FULL SHOW | US launches strike against Venezuela and captures President; Deion Sanders and Karrueche Tran confirm relationship; Beyoncé reaches billionaire status; CDC announces worst flu season since 2018; and MORE

The Rickey Smiley Morning Show kicked off with jaw-dropping international news: the U.S. launched a major military strike in Venezuela and successfully captured President Nicolás Maduro along with his wife early on January 3. The operation, dubbed “Absolute Resolve,” involved over 150 U.S. aircraft and special forces, targeting multiple military sites before evacuating Maduro to New York to face narcotics charges. The strike prompted global backlash, with Russia and China denouncing it as a violation of sovereignty, the U.N. Security Council calling an emergency session, and neighboring airspace closures disrupting Caribbean travel.   In entertainment news, Deion Sanders and actress Karrueche Tran made their relationship official, confirming they’re an item after months of speculation. Sanders' son even introduced Tran to his siblings as their "stepmom" in a Christmas Eve vlog, and the couple shared affectionate moments sideline at a Cleveland Browns game. Beyoncé joined the billionaire club, becoming the fifth musician to achieve Forbes' wealth milestone thanks to her record-breaking Cowboy Carter tour—grossing over $400 million—and lucrative ventures in fashion, whiskey, and entertainment. On the health front, the CDC labeled this flu season the worst since 2018, estimating over 11 million cases and 120,000 hospitalizations in just the 2025–26 season, with more than 3,100 deaths already recorded—driven largely by the aggressive H3N2 strain; flu activity remains elevated nationally.   Website: https://www.urban1podcasts.com/rickey-smiley-morning-show See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.