Transcript

Maduro Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ & Tim Walz Withdraws

From Morning Wire · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 15 min · 2,835 words · 39 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Maduro Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ & Tim Walz Withdraws", an episode of Morning Wire published January 6, 2026 (15 min, about 2,835 words). It mentions 32 people, works and ideas, including Isis, Nicolás Maduro, Morning Wire, Cameron Arcand, John Bickley.

What this episode is about

Nicolas Maduro pleads not guilty to narco-trafficking charges, claiming U.S. authorities kidnapped him, while Minnesota Governor Tim Walz withdraws from the reelection race amid ongoing federal fraud investigations. Additionally, details emerge regarding a thwarted New Year’s Eve terror plot in North Carolina linked to ISIS.

Key takeaways

  • Maduro's 'kidnapping' claim: a dictator's last act of defiance in a courtroom spectacle.
  • Tim Walz's reelection exit: when federal fraud investigations rain on a political parade.
  • Plot twist: New Year's Eve terror plotter charged while most were focused on champagne toasts.
  • Maduro's courtroom drama highlights the precarious balance of power and legal immunity for dictators.
  • The 'Donro doctrine': Trump's bold rebranding of Monroe's legacy brings new geopolitical tension.

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 3:00: Morning Wire, Anchor Bar, Goldbelly, John Bickley
  2. – 6:00: Air Force One, Donro doctrine, Mike Waltz, Western Hemisphere
  3. – 9:00: Prime Bar, St. Paul
  4. – 12:00: Christian Sturdivant, Cook Political Report, Feeding Our Future, Homeland Security
  5. – 15:00: Signal Awards, William Defor

Notable quotes from "Maduro Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ & Tim Walz Withdraws"

  • Executive editor John Bickley. It's Tuesday, January 6th, and this is Morning Wire.
    about Morning Wire · at
  • Deep dish from Lumaladis or the original Buffalo wings from Buffalo's Anchor Bar. They also offer indulgent options like Guy Fiori's loaded trash can nachos and genuine Philly…
    about Anchor Bar · at
  • Daily Wire senior editor Kat Phillips is here now with more. So Kabat, incredible scenes out of New York City yesterday.
    about Kat Phillips · at
  • UN intervene and condemn what they called an illegal kidnapping. Trump's UN ambassador, though, Mike Waltz, offered this response Monday during an emergency session of the UN Security Council.
    about Mike Waltz · at
  • Going to pay a very big price. And then he went even further, telling reporters on Air Force One that he would be willing to launch a second strike against Venezuela if they did not start cooperating.
    about Air Force One · at
  • Right. So the 19th century had Monroe doctrine and now the president has debuted what he calls the Donro doctrine. Essentially the White House is arguing that it's in the best…
    about Donro doctrine · at
  • Track. Starting today, our listeners will receive an exclusive discount on Prime Bar, which has become our team's favorite protein bar on the market with 20 g of protein in…
    about Prime Bar · at
  • Going to seek a third term. Donald Trump and his allies in Washington and in St. Paul and online want to make our state a colder meaner place. We've got the president of the…
    about St. Paul · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Nicolás Maduro — Person · 5 mentions
  • Cameron Arcand — Person · 2 mentions
  • John Bickley — Person · 1 mention · first at
    I'm Georgia How with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Tuesday, January 6th, and this is Morning Wire.
  • Kat Phillips — Person · 1 mention · first at
  • Mike Waltz — Person · 1 mention · first at
  • Peggy Flanagan — Person · 1 mention · first at
    An open Senate race right now with a messy primary between Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanigan as well as Congresswoman Angie Craig. So, we could be seeing some action on that front.
  • Tim Pierce — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Here to talk about the arrest is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce. So Tim, first what do we know about this incident in North Carolina?
  • Christian Sturdivant — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Quite a bit actually. The criminal complaint against 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant was unsealed on Friday. US Attorney Russ Ferguson talked about how officials caught Sturivant in a press conference later that same day. So, Mr.
  • Russ Ferguson — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Complaint against 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant was unsealed on Friday. US Attorney Russ Ferguson talked about how officials caught Sturivant in a press conference later that same day. So, Mr.
  • William Defor — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Yeah, law enforcement arrested a 26-year-old man identified as William Defor yesterday. Prosecutors said that they charged him with felony vandalism, obstructing official business, criminal damaging or endangering, and criminal.
  • Delcy Rodríguez — Person · 1 mention
  • Guy Fieri — Person · 1 mention
  • Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis — Person · 1 mention

Companies & orgs

  • Isis — Company · 6 mentions
  • Morning Wire — Company · 2 mentions · first at
  • Anchor Bar — Company · 1 mention · first at
  • Air Force One — Company · 1 mention · first at
  • Feeding Our Future — Company · 1 mention · first at
    National attention. and Attorney General Pam Bondi said that 60 people in between different fraud schemes. We saw Feeding Our Future, which was basically a fake children's…
  • Homeland Security — Company · 1 mention · first at
    Actually true. And meanwhile, we're seeing reports that potentially thousands of Homeland Security agents are heading to Minnesota now for these investigations. Now, there does…
  • The New York Times Magazine — Company · 1 mention · first at
    Yeah, so the New York Times reported that Amy Clolobachar met with Tim Walls on Sunday. She's debating whether or not she's going to jump in and run for governor. She's a fairly popular figure.
  • Cook Political Report — Company · 1 mention · first at
    Opening for them right now. Minnesota is not a super deep blue state, but right now Cook Political Report has both of those races as likely Democrat. These fraud scandals are…
  • Signal Awards — Company · 1 mention · first at
    Those of you watching, you may see we have this beautiful silver trophy here. This is from the Signal Awards. We actually got second place silver for the news and politics…
  • Lou Malnati's Pizzeria — Company · 1 mention
  • Pete Luger Steak House — Company · 1 mention
  • United Nations Security Council — Company · 1 mention

Products & tech

Concepts & topics

Places & events

  • Western Hemisphere — Place · 1 mention · first at
    Arguing that it's in the best interest of the US to keep our adversaries from having a foothold in the Western Hemisphere. And as they've made clear, they're now willing to…
  • St. Paul — Place · 1 mention · first at
  • Buffalo, New York — Place · 1 mention

Sponsors

  • Equip Foods — Sponsor · 4 mentions
  • Goldbelly — Sponsor · 1 mention · first at
    Experience with friends, or you want to impress a loved one on Valentine's Day, head over to goldbelly.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code wire. That's goldbelly.com codewire for 20% off your first order.

Full transcript with timestamps

Toppled dictator Nicholas Maduro pleads not guilty to narotism charges and accuses the US of kidnapping him from his home.

This is a long process. People can strap in, but at the end of the day, I think he will end up being convicted.

I'm Georgia How with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Tuesday, January 6th, and this is Morning Wire. I've decided to step out of this race and I'll let others worry about the election while I focus on the work that's in front of me for the next year.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walls abruptly ends his reelection bid following a bruising year full of federal fraud investigations.

And as we ring in the new year, more information comes to light about a tharted New Year's Eve terror plot in North Carolina. He was planning this attack in support of ISIS and we have charged him with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know. Have you heard of Gold Belly? It's this amazing site that celebrates the best of America by shipping our country's most iconic foods from legendary restaurants straight to your door anywhere in the USA.

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experience with friends, or you want to impress a loved one on Valentine's Day, head over to goldbelly.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code wire. That's goldbelly.com codewire for 20% off your first order. Captured Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro made his first appearance in an American courtroom on Monday as the Trump administration pushes ahead with its aggressive foreign policy.

Daily Wire senior editor Kat Phillips is here now with more. So Kabat, incredible scenes out of New York City yesterday. What did we learn from these court proceedings?

Yeah, just a remarkable day in New York City. Just 72 hours ago, Nicholas Maduro was living lavish in the country that he ruled with an iron fist. and now he's wearing a prison jumpsuit and ankle shackles and preparing to face the US justice system. His initial court hearing yesterday lasted just about 30 minutes, but it was packed. The ousted strong man was very defiant, telling a judge through a translator, quote, "I am innocent. I'm not guilty. I'm a decent man. I'm still the president of my country." As he was led out of the courtroom, a man stood up and yelled in Spanish that he would pay for his crimes. to which Maduro replied that he would win his freedom, calling himself a quote prisoner of war. Looking ahead, the next hearing is set for March 17th.

And as you guys can imagine, this will almost certainly be a very long drawn out trial. His attorneys signaled on Monday that they would challenge the legality of his arrest, arguing that as a head of state, he was entitled to certain privileges and legal immunities. And the Venezuelan government has now made that same argument, demanding the UN intervene and condemn what they called an illegal kidnapping. Trump's UN ambassador, though, Mike Waltz, offered this response Monday during an emergency session of the UN Security Council.

This was a law enforcement operation in furtherance of lawful indictments that have existed for decades. The United States arrested a narot trafficker who is now going to stand trial in the United States in accordance with the rule of law.

So who's running Venezuela right now in practice? So technically it is Dily Rodriguez who up until last week was the Venezuelan vice president. Uh she initially vowed in a fiery speech to fight back against the US and Trump and carry on Maduro's legacy. President Trump though responded with a threat of his own, saying, quote, "If she doesn't do what's right, she's going to pay a very big price." And then he went even further, telling reporters on Air Force One that he would be willing to launch a second strike against Venezuela if they did not start cooperating.

We were prepared to do a second strike if we need it. We're totally prepared. We're still prepared.

That's off the table now. No, it's not. If they don't behave, we will do a second strike.

And look, that really seemed to make her reconsider that first position. She released a new statement that struck a much more uh we'll call it consiliatory tone saying quote we extend an invitation to the US government to work together on a cooperative agenda oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law. So now she's saying hey let's be nice to each other.

Now this whole thing has to have some other world leaders nervous. President Trump has made some pretty tangible threats that he would do similar things in other countries. Uh what do we know there?

Right. So the 19th century had Monroe doctrine and now the president has debuted what he calls the Donro doctrine. Essentially the White House is arguing that it's in the best interest of the US to keep our adversaries from having a foothold in the Western Hemisphere. And as they've made clear, they're now willing to take out those who in their view pose a threat to stability here on our home turf. Here's Secretary of State Marco Rubio making that point.

This is the Western Hemisphere. This is where we live and we're not going to allow the Western Hemisphere to be a base of operation for adversaries, competitors, and rivals of the United States.

Have specific oil. And according to President Trump, Venezuela could be just the first example of US intervention in the region. Trump said this week that quote Cuba is ready to fall. He also said that Colombian President Gustavo Pro is a quote sick man who likes making cocaine, but he won't be doing it for very long. He then said an operation there quote sounds good to me. H. Well, a very dynamic situation to say the least. Cabbid, thanks for reporting.

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Political shock waves in Minnesota and the nation on Monday morning as Minnesota Governor Tim Walls announced he would not be seeking reelection amid the state's numerous fraud scandals. Daily Wire political reporter Cameron Arcan joins us now to discuss. Hey Cameron. So Walls abruptly dropping out. This is perhaps maybe not so unexpected given recent developments. First, what did we hear yesterday from Walls in his announcement? So Walls largely stuck to the script. He even blamed the Trump administration for essentially targeting Minnesota during this process, saying that these fraud scandals they were already on top of, which we all know is not maybe necessarily the case with the amount of federal prosecutions that we saw with a lot of these recent scandals.

What we saw that yesterday was him largely blaming the Trump administration for this and almost saying that he had no choice but to say, "Hey, I'm not going to seek a third term." Donald Trump and his allies in Washington and in St. Paul and online want to make our state a colder meaner place. We've got the president of the United States demonizing our Somali neighbors and wrongfully confiscating funds that motans rely on. I'm passing on this race with zero sadness and zero regret.

Now there's an increasing number of voices saying that some of this fraud could actually lead all the way up to Walls's office. What is the latest on the investigations in Minnesota? Yeah. So, in terms of new investigations, that remains to be seen, especially because we saw a lot of accusations in regards to daycarees. We have not seen anything tangible there as of yet. But obviously, federal prosecutors and federal agents are now having more resources in the state of Minnesota on that. But it's important to recognize that this has been a longstanding issue in the state and it's really only recently gotten national attention. and Attorney General Pam Bondi said that 60 people in between different fraud schemes. We saw Feeding Our Future, which was basically a fake children's charity. Dozens of people have already pled guilty in different fraud schemes. So, we saw it with that.

We saw it with um a housing program. We also even saw charges recently this fall with autism treatment fraud schemes in the state. Basically, people claiming to get treatment for that when it wasn't actually true. And meanwhile, we're seeing reports that potentially thousands of Homeland Security agents are heading to Minnesota now for these investigations. Now, there does appear to be some sort of action plan for Democrats to recoup the damage done in all of this. What does that effort look like?

Yeah, so the New York Times reported that Amy Clolobachar met with Tim Walls on Sunday. She's debating whether or not she's going to jump in and run for governor. She's a fairly popular figure in the state of Minnesota. She ran significantly ahead of Kla Harris in 2020. This is going to be an attempt to clean up some of the damage we're seeing there, especially because they also have an open Senate race right now with a messy primary between Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanigan as well as Congresswoman Angie Craig. So, we could be seeing some action on that front.

Electorally, obviously, someone is going to need to be the Democratic nominee um in Minnesota um for the governor's race. But if Clolobashar is elected um she would have the unique position where she could choose her own successor and we could see that and how that plays into the 2026 midterms as well. But it's really important to note that Republicans, and I've talked with sources about this, they see this as an opening um for them right now. Minnesota is not um a super deep blue state, but right now Cook Political Report has both of those races as likely Democrat. These fraud scandals are really an opportunity for Republicans in their eyes to step in and say, "Hey, we could, you know, use this to have new leadership and perhaps pull off an upset in that state."

Right. You can really sense Republicans chomping at the bit here. Meanwhile, looking forward to seeing what comes next for Walls and these investigations. Cameron, thanks so much for reporting.

Thank you. The FBI says it has foiled an ISIS inspired attack in North Carolina. Authorities arrested a Charlotte area man they say planned to launch a terror attack on New Year's Eve.

Here to talk about the arrest is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce. So Tim, first what do we know about this incident in North Carolina?

Quite a bit actually. The criminal complaint against 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant was unsealed on Friday. US Attorney Russ Ferguson talked about how officials caught Sturivant in a press conference later that same day. So, Mr. Fertivant started on the internet. He started uh reading ISIS material, started going to ISIS websites, making Tik Tok videos, and eventually reached out to what he thought was a member of ISIS. In reality, was an undercover agent with NYPD in New York. He pledged his allegiance to ISIS with that uh undercover agent, and he disclosed his plans to quote do jihad soon. Uh he then met a second undercover with the FBI uh who he also thought uh was an ISIS uh participant and he started to be very specific with his plans. Now Ferguson said those plans were to attack a crowded mall and fast food restaurant in the Charlotte area. Sturdivan's alleged plans also included wearing a Kevlar

vest and using a knife and hammer to attack people on New Year's Eve. Sturdivan faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if he is convicted. Now, the FBI suspects there was a mental health component to this in addition to jihadist ideology,

right? Ferguson noted something interesting about the FBI's efforts to get Sturdivant locked up and receiving treatment for his mental health.

Originally, and I think it is notable, uh, as part of their efforts, the FBI took Mr. Sturdivant to a state magistrate judge to try to have him involuntarily committed. And that was because he had threatened not only other people's lives, but in the process said that he planned to die by a police policeman shooting him. So, he had threatened other people's lives and self harm, but the state magister judge denied involuntary commitment. Fortunately, the FBI did not give up then uh and continue to build a federal case uh and get the evidence they needed to charge him and detain him uh and keep everyone safe on New Year's Eve and I'm very very thankful for that because countless lives were saved here.

So, there appears to have been a chance that Sturdivan would have been released back onto the streets under the initial judge's ruling.

Now, shifting gears a bit, there was another attack yesterday. This one was in Cincinnati. Not terror related, but this was the attack on uh Vice President Vance's Ohio home. What happened?

Yeah, law enforcement arrested a 26-year-old man identified as William Defor yesterday. Prosecutors said that they charged him with felony vandalism, obstructing official business, criminal damaging or endangering, and criminal trespassing. Now, as you mentioned, this was at the vice president's home in Cincinnati. Vance said in a post on social media yesterday that as far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. Fortunately, he and his family were not at home. They had just returned to Washington after a brief stay in Cincinnati after the military action in Venezuela last week. Officials have not yet released any motive for the attack.

Well, still frightening. Tim, thanks for reporting. Thanks for having me on. Thanks for waking up with us. And for those of you watching, you may see we have this beautiful silver trophy here. This is from the Signal Awards. We actually got second place silver for the news and politics category and we so appreciate those of you who went online and voted for us. Um we are so honored to put on this show for you.

Yeah, it's only because of you that we got this award and that we really have this show at all. We'll be back this evening with the news you need to know.

Questions about this episode

What is "Maduro Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ & Tim Walz Withdraws" about?

Nicolas Maduro pleads not guilty to narco-trafficking charges, claiming U.S. authorities kidnapped him, while Minnesota Governor Tim Walz withdraws from the reelection race amid ongoing federal fraud investigations. Additionally, details emerge regarding a thwarted New Year’s Eve terror plot in North Carolina linked to ISIS.

What is mentioned in this Morning Wire episode?

32 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Isis, Nicolás Maduro, Morning Wire, Cameron Arcand, John Bickley, Anchor Bar. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Maduro Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ & Tim Walz Withdraws"?

The episode runs 15 min; the transcript is about 2,835 words in 39 timestamped sections.

More from Morning Wire

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 24, 2026.