Pennsylvania Democrat Senator John Fetterman ripped the legacy media and strongly defended the Trump administration over its actions vis-à-vis Venezuela, including strikes on suspected narco-terrorist boats and seizing an oil tanker used by Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

Last week, the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, targeting Venezuela’s state-owned oil industry and primary source of funding. Since September, the U.S. military has also knocked out over 20 boats and submarines in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean in strikes targeting narco-terrorists.

NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo asked Fetterman about a briefing he had attended about the situation, saying, “What did you learn, Senator, that gave you any comfort that we’re not heading into some kind of extended military exercise around Venezuela or in Venezuela?”

“I thought it was pretty comprehensive,” Fetterman replied. He then criticized the media for attacking the Trump administration on the issue.

“And this idea, some things out in the media, it’s kind of putting out this — that the military’s just picking off any boat that comes across. That’s just not true,” Fetterman said. “I mean, there’s extensive intelligence and they know exactly who’s on that boat and they know what’s actually on that boat right now. And it’s quite frequently they decline to take it into (a) move on those things. When they move on those kinetic kinds of strikes, you know, they have absolute confidence who’s on it and what’s on it, and that’s exactly what it’s about. They are not just going around randomly shooting boats and those things. That’s just not the fact.”

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Cuomo brought up President Donald Trump’s statement in which he ordered a “complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela and accused the Maduro regime of stealing oil and land.

“What did they steal?” Cuomo asked Fetterman.

“Iran is involved on that and Russia is involved on that and China as well, too,” the senator responded. “That’s sanctioned oil right now … and those are the kinds of funds that support regimes like Iran’s. It’s not a plan like a land war and invade Venezuela, but seizing those kinds of oil tankers … it’s undeniable that that’s gonna support Iran … those are the kinds of fund that are going to be used for illicit things like terrorism. So for me, it makes a lot of sense, at least what I’ve seen.”

Tim Pearce contributed to this article.

While Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer kept the federal government shut down, the radical Left was hard at work in California crusading against the patriots who feed and clothe our country.

The latest episode in Governor Gavin Newsom’s war against agriculture comes in the form of redistributing agricultural land in the name of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

The California Agricultural Land Equity Task Force is thinking up clever ways to steal land from hardworking farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers to pay reparations to tribes and other minorities in the form of land. Even more troubling, they doubtless plan to use this scheme as a template for future use at the national level.

We won’t allow it.

That’s why on December 11, I sent a letter to Governor Newsom outlining the substantial constitutional issues with the Task Force’s draft report.

In that letter, I note that “the right to own private property and our nation’s agricultural heritage are an inseparable cornerstone of the American dream and ingrained in the very fabric of our nation. The pursuit of a noble lifestyle in agriculture should transcend the pernicious identity-based politics that only serves to drive division.”

I am demanding that Governor Newsom reject and abandon any attempt to pursue the illegal recommendations in the Task Force’s report. It is unconscionable that hardworking farmers are being demeaned and shut out of opportunities simply because they don’t meet the state’s definition of “equity.”

No matter your family history, culture, or skin color, you should have equal access to government programs that can help you pursue the most American way of life: agriculture.

In the report, California proposes incentivizing the transfer of both public and private agricultural lands exclusively to tribal nations, African Americans who are the descendants of slaves, and certain other minorities.

But the blatant disregard for justice doesn’t stop there.

The report also recommends the development of local ordinances to restrict citizens from purchasing land unless they are part of a certain minority group.

This policy would encourage the state and nonprofits to outbid legacy farms at auction and then only offer agricultural leases back to minority farmers after the purchase. Tax credits, debt forgiveness, special funding, and even priority in important farm conservation programs would only be allowed to benefit a few select minority demographics.

In a move we’ve come to expect from the radical left, the report even encourages the adoption of laws requiring “climate”-related agricultural practices for the new minority landowners.

Some might be tempted to dismiss this report as a pipe dream. That would be a mistake.

Newsom and his cronies are reckless fools, but they mean business. This report is thought out and comprehensive.

California agriculture is an economic powerhouse. On its own, it ranks as the world’s fifth-largest supplier of food. That’s why what happens to agriculture in California is vitally important for the rest of the country.

Make no mistake, the proposal being discussed right now would not only hurt farmers in California, but every American.

While the Trump administration is working hard to reduce the price of food across the nation, Gavin Newsom is concocting new ways to drive up food inflation.

This radical DEI agenda needs to be stopped in its tracks, immediately. We are committed to fighting for all farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers — no matter their ZIP code.

Brooke Rollins is the 33rd Secretary of Agriculture.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.