Tech
The 3 Keys to Understanding Trump’s Retro Coup in Venezuela
The region’s instability and authoritarian regimes were aided by elite training from the US military. The Defense Department trained tens of thousands of Latin American military, intelligence, and law enforcement at its infamous School of the Americas in Georgia; many went on to be accused of terrible human rights abuses, including alumni who, according to a Duke scholar’s investigation, went on to be “dictators, death squad operatives, and assassins,” including Manuel Noriega himself, Bolivian dictator Hugo Banzer Suárez, Haitian dictator Raoul Cedras, Pinochet’s secret police leader, and even the general who this weekend was Maduro’s defense minister, among other so-called “Hall of Shamers.”
For decades the US and president after president justified these interventions and political support for dictatorships through the lens of the Cold War—arguing that supporting terrible regimes was better than allowing the risk they might fall to communism. Indeed, ironically, it’s the very strength, dominance, and exquisite skill of the US military and intelligence community to achieve their tactical victories that make such interventions look so much more alluring than they should be to presidents, from Eisenhower to Reagan to Trump. You can almost always win the short term—depose, overthrow, or kidnap the leader—and then the long term is a gamble.
But the unintended long-term consequences of these actions have ricocheted through American domestic politics for decades. Indeed, their second- and third-order effects have done more to shape US politics today than most Americans understand.
There have been obvious links: For instance, it was while planning the Bay of Pigs operation that Hunt met the four Cubans he would later recruit to burglarize the Watergate. And less obvious ones: Most notably, the US meddling in places like the so-called “Northern Triangle” of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador unleashed destabilizing forces that contributed to waves of migration northward to the US border—millions of would-be immigrants whose arrival in the US over the last decade has exacerbated nativist fears and helped power Donald Trump first to the presidency in 2016 and then back to the White House in 2024. Many of them were driven north as climate change and deforestation affected agriculture and caused the collapse of local farms and economies; some of that destabilizing deforestation, in places like Guatemala, came after the military burned highland regions to remove the remote sanctuaries of rebel groups. As Jonathan Blitzer outlines in his award-winning study of Latin American immigration and the US, Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, after El Salvador’s civil war in the 1980s—a war Reagan once called “the front line of the battle that is really aimed … at us,” more than a quarter of that country’s population ended up living as refugees in the United States.
Which brings us to:
2. Donald Trump has no plan.
Back in November, in the midst of a fall campaign by the US military to conduct lethal strikes on what it described as drug-smuggling boats—strikes that ultimately killed more than 100 people and were by almost any international standard illegal—I interviewed Ambassador John Bolton at the Texas Tribune Festival. Bolton, the hawkish neoconservative who was Trump’s longest-serving White House national security adviser during his first term, had advocated for regime change in Venezuela for years and worked in the first term to support opposition efforts to overthrow Maduro. He told me, “I think that our failure to overthrow Maduro in the first term was our greatest failure.” (Some of those efforts were stunningly ham-handed, as a WIRED investigation by Zach Dorfman later uncovered.)
But Bolton said he nonetheless has been puzzled by how poorly Trump laid the groundwork over recent months for operations against Maduro. The boat strikes came with no effort to build support with Congress or even develop deep partnerships with the Venezuelan opposition. (Indeed, over the weekend Trump casually dismissed the Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, who beat Trump out this fall for the Nobel Peace Prize—and, according to The Washington Post, may have been sidelined precisely because of that.) “There’s just no comprehension, I think, of what it takes to replace the Maduro regime,” Bolton said.
If you’ve been following last year’s smart ring drama, you may have seen that the number of health-tracking rings you can buy has shrunk since October 21, 2025.
As we reported in August, the US International Trade Commission ruled in favor of Oura in a patent case in which Oura alleged that its competitors RingConn and Ultrahuman had infringed on the company’s patent for a smart ring that tracks health and fitness stats. Oura’s victory subsequently led to RingConn and Ultrahuman being banned from importing new rings into the US.
The lawsuit was bad news for both Oura competitors, and especially Ultrahuman, which had planned to expand its US-based manufacturing facility to meet growing market demand (and ostensibly to also get around the new US tariffs). Ultrahuman is distinguished from Oura in that its smart ring does not have a subscription; Oura users pay $6 per month to use its rings.
I caught up briefly with Ultrahuman’s chief business officer, Bhuvan Srinivasan, to clarify the company’s next steps to address the US market, and find out more about the latest smart ring squabbles.
Why Were the Rings Banned?
The ITC ruled that RingConn and Ultrahuman had infringed on the 178 patent, which protects a specific ring hardware design—for example, if the ring has a layered arrangement with internal and external components housing interior electrical components.
If you think this is a surprisingly broad description that can cover … well, pretty much any smart ring, or a wide range of electronic devices in general, you are correct. Over the past few years, many smart ring manufacturers have been embroiled in legal disputes over this patent.
This has panned out in a few different ways. In 2024, Oura announced that it had reached a multi-year licensing agreement with Circular, the French smart ring manufacturer, that would allow Circular to continue selling new rings in the US. (This move looks a little less generous when you consider that my two-week testing period of the Circular Ring 2 was plagued with server and connection issues.)
Also in 2024, Samsung attempted to preemptively sue Oura against future patent infringement claims in a case which a judge dismissed. Samsung’s concerns were not unwarranted. In late 2025, Oura then filed another complaint against Samsung (the Galaxy Ring), Reebok (the Reebok smart ring), Zepp Health (Amazfit ring), and Nexxbase (the Luna Ring). Oura then reached a licensing agreement with RingConn and another competitor, Omate, that would allow the company to continue selling rings in the United States.
When Joseph Pilates developed what he first called Contrology in the early 20th century, there were no dedicated studios or intimidating contraptions. There wasn’t even a reformer yet. (That came later, improvised from leather straps and hospital bed frames.) The idea was simple then, and it still is now: Pilates asks you to work with what you already have. Your body does the work, and a mat just makes it more comfortable.
Pilates is about moving with intention. Total body exercises are rooted in precision and balance, favoring slow, controlled movements over momentum or strength. Full range of motion, emphasizing time under tension, deep core engagement, and uniformity of mind, body, and spirit are emphasized. It sounds peaceful, but it’s not exactly the easiest workout.
The right gear won’t do the workout for you, but it can make it more comfortable, more effective, and frankly, more fun. Below, we’ve gathered the best Pilates equipment worth having for home workouts, whether you’re a beginner or deep in your Pilates princess era. For more wellness recommendations, check out our other guides, including the Best Protein Powders, Best Massage Guns, and Yoga Mats, Props, and Everything Else You Need for Your Practice.
Featured In This Guide
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Pilates Clothes
Nothing motivates me to work out quite like a great Pilates outfit. You can technically wear just about anything, but I would stick to more fitted activewear, so your Pilates instructor can check your form. Avoid loose or oversized clothing, and prioritize stretchy fabrics that won’t restrict movement. This lineup of athleisure has been tried and tested in Pilates; they move well, feel comfortable, and hold up every session.
If you buy one thing, make it grippy socks. Whether you’re on a mat or a reformer machine, those rubberized soles help prevent slipping and sliding, giving you better traction and stability during movements. A good pair can also offer light cushioning and arch support. If you’re practicing in a shared studio or using communal equipment, breathable Pilates socks are a hygienic upgrade, too.
We want our bottoms to stay put through roll-ups, leg circles, and long pulses, without digging or losing shape. They also need to be squat-proof. High-waisted leggings (full-length or capri) made from a soft, stretchy fabric are ideal for Pilates and other low-impact workouts. Biker shorts also work, but in a heated class, an extra layer of fabric can help maintain grip on props during leg work.
These are the best leggings for Pilates based on our testing, including a Lululemon biker short we love. For more favorites, check out our Best Leggings guide.
For Pilates, look for low- to medium-impact styles that are typically supportive without feeling compressive. I gravitate toward wide bands with no underwires that won’t dig in during floor work, but I’m also aware that those features might not be supportive for bigger busts. These are our top favorites, including a posture-correcting bra if alignment or lower back pain is a concern. For more picks, check out our Best Sports Bras guide.
An all-in-one jumpsuit with a built-in bra takes the guesswork out of getting dressed for Pilates. Our favorites offer supportive, comfortable coverage that moves with you from warm-up to cooldown.
Pilates-Specific Gear
You can absolutely do Pilates with nothing but yourself, but if you want to turn up the intensity or vary your workout routines, here are a few must-haves.
Exercise mats are essential because they deliver much-needed padding to cushion your joints during floor work. The proper ones are designed with a grippy, textured surface for added traction. They keep you steady, supporting better control. And they serve as a protective barrier between your skin and the yucky floor.
I also always need a towel when working out, and if you’re taking a heated class, this is especially necessary to absorb sweat. Pro tip: You can also turn your towel into a resistance band by twisting it and pulling against it. For more picks, check out our Best Yoga Mats guide.
You don’t need to splurge on a $2,000 reformer to practice Pilates at home. I take heated mat Pilates at my local fitness studio twice a week, and we usually use a combination of props: an exercise ball, Pilates ring (aka. a magic circle), and light weights. I like to use 2- or 3-pound dumbbells, but wrist and ankle weights don’t require grip strength and still add extra intensity to your full-body Pilates workout. Core sliders, which go under your hands or feet, add resistance to your movements and are an affordable alternative to the springs of a reformer.
We’ve spotlighted a few of our favorites below, but you can find more tested picks in our Best Reusable Water Bottles guide.
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The European Commission has published its implementation strategy for the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package, setting out actions to help businesses and Member States with the practical roll-out of upcoming VAT framework updates.
The European Commission has released its implementation strategy for the ViDA package, outlining actions and timelines for rollout.
ViDA introduces digital reporting, platform economy VAT rules, and single VAT registration to simplify compliance.
Expected benefits include €172– 214 billion (~$201.6–250.9 billion) over ten years, with €51 billion (~$59.8 billion) in business savings.
The ViDA package introduces new digital reporting requirements, targeted VAT adaptations for the platform economy, and a streamlined single VAT registration process, aiming to simplify compliance and reduce administrative burdens. The strategy provides a roadmap with key action points and timelines to ensure coordinated implementation across the EU.
By aligning ViDA measures with broader EU digital policies, the Commission seeks to enhance transparency in digital transactions and support businesses operating across borders, European Commission said in a release.
The approach also emphasises close monitoring of ViDA’s integration with other legislative efforts to maximise efficiency and strengthen the Single Market.
The Commission estimates that the ViDA package could generate economic benefits of €172– 214 billion (~$201.6–$250.9 billion) over ten years, including around €51 billion (~$59.8 billion) in savings for businesses. The strategy underscores the EU’s commitment to modernising its VAT system to meet the demands of the digital economy while boosting competitiveness.
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