NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
A U.S. aircraft carrier reached the Caribbean as part of the Trump administration’s escalating pressure campaign on Venezuela and its broader effort to combat drug trafficking. In recent months, the U.S. has killed dozens of people, prompting an outcry across the region from governments and human rights groups. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Juanita Goebertus Estrada of Human Rights Watch.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- What military equipment has the U.S. moved into the Caribbean?
- Where is the military focusing their military pressure?
- Why has the U.S. bombed or attacked small boats in the Caribbean?
- Who is the U.S. seeking to remove from power, according to some sources?
- How have countries in the region responded to the pressure?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- After watching this story, what do you think the Trump administration hopes to get from aggressive actions toward Venezuela?
- What do you think is the most likely outcome from the actions of the U.S. military?
Media literacy: Who else would you want to hear from to best understand the impact of U.S. military actions?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
Read the article from the Associated Press, "Trump has accused boat strike targets of being narco-terrorists. The truth is more nuanced, AP investigation finds"
Then as a class, discuss the following —
- How do you think the actions of the Trump administration will impact relations with Latin American and South American countries?
- How will these actions impact relationships with other countries around the world?
- Does this article change your thinking about why the Trump administration might be using military pressure in the region? If so, how?
FILE PHOTO: A combination image shows two screen captures from a video posted on the X account of The White House on September 15, 2025, depicting what U.S. President Donald Trump said was a U.S. military strike on a Venezuelan drug cartel vessel that had been on its way to the United States, the second such strike carried out against a suspected drug boat in recent weeks. The White House/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IMAGE BLURRED AT SOURCE Verification lines: Reuters checked the footage through our AI detection tool and found no evidence of manipulation. however, the footage is partly blurred, making it impossible to confirm if the video is manipulated. Thorough verification is an ongoing process, and Reuters will continue to review the footage as more information becomes available./File Photo
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