In a scene that would have sounded like fiction just a few days ago,

Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife Celia Flores,

stood before a U.S. judge in a Manhattan courtroom Monday afternoon.

There was no audio and no pictures,

but NPR's Jasmine Garst was there to witness the moment.

Towards the end, as Maduro was walking out,

a member of the public stood up and said,

you're going to pay in the name of the Venezuelan people. Maduro turned around and said,

I am a man of God. Maduro pleaded not guilty to charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy,

cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons charges.

His next hearing is more than two months from now. After months of U.S. strikes on boats in the

region, shifting rationalizations, and increasing tensions, the now former head of Venezuela

and his wife were extracted from Caracas over the weekend.

The covert operation left many Venezuelans reeling.

It's also left the world wondering, what comes next?

President Trump may have given more than a hint to reporters who rode with him on Air Force one Sunday night, and spoiler alert, the Trump administration is focused on more than just

Venezuela.

Colombia is very sick to run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.

And he's not going to be doing it very long.

The president also reminded reporters about his longstanding interest in Greenland.

Right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.

We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security.

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