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The Energy Report

Phil Flynn
http://www.pricegroup.com/
pflynn@pricegroup.com


500%. The Energy Report 01/08/2026

Oil prices are rebounding from their Venezuela oil sell-off only to get a bid because of President Trump’s approval of bipartisan legislation going through the House to impose a 500% tariff on any country that dares to buy Russian sanctioned oil.

In the past, Europe has had a hard time not buying Russian sanctioned oil because they needed it and, we also had India and China that love those Russian barrels, but they didn’t have an alternative.

Now, with the potential of selling more Venezuelan oil from storage, there will be more heavy oil available. President Trump isn’t pulling any punches—his ironclad approach aims to squeeze Russia’s wallet and force them to the peace table over the Ukraine conflict. The message is loud and clear: the stakes are high, and the economic pressure is only getting hotter.

And with these oil sales Venezuela is giving oil money quicker than anticipated that will be put into a fund for the benefit of the Venezuelan people run that by the United States this will stop the corruption and the money laundering and we’ll bring transparency to where the money is going to go and along with that the money is going to benefit the United States after President Trump.

President Trump bold declaration on Truth Social: Venezuela will use the windfall from its oil deal with Caracas to purchase “ONLY American Made Products.” That’s right—every penny from these oil dollars will go toward U.S. exports, covering everything from farm goods to high-tech equipment for boosting Venezuela’s energy sector. The president calls it “a wise choice,” and it’s hard to argue with the strategy—it’s a direct hit for American industry and a power play on the global stage.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirms the U.S. is already moving fast, marketing Venezuelan crude to the world. Energy Secretary Chris Wright adds that not only is America selling oil that’s been backed up in storage, but we’re also set to keep the taps flowing with fresh crude from Caracas “indefinitely.” If you’re looking for signs that the administration wants to reinforce its grip in South America, look no further. Trump’s diplomacy is as fiery as ever. When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Mr. Trump said, “It sounds good to me.”

Following Maduro’s capture, Petro condemned the U.S. operation in Venezuela and taunted the Trump administration, saying in a statement, “Come get me. I’m waiting for you here! But now he has second thoughts. I wonder why? Maybe a drone flying overhead?

Petro shot back at the accusations, defiantly tweeting, “My name isn’t in any court records—stop slandering me, Mr. Trump. That’s not how you threaten a Latin American president who came from the armed struggle and the people’s fight for peace in Colombia.” But here’s the kicker: instead of Trump sending in the cavalry, it looks like the pressure worked—Colombia’s president picked up the phone and called the White House himself after things cooled off. On Wednesday, President Trump and Petro talked, hashing out the “situation of drugs and other disagreements.” Trump, said he respected the call’s tone but didn’t hold back, reminding everyone he’d just accused Petro of “making cocaine and selling it to the United States.” Trump’s warning? “He’s not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you.” Make no mistake: Washington’s grip is tightening, and the message south of the border drug cartel and want to be despots is impossible to ignore—the heat is on.

And one of the things that we should also keep in mind that If it was President Trump’s action in our hemisphere all the focus and energy would be on Iran . In early January 2026, Iran found itself engulfed in a wave of unrest that began as murmurs of frustration and quickly swelled into a nationwide outcry. The streets of Tehran, usually humming with the commerce of shopkeepers and bazaar merchants, went eerily silent as strikes erupted over plummeting fortunes—the Iranian rial crashed, inflation soared to 42%, and food prices became nearly unreachable for average families, rising 72% in the span of months. The cost-of-living crisis that started in the capital was soon echoed in the alleyways and main squares of over 110 cities, from the ancient streets of Isfahan and Tabriz to the Kurdish strongholds in Kermanshah, Ilam, and Lorestan.

What began as economic protest quickly evolved. The chants ringing out in crowded markets and city squares were no longer just about wages and prices; they became cries for justice and sweeping change. Protesters shouted, “Death to the dictator,” “Freedom,” and even named Supreme Leader Khamenei as a murderer. Some voices in the crowd dared to call for regime change altogether or gestured toward exiled figures like Reza Pahlavi, son of the deposed Shah, as symbols of their discontent.

But the authorities’ response was swift and ruthless. Security forces unleashed live ammunition and tear gas—even inside the confined tunnels of Tehran’s metro stations. Hospitals, once sanctuaries, became targets for raids—injured protesters and were arrested as they sought medical care. As the government scrambled to contain the unrest, it cut internet access in protest hotspots, aiming to silence the movement’s momentum. By early January, over 2,000 people—including minors—had been detained, and the death toll climbed steadily. According to human rights groups like HRANA, at least 36 lives had been lost, most of them protesters, with dozens more wounded in confrontations from Lordegan to Azna. Even security personnel were not spared: several were killed or injured in clashes with demonstrators.

The spirit of resistance spread beyond the city streets. Strikes shut down the bustling bazaars, and Kurdish groups called for a general strike on January 8. Famous actors, filmmakers, and athletes added their voices, calling for solidarity and urging the country to stand together in the face of adversity. In a bid to quash the uprising, Iran’s regime pointed fingers at foreign enemies—mainly the U.S. and Israel—blaming them for inciting “rioters.” The government summoned Iraqi Shia militias for backup and issued stern warnings against any external interference, even threatening preemptive action. President Pezeshkian stood at the helm of a nation on edge, as the battle lines between desperate citizens and an entrenched regime grew sharper each day. President Trump deserves a round of applause for the latest U.S. trade numbers! The trade balance for October 2025 reveals a deficit of just $29.4 billion—the lowest it’s been since 2009. According to Commerce Department data released on January 8, 2026, the goods and services trade deficit plummeted to this 16-year low, thanks to a robust 2.6% surge in exports and a notable 3.2% drop in imports.

This remarkable turnaround from September 2025’s $52.8 billion gap highlights a dramatic improvement and underscores the positive impact of recent trade policies. It’s official: this is the narrowest trade deficit the U.S. has seen in over a decade!

Natural gas is whipsawing back and forth on conflicting weather forecasts that seemed to change every hour on the hour perhaps today’s Energy Information Administration Report Bring us some clarity on the market if they’re looking for a draw of 113. This is as fox weather First of two powerful cross-country storms underway, millions under severe weather and flood threat The first of two back-to-back cross-country storms is moving out of the Four Corners region and pushing east Thursday. Combined, these systems are set to deliver heavy rain to millions, as well as severe weather and flooding to parts of the South and Southeast.

And s a pair of cross-country storms develop and push from the Four Corners into the Midwest, rounds of moderate to heavy snow are likely across the region. With the first storm already bringing some fresh powder to areas, more snow will come on Friday for the Rockies reaching the Midwest and Great Lakes into the weekend.

With snow impacting the wide region, Interstate Road travel will be slowed and whiteout conditions from blowing snow will be possible across portions of the Great Lakes. Indiana.

For this market moving weather reports download the Fox weather app. You can also stay tuned to the Fox Business Network because they are the only network in America that’s truly invested in you. Make sure you sign up for the Phil Flynn daily trade levels the periodic metals report as well as the daily energy report and you can open your account just by calling me at 888-264-5665 or you can e-mail pflynn@pricegroup.com.



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Phil is one of the world's leading energy market analysts, providing individual investors, professional traders and institutions with up-to-the-minute investment and risk management insight into global petroleum, gasoline and energy markets. Phil's market commentary, fundamental and technical analysis, and long-term forecasts are sought by industry executives, investors and media worldwide.

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Past performance is not indicative of future results. The information and data in this report were obtained from sources considered reliable. Their accuracy or completeness is not guaranteed and the giving of the same is not to be deemed as an offer or solicitation on our part with respect to the sale or purchase of any securities or commodities. Alaron Trading Corp. its officers and directors may in the normal course of business have positions, which may or may not agree with the opinions expressed in this report. Any decision to purchase or sell as a result of the opinions expressed in this report will be the full responsibility of the person authorizing such transaction.

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