Maduro and His Wife Indicted in US Federal Court
The indictment comes hours after their capture and extraction by U.S. armed forces in Caracas in the early hours of Jan. 3.
This Week in the World Affairs Brief
THE PODCASTER WHO BLEW OPEN THE MINNESOTA WELFARE FRAUD STORY
Nick Shirley, a 23-year-old Utah podcaster, produced a video about massive welfare fraud in Minnesota that attracted millions of views as people told others, “You have to see this.” When Elon Musk and VP Vance retweeted his video to their followers on X it quickly went viral and garnered over 100 MILLION views! All the mainstream news networks were so embarrassed by the shocking results he found with a little legwork, that they were forced to cover the story too. Local stations in MN had covered parts of the fraud story several times in the past, but never sent a single reporter out to see how widespread the fraud was despite government claims of doing something. Using a legislative list of addresses of child care centers in Minneapolis that were receiving millions in taxpayer funding, Shirley went to the addresses with his camera and found locked buildings with no children being cared for. Republican lawmakers in Minnesota had known about this kind of welfare fraud for at least seven years, and had been demanding answers but little happened until Nick Shirley exposed it on social media. Even though the FBI and DOJ had recently issued over 89 indictments for fraud, that was a pittance compared to the thousands of fraudulent entities in Minnesota alone. The wheels of justice take years to get a conviction and federal funds usually keep flowing to these con artists until convicted—but not anymore. Because of this one courageous podcaster, Trump has cut off all funding for childcare in all states until they prove every recipient deserves it, just as they did for Food Stamp recipients. The same needs to be done for home health care services. To receive a free one-time sample of the brief, along with options on how to subscribe, click on Request a Sample on the left.
Also:
- The Murky Meeting between Trump and Netanyahu
- It’s a Full-Blown Attack on Candace Owens
- What’s Driving the Price of Silver?
Daily News
U.S. strikes Venezuela and says leader Maduro has been captured and flown out of the country
Early Saturday, multiple explosions rang out and low-flying aircraft swept through Caracas. Maduro's government accused the U.S. of hitting civilian and military installations, calling it an "imperialist attack" and urging citizens to take to the streets. The assault lasted less than 30 minutes, and the explosions — at least seven blasts — sent people rushing into the streets, while others took to social media to report what they saw and heard. Some Venezuelan civilians and members of the military were killed, said Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, without giving a number. Trump said some U.S. forces were injured but none were killed.
Russia, Iran, China Outraged At US 'Flagrant Armed Aggression' On Venezuela As EU Shrugs
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs separately said it "strongly condemns the American military attack on Venezuela and the flagrant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country." As for China, we know what they think, given the timing is a hugely symbolic shot across Beijing's bow by Trump: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro received a Chinese government representative at the presidential palace in Caracas on Friday, hours before US President Donald Trump claimed Maduro had been captured following American military strikes.
Neocons Premature Celebration Over Protests in Iran
According to Nima, there is frustration with the government, i.e., Pezeshkian, over the high inflation and that is one impetus driving the protests. However, it is not directed at the Islamic regime despite Western press reports claiming otherwise. Nima also pointed out that about 25% of the population is quite conservatie (these are the folks who supported Ahmadinejad) and they are angry with Pezeshkian because he is viewed as too accommodating of the West. These folks, while miffed at the government, are staunch supporters of the Ayatollah Khameni.
Russia expands biometric ID system (again)
Russians young and old are already reaping the benefits of their country’s “digital transformation”—including very, very young Russians. The Russian government is working on amending federal legislation to allow schools across the country to monitor and identify students using biometrics, Kommersant reported on December 3. Plans for a standardized “biometric turnstile system” for Russian schools are already being tested in Tatarstan.
Saudi warplanes strike STC positions in Yemen's Hadramout, causing casualties
Saudi warplanes on Friday carried out airstrikes targeting positions held by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen's southeastern oil-rich province of Hadramout, as fierce clashes broke out on the ground, local officials and sources said.
German Streamer ATTACKED By Migrants While Trying To Prove Cologne Is Safe
German Twitch streamer Kunshikitty set out on New Year’s Eve to demonstrate that the streets of Cologne are safe for women, streaming live to her audience. Instead, the broadcast captured two separate attacks on camera, forcing her to end the stream in distress.
What Is the Diversity Visa Lottery That Trump Suspended?
“The Brown University shooter ... entered the United States through the diversity lottery immigrant visa program (DV1) in 2017 and was granted a green card. This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country,” wrote Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on social media on Dec. 18. “At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)] to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program.”
Why Would California Bureaucrats Want to Blow Up Dams and Take Water From 600K? Victor Davis Hanson Explains
Portrait of Victor Davis Hanson Victor Davis Hanson @VDHanson Victor Davis Hanson, a senior contributor for The Daily Signal, is a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and host of "The Victor Davis Hanson Show." His website, The Blade of Perseus, features columns, lectures, and exclusive content for subscribers. Contact him at authorvdh@gmail.com. In this episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Victor Davis Hanson and Jack Fowler discuss how California bureaucrats and environmental lawyers are threatening to blow up dams and deny water to 600,000 residents, “a symbolic act to punish civilization and hurt people.” Editor’s note: This content was recorded by Victor Davis Hanson prior to his Dec. 30 medical operation. This is a lightly edited transcript of a segment from today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words” from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to VDH’s own YouTube channel to watch past episodes. Jack Fowler: There’s a disturbing article on this website UNWON. We’ve talked once or twice in the past about some articles they’ve done, but they’ve been covering things that happened to rural America. And there is this story. We’ve talked about water and dams in the past, but I think this is worth knowing because even if you don’t live there, Victor, there are people who rely on rural California dams and the water it produces that goes to farms that we eat the product of all across America and all across the world.
Donald Trump changes his mind on tariffs again
President Donald Trump has changed his mind on tariffs again by postponing steep increases on imported upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for one year.
China Fires 27 Rockets Into Taiwan’s Waters in 2nd Day of Military Drills
China’s military fired 27 rockets into waters north and south of Taiwan from its coastal Fujian Province on Dec. 30, marking the second day of a new round of military drills intended to erode Taiwanese people’s confidence in their military’s ability to defend the island, according to Taiwan’s defense ministry.
HHS Pauses Funding for Child Care in Minnesota as Fraud Allegations Grow
The Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday that it is halting all funding for child care to Minnesota as federal investigations into alleged systemwide fraud continue to grow this week.
US Forces Took Out Drug Boat Facility as Part of Anti-Drug Campaign: Trump
The strike on a staging facility for drug boats along the Venezuelan shore is an escalation in the U.S. campaign in the Caribbean.
Convicted Murderer Is Now a Public Safety Board Member in Salem OR
An Oregon city's decision to give a convicted murderer a seat at the table on public safety oversight has triggered a sharp backlash. Kyle Hedquist, who was convicted in the 1995 killing of a 19-year-old and later freed after a sentence commutation, has been appointed to Salem's Community Police Review Board and the city's Civil Service Commission, reports KOIN. Those panels play roles in reviewing police conduct and overseeing employment matters for public safety staff. Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson, who opposed Hedquist's 2022 release by then-Gov. Kate Brown, says the new appointments cross a line.
Putin Authorizes Military Reserve Call-Up To Protect Critical Energy Sites
On a regular basis at this point, oil and gas infrastructure and refineries are blown up, export terminals damaged, and even military bases and government buildings come under attack. President Vladimir Putin is taking fresh action, on Tuesday having signed a decree granting the military authority to call up members of Russia's mobilization reserve next year.
Study: Yale No Longer Has a Single Republican Professor Across 27 Departments
Among law school faculty who have donated more than $200 to a political party, a breathtaking 91 percent of the Harvard faculty gave to democrats. The student body exhibits the same biased selection. Harvard Crimson previously found that only 7 percent of incoming students identified as conservative. For the vast majority of liberal faculty and students, Harvard amplifies rather than stifles their viewpoints.
Silver Coins: Memories of Sound Money
The financial press reports that people are swarming the coin shops these days, grabbing as much as possible. This is exactly what one would expect given the wild and parabolic increases in the silver price over the last month, moving from $30 to $75 in the period of one year.
Trump Admin Launches $50 Billion Rural Health Transformation Program
Authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the initiative aims to undo decades of declining rural health outcomes without rolling out new infrastructure.
"Massive Abuse": HUD Audit Flags $5B In Improper Housing Assistance During Biden's Term
The audit, conducted by HUD’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer, reviewed nearly $50 billion in housing aid and identified $5.8 billion — about 11% — as “questionable.” More than 200,000 tenants were flagged, including 29,715 listed as deceased, 9,472 non-citizens, and 165,393 households receiving payments above local eligibility limits, particularly in large metro areas such as New Orleans. Officials said suspicious payments appeared nationwide, with heavy concentrations in New York, California and Washington, DC.
Kremlin Says Ukraine Tried to Attack Putin’s Residence, Peace Deal Stance Under Review
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Lavrov’s claims were a lie and that Moscow was preparing the ground to strike government buildings in Kyiv.
As Church Shootings Persist, Congregations Grapple With How to Handle Security
Shane Canestra credits training, attentiveness, and professionalism of his church’s security team with preventing a mass shooting at his church in 2023.
Iranian President Says His Country in ‘Full-Fledged War’ With US, Europe, and Israel
The remarks were made two days before President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Report: Lost Russian Ship Was Carrying Nuclear Submarine Reactor Parts
The special cargo aboard the Russian arms ship that went down off Cartagena last year was not what its crew initially reported, according to Spanish outlet La Verdad. The blue-tarped objects on the vessel's stern were likely naval reactor components, unfueled and potentially headed for North Korea, national authorities determined.
China stages record drills designed to encircle Taiwan
China launches largest war games around Taiwan by area Aims to highlight Beijing's ability to cut off Taipei from West U.S. President Donald Trump signals he is not worried by drills Taiwan government condemns drills, mobilises troops Defence ministry posts video showcasing US-made rocket system
Silver Tops $83: "When Prices Move Like This, An Awful Lot Of Bad Things Become Possible..."
The final week of the year begins with silver adding to a stunning month of gains, topping $83 for the first time...
China Unveils New Footage Of Carrier-Killer Hypersonic Missile Launch From Destroyer
China continues to signal, through overt public-facing propaganda, its readiness to challenge the U.S directly. Recent state media have published footage showing simulated naval conflict operations in the Caribbean, followed by the release of a video showcasing a hypersonic anti-ship missile capability.
Trump Blockade Leaves $1 Billion Of Venezuelan Crude Stranded On Tankers
"Based on our visual analysis from both shore and space, we estimate that there are around 17.5 million barrels of crude oil floating onboard tankers in Venezuela which are unable to depart due to the ongoing US blockade," independent research Tanker Trackers wrote on X. "That's around $900M of oil."
Zelenskyy Says He Will Meet Trump on Sunday to Discuss Peace Plan
The Ukrainian leader said he will meet the U.S. president in Florida on Sunday as negotiations with Russia advance but key issues remain unresolved.
US Strikes ISIS in Nigeria: Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “powerful and deadly strike” targeting the ISIS terrorist group in northwest Nigeria on Dec. 25. Trump said on Truth Social that the terrorists targeted have been “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” He said the group had not heeded warnings, leading to the Christmas night strike.
North Korea reveals new images of its first ‘nuclear-powered’ submarine
North Korea on Thursday released new images of what it claims is its first nuclear-powered submarine, a massive vessel equal in size to some of the United States Navy’s attack subs. The pictures released by state media showed leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the guided-missile submarine at an indoor construction facility, indicating it has not yet been launched.