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Chuck Schumer’s Own Words Come Back to Haunt Him as He Melts Down Over Maduro Capture
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Chuck Schumer’s Own Words Come Back to Haunt Him as He Melts Down Over Maduro Capture

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Democratic New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said Sunday that he will introduce a War Powers Act resolution aimed at blocking further U.S. military operations involving Venezuela, following an operation announced by President Donald Trump that resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Schumer made the remarks during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week” with host George Stephanopoulos.

His comments came one day after President Trump announced in a Saturday post on Truth Social that Maduro and Flores were arrested in Caracas during a law enforcement operation protected by American military forces.

Schumer sharply criticized the operation and accused the Trump administration of acting outside the law.

He characterized the mission as an example of what he described as executive overreach and said Congress must intervene.

“The American people this morning, George, are scratching their heads in wonderment and in fear of what the president’s proposed,” Schumer said.

“The United States will run Venezuela. We have learned though the years, when America tries to regime change and nation-building in this way, the American people pay the price, in both blood and in dollars.”

Schumer also claimed the Trump administration lacked the authority to conduct the operation.

During a Saturday press conference following the capture of Maduro, President Trump said the United States was “running” Venezuela and stated that senior administration officials would oversee the situation.

Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine would be in charge.

Schumer disputed the scope and legality of the operation, alleging it went beyond defensive actions.

“They did not just do ships off the water,” Schumer said.

“They went inside Venezuela, bombed civilian as well as military places, and it’s a violation of the law to do what they did without getting the authorization of Congress.”

In the aftermath of the operation, several left-wing commentators and Democratic figures publicly condemned the action.

Podcasters Keith Olbermann and Dean Obeidallah called for President Trump’s impeachment in posts on BlueSky.

Congressional Democrats also criticized the mission, describing it as an illegal war.

Schumer accused Trump administration officials of misleading both Congress and the American public about the nature and scope of the operation.

During the interview, Stephanopoulos asked Schumer what steps Congress could take in response.

“What can the Congress do about it is the next question,” Stephanopoulos said.

Schumer responded by pointing to the War Powers Act as a legislative mechanism to limit the president’s authority.

“The next question is very simple, and that is that we have the War Powers Act,” Schumer said.

“That’s a privileged resolution, which means the Republicans can’t block it. Tim Kaine and I and Rand Paul are sponsors of it. It’s gonna come to the floor this week, and if it is voted for positively in both houses, then the President can’t do another thing in Venezuela without the okay of the Congress.”

Schumer’s position marked a notable contrast with his statements about Venezuela during President Trump’s first term.

In 2020, Schumer criticized Trump for what he said was a failure to remove Maduro from power after the Venezuelan leader was indicted in March of that year on drug trafficking charges.

“The President brags about his Venezuela policy? Give us a break. He hasn’t brought an end to the Maduro regime,” Schumer said at the time.

The War Powers Act resolution proposed by Schumer is expected to be introduced in the coming days, with debate anticipated in both chambers of Congress.

The move sets up a confrontation between congressional Democrats and the Trump administration over the scope of presidential authority in foreign military operations, as well as the future of U.S. involvement in Venezuela following the arrest of Maduro and Flores.

Elon Musk Signals His Bromance with Donald Trump is Back On After ‘Lovely Dinner’
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Elon Musk Signals His Bromance with Donald Trump is Back On After ‘Lovely Dinner’

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President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk appear to have eased tensions and repaired their previously strained relationship, following a weekend dinner at Mar-a-Lago that was publicly acknowledged by Musk on social media.

In a post shared Sunday on X, Musk wrote, “Had a lovely dinner last night with @POTUS and @FLOTUS,” adding, “2026 is going to be amazing!”

The post included a photograph taken Saturday evening at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and immediately sparked speculation that the high-profile relationship between the two figures may be back on stable footing after months of public disagreements.

The interaction marked a notable shift from the friction that developed following the 2024 presidential election.

After that campaign, Musk emerged as one of the Republican Party’s largest political donors, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars, according to Reuters.

His financial backing and public support made him a prominent ally of Trump during and after the election cycle.

Following President Trump’s return to office, Musk was tapped to advise a government efficiency initiative and to help establish the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.

The effort was aimed at reducing federal spending and streamlining government operations.

However, Musk stepped back from that role in mid-2025 as criticism mounted over the scope and feasibility of the initiative, and disagreements between Musk and the administration became more public.

Tensions escalated further when Musk openly criticized Trump-backed spending legislation.

In a June 3 post on X, Musk voiced frustration with what Trump described as his “big beautiful bill.”

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk wrote at the time.

“This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,” Musk added.

President Trump responded publicly to the criticism, expressing disappointment in Musk’s comments while acknowledging their past relationship.

“I was very disappointed,” Trump said at the time, before adding, “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore.”

The exchange prompted a sharp rebuttal from Musk, who took to X to argue that his support had been decisive in the 2024 election.

“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk wrote.

During the height of the dispute, Musk also floated the idea of forming a new political party, further fueling speculation about a lasting rift between the two men.

Despite the public nature of the disagreements, both Trump and Musk appeared to soften their tone as 2025 progressed.

In September, the two were seen shaking hands at conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s memorial service, held in a box at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The public appearance suggested a possible thaw, though neither addressed the status of their relationship at the time.

Musk later attended a White House dinner in November, where President Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, adding to indications that lines of communication between the billionaire and the administration had been restored.

The question of whether Musk had fully reentered Trump’s inner circle was raised publicly during a Cabinet meeting on Dec. 2.

FOX Business correspondent Edward Lawrence asked the president whether Musk was “back in [his] circle of friends” following their falling out.

“Well, I really don’t know. I mean, I like Elon a lot,” Trump replied.

The weekend dinner at Mar-a-Lago, paired with Musk’s upbeat public remarks, has renewed speculation about the future of their relationship as Trump’s administration continues into 2026.

While neither has formally addressed whether Musk will take on an advisory role again, the public gestures suggest that the once-strained alliance between the president and the tech billionaire may be stabilizing after a period of high-profile disagreement.

Tim Walz Reportedly Ending Reelection Campaign, Has a ‘NEW RETARD’ Been Selected?
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Tim Walz Reportedly Ending Reelection Campaign, Has a ‘NEW RETARD’ Been Selected?

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to withdraw from the 2026 gubernatorial race as he faces growing national scrutiny tied to a massive alleged fraud scheme involving Medicaid and state-funded day care programs.

“BREAKING: Tim Walz to make an announcement TOMORROW in regards to his political future. Speculation is saying he will likely withdraw from the governors race,” Minnesota political analyst Dustin Grage posted on X on Sunday night.

The development comes as Walz’s office has scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. Monday.

The governor’s office has not disclosed what Walz plans to address during the event, according to KARE 11.

Walz, who was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in the 2024 election, has been under intensified national attention in recent months over alleged Medicaid and child care fraud in Minnesota.

Estimates cited by officials and lawmakers suggest the losses could reach into the multi-billion-dollar range.

The controversy escalated after independent journalist Nick Shirley released viral footage last month showing several taxpayer-funded day care centers in Minnesota that appeared largely empty despite receiving substantial public funding.

The footage sparked widespread scrutiny and prompted federal involvement.

Federal authorities subsequently launched an operation in Minnesota focused on “identifying, arresting, and removing criminals who are defrauding the American people,” according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The operation marked a significant escalation in the federal response to the alleged fraud.

Republicans have sharply criticized Minnesota Democrats over the scandal, accusing state leaders of failing to implement safeguards that could have prevented large-scale taxpayer losses.

A Florida lawmaker compared the alleged scheme to “organized crime,” further amplifying national attention on the issue.

The Trump administration has announced plans to freeze certain federal child care funds until states provide additional verification for the programs.

Administration officials have said the move is intended to prevent further losses and ensure federal funds are distributed only to eligible providers.

President Donald Trump addressed the issue publicly while speaking to a crowd during a New Year’s Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago, suggesting the scope of the alleged fraud could be even larger than current estimates.

“Can you imagine, they stole $18 billion,” Trump said.

State Rep. Kristin Robbins (R–Maple Grove), chairwoman of the Minnesota Fraud Committee and a Republican candidate for governor, said she warned the Walz administration about potential fraud well before the issue gained national attention.

Robbins said she raised concerns after holding a hearing on day care fraud in February 2024.

“I gave the Department of Human Services a list of day care providers getting over $1 million in the previous year from the state who had numerous violations, and this day care was one of them on the list,” Robbins said outside the Quality Learning Center facility.

“They can’t say they didn’t know. We had a hearing on it. We gave them a list, and nothing has happened,” she added.

“I find it shocking that this is still happening when we flagged something over and over again.”

The House Oversight Committee is expected to hold multiple hearings on the alleged fraud in the coming weeks as lawmakers continue to examine the scope of the losses and the state’s oversight mechanisms.

Olson told Fox 9 that Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, whom he said Walz met with on Sunday, is viewed as a likely contender to replace the governor in the 2026 race if Walz formally exits.

Michigan Veteran Left in Coma After DoorDash Driver Allegedly Attacks Him
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Michigan Veteran Left in Coma After DoorDash Driver Allegedly Attacks Him

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A 75-year-old Michigan veteran remains in a coma after a DoorDash driver allegedly punched him in the head during a confrontation in a residential neighborhood, leaving him with severe brain injuries that required emergency surgery, according to police and family members, as reported by The New York Post.

The incident occurred on Dec. 28 in Wixom, Michigan, roughly 30 miles northwest of Detroit.

Lloyd Poole, a longtime resident and military veteran, approached a delivery driver near the end of his driveway to tell him to slow down while driving through the neighborhood, according to reporting by WXYZ.

Police identified the driver as Ryan Turner, 40. Authorities said Turner exited his vehicle and allegedly punched Poole in the head, knocking him to the ground.

“My dad fell. Never got up. Never moved. And the DoorDash driver got back in his vehicle and drove away,” Poole’s daughter, Jen Shaw, told WXYZ.

Poole was rushed to the hospital with a black eye and severe head trauma. Doctors performed emergency surgery to reduce swelling in his brain, which required removing part of his skull.

According to his family, Poole has not regained consciousness since the attack.

“He’s not responding. He can’t talk. He’s not awake,” Shaw said.

“We don’t know when he’s going to get out of this hospital bed. That may never happen.”

Turner later went to the Wixom Police Department, where he admitted to striking Poole and leaving the scene, according to law enforcement.

Turner told officers he felt threatened during the encounter after getting out of his car. Police said he acknowledged driving away after Poole collapsed.

Turner was arrested and booked into the Oakland County Jail. He was charged with one count of aggravated assault and posted a $35,000 bond on Jan. 1.

Court records obtained by Fox 2 Detroit show Turner previously faced assault and battery charges in 2022, which were later reduced to a lesser offense.

Records also indicate he has prior driving-related violations, including driving with a suspended or invalid license.

DoorDash confirmed that Turner has been permanently removed from the platform following the incident.

“DoorDash has zero tolerance for violence, and we have permanently removed the individual’s access to the platform,” a DoorDash spokesperson told CBS News.

“We are working with local law enforcement to support their investigation to ensure justice is served.”

Poole’s stepdaughter, Lindsey Gonzalez, said the family remains concerned about Turner’s release on bond, noting that his removal from DoorDash does not prevent him from working for other delivery services.

She said the family is seeking stricter bond conditions to keep Turner away from Poole’s wife and their home, which is located a short distance from Turner’s residence.

“It’s scary that he’s out walking around,” Gonzalez told Fox 2 Detroit.

“I want everybody in the public to know his face and stay away from him.”

As Poole remains hospitalized in a coma, family members have been rotating shifts at his bedside.

Doctors have not provided a timeline for recovery, and relatives say the uncertainty surrounding brain injuries has made the situation especially difficult.

“You just don’t know with the brain, so we’re very concerned,” Shaw said.

“We’re really worried.”

The case remains under investigation.

Parents of Man Killed After Crawling Into Delta Jet Engine Sue Salt Lake City
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Parents of Man Killed After Crawling Into Delta Jet Engine Sue Salt Lake City

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The parents of a Utah man who died after crawling into the engine of a Delta Air Lines aircraft at Salt Lake City International Airport have filed a lawsuit against Salt Lake City, alleging that a series of security failures allowed their son to access the tarmac during what they say was an obvious mental health crisis, as reported by The New York Post.

Kyler Efinger, 30, was found dead on New Year’s Day 2024 after climbing into the turbine of a Delta plane that was preparing for takeoff at the airport.

His parents, Judd and Lisa Efinger, allege in a lawsuit filed last Tuesday that their son’s death could have been prevented if airport personnel had intervened earlier and if security systems had functioned properly.

According to the complaint obtained by The Post, Efinger, a ticketed passenger traveling to visit his ill grandfather, was experiencing what the lawsuit describes as an “obvious mental health episode” in the hours before his death.

Efinger had been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder a decade earlier and “occasionally experienced episodes in which he became visibly disoriented,” the filing said.

The lawsuit states that at around 9 p.m., Efinger began pacing repeatedly along a walkway inside the terminal.

Less than 30 minutes later, he entered a Utah Jazz store, where his behavior was so unusual that a manager accepted less than the full purchase price for a jersey to “hurry up the transaction,” according to the filing.

Efinger left his bag in the store, prompting the manager to call Airport Operations.

The complaint alleges that Efinger then ran through the terminal without shoes, his shirt partially unzipped, as an airport employee arrived to retrieve the bag.

The manager reported hearing Efinger yell that his bag was being held “hostage” and that his “whole life is in there.”

After demanding a refund and becoming increasingly agitated, the lawsuit says the manager and an associate called airport security, at which point Efinger ran toward gate A1 without his bag.

Despite his behavior, the complaint alleges that no additional steps were taken to locate or assist him.

At approximately 9:52 p.m., Efinger attempted to open a locked jet bridge door while carrying his shoes.

He briefly interacted with a janitorial worker and then tried to open another locked door, falling in what the filing described as an “exaggerated manner.”

He later struck a window with his shoe before accessing an emergency exit door that led from the terminal’s sterile area to the secure tarmac.

That door, the lawsuit alleges, lacked a delayed egress locking system that would have required a 15- to 20-second wait before opening.

“The City did not maintain any impediments to prevent a visibly disoriented person from freely accessing the tarmac,” the lawsuit stated, adding that airport personnel were not immediately alerted to Efinger’s exit location.

Efinger walked nearly a mile across the airfield, eventually removing his pants and undergarments in freezing conditions, leaving him wearing only a jersey and socks.

He then ran toward an Airbus aircraft that had begun taxiing. The lawsuit claims city personnel failed to warn air traffic controllers or pilots that a “disoriented person” was on the tarmac.

Efinger climbed into the aircraft’s engine while it was still running. His hair was caught by the engine blades, and he was killed by “blunt head trauma from his head being forcibly pulled against the blades of the engine,” according to court documents.

Although the pilot shut down the engine after noticing Efinger, the lawsuit says the fatal injuries had already occurred.

Efinger’s parents argue that he would still be alive “if officers had located him 30 seconds sooner.”

They are seeking damages exceeding $300,000 and a jury trial, accusing Salt Lake City of failing to maintain safe premises, adequate security systems, and effective communication protocols.

A spokesperson for the Salt Lake City mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

President Trump Shuts Down Reporter’s Attempt to Pit Marco Rubio Against J.D. Vance
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President Trump Shuts Down Reporter’s Attempt to Pit Marco Rubio Against J.D. Vance

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President Donald Trump on Sunday evening dismissed a reporter’s attempt to suggest internal division between Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, forcefully stating that both officials play equal roles in his administration, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Trump made the remarks aboard Air Force One as he traveled back to Washington, D.C., after spending the Christmas holiday at Mar-a-Lago in South Florida.

Maxim Elramsisy – Shutterstock.com

The exchange occurred shortly before Air Force One touched down at Joint Base Andrews.

The question came as Rubio had spent the weekend appearing on multiple Sunday news programs, where he discussed U.S. policy following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Rubio said he is “intricately involved” in efforts aimed at moving Venezuela toward a peaceful transfer of power after the U.S. operation that resulted in Maduro’s detention.

During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, Rubio also issued pointed remarks regarding Cuba’s role in Venezuela.

“In some cases, one of the biggest problems Venezuelans have is they have to declare independence from Cuba,” Rubio said.

“They tried to basically colonize it from a security standpoint. So, yeah, look, if I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned at least a little bit.”

As Trump spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One, one member of the press attempted to frame Rubio’s media presence as evidence of favoritism within the administration.

Marco Rubio Calls Out Kamala Harris Over Hypocrisy After Maduro Arrest Operation
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, speaks in Bedford, New Hampshire, on October 6, 2015.

“What you say that Marco Rubio has your ear more than the Vice President right now?” the reporter asked.

Trump immediately rejected the premise.

“No! They both do. JD is very smart and doing a great job, and so is Marco! I would say they’re equal,” the president responded.

The reporter continued pressing the issue, saying, “It sounds like [Rubio] is the go-to and you were just talking about Cuba and what could come next there.”

Trump did not alter his response or walk back his remarks, maintaining that both senior officials are closely involved in administration policy.

Air Force One landed at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday evening, where Trump transferred to Marine One for the return to the White House.

The president’s return followed the U.S. operation in Venezuela that led to Maduro’s capture, an event that has dominated political and media discussion in recent days.

Administration officials confirmed that Trump, Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other senior officials are scheduled to be on Capitol Hill on Monday.

The group is expected to brief high-ranking members of congressional committees on developments in Venezuela and the aftermath of the operation.

Footage of Air Force One’s arrival was shared by Fox News, showing the aircraft touching down at Joint Base Andrews as Trump prepared to return to the nation’s capital.

The White House did not indicate that any additional announcements would be made during Monday’s briefings beyond updates related to Venezuela and regional security issues.

‘This Is Trump Taking the War to China’: Chanel Rion Says Venezuela Ops Go Much Deeper
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‘This Is Trump Taking the War to China’: Chanel Rion Says Venezuela Ops Go Much Deeper

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A resurfaced statement from Chanel Rion, accompanied by a video clip showing President Donald Trump responding to a reporter, argues that the U.S. military buildup involving Venezuela is not primarily about drug trafficking or regime change but represents a proxy conflict with China.

“Trump is officially three and O with China. Here’s what nobody’s talking about. China had a heavy investment in Iran. Trump neutered them. China had a heavy investment in Gaza. Trump secured a regional firewall. China straightforwardly controlled Venezuela for two decades. Trump’s moving in and China’s blinking for a third time, and that’s why everyone is asking the wrong questions when it comes to Venezuela,” Rion said.

“The cover story is this, Trump’s military buildup toward Venezuela is about countering Narco terrorism and targeting drug cartels like trend to agua, which are tied to the president Nicolas Maduros regime,” she said.

“But analysts go a step further, and they still miss the mark when they say, Well, this is really about regime change. It’s neither of these things.”

“I mean, yes, we’ve got a drug problem, but it’s actually ties to a much bigger issue,” Rion said.

“Trump’s Venezuela offensive is much bigger. It’s his proxy war against China, and he’s the only president in history who is actually fighting China, where it hurts.”

“As of this week, Trump has positioned over 10,000 US troops and eight warships in the region,” Rion said.

“We have helicopters and Reaper drones taking out Narco boats. We have f 35 and Venezuela has scrambled their jets. And this week, Trump has authorized the CIA to carry out lethal operations in Venezuela.”

“We’ll dive into that one a little deeper in the next segment, all this to ostensibly go after drug boats and fight Narco terrorism,” she said. “Yet everyone is taking this at face value. Listen.”

In the resurfaced video clip, a reporter questioned Trump’s approach.

“Why not have the Coast Guard stop them, which is empowered by law to do?” the reporter asked.

“So Trump answers the question as asked,” Rion said.

“Because we’ve been doing that for 30 years, and it has been totally ineffective,” Trump said.

“Even the ostensibly right leaving leaning National Review gets it wrong by musing that this is all about regime change,” Rion said.

“Here’s why this whole Venezuela offensive is really about China, and this is a shadow war against Beijing, the first in history that looks like it will actually work.”

“You see attacking Maduro is attacking Xi Jinping to think that Maduro is some independent agent, is naive and foolish,” she said. “Why is Venezuela basically China? Well, follow the money. The oil money again.”

“Remember what I said yesterday about why China is likely the biggest force behind the Gaza war and promoting Palestine and Hamas protests around the globe,” Rion said.

“Remember, it’s about taking advantage of bad leadership that sits over cheap oil and cheap resources.”

“China sweeps in, buys out the leadership, gets free gas,” she said.

“Essentially, Venezuela is the poster boy of this predatory China oil game.”

“Beijing is Venezuela’s largest creditor by far,” Rion said.

“Venezuela is over $60 billion in debt to Beijing since 2007 it pays Beijing back in guessed it oil.”

“Venezuela is economically paralyzed by sanctions,” she said.

“The only country supporting Venezuela meaningfully is Beijing, because they’re the primary buyers, this forces Venezuela to sell their oil for next to nothing, meaning they’ll forever be indebted to Beijing.”

“That’s the whole game,” Rion said.

“That’s the way China plays.”

“In May 2025 at the China CELAC forum, Beijing gave Venezuela an additional billion dollars in new oil investments, solidifying Venezuela’s position as the front lines of the US China shadow war,” she said.

“But China’s interests in Venezuela go far beyond cheap oil and economics,” Rion said.

“Chinese companies are neck deep in modernizing Venezuela’s ports and telecom infrastructures, and as in all things related to Chinese companies, you’re a fool to think the Chinese Communist Party does anything without making it a dual military civilian use project.”

“I’ll say it again,” she said.

“China does not allow its companies to operate in the world unless it could also be used for their national security purposes.”

“So don’t be fooled when Trump is using all this force and manpower and CIA expertise in Venezuela,” Rion said.

“This is Trump taking the war to China.”

“He’s doing what no other president before him was even remotely capable of accomplishing,” she said.

“Trump is declaring war on China’s most valuable assets, Iran, Venezuela, Gaza.”

“What do these tin pot dictatorships have in common?” Rion said.

“They’d be nothing without the Chinese Communist Party, and China would be nothing in the geopolitical stage without them.”

“And now Trump is taking them, Iran, Gaza and now Venezuela,” she said.

“Three strikes, you’re out.”

WATCH:

Mamdani’s Tenant Advocate Branded Homeownership ‘White Supremacy,’ Urged Property Seizures
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Mamdani’s Tenant Advocate Branded Homeownership ‘White Supremacy,’ Urged Property Seizures

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s newly appointed tenant advocate is facing renewed scrutiny after resurfaced social media posts showed her calling to “seize private property,” labeling homeownership a “weapon of white supremacy,” and urging the election of communists, as reported by The New York Post.

Cea Weaver, recently named director of the city’s Office to Protect Tenants, made the statements in a series of posts on X that were later deleted but have circulated widely after being rediscovered by online researchers.

“Seize private property!” Weaver wrote on June 13, 2018.

She expanded on that view in August 2019, posting what critics have described as a manifesto-style message: “Private property, including any kind of ESPECIALLY homeownership, is a weapon of white supremacy.”

Weaver also urged supporters to “Elect more communists” in a December 2017 post tied to the renaming of a Harlem street corner honoring former Manhattan Rep. Vito Marcantonio, who was openly affiliated with communist politics.

Her social media history also includes harsh criticism of law enforcement. In May 2020, amid national unrest following the death of George Floyd, Weaver wrote, “The Police Are Just People The State Sanctions To Murder W[ith] Immunity.”

Weaver is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and previously served as a campaign coordinator for Housing Justice For All.

She also acted as an adviser to Mamdani’s mayoral campaign in 2025. The New York Post previously identified her as part of a group of progressive activists closely involved in shaping Mamdani’s policy agenda.

In 2019, Weaver was a leading advocate pushing the Democratic-controlled New York State Legislature to tighten rent stabilization laws, a move that significantly strengthened tenant protections while drawing criticism from property owners.

Humberto Lopes, founder and CEO of the Gotham Housing Alliance, said the approach taken by Mamdani and Weaver ignores the realities of housing development and maintenance.

“Without landlords, how to do you build and maintain housing? You think the government is going to do it? Look at NYCHA,” Lopes said, referring to the New York City Housing Authority.

“You put a system in place to destroy landlords. Why are you s–tting on us?”

Mamdani has proposed freezing rents on roughly one million rent-regulated apartments across the city, a plan that would require approval from the Rent Guidelines Board.

Neither Mamdani’s office nor Weaver provided immediate comment on the resurfaced posts.

Separately, Mamdani announced Sunday the appointment of Dina Levy as the new commissioner of Housing Preservation and Development, known as HPD.

Levy previously served as senior vice president of single family and community development at the New York State Division of Homes and Community Renewal.

“Levy is an experienced and fearless housing leader, and I know that she will fight to protect tenants and tackle our housing crisis head-on,” Mamdani said at a press conference in The Bronx.

Mamdani also signed an executive order establishing “Rental Ripoff” hearings across all five boroughs within his first 100 days in office.

The order directs HPD, the Department of Buildings, the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to conduct hearings alongside the new Office of Mass Engagement.

“Too many New Yorkers have been forced to pay more for less — living in unsafe, unconscionable, and unaffordable housing,” Mamdani said. “Under my administration, that ends.

Today’s executive order is the first step towards giving New Yorkers a voice in addressing the housing crisis that is pricing them out of our city.”

Levy said her background as a tenant advocate prepared her for the role. “I do know the work ahead will be hard,” she said.

HPD is responsible for enforcing the city’s housing maintenance code, including safety inspections, housing court cases against landlords, and overseeing emergency repairs.

Marco Rubio Calls Out Kamala Harris Over Hypocrisy After Maduro Arrest Operation
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Marco Rubio Calls Out Kamala Harris Over Hypocrisy After Maduro Arrest Operation

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply criticized Kamala Harris and other Democrats on Sunday after they denounced the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, arguing their outrage ignored years of similar rhetoric and policies under Democratic leadership, as reported by The New York Post.

Rubio made the remarks following Harris’s public condemnation of a U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a nighttime raid in Venezuela.

Critics, including Rubio, noted that the Biden administration had previously placed a substantial bounty on Maduro’s capture but never followed through with enforcement.

“There had been a $25 million reward for [Maduro’s] capture,” Rubio told NBC News’ Kristen Welker on Sunday.

“So, we have a reward for his capture, but we’re not going to enforce it?” Rubio continued, adding, “That’s the difference between President Trump and everybody else … President Trump did something about it.”

The operation, carried out early Saturday morning, was dubbed Operation Absolute Reserve. U.S. special forces captured Maduro and Flores near Fort Tiuna, a heavily fortified military complex in Caracas.

President Trump said American troops breached the compound’s defenses “in a matter of seconds.”

Harris, the failed 2024 presidential candidate, responded within hours of the announcement, posting on X to criticize the mission.

“That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this action was both unlawful and unwise,” Harris wrote.

“We’ve seen this movie before. Wars for regime change or oil that are sold as strength but turn into chaos, and American families pay the price.”

She further alleged the operation was motivated by “oil” and “Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman,” rather than national security concerns.

Rubio rejected those claims during multiple Sunday appearances, stating the United States does not need Venezuela’s oil but does have an interest in preventing its vast reserves from falling under the control of hostile foreign powers.

The controversy also revived past Democratic statements on Maduro.

Former President Joe Biden faced renewed scrutiny after a 2020 post resurfaced in which he wrote, “Trump talks tough on Venezuela, but admires thugs and dictators like Nicolas Maduro. As President, I will stand with the Venezuelan people and for democracy.”

The debate extended to Capitol Hill. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut criticized the operation during CNN’s “State of the Union,” calling it an “invasion” and accusing President Trump of launching an “illegal war.”

“Listen, Venezuela is not a security threat to the United States,” Murphy told host Dana Bash.

“They’re not threatening to invade us. There is no terrorist group like al Qaeda operating there that has plans to attack the United States.”

Bash then cited a 2019 Washington Post op-ed written by Murphy in which he stated, “There should no longer be any debate about Maduro’s lack of democratic legitimacy … The Trump administration is right to put restoring Venezuelan democracy at the center of our approach to this crisis.”

Murphy responded by saying the article was largely critical of what he described as early “saber-rattling” by the Trump administration.

According to U.S. officials, roughly 150 aircraft participated in Operation Absolute Reserve.

Precision strikes were conducted around Caracas, including at Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Air Base, Port La Guaira, Higuerote Airport, and Fuerte Tiuna. The operation lasted just under two and a half hours.

President Trump said no American troops were killed. Venezuelan officials reported at least 40 deaths, including soldiers and civilians. An undisclosed number of U.S. service members were wounded and are expected to recover.

Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, were transported to the United States and are being held at the Brooklyn Detention Center, where Maduro is expected to face federal narco-terrorism charges.

Maduro assumed power in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chávez and declared victory in the 2018 presidential election. Venezuela’s National Assembly declared in 2019 that his presidency was illegitimate.

After Maduro again claimed victory in the July 2024 election, the United States and several other nations refused to recognize him as Venezuela’s lawful leader.

Trump Moves to Cut Off Federal Funding to These Three Deep-Blue States
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Trump Moves to Cut Off Federal Funding to These Three Deep-Blue States

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President Donald Trump said he intends to withhold federal funding from Minnesota, California, and Illinois, citing what he described as failures by state leadership and contrasting those states’ governance with crime reductions he attributed to his administration.

Trump made the remarks while discussing federal payments and state responsibilities, focusing first on Minnesota.

He said the state was not contributing to federal payments and that his administration would no longer cover those costs.

“From Minnesota and from the United States. It’s actually more from the United States, because Minnesota puts it and we’re not going to pay it anymore,” Trump said.

“We’re going to have Walz go pay, we’re not going to pay them.”

Trump then expanded his comments to include California and Illinois, stating that federal funding would also be withheld from those states.

He criticized the leadership of both states and said his administration would no longer provide payments under the current circumstances.

“We’re not going to pay California, and we’re not going to pay Illinois with that big slob of a governor that they have that doesn’t run,” Trump said.

In his remarks, Trump focused heavily on crime statistics, which he said improved due to actions taken by his administration.

He said crime was reduced in Illinois and California while asserting that the governors of those states were not responsible for those changes.

“You know, we brought down crime by 25% he didn’t do anything. He’s not doing anything, but they want us to leave,” Trump said.

Trump referenced a specific incident in Illinois to support his criticism of the state’s leadership, citing a day with a high number of violent crimes.

“He had a he had a day where they had 17 murders. Not too long ago, 17 murders and 77 people shot, but 17 died,” Trump said.

Trump said the Illinois governor claimed the state could manage the situation, but Trump rejected that assertion and said federal involvement was responsible for improvements.

“And then he talks about, oh, we can handle he can’t handle it,” Trump said.

“But we pulled back and we’ll go in at the appropriate time, but we’re the ones that brought the crime down.”

Trump said the crime reduction figures he cited were the result of his administration’s actions rather than state-level leadership. He stated that crime fell by 20% in California and that similar improvements occurred in Illinois.

“We brought it down 20% they didn’t bring it down,” Trump said.

“Pritzker didn’t bring it down. Same thing with Gavin Newsom.”

WATCH:


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