That whole explanation is pure, unadulterated rubbish. But hey! When you kidnap the leader of a sovereign nation, you have to come up with some whackadoodle explanation, right?
Guess I'd call this a spaghetti indictment - throw it up against the wall and see which of the charges stick.
Wonder if that is the same ballroom where he "stored" the top secrect documents?
Exactly. They used drugs as an explanation for illegal acts, which was clearly a (very poorly implemented) smokescreen from the start. There may be no real proof of anything Maduro or wife have done criminally to or in the U.S., but thatʻs of no consequence, the regime will fabricate something just like they always do when facing a challenge
If we can indict, then arrest and kidnap the president of a foreign country, why can’t The Hague send a military unit to arrest Trump for the international war crimes they indicted him for?
Obviously the machine gun charge applies only to use in the US and I doubt Maduro or his wife were personally carrying a machine gun when they visited NY several years ago? It is a silly “throw the kitchen sink” charge particularly when linked to serious charges of illicit drug tracking. In my professional opinion it shows that perhaps DOJ is worried the other serious charges won’t survive? Anyone in criminal practice have an opinion?
Isn't it possible that by the time Maduro's finally done with court that the American oil companies who want Venezuela's oil will have already been installed there? Won't those companies need to work WITH the current Venezuelan government of Maduro allies and its drug cartels just to keep the country running? Plus the US will have imposed a new banking and bitcoin system in Venezuela to siphon a good chunk of the oil profits and grift to Trump and kids.
And by that time Pam Bondi and Todd Blanche will have found a way to destroy all the Trump-Epstein files. Add to that, Stephen Miller will be king of Venezuela, and Marge Green will be US president.
Doesn’t Maduro have a second amendment right to possess any gun he wants? I don’t know about Venezuela, but he is being tried here in America under our laws, and that means it’s not illegal to possess machine guns.
Given that Agolf Shitler and his Gang of Misfits are the ones in charge of this regime-change stunt designed to distract attention from the Epstein Files and from the latest revelations re the House Judiciary "investigation" of Jack Smith, I'm going out on a limb and declaring that, in all likelihood, this whole maneuver will wind up being one ginormous flop. The signs are all there. Everything Shitler touches dies an ignominious death, either literally or figuratively. Wait and see.
As for Shitler running Venezuela, the only that Shitler is capable of running is his mouth. And we all know that every syllable out of his mouth is a bald-faced lie.
It's so painful to even listen to Piggy, you'd think that just by accident he might tell the truth once in a while. And then to hear after every lie that it's the greatest, biggest, never been seen before thing that ever happened. We need a 25th Amendment Gang of 8 along with a giant net to whisk this felon off to Never Never Land.
I hate to say this, but given the sycophants, fools, grifters, loons, and out-and-out crooks in Shitler's Gang of Misfits and the GQP/MAGAT gutless eunuchs in the House and Senate, the 25th Amendment is highly unlikely ever to be invoked.
If it was a movie, it would be a black comedy. But in real life, it is truly and deeply tragic. How to get out of this? I bet the framers never imagined such a feckless, Congress or fascist court. They certainly imagined an authoritarian president, but they thought they had the safeguards in place. Little did they know what money would buy across the other two branches. Everything, that’s what.
SCOTUS and its sidekick Mitch McConnell, who made it all possible. We the people should probably sue the hell out of him for the damage he’s done with his flip-flop on when a nomination to the court can be brought.
A waiter. Standing right behind trump. A "secure" fabric curtain, partially open, blocking the ballroom. 🙈🙉 Says absolutely everything we need to know about this Keystone Kops kaper. Grossly embarrassing if it wasn't so phenomenally dangerous. Echoes of classified documents hidden in bathrooms and ballrooms? Oy vey!!
We should assign all ICE agents hired since 1/20/25 to active duty in Venezuela. They are already trained to recognize terrorists because they look hispanic. With that degree of advanced training what can go wrong?
Do I hear light wounds? Light wounds? Okay, do I hear very light wounds? Very light wounds?? Okay, imperceptible wounds? Imperceptible wounds??Going once.....going twice......SOLD to the dumpy old man with the comb over!
They died for nothing other than for Trump’s self-gratification; for his belief that he has the right to do whatever he wants and take whatever he wants, and nobody or any governing body can stop him.
No one in that room at Mar-a-Lardo cares about Venezuelan lives. Neither do most Americans, sadly.
We know for sure that no one from Trump 's cabinet will be meeting any coffins arriving at Dover AFB,should Trump decide to snd troops to occupy Caracas.
He probably can't leave the country because of the ICC. He might have to fly over or land is a country that is a member of the ICC. Cheney never left the country, and Bush barely leaves Texas (for other presidents' funerals.) Rumsfeld couldn't leave the country.
Thanks for calling this what it is, a kidnapping. I’m already sick of the MSM describing Maduro’s “capture”. And yes he’s a bad guy, but w the good ole ‘ USofA doesn’t give a flying fuck about that. Man, these Miami Cubans are nothing but trouble. They got us into Bay of Pigs, helped steal the election from Al Gore, and now this. I would actually be thrilled to se Leetle Marco sent down as Viceroy, as WAPO called him. Let him clean his own cat box for a change.
While Trump plans to run Venezuela, the US is facing a shutdown at the end of the month. The irony is typical of this regime.
U.S. citizens living, serving, or studying abroad—you can vote from wherever you are! 🌍 Visit https://votefromabroad.org to register and request your overseas ballot.
It’s quick, free, and valid for all elections in 2026. Need help? Write to help@votefromabroad.org.
Vote from Abroad volunteers are ready to assist you with any questions about requesting or returning your ballot. Don’t wait! Request your ballot today and make your voice heard! 🗳️
Thugs - operating under the command of a demented Mafia-like boss - are on a mission to exploit the most extensive oil reserve in the world calling it a regime replacement. Of course, in picking up leader Maduro + his wife, they forget that the Veep has been at his side for the length of his stay. In other words, there's no regime change happening. In addition, the monster oil magnates have sure failed to indicate that they have any interest in spending like drunken sailors to update existing equipment. The likelihood is that the American taxpayers will be the ones to pick up the tab - if anyone will. It's just more T-Rumpian lunacy.
What I find odd is that Venezuelans in South Florida are celebrating the removal of Maduro and wife and the takeover of Venezuela, because they are looking at it in a one-dimensional way. This situation is like playing chess on a three-dimensional chessboard (not that I know how to play chess), with a myriad of consequences and it could go in a lot of directions. Trump seems stuck on oil the way heʻs stuck on tariffs, thereʻs no logic. I donʻt think this is going to go well at all. There is a glut of oil on the market and apparently much of the oil in Venezuela is of relatively low quality. Incidentally, how much is this little venture costing us? At least the cost of SNAP, Medicaid, etc.?
Yes, they are celebrating the kidnapping of the dictator who forced them out, but for now, they can't see beyond that! I agree, this could start smelling really rotten really soon!
Would that Don Jr, Eric, Baron, and Jared be drafted to join our forces in at least one of these insane ventures to “protect” our nation. Ship of Fools.
Quick typo/correction (but important): the country is "Colombia" (not "Columbia")😎
The "Situation Room -Mar a Lago style" puts the caricature on this clown show. This is a self-scripting comic book that doesn't even come close to the classic Mad Magazine.
Recognizing this is all serious shit we are witnessing (and experiencing one way or another), I still have to laugh at this stage at how grotesque this administration is at its' core.
My, God…the idiocy. And let’s keep an eye on what becomes of Maduro in the courts. He drew Judge Alvin Hellerstein who is nobody’s fool.
Anybody have a theory why Maduro is being charged criminally with possession of machine guns in Venezuela
which relates to a 1934 US statute governing control of machine guns in the USA?
Because there was such a statute and somebody found it?
Because they have been "used against the U.S.," supposedly. Maybe trafficked to the U.S.? Who knows?
That whole explanation is pure, unadulterated rubbish. But hey! When you kidnap the leader of a sovereign nation, you have to come up with some whackadoodle explanation, right?
Guess I'd call this a spaghetti indictment - throw it up against the wall and see which of the charges stick.
Wonder if that is the same ballroom where he "stored" the top secrect documents?
Exactly. They used drugs as an explanation for illegal acts, which was clearly a (very poorly implemented) smokescreen from the start. There may be no real proof of anything Maduro or wife have done criminally to or in the U.S., but thatʻs of no consequence, the regime will fabricate something just like they always do when facing a challenge
If we can indict, then arrest and kidnap the president of a foreign country, why can’t The Hague send a military unit to arrest Trump for the international war crimes they indicted him for?
Exactly. Or Spain, Ukraine, Denmark, Iran....
Obviously the machine gun charge applies only to use in the US and I doubt Maduro or his wife were personally carrying a machine gun when they visited NY several years ago? It is a silly “throw the kitchen sink” charge particularly when linked to serious charges of illicit drug tracking. In my professional opinion it shows that perhaps DOJ is worried the other serious charges won’t survive? Anyone in criminal practice have an opinion?
Isn't it possible that by the time Maduro's finally done with court that the American oil companies who want Venezuela's oil will have already been installed there? Won't those companies need to work WITH the current Venezuelan government of Maduro allies and its drug cartels just to keep the country running? Plus the US will have imposed a new banking and bitcoin system in Venezuela to siphon a good chunk of the oil profits and grift to Trump and kids.
And by that time Pam Bondi and Todd Blanche will have found a way to destroy all the Trump-Epstein files. Add to that, Stephen Miller will be king of Venezuela, and Marge Green will be US president.
Don't hold your breath while you await news that American oil companies have been installed in Venezuela. I've been seeing reports that U.S. oil companies aren't charging to the fore... with apparent good reason. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/venezuelan-oil-industry-worlds-largest-reserves-decaying-infrastructure-2026-01-03/
My understanding is that the "'machine gun" charge is one of those charges often used by the Feds to increase prison time. Here's an explainer comparing the current charge with the 2020 charge from Trump 1's last year in office. https://www.emptywheel.net/2026/01/04/dojs-politically-illegitimate-basis-for-political-illegitimacy-in-nicolas-maduro-indictment/.
Doesn’t Maduro have a second amendment right to possess any gun he wants? I don’t know about Venezuela, but he is being tried here in America under our laws, and that means it’s not illegal to possess machine guns.
No the Second Amendment doesn’t apply to possession of machine guns which are limited explicitly by a special statue.
Really? Since when?
Because the prosecutors don't have much else?
Exactly. Judge Hellerstein is perfect for this.
He’s tough and very old! Knows what he is doing and doesn’t fear any criticism!
Given that Agolf Shitler and his Gang of Misfits are the ones in charge of this regime-change stunt designed to distract attention from the Epstein Files and from the latest revelations re the House Judiciary "investigation" of Jack Smith, I'm going out on a limb and declaring that, in all likelihood, this whole maneuver will wind up being one ginormous flop. The signs are all there. Everything Shitler touches dies an ignominious death, either literally or figuratively. Wait and see.
As for Shitler running Venezuela, the only that Shitler is capable of running is his mouth. And we all know that every syllable out of his mouth is a bald-faced lie.
It's so painful to even listen to Piggy, you'd think that just by accident he might tell the truth once in a while. And then to hear after every lie that it's the greatest, biggest, never been seen before thing that ever happened. We need a 25th Amendment Gang of 8 along with a giant net to whisk this felon off to Never Never Land.
I hate to say this, but given the sycophants, fools, grifters, loons, and out-and-out crooks in Shitler's Gang of Misfits and the GQP/MAGAT gutless eunuchs in the House and Senate, the 25th Amendment is highly unlikely ever to be invoked.
If it was a movie, it would be a black comedy. But in real life, it is truly and deeply tragic. How to get out of this? I bet the framers never imagined such a feckless, Congress or fascist court. They certainly imagined an authoritarian president, but they thought they had the safeguards in place. Little did they know what money would buy across the other two branches. Everything, that’s what.
Let’s thank SCOTUS for the final coffin nail - Citizens United. Endless PACS, foreign money. While the fascists are investigating Act Blue.:
SCOTUS and its sidekick Mitch McConnell, who made it all possible. We the people should probably sue the hell out of him for the damage he’s done with his flip-flop on when a nomination to the court can be brought.
John Roberts. Our very own Vidkun Quisling!
Yes!! Chief Quisling!
Mitch!!! Gahhh!
Colombia, not "Columbia." I should have gotten out my Atlas.
Thank you. I see this spelling error frequently and it always irks me.
A waiter. Standing right behind trump. A "secure" fabric curtain, partially open, blocking the ballroom. 🙈🙉 Says absolutely everything we need to know about this Keystone Kops kaper. Grossly embarrassing if it wasn't so phenomenally dangerous. Echoes of classified documents hidden in bathrooms and ballrooms? Oy vey!!
I know. Using that place for government business should have been enjoined long ago.
It would make a good scene in a Marx (not that one) brothers movie.
Rufus T. Firefly: Fire the bombs!
Waiters (Chico & Harpo) Chico: You cain't fire us! We resign! (Harpo honks. . . )
Lol!
The guy in the black vest....The vest looks more like a bullet proof job and I'm guessing he's probably a Secret Service agent.
We should assign all ICE agents hired since 1/20/25 to active duty in Venezuela. They are already trained to recognize terrorists because they look hispanic. With that degree of advanced training what can go wrong?
Hmmm.🤔
😂😂😂😂 that literally made me heee hawww
Yup, no different than Iraq. Chaos and oil. And our uniformed men and women will pay the price.
If anyone reading these comments thinks we went totally without casualties.,..
We'll be told the truth only if a whistleblower comes forward - another Deep Throat type.
Trump admitted that some of our guys were “injured.” How badly? How many
trump: "Just light wounds. Very, very light wounds. The lightest wounds the world has ever seen. Not wounds at all, really. . ."
Do I hear light wounds? Light wounds? Okay, do I hear very light wounds? Very light wounds?? Okay, imperceptible wounds? Imperceptible wounds??Going once.....going twice......SOLD to the dumpy old man with the comb over!
And the miraculous ear.....
"Wrap it up, Joe, with that 3 million dollar picture of the blonde Jeezus with blue eyes. . . "
We always need to get our junior officers trained...why we have this cycle of periodic assaults elsewhere.
Yes, I'm also wondering how many Venezuelans were killed or injured. Bombs aren't rainstorms.
I read today that # is 40 dead
Dick Montagne: 80 on HCR
I just saw that a few minutes ago
They died for nothing other than for Trump’s self-gratification; for his belief that he has the right to do whatever he wants and take whatever he wants, and nobody or any governing body can stop him.
Don't leave out, also for the self-gratification of Hegseth who revels in "manliness" (i.e. white male violence).
No one in that room at Mar-a-Lardo cares about Venezuelan lives. Neither do most Americans, sadly.
We know for sure that no one from Trump 's cabinet will be meeting any coffins arriving at Dover AFB,should Trump decide to snd troops to occupy Caracas.
Or a mother…
Or Mother…
Too late. Wapo died. Story would be killed
Yep. Send George Bush to oversee Venezuela. And Greenland. Hes good at those things. And honest. Brave New World. High alert and high blood pressure
He probably can't leave the country because of the ICC. He might have to fly over or land is a country that is a member of the ICC. Cheney never left the country, and Bush barely leaves Texas (for other presidents' funerals.) Rumsfeld couldn't leave the country.
Thanks for calling this what it is, a kidnapping. I’m already sick of the MSM describing Maduro’s “capture”. And yes he’s a bad guy, but w the good ole ‘ USofA doesn’t give a flying fuck about that. Man, these Miami Cubans are nothing but trouble. They got us into Bay of Pigs, helped steal the election from Al Gore, and now this. I would actually be thrilled to se Leetle Marco sent down as Viceroy, as WAPO called him. Let him clean his own cat box for a change.
Very very good point.
Marshall has not blocked them. Send them there. It probably needs a gold ballroom a casino and a golf course
Honest? He has never admitted that there were no weapons of mass destruction. To this very day he never has.
While Trump plans to run Venezuela, the US is facing a shutdown at the end of the month. The irony is typical of this regime.
U.S. citizens living, serving, or studying abroad—you can vote from wherever you are! 🌍 Visit https://votefromabroad.org to register and request your overseas ballot.
It’s quick, free, and valid for all elections in 2026. Need help? Write to help@votefromabroad.org.
Vote from Abroad volunteers are ready to assist you with any questions about requesting or returning your ballot. Don’t wait! Request your ballot today and make your voice heard! 🗳️
Thugs - operating under the command of a demented Mafia-like boss - are on a mission to exploit the most extensive oil reserve in the world calling it a regime replacement. Of course, in picking up leader Maduro + his wife, they forget that the Veep has been at his side for the length of his stay. In other words, there's no regime change happening. In addition, the monster oil magnates have sure failed to indicate that they have any interest in spending like drunken sailors to update existing equipment. The likelihood is that the American taxpayers will be the ones to pick up the tab - if anyone will. It's just more T-Rumpian lunacy.
Re why U.S. oil companies are probably not charging forward to participate in the riches of Venezuelan oil. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/venezuelan-oil-industry-worlds-largest-reserves-decaying-infrastructure-2026-01-03/
What I find odd is that Venezuelans in South Florida are celebrating the removal of Maduro and wife and the takeover of Venezuela, because they are looking at it in a one-dimensional way. This situation is like playing chess on a three-dimensional chessboard (not that I know how to play chess), with a myriad of consequences and it could go in a lot of directions. Trump seems stuck on oil the way heʻs stuck on tariffs, thereʻs no logic. I donʻt think this is going to go well at all. There is a glut of oil on the market and apparently much of the oil in Venezuela is of relatively low quality. Incidentally, how much is this little venture costing us? At least the cost of SNAP, Medicaid, etc.?
- Mrs. Cooper
Yes, they are celebrating the kidnapping of the dictator who forced them out, but for now, they can't see beyond that! I agree, this could start smelling really rotten really soon!
Just as expat Cubans in Florida hated Castro …
Venezualan blood counts too
Around 150 families without a provider - so far.
Would that Don Jr, Eric, Baron, and Jared be drafted to join our forces in at least one of these insane ventures to “protect” our nation. Ship of Fools.
They probably have bone spurs
😂😂
I like ship of fools…apt!
Little Orange Boy thinks that all he needs to do is wave his pudgy little fingers & “…all will be made right.”
Foreign policy? Bah! Rule of Law? Humph. The Constitution? What?
Congress? Who?
“Rule-By-Me is what counts.”
It's been the "drool of law" since January 20, 2025
The "stumbling goofs" as you call them are revolting. As for why two ton Tommie drinks Diet Coke is anyone's guess.
Someone with serious taste buds/flavor knowledge should do a blindfold "taste test" between Diet Coke and Coke Zero.
😂 lol
Imagine if DJT drank Regular Coke. All that "liquid candy" would do wonders for his waistline, his libido, his cognitive function, and his golf game.
Diabetes?
Quick typo/correction (but important): the country is "Colombia" (not "Columbia")😎
The "Situation Room -Mar a Lago style" puts the caricature on this clown show. This is a self-scripting comic book that doesn't even come close to the classic Mad Magazine.
Recognizing this is all serious shit we are witnessing (and experiencing one way or another), I still have to laugh at this stage at how grotesque this administration is at its' core.
Keep up the great reporting, Lucian.👊
Lucian, the country is Colombia not Columbia. Good article!
Excellent point. Columbia — the university — capitulated many months ago.