Trump Invades Venezuela; Arrests President Maduro and Wife

US President Donald Trump speaks at press conference at 
Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, January 3, 2026.
(Photo by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) 
"We are going to run the country," Trump said.

Trump Declares U.S. 'In Charge' of Venezuela

Democrats Offer Weak Response

Netanyahu Calls Trump 'Bold and Brilliant'

Commentary

UPDATED - Madison, Wisconsin — President Trump launched another illegal U.S. regime-change war and invasion of a sovereign country — Venezuela.

Israel's radical Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar praised the invasion that followed the latest U.S. visit by Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu with Trump, and Christian Zionists.

Netanyahu dubbed Trump a leader for Peace this week.

Congressional Democrats' reaction is muted, often veering into legality and calls for Congressional movement, avoiding moral condemnation prominent among the American people.

Wisconsin's Democrat Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) is silent today, obeying her political instinct to gauge the political terrain first before commenting.

Jake Johnson in Common Dreams reports on exceptions to Baldwin's timidity:

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said he will force a Senate vote next week on a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to block additional US military action in Venezuela.
'Where will this go next?' Kaine asked in a statement. 'Will the president deploy our troops to protect Iranian protesters? To enforce the fragile ceasefire in Gaza? To battle terrorists in Nigeria? To seize Greenland or the Panama Canal? To suppress Americans peacefully assembling to protest his policies? Trump has threatened to do all this and more and sees no need to seek legal authorization from people’s elected legislature before putting servicemembers at risk.'

Quagmire Seen

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin), an AIPAC political foe, writes:

Trump continues to ignore the US Constitution and lie to Congress and the American people. Bombing and occupying Venezuela is an illegal act of war against a sovereign nation.

Only Congress has the ability to declare war, but Speaker Johnson and the Republican majorities in the House and Senate have rolled over and gave up our Article One powers. 

Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth told Members of Congress their illegal attacks on boats was not about regime change, but capturing a sitting leader is the literal definition of regime change. Trump and his band of misfits seem to have no endgame to this potential quagmire.

— Rep. Mark Pocan (@RepMarkPocan) January 3, 2026

House Democrat Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, and Israel-first supporter, put out a mealy-mouthed statement this morning.

This is so fucking weak. https://t.co/rwOQsqt0wQ

— Krystal Ball (@krystalball) January 3, 2026

Mainstream corporate press and social media have blacked out Israel, which controls U.S. foreign policy, and its political work with Trump for this latest military action.

🇻🇪 Venezuela President Maduro on Israel:

“They have sown an ideology more dangerous than Nazism.

They justify raids, extermination, genocide, and atomic bombs"

they'll come for the Christians, Catholics."

This is why he had to go.
pic.twitter.com/lyFDd60kxG

— ADAM (@AdameMedia) January 3, 2026

The Democratic governor of Colorado joins several Democratic House members in praising Trump's regime change operation in Venezuela.

Nothing unites the two parties like new wars and regime changes. It's beautiful DC bipartisanship at its most inspiring: https://t.co/9TL5KENuaj

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 3, 2026

Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump for your bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice. I salute your decisive resolve and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers.

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) January 3, 2026

 

Wisconsin W2 Draws Fire in Israel

The neocon, rightwing government in Israel has adopted Wisconsin's famed welfare-to-work Wisconsin Plan, (W2) and wants to expand it.

But W-2’s not playing quite as well in this economically troubled, militaristic country.

Maybe they should recruit Tommy Thompson to come over to fix things:’Yeah, this is a grate country. W-2 will work for youse too. And those Palestinians, you gotta stick it to ‘em; make their lives a living hell. By the way, geez, you Jews sure do make a lot of money.’

From No 'Wisconsin Plan' in Israel, Says Civil Rights Group:

Four organizations - ACRI, Community Advocacy, Mizrahi Democratic Rainbow and Shomrey Mishpat Rabbis for Human Rights - turned to newly appointed Finance Minister Yuval Shteinitz, urging him not to expand the Lights to Employment Plan(known as Wisconsin Plan) to all regions of the country, as has been announced in the framework of the government's financial emergency plan.

ACRI attorneys Oshrat Maimon and Debbie Gild-Hayo stated that the Wisconsin Plan had been widely criticized for its severe negative impacts on job seekers.

They added that past experience in other countries, where Wisconsin was implemented, shows that the plan failed to contribute significantly to a rise in employment levels and to the reduction of poverty.

In some cases, the Wisconsin Plan had lead to a deterioration in the living conditions of recipients of income support benefits.

'The Wisconsin Plan', said Attorney Maimon, 'was at first a pilot plan implemented in a number of designated localities. It received harsh criticism due to the harm suffered by job seekers, and the violation of their right to live in dignity. Even if positive amendments to the plan have been made, most of these changes have not yet been put to test. It is inconceivable that at this point in time, in such a difficult financial climate, hundreds of thousands of Israeli job seekers will be turned into guinea pigs of this problematic plan'.