CAPTURED: Maduro arrested and brought to justice by Trump (WML) 1-5-16

Live from Hyatop Monroe Center in downtown Grand Rapids, we're talking about what matters most to you in West Michigan. Join the conversation now at 6167742424. That's 616 77424. It's West Michigan Live with Justin Barkley on Wood Radio. After Vice President Jannie JD Vance, Ohio, home has been vandalized. That, no doubt, a deranged individual. The story, I'm sure we'll get the latest on it as the details continue to pour out. That's kind of fresh, but speaking of which we're fresh back. And, man, oh, man, last time I was here with you was, I think New Year's Eve nationwide in the Blenbeck program, last time I was here with you for this regularly scheduled broadcast was back mid-December. So we're back in better, man, than ever before. News, weather and traffic. Happy to be here with you. We're talking about what matters most in West Michigan and beyond. This is the big three. That's right. Now to be three. All powered by good friends at Heartland Home Mortgage. Been taking a look at what's been happening with the mortgage rates specifically. And man, oh man. Rates have been moving. Rates this week falling to their lowest level in 15 months. Now, we've been telling you about the folks at Hardland Home Mortgage. Dave Galloway has been walking you through what we can expect with the latest in the fad. And of course. Where mortgage rates are headed to giving you the inside look on this. Homebuyers eager for a thaw in that housing market. The average interest rate on a 30-year fixed stands at about 6.15%. That's down. Way down. Plumbing from that level of 6.89% in May, saving you thousands. Last January, the average 30-year was at 7%. You're talking about a one percentage point increase. Every time it goes down, you can save thousands, tens of thousands of additional cost each year. Reach out to Dave and the team today at HHMlending.com. You're looking to buy, refi, home equity line and credit. They want to help you get to where you need to go and they're going to do it today. Number one. Like they have for us and so many others who listen to this program. Well, he's due in court today. U.S. Special Forces capturing Maduro in Venezuela, the narco terrorists, in Caracas, in bed with his wife at one point, I guess early wee morning hours there on Saturday and the president. Late last night and early today, at my direction, the United States Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation. in the capital of Venezuela. By the way, just how extraordinary was and how historic was. We can get to the details about that. What you can expect now that Maduro is in custody, he's in New York. In fact, he's due in court today. The details are all on the way, and what the left is saying about this. It's just mind-rockly, you know, I just...

I don't think I can ever get used to the insanity that we're seeing pouring out. Speaking of which, pouring that money right out and down the drain. Gretchen Whitmer's Michigan, the LG delays. Another electric battery plant. Production despite $120 million for taxpayers. This is another plant in Lansing. They just had another snag. Gretchen Whitmer's big push. Not doing so well. You know, because you've seen so much switch over since the president has taken over. And this is, I think it's only going to get worse. This time goes on. We're going to have to watch now for the next boondoggle, which appears to be data centers. How dare you? But folks are watching this. They pull out, it looks. Looks like another big story of the money down the drain. More on that coming out in just moments. Number three. More fallout for the Somali daycare fraud story in Minnesota. President Trump showing a chart last night. 72% of Somali households in the U.S. are on government assistance. In other words, they're taking welfare. 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. They did in four hours, essentially what Bush and Obama and the rest. It couldn't do in four terms. It's incredible. It was a force against a heavily fortified military fortress in the heart of Caracas. to bring outlaw dictator Nicholas Maduro to justice. This was one of the most stunning, effective, and powerful displays of American military might and competence. Now, the no kings, folks, as one might expect, although they really never do. They never cease to surprise and amaze me. The No Kings folks are upset that a dictator has been removed from power. The No Kings folks are upset that President Trump was following law and order. By the way, you know, this is just, it's the most obvious. It's the most clear cut. You got to, I mean, you have to be connected to reality to understand what's happening. And so many people on the left, unfortunately, aren't. And if you want to argue about that, that's fine. You can be wrong all day long. We have no problem with that. Feel free to be wrong. But the point is, there was a warrant. They had charged this guy. He had been, in fact, Kamala Harris and Biden on their way out. Would they set the bounty at $25 million on the way? No, why do you have a bounty if the guy's not supposed to be arrested? And if we're not supposed to be to want us arrested it. In January, just before they left office, please, people on the left, you're all upset, you're all been out of shape over the, please hear this. Biden and Kamala Harris offering $25 million for information leading to the arrest of Maduro.

And eventually, I think Trump kicked that up to 50. But tell me, why, can you, is there any logical explanation? One that doesn't involve your feelings about President Trump and how you think he's just so evil. Is there really? Is there, is there, is there any explanation? Now all of a sudden, by the way, over the weekend, Kamala Harris outraged because he was. He was arrested. But here's the headline, January 10th, 2025. I think it's the Times. Anyway, the Biden administration said on Friday it was offering $25 million for information leading to the arrest of Nicholas Maduro. The announcement of retaliatory measure by Washington, which does not recognize Maduro as the rightful president of Venezuela. That's the Biden administration. The Biden administration. Now all of a sudden, Trump is breaking the law. He's a threat to the bomb. All these things that they want to say, no, he's a king and all of that, right? He's the problem. Because he went and did what no one else would.

The fake news furious after video spread of countless major cities being flooded with real Venezuelans who are grateful to the president for actually doing this. There were protests, including one back here at home. White women, majority, old white people. upset at President Trump finding a way to just, I don't know how they do this. They must have a flag exchange program because otherwise it's got to get pretty costly. You know, how do you keep switching flags? Well, I mean, they were just, they were just waving. No, I know. The Palestinian flag. I mean, serious, Ukraine, how many other flags are these people own? They've got every other flag. Every flag other than the flags of the United States of America. That should tell you everything you need to know. They run it around waving every single other flag that can get their hands on. Here are the celebrations in Spain, in Madrid, Venezuela, Argentina, and Times Square, New York, Miami.

These aren't protests, folks. These are celebrations. I just, I have, you've got to see this. You have to watch this. You have to see because CNN, the mainstream media, they're not going to talk about it. They're not going to tell you this story. There were protesters. In fact, to find out era in full swing, I don't know how these people get. Somebody has to ring like a bat phone somewhere. There's like a Trump. Instead of the signal, you know, like the Trump had and the bad signal that goes up in the air, it's probably like George Soros. His signal goes up in the air and they go, hey, it's time to get out and protest. So they go out and pro. Again, these are white people. If you love Venezuela so much, why don't you go there? One of them found out real quickly. She's still got her Palestinian scarf on, it looks like. A no king's agitator. Again, imagine the hoops you have to jump through. The hoops you have to jump through to make this make sense. They're calling Donald Trump a king for allowing law enforcement to go to Venezuela, seize him, and bring him to justice. An actual dictator, a narco-terrorist, one who even the Biden administration said was filthy wrong. And they brought him back without incident. They brought him back. They didn't kill him. They didn't drone strike him like Obama did. Obama did that to a U.S. citizen. No, no, they brought him back. They brought him to justice. He will have to face justice. Now, I have some thoughts on... what happens next and why they're doing what they're doing. And, of course, the question is, why New York City? That's another place, too, that people are wondering, why are they going to try them there? That doesn't seem like a good idea. We'll get into that coming up here in just a little bit. But first, in Grand Rapids, on to the streets. We have to apply pressure at all points that we can. This is not just a foreign issue. This is Jessica Plickda, who absolutely, just ignorance on display, full stream. Tax dollars are also being used to commit these war crimes. A little louder about the tax dollars being used to siphon off billions for the Somalis in their daycare. By the way, she traded in her Somali flag? For the Venezuelan flag already? Yes, must be. Still got the Palestinian scarf going, though. It is also the duty of us, the people, to stand against the Trump regime, the Trump administration that are... No, this is what it's all about. It is also our duty is the people to stand with or against the Trump regime. The Trump administration. That's what it's all about. They hate Trump, the hatred for Trump, the media pushes it, all of this Trump derangedment syndrome, an actual sickness. They can't stand it. They're obsessed. Crimes both here in the U.S. and against people in Venezuela. No, no. The people, there is no crime against people in Venezuela. In fact, did you know there were multiple Cubans killed in this raid? Do you know who the Cubans were? They were people providing security.

for the Maduro regime. It tells you everything you did to know about who we're dealing with and why it happened. So she's wrapping up her interview with Channel 13 and the boys in blue, the GRPD, walking up in the arrest her. Now, in the background of this interview, you could see that police car. And now right here, we're showing you video we have immediately after the interview finished. God just loved us. He was arrested by two Grand Rapids police officers. You can see it in the video and an officer. tells Plicta that she is... That's funny, it's 13, and the commies they are carrying it, like, what she had to say was credible at all. But you know why she was being arrested? Because these people, these idiots were marching through the streets, the snowy, icy streets of Grand Rapids causing a hazard. You can't do that. You certainly can't and shouldn't do it for Venezuela. What in the world is wrong with you people? Arrested for obstructing a roadway and failure to obey a lawful command from a police officer. You can see as she's taken away in that car. She was issuing a number of messages. In other words, they told her, get crazy. Get out of the road. What are you doing? Wanting to the U.S. to free Maduro. But again, she was taken away by police officers there. And you can see in this video. There's probably about 50 of them walking down the streets in downtown Grand Rural. closely following this procession in downtown Grand Rapids. We have reached out to GRPD. They have no idea why either. Other than they hate Donald Trump and that's, well, that's all the excuse. That's all the reason they need for any of this. Folks, that's all they want is figure out how they can get Donald Trump.

from the Midwesterner this Monday, January 5th. I'm Robin Poffman. It's a Midwesterner. News original story, the mayor of Bay City, Michigan, taking action on data centers before the city is hit with a proposal. Michigan has become ground zero for data centers as a result of the state's Democrat-led legislature. Now back in 2024, lawmakers passing tax incentives for their development. An arraignment scheduled for today in New York for a Venezuelan dictator, Nicholas Maduro and his wife, both captured by U.S. forces in Venezuela over the weekend. President Trump telling reporters the U.S. will be overseeing Venezuela until a new government is in place. Here's the president. It's largely going to be for a period of time of the people that are standing right behind me. We're going to be running it. We're going to be bringing it back. It's a dead. You know, I talk about a dead country. For these stories and more, visit the Midwesterner at the Midwesterner.com. Somali daycare fraud. It's not just daycare fraud. There's lots of other fraud happening as well that they're uncovering in the state there. Over 80% of the Somalis in the state of Minnesota are on some sort of welfare or assistance. 78% when it comes to the nationwide statistics. And you've got to wonder how much of this, how prevalent it is. And he's under a big white hot spotlight right now. By the way, joining us to talk about Venezuela. And I'll get reaction to this story as well. Former Congressman Mike Rogers running for Senate here in Michigan. I appreciate you taking the time. And by the way, just your reaction to hearing this announcement for Tim Walz is going to step down, not step down, but will not run for re-election. Hallelujah. And by the way, Merry, Happy New Year, and thanks for doing Michigan so proud on that national Glenn Beck show last year. Thank you, sir. Anyway, listen, I think this is really good, and it shows how bad that situation was. And I think it also indicates how culpable that the folks around that system were. And, boy, you know, when you have even the Attorney General who had meetings with these folks subsequently took campaign contributions, subsequently no investigation, I think there is a lot of explaining to do in Minnesota. And I will guarantee you this, Justin, as a former street agent of the FBI, you know, as Trump says, the good FBI. You go to all of these big, dark blue states that have been sanctuary cities and welcoming. You're going to find this problem over and over and over again. And this is all the stuff, by the way, the Democrats were saying didn't exist. Yeah, it's amazing. And how quickly did we see that this happened over the weekend? They had to trade in. Some of these wacko protesters had to trade in their Somali flags. for their Venezuelan flags over the weekend. It's really, I wonder if they have like an exchange. Because this can get costly. I think it's a super one, too. It's a super one deal there. You know, they got every flag out there except for the United States flag, apparently. That's a problem. We're watching it. It's becoming more obvious, though, I think, to folks. But I want to just touch on Venezuela because it's a massive...

I don't think people understand how big what happened over this weekend was. And I don't mean just the fact that President Trump, they took four hours to do what they couldn't get done in four terms, other presidents. I don't mean that they carried this operation off with a precision never yet seen before. And it just puts us in such a great light. And I don't know, just the fact that nobody. None of Americans were hurt in this process. That's amazing in itself. And they bring him back to justice. This wasn't like a drone strike where they killed the guy, took him out. We've seen that happen before. But they bring this guy back to just. He's going to be in court. Maduro will be in court today. It's incredible. Yeah, it is incredible. And so kudos. And as former chairman of the Intelligence Committee, involved in the bin Laden raid or at the time of the bin Laden raid more accurately this the amount that goes into this is phenomenal and no other country this is important in the world has the capability to do what we did in Venezuela to bring the Maduro's plural to justice for using the implements of state and being narco-terrorists themselves. They were profiting from a massive drug operation, using all, you know, the military and their intelligence services and all of that to accomplish that. So the training, and by the way, They build this big mock-up for bin Laden, and all the intelligence fed into this one particular little room about was it him or was it not him, and everything from his gate, his height, certain patterns of life, all of that went into it. The same went for this. They built a large facility that was exactly like it. Our special operators trained and then trained and then trained. They were able to take out air defense systems, get in. They had a couple of injured, I think, but no one killed and grab them and get out safely. No one in the world can do what we just did. It's just unbelievable. Yeah, it's incredible to see. And, you know, look, we've heard so many. Pieces of this, just the drug, the narco-terrorism alone is something that I think is obvious. We've had past administrations, including the Biden administration, put that $25 million bounty on his head right when they were leaving. And he was indicted. People don't realize he was indicted for being a part of a drug distribution. you know, basically cartel. That's why he got designated as a narco terrorist. He was absolutely involved. A jury or a grand jury in the United States indicted him back in 2020, and the Biden's put a 25 million bounty on his head, didn't do anything else. This is how you solve it. But here's, can I, one thing that's not being talked about, just if I can. I mean, I passionately believe that they were in their right to extradite somebody who is.

been indicted in the United States in a place that was not going to cooperate, number one. But number two, you think about the added benefit of this. We have the Chinese were building these launch capabilities for Venezuela. They were talking about using it for satellites, but it is an easy replica to throw a missile there and use that to threaten and intimidate the United States. That's exactly what the Chinese were doing. That's why they were pouring money into Venezuela and trying to get them to be a launch pad for them. The Russians use Venezuela. to refuel and do logistics for their strategic air bombers. Oh, and by the way, nuclear submarines as well. So he had all been all in on enriching himself as a narco-terrorist. Oh, and by the way, he was also inviting our adversaries, and people forget China has nuclear weapons pointed at the United States. to build out their ability to have missile capability that quick. And remember, we can detect a missile flies from China to the United States, and we have ways to intercept it. You don't have a lot of time to make decisions. Can you imagine if they had something in Venezuela was capable of hitting the United States? So there is this, yep, we just took out somebody that was trying to kill literally 100,000 of our children. Oh, by the way, he was being a strategic launch pad for both the Russians and the Chinese. and their strategic trying to destabilize Latin America. I mean, this is a plus, plus, plus. And I think you just showed the world, listen, we're not tolerating this anymore. You can't, we're not just going to roll over and let you do this. Put everybody else on notice. And to your point, I think this is the thing that most people aren't talking about. But I think it is the bigger picture, China, Russia, involvement. what they're doing, particularly in that area, Cuba as well. But everybody now in these scenarios is going to have to think twice. China might even think twice about invading Taiwan. I mean, these are massive implications. You have two major operations with what happened in Iran and then what happens here and how the United States is able to pull both of those off flawlessly. It really tells everyone. And forgive me for you, but we're in the find out era. Don't fool around. In fact, I believe Secretary of War Peg Seth said that over the weekend. We're in the find out era. Yeah, absolutely. And I think people are starting to understand they mean business. And we are not going to allow our backyard to be used against the strategic interests of the United States, nor should we, ever. And you shouldn't allow them to have whole countries that are completely enriching the cartels in Mexico through the drug trade.

and being the distribution network using the instruments in state to do it. I think it sent a very clear message. And here's what's just saying. I hope other people pay attention to this too. When Chavez got elected in Venezuela, he said, he called himself a Democrat socialist. And he said, this is a new kind of socialism. And what we found out is it's still the old kind of socialism. It doesn't work. It has 100% failure rate. They ruined Venezuela. They ended up taking all that power for themselves and using it to enrich themselves. So when people around the country of the United States are saying, well, maybe this new Democrat socialism is something new. It's not. It is the same socialism that killed literally tens of millions of people in the world. between socialism, communism, killed more people in the world than any other ideology, if you imagine that. And so how we are finding ourselves running to this notion that a bigger government, more invested in your life is the right decision is beyond me. But I hope people look at what happened in Venezuela in the last 20 years, how it went from the richest country in Latin America, but literally the poorest. and was being used as tools for China and Russia and other bad actors to go after the United States. That's what happens. And so there's a whole bunch of lessons, I think, in this Venezuelan raid that we should all take a minute and think about. They were eating their pets. They were eating zoo animals at one point because they were so hungry there. And you don't really, I mean, you don't have to look much further to me than the Venezuelans who are celebrating here in America today and all over the world because this has happened. Fantastic. Always a pleasure. from a Congressman Mike Rogers running for Senate here in Michigan, Rogers for Senate.com. President Trump needs back up in 2026 to continue all of the massive change in the transition, the things that are happening right now to get America back on track. And we appreciate you taking the time. Thank you, Justin. Now, let's keep that border secure. Let's keep our city safe. Let's keep our putting prices, pressure on downward pressure on prices. Let's get people back to work for better paying jobs here in Michigan. We can do all that with all of your help. So rogers for Senate.com. Love to have you on board. Fantastic. Thank you, sir. By the way. I noticed gas prices at 2.45 that continue to go down here in Michigan. I'll take it. It's unbelievable. And by the way, that's the number one driver of cost and food. There's other costs. So keep putting pressure on oil prices. We're going to get our food costs down. That'll be the next big moment. We're working on it, as Trump would say. There you go. Always a pleasure. Thank you, my friend.

All right. Like I said, I got, I was telling folks off the air, there's so much to cover. We've got Maduro coming up noon today in the, looks like he's going to be arraigned in a courthouse there in New York City. He's been held in Brooklyn right now in a facility in Brooklyn. Isn't it wild to see this communist dictator brought to justice in the same weekend in Mobbani? is being so. Did you hear what Zohran Mamdani tried to do? By the way, he called Trump. Mom Dany gone on the phone, called Trump and said, I really don't approve of this. Please don't do it. He tried to register his displeasure with President Trump. Same weekend this socialist gets sworn in by Bernie Sanders Bernie Sanders on the Quran, no less. Incredible. Is he a little out there getting Maduro and he said, I don't, I'm not for this. Of course he's done. As well as other members of my team, 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? You can imagine. I registered my opposition. I made it clear and we left it at that. Yeah, sure. Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah. But this is nutty. Have you seen they've already started to raise the prices of the subway in New York City? You said, we weren't going to do anything. In fact, it was all going to be free. So some great videos over the weekend. These guys were going from place to place in different food places or wherever they were. And they were saying, yeah, I'm here. This should be free. They had people to ring them up and they go, no, no, this is free. Zohran Mamdani's in now, so it's all free, right? It's just hilarious, hilarious. Staten Island now says they're maybe they're planning on seceding from New York City. It's kind of a conservative area there in New York. Staten Island saying they want to, they want to break free of Zohran Mamdani's reach because of it all. The Somali fraud scandal, particularly with Tim Walz's front and center. obviously is really starting the shape. Now, one of the, I think, the most interesting, the most powerful message is in this whole thing. Because we're again hearing it today. They're trying to push it. I've even heard it on our news where they're saying, you know, they've taken this money, President Trump's taking this money and saying, well, you know, you can't have it until you prove that you're going to use it the right ways, things like that for child care. What happens if we don't have child care? Folks, you already can't afford child care.

I already can't afford it. And what are they doing? Taking billions of dollars and giving it to Somalis who are ripping the government, you and me off? This scandal is... totally appalling. But it is also unsurprising. And that's because it's a microcosm of what ails the Democratic elites. That's our Why It Matters segment for the night. The latest revelations join others in which suspected Somali fraudsters stole more than $9 billion in federal funds from 14 state-run agencies dating back to 2018. Somali Americans make up 89% of the defendants charged. The absolute scale of the fraud just beggars belief. Where were the spot checks? Where were the officials? It seems totally impossible that the Democratic leadership was not somehow in on this. Just think. about how outrageous this is. You are wondering whether you can afford to have another child because child care is so expensive. Meanwhile, a group of Somalis in Minnesota got $110 million for child care centers that don't exist. This is the thing that was responsible. This right here was responsible for. For Tim Walz, really just having to say, can't run. I'm going to get out of the race. I'm not going to do it. I'm out. Speaking of out, Dan Bongino, leaving the FBI. We got that story. Scott Adams, the latest on the cartoons, The Patriot, and where he stands, we've got good and bad news mixed in there. And. Some miraculous stories coming out of the weekend as well during our after show. Plus, what really is going on in Venezuela and the story you're really not hearing about election integrity? Pat Colbeck will join us during the after show coming up in just moments.