An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: Five exercises for aging well; the White House’s Jan. 6 website; mysterious Maduro bet; and more

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By Jamie Ross and Izin Akhabau

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Good morning. It's Wednesday, Jan. 7, and we had no idea the figure skating world had so much drama until we read this gripping article. Now let's get to the news.

The U.S. raid in Venezuela killed about 75 people, officials said.

On Saturday: Dozens died in a gun battle outside President Nicolás Maduro's compound before his capture, U.S. officials said. About a half-dozen U.S. troops were injured.
Following the raid: President Donald Trump wants U.S. oil giants to drill Venezuela's reserves. He has started telling reluctant firms he might make it worth their while.
In Denmark: Officials fear the U.S. may soon try to seize Greenland.

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A key Trump administration official has been unusually quiet on the Venezuela raid.

Who? Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. She was conspicuously absent from planning for the mission, The Post reported today, amid tensions with Trump's team.
What else to know: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's remade press corps covered the U.S. raid with praise. And a mysterious bettor won $400,000 on Maduro's ouster.

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The White House published a website rewriting the history of the Jan. 6 attack.

How? It criticizes Democrats and some Republicans for engaging in a "witch hunt" after the 2021 riot at the Capitol and repeats several false claims from Trump — see more here.
Also yesterday: Jan. 6 defendants retraced their steps with a march to the Capitol. And Trump said he'd face a third impeachment if House Republicans lose this year's midterms.
One more thing: Want to cover Trump's face on your national parks pass? It'll cost you.

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CDC staff were "blindsided" by changes to the childhood vaccine schedule.

On Monday: The CDC narrowed the list of vaccines routinely recommended for all children. The move angered career scientists, who said officials bypassed their expertise.
In related news: Officials are set to release new dietary guidelines this week. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made overhauling the nation's food supply a priority.

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Hilton said it will cut ties with a property that refused hotel rooms to ICE.

This week: An undercover video appeared to show a worker at a Minnesota hotel saying immigration agents were not allowed to stay. Hilton will drop the hotel from its systems.
The bigger picture: Trump's immigration crackdown had been driven by this little-known Cuba-born Harvard economist, until he left the White House last week.

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It will feel like mid-spring in multiple states this week.

High temperatures are forecast to exceed the April average across parts of several Southern and Eastern states. (Ben Noll/The Washington Post/Data source: ECMWF/ERA5)

What to expect: Dozens of temperature records for this time of year will be neared, tied or broken. It continues a trend from 2025, when record warmth far outpaced the cold.
You can trust that forecast: But be careful on social media. The National Weather Service is experimenting with AI, resulting in forecasts for towns that don't actually exist.

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These simple exercises can help you stay strong as you age.

Click the image to see standard and modified versions of the exercises. (Ryan Weber/The Washington Post)

If you'd like to age well: There are five exercises trainers recommend again and again — push-ups, squats, dead lifts, pull-ups and calf raises. See them demonstrated by a pro here.
For your mind: Follow these eight steps to lower your dementia risk and protect your brain in 2026. They include napping and cutting alcohol intake.

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Before you go … tired of scrolling on your phone? Try one of these 12 of-the-moment hobbies. Plus: How to achieve your money goals in 2026.

One more good read: Caught between Trump and Elon Musk's rockets, a Mexican village despairs.

We want to hear from you: Do you have questions about stories you've seen in The 7? Send them here. We'll find the right person to answer them and share responses in our weekend edition.

And finally … take a game break: