The president has a long record of making false or misleading statements. But the sheer density of them in his administration’s boat attacks and Venezuela pressure campaign is exceptional.

As tensions explode near Venezuela, new allegations are rocking Washington. Former President Donald Trump is facing intense scrutiny after escalating war rhetoric and a massive U.S. military buildup near Venezuelan waters—moves critics say are meant to distract from the looming release of the Epstein files.

President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of “sanctioned oil tankers” into and out of Venezuela, U.S. forces seized an oil tanker off the country's coast and the military attacked three more alleged drug-smuggling boats in the region — all in the course of a week.

Venezuela ‘s opposition leader María Corina Machado said she believes Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ‘s government is “weaker than ever,” touting the Trump administration ‘s strategy with the South American country.

The government of Trinidad and Tobago says it will allow the U.S. military access to its airports in upcoming weeks as tensions between the United States and Venezuela remain high.

Maria Corina Machado, asked by CBS News' Margaret Brennan about Trump's threat of land strikes, said she'd "welcome more and more pressure" on Maduro.

Listen to Pablo Uchoa, an expert in Venezuelan military scenario planning, on The Conversation Weekly podcast.

Donald Trump ordered a blockade of "sanctioned oil tankers" into and out of Venezuela, US forces seized an oil tanker off the country's coast and the military attacked three more alleged drug-smugglin

The US has conducted 26 known strikes on what it calls “narco-terrorist” boats since September, killing 99 people to date, according to numbers announced by the administration. The US president has pledged to expand the campaign to land-based targets next, saying the attacks will be carried out wherever the US finds suspected drug traffickers.