Venezuela’s once-in-a-century quake and what Americans see as the country’s greatest achievements: Morning Rundown

Morning RundownVenezuela’s once-in-a-century quake and what Americans see as the country’s greatest achievements: Morning RundownPlus, the U.S. national team’s Tim Weah hopes to make a name for himself tonight against Turkey at the World Cup.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Aftermath scenes in Caracas after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday.ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 25, 2026, 7:09 AM EDTBy Kaylah Jackson and David HickeyTwin earthquakes rock Venezuela, killing at least 164 and injuring nearly 1,000. Lawmakers zero in on a billionaire Wall Street player as the Epstein files hearings continue. And Americans reflect on the country’s greatest achievements in an NBC News poll.Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscriptionGet exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.Here’s what to know today.Twin earthquakes hit Venezuela; at least 164 dead and nearly 1,000 injuredAdd NBC News to GoogleDeadly twin earthquakes rock Venezuela00:42At least 164 people are dead, and nearly 1,000 are injured, after back-to-back earthquakes hammered Venezuela on Wednesday. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter of the first earthquake was about 100 miles west of the capital Caracas. The second hit the nearby town of Yumare only 39 seconds later, with a magnitude of 7.5.The quakes struck during a national holiday in Venezuela, while many people were at home. Images showed buildings flattened and roads collapsed in Caracas and surrounding areas. Residents described evacuating swaying buildings and seeing entire walls collapse.Twenty aftershocks had been recorded, according to Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who declared a state of emergency during an address on state television. She announced the airport in Caracas was closed after sustaining heavy damage. All schools and non-essential services were also suspended.President Donald Trump...