Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. In Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro has pledged to never fail his country and to serve the people forever.

His remarks come days after news emerged that he and President Trump had a recent phone call, and Trump reportedly called for him to resign.

Reporter Julia Carnaro reports.

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro pumps his fists in the air while dancing to a remix

of his own words, saying no war, yes, peace. He spoke to crowds of supporters outside the presidential

palace on Monday in a show that he was not

about to resign, despite building military pressure from the U.S. and an ultimatum allegedly made

by President Trump in a recent phone call.

Maduro swore on his life, absolute loyalty to his country.

He said Venezuela wants peace, but not, quote,

a slave's peace, maintaining sovereignty and freedom. On Tuesday, he gave the go-ahead for an incoming

flight deporting migrants from the U.S. days after his government said it was freezing repatriation

flights. For NPR news, I'm Julie Carnero.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegs S says the decision to launch a second strike against a suspected drug boat in September was not his call. During Tuesday's cabinet meeting at the White House,

Hegss said he left the room before the mission was over. The Trump administration says

Admiral Mitch Bradley

ordered the second strike. He's to meet with members of Congress this week. President Trump says

he'll be announcing his choice for a new Federal Reserve chair early next year. And P.R. Franco

Ordonia's reports. President Trump told reporters at a cabinet meeting that his team has considered

a number of candidates to replace the current Fed chair, Jerome Powell, who steps down next year.

Trump said some of those were brought forward by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and others brought forward by Commerce Secretary Howard Ludnik.

We probably look to 10 and we have it down to one.

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