NEWS ANCHOR:
00:01:28
So let's talk about The New YorkTimes. It's reporting that the Trump administration has authorized covert CIA actions in Venezuela. So what does this actually mean? Well, we don't know what it actually means, because covert action programs are the most classified in the US government. They're oftentimes restricted to a small group of people. I will say this. Covert action programs can be used to consider options for regime change, to get rid of a leader that the United States feels is detrimental to global security or US interests. Covert action can be used, as well, to destroy certain infrastructure and/or to try to influence individuals close to a leader that the United States views as hostile to the United States. So there are a range of options for what this covert action authority may be used for. But I do want to stress the "may." The New YorkTimes has not reported, nor have we seen other reporting that President Trump has authorized the use of covert action within Venezuela. The authority's sometimes granted prior to an operation starting just so that the CIA and other covert action entities have the legal framework necessary to begin to operate if they need it.
NEWS ANCHOR:
00:02:39
All right. Samantha Vinograd. Samantha, thank you so much.
