One Hour Bombardment of Caracas, Venezuela Accuses US of Hitting Civilian Targets

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Caracas, Venezuela – January 3, 2026 – Multiple explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas early Saturday morning, prompting the government of President Nicolás Maduro to accuse the United States of launching military attacks on the country.

At least seven explosions were heard around 2 a.m. local time, with witnesses describing loud noises and aircraft sweeping through the city. Smoke was seen rising from La Carlota airport, a military facility in Caracas. The Venezuelan government reported that similar attacks occurred in the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, leading to power outages in southern areas of the capital.

In a statement released shortly after the incidents, the Venezuelan communications ministry declared that the country “rejects, repudiates and denounces” what it described as “military aggression” by the United States. It also accused the U.S. of “targeting civilian” locations. President Maduro responded by declaring a national state of emergency, mobilizing forces to defend against further incursions.

U.S. officials confirmed that President Donald Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities, as part of an escalation in pressure on the Maduro regime. The actions follow months of threats from the Trump administration, which has accused Venezuela of flooding the U.S. with drugs and has previously targeted drug-trafficking operations, including a recent strike on a Venezuelan dock.

Trump administration officials stated they were aware of the reports from Caracas but provided no immediate further details on the operation. The strikes mark a significant intensification of U.S. actions against Venezuela, moving from maritime interdictions to land-based targets.

Maduro has previously urged Trump to abandon what he called “illegal warmongering” and engage in serious talks, amid ongoing tensions over U.S. sanctions and accusations of regime support for narcotics trafficking. No casualties have been officially reported, and the full extent of damage remains unclear as the situation develops.

This event comes amid heightened U.S.-Venezuela relations under the Trump administration, which has employed tactics including bombings of drug boats to pressure Maduro’s government.

The strikes have drawn criticism for contradicting President Trump’s pre-election promises during his 2024 campaign to avoid engaging the U.S. in new wars. Trump repeatedly stated, “I’m not going to start a war, I’ll stop wars,” and emphasized that “No new wars” was a key pillar of his platform. He pledged to end endless wars and bring about world peace, saying he would prevent conflicts rather than initiate them. America First-aligned political leaders have voiced opposition to the escalation, with Senator Rand Paul criticizing earlier related actions as a “prelude to war” and a “provocation,” warning that such military missions off Venezuela’s coast could lead to an invasion.

5 Craziest ‘Florida Man’ Crime Stories of 2025 That Sound Fake — But Aren’t

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The notorious “Florida man” didn’t just live up to his reputation in 2025 — he shattered it.

The Sunshine State became a rolling highlight reel of off-the-rails antics, including a meth-fueled birthday joyride on a stolen train and a crazy police bodycam video capturing the arrest of a costumed suspect as stunned families watched in disbelief at a Chuck E. Cheese.

So we hereby present the top five wildest incidents of the year involving the infamous “Florida man.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uNKUBw4jOM

1. Key West chaos: Man with meth pipe hijacks tourist train on birthday, police say

As Blaze News reported in July, a 57-year-old Florida man allegedly celebrated his birthday with a meth-fueled joyride by hijacking a tourist train in Key West.

Citing the arrest report, WPLG-TV said Jonathan Patrick Winslow stole the Conch Tour Train and even managed to pick up “two random passengers” while driving the trolley.

(Read more from “5 Craziest ‘Florida Man’ Crime Stories of 2025 That Sound Fake — But Aren’t” HERE)

Federal Judge Orders Prison Sentences in Celebrity Romance Scam

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Three people were sentenced for roles in a romance scam that targeted victims nationwide and resulted in the death of one elderly victim.

Salma Abdalkareem, 29 of Piscataway, New Jersey, Chinagorom Onwumere, 36, of Piscataway, New Jersey, and Stephen O. Anagor, 37, of Lakewood, Washington, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Clifton L. Corker in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Judge Corker sentenced Abdalkareem to 51 months, Onwumere to 84 months, and Anagor to 108 months. Following their imprisonment, Onwumere and Anagor will be on supervised release for five years, and Abdalkareem will be on supervised release for three years. All will be required to repay the victims $388,500 in restitution.

As part of written plea agreements filed with the court, Abdalkareem pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of aiding and abetting money laundering and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering. Onwumere pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of aiding and abetting aggravated stalking resulting in death, one count of aiding and abetting money laundering, and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering. Abdalkareem pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of aiding and abetting money laundering, and one count of aiding and abetting money laundering. Anagor pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of aiding and abetting aggravated stalking resulting in death, and one count of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft.

According to filed court documents, Anagor and Onwumere (both from Nigeria) met during military training in South Carolina in June 2023. Anagor recruited Onwumere and Onwumere’s wife, Abdalkareem (a citizen of Sudan), to assist a relative in Nigeria in carrying out romance scams perpetrated on victims around the United States. (Read more from “Federal Judge Orders Prison Sentences in Celebrity Romance Scam” HERE)

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Here Are The 10 Biggest Media Hoaxes Of 2025

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It turns out that when you spend every day parroting the most asinine conspiracies and narratives imaginable, people lose faith in your ability to play it straight pretty quickly. That’s the situation that America’s propaganda media found themselves in this year, as their credibility amongst the public hit the lowest level in recorded history. . .

So, as a public service, The Federalist has compiled a list of the top 10 biggest hoaxes run by our reality-deprived media throughout the past year. In no particular order, here they are.

Elon the ‘Fascist’

It didn’t take long after President Trump was sworn back into office for the media to pick up right where they left off after his first term.

While celebrating alongside Trump supporters at a post-inauguration event, X owner Elon Musk delivered remarks to attendees, in which he thanked them for making Trump’s victory possible. With his hand over his heart, the tech mogul then pointed to the crowd and said, “My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.”

Media hacktivists quickly leapt into action to falsely characterize the hand gesture as a “fascist” or “Nazi” salute. This included outlets like PBS News, which wrote on X, “Billionaire Elon Musk gave what appeared to be a fascist salute Monday while making a speech at the post-inauguration celebration for President Donald Trump at the Capital One Arena.” (Read more from “Here Are The 10 Biggest Media Hoaxes Of 2025” HERE)

Trump Uses Veto for First Two Times in Second Term

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President Donald Trump used the veto for the first two times of his second term on two bills, one called the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act and the other called the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act.

In a press release from the White House regarding Trump’s veto of the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) Act, it was explained that the AVC “is a water pipeline currently being built to provide municipal and industrial water to communities in southeastern Colorado.”

The press release went on to explain that the project for the pipeline — which was “originally authorized as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project in a bill,” signed by former President John F. Kennedy — was supposed to be “initially funded by the Federal Government, but repaid by local users, with interest, over a 50-year period.”

The press release added that “the current bill would not have the Federal Government extend the repayment period”:

The Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) is a water pipeline currently being built to provide municipal and industrial water to communities in southeastern Colorado. It was originally authorized as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project in a bill signed by President Kennedy in 1962. For decades it was unbuilt, largely because the AVC was economically unviable. Under the original plan, the costs of the project were to be initially funded by the Federal Government, but repaid by local users, with interest, over a 50-year period following completion of construction. But participants were unable to comply with that repayment obligation.

(Read more from “Trump Uses Veto for First Two Times in Second Term” HERE)

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IRS Giving Out Major Tax Break for Certain Expenses in 2026

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People who use their cars for work will be able to deduct more money per mile on their taxes in the new year.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced this week that the standard mileage rate for business driving will increase by 2.5 cents per mile. Additionally, vehicles used for medical purposes will decrease by half a cent, which the agency said reflects “updated cost data and annual inflation adjustments.”

The standard mileage rate is an IRS-set figure, which is expressed in cents per mile, that is used to calculate the deductible costs of using a personal vehicle for business purposes when filing federal income taxes. Self-employed individuals, gig workers, freelancers, and small businesses who use personal vehicles for business can claim the standard mileage deduction on their tax returns. However, the standard mileage rate is also calculated for vehicles used for medical purposes, moving purposes for active duty members and for charity work.

Overall, starting Jan. 1, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck will be 72.5 cents per mile driven for business use, 20.5 cents per mile driven for medical purposes, 20.5 cents per mile driven for moving purposes for certain active-duty members of the Armed Forces and certain members of the intelligence community. But the rate per mile driven in service of charitable organizations will remain at 14 cents, the IRS said.

The aforementioned rates apply to fully-electric and hybrid automobiles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. If taxpayers are using a leased vehicle, the standard mileage rate must be applied for the entire lease period, including renewals. (Read more from “IRS Giving Out Major Tax Break for Certain Expenses in 2026” HERE)

World’s Most Contagious Virus Detected at Two Major U.S. Airports

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Health officials in two states are urging travelers to be alert after separate measles exposures were reported at major U.S. airports during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

The New Jersey Department of Health announced that a traveler who passed through Newark Liberty International Airport on December 12 tested positive for measles. The individual was present in Terminals B and C, prompting a multi-agency effort to notify passengers and track potential exposures.

Measles — considered one of the most transmissible viruses in the world — spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours, meaning people may be exposed even after the carrier has left the area.

Authorities are asking anyone who believes they may have been exposed not to walk into a clinic or hospital without calling ahead, to avoid further spread while medical staff prepare appropriate precautions. The state says it is continuing contact-tracing efforts in coordination with local health departments.

Individuals most at risk include people who are not fully vaccinated or who have never previously had measles. New Jersey has reported 11 confirmed measles cases so far this year, according to officials.

The exposure comes as U.S. air travel hits record seasonal demand, with AAA estimating more than 8 million passengers will fly during the holiday period.

Second Case Reported at Boston Logan Airport

A separate case was identified in Massachusetts, where a visitor from Texas was diagnosed with measles after traveling through Boston Logan International Airport. State health officials said the traveler arrived on American Airlines Flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth and was in Terminal B.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued an alert to passengers who may have crossed paths with the individual and is conducting its own contact-tracing review.

Nationwide, measles activity remains elevated. As of December 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,012 U.S. cases this year.

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American Airlines Pilot Shared Screenshot of Salary — And People’s Jaws Are on the Floor

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. . .Pilots’ paychecks vary depending on the airline they work for and the hours they’ve flown in a given year.

According to an American Airlines captain’s paystub that was later shared on X (formerly Twitter), pilots’ earning potential is so high, it’ll cause most people to rethink their entire career paths.

Supposedly, the screenshotted paystub was of a Miami-based American Airlines Boeing 737 captain. If you look closely, you can see that the pilot’s yearly salary is a jaw-dropping $458,000.

Part of the reason this pilot probably earns as much as they do is because of their high hourly wage, around $360, which shockingly isn’t even the highest tier for pilots.

Captains of planes as massive as Boeing 777 or Airbus A350 can earn up to $450 per hour. Considering the average pilot flies around 900 hours per year, 75 hours per month, according to Flying, do the math — and that’s one fat paycheck they earn. (Read more from “American Airlines Pilot Shared Screenshot of Salary — And People’s Jaws Are on the Floor” HERE)

Teen Shoots Parents, Killing Mother, in Day-After-Christmas Horror

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A teen allegedly shot both of his parents, killing his mother, outside their Pennsylvania home the day after Christmas, according to authorities.

Jarrod Noll, 18, was nabbed in West Virginia on Saturday after authorities launched a massive manhunt with search dogs after the attack in the town of New Freeport on Friday afternoon, according to the Pennsylvania State Police.

Cops were called to the home, just north of the West Virginia border, and discovered Noll’s mother and father with gunshot wounds, police said.

Noll’s mother, who has not yet been identified, was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead, cops said.

His father was taken to a hospital and has since been released in stable condition, authorities added.

The teen’s younger siblings were home when the shooting took place, though he allegedly fired the shots outside the home. The children are now in the custody of a relative, CBS News reported. (Read more from “Teen Shoots Parents, Killing Mother, in Day-After-Christmas Horror” HERE)

Man Skips Holiday Reunion Because Of Insane Tax Code

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Plenty of obstacles come between people and their families on the holidays: Illness, politics, work.

For Mark Klein, the obstacle was taxes. . .

Klein, a tax lawyer at Hodgson Russ, lives in Buffalo, New York. He “keeps track of the number of days he spends in Manhattan through an app on his phone, meticulously ensuring he does not surpass 183 days — the threshold at which individuals are required to pay city taxes,” the Financial Times writes. A holiday trip would’ve put him over that threshold.

Klein advises “some of the country’s wealthiest residents.” He reportedly told the Financial Times that “some of his clients fly into New Jersey and wait on one side of the George Washington Bridge, which connects to New York, until just after midnight to avoid triggering another day in the state.”

Christian Burgos, the director of tax services at Pollack and Brant, offered some unpleasant truth.

“If you’re not careful with how much time you’re spending in a particular jurisdiction throughout the year, once you’re reaching the latter half of the tax year you really have to be more mindful,” Burgos told the outlet. “There might be birthdays or family events that you have to skip out on. Otherwise, you’re going to trip that wire.” (Read more from “Man Skips Holiday Reunion Because Of Insane Tax Code” HERE)

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