WSJ Tech News Briefing: Tech Minute – Defense Stocks Surge After Trump Ousts Venezuela's Maduro

Date: January 5, 2026
Host: Julie Chang (Wall Street Journal)

Episode Overview

This “Tech Minute” offers a concise roundup of financial and tech market headlines, zeroing in on the impact of President Trump’s military intervention in Venezuela, resulting growth in defense sector stocks, tech companies’ movements at CES, and a groundbreaking $160 million AI fund by early stage VC firm Antler.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defense Stocks Rally After Venezuela Intervention

• [00:31] President Trump's intervention in Venezuela leads to immediate optimism on Wall Street for defense manufacturers.
  • Quote:
    • “President Trump’s intervention in Venezuela has given weapons makers a boost. Shares in Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin are up about 3%, while shares of RTX are up about 2%.” – Julie Chang [00:33]
• The defense sector continues momentum built throughout 2025, which saw major stock booms.
  • “A boom in defense stocks was one of last year’s key market trends.” – Julie Chang [00:39]

2. Chipmakers in the Spotlight Ahead of CES

• [00:44] Tech giants Nvidia and AMD see moderate stock increases as anticipation builds ahead of CES in Las Vegas, where their CEOs are scheduled to speak.
  • “Shares of Nvidia and AMD are up about 1 and 2%, respectively. The CEOs of both companies are due to speak today at the CES flagship technology event in Las Vegas.” – Julie Chang [00:45]

3. Antler’s Bold AI Fundraising & Market Leadership

• [00:53] Antler, with a new $160 million, US-focused fund, is underlining the surging investor appetite for AI startups in 2026.
  • “Early stage venture firm Antler is beginning the year with a newly raised $160 million US focused fund. The global firm focuses on early stage AI inflected startups.” – Julie Chang [00:54]
  • The CEO reveals plans to exponentially increase investment deals:
    • “Its CEO said the fund will help take its deal count to roughly 500 investments this year. That’s up from over 400 investments last year and from roughly 100 in 2020.” – Julie Chang [00:57]
  • Analytics firm Deal Room recognizes Antler's leading position:
    • “Analytics firm Deal Room named Antler the most active global AI investor in 2024.” – Julie Chang [01:04]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “President Trump’s intervention in Venezuela has given weapons makers a boost.”
  – Julie Chang [00:33]

• “A boom in defense stocks was one of last year’s key market trends.”
  – Julie Chang [00:39]

• “Its CEO said the fund will help take its deal count to roughly 500 investments this year. That’s up from over 400 investments last year and from roughly 100 in 2020.”
  – Julie Chang [00:57]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:31] Defense stocks surge – Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, RTX
• [00:44] Nvidia, AMD rise ahead of CES keynote
• [00:53] Antler announces $160M US-focused AI startup fund
• [00:57] Antler’s investment trajectory and global AI leadership

Conclusion

This brief episode captures the interconnectedness of global politics, tech sector leadership, and venture capital trends shaping 2026. From defense stocks reacting to international events, to chipmakers’ influence at CES, to the remarkable expansion of AI startup investment by Antler, the WSJ Tech News Briefing offers quick but comprehensive context for the day’s most important tech and market movements.