Trump and Minnesota, Venezuela's Opposition, Trump's Healthcare Plan - Up First Recap

Podcast: Up First

Published: 2026-01-16

Duration: 13 minutes

Guests: Meg Anderson, Carrie Kahn, Selina Simmons-Duffin

Summary

The episode covers escalating protests in Minnesota, political developments in Venezuela, and President Trump's new healthcare proposal.

What Happened

Protests in Minnesota have intensified following a second shooting by an ICE agent, prompting President Trump to consider invoking the Insurrection Act. The presence of federal agents has increased, and the community is responding with both peaceful protests and legal action, as seen with the ACLU's lawsuit against alleged racial profiling.

In Washington, Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump, aiming to maintain her political influence. Despite her efforts, President Trump is backing interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who has been making strategic moves to resume diplomatic relations with the U.S. and open Venezuela's oil industry to foreign investment.

Rodriguez's stance involves balancing defiant rhetoric with attempts to appease both hardliners and the U.S. administration. While she promises the release of political prisoners, families remain skeptical, as many are still awaiting their loved ones' freedom.

Meanwhile, President Trump has unveiled a new healthcare plan that he claims will make healthcare more affordable. The plan focuses on cheaper insurance options with fewer benefits, raising concerns over its impact on the Obamacare system and the lack of extended subsidies.

The proposed healthcare changes are seen as a collection of existing Republican policies rather than a comprehensive replacement of the Affordable Care Act. The announcement coincides with the end of open enrollment for healthcare.gov, amid concerns about rising premiums and reduced enrollment.

Despite the administration's optimism, there is skepticism about the plan's viability and the likelihood of Congress passing an extension for enhanced subsidies. Some lawmakers, like Senator Lisa Murkowski, remain hopeful for a bipartisan solution to address these healthcare challenges.

Key Insights

• The Insurrection Act, which President Trump is considering invoking in Minnesota, allows the deployment of military forces within the U.S. to suppress civil disorder, insurrection, and rebellion.
• Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez is seeking to open the country's oil industry to foreign investment as part of a strategy to resume diplomatic relations with the United States.
• President Trump's new healthcare plan proposes cheaper insurance options with fewer benefits, raising concerns about its impact on the Affordable Care Act and the potential lack of extended subsidies.
• Open enrollment for healthcare.gov has ended amid rising premiums and reduced enrollment, while some lawmakers, like Senator Lisa Murkowski, express hope for a bipartisan solution to address healthcare challenges.