Nicolas Maduro reportedly spoke out several times in his first court appearance today attempting to defend himself and claim he is innocent. His was was also observed with what are described as “significant injuries” to her temple and forehead. This is according to a new report from CNN who had a reporter in the court house. Watch here: NEW: The wife of Nicolás Maduro had “significant injuries” in court, including on her temple and on her forehead. Maduro reportedly spoke at one point and declared himself still the president of Venezuela. Here is exactly what happened in court, according to CNN: – Maduro’s… pic.twitter.com/GQ6ljBwmFL — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 5, 2026 NEW: The wife of Nicolás Maduro had “significant injuries” in court, including on her temple and on her forehead. Maduro reportedly spoke at one point and declared himself still the president of Venezuela. Here is exactly what happened in court, according to CNN: – Maduro’s wife had “visible injuries” which reportedly happened during the abduction. – Both Maduro and his wife appeared “stoic” to CNN. – When Maduro was asked to identify himself, he said he was the “president of Venezuela,” began to speak, and called himself a prisoner of war. – He then talked about being captured from his home before being interrupted by the judge, who told him to just state his name. – Maduro took notes throughout the entire appearance. – Maduro pleaded not guilty and said he was a decent man. – “When Maduro spoke, quite confidently, he would have his fingertips touching the desk. Meanwhile, his wife had her hands almost in a fist, much more demure, much more withdrawn in many respects,” CNN reported. – “There was a moment at the end … a protester got up as they were escorting Maduro and his wife out of the courtroom. That protester said that ‘you will pay for what you have done to Maduro,’ who in turn pointed to the sky and said that he was a ‘man of God’ and the president of the Republic of Venezuela.” Meanwhile, here is the scene outside the Federal Courthouse where the hearing was held: JUST IN: PATRIOTS are outside the federal courthouse in NYC chanting “USA! USA!” and holding TRUMP flags as Maduro pleads not guilty The crowds outside are MASSIVE! pic.twitter.com/IT1znzCulm — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 5, 2026 And here are Venezuelans in the USA celebrating in the streets: Venezuelans in the U.S. & worldwide ERUPT in joy as dictator Nicolas Maduro is CAPTURED – and thank President Donald J. Trump for delivering FREEDOM! pic.twitter.com/q7il0q02Tg — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 5, 2026 This is absolutely America First. We just got an entire country to love America and we didn’t do it by pending them pallets of cash, imagine that!

In a stunning display of cognitive dissonance, an American pastor has publicly praised Israel for its treatment of Christians—despite admitting that during a two-week church tour, a member of his delegation was spat on for [...] The post American Church Group Praises Israel After Being Spat on for Being Christian—Claim It’s Proof of ‘Respect’ appeared first on The People's Voice.

The US appointed Special Envoy Jeff Landry to Greenland to secure it for the US. Greenland is not interested. They want Independence from Denmark, and are not interested in becoming American. Denmark and Greenland agree on this issue. Both say they are not for sale, even for $2.2 billion. Greenland is rich with untouched natural […] The post President Trump Renewed His Calls to Take Over Greenland appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

The Trump administration moved to end a Biden-era rule on Monday it said created a fraud-friendly environment for daycare providers seeking federal funds.  The Department of Health and Human Services proposed a new rule that will reverse regulations that required agencies to distribute government funds to daycare providers based on enrollment, not attendance, and before any care was delivered. HHS said the rule opened up the door for widespread fraud, including the kind currently under investigation in Minnesota.  “Congress appropriated this funding to support working families and ensure children have safe places to grow and learn,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Loopholes and fraud diverted that money to bad actors instead. Today, we are correcting that failure and returning these funds to the working families they were meant to serve.” Last week, HHS paused all childcare payments to the state of Minnesota while it investigates allegations that millions of taxpayer dollars have been funneled to fraudulent daycares across the state throughout the past ten years.  “Paying providers upfront based on paper enrollment instead of actual attendance invites abuse,” HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said. “In Minnesota, we’ve seen credible and widespread allegations of fraudulent daycare providers who were not caring for children at all. The reforms we are enacting will make fraud harder to perpetrate.” The proposed rule from HHS will reverse changes made to the Child Care and Development Fund under President Joe Biden that required agencies “to pay providers prospectively and based on child enrollment.” The New York Post, which first reported on the new rule, noted that about $19 billion was paid out under the Biden rules. The new rule will allow states to make payments based on attendance data, make payments after care is delivered, and allow more parental direction over how the funds are distributed.  The new proposal from Kennedy will reverse these changes and take effect after a 30-day comment period.  The Child Care and Development Fund is a partnership program funded by both the federal government and the states that gives financial assistance to low-income families to provide care for their kids while they work or attend school.  The Trump administration has multiple ongoing investigations into suspected fraud throughout Minnesota, including at daycare centers and other government-funded programs.

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is expected to decide whether or not she will run for governor in light of current Gov. Tim Walz’s decision not to seek a third term amid numerous fraud scandals in the state, according to The New York Times. Klobuchar reportedly met with Walz on Sunday and defended him in an X post on Monday after his announcement. “Governor Walz made the difficult decision to focus on his job and the challenges facing our state rather than campaigning and running for reelection. He has always dedicated his career to delivering for Minnesota — from providing school breakfast and lunches to our kids to passing gun safety legislation to maintaining our state’s AAA bond rating. He is a true public servant,” the senator wrote. The high-ranking Democrat could create another open seat if she were to be elected governor, and she would then get to appoint her own successor. This unfolds against the backdrop of an open Senate battle for retiring Sen. Tina Smith’s seat, including a hotly competitive Democratic primary between Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. Flanagan said in an X post on Monday that she is “focused on [her] race for U.S. Senate to ensure people can afford the lives they want to live.” Craig expressed thanks to Walz for his “service” to Minnesota and said that the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party “must nominate the strongest possible candidate in every race on the ballot in November” to counteract the Trump administration. Republicans are feeling optimistic that Walz’s announcement and the ongoing fraud scandals could present an opening for them in the upper Midwestern state. President Donald Trump lost Minnesota in 2024 by just over 4%, but Klobuchar won in the same cycle by nearly 16% against Republican Royce White. “After presiding over one of the biggest fraud scandals in history, it’s no wonder that Tim Walz is being forced to drop his re-election bid. Walz’s failed leadership is emblematic of Minnesota Democrats’ agenda and whoever Democrats choose to replace Walz with at the top of the ticket will need to defend years of mismanagement and misplaced priorities,” Republican Governors Association Communications Director Courtney Alexander said in a statement on Monday, pointing out that it was not long ago that Walz was close to becoming the next vice president. Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships Even in the open Senate race, there is a degree of hopefulness from the Republicans, as reports swirled that former sportscaster Michelle Tafoya could jump into that race. “The seriously retired Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Democrats like Peggy Flanagan and Angie Craig oversaw massive fraud that has hurt Minnesotans, and their failed leadership puts Minnesota in play for Republicans in 2026,” National Republican Senatorial Committee Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia stated on Monday. When The Daily Wire reached out to Flanagan’s campaign prior to Walz’s announcement, a spokesperson said that “what’s hard to take seriously is Republicans talking about accountability while Donald Trump has pardoned 27 corporate fraudsters and fired the Inspectors General whose job it is to police fraud” and added that “the Lt. Governor has made clear that the amount of fraud that is acceptable is zero.” Cook Political Report ranks both the Senate and gubernatorial races as “Likely Democrat.” The last Republican to hold the governor’s office was Tim Pawlenty, who left office in 2011, and Norm Coleman was the last Republican senator for the state, whose term ended in 2009.

'Wasn't something done?'

Not looking good for the Big Apple...

'International consensus'