The Mission to Capture and Arrest Maduro, Somali Fraud Fallout, Mayor Mamdani Begins: AM Update 1/5

0:02Good morning, everyone, and Happy New Year. We're back. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Monday, January 5th, 2026, and this is your AM update. And it was an assault like people have not seen since World War II. The U.S. military conducts a complex operation resulting in the successful extraction and arrest of Venezuela leader Nicolas Maduro from inside a heavily fortified base. We're not going to allow the Western Hemisphere to be a base of operation for adversaries. As criticism pours in, the Trump administration defends the bold move. Fallout continues after a mega viral video from an independent journalist appears to show massive fraud from the Somali, Minnesota community hiding in plain sight.

0:46And far left socialist Zoran Mamdani officially becomes New York City Mayor Mamdani and gets right to work. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update.

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2:25The complex mission, the result of months of highly coordinated efforts between multiple U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies, along with the U.S. military. The Maduros transported to a jail in Brooklyn, where they face federal charges filed in the Southern District of New York, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons charges. The action coming after months of rising tensions with Maduro, an authoritarian leader, the U.S., along with more than 50 other nations, does not recognize as Venezuela's legitimate president since, in July 2024, he lost an election in a landslide to opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, but nonetheless declared victory and refused to leave power.

3:12President Donald Trump at a Saturday press conference lauding the success of the operation. Overwhelming American military power, air, land, and sea was used to launch a spectacular assault. And it was an assault like people have not seen since World War II. It was a force against a heavily fortified military fortress in the heart of Caracas to bring outlawed dictator Nicolas Maduro to justice. This was one of the most stunning, effective, and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history. I want to thank the men and women of our military who achieved such an extraordinary success overnight with breathtaking speed, power, precision and competence.

3:59If you would have seen what I saw last night, you would have been very impressed. I'm not sure that you'll ever get to see it, but it was an incredible thing to see. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Dan Raisin Cain, providing more insight into how the military was able to pull off the incredible feat. This was an audacious operation that only the United States could do. It required the utmost of precision and integration within our joint force. And the word integration does not explain the sheer complexity of such a mission. It involved more than 150 aircraft launching across the Western Hemisphere in close coordination, all coming together in time and place to layer effects for a single purpose, to get an interdiction force into downtown Caracas while maintaining the element of tactical surprise.

4:56General Cain describing months of work by intel agents to learn everything about Maduro, from what he ate to what pets he owned. Even then, conditions had to be just right for the mission to succeed. General Cain saying Saturday's weather provided what was needed for America's most skilled aviators to get the green light. Over the course of the night, aircraft began launching from 20 different bases on land and sea across the Western Hemisphere. In total, more than 150 aircraft, bombers, fighters, intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, rotary wing were in the air last night. As the force began to approach Caracas, the joint air component began dismantling and disabling the air defense systems in Venezuela.

5:41As the helicopter force ingressed towards the objective at low level, we arrived at Maduro's compound at 1.01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, and the apprehension force descended into Maduro's compound and moved with speed, precision, and discipline towards their objective and isolated the area to ensure the safety and security of the ground force while apprehending the indicted persons. Less than three hours after U.S. forces breached the compound, the Maduros were aboard the USS Iwo Jima in the custody of the Department of Justice. President Trump releasing an image of Maduro with headphones and blindfolded, wearing a gray tracksuit and donning handcuffs aboard the battleship.

6:27CNN military analyst and retired Admiral James Stavridis describing what U.S. adversaries, including China, Russia, and Iran, are likely thinking about such a mission. All three predictably will deplore this kind of activity publicly. Privately, they will be impressed with the military capability here. I would argue none of those three militaries could have executed an operation like this. And again, we tend to just breeze by this. But the idea of finding, fixing, kidnapping, taking him out alive with his wife, no casualties on the side of the U.S., that's an extraordinary military operation. So I think while there will be a lot of public condemnation of the United States, predictably from those three nations, privately they'll be saying to themselves, hmm, that's a very capable military.

7:26That's not a bad thought to pop up in Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran these days. The three adversaries did indeed express condemnation of defeat. Russia calling it, quote, an act of armed aggression. Iran calling it a, quote, flagrant violation of Venezuela's sovereignty, and China saying it poses a threat to peace and security in Latin America. By Saturday evening, the Trump administration reposting video of Maduro now donning an ill-fitting beanie and black sweatsuit, getting perp-walked at the DEA office in New York City before being moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Good night.

8:05Happy New Year. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Saturday posting the 25-page superseding indictment, modified from an original 2020 indictment, against Maduro. The latest filing accusing Maduro, his wife, their son, and three others of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. From the indictment, Maduro and his co-conspirators have, for decades, partnered with some of the most violent and prolific drug traffickers and narco-terrorists in the world and relied on corrupt officials throughout the region to distribute tons of cocaine to the United States.

8:47The charges carrying the possibility of life in prison, the Maduros do in court later today. Many now wondering, what's next for Venezuela? And was any of this legal? Venezuela's Vice President Delce Rodriguez, now the acting president of Venezuela, following a Venezuelan Supreme Court ruling appointing her to the role for 90 days. Venezuela's defense minister endorsing the court's decision, which means Rodriguez has the backing of her military, which is key. President Trump also seemingly in support of the move, at least for now. Here from Saturday's press conference. I understand she was just sworn in, but she was, as you know, picked by maduro so marco's working on that directly just had a conversation with her and she's essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make venezuela great again very simple she had a long conversation with marco and she said we'll do whatever you need uh she i think she was quite gracious but she really doesn't have a choice we're going to have this done right we're not going to just do this with maduro then leave like everybody else leave and say you know, let it go to hell.

9:59If we just left, it has zero chance of ever coming back. President Trump initially declaring that the U.S. will, quote, run Venezuela, saying America is, quote, in charge of the nation for now. Later, Secretary of State Rubio clarifying that the U.S. won't actually govern Venezuela, but will press changes through the oil blockade we have in place there. President Trump late last night telling reporters the U.S. will oversee this transition to ensure Venezuela's leadership is acting in line with U.S. wishes, but reiterating that the U.S. is, quote, in charge of Venezuela. U.S. military assets are not deployed inside Venezuela, though President Trump warning they remain parked off the coast and are ready for a second wave if needed.

10:44Secretary of State Rubio expanding on the need for this extraordinary step Sunday on Meet the Press. Why does the United States need to take over the Venezuelan oil industry? Well, we don't need to. First of all, let me go back up. We don't need Venezuela's oil. We have plenty of oil in the United States. What we're not going to allow is for the oil industry in Venezuela to be controlled by adversaries of the United States. You have to understand, why does China need their oil? Why does Russia need their oil? Why does Iran need their oil? They're not even in this continent. This is the Western Hemisphere.

11:15This is where we live. And we're not going to allow the Western Hemisphere to be a base of operation for adversaries, competitors and rivals of the United States. Have specific oil companies. We also want to see that oil and the proceeds from it. Hold on. We want to see the oil proceeds of that country benefit the people of Venezuela. Why have 8 million people left Venezuela? 8 million, the single largest mass migration probably in modern history, left Venezuela since 2014 because all the wealth of that country was stolen to the benefit of Maduro and his cronies in the regime, but not to the benefit of people of Venezuela.

11:46President Trump Sunday night from Air Force One expanding on that idea and issuing a warning for Colombia's president. This isn't a country that's on the other side of the world. This isn't a country like we have to travel 24 hours in an airplane. This is Venezuela. It's in our area. We're in the business of having countries around us that are viable and successful, and where the oil is allowed to freely come out because that's good. It gets the prices down. That's good for our country. We have a very sick neighbor. It's not a neighbor, but it's close to a neighbor. And that's Venezuela. It's very sick.

12:24Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States. And he's not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you. So there will be an operation by the U.S. and... It sounds good to me. While most of the domestic outcry comes from Democrats, some Republicans also critical of the operation. Congressman Thomas Massey of Kentucky criticizing the administration for acting without the approval of Congress, which alone has the power to declare war and to authorize military force, and saying the move is really about taking over Venezuela's oil, a sentiment echoed by many Dems.

13:00The very thing that Donald Trump campaigned against, over and over and over again was no more endless wars. And right now we're headed right into one. It's quite apparent that it was Venezuela's oil wealth that really attracted the Trump administration to carry out this operation. The nature of this is it's all illegal. Let us be clear. This is a war of choice. Secretary Rubio Sunday on ABC arguing congressional approval was not needed. Why wasn't congressional authorization necessary? It wasn't necessary because this was not an invasion. We didn't occupy a country. This was an arrest operation.

13:34This is a law enforcement operation. He was arrested on the ground in Venezuela by FBI agents, read his rights and removed from the country. Obviously, this was not a friendly territory. So in order to arrest him, we had to ask the Department of War to become involved in this operation. The Department of War went in. They hit anything that was a threat to the agents that were going in to arrest them. And they hit anything that was a threat on the way out. And they hit anything that was a threat to them while they were on the ground. And that was a very limited and targeted operation. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth saying on Saturday that the administration will continue working with congressional partners.

14:09The secretary joining a group, including Secretary Rubio and A.G. Bondi, briefing congressional leaders tonight on the Hill. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday saying he expects the Senate to vote on a war powers resolution later this week that would bar further action without congressional approval. Such a measure would likely be subject to constitutional challenges. Coming up, an independent journalist visits Minneapolis to investigate Somali fraud accusations firsthand with his viral video putting the glaring issue into the spotlight. And it's official, Mayor Mamdani takes office in New York City.

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16:21City Journal, Walter Kearns County Highway, and the New York Times among the outlets reporting on widespread fraud. Then on December 26th, Nick Shirley posting a 42-minute video to his social media accounts racking up more than 137 million views on X alone, in which he and an independent investigator going only by the name David, visit Somali-run daycares and health companies they say have collected millions in taxpayer dollars per year, discovering what they say is up to 110 million in potential fraud in just one day. In the video, which Shirley says was recorded on Tuesday, December 16th, the pair visits daycare after daycare, finding largely empty warehouse style buildings and few, if any, children.

17:08Well, this is actually two daycares are registered here one of them is Mako which you see on this sign the other one is mini child care center and between the two of these child care centers they're pulling in about three million dollars a year and there are no children every facility as you go to the windows will be blocked out so you can't see in there's nobody here you won't see a single child at any of these facilities there are indeed no windows all the windows are blacked out right here all right let's go in and the child The healthcare center is locked. Should we ring the doorbell? Try to get in, rang the doorbell.

17:45Nobody showed up. They're open seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. it says here on their sign. Yet there's absolutely nobody here. And this building here, right here, has generated millions of dollars. And it seems like business isn't even open right now and it's a weekday. President Trump weighing in on the stunning story late last night. The Somalians are ripping off our country to the tune of, looks like$19 billion. dollars, but that's only what they can find. So usually when you're looking at 19, that would mean it could be 50, but the numbers are astronomical. And every one of them should be forced to leave this country, including Ilhan Omar, who's a total crook.

18:26And she's one of the leaders of it. Not the only, because she's not that smart. But think of it, 19 billion dollars at least they've stolen from Minnesota and from the United States. HHS last week announcing a freeze on all child care payments to Minnesota in the wake of the viral video demanding an audit of the programs from Governor Walz, whose initial reaction to the story was to blame, quote, white supremacy. Governor Walz later sort of acknowledging the staggering fraud while taking a shot at President Trump. In a post on X, quote,

19:19Within days of Nick Shirley's reporting, FBI Director Kash Patel posting a lengthy update on the FBI's fraud investigations, writing, quote, the FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg. We will continue to follow the money and protect children. And this investigation very much remains ongoing. Democratic Socialist Zoran Mamdani officially sworn in as mayor of New York City in a private ceremony inside an abandoned subway station shortly after midnight on New Year's Day. New York Attorney General Letitia James administering the oath. Mamdani, the first Muslim elected to the office, taking the oath over to Korans.

19:59Later in the afternoon, Vermont senator and political mentor to Mamdani, Bernie Sanders, administering the oath in a public ceremony at City Hall. This moment from Mamdani's inaugural address, sending a chill down the spine of pretty much anyone who knows anything about the United States of America and the principles on which it was founded. To those who insist that the era of big government is over, Hear me when I say this. No longer will City Hall hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers' lives. We will draw this city closer together. We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.

20:40If our campaign demonstrated that the people of New York yearn for solidarity, then let this government foster it. Mayor Mamdani quickly getting to work, signing a sweeping executive order revoking all executive orders signed by his predecessor, Eric Adams, from September 26, 2024, through the end of his term. Mamdani later telling reporters that the date marks the former mayor's indictment on bribery charges, which the Trump DOJ later dismissed, a move many of Adams' critics in New York described as corrupt. Drawing national attention in Mayor Mamdani's blanket executive order, two issued by Mayor Adams relating to Israel and anti-Semitism.

21:21One order codifying a definition of anti-Semitism as drafted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which critics say conflates criticism of Israel with hatred of Jewish people, the other barring city agencies from participating in boycotts against Israel. That's now just fine. New York City is home to the world's largest population of Jewish people outside of Israel. Mayor Mamdani is an outspoken critic of the Israeli government and knew scrapping these two previous executive orders would upset some Jewish groups. The New York Times reporting that Mamdani chose a broader reversal tied to the indictment, quote, allowing him to frame the choice as a matter of good governance.

22:02Mayor Mamdani saying he will keep the Adams-created office within City Hall to combat anti-Semitism. Mayor Mamdani also signing a slate of new orders addressing New York City's housing affordability crisis, one renewing the office to protect tenants, and two orders establishing housing-focused task forces. In one of his first photo ops as mayor, Mamdani touring a Brooklyn apartment complex owned by Pinnacle Realty, a landlord company with thousands of reported violations. Mamdani inspecting a tenant's ramshackle bathroom. And you told the landlord about this? Yes. And what was the response? It's awesome numbers, but nobody want to do anything about it.

22:43Many noting that the apartment is rent-stabilized, meaning it's rented out for less than market value, a policy many say discourages investment into properties because landlords are unable to recoup their investments. Following the tour, the mayor giving remarks outside of the building, announcing his administration will intervene in the housing group's ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, though he did not offer specifics on what that involvement will look like. On Saturday, Mayor Mamdani weighing in on former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro's arrest by U.S. forces because everyone was thinking, gee, I wonder what the socialist from Uganda is thinking about Maduro.

23:20Maduro now held on federal charges inside of Mamdani's city. I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act and to make clear that it was an opposition based on being opposed to a pursuit of regime change, to the violation of federal international law, and a desire to see that be consistent each and every day. And what was his response to you in that conversation? I registered my opposition, I made it clear, and we left it at that. Despite some calls from Mamdani's comrades in the DSA, or Democratic Socialists of America, to return Maduro to Venezuela, the mayor has no real recourse as it is entirely a federal matter and he had zero right in his role as mayor of New York to demand answers from anyone about it.

24:15And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK Show live on SiriusXM's The Megan Kelly Channel, 111 at noon east, on youtube.com slash megankelly and on all podcast platforms. Amen.