Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, National Archivist and now interim El Jefe President (Pro Tempore) of Venezuela, Marco Rubio, appears on NBC to outline the U.S. goals and objectives for a stable Venezuela.
The insufferable Kirsten Welker, totally unprepared for the interview, seems to struggle with common sense and listening to answers. Seriously, the questions are plain goofy. However, that said, Secretary Rubio patiently tries to crack through the membrane of cognitive dissonance and explain exactly what the current status is along with the objective. WATCH:
Working on the transcript. In the interim….
From the Twit: Delcy Rodríguez and the core of the regime’s leadership are negotiating with the United States as we speak. This is not a sudden pivot. It is the result of a conclusion reached in Washington over months: the U.S. does not believe that María Corina Machado and the opposition have the operational capacity to seize power in Venezuela because they do not control, or meaningfully fracture, the military. If they did, power would have shifted immediately after the 2024 presidential election. It did not.
For a long period, U.S. officials, including Marco Rubio, were in constant communication with Machado and her team. They were asked repeatedly for proof of a concrete plan, not just to win power symbolically, but to retain it in practice: chain of command, military alignment, institutional control, day-after governance. The answers were consistently evasive, justified by security concerns, but never substantiated. At that point, from the U.S. government’s perspective, the opposition ceased to look like a viable transition mechanism and began to look like a political wager with no enforcement arm.
The plan now on the table is for Delcy Rodríguez to stabilize the country with U.S. backing and then call for general elections. This is not framed as an endorsement of the regime, but as a containment and transition strategy. Washington is explicit about one thing: this is not a partnership of equals. The United States is running the process, the lines are being managed through Rubio, and the leverage is entirely asymmetric. Delcy is the instrument, not the center of gravity.
U.S. officials also assess that Delcy’s harsh public rhetoric today was aimed inward, at the chavista base, not outward. That messaging is understood as domestic signaling. Nevertheless, as of now, negotiations with the United States are ongoing as we speak. (link)
Marco Rubio
Secretary of State
National Security Advisor
National Archivist
President (pro-tempore) of Venezuela
again noticing:
media (not investigative journalism, NOT AMERICA FIRST POLICY INFLUENCERS), have absolutely zero credibility.
in a normal good order intelligent NEWS age (we really really need to recapture THE NEWS and I am not talking about radio free Europe style bs, but real journalism, influenced by AMERICAN IDEALS.)..in this normal good order intellienge NEWS Age, it would have been pressing ANY Administration in the strongest possible way…why are you not intervening and arresting maduro? why have you not stemmed the tide of the death drugs and human trafficking across south america. Why are you not taking action to protect the American economic engine that FIRES AND LEADS THE ENTIRE GLOBAL ECONOMIC STABILITY.
it is shocking and a black flag that people like slotkin (active, not former CIA) are going on social media making calls to declare President Trump as some kind of lawless tyrant.
She’s right to be afraid. I’ll sign up right now to have that bitch arrested and dropped off at high altitude above somalia, with a chute of course, because she needs to experience what the world outside of America has to offer. I’m sure she isn’t a brave person…just another phoney who has made the mistake that she is untouchable.
touch her…she needs to get a wakeup call.
God Bless America
Yes we need true journalism all we have now is propoganda. Bring back Smith MUNDT.
You, my friend have hit the nail on the head. I wished more folks would talk about SMITH MUNDT.
An Alinsky-ite…personalize it and polarize it.
The only real journalists these days are bloggers and podcasters, people like Sundance, Nick Shirley, Andy Ngo, etc.
The multinational corporate-owned and DeepState funded “mainstream” outlets will not allow real journalists on their platforms.
Unfortunately there are also so many useless and/or disinformation bloggers and podcasters it is difficult to sift through all the bots, shills, frauds, noise and time-wasters. Of course many of those noise-sources are put there with funding and encouragement from the DS.
For my investment of time I would rather stick with a handful of proven-valuable sources than burn endless hours searching through the rubbish.
Bravo, 1000 upvotes.
Venezuela has no confirmed reports that Delcy Rodriguez is now President of Venezuela. It is the Venezuela’s military which has publicly recognized Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the country’s acting leader.
Here’s the kicker. Maduro’s defense forces have all been Cubans, as he revealed in the silly girl’s interview. We only now from Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez in a statement endorsing the Supreme Court’s ruling that appointed Rodríguez as interim president for 90 days.
“The Venezuelan military, through Defense Minister Padrino, confirmed its backing of Rodríguez as acting president after Maduro’s capture.
The Supreme Court had ruled on January 3 that Rodríguez would assume the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to ensure administrative continuity and national defense”.
Despite President DJT claiming Rodríguez signaled cooperation and was “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary,” she has publicly reaffirmed Maduro’s legitimacy and denounced his arrest as a “kidnapping,” indicating a clear divergence from U.S. expectations.
The Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López is Venezuelan. He was born on 30 May 1963 in Caracas, Venezuela. There is no indication that he has Cuban roots. He is a high-ranking official in the Venezuelan government and has served as the Minister of Defense since 24 October 2014. However, he has been involved in close military and political cooperation with Cuba, particularly under the Chavista regime, and has built his military and political career within Venezuela’s armed forces and government.
While he has been a key figure in Venezuela’s close military and political alliance with Cuba—especially under the Chavista governments of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro—his heritage is not Cuban. His surname “López” is common in many Spanish-speaking countries, including Venezuela, and does not indicate Cuban origin.
He has held significant power in Venezuela, serving as Minister of Defense since 2014 and at times overseeing food distribution, ports, and economic missions, making him one of the most influential figures in the country.
However, the U.S. Department of State has even offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest, citing his role in drug trafficking and corruption. Is it true U.S. Department of State has even offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to arrest of Venezuela defense minister Vladimir Padrino López citing his role in drug trafficking and corruption?
Records show that the U.S. Department of State has offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Venezuela’s Defense Minister , citing his alleged role in drug trafficking and corruption. The U.S. government accuses Padrino López of using his position as Minister of Defense to facilitate the movement of cocaine-laden aircraft from Venezuela to Central America by charging drug trafficking organizations protection fees exceeding $60,000 per flight. If these fees were not paid, the aircraft were allegedly destroyed by the Venezuelan military.
Padrino López was indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury on May 24, 2019, on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine on an aircraft registered in the United States.
The U.S. Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have alleged that he used subordinate military officials to collect these fees and funneled the illicit funds into political campaigns in Venezuela.
The U.S. does not recognize Padrino López as a legitimate minister due to its non-recognition of
’s reappointment following the disputed July 2024 presidential election. The reward is part of the U.S. Narcotics Rewards Program, and the State Department continues to seek information leading to his arrest. As of January 2026, Padrino López remains a key figure in Venezuela’s government and has publicly rejected U.S. pressure, vowing resistance to what he describes as imperialist aggression.
What a tangled weave of deception and abiding time to achieve power and control, is it not?
Can’t edit the above suddenly, for some reason, so this serves to correct what I missed out.
“Here’s the kicker. Maduro’s defense forces have all been Cubans, as he revealed in the silly girl’s interview.”
Meant to say “Here’s the kicker. Maduro’s defense forces have all been Cubans, as Marco Rubio revealed in the silly girl’s interview.”
It seems like Marco Rubio is very well suited to be right in the middle of all this, sorting it out.
I’m sure where we are right now and appointing HIM, this was all long planned out.
I’m encouraged by the clear language by the Supreme Court calling her the Interim President and for only 90 days.
This signals that their court is very much onboard with the fact that this is a temporary measure- for the practical needs of keeping the country running..
My worry is her trying to pull another Maduro and remain in control- despite the wishes of the people.
I agree actually with the US position that the lady they elected is in no way ready to take this all on- given the scale here of the problems and potential crisis if this all goes sideways even more.
They’ll need someone strong, experienced, known and supported by the people, she may be wonderful, but this is much more than a personality contest.
Because they know that some Boasberg-affiliated judge is going to order Maduro’s return? Then what? Does PDJT comply, just like he has with every single other anti-Constitutional judicial order that has usurped presidential power? Would love to see him give these treasonous, seditious jurists the middle finger. Better yet, arrest and detain them indefinitely without charge like was done to countless J6rs. Nobody is above the law, right????
This was not unlike watching Trump tromp Biden. It was heart warming.
So, Maduro pronounced innocent by radical leftist New York City jurists and returned to Venezuela to regain control and restart previous cartel, terrorist, and anti-US alliances and practices in 3… 2.. 1…?
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/01/you-cant-make-this-up-92-year-old/
On the way back to Venezuela: “Hey, Nick, look over there.” *sailor boots him off the side of the carrier*
Give him a C4 Enema before you drop him back
Sorry, just posted the judge stuff above… what a rat!
Excerpt:
Carvajal says the Venezuelan regime has been sending spies to the United States for at least two decades, some still active and in some cases disguised as members of the Venezuelan opposition. Cuba, he added, runs similar operations.
“Cuban intelligence showed me their networks inside your naval bases on the East Coast. They bragged about having sent thousands of spies over decades, some now career politicians. U.S. diplomats and CIA officers were paid to assist Chávez and Maduro in remaining in power. These Americans acted as spies for Cuba and Venezuela, and some remain active to this day,” he claimed.
Praise for Trump’s Venezuela Policy
Throughout the letter, Carvajal praises President Donald Trump’s approach to the Maduro government, calling it “not only correct, but absolutely necessary” for U.S. national security. He warns that the Venezuelan regime is “at war” with the United States through drugs, gangs, espionage and “even your own democratic processes.”
Carvajal claims Maduro’s inner circle has contingency plans to remain in power “under every extreme scenario,” and says he is prepared to provide additional information to U.S. authorities.
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article313364949.html#storylink=cpy
Spies and saboteurs in U.S. military facilities. What can go wrong?
Like clockwork, a Democrat “judge” with Trump Derangement Syndrome is assinged to the case in the SDNY. What could go wrong?
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/01/you-cant-make-this-up-92-year-old/
This is what I was worried about regarding SDNY. Hopefully my worry was unfounded. /s
If Barbie Biondi wasn’t a total airhead waste of space, another indictment would have been sought in Florida. But as usual, she’s totally clueless
Yes I mentioned it this morning and I got shot down by some here. I think it’s going to be very difficult to switch venues.
She’s doing as she’s told.
Yes. Nicolás Maduro has been indicted in U.S. federal courts, including Florida, on serious drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges. Per Co-Pilot research.
Clueless? Try complicit.
Judge Hellerstein!
Since Demo-communists released Kilmar Garcia , releasing Nicolas Maduro will just be a cut above for Clinton Judge Hellerstein. Our Judges have no shame. How can anyone that is not Somalian vote Democrat?
noting and danger note: please pull down some of the video (not CTH fault…cannot discuss). we are exposing some of our operators in some of these videos. These are the good guys. We should never allow video of their faces or any other artifacts.
Team Trump….act.
God Bless America
Admin – flagging Regitiger for your kind attention. HNY ❤️
“Maduro, improbably, could not have landed in a better courtroom if he spun the wheel himself. The case is assigned to Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, a senior U.S. District Judge appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1998” -Michael Cohen.
I’d like to know why Maduro is being taken to New York for trial. Why not in Florida, where at least you have a chance of getting a non-biased judge. Right now, it looks like he is being handed over to a Trump-hating judge that will most assuredly release him to embarrass our president.
YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS UP: 92-Year-Old Clinton Judge Who Denied Trump’s Hush-Money Removal to Federal Court and Blocked Venezuelan Gang Deportations Now Assigned to Preside Over Maduro Case in New York | The Gateway Pundit | by Jim Hᴏft
Nice to know Jim Hoft reads over here . . .
Good job, Jim.
0.o
Maduro was first indicted in March 2020 by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges of narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and corruption, with cases filed in the Southern District of Florida, the Southern District of New York, and the District of Columbia.
The indictment accused him of leading a “criminal enterprise” in Venezuela that collaborated with groups like FARC to traffic cocaine into the U.S.
On January 3, 2026, following a U.S. military operation in Caracas, Maduro was captured and taken into U.S. custody.
He was flown to the U.S. and placed in federal detention to face these charges.
A superseding indictment unsealed at that time added his wife, Cilia Flores, and his son, Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, as defendants. The charges include:
While the case has strong ties to Florida, including evidence and prosecutorial involvement from the Southern District of Florida, the initial court appearances and trial logistics are being coordinated through New York.
0.o
Thanks! That makes feel a bit better. The sooner it gets out of Dem SDNY the better. The Judge that has been appointed in SDNY is 92 year old Dem Wacko.
Apparently, one of Maduro’s planes was taken into evidence in Florida during the bust down there.
I’ll see if I can find a copy of the Florida indictment.
Have you heard anything on the son?
Last night I looked all over for news on him and there was nothing.
He may have been whisked out back last month.
You heard anything?
0.o
Unfortunately, I haven’t looked into it closely. You provided good background information. I just became concerned about Dem SDNY and the assigned judge doesn’t quell my concerns.
Kirsten Welker is creepy. Such a fake job. Especially when she gives that “earnest” look she has practiced in the bathroom mirror for so long that she looks constipated and gassy in all the interviews.
She acted as if she were a City prosecutor interrogating a small-time street thug!
This gal is so, so insufferable! I have 2 questions & I honestly don’t know so – 1. Is there anyone as equally insufferable as her that is willing to wake up next to her every morning? And 2. Who & why?
Her husband is John Hughes (Marketing Director at Merck)…
Now you’ll know the next time she talks about drug companies 🙂
She doesn’t even bother to hide her TDS. I bet she’s real fun at parties. 🤣
Pretty sure she was one of Epstein’s “comfort” party girls who got passed around like the trailer park ho she is.
Ty GB,
I really hope this is the real story. Cheers (Dobbs was one of the few I always liked and respected for exposing Free Trade treason with Pat Buchanan when hardly anyone else was)
In MAGA mindset, removing criminals from our government takes precedent over removing criminals in other governments. If we don’t fix election integrity within our country in the next ten months, all Trump’s good work is for naught. I hope Maduro has the goods on the 2020 election fraud but even if true, getting it into the light in time may be nearly impossible.
Are we sure that is Maduro? That guy looks younger.
It’s a photoshop.
There are several photos going around with Maduro wearing various pants/shirts.
For a guy who was just extracted from a foreign country and immediately taken to jail, he’s got more outfits than a runway model at a Versace show in Milan.
Then I found this in the comments:
“This viral version is disinformation that spread on social media shortly after the event,
No, this is not a real photo.
It’s a digitally manipulated image where Nicolás Maduro’s face has been swapped onto the body of Ukrainian businessman Victor Medvedchuk, who was captured by Ukrainian forces in 2022.
The original photo was shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Telegram on April 12, 2022, and the setting (a hangar-like space with law enforcement) has been altered here to include DEA branding and other details to fit the narrative of Maduro’s recent capture. yahoo dot com.
While Maduro was indeed captured by US forces on January 3, 2026, and brought to the US for drug-related charges,edition. cnn dot com +2official photos from news outlets show him handcuffed and escorted in a DEA office hallway, not posing with a thumbs-up.”
Anyway, it’s fake.
0.o
Now.
You know KamelToe, the Word Salad Queen of the World, did not write that post her own self.
Instead of trying to remain relevant, I really wish she would just go back to pretending to be black and leave the political commentary to the rest of those Democrat clowns.
Tim Young is a funny guy, though.
0.o
This is alarming –
92-Year-Old Clinton Judge Who Denied Trump’s Hush-Money Removal to Federal Court and Blocked Venezuelan Gang Deportations Now Assigned to Preside Over Maduro Case in New York
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/01/you-cant-make-this-up-92-year-old/
But predictable for super Dem SDNY. Hopefully it moves to the SDFL as soon as possible.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15433469/Chaos-Caracas-Supporters-Nicolas-Maduro-streets-protests.html
In the summer of 2008, Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chávez boasted to his bodyguard, “I’m about to elect the first black president of the United States.” And he did.
https://elizabethnickson.substack.com/p/the-electorate-isnt-5050-the-real
One thing Rubio said that I thought was interesting – “it was a law enforcement operation, not an invasion.”
Then why are they talking about running the country and taking over the oil?
I want to get behind Rubio, but then he says things like that, and I am back to not trusting him.
The Monroe Doctrine (1823) established a foundational U.S. foreign policy stance by declaring the Western Hemisphere off-limits to new European colonization and interference, while committing the U.S. to non-intervention in European affairs. While symbolically significant, it initially lacked the military power to be enforced.
Over time, however, it evolved into a cornerstone of American hemispheric dominance. The so-called “Polk Corollary”—a reinterpretation of the Monroe Doctrine under President James K. Polk in the 1840s—expanded its meaning to justify U.S. territorial expansion under Manifest Destiny, particularly in Oregon, California, and the Yucatán.
However, it was Theodore Roosevelt’s Corollary (1904), not Polk’s, that dramatically increased U.S. power by transforming the doctrine from a defensive principle into an offensive tool of interventionism
The Op was justified using the newly unsealed SDNY 2020 indictment. Some DoJ personnel accompanied Delta Force to give it all the veneer of law enforcement.
So when does Senator Van Hollen get to have cocktails with Nicholas Maduro? 😂
Twit? Sundance, you are too kind!
https://patriotfetch.com/2026/01/judge-alvin-hellerstein-maduro-case-controversy/
THIS IS NOT GOOD. I rarely use ‘shouting’ but this deserves it. Howinhell did this anti-Trump judge get the SDNY case against/for Maduro? God help us. Let the old bastard croak already!
This is go-time for Trump. I know there are doubts about Emerald Robinson and Patrick Bryne, but I have seen similar reporting about this story in other circles.
The punchline of the video below is that the Democrats and Deep State operatives are currently coordinating the drafting of mass indictments of Trump and his Administration officials and allies (including treason), to be implemented by the DOJ of the next Democrat president in 2029. Bryne even references an “elimiation” list that is floating around.
JD Vance cannot win in 2028 unless the election fraud machine has been completely dismantled. Now is the time for Trump to act. Going forward, the only person standing in the way of this catastrophe, for Trump and the American People, is JD Vance.
These are defining times for Trump, and the American People. If Maduro is the key to stopping this madness, then that key must be turned NOW.
Patrick Byrne is not trustworthy.
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2025/12/09/patrick-byrne-now-claims-he-was-is-a-cia-asset-worked-for-john-brennan/
0.o
PLEASE DONT CALL RUBIO EL JEFE
Its not nice
Secret meetings point to inside job to take down Maduro
A senior member of the UAE royal family was acting as a bridge between the regime and Donald Trump, while the US president was building an armada to pressure the Venezuelan leader to surrender.
But Maduro had no part in the secret meetings in Doha. Instead, it was his vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, and her brother Jorge who were leading the talks.
According to the Miami Herald, which has strong contacts in Latin America, Rodríguez had reached out to Washington to present herself as a “more acceptable” alternative to the Maduro regime.
She now rules Venezuela with the approval of Trump.(?)
Details of the meeting have fuelled suspicions that the removal of Maduro was an inside job, planned to leave a president in power who can manage a transition without dismantling the state completely and causing turmoil and riots.
As the October reports of the meeting say, Rodríguez offers “Madurismo without Maduro,” a kind of “regime lite”.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360920743/secret-meetings-point-inside-job-take-down-maduro
Now she, along with the military are demanding the return of Maduro. Trump responded with a threat to her and Venezuela.
Marco Rubio “El Libertador Nuevo”
Arthur MacWaters
@ArthurMacwaters
Jan 3
Unpatriotic idiots in congress and the media are already complaining about Maduro’s capture, and exaggerating the surgical military strike
But keep in mind, he:
– literally ran a cartel (Cartel de los Soles)
– caused hyperinflation, destroying the economy and causing food shortages
– tortured political prisoners
– cheated in at least two elections to maintain dictatorial power
– sent drugboats into the US, resulting in countless deaths
Elon is right that this is a win. Trump not only rid the world of one evil dictator, he sent a message to all the other ones that the US can exercise our will anywhere, any time.
https://nitter.poast.org/ArthurMacwaters/status/2007534356966060156#m
USA CANCELS ALL MONEY FOR N.G.O’S
WOW IT’S FINALLY OVER The fraud scheme that has existed around the world with organisations raking in MILLIONS from Western Countries has come to an end No more money for NGO’s The UK must do the same
https://nitter.poast.org/BasilTheGreat/status/2007871629255459326#m
Apart from the proceeds of cocaine, how much money went to Venezuela?
President Trump has just released the data on what percentage of immigrants by country are receiving benefits Keir Starmer still refuses to do this in the UK
-“ The United States military bombed the Mountain Barracks 4F in Caracas early Saturday morning,
where the remains of Hugo Chávez lie,
as part of the military operation that concluded with the capture of Nicolás Maduro.”
https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-01-03-u1-e207888-s27061-nid317804-ee-uu-bombardea-mausoleo-hugo-chavez-caracas-redes
The The Cuartel de la Montaña is an active military and ceremonial installation.
It serves as the headquarters of the National Militia Command and houses the Museum of the Revolution, where Hugo Chávez’s remains are interred in a mausoleum.
Originally, the location was a military academy and barracks.
The base, a strategic military site, has been used for command operations, ceremonial duties, and housing elite military units.
During the U.S. law enforcement operation, it was targeted, underscoring its continued operational and symbolic significance.
The site saw direct military engagement, with helicopters targeting the barracks and special forces engaging Venezuelan troops.
0.o
If you think Marco Rubio made mincemeat of Kristen Welker wait to you hear how he eviscerated Margaret Brennan!
“I Don’t Know Why That’s Confusing to You” — Marco Rubio TORCHES CBS’ Margaret Brennan After She Melts Down Over Maduro Raid Not Arresting ‘Every Narco Terrorist’
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/01/i-dont-know-why-thats-confusing-you-marco/