As the fallout from the U.S. operation in Venezuela intensifies, some families are fleeing across the border into Colombia. With President Trump now ramping up his rhetoric against Colombian President Gustavo Petro and threatening U.

Lawmakers are expecting to hear the U.S. government’s plans for the future of Venezuela and Nicolás Maduro, as top officials from Donald Trump’s administration brief lawmakers.

The messiness of the MAGA-sphere’s explanations mirrors the indeterminacy of Trump’s own justifications, which have pinballed between expanding American access to Venezuelan oil to asserting “American dominance” over the Western hemisphere. Here’s a breakdown of the leading arguments that have popped up to fill the ideological void:

Fiona Hill said Russian officials had suggested a "swap arrangement" based on the principles of the Monroe Doctrine.

President Donald Trump doubled down on his claim that the US is 'in charge' of Venezuela as questions swirl on the path forward after Maduro's arrest.

Much of what President Donald Trump is doing in Venezuela is politically risky and legally controversial. What happens next may determine if Americans view his actions as a successful intervention against a dangerous leader, or the start of a potentially unpopular nation-building exercise.

According to the poll, a majority of U.S. adults, however, believe that such actions should have required approval from Congress, with more than 6 in 10 in agreement. While 76% of Republicans think the operation was appropriate under Trump’s order, 94% of Democrats said it should have received prior approval.

President Trump’s comments about Greenland, Colombia and Cuba offered a glimpse of how emboldened he feels after the quick capture of Nicolás Maduro.

The U.S.’s stunning intervention in Venezuela puts several other countries in the region and around the world also on edge.

Todd Robinson served in Caracas during Trump’s first term. He now sees “no clarity” on why the White House is doing what they are doing.