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December 17, 2025 12 mins

The RSMS crew discussed President Donald Trump’s escalating pressure campaign against Venezuela, highlighted by his announcement of a full naval blockade on sanctioned oil tankers heading in and out of the country in an effort to squeeze President Nicolás Maduro’s regime and force political change — a move that has drawn both domestic and international scrutiny for its legality and potential to worsen regional tensions. 

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Speaker 1 (00:03):
The rio. Come on, money, God grant us brand new
mercies every single morning. In it's time for the praise break.
Let's start the day in prayer. And I want everybody
to please welcome my good friend past to keep Norman,

(00:23):
the senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Broad Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee.
Pastor Norman, Good morning, man.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Happy to have you. Good morning, Ricky Smiley and the
Ricky Smiley Morning Show. Come on, Let's go to God
in prayer. The blessing of God's glory is that He
is able to do far more abundantly for all of
us than we ever ask and or think. So today, Lord,
I want you to do the extraordinary. Do that which Lord,
we would never have fathomed or imagined in our own thinking.

(00:54):
But it is according to the power that works in us.
So God, let your power flow strong in each and
every one of the listeners today and to all of
those whom we come into contact with. And God, let
your power flow through us all throughout this day, and
Lord even over into the night, Because according to your
word in Ephesians chapter three, Verse twenty and twenty one,

(01:14):
You're able to do far more abundantly than we think
and or even ask. So God, if we haven't asked
for it, do it anyhow. And God, if it crosses
our mind, do it your way, Because Lord, you do
better for us, and do more for us than we
know how to ask for even ourselves. And do it
in the name of Jesus Christ, throughout all generations, forever

(01:36):
and ever. This is our prayer today for the Ricky
Smiley family. This is doctor Keith Norman at the First
Baptist Church, twenty eight thirty five Broad Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee,
with worship services each and every Sunday morning eight a m.
And ten thirty am. When you're in Memphis, combined seals
Alli Joan.

Speaker 1 (01:55):
That's my friend and brother past to keep Norman the
singing past a First Baptist Church, Broad Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. Now,
let's get this day going. It's the Ricks Mount and
Morning Show, all right, John Alfriedo's good morning, Good morning Ricky.

Speaker 3 (02:08):
It's Wednesday, December seventeenth. Here's what's going on in the news.
President Trump is escalating pressure on Venezuela, pushing to designate
President Nicholas Maduro's government as a foreign terrorist organization. And
ordering what he calls a total and complete blockade of
sanctioned oil shipments. Trump accuses of the government of ties
to terrorism and trafficking, and says pressure will stay on

(02:31):
until US assets, including oil infrastructure, are returned and the
US plans to keep that seized ship that they took.
Critics arguing the move echoes America's own history of seizing
land and resources now, though it's framed as national security.
President Trump will be addressing the nation tonight. Meanwhile, new

(02:51):
questions are swirling around the US military strike on a
suspected drug boat link to Venezuela. A group of bipartisan
senators say that full video of the so called double
tap strike will not be released to the public, even
though Trump said it would. Republicans say withholding the footage
is fine and that the strike was legal, while Democrats
claim the administration may be hiding potential war crimes. US

(03:14):
officials say three new strikes in the Eastern Pacific killed
eight alleged NUCO terrorist operating in international waters, and holiday
travelers could be in for a messy week on the
roads and in the air. A powerful storm system is
expected to move across the central and eastern US, bringing rain, fog, ice,
and possibly snow as we head toward Christmas. Behind that storm,

(03:37):
a surge of cold air could cause rain to flip
to snow, especially in parts of the Appalachians. The timing
couldn't be worse. Triple A expects a record one hundred
and twenty two point four million people to travel more
than fifty miles between December twentieth and New Year's Day.
If you're one of those travelers, plan ahead and keep
a close eye on forecasts. Print full on these stories

(03:58):
and more. Guttaicki's mydy morning showed. Now here's a look
at sports shure.

Speaker 4 (04:03):
Wamn, gentleman, let me tell y'all something, man, Rick, you
mentioned this the other day. Twenty six year old former
Las Vegas raider Henry Ruggs the third Yeah, graduated from
the University of Alabama, earning his bachelor's degree while still
in prison, he was sentenced to three to ten years
for causing a fatal crash back in twenty twenty three.
Hoping for a second chance, he finished with a four
point zero YEA.

Speaker 1 (04:23):
And what you think, man, He's a great kid. I
know him personally. He's from Montgomery, and I know him,
I love my respect, and he wanted the players that
I actually know. Every time I would go down there
at the University of Alabama, I would always run into
him and see him and stand there and have a
conversation with him, and you know, I, you know, God
give us, you know, second chances. Condolences to the lions

(04:45):
that was lost, whatever. But since he's still here and
still living after, you know, he do his time. You know,
I just hope that and hope and pray that he
get his life back and make good.

Speaker 2 (04:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
Yeah, he's a great kid. Bad mistake, that's all it was. Man.

Speaker 4 (05:01):
He could possibly get out next August or the following January.
So we'll see what happens with that. Right there, New
York next win an NBA Cup Championship to beat the Spurs.
Last night, and five time division champion boxer Terrence Bug
Crawford announced his retirement. He says, I ain't got nothing
else to prove, man, especially when he dismantled Canelo Alvarez
in his last fight.

Speaker 1 (05:20):
He's thirty eight forty two, and.

Speaker 4 (05:22):
Oh I would love to see him fight a couple
more times. But hey, man, you want to go out
on your own terms when.

Speaker 1 (05:27):
You get ready.

Speaker 4 (05:27):
So he's the best pound for pound in my opinion,
like even Mayweather. Yeah yeah, like Bud Crawford is the truth,
like for real, it is what it is. It's my
quick sports report right there. Good morning, bringdy.

Speaker 5 (05:40):
Tad, Good morning Rochi. Well y'all, Nelly got a surprise
on the way and it's nostalgic, y'all. Got to details
up next to the Hotspot on the Ricky Smiley Morning Show.

Speaker 1 (05:49):
Time for the hot Spot? What up, Brad?

Speaker 2 (05:51):
What up?

Speaker 1 (05:51):
Ricky?

Speaker 5 (05:52):
Good morning everybody. I'm your girl, Brad tat Tan and
this is the hot spot. But we bring you music,
movies and more. So let's get off into it.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
Well, y'all.

Speaker 5 (05:59):
Nelly just announced that metro Booman will executive produce the
first Saint Lunatics album in twenty five years. That the
news marks a major milestone for the group, whose legacy
has long been complicated by internal conflict. Now, Nelly and
I Lee have had years long disputes over royalties and
credits that led to a lawsuit type to Country Grammar,

(06:19):
but the case was ultimately dropped this year. That's a
long time, twenty twenty five, somebody must have said, let's
get to this money and do this tour and you know,
get back on the road. Well, the Saint Lunatics only
album was titled Free City, and it came out in
back in two thousand and one, and it reached number
three on the Billboard two hundred charts and it went platinum.
Now was still unclear which members will appear on the

(06:41):
new project, but metro Booman's involvement signals high profile comeback
for the group, and I hope it is amazing. You know,
they need to give us some more hits like they
did back in the day, and it'll be good to
see all of them back together, all.

Speaker 2 (06:55):
Right, y'all.

Speaker 5 (06:55):
Moving on, Sea Era has stepped into a major movement
for music and co cl She will be headlining TikTok's
very first award show. She'll take the stage at the
first ever TikTok Awards tomorrow night in Los Angeles, and
this marks TikTok's first official US based awards ceremony, celebrating
the creators, trans and viral moments that have shaped the

(07:17):
platform now. Sierra says, this moment is a perfect match
and there's nothing like performing for a community that loves movement,
music and expression as much as I do. The TikTok
Awards won on the top creators across music, fashion, comedy
and storytelling and fans can watch it all go down
live tomorrow on TikTok and to be all right, y'all, last,

(07:37):
but not least, twenty twenty five, who is a real
busy year for Young Thug Man. And now Mariah the
Scientist is getting her whist because just last night, Young
Thug officially popped the question yes, y'all he proposed. Videos
went viral of Young Thug proposing to Mariah in front
of a crowd, pulling out the engagement ring with the
words will you marry me? And that was displayed in

(08:00):
the background and she said yes, y'all. All this happened
during his hometown hero Young Thug and Friends benefit concert
to Stay for Marina in Atlanta last night. And just recently,
Mariah decided to share her desire to get married and
settle down.

Speaker 1 (08:14):
And here's what she said. I want to be married
and I.

Speaker 5 (08:17):
Want to Did everybody get the memo on that that
does so?

Speaker 6 (08:20):
And listen, that's my plan. I can't speak for everybody.

Speaker 4 (08:25):
That's my plan.

Speaker 6 (08:26):
Though, besides that, I still definitely feel like babies. I
want to be married first, Yes, I really do, because
I don't know. Maybe I just want a commitment that
doesn't involve an obligation.

Speaker 1 (08:38):
To a baby.

Speaker 5 (08:40):
Well, not long ago we saw something the young Thug
said he put a baby in us. So maybe she
pregnant and she wanted to go on and get married first.
We don't know yet, but she's twenty eight and she's
been dating Young Thug since twenty twenty one. So congratulations
go out to them, and we wish them well. All right, y'all.
For more information on these stories and more, you can
go to Ricky Smiley Morning Show dot com and you
could catch me on All my Social So so.

Speaker 1 (09:01):
Bread All Morning Show. What ab Alfritos? Hey, Ricky.

Speaker 3 (09:05):
If you think that you've seen every dessert trend imaginable,
think again. A grocery store chain called ste Lenards with
spots in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, just posted
a video of their vanilla soft served cone being dipped
in real butter and then sprinkle with salt. But it
creates this crispy, salty, sweet shell and the video Ricky

(09:28):
has racked up millions of views and likes on Instagram
and social media, and some people are intrigued. They're like, listen,
you gotta try this. This is a must try and
dog I got it's yummy. But others are like, what
the hell butter on ice cream? But you put butter
on ice cream when you make it?

Speaker 1 (09:43):
Absolutely because that's that's one of the recipes to making
the custard to create the ice cream.

Speaker 4 (09:49):
I'm about to say, have you ever tried fried butter?
It's actually it's great to use as a glaze or
a topping.

Speaker 1 (09:55):
Right, Well, I'm not sure about that. People be like,
just because you never heard heard or something, don't mean
that it's not love without me and missus Janney get
the arguing about it. I ain't never heard of that
is just because you ain't heard of it don't mean
it ain't good.

Speaker 2 (10:08):
That's right.

Speaker 3 (10:09):
Just like you said, this is one of those quirky
viral foods sensations. You just you have to see it
to believe it. But Ricky, what is your favorite big
back snack?

Speaker 1 (10:18):
Ah? Them damn Christmas Tree little dedicates that come out
on the n December. Yes, them damn Christmas Tree. When
you put them little hos and refrigerator and wash it
down with a sprite and lay on your couch and
have a week with sweet that.

Speaker 5 (10:37):
I can't do that, but you got something you needed to.

Speaker 1 (10:40):
Milk augury is is definitely wrong. But I just need
to burn my throat with the sprite bubbles because sprite
is is temper is five percent sprite and in ninety
battery acid. Absolutely know.

Speaker 4 (10:55):
And it's not so sweet like spider is a good
wrench down, it's a night.

Speaker 3 (11:02):
It's just a.

Speaker 1 (11:03):
Good wrench down beverage. Now, McDonald's sprite, that's a whole
that's all clean and everything. McDonald's brite and got the
got the stuff that just when my car would start.
You don't mean to get corrosion on your battery. Up.
If you ever get corrosion on your battery, supposed to
McDonald's sprite on it and watch your cost started. Cola
would do it. Yeah, the big the big back snake.

Speaker 2 (11:28):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (11:29):
And it's the people that Burnham make some good sweet
potato piles about about five about about five of them
and freeze them up on you. And they don't need
no ice cream. They don't need It's a lot of
big back snakes, old school peanut butter and jelly. Oh yeah,
I'm a man that loved me here but peanut butter
with peanuts and mine smooth.

Speaker 4 (11:50):
I like you crooked as nuts in your peanut.

Speaker 1 (11:56):
You want nothing,
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