WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ends his campaign for a third term, as the scandal of his state's welfare fraud continues to snowball. Plus, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon will censure Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly for a video in which he and other Democrats told the military to refuse “illegal orders." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump says the U.S. is now "in charge” in Caracas as ousted president Nicolás Maduro appears in federal court in New York. But the dictator's henchmen remain in power for now. Will they bow to Mr. Trump's wishes or leave the country? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York's mayor uses his inaugural address to insist he won't back away from socialism, including freezing rent and providing free buses, as he's sworn into office by Bernie Sanders. But will Mamdani be able to deliver, and at what cost? And will other Democrats follow his lead in shifting the party further to the left? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ford takes a huge charge on its EV business, as the Trump Administration rewrites the CAFE standards and the European Union moves to water down its 2035 clean-car mandate. Will politicians ever learn? Apparently not, as California regulators keep subsidizing the uneconomical Ivanpah solar thermal electric plant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump says he struck a facility in Venezuela that was being used to load drug boats, as the U.S. also seizes another oil tanker. What's the latest on the effort to force dictator Nicolás Maduro from power? How much have the regime's oil revenues fallen? And is this a standoff that either Trump or Maduro will win? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices