Key developments: Cuba condemned the U.S. seizure of the oil tanker Skipper, calling it piracy and saying it undermines Venezuela’s ability to trade oil with allies. Reports indicate the vessel carried nearly 2 million barrels of heavy crude and transshipped about 50,000 barrels to a ship bound for Cuba. Other U.S. political news: calls for an investigation into large share purchases by Venture Global founders, Governor Gavin Newsom’s criticism of Trump’s AI order, pushback from Afghan immigrants, and regulatory and economic updates linked to the Trump campaign.
Cuba Condemns US Seizure Of Tanker Skipper As 'Maritime Terrorism'; Multiple US Political Stories Update
The crude oil tanker Skipper recently seized by the US off the coast of Venezuela.Photograph: AP
Cuban officials have strongly condemned the United States’ seizure of the oil tanker Skipper off Venezuela’s coast, calling the action “an act of piracy and maritime terrorism” and “a serious violation of international law” that harms Cuba and its people.
U.S. officials say the vessel is now headed for Galveston, Texas. Internal records from Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, cited by the New York Times, indicate the Skipper was carrying nearly 2 million barrels of Venezuela’s heavy crude. PDVSA data listed the ship’s intended destination as the Cuban port of Matanzas.
Two days after departing, the Skipper reportedly transshipped about 50,000 barrels to another vessel, which then sailed north toward Cuba while the Skipper continued on toward Asia.
"This action is part of the US escalation aimed at hampering Venezuela’s legitimate right to freely use and trade its natural resources with other nations, including the supplies of hydrocarbons to Cuba," the Cuban foreign ministry said, adding that the seizure "negatively affects Cuba and intensifies the United States’ policy of maximum pressure and economic suffocation."
In Washington, two senior Democrats have urged an investigation after a Guardian report detailed large share purchases by two fossil-fuel billionaires with ties to the Trump administration. Robert Pender and Michael Sabel, founders and co-chairs of liquefied natural gas company Venture Global, reportedly bought more than one million shares each in March—transactions valued at roughly $12 million apiece. The trades occurred days after meetings with senior White House officials and were followed by issuance of a regulatory permit that expanded the company’s European operations. All parties deny wrongdoing; Senator Ron Wyden has called for scrutiny.
In California, Governor Gavin Newsom criticized President Trump’s new executive order on artificial intelligence, arguing that by pre-empting state-level regulation it promotes "grift and corruption" rather than responsible innovation. Newsom singled out Trump adviser David Sacks in his remarks.
Across the U.S., Afghan immigrants and advocacy groups pushed back against what they say is the administration’s latest crackdown on legal immigration, arguing the measures unfairly penalize hundreds of thousands of people for the alleged actions of an individual.
On the campaign trail in Pennsylvania, President Trump taunted his predecessor with nicknames—asking supporters, "Which is better: Sleepy Joe or Crooked Joe?"—even as critics pointed out an irony: the 79-year-old president has reportedly appeared to doze at recent meetings. The event launched a Trump roadshow meant to reassure voters about the economy, drawing comparisons to Biden’s earlier campaign travels promoting "Bidenomics."
Industry observers warned any proposed merger involving Warner Bros is likely to face close regulatory scrutiny after Paramount—reported to have ties to the Trump administration—entered the bidding, a move experts say will trigger antitrust red flags.
Separately, student loan borrowers report that debt continues to strain their ability to cover basic needs like food, housing and transportation, pressures that intensify during the holiday season. In the Pacific Northwest, record floodwaters in Washington state are slowly receding after days of devastation; the state’s governor confirmed that President Trump approved a federal emergency declaration.
These developments were among the top stories on 12 December 2025.
