Sunday Briefing: Airspace Closures, Secret Summits, and Election Interference

November 30, 2025

While most of the country is winding down from the Thanksgiving holiday, the Trump administration has kicked the geopolitical chessboard over. From a dramatic escalation in the Caribbean to secret high-stakes meetings in Florida, this Sunday has become a defining moment for the administration’s second-term foreign policy.

Here is a breakdown of the four major stories dominating the news cycle today.

1. The Venezuela Standstill

The most explosive development today is the rapid deterioration of relations with Venezuela. Following President Trump’s directive via Truth Social on Saturday to consider Venezuelan airspace “CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” the situation has escalated into a diplomatic standoff.

• The Latest: Caracas has condemned the move as a “colonialist threat” and a violation of international sovereignty.
• The Consequence: In a direct retaliation that complicates the White House’s domestic agenda, Venezuela has unilaterally suspended all deportation flights. This creates an immediate logistical nightmare for the administration’s mass deportation program, as flights carrying Venezuelan nationals now have nowhere to land.
• What to Watch: Intelligence analysts are closely monitoring U.S. naval movements in the Caribbean to see if the “closed airspace” declaration will be enforced militarily.

2. Intervention in Honduras

Today is election day in Honduras, but the actual voting has been overshadowed by an unprecedented intervention from Washington. Just 48 hours before polls opened, President Trump threw his weight behind conservative candidate Nasry Asfura.

Even more controversial was the President’s promise to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who is currently serving a U.S. prison sentence for drug trafficking.

• Why it Matters: This move signals a return to a transactional style of diplomacy where loyalty to U.S. interests—specifically regarding migration controls—outweighs judicial convictions. The election results later tonight will be a direct test of Trump’s influence in Central America.

3. The Florida Peace Summit

While chaos brews in Latin America, quiet but intense diplomacy is taking place in Florida. Top administration officials—including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner—are huddled with Ukrainian negotiators today.

• The Goal: The administration is pushing to finalize a ceasefire framework before scheduled talks in Moscow later this week.
• The Deal: Leaks suggest the U.S. is pressuring Kyiv to accept a “freeze-in-place” agreement that cements current frontlines and delays NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees. The outcome of today’s meeting could determine the future of the war in Europe.

4. The $75 Million “Anti-Woke” Victory

On the domestic front, the administration scored a significant victory in its “culture war” against elite universities. Northwestern University has agreed to a $75 million settlement to resolve a federal discrimination investigation.

• The Context: The university had its federal funding frozen earlier this year amid allegations it mishandled campus protests.
• The Impact: By paying the fine and agreeing to stricter oversight, Northwestern regains access to research grants. The White House is touting this as a blueprint for how it will force higher education institutions to align with its policies on free speech and discrimination.

The Week Ahead

As we head into December, the administration is juggling three potential crises: a standoff in the Caribbean, a volatile election outcome in Honduras, and a make-or-break peace deal for Ukraine. If today is any indication, the rest of the week will be anything but quiet.