Podcasts about cilia flores

Diego Sequera, award winning journalist and writer based in Caracas, Venezuela, discusses the recent kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and former member of the National Assembly, Cilia Flores, delving into Venezuela's complex historical landscape. He begins with the Caracazo uprising of 1989, which revealed deep socioeconomic inequalities while uniting the working class against President Carlos Andrés Pérez's austerity measures. Sequera notes that this context set the stage for the rise of Chavismo, notably through Hugo Chávez's transformation from a coup leader to an elected president by 1999. Sequera critiques the neoliberal policies, growing foreign debt, and the resulting polarization exacerbated by anti-Communist sentiments while linking Chávez's Bolivarian Revolution to contemporary global conflicts, scrutinizing political figures like Maria Corina Machado for their role in societal divisions. Furthermore, he addresses the role of US foreign policy, detailing the sanctions imposed, starting with the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 and culminating in the 2015 “Obama decree” ((Executive Order 13692), which targeted the Venezuelan oil industry ultimately aiming to destabilise the country both economically and politically. Sequera critically analyzes the rhetoric of US politicians who categorize Venezuela as a “narco-state” and suggest foreign interference in the 2020 US elections, as he draws parallels between Venezuela, Iran, and Gaza in critiquing the selective moral blindness of Western nations towards their participation in human rights abuses and loss of life in these regions, reflecting on the broader implications of foreign policy decisions on Venezuela's plight. Get full access to Savage Minds at savageminds.substack.com/subscribe

De chofer de autobús a enemigo número uno de EE.UU. La historia de Nicolás Maduro es más extraña de lo que parece. En este video repasamos su ascenso, sus alianzas, las polémicas que lo rodearon y el momento exacto en el que todo cambió. Una historia de poder, errores, provocaciones y consecuencias que marcarán el futuro de Venezuela. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After months of building pressure around Venezuela, the Trump administration has officially captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

After months of building pressure around Venezuela, the Trump administration has officially captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

We start the week in Minneapolis where a 37-year-old woman was shot and killed by an ICE officer on Wednesday. Authorities claim the woman attacked officers while they were digging their car out of the snow, but video from the scene and the municipal officials heavily dispute that claim.This week GOP lawmakers from Minnesota testified at a hastily-scheduled House Oversight Committee hearing about welfare fraud scandal allegations in their state. And on Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services froze $10 billion in five states including Minnesota, New York, California, Illinois and Colorado. That funding covers childcare subsidies, cash support for low-income families, and other social services.Meanwhile, its been nearly one week since Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by U.S. forces and brought to face charges of narco-terrorism on American soil.And the Trump administration's actions in Venezuela are having ripple effects across the globe. Europe is on edge as the U.S president this week suggested the territory could be in his crosshairs next, raising questions about America's relationship with NATO.Also this week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending U.S. support for global 66 organizations, agencies, and commissions, following his administration's review of participation in and funding for all international organizations.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Kate Adie introduces stories from Venezuela, the United States, Iran, India and Germany.The capture of Nicolas Maduro following America's night-time military operation in Venezuela caught the world off-guard. Quickly transported to New York, Mr Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will now face trial. Will Grant reflects on his own encounters with Maduro and his legacy in Venezuela.Miami is home to the largest Venezuelan community in the United States, and hundreds of people took to the streets to celebrate the capture of Nicolas Maduro. Bernd Debusmann was in Miami, capturing the mood there in the hours after the raid on Caracas.A wave of protests has spread rapidly across Iran over the last fortnight, fuelled by anger over the country's economy. Now the protests have taken on a stronger anti-government tone. BBC Persian's Mahshid Hosseini has been speaking to protesters in Tehran.Nagaland in northeast India is the scene of an annual stone-pulling festival, which brings together several of the region's ethnic tribes. The event conveys a message of unity in a state once known for its fierce infighting. Simon Broughton watched on, while keeping a safe distance from the moving monolith.Germany is set to double its defence spending over the next five years, and for the first time in decades arms production is to resume in Berlin. Lucy Ash investigates the row over a repurposed factory in the northern suburb of Wedding, where locals are worried for the future.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison

Nuacht Mhall. Príomhscéalta na seachtaine, léite go mall.*Inniu an deichiú lá de mhí Eanáir. Is mise Alanna Ní Ghallachóir.Tá Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá tar éis ionsaí a dhéanamh ar Veiniséala agus Uachtarán Veineséala Nicolás Maduro a ghabhadh, agus Donald Trump ag móidiú “an tír a reáchtáil” go dtí go bhfuil próiseas aistrithe cumhachta cuí i bhfeidhm. Gabhadh ceannaire Veiniséala, atá de chuid na heite clé, agus a bhean chéile ag a gcompún agus eitlíodh go dtí na Stáit Aontaithe iad, mar chuid d'oibríocht dhrámatúil thar oíche, ina bhfacthas ionsaithe ar bhunáiteanna míleata fosta. Ó shin, cuireadh coireanna airm agus drugaí i leith Maduro agus a mhná Cilia Flores i Nua Eabhrac. Rinneadh cáineadh idirnáisiúnta ar an ionsaí. Dúirt an Teach Bán go mbeidh smacht ag na Stáit Aontaithe ar ola Veiniséala, atá faoi smachtbhanna faoi láthair, agus iad ag cur deireadh le srianta ar amhola sna margaí domhanda faoi láthair. Chuir titim sneachta agus aimsir shioctha isteach go mór ar an taisteal san Eoraip, agus seisear ar a laghad a cailleadh i dtimpistí a bhí ceangailte leis an drochaimsir ar an mhór-roinn. Bhí na céadta eitiltí ar ceal ar fud na hEorpa, leis na mílte daoine fágtha ag aerfoirt in Amsterdam agus Páras. Déardaoin, fógraíodh go raibh foláireamh buí i bhfeidhm i gCiarraí, Corcaigh, Port Láirge agus Loch Garman, mar gheall go raibh Stoirm Goretti ag dul trasna na tíre, ach dúirt Met Éireann “nach ríshuntasach” d'Éirinn a bhí an córas aimsire a bhí bainte le Stoirm Goretti. In iar-dheisceart Shasana, bhí rabhadh dearg i bhfeidhm, agus thug an Met Office foláireamh go raibh “contúirt bháis mar gheall ar raic san aer” ar Oileáin na Scillí agus i gCorn na Breataine.  Tá roinnt focail speisialta a bhfuil tionchar ar leith acu ar mhadaidh - ocras, páirc, siúl, agus, go deimhin, dinnéar! Ach tá grúpa cainíneach tallannach ann agus is dóigh go bhfuil cumas den scoth acu ag foghlaim stór focal an duine, agus iad abálta teanga a fhoghlaim ag cúléisteacht, sa bhealach céanna ina ndéanann tachráin. Seo maidir le taighde nua atá foilsithe san irisleabhar “Science”, a léiríonn go bhfuil na “foghlaimeoirí focal tallanacha” cainíneacha seo, atá in ann ainmnithe bréagán a fhoghlaim fríd traenáil cheana féin, in ann focail a thabháirt leo gan ach comhrá a chluinstin sa chúlra. Dúirt Clive Wynne, iompraí cainíneach ag Ollscoil Stáit Arizona go “ndearnadh go han-mhaith” an taighde, ach chuir sé comhairle ar dhaoine gur ainmhithe “fíor-eisceachtúla” a bhí iontu agus nár cheart dóibh a bheith ag tnúth le sárbhuanna ó pheataí teaghlaigh.*Léirithe ag Conradh na Gaeilge i Londain. Tá an script ar fáil i d'aip phodchraolta.*GLUAISpróiseas aistrithe cumhachta - power transfer processcompún - compoundfoláireamh - alertraic - debristachráin - small kidsiompraí cainíneach - canine behaviourist

Repasamos la actualidad de la semana con Íñigo Domínguez, Mathieu de Taillac, Ana Fuentes y Hans-Günter Kellner una semana después del  ataque perpetrado por Estados Unidos en Caracas que culminó con el secuestro del presidente venezolano Nicolás Maduro y su esposa Cilia Flores. Sumamos a la conversación al periodista Idafe Martín, que acaba de publicar 'El año del Atlántico: Crónica ficticia de la caída de Donald Trump', un cuento distópico que plantea un intento de la administración estadounidense de tomar enclaves geoestratégicos como las Islas Canarias. 

« L'usage de la force est permis. Mais cet usage de la force doit être encadré par des règles. Sans ces règles, le monde est soumis à la loi du plus fort. » Ainsi s'exprimait Jean-Noël Barrot, ministre des Affaires étrangères français sur France 2 le 4 janvier 2026. 80 ans après la première assemblée générale de l'ONU, les États-Unis, membre permanent du Conseil de sécurité, pratiquent l'ingérence et l'agression envers un autre État, le Venezuela, au mépris des valeurs fondamentales des Nations unies dont la première assemblée générale se déroulait le 10 janvier 1946. Au son de nos archives, je vous propose de revivre cet évènement fondateur pour la sécurité internationale et le maintien de la paix, afin de revenir à la source d'une utopie dont les États précurseurs se sont faits les fossoyeurs. « L'intervention américaine a sapé un principe fondamental du droit international », déclarait le Haut-Commissariat des Nations unies aux droits de l'homme le mardi 6 janvier, plus de 48h après l'intervention américaine au Venezuela ayant conduit à l'arrestation du président Nicolás Maduro et de son épouse, Cilia Flores. Le secrétaire général de l'ONU, Antonio Guterres, avait pour sa part qualifié les faits de « dangereux précédent ». Avec la participation de l'historienne spécialiste de l'ONU Chloé Maurel et l'écrivain et ancien officier Guillaume Ancel. Les livres de Chloé Maurel : - Les Grands Discours à l'ONU, Paris, éditions du Croquant, 2024, préface de Pascal Ory de l'Académie française, postface de Jean Ziegler. - Une brève histoire de l'ONU au fil de ses dirigeants, Paris, éditions du Croquant, 2017, 175 p. - Histoire des idées des Nations unies. L'ONU en 20 notions, Paris, L'Harmattan, 2015, 340 p. La page de Chloé Maurel sur le site de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure Chloé Maurel dans La marche du monde sur les grands discours de l'Unesco   Les livres de Guillaume Ancel préfacés par l'historien Stéphane Audouin-Rouzeau : - Saint-Cyr, à l'école de la Grande Muette, aux éditions Flammarion. - Un casque bleu chez les Khmers rouges, Rwanda, la fin du silence, Vent glacial sur Sarajevo aux éditions Les Belles Lettres. Le blog de Guillaume Ancel ⇒ Blog Pour ne pas subir Pour aller plus loin avec Guillaume Ancel : À lire aussi« Si tu veux la paix, prépare la guerre » À lire aussiGuillaume Ancel, rompre le silence À lire aussiGuillaume Ancel, écrire pour ne pas subir

How long will the United States claim control over Venezuela? “Only time will tell,” President Donald Trump told the New York Times on Wednesday — potentially years. U.S. troops invaded the country over the weekend, kidnapping President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges in New York on Monday. They now sit in a Brooklyn jail, awaiting trial. Trump and administration officials have justified ousting Maduro by claiming it was consistent with the Monroe Doctrine — a doctrine that through the years “has been expanded into something like a universal police warrant that allows the United States to intervene,” says historian Greg Grandin. “Trump has redefined the Monroe Doctrine to mean, the Monroe is as a weapon that the United States can use in order to protect its interests wherever it wants, whenever it wants. So it's a substitute for liberal international law.” This week on the Intercept Briefing, host Jessica Washington discusses the Trump administration's attack on Venezuela, its larger aims of controlling the Western Hemisphere, and bringing Latin America to heel with Grandin, the author of numerous books, including most recently "America, América: A New History of the New World."“There's an affiliation between the Monroe Doctrine and American First nationalism,” says Grandin. “They imagine United States sovereignty expanding well beyond its borders within its hemisphere.” The administration's vision is outlined in the National Security Strategy the White House released in December. “This is a strategy that announces that the Monroe Doctrine is back in the especially bellicose form. But what's also interesting, if you read further, the United States is not withdrawing from any of those old regions. … It's reserving the right to treat the rest of the world like it treats Latin America.” Trump and administration officials — from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a longtime advocate for Venezuelan and Cuban regime change, to White House chief of staff Stephen Miller — have threatened to expand military operations to Colombia, Mexico, and other Latin American countries that don't fall in line. Maureen Tkacik, investigations editor at The American Prospect, who recently wrote a profile of Rubio headlined “The Narco-Terrorist Elite,” also joins the conversation to discuss the former Florida senator's history and ambitions.Tkacik points out that Rubio, a driving force behind Maduro's ouster, represents a wing of the Republican Party fixated on battling nominally left leaders in the region. That mentality is at odds with a key faction of Trump's base, who say they're against foreign intervention because they think the government should keep its attention on U.S. soil.Trump's attack on Venezuela and fixation on so-called “narco-terrorists,” Tkacik says, “represent an attempt to reconcile these two poles — the Steve Bannon guys and the Marco Rubio neocons — that really have different definitions of America First.”Listen to the full conversation of The Intercept Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. If you want to support our work, you can go to theintercept.com/join. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump attacks Venezuela and kidnaps President Nicholas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, and declares that U.S. will be "running" Venezuela. And as we know, it's all about the oil, not drugs or democracy. In our latest we talk with Rodrigo Acuña about the situation on the ground and how Venezuelans are reacting to the attack. Bio//Dr. Rodrigo Acuña (@rodrigoac7) works as an independent journalist/commentator on Latin America and for the NSW Department of Education. You can subscribe to his “Newsletter on Latin America" which we'll put in the show notes. He has been writing on Latin American politics for close to twenty years. He made the documentary ‘Venezuela: The Cost of Challenging an Empire' (2024) with journalist Nicolas Ford. --------------------------------

After more than two years of supporting  genocidal violence in Palestine, the United States is waging war on Venezuela, killing up to 100 people during a January 3 attack, and kidnapping President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Meanwhile, the U.S. is ramping up violence against its own people, with ICE shooting and killing another American citizen, in cold blood and in broad daylight.   The show is made possible only by our volunteer energy, our resolve to keep the people's voices on the air, and by support from our listeners. In this new era of fake corporate news, we have to be and support our own media! Please click here or click on the Support-Donate tab on this website to subscribe for as little as $3 a month. We are so grateful for this small but growing amount of monthly crowdsource funding on Patreon. PATREON NOW HAS A ONE-TIME, ANNUAL DONATION FUNCTION! You can also give a one-time or recurring donation on PayPal. Thank you! “On the Ground: Voices of Resistance from the Nation's Capital” gives a voice to the voiceless 99 percent at the heart of American empire. The award-winning, weekly hour, produced and hosted by Esther Iverem, covers social justice activism about local, national and international issues, with a special emphasis on militarization and war, the police state, the corporate state, environmental justice and the left edge of culture and media. The show is heard on three dozen stations across the United States, on podcast, and is archived on the world wide web at https://onthegroundshow.org/  Please support us on Patreon or Paypal. Links for all ways to support are on our website or at Esther Iverem's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/esther_iverem

Cilia Flores was one of the most powerful figures in Venezuela. She and Nicolas Maduro met through their close connection to Hugo Chavez and once Maduro succeeded him as president, she helped him maintain his more than a decade-long grip on power. Flores has been accused of corruption, nepotism, and links to organised crime and has been sanctioned by the US and Canada. Niall is joined by Venezuelan-American journalist Jose Enrique Arrioja, who is the managing editor of Americas Quarterly and has covered politics in Latin America for over two decades. They discuss why Flores was such a central figure to the Maduro regime. Producer: Natalie Ktena Editor: Wendy Parker

We are returning from our winter holidays feeling refreshed, renewed, and optimistic about 2026. Ha ha ha ha! No, but seriously, Trump's capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores was the New Year's gift that Europe certainly did not ask for, and it raises a host of alarming questions. Among them: Does this move grant a permission slip for Vladimir Putin to encroach even further into Europe? And what does this mean for Greenland?    As we tiptoe into the year ahead with heaps of anxiety about what it might have in store, we wanted to get some perspective from Alberto Alemanno, professor of EU law, founder of The Good Lobby, and longtime friend of the podcast. Alberto always has a smart, fresh perspective on what's happening on the continent, and despite being jetlagged this week, he certainly did not disappoint.   We're also talking this week about Bulgaria's adoption of the euro—a move that comes with some risks, but about which we are cautiously optimistic—and about the 308,000 Greek students who recently lost their student status. This week's Inspiration Station recommendations are Rosa Balistreri's song “Curri Cavaddu Miu”, the French-owned streaming platform Qobuz, which offers a potentially more ethical alternative to Spotify, and going to the dentist in other countries (makes more sense if you listen in).   Resources for this episode: “Hitting record highs: unpacking support for the euro” – European Central Bank, 2025 Alberto's excellent and information-rich Instagram, LinkedIn, and BlueSky accounts  “Rosa Balistreri” – Enciclopedia Delle Donne  Even more songs by Rosa Balistreri Instagram post by @patriciana comparing the ethics, content, and costs of various streaming platforms    Stride trepidatiously into the new year with The Europeans in your inbox! Our new newsletter, Good Week Bad Week, comes out on Friday mornings. Sign up here.   This podcast was brought to you in cooperation with Euranet Plus, the leading radio network for EU news. But it's contributions from listeners that truly make it all possible—we could not continue to make the show without you! If you like what we do, you can chip in to help us cover our production costs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (in many different currencies), or you can gift a donation to a superfan. We'd also love it if you could tell two friends about this podcast. We think two feels like a reasonable number. Produced by Katz Laszlo and Morgan Childs Mixing and mastering by Wojciech Oleksiak Music by Jim Barne and Mariska Martina YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | hello@europeanspodcast.com

The PG crew is back together and boy, is there news to discuss. Jamie and Sam unpack the Trump administration's brazen kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela and his wife, Cilia Flores: the news from over the weekend, the political context, new president Delcy Rodríguez, the responses from various quarters, the politics of dancing, and the petty reason Trump didn't install opposition leader María Corina Machado. Is "The Donroe Doctrine" the most postmodern thing ever invented by a dying empire as it frantically thrashes about? How should anti-state partisans orient ourselves towards moments like these? What will become of the radical, bottom-up experiments of Venezuela's communes? And what, if anything, is to be done? Note: this episode was recorded before ICE's murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis Geo Maher's book that Jamie mentioned: Building the Commune: Radical Democracy in Venezuela SIGN UP NOW at https://patreon.com/partygirls to get all of our bonus content, Discord access, and a shout out on the pod! Follow us on ALL the Socials: Instagram: @party.girls.pod TikTok: @party.girls.pod Twitter: @partygirlspod BlueSky: @partygirls.bsky.social Leave us a nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you feel so inclined: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/party-girls/id1577239978 https://open.spotify.com/show/71ESqg33NRlEPmDxjbg4rO Executive Producer: Andrew Callaway Producers: Ryan M., Jon B

Following the dramatic capture of the President of Venezuela and his wife by US special forces on January 3rd, The Briefing Room asks what's next for Venezuela? Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores have been indicted on drug trafficking and weapons charges in a New York court while in Venezuela the deputy president, Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn in as the country's interim president. Meanwhile Donald Trump says he is in charge of Venezuela. David Aaronovitch and a panel of Latin American experts discuss who will actually govern Venezuela, what's going to happen with the oil industry and what the implications are for the rest of the region.GUESTS Hal Hodson, Americas editor, The Economist Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America at Chatham House Vanda Felbab-Brown Senior Fellow Foreign Policy, Brookings InstitutionPresenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Caroline Bayley and Kirsteen Knight Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound Engineer: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon

We discuss the US abduction of President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, US ambitions for invading several other Latin American countries, possible takeover of Greenland, the cold blooded murder of Renee Good by ICE agents, and genocide experts expressing worries that transgender Americans are facing genocide at the hands of the US government.

 International Law in TattersShould we be surprised by the decision of President Trump to kidnap President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores? Should we be shocked by his claim that the US will now administer Venezuela or that US Oil companies will manage Venezuela's huge oil reserves? And what of his threats against Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, Greenland, Nigeria and others?The historical reality is that we have seen all of this before. The most brazen example this century was the invasion of Iraq in 2003, under the pretext of the non-existent weapons of mass destruction. The truth then was that US and British interests were primarily concerned with the control of Iraq's oil. The result was a million Iraqi dead and a region torn apart by the subsequent political instability. International law was flagrantly broken. Torture and a brutal occupation followed. The Fellow in the Big PictureOver the Christmas break I watched more television than I do at any other time. Regular readers will know that I'm more of a radio man. RTE Radio, Raidió na Gaeltachta, Raidió Fáilte, Radio Ulster. I listen to these every day. But I like westerns. And there is always a ton of westerns to be seen on television over the Christmas period. Some are old ones featuring Audie Murphy, Gene Audrey, Alan Ladd, John Wayne, Maureen O Hara and the likes.  TG4 usually has a good selection of these.They also show a lot of movies featuring Clint Eastwood. I like his films.  And not just the westerns. Although he first came to our attention in Ballymurphy with Rawhide. Unforgiven was the film of choice this Nollaig with Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman, all in starring roles. And it was followed by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  Irish government should be ashamed2026 began for the people of the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian Occupied Territories with more Israeli attacks by land and sea and air; winter storms that have added to the enormous hardship of people trying to survive in flimsy tents; and the denial of appropriate humanitarian aid.2025 also ended with Israel having killed nearly half of all those journalists killed last year. Reporters Without Borders recorded that 29 reporters were killed by Israeli forces making Israel “the worst enemy of journalists.” 

The FBI is now investigating the shooting death of a woman in South Minneapolis. On Wednesday, following an immigration enforcement operation, an ICE officer shot and killed 37-year-old mother Renee Good while she was in her car. The situation has sparked national outrage and ongoing protests in Minnesota's Twin Cities. MPR News correspondent Matt Sepic joins “Closer Look” to discuss the latest in the ongoing investigation. Plus, fallout continues over President Donald Trump’s military action over Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela and current President of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. Charles Shapiro shares his thoughts on the unfolding situation and questions the Trump Administration’s motives for taking military action against Venezuela. He also shares his thoughts about the next era of leadership in the country. Lastly, Michael J. Moore, a former United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia and former member of the Georgia State Senate, talks about the deadly Minnesota shooting, the duties and responsibilities of ICE agents and possible legal consequences for the ICE agent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cilia Flores’ Role: Far from being a symbolic first lady, Flores is a mastermind behind corruption and drug trafficking. She was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury and linked to major criminal activities, including her nephews’ cocaine smuggling. Western Hemisphere Strategy: The discussion emphasizes the Monroe Doctrine and its modern interpretation under Trump (“Donroe Doctrine”), asserting U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere to counter Russian, Chinese, and Iranian influence. Military Operation: The arrest of Maduro was a highly precise Delta Force mission, compared to past U.S. interventions like Noriega’s capture in Panama. The podcast praises Trump’s decisiveness and military success without U.S. casualties. Regional Impact: Cuba: Faces severe pressure due to loss of Venezuelan oil and the death of Cuban guards during the raid. Other Leftist Regimes: Leaders in Nicaragua, Colombia, and Brazil are considered weakened. Mexico: While not a failed state, concerns about narco-terrorism and water treaty disputes are highlighted. Future of Venezuela: Interim President Delcy Rodríguez is described as another Marxist figure, raising concerns about continuity of corruption. Advocates for free and fair elections to restore stability and attract foreign investment, especially in oil and gold sectors. Venezuela’s vast natural resources make it a prime candidate for rapid economic recovery if governance shifts toward pro-market policies. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first week of the new year, the U.S. launches a dramatic operation in Venezuela that ends with Nicolás Maduro (and Cilia Flores) in U.S. custody, transported to New York to face narco-terorism charges.  Ron and Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) unpack what we know about the raid, why the administration says it happened, and why the real motive may be bigger than oil or drugs.  Then they turn to the hardest questions: legality in a world where "international law” often lacks enforcement, what happens next inside Venezuela as the regime attempts to hold power without Maduro, and whether free and fair elections are even possible while the military and security services that upheld Maduro's rule remain intact.  Finally, they dissect the political reaction, arguing it's possible to demand transparency and a plan without laundering Maduro or aligning with authoritarian propaganda.  Related reading: Who Organized The Pro-Maduro Protests? https://x.com/asranomani/status/2007708749075480885?s=46 POLITICOLOGY+ Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don't miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY politicology.com/donate SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬ Follow Ron and Hagar on X (formerly Twitter): https:/x.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/HagarChemali Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unleashed: The Political News Hour with Nate Cain – A detailed account of the historic U.S. military operation—Operation Absolute Resolve—that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The discussion explores the precision execution involving elite forces, the immediate geopolitical ramifications—including access to vast oil reserves, disruptions to...

The US military attacked the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Saturday and arrested its president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.Find full subtitles for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2026/260107 Practise your reading skills with The Reading Room: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_reading_room Practise your listening skills with The Listening Room: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_listening_room FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters For more of our podcasts, search for these in your podcast app: ✔️ Learning English for Work ✔️ Learning English Grammar ✔️ Learning English Stories

MDJ Script/ Top Stories for January 7th Publish Date:  January 7th Commercial: From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Wednesday, January 7th and Happy Birthday to Kenny Loggins I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal Interstate lane closure advisory for the I-285/I-20 West Interchange Project Infants, toddlers learn, play together in Saturday story time Kennesaw Catholic school sees financial awards, growth in third year of operation All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  BREAK: INGLES 3 STORY 1: Interstate lane closure advisory for the I-285/I-20 West Interchange Project Heads up, drivers: weather permitting, GDOT contractors will be closing lanes around the I-285/I-20 West Interchange for a major reconstruction project. Expect delays, detours, and, let’s be honest, some frustration. The project? It’s a big one—widening ramps, adding collector-distributor lanes, and improving traffic flow. But first, the closures: I-285 Northbound: Cascade to Bolton, nightly Jan. 5–9, with single-lane closures starting at 9 p.m. and double-lane closures at 11 p.m. I-285 Southbound: Donald Lee Hollowell to MLK Jr. Drive, same dates and times, with alternating lane closures. I-20 Westbound: Anderson Ave. to Riverside Parkway, nightly closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. I-20 Eastbound: Riverside Parkway to I-285, alternating lane closures nightly. Flagging operations and pacing will also hit local roads like Collier Drive and Delmar Lane. Check 511ga.org or the Georgia 511 app for real-time updates. And please—slow down, stay alert, and watch for workers. STORY 2: Infants, toddlers learn, play together in Saturday story time  Saturday morning at the Lewis A. Ray Library was pure chaos—the good kind. Ten little ones, from wobbly toddlers to wide-eyed infants, gathered on a colorful mat in the children’s section, ready for story time. Their parents? Mostly trying to keep up. Jess Fulcher, the library’s assistant senior librarian of youth services, led the charge. There were songs (“Wheels on the Bus,” of course), dancing, and two books about big feelings: Mad, Mad Bear and Leo Wakes Up Grumpy. The kids shook maracas, froze mid-dance, and popped bubbles from a machine that sent hundreds floating through the air. “It’s amazing,” Fulcher said, smiling. “I’ve been seeing some of these kids for over a year now. Watching them grow, connect, and learn—it’s the best part of my job.” The library, located at 4500 Oakdale Road, hosts family story time every other Saturday. For details, visit cobbcounty.gov/location/lewis-ray-library. STORY 3: Kennesaw Catholic school sees financial awards, growth in third year of operation  The 2025-26 school year has been a big one for Kennesaw’s Chesterton Academy of Atlanta. Just three years in, this small Catholic high school is growing steadily—and racking up some impressive wins along the way. Founded in 2023, the school is part of the global Chesterton Schools Network, which aims to provide affordable, classical Catholic education. Tuition? $9,185 per year. This year, the network snagged the prestigious $1 million Yass Prize for education innovation, while the Kennesaw campus received a $3,000 grant from the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia to upgrade its art room and cafeteria. From just 10 students in its first year to over 30 now, Chesterton Academy is carving out a special place in Georgia’s Catholic education landscape. For more, visit chestertonatl.org. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.  We’ll be right back. Break: INGLES 3 STORY 4: Cobb lawmakers react to U.S. strike on Venezuela Cobb County lawmakers are weighing in on the U.S. military’s strike in Venezuela, which ended with the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation, ordered by President Trump, has sparked a firestorm of reactions—both praise and sharp criticism. U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville, called the move “decisive and courageous,” hailing it as the end of a “tyrannical regime” and a chance for a brighter future for Venezuela. But not everyone’s cheering. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, slammed the strike, questioning its consistency with Trump’s stance on Ukraine and accusing the administration of prioritizing foreign conflicts over domestic issues. “Why is it okay when we do it?” she asked on X. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta, echoed concerns, demanding clarity on the strike’s legality and its potential to destabilize Venezuela further. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, went even further, calling it a “broken promise” from a president more focused on foreign oil than Americans’ struggles. Locally, the Cobb Democratic Party condemned the strike as “unlawful,” while Cobb GOP President Mary Clarice Hathaway defended Trump’s decision, saying, “Sometimes hard decisions are necessary.” STORY 5: Cobb Police arrest suspect in New Year’s Day homicide   A New Year’s Day stabbing at the Millwood Apartment Complex in Marietta left one man dead and another behind bars. Cobb County Police say they responded to a call around 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 at 300 Pat Mell Road, near Austell Road. When officers arrived, they found 47-year-old Jerry Sampson Jr. with a stab wound. He was rushed to the hospital but didn’t make it. The suspect, 50-year-old Zuberi A. Douglas, was arrested the next day at the same apartment complex where the incident happened. He’s now facing charges, including felony murder. The investigation is ongoing. Got info? Call 770-499-3945. Break: STORY 6: Mac’s Chophouse scores 64 on health inspection, owners say violations are being corrected     Mac’s Chophouse, a Marietta Square favorite, hit a rough patch, scoring a 64 on its health inspection—an unsatisfactory “U” grade. Ouch. Co-owners Randy McCray and Chef Mike Fuller didn’t shy away from the news. “This score doesn’t reflect who we are,” they said, calling most violations “administrative” rather than food safety issues. The inspection cited nine problems, from improper handwashing to black buildup in ice machines. A half-eaten burger on a prep table? Not a great look. McCray admitted, “We fell behind during a busy season.” They’ve since cleaned house—literally—and are prepping for a re-inspection by Jan. 9. STORY 7: Wheeler falls in title game of Hoophall West  Darius Wabbington was unstoppable. He dropped 23 points, grabbed nine boards, and led Sunnyslope to a nail-biting 61-59 win over Wheeler in the Hoophall West Nike Tournament of Champions final on Saturday. Wheeler (11-3), ranked No. 5 by MaxPreps, had a solid run—beating Salesian (CA) and No. 6 Millennium (AZ)—but three games in three days and 1,800 miles of travel caught up with them. Still, they fought. Down 47-45 heading into the fourth, they clawed back to lead 53-51. But Sunnyslope? Ice cold at the line. They hit all 15 free throws, including six clutch ones from Colorado signee Rider Portela, who finished with 14 points. The game was chaos—nine ties, 16 lead changes, and no lead bigger than five. Wheeler’s Amare James (16 points) and Colben Landrew (20 points, six assists) kept it close, but Wabbington’s second-half threes and Sunnyslope’s composure sealed it. Tough loss, but what a game. We’ll have closing comments after this. Break: INGLES 3 Signoff-   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

El pasado sábado todos fuimos testigos de una operación militar que parecía extraída de un guion de Hollywood. Tras varios meses de despliegue en el Caribe, el ejército de EEUU puso en marcha la "Operación Determinación Absoluta" con la que capturó a Nicolás Maduro y Cilia Flores en el Fuerte Tiuna de Caracas. El traslado inmediato de la pareja a una prisión de Nueva York nos regaló unas imágenes impagables, pero el entusiasmo inicial de la rueda de prensa en Mar-a-Lago pronto ha dado paso a algo de incertidumbre sobre el futuro inmediato. A pesar de la euforia de Donald Trump, flanqueado por Marco Rubio y Pete Hegseth, la realidad en las calles de Caracas cuenta una historia distinta. Trump adelantó que Estados Unidos mantendría el control de Venezuela para tutelar la transición política. Pero el hecho es que sin presencia sobre el terreno el control efectivo del país sigue en manos del régimen chavista. Al llevarse solo a Maduro, Trump ha dejado intacto a lo más duro de la cúpula del régimen: Delcy Rodríguez, Vladimir Padrino y Diosdado Cabello. De hecho, la proclamación de Rodríguez como presidenta, respaldada por los órganos represivos de la dictadura, podría indicar que el aparato ha cerrado filas. Trump no ha presentado aún una hoja de ruta en la que se establezca un calendario para la liberación de los presos políticos, el regreso de los opositores exiliados, la celebración de elecciones y el reconocimiento de Edmundo González Urrutia, ganador de las elecciones de 2024, como presidente legítimo del país. Todo lo contrario, Trump desairó innecesariamente a Maria Corina Machado en público esgrimiendo una supuesta falta de apoyo, algo tan sorprendente como incierto ya que Machado y González Urrutia fueron quienes arrasaron en las elecciones. La operación, por lo tanto, no parece que fuese dirigida a que Venezuela recupere la democracia o no, al menos, a corto plazo. Entretanto Trump ha intentado justificar la intervención con el petróleo y la llamada "Doctrina Donroe" (una versión actualizada de la Doctrina Monroe). Pero si todo era por petróleo el negocio no va a ser ni fácil, ni rápido, ni boyante. Con el barril a 60 dólares y una infraestructura en ruinas que requiere una inversión previa de no menos de 100.000 millones de dólares, el crudo venezolano no es el negocio inmediato que la Casa Blanca pregona. Además, la invocación de América como "patio trasero" de EEUU choca con la realidad geopolítica de nuestro tiempo. Potencias regionales como Brasil, México o Colombia cuentan con un peso demográfico y económico que impide tratarlos como a las "repúblicas bananeras" del siglo XIX. La captura de Maduro fue limpia y exitosa, inigualable como golpe de efecto, pero carece por ahora de un plan y de un objetivo claro. Sin ocupar suelo venezolano y después de disparar la bala del factor sorpresa, la capacidad de EEUU para imponer su criterio a tanta distancia es limitada. Si el chavismo quiere resistir podrá hacerlo. A un coste elevado, cierto es, pero más costoso sería para ellos disolver la organización criminal en la que hace años se transformó aquel régimen. En La ContraRéplica: 0:00 Introducción 3:36 ¿Hay un plan para Venezuela? 30:53 La justificación legal para la captura de Maduro 37:29 El petróleo venezolano 45:47 ¿Se puede juzgar a los muertos? · Canal de Telegram: https://t.me/lacontracronica · “Contra el pesimismo”… https://amzn.to/4m1RX2R · “Hispanos. Breve historia de los pueblos de habla hispana”… https://amzn.to/428js1G · “La ContraHistoria del comunismo”… https://amzn.to/39QP2KE · “La ContraHistoria de España. Auge, caída y vuelta a empezar de un país en 28 episodios”… https://amzn.to/3kXcZ6i · “Contra la Revolución Francesa”… https://amzn.to/4aF0LpZ · “Lutero, Calvino y Trento, la Reforma que no fue”… https://amzn.to/3shKOlK Apoya La Contra en: · Patreon... https://www.patreon.com/diazvillanueva · iVoox... https://www.ivoox.com/podcast-contracronica_sq_f1267769_1.html · Paypal... https://www.paypal.me/diazvillanueva Sígueme en: · Web... https://diazvillanueva.com · Twitter... https://twitter.com/diazvillanueva · Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/fernandodiazvillanueva1/ · Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/diazvillanueva · Linkedin… https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-d%C3%ADaz-villanueva-7303865/ · Flickr... https://www.flickr.com/photos/147276463@N05/?/ · Pinterest... https://www.pinterest.com/fernandodiazvillanueva Encuentra mis libros en: · Amazon... https://www.amazon.es/Fernando-Diaz-Villanueva/e/B00J2ASBXM #FernandoDiazVillanueva #venezuela #maduro Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

More To The Story: Last week, US forces entered Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a nighttime raid. On Monday, they were arraigned in US federal court, pleading not guilty to narcoterrorism charges. The military action followed a monthslong pressure campaign that included a number of deadly strikes on boats off the Venezuelan coast that the Trump administration alleges were used for drug smuggling. Many legal experts, human rights groups, and lawmakers have called the strikes illegal. The US has a long history of exerting power and influence in South America—sometimes violating international law in the process. The latest moves by the Trump administration appear to signal a new era of foreign policy for America meant to send a message to countries in the region and around the world. On this week's More To The Story, host Al Letson sits down with Emma Ashford, a Foreign Policy magazine columnist and senior fellow at the Stimson Center, to examine the implications of Maduro's ouster, how she defines what Trump is now calling the “Donroe Doctrine,” and what the US's latest actions could mean for the region and the world.Producer: Josh Sanburn | Editor: Kara McGuirk-Allison | Theme music: Fernando Arruda and Jim Briggs | Copy editor: Nikki Frick | Digital producer: Artis Curiskis | Deputy executive producer: Taki Telonidis | Executive producer: Brett Myers | Executive editor: James West | Host: Al LetsonRead: A New Theory Explains Why Trump Keeps Threatening Global Takeovers (Mother Jones)Listen: Trump's New World (Dis)order (Reveal)Read: Oil, the State, and War: The Foreign Policies of Petrostates (Georgetown University Press) Donate today at Revealnews.org/more Subscribe to our weekly newsletter at Revealnews.org/weekly Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and his wife, politician and attorney Cilia Flores, made their first court appearance in New York City Monday afternoon, when they both pleaded not guilty to all charges.As Nicolás Maduro faces narco-terrorism charges in the US, Venezuelans try to figure out what it means for their future, and the rest of the world wonders what it could mean for theirs. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 4: 6:05pm- Daniel Turner—Founder and Executive Director of Power the Future—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to respond to the news that the U.S. will take control of Venezuela's oil. Will this lower gas prices? 6:20pm- According to reports, on Friday at 10:46pm ET President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead on an extraction mission to capture Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro. The successful raid consisted of 150 aircrafts—which eliminated air defense systems and cut power to infrastructure in Caracas. On Monday, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared before a New York City judge—charged with narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracies. 6:30pm- Democrat Hypocrisy: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the Trump administration's actions in Venezuela. But in 2020 Schumer publicly criticized President Trump for not putting an end to Maduro's regime! 6:45pm- Zohran Mamdani's wife wears $630 shoes, Matt has a disgusting cough, and Rich wraps up the show!

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Show (01/05/2026): 3:05pm- On Monday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he will no longer seek election for a third term. His announcement comes after Minnesota, under his leadership, misappropriated billions-of-dollars to fraudulent welfare claims. 3:10pm- According to reports, on Friday at 10:46pm ET President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead on an extraction mission to capture Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro. The successful raid consisted of 150 aircrafts—which eliminated air defense systems and cut power to infrastructure in Caracas. On Monday, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared before a New York City judge—charged with narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracies. 3:30pm- David Gelman— Criminal Defense Attorney, former Prosecutor, & a former surrogate for Donald Trump's Legal Team—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to recap Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro's appearance in a New York court where he pled not guilty to drug trafficking charges. Gleman jokes that Maduro has a better chance of winning the Powerball than being granted bail. 3:40pm- Can the Trump administration legally target other tyrannical regimes? In an article for The Free Press, Yale Law Professor wrote “under Supreme Court case law, the decision about whether or not to recognize a foreign government belongs exclusively to the president.” Which is important because “foreign heads of state are immune from prosecution…but as the courts held in [Panama leader Manuel] Noriega's case, head-of-state immunity does not apply to a dictator whom the U.S. doesn't recognize.” 4:05pm- Rich, Matt, and Justin return from Christmas break. Rich got a dog, Justin still had to work, and Matt is in Scottsdale enjoying the 70-degree weather. 4:20pm- Following the United States' successful capture of Nicolas Maduro, the Colombian defense minister invited Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to Colombia for a firsthand look at the country's fight against drug trafficking. While speaking to the press, President Donald Trump warned that Colombian President Gustavo Petro should “watch his ass” if he doesn't stop sending drugs to the U.S. 4:30pm- Dr. Victoria Coates—Former Deputy National Security Advisor & the Vice President of the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the operation to successfully capture Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro. Could the Trump administration target other problematic despots in Colombia or Iran, for example? Dr. Coates is author of the book: The Battle for the Jewish State: How Israel—and America—Can Win. 5:00pm- John Yoo—The Emanuel Heller Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his latest article for National Review, “The Trump Administration's Actions in Venezuela Are Constitutional.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/01/the-trump-administrations-actions-in-venezuela-are-constitutional/. 5:30pm- Rich's BIG announcement: Beginning next week, The Rich Zeoli Show will take on a new form! The show will become a one-hour, nationally focused podcast which can be heard locally on 1210 WPHT from 6pm to 7pm! 6:05pm- Daniel Turner—Founder and Executive Director of Power the Future—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to respond to the news that the U.S. will take control of Venezuela's oil. Will this lower gas prices? 6:20pm- According to reports, on Friday at 10:46pm ET President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead on an extraction mission to capture Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro. The successful raid consisted of 150 aircrafts—which eliminated air defense systems and cut power to infrastructure in Caracas. On Monday, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared before a New York City judge—charged with narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracies. 6:30pm- Democrat Hypocrisy: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ...

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: 3:05pm- On Monday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he will no longer seek election for a third term. His announcement comes after Minnesota, under his leadership, misappropriated billions-of-dollars to fraudulent welfare claims. 3:10pm- According to reports, on Friday at 10:46pm ET President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead on an extraction mission to capture Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro. The successful raid consisted of 150 aircrafts—which eliminated air defense systems and cut power to infrastructure in Caracas. On Monday, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared before a New York City judge—charged with narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracies. 3:30pm- David Gelman— Criminal Defense Attorney, former Prosecutor, & a former surrogate for Donald Trump's Legal Team—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to recap Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro's appearance in a New York court where he pled not guilty to drug trafficking charges. Gleman jokes that Maduro has a better chance of winning the Powerball than being granted bail. 3:40pm- Can the Trump administration legally target other tyrannical regimes? In an article for The Free Press, Yale Law Professor wrote “under Supreme Court case law, the decision about whether or not to recognize a foreign government belongs exclusively to the president.” Which is important because “foreign heads of state are immune from prosecution…but as the courts held in [Panama leader Manuel] Noriega's case, head-of-state immunity does not apply to a dictator whom the U.S. doesn't recognize.”

This weekend America went on the offensive: U.S. Delta Force raided Venezuela, capturing Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a swift hit-and-exit operation. Indicted in New York for narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and weapons conspiracies, Maduro appeared in court claiming “prisoner of war” status while AG Pam Bondi announced the takedown. Former CIA Station Chief exposes the deeper ties Cartel de los Soles, Smartmatic, Dominion, Huawei, China, Serbia, and the CIA all linked in a global election fraud network. This isn't about oil; it's about unraveling the stolen-election cartel that's infected democracies worldwide.Elon Musk dines with President Trump and hints “2026 is going to be amazing,” while Joe demands: no machines, no mail-ins, precinct-level counting with ID only. The pieces are falling into place fraud exposure is coming fast. Meanwhile, Trump's UN Ambassador Waltz declares the Western Hemisphere off-limits to Russia, China, and Iran, and Trump puts Denmark on notice over Greenland. Protests erupted across the U.S. and world, with paid agitators (including Central CSO-linked groups) pushing division while Venezuelans call out the liberal mobs.NYC's new socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani kicks off with a subway photo-op and vows to replace “rugged individualism” with collectivism. His team's agenda—tenant director Cea Weaver, Muslim call-to-prayer pushes, and radical rhetoric signals Dearborn and Minneapolis-style transformation for the Big Apple. NYC is cooked, the blueprint is clear, and the left's vendetta is in full swing. This is the weekend the tide turned, wake up, get loud, or watch it all collapse.

Maduro in Manhattan and the Legal Test AheadFormer Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty this week in federal court in Manhattan to sweeping charges that include narco terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offenses. Maduro, who was captured by U.S. forces in Caracas, declared himself innocent and insisted he remains Venezuela's legitimate president, framing his arrest as a kidnapping rather than a lawful apprehension. The arraignment itself was brief, with the next hearing scheduled for March. His legal team is already signaling a two-pronged defense focused on sovereign immunity and the circumstances of his capture.What stands out to me is the venue. Trying this case in New York rather than Florida suggests prosecutors are being cautious about jury composition and procedural challenges. Whether that caution pays off is an open question. This case is going to test not only the strength of the evidence, but also how far U.S. courts are willing to go in asserting jurisdiction over a former head of state seized abroad. However it ends, it will be watched closely far beyond Venezuela.Politics Politics Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.A Security Scare at the Vice President's HomeA far quieter story, but a troubling one, emerged out of Cincinnati. A 26-year-old man was arrested after allegedly attempting to break into Vice President J.D. Vance's home, smashing windows with a hammer, damaging a Secret Service vehicle, and trying to gain entry. Vance and his family were not home at the time, and law enforcement responded quickly. The suspect now faces multiple charges, including vandalism and criminal trespass.These incidents rarely become more than brief news items, but they raise uncomfortable questions. The volume of unstable individuals the Secret Service has to manage is staggering, and this case highlights how thin the margins can be. It does not appear the suspect would have gotten as close if the vice president were present, but the fact that he got close at all is worth taking seriously. Political violence does not always announce itself loudly.Klobuchar, Walz, and the Next Democratic ShuffleFinally, after conversations I referenced earlier with Kirk, reporting now strongly suggests that Senator Amy Klobuchar is preparing to run for governor of Minnesota. According to local reporting, discussions with Tim Walz took place before his announcement, and Klobuchar would enter the race as the clear front runner. The timing is curious. She was reelected to the Senate not long ago, but this move starts to make sense if leadership changes are coming at the top of the Democratic Senate caucus and she is looking to avoid future internal battles.The Minnesota angle also intersects with renewed scrutiny around the massive fraud scandal tied to Somali focused nonprofits. Reporting by Armin Rosen argues there is no evidence that Walz orchestrated or financially benefited from the fraud, though he may have been, in Rosen's words, suspiciously incurious. If Klobuchar is indeed running, she gets executive experience, a relatively clean pivot point, and a chance to step sideways rather than down. In a party bracing for internal realignment, that kind of move feels increasingly rational.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:04:34 - Interview with Kirk Bado00:28:41 - Justin and Kirk Talk Steelers00:49:22 - Update00:52:00 - Venezuela00:53:13 - JD Vance00:54:27 - Amy Klobuchar00:58:04 - Interview with Andrew Zarian01:55:42 - Wrap-up This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe

Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared in a U.S. court in New York City earlier today following the illegal kidnapping of Venezuela's president. Donald Trump has now acknowledged that he consulted with U.S. oil monopolies before and after the attack on Venezuela. The U.S. Congress did not authorize this attack, and Trump, while consulting with the oil company executives, refused to even brief Congress. Brian Becker and Layan Fuleihan discuss.

It's Tuesday, January 6th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Nigerian Muslims killed 32 Christians since Christmas Killings of Christians continue unabated in Nigeria, reports TruthNigeria.com. Islamist terrorists have killed at least 32 Christians since Christmas, and burned down hundreds of homes in the Adamawa, Kebbi, and Plateau states. Congressman asserts Nigerian Christians targeted for their faith On January 1st, Republican U.S. Congressman Riley Moore of West Virginia weighed in on X. He wrote, “If there were any remaining doubts that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted for their faith in Jesus Christ, this should end that debate.  This isn't about land usage, ‘climate change,' or any other argument the Left wants to make. “This is persecution of our brothers and sisters for their faith in Christ, plain and simple. ISIS is telling Christians they have an opportunity to ‘spare their blood' if they convert. Our brothers and sisters will not bend the knee to anyone but our Lord and Savior.” Also, late last week, the Islamic-supported Allied Democratic Forces carried out a deadly nighttime incursion, killing at least 15 people in the Lubero territory of Congo, Africa. 20 Iranians have died in protests in 78 cities Iranian protests enter Day 9 where at least 20 people have died in the unrest. Protests have been cited in 78 cities across 26 provinces, reports Iran International.  According to The Times on Sunday, Iran's Supreme Leader has a backup plan in place — to abscond to Russia should his security forces fail. North Korea shot hypersonic missiles Sunday North Korea successfully fired off several hypersonic missiles on Sunday, connecting with targets 700 miles away in Korea's East Sea. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un called it a “very important strategic task to maintain and expand a powerful and reliable nuclear deterrent.”  Back in 2019, China deployed hypersonic technology. But the United States has yet to deploy its hypersonic technology — it is still in the testing phase.  Number of foreigners in Austria, Belgium and UK skyrocketing Remix News reports that over 41% of the population of Vienna, Austria's capital, is foreign born. And 50 percent of first-graders do not understand German. Also, Muslim students now account for 41.2 percent of all elementary school students, while Christian students fell to 34.5 percent. Plus, Austria, Belgium, and the United Kingdom have the highest percentages of babies born to immigrants — above 30%. Venezuelan dictator and wife plead not guilty The Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both arrested by the U.S. government over the weekend, appeared in a New York City Court Monday to face charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy. and weapons offenses. They entered pleas of innocence to the charges. Psalm 37:9 is clear: “Evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the Earth.” China financed $60 billion loans to Venezuela Come to find out China has been a major player in Venezuela since 2000. The Council on Foreign Relations reports that Venezuela ate up $60 billion of Chinese loans accounting for fully half of all the money that China loaned to South America over the years. And China has been taking in about 80% of Venezuelan oil exports of late. Rubio objects to Iran, China, & Russia propping up Venezuela Appearing on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio objected to America's enemies propping up Venezuela in America's backyard. Listen. RUBIO: “We don't need Venezuela's oil. We have plenty of oil in the United States. What we're not going to allow is for the oil industry in Venezuela to be controlled by adversaries of the United States. You have to understand. Why does China need their oil? Why does Russia need their oil? Why does Iran need their oil? They're not even in this continent. “This is the Western Hemisphere. This is where we live, and we're not going to allow the western hemisphere to be a base of operation for adversaries, competitors and rivals of the United States. We want to see the oil proceeds of that country benefit the people of Venezuela. “Why have 8 million people left Venezuela? Eight million: the single largest mass migration probably in modern history, left Venezuela in 2014 because all the wealth of that country was stolen to the benefit of Maduro and his cronies in the regime, but not to the benefit of people of Venezuela. You know how destabilizing 8 million migrants is? “The number one fear that Brazil has, that Colombia has, that all these countries in the region have about what's happening in Venezuela and our involvement is they're afraid of another mass migration event. That's what they feel. This is deeply destabilizing stuff. ”It's not going to continue to happen. They are not going to come from outside of our hemisphere, destabilize our region in our own backyard, and us have to pay the price for it, not under President Trump.” Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Mexico, Uruguay & Spain upset about Maduro The governments of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain have issued a statement airing their disagreement with the U.S. military actions taken against Venezuela over the weekend.   The statement appealed to what they called the “principles of the United Nations Charter.” Trump upset that drug cartels are running Mexico and Columbia President Donald Trump has also told the U.S. press that something has to be done with Mexico. He told Fox News that the  drug cartels are running the country.  Plus, he called Columbia a “sick country” run by a “sick” president who “likes to sell Cocaine to the United States.” Trump said he's not going to be doing this very long.   And the president said, “Cuba is ready to fall” as well.  But let us all remember Who rules. Psalm 22:28-29 says, “For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the Earth shall eat and worship; all those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive.” Dallas street preachers handcuffed and detained without cause Here in America, street preachers connected with a “Reformed Baptist evangelistic ministry, [Testimonies of God], committed to the supremacy of Scripture and the advancement of Christ's Gospel,” were handcuffed and detained by police officers in Dallas a few weeks ago. The Christian Post reports that an officer had required the evangelists to get off the public sidewalk and cross the street — an order the preachers believed was unlawful. So far, no charges have been filed in the case. 15 states still allow trans surgeries and drugs for kids Two hospitals in left-wing Colorado have decided to stop writing prescriptions for sex-change drugs for children, reports 9-News. Children's Hospital and Denver Health have cited warnings from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. Colorado was the faux-sex-change capital of the world in the 1980s and 1990s.   Sadly, 15 states still allow gender-based mutilation or gender-debilitating drugs for kids including Colorado, California, Oregon, Illinois, and New York. Japanese restaurant paid $3.24 million for bluefin tuna And finally, a Japanese sushi chain set a record for the price paid for a fish yesterday.  The Japan Times reports that Sushi Zanmai paid $3.24 million for a Pacific bluefin tuna at Tokyo's fish auction. That's an astounding $6,600 per pound! Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, January 6th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Over the weekend, American special forces captured and extracted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. Attention shifts now toward New York where Maduro will appear in court for charges of drug trafficking and narcoterrorism. David French and Elizabeth Neumann join Mike Cosper and Clarissa Moll to discuss possible reasons for the capture, America's history with executing regime change, and what could come next for the US and Venezuela.  GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN:  -Join the conversation at our Substack.  -Find us on YouTube.  -Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice.  ABOUT THE GUEST:  Elizabeth Neumann is a national security expert who has served across three presidential administrations: on the inaugural staff of the White House Homeland Security Council under President George W. Bush, as an advisor to the office of the director of national intelligence during the Obama Administration, and as the Department of Homeland Security's deputy chief of staff and assistant secretary for counterterrorism and threat prevention in the first Trump administration. Neumann is also a national security contributor for ABC News. David French is a columnist for The New York Times. He's a former senior editor of The Dispatch and author of Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation. ABOUT THE BULLETIN:  The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today's editor-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more.    The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more.    “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today  Producer: Clarissa Moll  Associate Producer: Alexa Burke  Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs Music: Dan Phelps  Executive Producer: Erik Petrik  Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new book, "Killing Democracy: Western Imperialism's Legacy of Regime Change and Media Manipulation," is a timely account of the West's efforts to control countries around the world through soft power and, when necessary, military power, and the critical role the media plays in forming popular opinion to support these efforts and view them as legitimate. Clearing the FOG speaks with two of the five co-authors, Finian Cunningham and K J Noh. They discuss the West's efforts not only to overthrow governments but also to go after and, in some cases, annihilate the Left. They also speak about current efforts, including the very recent kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a night raid. For more information, visit PopularResistance.org.

Late Friday evening, President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. After his capture, Maduro was taken by warship to the United States and then flown to New York, where he will face federal drug trafficking and weapons charges. There are a ton of questions around how this operation happened and what, if any, legal authority the United States had to capture Maduro in the first place. But most importantly: what happens to Venezuela now? To talk more about Venezuela, the prosecution of Maduro, and what the hell is going to happen now, we spoke to Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, former National Security Council Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere under the Biden administration. And in headlines, most Republicans are defending Trump's decision to topple Maduro, Marjorie Taylor Greene continues to criticize the president on her way out of Congress, and world leaders are meeting in Paris to discuss the Russia-Ukraine peace process. Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

After U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, President Donald Trump declared: “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.”The world is still digesting the consequences of the intervention, which the Trump administration has characterized as a law enforcement mission against Maduro rather than a military operation in a foreign country. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and machine gun possession.White House reporter Michael Birnbaum joins host Martine Powers to explain the political ramifications of Maduro's arrest, the next steps of the Trump administration and the reactions of Venezuelans. We also hear from Ana Vanessa Herrero, The Post's reporter in Caracas. Today's show was produced by Emma Talkoff, with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy and Reena Flores. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Ousted President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores made their first court appearance in Manhattan this morning to face narco-terrorism, drug and weapons charges. They two pleaded not guilty, but they managed to get in a few more words than that. While this fascinating scene was unfolding inside the courtroom, two separate factions of demonstrators surrounded the courthouse, some thanking President Trump and some wanting Maduro set free. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

-- On the Show -- Donald Trump orders a U.S. military operation that captures Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores in Venezuela and brings them to New York despite lacking clear legal authority -- Reporting says Donald Trump escalates to military action after Nicolás Maduro dances on Venezuelan state television and aides treat it as personal mockery -- Donald Trump bets the Maduro seizure will unlock Venezuela's oil, but allies, businesses, and markets resist a plan with no clear political transition -- Donald Trump gives rambling, conflicting answers about Venezuela, oil, and military escalation that raise questions about his decision making -- Donald Trump admits he did not brief Congress yet says he spoke with oil companies and calls the Maduro seizure a kidnapping -- The Wall Street Journal reports Donald Trump shows visible signs of decline, disputes doctors, and mislabels a CT scan as an MRI while aides manage optics -- The Wall Street Journal says Donald Trump takes more aspirin than doctors recommend and blames bruising on superstition instead of updated medical guidance -- Marco Rubio tells Kristen Welker the United States is running Venezuela but cannot explain elections, governance, or the legal rationale in real time -- Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham indicate Cuba is a likely next target after Venezuela, signaling escalation rather than containment -- On the Bonus Show: Oil markets steady after Trump's Venezuela strike shocks the world, speculation grows that Donald Trump Jr. is being groomed for a 2028 run amid tension with J.D. Vance, and Minnesota politics take a twist as Governor Tim Walz looks ready to exit and Amy Klobuchar eyes a comeback. ⚠️ Ground News: Get 40% OFF their unlimited access Vantage plan at https://ground.news/pakman

Ousted President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores made their first court appearance in Manhattan this morning to face narco-terrorism, drug and weapons charges. They two pleaded not guilty, but they managed to get in a few more words than that. While this fascinating scene was unfolding inside the courtroom, two separate factions of demonstrators surrounded the courthouse, some thanking President Trump and some wanting Maduro set free. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the U.S military's overnight strike on Venezuela and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, correspondent Scott Pelley reports on the recent events and the criminal charges they face. Pelley interviews former DEA special agent Sandy Gonzalez, who helped lead the investigation that led to Maduro's 2020 indictment, Roger Carstens, who was Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs under the previous Trump and Biden administrations, and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly. For decades, engineers have been trying to create robots that look and move like humans, and now breakthroughs in AI are giving humanoid robots a new ability to acquire skills through learning. At Hyundai's new auto plant near Savannah, Georgia, correspondent Bill Whitaker watches as Boston Dynamics' humanoid, AI-powered robot Atlas learns to perform factory work in a real-world setting for the first time. Very few people retire at age 16, but few people have had careers with as many twists as Alysa Liu. After becoming the youngest U.S. women's figure skating champion at just 13, the phenom shocked the sport by walking away a few years later. Now 20, Liu is back and a favorite to win Olympic gold next month. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi speaks with Liu about coming back on her own terms. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ousted President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores made their first court appearance in Manhattan this morning to face narco-terrorism, drug and weapons charges. They two pleaded not guilty, but they managed to get in a few more words than that. While this fascinating scene was unfolding inside the courtroom, two separate factions of demonstrators surrounded the courthouse, some thanking President Trump and some wanting Maduro set free. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early Saturday morning, the United States military conducted air strikes in Venezuela and carried out an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Shortly thereafter, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been indicted in the Southern District of New York and charged with “Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.” In a press conference later in the day, President Donald Trump said that the United States will assume control of Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.” Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “Under the Radar” story ⁠here and today's “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What do you think of the U.S. operation in Venezuela? Let us know.Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast was written by: Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Roqayah and Kumars are joined by historian and returning guest Alexander Aviña for an emergency update on the US attack against Venezuela, including the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, and what could happen next. Alex is Associate Professor of History at Arizona State University, contributor to the newsletter Foreign Exchanges on Substack, author of Specters of Revolution: Peasant Guerrillas in the Cold War Mexican Countryside, and a founding member of the Anti-Imperial Scholars Collective (AISC).  Alex, Roqayah, and Kumars break down the latest escalation by the Trump administration, the response from US media and Democrats, the outpouring of international solidarity with Venezuela from Cuba to Palestine, acting president Delcy Rodriguez's commitment to the Bolivarian Revolution, and why Trump is right about Maria Corina Machado. Follow Alex on Twitter @Alexander_Avina (not @Alex_Avina, who is someone else).  If you want to support the show and receive access to tons of bonus content, including the new and improved "Last Week in Lebanon" column and video blog courtesy of Lebanese war correspondent and our new third cohost Hadi Hoteit, you can subscribe on our Patreon for as little as $5 a month. Also, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show on Apple Podcasts. We can't do this show without your support!!!

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are being held in New York on drug trafficking charges after U.S. forces captured both in Venezuela over the weekend. The lead prosecutor in the case, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, discusses his approach to the case and dates the effort back to 2011. In Washington, DC CNBC's Eamon Javers reports on the weekend's strikes in Venezuela, the subsequent press events from the administration, and the path forward. Then, Mark Lazarus, CEO of CNBC's parent company Versant, discusses the company's first trade as an independent company after successfully spinning off from Comcast. Jay Clayton - 17:36Mark Lazarus - 39:11In this episode:Eamon Javers, @eamonjaversBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the early, pre-dawn hours of Saturday, Jan. 3, the US invaded and bombed the sovereign country of Venezuela, and kidnapped Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro and the First Lady of Venezuela, Cilia Flores. This is the first time the United States has used its own military to invade a South American country, and President Trump made the purpose of the invasion very clear: oil. What will happen to Venezuela's government now? What will be the geopolitical fallout in the Western Hemisphere from this stunning act of imperial intervention? How does this period of US intervention in Latin America compare to previous ones? TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez and Latin America correspondent Michael Fox break down your questions. Additional links/info: Michael Fox, The Real News Network, “Trump invades Venezuela, kidnaps Maduro, and hurls the Western hemisphere into chaos”Michael Fox, Under the Shadow / The Real News Network, “Trump's piracy in the Caribbean won't end with Venezuela”Michael Fox, Under the Shadow (podcast series)Credits:Production: Maximillian AlvarezPost-Production: David HebdenBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-news-podcast--2952221/support.Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Follow us on:Bluesky: @therealnews.comFacebook: The Real News NetworkTwitter: @TheRealNewsYouTube: @therealnewsInstagram: @therealnewsnetworkBecome a member and join the Supporters Club for The Real News Podcast today!

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");