The Ben Shapiro Show – Ep. 2339: "2026 SHOCK: Trump DEPOSES Maduro!"
Date: January 5, 2026
Host: Ben Shapiro
Notable Guests: Pete Hegseth (Defense Secretary), Marco Rubio (Secretary of State), Daniel DiMartino (Venezuelan commentator), others

Overview

On this high-voltage episode, Ben Shapiro delivers a signature conservative analysis of the shocking U.S. military operation to depose and extradite Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Shapiro frames the event as a defining moment for American foreign policy under President Trump, examining geopolitical implications, the operation's execution, domestic legal questions, and reactions from around the globe and across the political spectrum. The show also touches on unrest in Iran, domestic political developments in Minnesota, and broader reflections on truth, adversity, and American character.

1. Setting the Stage: 2026 – The "Year of Clarity"

Key Theme:
Shapiro dubs 2026 "the year of clarity," predicting that adversity, both foreign and domestic, will reveal the true character and allegiances of politicians, commentators, and citizens alike.

Highlights:

• Rise in global instability: Threats from China, Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.
• American character tested by polarization, economic uncertainty, and political manipulation.
• Relevance of Madison’s Federalist 51 quote on the need for checks and balances.

  “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. ... If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” — James Madison, as quoted by Ben Shapiro (08:07)

• Shapiro calls for discernment, humility, and defense of republican safeguards against authoritarian centralization and demagogic manipulation.

Memorable Quote:

"Let 2026 be a year of clarity. Let people reveal themselves for who they are—and believe them when they show you. And may we all approach the adversities of whatever comes our way with the courage, conviction, and decency that make America truly great." — Ben Shapiro (10:47)

2. Main Story: Trump’s Operation to Depose Maduro

a. Operation "Absolute Resolve": The Military Action

Segment Start: 13:00

Summary:
U.S. special forces conducted a secretive operation (“Absolute Resolve”) to capture Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. Months of intelligence gathering and rehearsals, aided by an insider in Maduro’s circle, led to the rapid incursion, capturing Maduro and his wife and flying them to New York to face narco-terrorism charges.

Key Details:

• Overwhelming air power: F-18s, F-22s, F-35s, B-1 bombers, etc. (14:34)
• Special forces infiltrated Maduro’s compound after disabling Venezuelan (Russian-provided) air defenses.
• Maduro and wife attempted to escape to a safe room but surrendered.
• No U.S. fatalities; minor injuries.
• Trump announced the mission’s success on Truth Social at 4:21am.
• Situation Room set up at Mar-a-Lago; Trump flanked by Rubio and Ratcliffe.

Quotes & Moments:

• Pete Hegseth: “This operation, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, was discreet, precise, and conducted during the darkest hours of January 2nd... An operation that frankly only the United States military could undertake.” (13:24)
• Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth: "He [Maduro] effed around..."
  Ben Shapiro: "...and he found out." (18:36)
• Marco Rubio: "Nicolás Maduro had multiple opportunities to avoid this...He chose instead to play around. And the result is what we saw tonight." (18:46)

b. Rationale: America's Realist Foreign Policy

Segment Highlight: 21:10–24:53

Summary:
Shapiro and Trump administration officials reject the label of “isolationism,” positioning Trump's foreign policy as muscular realism (“peace through strength”). They frame the operation as consistent with U.S. interests, especially in energy security and counter-narcotics.

Quotes:

• Trump: "We want to surround ourselves with stability...We have tremendous energy in that country. It's very important that we protect it. We need that for ourselves. We need that for the world." (21:10)
• Ben Shapiro: "It’s almost as though the President understands that the United States exists on a globe." (21:29)
• Rubio: "No more drug trafficking, no more Iran, Hezbollah presence there, and no more using the oil industry to enrich all our adversaries..." (23:23)

Branding Note:

• Trump dubs his new Latin America policy the “Don-roe Doctrine”—a play on the historic Monroe Doctrine. (24:09)

c. Historical and Geopolitical Context

Segment Start: 24:53

• Maduro's legacy: successor to Chavez, presided over a humanitarian, economic, and human rights catastrophe.
• Venezuela under Maduro: Oil nationalism, mass exodus, alliances with Russia, China, Iran, and narco-trafficking.
• U.S. interests: narcotraffic, migration pressures, resource security, strategic regional stability.

d. Aftermath and Next Steps: Who Runs Venezuela?

Segment: 31:00–34:44

• Unlike Panama in 1989, the U.S. did not install an opposition leader but left Vice President Delcy Rodríguez (another hardline socialist) as transitional leader.
• Trump administration leveraging external pressure to force democratic reforms, economic openness, and minimize risk of civil war.
• Trump: “We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.” (32:58)
• Some ambiguity on extent of U.S. “running” Venezuela—clearly a warning to Venezuela’s current rulers.
• Rubio: “We want Venezuela to move in a certain direction because not only do we think it’s good for the people...it’s in our national interest.” (34:26)

e. Implications Beyond Venezuela

Quote:

• Trump on Colombia: "Colombia is very sick, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States. And he's not going to be doing it very long." (36:25)
• On Cuba: Predicts regime will fall without direct U.S. intervention. (37:03)

f. Legal and Moral Debates

Segment Start: 37:18

• Shapiro and Rubio dismiss “international law” as irrelevant (“the law of the jungle”).
• Justifies lack of congressional notification (operational security) and argues action is legally justified under War Powers Act.
• Rubio: “This was not the kind of mission that you can do Congressional notification on... Remember at the end of the day, at its core, this was an arrest of two indicted fugitives of American justice...” (39:19)

3. Global and Domestic Reactions

International Reactions:

• Russia and China condemn U.S. “violation of sovereignty”; ironically cite international law. (44:09)
• European Union issues mild statement; UK denies involvement.
• Mexico’s President (Claudia Sheinbaum) urges U.N. action but "cartels run Mexico," per Trump. (45:58)
• Qatar expresses “deep concern”; Shapiro calls out its opportunism.

Domestic U.S. Reactions:

• Left-wing (AOC, Rashida Tlaib, Bernie Sanders): Condemn action as “war for oil,” criticize lack of congressional approval, and accuse Trump of ulterior motives.
  • AOC: “It’s not about drugs...It’s about oil and regime change.” (48:00)
  • Tlaib: "They're not even hiding it anymore. It is about oil."
• Isolationist right (Marjorie Taylor Greene): Claims U.S. is “running Venezuela,” suggests it’s “America Last.” (49:00)
• Mainstream media and Democrats: Critique lack of a plan for "what comes next."
  • Chuck Schumer: Criticizes military action without Congressional authorization (52:51)
  • Bernie Sanders: “Trump has once again shown his contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law.” (53:00)

Shapiro’s Response:
Scoffs at critics for hypocrisy, for failing to act against Maduro, or for ignoring similar (or worse) interventions under Democratic presidents.

4. Expert & Local Perspective: Daniel DiMartino on Venezuela

Interview Segment: 57:55–63:24

Daniel DiMartino (Venezuelan expatriate economics scholar):

• Describes Venezuela’s collapse under Chavez and Maduro.
• Praises Trump’s action but urges a rapid transition to democracy, warning that Rodríguez may try to stall reforms until Trump leaves office.
• Notes that lasting improvement comes from freedom, not mere resource control.
• Is open to amnesty for regime leaders if they facilitate real change.

Quote:

"A country does not become rich because of its natural resources...it becomes rich because of its freedom. And that's what we need to achieve." — Daniel DiMartino (61:40)

5. Broader Foreign Policy & U.S. Strength

Iran:

• Ongoing protests and regime instability; U.S. warning of consequences if regime cracks down violently.
  • Trump (via Pete Hegseth): "If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they're going to get hit very hard by the United States." (64:22)

Minnesota Political Scandal:

• Gov. Tim Walz announces he won’t run for reelection following a major daycare fraud scandal.
• Fragmented Democratic field; scrutiny over public spending and accountability.

6. Notable Quotes & Moments

• “The U.S. Military is so badass, it's astonishing. I mean, truly amazing.” — Ben Shapiro (17:34)
• “There is no such thing as international law. The reality is…the strong do what they will and the weak do what they must.” — Ben Shapiro (37:18)
• “We want peace, liberty, and justice for the great people of Venezuela…We can't take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela that doesn't have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind.” — Trump (32:58)
• “All the countries that love Maduro are very upset and everybody else is pretty happy that Maduro is gone.” — Ben Shapiro (44:09)
• "It is pretty amazing that President Trump just says all the quiet parts out loud. And frankly, I think it's good." — Ben Shapiro (35:06)

7. Timestamps for Key Segments

• 10:47: Shapiro’s call for 2026 as the "year of clarity"
• 13:00–18:38: Overview, execution, and announcement of "Operation Absolute Resolve"
• 18:46: Rubio describes Maduro's multiple missed chances
• 21:10–24:09: Trump & Shapiro outline America’s foreign policy rationale
• 31:18: Discussion on why opposition leader Maria Machado was not installed
• 32:58–34:44: Trump and Rubio on the U.S. role in Venezuela’s transition
• 36:25: Trump targets Colombia and Cuba
• 37:18: Legal, moral, and international reaction analysis
• 44:09–46:27: International (Russia/China/Mexico) reactions; Trump’s reply to Mexico
• 52:51–53:15: Democratic (Schumer, Sanders) domestic critiques
• 57:55–63:24: Interview with Venezuelan expert Daniel DiMartino
• 64:22: Trump (via Hegseth) on potential U.S. action in Iran

8. Final Takeaways

• Shapiro positions the Trump administration’s actions as historic, clear-eyed, and unapologetically in America’s national interest, contrasting it with alleged inaction or hypocrisy from both the left and isolationists on the right.
• The Venezuela mission is framed as a textbook application of "peace through strength," with an emphasis on decisive, limited-force interventions over drawn-out occupations.
• The episode serves as a manifesto on discernment, the rejection of comforting falsehoods, and the defense of republican institutions in a turbulent world.

For listeners seeking straight conservative analysis, vivid storytelling, and incisive political commentary—this episode delivers a detailed, unapologetic breakdown of a world-changing event.