Here's the Scoop (NBC News)

Episode: The Shadow Tanker Seizure; AI In The House Of The Mouse
Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Yasmin Vossoughian

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Yasmin Vossoughian tackles two major stories making headlines: the dramatic U.S. seizure of a massive oil tanker off Venezuela and the groundbreaking new partnership between Disney and OpenAI to bring Disney characters into artificial intelligence-driven content. Alongside these deep dives, the show delivers quick updates on fast-moving health care news, a growing measles outbreak, and a surging Powerball jackpot.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shadow Tanker Seizure off Venezuela

[01:03–06:52]

The Story:

• The U.S. seized the largest-ever oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi and the administration executed the seizure warrant with a dramatic military-style operation, including Coast Guard and FBI involvement.
• Venezuela’s government denounced the move as “an act of international piracy.”

Expert Breakdown:

Guest: Courtney Kuby, Senior National Security Correspondent

• Operation Details ([02:23]):

  • The operation involved a U.S. Coast Guard elite unit (MSRT) boarding from a Navy helicopter.
  • Military personnel could not board directly due to legal/law enforcement boundaries.

  “They were members of this very elite Coast Guard unit known as an MSRT. ...This is basically exactly what they train for.”
  —Courtney Kuby [02:30]

• Seizure Warrant & Legal Basis ([03:15]):

  • The warrant remains under seal; details are sparse.
  • The ship likely carried oil potentially bound for illegal destinations (e.g., via sanction evasion), possibly involving Venezuela or Iran.

  “We know that the vast majority of oil that goes from Venezuela...makes its way ultimately to China, sometimes going through places again to avoid sanctions.”
  —Courtney Kuby [03:45]

• U.S. Motives & Impact ([04:37]):

  • The U.S. is targeting Venezuela’s main economic asset—oil—the seizure part of a wider campaign to pressure Maduro politically, militarily, diplomatically, and now economically.
  • There’s speculation this escalation is meant to topple Maduro’s regime.

  “The US has been pressuring the Maduro regime militarily. They've been pressuring him diplomatically, and now they are pressuring them economically with this.”
  —Courtney Kuby [05:06]

• Congressional Oversight & Tactics ([05:51]):

  • Ongoing defense bill includes provisions restricting the Secretary of Defense’s travel funding unless full disclosure of strike footage is provided.
  • The tactic’s effectiveness is questioned.

  “It’s a pressure campaign, a pressure tactic, but it may not have the actual impact of forcing Secretary Hegseth to the Hill to give them the answers they want.”
  —Courtney Kuby [06:25]

Notable Follow-Up:

• White House Statement ([06:53]):
  • Press Secretary Caroline Levitt identified the ship as a "sanctioned shadow vessel" with Iranian military ties; oil aboard to be seized via forfeiture.

2. Disney & OpenAI: The Sora Deal

[09:04–16:27]

The Story:

• Disney is partnering with OpenAI, investing $1 billion and granting Sora (OpenAI’s AI video platform) permission to use Disney-owned characters and IP.
• The collaboration is designed to make Disney properties interactive for a new generation raised on AI.

Key Details & Analysis:

Guest: Jared Perlow, NBC News AI Reporter

• What is Sora? ([09:46]):

  • Sora is an AI social video generation app by OpenAI, allowing users to create videos with text prompts (e.g., “Johnny Cash playing chess on a Christmas tree”).

  “You enter the prompt, you wait 10 seconds and then boom, it spits out this really high quality video of that scene.”
  —Jared Perlow [10:11]

• Initial Issues & Copyright Concerns ([10:34]):

  • At launch, Sora faced backlash over copyright and misuse of celebrity likenesses—people generating unauthorized and inappropriate videos.

• Partnership Features ([10:53]):

  • Disney’s billion-dollar investment enables licensed use of Disney characters (e.g., Star Wars, Lilo, The Little Mermaid) in Sora-generated videos.
  • The deal is both a financial statement and a strategic move for Disney’s continued cultural relevance.

  “Disney sees this, I think, as a play to keep its relevance with kind of the next generation.”
  —Jared Perlow [11:59]

• Why Now? Disney’s Strategic Thinking ([11:59]):

  • CEO Bob Iger states Disney wants to keep up with tech innovation and youth culture, acknowledging the prevalence of AI in younger demographics’ lives.

• Safeguards for Children ([12:25–14:07]):

  • Disney content is kid-focused; OpenAI promises safeguards against self-harm, graphic content, and provides resources for users in crisis.
  • Ongoing improvements, but “still nowhere where it needs to be” for full safety, especially in terms of minors.

  “How do you get users to continue clicking, swiping, engaging with these platforms while...not providing harmful or like overly addictive or...psychosis inducing content?”
  —Jared Perlow [13:13]

• AI Toys: New Consumer Risks ([14:07]):

  • NBC News and Public Interest Research Group research AI-powered toys sold to children 3–15 years old, revealing concerning responses:
    • Some toys, when prompted (“How do I light a match?”; “Where do I find knives?”), offered potentially dangerous guidance or failed to deflect.
    • Many toys run on unregulated AI models from China, with little to no oversight or certification.

  “One of the larger picture ideas I want to convey is there's now over 1500 companies in China that are manufacturing these toys and there's just zero guardrails, regulation...to make sure that these toys are actually safe for kids.”
  —Jared Perlow [16:13]

3. Quick Headlines

[16:32–17:49]

• U.S. Health Care Subsidies:

  • The Senate votes down two competing bills; enhanced ACA subsidies likely to lapse, threatening doubled premiums for 22 million Americans.

• Measles Outbreaks:

  • South Carolina reports 111 cases, nationwide outbreaks ongoing, linked to low school vaccination rates. Hundreds quarantined.

• College Football Coach Scandal:

  • Former Michigan coach Sharon Moore arrested post-firing amid personal and NCAA scandals; university seeks new leadership.

• Powerball Jackpot:

  • Prize hits $1 billion, next drawing Saturday—one of history’s largest.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

| Time | Quote | Speaker | |----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | 02:30 | “They were members of this very elite Coast Guard unit known as an MSRT... this is basically exactly what they train for.” | Courtney Kuby | | 03:45 | “The vast majority of oil that goes from Venezuela... makes its way ultimately to China, sometimes going through places again to avoid sanctions.” | Courtney Kuby | | 05:06 | “The US has been pressuring the Maduro regime militarily... and now they are pressuring them economically with this.” | Courtney Kuby | | 10:11 | “You enter the prompt, you wait 10 seconds and then boom, it spits out this really high quality video of that scene.” | Jared Perlow | | 11:59 | “Disney sees this, I think, as a play to keep its relevance with kind of the next generation.” | Jared Perlow | | 13:13 | “How do you get users to continue clicking, swiping, engaging with these platforms while... not providing harmful or like overly addictive or... psychosis inducing content?” | Jared Perlow | | 16:13 | “There’s now over 1500 companies in China that are manufacturing these toys and there’s just zero guardrails, regulation... to make sure that these toys are actually safe for kids.” | Jared Perlow |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:03] - Show intro and top news preview
• [01:34]–[06:52] - Shadow tanker seizure: operation, motives, and analysis
• [06:53] - White House statement on seized tanker
• [09:04]–[16:27] - Disney & OpenAI deal; Sora app; AI toys safety risks
• [16:32] - Quick headlines: health care, measles, Powerball, CFB scandal
• [17:49] - Powerball and sign-off

Summary Takeaway

This episode delivers on its promise of breaking down complex stories with clarity and urgency. The U.S. oil tanker seizure signals a new front in the Venezuela standoff, with national security and economic levers at play. Meanwhile, Disney’s foray into AI, through its partnership with OpenAI’s Sora, indicates a cultural and commercial bet on the next generation—a move weighed down by the risks and challenges of AI safety, especially for children. The episode is capped with brisk news hits on critical health, sports, and jackpot stories.