Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Trump escalates tensions with seized oil tanker near Venezuela President Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, the latest escalation in what has become an increasingly tense...

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy on Wednesday said the board "vehemently opposes" one of the provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by the House of Representatives hours earlier. She said during a press conference that the NTSB took notice of Section 373, which she said gives the military "unfettered...

Moderate and vulnerable Republicans are attempting a long-shot revolt against their leaders in the House over health care. They are trying to force a vote to extend the enhanced ObamaCare subsidies that GOP leaders are declining to bring up — and that moderates warn will cost Republicans in the midterms. House Republican leaders said Wednesday...

{beacon} Technology   The Big Story Senate rushes to finish crypto market bill ahead of holiday recess Senators are trying to iron out key sticking points in legislation to regulate the cryptocurrency industry in their final working weeks of the year, as they push to get the bill out of committee after months of negotiations. ...

{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   The Big Story FEMA council expected to announce recommendations The Trump administration is set to unveil its plan this week to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a proposal that is sure to be contentious but is not expected to go as far as earlier calls...

Attorney General Pam Bondi shared a Wednesday video of U.S. forces seizing a Venezuelan oil tanker after a series of strikes on vessels in the region. “Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude...

Democratic lawmakers and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) expressed concern Wednesday that the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker by the U.S. could further increase tensions between the two countries, while other GOP senators said they were awaiting more information. “It sounds a lot like the beginning of a war,” Paul told NewsNation’s Hannah Brandt on...

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Wednesday accused Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) of being part of a "rioting crowd" during a mass arrest in Tucson last week. On Friday, ICE and other federal agents arrested 46 undocumented immigrants in an operation that stemmed from "a multiyear investigation into a transnational criminal organization involved in labor...

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called out “unlawful practices" by ICE and seeks clarification on citizens’ rights after reports of wrongful arrests in Minnesota.

Former President Barack Obama surprised elementary students at a Chicago Public Library branch, reading to them and joking around while wearing a festive Santa hat.