Podcasts about Caracas

Guest: Professor Evan Ellis. Ellis describes the unstable power dynamics in Venezuela, where the Rodriguez faction cooperates with the U.S. on oil to prevent economic collapse. He warns that rival criminal factions, including the ELNand military figures, may sabotage this arrangement if they fear being betrayed or marginalized by the current leadership.1870 CARACAS

El 5 de febrero se estrena la película “Aún es de noche en Caracas”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly preparing to warn Venezuela's new leadership about future U.S. military action—and that's just the opening act. In this sprawling and intense episode, the hosts break down how decades-old sanctions handed China cheap Venezuelan oil

Enjoyed this episode or the podcast in general? Send me a text message:A supercarrier doesn't just vanish for drama; it goes silent to change the fight. We follow the USS Abraham Lincoln as it cuts its transponder, enters emission control, and sprints from the South China Sea toward Iran, transforming from a visible symbol into a hunting platform built for electronic dominance. Along the way, we unpack how stealth aircraft, Growler jamming, and cyber effects turn a carrier strike group into a mobile switch that can dim an adversary's defenses from hundreds of miles out.We draw a straight line from the “electronic curtain” used during the Caracas raid to the calculus now facing Tehran. Iran's anti-access area denial—coastal missiles, layered radars, and long-range shooters—depends on a clean targeting chain. Ghost mode breaks that chain by forcing radars to emit and reveal themselves, giving the Navy the first clear shot in the electromagnetic spectrum. We also revisit the Red Sea's grinding lessons: how static deterrence, bright signatures, and crowded lanes almost broke crews and triggered tragedies, and why the new doctrine is to stop being a target and start being a specter.Now the stakes rise as bombers land in theater, regional fighters spool up, and air defenses shift into position. The Strait of Hormuz narrows the margin for error, where invisibility protects against missiles but complicates navigation among tankers. We share what a potential day-one strike would look like, what Iran's proxies could attempt at sea, and how a critical 72-hour window might define the next phase of global security. If the carrier's lights come back on near a friendly port, deterrence may have worked; if not, the sky could tell the story first.If this deep dive into strategy, electronic warfare, and carrier operations got you thinking, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find it. What do you think happens next?Support the showTo help support this podcast and become a PilotPhotog ProCast member: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1555784/supportIf you enjoy this episode, subscribe to this podcast, you can find links to most podcast streaming services here: PilotPhotog Podcast (buzzsprout.com) Sign up for the free weekly newsletter Hangar Flyingwith Tog here: https://hangarflyingwithtog.com You can check out my YouTube channel for many videos on fighter planes here: https://youtube.com/c/PilotPhotog If you'd like to support this podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PilotPhotog And finally, you can follow me on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/pilotphotog

No 3 em 1 desta quarta-feira (28), o destaque foram os registros do Gabinete de Segurança Institucional (GSI) que indicam que Daniel Vorcaro, dono do Banco Master, esteve no Palácio do Planalto ao menos quatro vezes entre 2023 e 2024. Apesar das entradas, o nome do empresário não aparece nas agendas oficiais das autoridades do Executivo, segundo apuração de Janaína Camelo. Ainda sobre o caso Banco Master, o relator da CPI do Crime Organizado, senador Alessandro Vieira (MDB-SE), afirmou que há indícios de crime organizado e que estuda incluir o tema no escopo da comissão. Segundo ele, há relatos de relações suspeitas do grupo controlador do banco com figuras dos três Poderes, o que pode levar a pedidos de quebra de sigilo fiscal, bancário e telemático dos envolvidos. No Congresso, governo e oposição articulam a criação de uma CPI ou CPMI para investigar o caso Banco Master. De acordo com Bruno Pinheiro, há consenso sobre a necessidade de apuração, embora persistam divergências quanto a requerimentos e convocações, em meio à troca de acusações entre aliados do governo e a oposição. No campo político, o governador de Goiás, Ronaldo Caiado, deixou o União Brasil e se filiou ao PSD após conversas com lideranças do campo bolsonarista, incluindo o senador Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ). Segundo Misael Mainetti, Caiado defende a pulverização das candidaturas presidenciais como estratégia para impedir um quarto mandato do presidente Lula. A mudança de partido gerou reação do presidente do Solidariedade, Paulinho da Força, que afirmou que Caiado abriu mão da candidatura presidencial ao se filiar ao PSD e declarou que o governador “caiu no conto de Gilberto Kassab”. A troca de legenda surpreendeu aliados e repercutiu nos bastidores políticos. No cenário internacional, o governo dos Estados Unidos elevou o tom contra a presidente interina da Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez. O secretário de Estado, Marco Rubio, afirmou que ela pode ter o mesmo destino de Nicolás Maduro, que está sob custódia americana, aumentando a tensão entre Washington e Caracas. Na agenda institucional, o ministro da Justiça, Wellington César Lima e Silva, se reuniu com o presidente da Câmara, Hugo Motta, e com o procurador-geral da República, Paulo Gonet, em busca de alinhamento sobre a pauta da segurança pública. Entre os temas discutidos estão a PEC da Segurança e o projeto de lei antifacção, que tratam do endurecimento contra organizações criminosas. Durante discurso no Fórum Econômico da América Latina e do Caribe, no Panamá, o presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) defendeu maior integração entre os países da região e afirmou que a divisão torna o continente mais frágil no cenário internacional. Sem citar diretamente os Estados Unidos, Lula criticou operações militares e disse que o uso da força não resolve os problemas dos povos. No Legislativo, o líder do PT na Câmara, deputado Lindbergh Farias, afirmou que o acordo entre Mercosul e União Europeia pode ser votado antes do Carnaval. A declaração foi feita após reunião de líderes com o presidente da Câmara, Hugo Motta, que também definiu a votação de medidas provisórias e a organização da pauta econômica e social das próximas semanas. No Supremo Tribunal Federal, o ministro Alexandre de Moraes concedeu liminar retirando as despesas do Ministério Público da União (MPU) do teto de gastos. A decisão atendeu a um pedido da Procuradoria-Geral da República, que alegou a necessidade de paridade de tratamento entre o Judiciário e o Ministério Público em relação às receitas próprias dos órgãos. Tudo isso e muito mais você acompanha no 3 em 1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When US Special Forces captured Venezuela's former president Nicolás Maduro several weeks ago, many wondered whether his ouster would bring about further changes to the country. So, what has changed in Venezuela? And while President Trump has made it clear he sees oil as a very important priority for the United States's future relationship with Venezuela and increased American involvement in the country's oil operations, how do Venezuelans feel about this prospect? Our guest today, reporting from inside Venezuela, is BBC correspondent Norberto Paredes. How do Venezuelans feel about their country since Maduro's departure? Producers: Lucy Pawle, Sam Chantarasak and Hannah Moore Executive producer: Bridget Harney Sound engineer: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins (Photo: People walk past a painting of an oil pump on Venezuela's national flag, in Caracas. Credit: Gaby Oráa/Reuters)

Entrevista Omar Lugo desde Caracas - ¿Cómo sigue la situación en Venezuela? ¿Cuáles son las reformas que ha implementado el gobierno de Delcy Rodríguez? by En Perspectiva

SHOW SCHEDULE 1-26-261808 GREAT HALL BANK OF ENGLAND Bill Roggio and Husain Haqqani discuss global turmoil and confrontation, examining U.S. policy failures in Afghanistan. The conversation addresses the ongoing consequences of American withdrawal and the resurgence of threats in the region, highlighting how strategic missteps continue to destabilize the area and embolden adversaries. Bill Roggio and Husain Haqqani examine how Africa remains unprotected from jihadists and plunderers. The discussion explores the continent's vulnerability to extremist expansion and resource exploitation, with weak governance and insufficient international attention allowing terrorist networks and predatory actors to operate with increasing impunity across multiple nations. Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Pena Esclusa analyze Venezuela's posture of public defiance while remaining privately obedient to the Trump administration. The segment explores the contradictions in Caracas's diplomatic stance, suggesting the regime's theatrical resistance masks behind-the-scenes accommodations driven by economic pressure and political survival calculations. Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Pena Esclusa report on a spontaneous Rio rally supporting the Bolsonaro family. The demonstration reflects continued popular backing for the former Brazilian president despite legal challenges, indicating that conservative movements in Latin America retain significant grassroots energy and organizational capacity. Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter discuss Iran's ongoing executions and mass murders. The segment details the regime's brutal crackdown on dissent, highlighting the systematic use of capital punishment against protesters and minorities as Tehran intensifies domestic repression amid international isolation and internal unrest. Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter examine Saudi Arabia's internal disagreements over a potential air campaign against Iran. The conversation explores Riyadh's strategic calculations, balancing regional security concerns against the risks of direct military confrontation with Tehran and the complexities of American alliance dynamics. Mark Simon and Gordon Chang address Hong Kong's persecution of democracy advocates through show trials. The discussion highlights Beijing's systematic dismantling of civil liberties, using the judicial system to silence opposition figures and signal that resistance to Communist Party authority will face severe consequences. Brandon Weichert and Gordon Chang analyze the PRC using ground-based nodes to influence states. The segment examines China's expanding infrastructure of political and economic pressure points, demonstrating how Beijing leverages physical assets to project power and shape foreign government policies. John Hardie reports that Russia continues targeting heat and light infrastructure in Kyiv, while Ukraine retaliates by striking Russian infrastructure. The segment examines the escalating war of attrition against civilian utilities as both sides seek to undermine morale and economic capacity through systematic attacks on essential services. Jack Burnham reveals that Chinese academics have been granted easy access to Energy Departmentsupercomputing resources used in nuclear weapon simulations. The discussion highlights alarming security lapses allowing potential adversaries to benefit from sensitive American technology with direct military applications and strategic implications. Cleo Paskal and Bill Roggio examine the PRC threat to Oceania from Guam's perspective. The segment details China's aggressive influence peddling and buying throughout the Pacific islands, as Beijing systematically works to undermine American strategic positioning and cultivate dependent relationships across the region. Cleo Paskal and Bill Roggio discuss the UK's giveaway of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, highlighting China's influence over the Mauritian government. The transfer raises concerns about Beijing potentially gaining strategic access to a critical Indian Ocean location near vital shipping lanes and military installations. Ahmad Sharawi reports that Al Sharaa continues attacking minorities in Syria, with Kurds being driven back while the U.S. stands aside. The Druze community also faces assault as the new regime consolidates power through ethnic persecution despite initial promises of inclusive governance. Janatyn Sayeh describes Iran's mass murders amid a broken economy with no communications or internet access. The segment portrays a regime in crisis, resorting to extreme violence against its population while infrastructure collapse and international isolation accelerate the government's deteriorating grip on power. David Daoud examines how Hezbollah reigns over villages in Lebanon. The segment details the organization's methods of social control, combining armed intimidation with provision of services to maintain dominance over Shia communities and enforce loyalty to the movement's political and military agenda. David Daoud explores what Hezbollah will manage if Tehran fails. The discussion considers the organization's future autonomy and survival prospects should its Iranian patron collapse, examining whether the group can sustain itself independently or faces inevitable decline without external support.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—sharp words out of Caracas, where Venezuela's acting leader is openly defying the Trump administration and rejecting claims she's governing at Washington's direction. Later in the show—we return to a story we've been tracking for some time: Israel's quiet support for armed Palestinian militias inside Gaza, with new reporting shedding light on its effort to weaken Hamas from within. Plus—a somber milestone in the Gaza conflict, as Israel recovers the remains of the last remaining hostage, clearing a major hurdle in the ongoing peace plan. And in today's Back of the Brief—TikTok survives Washington's ban threat, agreeing to create new U.S.-based operations in an effort to ease national security concerns. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Joi + Blokes: Go to http://joiandblokes.com/PDB and use code PDB for 50% off your labs and 20% off all supplements Nobl Travel: Protect your gear and travel smarter—NOBL's zipper-free carry-on is up to 58% off at https://NOBLTravel.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

En la emisión de este lunes de “Me lo dijo Adela”, Kim Armengol analiza los temas más importantes de la agenda nacional e internacional, con entrevistas y mesas de discusión que incluyen al doctor Carlos Heredia sobre el artículo “Power on Paper” de The Economist, el especialista en seguridad Carlos Matienzo sobre la masacre en Salamanca, Guanajuato, y la participación de Damián Zepeda, Arturo Ávila y Juan Zavala comentando violencia, política y encuestas de seguridad. Además, el actor Edgar Ramírez presenta la película “Aún es de noche en Caracas”, que retrata la crisis en Venezuela, mientras la emisión ofrece información deportiva y reportajes de investigación desde Sinaloa y Guanajuato sobre crimen organizado y violencia. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of El Niño Speaks, José Niño sits down with Padraig Martin to examine the Israeli role in Venezuela and why the latest upheavals around Caracas can't be understood without asking who stands to gain from the aftermath.Padraig, a former Marine and former U.S. government contractor with deep experience in international logistics and energy-adjacent supply chains, lays out how energy security, AI-era power demand, and financial plumbing factor into Venezuela's strategic value. They also discuss the Isaac Accords, regional pressure points like Colombia and Panama, and what a tighter Israel–Latin America alignment could mean for the future of the Western Hemisphere.Follow Padraig Martin and his work:* Twitter/X: https://x.com/PadraigMartinID* Gab: https://gab.com/padraigmartin* Media appearances: https://www.thepoliticalcesspool.org/jamesedwards/?s=padraig+martinIf you liked the show, feel free to continue supporting my work. Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/joseninoVenmo: https://venmo.com/u/Jose-Nino-14 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.josealnino.org/subscribe

Trump erklärte, dass eine geheime Waffe den US-Spezialeinheiten ermöglichte, gegnerisches Kriegsgerät auszuschalten und so Maduro und seine Frau in ihrer Residenz in Caracas festzunehmen.

Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Pena Esclusa analyze Venezuela's posture of public defiance while remaining privately obedient to the Trump administration. The segment explores the contradictions in Caracas's diplomatic stance, suggesting the regime's theatrical resistance masks behind-the-scenes accommodations driven by economic pressure and political survival calculations.

Enjoyed this episode or the podcast in general? Send me a text message:A defended capital went dark, the radars filled with ghosts, and minutes later the target was airborne over open water. We take you inside Operation Absolute Resolve, our most detailed breakdown yet of how stealth ISR, electronic warfare, and Tier 1 aviation converged to capture Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores from the heart of Caracas without igniting a regional war.We start with the long game: RQ-170 Sentinels threading radar seams while Space Force and NGA built a living map of habits, routes, and rooms. From there, EA-18G Growlers and the Next Generation Jammer flipped Venezuela's integrated air defense system on its head, projecting believable phantoms while F-35s fused emissions and cued AARGM-ER shots to surgically decapitate fire-control radars. Air superiority, locked by F-22 Raptors, made any scramble a non-starter. With the shield broken, B-1B Lancers used precision JDAMs to silence command nodes and cut high-altitude comms, turning coordination into chaos.Then the blades arrived. The 160th SOAR's MH-47Gs and MH-60Ms rode terrain-following radars through the valleys, flared into Fuerte Tiuna, absorbed fire, and answered with DAP miniguns while Delta isolated the compound and secured the principals. We unpack the mission's biggest mystery—an 114-minute ground window—through two lenses: a hardened safe-room breach that demanded thermal tools under pressure, and a clandestine lily pad refuel and cross-deck that extended range and security through the mountains. We also address the sonic weapon rumors and lay out the more likely culprit: pressure-wave injuries from overlapping precision fires in an urban canyon.Finally, we connect a haunting anniversary. Thirty-six years after Noriega's capture, the legal logic looks familiar, but the mechanics are transformed—from sledgehammer invasion to scalpel-like spectrum dominance, where cyber, EW, stealth, and rotorcraft choreography achieve strategic effects with a zero-footprint signature. If you care about modern air combat, integrated air defense suppression, special operations aviation, and the future of high-value targeting, this deep dive is your playbook. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves airpower, and leave a review telling us your take on the 114-minute gap—standoff, lily pad, or both?Support the showTo help support this podcast and become a PilotPhotog ProCast member: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1555784/supportIf you enjoy this episode, subscribe to this podcast, you can find links to most podcast streaming services here: PilotPhotog Podcast (buzzsprout.com) Sign up for the free weekly newsletter Hangar Flyingwith Tog here: https://hangarflyingwithtog.com You can check out my YouTube channel for many videos on fighter planes here: https://youtube.com/c/PilotPhotog If you'd like to support this podcast via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PilotPhotog And finally, you can follow me on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/pilotphotog

SEGMENT 15: TRUMP TARGETS DICTATORS IN CARACAS, HAVANA, AND TEHRAN Guest: Cliff May (FDD) May argues Trump is aggressively pursuing regime change against the dictatorships in Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran. Discussion examines the administration's maximum pressure campaigns, weakened positions of Maduro, Díaz-Canel, and Iranian leadership, and whether coordinated American pressure can finally topple these longstanding authoritarian regimes in the hemisphere and beyond.1861

Dollars are trickling back into Venezuela, they're the proceeds from the oil seized and by the U.S. That is helping to stabilize runaway prices in Venezuela—at least on paper. But for ordinary shoppers in Caracas, market prices remain dizzying, and families still struggle to make ends meet.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Reports have come out alleging that Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodríguez coordinated with Washington before the special force attack on Caracas to seize President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3. The result is a strange hybrid of Venezuela's socialist government still in place and now working with (or rather under) President Donald Trump. It's not the only curious and confusing feature of the “regime decapitation.” The CIA is now openly praising working with Rodríguez and it leaked a report saying that opposition leader María Corina Machado didn't have the support (before she gave her Nobel peace prize to Trump). Can the Chavista government stay in power or is this a temporary situation? What really motivated Trump to take out Maduro and when did he make the call? I get deep into the historic events with great journalist and friend Juan David Rojas, “our man in Miami,” (or close by in South Florida) in this latest episode of the CrashOut Podcast. You can find more of Juan's work in various outlets, including Compact Magazine, at his own Substack, Social Democracy With Populist Characteristics, or on X at @rojasrjuand. To find out more, go to www.crashoutmedia.comSupport the show

In Part 2 of Mike Drop Podcast Ep. 275, host Mike Ritland talks with retired DEA agent Wes Tabor about his high-risk undercover work in Venezuela under Chávez and Maduro — from diplomatic cover, assassination threats, and fortified life in Caracas to surviving contracts on his head. They dive into Maduro's recent fall, the power vacuum, María Corina Machado's potential role, U.S. strategy, narco-terrorism ops, foreign influences, and why tackling Mexican cartels is far riskier. Raw, insider insights on geopolitics and counter-narcotics in the Western Hemisphere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

VIEW FOR LATER TODAY: VENEZUELA'S FAILED DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION Guest: Mary Anastasia O'Grady O'Grady reports the US hope for Venezuelan democracy is failing because Delcy Rodriguez built no institutions respecting President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez. The Interior Minister controls police and prisons holding 800 political prisoners while accumulating weapons and power, serving as the major obstacle to restoring democracy.1954 CARACAS

Unleashed: The Political News Hour with Nate Cain – This episode examines communist ideology driving unrest in U.S. cities and shaping global threats abroad. Featuring Dr. Eric Patterson, it explores national security, Venezuela's regime collapse, and rising socialism among American youth, while outlining legal, educational, and cultural strategies to confront Marxism and defend freedom at home and overseas...

durée : 00:03:38 - Sous les radars - par : Sébastien LAUGENIE - Selon la présidente par intérim Dulcy Rodriguez, la présidente par intérim, a expliqué que les Etats-Unis avaient versé 300 millions de dollars au Venezuela. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

durée : 00:03:38 - Sous les radars - par : Sébastien LAUGENIE - Selon la présidente par intérim Dulcy Rodriguez, la présidente par intérim, a expliqué que les Etats-Unis avaient versé 300 millions de dollars au Venezuela. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up—we've been closely tracking a growing U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, and now we're getting clarification on why it's happening, as President Trump reportedly presses his generals for “decisive” action against Iran. Later in the show—another Venezuelan oil tanker is intercepted, marking the seventh seizure as Washington escalates enforcement of sanctions on Caracas. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief CBDistillery: Visit https://CBDistillery.comand use promo code PDB for 25% off your entire order! QUO: Make this the year where no opportunity slips away. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://Quo.com/PDB   American Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1881 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Watch the full podcast! https://chinauncensored.tv/programs/podcast-323 Did the US use up all its potential for surprise in Venezuela? Can the US even pull off another Caracas? Have Iran and China already prepared for this in the last two weeks? Joining us is former Marine Intelligence Officer Grant Newsham.

Our guest today is J. K. Amerson López, author of the book Embassy Kid. Kelly grew up in a U.S. diplomat family in the 1950's and 1960's in Latin America, Italy, and Spain. In this episode, Kelly shares stories from her book and her childhood growing up in the warmth of Caracas and Bogota immersed in Spanish and the adventure of exploring Italy with her family unit. She learned to be a professional American overseas, but when she returned to the U.S. for middle and high school, the same skill set was underappreciated.EmbassyKid.comSee photos of our guests and sign up for our email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠roundtripstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow @roundtripstoriespodcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan marks President Trump's one year back in office, examining the progress and limits of Trump's Five Bucket Strategy on the economy, energy, industry, and global power. He breaks down rising political radicalism on the Left, new polling showing growing tolerance for violence, and why immigration enforcement has become the flashpoint. Bryan then turns to the accelerating AI Revolution, explaining which jobs are disappearing, why even high-skill workers are now vulnerable, and what advice he would give young Americans navigating an AI-driven future. The episode closes with global updates on China's demographic collapse, a first-ever Chinese drone incursion into Taiwan's airspace, Iran's crackdown on protestors, and a revealing meeting between the CIA Director and Venezuela's new leadership that appears to be restoring order in Caracas.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: January 20 2026 Wright Report, Trump one year back in office, Five Bucket Strategy assessment, anti-ICE protests violence polling, Democrat radicalization Axios, AI Revolution job losses Stanford study, Claude AI labor disruption, China population decline birthrate, Taiwan Chinese drone incursion, Iran protest crackdown ultimatum, CIA Director Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First up— Iran's tightly controlled propaganda apparatus suffers a rare and embarrassing breach, as hackers hijack state television to broadcast footage of exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi and images of anti-government protests the regime has worked to suppress. Later in the show— CIA Director John Ratcliffe makes a high-stakes trip to Caracas, meeting with Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez in the most senior U.S. engagement since Nicolás Maduro's ouster. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.  YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief American Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1881 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB. BRUNT Workwear: Get $10 Off at BRUNT with code PDB at https://www.bruntworkwear.com/PDB#Bruntpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

durée : 00:58:15 - Cultures Monde - par : Julie Gacon, Mélanie Chalandon - Le 3 janvier 2025, les États-Unis capturaient le président vénézuélien, Nicolás Maduro, au terme de l'opération "Absolute Resolve". Depuis, Washington entend exercer une pression directe sur le régime vénézuélien pour que celui-ci coopère davantage malgré 25 ans d'antagonisme. - réalisation : Vivian Lecuivre - invités : Christophe Ventura Journaliste au Monde diplomatique, directeur de recherches à l'IRIS, responsable du programme Amérique latine et Caraïbes; Serge Ollivier historien, docteur de l'Université paris I panthéon-Sorbonne et enseignant au MRIAE (Magistère de Relations Internationales et d'Action à l'Etranger) ; Iris Marjolet Doctorante à l'Institut français de recherche sur l'Asie de l'Est (Inalco/ Université de Paris/ CNRS), associée au centre Thucydide (Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas)

Journalist Mariana Zúñiga woke up in the middle of the night to the sounds of explosions and military planes in Caracas, Venezuela. Her WhatsApp chats flashed the news: The ruling dictator, Nicholás Maduro, had just been captured by the US military. She was surprised and felt uneasy about what was to come.In the days that followed, Zúñiga would go into the field, despite the dangers journalists face, to report on what the country feels like at this tumultuous moment. This week on Reveal, we speak with Venezuelans about witnessing this moment of history from up close and afar. For Freddy Guevara, an exiled Venezuelan opposition leader living in the US, there is little confidence in the country's new leadership. “They are not moderate at all,” Guevara says. “They are super radical, and they believe they are smarter than everyone.” And historian Alejandro Velasco explains the role Venezuela's most valuable resource—oil—has played in the country's history and relations with the US. Support Reveal's journalism at Revealnews.org/donatenow Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the scoop on new episodes at Revealnews.org/weekly Connect with us onBluesky, Facebook and Instagram Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Trump at a private White House meeting, calling it a recognition of his “unique commitment” to Venezuelan freedom. Mr Trump posted on social media that it was a gesture of mutual respect, and thanked her. The talks come weeks after US forces seized Nicolas Maduro in Caracas and charged him with drug trafficking. Also: President Trump threatens to deploy military personnel to Minnesota as tensions grow over the deployment of ICE officers in the city of Minneapolis. Families of protestors killed in Iran say they are being charged large sums of money to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones. Scientists unveil a detailed new map of the landscape beneath Antarctica's ice. Canada's prime minister Mark Carney meets China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing as both countries seek to forge closer ties. We hear why more people are cutting out alcohol all year round, and how naturally mummified cheetahs found in a Saudi cave are yielding rare DNA from an extinct population.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

SHOW SCHEDULE1-15-25`1923 GREENLAND Rival Factions Contending for Power in Post-Maduro Venezuela. Guest: PROFESSOR EVAN ELLIS, U.S. Army War College. Following Maduro's detention, four major crime families are competing for authority in Caracas, including the Rodriguez siblings and military leadership. While Delcy Rodriguez shows cautious cooperation with the U.S. regarding oil and prisoners, the country remains unstable as criminal interests and political repression continue to stifle progress. Cuba's Collapse Amidst U.S. Oil Blockade and Economic Ruin. Guest: PROFESSOR EVAN ELLIS, U.S. Army War College. The Trump administration has halted oil shipments to Cuba, exacerbating a crisis where the electrical grid is failing and life is becoming "impossible." Despite minimal aid from Mexico, the repressive communist apparatus remains ingrained, and the regime is expected to muddle through despite massive out-migration. Regional Tensions: U.S. Pressure on Mexico and South American Shifts. Guest: PROFESSOR EVAN ELLIS, U.S. Army War College. The U.S. is pushing Mexico for joint military operations against cartels, forcing President Sheinbaum into a "delicate dance" to protect sovereignty. Meanwhile, Brazil's Lula balances leftist ties against a conservative military, and Colombia shows a potential shift to the right as Petro's policies face significant discredit. Trade Integration and Security Concerns in Mercosur and Costa Rica. Guest: PROFESSOR EVAN ELLIS, U.S. Army War College. Mercosur has achieved a historic trade deal with the European Union, potentially offsetting U.S. economic pressure and deepening ties with China. In Costa Rica, rising public insecurity has led the government to consider El Salvador's "mega-prison" model as they head into elections dominated by concerns over organized crime. The Risks of Seizing Russia's Shadow Fleet at Sea. Guest: ANATOL LIEVEN, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. The U.S. seizure of Russian-owned "shadow fleet" tankers raises the risk of a direct military clash if European nations follow suit. Russia views a maritime blockade as an act of war. Hardliners in the Kremlin may seek to escalate to terrify the West into withdrawing support from Ukraine. Russia's Role as a Stabilizing Factor in Middle East Tensions. Guest: ANATOL LIEVEN, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Russia has reportedly arbitrated between Jerusalem and Tehran to prevent preemptive strikes and maintain stability in Eurasia. While Russia lacks the power to defend Iran from a U.S. attack, it seeks to avoid regional instability. Russia's diplomatic approach contrasts with perceived universal aggression from other global actors. Economic Realities: Chinese Struggles and U.S. Consumer Strength. Guest: CHRIS RIEGEL, CEO of Stratacache. China's economy is struggling, evidenced by declining imports of raw materials and factory workers facing destitution. In contrast, the U.S. economy remains strong, with banner retail sales during the Christmasseason. However, the "K-shaped" economy shows consumer fatigue in the quick-service restaurant sector. Strategies for a Democratic Transition in Venezuela and Cuba. Guest: CLIFF MAY, Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Marco Rubio is reportedly developing a plan for a gradual transition in Venezuela by making specific demands on the remaining "gangster regime." By cutting off subsidized oil to Cuba, the U.S. hopes to cause the collapse of the Castroite regime, encouraging people to seek liberation from tyranny. Canada's Strategic Pivot to China. Guest: CONRAD BLACK. Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting Chinato establish a "new strategic partnership" and a "new world order." This mission serves as a "Plan B" to offset potential trade losses with the United States under President Trump, specifically regarding strategic minerals and the renewal of the USMCA agreement. The Upwardly Mobile but Anxious Middle Class. Guest: VERONIQUE DE RUGY. Despite reports of a shrinking middle class, data shows many individuals are actually moving into the upper middle class. However, significant anxiety remains due to rising costs in government-regulated sectors like healthcare, housing, and education. This discontent leads to a search for scapegoats among the elite. Cosmological Mysteries: The Little Red Dots. Guest: DINESH NANDAL. The James Webb Space Telescopediscovered "little red dots"—compact, bright objects in the early universe that are not easily explained as galaxies or accreting black holes. These findings challenge the standard model of cosmology, suggesting the universe matured much earlier than previously thought by 21st-century scientists. Mapping the Future of Space Observation. Guest: DINESH NANDAL. Advancing cosmology requires a "James Webb 2.0" with larger mirrors and a successor to the Chandra X-ray telescope. Funding is also needed for researchers to develop new mathematical models. While AI can assist with pattern recognition, human physicists remain essential for creating the necessary new theoretical frameworks. Sovereignty and the Russian Identity Crisis. Guest: GREGORY COPLEY. Sovereignty is fundamentally tied to geography and identity. In the current period of "cratomorphosis," Russia exhibits defensive nationalism rather than expansionism. To the Kremlin, Ukraine remains the "cradle of Russia," making its loss a profound threat to Russian ethos, historical religious origins, and its personal identity. China's Quest for Legitimacy and Defense. Guest: GREGORY COPLEY. The Chinese Communist Partyyearns for ancient China's legitimacy while defending its modern borders. Rather than traditional imperial expansion, China employs "total war" non-military means. However, the state currently faces a crisis of sovereignty as it implodes internally under disproven totalitarian models and intensifying defensive pressures. The Reassertion of American Empire. Guest: GREGORY COPLEY. During Donald Trump's second term, the United States moved into an offensive mode to reassert dominance and energy security. Simultaneously, the European Union faces a crisis of legitimacy, with nation-states rebelling against its supra-state model. The EUlacks a cohesive vision, leading to internal distress. Lessons from the Superpower's Economic Resurgence. Guest: GREGORY COPLEY. The 21st century reveals that nations prioritizing energy security and enforced borders tend to succeed. President Trump's focus on manufacturing and cheap energy has bolstered the U.S. economy, positioning it as an unchallenged superpower. However, his dynamic approach often alienates allies while redefining grand strategy.

Rival Factions Contending for Power in Post-Maduro Venezuela. Guest: PROFESSOR EVAN ELLIS, U.S. Army War College. Following Maduro's detention, four major crime families are competing for authority in Caracas, including the Rodriguez siblings and military leadership. While Delcy Rodriguez shows cautious cooperation with the U.S. regarding oil and prisoners, the country remains unstable as criminal interests and political repression continue to stifle progress.1902 VZ

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY: GUEST EVAN ELLIS. Venezuela's Economic Opening Amidst Humanitarian Crisis. Evan Ellis explores the state of Venezuela, where millions wait for political change. While sanctions easing has allowed some oil flow and the return of American Airlines flights to Caracas, the nation still faces hyperinflation and a severe lack of food for those without access to dollars.

This week MANYBEAT, straight out of Caracas, Venezuela, this radioshow delivers pure Latin soul, rhythm, and sabrosura. A true institution of the Latin sound, Manybeat blends groove, percussion, and latin house with global flavor. This episode celebrates the release of 'Latinjazzu' on Stereo Productions — a powerful fusion of Latin roots, jazz vibes, and dancefloor heat. Turn it up and feel the groove!

Venezuela's Power Vacuum and the Path Forward. Guest: MARY KISSEL, Executive Vice President at Stephens Incorporated. Mary Kissel discusses the "unfinished" state of Venezuela following the removal of Maduro, characterizing the remaining leadership as "thugs" and "gangs" focused on drug money. She explores the roles of Cuba, regional neighbors like Colombia and Brazil, and the Vatican's new moral leadership in the region.1902 CARACAS

North Korea is closely watching the situation in Venezuela after the U.S. captured President Nicolás Maduro, shaking up one of Pyongyang's few political friendships in the Western Hemisphere. In this episode, Gabriela Bernal and Camilo Aguirre Torrini delve into what happened in Venezuela, how North Korea has reacted in state media and what lessons Kim Jong Un may be drawing. The guests discuss why the DPRK-Venezuela relationship has been more symbolic than substantial, how sanctions and a shared anti-American ideology have shaped ties and what the future could look like if Caracas shifts further under U.S. influence. Dr. Gabriela Bernal is a North Korea analyst and non-resident fellow at the European Centre for North Korean Studies who writes on Pyongyang's external relations and information strategy. She recently wrote an analysis for NK Pro titled “Where North Korea-Venezuela ties stand after Nicolás Maduro's downfall.” Dr. Camilo Aguirre Torrini is a researcher whose work traces DPRK-Latin America ties and sanctions-era politics. He previously wrote a piece for 38 North titled “Can Venezuela and the DPRK Wipe the Slate Clean and Make a Fresh Start?” About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

A young woman lies dead on a Minneapolis street, an ICE officer pulled the trigger, and the official story leans on power instead of necessity. We open with what the footage actually shows, why the shot trajectory matters, and how a federal investigation shifts accountability away from local control. The human loss is personal and visceral—and the reaction is telling. When partisan voices celebrate lethal force as a message, we all lose a piece of our democratic soul. From there we follow the thread to Venezuela, where a brazen kidnapping of a foreign leader and airstrikes get sold as something short of war. Megyn Kelly's caution and Kat Timpf's pushback puncture the cheerleading and force the real questions: What's the plan after the “win”? Who pays when “rebuilding” turns into contracts for friends and photo ops in Caracas? And if drug flows are the excuse, why ignore the obvious—demand starts at home, and public health beats cruise missiles every time. We break down the Senate's War Powers maneuver, applaud rare moments of GOP restraint, and explain why a veto threat still matters for shaping the debate. Finally, we take apart the latest NATO spin. If Europe adds little to American defense relative to what we provide, committing more while inflating 5 percent spending fantasies won't fix deterrence. It's mission creep masquerading as solidarity. Across policing, foreign policy, and alliances, our case is simple: draw firm lines, resist the spectacle, and demand strategy over swagger. If you value clear-eyed analysis without the corporate gloss, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review telling us where you stand on Minneapolis, Venezuela, and NATO. Your voice shapes what we dig into next.

Venezuela's oil industry has long been a site of struggle—between national sovereignty and foreign control, between social development and extraction for profit. In this wide-ranging conversation, Gregory Wilpert situates today's crisis in that longer history, from the Chávez government's effort to reclaim PDVSA for Venezuelans to the current U.S. strategy of tying sanctions relief to oil exports. As Washington pushes Caracas to increase production and redirect crude away from China, Wilpert examines whether interim leadership in Venezuela is navigating an impossible economic bind—or whether the country's oil and sovereignty are once again being bargained under coercion.

Guest: Gregory Copley. Following the arrest of Maduro, Venezuela is controlled by four competing "crime families." Copley notes the absence of a clear U.S. plan for citizens facing food and medical insecurity. The U.S. seeks to enforce an oil embargo against Cuba, which is currently suffering from infrastructure collapse and electric grid failures.1902 CARACAS

  THE FOUR FAMILIES OF CARACAS AND THE END OF THE REGIME Colleague Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Esclusa analyzes the four mafias currently competing for power in Caracas: the Rodriguez siblings, Diosdado Cabello, Padrino Lopez, and Maduro's remnants. He argues that overwhelming US military force has rendered local weapons irrelevant and that the dismantling of these groups is necessary for elections. NUMBER 121865 VENEZUELA

SHOW1-12-26"THE MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW""The Making of the John Batchelor Show" is a live-streaming "beta" experiment launched by John Batchelor on Monday, January 12, 2026. The primary objective of this specific program is to demonstrate "total transparency" by allowing the audience to see the behind-the-scenes process and technical "bumps" involved in producing the show.GLOBAL CHAOS AND THE EROSION OF STABILITY Colleagues Bill Roggio and Husain Haqqani. The guests discuss worldwide instability, arguing that the US has abandoned its traditional role in maintaining global order. They examine conflicts in Iran, Syria, and Venezuela, suggesting US actions are often driven by whims rather than strategic planning, leading to a state of heightened chaos. NUMBER 1FICTIONS IN SYRIA AND THE RISKS OF INTERVENTION Colleagues Bill Roggio and Husain Haqqani. The discussion focuses on the Syrian conflict, criticizing the US for maintaining "fictions" about local actors and security forces. Haqqani warns against military intervention in Iran, citing past failures like Vietnam and Iraq, noting that military force cannot solve misunderstood political problems. NUMBER 2CHINA'S GREAT HEIST OF AMERICAN SECRETS Colleagues David Shedd and Bill Roggio. David Sheddoutlines China's extensive cyber espionage campaigns, including "Salt Typhoon," which successfully hacked US Congressional committees. These operations aim to steal sensitive communications and embed sabotage tools within USinfrastructure, highlighting a critical failure in American defensive preparedness. NUMBER 3REGIME CHANGE AND SHIFTING POWER IN THE AMERICAS Colleagues David Shedd and Bill Roggio. Shedd details the removal of Nicolas Maduro and a regional shift toward center-right governments. This transition aims to end Russian and Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere. Furthermore, the US is demanding stricter security cooperation from Mexico to dismantle powerful drug cartels. NUMBER 4IRANIAN PROTESTS AND THE COLLAPSE OF REGIME CONTROL Colleague Malcolm Hoenlein. Protests across Iran have turned deadly, with reports of hundreds killed by live fire and hospitals refusing wounded demonstrators. Malcolm Hoenlein highlights a communication blackout and a collapsing economy where the currency has plummeted. A new minority coalition of Baluchis and Kurds is now supporting rebellion. NUMBER 5THE SHIFTING BALANCE OF FEAR IN IRAN Colleague Malcolm Hoenlein. As the regime faces potential implosion, discussions involve a return of the Shah's son as a symbolic figurehead, though no clear path to collective leadership exists. Revolutionaries are now tagging the homes of officials, signaling that the balance of fear has shifted from the people to the leadership. NUMBER 6RUSSIA'S ORESHNIK MISSILE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DETERRENCE Colleague John Hardy. Russia is utilizing the Oreshnik missile to strike Ukrainian infrastructure, leaving thousands without heat. John Hardy explains these strikes serve as psychological intimidation to deter Western nations from providing security guarantees or ground troops. Recent strikes likely targeted an aircraft repair plant, not gas storage. NUMBER 7ESCALATING CONFLICT BETWEEN SYRIAN FORCES AND KURDISH ALLIES Colleague Akmed Khari. Clashes have erupted in Aleppo between the Syrian government and the Kurdish SDF after a failed integration agreement. Akmed Khari notes the complexity of the US coordinating with Syrian security forces that remain riddled with jihadists. The conflict is expected to expand into other contested regions. Analogy: The situation in Syria is like a shaky alliance between rival firefighters who, while ostensibly trying to put out the same blaze, begin turning their hoses on each other while the fire continues to spread. NUMBER 8THE US-MANAGED TRANSITION IN POST-MADURO VENEZUELA Colleague Ernesto Araújo. John Batchelor and Ernesto Araújo discuss the US-led operation that captured Nicolas Maduro. Araújo describes the current situation as a well-managed transition where the US is navigating internal power struggles among military factions and criminal gangs rather than allowing a power vacuum to form. NUMBER 9REGIONAL SHIFTS: COLOMBIA'S DIPLOMACY AND BRAZIL'S POLITICAL FUTURE Colleague Ernesto Araújo. The discussion focuses on Gustavo Petro's pivot toward the United States and the historical concept of "Grand Colombia." In Brazil, they evaluate Lula da Silva's potential re-election bid against the enduring popularity of the imprisoned Jair Bolsonaro and the influence of new nationalist political forces. NUMBER 10REGIONAL REACTIONS TO MADURO'S CAPTURE AND THE ISOLATION OF CUBA Colleague Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Alejandro Peña Esclusa reports that Venezuelans are celebrating Maduro's capture while the Trumpadministration halts oil shipments to Cuba. He explains that regional left-wing leaders fear a trial will reveal their corrupt ties to Maduro, while the Cuban regime faces collapse without Venezuelan energy. NUMBER 11THE FOUR FAMILIES OF CARACAS AND THE END OF THE REGIME Colleague Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Esclusa analyzes the four mafias currently competing for power in Caracas: the Rodriguez siblings, Diosdado Cabello, Padrino Lopez, and Maduro's remnants. He argues that overwhelming US military force has rendered local weapons irrelevant and that the dismantling of these groups is necessary for elections. NUMBER 12ESCALATING IRANIAN PROTESTS AND POTENTIAL US INTERVENTION Colleague Edmund Fitton-Brown. Edmund Fitton-Brown describes the current Iranian protests as a movement that has shifted into a repression phase characterized by internet blackouts and rising casualties. He argues that US military force targeting repression organs could tip the balance in favor of the protesters, who are increasingly calling for a constitutional monarchy. The regime is reportedly attempting to negotiate following US strike threats. NUMBER 13THE COLLAPSE OF THE AXIS OF RESISTANCE Colleague Edmund Fitton-Brown. Fitton-Brown explains how the fall of the Iranian regime would devastate its regional proxies, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias, which depend on IRGC funding and training. Without Tehran's "big brother" support, these groups would likely be forced to make accommodations with local governments. He also notes Hezbollah's role as an international drug cartel. NUMBER 14THE ZOMBIE REGIME AND STRATEGIC TARGETS Colleague Jonathan Sai. Jonathan Sai labels the Islamic Republic a "zombie regime" facing an existential threat despite its brutal crackdowns. He reports that the IRGC and foreign militias are using automatic weapons against protesters in cities like Tehran and Mashhad. Sai suggests that USintervention should prioritize striking repression centers and state-run propaganda machines to dismantle the regime's control. NUMBER 15HEZBOLLAH'S SURVIVAL AND THE LOSS OF REGIONAL LIFELINES Colleague David Daoud. David Daoud characterizes Hezbollah as an ideological extension of Iran currently in survival mode as its lifelines in Syria and Venezuela weaken. While Hezbollah wants the regime to survive for power projection, Daoud suggests Iraqi militias are more likely to be physically assisting Tehran's crackdowns due to their proximity and lower combat losses compared to Hezbollah. To clarify the current state of the Iranian government, Jonathan Sai uses the metaphor of a "zombie regime": it may appear to be moving and in control, but it is functionally dead because it can no longer sustain its support base or provide basic necessities for its people. NUMBER 161832 PERSIAN GIRL, SKETCHED ON STONE BY JAMES ATKINSON

REGIME CHANGE AND SHIFTING POWER IN THE AMERICAS Colleagues David Shedd and Bill Roggio. Shedd details the removal of Nicolas Maduro and a regional shift toward center-right governments. This transition aims to end Russian and Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere. Furthermore, the US is demanding stricter security cooperation from Mexico to dismantle powerful drug cartels. NUMBER 41902 CARACAS

This week we talk about Venezuela, Maduro, and international law.We also discuss sour crude, extrajudicial killings, and Greenland.Recommended Book: The Keep by F. Paul WilsonTranscriptBack in mid-November of 2025, I did an episode on extrajudicial killings, focusing on the targeting of speedboats, mostly from Venezuela headed toward the United States, by the US military. These boats were allegedly carrying drugs meant for the US market, and the US government justified these strikes by saying, basically, we have a right to protect ourselves, protect our citizens from the harm caused by these illegal substances, and if we have to keep taking out these boats and killing these people to do that, we will.There's been a lot of back-and-forthing about the legitimacy of this approach, both in the sense that not all of these boats have been shown to be carrying drugs, some just seemed to be fishing boats in the wrong place at the wrong time, and in the sense that launching strikes without the go-ahead of Congress in the US is a legally dubious business. There was also the matter of some alleged follow-up strikes, which seemed to be intended to kill people who survived the initial taking-out of the boats, which is a big international human rights no no, to the point of potentially being a war crime.All of this happened within the context of a war of words between US President Trump's second administration and the increasingly authoritarian regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who followed the previous president Hugo Chávez as his hand-picked successor, and has more or less completed the authoritarian process of dissolving, coopting, or diminishing all aspects of the Venezuelan government that might ever check his power, which allowed him, in 2024, to bar the very popular, now Nobel Peace Prize winning candidate María Corina Machado from running, and her sub-in candidate, like previous Maduro opponent Juan Guaido, seems to have won the election by a fair bit, and in an internationally provable way, but Maduro's government faked results that made it look like he won, and his single-party rule has since continued unabated.Or rather, it continued unabated until the early morning of January 3, 2026, around 2am, when US Operation Absolute Resolve kicked into action, leading to the—depending on who you ask—justified captured or illegal kidnapping—of Maduro and his wife from a stronghold in his country.And that's what I'd like to talk about today: the operation itself, but also the consequences and potential meaning of it within the context of other important things happening in the world right now.—Maduro is immensely popular with about a fifth of the Venezuelan population, but essentially everyone else is strongly opposes him and his iron-fisted rule.It's estimated that between 2017 and 2025, just shy of 8 million people, which is more than 20% of Venezuela's 2017 population, has fled the country in order to escape a tyrannical government and its failed policies, which have collapsed the economy, made getting working and feeding oneself and one's family difficult, and made crime, conflict, and the state-sanctioned oppression of anyone who doesn't kowtow to the ruling party a commonplace thing.Trump speculated about the possibility of invading Venezuela even in his first administration, and part of the overt rationale was that it's run by a failed government that most of the locals hate, so it would be an easy win. That justification shifted to orient around immigration and drugs by his second administration, and then more recently, Trump has said publicly that the real issue here is that Venezuela stole a bunch of US company-owned oil assets when it nationalized the industry back in the day, and those assets should be recaptured, given back to the US.Operation Absolute Resolve took months to plan and only about two and a half hours to complete. By most objective measures it was a spectacular military and intelligence success, especially considering all the moving parts and thus, all the things that could have gone wrong.The operation apparently involved at least 150 aircraft of various sorts, a spy within Maduro's government, and months of surveillance, which helped them establish Maduro's habits and routines, and that allowed them to map out where he would be, when, and what to expect going in to get him. All of these patterns changed in September of 2025 when US warships started massing in Caribbean, as Maduro started to get a little paranoid—justifiably, as it turns out—and he started moving between eight different locations, seldom sleeping in the same place more than one night in a row.He was eventually grabbed from a military base in Caracas, Venezuela's capitol, and to make that happen the US military assets in the area had to take out local aviation and air defenses so that US Delta Force troops could be carried in by helicopter. Several air bases and communications centers were taken out by missiles, and fighter jets were bombed on air base tarmacs. Trump alluded that a cyberattack of some kind might have also been used to take out power in the area, though satellite imagery suggests bombs might have been used against a power station to make that happen.The operation apparently went almost exactly as planned, though a helicopter was damaged and the Delta Force team killed a large part of Maduro's security team when he refused to surrender. A few US soldiers were wounded, but none were killed, and Venezuelan officials said, in the aftermath, that lat least 40 Venezuelans were killed throughout the country during the operation. Maduro and his wife were swept from the base before they could lock themselves in their safe room, and they were tucked into the helicopters which headed out to sea, landing them on the USS Iwo Jima, which is an assault ship.All of this took a matter of hours and, again, is generally considered to be an objective success, in terms of precision, outcome, and other such metrics. Morally, legally, and politically, however, the operation is receiving a far more mixed response, and that response is continuing to play out as Maduro works his way through a bizarre version of the US justice system where he's being sent to court for drug dealing.In the US, Trump supporters have generally said all of this was a good, smart move, though some maintain that US involvement in any kind of international conflict is a waste of time, effort, and resources, and they worry about getting bogged down in another Iraq or Afghanistan-style conflict.Everyone else is generally against the effort, even those who admit that Maduro was a tyrant who needed to go—it's good that he's gone, but the way in which it was done is not just questionable, but worrying because of what it says about Trump's capacity to unilaterally launch kidnapping missions against the leaders of other countries. Not a good look, but also kind of scary.Internationally the response is generally aligned with the latter opinion, especially in other countries that Trump has at some point threatened, which is most of them.Governments in South and Central America have been especially concerned, however, because one of Trump's newer messaging efforts has revolved around the concept of a Western Hemisphere basically owned and protected by the US. Do whatever you want in the rest of the world, basically, but everything over here is ours. This has raised the possibility that an emboldened Trump might attempt similar maneuvers soon, including possibly claiming the Panama Canal for the US again, or grabbing the leaders of other Latin American countries he doesn't think are kowtowing enthusiastically enough; toeing the new international line that he's drawing, basically.He's also renewed messaging around the possible purchase or capture of Greenland, which has been raising alarm bells across Europe in particular. Greenland is considered to be a vital strategic base for US security, and it would grant potential access to an abundance of also strategically and economically important minerals, both on land and underwater, but Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, and most European leaders have said something along the lines of “if the US takes action to militarily claim Greenland, that'll be the end of NATO,” an organization that was originally founded to help protect the world, and Europe especially, from military conquest from the Soviet Union, but which, at that point, might be recalibrated to protect against incursions from the US, as well.NATO has been mostly funded and perpetuated by the US until recently, however, so there's a chance that something else would need to replace it, if the US is no longer providing nuclear deterrence as the ultimate whammy against a potential Russian invasion of its European neighbors.The UN has also indicated that they consider this operation to be a violation of international law, and have called it a dangerous precedent—because one nation capturing the leader of another nation, unilaterally, kind of negates the purpose of negotiations and the whole concept of international law. That kind of use of force is meant to be granted by the UN, not attempted secretively and outside the bounds of international processes for such things.All that said, the Trump administration seems to be leaning into the victory, gleefully talking about next-step potential targets, the most likely of which seem to be in Iran, a long-time US opponent, and a target of this administration last year, when the US attacked Iranian nuclear facilities alongside Israel.There are ongoing, very large and seemingly significant protests happening across Iran right now, so the US could see this as another opportunity to topple another unpopular authoritarian regime while also getting the chance to flex its military and intelligence capabilities at a moment in which another big-name player in that space, Russia, is generally flailing; it's failed to protect several of its allies, including Venezuela, over the past few years, and its intended few-day invasion of Ukraine has now stretched into years.That contrast is considered to be meaningful by most analysts, and though a lot of the PR about the capture of Maduro has focused on the oil, most US-based oil executives have said it's a red herring—the hundreds of billions of dollars required to get more of Venezuela's thick, dirty, expensive to process oil pumping and back on the market wouldn't be worth it—and it's more likely that this is partly a means of keeping the press and US public focused on something other than the Epstein files, which is a major scandal for Trump and his administration, while also allowing Trump to test the boundaries of his power; what the public and government will let him get away with currently, and what he can do to expand the range of what he can do without any outside buy-in or significant personal consequences, in the future.Show Noteshttps://theconversation.com/how-maduros-capture-went-down-a-military-strategist-explains-what-goes-into-a-successful-special-op-272671https://archive.is/20260105035543/https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/01/trump-nicolas-maduro-venezuela/685493/https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/chevron-charts-a-new-path-in-venezuela-to-unlock-vast-oil-reserves-0369ce1bhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/04/tactical-surprise-and-air-dominance-how-the-us-snatched-maduro-in-two-and-a-half-hourshttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/us/politics/trump-iran-strikes.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/nyregion/nicolas-maduro-lawyers.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/business/dealbook/oil-executives-trump-venezuela.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/world/americas/venezuela-oil-tanker-us.htmlhttps://www.axios.com/2026/01/11/trump-iran-protest-options-death-tollhttps://www.axios.com/2026/01/03/maduro-capture-trump-venezuela-operationhttps://www.axios.com/2025/05/11/trump-maga-western-civilizationhttps://www.axios.com/2026/01/08/venezuela-war-powers-senate-aumf-time-kainehttps://www.axios.com/2026/01/07/trump-russia-oil-tanker-seize-bella-venzuelahttps://www.axios.com/2026/01/08/trumps-donroe-doctrine-sets-us-on-great-power-collision-coursehttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/05/un-security-council-trump-attack-venezuelahttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-interview-power-morality.html This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Monday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan breaks down the explosive growth of anti-ICE protests, the Democrat Party's accelerating push to abolish deportations altogether, and the deadly confrontation in Minneapolis that has become a national flashpoint. He then turns to major global developments involving Venezuela, Mexico, Iran, Honduras, Syria, and the rising clash between Marxist movements and the American Republic. Abolish ICE Goes Mainstream: What was once a fringe socialist demand has now become a central position inside the Democratic Party. From Senator Kristen Gillibrand to Representatives AOC and Ilhan Omar, Democratic leaders are openly calling for the abolition of ICE and the end of deportations. Bryan explains how this movement began more than a decade ago alongside calls to open America's southern border and why it represents a fundamental challenge to national sovereignty. The Minneapolis Shooting and the Legal Reality: New video and body camera footage show activist Renee Good using her vehicle first as a protest tool and then as a weapon after being urged to drive forward into an ICE officer. Bryan walks through the legal standard set by the Supreme Court case Tennessee v. Garner, explaining why the officer's use of force is likely lawful despite intense political pressure to prosecute him at the state level. Doxxing, Threats, and Escalating Violence: ICE officers in Minneapolis are being doxxed, threatened, and forced to relocate with their families for safety. Activists have shouted death threats, thrown objects, and targeted hotels housing federal agents. Bryan warns that the line between protest and organized violence is rapidly disappearing. Democrat Officials Push Defiance: Local and national Democrats are openly encouraging resistance. Minneapolis City Council leaders texted supporters to block ICE vehicles, Philadelphia's sheriff vowed to arrest ICE agents, and Representative Eric Swalwell praised prosecutors who threaten federal officers. Bryan argues this rhetoric now borders on seditious conspiracy. ICE Expands Enforcement Nationwide: The Trump administration has doubled the size of ICE over the past year, offering large signing bonuses and deploying contractors to locate 1.5 million illegal aliens with final removal orders. New tools include facial recognition and interagency databases, raising both effectiveness and civil liberties debates. Venezuela Descends into Chaos: Armed gangs known as colectivos are rampaging through Caracas, hunting suspected collaborators after Nicolás Maduro's capture. The White House reposted accounts suggesting U.S. forces used advanced directed energy weapons during the raid, a message Bryan says is aimed squarely at China and other adversaries. Trump Signals China to Leave the Hemisphere: Administration officials confirmed that the Venezuela operation was intended to warn Beijing to withdraw from Central and South America. U.S. oil executives are being pushed to invest in Venezuela, while Trump blocked courts from seizing oil revenues collected by the United States. Mexico, Colombia, and the Marxist Bloc: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum shipped oil to Cuba over the weekend, prompting warnings from the White House. Colombia's president resumed attacking Trump with rhetoric echoed by U.S. Democrats, highlighting a coordinated leftist response across the Americas. Iran on the Brink: At least two thousand protestors are reported dead as the Iranian regime shuts down internet access and threatens mass executions. The Pentagon is preparing strike options for President Trump, while protestors chant against the Ayatollah and openly discuss restoring a transitional government led by the former Shah's son.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: January 12 2026 Wright Report, abolish ICE Democrats, Renee Good Minneapolis shooting video, Tennessee v Garner deadly force standard, ICE officer doxxing threats, Tim Walz resistance rhetoric, ICE facial recognition contractors, Venezuela colectivos chaos, directed energy weapon raid claim, Trump China Western Hemisphere warning, Mexico oil to Cuba Sheinbaum, Colombia Petro anti Trump rhetoric, Iran protests internet blackout Ayatollah

After a U.S. citizen was shot and killed by an immigration agent, the Department of Homeland Security is sending even more forces to Minneapolis. On this week's On the Media, how the Trump administration is spinning the narrative around the shooting. Plus, an exiled Venezuelan journalist explains the state of the press in his home country.[01:00] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Jeffrey Meitrodt, a senior investigative reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune, to examine the veracity of conservative content creator Nick Shirley's viral video claiming to uncover evidence of widespread fraud at Somali-run daycares in Minnesota.  [21:32] Micah talks with Rafael Osio Cabrices, editor-in-chief at Caracas Chronicles, about Venezuela's evolving media landscape. Plus, what foreign news outlets are missing in their coverage of the US raid and capture of Nicolás Maduro. [36:15] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with Abe Newman, a political scientist and Georgetown professor, to discuss “neo-royalism.” Newman coined the term, with his co-author Stacie Goddard, to explain the logic of the Trump administration's foreign policy, from Greenland to Venezuela.   Further reading / watching:“We went to the day cares Nick Shirley did. Here's what we found,” by Deena Winter and Jeffrey Medtroit“How Foreign Media and Analysts are Misreporting Venezuela,” by Rafael Osio Cabrices“Further Back to the Future: Neo-Royalism, the Trump Administration, and the Emerging International System,” by Stacie E. Goddard and Abraham Newman On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

The Anchormen kick off the new year with Latin America expert Damian Merlo to break down the Trump administration's strategy on Venezuela – and how a post-Maduro future could unlock major economic opportunities for both the U.S. and Venezuela. Plus, Pearson Sharp previews his OAN exclusive documentary “Ukraine: War and Peace”, revealing the conflict through the eyes of those who lived it, and why the truth has been buried.

On Tuesday's Mark Levin Show, Michael Reagan, the eldest adopted son of President Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman, passed away at age 80 in Los Angeles. He was a man of deep faith who overcame early issues to become an engaging and supportive figure, strongly defending his father, Ronald Reagan, and backing President Trump. He wasn't just the son of a president; he was a strong voice for conservative principles and a defender of the values that made this country great. Also, the military's operation that swiftly removed Nicholas Maduro from Caracas, without injuring any American soldiers, was spectacular. Democrats previously called for Maduro's removal but now criticize the action, raising questions of impeachment of President Trump and war crimes. There's a lack of national unity. In the past both parties would celebrate such an event and praise the president and military, but now Democrats oppose it while their militia protests in U.S. cities. The country is in deep trouble regardless of the president, as constitutional protections for free speech and association are exploited by these groups, now joined by a recurring Hitlerian wing of neo-fascists who celebrate Hitler and Stalin, obsessively trash Jews, evangelical Christians supporting Israel, and the U.S. itself, while promoting Islamism and Sharia law. Later, property rights are fundamental human rights, earned through intellectual and physical labor, reflecting one's limited time on earth to accumulate wealth for family. Slogans like Zohran Mamdani's "warmth of the community" mask an iron fist of centralized government that erodes individual rights and liberties, rejecting Enlightenment and Judeo-Christian values in favor of Islamism and Marxism, which are incompatible with America's founding. The collective dehumanizes individuals and diminishes their creations. Afterward, these ideologies, whether Islamist or Marxist are incompatible with Americanism, posing a survival threat rather than an affordability issue. Marxism has failed everywhere, yet it's not taught in schools, media, or by podcasters. Our generation—parents and grandparents—must reclaim the public square to shield children from brainwashing by these diabolical saboteurs, including the Democrat Party, historically hostile to American beliefs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump says the United States will run Venezuela after U.S. forces seized Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas.Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez shifts from defiance to calls for cooperation as the White House ramps up pressure and threatens further action.And Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a New York courtroom, facing drug trafficking, weapons, and narco-terrorism charges that could test the reach of U.S. law overseas.Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Tara Neill, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy, and HJ Mai.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.(0:00) Introduction(01:54) U.S. In Venezuela(05:49) Future Of Venezuela (09:46) Maduro In NYC CourtLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Event Summary (WATCH: PRESIDENT TRUMP PRESS CON HERE) The U.S. military executed a highly complex and precise operation in Caracas, Venezuela, to apprehend Maduro. The mission involved over 150 aircraft, advanced coordination across multiple military branches, and cyber and space operations. The operation was completed without any American casualties, which is emphasized as a major success. Geopolitical Context Venezuela’s significance stems from its vast oil reserves (largest in the world) and strategic location near the U.S. Maduro’s regime is portrayed as illegitimate, corrupt, and deeply involved in drug trafficking and alliances with U.S. adversaries (Russia, China, Iran, Hezbollah). The discussion highlights Venezuela’s decline from being one of the wealthiest nations in the 1950s to a failed state under socialist rule. Legal Justifications President Trump acted within his constitutional authority under Article II as Commander-in-Chief. References are made to historical precedents, notably the 1990 capture of Manuel Noriega in Panama. The legal basis includes: FBI’s extraterritorial arrest authority. Precedents like the Ker-Frisbie doctrine and United States v. Alvarez-Machain. DOJ opinions (including one by Bill Barr) affirming presidential power to authorize such actions. Anticipated legal challenges include head-of-state immunity and UN Charter arguments. Future Implications (WATCH HERE: Is Cuba Ready to Fall?) There will be geopolitical ripple effects in Latin America, especially Cuba and Colombia. Avoiding prolonged U.S. military occupation in Venezuela is key Discussion of possible democratic elections and leadership changes in Venezuela. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a dramatic overnight operation, U.S. forces capture and arrest Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro inside a heavily fortified Caracas compound, flying him to New York to face sweeping federal charges. The Trump administration calls it a precise law-enforcement action, while critics warn it risks war, constitutional overreach, and chaos for Venezuela's future. A viral investigation alleges massive taxpayer fraud tied to Somali-run childcare and healthcare operations in Minnesota, prompting a federal payment freeze and a growing FBI probe. Far-left democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as New York City mayor and immediately moves to erase his predecessor's policies. Riverbend Ranch: Visit https://riverbendranch.com/ | Use promo code MEGYN for $20 off your first order. Lean: If you want to lose meaningful weight at a healthy pace and keep it off... Add LEAN toyour diet and exercise lifestyle. Get 20% OFF WHEN YOU ENTER MK at https://TAKELEAN.com   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.