Trump strikes an alleged Venezuelan drug boat: What to know

This story appeared in The Logoff, a every day publication that helps you keep knowledgeable concerning the Trump administration with out letting political information take over your life. Subscribe right here.Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration is promising to “wage fight” towards drug cartels following a strike focusing on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat.What occurred? On Tuesday, the US destroyed a small boat carrying 11 individuals within the southern Caribbean Sea. The boat was in worldwide waters on the time of the strike, and its vacation spot was unclear, although Donald Trump stated it was sure for the US and the passengers have been “Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists.”What’s the context? The Trump administration has made a string of aggressive strikes towards Venezuela in latest months, accusing it of “narcoterrorism” and cooperating with Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang working transnationally. Final week, the administration dispatched a number of US warships and an assault submarine to the Caribbean close to the nation.What’s the large image? This might simply be the beginning of the Trump administration’s warfare on cartels. Trump has lengthy expressed curiosity in taking direct army motion towards cartels, together with reportedly asking throughout his first time period about launching missiles into Mexico to focus on “drug labs.” Final month, Trump signed an order directing using pressure towards drug cartels his group has designated as terrorist organizations, together with Tren de Aragua.Why does this matter? Tuesday’s strike represents new, questionable territory for the US army. Although Tren de Aragua has been declared a overseas terrorist group by the Trump administration, that doesn’t give the president the authority to order 11 deaths with no pretense of course of. However the strikes are more likely to proceed: Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed reporters Wednesday that “it’ll occur once more.”And with that, it’s time to log out…I really like a superb area story, and this one from Vox Future Good fellow Shayna Korol is not any exception. She writes that, earlier than humanity manages to ship an individual to Mars, area medication — an actual medical discipline! — has just a few issues to determine about what going there would imply for the human physique.The excellent news is that, whereas there’s tons extra to do, researchers are beginning to look into the query. What’s extra, no matter they uncover may be a boon for human well being proper right here on Earth, too. You possibly can learn Shayna’s story right here. Have a terrific night time, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!