The fears that CBS Evening News will go softer on Donald Trump were fueled even further with a segment that ended the Tony Dokoupil broadcast on Tuesday in which the anchor saluted Marco Rubio, who wears multiple hats in the administration.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the limited scope of the military operation that captured Nicolás Maduro, calling a CBS host's questions about broader regime arrests "absurd."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the U.S. has a three-phase plan for Venezuela, with an initial emphasis on stabilizing the country.

CBS "Face The Nation" host Margaret Brennan asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday why the U.S. did not also arrest other wanted members of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's regime while they were there on Saturday.

As questions about what comes next for Venezuela arise, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hints that President Trump is continuing to consider all options for how to “run” Venezuela during a transit

The following is the transcript of the interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Jan. 4, 2026.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez's potential succession is complicated by constitutional law and conflicting US policy statements regarding the nation's future and its oil reserves