US used sonic weapon on Venezuelan troops, report shared by Leavitt claims
A viral story from a man claiming to have witnessed the U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro states that the U.S. used sonic weapons during the mission to incapacitate opposing forces.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared the eyewitness interview on X, encouraging her followers to read the statement. The witness in the interview claims to be a guard who was serving at the Caracas military base where the U.S. captured Maduro.
“We were on guard, but suddenly all our radar systems shut down without any explanation,” the witness said. “The next thing we saw were drones, a lot of drones, flying over our positions. We didn’t know how to react.”
The witness then described watching roughly 20 U.S. soldiers deploy out of roughly eight helicopters over the base.
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“They were technologically very advanced,” the guard said. “They didn’t look like anything we’ve fought against before.”
“We were hundreds, but we had no chance,” he said. “They were shooting with such precision and speed; it felt like each soldier was firing 300 rounds per minute.”
The witness then describes the U.S. deploying some sort of sonic weapon against Venezuelan forces.
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“At one point, they launched something; I don’t know how to describe it,” he said. “It was like a very intense sound wave. Suddenly I felt like my head was exploding from the inside.”
“We all started bleeding from the nose,” he added. “Some were vomiting blood. We fell to the ground, unable to move. We couldn’t even stand up after that sonic weapon — or whatever it was.”
“Those twenty men, without a single casualty, killed hundreds of us,” the witness claimed. “We had no way to compete with their technology, with their weapons. I swear, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
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The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital when asked whether Leavitt’s sharing of the post constituted confirmation of its veracity. The Pentagon also did not immediately respond when asked if the U.S. deployed sonic or energy weapons in Venezuela.
DHS releases video claiming media ‘failed’ in Minneapolis ICE shooting coverage
New video footage shared Saturday shows the minutes that lead up to the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a federal agent, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
DHS shared video on its X account that appeared to be three-and-a-half minutes of footage taken by a citizen from inside a nearby home showing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and multiple vehicles out in the residential street.
A car can be heard honking its horn repeatedly while someone can be heard continually blowing a whistle. At one point, the video pans over to what appears to be Renee Nicole Good’s Honda Pilot that is parked in the middle of the street.
“The media continues to fail the American people in their reporting on the events in Minneapolis,” DHS claimed in the post. “New evidence shows that the anti-ICE agitator was STALKING and IMPEDING a law enforcement operation over the course of the morning.”
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DHS further criticized the media, writing: “The evidence speaks for itself. The legacy media has lost the trust of the American people.”
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The video was released three days after an ICE agent fatally shot Good as she allegedly drove a vehicle toward officers.
The circumstances that led to her death have ignited a firestorm of criticism of the Trump administration and ICE.
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Federal officials have defended the ICE agent’s actions as self-defense and described the Minneapolis shooting as an act of “domestic terrorism,” while Democratic leaders have rejected that characterization and sharply condemned the officer’s conduct.
Smithsonian replaces Trump portrait, strips impeachment text after White House pressure
The Smithsonian Institution unveiled a new portrait of President Donald Trump last week, while removing most of the accompanying text that referenced his two impeachments and the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
The changes at the National Portrait Gallery’s “America’s Presidents” exhibit follow Trump’s accusations that museums are “woke” and biased, along with a White House order requiring the Smithsonian to provide extensive internal records by Jan. 13 or risk potential federal funding cuts.
While the institution previously displayed Trump against a black background with his hands folded in front of him, visitors will now see a new black-and-white photo by White House photographer Daniel Torok. The new portrait shows the president with his fists on the Resolute Desk, staring directly into the camera.
“For the first time in history, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery has hung up an iconic photo taken by the White House honoring President Trump,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Fox News Digital on Sunday. “His unmatched aura will be seen and felt throughout the halls of the National Portrait Gallery.”
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Previously, the text beside Trump’s portrait read: “Impeached twice—on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection after supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021—he was acquitted by the Senate in both trials.”
According to photos, the original placard has been replaced with a shorter one that only lists Trump’s years in office.
As of Sunday, Trump was the only president in the gallery whose display lacked extended text highlighting key events, according to the Associated Press (AP). By contrast, other portraits, including those of former Presidents Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson, reportedly still note their impeachments.
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The gallery said in a statement to the AP that “the museum has been exploring quotes or tombstone labels, which provide only general information, such as the artist’s name.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the National Portrait Gallery for more information.
Trump praised the change in a post on Truth Social Friday, sharing a photo of the new display.
A White House official told Fox News Digital that photographs will be displayed until the institution completes an official painted portrait.
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The changes were made after the White House ordered a sweeping review of all museums ahead of America’s 250th anniversary of independence.
In an August post on Truth Social, Trump blasted the institutions as “woke,” accusing the Smithsonian and other museums nationwide of promoting narratives that disparage the U.S. rather than celebrate its achievements.
President Trump says Iran ‘starting to’ cross US red lines as protesters die
President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran is “starting to” cross U.S. red lines, citing reports of civilian deaths and warning that any attack on American interests would be met with overwhelming force as his administration weighs what he called “very strong options.”
Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling from Palm Beach, Florida, back to Washington, D.C., after being asked whether Iran had crossed a threshold that would trigger a response.
“They’re starting to, it looks like, and there seem to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed,” the president said. “These are violent — if you call them leaders, I don’t know if their leaders or just if they rule through violence. And, we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination.”
Some protesters were killed in a stampede while others were shot, Trump later said, adding that he receives hourly briefings and will decide based on ongoing reports.
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The comments came just days after Trump warned the U.S. would respond forcefully if the Iranian regime escalates its crackdown.
“Iran’s in big trouble,” he said. “It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago. We’re watching the situation very carefully.”
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Trump added, “We’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts. And that doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts.”
Protests had spread to at least 190 cities across Iran by Saturday, according to the National Council of Resistance in Iran.
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The Associated Press reported Sunday that activists claimed at least 544 people have been killed, with more feared dead. Tehran also warned that the U.S. military and Israel would be considered “legitimate targets” if the U.S. intervenes to protect demonstrators.
More than 10,600 people have been detained during the more than two weeks of protests, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which the AP noted has been accurate during previous unrest. The group said 496 of those killed were protesters and 48 were members of security forces.
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Authorities also imposed a sweeping internet blackout this week, largely cutting Iran off from the outside world as anti-regime protests spread and officials escalated threats of harsh punishment.
Fatal plane crash claims popular singer and five others en route to performance
Yeison Jiménez, a 34-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter, died in a plane crash just hours before he was set to perform.
On Saturday, a plane crashed “in the sector between Paipa and Duitama,” in Colombia, the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics announced on X. Six people on the flight were killed, one of whom was Jiménez.
“With heavy hearts and a pain impossible to describe, the organization and team of Yeison Jiménez deeply regret to inform you of his passing,” a statement translated from Spanish read from the musician’s official Instagram account. “Today we say goodbye not only to an artist; we say goodbye to a son, a brother, a friend, a human being full of dreams and courage, who transformed his story into hope for thousands of people. Yeison embodied perseverance, discipline, and love for his community. His voice and his example were born from hard work, and that is why they will forever mark the lives of those who followed and loved him.”
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According to the statement, Jiménez was traveling with five other members of his team including Jefferson Osorio, Juan Manuel Rodríguez, Óscar Marín and Weisman Mora, as well as Captain Fernando Torres.
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“To all the fans, colleagues, media outlets, and everyone who has supported Yeison throughout his career and during these difficult times: thank you for every message, every prayer, and all the love you are sending,” the statement continued. “We ask for your understanding and respect for the families’ grief and for the privacy we need today to say goodbye with the dignity and affection he deserves.”
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“Yeison may be gone physically, but his legacy lives on: in his songs, in his words, in his struggles, in his refusal to give up, and in the indelible mark he leaves on Colombian regional music and in the hearts of his people,” the statement concluded. “His light will continue to shine every time someone sings one of his songs and remembers that it is possible to overcome adversity.”
According to The Sun, the plane — which was believed to be owned by Jiménez’s firm, YJ Company SAS — crashed moments after takeoff. Jiménez was reportedly traveling to Medellín to perform that night.
Jiménez had recently opened up about his premonition of dying in a plane crash.
“I dreamt three times that we were going to have a plane crash and that I had to tell the pilot to turn around. And when he arrived, he’d say, ‘Oh, boss, thank goodness you told me because something went wrong, but I fixed it, get in,'” Jimenez said in an interview with Colombian TV station Caracol.
“Those were the dreams. And in one of the dreams, I … dreamt that we had died and that we were on the news. And it was the third time I dreamt that. God gave me three signs, and I didn’t understand them, I didn’t get them,” Jimenez said.
Nikki Glaser criticizes CBS News network during Golden Globe Awards ceremony
Comedian Nikki Glaser mocked CBS News as the place for “BS news” in her monologue for the 83rd Golden Globe Awards ceremony Sunday night.
“And the award for ‘Most Editing’ goes to CBS News. Yes, CBS News, America’s newest place to see BS news,” Glaser said.
Over the past year, CBS has experienced several controversies and new ownership that led to new leadership, which have some critics accusing the network of losing its credibility.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused CBS of editing her “Face the Nation” interview in September. CBS News later announced that “Face the Nation” interviews would only be broadcast live or live-to-tape in response.
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However, CBS News was previously accused by President Donald Trump of editing an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris to provide a better image of the Democratic candidate in the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election. Trump sued the network after accusing them of “election interference” in favor of Harris.
CBS’ parent company later agreed to a $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump ahead of its merger with Skydance Media.
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Although Glaser mocked CBS News, CBS and its parent company Paramount were the ones who aired the Golden Globe Awards Sunday night, with the ceremony also streaming on Paramount+.
CBS has faced backlash from liberal commentators since Paramount’s settlement with Trump and has been accused of acquiescing to the Trump administration through Paramount’s new CEO, David Ellison. Ellison has focused on revitalizing CBS News since becoming CEO, installing The Free Press founder Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief in October.
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Progressive commentators have also gone after Weiss for making significant decisions behind-the-scenes, such as pulling a “60 Minutes” segment hours before it was scheduled to air.
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ESPN star criticizes Bears coach Ben Johnson for profane remarks after Packers win
ESPN star Dick Vitale wasn’t pleased with Ben Johnson on Sunday after the Chicago Bears coach’s explicit reaction to a playoff win over the Green Bay Packers went viral.
The cameras were on and the mic was hot when Johnson rallied his team in the locker room following a 31-27 comeback victory. He was heard saying, “F— the Packers! F— them! F—ing hate those guys.”
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Vitale, the legendary college basketball commentator, appeared to be appalled.
“Total CLASSLESS attitude in winning by BEN JOHNSON coach of the @ChicagoBears in the fab comeback to beat the @packers. Main theme should have been the gutty comeback not the childish F__ Packers comments,” Vitale wrote on X.
The rivalry between the Bears and Packers is certainly revved up. Johnson threw gasoline on the fire when he first joined the Bears. He was asked at the time why he chose Chicago. He said he “kinda enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
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The message sparked a few icy handshakes during the season, including one after the playoff game. Chicago went 1-1 against Green Bay in the regular season and defeated them when it counted the most.
The first-year head coach praised his players for their gritty performance, coming off two losses and going into halftime down 21-3. Johnson said his team was “built for pressure.”
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The Bears will face the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round.
FDA cheese recall upgraded over deadly Listeria bacteria contamination
The Food and Drug Administration announced that a recall of cheese products has been upgraded to the most serious risk category after testing positive for a potentially deadly bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes.
The Ambriola Company first issued a voluntary recall in November for certain cheese products produced at the company’s facility in West Caldwell, New Jersey, after routine testing confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, bacteria that can cause severe illness and even death, particularly among pregnant women, the elderly, young children and people with weakened immune systems.
“Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women,” the FDA said at the time.
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Then on Tuesday, the FDA said the recall has been reclassified as Class I, its highest level of concern. A Class I recall means there is a “reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, [the] product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
The recall impacts eight products, with half sold directly to consumers and the remainder sold by the pound for large-scale cooking.
The affected products were distributed to retail stores and distributors nationwide between Nov. 3 and Nov. 20.
The products included in the recall are:
Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano, 4-ounce and 8-ounce plastic cups with lids, 12 units per case with lot numbers 1000572472, 1000570734, 1000570735, 1000570736, 1000572482, 1000572483 and 1000572485.
Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano, 5- and 10-pound plastic bags with lot numbers 1000570725, 1000572476, 1000570724, 1000572475, 1000570726, 1000570727 and 1000572477.
Pinna Grated Pecorino Romano, 10-pound plastic bags with lot number 1000572486 and Boar’s Head Grated Pecorino Romano, 6-ounce plastic cups with lids with lot number 1000572486.
Member’s Mark (Sam’s Club) Pecorino Romano Grated, 1.5-pound plastic bags with lot numbers 1000570107, 1000570766 and 1000572513, Boar’s Head Pecorino Romano Grated, 5-pound plastic bags with lot numbers 1000570093 and 1000570738, Ambriola Piccante Grated Pecorino Romano, 5- and 10-pound plastic bags with lot numbers 1000572981, 1000570737, 1000570092 and 1000572487, as well as Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano, 8-ounce plastic cups with lids with lot numbers 1000570750, 1000572499 and 1000572514.
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No other Ambriola, Locatelli, Member’s Mark, Pinna or Boar’s Head products are affected by the recall.
Customers are instructed not to consume the affected products and to either dispose of them or return them for a refund.
Anyone who has symptoms of Listeria infection is urged to contact their healthcare provider.
Woman who lives at sea shares the best strategy for booking a cruise cabin
A woman who travels on cruise ships regularly says one simple booking move can help passengers get a better cabin.
Mollie Finlon, 38, originally from Seattle, is able to sail at little or no cost through her husband’s job as a maritime engineer — which covers food, accommodation and other living expenses while onboard, she told news agency Jam Press.
She also works as a guest presenter on high-end cruise liners for several months out of every year.
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Finlon said her experiences at sea have taught her how passengers can improve their onboard experience — starting with when and how they book.
Her top tip? Book your next cruise while you’re already aboard your current one.
“If you book onboard with a future cruise consultant, [he or she] can give you great [information] and better cabins,” Finlon said.
She also recommends speaking with a cruise consultant face to face — plus researching cruise lines before booking.
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Amenities, layouts and onboard experiences can vary widely, she noted.
“Every cruise line is different, so watching YouTube [videos], reading articles, looking on social media — these are the best ways to see what fits an individual’s liking,” Finlon said.
Many travelers book cruises without fully understanding the cruise line or what’s included, she also said.
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Finlon’s perspective is shaped by a career connected to cruise ships and time spent largely aboard them.
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She said amid her constant travel and experiences at new destinations, there are also challenges.
“When my husband [or I] work, there are no days off — it’s an everyday job while onboard,” Finlon said.
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Finlon has worked on cruise ships since 2011, she said, after deciding that a traditional nine-to-five job was not for her.
Over the years, she’s visited more than 100 countries.
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“Each day you’re in a new place or have a new location to explore,” she said.
“There’s always something to do — and you meet new people from all over the world.”