Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. The CIA struck a dock facility in Venezuela as the Trump administration continues to attack alleged drug operations in the region. That's according to an official not authorized to speak publicly. The U.S. has been targeting boats allegedly transporting drugs. But as NPR's Tom Bowman explains, this is the first known

attack against Venezuela on land. We also don't know what else the CIA is doing in Venezuela.

If history is a guy in past decades when the CIA gets involved in an effort to pressure

or oust a political leader, the agency would reach out to military leaders, maybe retired leaders,

to see if they would either work with a new government, maybe remain cohesive, even Mount

a coup. So that will be something to watch in the coming weeks. The Maduro government,

by the way, has condemned the U.S. attacks. And interestingly, Trump said he spoke with

Maduro, quote, very recently, but he said

not much came of it. NPR's Tom Bowman reporting enhanced subsidies for health insurance plans through

the Affordable Care Act marketplace will expire after December 31st. That means premiums will soon

spike for millions of Americans. NPR's Sam Gringlass reports.

Congress left town for a holiday recess without acting to renew the pandemic-era subsidies.

Some people who get their plans on the marketplace are seeing premiums double or triple.

Open enrollment in many states ends January 15th. The Congressional Budget Office estimates more than 2 million people will drop their coverage because they cannot afford the premiums.

In January, the House is expected to vote on a three-year extension of the subsidies after four swing district Republicans joined with Democrats to force a vote.

A three-year renewal, though, already failed in the Senate.

But some lawmakers

hope a successful House vote will recharge bipartisan negotiations. Sam Gringlass, NPR News.

More than a dozen states will raise their minimum wage on January 1st. NPR's Jennifer

Ludden reports the move comes as more Americans struggle with the cost of living.

The federal minimum wage has been stuck since 2009 at just 7.25 an hour.

In addition to the state hikes this year,

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