The 7: What 1,000 Americans think about U.S. actions in Venezuela; a fun way to slash your dementia risk; NFL playoffs; and more

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End of Year Sale: Subscribe for 50¢ a week. Billed as $2/four weeks for the first six months, then $12/four weeks. Pricing subject to change. Cancel anytime. → PUBLISHED BY READ ONLINE   By Jamie Ross and Izin Akhabau Listen to this briefing Good morning. It's Monday, Jan. 5, and our personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary has put together a great list of what's "in" and "out" for your money this year. Now let's catch up. Nicolás Maduro is expected to appear in federal court in New York today. This weekend: The U.S. deposed and captured the Venezuelan leader in a surprise raid. Officials justified it, in part, by claiming Venezuela had stolen U.S. oil — here's the history. What now? A U.S. plan to "run" Venezuela is clouded in confusion. The effort, which President Donald Trump has said could expand beyond Venezuela, carries significant risks. Maduro faces narco-terrorism charges: Follow today's live updates here. Read this story       We asked 1,000 Americans what they thought about U.S. actions in Venezuela. The Post texted 1,004 Americans to get their reactions. (Shikha Subramaniam/Washington Post Illustration) What they said: Americans are almost evenly split between approval and disapproval of the U.S. sending forces to capture Maduro, our poll found. Dig into the responses here. Looking ahead: Trump's actions in Venezuela add an unpredictable element into this year's midterms. And the intervention could impact Trump's mass deportation campaign. Read this story       Democrats appear primed to win the House in this year's midterm elections. Where things stand: Democrats are celebrating signs that the tide is turning their way. But converting dissatisfaction with Trump into an electoral wave could be hard to achieve. In related news: A recent change to how the U.S. Postal Service says it postmarks letters could discount the ballots of thousands of last-minute voters, experts have warned. Read this story       The Secret Service is planning one of the most ambitious hiring efforts in its history. Why? To ease strain on its overstretched workforce and prepare for major events in 2028, including the presidential election and the Olympics. It aims to recruit 4,000 people. An alleged security breach from 2013: Germany eavesdropped on some of President Barack Obama's calls on Air Force One, according to a new book by a German journalist. Read this story       One cause of death is growing faster than all the others in America. Malnutrition accounts for fewer than 1 in 100 deaths, but its toll is rising so fast that it's in the same league as arterial disease, mental disorders and deaths from assault. (Eunice Straight Head/For The Washington Post) What is it? Malnutrition deaths soared by 746% from 2011 to 2023, data shows, with people 85 and older being hit hardest. However, that data might not be telling the full story. In other health news: For many scientists, 2025 was the year of microplastics. And the new year may bring new viral threats — an infectious-disease doctor told us what to expect. Read this story       The NFL playoffs are set. What to know: The Denver Broncos in the AFC and the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC are the No. 1 seeds. The 12 other teams are in action next weekend — find the full bracket here. Looking ahead: Super Bowl LX will take place Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California. Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny will headline the halftime show, despite conservative backlash. Read this story       Advertisement   Dancing could slash your dementia risk. In one study: People who danced often had a 76% lower risk of dementia than those who did so rarely. Find tips to get moving and more brain-boosting advice here. More ways to be healthier in the new year: Try adopting these five little habits every day. They include wearing socks to bed and cleaning your ears the right way. Read this story       Before you go … if reading more is one of your New Year's resolutions: Here are 19 hotly anticipated books coming this year. Plus: Three tips for making resolutions more fun. One more good read: Bologna in the carbonara? Call Italy's pasta police! 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: News quiz: There's some turbulence in today's On the Record.   Word game: One word to spell 'em all! Can you solve today's Keyword in 6 guesses? Crossword: It's time to solve! Play now.    Wridges: Speed and spell your way up to a high score in our newest game.   You're all caught up. See you tomorrow. (Illustration by Katty Huertas/The Washington Post) Do you know someone who would like this newsletter? Share it with them. Prefer push notifications? Download The Post's app to get one when The 7 publishes.  YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE The 5-Minute Fix Reporter Amber Phillips explains and analyzes the why behind the day's biggest political news — in five minutes or less. Sign up ➝     You received this email because you signed up for The 7 or because it is included in your subscription. Manage newsletters | Unsubscribe 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071 DOWNLOAD OUR APP      ©2026 The Washington Post | Privacy Policy | Help & Contact