Morning Wire Maduro Indicted Stateside & Mamdani’s Reign Begins | 1.5.26
13 snips
Jan 5, 2026 
Cabot Phillips, a senior editor at the Daily Wire, discusses the high-stakes operation that led to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's indictment for narco-terrorism in New York. He explores the global reactions, including protests and criticism from U.S. Democrats. Tim Pierce dives into the escalating anti-regime protests in Iran, linking them to the country's military setbacks and external pressures. The podcast also touches on Zohran Mamdani's controversial start as NYC mayor, including his pledges and the irony of hosting Maduro.
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Covert Build-Up And Fast Extraction
- The CIA placed a covert team in Venezuela months before the weekend operation to track Nicolás Maduro's movements.
- Special forces rehearsed on a replica safe house and executed the extraction in under two hours, Cabot Phillips reported.
Military, Cyber, And Legal Framing Combined
- The operation combined air strikes, cyber measures, and rapid helicopter insertion to neutralize defenses and capture Maduro.
- U.S. officials framed it as a law-enforcement arrest rather than an act of war to avoid congressional approval concerns.
Maduro Tried As Cartel Kingpin
- Maduro and his wife were flown to New York and indicted on narco-terrorism and trafficking charges in the Southern District of New York.
- The Justice Department is treating him as a cartel kingpin rather than a foreign head of state.
