Venezuela’s capital city rocked in US attack, socialist dictator and his wife captured
The U.S. military conducted strikes against Venezuela early Saturday morning, U.S. officials confirmed to Fox News.
At least seven explosions could be heard in Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas early Saturday morning, according to The Associated Press, and low-flying aircraft were seen flying over Caracas at about 2 a.m. local time.
President Donald Trump confirmed the United States carried out a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela and said that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of the country.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the operation was conducted with U.S. law enforcement and added that a news conference will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mar-a-Lago.
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The Venezuelan government said in a statement that “the civilian and military localities of the city of Caracas, capital of the Republic, and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira” were impacted by the attacks.
The Venezuelan government, led by Maduro, issued a sweeping condemnation, accusing the U.S. of committing a “very serious military aggression” against Venezuela and carrying out “imperialist aggression.”
“The objective of this attack is none other than to seize Venezuela’s strategic resources, particularly its oil and minerals, attempting to break the Nation’s political independence by force,” the Government of Venezuela said in a statement. “They will not succeed. After more than two hundred years of independence, the people and their legitimate Government remain steadfast in defense of sovereignty and the inalienable right to decide their own destiny.”
The Venezuelan government said the “attempt to impose a colonial war to destroy the republican form of government and force a ‘regime change,’ in alliance with the fascist oligarchy, will fail just like all previous attempts.”
MADURO SAYS VENEZUELA IS ‘READY’ TO MAKE DEAL WITH US ON DRUGS AND OIL AFTER MILITARY STRIKES
The attack comes amid the U.S. military’s targeting of alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, questioned the justification for the strike in a post on X early Saturday, writing, “I look forward to learning what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force.”
Maduro said Thursday that his government was open to negotiating an agreement with the United States after months of American military pressure targeting drug trafficking networks tied to his government.
In a pre-taped interview with Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet that aired on state television, Maduro said Venezuela is “ready” to discuss a drug-trafficking deal with the U.S. He called on the countries to “start talking seriously, with data in hand.”
“The U.S. government knows, because we’ve told many of their spokespeople, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we’re ready,” he said. “If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for U.S. investment, like with Chevron, whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it.”
The U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, warned U.S. citizens on Saturday not to travel to Venezuela and advised those in the country to shelter in place.
A Travel Advisory from Dec. 3 states that all U.S. citizens in Venezuela are strongly advised to depart immediately. The Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from U.S. Embassy Caracas and suspended operations in March 2019.
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The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Notice to Airmen at 1 a.m. EST on Saturday prohibiting all U.S. aircraft from operating “at all altitudes within Venezuelan airspace.”
Search continues for survivors in Pacific after military unleashes deadly strikes
The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing to search for survivors after a strike Tuesday targeting three suspected narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy in the Eastern Pacific.
The ships, allegedly operated by designated terrorist organizations, were traveling in international waters and allegedly transferred narcotics between the three vessels prior to the strikes.
Three narco-terrorists were reportedly killed aboard the first vessel, while those on the remaining two abandoned ship before follow-on engagements sank the vessels.
US MILITARY DESTROYS NARCO-TERROR CONVOY OF THREE VESSELS AT SEA IN KINETIC STRIKES
It is unclear how many survivors escaped the vessels.
A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson told Fox News officials began coordinating search efforts at about 3 p.m. Tuesday after receiving notification from the Department of War of people in the water approximately 400 nautical miles southwest of the Mexico and Guatemala border.
MADURO SAYS VENEZUELA IS ‘READY’ TO MAKE DEAL WITH US ON DRUGS AND OIL AFTER MILITARY STRIKES
A HC-130J aircraft was deployed from Sacramento, California, to search an area covering more than 1,000 nautical miles and issued an urgent marine information broadcast to mariners in the area, according to the spokesperson.
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As of Friday, the Coast Guard has coordinated more than 65 hours of search efforts, including working with partner nations and commercial fishing and Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) system vessels.
On Wednesday, five suspected narco-terrorists were killed in a U.S. military strike against two vessels allegedly operated by designated terrorist organizations involved in narcotics trafficking.
Ex-Viking says he saw Somali fraudsters buy sports cars, force Islam on public
Former Minnesota Viking and University of Minnesota football player Jack Brewer said he’s seen high-end business involving the “elite” Somali population in Minnesota up close. In the process, he witnessed a demographic and class transformation in his home state.
“You go to one of them, and they have Bentley and Maserati dealerships in Minnesota. I know because I’ve done business with them, and I’ve been endorsed by them as an athlete,” Brewer told Fox News Digital.
“Now, you go in there, and some of their main customers are these Somali fraudsters buying high-end cars in a state that gets four months of sunlight and decent weather. They’re driving around sports cars like you would see in Beverly Hills or South Beach Miami, all off the back of the American taxpayer.”
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Images of empty daycare centers have become a sudden cultural flashpoint across the nation. Minnesota is embroiled in a growing scandal after revelations that potentially billions in taxpayer dollars were distributed fraudulently through members of the state’s Somali population.
Brewer recalls the moment he began to see that reality take shape, when the Somali population began to suddenly boom across his state 28 years ago. He witnessed this as a husband to a Muslim American legal immigrant.
“I have been in Minnesota a long time. My wife was born and raised there, from a family of immigrants that came from the Middle East, came to America, assimilated and not just assimilated but actually made me more patriotic,” Brewer said.
INSIDE ‘LITTLE MOGADISHU’: MINNESOTA’S BELEAGUERED SOMALI COMMUNITY UNDER A CLOUD OF FRAUD
“I saw Somalians coming there in droves. They had their own section of town and slowly started taking over the city of Minneapolis.”
The Somali population in Minneapolis and St. Paul grew significantly starting in the early to mid-1990s, driven by refugees fleeing Somalia’s civil war, with substantial numbers arriving after 1991 and continuing through the 2000s.
The collapse of Somalia’s government in 1991 led to widespread conflict, forcing millions to flee the country. At the time, Brewer was just a child in Grapevine, Texas. By the time he transferred from SMU to the University of Minnesota, the Somali population was estimated at approximately 15,000 people, according to the Minnesota State Demographic Center.
By the time Brewer joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2002, at least 5,123 Minnesota students reported speaking Somali as their primary language at home, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Over the years, Brewer, as a pro athlete with endorsements, witnessed the transactions involving local Somali immigrants who were attaining wealth. He began to witness their growing influence on local culture and religion.
“You turn on your TV. Have you ever seen a mayor on television waving a foreign country’s flag and dancing and trying to rally people to support Somalia over supporting America? … When you walk through Minneapolis, you hear Islamic sirens going off because they’ve come in here with that culture, trying to bring in Islamic culture,” Brewer said.
“This is a spiritual battle like we haven’t seen in a long time.”
A recent investigation by activists Ryan Thorpe and Christopher F. Rufo found that federal counterterrorism sources confirmed millions in funds for Minnesota’s Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services program, Feeding Our Future and other state-sponsored organizations were sent to Somalia and that the terrorist group Al-Shabab may have obtained that cash.
Approximately 40% of households in Somalia get remittances from abroad. Thorpe and Rufo reported that, in 2023, the Somali diaspora sent $1.7 billion to the country, which was higher than the Somali government’s budget that same year.
In the Land of 1,000 Lakes, political power and welfare funds found their way to the Somali population.
The state saw the rise of several prominent Somali politicians, including U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, state senators Omar Fateh and Zaynab Mohamed and St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed, all Democrats.
“These people have embedded themselves into the political world, where now they are leveraging the federal government to fund their campaigns, to send money overseas to Somalia and to build luxury condos and create a lifestyle for people in Somalia off the back of the American taxpayer,” Brewer said.
“For me, as a former Minnesota Viking, as a former Gopher, I got my undergraduate and my master’s degrees from the University of Minnesota. I was a captain on both of those teams. It’s one of the most embarrassing times I’ve ever had for a state that I’ve proudly said helped turn me from a boy into a man.”
Brewer, a business owner, added that he’s moved many of his assets out of the state in recent years.
“I’ve pulled back many of my investment interests in the state and moved business interests elsewhere because of what we’ve seen post-George Floyd,” he said.
Somali residents previously told Fox News Digital they are angered the entire community has been saddled with what they say is an unfair reputation, blaming a small minority of fraudsters and criminals for the negative attention against the entire group.
“Somalis in Minnesota are hard-working folks. Many of them work two jobs, and yet about 75% are still poor,” Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Minnesota Executive Director Jaylani Hussein previously told Fox News Digital.
“There are entrepreneurs, successful restaurants — people in trucking, IT and even corporate America — making significant changes. But those positive stories don’t get much attention.”
About 36% of Somali Minnesotans lived below the poverty line from 2019 to 2023, more than triple the U.S. poverty rate of 11.1%, according to Minnesota Compass, a statewide data project. Somali-headed households reported a median income of around $43,600 during that period, far below the national median of $78,538.
Najma Mohammad, a hair stylist who came to the U.S. as a child, previously told Fox News Digital, “Most people think just because some people are bad and Somali, that every Somali is bad, which is just a stereotype.”
Brewer stands behind the state’s patriotic Muslim legal immigrant population, which he is connected to personally through his wife’s family.
“Witnessing their family — the way they do business, the way they love this country, what they stand for, their patriotism — I’ve learned from it. I’ve become better from it. I’ve loved my country more from witnessing my in-laws. So, I know what’s possible,” Brewer said.
“They did that by moving to Minneapolis and building their businesses. It can happen, and it does happen. That’s what this country was built upon.”
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But he also wants to see President Trump take drastic measures in response to the recent developments.
“I would put a freeze on all immigration until we get a handle on the depth of this fraud and the depth of the corruption that has taken place.” Brewer said. “We need to get all these foreign terrorists out of our country. That should be a collective effort between our armed forces, our local law enforcement, our communities, our leaders, our churches — everyone — to protect our land.”
Country star’s health test results left doctors asking ‘how are you alive?’
Jelly Roll is opening up about the start of his weight-loss journey and the steps he took to be the healthiest version of himself.
In a recent interview with Men’s Health, the 41-year-old country star spoke about taking matters into his own hands and deciding to live a healthier lifestyle.
He first started working with podcast host and founder of the weight loss movement, “The Ultimate Human,” Gary Brecka, before finding Ways2Well, a wellness clinic which works to treat the underlying problems, rather than focus on just treating the symptoms.
“The first couple of blood panels were like, how are you alive?” he says.
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Jelly Roll, whose birth name is Jason Bradley DeFord, shared that his insulin levels were “super high,” his testosterone was so low that is was similar to that “of a preteen boy,” his cholesterol was high and so were his A1C levels.
“When I went in there for the test, it was bad. Bad. The world opened up when I seen it on paper. I was like, ‘That’s my testosterone level?’ I mean, dude, we’re talking a 57,” he said. “You can’t get it up without T…I was married to a smoke show, and I was still struggling.”
The “Save Me” singer emphasized that his main goal wasn’t to lose weight but was “wanting to know what’s happening within me,” although he knew that weight loss would likely follow.
While he knew getting his physical health in check was an important step in his journey, he also understood that he needed to tackle his mental health, and admitted to seeking “therapy about my overeating.”
JELLY ROLL FELT HE WAS MONTHS AWAY FROM DEATH BEFORE BEGINNING DRAMATIC 300-POUND WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY
“I started treating my food addiction like what it was: an addiction. Why did I treat cocaine a certain way? I went to meetings for cocaine and found a sponsor and detoxed off of it and s— myself and went through real hard life-changing emotional choices to get off cocaine and codeine,” he explained. “I didn’t look at the food addiction different. Once I started treating food like an addiction, it started changing everything for me. When I started really looking at the source of why I was eating. What was I eating for?”
He explained that in the eighth grade he began going down the wrong path, adding he “thought I was something I wasn’t,” and that in his youth, “I’d let you kill me to prove to you, I was tough.”
This path eventually led him to go to prison for drug-related crimes and aggravated robbery. During his time in prison, Jelly Roll found religion, got his GED, began songwriting and began turning his life around.
“It took 12, 15 years of being in and out of the system and going through s— and dealing with drugs and drug addicts to realize, man, that was never actually who I was,” he said.
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“The way shame sometimes shows itself is not always the way we expect it to be,” he later added. “We think shame is somebody in the streets on their knees, with their head down. But shame sometimes is pride. Sometimes shame is just bravado. Behind real bravado, I can normally find shame. I can normally find guilt. I can normally find insecurity. I was the biggest, the loudest, the toughest, the meanest, the growliest, the fattest. There’s normally deep inside of that a really, really small, insecure human. I was that, for sure. Then a by-product of that was I got fat as f—.”
Jelly Roll has previously spoken about his progress, sharing on “The Joe Rogan Experience” in December 2025 that he has lost 300 pounds since starting his weight-loss journey in 2022 at over 500 pounds.
In December 2024, he told his wife, Bunnie XO on her podcast, “Dumb Blonde,” that he is doing this publicly in order “to be honest about my struggles with it with people.” He then shared a very specific goal he has in mind.
“I wanna be on the cover of ‘Men’s Health’ by March of 2026,” he said. “That’s my new goal. So I wanna have one of the biggest transformations.”
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The singer described being at his heaviest as being a “never-ending sadness,” saying it felt like he “was a prisoner to my own body,” and that “every decision I made in life had to be based on my weight.”
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“When this journey started, I couldn’t get a full mile in in that 30 minutes,” he told Men’s Health. “Now I could put on a pair of tennis shoes, walk out that door, do a mile loop around Hollywood Boulevard, and be back in 12 minutes and 25 seconds.”
Dad of two allegedly carjacked and killed by teen, left dead on suburban street
A 15-year-old boy has been charged as an adult with murder after an Uber driver was found shot to death early New Year’s Day after a carjacking in a suburban Atlanta community, authorities said.
The victim was identified as Cesar Tejada, 58, of Grayson, Georgia, who was working as an Uber driver at the time of the shooting, according to a release from the Lawrenceville Police Department. Authorities said that Tejada was a father of two.
Police responded around 5:20 a.m. Jan. 1 to a report of a person lying in the roadway in the suburban community of Lawrenceville, which is approximately 30 miles northeast of Atlanta. Officers found Tejada suffering from a gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined that Tejada had picked up the suspect around 4:13 a.m. and transported him to Groveland Parkway. Police said the suspect exited the back seat, shot Tejada and left him in the road before fleeing the scene.
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Using FLOCK camera technology and working in partnership with Uber, detectives tracked Tejada’s vehicle back to the area where the trip originated. Officers later detained the suspect, identified as 15-year-old Christian Simmons, after observing him walking in the roadway near his residence, police said.
Simmons has been charged as an adult with murder. Police initially withheld his identity due to his age.
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In a statement to Fox News Digital, an Uber spokesperson said the company is saddened by Tejada’s death.
“We’re saddened by this devastating loss, and our condolences go out to the driver’s family during this incredibly difficult time,” the spokesperson said. “We’ve been in contact with the Lawrenceville Police Department to help support their investigation.”
Uber confirmed the rider account associated with the incident has been permanently banned. The company said it employs former law enforcement professionals to assist with investigations and offers in-app safety features such as an emergency assistance button, GPS trip tracking and rider verification.
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Police described Tejada as a husband and father of two and extended condolences to his family. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Lawrenceville Police Department.
Rogan fires back at guest claiming Harris couldn’t handle 3-hour podcast
Joe Rogan defended former Vice President Kamala Harris Wednesday after his guest suggested Harris would have floundered on Rogan’s three-hour podcast had she accepted his invitation during the 2024 presidential campaign.
In a clip from his Dec. 31 show picked up by Mediaite, Rogan and Australian comedian James McCann discussed candidate Donald Trump’s viral October 2024 appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Rogan noted that Trump sat for the full three-hour interview without breaks and without being given questions in advance, which Rogan said he respected. McCann suggested Trump’s opponent, Harris, would not have been able to do the same.
“He was able to talk for three hours. Whereas Kamala wouldn’t do it,” McCann said.
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“Well, she could have — she could have done it. I’m telling you, man,” Rogan responded. “It would’ve been fine.”
McCann pointed to Harris’ August appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” as evidence she would not have performed well in a long-form podcast setting. Rogan pushed back, arguing that televised interviews in front of live audiences are not conducive to meaningful conversations.
“If you’re going to have a really important conversation with someone, you don’t want to do it with a f—— audience,” Rogan said. “Also, you only have seven minutes before you have to cut for commercial or whatever it is.
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“You can’t do that,” he continued. “It’ll take me seven minutes to ask what she likes to cook.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Harris’ office for comment.
Rogan described the kinds of questions he would have asked Harris had she agreed to appear on his podcast.
“I want to know, is there anything that she regrets doing?” he said. “Is it more complicated being a vice president than you thought it was going to be? Like, what is the web of trying to fix things and change things versus the people that are influencing you to make decisions?
“’Cause we’re not pretending that people don’t spend a lot of money to influence your decisions,” Rogan continued. “So how much of an effect does it have?
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“What would be better? Could we take money out of politics? Would you be willing? What would we do if we completely eliminated corporate funding of any politicians? How would that change everything?
“Those are the kind of questions. … We could have talked for hours about that.”
The podcaster has maintained his team was in discussions with Harris’ campaign about a potential interview but she ultimately backed out.
“They just got scared,” Rogan said on his show in February 2025. “They could have put her in. I would have held her hand. We would have had a conversation.”
The Harris campaign has disputed that account, arguing that Rogan’s team made several difficult demands regarding scheduling and interview conditions, according to the book “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House.”
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Rogan has repeatedly rejected those claims, saying the failed interview was the result of Harris’ team, not his.
He has also said that while he would not have voted for Harris, he had no intention of conducting a hostile interview.
“I’m not going to be antagonistic, I’m not going to be a s——-, I’m not gonna be … I have no desire to turn this into a viral clip thing. I’m not trying to do that,” Rogan said earlier this year. “I never wanted that done to me, so why would I do that to someone else?”
Trump’s relaxed, long-form appearances on top podcasts like Rogan’s are widely believed to have helped propel him to victory in the 2024 election.
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Children found alive after dentist, wife shot dead in quiet suburban home
Police are investigating after a dentist and his wife in Columbus, Ohio, were both found shot to death inside their home just a month before celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary.
Police responded to the house around 10 a.m. Tuesday for a wellness check, and found Spencer and Monique Tepe dead with apparent gunshot wounds. Two young children were found at the house unharmed.
The owner of Athens Dental Depot, Dr. Mark Valrose, where Spencer works, called 911 and asked dispatchers to send officers for a wellness check at the couple’s residence. Valrose said people at the business were becoming concerned after Spencer didn’t show up to work.
Fox News Digital obtained the 911 records through a public records request. Police are seeking the public’s help as they search for a suspect.
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According to WSYX, police don’t believe their deaths were a murder-suicide. Officials added there wasn’t a firearm recovered at the scene and there were no signs of forced entry.
Valrose called 911 on Tuesday at 9:03 a.m. to raise the alarm about Spencer and Monica. An officer with the Columbus Police Department arrived at the Tepe household at 9:22 a.m., but didn’t get an answer after knocking.
“Spencer works with me and he did not show up to work this morning and we cannot get ahold of him or his family,” Valrose said. “He is always on time and he would contact us if there is any issues whatsoever…we’re very, very concerned because this is very out of character and we can’t get in touch with his wife, which is probably the more concerning thing.”
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In a separate 911 call from one of Spencer’s friends who went to their home, the caller said, “there’s a body.”
“We just came here and he appears dead. He’s laying next to his bed, off of his bed in his blood. I can’t get closer to see more than that,” the caller said. “I can tell he’s obviously not breathing or anything.”
In a statement on Facebook, Athens Dental Depot said Spencer will be “deeply missed.”
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the sudden passing of our dear colleague and friend, Dr. Spencer Tepe, as well as his wife Monique. He will be deeply missed by our team and the many patients he cared for over the years. Our thoughts and sincerest condolences are with their families and loved ones during this very difficult time,” the business said.
The family released a statement Friday night saying they are “heartbroken beyond words,” and described the loss of the couple as “tragic and senseless.”
“They were extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy, and deep connection to others,” the statement said, in part.
Spencer, a graduate of The Ohio State University, was known as a “devoted and proud father, a loving partner, and a friend to everyone he met,” the family statement said, adding that he was “intelligent, warm, and endlessly welcoming.”
He was a member of the American Dental Association, fluent in Spanish, involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization and a fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Monique was described as a “loving, patient and joyful mother whose warmth defined her.”
“With a background in childhood education, she brought care and intention into everything she did. She was an excellent baker, a thoughtful planner, and someone who found joy in bringing people together. Her kindness made people feel instantly at home,” the statement said.
Their relationship was “beautiful, strong and deeply happy” and they built a life “rooted in love,” the family said, adding that Spencer and Monique enjoyed taking care of their two children and their pet Goldendoodle.
“We are heartbroken beyond words. While no outcome can ever undo this loss, our family is committed to seeing this tragedy fully and fairly brought to justice, and to honoring Spencer and Monique by protecting the future of the children they loved so deeply,” the statement concluded.
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Rob Misleh, Spencer’s brother-in-law, told WSYX that the couple was going to celebrate their five-year anniversary next month after getting married in 2021.
Catholic bishop warns of ‘disastrous’ results after viral Mamdani line’
Bishop Robert Barron, a prominent Catholic leader, slammed socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration line promoting the “warmth of collectivism,” saying, “For God’s sake, spare me.”
During his inaugural address, the newly minted socialist mayor and New York’s first Muslim mayor, declared, “We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.”
The line prompted immediate backlash from many conservatives who expressed alarm at such a phrase being used by the leader of America’s biggest city.
Barron, a popular podcaster and founder of “Word on Fire,” took to X to say Mamdani’s declaration “took my breath away.”
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“He said he intended to replace ‘the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.’ Collectivism in its various forms is responsible for the deaths of at least 100 million people in the last century,” Barron wrote.
“For God’s sake, spare me the ‘warmth of collectivism.’
“Socialist and communist forms of government around the world today — Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, etc. — are disastrous,” explained Barron. “Catholic social teaching has consistently condemned socialism and has embraced the market economy, which people like Mamdani caricature as ‘rugged individualism.’
“In fact, it is the economic system that is based upon the rights, freedom and dignity of the human person.”
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Barron was not the only critic who voiced alarm about Mamdani’s declaration.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X that the “warmth” of collectivism “always requires coercion and force.”
“How many dead over the past 100 years due to collectivist ideologies?” DeSantis added.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chimed in, “When communists rule, individual rights — invariably — are taken away.”
Since being sworn in at midnight on New Year’s Day, Mamdani has already taken several controversial actions, including targeting city landlords and housing development through new executive orders.
Mamdani announced three housing-related executive orders, starting with the revival of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, which he said will focus on resolving complaints and holding landlords accountable for hazardous conditions.
According to Mamdani, the second executive order creates a LIFT task force, or a land-inventory effort designed to leverage city-owned land and accelerate housing development. He said the task force will review city-owned properties and identify sites suitable for housing development no later than July 1.
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The third executive order created a SPEED task force, which Mamdani said stands for Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development. He said the task force will work to remove permitting barriers that slow housing construction.
Both task forces will be overseen by Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Lila Joseph, he said.
Mamdani has also been criticized for revoking all orders issued by his predecessor, Mayor Eric Adams, following his indictment on federal bribery charges, including one that barred city agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel.
Another rescinded order had directed the NYPD to bolster enforcement near religious sites by establishing protest-free buffer zones near churches, synagogues and mosques.
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These revocations were criticized by the city’s right-leaning Jewish leaders.
Mamdani has been accused by critics, such as Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., of being a terrorist sympathizer.
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He has repeatedly described Israel as an apartheid state, accused it of committing genocide in Gaza, and said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested. Mamdani has also said he will not tolerate antisemitism in New York and vowed to increase funding to combat hate crimes.
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Firefighters crawl across thin ice to save family dog trapped in freezing pond
Golden, retrieved.
Dramatic photos and video show firefighters crawling across dangerously thin ice to rescue a golden retriever that fell through a frozen pond during a morning walk.
Firefighters in Rhode Island raced across dangerously thin ice to rescue a pooch that fell through a frozen pond during a morning walk with its owner, dramatic photos and video show.
The rescue unfolded just before 9 a.m. on New Year’s Day at Little Masachaug Pond, according to the Misquamicut Fire Department.
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Officials said the dog — identified by the fire department in a Facebook post as “Phoenix, a golden retriever” — wandered onto the pond and fell through a thin layer of ice near the center, leaving the animal struggling in freezing water while its owner watched from shore.
Firefighters from multiple departments responded within minutes, donning specialized ice rescue suits and carefully crawling across the unstable surface to reach the dog.
According to the Misquamicut Fire Department, crews were dispatched alongside the Westerly Ambulance Corps and Westerly Police Department after receiving reports of a dog trapped in the icy pond.
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“Volunteers were on scene within minutes and located Phoenix, a golden retriever, struggling in the water and unable to move with his owner safely on shore,” the department said in a Facebook post.
Deputy Chief Howard requested additional help from the Watch Hill Fire Department, which brought specialized ice rescue equipment to the scene.
Firefighters wearing bright orange and red ice rescue suits were seen crawling across the frozen pond while tethered with safety ropes as chunks of ice broke around them.
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“Members from both fire departments quickly donned ice rescue suits and entered the pond, making a swift and successful rescue,” the department said.
Additional personnel staged equipment on shore, including an inflatable rescue boat, as crews worked to pull Phoenix from the icy water.
Phoenix and the firefighters were safely brought back to shore and “were all doing well when on scene,” officials said.
Firefighters from both departments were evaluated by emergency medical services for possible hypothermia but did not require treatment.
The dramatic rescue quickly drew praise on social media.
“God bless you for saving that pup. Responders like you remind us that there is good and kindness,” a Facebook user wrote.
Another commenter added, “We are all so lucky to have such great fire and rescue departments. A very lucky dog!”
Fire officials used the incident to remind the public of the dangers posed by frozen ponds.
“No ice is ever safe,” the department warned, noting that while firefighters train extensively for ice and cold-water rescues, the situations remain extremely dangerous.
The rescue marked the Misquamicut Fire Department’s first call of 2026, with officials praising the quick response and teamwork displayed by all agencies involved.
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“All of the Chiefs from MFD and WHFD extend kudos to everyone involved for their quick response and teamwork this morning,” the department said.
The Misquamicut Fire Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for additional comment.