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

 

Dem VP Nominee Blasts Wisconsin Voter Obstruction

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine paid a surprise visit to Milwaukee and blasted Republicans in Wisconsin for voter obstruction.

"Your state officials here have been trying to put barriers up to participation. They’ve been trying to close down participation, rather than open it up," said Kaine, (Marley, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).

I wonder if Kaine and the Democratic Party know how bad it's become.

Local municipal voting districts are staffing up Party-named, out-of-district Republicans to administer elections at the polling place in an effort to control another level of government for the specific benefit of the Republican Party, and with the intent to obstruct unwanted voters, especially brown, black and young voters.

This writer has voted at Fitchburg Fire Station, Number 2, for some 15 years, working as a sworn election inspector, (contract employee), for some nine years, and I was prevented from voting for 35 minutes facing a gauntlet of four hostile, white election inspectors.

Never seen anything like it, but I'm guessing I will in November.

As noted in these pages, our state has some 3,583 voting precincts.

In 2011, Wisconsin Republicans decided to name their polling workers across the state, (Barbour, Wisconsin State Journal.

No Republican need live in the district of the polling place at which they are assigned to harass targets of opportunity.

Take some 3,500 voting sites, harass and obstruct non-Republicans across the state and Republicans have a decent suppression regime, if they can frustrate and obstruct even two people in each district.

Local municipal clerks, bureaucrats and typically not the brightest bulbs, will go along.

Jon on Sarah

Republicans are hypocrites and liars, but never say that out loud or even ask questions if you want to cover the presidential election on MSNBC.