WASHINGTON, D.C.  – A dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy is sparking street parties across Venezuelan communities from Miami to Madrid. President Donald J. Trump has directed a military mission that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, a move supporters say has ended one of the region’s most feared regimes. As Venezuelan expats celebrate, critics and Democrats are turning their anger toward the president, not the leader they spent years condemning.

The mission, known as “Liberty Dawn,” took place in the early hours of January 5, 2026. U.S. special forces, working alongside Venezuelan opposition contacts, raided Maduro’s secure compound in Caracas. He was detained with little reported resistance.

Maduro has long been accused of holding power through rigged elections, violent repression, and deep ties with hostile governments, including Russia and Iran. Trump approved the operation after returning to office with a decisive win in November 2024. Supporters call it a clear win. Democrats in Congress and many media voices call it reckless, and their response is exposing a sharp political split.

Democrats Spent Years Condemning Maduro

For more than a decade, many Democrats have described Maduro as an authoritarian leader who wrecked Venezuela’s economy and fueled a humanitarian disaster. During the Obama years, early attempts at diplomacy faded as Venezuela’s political crisis worsened after Hugo Chavez died in 2013.

By 2017, Democrats were publicly attacking Maduro’s government. Then-Senator Kamala Harris, among others, used harsh language, calling it a “narco-state” and pointing to corruption and human rights violations.

Under President Joe Biden, that message got louder. In 2021, Biden labeled Maduro’s government “illegitimate” and backed sanctions aimed at limiting oil revenue. Secretary of State Antony Blinken regularly called for Maduro to step aside and stressed the need for real elections.

Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, supported measures condemning the regime’s crackdown on dissent. That included the detention of opposition figures such as Juan Guaido, whom the U.S. recognized as interim president in 2019.

High-profile Democrats echoed the theme, even when they disagreed on how the U.S. should respond. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while warning against U.S. military action in other situations, has pointed to the harm that Maduro’s policies caused and the pressure created by Venezuelan migration. Sen. Bernie Sanders also criticized the government as “authoritarian” and urged international pressure for a return to democracy.

Liberal-leaning outlets, including MSNBC and The New York Times, have published repeated reports on Maduro’s ties to criminal groups, media suppression, and severe shortages affecting millions.

The shared conclusion was simple: Maduro needed to go. Democrats argued for isolation, sanctions, and support for opposition efforts, while also accusing Republicans of being too eager to use force.

Trump Acts, After Years of Pressure

Trump’s second term has leaned hard into direct action abroad. Building on his first-term approach, which included recognizing Guaido and tightening sanctions, Trump approved the raid after intelligence reports claimed Maduro planned to expand ties with China and Russia, including possible military basing that could affect U.S. interests in the Caribbean.

Supporters of the mission say it was tightly executed, caused limited civilian harm, and secured key sites such as oil facilities. Maduro is now in U.S. custody and faces extradition tied to narcoterrorism and corruption charges. Venezuelan interim officials have started transition discussions, with elections promised by mid-2026.

Celebrations followed quickly. In Miami’s Little Havana, crowds gathered for spontaneous parades, waving Venezuelan and American flags together. “Trump did what no one else could,” said Maria Gonzalez, a Venezuelan exile who left in 2018. “We’ve waited years for this freedom.” Similar scenes played out in Bogota and Madrid. In Caracas, opposition supporters reportedly faced brief clashes with loyalists before the balance shifted.

Regional reactions have been mixed but active. Allies, including Colombia and Brazil, praised the move. Mexico, while cautious, acknowledged it could calm a destabilized region. At the United Nations, the Security Council has remained divided, though no broad condemnation has taken hold. U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, reappointed by Trump, defended the mission as a necessary action against a failed state tied to terror networks.

Democrats Reverse Course on Venezuela

As celebrations spread, Democratic leaders moved fast to denounce the operation. House Democrats, led by Jeffries, introduced a resolution calling the raid “reckless unilateralism” that could inflame tensions with Russia and Iran. Schumer criticized Trump from the Senate floor, calling the action “imperialist adventurism,” even though he and others had long demanded Maduro’s removal.

That shift is the core of the backlash from Trump’s allies. They argue Democrats spent years calling Maduro a tyrant, then attacked the one president who removed him. They also point to reports that the Biden team considered covert steps, based on leaked documents said to be dated to 2023, but stepped back due to political risk.

The media response has shifted, too. Some CNN commentary focused on due process for Maduro, even from voices that previously described him as a violent strongman. The Washington Post editorial board, which in 2022 urged tougher action, now warns about blowback and possible violations of international law.

Trump supporters argue the real issue is personal and political, not policy. They point to long-running clashes over investigations, impeachments, and elections, and say those battles now shape every response. They also cite security claims tied to Maduro’s government, including drug trafficking routes into the U.S., alleged support for Hezbollah-linked operatives, and growing Chinese influence in Latin America.

They connect the moment to the U.S.-Mexico border debate as well. Under Biden, Venezuelan migration surged, adding pressure on cities and federal systems. Trump’s supporters say a stable Venezuela could reduce the flow. They argue Democrats would rather attack Trump than admit the operation may help.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Trump ally, summed up that view: “It’s politics over people. Democrats would rather see Maduro free than admit Trump was right.”

Even inside the party, there are signs of disagreement. Former Sen. Joe Manchin, now retired, has offered quiet praise for the result, while progressive leaders, including Ocasio-Cortez, have blasted the operation as a “neo-colonial” move.

To Trump’s supporters, this fight fits a larger trend. They say Democrats demand bold outcomes, fail to deliver them, then attack the results when Republicans succeed. They point to earlier fights over the Abraham Accords, which critics dismissed at the time, and to the battle against ISIS, where Trump’s approach drew heavy debate.

In their view, the Maduro operation is the latest example: call for change, hesitate on execution, then condemn the leader who takes action.

Venezuela’s next chapter is still unclear, and the risks are real. Even so, the capture of Maduro has created a new opening for political transition. Trump’s backers see it as decisive leadership that reshapes the region. Democrats who oppose it may find themselves defending a position that voters, and history, won’t reward.

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St. Paul, Minnesota- Governor Tim Walz said Tuesday that he won’t run for re-election in the next Minnesota governor’s race. The announcement lands as a long-running investigation into a major public fraud case keeps pressure on his administration and has chipped away at trust in state leadership.

Walz, a two-term governor and former vice presidential candidate, shared the news at a quickly scheduled press conference at the State Capitol. He rejected personal blame for the scandal and instead pointed to former President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers.

Walz’s decision reshapes the race in a state that has leaned Democratic for decades. Political watchers say the fallout could open the door for a stronger Republican campaign in 2026. As more information about the fraud comes out, Walz’s approach has sparked criticism from both parties and raised doubts about how progressive policies are managed and monitored in Minnesota.

Feeding Our Future Case: A Costly Breakdown

The controversy centers on the Feeding Our Future scandal, a sweeping fraud scheme tied to federal child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effort started as a way to help feed kids during a crisis.

It later grew into an operation that prosecutors say drained an estimated $2.5 billion in taxpayer funds, far above earlier public figures of $250 million. Federal prosecutors have charged dozens of people and groups with crimes that include wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery. Authorities say money meant for meals went to luxury cars, real estate purchases, and accounts overseas.

The Minnesota Department of Education oversaw parts of the program during Walz’s time in office. Audits later described weak oversight and fast growth during the pandemic. Investigators said the state approved claims for huge numbers of meals that were never served.

Some nonprofits reported feeding more children than lived in entire counties. State Auditor Julie Blaha described the situation in a recent report as more than a simple mistake, pointing to ignored warning signs and repeated failures.

Walz’s role has drawn heavy attention. He publicly supported expanding the program and described it as a key support for families. Critics say his administration pushed money out quickly without strong checks, which made the program easier to exploit. Federal agencies, including the FBI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, have pointed to gaps in state verification steps that allowed false claims to keep coming in.

A Tough Press Conference and a Focus on Washington

At the Capitol, Walz took a firm tone and refused to accept responsibility for the scope of the fraud. He argued the scandal grew out of pandemic confusion and blamed the Trump administration for poor federal direction. He said unclear guidance and political fights over aid programs left states struggling to respond.

Walz also accused Republicans in Congress of making the problem worse through budget decisions and resistance to oversight changes. He said GOP attacks on safety net programs pushed states into quick fixes, and he pointed to what he described as blocked efforts to fund stronger fraud detection tools. In his view, partisan fights slowed the work that might have flagged problems earlier.

What Walz did not offer was a clear admission of failures inside state government. When reporters asked about the role of his administration, he shifted focus back to Washington and described Minnesota as dealing with a flawed system.

He highlighted arrests and anti-fraud steps taken after the scandal broke, presenting those actions as proof that his team responded. Republican lawmakers dismissed that message. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson said the governor was blaming everyone but himself and that Minnesota deserved straight answers.

Some Democratic supporters accepted Walz’s explanation, but others did not. Moderates and independents have appeared less patient. A Star Tribune poll from late 2025 showed Walz’s approval rating under 40%. The same polling found most respondents believed his administration carried a major share of responsibility for what happened.

A Leadership Style Under the Microscope

Critics say Walz’s response fits a pattern. During major events in his time as governor, including unrest in Minneapolis in 2020 and the state’s post-pandemic economic struggles, he has often pointed to forces outside state control.

In the Feeding Our Future case, leaked internal memos suggested early concerns were not treated with urgency. One email from 2021 warned that the state was approving too much too fast and claimed there was pressure to show quick results.

Some experts link that approach to an emphasis on expanding public programs without equal focus on guardrails. University of Minnesota political scientist Dr. Elena Ramirez said the scandal highlights what can happen when one party controls state government for long stretches. She said refusing to own the failures adds to public anger and could cost Democrats at the ballot box.

The financial damage is severe. Minnesota taxpayers face billions in losses, and recovery efforts have brought back only a small share through seizures and related actions. Families who depended on legitimate meal support have reported delays and cutbacks, adding to frustration. Maria Gonzalez, a single mother in St. Paul, said the disruption hit families who needed help most while fraudsters took advantage of the system.

A New Opening for Republicans in Minnesota

Minnesota has not voted Republican for president since 1972, but the scandal has fueled fresh talk of political change. Republicans have hammered themes of corruption and weak oversight. GOP gubernatorial hopeful Scott Jensen, a former state senator, said long-term one-party control helped create conditions for waste and abuse. He promised stronger oversight and a reset in state leadership.

Other forces are adding to the shift. Rural voters, already wary of policies they see as centered on the Twin Cities, have reacted strongly to reports that large amounts of money flowed through metro-area nonprofits.

Suburban independents, who helped Walz in 2022, appear to be moving away from Democrats based on recent surveys. A December 2025 Emerson College poll showed Republicans up by 5 points on a generic ballot test, a change from the last decade’s trend.

The scandal could also shape legislative races. Some Democratic incumbents face challenges from candidates running on internal reform, while Republicans look for contenders who can campaign on ethics and oversight. A Republican win in 2026 would not just change Minnesota politics. It could also hint at a wider shift in the Midwest ahead of the 2028 presidential cycle.

Walz’s record includes major progressive wins, including paid family leave and marijuana legalization, but the Feeding Our Future case now hangs over his time in office. As he stepped back from the race, he called for unity and said Minnesota could move forward. Many residents want something more basic first, clear accountability, and better controls.

Federal trials in the months ahead may reveal more about how the fraud worked and who else was involved. For now, Minnesota politics sits in a tense moment, with voters watching closely and both parties preparing for a race shaped by trust, oversight, and the cost of failure.

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New Voter ID Laws 2026: How Will They Affect the 2026 Midterms

Ask ten Democrats who’s leading the party in January 2026, and odds are you’ll hear ten different answers. That’s not dodging the question. It’s how the party is built. The Democratic Party doesn’t have a single “boss.” Power is split across Congress, the Democratic National Committee (DNC), governors, and the people and groups that fund, organize, and shape the message.

After the bruising aftermath of 2024, that split matters more. The fight now isn’t just about ideology. It’s about who can guide a rebuild, recruit strong candidates, and set a clear story for the 2026 Midterms, when control of Congress is on the line.

What “leading the Democratic Party” means in 2026

“Leadership” inside a modern party is a lot like a movie set. The audience sees the stars, but the real decisions come from a mix of directors, producers, and the people controlling the budget.

In 2026, Democratic leadership usually means one (or more) of these kinds of power:

• Official authority: formal titles that come with real control, like leading Democrats in the Senate or House.
• Campaign infrastructure: who runs the party’s national voter file, field plans, data, and coordination with state parties.
• Fundraising power: who can raise big money fast, and who decides where it goes.
• Message control: who becomes the default spokesperson when a crisis hits?
• Midterm strategy: who recruits candidates and decides what the party wants the election to be “about.”

That’s why “Who’s leading?” can mean “Who runs the DNC?”, “Who leads Democrats in Congress?”, or “Who is building the next generation?” Those are connected roles, but they aren’t the same job.

The main power centers: Congress, the DNC, governors, and activists

Each power center holds a different steering wheel.

Congressional leaders control votes, negotiations, and the party’s daily response to Washington news. They also shape priorities, from budgets to investigations to big-ticket bills.

The DNC is the party’s national engine. It focuses on building capacity, supporting state parties, and helping create the conditions to win presidential and midterm cycles.

Governors hold executive power. They can show results quickly, build a statewide brand, and influence state party organizations that matter for turnout.

Activists and allied groups don’t pass laws, but they apply pressure, drive volunteer energy, and shift what’s considered acceptable within the party. Sometimes they pull the party forward, sometimes they force painful public fights.

When Democrats are winning, these groups tend to cooperate. When Democrats are losing, the same system can feel like a tug-of-war.

Why leadership matters more after a tough national election

Losses create a vacuum, and vacuums invite arguments.

After a tough national cycle, Democrats usually replay the same debates: Was the message too cautious, too academic, too focused on donors, too focused on culture wars, too slow to respond, too old, too divided? Those questions don’t stay theoretical. They shape recruiting, fundraising, and who gets trusted airtime.

That’s why the 2026 Midterms aren’t just another election on the calendar. They’re a test of whether Democrats can unify around a strategy, or whether factional battles will define them first.

The most visible Democratic Party leaders right now: who has the microphone

Voters often equate “party leader” with the person they see most on the news. That’s not perfect, but it’s not wrong either. Visibility often signals who other Democrats trust to speak for them, especially during high-pressure moments.

In January 2026, the clearest, most public faces are still tied to Congress. The DNC chair matters too, but the chair often works behind the scenes compared with leaders who are answering questions outside the Senate chamber every day.

Senate Democrats: Chuck Schumer’s leadership and the pushback inside the party

Chuck Schumer remains the Senate Democratic leader as of January 2026. That role is part strategist, part negotiator, part traffic cop.

A Senate leader has to:

• pick the party’s top legislative fights (even when they can’t win them),
• negotiate with the other party and the White House when needed,
• keep senators aligned on votes,
• raise money for candidates and political committees,
• decide where to spend limited time and attention.

When Democrats are in the minority, criticism spikes. The leader becomes the most obvious target for frustration, even when the real problem is simple math. A minority can slow things down, but it can’t set the agenda. That’s why some Democrats have publicly pushed Schumer to step aside. Others argue experience is an asset in a tough map and a tense moment.

Either way, Schumer’s leadership is central to how Democrats explain themselves heading into the 2026 Midterms, because Senate messaging often becomes the party’s national messaging.

House Democrats and the DNC: why titles feel blurry, and what to watch instead

House Democratic leadership is also highly visible. Hakeem Jeffries is the House Minority Leader, and the House battlefield in 2026 will shape how much influence he carries beyond Capitol Hill.

The DNC chair is less visible to many voters, which is why people sometimes assume the position is unclear or symbolic. In reality, the chair can matter a lot in a rebuilding period. Ken Martin is serving as DNC chair, and the job is about building a machine that can compete everywhere, not just in a handful of famous states.

For readers trying to track real leadership without getting lost in insider jargon, a few signals usually tell the story:

Media signal: Who gets booked most often to speak for Democrats on major issues?

Money signal: Who can raise quickly, and who can direct money into close races?

Recruiting signal: Who convinces strong candidates to run, especially in swing districts?

Unity signal: Who can calm internal fights without alienating core groups?

Those signals will matter more than any single press release as the 2026 Midterms get closer.

The 2026 Midterms are shaping the next Democratic Party leaders

Midterms create leaders the way pressure creates diamonds, or cracks. Candidates who win hard races become instant national names. Candidates who lose messy primaries can shape the party too, especially if they expose a weakness in message or turnout.

A big part of Democratic leadership in 2026 is happening through contests that look local but carry national meaning: who the party elevates, who donors pick, and which messages survive the primary season without collapsing in the general election.

Michigan as a leadership preview: Haley Stevens, Mallory McMorrow, and Abdul El-Sayed

Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary is one of the clearest examples of a party arguing with itself in public, while also trying to stay strong enough to win in November.

Three declared candidates capture three different lanes in the current Democratic conversation:

Haley Stevens: A sitting U.S. representative presenting a pragmatic profile, with support from key party and outside groups.

Mallory McMorrow: A state senator with a national following, running as a sharp critic of old playbooks, including rejecting corporate PAC money.

Abdul El-Sayed: A progressive candidate with notable endorsements from figures like Bernie Sanders and other prominent progressives, also avoiding corporate PACs.

Competitive primaries can make a party better, like a hard scrimmage before the big game. They can also leave bruises. If the race turns into a purity test, Democrats risk dragging their eventual nominee into the general election with weakened trust. If it stays focused on persuasion and turnout, the winner can emerge battle-tested for the 2026 Midterms.

Governors and state wins: the bench-building path to national influence

Governors often become national leaders because they can point to concrete outcomes: budgets balanced, roads fixed, disasters handled, programs launched. They also control state-level appointments and can help shape a state party’s turnout operation.

For Democrats heading into the 2026 Midterms, governorships and key state wins matter for three reasons:

• Proof of competence: Executive leadership is easier to sell than a list of votes.
• Candidate development: statewide wins create future senators, cabinet picks, and presidential contenders.
• Turnout infrastructure: state parties built around a strong governor can perform better down the ballot.

Even when Washington feels stuck, state politics can offer Democrats a way to show results and build a deeper bench.

So who is leading the Democratic Party in 2026, and what comes next

In practice, Democratic leadership in 2026 is shared. Chuck Schumer is still the Senate Democratic leader, and Hakeem Jeffries is the top House Democrat, while Ken Martin’s DNC chairmanship anchors the party’s national campaign infrastructure. For a snapshot of official party roles, the party’s own DNC leadership roster lays out who holds which titles.

But titles only tell part of the story. The bigger storyline moving into the 2026 Midterms is a fight over direction and generational change, playing out across Senate and House strategy meetings, governor’s mansions, and high-profile primaries like Michigan’s.

Over the next year, the clearest signs of “who’s really leading” will come from outcomes and influence, not speeches.

Conclusion

There isn’t one person leading the Democratic Party in 2026, because the party’s power is spread across several centers. Still, a few facts stand out: Chuck Schumer remains Senate Democratic leader as of January 2026, and the party’s next wave of leadership is being shaped in real time by midterm planning and high-stakes primaries.

By Election Day, the party’s real leaders will be easier to spot by watching a short checklist:

• Who recruits strong candidates for competitive districts and states
• Who raises the most money, and where it gets spent
• Who becomes the default messenger during national fights
• Who wins the contests that define the party’s direction in the 2026 Midterms

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