Trump sent former diplomat Richard Grenell, who served as the Acting Director of National Intelligence for a stint under the president’s first term, down to Venezuela to—as our Ward Clark put it—“explain to [strongman/dictator Nicolás] Maduro what the new rules are.”

It didn’t take long for Grenell to bring home results, after meeting with Maduro, Ric returned to the United States with six freed hostages. Apparently, Maduro is a fast learner.