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Some important context: NASA had been on the hook for providing a radar for ESA's EnVision mission. That partnership is in the process of being ended now, forcing ESA to look for a radar from within Europe. By flying VERITAS, NASA is still going to acquire cutting-edge radar data for Venus.

I won't count chickens until we've served them for dinner. The administration has proposed killing both NASA Venus missions twice, so to have the PIs now say everything is hunky-dory does not make me let my guard down.

No, not hunky dory. But for a notional launch date to be given in a public setting is a welcome change, and a big change, relative to even 12 months ago.

I agree. But if the next PBR proposes killing these missions again (or silent killing them), we'll be in a pickle.