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President Trump has announced that President Maduro of Venezuela — along with his wife — have been “CAPTURED”! The attacks which we reported on a short time ago have now been confirmed by President Trump to have been conducted by the US military. Part of the operation included American boots on the ground, targeting Maduro 1989 style… with serious Noriega vibes. All though, President Trump very specifically pointed out the US LAW ENFORCEMENT aspect of this operation in his Truth Social announcement. Which is likely a nod to keeping well within the constitutional limits of Presidential authority for an operation like this. (More on that in a minute…) We’ll likely get to see a little farther behind the curtain on that once more details come out — which we’ve been promised will happen at 11:00am EST later today. Here’s the President’s announcement, which he made just a short time ago via his Truth Social account: And here’s the full text of his post, in case that’s hard to make out: The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP As I covered in my earlier report as the attacks were happening, quite a bit of the mainstream reporting emphasized the increased activities of nations like Iran, China, and Russia inside Venezuela. Nations that have distinct adversarial relationships with the United States. As President Trump announced Maduro’s capture, the emphasis on those adversarial nations and their connection to Maduro remained a key part of the media’s reporting on the situation. Check out this Fox News report which viewed the attack, and Maduro’s capture, as a message to the Iranian Ayatollah and Putin as much as anything else: BREAKING: The U.S. military has CAPTURED Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro and his wife. President Trump is planning an announcement today at 11:00am EST. pic.twitter.com/QKSGatUdaA — E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) January 3, 2026 The nighttime attack reportedly involved US Special Forces in a snatch-and-grab operation. As of this moment, the Venezuelan government has yet to comment on Maduro’s capture, according to Reuters: The U.S. struck Venezuela overnight and captured its long-serving President Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump said early on Saturday after months of pressuring him over accusations of drug-running and illegitimacy in power. Washington has not made such a direct intervention in Latin America since the invasion of Panama in 1989 to depose military leader Manuel Noriega, over similar allegations. The U.S. had accused Maduro of running a “narco-state” and rigging last year’s election, which the opposition said it won overwhelmingly. The Venezuelan leader, who succeeded Hugo Chavez to take power in 2013, has said Washington wants to take control of Venezuela’s oil reserves, the largest in the world. Maduro was captured by elite special forces troops, a U.S. official told Reuters. There was no immediate confirmation from the Venezuelan government. (Emphasis added.) The White House “Rapid Response” account on X.com didn’t wait long to put out a mic drop moment. They quickly reposted a clip from October, showing a reporter asking about Maduro during a cabinet meeting. Sorry for the F-bomb… But here’s a clip of the President warning months ago that Maduro would “find out” if he kept thumbing his nose at the United States: “[Maduro] doesn’t want to fuck around with the United States.” — @POTUS (10/17/25)pic.twitter.com/rf2EHhjoYw — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 3, 2026 Here’s the full screen version of that video… for your viewing pleasure: “[Maduro] doesn’t want to fuck around with the United States.” — @POTUS (10/17/25)pic.twitter.com/rf2EHhjoYw — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 3, 2026 Apparently the operation included some rather spicy action — but thankfully, so far, no reports of American casualties have crossed my desk. Podcaster Mario Nawfal compiled a comprehensive account of what went down, according to several news sources which he cites. Here’s his synopsis of the attack, and the capture mission, as shared via his X account, and I’ll put the full text of his account down below for easier reading: HOW THE U.S. LIKELY CAPTURED MADURO: INSIDE THE SPECIAL OPS HELICOPTER STRIKES ON CARACAS Hours ago, the U.S. launched a coordinated special operations raid into Caracas, Venezuela, using MH-47G Chinook and MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the elite 160th Special… https://t.co/r8ZL6wh1mt pic.twitter.com/gkSipDhwdF — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 3, 2026 Here’s the full text of Nawfal’s take on how the operation went down according to various outlets (which he includes as footnotes): Hours ago, the U.S. launched a coordinated special operations raid into Caracas, Venezuela, using MH-47G Chinook and MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), known as the “Night Stalkers.” These aircraft were critical for penetrating urban terrain and contested airspace after initial airstrikes suppressed Venezuelan air defenses, including Buk-M2E surface-to-air missile systems. The MH-47G Chinooks served as the heavy-lift backbone of the operation, transporting larger strike teams and specialized equipment directly into hostile zones like Fuerte Tiuna and La Carlota. MH-60 Black Hawks – especially Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) variants – provided agile insertion, close air support, and rapid extraction, ideal for hit-and-run tactics targeting regime command centers or high-value figures like President Nicolás Maduro. Helicopters flew in tight formations, offering armed overwatch with rockets, miniguns, and Hellfire missiles while executing low-altitude raids designed to evade radar and overwhelm with speed. Their ability to strike, land, deploy, and exit within minutes made them the weapon of choice for decapitation-style missions. This was not a full-scale invasion – it was a surgical raid. The likely launch points were amphibious assets like the USS Iwo Jima or airfields in Puerto Rico, negating the need for fixed-wing deep penetration or ground convoys. The psychological impact was just as important as the tactical effect: low-flying U.S. helicopters over central Caracas sent a clear signal of air dominance and regime vulnerability. Hours later, Trump announced that Maduro had been captured and removed from the country. Sources: The War Zone, CBS News, Reuters, OSINT (@Aviation_Intel, @vcdgf555), eyewitness footage from Caracas. As he pointed out, we now know that this was not a “full-scale invasion”, but a rather perfectly executed precision strike, aimed ultimately at capturing Maduro. Most of the reporting and videos coming out of Venezuela, including the following report from the AP, corroborates a highly coordinated, lighting fast strike with very clear targets and goals. Chief among them… the successful capture of Maduro. In fact, the attack only lasted about half an hour, according to this report from the Associated Press: The United States hit Venezuela with a “large-scale strike” early Saturday and said its president, Nicolás Maduro, had been captured and flown out of the country after months of stepped-up pressure by Washington — an extraordinary nighttime operation announced by President Donald Trump on social media hours after the attack. Multiple explosions rang out and low-flying aircraft swept through Caracas, the capital, as Maduro’s government immediately accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations. The Venezuelan government called it an “imperialist attack” and urged citizens to take to the streets. It was not immediately clear who was running the country, and Maduro’s whereabouts were not immediately known. Trump announced the developments on Truth Social shortly after 4:30 a.m. ET. It was not immediately clear if there were casualties. The apparent attack itself lasted less than 30 minutes, but it was unclear if more actions lay ahead, though Trump said in his post that the strikes were carried out “successfully.” I pointed out in my earlier reporting of the attack that questions were already being raised concerning the constitutional legality of the strikes. Particularly if the attack turned out to be the US military… in a full-out assault or invasion of Venezuela. Senator Mike Lee, for one, raised that question: I look forward to learning what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force https://t.co/f5ackJn5Mi — Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) January 3, 2026 The Senator has apparently already had a chance to have those constitutional questions satisfied. After referencing a CBS News report that Delta Force was “involved” in the capture of Maduro… This particular news piece went on to explain that Senator Mike Lee had already had a chance to talk to Marco Rubio about the operation. And the Senator was reportedly told by Rubio that the law enforcement arrest of Maduro necessitated the military side of the operation in order to give reasonable protection to the law enforcement contingent. That is according to this report from CNBC: CBS News reported that the U.S. Army’s elite Delta Force unit was involved in the capture of Maduro. The Pentagon declined to answer CNBC’s queries and referred questions to the White House. Republican Senator Mike Lee, who had earlier questioned if the strike was constitutional, said Saturday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him Maduro was arrested by U.S. forces and would be brought to the United States to face criminal charges. He added that the operation “was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant.” “This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack,” Lee added. (Emphasis added.) As I wrap up this report, Venezuela has apparently just noticed that Maduro is nowhere to be found. Check out this report from Sky News: BREAKING: The Venezuelan government does not know the whereabouts of President Nicolas Maduro, says the country’s vice-president Delcy Rodriguez in an audio message on state television. Rodriguez demanded “proof of life” of Maduro and his wife. https://t.co/D40FIyT5hP pic.twitter.com/diBppeL7gY — Sky News (@SkyNews) January 3, 2026 I also noticed that they’re still referring to Delcy Rodriguez as the “Vice President” of Venezuela. Per President Trump’s announcement a short time ago… I’d suggest a small promotion and a change of title might be in order for Rodriguez. Unless, of course, she’d rather retain her “VP” status in order to avoid certain workplace dangers? She likewise probably should avoid any political events that happen to take place in a boat, for that matter. I’m going to solidly place this in the “still developing” stack of stories — and we’ll continue to bring you the latest as things play out. President Trump promised a press conference in his Truth Social post at 11:00 am EST from Mar-a-Lago. And we’ll be sure to bring you all the details of that event, as well.

Minnesota state representative Kaohly Vang Her went viral a few months ago after she called herself an illegal alien while speaking on the legislative floor. For reference, here’s that clip: BREAKING: Kaohly Vang, who admitted to being an ILLEGAL ALIEN, has just been sworn in as Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota “I am illegal in this country. My parents are illegal here in this country,” Vang said THIS SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA END THIS pic.twitter.com/6ydrAscZnj — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 2, 2026 For some additional background, Rep. Vang Her was born in Laos and immigrated to the U.S. as a child. She says that her father lied on immigration forms in order to cheat the system and get the family into the United States under a refugee program that they did not fully qualify for. However, she became a naturalized citizen when she was still a minor. So she is not, technically, an illegal immigrant. Grok explained: In June 2025, during a Minnesota House floor speech debating health care for undocumented adults, she shared that her family initially entered the U.S. after her father misrepresented details on immigration paperwork to expedite their refugee resettlement (as they didn’t fully qualify under certain priority pipelines for CIA/US AID connections). She referred to this as her family “breaking the law” to come here and said things like “I am illegal in this country,” which sparked controversy and misinformation suggesting she was undocumented. She quickly clarified in interviews and statements (e.g., to the Minnesota Reformer, Newsweek, and others) that she and her parents are U.S. citizens. Her parents naturalized by passing the citizenship test, and she became a citizen derivatively as a minor (in middle school/junior high). Sources across outlets (including FOX 9, Star Tribune, and Wikipedia) confirm she is a documented, naturalized citizen, eligible to hold office (she served in the Minnesota House from 2019–2025 and was elected Mayor of St. Paul in 2025, taking office in 2026). After this controversy in June, Rep. Vang Her went on to run for Mayor in the city of St. Paul — a race she ended up winning. Today, she was officially sworn in as Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota. Take a look: Kaohly Vang Her is sworn in as the next mayor of St. Paul. Her is the first woman and first Hmong American to lead the city as mayor @SahanJournal pic.twitter.com/fWCHDfRIMW — Katrina Pross (@katrina_pross) January 2, 2026 Of course, it’s Minnesota. And, of course, the far-left, foreign-born Vang Her says one of her primary goals as mayor will be to put immigrants first. Sahan Journal reported: After being sworn in Friday as St. Paul’s first female and Hmong mayor, Kaohly Vang Her pledged to fight for residents as the city faces significant challenges, from the Trump administration to high property taxes and costs of living. Speakers and community members called the day “historic” and “extraordinary.” Her, 52, nodded to the moment, saying that while she may be the first, she won’t be the last to shatter glass ceilings in the city. Her said she plans to focus on economic prosperity by helping businesses downtown and in other corridors. She also wants to rebuild and maintain public assets, like the Grand Casino Arena, home to the Minnesota Wild NHL team. She also emphasized supporting immigrants, and said she’ll work with City Council members to establish ordinances to limit federal immigrant agents’s access, such as banning them from organizing in public parks and spaces. Immigration agents stepped up enforcement in the Twin Cities last month, arresting Somali, Hmong and Latino immigrants. I guess, even though it wasn’t quite true, her sob story about being an illegal alien really resonated with a lot of folks in Minnesota (that probably weren’t born in Minnesota) and got her elected. What a backwards state. What is going on in Minnesota? That whole state is a national security threat. — The Conservative Alternative (@OldeWorldOrder) January 2, 2026 Your thoughts?

The Department of Justice has formally charged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, his wife, and adult son in a 25-page indictment unsealed Saturday. “Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States,” Attorney General Pam Bondi announced. “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers,” she continued. Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess… — Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 3, 2026 POLITICO has more: President Donald Trump said during a press conference Saturday afternoon that Maduro and his wife “will soon face the full might of American justice and stand trial on American soil.” The indictment was unsealed hours after Trump said the U.S. carried out “a large-scale strike” in Venezuela and had captured and flown Maduro and his wife out of the country. Trump said during the press conference that the pair would be taken to New York. It was not immediately clear if the U.S. had also captured Maduro’s son. The indictment alleges that Maduro “sits atop a corrupt, illegitimate government that, for decades, has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activity, including drug trafficking.” The drug trafficking, according to the indictment, has enriched Maudro’s family, including his wife and son, who is a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly. “This cycle of narcotics-based corruption lines the pockets of Venezuelan officials and their families while also benefiting violent narco-terrorists who operate with impunity on Venezuelan soil and who help produce, protect, and transport tons of cocaine to the United States,” the indictment says. Trump in his remarks called Maduro “the kingpin of a vast criminal network responsible for trafficking colossal amounts of deadly and illicit drugs into the United States.” “UNSEALED INDICTMENT,” Bondi commented, sharing the 25-page indictment. UNSEALED INDICTMENT Thank you US Attorney Jay Claytonhttps://t.co/2URgPKQ25k — Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 3, 2026 Roll Call noted: The move to seize the head of a sovereign nation for the U.S. justice system largely received backing from Republican lawmakers. But it also raised questions from members of Congress about the Trump administration’s authority to do so and potential repercussions abroad — not to mention the duration of the U.S. presence in Venezuela, after President Donald Trump’s assertion that the U.S. will “run” that country for an indefinite period. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said his War Powers Resolution to prevent U.S. forces from engaging in “hostilities within or against Venezuela” without a declaration of war or specific authorization from Congress would come up for a vote in that chamber next week. “It is long past time for Congress to reassert its critical constitutional role in matters of war, peace, diplomacy and trade,” Kaine said in a statement. His resolution has only one GOP co-sponsor, however — Rand Paul of Kentucky — and critiques from that side of the aisle were few and far between on Saturday. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, initially raised questions about the legality of the operation. But he later posted on X that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him he “anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody.” Read the full indictment HERE.

The American tradition of free speech protected by the First Amendment is set to be abolished, according to Benjamin Netanyahu who has warned Americans it’s in their best interests to listen very closely to his [...] The post Israel Declares War on Free Speech: “Americans Who Post Hate Speech Will Jailed for 5 Years” appeared first on The People's Voice.

Far-left U.S. District Court judge Paula Xinis ruled Monday, preventing federal immigration enforcement authorities from taking Kilmar Abrego Garcia back into custody. The judge called this an “irregular and extraordinary situation” during Monday’s hour-long hearing. An attorney representing Abrego Garcia spoke following the hearing. “We’re very much not out of the woods yet, right? I […] The post Democrat Wife-Beating Hero Abrego Garcia Will Remain Free appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

President Trump issued a stark military warning to Iran’s regime, declaring America “locked and loaded” to intervene if the Islamic Republic continues its deadly crackdown on peaceful protesters demanding freedom from decades of oppression. Trump’s Bold Warning Signals New Foreign Policy Approach President Donald Trump delivered an unmistakable message to Iran’s theocratic regime on January 2, 2026, posting on Truth Social that the United States stands “locked and loaded” to rescue Iranian protesters facing violent suppression. Trump’s declaration came as nationwide demonstrations entered their fifth consecutive day, with Iranian security forces already killing at least seven peaceful protesters. The President’s warning represents a decisive shift from previous administrations’ cautious approach to Iran’s human rights abuses, signaling America’s readiness to protect freedom-seekers against authoritarian violence. The State Department reinforced Trump’s position with a Thursday statement highlighting the “understandable anger” driving these protests against Iran’s government failures. US officials emphasized that Iranian authorities have prioritized funding terrorist proxies and nuclear weapons research while neglecting basic needs like economy, agriculture, water, and electricity infrastructure. This misplaced focus has created the economic devastation now fueling widespread civil unrest across multiple Iranian cities, including the clerical stronghold of Qom. Economic Collapse Exposes Regime’s Failed Priorities Iran’s current crisis stems from the regime’s catastrophic economic mismanagement and deliberate neglect of citizen welfare. The Iranian rial’s collapse has triggered deep public anger over years of government failure to address fundamental needs. What began as economic grievances has rapidly evolved into political demonstrations demanding the theocracy’s complete overthrow. This transformation from economic protests to anti-regime chants demonstrates how Iran’s leadership has lost legitimacy among ordinary citizens suffering under decades of authoritarian rule and resource misallocation. The protests echo similar uprisings during 2019-2020, when Iranian security forces killed hundreds of demonstrators protesting fuel price increases and economic hardship. However, the current demonstrations appear more widespread and politically focused, spreading to traditionally pro-regime areas and directly challenging the Islamic Republic’s authority. This geographic expansion suggests more profound frustration with the regime’s fundamental governance structure rather than specific policy grievances, making the current crisis potentially more threatening to Iran’s ruling clerics. Iranian Regime Deflects Blame While Escalating Violence Iranian officials responded predictably to Trump’s warning by alleging US-Israel orchestration of the protests while simultaneously rejecting any foreign interference in their internal affairs. Top Iranian security officials took to social media, warning that US intervention would risk regional destabilization, demonstrating the regime’s typical pattern of blaming external enemies for domestic unrest. This deflection strategy reveals the leadership’s inability to address legitimate grievances about economic collapse, corruption, and authoritarian oppression that actually drive citizen anger. NEWS ALERT: The difference between the 2009 Green Revolution in Iran & the one that is rising up in 2026: -Obama & Clinton are gone. The State Department & the CIA helped the Iranian regime in 2009 kill their own people and put down the uprising.-President Trump's CIA and… pic.twitter.com/6XaxkZqI2l — Pete Santilli ▄︻テ══━一 (@petersantilli) January 2, 2026 The regime’s violent response to peaceful protests follows established patterns of suppressing dissent through lethal force rather than addressing underlying problems. Iranian authorities continue prioritizing regime survival over citizen welfare, using security forces to kill protesters rather than implementing economic reforms or reducing support for regional terrorist proxies. This approach confirms conservative warnings about authoritarian regimes’ inherent hostility to human freedom and their willingness to murder citizens rather than accept political accountability or democratic change. Sources: US ready to intervene if Iran kills protesters, Trump warns Trump and Iran start 2026 exchanging new threats on social media

'She doesn’t have the respect'