded a campaign of lethal strikes on ocean vessels alleged to be trafficking drugs, now including operations in the Pacific. The administration insists this is standard counter-narcotics work.

Official Justifications

“We're allowed to do it. It's in international waters. If we don't do it, we're going to lose hundreds of thousands of people.”
— Unnamed officials, [15:55]

---

Analysis with Will Freeman

Fellow, Latin America Studies, CFR – [16:22] – [21:03]

Expansion & Uncertainty

• Strikes in the Pacific introduce ambiguity to the stated goals.
• Public rationale: stem flow of drugs to the U.S. (especially fentanyl).
• Reality: “Almost all the drugs moving through the Caribbean are actually going to Europe” ([16:32]).

Possible Hidden Agenda

• Military buildup in the Caribbean at a scale not seen since the 1989 Panama invasion.
• Speculation that the true target is Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro (regime change by pressure or ousting).

“This is the biggest buildup of military assets in the Caribbean since the 1989 invasion of Panama, which we'll all remember ousted dictator Manuel Noriega.”
— Will Freeman, [17:55]

On Targeting Maduro

• Trump claims Maduro is personally involved in drug trade; some evidence of regime links exists, but the volume is minor compared to Mexico.
• U.S. “dresses up regime change” as a drug war for public and diplomatic cover.

“Is it plausible to say the Maduro regime is the top drug cartel in Latin America...or sending drugs to the United States? Absolutely not.”
— Will Freeman, [19:12]

“To me, it has the feeling of pointing to a relatively minor player in all this to distract from...the fact that it would be extremely difficult for the United States to fundamentally change facts on the ground in Mexico.”
— Will Freeman, [19:46]

Takeaway

• Skepticism about the operation’s stated motives.
• Counternarcotics work appears to double as regime pressure, while avoiding traditional “regime change” rhetoric.

---

Headlines & Memorable Moments

Segments: [21:06] – end

Notable Headlines

• Russian Sanctions: Major U.S. penalties on Russia’s largest oil producers, prompting Kremlin outrage ([21:06]).
• Binance Pardon: President Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, with implications for the crypto industry ([21:06]).
• ICE Recruiting Issues: ICE dismissed over 200 new recruits over vetting failures amid mass hiring pressure ([21:06]).
• Misty Copeland’s Farewell: Trailblazing ballerina Misty Copeland retires after a 25-year career, emphasizing it’s a “farewell, not the end of me dancing” ([21:06]).

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:43] Main show opens; NBA gambling scandal intro
• [02:18] Mob poker scheme explained (Dietz)
• [05:31] Prop betting scheme details (Dietz)
• [08:59] NBA’s response and implications with Kurt Heelan
• [12:50] League and gambling site partnerships (Heelan)
• [13:43] Impact on the NBA season
• [14:12] Statement from Rozier’s attorney
• [15:12] Transition to U.S. military strikes in the Pacific
• [16:22] Will Freeman on objectives of the strikes
• [17:55] Military buildup parallels to Panama invasion
• [19:12] Maduro’s regime and the reality of drug cartels
• [19:46] U.S. motives—drug war as cover for regime change
• [21:06] News headlines roundup

---

Memorable Quotes

Jonathan Dietz on poker scheme:

“They used these celebrity basketball players and coach to give legitimacy to the game... but the feds are saying it was all a scam.” [02:18]

Kurt Heelan on prop betting:

“If you have inside information, then you know this is essentially insider trading.” [10:34]

Will Freeman on the “drug war”:

“This is the biggest buildup of military assets in the Caribbean since the 1989 invasion of Panama...I think clearly this is saber rattling.” [17:55]
“Is it plausible to say the Maduro regime is the top drug cartel in Latin America... Absolutely not.” [19:12]

NBA season outlook:

“It's a huge deal...every tentacle is now going to be both investigated and talked about and it's going to be a major topic around the league for the rest of the year.”
— Kurt Heelan [13:43]

Misty Copeland’s farewell (as referenced by the host):

“This is, quote, a farewell, not the end of me dancing. Never say never.” [21:06]

---

Summary

This episode offered a granular look at criminal undercurrents affecting American sports and foreign policy. Through first-hand NBC investigation and expert interviews, listeners gained insight into:

• The sprawling, ongoing investigation into NBA-related gambling crimes, their mechanics, and repercussions for both individuals and the integrity of the league.
• The politicized use of counternarcotics operations and how military actions may mask geopolitical objectives.
• News on sanctions, pardons, immigration, and a landmark cultural farewell, rounding out a day in U.S. headlines.

For those seeking clarity on two of the day's most perplexing stories, this episode of "Here's the Scoop" is essential listening.

Transcript

[NBC Sports Analyst]

Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes so you don't have to don't know the difference between matte paint, finish and satin or what that.

[Jonathan Dietz]

Clunking sound from your dryer is.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro, you just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the app. Download Today.

[Jonathan Dietz]

This week on Meet the Press, after meeting with President Trump about more military support for Ukraine, President Zelensky sits down with Kristen Welker for an exclusive interview. Plus, Senators Rand Paul and Tim Kaine.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

On the government shutdown this week only on Meet the Press.

[Jonathan Dietz]

Listen to the full episode now.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Welcome to Here's a scoop from NBC News. I'm Yasmin Vesugian. Today on the show, we are looking into the US Military's deadly strikes on vessels in the Pacific. Plus, the ballerina making a final point in her career. Up first, though, it is the gambling scheme rocking the NBA and the Mafia. Today, federal officials announcing charges for over 30 people as part of two massive investigations into illegal sports gambling and poker rigging schemes. The poker games were allegedly backed by the mob. Among those arrested in the gambling probes, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trailblazers coach Chauncey Billups, and former NBA player Damon Jones. The defendants face various charges including wire fraud, money laundering, laundering, extortion, robbery, illegal gambling as well federal agents dubbing the cases, quote, Operation Nothing But Bet and Operation Royal Flush. An official saying victims were allegedly cheated out of $7 million in the poker scheme. We're going to tackle what this means for the NBA later. Up first, though, I want to bring in Jonathan deanst. Jonathan is the chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC here in New York. He's been following this story from the jump. Wow, this is a huge day for the NBA. Yes. Then also, okay, the mob is still out there and they're still they still got their hands in a lot of things. You got these two separate illegal gambling related cases, Jonathan. One is about this sports betting scheme, prop betting. One is this fraudulent gambling scheme, underground poker game. Walk us through the two of these things.

[Jonathan Dietz]

So there's one involving the mob and some former NBA types and that coach of the Portland Trailblazers and they allegedly got together and orchestrated these fishing games, if you will. It's poker where they lure in the fish, the rich players. And they used these celebrity basketball Players and coach to come and try to give legitimacy to the game by having them appear at these poker games. But the feds are saying it was all a scam. The decks, the way they were dealt were rigged, that there was communication between the cheating groups so that they were setting up the fish to lose in these poker games, using the NBA players and faces as bait to lure them in. And as a result, people were cheated out of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, depending on what went on in these high roller, high stake games. You're talking games over in the Hamptons, in Manhattan, in Miami.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

These are underground poker games, underground poker.

[Jonathan Dietz]

Games run allegedly by the mob, the Gambino crime family, the Genovese crime family, others.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

And with the Bonanno crime family.

[Jonathan Dietz]

The Bonanno crime family is another, with folks with some of the nicknames, Spanish, G, Juice, Sugar, all kinds of nicknames. Pookie Dee Jones, all kinds of characters. Allegedly involved. 31 arrests or so across 11 states today. And that's just one part of this two pronged investigation.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

So, Jonathan, you talk about the fish. And for the folks that don't know, right, the fish are the people that basically are laying down the money, right? They're the sitting ducks. And then there are the face cards. And the face card is, for instance, Chauncey Billups, the coach. Do we know how they're bringing in the players, the coaches here, to get them into the games?

[Jonathan Dietz]

We don't know exactly how the organized crime guys met up with the specific players, but there are people who know one another. There were go betweens and they eventually developed these relationships. And as you read through the indictments, it shows how they used, for example, Chauncey Billups, this very well known former player, star player, coach, current coach, he just coached the opening game last night and they brought him in and they're targeting these rich gamblers, these rich poker players to come in and be suckered, basically.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

So essentially they're like, hey, man, Chauncey Billups is gonna be at your table. And that would essentially provide street cred for the fish to come in and.

[Jonathan Dietz]

Fight for what the Fed say was a corrupt game. The whole thing was fixed. You had no chance of winning.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

You had no chance of winning, very little chance. So a lot of money was lost and a lot of money was gained.

[Jonathan Dietz]

Millions of dollars over the years in terms of these schemes. At least 7 million just in this poker scheme, perhaps millions more.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Then we have this prop betting scheme, right, which is called Operation Nothing But Bet, involving a player, Terry Rozier, right, And essentially the allegations are what Here.

[Jonathan Dietz]

The indictment lays out several games where Razier and associates and others knew in advance whether there were players who were injured, whether players were just going to take the night off before it was publicly disclosed. All that matters. Because on these betting sites, you know, you can bet how many points somebody's going to get. And if they only play one quarter, the chances of them scoring 20 points, you know, is far less than if they played the full game. And then all of a sudden their associates, their friends, their relatives are going to go out and place all these bets. This according to the FBI. And if you have that information in advance and you can bet on the outcome of that game, you have the chance, or a better chance of making a lot of money.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

So do we know of just these three players, one of which is now a coach, that were involved in these two major schemes? Is that all we're talking at this point?

[Jonathan Dietz]

That is all we're talking about today. Today the FBI made very clear this is very much an ongoing investigation. When you read through the indictment and the there are players not named from different teams who are providing information to these players and or their associates to get the information out. They stress there's nothing to suggest a game was fixed or the outcome was predetermined, but they are looking into whether anyone else was providing non public information to these suspected gamblers.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

You're talking about the prop betting scheme here.

[Jonathan Dietz]

The prop betting scheme, that's right. So if I'm player X on the Cleveland Cavaliers and I whisper to my friend that this is happening and I'm only identified in the indictment here as Unnamed Player 1, the question is, is Unnamed Player 1 just a witness to this or is there more to it? And the FBI, in our conversation with the New York FBI director, says this investigation is very much ongoing.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

As a Godfather fan myself, do these crime families all now get along? Do they now work in lockstep with one another or.

[Jonathan Dietz]

I think it depends. It has been a bit of time since I have dug in deep to these mob families, given a lot of the other news that has been happening.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

But from what you know, but from.

[Jonathan Dietz]

What my understanding is, they have their turfs, they have their places of doing business. On certain things they will cooperate. And you see in cases like this, there are multiple families overlapping and being charged as being part of the same scheme. And then there are others where perhaps they'll be more individualized or isolated in terms of the types of alleged crimes they're committing.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Jonathan Dietz, thank you.

[Jonathan Dietz]

Thanks for having me.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

So what does this all mean for the NBA just as the season is getting started. For that, I want to bring in Curt Heelan. He is NBC Sports NBA writer and managing editor. Hey Kurt.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

Hey, thanks for having me in.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Great to have you on. Wow, so much happening in the world of the NBA. Walk me through your reaction to this news breaking this morning.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

It was a little surprising the league had investigated Terry Rozier for this incident previously and cleared him this summer. Look, he was on the bench with the Miami Heat in their opener on Wednesday night ready to go. And then Thursday morning he is arrested before the team even leaves Orlando. So it came as a bit of a surprise. And Billup's involvement in the the poker end of it is also like just out of nowhere. That is just not something anyone had seen coming, especially for look, not as just a head coach in the NBA. We're talking about a former Finals MVP and Hall of Fame player.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

So here's what the New York City Police commissioner is is alleging when it comes to Terry Rozier that he let others close to him know that he planned to leave the game early with a supposed injury. And thanks to that information, this is all alleged members of the scheme placed more than $200,000 on his under statistics which generated tens of thousands of dollars in profits that were delivered to Rosier at his home. For folks that don't necessarily know how can someone actually make money off of, for instance, Terry Rozier, explain that kind of betting known as known as prop betting.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

When you go to any gambling site, any legal gambling site, and frankly the illegal ones too, you don't just bet who can win and total points scored in a game or things like that. Also you can bet on individual players performances. They're called prop bets, proposition bets. And you can bet that Terry Rozier, if he averages 10 points a game, is he going to score above or below that number. And if you have inside information that he is injured or he is in this case as alleged, took himself out of a game or knew he was going to take himself out of a game with an injury and you could bet on him not reaching, you know, not scoring 10 points, not getting however many rebounds, you can make a lot of money because the books don't know that they are going off of what their algorithms tells them. If you have inside information, then you know this is essentially insider trading.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

And we've talked about prop betting before on this podcast in how there are folks that are more susceptible players that are more susceptible to throwing a game than others because of the fact that they're not the big moneymakers. Right. This is kind of one of the biggest inherent issues when it comes to allowing prop betting to go on in the NBA.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

Exactly. And is what the league has pushed back on and it has gotten the legal sportsbooks or some of them to take down prop bets on players who are not expected to play, not necessarily part of the rotation and are only in for either at the end of games when they're decided or in games that are not going to matter much to the team because of their standing at that point. Rozier, though is, I mean a multi year, I mean 10 year NBA veteran who has had a very good career and some healthy paydays in there. I mean, and I think that even on a veteran minimum contract, the least you can make in an NBA game or as an NBA player with the years of experience Rozier has is I think 3.2 million this year.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Oh, wow.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

And the theory was that these guys are making so much that they're not going to risk their career with these kind of bets.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

So we got this NBA statement saying Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediately from their teams and will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. How does this change the game?

[NBC Sports Analyst]

The NBA and all the professional leagues out there walk a line because they are don't want the prop betting that they see as potentially damaging to their game in this exact way. On the other hand, they get a lot of money from these gambling sites. Right. Like they are, they are literally league partners. Right. And partners with us at NBC Sports. You know, this is in the culture now of, of professional sports.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

How much money are they making off of, off of these betting sites?

[NBC Sports Analyst]

The NBA, it's not public, but if you're a league sponsor, I mean we're talking millions and millions. Like it's not, it's not some low bar. And if you watch an NBA game and again any professional sport at this point, you watch an NFL game on Sunday, you are going to see ads for all the legal, major legal sports books around the nation constantly.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

What does this do for the NBA season? Are we overblown this or is this a huge deal?

[NBC Sports Analyst]

No, it's a huge deal. Every tentacle is now going to be both investigated and talked about and it's going to be a major topic around the league for the rest of the year when they are trying to get people to focus on the games. And we at NBC would love for you to focus on the games and the return to NBC anything that distracts from the game really bothers the league and they're going to be stuck with this. Now this is going to be the topic for, you know, the foreseeable future.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Kurt Halen, thank you.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

Thank you.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

All right. So NBC News reached out to the individual teams, player agents and attorneys. The only comment we received was from the attorney of Terry Rozier, who said in part, Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight and he looks forward to winning this fight. All right. We are going to take a quick break. And when we're back, what the cartel strikes could really be about. Stay with us. Who's ready for some football all season?

[NBC Sports Analyst]

The TODAY SHOW takes you inside the game.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

We are going to get this party started.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

Join us every week as we go behind the scenes with your favorite NFL teams for the biggest stories on and off the field.

[Jonathan Dietz]

Big game tonight.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

Plus game day recipes that dial up your tailgate.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Football food soup to nuts.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

From stadium lights to game day bites.

[Jonathan Dietz]

The TODAY show is your home for.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

All things football every morning on NBC.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

And we are back with Here's a scoop from NBC News. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said this week that the military had launched a second lethal strike on vessels in the Pacific. The administration saying these boats were carrying out drug trafficking operations. The move expands a campaign that began in September, which was until now contained to the Caribbean. The reported death toll for the now nine strikes is at least 37 people. While members of Congress and regional leaders in South America are calling on the administration to stop the strikes, the president and the secretary of State, Marco Rubio, insisted that they're totally above board.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

When you look at the people we're dealing with and we know them, we know the people coming in. We know the boats. We know everything else.

[Jonathan Dietz]

We're allowed to do it.

[NBC Sports Analyst]

It's in international waters.

[Jonathan Dietz]

If we don't do it, we're going to lose hundreds of thousands of people.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

So there are a lot of questions here about why the Trump administration is carrying out this campaign. So I want to bring in Will Freeman. He is a fellow for Latin America Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and has a forthcoming book about the rise of organized crime as a political and economic force in Latin America over the last decade. Hi, Will.

[Will Freeman]

Thanks for having me.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Thanks for being with us. We appreciate it. Let's talk first about the most recent strikes. Is there anything we should make of this move over to the strikes in the Pacific?

[Will Freeman]

Well, I think it kind of adds another degree of uncertainty as to what this is all about, because. Right. The ostensible public justification is this is to stop deadly drugs from reaching the U.S. never mind the fact that almost all the fentanyl comes through Mexico, almost all the drugs moving through the Caribbean are actually going to Europe. So it doesn't quite add up. Right. Many people have been thinking, though, that the real reason we're seeing such a buildup of military assets, one that's way bigger than any conventional counter narcotics operation, is that this is about ousting Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. So now that we've seen this latest strike in the Pacific, I think it just, as I said, it ups the uncertainty. Right. That would suggest that there is a counternarcotics logic to all this. Actually, it makes a lot more sense. A lot more drugs do move towards the US along the Pacific coast. But, you know, I think at the end of the day, they're probably pursuing both objectives and it's just, it's left to us to try to sort, sort out, okay, which one of these is the primary objective? How exactly do they think these strikes are gonna contribute to achieving either? And, you know, here we are, I think, trying to parcel through that.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

What would lead you to think that this is not just an effort to tackle these drug cartels and the drugs that are moving from South America up the United States, but also to possibly oust Nicolas Maduro, the leader of Venezuela?

[Will Freeman]

Well, one, as I mentioned, most of the drugs moving through the Caribbean, really the lion's share, they're going to Western Europe, which has had a boom in drug demand in the last few years. So it wouldn't really make sense. If our goal is to stop drugs from entering the U.S. we should be putting everything we have at the U.S. mexico border and working full time with Mexico on this. That's the first reason. The second is that the buildup we're seeing is just unprecedented. This is the biggest buildup of military assets in the Caribbean since the 1989 invasion of Panama, which we'll all remember ousted dictator Manuel Noriega. There are currently 10,000 military personnel more or less, in the Caribbean. 10% of our naval assets in the entire world right now are concentrated there. So if this is about stopping small speedboats, I just don't, I don't think that's necessary. I think clearly this is saber rattling. I think what we're trying to do or what the Trump administration is trying to do is get Maduro in his inner circle so afraid that either he voluntarily takes off from the country to, you know, another one like Russia or Iran that he's allied with, or his inner circle turns on him. But I'm pretty skeptical that it'll work out that way.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

The President has essentially said that he believes Maduro is a drug lord, that he is part of the drug trade. Is there any truth to that?

[Will Freeman]

Sure. I mean, we've seen tons of cases of high level members of that regime being implicated in drug trafficking over the years. But I want to stop and make a distinction. There is. Is it any way plausible to say that the Maduro regime is the top drug cartel in Latin America, or let alone the main one responsible for sending drugs to the United States? Absolutely not.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Could he be a part of it, though? I mean, is there any semblance of truth to what the President says about Maduro, that he could be a part of the drug trafficking or the drug trade coming out of Venezuela, or that he's allowing it to happen?

[Will Freeman]

Could some amount of cocaine being trafficked through Venezuela end up in the United States? Surely, and I'm actually, I believe that some amount does, but we're talking about a tiny volume compared to what's passing every single day through Mexico, which strangely enough, is, you know, a government that more and more Trump praises. So it's a bit odd. And to me, it has the feeling of pointing to a relatively minor player in all this to distract from and get around the fact that it would be extremely difficult for the United States to fundamentally change facts on the ground in Mexico, which is our biggest trading partner, which we're so deeply intertwined with, and which is a government with real capacity to push back and to rally diplomatic support if we violate their sovereignty. Meanwhile, what can Maduro do? He's totally isolated. So again, I think that this is probably mostly about that regime change object. And the counternarcotics is a convenient way to dress it up. And that also allows Trump to do two things. One, if he doesn't succeed in removing Maduro, he doesn't have to say, I failed. He can say, no, look, we stopped the drug traffickers. There are less drugs coming to the US along this channel, which already wasn't that important. And secondly, he gets to avoid the regime change language, which is unpopular among the US public, very unpopular among his base. And here he is being the candidate who ran on a promise of ending forever wars.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

Will Freeman, thank you.

[Will Freeman]

Thank you.

[Yasmin Vesugian]

By the way, while we're talking about the Pentagon, you may remember that dozens of journalists from outlets ranging from Fox News to NBC, they turned in their press badges earlier this month rather than sign on to this restrictive new Pentagon reporting policy. Well, there is a new guard now. The Pentagon's chief spokesperson Sean Parnell saying yesterday that the Pentagon credentialed more than 60 journalists who all agreed to the Defense Agency's new press policy. They are largely from right wing new media outlets like Frontlines, the media outlet by Turning Point USA and Lindell TV that is a streaming service run by the founder of MyPillow. Parnell added that these changes would, quote, circumvent the lies of the mainstream media. All right, let's get to some headlines. The US has slapped substantial sanctions on Russia's two biggest oil producers, Rosneft and Luke Oil, ratcheting up pressure on the Kremlin to end the war in Ukraine. The US treasury says the move targets one of Moscow's last major revenue streams and warns foreign firms they're going to face penalties if they keep buying Russian crude oil. Prices jumping, Russia's market taking a hit. Kiev and Europe cheer the move piling on with fresh sanctions of their own, drawing fury from Russian officials and state media. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of Russia's Security Council, wrote on X the US Is our adversary and their so called peacemaker has taken the path of war with Russia. President Putin spoke with reporters today saying the sanctions are an attempt to put pressure on Russia, adding, quote, no self respecting country, no self respecting nation ever makes decisions under pressure and Russia without a doubt has the privilege of counting itself amongst those self respecting nations. Back at home, President Trump has granted a full pardon to Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. Zhao served four months in prison after pleading guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti money laundering program. The United States also ordering Binance to pay more than $4 billion in fines and forfeiture while Zhao agreed to pay $50 million in fines. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt called the case part of a, quote, war on cryptocurrency, noting it involved no fraud or identifiable victims. The pardon clears the way for Zhao's potential return to the crypto world. Trump's move underscores his close ties to the industry. During the 2024 election, Trump allied with the crypto industry, a crypto venture associated with his family, has launched a number of crypto products over the last year. NBC News reaching out to Binance for comment and has yet to hear back. But on X, Zhao said he was, quote, grateful for the pardon. More than 200 new recruits for U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement have been dismissed from law enforcement training because they did not meet key hiring criteria. Just under 10 recruits had not completed their full background investigation or passed a drug test, according to data reviewed by NBC News. Two former and one current DHS officials said. ICE training officials discovered that some of the recruits had disqualifying criminal records or didn't meet physical or academic requirements, the official said there's growing concern that in the Trump administration's rush to expand ICE's force to 10,000 agents by the end of the year, the agency may be overlooking red flags and inadvertently hiring unqualified candidates. Quote There is absolutely concern that some people are slipping through the cracks, the current DHS official said in a statement to NBC News. The Department of Homeland Security said most new recruits are experienced law enforcement officers or former ICE agents who undergo a different vetting process and that the figures that NBC references quote are not accurate and reflect a subset of candidates in initial basic Academy classes. A truly graceful farewell unfolding on stage last night as trailblazing ballerina Misty Copeland took her final bow with American Ballet Theatre, officially hanging up her pointe shoes after a dazzling 25 year career. Surrounded by bouquets and a shower of confetti at a star studded gala, the first black woman ever to be named ABT's principal dancer performed for a spellbound audience, closing one of ballet's most groundbreaking chapters. Copeland says that she's stepping away to focus on family, writing and her foundation's work, expanding access to dance. But she made one thing very clear. This is, quote, a farewell, not the end of me dancing. Never say never. Her legacy, built on power and grace, will keep leaping beyond the stage, inspiring the next generation to dream, to dance and to defy gravity just as she did. All right, that's gonna do it for me at here's the scoop from NBC News. I'm Yasmin Desugin. We'll be back tomorrow with whatever the day may bring and if you like what you heard, then like us back wherever you get your podcasts. Hey everyone, it's Jenna Bush Hager from Today with Jenna and friends, reminding you to check out my podcast, Open Book with Jenna and this week's episode, I sit down with actor Jay Ellis. We talk about his memoir, did everyone have an imaginary friend or just me? How imagination and storytelling have been a consistent thread in his life and the impact books have had on him. You can listen to the full conversation now by searching Open Book with Jenna. Wherever you get your podcast.