Submitted by Thomas Kolbe

That the radical Left worldwide would celebrate the inauguration of communist Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City was entirely predictable. What is striking, however, is the ostentatious triumphalism displayed at a time when the Trump administration is systematically exposing illegal extraction mechanisms and financial flows step by step.

It is a moment of celebration for the radical Left in the United States. After the defeat in the 2024 presidential election, the inauguration of Zohran Kwame Mamdani—the first Muslim mayor of New York City—marked the resurgence of socialist forces within the Democratic Party.

Naturally, the ever-shrill Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was present, as was leftist know-it-all Bernie Sanders, who administered Mamdani’s oath on the Quran.

Socialism is a recurring social disease, and Zohran Mamdani is one of its visible symptoms. His political program is well known in Germany as well, particularly to the German Left. Public transportation is to be made free of charge. A millionaire tax is to be introduced. Childcare is to become a free public service. Affordable housing is to be created through large-scale public construction.

We know all of this: massive market interventions—and all of it has failed repeatedly.

And yet New Yorkers granted Mamdani a mandate, giving him a lead of more than nine percentage points over his competitors.

The Familiar Promise

“I will not hold back when it comes to improving the lives of New Yorkers,” Mamdani declared. “I am Muslim, I am a democratic socialist, and I refuse to apologize for that,” he said during the campaign.

He may yet be forced to apologize when projects such as the targeted over-taxation of predominantly white neighborhoods or his harebrained idea of municipally run grocery stores collapse—either due to the U.S. Constitution or the basic logic of free-rider effects in public goods.

But Mamdani is not really about this grotesque socialist program, which only appeals to prosperity-spoiled young activists and moralizing NGO operatives.

Mamdani was positioned by the radical Left to defend structures that have been built up over decades with the explicit goal of transforming society into a socialist control state—one we can already observe taking shape in Brussels.

The Counterrevolution Is Underway

Donald Trump’s hardline deregulation agenda and demonstrative return to classical American capitalism have unleashed a dynamic that extends far beyond his presidency. The political Left in the U.S.—especially its radical wing—has been forced into a kind of ideological molting. This reaction can now be studied in real time: in New York as well as in California, where left-wing radicalism has been entrenched for years.

That a self-professed communist has taken control in the global capital of capitalism carries particular political weight. New York is no ordinary city. Capital is concentrated here; the core infrastructure of the American financial system is located here. Leftist access to these levers marks a qualitative escalation.

Seizing Power At The Heart Of Capital

It is reasonable to expect capital flight—both from large investors and from segments of the middle class. A gradual relocation of stock market activities away from Wall Street is also conceivable. But such processes take time. And during that time, Mamdani and his communist allies will create facts on the ground.

This is where the looting begins: the American upper class, and increasingly the middle class, will be bled fiscally to finance expanded protest infrastructures, NGOs, and the political machinery that President Trump was able to dry up by dismantling USAID and related funding mechanisms.

At the same time, the conflict in California is accelerating. The socialist state government under Governor Gavin Newsom is attempting to immobilize residents through aggressive exit taxes—keeping them fiscally exploitable for ideologically driven policies. Republican-led red states, meanwhile, are benefiting from a massive influx of middle-class families fleeing these left-radical disaster zones.

For Europeans in the EU, this ideological clash in the United States is of immense importance. It offers a preview of how Brussels might react in the event of secession, resistance, or a loss of power.

The instruments are already in place: exit taxes, increased capital levies, the digital euro to control capital flows, CO₂ trading schemes, and cross-border certificate regimes. These are soft or hard capital barriers, depending on how deeply they are applied. Brussels and the Frankfurt-based central banking apparatus are prepared for the moment when Europe’s fragile power construct is seriously threatened by a rising conservative Right.

The Institutionalized Extraction Economy

Over decades, the United States has allowed an extraction economy to develop that costs the country hundreds of billions of dollars annually. This includes entire networks of Somali communities established under administrations such as Barack Obama’s, whose primary purpose was to extract taxpayer funds via social infrastructure—such as daycare centers without actual childcare services—redirecting those funds into private channels and financing the democratic-socialist movement.

These structures are now being dismantled.

President Trump must confront them just as decisively as he does the fentanyl attacks deliberately directed at the American population from abroad. Germany is experiencing a similar, albeit far more amateurish version of this phenomenon through its asylum industry—less efficient, but no less catastrophic for taxpayers.

This entire complex operates on a different scale than the green crony economy worth hundreds of billions of euros. In the United States, the Trump administration has already inflicted such damage on this green apparatus that capital is once again moving freely in markets, with renewed investments in nuclear power and pipeline infrastructure.

In short: the American economy is poised for a significant surge this year—driven by the systematic dematerialization of the green complex.

The radical Left has spent years constructing institutional frameworks to legally safeguard its activities. It has embedded itself in municipal structures and continues to shape the agenda in Europe through political hubs such as the World Economic Forum and Brussels.

That the United States has managed—through the effective shutdown of USAID and the drying up of cheap dollar credit routed through London and the LIBOR mechanism—to cripple large parts of this financial architecture will one day be regarded as a major historical achievement.

Today, however, this transformation is obscured by media noise—particularly the fixation on Donald Trump’s erratic public appearances. The real story being written runs far deeper.

Brussels, London—Vectors Of Confrontation

Again and again, the vectors of the Trump administration’s strategy point toward Brussels and London. The hardline stance in the trade conflict with the EU Commission—and especially with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer—has not only generated a flood of unfavorable headlines and memes for Europeans; it has tangible economic consequences.

The United States is pushing back against euro-protectionism. It is resisting the manipulation of trade via climate policy. And it refuses to be intimidated by the expanding censorship regime and rent-seeking industry spawned by the Digital Services Act.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have made the message unmistakably clear. With the release of the new security strategy, EU Europe has been presented with a choice: return to the consensus of Western values—respect for the individual, free speech, and fair trade—or face not only harsher rhetoric, but problems beyond what it has so far been able to imagine.

Consider Europe’s dependence on LNG imports. Consider the reality that, at the push of a button in Washington, Europeans could be left alone in the Ukraine conflict—a conflict they have knowingly refused to de-escalate. A giant with feet of clay. And increasingly, a giant acting emotionally out of panic over its waning power, intellectually overwhelmed.

America’s Self-Assertion

The coming months will be decisive. At the latest since the United States’ forceful intervention in Venezuela, it has been made clear that Washington will not tolerate the influence of China, Russia—or Europe—on its doorstep.

The fentanyl attack originating in China is now being openly confronted, and intelligence operations funded by drug money within the United States are being shut down. For the first time, America has a genuinely sovereign, patriotic government.

If this administration succeeds in saving potentially hundreds of billions of dollars per year by draining the Somali swamp and other extraction vehicles—and consolidating the federal budget through these measures alone—voters will reward it in the midterm elections this fall. And the Mamdani episode in New York will be remembered with little more than a knowing smile.

* * *

About the author: Thomas Kolbe, born in 1978 in Neuss/ Germany, is a graduate economist. For over 25 years, he has worked as a journalist and media producer for clients from various industries and business associations. As a publicist, he focuses on economic processes and observes geopolitical events from the perspective of the capital markets. His publications follow a philosophy that focuses on the individual and their right to self-determination.

Apparently Zelensky is simply skipping his own people and going straight to appointing officials within foreign governments to top advisory positions. 

Ukraine has named former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland as an economic advisor amid a broader reshuffle of senior government positions, also coming on the heels of the massive energy ministry related corruption scandal which has unleashed chaos within his administration. 

It should also be noted that Canada is a founding member of NATO – so handing Freeland a position in the Ukrainian presidential office won’t go down well at the Kremlin, which will see this as yet more justification for its vehement condemnation of NATO expansion.

“Chrystia is a professional… and has significant experience in attracting investments and conducting economic transformations,” President Zelensky announced on Telegram Monday.

Freeland was Canada’s deputy prime minister from 2019 to 2024 under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and was appointed Canada’s special representative for Ukraine’s reconstruction in 2025.

Almost as capable as energy guru Hunter Biden https://t.co/4rvgo4VRKm

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) January 5, 2026

But she might better be remembered for leading the legal crackdown on Canada’s trucker ‘Freedom Convoy’ movement, the large anti-vaccine mandate and Covid lockdown protest that had gripped Ottawa for several weeks in 2022.

Freeland sought to legally prosecute (and later some of these cases ended in convictions on “mischief”) innocent truckers who were merely exercising their rights to politically organize and protest.

So we doubt she’s going to ‘help’ Ukraine’s situation, amid the grinding war at a moment Kiev is at a crossroads: reach a peace agreement with Moscow, or the war drags on with no end in sight.

🚨”This aged very well”

In 2014, Mearsheimer debated Chrystia Freeland and Michael McFaul in London, he told both of them that if they continued with their policies that Ukraine would be destroyed as a consequence of their actions, to which they laughed.pic.twitter.com/2kUfmmJW11

— Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil (@ivan_8848) November 13, 2025

“Ukraine needs to increase its internal resilience — for the sake of Ukraine’s recovery, if diplomacy works as quickly as possible, and for the sake of strengthening our defense, if we have to work longer to end the war due to our partners’ delays,” Zelensky recently wrote on Telegram, looking ahead to 2026.

Three Iranian officials have told Reuters that Tehran leadership believes the United States or Israel may take military action against the Islamic Republic soon, coming off the heels of the US intervention to remove Venezuela’s Maduro.

There are reports of Iranian ’emergency meetings’ of top leadership to examining options for self-defense, and the country overnight engaged in fresh ballistic missile drills to signal its preparedness. 

The NY Times has separately cited Iranian officials who view the country as being in “survival mode” – amid a week of economic protests driven largely by the impact of US sanctions: currency collapse and soaring prices.

The past two years has seen Hezbollah leadership decimated, Assad removed in Syria, and now Iran-ally Maduro taken out – he’s now facing federal charges in a New York court. 

Islamic Republic leadership is fully aware that it remains in a very delicate position:

Ali Gholhaki, a hard-line pundit in Iran, said in a phone interview that the dire state of the economy had played a central role in the downfall of the leaders in both Venezuela and Syria, creating a maelstrom of public discontent and dispirited security forces. “The lesson for Iran is that we must be extremely careful that the same scenario does not happen here,” Mr. Gholhaki said. “When the anti-riot police, security forces and the military are struggling for their livelihood, the defense lines collapse.”

The large-scale internal protests come at the worst possible time, the NY Times continues:

The three officials said that as the protests raged, senior officials in private meetings and conversations had acknowledged that the Islamic Republic had been thrust into survival mode. Officials appear to have few tools at their disposal to deal with either the pressing challenges of a tanking economy fueling unrest or the threat of further conflict with Israel and the United States. President Masoud Pezeshkian has repeatedly said as much publicly in recent weeks, at one point announcing that he had “no ideas” for solving Iran’s many problems.

“Any policy in the society that is unjust is doomed to fail,” Mr. Pezeshkian said in a speech on Thursday, his first public address since the protests began. “Accept that we must listen to the people.”

While at least a dozen people have died amid clashes with police (including at least one security forces member), the ongoing protests still aren’t as big as the 2022 wave.

But Iran also has to always be on the lookout for subversion from the outside, as even Israeli media has increasingly acknowledged…

Jpost has indications that calculations about intervening in Iran to actively help the protesters may have changed: https://t.co/eDFVISIaMM

— Yonah Jeremy Bob (@jeremybob1) January 5, 2026

Mossad has long acknowledged that it has many assets inside Iran, and already Israeli officials have expressed that they ‘stand with’ the Iranian people. Of course, even the protesters themselves are wary of being coopted by outside intelligence. And then there’s the professional activists and subversives of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) – which is believed to frequently coordinate action with the Israelis and Americans.

Authored by GoldFix’s Vincent Lanci via ScottsdaleMint.com,

Financed by JPMorgan, Jointly Owned by US DoD

Under the plan, the U.S. Department of Defense will hold a 40% stake in the JPM Financed smelter joint-venture.

GFN – WASHINGTON: Korea Zinc plans a $7.4 billion investment to construct a large-scale non-ferrous metals smelter in Clarksville, Tennessee, a project U.S. officials say will materially expand domestic critical minerals processing capacity and strengthen supply chain security.

Proposed site of the Clarksville, Tennessee smelter

The project, known as the “U.S. Smelter,” is expected to require approximately $6.6 billion in capital expenditures, with total investment reaching $7.4 billion including financing costs. It is being developed in coordination with the U.S. Department of War and the U.S. Department of Commerce, according to project materials and government statements.

Deputy Secretary of War Steve Feinberg said the investment reflects a strategic shift in U.S. industrial and defense priorities.

“President Trump has directed his Administration to prioritize critical minerals as essential to America’s defense and economic security,” Feinberg said.

“The Department of War’s conditional investment of $1.4 billion to build the first U.S.-based zinc smelter and critical minerals processing facility since the 1970s reverses decades of industrial decline. The new smelter in Tennessee creates 750 American jobs and expands access to strategic minerals across aerospace, defense, electronics, and advanced manufacturing.”

Timeline of U.S. metals refining capacity since the 1970s

The Tennessee facility will be the first zinc refinery built in the United States in more than 50 years and will operate as an integrated smelter capable of producing 13 non-ferrous metals. Most of these materials are designated as critical minerals by the U.S. government due to their role in defense production, advanced electronics, and energy systems.

Under the current framework, the Department of War will arrange approximately $2.15 billion in financing alongside private investors. The Department of Commerce will provide $210 million in funding under the CHIPS Act to support domestically sourced equipment, with JPMorgan assisting in structuring the financing.

IEA outlook for global critical minerals demand under STEPS, APS, and NZE scenarios

U.S. officials have described the project as an example of allied cooperation to secure supply chains amid rising competition for strategic resources. Josh Phair, founder and CEO of Scottsdale Mint, said in a recent Yahoo Finance interview, “We’re in a metals war’. and securing supply is crucial now

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said the investment would expand U.S. production of strategically important minerals.

“Korea Zinc’s critical minerals project in Tennessee is a transformational deal for America,” Lutnick said.

“The United States will produce, in volume, 13 critical and strategic minerals vital to aerospace and defense, semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, autos, industrials, and national security.”

Korea Zinc plans to deploy technical personnel and operational expertise from its Onsan Smelter in Ulsan, South Korea, during early project phases. Onsan is the world’s largest single-site non-ferrous smelting complex and is known for processing low-grade and complex materials, including scrap with high impurity content.

North America’s role in global critical minerals mining and refining

Company officials said transferring this integrated zinc-lead-copper processing capability is intended to reduce commissioning risk and position the Clarksville facility among the most advanced smelters globally. Producing within the United States is also expected to reduce exposure to trade restrictions and logistics disruptions while enabling local sourcing of scrap and raw materials.

Despite government backing, the project has prompted shareholder resistance. An alliance led by MBK Partners and Young Poong has opposed the U.S.-backed joint venture, citing concerns over potential share dilution and governance control. The group has indicated it may seek legal action to block new share issuance.

Korea Zinc shares rose more than 26% following the project announcement before declining by over 13% as shareholder opposition became public.

Once fully operational, the U.S. Smelter is expected to process approximately 1.1 million tons of raw materials annually and produce roughly 540,000 tons of finished products.

Smelter output mapped to U.S. critical minerals list

Planned output includes base metals such as zinc, lead, and copper; precious metals including gold and silver; strategic minerals such as antimony, indium, bismuth, tellurium, cadmium, gallium, germanium, and palladium; and chemical products including sulfuric acid and semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid.

According to project disclosures, 11 of the 13 metals qualify as critical minerals under the 2025 U.S. Geological Survey list. Several, including indium and gallium, are fully import-dependent in the United States.

Site preparation is scheduled to begin in 2026, followed by full construction in 2027.

Phased commercial operations are expected to start in 2029, initially focused on zinc, lead, and copper production.

Clarksville was selected due to existing industrial infrastructure, including Nyrstar’s current zinc smelter, the only operating zinc refinery in the United States. Korea Zinc plans to acquire Nyrstar’s U.S. operations, subject to conditions, dismantle the existing facility, and replace it with a larger, modern plant.

Project planners also cited strong transportation links, favorable site conditions, a skilled local workforce with decades of smelting experience, and relatively low electricity costs, a key factor in smelting economics.

Chairman Yun B. Choi said the project aligns with long-term U.S. and South Korean economic security objectives.

“With its project in the United States, Korea Zinc will strengthen its role as a strategic supplier of essential minerals for aerospace and defense,” Choi said.

“This project will serve as a model for U.S.–ROK economic security cooperation at a time of heightened geopolitical risk.”

GoldFix Analysis: Why the Tennessee Smelter Matters

The Korea Zinc investment fits into a broader pattern across commodities, trade policy, and financial market structure. Recent developments point toward a renewed emphasis on supply security and domestic control over critical industrial inputs.

U.S. policy has increasingly focused on securing domestic processing capacity for materials already designated as critical. Mining location remains relevant, but refining and smelting capacity determines throughput control, resilience under stress, and bargaining leverage. The Tennessee project expands that capacity inside the United States for materials that have largely been processed offshore.

Josh Phair, CEO of Scottsdale Mint has previously linked metals availability to industrial positioning, noting that the rapid build-out of U.S. data centers and infrastructure requires reliable access to physical inputs.

“These data centers that are getting created so fast in the United States, the U.S. has to have it [silver] to protect its position in the world.”

The investment also aligns with policy actions aimed at reducing reliance on China-centered supply chains. Export controls, strategic stockpiling, and industrial subsidies have moved in the same direction. The smelter adds physical infrastructure to that framework, supported by defense and commerce financing and built in cooperation with an allied producer.

The financing structure adds another layer. JPMorgan Chase is involved in arranging financing for the project. Over recent months, JPMorgan has also reduced silver held in COMEX registered inventories and sourced physical metal from Latin America. These actions reflect activity in physical markets where logistics, jurisdiction, and custody increasingly influence procurement decisions.

Why JPMorgan’s 232 Advice Matters

JPMorgan sits at the center of the global silver ecosystem as demonstrated above. Its role as custodian, intermediary, and counterparty across physical markets, derivatives, and sovereign channels places it at the intersection of nearly all meaningful silver flows. Activity associated with JPMorgan therefore carries informational value.

Under Section 232 the United States does not restrict commodities it still needs to accumulate. Tariffs follow supply security, not the other way around.

Once domestic and hemispheric supply chains are deemed sufficient, pricing mechanisms change. Tariffs need not target silver explicitly to reshape its price. Broad commodity measures are enough. But tariffs could come anyway

Because the United States remains the marginal buyer at scale, if it did implement tariffs, its pricing decisions propagate globally. The tariff level becomes the reference price, as sellers rationally seek the highest available bid. JPMorgan is helping the US position itself as self sufficient in metals and at some point, price will rise even further pursuant to rule 232 if it is implemented for Copper (likely) and Silver (perhaps)

Update (1355ET):

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appeared defeated during a press conference around noon as he finally addressed the Somali-linked fraud scandal that has ended his re-election bid.

Walz’s team has shifted from dismissing those who questioned or investigated the Somali-linked daycare and autism fraud as “racist” or “Islamophobic” to now acknowledging that serious corruption occurred under its leadership.

Walz still found time to attack Trump and Republicans, blaming them for “seeking to take advantage of a crisis. I don’t want to mince words here. Donald Trump and his allies in Washington, in St. Paul, and online want to make our state a colder, meaner place.”

The disgraced governor continued:

We’ve got Republicans here in the state legislature playing hide-and-seek with potential whistleblowers. We’ve got conspiracy-theorist right-wing YouTubers breaking into our daycares, demanding access to our children. We’ve got the President of the United States demonizing our Somali neighbors and wrongfully confiscating funds that migrants rely on.

Near the end of Walz’s press conference, he announced he was dropping out of the governor’s race, saying he wants to spend 2026 on governance, not politics.

Journalists were stunned when Walz dodged questions.  

🚨 LMAO! Reporters at Tim Walz’s press conference were AUDIBLY ticked off by Walz RUNNING AWAY from his press conference without taking questions

Sorry guys, Tim has to go change his tampon.

This clown is down so bad 🤣
pic.twitter.com/X8dlQsn6k8

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 5, 2026

The optics here are very damaging to Walz and the greater Democratic Party. This America First push to uncover state-level fraud is likely to spread to other blue states (read here), further discrediting left-wing politicians accused of plundering taxpayers. All just in time for the midterm election cycle.

Citizen journalist 1, left-wing politician 0. 

I ENDED TIM WALZ

— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) January 5, 2026

Next up.

With Tim Walz expected to drop out of the Governor’s race, should Nick Shirley investigate fraud in California next? pic.twitter.com/5tLMZx2QKy

— TaraBull (@TaraBull) January 5, 2026

* * *

Update (0950ET):

The Wall Street Journal has confirmed our earlier report that left-wing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, embattled by alleged Somali-linked welfare fraud in his state, has ended his bid for a third term.

“As I reflected on this moment with my family and my team over the holidays, I came to the conclusion that I can’t give a political campaign my all.”

“Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences.”

“So I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work.”

Minnesota has to come first – always.

Today, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to make Minnesota the best place to live and raise kids.

I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work. pic.twitter.com/AYbvcOzyPI

— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) January 5, 2026

The mere fact that Walz is not seeking a third term is optically damaging for Democrats, as it effectively amounts to an admission that the Somali-linked welfare fraud is very real, despite Democrats labeling anyone who investigated or reported on it as “racists.” This is also terrible news for MSM outlets that attempted to downplay the investigations.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk reportedly had a “lovely dinner,” suggesting that Musk could return to government to clean up corruption not just in Washington but also to unleash a new era of DOGE-style efforts focused on state-level fraud.

As we’ve noted, the Somali-linked Minneapolis fraud has shifted the sentiment of Americans to be more receptive towards DOGE-like efforts resurfacing, as fraud schemes being unveiled are absolutely insane, such as the report that some of the taxpayer funds in Minneapolis ended up in the hands of overseas terrorists.

Axios noted, “Democrats have won every statewide office in Minnesota since 2006, and most political forecasts continue to rate next year’s race in their favor.”  

Last month, longtime Trump loyalist and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell announced that he is running for governor of Minnesota.

“I want you to know that I will stand for you as the next governor of the state of Minnesota,” Lindell said.

Lindell also said, “I will stand for you against the rampant fraud under Governor Walz; I will stand with you against crime that threatens the safety of you and your family… I’ll stand for you against unnecessary regulation that strangles the entrepreneurial spirit.”  

Musk is right. Let’s start with the flag. 

Put the flag of Minnesota back https://t.co/rURLQjJb3l

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 5, 2026

Adios Walz. 

And so we bid adieu or whatever they say in Somali to Traitor Tim https://t.co/TWKzJyUzyH

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 5, 2026

Terrible optics for Democrats. 

*   *   * 

A Minnesota-based political analyst reported late Sunday night on X that embattled Gov. Tim Walz is expected to make a major announcement Monday morning regarding the future of his political career, as national scrutiny intensifies over an alleged multi-billion-dollar Somali-linked welfare fraud scheme involving daycare centers and autism clinics in the state.

“BREAKING: Sources: Gov. Tim Walz will make an announcement about his political future Monday. He’s likely to drop out of the 2026 mngov race,” Minnesota political analyst Blois Olson wrote on X.

🚨 BREAKING: Sources: @govtimwalz will make announcement about his political future Mon. He’s likely to drop out of the 2026 #mngov race.

He met w/ @SenAmyKlobuchar on Sun. Full analysis in tmrw https://t.co/4zJJytH4Aw + live on @wccoradio at 6:20AM w/ @vsawkar

— Blois Olson (@bloisolson) January 5, 2026

Olson has been a political analyst and longtime contributor to WCCO Radio in the Twin Cities area, making him a seasoned political observer who appears to have some inside information on Walz’s likely decision later this morning.

Local TV station KARE 11 reports that Walz plans to hold a press briefing at 11:00 a.m. local time. However, the outlet noted that Walz’s office has not confirmed the briefing’s topic.

Hamline University political science professor David Schultz told the outlet that Walz faces a massive uphill battle in winning a third term.

“It’s possible, but it’s going to be very difficult,” Schultz said, adding that no Minnesota governor has managed to secure a third term.

The timing of Walz’s news briefing comes as the nation has been shocked by the alleged Somali-linked welfare fraud that has occurred under leftist Walz and the Democratic Party in the state.

In 2021, Tim Walz awarded Ayan Abukar the “Outstanding Refugee Award.”

In 2023, Abukar was INDICTED for fraud.

And yet, Walz still wants to blame President Trump for the massive fraud scheme in Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/wXmpBRllwx

— Christian Collins (@CollinsforTX) January 2, 2026

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said last month that he believes the total amount defrauded from 14 Medicaid programs in Minnesota could exceed $9 billion.  

“What we see in Minnesota is not a handful of bad actors committing crimes,” Thompson told reporters. “It’s a staggering industrial-scale fraud. It’s swamping Minnesota and calling into question everything we know about our state.”

Recall that Walz, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and other Democrats attempted to combat welfare fraud accusations with the “racist” card against anyone investigating daycares and autism clinics in the state. That strategy is no longer working. The era in which the Democratic Party could shield itself behind race to deflect corruption is over.

More importantly, as Christopher Rufo’s reporting indicates, the welfare fraud scheme has escalated into a national security concern, given allegations that some of these taxpayer funds ultimately flowed to a terrorist group in Somalia.

Related:

• MN Lawmaker: Walz Team Threatened Whistleblowers With “Racism” & “Islamophobia” Slurs To Hide Somali Fraud

• Trump Ends TPS For Somalis In Minnesota After Explosive Report Reveals Welfare Fraud Network Funding Overseas Terror

• MSM Panics After Nick Shirley Bombshell As CBS Pledges To Start Reporting Real News

• SBA Suspends 7,000 Minnesota Borrowers Over “Suspected Fraudulent Activity”

• Front Companies? Bombshell Report Exposes Network Of Somali-Linked “Empty” Daycares Across Minnesota

• HHS Freezes Childcare Payments Nationwide After Bombshell Somali-Linked Daycare Fraud Allegations In Minnesota

Furthermore, shame on the corporate media for downplaying and even attempting to discredit Nick Shirley’s reporting. MSM was exposed as acting more like a PR operation than a news organization, with CBS reportedly panicking as the story went viral.

Via The Cradle

The two largest US newspapers learned in advance of the secret US raid to abduct Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but chose not to publish what they knew to avoid endangering US troops, Semafor reported on 4 January, citing two people familiar with the matter.

Despite their hostility toward US President Donald Trump regarding domestic issues, the New York Times (NYT) and Washington Post cooperated with his administration ahead of the operation to attack Venezuela.

US forces deployed more than 150 aircraft to eliminate air defenses, clearing the way for helicopters to insert troops who then moved on to President Maduro’s location.

After Maduro and his wife were abducted, President Trump and top administration officials praised the operation, citing both the lack of US casualties and the total secrecy surrounding it, including from the media.

“The coordination, the stealth, the precision, the very long arm of American justice – all on display in the middle of the night,” Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said.

Trump approved the assault at 10:46 pm Friday. Though aware of the decision, the NYT and Washington Post waited several hours before reporting it because the White House had warned that doing so would expose US troops performing the operation to danger.

However, the decision also showed disregard for the lives of Venezuelans.

US airstrikes accompanying the commando operation killed 40 people, including civilians and military personnel, a senior Venezuelan official told the NYT on Saturday.

One strike targeted a three-story civilian apartment complex in Catia La Mar, a poor coastal area just west of the Caracas airport, killing an 80-year-old woman, Rosa González, and seriously wounding a second person.

The leaks to the Press regarding the Venezula mission is dangerous. Anyone who saw those plans needs to be polygraphed.

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) January 5, 2026

Following the airstrikes, US President Donald Trump announced that US forces had “captured” Maduro and his wife, also telling reporters that Maduro had “offered everything” to the US, from Venezuelan oil and natural resources to mediation, according to reporters.

Spokespersons for the White House, the Pentagon, and the Washington Post declined to comment on the conversations between journalists and officials Friday night. A NYT spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry.

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is rushing to block President Trump’s successful operation to arrest Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, labeling it “lawlessness” and a violation of congressional authority—despite Schumer himself and a string of Democrats and their media mouthpieces previously blasting Trump for failing to end the Maduro regime.

With Maduro now in custody and the U.S. overseeing a transition in Venezuela, Democrats have immediately cried foul, with Schumer appearing on ABC’s “This Week” to decry the move as unauthorized nation-building that will cost American lives and dollars.

Schumer declared, “The American people this morning are scratching their heads in wonderment and in fear of what the president has proposed,” adding, “We have learned through years when America tries to do regime change and nation building in this way, the American people pay the price in both blood and in dollars.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticizes the U.S strike in Venezuela and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro: “It’s a violation of the law to do what they did without getting the authorization of Congress.” https://t.co/aSFDwCl1fl pic.twitter.com/6XgO2OVWwi

— ABC News (@ABC) January 4, 2026

Schumer further accused the Trump administration of bombing civilian sites and vowed to introduce a War Powers Act resolution, co-sponsored with Tim Kaine and Rand Paul, to halt further actions without congressional approval. “If it’s voted positively in both houses, then the president can’t do another thing in Venezuela without the OK of Congress,” Schumer stated.

Yet, this is the same Schumer who, in 2020, ridiculed Trump’s Venezuela policy for not going far enough. In a Senate floor speech, he declared, “The President brags about his Venezuela policy? Give us a break. He hasn’t brought an end to the Maduro regime.”

2020. Chuck Schumer criticizes Trump for not bringing an end to the Maduro regime.

Schumer: “The President brags about his Venezuela policy? Give us a break. He hasn’t brought an end to the Maduro regime.” pic.twitter.com/kMkwSWd0yl

— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 4, 2026

The contrast couldn’t be starker: back then, Democrats demanded action against the narco-terrorist indicted on drug trafficking charges; now, they defend the status quo to spite Trump.

Democrats and their media allies are suddenly Maduro apologists, despite the fact that during Trump’s first term and beyond, they relentlessly pushed for the dictator’s removal, tying Maduro’s survival to Trump’s alleged weakness.

Watch: Sen. Chris Murphy just last year urging action against Maduro, only to flip and call Trump’s operation to remove him corrupt and unrelated to U.S. security.

Chris Murphy in 2024.pic.twitter.com/ZraWqvp8Xn https://t.co/PaOXDKuA0q

— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 4, 2026

Murphy has been beating this drum since 2019. Now suddenly, he’s against it? Clown.

“getting rid of Maduro is good for the United States” – Chris Murphy, 1/23/19

What happened, Chris? https://t.co/trUmFj8kZc

— Kevin M. Nelson (@KevinMNelsonUSA) January 4, 2026

Watch: Sen. Chris Van Hollen echoed the call in 2024, declaring Maduro “absolutely lost the election, is not legitimate, and has to be removed from power.” His about-face now is laughable.

Here’s the grifter known as Chris Van Hollen in 2024 declaring that Maduro absolutely lost the election, is not legitimate, and has to be removed from power. https://t.co/p8Ayyq5yDx pic.twitter.com/k4rwJCjyFt

— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 4, 2026

Watch: Rachel Maddow, in September 2024, lumped Maduro with dictators like Putin and Kim Jong Un, saying, “They want no one anywhere to think it is possible let alone desirable to throw a strong man out.” Now, with Trump succeeding where Biden failed, Maddow’s silence speaks volumes.

September, 2024. Rachel Maddow: Putin, Maduro, Trump, Kim Jong Un, and Xi Jinping are all the same.

Maddow: “They want no one anywhere to think it is possible let alone desirable to throw a strong man out.”

Nice call Madcow. pic.twitter.com/IH8hhu0VOF

— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 4, 2026

Leftists and Dems all over MSNBC and CNN repeatedly claimed Maduro’s hold on power proved Trump was “Putin’s puppet,” ignoring how Biden’s policies later empowered the regime.

During Trump’s first term Maduro stayed in power after an illegitimate election.

The MSM/Democrats repeatedly claimed that Maduro remaining in power was proof that Trump was “Putin’s puppet.”

Everyone in this video will now be condemning Trump. It’s so pathetic. pic.twitter.com/EpCcOxESNP

— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 3, 2026

Flash back to 2019: Bipartisan applause in Congress when Trump recognized Venezuela’s legitimate leader over Maduro. Democrats cheered then; now they whine.

2019. A rare bipartisan clap for Trump after he recognizes the true winner of the Venezuelan election.

In 2024 Maduro lost another election but he stayed in power. The Biden Admin began seizing some of his assets, including his plane. Many democrats called for him to be removed… pic.twitter.com/0el6qNoJP9

— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 3, 2026

The hypocrisy peaks in Democrats’ past smears portraying Trump as Maduro’s ideological twin, craving the same authoritarian control.

The talking point was relentlessly hammered: Trump supposedly wants to be like Maduro, depriving people of freedom. They insisted Trump praises leaders like Maduro for their iron-fisted rule. Where are they now?

Democrat talking point repeated regularly during the Biden years.

Maduro is one of the worst people alive and Trump wants to be just like him. pic.twitter.com/uraZDCY6Im

— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 3, 2026

“Fascism expert” Ruth Ben-Ghiat claimed in 2024 that Trump admires Maduro’s deprivation of freedoms. Her “expertise” crumbles now that Trump freed Venezuelans from that very tyranny.

2024. Ruth Ben-Ghiat (professor and so called “expert” on fascism and authoritarian leaders) says that Trump praises leaders like Maduro because he likes the way that they deprive their people of freedom.

What an expert. ? pic.twitter.com/W6fccS9LQI

— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 3, 2026

Even Rep. Jamie Raskin joined in last year, demanding the world oppose Maduro’s “right-wing attack on democratic institutions.”

Last year, demanding the world oppose Maduro because he’s “right wing.” ? https://t.co/CkmO6f9XSZ

— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 3, 2026

Predictably, Biden’s weakness invited this mess. In 2023, his admin eased sanctions on Venezuela for Maduro’s empty promise of fair elections—which he promptly stole in 2024, arresting opponents and clinging to power.

In 2023 the Biden Admin rolled back sanctions on Venezuela in exchange for a promise from Maduro that Venezuela would hold free and fair elections.

In 2024 Maduro lost the election, stayed in power, and had his opponents arrested or driven from the country. pic.twitter.com/PRBc8lpJjA

— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 3, 2026

Then after it became clear what was happening, the Biden administration moved to pave the way for Maduro to be ousted.

VENEZUELA: Biden raised Maduro’s bounty to $25M, declared him a fugitive, & denied him head of state immunity making it lawful for US troops to arrest him on Venezuelan soil. Democrats now call the arrest Biden enabled and authorized ‘illegal’. pic.twitter.com/23ffxTIzYZ

— @amuse (@amuse) January 4, 2026

This is all about blind opposition to Trump. Democrats would now rather prop up dictators than admit Trump’s policies are working. With Maduro gone, the U.S. secures its borders, cuts off narco-flows, and weakens globalist foes.

Their blatant hypocrisy exposes the Democrats’ terminal case of Trump Derangement Syndrome: they oppose anything Trump does, even if it aligns with their past demands, simply because it’s him doing it and they have no other direction to steer their sinking rat infested husk.

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Authored by John Rampton via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Usually, tax laws are tweaked as we enter a new year. However, 2025 isn’t just another tax year for retirees; it’s expected to be among the most consequential in recent history.

As a result of new legislation, such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and continuing changes from the SECURE 2.0 Act (SECURE refers to Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement.), these updates will present both opportunities and challenges. While some retirees will enjoy extra relief, others may need to adjust their financial strategy.

Understanding how these new rules will affect you is essential if you live on a fixed income, manage your retirement savings, or plan your legacy. As such, to achieve a secure and confident retirement, your planning must be informed.

With that said, here are the biggest 2025 tax changes—and what they mean for retirees.

The Big Headline: A New $6,000 ‘Bonus’ Deduction for Seniors

Easily one of the most talked-about changes for 2025 is a new deduction specifically for seniors.

In addition to existing deductions, anyone 65 or older will be able to claim an additional $6,000 deduction in 2025. For married couples at least 65 years of age, that amount can be doubled to $12,000.

So, who qualifies? You can take this “bonus” deduction even if you itemize your deductions or take the standard deduction. It is, however, phased out at higher income levels:

• Single filers. When modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) reaches $75,000, it gradually phases out until it disappears at $175,000.

• Married filing jointly. The starting point is $150,000, with a maximum of $250,000.

Since this deduction stacks with the existing senior and standard deductions, retirees can lower their taxable income and possibly eliminate their federal tax liability.

A quick example:

Say you’re over 65 and a single filer. If you qualify, you may be eligible for:

• Standard deduction: $15,750

• Age 65+ addition: $1,750 (approx.)

• New senior “bonus” deduction: $6,000

• Total: More than $23,500 in deductions.

In a married couple with both spouses over 65, that amount can be $46,000, which moves many retirees into the zero-tax bracket, mainly if they rely primarily on Social Security and modest individual retirement account (IRA) withdrawals.

(Note: This new deduction is temporary and currently set to expire after the 2028 tax year.)

Income Tax Brackets and Rates: Stability at Last

Although deductions are rising, tax rates are also improving. In the new tax system, seven tax brackets will be permanent: 10 percent, 12 percent, 22 percent, 24 percent, 32 percent, 35 percent, and 37 percent.

In other words, retirees will be able to plan long-term with greater security, since there will be no sudden hikes or sunset provisions in 2026.

Bonus tip: With today’s tax rates still relatively low, 2025 may be a good time to consider a Roth conversion. By converting pre-tax traditional IRA or 401(k) funds to Roth accounts, you will pay taxes at today’s rates and then withdraw those funds tax-free in the future. By making this move, you can hedge against future tax increases or the eventual expiration of that senior “bonus” deduction.

Itemized Deductions: A SALT Cap Adjustment

Furthermore, the OBBBA temporarily increases the limit on state and local tax deductions (SALT) from $10,000 to $40,000 through 2029. By itemizing again rather than taking the standard deduction, many retirees can reap significant benefits.

Here’s how it works:

Higher SALT Cap

From 2025 to 2029, you can deduct up to $40,000 in state and local taxes—$20,000 if married and filing separately. And in 2030, the $10,000 limit will return.

Income Phaseout

• The full $40,000 deduction applies if your MAGI is under $500,000.

• An annual MAGI of $500,000–$600,000 will be phased out by 30¢ per dollar.

• The MAGI cap will again be set at $10,000 when the MAGI exceeds $600,000.

• Through 2029, these thresholds will rise by 1 percent per year.

Whether you itemize or not, retirees aged 65+ can claim an additional $6,000 deduction per person (2025-2028), which is not subject to the SALT cap. It is possible for a couple with both spouses over 65 to claim an extra $12,000 in deductions.

Additionally, this phase-out begins at $75,000 MAGI (single) and $150,000 (joint).

That’s a lot to take in. To help you plan for the year 2025, here are a few tax planning tips:

• In addition to any senior deductions, compare your total itemized deductions (with the higher SALT limit) against the $31,500 standard deduction for married couples.

• To maximize your deduction for 2025, consider prepaying your 2026 property taxes before the end of the year.

• When approaching phaseout levels or planning Roth conversions, be sure to manage your MAGI carefully.

• Due to AMT rules, SALT deductions are not applicable.

The SECURE 2.0 Act: Big Retirement Account Updates

Several key provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act take effect in 2025, reshaping how retirees and near-retirees can save, give, and plan for income in later life.

‘Super’ Catch-Up Contributions (Ages 60–63)

There’s a powerful new savings boost coming to people between 60 and 63 in 2025. By introducing “super” catch-up contributions, the limit on annual catch-up contributions is raised to $10,000 or 150 percent of the standard catch-up amount. According to the 2024 limits, that’s $11,250.

By doing so, older workers can maximize savings during their final years of employment before retirement. Starting in 2026, the $10,000 base will be adjusted for inflation.

Expanded Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

For those who are 70½ and older, QCDs remain the most tax-efficient way to give. In 2025, you’ll be able to donate up to $108,000 (indexed) directly from your IRA to qualified charities—satisfying your required minimum distribution and avoiding taxes as well.

In addition, higher-income retirees can contribute a one-time $54,000 QCD to a charitable remainder trust or gift annuity, giving them more flexibility to support causes they care about while maintaining their income.

More Flexibility for Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts (QLACs)

QLACs, which provide guaranteed income later in life, now have higher limits and fewer restrictions. In addition to the increase in maximum premiums (indexed), the old rule capping contributions at 25 percent is no longer in effect, allowing retirees to receive a higher level of guaranteed lifetime income.

Other Key 2025 Updates

Here are some other updates to keep on your radar.

Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

It’s estimated that in 2025, COLA will be around 2.5 percent, adding modestly to beneficiaries’ incomes.

However, higher benefits may cause an increase in your provisional income, resulting in a higher tax rate—up to 85 percent. As a result, deductions like the new $6,000 senior bonus are more valuable.

Estate Tax Exemption

In 2026, the OBBBA will permanently increase the federal estate tax exclusion to $15 million per individual, from $13.99 million. Combined, this amounts to $30 million in exclusions for married couples.

As a result of this law, the higher exclusion amount established by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) will not expire.

Ultimately, retirees with high net worth should consider major gifts or estate transfers now before today’s limits expire.

The Bottom Line: Plan Your 2025 Pivot

It’s a mixed bag for retirees in 2025, with some big breaks and some ticking clocks.

Here are some tips for making the most of these opportunities:

• Recalculate your deductions. Determine how much income you can shield from taxes by adding up your standard, age-based, and “bonus” deductions.

• Review Roth conversions. Prevent future increases in tax rates by locking in today’s historically low rates.

• Max out catch-up contributions. Use the new $11,250 catch-up limit if you’re 60–63 and still working.

• Use QCDs wisely. By distributing your IRA funds to charities, you can reduce your taxable income and support a cause you believe in.

With these changes in place in 2025, you will be able to benefit from greater flexibility and security in your retirement plan.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.

Following the Trump administration’s military operation to forcibly remove Nicolas Maduro, the wife of Trump’s deputy chief of staff triggered panic in Denmark and Europe after posting a picture of a map on X showing Greenland overlaid with the American flag with the caption “SOON.” 

Her post drew a response from Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, Jesper Møller Sørensen, who wrote on X: “Just a friendly reminder about the US and the Kingdom of Denmark: We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security. Greenland is already part of NATO.”

Just a friendly reminder about the US and the Kingdom of Denmark: We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security. Greenland is already part of NATO. The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work… https://t.co/CboKnlKgJL

— Jesper Møller Sørensen 🇩🇰 (@DKambUSA) January 4, 2026

Trump has been publicly mulling the purchase – or takeover – of Greenland since at least 2019, “with varying degrees of serious,” despite repeated international pushback from Danish leaders. 

On Sunday, Trump said the US needed Greenland “very badly” – renewing fears of a US invasion of the largely autonomous island that was a former Danish colony which still remains part of the Danish kingdom. 

In response, Greenlandic prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen accused Trump of “completely and utterly unacceptable” rhetoric, adding “Enough is enough.” 

“Threats, pressure and talk of annexation have no place between friends,” Nielsen said on Monday via social media. “That is not how you speak to a people who have shown responsibility, stability and loyalty time and again. Enough is enough. No more pressure. No more innuendo. No more fantasies about annexation.”

He did say that Greenland was “open to dialogue” if it came through appropriate channels in accordance with international law, “not random and disrespectful posts on social media.”

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that if Trump attacks Greenland, it would mean the end of the NATO alliance.

“I believe one should take the American president seriously when he says that he wants Greenland,” he told Danish broadcaster TV2. “But I will also make it clear that if the US chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops, including NATO and thus the security that has been established since the end of the Second World War.”

Greenlandic member of the Danish parliament, Aja Chemnitz – a representative of the Inuit Ataqatigiit party, said that while she doesn’t believe invasion is imminent, Greenlanders should “prepare for the worst.” 

“We should hope for the best and prepare for the worst. That’s the way I see it right now. We are in a situation that is concerning,” she told the Guardian, adding that Trump’s latest remarks were “the worst and most serious” of his threats to Greenland, and marked a “new world order.” 

The EU is also in a panic, which on Monday said it would not stop defending the principle of territorial independence, particularly when it comes to another member of the 27-member bloc, the Guardian reports.

“The EU will continue to uphold the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders,” said EU lead foreign policy spokesperson, Anitta Hipper. “These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them, all the more so if the territorial integrity of a member state of the European Union is questioned.”

Meanwhile, British PM Kier Starmer said on Monday that he supports the autonomy of Greenland, and agrees that Trump should stop making threats. 

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Monday echoed the sentiment, saying that the NATO alliance – to which Denmark belongs – could discuss strengthening its protection of Greenland if needed.

Leaders in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have also expressed support of Denmark, per Forbes. 

Speaking with reporters on Sunday aboard Air Force One, Trump said “We’ll worry about Greenland in about two months,” adding “Let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days.” Eh, ok. 

Watch Live:

And the arraignment circus begins. With world media cameras gathered outside the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan and the court “perp walk” of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores set to take place at around noon (eastern), a gaggle of rival protest groups have gathered.

The opposing groups appear to number in the several dozens each, some holding “USA hands off of Venezuela” and “US out of Latin America” signs – while others are celebrating the US ouster of the longtime socialist strongman who was accused by Washington last July of ‘stealing’ the national election which kept him in power.

Threats and slogans are being hurled in both Spanish and English across police-erected barriers. They represent the political divide not only among the Venezuelan community in the US, but also with some among contingent accused of being “paid Left-wing agitators”. But we can also imagine that more simply anti-war Americans are among them, but also without doubt pro-socialist activists. The day is about to get a lot more interesting…

NOW: Confrontations and Clashes continue between Venezuelans and Pro-Maduro Protesters outside of the NYC Court where Maduro is being processed

Video by @yyeeaahhhboiii2 @FreedomNTV Desk@freedomnews.tv to license pic.twitter.com/X9KXzSJyWw

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) January 5, 2026

Some conservative pundits are claiming that among the most vocal protesters include Venezuelan-government linked agitators, or else diehard socialists. 

But amid a thick information war kicking into full gear, there’s reason to question all simplistic claims and counter-claims at this point:

🚨🇻🇪 BREAKING — Even Members of the Venezuelan Opposition Are Now Demanding Maduro´s Release. pic.twitter.com/a9cXmuD0K6

— ★★★★★ Pamphlets ★★★★★ (@PamphletsY) January 5, 2026

However, plenty of Libertarians, anti-war Conservatives, and even those among Trump’s MAGA base are standing against the brazen US military invasion of Venezuela, which Trump has long admitted is to essentially ‘get back’ control of the country’s significant proven oil reserves. 

BREAKING NOW: Chaos outside Manhattan federal courthouse as real Venezuelan exiles clash with pro-Maduro leftist protesters demanding his release.

The paid commie protesters have no idea what they are protesting. pic.twitter.com/liRTMVTsz9

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) January 5, 2026

Meanwhile, a strong counterpoint to those quickly jumping on the regime change bandwagon…

MAGA Inc. for the last 36 hours: pic.twitter.com/zD8yNZkCfP

— Dave Benner, Nemesis of Neocons (@dbenner83) January 4, 2026

In Caracas, the government under Maduro’s VP and now Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has ordered police to arrest anyone who helped the US military invasion and capture of Maduro.

And will the CIA now get its Caracas base of operations back? The US is preparing to reopen its embassy in Caracas if President Trump authorizes.

* * *

That didn’t take long. At a moment Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and his wife Flores are set to appear before a New York federal judge on various drug-trafficking and gun-running related charges, his VP and now apparently Interim President Delcy Rodriguez is offering a huge olive branch.

This is unsurprising given the staunchly socialist, pro-Maduro number two under the ousted president is herself under immense pressure from Washington, and still facing down the barrel of Uncle Sam’s gun – or rather the collective might of the Pentagon’s persisting US naval blockade just off Latin America’s coast.

She’s quickly expressed her willingness to cooperate with the United States on the future of Venezuela, in a significant shift in tone following Maduro’s Friday into Saturday morning ‘shock’ abduction by US special forces.

“We consider it a priority to move towards a balanced and respectful relationship between the US and Venezuela,” Rodriguez wrote on Telegram Sunday.

And more than that, her following words convey willingness of Caracas to bend the knee: “We extend an invitation to the US government to work together on a cooperation agenda, aimed at shared development, within the framework of international law, and to strengthen lasting community coexistence,” she stated.

This emphases on a “cooperation agenda” is something that Maduro himself had desperately offered Trump, reportedly over the last several weeks, but this appeared too little, too late from the US admin’s perspective.

Rodriguez is watching from Caracas as Maduro gets hauled to court in front of media cameras:

Nicolás Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan president, and his wife were expected to appear at noon on Monday in federal court in Manhattan to face charges of drug trafficking and other crimes, two days after they were captured in a U.S. military raid in Caracas.

Mr. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were escorted off a helicopter in Downtown Manhattan on Monday morning and were being brought to the courthouse to face charges including narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine, according to an unsealed indictment. Their capture on Saturday followed a monthslong campaign by the Trump administration to drive out the autocratic leader.

He has arrived at the New York courthouse at this point, having been transported by amored vehicle after spending the night in a Brooklyn jail.

BREAKING: Nicolás Maduro surrounded by heavy security as he is transported to New York City court ahead of his arraignment. pic.twitter.com/2EqrMrNKxe

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 5, 2026

President Trump has warned that if authorities in Venezuela fail to cooperate, the United States would carry out a second strike on Venezuela, noting that any decision to deploy ground troops there would depend on how the situation develops and how Venezuela responds.

He’s also meanwhile said the idea of launching an operation involving Colombia “sounds good” to him in comments Sunday, describing the country as being in serious trouble and claiming it is currently led by “a sick man” – and even suggested he won’t remain long in power.

It was actually Colombia which has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, set also for Monday. The South American country is a non-permanent member of the Council, and was supported by permanent members China and Russia.

Meanwhile the theft of Venezuelan assets has begun, with the Swiss government moving on Monday to freeze any holdings of Maduro and his associates “with immediate effect”.

“In doing so, the Federal Council aims to prevent an outflow of assets,” a Swiss statement said, stressing that “should future legal proceedings reveal that the funds were illicitly acquired, Switzerland will endeavor to ensure that they benefit the Venezuelan people.”