The Brief

Two L.A. music things caught my eye online this week. The first is an interview with Elton John and Brandi Carlile about their new joint album, filmed at the Troubadour for Apple Music. It’s a lovely look into our collective rock history with one living legend and one incredible performer who just has a knack for bringing out the best in everyone, from Elton John to Joni Mitchell.

Also on the music front, local favorites Dawes — who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire — have been a source of inspiration to so many these past few months. This week, they released a new version of their L.A. love letter, “Time Spent in Los Angeles,” with some help from Andrew Bird and Alan Hampton. Have a listen (and maybe a cry) here.

For more to explore, visit LAist.com, where you can check out the latest SoCal James Beard nominees, join the debate over whether L.A.’s official cocktail is the margarita, and remember Top Gun actor Val Kilmer.

Events

Tuesday, April 8, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Impact Investor Night: Building a Sustainable Future 
1149 S. Hill St., Ste. 900
Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

It’s been hard to find bright spots these days, so if you need a dose of good news and have some ideas of how to innovate around climate change, head to this Los Angeles Climate Week event to get inspired — and shoot your shot. Designed to foster collaboration and actionable outcomes between climate funders and founders, the evening also includes a special screening of the upcoming docuseries How to Change the World, a panel addressing climate investing, and a live student pitch competition for L.A. wildfire relief.

Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m.
Wet Leg
The River 
2929 Knox Ave.
Frogtown 
COST: $49.37; MORE INFO

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Iris Luz

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The Grammy-winning indie rock band Wet Leg is playing their first show in L.A. in two years. The “Chaise Longue” duo are bringing their quirky brand of indie girl power all the way from the Isle of Wight to The River, a unique new venue in Frogtown. The intimate space is a far cry from their last L.A. gig — opening for Harry Styles at the Forum.

Tuesday, April 8, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Stacy Nathaniel Jackson in conversation with Dan Lewis
Octavia’s Bookshelf 
1353 North Hill Ave.Pasadena
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

Afrofuturist Stacy Nathaniel Jackson, author of The Ephemera Collector, will join the Huntington Library senior curator for science and technology, Dan Lewis, for a talk about his timely new book at Octavia’s Bookshelf. Jackson’s novel is set in L.A. in 2035 amid a wave of wildfires, a protagonist suffering from long COVID, and other of-the-moment references.

Wednesday, April 9, 8 p.m. 
An evening with Gretchen Rubin (in-person, virtual broadcast on 4/16)
Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center at Vista Del Mar
3200 Motor Ave.
Culver City
COST: $25 - $44; MORE INFO

The Happiness Project creator Gretchen Rubin is back to tell us how to make it all better. Rubin’s latest book, Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives, breaks down adulting by looking at aphorism — “the ancient literary discipline that demands that a writer convey a large truth in a few words” — to help overcome indecision in our lives. The event will also be available virtually for $42 with a signed book starting Wednesday, April 16.

Wednesday, April 9, 7 p.m. 
India Ramey 
Gold-Diggers
5632 Santa Monica Blvd.
East Hollywood 
COST: $19.57; MORE INFO 

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Stacie Hubecka via Brooklyn Basement

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Nashville comes to L.A. when India Ramey hits the stage at Gold-Diggers with her honky-tonk vibes. Her new album, Baptized By The Blaze, came out last summer and explores her journey out of addiction — and her love of horror and b-movies — with a country kick.

Through April 19 
'Toys as Art, Art Inspired by Toys'
Corey Helford Gallery 
571 S. Anderson St.Arts District
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Inspired by Barbie and Matchbox and every type of kids' plaything in between, dozens of contemporary artists draw from their childhood memories in this unique show at Corey Helford, celebrating Mattel’s 80th anniversary.

Outdoor Pick

Every Monday, 7 p.m. 
Koreatown Run Club 
Meet at the corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Oxford Ave.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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sporlab

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Koreatown may have just won the “worst parking in L.A.” award, but that’s no matter if you’re running. Koreatown Run Club, like many others around town, has grown in popularity and takes joggers through the historic neighborhood while meeting new people and getting those steps in.

Viewing Pick

April 8-9, 7:30 p.m.
French Film Festival 
Fullerton College Campus Theatre
321 East Chapman Ave.
Fullerton
COST: $12.51; MORE INFO 

Get a little bit of je ne sais qua at Fullerton College’s annual French Film Fest, dubbed the “Paris of Orange County” — I know, I know. This year’s picks are Louis Garrel’s crime-comedy The Innocent and the heartwarming comedy Les Petites Victoires. Both nights also feature French food, art and music on the Campus Theater patio area.

Dine & Drink Deals

Monday, April 7 Food Day in WeHo
Fiesta Hall
7377 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Plant Based Treaty and the City of West Hollywood are hosting a full day of panels with climate experts, plant-based breakfast, lunch and dinner, and climate-focused activities. Plus, the first 25 attendees will get a free swag bag from SoCal VegFest.

Wednesday, April 9, 4 p.m. 
Experiencias de Paseo: Crudo & Tequila
Paseo
1580 Disneyland Dr.
Anaheim
COST: $45; MORE INFO 

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Courtesy Paseo

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Head to Downtown Disney for an event led by Paseo’s Executive Chef Rudy Lopez, where you can experience a culinary demonstration and tasting focused on the story behind Kanpachi crudo, plus munch on chips and salsa, and drink Paseo’s Sonrisa Margarita.

Monday, April 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
National Beer Day with Best Day Brewing 
Rivian Venice Beach
660 Venice Blvd.
Venice
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

It’s National Beer Day, but that doesn’t mean you have to have alcohol to enjoy it anymore. Non-alcoholic beer company Best Day Brewing is throwing a "brew-thru" pop-up in Venice to mark the occasion, plus they are giving away a free six-pack of their award-winning NA craft beer to anyone who stops by.

President Donald Trump launched a military strike against Venezuela overnight, resulting in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

In a news conference this morning, Trump said the U.S. is going to "run" that country, until a proper transition is in place.

California lawmakers are reacting to the attacks.

"Nicolás Maduro was a thug and an illegitimate leader of Venezuela, terrorizing and oppressing its people for far too long and forcing many to leave the country. But starting a war to remove Maduro doesn’t just continue Donald Trump’s trampling of the Constitution, it further erodes America’s standing on the world stage and risks our adversaries mirroring this brazen illegal escalation," says Sen. Adam Schiff, a democrat.

Republican Congressman Darrell Issa, who represents areas including Murrieta and the Temecula Valley, says President Trump, "has taken strong action to protect America’s homeland from neighboring threats of narcoterrorism and the scourge of deadly narcotics. The Trump administration has my full support."

Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla says, "Let’s be absolutely clear: Trump’s military action in Venezuela is unlawful without approval from Congress."

California Governor Gavin Newsom did not directly commented on the attacks. He zeroed in on a comment Trump made about the L.A. fires during the news conference.

"Unless Trump is finally delivering the federal aid survivors need to rebuild after the horrific fires — nearly a year after California first requested it — he should keep Los Angeles out of his mouth," Newsom's office says on social.

Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face a raft of charges in the United States following President Trump's announcement early Saturday that the U.S. attacked Caracas and took them into custody.

Maduro, Flores and senior Venezuelan officials face charges related to alleged "drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies," according to an unsealed indictment posted on social media Saturday by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The indictment alleges that, starting in 1999, the defendants partnered with international drug trafficking organizations to ultimately transport thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States.

Maduro and his wife "will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts," Bondi wrote in an earlier post on X.

The new indictment adds to charges from the first Trump administration, when the U.S. Justice Department announced a federal indictment against Maduro in March 2020.

That indictment alleged that Maduro was the leader of the Cartel de los Soles, and that he and other defendants took part in a narco-terrorism conspiracy with the Colombian guerrilla group known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Prosecutors said that the Cartel de los Soles was made up of high-ranking Venezuelan officials who abused the Venezuelan people and corrupted the nation's institutions to import large quantities of cocaine into the United States.

According to the 2020 indictment, Maduro helped manage and ultimately lead the Cartel de los Soles, which sought to get rich and flood the U.S. with cocaine, allegedly using the drug as a weapon against the United States.

Prosecutors said that Maduro helped negotiate multi-ton shipments of cocaine, and directed the Cartel de los Soles to provide military-grade weapons to FARC.

He also allegedly coordinated foreign affairs with Honduras and others to facilitate large-scale drug trafficking.

The current Trump administration has ramped up the pressure over the past year. In November 2025, the U.S. designated the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization.

The new indictment released Saturday reiterates these charges and also alleges that Maduro "partnered" with organizations including the Sinaloa Cartel, the Zetas and Tren de Aragua.

Separately, the International Criminal Court has been investigating the Venezuelan government for alleged torture, sexual violence and arbitrary detentions.

This is a developing story, which may be updated.

The impact of the Trump administration's stunning airstrikes and "capture" of Nicolás Maduro already are being felt well beyond Venezuela's borders — the most significant U.S. intervention in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama.

President Gustavo Petro in neighboring Colombia announced that security forces were deployed along the border to prepare for a possible refugee influx. Colombia hosts the largest Venezuelan diaspora.

Petro confirmed multiple strikes in Caracas, including a military airbase, other installations and the legislative building. He condemned the attack as an aggression against Venezuela and Latin America, urging de-escalation.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the U.S. attack on neighboring Venezuela and the seizure of Maduro, saying the strikes "crossed an unacceptable line" and set a "dangerous precedent."

Lula said the action evoked "the worst moments of interference" in Latin America and threatened the region's status as a zone of peace. Despite his past alliance with Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chávez, relations have cooled since Brazil refused to recognize Maduro's disputed 2024 election victory, widely dismissed as fraudulent.

Other regional powers, including Chile and Mexico, echoed strong condemnation. Mexico called the strikes a violation of the U.N. Charter and urged an immediate halt to acts of aggression. In a Fox News interview Saturday, President Donald Trump said Mexico was run by drug cartels, adding, "Something is gonna have to be done with Mexico."

Cuba and Nicaragua — two of Venezuela's closest allies — are closely monitoring the crisis. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel labeled the U.S. action "state terrorism" and called for urgent international intervention.

Cuba, facing its most severe economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union, relies heavily on Venezuelan oil. Any disruption could worsen an already dire situation, and the government in Havana — which has been in power since 1959 — has been watching the unfolding situation closely.

What's next: The global stage

Close allies China and Russia also have reacted. Russia condemned the strikes, reaffirming solidarity with the Venezuelan people. In a statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry called the Trump administration's pretext for attacking Venezuela unfounded and said if the reports of Maduro's capture were true, the U.S. action marked an "unacceptable assault" on Venezuela's sovereignty.

Despite such expressions of support, Moscow has stopped short of challenging the U.S. more forcefully amid a months-long pressure campaign by the Trump administration against the Venezuelan leadership.

China said it strongly opposed the U.S. action, condemning the move as a violation of international law. In a statement, the foreign ministry said Beijing was "deeply shocked" by what it called Washington's "blatant use of force" against a sovereign state, arguing it infringed on Venezuela's sovereignty and threatened peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the E.U. supports "a peaceful and democratic transition" in Venezuela. But she stopped short of criticizing the U.S. attack.

"We stand by the Venezuelan people and support a peaceful and democratic transition," she said, adding that any solution must respect international law and the U.N. Charter.

Venezuela has called for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, raising questions about the legality of the U.S. operation. In a statement, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply alarmed" by the overnight developments, expressing concern "that international law hasn't been respected."

Updated January 03, 2026 at 12:01 PM ET

This is a developing story.

President Trump said the U.S. will run Venezuela until a "proper transition can take place," as he defended Saturday's military strikes that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

"We're there now, but we're going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place," Trump told reporters from Mar a Lago. "So we're going to stay until such time as we're going to run it, essentially, until such time as a proper transition can take place."

Trump's remarks cap a dramatic few hours that began with reports of explosions in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, the scale of which became apparent only when the president said Maduro and his wife had been captured. Trump later told Fox & Friends that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were being brought by boat to New York where they'd stand trial.

He said U.S. oil companies would head to Venezuela to operate in their oil reserves, and the military is set to attack again if necessary to secure the effort.

"We're going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country, and we are ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so," he said.

Watch President Trump's remarks

Trump said there were some U.S. injuries sustained during the operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, but no fatalities.

"This is something that gee, I don't know, is amazing and to have a few injuries but no death on our side was really amazing," Trump told Fox and Friends ahead of his Mar-a-Lago address.

Trump told Fox that he watched the "extremely complex" operation unfold "like I was watching a television show."

Trump defended the operation, telling the network, "You know what, we did a great job with stopping drugs from coming into this country, and nobody's been able to do it until we came along. But they should say, 'great job.' They could say, 'Oh, gee, maybe it's not constitutional.' You know, the same old stuff that we've been hearing for years and years and years."

He was asked by Fox about China's concerns about control of the oil and responded that he has a good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"There's not going to be a problem, and they're going to get oil. We're going to allow people to have oil, but we can't take a chance after having done this incredible thing last night of letting somebody else take over, where we have to do it again," he said.

Trump did not outline clear next steps for regime change, but noted Venezuela does have a sitting vice president and sent a warning to anyone who might continue supporting Maduro.

"Well, if they stay loyal, the future is really bad, and really bad for them. If they convert, there's a conversion factor. I would say most of them have converted. He's had very little loyalty," he said.

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