FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— US strike on Venezuelan: Protesters gather in Chicago, Illinois and Indiana leaders speak out. Democrats condemn ‘illegal’ military operation, Republicans praise Trump for taking action.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-illinois-indiana-leaders-speak-trump-announces-us-captured-venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-wife/18347741/
— Why Venezuela? Trump’s shifting explanations about military buildup
https://abc7chicago.com/post/venezuela-trumps-shifting-explanations-military-buildup/18346832/
NBC5
— Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, wife arrive in New York after capture by US military. Maduro’s government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations, calling it an “imperialist attack” and urging citizens to take to the streets.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/watch-live-president-trump-to-address-nation-at-10-a-m-after-venezuelas-nicolas-maduro-captured/3870739/
— Illinois lawmakers react to US strikes in Venezuela, capture of Maduro. Illinois’ Republican members of Congress praised the mission, while Democrats largely condemned the U.S. military’s actions.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-lawmakers-react-to-us-strikes-in-venezuela-capture-of-maduro/3870791/
— Who will run Venezuela? U.S. will, Trump says, and tap its oil reserves. Speaking to reporters hours after Maduro’s capture, Trump revealed his plans to exploit the leadership void to “fix” the country’s oil infrastructure and sell “large amounts” of oil to other countries.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/u-s-plans-to-run-venezuela-and-tap-its-oil-reserves-trump-says/3870857/
CBS2
— Trump says “we’re going to run” Venezuela after Maduro’s capture until peaceful transition takes place
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/trump-venezuela-nicolas-maduro-captured-transition/
— Illinois leaders, Chicago communities react to U.S military operation in Venezuela
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-reactions-military-operation-venezuela/
WGN9
— Rubio sends warning to Cuba’s leaders after Maduro’s removal: ‘I’d be concerned’
https://wgntv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/rubio-sends-warning-to-cubas-leaders-after-maduros-removal-id-be-concerned/
FOX32
— Can the U.S. ‘run’ Venezuela? What the law says about Maduro’s arrest
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/can-u-s-run-venezuela-what-law-says-about-maduros-arrest
— Illinois politicos criticize Trump for strike in Venezuela: ‘reckless and unconstitutional’ Trump says U.S. will run Venezuela until a new government is in place
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-politicos-criticize-trump-strike-venezuela-reckless-unconstitutional
— Who is Nicolás Maduro? Venezuelan president captured by US forces
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/who-is-nicolas-maduro-venezuelan-president-captured-us-forces
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— US plans to ‘run’ Venezuela and tap its oil reserves, Donald Trump says, after operation to oust Nicolás Maduro
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/03/us-strikes-venezuela-nicolas-maduro/
— Venezuelans wonder who’s in charge as Donald Trump claims contact with Nicolás Maduro’s deputy
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/03/venezuelans-trump-maduros-deputy/
— After ousting Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, Donald Trump commits himself to another foreign policy project
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/03/maduro-venezuela-trump-foreign-policy-project/
— How the US captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/03/how-the-us-captured-nicols-maduro/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Chicago’s Venezuelan community applauds Maduro removal but question Trump’s motives. Illinois political leaders criticized the U.S. government’s attack on Venezuela as unconstitutional because of President Donald Trump’s failure to consult Congress.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/nation-world/2026/01/03/chicago-venezuelans-applaud-maduro-ouster-trump-attack-motives
DAILY HERALD
— With capture of Maduro, Trump claims successful operation as he treads into uncharted territory
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260103/nation-and-world-politics/with-capture-of-maduro-trump-claims-successful-operation-as-he-treads-into-uncharted-territory/
— ‘What comes next?’ Democrats warn U.S. could be walking into a quagmire after Maduro capture
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260103/nation-and-world-politics/what-comes-next-democrats-warn-u-s-could-be-walking-into-a-quagmire-after-maduro-capture/
— Thousands of mail-in ballots could be discounted under new post office policy
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260103/nation-and-world-politics/thousands-of-mail-in-ballots-could-be-discounted-under-new-post-office-policy/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Trump’s Venezuela move sparks sharp divide among area pols
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/trumps-venezuela-move-sparks-sharp-divide-among-area-pols
SUBURBAN LIFE
— Downers Grove Township group working to put 708 Mental Health Board referendum on November ballot
https://www.shawlocal.com/my-suburban-life/2026/01/02/downers-grove-township-group-working-to-put-708-mental-health-board-referendum-on-november-ballot/
SOUTHERN
— Republicans largely back Trump on Venezuela action, Democrats decry it as unjustified
https://southernillinoisnow.com/2026/01/03/republicans-largely-back-trump-on-venezuela-action-democrats-decry-it-as-unjustified/
NPR ILLINOIS
— ‘We are going to run the country,’ Trump says after strike on Venezuela
https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-01-03/we-are-going-to-run-the-country-trump-says-after-strike-on-venezuela
25 NEWS NOW
— LaHood praises Trump for removing ‘thug’ while Sorensen worries about US running Venezuela
https://www.25newsnow.com/2026/01/03/gops-lahood-praises-trump-team-removing-thug-while-sorensen-worries-about-us-plans-run-venezuela/
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Capture of Maduro and US claim that it will run Venezuela raise new legal questions
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-capture-of-maduro-and-us-claim-it-will-run-venezuela-raise-new-legal-questions/
— Democrats rip Trump administration for strikes on Venezuela: ‘Illegal’
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/democrats-rip-trump-administration-for-strikes-on-venezuela-illegal/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Pritzker: Trump’s military action in Venezuela is ‘unconstitutional’
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_f248d3b9-4a12-48ad-a416-17a640422fa6.html
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Chicago Records Nearly 2,000 Shooting Victims in 2025, Outpacing New York and Los Angeles
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/01/chicago-records-nearly-2000-shooting-victims-in-2025-outpacing-new-york-and-los-angeles.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump’s arrest of Maduro is a victory over corruption, communism and isolationism. It’s time to secure the Western Hemisphere and let the criminal, communist dominoes fall.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jan/3/trumps-arrest-maduro-victory-corruption-communism-isolationism/
— Trump says U.S. will run Venezuela until a new government is in place
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jan/3/trump-says-us-run-venezuela-new-government-place/
— Democrats to force war powers vote to prevent escalation in Venezuela without congressional approval
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jan/3/democrats-force-war-powers-vote-prevent-escalation-venezuela-without/
— Rubio says administration notified Congress after grabbing Maduro
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jan/3/rubio-says-administration-notified-congress-grabbing-maduro/
— The ‘warmth of collectivism’ is a bloody lie
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jan/3/warmth-collectivism-bloody-lie/
— Democrats should get blame for health care costs, inflation. If Obamacare, economy decide 2026 midterms, Republicans will win.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jan/1/democrats-get-blame-health-care-costs-inflation/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— ‘Illinois is worse’ as HHS enforces verification for child care funding: Trump
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/investigations/4400830/illinois-child-care-worse-hhs-funding-trump/
— This wasn’t an arrest in Venezuela. This was an unauthorized regime-change war
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4400798/this-wasnt-an-arrest-in-venezuela-this-was-an-unauthorized-regime-change-war/
— Mamdani’s collectivist vision for America
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/4399614/mamdani-collectivist-vision-for-america/
WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Donroe Doctrine: Trump Nabs Maduro in Daring, Middle-of-the-Night Operation. US will run Venezuela until a legitimate government can be installed.
https://freebeacon.substack.com/p/donroe-doctrine-trump-nabs-maduro
NEW YORK POST
— Trump tells Post that US troops won’t be in Venezuela if Maduro VP ‘does what we want’: ‘We have a second wave’
https://nypost.com/2026/01/03/us-news/trump-says-us-troops-wont-be-in-venezuela-if-nicolas-maduro-vp-delcy-rodriguez-does-what-we-want/
— Mamdani, other NY lefties rip Trump over Maduro arrest, condemning it as ‘act of war’
https://nypost.com/2026/01/03/us-news/mamdani-other-ny-lefties-rip-trump-over-maduro-arrest/
— World leaders gripe over US arrest of tyrant Nicolás Maduro, despite legal precedent: ‘Deeply alarmed’
https://nypost.com/2026/01/03/world-news/world-leaders-gripe-over-us-arrest-of-tyrant-nicolas-maduro-despite-legal-precedent-deeply-alarmed/
— Trump issues thinly veiled warning to Mexico, slams Cuba, Colombia after US strikes Venezuela, arrests Maduro
https://nypost.com/2026/01/03/world-news/trump-issues-chilling-warning-to-colombia-cuba-after-us-strikes-venezuela-captures-maduro-he-does-have-to-watch-his-a/
BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Rubio details why Venezuela strike did not require congressional authorization, says no further action
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/01/03/rubio-details-why-venezuela-strike-did-not-require-congressional-authorization-says-no-further-action-1613609/
BREITBART
— ‘Brewing Discontent’ Among GOP Senators About Trump’s Misbehavior
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/01/02/whitehouse-brewing-discontent-among-gop-senators-about-trumps-misbehavior/amp/
DAILY CALLER
— Congressional Democrats Rage At Trump’s Venezuela Operation
https://dailycaller.com/2026/01/03/congressional-democrats-donald-trump-venezuela-nicolas-maduro/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Trump Announces Major Victory in Venezuelan Drug War
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/01/03/trump-celebrates-capture-maduro-venezuela/
EPOCH TIMES
— There is No Such Thing as Being Transgender
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTtBHfiiQZo
FOX NEWS
— Republicans line up behind Trump after US strikes Venezuela, Maduro arrested: ‘Changed the course of history’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed a number of Republican lawmakers on the Venezuela strike Saturday morning.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-line-up-behind-trump-after-us-strikes-venezuela-maduro-arrested-changed-course-history
LEGAL INSURRECTION
— DePaul University Offers Students Training on How to Run a Pot Dispensary
https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/01/depaul-university-offers-students-training-on-how-to-run-a-pot-dispensary/amp/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
CBS NEWS
— Venezuelan officials condemn Maduro’s capture, calling it a “kidnapping”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuelan-officials-condemn-maduro-capture-kidnapping-trump-delcy-rodriguez/
— U.S. seeks to tap Venezuela’s vast oil reserves after military strikes. Here’s what to know.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuela-oil-reserves-us-strike-trump-what-to-know/
— Photos show damage at Fuerte Tiuna, the military base where Maduro was captured
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fuerte-tiuna-satellite-images-after-maduro-captured/
NEW YORK TIMES
— Venezuela Live Updates: Maduro Arrives in N.Y.; Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Run’ Venezuela. Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, rejected the U.S. intervention and demanded President Nicolás Maduro’s return. Maduro and his wife were being brought to New York City to stand trial on drug and weapons charges.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/03/world/trump-united-states-strikes-venezuela
MIAMI HERALD
— After Maduro’s capture, Venezuelans in South Florida dream of going home
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article314149807.html
