— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 3, 2026
AND: From the live updates at the NYT:Just got off the phone with @SecRubio
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) January 3, 2026
He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant… https://t.co/lXCxhPoKSZ
When asked if he had sought congressional authority for the operation or what is next for Venezuela, Mr. Trump said he would address those matters during a news conference at 11 a.m. at Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence in Palm Beach, Fla.
Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, speaking on a state-run television station after Mr. Trump’s announcement, said that Mr. Maduro’s location was unknown and asked Mr. Trump for proof of life....
Before the U.S. operation on Saturday, the Venezuelan president had tightened his inner circle and taken to changing beds in an attempt to protect himself from a potential targeted strike or a special-forces raid....
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81 comments:
Minnesota is next.
Cuban leadership looking over their shoulder.
Mamdani, take note.
“Minnesota is next.”
Let us pray.
Cuban commies, Chinese commies, and Russian ex commies are big mad right now
The new commies in NYC are no doubt upset this morning.
Trump has seized the monicker of his former employee - Big Balls.
Oh say, mullahs, can you see?
Trump has no patience for people who steal elections. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Something's wrong, shut the light
Heavy thoughts tonight
And they aren't of Snow White
Dreams of war, dreams of liars
Dreams of dragon's fire
And of things that will bite, yeah
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We're off to never-never land, yeah
When asked if he had sought congressional authority for the operation …
Did Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton ever request or receive Congressional authorization for their attack on Qaddafi? Did the Times ever ask him about it?
The odds of the regimes in Cuba and Iran falling have just increased significantly. Iran in particular launders much of its oil exports, and gets hard currency, by mixing it with Venezuelan crude. That game is over. (and crypto should weaken--it was a material transaction vehicle for Maduro).
Yes, audacious moves like this have a way of spinning out in unpredictable ways--Trumps political opposition will hem and hedge until they see which way the result goes.
But right now, this is a glorious moment for human freedom.
Hooray!
I’ve noticed the coverage at CBS is excellent and WaPo is horrible.
CBS notes that this arrest was on the anniversary of the arrest of Noriega in Panama, that there were outstanding warrants to arrest Maduro for drug trafficking, and according to Rubio no further involvement in Venezuela.
Crickets from WaPo on any justifications for this strike.
See also our incursion into Pakistan to shoot Osama bin Laden. Obama did that one.
Cartels take note.
Trump: “So you didn’t give me the peace prize? Hold my Diet Coke”.
Visegrád 24 on X: "BREAKING: U.S. helicopters are POUNDING the Venezuelan military complex Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas https://t.co/l9jblj2O5a" / X https://share.google/cWQRbBmmFC5iUwcM7
Hmmm. Insofar as seems to be so perfectly surgical, there's a chance Maduro was in on it. A face-saving surrender. Either that, or US intelligence deeply penetrated the regime. Or both.
Big Mike said...
When asked if he had sought congressional authority for the operation …
Did Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton ever request or receive Congressional authorization for their attack on Qaddafi? Did the Times ever ask him about it?
Getting in before our resident anti-Trumpers take off on this, whether Obama and Hillary asked permission or gave notification for the hit on Qaddafi is a bit beside the point. The main objection to that operation was it was bone-headedly stupid and very likely corrupt. Qaddafi was willingly cooperating with winding down his WMD programs and there was no clear popular opposition group ready to take over the government, so Lybia descended into chaos and as far as I know has never recovered. Note that Venezuela has a popularly elected leader ready to step in, and the removal of Maduro appears generally popular.
Message to China: stay out of our hemisphere.
How long until the legacy media is referring to Maduro as “Caracas Man” and demanding that he be sent home?
So what comes next in Venezuela? A new rendition, and hopefully successful, Bay of Pigs?
Get off here and go bang your wife meade
That's as hard as you'll ever be...
It doesn’t take much imagination to envision impeachmentpalooza if the lefties manage to get control of the House this fall. They cannot tolerate all this winning.
- Krumhorn
I guess we’re all neoconservatives now.
America - Fuck yeah.
Some judge somewhere is going to insist that Maduro be released, sent back and reinstalled as President.
No days of loud music required.
Hopefully Maduro will be tried and convicted as fast as Noriega was in 1990
Yeah remember that
It is the sdny
Odd sequence of tweets from Mike Lee. So basically a signature from a magistrate (not even a district judge!) makes an invasion ok? Don't get me wrong: I think this op is legal and constitutional for several reasons. I just don't understand how Lee can go from implying you need 170 reps and 51 senators to implying one old lawyer with a consolation career achievement prize is more than sufficient. CC, JSM
But hey, I can think of several more ham sandwiches leading various countries. Start with Starmer! Do him for one of our hate crimes for extra irony. Then PM Farage, in between doubled-over laughing fits, can demand his return. CC, JSM
So is the War Powers act involved here, and does it apply to both Democrats and Republicans?
It's clearly early for most of DC to get on their band wagon.
No one saw this coming, and that really makes them mad.
Onto the nation building.
More billions flushed down the international aid hole.
Captain BillieBob said...
Some judge somewhere is going to insist that Maduro be released, sent back and reinstalled as President.
You joke, but Maduro was taken into custody pursuant to an arrest warrant. He will face trial. A core function of the judiciary is to oversee criminal trials.
Regarding Mike Lee’s concerns—Maduro lost the last 2 elections and refused to leave office. My hope is that the operation was conducted in coordination with the legitimate elected government.
If jimmy carter had been well, he would have certified the last election
Wha hoppen?
Maguire: "My hope is that the operation was conducted in coordination with the legitimate elected government."
Yes, that is one of my theories of the case. If the country's government has invited you in, then you're not at "war" with anyone. So the declaration-of-war clause doesn't apply. And the War Powers Act is constitutional truck-tunnel Swiss cheese in any case.
I don't know if anyone has ever tried a serious Treaty Clause argument against foreign internal defense: if you agree with a foreign government to apply US military force for their benefit, isn't that squarely within anyone's definition of a treaty? And if so, would there be any exceptions for strategic surprise, necessity of immediate action, etc? I dunno. CC, JSM
How long until the legacy media is referring to Maduro as “Caracas Man”
…that’s the tousled-haired Caracas man his ultra-fashionable wife…
The Framers, after all, had fresh memories of the Hessians. Who weren't "mercenaries," but the legitimate armies of small German states allied with the Hanover king, who was the legitimate head of state of British America. The "alliances" consisted of "let me use your troops, and I'll give you money," but they were still alliances. Maybe the Framers clearly envisioned preventing our head of state from playing such games. Again, I dunno. CC, JSM
From Mila Joy, on X:
China went to meet with Maduro today to discuss joining forces, then Trump captures Maduro the same day.
Savage.
In fact, the Chinese delegation is still in Venezuela.
Trump captures Maduro and sends a powerful message to Xi and China at the same time.
Savage.
rehajm: "…that’s the tousled-haired Caracas man his ultra-fashionable wife…"
Gregarious Latin-dance enthusiast (over file footage of him salsa-ing in front of a big crowd). CC, JSM
1971, Nixon declared a "war on drugs." 55 years later, effective action has begun.
So much for the supply side. How about effective penalties for drug use? Disqualification for driving; government employment; government assisted housing, food, medical, etc.
It if is worth doing at all, then do it right. Otherwise, just hollow talk, and waste of money.
"How about effective penalties for drug use?"
No Narcan in police cars or other aides to lessen drug overdoses.
Caca Malo en Caracas!
Zavier: "Disqualification for driving; government employment; government assisted housing, food, medical, etc."
That would just put even more addicts on our sidewalks. And push non-addicted users/dealers more firmly into lives of crime.
The days when a social outcast could dig ditches and make enough for a crummy SRO hotel are long gone. When we push people out of polite society, they have nowhere but the sidewalk. Where they become an even bigger problem for that polite society. CC, JSM
We will help Venezuela to rebuild by having it open and operated 1,000 daycare centers.
Maduro was so unpopular, he lost an election in a country known for it's pioneering work in electronic voting fraud. The Bolivarian Revolution has been escorted off the stage, and the nation lies in devastated wreckage after 25 years of organized criminal looting and political persecution. 25 % of the population has fled the country: Imagine that ! Things are so bad, a quarter of a nation's people picked up and left, most of them undernourished. Now let's see how well the recovery is managed.
Amazing what can be done when you stop the leaks.
The thing about looting a country's wealth on this scale, for so long, that eventually you steal so much, the circle of protective thugs that surround & protect you get so greedy, that it leaves you with insufficient means to even defend yourself from anything more than the starving peasants and the drug gangs, the immediate threats take up all of your attention. Maduro must have seen the buildup, the US Navy floating offshore and realized it was gonna be over, and soon.
From "No new wars!" to "No, new wars!" in less than a year
Count on the kakistophage to sneer at one of the most successful and worthwhile military operations in US history.
This isn't a war Kak. It's a SWAT team serving an arrest warrant, and it's already over. The Venezuelans are jubilant.
How long before the usual suspects show up with the democrat lefty talking points. Still early so maybe not out of bed or the E-mails haven't gone out yet.
The US has now effectively taken responsibility for governing Venezuela. Toppling the regime of a smaller country is always the easy part; the hard part is what comes next. Neoconservatives invariably expect a pro-US paradise to emerge, but it rarely does. At least the oil companies might seize some assets in the process.
Don't get me wrong: I think this op is legal and constitutional for several reasons.
Can you let us know why you think this op is "legal and constitutional".
And don't try to sell me on "Obama did something similar in Libya" bullshit. Even though I thought Libya was stupid, and illegal and unconstitutional, the administration had the 9/11 AUMF to hide behind. Trump doesn't even have that paper thin justification.
The thing about looting a country's wealth on this scale, for so long, that eventually you steal so much, the circle of protective thugs that surround & protect you get so greedy, that it leaves you with insufficient means to even defend yourself from anything more than the starving peasants and the drug gangs, the immediate threats take up all of your attention. Maduro must have seen the buildup, the US Navy floating offshore and realized it was gonna be over, and soon.
Until the last sentence, I thought you were talking about Trump.
When do we fly in the Nobel Peace Prize winner?
Ah, @kak, you sorry sad sack, what're you gonna do, sh*t on home plate? Dude, there's already a duly elected government, remember? It's leader just accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. I've watched that country go through 25 years of organized looting, starting with the oil companies that had legally-binding lease and production agreements that were ignored as their production properties were seized. If you're so desperate for immediate gratification, you could always consider removing your nose for spite.
Good work Mr. President!
So for whatever it is worth, a Venezuelan I know online who has been living in Chile for a bit is very happy about this event, and thinks that is probably a 90/10 split in Venezuela of people happy versus unhappy. This, to me at least, sounds like one would expect from people living under a strong-arm Leftist regime.
These things usually end badly, but what a start!
And don't try to sell me on "Obama did something similar in Libya" bullshit.
Well we won’t, then. We’ll just ignore you.
"When asked if he had sought congressional authority for the operation or what is next for Venezuela,"
No. I guess we know where the leaks are coming from.
Where is the war, Kak?
Funny how those on the left want us to stay out of other nations' business, but still want us to submit to the global elites of Europe.
Freder: "Can you let us know why you think this op is "legal and constitutional"."
Main reason is the legitimate, elected government invited us in. So it is not a war, in the strict definition of a formal armed conflict between states. It's one state helping another. So no declaration of war needed.
Violation of War Powers Act? Maybe. But how constitutional is the WPA? Especially as applied here, where there is no conflict between states.
Treaty Clause violation, which I myself offered? Maybe. But there are always exceptions to the plain language of constitutional restrictions. If "Congress shall make no law" really means "Congress can sometimes make a law," then some agreements with foreign states can sometimes take place without Senate ratification.
Just thought of another affirmative defense: Take Care and Supremacy Clauses. 18 USC [whatever section is on the warrant] is the supreme law of the USA, which Trump is bound to faithfully execute. And look: a member of the Art III judiciary signed a warrant, which is an order to the Executive to make an arrest. You wouldn't want the President to disobey a federal judicial official, would you!?
So then the question becomes which Constitutional and/or statutory provision takes control: Take Care Clause vs Declaration of War Clause vs Treaty Clause vs War Powers Act vs necessity/emergency exceptions, yadda yadda yadda.
Far from clear that Trump is in violation of anything. CC, JSM
Trump lied. A "large scale operation" is something like Operation Desert Fillintheblank leading to the enemy leader's capture fourteen years later. Keep lying Mr.President!
"...In fact, the Chinese delegation is still in Venezuela...."
That means they are hearing all the public celebrations taking place, and seeing the people in the streets. Savage, all right. I bet they get one of those extra-thorough debriefings when they get home, including the part where they are given the opportunity to joyfully reaffirm their loyalty.
Some of my comments appear to have gone to the Spam folder.
And now, once again, we are told we are greeted as liberators.
lololol
--- AND from the live updates at the NYT:
Least selected link in your blog's history?
Interesting that only a few of the usual anti-Trumpers have entered the fray, both here in the comments as well out in the media. I suppose we can, nonetheless look forward to the usual panoply of tut-tutting about the Constitution, the international community, etc., etc. Meanwhile Trump does what is best for our national survival, despite the Lilliputians trying to stake him to the ground with their ropes of gossamer.
I'm curious as to whether or not the petroleum infrastructure stolen by Chavez will now be returned to its rightful ownership?
Mike Lee’s comment is apt. I’m concerned that Trump has a tendency to conflate the good with the legal, but I’m not sure the issue is constitutional.
MikeD said...
" I'm curious as to whether or not the petroleum infrastructure stolen by Chavez will now be returned to its rightful ownership?"
Trump said the petroleum companies would be restoring the production facilities.
“Until the last sentence, I thought you were talking about Trump.”
That’s funny because I thought it was a concise description of the Democratic Party today.
Remember that Venezuela was one of the five premier founders of OPEC. This won't be the wild west. PdVSA has been the state-run oil giant since the 60s, and has operated using joint ventures with foreign oil companies ever since. The foreign oil companies bring expertise and new technology, but Venezuela owns the mineral rights and the lion's share of production.
The Bolivarian revolution under Chavez has feasted on the carcass of infrastructure for 25 years. It's in a shambles - it's scrap metal, what isn't already rust. The management / white collar class fled the country a long time ago, leaving behind their wealth to start over, elsewhere. The engineering class was part of this. The brain drain will take a long time to recover from.
Add to this, Venezuela's proven reserves are heavy black crude, which sells for deep discounts because it has limited refining value, unless you need asphalt. It must be cut with foreign condensate and lighter fractions to refine it profitably - that's where the Iranian crude imports have factored in. The Orinoco heavy oil belt, extending into Lake Maracaibo and west into Trinidad, have been extensively developed since the 1890s, but wells and pipelines that have been idle can't just be started up again. They're likely to be junked now, corroded and plugged beyond salvage.
Once the elected government is instated, I'm sure there will be a bonanza of foreign investment, but the country won't start seeing its economy recover for quite some time, probably years. But it has started, and that's great news for Venezuelans.
Hopefully the cross-border gas opportunities with Trinidad can start monetizing quickly, since Trinidad already has LNG plants that are hungry for new gas reserves, and Venezuela has plenty of undeveloped gas. And there's always the hope, with foreign investment, that deep exploration might find new reserves like Guyana is busy monetizing right now - and that's premium light crude.
The whole region is gonna light up, but all this talk about Venezuela being raped by foreign oil is just hot air and jibber jabber. They have known how to manage foreign investment for a long time - the dictatorships just put a stop to it because they stole it all and violated signed agreements.
I don't think the foreign policy mastery of this surgical action has been fully recognized by the chattering classes. This region was mostly responsible for the fuel that allowed the Allies to win WWII - the convoys used to form up off Venezuela to make the transit across the north Atlantic, loaded with bunker fuel, diesel, and av-gas. As always, petroleum strategies are the long term ones.
Now the 4 million Venezuelans Biden let in can go back.
Aggie, one thing this may allow is a building of an offshore pipeline from Guyana to Trinidad. The Trinidad President mentioned it last year, but Maduro’s threats to Guyana and preference to use the shallow water in Venezuela’s EEZ make it better to have a cooperative Venezuela than an adversarial one. This benefits all three countries mentioned, as Venezuela will get a royalty for simply providing surface rights.
Aggie said...
Add to this, Venezuela's proven reserves are heavy black crude, which sells for deep discounts because it has limited refining value, unless you need asphalt.
It is still cheaper than US oil from shale if you combine the extraction and refining cost. Venezuelan oil is cheap to extract.
Aggie said...
The Bolivarian revolution under Chavez has feasted on the carcass of infrastructure for 25 years. It's in a shambles - it's scrap metal, what isn't already rust. The management / white collar class fled the country a long time ago, leaving behind their wealth to start over, elsewhere. The engineering class was part of this. The brain drain will take a long time to recover from.
Venezuela has nice weather. The people are pretty cool too.
If there is a profitable oil industry and security is good engineers will move there en masse. If they pay enough I would happily move there in the winter for work.
DJT seems like such political genius sometimes and then he goes and does something like this. Go figure? Arrest a foreign head of stare and then remove him to the US for trial? Doesn't DJT know what kind of lawfare legionaries are going to spring ip out of holes in the earth like fire ants after a rainstorm now? And the fucking judges? SMDH.
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