The President's Daily Brief – January 5th, 2026

Episode Title: Inside The Delta Force Raid That Captured Maduro & Iranian Protests Continue To Grow
Host: Mike Baker (The First TV)
Date: January 5, 2026

Episode Overview

Mike Baker, former CIA Operations Officer, presents a riveting morning briefing on two of the world's most high-stakes stories. The main focus is a detailed reveal of the top-secret Delta Force raid that led to the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. In parallel, Baker analyzes the spiraling Iranian protests against inflation and a collapsing economy, scrutinizing the regime's crackdown and the growing death toll. The episode concludes with a summary of new allied airstrikes against ISIS in Syria.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Delta Force Raid that Captured Nicolas Maduro

Intelligence Gathering & Preparation

• The CIA ran a covert team inside Venezuela, gathering granular details on Maduro's daily life, habits, and security (01:09).

• Teams used surveillance, recruited assets, intercepted signals, leveraged drone coverage, and mapped patterns to reduce operational risk.

  “The goal is to build as complete a picture as possible of the target’s routines, patterns, associates, personality, and surrounding environment.” – Mike Baker (02:10)

• President Trump had authorized covert operations in Venezuela as early as October; assets inside Maduro's inner circle reported his real-time movements, enabling precise planning (02:35).

Training & Execution

• Delta Force trained on a full-scale mock-up of Maduro’s Caracas safe house, designed using all-source intelligence, echoing the Bin Laden raid’s preparation (04:10).
• Specialized equipment like blowtorches was prepared for breaching reinforced doors if Maduro attempted escape to a safe room (05:16).
• Weather delayed the mission for days; the final green light was given at 10:46pm Eastern (06:10).
• Night Stalkers (160th SOAR) helicopters flew at extreme low altitudes into Caracas while other US aircraft disabled air defenses (06:29).

The Assault (01:00–03:20am Eastern)

• The assault team—with federal law enforcement—entered the heavily fortified compound by 1:00am.

• Maduro was surprised, failed to reach the safe room, and surrendered with his wife (07:24).

• Hostile engagements occurred during extraction; the team left Venezuelan airspace safely by 3:20am. No American fatalities were reported (07:56).

  “Maduro and his wife surrendered. As the team moved to extract, they encountered multiple hostile engagements. Gunfire continued as the helicopters lifted off…” – Mike Baker (08:05)

Political Fallout

• Vice President Delsey Rodriguez sworn in as interim president, voicing sharp opposition to US intervention (09:55).

• Trump administration declared the U.S. “will run Venezuela until there’s a just and righteous transition of power” (09:59).

  “That’s all well and good if the existing Venezuelan military and militias and security apparatus step aside. If not, well… this could get messy…” – Mike Baker (10:12)

• The Venezuelan opposition, led by Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Machado, is recognized as the legitimate electoral victor, but doubts persist over whether the regime will relinquish power.

• Widespread Venezuelan public celebration noted at Maduro’s capture, with Baker emphasizing the regime’s legacy of corruption and hardship.

2. US Federal Charges Against Maduro and Inner Circle

Details of the Indictment (10:26)

• Newly unsealed indictment in New York describes a 25-year narco-terrorism conspiracy at the top of the Venezuelan state.

• The regime did not just permit drug trafficking but actively enabled and protected it (11:47).

  “This wasn't corruption on the margins, but a coordinated network operating from deep inside and atop the Venezuelan state itself.” – Mike Baker (12:27)

• Named defendants: Maduro, wife Celia Flores, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, former Interior Minister Ramon Chassine, Maduro’s son, gang leader Hector Flores.

• Charges include narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, weapons offenses, and collusion with known terrorist organizations (Sinaloa Cartel, Los Zetas, and others) (13:15).

• Specific allegations: Maduro allegedly sold passports to traffickers as Foreign Minister, enabled flows of illicit funds under diplomatic cover, and enabled armed state-backed groups to protect, enforce, and expand trafficking (14:16).

Legal Repercussions

• Attorney General Bam Bondi: Maduro and Flores “will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts” (15:25).
• Maduro facing decades to life in US federal prison if convicted; International Criminal Court continues separate investigation into regime atrocities.

3. Escalating Protests and Repression in Iran

Growing Unrest (16:02)

• Protests against inflation and economic collapse have left at least 16 dead and over 580 arrested, with reports of violent dispersals and live ammunition (17:24).

• Supreme Leader Khamenei declared protesters as “rioters and enemy mercenaries,” signaling a harsh crackdown (18:01).

  “Protest is legitimate, but protest is different from rioting… rioters must be put in their place.” – Ayatollah Khamenei (18:04, paraphrased by Baker)

• Demonstrations now occur in over 100 locations across 22 provinces; regime employing standard tactics of violence and information suppression (18:35).

• President Trump posted solidarity with Iranian protesters, warning, “if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue” (19:15).

Strategic Implications

• The Iranian regime’s response increasingly shaped by US actions in Venezuela and perceived willingness to intervene (19:29).
• The events highlight a “smaller world” where one intervention informs the calculations of other regimes.

4. Back of the Brief: UK and France Strike ISIS in Syria (20:03)

• British and French warplanes, including RAF Typhoon FGR4s, struck an ISIS weapons depot near Palmyra, Syria, guided by actionable intelligence (20:14).

• The strike targeted multiple access tunnels at a buried site, with no civilian presence confirmed before action (20:36).

• The mission is part of sustained Western efforts to keep ISIS off-balance and prevent resurgence (20:48).

• UK Defense Secretary John Healy: This strike is another step in confronting ISIS’ violent ideology with allied resolve (21:06).

  “Islamic State isn’t being treated as a defeated relic of the past. It’s being treated as a persistent threat…” – Mike Baker (21:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Operation’s Risk:
  “The more thorough your homework, the better your chances of mitigating risk when the decision is made to move on the target.” – Mike Baker (02:03)

• On the Venezuelan Aftermath:
  “One man, in this case Maduro, doesn’t make a regime. What backfills the hole left by Maduro’s capture will determine whether Venezuelan people get a democratic government or simply a reshuffling of the key power brokers…” – Mike Baker (08:21)

• On regime’s collapse:
  “Only communists, socialists, or simply corrupt officials could take a country as rich in resources as Venezuela and screw it up.” – Mike Baker (09:28)

• On Iran’s Crackdown:
  “The regime is attempting to break momentum through its usual playbook of intimidation and bloodshed. Economic pain and devastating inflation may be the spark, but the regime now fears protests that morph from anger at prices into anger at power.” – Mike Baker (18:59)

• On ISIS:
  “Whenever ISIS shows signs of reconstituting, the West’s response is to act immediately.” – Mike Baker (21:11)

Timeline & Timestamps

• 00:12 – Opening; overview of main stories
• 01:00 – Start of Delta Force Maduro raid coverage
• 04:10 – Pre-op planning, replica safe house
• 06:10 – Mission green light, helicopter launch
• 07:24 – Assault on compound, Maduro surrenders
• 09:28 – Political aftermath and public reaction in Venezuela
• 10:26 – Transition to criminal charges against Maduro
• 11:47 – Details from unsealed indictment
• 16:02 – Switch to Iran unrest segment
• 17:24 – Latest protest death toll and regime strategy
• 18:01 – Khamenei’s rhetoric and regime messaging
• 19:15 – Trump’s public support for Iranian protesters
• 20:03 – “Back of the Brief”: UK/France airstrike on ISIS
• 21:18 – Wrap-up and episode ending

Summary Table

| Segment | Timestamps | Key Content | |-------------------------------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | Delta Force Maduro Raid | 01:00–09:28 | CIA/Delta planning, raid details, political aftermath | | US Charges against Maduro | 10:26–15:37 | Unsealed indictment, narco-terror network, legal risks | | Iran Protests & Crackdown | 16:02–19:29 | Escalating deaths/arrests, Khamenei, US response | | ISIS Syria Strike | 20:03–21:18 | UK/France joint airstrike, ISIS persistence |

Tone & Style

Mike Baker maintains a factual, level-headed, and analytic tone, frequently referencing historical precedent while employing blunt criticism of autocratic regimes. The presentation is brisk and authoritative, suitable both as briefing and as in-depth context for listeners unfamiliar with unfolding global events.