Podcasts about Beijing

Military veterans Greg Stoker and Mike Prysner break down what Trump is really doing in #Venezuela. Then Bolivia-based reporter Ollie Vargas discusses what is happening in Venezuela and it impacts the rest of South America. And Chris Gilbert joins us from Caracas. Venezuelan journalist Diego Sequera joins at the end to explain what he's seeing on the ground. For the full discussion, please join us on Patreon at - https://www.patreon.com/posts/patreon-full-147613117 Greg Stoker is a former United States Army Ranger. He has a background in special operations and human intelligence collection. He conducted 4 combat deployments to Afghanistan during the unfortunately named “Global War On Terror” and is now an anti-war activist, host of the Colonial Outcasts Podcast, and analyst at MintPress News. Mike Prysner joined the Army 3 months before the 9/11 attacks, and in March 2003 was part of the invasion of Iraq. After 12 months in the occupation he became an outspoken opponent of the war, and became known for speeches, protests, and veterans' organizing against US imperialism. Since 2015 he has been the producer & co-writer for Abby Martin's show The Empire Files, and is also the host of Eyes Left, a socialist anti-war military podcast. Mike is co-director with Abby Martin of the documentary Earth Greatest Enemy. Ollie Vargas is a Bolivian reporter now based in Beijing. Chris Gilbert is professor of political studies, Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela, co-host and co-creator of the Marxist educational podcast and television program Escuela de Cuadros. He's the Author of the book "Commune or Nothing! Venezuela's Communal Movement and Its Socialist Project" and a Contributing editor at Monthly Review Magazine.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan explains why Minnesota's governor is openly escalating toward a constitutional crisis, how a deadly ICE confrontation is being weaponized politically, and why Democrats may be preparing nationwide unrest to distract from a massive fraud reckoning. He then covers major White House moves on housing, defense contractors, Venezuela, China, Russia, and Greenland, showing how Trump's strategy is reshaping global power. Tim Walz Declares a De Facto War on the Federal Government: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced that his state is "in a state of war" with the federal government after an ICE officer shot and killed protester Renee Good during an immigration raid in Minneapolis. Video shows Good used her vehicle as a weapon against the officer, who fired in self-defense after being struck. Walz ordered the National Guard to prepare for deployment and called on activists nationwide to rise up, prompting warnings that his rhetoric may meet the legal definition of insurrection. A Manufactured Crisis and the Somali Fraud Reckoning: Bryan explains why the timing of Walz's escalation matters. Attorney General Pam Bondi just surged federal investigators into Minnesota to probe billion-dollar Somali fraud rings tied to Medicaid, daycare centers, and migrant nonprofits, many of which donated to Democratic campaigns. Federal funds to Minnesota and other blue states have been frozen or cut, and the White House is preparing a nationwide fraud announcement. Bryan warns that the death of an activist is being exploited to distract from what could become one of the largest corruption scandals in U.S. history. White House Targets Defense Contractors and Housing Costs: President Trump issued an executive order blocking major defense contractors from paying dividends or buying back stock until weapons production accelerates. CEO compensation is capped at five million dollars annually. Trump also moved to ban large institutional investors from buying additional single-family homes, arguing corporate buyers are pricing Americans out of the housing market. Senate Republicans are already drafting legislation to codify the policy. Trump Confronts Socialist Housing Policy in New York City: The Justice Department is reviewing whether New York City's new socialist mayor and his housing director violated anti-discrimination laws. The housing director has publicly called homeownership a tool of white supremacy and advocated seizing private property, with the mayor openly endorsing her views. DOJ officials say racial targeting in housing policy is unlawful and will be challenged. Global Shockwaves from Venezuela and the Ghost Fleet: Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed a three-phase U.S. plan for Venezuela, beginning with stability under remnants of the Maduro regime, followed by economic recovery and eventual democratic transition. The United States will act as Venezuela's sole oil dealer while seizing ghost-fleet tankers moving Iranian and Russian oil. Trump authorized U.S. forces to seize ships even after they reflagged as Russian, directly squeezing Moscow's war finances and Beijing's energy supply. Greenland and Europe's Energy Reality Check: Denmark warned it would use lethal force if U.S. troops attempt to seize Greenland, even as Chinese submarines map Arctic waters near U.S. defenses. Bryan contrasts Europe's military posturing with its fragile energy reality, as winter cold, snow-covered solar panels, and weak wind output drive electricity shortages and price spikes across Germany and Northern Europe "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: January 8 2026 Wright Report, Tim Walz ICE shooting Minneapolis, Renee Good protest death, Minnesota National Guard insurrection rhetoric, Somali fraud Medicaid daycare nonprofits, Pam Bondi investigation surge, defense contractor dividend ban Trump, institutional investors single family homes, Zohran Mamdani housing discrimination DOJ, Venezuela stability first strategy Rubio, ghost fleet tanker seizures Russia Iran, Greenland Denmark threat U.S. troops, China Arctic submarine mapping, Europe winter energy crisis

This week on Sinica, in a joint episode with the China-Global South Podcast, I speak with Eric Olander, host of the China Global South Podcast and founder/editor-in-chief of the China-Global South Project. In the early hours of January 3rd, U.S. forces carried out a coordinated operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, followed by their rendition to the United States to face drug trafficking charges. The operation unfolded quickly, with minimal kinetic escalation, but has raised far-reaching questions about international law, hemispheric security, and the Trump administration's willingness to use force in the Western Hemisphere. Just before the raid, China's Special Envoy for Latin America, Qiu Xiaoqi, had met with Maduro in Caracas. Commentary linking Trump's action to China has ranged widely—claims about spheres of influence, arguments this was all about oil or rare earths, and pronouncements about what this means for Taiwan. Eric helps us think through China's actual stake in Venezuela, how deeply Beijing understands Latin America, what this episode does and does not change about China's role in the region and the global South more broadly, China's immediate reaction and concrete exposure on the ground, how it manages political risk when partner regimes collapse, and what Chinese military planners may be studying as they assess how this operation unfolded.5:18 – How Beijing is reading this episode: official messaging versus elite thinking 7:40 – The Taiwan comparisons on Chinese social media and why they don't work 11:09 – How deep is China's actual expertise on Latin America? 14:56 – Comparing U.S. and Chinese benches of Latin America expertise 18:02 – Are we back to spheres of influence? Why that framing doesn't work 20:09 – Where is China most exposed in Venezuela: oil, loans, personnel? 23:41 – The resource-for-infrastructure model and why it failed 28:27 – The political assets: China as defender of sovereignty and multilateralism 36:25 – Will this push left-leaning governments closer to Beijing? 40:07 – The "China impotence" narrative and what doing something would actually mean 46:26 – What Chinese military planners are actually studying 51:46 – The Qiu Xiaoqi meeting: strategic failure or intelligence delivery? 58:40 – What actually changes and what doesn't: looking aheadPaying it forward: Alonso Illueca, nonresident fellow for Latin America and the Caribbean at the China Global South ProjectRecommendations: Eric: "China's Long Economic War" by Zongyuan Zoe Liu (Foreign Affairs)Kaiser: The Venetian Heretic by Christian CameronSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Paul Mariani, Professor at Santa Clara University and author of the new book, China's Church Divided: Bishop Louis Jin and the Post-Mao Catholic Revival. Paul unpacks the Communist Party's views on religion, how the Catholic Church navigated the turbulent politics of 1980's China, and why the Vatican has renewed a controversial deal with Beijing. 

Guest: Steve Yates. China expects repayment for its loans to Venezuela, but the U.S. "Monroe Doctrine 2.0" aims to cut adversaries out of the hemisphere. By blocking oil shipments, the U.S. leverages economic power to disrupt China'ssupply chains, potentially forcing Beijing to rethink its global energy strategy.1932 Shanghai

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan delivers a sweeping analysis of the national and global fallout from President Trump's decision to capture Nicolás Maduro. From Minneapolis to Caracas, and from Mexico to Greenland, Bryan explains how one operation is reshaping immigration policy, energy markets, global power dynamics, and America's definition of strength. ICE Launches Largest Immigration Operation in U.S. History: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed a massive surge of ICE officers into Minneapolis, with Venezuelans, Somalis, and other migrant groups now prioritized for removal. With Maduro no longer in power, the administration says it is safe for Venezuelans to return home. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the operation, calling it unprecedented, as Temporary Protected Status, asylum cases, and green card applications are frozen or revoked. Trump Strikes a Massive Oil Deal with Venezuela: Negotiations with Venezuela's new Marxist leadership produced a deal transferring thirty to fifty million barrels of oil to U.S. control, valued at up to two point eight billion dollars. The oil will help refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and stabilize global markets. U.S. oil companies are now being pushed to rehabilitate Venezuela's collapsed energy sector, potentially with taxpayer support, despite concerns about security and long term stability. Stability Over Democracy in Caracas: The White House decided it cannot yet work with opposition leaders like María Corina Machado or Edmundo González. Instead, Trump is temporarily backing remnants of the Maduro regime to maintain order and secure oil and mineral flows. Power struggles inside Venezuela have already turned violent, with armed gangs, checkpoints, and internal purges spreading fear among civilians. Global Strategy Tied to Oil and Power: Trump's plan aims to flood global markets with Venezuelan oil to pressure Canada, undercut Russia's finances, and entice India away from Russian energy. Bryan explains how this strategy could weaken Vladimir Putin's war funding and force movement toward a Ukraine peace deal. Shockwaves Across Mexico, Cuba, and Greenland: Mexican leaders fear they could be next as Trump escalates cartel strikes and pressures Mexico to cut oil shipments to Cuba. Cuban leaders face collapse without Venezuelan and Mexican energy. Meanwhile, Trump renewed warnings that military force remains an option to secure Greenland, citing the threat posed by China and Russia. European leaders are furious but largely powerless to stop him. A Message to China and the World: Trump warned Venezuela's remaining leaders to sever ties with China, Russia, Cuba, and Iran or face removal. Reuters reports Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello is now under direct U.S. threat. Bryan argues the broader message is clear. Trump is no longer bluffing, and assumptions that he is all bark and no bite are collapsing worldwide. Analysis and Warning: Bryan cautions that while Trump may manage Venezuela in the short term, the strategy carries serious risks. China, Brazil, or Colombia could destabilize the country through proxies or sabotage. He suggests Trump may seek a grand bargain with Beijing, trading U.S. restraint in Asia for Chinese withdrawal from the Western Hemisphere. The Political Lesson: Senator Chris Murphy admitted this week that Trump must now be taken seriously. Bryan closes by arguing that Trump is reordering global power at age seventy-nine because he believes the country is nearing collapse and this is America's last chance to reset its trajectory.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: January 7 2026 Wright Report, ICE Minneapolis surge Venezuelans, Kristi Noem Todd Lyons deportations, Trump Venezuela oil deal Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Maduro regime remnants power struggle, global oil strategy Canada Russia India, Mexico cartel pressure Cuba collapse, Greenland military option Trump, China warning Venezuela Cabello, Trump global power reset

In this episode, we sit down with J. Michael Waller, a senior analyst for strategy at the Center for Security Policy and author of “Big Intel,” to understand the geopolitical implications of America's capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.“For the first time in a very long time, the President of the United States has reasserted the Monroe Doctrine to keep foreign empires out of our hemisphere,” he says.By capturing Maduro, President Donald Trump sent a signal to all of America's adversaries, but first and foremost to communist China. “Trump has just pulled out a linchpin in an elaborate piece of machinery for the CCP's sprawling global empire,” he says.How did Venezuela devolve from a once prosperous country into an authoritarian hub for drug cartels and a key node of Chinese and Iranian influence? How does Maduro's capture affect Beijing's strategy and calculations when it comes to Taiwan? How will this impact Cuba and Iran? And what does the future hold for Venezuela and its people?Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

-Rob celebrates Trump snagging tens of millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil without a single shot fired, while Democrats, he says, act like freedom in Venezuela is somehow a problem. -On the Newsmax hotline, China expert Gordon Chang joins to explain how Trump's move in Venezuela boxes in Beijing, rattles Iran, and leaves dictatorships wondering where their cheap oil and easy loans go. Today's podcast is sponsored by : RELIEF FACTOR - You don't need to live with aches & pains! Reduce muscle & joint inflammation and live a pain-free life by visiting http://ReliefFactor.com now! BEAM DREAM POWDER - Refreshing sleep now 40% off with promo code NEWSMAX at http://shopbeam.com/newsmax BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit! To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday…E-mail Rob Carson at : RobCarsonShow@gmail.com Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (http://patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax  -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of China Decode, Alice Han and James Kynge break down Beijing's response to Trump's sudden takeover of Venezuela — a move that hits China's energy interests, loans, and influence in Latin America, and raises the stakes far beyond oil. Then they turn to the EV race, where BYD has overtaken Tesla for the first time, signaling a potential power shift in the global auto industry. And finally, they look at China's quieter — but surprising — rise as a luxury food superpower, from caviar to truffles, and what it says about trade, consumption, and state-backed strategy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT: Cleo Paskal details a new US initiative to support Palau's national defense against Beijing's influence operations and visa-less entries. While headlines focus on Palau accepting 75 US deportees, the underlying deal provides this strategic ally—which recognizes Taiwan—with resources to patrol borders and secure its sovereignty.1930 PALAU

CHINA'S OIL LOSS IN VENEZUELA Colleagues Gordon Chang and Charles Burton. The guests discuss how the US removal of Maduro disrupts China's oil supply, leaving Beijing with billions in unpaid debt. They note that Chinesemilitary equipment failed to detect the US operation, embarrassing Beijing. Burton suggests Canada faces a difficult choice between aligning with US hemispheric security or appeasing China. NUMBER 3

SHOW 1-5-26 THE SHOW BEGINS IN DOUBTS ABOUT VENEZUELA, NIGERIA, SYRIA, RUSSIA, CHINA 1936 KENYA 1. NIGERIA AIRSTRIKE AND THE JIHADIST SHIFT Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown Edmund Fitton-Brown analyzes a US airstrike against ISIS in Nigeria, discussing the growing jihadist threat in West Africa's "ungoverned spaces." He highlights a strategic shift where African juntas reject Western support for Russian mercenaries, who offer security without governance conditions, inadvertently boosting local support for Al-Qaeda coalitions like JNIM,,. 2. EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN ALLIANCE VS. TURKEY Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown Fitton-Brown examines the cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel as a necessary pushback against Turkish President Erdogan's neo-Ottoman expansionism. He argues Erdogan's aggressive rhetoric regarding Jerusalem and maritime claims threatens regional stability, necessitating a unified defense from these democracies to counter Turkish overreach in the Mediterranean,. 3. CHINA'S OIL LOSS IN VENEZUELA Guest: Gordon Chang and Charles Burton The guests discuss how the US removal of Maduro disrupts China's oil supply, leaving Beijing with billions in unpaid debt. They note that Chinese military equipment failed to detect the US operation, embarrassing Beijing. Burton suggests Canada faces a difficult choice between aligning with US hemispheric security or appeasing China,,. 4. 2026: A HOLLOW SUPERPOWER Guest: Gordon Chang and Charles Burton Chang and Burton speculate that the US operation in Venezuela exposes China's inability to protect its allies, making Beijing appear "hollow." Chang argues this weakens China's threat against Taiwan, while Burton suggests that with China's economy failing and its allies collapsing, the regime faces internal instability and a loss of global prestige,. 5. SECTARIAN WARFARE IN SYRIA Guest: Akmed Sharawari Akmed Sharawari reports on escalating violence between Syria's Alawite minority and the central government led by former jihadist Al-Shara. He explains that regime remnants and Russian influence are fueling Alawite defiance, while Druze and Kurdish factions also resist integration, complicating US hopes for a stable, unified post-Assad state,,. 6. WESTERN AIRSTRIKES ON ISIS Guest: Akmed Sharawari Sharawari discusses recent British and French airstrikes against ISIS weapons caches in Syria. He notes that despite opposing the central government, ISIS remains a universal threat. The chaos following the Assad regime's fall has allowed ISIS cells to regroup in urban areas, necessitating Western intervention to destroy their stolen arsenals,. 7. HEZBOLLAH'S LATIN AMERICAN FINANCING Guest: David Daoud David Daoud details Hezbollah's deep entrenchment in Venezuela, used to challenge US hegemony. He explains how the group exploits Latin American networks, illicit trade, and legitimate business fronts within expatriate communities to generate essential funding, compensating for losses in Lebanon and serving Iran's broader strategy in the Western Hemisphere,. 8. LEBANESE ARMY COLLUSION Guest: David Daoud Daoud highlights the compromised nature of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), citing a recent incident where an LAF soldier killed alongside Hezbollah members received a joint funeral. He argues this collusion makes the LAF an untrustworthy partner for Israel, as sectarian loyalties often supersede national duty, leading to dangerous intelligence leaks,. 9. THE FALL OF MADURO Guest: Alejandro Peña Esclusa and Ernesto Araújo Alejandro Peña Esclusa celebrates the swift US capture of Maduro as Venezuela's liberation. He argues Vice President Delcy Rodriguez must now dismantle the "Cartel of the Suns" to avoid Maduro's fate. Ernesto Araújo frames this as a decisive victory for freedom, forcing a choice between democracy and criminal syndicates,,. 10. US DEMANDS: TERRORISTS OUT Guest: Alejandro Peña Esclusa Peña Esclusa supports US demands for Iran, Hezbollah, and the ELN to be expelled from Venezuela, asserting the population shares these desires. He characterizes Maduro as a drug lord and a threat to Western security, criticizing European leftists who condemn the operation for failing to recognize the regime's criminal nature. 11. PANIC AMONG THE LATIN LEFT Guest: Alejandro Peña Esclusa and Ernesto Araújo Ernesto Araújo explains that leftist leaders like Lula and Petro fear the US action against Maduro because their power structures share similar corruption. Peña Esclusa adds that Colombian President Petro is terrified because his campaign was funded by Venezuelan drug money, making him vulnerable to the exposure of these secrets,. 12. THE RIGHTWARD SHIFT IN ELECTIONS Guest: Alejandro Peña Esclusa and Ernesto Araújo Araújo predicts the US action in Venezuela will energize the Latin American right, specifically boosting the Bolsonaro movement in Brazil. Peña Esclusa forecasts electoral defeats for the left in Costa Rica, Peru, and Colombia, arguing the region is turning away from narco-socialism toward US-aligned conservative leadership,. 13. RUSSIA'S MAXIMALIST DEMANDS Guest: John Hardie John Hardie outlines Russia's unyielding demands for peace, including territorial concessions and barring Ukraine from NATO. He notes that while Zelensky is nearing agreement with the West on security guarantees, the gap with Russia remains wide. Hardie urges the Trump administration to increase pressure to force Putin to compromise,. 14. THE IMPOSSIBLE DMZ Guest: John Hardie Hardie discusses the complexities of implementing a demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Ukraine, citing disagreements over sovereignty and administration. Regarding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, he notes Russia is unlikely to return control to Ukraine. He concludes that peace deals requiring Ukraine to cede territory are "poison pills" likely to fail,. 15. HAMAS AND THE IMPOSSIBLE RECONSTRUCTION Guest: Peter Berkowitz Peter Berkowitz argues that Hamas, as a Muslim Brotherhood offshoot, remains committed to Israel's destruction, making peace impossible. He criticizes the "Project Sunrise" reconstruction plan, noting that US-led development is futile without first disarming and deradicalizing Gaza, a task only the IDF can currently achieve given Hamas's refusal to surrender,. 16. IRAN ON THE BRINK Guest: Jonathan Sia Jonathan Sia reports on unprecedented Iranian protests and rumors that Ayatollah Khamenei plans to flee to Moscow. He attributes the regime's panic to the recent fall of allies like Maduro. Sia notes a shift in protester sentiment toward pro-monarchy chants, suggesting a coordinated opposition now exists to replace the theocracy,.

2026: A HOLLOW SUPERPOWER Colleagues Gordon Chang and Charles Burton. Chang and Burton speculate that the US operation in Venezuela exposes China's inability to protect its allies, making Beijing appear "hollow." Chang argues this weakens China's threat against Taiwan, while Burton suggests that with China's economy failing and its allies collapsing, the regime faces internal instability and a loss of global prestige. NUMBER 4

-Rob revels in Maduro's ouster and laughs at Democrats who hate Trump so much they can't celebrate the fall of a murderous dictator. -On the Newsmax hotline, Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer breaks down Venezuela, Iran's unraveling, Cuba's shaky future, and why China's oil headaches mean Taiwan is safer than Beijing wants to admit. Today's podcast is sponsored by : RELIEF FACTOR - You don't need to live with aches & pains! Reduce muscle & joint inflammation and live a pain-free life by visiting http://ReliefFactor.com now! BEAM DREAM POWDER - Refreshing sleep now 40% off with promo code NEWSMAX at http://shopbeam.com/newsmax BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit! To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday…E-mail Rob Carson at : RobCarsonShow@gmail.com Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (http://patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax  -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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One of the prevailing narratives that's emerged following the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela and the detention of President Nicolás Maduro is that this is a major setback for China. Some analysts have called it a "strategic failure" on Beijing's part, while others have described it as "reality check" for China's role as a "global player." But China's ability to influence events in Venezuela and elsewhere in Latin America is extremely limited, so the assessment that what happened in Caracas was a blow to Beijing may also be overstated. Alonso Illueca, CGSP's non-resident fellow for Latin America and the Caribbean, joins Eric from Panama City to discuss whether Maduro's capture presents new risks or opportunities for China.

Aengus Cox reports from Beijing on the Taoiseach's official visit.

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for January 1, 2026. 0:30 A controversial appointment in New York City is raising serious red flags as the new mayor — Zohran Mamdani — installs a Democratic Socialist housing activist who has openly called for the seizure of private property and labeled homeownership a form of “white supremacy.” We break down why this move goes far beyond tenant advocacy and strikes at the heart of American freedom, private property rights, and constitutional principles. From New York’s iconic skyline to immigrant success stories, property ownership—not government control—is the foundation of liberty and prosperity. As radical housing policies gain traction in America’s largest city, the question becomes unavoidable: Is New York exporting socialism—and what does that mean for the future of the country? 9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. The former dictator of Venezuela appeared in a New York City Courtroom to plead not guilty to charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has abandoned his race for a third consecutive Term. A man was arrested after damaging property at Vice President JD Vance's home in Cincinnati, Ohio. 12:30 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:00 We revisit Chuck Schumer’s 2020 attacks on President Trump over Venezuela, when Schumer accused Trump of being too weak for failing to remove dictator Nicolás Maduro. At the time, Schumer demanded tougher action and mocked Trump for not delivering regime change. Fast-forward to 2026, and the tables have turned. Trump did exactly what Schumer claimed to want—after Maduro was indicted by the Trump Justice Department in 2020 and then ignored for four full years under the Biden administration. Yet now that Trump has acted, Schumer is still unhappy. 16:00 American Mamas Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson discuss the situation in Venezuela after the arrest of Nicolas Maduro. The Mamas describe watching videos of Venezuelans celebrating in the streets—both inside Venezuela and across places like Miami, Chile, and Buenos Aires—after decades of repression, food shortages, and stolen wages. Even as Venezuelan expatriates openly celebrate his removal, left-wing protests defend Maduro. Is this another case of Trump Derangement Syndrome? If you'd like to ask our American Mamas a question, go to our website, AmericanGroundRadio.com/mamas and click on the Ask the Mamas button. 23:00 Here’s something you won’t hear much about: car theft in the United States is down nearly 25%, and the timing isn’t accidental. Since the Trump administration began cracking down on illegal immigration and international theft rings, stolen vehicle numbers have dropped sharply compared to the same period last year. 25:00 There are a lot of unanswered questions swirling around Venezuela—and we're digging deep. Why did President Trump say the U.S. is “running” Venezuela? Why isn’t Washington immediately backing the opposition leaders who reportedly won the 2024 election? Why are Venezuelans celebrating abroad, but the streets inside Venezuela remain eerily quiet? The answer is Cuba. We lay a theory that explains the loose ends: Maduro didn’t trust his own military, so his inner security was handled by Cuban operatives, trained by the old Soviet KGB. That explains why most of those killed during Maduro’s ouster were Cuban, not Venezuelan—and why fear still grips the country. The Cubans, not Maduro alone, were effectively the deep state of Venezuela, controlling intelligence, security, and enforcement. 32:00 Get Performlyte from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 About a third of Venezuela’s oil has been going straight to China—not out of friendship, but leverage, discounts, and a shot at the United States. With U.S. sanctions in place, Beijing was scooping up embargoed oil on the cheap while thumbing its nose at Washington. Win-win for China. But that game may be ending. As global dynamics shift, President Trump signals a different approach: sell Venezuela’s oil on the open market, rebuild its broken energy infrastructure, and let prosperity replace poverty. And make no mistake—Venezuela should be rich. It has more proven oil reserves than any country on Earth and massive gold reserves, yet its people are poor because socialism turned a resource powerhouse into a failed state. 35:30 The U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro isn’t unprecedented—it closely mirrors America’s 1989–1990 operation to arrest Panama’s dictator, Manuel Noriega. Back then, Noriega was indicted for drug trafficking, rejected a deal to step aside, lost a monitored election, and was ultimately seized by U.S. forces and brought to trial. Sound familiar? The parallels are striking, right down to the date: Noriega was captured on January 3, 1990—exactly 36 years before Maduro was taken into custody on January 3, 2026. 39:30 The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board says Minnesota’s massive welfare fraud scandal isn’t about Somali immigrants—it’s about a bloated welfare state that invites corruption. There’s some truth there. Big government does create big temptation. But that explanation stops short of the uncomfortable question: why is so much of this fraud concentrated in one specific demographic? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Winter Tea House Tales: A Journey Between Friends Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-06-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 正值冬季，北海公园附近的一家茶馆，灯笼高挂，透出温暖的红光。En: It was winter, and near Beihai Park, a tea house had lanterns hanging high, exuding a warm red glow.Zh: 梅和梁，这两个久未谋面的朋友，正坐在一张靠窗的小桌前，手握热茶杯，注视着冬季北京的大街。En: Mei and Liang, two friends who hadn't met for a long time, were sitting at a small table by the window, holding hot tea cups and watching the streets of winter Beijing.Zh: 梅要赶回家过春节，踏上旅途的前夜，她满脑子都是对家人期待的焦虑。En: Mei was preparing to return home for the Spring Festival and, on the eve of her journey, her mind was filled with anxiety about her family's expectations.Zh: “这次回家，你有点紧张啊。”梁笑着说，轻轻吹散杯中的热气。En: "You're a bit nervous about going home this time, aren't you?" Liang said with a smile, gently blowing away the steam from his cup.Zh: 他虽平日话不多，但总能一眼看穿梅的心事。En: Although he wasn't usually talkative, he always could see through Mei's thoughts at a glance.Zh: 梅眉头紧锁，低声说：“是啊，总觉得压力很大，怕家人对我失望。”En: With furrowed brows, Mei said softly, "Yeah, I always feel a lot of pressure, afraid my family will be disappointed in me."Zh: 梁沉默片刻，他的心中也有话要说，但往日的沉默让他犹豫不决。En: Liang was silent for a moment, with his own thoughts to share, but his usual quietness made him hesitant.Zh: 此刻，茶馆的门上方铃铛轻响，一个慈祥的老人陈爷爷步入店中。En: At this moment, the bell above the tea house door rang softly, and an amiable old man, Grandpa Chen, stepped into the shop.Zh: “冬天的茶馆，总是能听见一些温暖的故事。”陈爷爷微笑着，坐在梅和梁的对桌，轻声说道。En: "A winter teahouse always has some warm stories to hear," Grandpa Chen said with a smile, sitting at the table across from Mei and Liang, speaking softly.Zh: 他常来这家茶馆，一如既往地散发着乐观和智慧。En: He often visited this tea house, always exuding optimism and wisdom.Zh: 梅微微抬头，陈爷爷眼神温暖而坚定，仿佛知道她的心事一般。En: Mei lifted her head slightly, and Grandpa Chen's gaze was warm and firm, as if he knew her thoughts.Zh: “每次节日也是一个新的开始。”陈爷爷中肯地说道。En: "Each festival is also a new beginning," Grandpa Chen said earnestly.Zh: “勇敢面对自己的心，才能找到真正的归属。”En: "Face your heart bravely, and you will find your true belonging."Zh: 这些话仿佛打开了梅的心扉。En: These words seemed to open Mei's heart.Zh: 她转向梁，轻声承认：“我总怕自己让家人失望。但心里又想，要有勇气去做自己。”En: She turned to Liang, softly admitting, "I've always been afraid of disappointing my family. But deep down, I want to have the courage to be myself."Zh: 梁听了顿时心生勇气：“梅，其实我也想告诉你，过去这些年我一直很欣赏你，希望我们能一直这样彼此支持下去。”En: Hearing this, Liang suddenly felt a surge of courage: "Mei, actually, I also wanted to tell you that over the past few years I've always admired you, and I hope we can continue to support each other."Zh: 梅被友谊的长久深厚温暖着。En: Mei was warmed by the enduring depth of their friendship.Zh: 她对梁的目光中有了新的亮光，这种感觉是温柔且坚定的。En: Her gaze towards Liang held a new brightness, a feeling that was gentle yet firm.Zh: 茶馆外，雪花轻飘。En: Outside the tea house, snowflakes drifted down lightly.Zh: 梅起身准备离开，心中多了一份敬意与期待。En: Mei got up to leave, feeling a newfound respect and anticipation.Zh: 梁目送她离去，心中轻松了许多，他终于表达了自己的感受，无论结果如何，他为自己感到骄傲。En: Liang watched her go, feeling much lighter in his heart; he had finally expressed his feelings and felt proud no matter the outcome.Zh: 梅走出茶馆，望着飘雪，内心不再觉得孤单。En: Mei walked out of the tea house, gazing at the falling snow, no longer feeling lonely inside.Zh: 这次回家，她抱着新的信心和勇气，期待着团聚。En: This time going home, she embraced new confidence and courage, looking forward to the reunion.Zh: 在冷风中，她的脚步轻盈，身后的红灯笼如她般温暖明亮。En: In the cold wind, her steps were light, and the red lanterns behind her were as warm and bright as she was.Zh: 梁在她身后目送，心中对未来充满希望。En: Liang watched her leave, filled with hope for the future.Zh: 茶馆重新归于宁静，杯中茶香犹在。En: The tea house returned to tranquility, the fragrance of tea lingering.Zh: 陈爷爷微微一笑，抬眼望向窗外，他知道，这对朋友的故事还将继续，冬日的茶馆，也因他们而变得更加温暖。En: Grandpa Chen smiled slightly, looking out the window, knowing this friend's story would continue, and the winter tea house had become even warmer because of them. Vocabulary Words:exuding: 散发glow: 光anxiety: 焦虑furrowed: 紧锁silent: 沉默hesitant: 犹豫amiable: 慈祥optimism: 乐观earnestly: 中肯地belonging: 归属enduring: 长久深厚gaze: 目光antipation: 期待lingering: 犹在tranquility: 宁静fragrance: 茶香brows: 眉头admired: 欣赏courtesy: 诚恳glimmer: 微光surge: 心生linger: 徘徊glow: 红光stepped: 步入gently: 轻声eager: 迫切disappointed: 失望festival: 节日reunion: 团聚embarking: 上路

The ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is transferred by armed forces to make his first appearance in a US court on drug trafficking and weapons charges, alongside his wife Cilia Flores. Both were seized by American forces from their compound in Caracas and flown to detention in New York, before being led in handcuffs into a Manhattan courtroom. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says he's "concerned rules of international law have not been respected", as nations discuss the US actions at a UN Security Council meeting. And we learn more about Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro's right-hand woman, who is due to be sworn in as acting president of Venezuela.Also: a court in Paris convicts 10 people of cyberbullying France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, over false claims about her gender and sexuality; China and South Korea reaffirm their ties at a summit in Beijing; and we look back at the life of Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor and Anne Frank's step-sister, who has died at the age of 96.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

The joint communique came after the seventh round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue, held in Beijing between Ishaq Dar and Wang Yi.----more----https://theprint.in/diplomacy/hegemonism-bullying-small-circles-china-pakistan-take-veiled-swipe-at-india-quad/2818897/

Aengus Cox reports from Beijing on the Taoiseach's meeting with Presient Xi Jinping.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has held talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Beijing, saying the two countries share close economic ties with industrial and supply chains deeply interwoven.

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe [CB] is panicking, Trump is now reversing their entire system, The D’s have no choice but to fold and go along with Trump’s no tax on tips etc, they resisted but the people complained, this will not work out well for them. Trump is now lowering the fuel prices by unleashing Venezuela’s oil, this will be used to go against the [DS]. Trump is in the process of dismantling the [DS], Venezuela has been released from the [DS] grasp. Maduro was arrested and brought to the US to stand trial. Maduro will most likely assist with the overthrow of the US government in 2020. The flow of money, training of terrorist happened in Venezuela, it is all coming to an end, soon the other countries will fall and the people will take them back. The world is being returned to the people. Economy (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Kathy Hochul Caves On ‘No Tax On Tips’ Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill made a straightforward promise: more money in workers' pockets. The plan eliminated the federal tax on tips and overtime pay for linemen and factory workers, and created a new deduction for seniors relying on Social Security. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called it “the most pro-worker, pro-family legislation in a generation.”   several blue-state governors were refusing to reciprocate by eliminating state taxes on tips, including Govs. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.), J.B. Pritzker (D-Ill.), and Jared Polis (D-Colo.). Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused them of “deliberately blocking their own residents” from the bill's benefits at the state level. Bessent made clear that states that refused to comply with the law should expect consequences. “Treasury stands ready to work with any state committed to delivering on that promise, but we will not stand idly by as this obstructionism drags down the national recovery,” he said. “This is about fairness. This is about opportunity. And this is about putting America first, starting with the families and workers who make our economy the envy of the world.” Kathy Hochul has now caved. On New Year's Day, she announced that New York will finally move to exempt service workers' tips from state income taxes on up to $25,000 in tipped income.   “Starting today, tax rates for the vast majority of lower and middle-class New Yorkers will be cut, families with children will see a sweeping increase in the child tax credit, and minimum wage workers across the state will see their wages go up. I'm kicking the new year off with a proposal of no state income tax on tips, continuing my efforts to make New York more affordable for hard working New Yorkers.” The change comes only after months of outrage from restaurant owners and service workers who accused Albany of putting politics ahead of paychecks. Service industry workers noticed and called it a slap in the face to people barely scraping by in such an expensive state.   Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007496574889537687?s=20 https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2007500910277325260?s=20 https://twitter.com/TKL_Adam/status/2007468568619696559?s=20  damaged last night. On top of this, President Trump says the US will be “very much involved” in Venezuela’s oil industry going forward and China is “going to get oil.” In 2010, Venezuela was producing over 3 million barrels of oil per day, now down to ~900,000. If the US truly takes control of Venezuela’s oil industry, MUCH more supply is coming to market. Oil and gas prices would head much lower. Geopolitical https://twitter.com/KatieMiller/status/2007541679293944266?s=20 https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1274910217508196352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1274910217508196352%7Ctwgr%5E7e79690e7ff94a98319d1a5f7cef15f68e12ceb9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fjoe-bidens-old-tweet-claiming-trump-admires-thugs%2F https://twitter.com/willchamberlain/status/2007652410077086175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2007652410077086175%7Ctwgr%5Ee26360c03ca670b2e4da2b86849c02fab10ca741%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fjust-kamala-harris-gets-lit-up-x-after%2F Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega surrendered to U.S. forces on January 3, 1990, after seeking refuge for 10 days in the Vatican’s embassy (Papal Nunciature) in Panama City.  This event marked the end of Operation Just Cause, the U.S. invasion of Panama that began on December 20, 1989, under President George H.W. Bush, aimed at deposing Noriega and bringing him to face U.S. charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and racketeering.  To pressure Noriega into surrendering, U.S. psychological operations teams blasted loud rock music—including tracks like Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle,” Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” and Van Halen’s “Panama”—at the embassy nonstop, contributing to his decision to give up.   He was immediately flown to Miami, where he stood trial, was convicted in 1992, and initially sentenced to 40 years in prison (later reduced).  After serving time in the U.S., Noriega was extradited to France in 2010 for money laundering charges, and finally to Panama in 2011 to face additional sentences for murder, corruption, and human rights abuses during his rule.   He died in Panama in 2017 while under house arrest for medical reasons.   The invasion itself involved around 25,000 U.S. troops, resulting in 23 American deaths, hundreds wounded, and estimates of 200–4,000 Panamanian civilian casualties, drawing international criticism despite achieving its primary objective. https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/2007796748631314839?s=20 https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/2007549887098040495?s=20  https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2007518675641983427?s=20   advance. Trump Admin's Top Secret Maduro Military Operation Plans Reportedly Leaked To Legacy Media Outlets Despite an unidentified party leaking plans of the Trump administration's top secret military operation targeting Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela to both The New York Times and the Washington Post, neither publication decided to expose it, Semafor reported Saturday night. Two anonymous sources, described as familiar with the communication between the administration and media outlets, told Semafor that both outlets declined to break the news on the operation before it happened out of concern for U.S. troops involved. The military incursion, carried out early Saturday, resulted in the capture and ouster of socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, whom a grand jury later indicted on four charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy. The identity of the leaker or leakers was not made public as of Sunday morning. Source: dailycaller.com https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2007811723013603611?s=20 Russia, China Demand That US Immediately Release Maduro From Custody Within mere hours after President Trump announced the Saturday capture by US forces of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife after a brief shock bombing campaign and special forces operation in Caracas, Russia has demanded from Washington his immediate release. “We firmly call on the U.S. leadership to reconsider this position and release the lawfully elected president of a sovereign country and his wife,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, and described that the crisis should be resolved through diplomatic means. “Russia will continue to support the course pursued by its Bolivarian leadership to defend the country’s national interests and sovereignty,” the Foreign Ministry said, while also calling for restraint and cautioning against further escalation. China has joined Moscow’s calls for the immediate release of Maduro from US custody: China has called on the United States to immediately releaaljazeera.com/…/china-urges-us-to-stop-toppling-venezuelan-government-release-madurose Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after Washington carried out massive military strikes on the capital, Caracas, as well as other regions, and abducted the leader. Beijing on Sunday insisted the safety of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores be a priority, and called on the US to “stop toppling the government of Venezuela,” calling the attack a “clear violation of international law“. https://twitter.com/alaynatreene/status/2007491168389525809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2007491168389525809%7Ctwgr%5E1cec862879fed0a0919d0a99238a33d07975d1bb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fgeopolitical%2Frussia-china-demand-us-immediately-release-venezuelas-maduro Source: zerohedge.com China has embedded operational control into critical mineral extraction that feeds weapons manufacturing  Iran has established drone production facilities within strike range of the continental United States. Russia has deployed military advisers and integrated air defense systems in the Caribbean. Venezuela represents the only location where all three adversaries operate simultaneously https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2007644800779169936?s=20   legitimate, outstanding US drug charges from 2020, the real reason for the military operations early this morning is that neutralizing Maduro’s Venezuela had become a strategic imperative for the USA. Under Maduro, Venezuela had become the Latin American crossroads for all of the USA’s principal enemies. Maduro was nurturing relationships with Russia, Hezbollah and Iran. Worst of all, Venezuela was eagerly becoming a part of Red China’s Belt & Road initiative. As America’s enemies were lining up Venezuela as their base of operations in the Western Hemisphere to cause mischief and destruction for the USA, Maduro was at the same time making Venezuela a crossroads, safe haven and enabler for all manner of narcoterrorist operations, ranging from Colombia’s FARC to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel. On top of all that, Venezuela had become a key player in the illegal alien invasion of the USA, shipping its very worst to the USA in a deliberate and comprehensive destabilizing operation that might have worked had Donald Trump not won in 2024. Next in importance: oil. The global and regional ambitions of both China and Russia are in large part dependent on the politics of petroleum, and the USA just deprived both of the cudgel afforded by friendly Venezuelan oil. Trump opponents say “It’s about oil” as if that was a bad thing. Yeah, it’s about oil. Finally, all of this was in keeping with the most essential and fundamental foreign policy mandate of the USA almost since the nation’s inception: the Monroe Doctrine. Operations like what Maduro was running simply cannot be allowed in the Western Hemisphere. Trump was right for falling back on this most basic of doctrines that protects the USA’s sovereignty. So was Maduro seized because of some five year-old drug charges? Yes. Legally–yes. However, like so many strategic issues in the world today, an action needed to be backed by the fine points of law, and it was. But the reality is that the Maduro takedown was a Monroe Doctrine-driven necessity that has greatly enhanced the power and national security of the USA. Congratulations, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and the rest of the Trump national security team: you boldly took the steps necessary to defend the USA. Well done. https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/2007597322549469370?s=20  Uh… but what about America 1st!!!!” Dominating our hemisphere is America 1st.  READ: Maduro Indictment Unsealed  https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/2007468832567222274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2007468832567222274%7Ctwgr%5Ea380e4654af6dbcd0ced13d78085deb2a2a57e8d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fread-maduro-indictment-unsealed%2F Read the indictment here. The grand jury indicted Maduro, his wife, Cilia Flores and four others on four counts: Narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. “Nicolas Maduro Moros, the defendant, now sits atop a corrupt, illegitimate government that, for decades, has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activity, including drug trafficking,” the indictment read. “That drug trafficking has enriched and entrenched Venezuela's political and military elite, including Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace Diosado Cabello Rondon, the defendant, and former Minister of the Interior and Justice Ramon Rodriguez Chachin, the defendant,” the charging document read. The White House absolutely savaged Maduro on Saturday. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/mrddmia/status/2007459071985676697?s=20 https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2007412199132934453?s=20   with it. Go America! https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/2007404924393697601?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007510867307626848?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007503643453559225?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007737447631945888?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007759220851327278?s=20 War/Peace https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2007814479892111690?s=20  Years after he left office, a reflective Barack Obama admitted that he and his administration made a “mistake” in not forcefully supporting an Iranian civilian uprising in 2009 that could have ousted that country's ruing mullahs. Faced with a fresh protest movement 16-plus years later led by street vendors, President Donald Trump has taken the opposite tact in a robust embrace of everyday Iranians that caught the attention of Tehran. If Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump wrote in a 3 a.m. post Friday on his TruthSocial platform. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”  The president was not more specific about his intentions, but Iranian dissidents and non-official Trump advisers cheered the statement and said it set the stage for tougher sanctions or other actions by the administration. Interesting Timing – Zelenskyy Planning to Remove Head of the Security Service of Ukraine This is very interesting timing considering the recent denial by Zelenskyy that Ukraine had anything to do with the attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin's residence. According to Politico, Zelenskyy is removing Vasyl Malyuk as head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the state's top counterintelligence agency. Malyuk previously worked with British intelligence on operation “Spiderweb” where Ukrainian drones hit Russia's strategic bombers on several protected airfields (USA not informed). Source: theconservativetreehouse.com [DS] Agenda  President Trump's Plan FBI Thwarts ISIS-Inspired New Year’s Eve Terror Plot In North Carolina The FBI said it foiled an ISIS-inspired New Year's Eve terror attack in North Carolina. Suspect Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested on Dec. 31 and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Russ Ferguson said at a Jan. 2 press conference. Sturdivant appeared in court on Jan. 2. A U.S. citizen, Sturdivant had allegedly planned the attack for about a year, according to Ferguson. A hand-written document titled “The New Year's Eve Attack 2026” was found in Sturdivant's bedroom trash can and included a section labeled, “martyrdom Op,” court papers claim.  Sturdivant read ISIS material online, visited the terrorist group's websites, and made TikTok videos, Ferguson said. Source: zerohedge.com Former CBS Reporter Catherine Herridge Reveals How Executives Delayed Her Reporting On Hunter Biden Laptop Former CBS investigative reporter Catherine Herridge said Thursday CBS News executives postponed airing her reports on the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop. https://twitter.com/C__Herridge/status/2006795554471186519?s=20   always do the story when it’s ready to go. You should not be dictated by the political cycle.” At that time, CBS News was under different management, and did not respond to our questions seeking comment.   Source: dailycaller.com  https://twitter.com/bread_n_caviar/status/2007473725331960305?s=20 how much Jeb Bush is connected to drug trafficking. Here's my Substack article on that subject: https://twitter.com/Rasmussen_Poll/status/2007377888858062869?s=20 https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2007528129988862028?s=20 is undoing the damage the CIA has been used to do over the last 78 years around the world. The Deep State network is being dismantled. Trump did the same thing with Iran. Who enabled and paid Iran to make nukes? Obama via the Iran Deal. Neutralizing Iran's nuclear capabilities was Trump cleaning up another Deep State mess created by past administrations. Trump knows where all the Deep State assets and proxies are, and he is uprooting them. It's actually happening. Trump is obliterating the Deep State! Maduro a Cartel/Deep State puppet for a while  Wants out  Negotiates exit with Trump  U.S. military extracts him  Trump rugs the Deep State’s regime change op with his own regime change op https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2007682086271103487?s=20   Maduro played a large role in the destabilization efforts, sending drugs and murderous gangs into our country. Is it considered one crime syndicate?   https://twitter.com/TheQNewsPatriot/status/2007662811296731504?s=20 https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2007516103950414317?s=20   nations and regions that past US administrations have destabilized and destroyed. If there is no instability, the Deep State cannot operate. Therefore, Trump is going to neutralize those causing the instability, ie, the cartels. Trump is essentially undoing the decades of damage caused by the Deep State, and creating a new world the way it should be.  https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2007547290035302659?s=20   MIL in their cities? Now do you see why they have been panicking about the Insurrection Act? The Dems are Deep State puppets just like Maduro. They fear that what just happened to Maduro, is going to happen to them. THEY FEAR THE RECKONING! (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

A narco-state on our doorstep, a stolen election, and eight million people on the move—this week we break down why the U.S. seized Nicolás Maduro under a drug indictment and what that means for Venezuela, the region, and us. We start with the simple facts: the largest oil reserves on earth didn't save a country that nationalized industry, crushed markets, and let foreign adversaries plant flags in our hemisphere. Then we follow the money and the leverage—sanctions, maritime seizures, and the pressure points that force real elections and transparent oil revenues that benefit citizens, not cronies.We bring in Venezuelan voices who lived the collapse and explain why “blood for oil” misses the mark. From Chavez's slow centralization to Maduro's outright theft, we map a clear timeline of how price controls, currency games, and state takeovers gutted GDP and emptied hospitals. We also call out the political whiplash at home—soundbites that once condemned Maduro now condemn his capture—and examine the legal footing that made this a law-enforcement operation, not an invasion. The military piece matters too: a stealth, zero-casualty extraction that quietly reminded Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran what American capability looks like.Then we zoom out. Guyana's offshore boom is the region's most underreported story, a counterexample built on open contracts and credible institutions right next to a disputed border. Protecting Guyana's rise—and guiding a reformed Venezuela toward similar rules—could turn a migration engine into a growth engine for the Americas. Along the way we confront a domestic warning: when leaders romanticize “collectivism” and flirt with seizing the means of production, remember Venezuela's cautionary tale. Strong institutions and market signals aren't slogans; they're the difference between prosperity and an exodus.If this episode challenged your assumptions or gave you new context, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more listeners find smart, nuanced takes on big stories.Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/Twitter: @nodoubtpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Triumph Over Time: Lian's Unforgettable New Year's Celebration Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-01-04-08-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬天的北京，寒风刺骨，但阳光洒在天坛公园的古树上，增添了一丝温暖。En: In the winter of Beijing, the cold wind was bone-chilling, but the sunlight shining on the ancient trees of Temple of Heaven Park added a touch of warmth.Zh: 天坛公园是个历史悠久的地方，每年新年，这里都会举行热闹的庆祝活动。En: Temple of Heaven Park is a place rich in history, and every New Year, lively celebrations are held here.Zh: 今年的组织者是莉安，她充满热情，决心办好这一活动。En: This year's organizer is Lian, full of enthusiasm and determined to make the event a success.Zh: 莉安负责组织新年的庆祝活动。En: Lian is in charge of organizing the New Year's celebration.Zh: 她计划了一场精彩的文化演出和社区互动。En: She planned a spectacular cultural performance and community interaction.Zh: 她是一个细致周到的人，对工作充满激情。En: She is meticulous and passionate about her work.Zh: 然而，这次活动面临一个大问题。En: However, the event faced a significant problem.Zh: 金负责的艺术装置，此次活动的中心亮点，却没有如期完成。En: The centerpiece art installation, handled by Jin, a local talented artist known for his imaginative works, was not completed on time.Zh: 金是本地一位才华横溢的艺术家，作品总是充满想象力，但时间管理总是让他头疼。En: Jin's time management always troubled him.Zh: 莉安知道时间不多，她必须做出一个艰难的决定：是分派更多的志愿者去帮助金，还是给他更多时间，冒着活动整体延期的风险。En: Lian knew there wasn't much time; she had to make a tough decision: either assign more volunteers to help Jin or give him more time, risking a delay for the entire event.Zh: 经过深思熟虑，莉安决定优先支持金的艺术装置，这一作品将为整个活动增添光彩。En: After careful consideration, Lian decided to prioritize supporting Jin's art installation, as it would add brilliance to the entire event.Zh: 她向志愿者们说明了情况，希望得到他们的支持。En: She explained the situation to the volunteers, hoping for their support.Zh: 志愿者们积极响应，立刻加入到金的工作中，协助他完成安装工作。En: The volunteers responded enthusiastically, immediately joining Jin's project to assist in completing the installation.Zh: 莉安在一旁协调，一边安抚金的紧张情绪，一边调整其他环节的准备工作。En: Lian coordinated from the side, calming Jin's nerves while adjusting preparations for other segments.Zh: 终于，在新年庆祝活动开始前一天，金的艺术装置完整地矗立在天坛公园中。En: Finally, the day before the New Year's celebration, Jin's art installation stood complete in Temple of Heaven Park.Zh: 它的色彩鲜艳、设计新颖，让每一个路过的人都停下来赞叹。En: Its vibrant colors and innovative design made everyone passing by stop to admire it.Zh: 新年夜，公园里灯火辉煌。En: On New Year's Eve, the park was brilliantly lit.Zh: 彩灯、装饰和来自四面八方的人们聚集于此，庆祝新年的到来。En: Colorful lights, decorations, and people from all around gathered to celebrate the New Year's arrival.Zh: 金的艺术装置成为全场瞩目的焦点，人们纷纷拍照留念。En: Jin's art installation became the focal point of attention, with people taking photos to remember the occasion.Zh: 莉安站在人群中，感受到深深的满足和喜悦。En: Lian stood among the crowd, feeling a deep sense of fulfillment and joy.Zh: 通过这次活动，莉安学会了灵活处理突发情况，也懂得了信任他人创意的重要性。En: Through this event, Lian learned to handle unexpected situations flexibly and understood the importance of trusting others' creativity.Zh: 这次的成功不仅加强了她的领导能力，也让她意识到每个人在文化庆典中的价值。En: The success not only enhanced her leadership skills but also made her aware of everyone's value in cultural celebrations.Zh: 夜空中，传来新年的钟声，天坛公园充满了欢声笑语。En: In the night sky, the New Year's bell rang, and Temple of Heaven Park was filled with laughter and cheer.Zh: 莉安和金微笑着，相视点头，此时无声胜有声。En: Lian and Jin smiled and nodded at each other, as this moment of silent acknowledgment was more powerful than words.Zh: 这一刻，他们的努力得到了最好的回报，他们共同创造了一个令人难忘的新年庆祝。En: Their efforts were rewarded in the best possible way, as they had together created an unforgettable New Year celebration. Vocabulary Words:bone-chilling: 刺骨sunlight: 阳光ancient: 古rich: 悠久lively: 热闹organizer: 组织者enthusiasm: 热情celebration: 庆祝spectacular: 精彩meticulous: 细致passionate: 激情centerpiece: 中心installation: 装置imaginative: 想象力consideration: 深思熟虑prioritize: 优先brilliance: 光彩enthusiastically: 积极assist: 协助nerves: 紧张情绪vibrant: 鲜艳innovative: 新颖focal: 焦点admire: 赞叹fulfillment: 满足flexibly: 灵活creativity: 创意acknowledgment: 点头rewarded: 回报unforgettable: 难忘

The United States has realised it cannot keep “trying to police the whole world”, argues Victor Gao, the vice president of the Center for China and Globalization in Beijing. Gao tells host Steve Clemons that improved China-US relations are “inevitable” although he warns that some American policymakers still view China as the number one threat and Chinese officials “never underestimate what American neofascists will cook up next”. In this wide-ranging conversation, Gao maintains that Beijing has replaced Washington as the world's champion of free trade and won't allow the US to dominate the field of artificial intelligence.

GHOST CITIES AND THE STIMULUS TRAP Colleague Anne Stevenson-Yang, Wild Ride. China's growth model shifted toward massive infrastructure spending, resulting in "ghost cities" and replica Western towns built to inflate GDP rather than house people. This "Potemkin culture" peaked during the 2008 Olympics, where facades were painted to impress foreigners. To counter the global financial crisis, Beijing flooded the economy with loans, fueling a real estate bubble that consumed more cement in three years than the US did in a century, creating unsustainable debt. NUMBER 7 1946 THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI

PRISON AND LAWFARE Colleague Mark Clifford, The Troublemaker. Following the 2020 National Security Law, authorities raided Apple Daily, froze its assets, and arrested Lai, forcing the newspaper to close. Despite having the means to flee, Lai chose to stay and face imprisonment as a testament to his principles. Now held in solitary confinement, he is subjected to "lawfare"—sham legal proceedings designed to silence him—while he spends his time sketching religious images, remaining a symbol of resistance against Beijing's tyranny. NUMBER 12 1930S HK

SHOW 12-2-2026 THE SHOW BEGIJS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT AI --  a useful invetion that can match the excitement of the first decades of Photography. November 1955 NADAR'S BALLOON AND THE BIRTH OF PHOTOGRAPHY Colleague Anika Burgess, Flashes of Brilliance. In 1863, the photographer Nadar undertook a perilous ascent in a giant balloon to fund experiments for heavier-than-air flight, illustrating the adventurous spirit required of early photographers. This era began with Daguerre's 1839 introduction of the daguerreotype, a process involving highly dangerous chemicals like mercury and iodine to create unique, mirror-like images on copper plates. Pioneers risked their lives using explosive materials to capture reality with unprecedented clarity and permanence. NUMBER 1 PHOTOGRAPHING THE MOON AND SEA Colleague Anika Burgess, Flashes of Brilliance. Early photography expanded scientific understanding, allowing humanity to visualize the inaccessible. James Nasmyth produced realistic images of the moon by photographing plaster models based on telescope observations, aiming to prove its volcanic nature. Simultaneously, Louis Boutan spent a decade perfecting underwater photography, capturing divers in hard-hat helmets. These efforts demonstrated that photography could be a tool for scientific analysis and discovery, revealing details of the natural world previously hidden from the human eye. NUMBER 2 SOCIAL JUSTICE AND NATURE CONSERVATION Colleague Anika Burgess, Flashes of Brilliance. Photography became a powerful agent for social and environmental change. Jacob Riis utilized dangerous flash powder to document the squalid conditions of Manhattan tenements, exposing poverty to the public in How the Other Half Lives. While his methods raised consent issues, they illuminated grim realities. Conversely, Carleton Watkins hauled massive equipment into the wilderness to photograph Yosemite; his majestic images influenced legislation signed by Lincoln to protect the land, proving photography's political impact. NUMBER 3 X-RAYS, SURVEILLANCE, AND MOTION Colleague Anika Burgess, Flashes of Brilliance. The discovery of X-rays in 1895 sparked a "new photography" craze, though the radiation caused severe injuries to early practitioners and subjects. Photography also entered the realm of surveillance; British authorities used hidden cameras to photograph suffragettes, while doctors documented asylum patients without consent. Finally, Eadweard Muybridge's experiments captured horses in motion, settling debates about locomotion and laying the technical groundwork for the future development of motion pictures. NUMBER 4 THE AWAKENING OF CHINA'S ECONOMY Colleague Anne Stevenson-Yang, Wild Ride. Returning to China in 1994, the author witnessed a transformation from the destitute, Maoist uniformity of 1985 to a budding export economy. In the earlier era, workers slept on desks and lacked basic goods, but Deng Xiaoping's realization that the state needed hard currency prompted reforms. Deng established Special Economic Zones like Shenzhen to generate foreign capital while attempting to isolate the population from foreign influence, marking the start of China's export boom. NUMBER 5 RED CAPITALISTS AND SMUGGLERS Colleague Anne Stevenson-Yang, Wild Ride. Following the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, China reopened to investment in 1992, giving rise to "red capitalists"—often the children of party officials who traded political access for equity. As the central government lost control over local corruption and smuggling rings, it launched "Golden Projects" to digitize and centralize authority over customs and taxes. To avert a banking collapse in 1998, the state created asset management companies to absorb bad loans, effectively rolling over massive debt. NUMBER 6 GHOST CITIES AND THE STIMULUS TRAP Colleague Anne Stevenson-Yang, Wild Ride. China's growth model shifted toward massive infrastructure spending, resulting in "ghost cities" and replica Western towns built to inflate GDP rather than house people. This "Potemkin culture" peaked during the 2008 Olympics, where facades were painted to impress foreigners. To counter the global financial crisis, Beijing flooded the economy with loans, fueling a real estate bubble that consumed more cement in three years than the US did in a century, creating unsustainable debt. NUMBER 7 STAGNATION UNDER SURVEILLANCE Colleague Anne Stevenson-Yang, Wild Ride. The severe lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic shattered consumer confidence, leaving citizens insecure and unwilling to spend, which stalled economic recovery. Local governments, cut off from credit and burdened by debt, struggle to provide basic services. Faced with economic stagnation, Xi Jinping has rejected market liberalization in favor of increased surveillance and control, prioritizing regime security over resolving the structural debt crisis or restoring the dynamism of previous decades. NUMBER 8 FAMINE AND FLIGHT TO FREEDOM Colleague Mark Clifford, The Troublemaker. Jimmy Lai was born into a wealthy family that lost everything to the Communist revolution, forcing his father to flee to Hong Kong while his mother endured labor camps. Left behind, Lai survived as a child laborer during a devastating famine where he was perpetually hungry. A chance encounter with a traveler who gave him a chocolate bar inspired him to escape to Hong Kong, the "land of chocolate," stowing away on a boat at age twelve. NUMBER 9 THE FACTORY GUY Colleague Mark Clifford, The Troublemaker. By 1975, Jimmy Lai had risen from a child laborer to a factory owner, purchasing a bankrupt garment facility using stock market profits. Despite being a primary school dropout who learned English from a dictionary, Lai succeeded through relentless work and charm. He capitalized on the boom in American retail sourcing, winning orders from Kmart by producing samples overnight and eventually building Comitex into a leading sweater manufacturer, embodying the Hong Kong dream. NUMBER 10 CONSCIENCE AND CONVERSION Colleague Mark Clifford, The Troublemaker. The 1989 Tiananmen Squaremassacre radicalized Lai, who transitioned from textiles to media, founding Next magazine and Apple Daily to champion democracy. Realizing the brutality of the Chinese Communist Party, he used his wealth to support the student movement and expose regime corruption. As the 1997 handover approached, Lai converted to Catholicism, influenced by his wife and pro-democracy peers, seeking spiritual protection and a moral anchor against the coming political storm. NUMBER 11 PRISON AND LAWFARE Colleague Mark Clifford, The Troublemaker. Following the 2020 National Security Law, authorities raided Apple Daily, froze its assets, and arrested Lai, forcing the newspaper to close. Despite having the means to flee, Lai chose to stay and face imprisonment as a testament to his principles. Now held in solitary confinement, he is subjected to "lawfare"—sham legal proceedings designed to silence him—while he spends his time sketching religious images, remaining a symbol of resistance against Beijing's tyranny. NUMBER 12 FOUNDING OPENAI Colleague Keach Hagey, The Optimist. In 2016, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and Ilya Sutskever founded OpenAI as a nonprofit research lab to develop safe artificial general intelligence (AGI). Backed by investors like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, the organization aimed to be a counterweight to Google's DeepMind, which was driven by profit. The team relied on massive computing power provided by GPUs—originally designed for video games—to train neural networks, recruiting top talent like Sutskever to lead their scientific efforts. NUMBER 13 THE ROOTS OF AMBITION Colleague Keach Hagey, The Optimist. Sam Altman grew up in St. Louis, the son of an idealistic developer and a driven dermatologist mother who instilled ambition and resilience in her children. Altmanattended the progressive John Burroughs School, where his intellect and charisma flourished, allowing him to connect with people on any topic. Though he was a tech enthusiast, his ability to charm others defined him early on, foreshadowing his future as a master persuader in Silicon Valley. NUMBER 14 SILICON VALLEY KINGMAKER Colleague Keach Hagey, The Optimist. At Stanford, Altman co-founded Loopt, a location-sharing app that won him a meeting with Steve Jobs and a spot in the App Store launch. While Loopt was not a commercial success, the experience taught Altman that his true talent lay in investing and spotting future trends rather than coding. He eventually succeeded Paul Graham as president of Y Combinator, becoming a powerful figure in Silicon Valley who could convince skeptics like Peter Thiel to back his visions. NUMBER 15 THE BLIP AND THE FUTURE Colleague Keach Hagey, The Optimist. The viral success of ChatGPT shifted OpenAI's focus from safety to commercialization, despite early internal warnings about the existential risks of AGI. Tensions over safety and Altman's management style led to a "blip" where the nonprofit board fired him, only for him to be quickly reinstated due to employee loyalty. Elon Musk, having lost a power struggle for control of the organization, severed ties, leaving Altman to lead the race toward AGI. NUMBER 16

The National Security Hour with Major Fred Galvin – Once the wealthiest nation in Latin America, Venezuela has been reduced to authoritarian rule, economic ruin, and criminal governance under Nicolás Maduro. And into that collapse stepped China—buying oil, gold, rare-earth minerals, and political loyalty in exchange for billions in loans that turned a sovereign nation into a CCP client state...

Kate Adie introduces stories from Syria, China, the USA, Greece and Brazil.In the devastated Syrian district of Ghouta, a man calls out from the ruins to our correspondent Lyse Doucet and tells the story of how he is rebuilding his home - and his life - after the fall of the Assad regime.Chinese ambition continues to strive for pole position in the global pecking order as it makes advances in green energy, artificial intelligence, and military might – but what could be its Achilles heel? Laura Bicker looks at the challenges facing Beijing in the year ahead.It's nearly a year since Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States – a victory built around unquestioning loyalty among his MAGA base. But some Republican voters are now beginning to question the effectiveness of some of his policies. Tom Bateman reports from New Orleans.An outbreak of sheep pox in Greece, which began in the Summer of 2024, has seen a surge in cases over recent months with mass culling affecting farmers across the country - more than 400,000 sheep and goats have been killed so far. Hester Underhill travelled to the agricultural heartland of Thessaly.In Brazil, a group of industrial agriculture companies are trying to overturn a landmark moratorium on trading soybeans grown on newly deforested Amazon land - a policy said to have said thousands of hectares from the chainsaws. Justin Rowlatt gets a bird's eye view on the issue.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison

The National Security Hour with Major Fred Galvin – Once the wealthiest nation in Latin America, Venezuela has been reduced to authoritarian rule, economic ruin, and criminal governance under Nicolás Maduro. And into that collapse stepped China—buying oil, gold, rare-earth minerals, and political loyalty in exchange for billions in loans that turned a sovereign nation into a CCP client state...

PREVIEW JIMMY LAI: THE TROUBLEMAKER VS. BEIJING Colleague Mark Clifford. Mark Clifford details the history of Jimmy Lai, a billionaire who risked his fortune to challenge the Chinese regime. Despite Beijing closing his stores in 1994, Lai funded Apple Daily and knowingly faced imprisonment to advocate for freedom, characterizing himself as a persistent "troublemaker." 1930 HONG KONG

THE MOVE TO BEIJING AND XI ZHONGXUN'S 1962 PURGE Colleague Joseph Torigian. This segment explains that the book title comes from Mao's praise of Xi Zhongxun for prioritizing the party despite suffering. It traces the family's move to Beijing, the birth of "favorite son" Xi Jinping, and the father's complex loyalty to Mao. Torigiandetails Xi Zhongxun's 1962 purge, which foreshadowed the Cultural Revolution; he was removed for supporting a novel about martyr Liu Zhidan, which Mao viewed as a challenge. NUMBER 12

PREVIEW THE PREDETERMINED VERDICT FOR JIMMY LAI Colleague Mark Clifford. Clifford reports that Jimmy Lai's conviction is inevitable due to instructions from Beijing, despite a lack of evidence beyond his journalism. With the trial concluding, Clifford anticipates the 77-year-old will receive a sentence tantamount to life imprisonment, cementing his status as "public enemy number one." 1930S HONG KONG HARBOR.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—new reporting from The New York Times pulls back the curtain on Russia's war machine, revealing a system built on abuse, coercion, and the ruthless exploitation of its own soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Later in the show—fresh warning signs from Beijing, as Xi Jinping uses his New Year's speech to double down on Taiwan, declaring reunification inevitable after a round of large-scale Chinese military exercises. Plus—new details from President Trump's meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu suggest Israel is already floating the idea of a second round of strikes against Iran. And in today's Back of the Brief—Finland seizes a cargo vessel suspected of damaging a vital undersea cable linking two NATO neighbors. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Glorify: Feel closer to God this year with Glorify—get full access for just $29.99 when you download the app now at https://glorify-app.com/PDB.  Stash Financial: Don't Let your money sit around. Go to https://get.stash.com/PDB to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Sinica, recorded at Yale University, I speak with Michael Brenes and Van Jackson, coauthors of The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Democracy. Their argument is that framing the U.S.-China relationship as geopolitical rivalry has become more than just a foreign policy orientation — it's a domestic political project that reshapes budgets, norms, and coalitions in ways that actively harm American democracy and the American people. Rivalry narrows political possibility, makes dissent suspect, encourages neo-McCarthyism (the China Initiative, profiling of Chinese Americans), produces anti-AAPI hate, and redirects public investment away from social welfare and into defense spending through what they call "national security Keynesianism."Mike is interim director of the Brady Johnson Program in Grand Strategy at Yale, while Van is a senior lecturer in international relations at Victoria University of Wellington and host of the Un-Diplomatic Podcast. We discuss the genesis of their collaboration during the Biden administration, how they navigate China as a puzzle for the American left, canonical misrememberings of the Cold War that distort current China policy, the security dilemma feedback loop between Washington and Beijing, why defense-heavy stimulus is terrible at job creation, how rivalry politics weakens democracy, recent polling showing a shift toward engagement, and their vision for a "geopolitics of peace" anchored in Sino-U.S. détente 2.0.5:47 – The genesis of the book: recognizing Biden's Cold War liberalism 11:26 – How they approached writing together from different disciplinary homes 13:20 – Navigating China as a puzzle for the American left21:39 – How great power competition hardened from analytical framework into ideology 28:15 – Mike on two canonical misrememberings of the Cold War 33:18 – Van on the security dilemma and the nuclear feedback loop 39:55 – National security Keynesianism: why defense spending is bad at job creation 44:38 – How rivalry politics weakens democracy and securitizes dissent 48:09 – Building durable coalitions for restraint-oriented statecraft 51:27 – Has the post-COVID moral panic actually abated? 53:27 – The master narrative we need: a geopolitics of peace 55:29 – Associative balancing: achieving equilibrium through accommodation, not armsRecommendations:Van: The Long Twentieth Century by Giovanni Arrighi Mike: The World of the Cold War: 1945-1991 by Vladislav Zubok Kaiser: Pluribus (Apple TV series by Vince Gilligan)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Episode 121, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso welcome Craig Singleton, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former US diplomat, to examine Taiwan's critical energy vulnerability and China's gray zone coercion strategies. Singleton, co-author of FDD's recent report “Maritime Protection of Taiwan's Energy Vulnerability,” reveals how Taiwan's mere 10-day supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) creates an Achilles heel Beijing could exploit without firing a shot - and why semiconductor supply chains, global economies, and US deterrence strategy all hang in the balance.Taiwan's Energy Crisis: 10 Days to DisasterTaiwan imports 90% of its energy, with over half arriving by sea as LNG from suppliers who may be susceptible to PRC coercion. Through extensive war gaming featuring participants from Taiwan's National Security Council, Japan, Australia and former Trump administration officials including Matt Pottinger, Singleton's team discovered Taiwan would face “Sophie's Choice” dilemmas within two weeks of a Chinese quarantine. The scenario revealed that energy companies would be pressured to comply with new and onerous requirements, while diplomatic pressure to reduce just one LNG shipment per week could trigger cascading blackouts and force Taiwan to choose between powering hospitals or semiconductor fabrication plants.​Quarantine vs. Blockade: The Gray Zone AdvantageSingleton explains the critical distinction between blockades - which carry international legal consequences and can activate UN responses - and quarantines, which exist in “squishy” legal territory that China deliberately exploits. During war gaming, Singleton playing Xi Jinping accomplished every objective without triggering US red lines by characterizing aggressive actions as “safety inspections” and “counter-piracy operations,” language already familiar from South China Sea operations. This asymmetric approach keeps American responses in “off” mode while systematically degrading Taiwan's resilience through political warfare and disinformation campaigns.​Semiconductor Leverage and Allied ResponseWhen Taiwan's war game participants announced they would cut power to TSMC to force international intervention, it represented a mic-drop moment - Taiwan exercising agency by threatening global semiconductor supply chains. The scenario exposed uncomfortable truths about allied commitment, with Japan able to weather the crisis due to substantial LNG reserves, while Australia's involvement remained uncertain despite AUKUS commitments. Singleton argues classic deterrence models map poorly onto gray zone operations, and reestablishing deterrence after allowing coercion to proceed requires “outsized” responses that current political will may not support.​Solutions: From LNG Diversification to Nuclear ReactorsSingleton advocates for increased US LNG exports to Taiwan, enhanced energy storage through hardened mountain facilities and floating terminals, and reconsideration of small modular reactors (SMRs) at key government and military sites - potentially creating a deterrent effect against Chinese targeting due to nuclear fallout risks. The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act's increase from $300 million to $1 billion in foreign military financing for Taiwan represents progress, but energy resilience remains the critical vulnerability China will exploit.

On today's podcast:1) Zohran Mamdani unapologetically promised to lead New York City as a democratic socialist during a frigid inauguration ceremony on the steps of City Hall, a warning to those who believed he might moderate his positions after taking office. The nearly two-hour long event Thursday featured speeches by two of the US’s most liberal members of Congress, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders. New York Attorney General Letitia James, a frequent target of President Trump, also had a speaking role. The ceremony served as a not-so-subtle statement of resistance to White House policies from the nation’s largest city.2) The Trump administration stepped up a pressure campaign against Venezuela’s oil exports by sanctioning companies based in Hong Kong and mainland China, along with related oil tankers it accused of evading restrictions. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control on Wednesday added four companies with links to Venezuela’s oil industry to its specially designated nationals and blocked persons list, while also sanctioning four vessels connected with those firms. The US already has a list of vessels and companies under sanction for their connections to Venezuela’s oil trade. But targeting Chinese firms doing business there is rare, and could be a signal to Beijing to steer clear of the stand-off between the Trump administration and the regime of Nicolás Maduro. China is Venezuela’s biggest customer for oil exports, which represent about 95% of Venezuela’s revenue.3) President Trump pledged in a late night social media post that the US will come to the rescue of Iranian protesters if they are attacked by Islamic Republic authorities. The post, around 3 a.m. Washington and late morning in Iran on Friday, comes after protests erupted this week in Tehran after the currency slumped to a record low, worsening an economic crisis in a country already wracked by sanctions. Demonstrations have since spread to other parts of the country, setting off clashes between civilians and security forces. Trump didn’t provide any specifics on what actions he would consider taking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode hits hard on the raw frustration boiling over in America as 2025 ends: fraud exposed everywhere, from massive Minnesota voter registrations processed online with zero proof of citizenship to billions siphoned off by NGOs and Somali-style scams in multiple states. President Trump calls out the injustice against Tina Peters on Truth Social, slamming Colorado for ignoring his December pardon of the Gold Star Mom jailed for nine years just for demanding honest elections yet she remains locked up while the system protects the real crooks. We're at a tipping point: only 24% of Americans are satisfied with the country's direction, a steep drop showing outrage over stolen voices, no arrests for the big players, and endless bullshit from the FBI on everything from J6 pipe bombers to election integrity.Guest geopolitical expert Halsey English joins to break it down: Who's really blocking Trump from holding treasonous actors accountable? With escalating U.S. actions against Venezuelan drug ops (tied to China), Beijing's Taiwan drills testing resolve, and Venezuela as a potential proxy flashpoint, is domestic rot deep state sabotage, weaponized agencies, and institutional defiance dooming America to fail, or can we still turn the corner before it's too late?From Elon's fraud estimates to whistleblowers in Ohio and Massachusetts, Andy Frisella's epic rant, and the growing calls to stop paying taxes altogether, this show lays bare the betrayal: hardworking Americans getting screwed while the swamp laughs. The people have had enough fraud, lies, and inaction are pushing us off the cliff. Tune in for unfiltered truth, hard questions, and no punches pulled. America First or we lose it all.

The biggest questions in U.S. foreign policy today tend to be about China. Policymakers and analysts argue over the implications of China's rise, the extent of its ambitions, the nature of its economic influence, and the meaning of its growing military strength. Underlying these arguments is a widespread sense that where Beijing once seemed likely to slot comfortably into a U.S.-led international order, it now poses a profound challenge to American interests. No one brings more perspective to these arguments than the historian Odd Arne Westad. In a series of essays in Foreign Affairs over the past few years, Westad has explored the drivers of China's foreign policy, its approach to global power, and its fraught ties with the United States. He sees in the long arc of Chinese and global history a stark warning about the potential for conflict, including a war between China and the United States. But Westad also sees in this history lessons for policymakers today about how to avert such an outcome. Dan Kurtz-Phelan spoke to Westad about China's complicated past, about how that history is defining its role as a great power, and about the paths both to war and to peace in the years ahead.   You can find sources, transcripts, and more episodes of The Foreign Affairs Interview at https://www.foreignaffairs.com/podcasts/foreign-affairs-interview.

Así celebraron millones de personas la llegada del 2026 de Nueva York a Beijing. El papa León XIV hizo un llamado al perdón y el entendimiento en su primera misa del año. Trump retira a la Guardia Nacional de Chicago, Los Ángeles y Portland.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It might be a new year but tensions in the Taiwan strait continue as Beijing aggressively asserts its presence. China has recently launched a military exercise warning against Taiwan independence, surrounding the East Asian Island nation with army, naval, air and rocket force units.  Joining Nic Healey on Nightlife is Bang Xiao, a journalist at ABC's Asia Pacific Newsroom and supervising producer for the ABC Chinese in-language service at ABC News.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this New Year's Eve Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan delivers major economic updates, exposes collapsing green energy narratives, explains the White House's aggressive new asylum strategy, and revisits the explosive Somali fraud scandal in Minnesota that is now dominating national politics. He closes with a reflection on truth, power, and why elites work so hard to stop Americans from asking hard questions. Good News for Your Wallet: Pending home sales jumped 3.3 percent in November, the strongest showing in three years, driven by rising wages and lower mortgage rates. Rents are falling across most major cities, creating the most renter-friendly market in at least a decade. HUD data shows that two-thirds of rental demand came from the foreign-born, meaning deportations and self deportations are directly increasing housing supply and lowering prices for native born Americans. The Cheap Labor Myth Collapses: After more than two and a half million illegal migrants have left the country, GDP and wages are rising while rents and crime fall. Bryan argues Americans were lied to for decades by elites who claimed cheap foreign labor was necessary. The data now shows the opposite, and he calls the moment revolutionary. Green Energy Reality Check: China's renewable energy boom is largely a mirage, with many wind and solar projects never connected to the grid. Beijing is simultaneously expanding coal plants across Southeast Asia. Global wind speeds and solar efficiency are declining, and Japan is restricting solar farms for environmental and aesthetic reasons. Bryan says the global green movement is now in retreat. Trump's New Asylum Strategy: The White House is canceling large numbers of asylum claims and sending others to third countries like South Sudan or Palau while cases are reviewed. The administration says most asylum claims are fraudulent and designed to exploit loopholes. Democrats accuse Trump of abandoning human rights. DOJ Targets DEI Programs: The Justice Department is using the False Claims Act to pressure federal contractors to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. Companies must either eliminate DEI or face massive fines for defrauding the government. Universities Face a Financial Shake-Up: The Trump administration wants universities and venture capital firms to share profits from taxpayer-funded research. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is pushing for equity stakes or cash returns when patents are commercialized. Elon Musk Enters the Midterm Fight: Despite past clashes with Republicans, Elon Musk says he will spend hundreds of millions of dollars to help the GOP keep Congress. He cites fears of Democrat censorship, economic control, and what he calls ideological extremism. Minnesota's Somali Fraud Scandal Explodes: Federal investigators say Somali-run nonprofits defrauded taxpayers of at least nine billion dollars through fake daycares, autism services, food programs, and Medicaid scams. Money funded luxury lifestyles, Islamist terror groups, and Democratic campaigns. Governor Tim Walz halted earlier investigations after activists accused the state of racism. A Somali academic told the New York Times that fraud is culturally encouraged, a statement Walz has avoided addressing. Bryan explains why Elon Musk now calls the governor "Traitor Tim." A New Year's Reflection: Bryan closes by urging listeners to reject elite deflections and keep demanding the truth. He argues that the real battle ahead is not left versus right, but truth versus lies, and promises that this podcast will continue to challenge power with facts, logic, and reason in the year ahead.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: pending home sales rent decline deportations, cheap labor myth wages GDP, China coal expansion fake green energy, Trump asylum third country policy, DOJ False Claims Act DEI, university patent profit sharing Lutnick, Elon Musk GOP midterms funding, Minnesota Somali fraud nine billion dollars, Tim Walz investigation, al Shabaab terror funding

Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links —Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

US BOLSTERS PACIFIC SOCIETAL RESISTANCE AS CHINA ENTRENCHES IN PALAU AND YAPColleague Cleo Paskal. Cleo Paskal details the intensifying struggle for influence in Oceania, specifically regarding Palau and Yap, which are vital for defending the corridor between Hawaii and the Philippines. In Palau, a new comprehensive agreement aims to counter China's "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive activities" by strengthening the island's law enforcement and healthcare systems to build "societal resistance." This partnership, which notably involves Palau accepting US deportees, represents a strategic shift from purely kinetic defense to political warfare, helping the nation block Chinese organized crime and preserve sovereignty. Conversely, in Yap, despite a new US commitment of nearly $1.5 billion for dual-use infrastructure, Chinese state-linked entities are aggressively embedding themselves. By underbidding on projects like rebuilding a bridge and an Imperial Japanese runway on Woleai, Beijing is effectively subsidizing expansion to gain leverage over local elites during critical access negotiations. 1900 PALAU

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan covers the first confirmed U.S. ground strike inside Venezuela, escalating threats between Washington and Tehran, high-stakes peace negotiations over Ukraine, and a wide-ranging listener Q&A that spans Africa, Europe, and promising medical breakthroughs. U.S. Destroys Venezuelan Port Facility: President Trump confirmed that U.S. forces destroyed a port facility used by the Maduro regime to load drug trafficking boats. Reporting from Axios and CNN indicates the strike targeted land-based infrastructure, marking a major escalation beyond maritime interdictions. Bryan explains that the CIA and U.S. Special Forces were almost certainly involved and that the attack was meant to signal to Maduro that Washington has deep intelligence access and is prepared to keep striking unless a deal is reached. Risks of Retaliation and Global Entanglement: Bryan warns that a cornered Maduro may turn to sabotage operations inside the United States using narco gangs like Tren de Aragua. He also outlines less likely but more dangerous scenarios involving Chinese or Russian support, noting that Venezuela owes Beijing roughly $70 billion. Bryan argues Trump likely holds the advantage, but the situation remains volatile. Trump Threatens New Strikes on Iran: Following talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump said additional U.S. airstrikes are possible if Iran advances its nuclear or ballistic missile programs. For the first time, Washington appears equally focused on Iran's missile capabilities, aligning more closely with Israel's long held concerns. Iran's president responded by declaring a full-scale war with the United States and Israel. Iranian Assassination Plot Uncovered: The FBI is investigating an Iranian Quds Force team allegedly operating inside the United States to kidnap or assassinate American officials, including President Trump. Bryan connects the threat to mounting unrest inside Iran, where currency collapse, water shortages, and street protests are pushing the regime toward desperation. Ukraine Seeks Long-Term U.S. Security Guarantees: President Zelenskyy asked for a fifty-year American security guarantee as part of any peace deal with Russia. Trump countered with an offer of fifteen years. Bryan explains why such guarantees could entangle the United States in future wars and spark backlash from Trump's America First base, especially if paired with new conflicts in Iran and Venezuela. Listener Questions and Medical Good News: Bryan answers listener questions on Somaliland, European cultural decline, and why Israel's recognition of Somaliland has ignited regional tensions. He closes with encouraging medical updates on multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes, highlighting research that links oral health, cellular energy balance, and natural sunlight exposure to improved outcomes.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Venezuela port strike CIA Special Forces, Maduro narco boats Tren de Aragua, Trump Iran missile nuclear threats, Iranian assassination plot Quds Force FBI, Ukraine peace talks security guarantee, Zelenskyy Trump fifteen years, Somaliland Israel recognition Horn of Africa, Europe cultural decline cousin marriage, MS oral bacteria research, NAD Alzheimer's study, sunlight diabetes glucose control

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: China and Russia appear closer than ever—but the relationship is far from equal. We'll break down how Beijing is exploiting Russia's growing dependence as the war in Ukraine drags on, turning Moscow's isolation into long-term leverage for China. Christmas Day airstrikes in Nigeria. The U.S. hits Islamic State targets hard, as President Trump signals there is a limit to how long the slaughter of Christians will be tolerated. Israel announces it has killed a member of Iran's elite Quds Force, allegedly involved in planning attacks across the region. And in today's Back of the Brief—Israel becomes the first country to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent state, drawing sharp condemnation from the international community. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com.  Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.  YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Stash Financial: Don't Let your money sit around. Go to https://get.stash.com/PDB to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices