Podcasts about delcy rodr

PODCAST LAS NOTICIAS CON CALLE 18 DE SEPTIEMBRE - Aprobado que USA puede ponerle tarifas de hasta 100% a países que le compren petróleo a Rusia, se estremece India - Bloomberg China ahora domina el mercado mundial de petróleo, aunque no tiene petróleo tras prepararse para la guerra de Irán - NYTChina pide a Irán detener a los hutíes - ReutersDemanda de Power Expectations se va para el tribunal de quiebras con la jueza Swain - El Nuevo Día Si se aprueba solicitud de aumento de energía subiría al récord más alto en la historia de 34.64 la luz, ahora está en 27 - Jay Fonseca PR En la temporada de huracanes es vital tomar medidas para asegurar nuestra tranquilidad.Si tienes dudas, llama al 787-641-7171 Todos tienen una manera diferente de prepararse para un huracán.Lo importante es que lo hagan.Auspiciado por Universal, en nuestro servicio está la diferencia.#universal#incluyeauspicio Multas de Autoexpreso bajan de 15 a 10, pero la suben de 5 que habían prometido bajarla - Jay Fonseca PR 20 mil cuenta propistas menos que antes en último informe de empleo - El Vocero Diesel 15% más caro, pero no quitan la crudita - El Vocero LUMA vuelve a decir que enviará acuerdos para alumbrado público otra vez, nunca lo hace - El Nuevo Día Empieza a filmarse Porto Rico en RD  Junta contesta a congresista pendiente de que no se le cobre impuestos a obras con fondos federales, 22 alcaldes dicen que van a cobrarlas - El Nuevo Día Demócratas al frente para retomar la cámara con 92% de probabilidad y Senado con 59% - Economist Head Start solo en inglés, sí o no, JGo no contesta - El Vocero Baja el interés en el College Board porque UPR ya no le da el mismo peso, escogen carreras cortas - El Vocero Bonistas quieren asfixiar a la AEE para que le paguen gastos administrativos que no han tenido - El Nuevo Día 3PPO sigue negociando con Javelin y Gotham, parece que están pidiendo ahora más dinero que antes El Nuevo Día Trump se reúne con Delcy Rodríguez: primer encuentro con Venezuela, tan pronto como el martes en la ONUMedicare amenaza, JGo le escribe a Mehmet Oz por una regla que recortaría 50% ciertos pagos Warren Buffett le suelta el negocio al hijo El Banco de Japón sube tasas a máximo en 31 años y el yen se hundeLOS DATOS DEL DÍA Brent$104.82 (−$1.01, ≈−0.9%) S&P 500+1.1% Dow Jones+0.6% Nasdaq+1.7% Bono 10 años4.94% (−0.08) Hipoteca 30 años6.76% (Freddie Mac) Gas natural (Henry Hub)≈$2.86/MMBtu Euro/Dólar

Edgar José Marval fue uno de los 10 estadounidenses detenidos en Venezuela que fueron liberados a cambio de la liberación de Alex Saab, el empresario colombiano aliado de Nicolás Maduro.

Nueve meses después de la captura del expresidente Nicolás Maduro, las violaciones a los derechos humanos contra la población "se mantienen" en Venezuela. Esta es la conclusión de la Misión Internacional Independiente de Determinación de los Hechos de la ONU sobre Venezuela. El Gobierno interino de Delcy Rodríguez ha suavizado ligeramente la represión contra la oposición, pero eso no significa que las detenciones ilegales y las torturas hayan desaparecido. Confinamiento prolongado en celdas minúsculas bajo tierra y privación de alimentos. Estos son algunos de los patrones de tortura que siguen ocurriendo en Venezuela y que Sofía Macher, presidenta de la Misión Internacional Independiente de Determinación de los Hechos de la ONU sobre Venezuela, denuncia en su último informe. “No ha habido un cambio en los actores” “En este periodo nosotros estamos reportando 53 nuevas víctimas de tortura, y tenemos el caso de 75 personas con desaparición forzada. Lo que quiero decir es que no hay un indicador que nos diga que efectivamente ya se vive una situación diferente en Venezuela. Las violaciones, por más que hayan disminuido en su número, se mantienen”, explica. El documento, que cuenta con más de 200 testimonios, será presentado al Consejo de Derechos Humanos en Ginebra, y pone en duda las medidas del Gobierno de Delcy Rodríguez para proteger los derechos de los venezolanos. “No ha habido un cambio en los actores, además que han sido identificados por otros informes de la misión como responsables directos de violaciones a los derechos humanos, que se mantienen en las estructuras de poder actual en Venezuela. Tenemos 19 nombres de personas que han sido identificadas en relación a violaciones y que mantienen un puesto de poder en la estructura de este gobierno”, subraya Macher. Aún 500 presos políticos La presidenta de la Misión Internacional Independiente de Determinación de los Hechos de la ONU sobre Venezuela pone de ejemplo la falta de transparencia sobre los 8.000 presos liberados por la Ley de Amnistía, de los cuales no hay datos publicados. “La misión ha hecho indagaciones de exactamente cuántas son realmente las personas que han sido liberadas. No hemos logrado conseguir los nombres, pero sí hemos logrado recolectar información sobre la cantidad de personas, de presos políticos que aún siguen en las cárceles. O sea, si bien no tenemos la lista de los liberados, sí tenemos una lista de quienes todavía permanecen en las cárceles y llegan a 500 personas”, señala. El informe también resalta el desentendimiento de la comunidad internacional, sobre todo de Estados Unidos: “Han sacado y capturado a Maduro, y frente a eso se esperaría una preocupación de parte del Gobierno de Estados Unidos de producir modificaciones o exigir modificaciones al Gobierno que actualmente sigue en el poder, y no está pasando. Tenemos casi el 27% de la población total de Venezuela fuera de Venezuela. Si hubiera un cambio, estarían regresando”, estima. Macher insiste en la necesidad de una comisión permanente que documente la situación de los derechos humanos en Venezuela, y que sirva de guía para garantizar el bienestar de su población.

CSPTION 1930 BRAZILIAN REVOLUTIONLatin American Leaders Engage European ForumErnesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa discuss their participation in Slovenia's Bled Strategic Forum, highlighting growing Eastern European engagement with Latin America. Araújo draws parallels between Eastern Europe's 1989 liberation and Latin America's current struggle against narco-socialism. Regarding Venezuela, Peña Esclusa emphasizes that citizens reject interim president Delcy Rodríguez despite opposition leader María Corina Machado's primary victory. Turning to Brazil's upcoming election, Araújo outlines a major judicial scandal tying Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to a fraudulent banker, severely impacting President Lula da Silva's reelection campaign against Flavio Bolsonaro. (4)

CAPTION   1895 VENEZUELAUnited States Secures Historic Venezuelan PetroleumSamuel Ben-Ur provides updates on Venezuela's political transition and energy sector, detailing a massive 25-year oil agreement executed with interim president Delcy Rodríguez. The deal involves North American companies redeveloping 17 oil fields containing 65 billion barrels of proved reserves, redirecting petroleum exports exclusively to the United States away from China and Russia. Ben-Ur notes that major firms like Chevron will lead a hundred-billion-dollar infrastructure revitalization effort. However, he emphasizes that no firm election date has been established, leaving the political timetable for returning to democratic governance uncertain. (9)

CAPTION 1916 YEMEN FIGHTING.CONTENTS-JBS-9-14-2026Houthis Expand Reach Across Strategic WaterwaysBridget Toomey discusses how Houthi rebels rapidly expanded control across Yemen's western coast, seizing the strategic port of Mocha and Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb choke point. Yemeni armed forces conducted counter-operations in a designated killbox around Mocha while displaying strikes on Houthi positions. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabiaclosed its critical oil pipeline following drone attacks attributed to Iran-backed Iraqi militias operating in coordination with the Houthis. The Trump administration continues offering intelligence support to Saudi Arabia while maintaining its policy of avoiding direct airstrikes under an existing mutual non-engagement agreement. (1)Israeli Strikes Target Reconstituting Hamas LeadershipSamuel Ben-Ur analyzes recent Israel Defense Forces eliminations of key Hamas figures in Gaza, notably Khan Yuniscommander Muhammad Abdul Salam al-Yuzuri. Al-Yuzuri was actively attempting to rebuild the Qassam Brigadesand plan attacks prior to his elimination. Hamas maintains military dominance across thirty percent of the yellow line and remains heavily integrated within civilian population centers. Meanwhile, progress on the Board of Peace disarmament plan remains stalled until after Israeli elections due to political sensitivity surrounding territorial concessions. Ben-Ur notes that voluntary Hamas disarmament is improbable, highlighting alternative stabilization initiatives like pilot zones. (2)Historical Roots Shape Modern Yemeni ConflictGregory Copley details the deep historical context of Yemen, tracing its lineage from the ancient Sabaean kingdom through the Mutawakkilite Kingdom. He explains how Saudi hostility toward Northern Yemen stems partly from historical Hashemite claims to Mecca and Medina. Copley emphasizes that Northern Yemeni forces are tough professional fighters rather than simple rebel groups, driven to fight for survival against Saudi strikes. He suggests that Washington and London should engage in separate diplomatic negotiations, leveraging Oman's Sultan as a discreet mediator during upcoming visits to negotiate an accommodation and establish regional peace. (3)Latin American Leaders Engage European ForumErnesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa discuss their participation in Slovenia's Bled Strategic Forum, highlighting growing Eastern European engagement with Latin America. Araújo draws parallels between Eastern Europe's 1989 liberation and Latin America's current struggle against narco-socialism. Regarding Venezuela, Peña Esclusa emphasizes that citizens reject interim president Delcy Rodríguez despite opposition leader María Corina Machado's primary victory. Turning to Brazil's upcoming election, Araújo outlines a major judicial scandal tying Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to a fraudulent banker, severely impacting President Lula da Silva's reelection campaign against Flavio Bolsonaro. (4)Israeli Forces Detonate Strategic Hezbollah UndergroundDavid Daoud examines an Israeli detonation of Hezbollah's subterranean nerve center at Aita al-Shaab, which caused a 4.1 magnitude seismic event. The complex was originally designed for Hezbollah's planned invasion of the Galilee, a doctrine later mirrored by Hamas on October 7th. Daoud reports that Israeli forces are turning South Lebanon into a buffer zone to eliminate threats. However, he criticizes the Lebanese Armed Forces for failing to demonstrate real will to disarm Hezbollah, noting that 86% of reported LAF weapon seizures consisted merely of militarily insignificant bullets. (5)Canada Explores Strategic European Union AllianceConrad Black evaluates Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's proposal for a unique associate alliance with the European Union. Black notes Canadians would support freer trade and cultural exchanges, though full political submission to Brussels directives would be rejected. He highlights French President Emmanuel Macron's upcoming meeting with Carney in St. Pierre and Miquelon as a significant recognition of Canadian distinctiveness. Furthermore, Black criticizes U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats and trade deficit claims, pointing out that Canada sells oil at discounted rates and maintains balanced cross-border auto manufacturing integration. (6)Economic Analysis Exposes Costs Of TariffsVeronique de Rugy analyzes the economic consequences of trade wars, specifically examining cross-border tariffs between the United States and Canada. She refutes mercantilist arguments, demonstrating that domestic consumers shoulder tariff costs through higher prices and product scarcity rather than foreign producers paying the fees. De Rugy explains that protectionist tariffs harm domestic manufacturing by raising input costs on imported components. She notes that even domestic producers unexposed to foreign competition raise prices when shielded, and highlights how tariffs on Canadian lumber directly elevate American housing costs. (7)Russian Strikes Target Ukrainian Railway NetworksJohn Hardie assesses a Russian drone strike targeting a Ukrainian train near the Polish border where international VIPs and former European officials had recently passed. While French officials viewed the strike as intentional intimidation, Hardie notes precise Russian motives remain speculative. Additionally, Hardie analyzes reports surrounding President Trump's statements regarding an energy target ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. He defends Ukraine's strategy of striking Russian oil refineries, explaining that disrupting refined diesel production effectively squeezes Moscow's military budget and creates domestic public pressure. (8)United States Secures Historic Venezuelan PetroleumSamuel Ben-Ur provides updates on Venezuela's political transition and energy sector, detailing a massive 25-year oil agreement executed with interim president Delcy Rodríguez. The deal involves North American companies redeveloping 17 oil fields containing 65 billion barrels of proved reserves, redirecting petroleum exports exclusively to the United States away from China and Russia. Ben-Ur notes that major firms like Chevron will lead a hundred-billion-dollar infrastructure revitalization effort. However, he emphasizes that no firm election date has been established, leaving the political timetable for returning to democratic governance uncertain. (9)BRICS Summit Highlights Internal Geopolitical FracturesMelik Kaylan, co-host Gordon Chang: Kaylan and Chang analyze the BRICS summit in India, characterizing the bloc as an incoherent coalition marked by deep internal rivalries, particularly between China and India. Kaylan explains that while member nations grandstand against Western policies in the Middle East, they lack real unified operational strength. Turning to Turkey, Kaylan argues President Erdoğan pursues neo-Ottoman expansionism across Syria, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa to distract from severe domestic economic weakness. Chang adds that Erdoğan reversed his prior support for Uyghurs to secure Chinese financial backing. (10)

Para el acuerdo petrolero con Venezuela, el gobierno de EE.UU. está trabajando con una empresa poco conocida, en lugar de con gigantes energéticos como ExxonMobil. ¿Por qué ocurre esto?

El Tribunal Supremo paraliza de forma cautelar los efectos electorales de la 'ley de nietos'; El Gobierno respalda al «experto» Puente tras sus críticas a la juez del asalto a Ceuta; Delcy Rodríguez admite la veracidad del sobre de la financiación ilegal del PSOE; y PISA desnuda la educación española: los alumnos obtienen su peor resultado histórico.Todo esto se lo contamos en una nueva edición de Sumario de tarde, el podcast diario de THE OBJECTIVE. Dirige el espacio, Luis Rafael.

Thought we'd forgotten about Venezuela here on The Remnant? Think again! As prone as Jonah Goldberg is to getting distracted by the finer things of life—Old English dialects, zombie movies, etc.—he's kept a weather eye fixed southward on our Bolivarian neighbor. Jonah is joined today by James Story, the former ambassador to Venezuela, to take us deep into the recent history of U.S.-Venezuelan relations, Nicolás Maduro, Delcy Rodríguez, a possible democratic transition, the oil deal, the Venezuelan diaspora, Marco Rubio, the boat strikes, the professional foreign service post-DOGE, and Pax Americana. Show Notes: —The Dispatch: “The U.S. Boat Strikes, One Year Later” —MS Now: “The U.S. drone strike in Venezuela marks a dangerous new era” —Jonah's LA Times column on the oil deal —Anthony Scaramucci Remnant The Remnant is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including the Saturday Ruminant, audio versions of all our articles and newsletters, and Jonah's twice-weekly G-File—⁠click here⁠. Instructions on how to set up your members-only feed can be found here, and if you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

+ Alerta contra el victimismo: “Solo temo una cosa, no ser digno de mis sufrimientos” (Dostoyevski) + Inmoralidad del acuerdo sobre las reservas de petróleo de venezolanas entre el gobierno Trump y el de Delcy Rodríguez + Incentivos para suicidarse en la ley de eutanasia francesa. + Preguntas de los oyentes.

(00:00:00) Intro (00:00:32) Bienvenidos al Bestiario Político (00:01:06) Trump y el Tributo Petrolero (00:03:21) Guerra comunicacional y narrativas (00:07:55) Transparencia vs. Control de daños (00:10:11) Educación petrolera y el nuevo modelo (00:14:24) Tres críticas principales al acuerdo (00:20:36) El rol de NABEP (00:26:07) El Congreso de EE. UU. y las 'midterms' (00:32:35) Los beneficios para el gobierno venezolano (00:35:15) El tablero político y electoral de Venezuela (00:42:21) La postura de María Corina Machado (00:50:20) Las bestias del episodio (00:52:14) Recomendaciones En este episodio analizamos el controvertido acuerdo petrolero entre Estados Unidos y Venezuela y lo que está revelando sobre el rumbo político del país.Entre optimismo y escepticismo, discutimos si estamos ante el nacimiento de un nuevo modelo petrolero capaz de atraer inversiones y generar prosperidad, o ante un acuerdo opaco condicionado por los intereses electorales de Donald Trump.Abordamos su legitimidad constitucional, los beneficios para Delcy Rodríguez, la reacción de María Corina Machado, la tutela de Washington y una pregunta decisiva: mientras avanzan los negocios petroleros, ¿avanzará también Venezuela hacia la democracia?Conviértete en un supporter de este podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bestiario-politico--2866580/support.

Trump y Delcy Rodríguez acaban de anunciar un pacto por el que Estados Unidos tendrá derecho para explotar una quinta parte de las reservas de petróleo de Venezuela. Es una ruptura respecto a lo que siempre ha defendido el chavismo que analizamos con el periodista Manuel Cobela, desde Caracas, y con Modesto Emilio Guerrero, biógrafo de Hugo Chávez. Además, Nicolás Lupo nos detalla quiénes ganan en esta operación. Además, estaremos en Alemania. Analizamos con María José Gordillo, socióloga de la Universidad de Heidelberg, el ascenso de Alternativa para Alemania que puede darles el gobierno de Alta Sajonia este domingo.

Ralph welcomes sportswriter Dave Zirin to talk about his new book, "The People's Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn." Then Ralph speaks to labor activist Gene Bruskin about their upcoming Labor Day event at Busboys and Poets in DC, "Galvanizing Labor Day for a Workers' Compact."Dave Zirin is the sports editor for The Nation, a columnist for the Progressive, and the author of eight books on the politics of sports, including What's My Name, Fool?: Sports and Resistance in the United States and A People's History of Sports in the United States. His new book is The People's Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn.There's a despondency that exists now, I believe, among people who are also very angry about the state of our politics. And the thing that Howard always insisted upon—he was an activist who happened to be a historian, not a historian who was an activist. And that doesn't denigrate his incredible skills as a historian, it just says where his priorities were in his time on this planet. And one of the things that Howard believed so strongly is that the movements themselves needed to have a strong sense of history. The movements needed to know that we live in a time of great ups and downs.Dave ZirinPeople did step up to create the Zinn Education Project. And every book event I'm doing, I'm showing up with copies of their materials and they usually have somebody on the ground doing the organizing at the event. And at the very least, we're helping it be a little bit sticky. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's not just a book event. It's not just celebrating Howard. But it's also something that allows us to be able to make it matter in a way that it otherwise would not—because it's not just about selling books, it really is about building a movement.Dave ZirinGene Bruskin is a veteran of the labor movement as a local union president, an organizer, and campaign coordinator for numerous local and national unions. He has done extensive international labor solidarity work, including with Iraqi workers and unions, and is a founder of US Labor Against the War.What we're breaking through here now (and partly this has been the definition of this resistance movement) it's workers versus billionaires. And I think the labor movement in general coming out of World War II has been captured by this mythology that “What's good for General Electric is good for the nation.” And the more the economy “prospers,” the more it's good for everybody. And it turns out that that's not really the case, because we don't have that kind of equality. And also what's in the national interest in terms of our foreign policy is not in the interest of the average working class person. A lot of that stuff is being challenged and reversed—not enough, but it's forcing some of the more moderate forces to the left, just as we're seeing in some of these Senate and House elections.Gene BruskinI think this is a really important moment for Labor Day because Labor Day, among other things, is generally the kickoff for whatever elections are happening in November. And it's going to be that on steroids this year. But I think the important thing is that, of course, we want to throw out a bunch of these Neanderthal Republicans in the House and Senate. But it's not just a matter of restoring a Democratic majority in the House and Senate. The question is: to what end? And what is on the agenda of a Democratic-majority Congress at this minute? What is the vision that we have for our future that we have to be fighting for? … We have to change this whole climate so that people have some kind of hope, some kind of vision for what we want and what we deserve. And the same old, same old, whether it's a Democratic Congress or not, is not acceptable anymore.Gene BruskinGalvanizing Labor Day for a Workers' Compact (Sep 7, 2026 2:00 pm ET): Busboys and Poets and Ralph Nader present Galvanizing Labor Day for a Workers' Compact, a discussion of how unions can maximize the impact of Labor Day to mobilize workers and voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and afterwards. (Event is in-person @ Busboys and Poets 14th & V + Livestreamed. Free and open to all, but registration is required.)News 9/4/26* Our top story this week is the neo-colonial oil extraction deal that has been struck between the Trump administration and the government of Delcy Rodríguez in Venezuela. This government has been running the country under the barrel of a gun since Trump sent Delta Force to kidnap President Nicolás Maduro from his home in the Bolivarian Republic in January. According to the BBC, the new deal “grants a US-led company 100-year concessions over 17 oilfields in Venezuela, amounting to a staggering 65 billion barrels of crude,” or over one-fifth of the country's proven oil reserves. The White House has released a fact sheet, stating that much of the new extraction will be conducted by North American Blue Energy Partners (Nabep), and that the U.S. government will have “veto power over the appointment of any member of the board of directors, and a majority of Nabep's board of directors must be US citizens.” The announcement of this deal drew scorn from a wide variety of sources. These range from Trump's former special representative on Venezuela and Iran, Elliott Abrams who called the deal “terrible” and sees it as Rodríguez “simply complying with the demands she's getting from Washington,” to Rafael Ramírez, who served as the head of the state-run energy firm, PDVSA, and as the oil minister under former President Hugo Chávez, who is quoted saying the deal “hands over [the oil] and opens the doors to a new colonialism of the United States.”* In more outrageous foreign policy news, Reuters reports the Trump administration has designated the United Kingdom-based pro-Palestine activist group Palestine Action a ”terrorist organization,” part of the administration's “campaign to crack down on left-wing groups” using post-9/11 anti-terrorism laws. The United Nations has decried this move, with the UN's human rights office chief Volker Turk calling it a “disproportionate and unnecessary ⁠restriction on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association as well as the right ​to participate in public affairs,” adding that the “expansive use ​of the term ‘terrorism' has been documented to have a chilling effect on civic space.” The UK has sought to bring the legal hammer down on Palestine Action, though these efforts have been somewhat stymied by the courts. Sarah McLaughlin, senior scholar of global expression at free speech group Foundation for Individual Rights and Free Expression (FIRE), ​said that the US “must reject that censorship - not import it.” Reuters notes that “Israel's foreign ministry welcomed the designation.”* This is not the only case wherein the Trump administration has gone to extreme lengths to punish pro-Palestine activism. California District Judge Noel Wise highlighted this in her recent decision, excoriating the State Department and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for their attempts to deport noncitizens over protected speech. This ruling, stemming from a lawsuit filed by FIRE, “centred on how the second Trump administration revoked visas and detained international students studying in the US after they engaged in pro-Palestinian advocacy.” Judge Wise stated in her decision that “in the United States, freedom of speech belongs to the people..It is not the government's to take.” She added that the strength of our democracy is “diminished when members of our society — citizens and noncitizens alike — must self-censor and ‘behave' or suffer the government's retaliation.” Mahmoud Khalil, the most prominent victim of the administration's policy of seeking to deport activists they want to silence, applauded the decision, saying “No one should fear speaking up for Palestine.” This from Al Jazeera.* Our final Palestine-related story for this week takes us to Hollywood, where prominent actor and activist Mark Ruffalo's recent comments in opposition to the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. merger, related to Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison's ties to his father's software company Oracle, have been cynically branded as “antisemitic tropes.” According to the LA Times, Ruffalo shared a clip of Safra Catz, Oracle's former CEO and a current Paramount board member speaking at an Israeli-American Council National Summit conference, where she said that “she couldn't discuss Oracle's work with Israel's military, but ‘we have some profoundly scary technology at Oracle and we wanted to make sure that it was available' to Israel,” after October 7th. Paramount's lawyers quickly sought to smear Ruffalo with the charge of antisemitism, including by deploying their allies in pro-Israel groups like the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Anti-Defamation League. In response, over 150 Jewish filmmakers, academics, writers and even rabbis, signed an open letter which reads, in part, “Pointing out the crucial connections between what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Hollywood is the exact opposite of antisemitism. It is, for us, the very essence of Jewish ethical duty.”* In other news, NBC reports the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Friday that “federal commodities-trading law does not preempt Nevada's gambling law as to the regulation of placing wagers on sports.” This piece notes that the 3-0 ruling marks the prediction markets industry's most significant legal setback yet and sets up a showdown at the Supreme Court, since the Third Circuit has already ruled that New Jersey cannot regulate Kalshi. The Trump administration has sought to keep regulation of betting markets under the jurisdiction of the federal body known as the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Notably, the commission, usually composed of five appointees, currently boasts only one single member: Michael S. Selig. Selig is extremely friendly to the prediction market industry and has sought to stave off state-level regulation by arguing for federal preemption.* Kalshi has been in the news for other reasons as well, namely for its attempts to self-regulate. For one, the Wall Street Journal reports that Kalshi issued its first ever lifetime ban this week, to none other than former Congressman and notorious grifter George Santos. This ban was precipitated by Santos' making over $17,000 by “placing bets on his attendance at President Trump's State of the Union address.” Kalshi adds that they issued a $71,356 fine to Santos. For his part, Santos tweeted “Hey @Kalshi thanks for the lifetime ban from your gambling platform…Let's see how much longer you guys are around for.” Newsweek reports that at the same time, Kalshi fined and suspended North Carolina Republican congressional candidate Laurie Buckhout for betting on her own race. Buckhout dismissed her bet as a “dumb mistake” and joked that her “career as a Kalshi trader was short-lived.” Buckhout is running against incumbent Congressman Don Davis in a newly-redrawn district engineered to favor Republicans, but polling shows a tight race. If Buckhout narrowly loses, many will point to this “dumb mistake” as a key reason why.* Another legal battle is unfolding in New York City, where landlords are challenging Mayor Zohran Mamdani's rent freeze for rent-stabilized tenants. PIX11 reports that the suit, originally filed in Staten Island but now moved to Manhattan, centers on complaints from landlords that the decision by the rent guidelines board (RGB) to keep rents flat on one and two-year lease renewals for NYC's million rent-stabilized apartments was “predetermined and illegal.” They argue that the board “cherry-picked data and was packed with supporters of Mayor…Mamdani's campaign promise to freeze rents,” while the Mamdani administration maintains that the board is an “independent body and considers both tenant and landlord concerns.” The mayoral administration will defend the decision in court, while the Legal Aid Society and Legal Services NYC have filed a request for the court to dismiss the suit entirely. An article in POLITICO from earlier this month reports that the plaintiffs in this suit hope to bring this case all the way to the US Supreme Court.* Our final stories this week take us back to the campaign trail. First up, Alaska Public Media is out with a report about a “chain of political maneuvers in the governor's race,” kicked off by former Anchorage mayor Tom Begich's “decision to step down to give fellow Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins a better shot at winning.” Kreiss-Tomkins finished first in the August primary, followed by Begich in second place and two Republicans in third and fourth respectively. Under Alaska election law, the top four finishers advance to the general election. This piece recounts how Begich's withdrawal sent shockwaves through the Republican candidate field. With Begich out, “Republican Treg Taylor moved into the fourth spot. But on Sunday, Taylor called for [fellow Republicans Bernadette] Wilson and [Dave] Bronson to consolidate their campaigns and pledged to endorse a combined Republican ticket. In a statement, Taylor urged Republicans to unite behind a single candidate, to counter Kreiss-Tompkins.” While fascinating for political junkies, many have observed that the maneuvers on display here and in Alaska's Senate race seem to undercut many of the arguments in favor of ranked-choice voting, with more effort being put into confusing voters or seeking to induce so-called “ballot exhaustion” rather than facilitating a more enlightened civil discourse.* Our final two stories cover the Massachusetts primaries held this Tuesday. The topline, as Semafor reports, is that incumbents swept their primaries in a stark reversal of the insurgent trend in Democratic primaries this cycle. The most notable of these was the crushing victory of 80-year-old incumbent Senator Ed Markey over his 47-year-old challenger, Congressman Seth Moulton. Markey won with approximately two-thirds of the vote. This piece notes that Moulton, younger but running to Markey's right, was never able to establish the “generational change” dynamic he wanted in this race, as “progressives and LGBTQ rights groups rallied behind…[Senator Markey].” On this latter point, Moulton was roundly criticized by Democratic voters, even in his own district, for “scapegoating” transgender people in the wake of the 2024 election. Reporter Dave Weigel adds a coda to this piece: “The subtext of Markey ‘26 was that he would be a reliable progressive vote for whatever the movement wanted for six more years, and then Ayanna Pressley could come in and replace him. Pressley campaigned [with] Markey, starred in ads; [and] at rallies he gushed about how she was the ‘north star' and if you wanted to know what the right side of an issue was, it was the side she was on.”* Finally, with all of that said, the pro-incumbent wave in Massachusetts did cut both ways. Progressive challengers to moderate Democrat incumbents fell short in the state's eighth congressional district – reelecting Congressman Stephen Lynch for a 14th term over progressive voting rights advocate Patrick Roath. Meanwhile, in the first district, WAMC reports Congressman Richie Neal, a longtime scourge of progressives, fended off a primary challenge from teacher Jeromie Whalen in his bid for a 20th term in the House – though Whalen, a political newcomer, won an impressive 46% of the vote. Neal will however face the formidable independent candidate Nadia Milleron in the general election. Milleron won nearly 40% of the vote against Neal in 2024; perhaps, if she wins over enough of Whalen's primary supporters, she can pull out a victory in November.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Donald Trump dijo que Venezuela todavía “no está lista” para tener elecciones democráticas y elogió a Delcy Rodríguez por estar haciendo un “muy buen trabajo”. Cuándo, bajo qué condiciones y quién decidirá que los venezolanos finalmente están listos, eso no lo explicó. Pero la Casa Blanca sí ha establecido sus prioridades: primero petróleo; después democracia. Brenda Estefan, analista internacional, nos habla al respecto. En otros temas: Sheinbaum pide austeridad. Pero parece que los de Morena la leen diferente / Durante años, endeudarse fue barato para los gobiernos. Ahora los mercados comienzan a exigir mayores rendimientos por su dinero.

Secretário de Energia americano, Christopher Wright, foi para a Venezuela nesta semana e participou da assinatura de cerca de uma dúzia de acordos entre os países. Um dos acordos deu aos Estados Unidos acesso a pelo menos um quinto das reservas de petróleo da Venezuela. Delcy Rodríguez, agradeceu Trump pela parceria e disse que o acordo vai trazer'bem-estar' para a Venezuela. E mais:- Noruega apreende navio russo no Ártico para executaruma indenização ucraniana de mais de 4 bilhões de dólares. Governo alemão anunciou novas medidas contra a Rússia, como controles de entrada mais rigorosos para cidadãosrussos. E Ucrânia anunciou a criação de uma rede de instalações subterrâneas para armazenamento de combustível- União Europeia declara que mais de 10 integrantes do bloco estão dispostos a contribuir com uma missão para treinar as forças armadas do Líbano- Congresso da Nicarágua avança com uma reforma constitucional que impede a oposição de participar das eleições- Diretor de Comunicação Digital da Presidência argentina, acusa o Partido Comunista Chinês de ser responsável pela tragédia que deixou mais de 1.100 mortos e quase 5 mil desaparecidos no Nepal e no Tibete e desencadeia crisediplomática entre Argentina e China- Milei vai fazer um pronunciamento em rede nacional, nesta quinta-feira, sobre a soberania das Ilhas Malvinas Apoia.se do Mundo em 180 Segundos | apoio mensal – clique aquiApoia.se do Mundo em 180 Segundos | apoio de 1 episódio – clique aqui Notícias em tempo real nas redes sociais Instagram @mundo_180_segundos e LinkedIn Mundo em 180 Segundos Fale conosco através do mundo180segundos@gmail.com

La crisis migratoria de Ceuta genera un fuerte choque político e institucional. El ministro del Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, se queja ante el Poder Judicial por el veto a un informe policial sobre la frontera. En el Congreso, Pedro Sánchez defiende la cooperación con Marruecos y niega su implicación en la entrada masiva, una postura que la oposición y sus socios de gobierno critican duramente. En el contexto internacional, un devastador desprendimiento de hielo en el Himalaya nepalí causa más de mil muertos y miles de desaparecidos tras anegar valles enteros. Asimismo, Alemania atribuye a Rusia una serie de recientes sabotajes y ataques híbridos en su suelo, lo que incrementa la tensión bélica con la OTAN. En cuanto a Venezuela, la líder opositora María Corina Machado cuestiona la validez del pacto petrolero entre Donald Trump y Delcy Rodríguez al poner en duda la legitimidad del régimen de Miraflores. Por último, en los deportes, el jugador del Real Madrid Raúl Asencio ...

En esta ocasión, hablamos sobre el retiro de Messi y por qué se siente como el golpe deportivo más duro para nuestra generación. Además, analizamos el video de los jueves de fráter que se hizo viral en Bolivia y debatimos sobre la supuesta foto de Maduro generada con IA que despertó dudas en redes sociales.GRACIAS A:Descarga SAILY el mejor eSIM en AppStore y usa el código EDN al finalizar la compra para obtener un 15 % de descuento exclusivo en tu primera compra. Más info en https://saily.com/ednSíguenos en nuestras redes sociales:ESCUELA DE NADAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/escueladenada/Twitter: https://twitter.com/escueladenadaTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@escueladenadaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/escueladenada0:00 Intro4:27 El bolígrafo con el que Messi anunció su retiro8:56 ¿Messi escribe sus propios posts virales?10:19 ¿Estamos listos para ver morir a nuestros ídolos?12:21 Bruce Willis, Jet Li y Jackie Chan: cómo envejecen nuestros ídolos de acción16:35 ¿Por qué no hay quien reemplace a las leyendas del deporte?18:09 La carrera secreta entre Messi y Cristiano por llegar a los 1000 goles20:02 ¿Qué artista tendría que retirarse para que se sienta como el retiro de Messi?21:41 Tarantino, Ridley Scott y la nueva moda de las películas de perros22:23 La página web que te avisa si el perro muere en la película23:05 ¿Qué va a hacer Messi después de retirarse del fútbol?24:32 Lo raro de retirarse de la selección pero seguir jugando en el Inter Miami29:02 El golpe económico que dejaría el retiro total de Messi30:47 El escándalo financiero de Tini con su papá37:18 Los jueves de fráter: el video viral que escandalizó a Bolivia43:56 ¿El parrillero que grabó el video puede terminar preso?46:42 Anatomía de un putañero54:16 El documental sobre el estudiante de criminología que asesinó a cuatro universitarios54:49 La película que dicen que no debes ver en pareja56:19 Los canales de YouTube venezolanos que están rescatando el contenido de calidad57:41 El polémico acuerdo petrolero entre Trump y Delcy Rodríguez1:01:05 La supuesta foto de Maduro con IA que generó dudas1:02:54 Las curiosas reglas de la cárcel y el nuevo reloj de Maduro1:03:44 El verdadero interés de Estados Unidos detrás del acuerdo con Venezuela1:06:30 Lo que sentimos el día que capturaron a Maduro1:11:34 La falta de claridad política que tiene angustiados a los venezolanos1:14:27 El sueño de Daniel García de montar un festival de música en Caracas1:15:48 Outro

Will Donald Trump's new oil deal with Venezuela actually lower gas prices at the pump, or is it political optics? In this video, we break down the claims surrounding the White House's agreement with Venezuela involving 65 billion barrels of subterranean crude oil. From the fine print involving Barbados-headquartered North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) and businessman Alejandro Betancourt, to the massive infrastructure hurdles facing Venezuela's oil sector, we separate energy market facts from campaign narrative. In this video, we cover: • The reality behind the "65 billion barrels" claim and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve • The role of NABEP, private oil leases, and taxpayer risk exposure • Why energy economists agree this deal won't lower short-term gas prices • Major oil companies like ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips hesitating over contract sanctity • The legal and constitutional questions surrounding interim President Delcy Rodríguez • How public financial guarantees socialize risk while privatizing profit Key Takeaways: Raw crude trapped thousands of feet underground cannot immediately affect global crude markets or retail pump prices. Developing these unrefined fields requires hundreds of billions in capital expenditures and years of work. Discover why this high-risk arrangement benefits private corporate interests while leaving American taxpayers on the hook. #energypolicy #GasPrices #OilMarket #Venezuela #Trump #Midterms #EconomicPolicy #StrategicPetroleumReserve Independent media has never been more important. Please support this channel by subscribing here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g?sub_confirmation=1 Join this channel with a membership for exclusive early access and bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g/join Five Minute News is a MeidasTouch Podcast, covering politics, inequality, health and climate - delivering independent, unbiased and essential news for the US and across the world. Visit us online at http://www.fiveminute.news Follow us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/fiveminutenews.bsky.social Follow us on Instagram http://instagram.com/fiveminnews Support us on Patreon http://www.patreon.com/fiveminutenews You can subscribe to Five Minute News with your preferred podcast app, ask your smart speaker, or enable Five Minute News as your Amazon Alexa Flash Briefing skill. CONTENT DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed on this channel are those of the guests and authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Anthony Davis or Five Minute News LLC. Any content provided by our hosts, guests or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything, in line with the First Amendment right to free and protected speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Analizamos el histórico acuerdo petrolero entre el gobierno de Delcy Rodríguez y Estados Unidos, un giro que rompe con décadas de discurso antiimperialista de la Revolución Bolivariana y que ha provocado críticas incluso dentro del propio chavismo. Mientras Donald Trump y Marco Rubio celebran el pacto como una victoria para Washington, el contrato completo sigue sin publicarse y persisten las dudas sobre el control real que tendrán las empresas estadounidenses y el reparto de los beneficios. El acuerdo contempla inversiones y tecnología norteamericana para elevar la producción venezolana, mientras el gobierno defiende que permitirá generar empleo, mejorar servicios públicos e impulsar la economía del país. Mas vídeos de Pandemia Digital: https://www.youtube.com/c/PandemiaDigital1 Si quieres comprar buen aceite de primera prensada, sin intermediarios y ayudar de esa forma a los agricultores con salarios justos tenemos un código de promoción para ti: https://12coop.com/cupon/pandemiadigital/ Este video puede contener temas sensibles, así como discursos de odi*, ac*so, o discr*minación. El objetivo de abordar estos temas es exclusivamente informativo y busca concienciar a la audiencia sobre estos acontecimientos, y denunciar y señalar el origen de los mismos para crear consciencia y evitar su propagación. Si consideras que el contenido puede afectarte, te recomendamos proceder con precaución o evitar su visualización. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Únete a nuestra comunidad de YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFOwGZY-NTnctghtlHkj8BA/join Se mecenas de Patreon https://www.patreon.com/PandemiaDigital ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Súmate a la comunidad en Twitch - En vivo de Lunes a Jueves: https://www.twitch.tv/pandemiadigital Sigue nuestro Canal de Telegram: https://t.me/PandemiaDigital Suscríbete en nuestra web: https://PandemiaDigital.net Sigue nuestras redes: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PandemiaDigitaI Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PandemiaDigitalObservatorio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pandemia_digital_twitch TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pandemiadigital #PandemiaDigital

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Mike Nelson to discuss the Trump administration's oil deal with Venezuela and the state of the Iran war six months in. The Agenda: —Venezuela oil deal —Delcy Rodríguez's presidency — “We should have the taken the oil!” —The Venezuela model in Iran — “No, Iran is not winning” —NWYT: Milos Yiannopoulos' deportation Show notes: —Wall Street Journal's reporting on the oil deal —Washington Post reporting on U.S. military leadership The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

El acuerdo petrolero anunciado por Donald Trump y Delcy Rodríguez promete transformar la industria de hidrocarburos de Venezuela con hasta 100.000 millones de dólares en inversión privada y una nueva alianza con el sector energético. Sin embargo, el pacto no ha sido publicado y sus condiciones, empresas participantes y reparto de beneficios siguen sin conocerse. ¿Se trata de un acuerdo para reactivar la industria petrolera venezolana o de un pacto que compromete la soberanía del país y permite a Delcy Rodríguez afianzarse en el poder? Lo analizamos.

Confira no Morning Show desta segunda-feira (31): O Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE) deu início à análise dos registros de candidaturas à Presidência da República no plenário virtual. O repórter Marco Viana traz os detalhes de Brasília sobre o julgamento das chapas, enquanto a bancada do Morning Show debate as regras eleitorais, a fiscalização partidária e o uso do fundo bilionário nas campanhas. A nova pesquisa Atlas/Bloomberg para as eleições presidenciais de 2026 aponta Lula (PT) na liderança com 43,4%, seguido por Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) com 33,7%. A grande novidade do levantamento é o crescimento de Augusto Cury, que saltou para 7,8% das intenções de voto. A bancada do Morning Show analisa os números e a busca do eleitor por alternativas. O atacante David Corrêa, o "DVD", do Vasco da Gama, foi alvo de mandados de busca e apreensão na Operação "A Tropa", que investiga o envolvimento de atletas e empresários de futebol com o tráfico de drogas e lavagem de dinheiro. O repórter Rodrigo Viga traz os detalhes direto do Rio de Janeiro, e a bancada do Morning Show analisa as conexões do crime organizado no esporte. O governo dos EUA garantiu o controle e acesso direto às maiores reservas de petróleo do planeta em acordo firmado com a gestão interina da Venezuela. Direto de Nova York, o correspondente Eliseu Caetano traz os detalhes dessa negociação histórica, as repercussões da prisão de Nicolás Maduro e o impacto do petróleo venezuelano no mercado de energia global. Classificado por Donald Trump como o maior negócio da história, o acordo garante aos EUA a liderança no mercado global de petróleo ao assumir a produção na Venezuela. O Morning Show debate o enfraquecimento de países rivais no setor energético, as movimentações de Delcy Rodríguez e o futuro político sul-americano. Belo Horizonte registrou tempestades intensas com rajadas de vento que ultrapassaram 67 km/h, provocando a destruição de barracas na tradicional Feira Hippie e queda de árvores pela cidade. O especialista Tony Tech apresenta no estúdio do Morning Show as últimas novidades do mercado de tecnologia, incluindo um óculos inteligente equipado com inteligência artificial capaz de responder perguntas sobre temas complexos e economia. Uma desavença comercial no interior de São Paulo terminou em destruição após o motorista de uma caminhonete atingir violentamente um carro estacionado em Ribeirão Preto. O repórter Thiago Mokwa traz as imagens do impacto e as investigações policiais, enquanto a bancada do Morning Show debate o aumento da intolerância, os limites da raiva e o descontrole emocional nas ruas. Essas e outras notícias você confere no Morning Show.

Donald Trump anunció el viernes el que, según él, es el mayor acuerdo petrolero de la historia. Con este acuerdo Estados Unidos se asegurará el control mayoritario de más de 65.000 millones de barriles de reservas probadas venezolanas sin coste para el contribuyente. Parece algo irresistible, pero la contabilidad falla desde el primer vistazo. EEUU no será propietario de esos barriles, sino accionista de una sociedad con derecho a desarrollar 17 campos repartidos entre la Faja del Orinoco y el lago de Maracaibo. Además, entre un barril bajo tierra y otro listo para embarcar median años de inversión, tecnología y seguridad jurídica, algo que no abunda en Venezuela. El socio elegido es North American Blue Energy Partners, una empresa registrada en Barbados y controlada por Alejandro Betancourt, un empresario enriquecido al calor de los contratos del chavismo e investigado por presunto blanqueo en España y en Suiza. La operación la remató la Oficina de Capital Estratégico del Pentágono mediante unos warrants que dan al departamento de Defensa derechos sobre la producción futura por una prima simbólica. De los porcentajes de producción que irán a EEUU circulan varias versiones lo que significa que los detalles del acuerdo aún se encuentran lejos de estar cerrados. El calendario explica las prisas. La guerra de Irán mantiene cerrado el estrecho de Ormuz y las elecciones de medio mandato son en un par de meses. El problema es que la realidad sobre el terreno en Venezuela es muy distinta. Desde la caída de Maduro en enero, ninguna gran petrolera estadounidense se ha metido en aquel país por los riesgos que entraña y porque hay que gastar demasiado dinero para revivir la infraestructura. El país tiene hoy sólo dos taladros de perforación activos frente a los 120 que había en 1998, y produce en torno a un millón de barriles diarios, un tercio de lo de entonces, más o menos lo que extrae Dakota del Norte. Custodia, eso sí, el 17% de las reservas mundiales pero solo aporta el 1% de la producción mundial. Las petroleras son reacias a invertir allí porque las expropiaciones del pasado aún se recuerdan. Todavía hoy ConocoPhillips reclama 12.000 millones de dólares y ExxonMobil otros 1.000. Ante la falta de interés de las grandes petroleras la Casa Blanca está tentando a las más pequeñas dirigidas por gente próxima al presidente, pero incapaces de afrontar los gastos que requerirían desarrollar los proyectos de extracción de crudo pesado en la faja del Orinoco. Hay, además, otro elemento no menor. La Constitución venezolana de 1999 prohíbe de forma explícita transferir unos yacimientos que pertenecen a la República. Delcy Rodríguez es una presidenta ilegítima, gobierna sin haber pasado por las urnas tras heredar el cargo de un presidente hoy preso que robó las elecciones de 2024. En Venezuela todavía quedan unos 380 presos políticos y los principales jerarcas del chavismo como Diosdado Cabello o Vladimir Padrino siguen en el Gobierno. Los negociadores estadounidenses admiten que la estructura societaria privada se eligió para atar a los futuros gobiernos venezolanos, pero eso implica que la democracia no regresará a Venezuela en mucho tiempo, entre otras cosas porque hoy por hoy al Gobierno de Estados Unidos le interesa que se mantenga una dictadura con la que ha terminado asociándose. En La ContraRéplica: 0:00 Introducción 4:00 Espejismo petrolero 33:55 La exaltación de la estelada 45:22 El sanchismo después de Sánchez · Canal de Telegram: https://t.me/lacontracronica · “Contra el pesimismo”… https://amzn.to/4m1RX2R · “Hispanos. Breve historia de los pueblos de habla hispana”… https://amzn.to/428js1G · “La ContraHistoria del comunismo”… https://amzn.to/39QP2KE · “La ContraHistoria de España. Auge, caída y vuelta a empezar de un país en 28 episodios”… https://amzn.to/3kXcZ6i · “Contra la Revolución Francesa”… https://amzn.to/4aF0LpZ · “Lutero, Calvino y Trento, la Reforma que no fue”… https://amzn.to/3shKOlK Apoya La Contra en: · Patreon... https://www.patreon.com/diazvillanueva · iVoox... https://www.ivoox.com/podcast-contracronica_sq_f1267769_1.html · Paypal... https://www.paypal.me/diazvillanueva Sígueme en: · Web... https://diazvillanueva.com · Twitter... https://twitter.com/diazvillanueva · Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/fernandodiazvillanueva1/ · Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/diazvillanueva · Linkedin… https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-d%C3%ADaz-villanueva-7303865/ · Flickr... https://www.flickr.com/photos/147276463@N05/?/ · Pinterest... https://www.pinterest.com/fernandodiazvillanueva Encuentra mis libros en: · Amazon... https://www.amazon.es/Fernando-Diaz-Villanueva/e/B00J2ASBXM #FernandoDiazVillanueva #venezuela #petroleo Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

En respuesta a las dudas y suspicacias que despertó el acuerdo anunciado la víspera entre Estados Unidos y Venezuela —y calificado como "histórico" por Trump—, la mandataria interina Delcy Rodríguez, aseguró que el pacto petrolero garantiza que el país sudamericano preserve la "propiedad" y la "soberanía" sobre sus recursos. Escucha las noticias y los segmentos en nuestro programa de hoy.Escucha SBS Spanish | Australia en español:Por radio o internet todos los días a la 1:00 pm (AEST) en https://www.sbs.com.au/language/spanish/esTambién nos encuentras en Apple Podcasts, Spotify y YouTubeExplora nuestra extensa colección de podcasts en https://www.sbs.com.au/audio/collection/podcasts-in-spanishSíguenos en Facebook e Instagram

Germania Rodriguez was 11 years old when her family fled Venezuela . Her mother, one of the regime's most aggressive journalist critics, had just been falsely accused by Hugo Chávez's government. Two decades later, sitting in NYU lecture halls, Germania became a Bernie Sanders supporter anyway. In this episode, Germania joins The Curious Middle to explain how someone who watched socialism destroy her home country still fell for it in an Ivy League classroom — and what finally broke the spell.   We get into why the New York Times and Hollywood have a decades-long blind spot for left-wing dictatorships, the actual difference between Norway's social democracy and Venezuela's socialism, why "free stuff" isn't the same thing as the government seizing the means of production, and how Cuba spent 70 years exporting revolution across Latin America. Venezuela went from a top-5 global economy in the 1960s to nearly 9 million refugees and 70%+ of households in poverty in under 30 years. Germania breaks down how that happened, and why the same playbook is showing up in New York City politics right now.   Timestamps:  0:36 – Fleeing Venezuela at 11: her mother's persecution by the Chávez regime 2:00 – Quitting the Daily Mail after refusing to stay silent about the NYT calling Delcy Rodríguez a "moderate" 3:09 – Media bias: is it ideology, or access  5:17 – The NYT's long history of covering for communism 6:29 – Hollywood's blind spot: Danny Glover, Chávez, and a Peabody-winning documentary 8:34 – The cost of being a radical centrist: everyone hates you 9:36 – Confession: Germania was a "Bernie Bro" at NYU 11:04 – What made her fall for it 14:10 – NYU campus culture in 2016, and Bernie's Castro comments 15:47 – How moral superiority becomes an excuse for authoritarianism 16:12 – Is anyone actually moving toward the center? 17:06 – The John Leguizamo clip: confusing social programs with socialism  18:34 – What "socialism" actually means, according to the DSA's own website 20:11 – Venezuela's refugee crisis: nearly 9 million fled 20:39 – 71–73% of Venezuelan households now live in poverty 21:12 – How Venezuela went from a top-5 global economy to collapse 25:25 – Less than 30 years to destroy a country 25:43 – The same playbook, today, in Zohran Mamdani's New York City 26:39 – Where's the actual red line between healthy social programs and socialism? 27:58 – Bodega owners vs. taxpayer-funded competition 28:34 – What government should do — and where it should stop 30:57 – Gun control and Chávez's disarmament of Venezuelans 2:04 – NYC rent control and the housing supply death spiral 33:22 – "If I were a billionaire, I'd fund a sexy pro-capitalism Netflix show" 34:12 – Norway vs. Venezuela: what makes one work and the other collapse 36:05 – Why progressive support for Chavismo is its own kind of racism 37:53 – Cuba's 70-year role exporting revolution across Latin Americaa 39:49 – Did the US actually win the Cold War?  40:44 – "Democracy privilege," and forgetting what's at stake

CONTENTS THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 8-24-2026.OTTAWAConrad Black and co-host Edmund Fitton-Brown discuss the collapse of trade negotiations and subsequent US tariff threats that have sparked a major political crisis in Canada, leading to opposition calls to immediately reconvene Parliament. Black describes a stark contrast in national attitudes, noting that President Trump's rhetoric effectively denies Canada's sovereignty. This perceived affront has deeply united Canadians across party lines, who view the tariffs as an assault on national identity rather than a mere commercial dispute. Black highlights potential Republican electoral fallout in key US Senate races like Maine and Michigan, and suggests a bilateral phone call could resolve the dispute. (1)Janatyn Sayeh and Edmund Fitton-Brown examine Iranian official Ghalibaf's public appearance in Iraq, signaling defiance to the US and Israel before secondary sanctions are revealed. Sayeh explains that Iran views Iraq as its backyard, using it to evade sanctions by blending Iranian oil with Iraqi exports. Under President Trump, US economic scrutiny on Iraq has increased to block this smuggling. While maximum pressure has devalued Iran's currency and caused hyperinflation, Iran aims to overwhelm Washington by utilizing its regional proxy networks across Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq. The US must view these proxies as Iranian arms rather than local actors. (2)Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa, with Edmund Fitton-Brown: In Brazil, falling poll numbers have panicked President Lula, prompting him to call Donald Trump despite years of anti-American rhetoric. Araújo explains this reflects the US's central role in combating South American "narcosocialist" regimes. Meanwhile, in Venezuela, Delcyand Jorge Rodríguez are simulating cooperation with the US while delaying presidential elections to buy time. Peña Esclusa notes that Venezuelan opposition members are negotiating Supreme Court appointments rather than election dates or political prisoners. Both guests will attend Slovenia's Bled Strategic Forum to discuss Latin America's right-wing political shift and potential energy partnerships with Europe. (3)Malcolm Hoenlein and Edmund Fitton-Brown discuss rising security concerns in Israel after incendiary balloons from Gaza were discovered, potentially testing Israel's border preparedness. Concurrently, Turkey is expanding its regional footprint, occupying 5% of Syria and attempting to establish military bases, which Israel countered with airstrikes. In Gaza, Jared Kushner met with Hamas in Cairo, a move that critics argue bolsters the group's status despite declining local support. Meanwhile, the US Treasury has previewed secondary sanctions on Iranian trading partners, including China. Iran's economy is in collapse, with inflation skyrocketing and the currency reaching an all-time low. (4)David Daoud and Edmund Fitton-Brown examine UNIFIL's mandate, which restricts it to acting as an auxiliary to the Lebanese Armed Forces, preventing independent disarmament of Hezbollah. Consequently, Hezbollah operates freely near UN watchtowers and tunnel networks. Daoud argues that while new US Treasury sanctions expanding target parameters to include Iranian violations are positive, they fail to address Hezbollah's deep integration into Lebanon's socio-political fabric. To be effective, the West must treat Hezbollah as a Lebanese entity with sovereign responsibilities, rather than purely an Iranian proxy. True security requires targeting all of Hezbollah's activities, including its social and political wings. (5)Ivana Stradner and Edmund Fitton-Brown analyze Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's visit to Belgrade, which does not signal a split between Serbia and Russia. President Vučić's weapons sales to Ukraine are merely lucrative business deals. Serbia remains highly dependent on Russia, sharing deep intelligence ties and cooperating with the FSB to test crowd-control equipment. Vučić balances these relationships to survive domestic protests sparked by environmental concerns and a severe heatwave. Stradner, recently returning from Israel, reports that Israeli morale remains exceptionally high despite facing a multi-front threat from Iran's proxy network, which Russia continues to exploit through regional propaganda and strategic manipulation. (6)Edmund Fitton-Brown critiques the term "economic D-Day," explaining that Pakistan's mediation in Iran is self-interested, driven by fears of secondary US sanctions. These sanctions have suffocated Iran's economy, reducing oil exports and sparking hyperinflation. Iraq also struggles with contradictory policies, balancing its US alliance with pro-Iranian gestures, such as securing tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz. In the Red Sea, the Houthis demand tribute from Saudi Arabia to halt attacks on tankers and pipelines. Fitton-Brown warns that paying the Houthis only delays their long-term expansionist goals against Saudi territory and Israel. (7)Samuel Ben-Ur and Edmund Fitton-Brown discuss how, following a temporary lull, Hamas has intensified attacks in Gaza, emboldened by disarmament frameworks proposed by Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators. Ben-Ur notes Hamas only accepted the deal under the pretense of disarming while intending to survive intact. However, following Jared Kushner's visit, the US aligned with Israel's stance, demanding total disarmament before military withdrawal. Fitton-Brown and Ben-Ur discuss the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (ENCAG), a secular government planned to replace Hamas. Lacking military power, ENCAG's deployment depends on an international stabilization force, though troop commitments remain severely short. (8)Michael Sobolik and Edmund Fitton-Brown examine how Chinese AI company Moonshot bypassed US export controls by "distilling" technology from Anthropic's Claude Opus model to train its own system, Kimi K3. This intellectual property theft threatens American market dominance and national security. Sobolik recommends three policy actions: imposing crushing financial sanctions on violating Chinese firms, closing export control loopholes related to remote cloud access, and banning open CCP models in the United States. He warns that American tech companies prioritizing short-term profits over security risk losing the AI race, mirroring historical patterns of Chinese piracy. (9)John Hardie and Edmund Fitton-Brown outline Russia's military assistance to Iran via the Caspian Sea, a highly secure transit route. This collaboration benefits Moscow by raising energy prices and draining US munition stockpiles like Patriot interceptors, giving Russia a freer hand in Ukraine. Russia provides Iran with tactical intelligence, drone components to resist satellite jamming, and has agreed to deliver shoulder-launched air defense missiles. While Ukraine and Israel have attempted long-range strikes against trade vessels and ports to disrupt this flow, interdiction is difficult because the Caspian Sea operates as a protected, non-transparent Russian-Iranian military lake. (10)Standing corrections applied: Janatyn Sayeh, Ernesto Araújo, Alejandro Peña Esclusa, Delcy Rodríguez (and Jorge Rodríguez), Zelenskyy, Vučić with diacritics, and Kimi K3 (source again had "Kimmy"). One anomaly in the source: segment 7 listed Fitton-Brown as both guest and co-host, so I've formatted it as his solo segment — flag it if there was a second voice in that file.

Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Wall Street Journal editorial board: Venezuela is grappling with the aftermath of severe earthquakes while navigating a complex political transition under the Trump administration's influence. Despite increased oil production, major oil companies are hesitant to invest because of a lack of contractual assurances, bureaucratic overreach, and the absence of a legitimate rule of law. Mary Anastasia O'Grady explains that the current provisional government, led by Delcy Rodríguez, is associated with the previous narco-terror regime, creating a transparency crisis regarding oil profits held in US escrow accounts. While the administration pursues a three-phase plan of stabilization, recovery, and a return to democracy, O'Grady argues the regime is simply buying time to stay in power. As long as oil prices remain high and the US is preoccupied with conflicts in the Middle East, the illegitimate regime has little incentive to hold the free and fair elections demanded by popular opposition leader María Corina Machado. (2)

TABLE OF CONTENTS THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 8-23-3036.Anatol Lieven: The discussion highlights a dystopian shift in modern naval combat, where the Russian ghost fleet employs Mad Max tactics, using netting and spikes, to defend against Ukrainian drone attacks. Anatol Lieven describes a global spread of drone technology that threatens energy prices and international stability. Both Russia and Ukraine suffer from the illusion of an imminent total victory, despite a grinding stalemate in which Russia holds a stronger economic position because of its self-funded war effort while Ukraine remains dependent on precarious European aid. Lieven warns of a potential sea war escalation if Russia retaliates against the seizure of its ships, potentially drawing NATO and the US into a direct naval clash. The conversation also touches on British politics, noting that Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces immense pressure regarding immigration and military spending despite his desire to focus on domestic issues. (1)Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Wall Street Journal editorial board: Venezuela is grappling with the aftermath of severe earthquakes while navigating a complex political transition under the Trump administration's influence. Despite increased oil production, major oil companies are hesitant to invest because of a lack of contractual assurances, bureaucratic overreach, and the absence of a legitimate rule of law. Mary Anastasia O'Grady explains that the current provisional government, led by Delcy Rodríguez, is associated with the previous narco-terror regime, creating a transparency crisis regarding oil profits held in US escrow accounts. While the administration pursues a three-phase plan of stabilization, recovery, and a return to democracy, O'Grady argues the regime is simply buying time to stay in power. As long as oil prices remain high and the US is preoccupied with conflicts in the Middle East, the illegitimate regime has little incentive to hold the free and fair elections demanded by popular opposition leader María Corina Machado. (2)Veronique de Rugy: Veronique de Rugy critiques the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly known as the Jones Act, which requires cargo moved between American ports to be transported on ships that are US-built, US-owned, and US-crewed. Originally intended to protect the American merchant marine after World War I, the act has instead caused domestic shipbuilding costs to skyrocket, making American vessels four to five times more expensive than those built in Asia. Consequently, the US fleet has dwindled, and consumers face higher prices for goods as transportation shifts to more polluting methods such as trucking. Despite its failure to achieve its stated goals, the act is sustained by special interests, including unions and specific shipyards, which exert significant political influence. Current efforts to maintain waivers for energy and fertilizer transportation are facing strong opposition from 52 House Republicans. (3)Craig Unger: Craig Unger explores a sidetracked FBI counterintelligence investigation into Donald Trump's decades-long ties to Russian interests. Unlike criminal inquiries, counterintelligence investigations focus on national security breaches and the laundering of influence, even when no explicit crime is proven. Unger asserts that Russian mafia figures, acting as adjuncts to state intelligence, began bailing out Trump's failing real estate ventures as early as 1984. These transactions, often involving cash purchases of condominiums in Trump Tower, allegedly turned the former president into an asset of Russian intelligence. Unger argues that the Robert Mueller investigation was a dud because it focused narrowly on criminal acts rather than this broader compromise. The discussion concludes by noting Trump's consistent, long-standing hostility toward NATO, which Unger says mirrors Soviet-era talking points and raises ongoing concerns regarding US national security. (4)Graham McAleer: Pope Leo has issued a bold encyclical addressing the ethical and social threats posed by artificial intelligence. Graham McAleer explains that the Pope uses the biblical image of Nimrod and the Tower of Babel to characterize AI as a manifestation of human darkness and godlike pride. A primary concern is the asymmetry of wealth, in which a small, secretive class of Silicon Valley oligarchs controls a technology that operates largely outside state law. While the Church acknowledges AI's potential benefits in medicine and education, it warns that the oligarchic structure of the industry challenges state power and treats users as livestock for data farming. The Pope explicitly calls for government regulation to protect human dignity, yet McAleer notes the fundamental contradiction of expecting the state to control private entities that have already become more powerful than many governments. (5)Alex Wright — Multi-Part, Part One: Alex Wright, author of Empire of Ink: The Printers and Radicals Who Invented the American Newspaper, details the uniquely American invention of the newspaper, beginning with Mary Katherine Goddard's printing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Early printing was a grueling, high-status trade where printer's devils, or apprentices, worked with lead and ink balls. Technological evolution was driven by necessity; rag shortages in the nineteenth century led to bizarre experiments, including turning imported Egyptian mummy linen into paper. The Penny Press, pioneered by Benjamin Day, revolutionized the industry by catering to the working class with tabloids and hoaxes, much to the horror of elitists such as Charles Dickens. Wright emphasizes that early American journalism thrived on a sharing economy in which newspapers were exempted from copyright and postal subsidies encouraged editors to cut and paste each other's work, effectively networking the young nation together. (6)Evan Ellis, US Army War College and a State Department voice: Professor Evan Ellis provides a comprehensive update on Latin American stability, starting with Chile's President Kast, who is tackling immigration and the rise of gangs such as Tren de Aragua while balancing economic ties with China. In Colombia, President De la Espriella is implementing a hardline approach against narco-terrorists following a devastating 7.4 earthquake. The situation in Venezuela remains critical; while oil production has increased to 1.16 million barrels per day, there is zero transparency regarding the $13 million in monthly profits allegedly flowing to the Rodríguez gangsters. Opposition leader Dinora Figueroa is negotiating a gradual return to trust, but the regime shows no intention of relinquishing power. Finally, Ellis notes that El Niño poses a severe threat of drought to the Panama Canal, which will likely disrupt international shipping and further strain regional economies. (7)Wright's Part Two runs tomorrow and takes its own tail in that day's sequence.

After American troops snatched Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in a dawn raid in January, democracy did not seem like a priority. Yet this week, talks between the regime and opposition ended with small, positive steps. Why US consumers' love of fast food may be slowing. And how many hours of Wagner opera would you sit through?  Guests and host:Kinley Salmon, Latin America correspondentShera Avi-Yonah, business correspondentBrook Unger, senior digital editorRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Venezuela, Maduro, Delcy Rodríguez, MachadoFast food, McDonalds, burgersWagner, “Ring” cycle, classical musicListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After American troops snatched Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in a dawn raid in January, democracy did not seem like a priority. Yet this week, talks between the regime and opposition ended with small, positive steps. Why US consumers' love of fast food may be slowing. And how many hours of Wagner opera would you sit through?  Guests and host:Kinley Salmon, Latin America correspondentShera Avi-Yonah, business correspondentBrook Unger, senior digital editorRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Venezuela, Maduro, Delcy Rodríguez, MachadoFast food, McDonalds, burgersWagner, “Ring” cycle, classical musicListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

La creciente de Washington sobre lo que ocurre en Caracas es palpable no solamente en las acciones y decisiones del gobierno de Delcy Rodríguez, sino también en las acciones y silencios de la oposición.

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 8-5-2026.Michael Bernstam discusses how August is historically a "month of curses" for Russia, citing the 1991 coup and the 1914 start of WWI. Currently, Russia is facing a severe fiscal and production crisis driven by Ukrainian drone strikes that have crippled 25% of its oil refining capacity. Additionally, Ukrainian drones recently destroyed a massive Wildberrieswarehouse—Russia's equivalent to Amazon—stripping a million vendors of their livelihoods and stressing the banking sector. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is in fiscal trouble due to its $1.5 trillion "The Line" project and Houthi attacks on its pipelines. This pressure is leading the Saudis to urge the Trump administration toward concessions with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stabilize oil flows. Bernstam notes that while the EU has frozen the Russian oil price cap at $44.10, the real impact on Russian revenues will come from any reduction in world oil prices. (1)Bob Zimmerman highlights the rapid evolution of the commercial space industry, comparing it to the early 20th-century auto boom. A major milestone includes SpaceX successfully retrieving a Starship stage from the Indian Ocean to analyze its thermal protection tiles. Zimmerman notes that the FAA is proposing to exempt spaceports from 13 environmental laws to curb "mission creep" and "lawfare." In the satellite market, Starlink's dominance has forced competitors like Hughes into bankruptcy. Internationally, Zimmerman criticizes the European Union Space Act as a regulatory disaster that could drive U.S. and Chinese businesses away from the EU market. Other notable developments include Spain's $1 billion offer to move the Thirty Meter Telescope to the Canary Islands and new evidence that near-surface ice is ubiquitous on Mars, simplifying future colonization. He also mentions the mapping of 200,000 supermassive black holes. (2)James Holmes and Gordon Chang address the critical lack of frigates in the U.S. Navy, which Holmes describes as essential low-cost platforms for monitoring adversaries. The current fleet is "top-heavy," relying on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers that are overworked. Holmes explains that the new Constellation-class frigate program has been delayed because the Navy continues to "monkey with the designs," resulting in vessels that are destroyer-sized but under-armed. Meanwhile, China and Russia have conducted joint naval exercises since 2005 to improve interoperability and provide military options in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Holmes suggests the U.S. should consider leveraging the superior shipbuilding capacity of allies like South Korea, which claims it could produce five Arleigh Burkes annually, whereas the U.S. struggles to build two. The focus remains on regaining the ability to build plentiful, cost-effective combatants. (3)Piero Tozzi and Gordon Chang explore the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) "long arm" influence in the U.S., specifically regarding a Purdue University professor pressured to cancel a speech at a Catholic conference. Tozzi explains that the CCP uses "patriotic churches" to "sinicize" Catholicism, which involves forcing the religion to conform to Party dictates. Tozzi criticizes the Vatican's "accommodationist approach" under the 2018 Sino-Vatican Accord, noting it neglects the persecuted "underground" church. He highlights that figures like Cardinal Zen and Archbishop Cordileone have been vocal defenders of figures like Jimmy Lai. Tozzi argues that the Catholic hierarchy must understand the totalitarian nature of the CCP, which seeks absolute control over all institutions. The discussion emphasizes that Chinese officials use intimidation to project dominance even within American universities and religious organizations. (4)Steve Yates and Gordon Chang discuss the proposed ban on Chinese components in U.S. data centers, warning that these devices allow for foreign sabotage of critical infrastructure. Yates notes that the CCP often fuels "astroturf" protests in rural America to block data center construction and slow U.S. AI development. Regarding Taiwan, Yates reports that security cooperation is becoming more transparent, moving away from "strategic ambiguity" to reassure allies and deter China. However, he notes a delay in a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan, suggesting that some in Washington still prioritize "walking on eggshells" to preserve the relationship with Xi Jinping. Yates argues for a shift toward helping partners buy and use their own deterrent capabilities. He concludes that U.S. leadership in compute power is a vital strategic advantage that China is actively trying to undermine through influence operations. (5)Peter Huessy provides a historical overview of nuclear arms control, starting with the 1972 SALT I agreement, which actually codified a buildup of weapons while banning missile defenses. He describes the "window of vulnerability" in the 1980s when Soviet SS-18 missiles threatened a first strike. The START I and START II treaties in the 1990s achieved the first real reductions, with START II aiming to ban destabilizing multiple-warhead (MIRV) land-based missiles. However, START II unraveled when Russia demanded limits on U.S. missile defenses. Following the Moscow Treatyand the 2010 New START, the arms control regime has effectively collapsed. Huessy emphasizes that today, there is no active treaty governing nuclear weapons between the U.S. and Russia. He underscores the importance of past verification measures, like "portal monitoring" in missile factories, which are no longer in place. (6)Humberto Briceño describes Venezuela as a state captured by a transnational alliance of criminal organizations, including colectivos (paramilitaries) and narco-traffickers. He criticizes the decision to leave "gangsters" like Delcy Rodríguez in power while attempting to rebuild democracy. Briceño argues that the judiciary and military must be entirely replaced, as they currently serve only as agents of the regime. Despite $13 billion in recent oil earnings, massive corruption has left the funds unaccounted for. He maintains that free elections, ideally by March 2027, are impossible without first dismantling the criminal infrastructure and placing the military under civil authority. Briceño praises the leadership of María Corina Machado and Edmundo González, noting the Venezuelan people are desperate for transformation after three decades of state-sponsored violence and economic collapse. (7)Simon Constable reports on the extreme weather and energy pressures facing Europe, with Brent crude prices up 12% and natural gas up 22% in a single month. He details a "semi-invasion" of Spain, where 60,000 migrants recently attempted to cross from Morocco, and the controversy in the UK over using the Royal Navy to return migrant boats to France. Constable describes the lack of logic in French police allowing these dangerous rubber rafts to depart. Switching to his "data center quiz," he reveals that 67% of new data centers are planned for rural areas, which often brings both high local resistance and significant tax revenue. He identifies labor shortages—particularly for electricians—and tariff uncertainties as the primary barriers to U.S. data center construction. Constable notes that within five miles of an operational data center, a significant portion of the U.S. population now resides. (8)Mary Kissel analyzes the "stuck" state of global diplomacy, arguing that China and Russia are actively judging the strength of U.S. deterrence in the Strait of Hormuz and Ukraine. She disputes the idea that China is a neutral bystander, noting that Beijing benefits from Russian energy, Iranian markets, and the depletion of U.S. military assets like Patriotmissiles. Kissel asserts that the "merging" of the wars in Ukraine and Iran actually happened years ago through long-standing regime cooperation. She warns that a "halfway house" deal with Iran would only grant the regime more leverage and threaten European population centers with ballistic missiles. NATO must recognize a "condominium of countries"—China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—that are aligning against Western security. Kissel emphasizes that these regimes' interference in U.S. domestic politics is a strategic tool used to promote their own ends. (9)Colonel Grant Newsham challenges the assumption of inevitable Chinese dominance, labeling it a "fake it till you make it" strategy intended to intimidate foreigners. He points out that China's property market is a "crater" and its currency is not freely convertible, forcing the CCP to aggressively export overcapacity to earn the dollars needed for raw materials. Newsham highlights that over 600 million Chinese citizens live on less than $5 a day, and even the CCP elite, including Xi Jinping, keep wealth overseas as a hedge against the system's future. He argues that China's high-tech focus on AI and robotics does not solve its massive youth unemployment. Newsham concludes that China is a "big power but not a great one," functioning as a "rigged casino" without property rights or the rule of law, which is increasingly deterring foreign direct investment. (10)

Humberto Briceño describes Venezuela as a state captured by a transnational alliance of criminal organizations, including colectivos (paramilitaries) and narco-traffickers. He criticizes the decision to leave "gangsters" like Delcy Rodríguez in power while attempting to rebuild democracy. Briceño argues that the judiciary and military must be entirely replaced, as they currently serve only as agents of the regime. Despite $13 billion in recent oil earnings, massive corruption has left the funds unaccounted for. He maintains that free elections, ideally by March 2027, are impossible without first dismantling the criminal infrastructure and placing the military under civil authority. Briceño praises the leadership of María Corina Machado and Edmundo González, noting the Venezuelan people are desperate for transformation after three decades of state-sponsored violence and economic collapse. (7)

Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez has formally begun withdrawing the country from the International Criminal Court (ICC). The United States, which never ratified the Rome Statute and has long viewed the ICC as a threat to its own sovereignty, publicly praised the move and framed it as support for an American-led effort to dismantle what the Department of State calls a “corrupt and worthless” court. Let's go through the details.

Evan Ellis surveys shifting political landscapes: Javier Milei is rallying support for the Bolsonaros in Brazil, highlighting a new era of cross-border political interference. In Colombia, President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella is signaling a pro-US shift by cutting ties with Cuba and Nicaragua. Conversely, Venezuela remains in a "holding pattern" under Delcy Rodríguez. Despite reports of crumbling oil infrastructure, major investment is unlikely until a legitimate government is established to address the nation's $240 billion debt. (7)1918 INDIA

SCHEDULE FOR THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 7-29-26.1885  CHILE STEEL SIDED WARSHIPRebecca Grant and Gordon Chang report China is escalating provocations against the Philippines and Japan, including dangerous maneuvers near Second Thomas Shoal and firing missiles from submarines. Grant highlights the US Navy's preparedness to defend allies, noting a "red line" if Filipino sailors are killed. Despite China's permanent presence, the US maintains dominance through carrier strike groups and superior undersea warfare. The lack of operational officers on China's Central Military Commission suggests potential command risks. (1)Rick Fisher and Gordon Chang discuss reports that China is transferring hundreds of advanced QW-12 and FN-16 man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) to Iran via Hong Kong intermediaries. Fisher warns this poses a significant threat to US aircraft in the Strait of Hormuz. Chang advocates for reimposing sanctions on Hong Kong. The transfer, which China denies, represents a major escalation and highlights China's ongoing role in arming US adversaries like North Korea and Pakistan. (2)Charles Burton and Gordon Chang note Xi Jinping broke tradition by skipping the 50th anniversary of the devastating Tangshan earthquake, sending a surrogate instead. Burton suggests this absence may signal political instability or paranoia regarding his domestic standing. The earthquake historically symbolizes a loss of the "mandate of heaven." Furthermore, vacancies on the Central Military Commission and the mysterious death of former Premier Li Keqiangindicate profound internal disarray and a lack of clear succession. (3)Charles Burton and Gordon Chang discuss how trade tensions and rhetoric from the US have led to increased disdain among Canadians toward their neighbor. Burton discusses a poll showing Canadians view China more favorably than the US due to perceived economic threats from American tariffs. While the integrated North American market remains strong, Canadian provincial governments are reportedly restricting US alcohol sales. There are even suggestions that Canada should adopt "resistance" strategies similar to Ukraine. (4)Evan Ellis reports Keiko Fujimori has been inaugurated as Peru's president, appointing a respected center-right cabinet focused on fiscal discipline and US alignment. However, she faces challenges from endemic insecurity, corruption, and significant Chinese investment. Meanwhile, the influence of Cuba remains a concern across Latin America, with accusations of espionage and interference in democratic processes. Díaz-Canel's regime is under pressure from the Trump administration, potentially facing coercive negotiations or military action. (5)Evan Ellis previews Brazil's upcoming October election, which pits the leftist Lula da Silva against Flavio Bolsonaro, son of the former president. While Lula currently leads in polls, his Workers' Party background and ties to the São Paulo Forum raise concerns about radicalism and increased engagement with China. Ellis warns that a Lula victory could lead Brazil into a recession and a state-centric social policy, potentially settling political scores while lacking necessary financial resources. (6)Evan Ellis surveys shifting political landscapes: Javier Milei is rallying support for the Bolsonaros in Brazil, highlighting a new era of cross-border political interference. In Colombia, President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella is signaling a pro-US shift by cutting ties with Cuba and Nicaragua. Conversely, Venezuela remains in a "holding pattern" under Delcy Rodríguez. Despite reports of crumbling oil infrastructure, major investment is unlikely until a legitimate government is established to address the nation's $240 billion debt. (7)Evan Ellis notes President Claudia Sheinbaum has seen success in reducing homicides and cooperating on border security, but deep-seated corruption persists. The USMCA's future is uncertain, with the Trump administration using ongoing negotiations as leverage. Additionally, China is quietly expanding its presence in Mexico's telecom and automotive sectors. Sheinbaum must navigate a delicate balance: pursuing economic diversification and relationships with China without jeopardizing critical access to the US market. (8)Michael Bernstam reports Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries have severely pinched Moscow's fuel production, forcing it to import refined products from India. Bernstam argues that the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have merged into a singular global energy crisis. With critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea threatened, a quarter of the world's oil supply is endangered. As governmental reserves dwindle, the US has become a primary exporter. (9)Michael Bernstam notes official statistics reveal the Russian economy has entered a state of stagnation, with GDP growth at a mere 0.2% for the first half of 2026. While weapons production remains high, the civilian economy—including agriculture and construction—is in recession. Bernstam notes that "perceived inflation" for Russian consumers is roughly 15%, significantly higher than official reports. Reckless interest rate cuts have further invited inflation, signaling a deepening commercial and fiscal crisis. (10)Sadanand Dhume observes that despite having a vast pool of engineers and data, India lags behind the US and China in developing frontier AI models. Dhume discusses the "winner-take-all" fear versus the belief that AI technology will eventually diffuse globally. While the Indian government is investing in semiconductors, many IT sector jobs in coding and back-office support are threatened by automation. The debate continues over whether India can successfully reap benefits without being a front-runner. (11)Sadanand Dhume examines India's "reservations" system, a rigid quota-based affirmative action program facing intense criticism for undermining university competitiveness. Originally intended to redress historical caste-based wrongs, quotas have expanded to cover roughly 60% of medical school seats. Dhume notes that while merit-based systems in Chinaprovide a brutal but efficient benchmark, Indian political parties fear touching the quota system would be "electoral suicide." This policy has entrenched caste identities. (12)General Blaine Holt analyzes reports of China supplying advanced shoulder-launched missiles (MANPADS) to Iran via Hong Kong and Pakistan, signaling a major geopolitical shift. Holt explains that while these weapons threaten low-flying aircraft, the supply chain is vulnerable to intelligence interdiction. Holt observes that recent Iranian escalations in Iraq and the Gulf suggest a fragmented leadership in disarray rather than a cohesive strategy. The US and Saudi Arabiaare actively striking Iranian-backed militias. (13)Mary Anastasia O'Grady reports that following a narrow election victory, center-right businessman Abelardo de la Espriella faces fierce opposition from outgoing President Gustavo Petro. Petro, a former M19 terrorist, has refused to recognize the results, alleging fraud and foreign interference. De la Espriella plans to take a hard line against illegal armed groups like the ELN and FARC. To build support, he intends to hold his inauguration at a military garrison, signaling a commitment to restoring national security. (14)Bob Zimmerman reports SpaceX's 13th Starship Super Heavy launch was a major success, demonstrating the reliability of Raptor 3 engines and the thermal protection system. Zimmerman highlights the shift toward a "capitalism model," where private companies manage missions for NASA. Meanwhile, a schizophrenic GAO report on NASA's workforce reductions suggests that budget cuts have not significantly impacted major projects, despite agency officials' claims that funding decreases are "disastrous." (15)Bob Zimmerman notes the Deep Space Network facility in Spain narrowly avoided destruction by wildfires, highlighting the fragility of planetary communication nodes. Beyond Earth, astronomers have observed a precipitous drop in star formation within the Andromeda galaxy as it moves toward an eventual collision with the Milky Way. Additionally, NASA's Dragonfly mission to Titan faces potential power shortages from its nuclear sources. Despite these risks, commercial space continues to expand into private stations. (16)Corrections applied: Rick Fisher (transcribed as "Fischer" in segment 2 — matching the spelling from your earlier batch), Delcy Rodríguez, Díaz-Canel, and São Paulo Forum with accents. Also standardized "man-pads" to MANPADS and hyphenated the QW-12/FN-16 designations. Stray double commas from the source cleaned throughout.5

Casi un mes después de los terremotos que sacudieron la zona central de Venezuela, cada día se inspeccionan decenas de infraestructuras en búsqueda de daños que representen peligro para las personas. El Banco Mundial estimó en unos 19 500 millones de dólares los daños físicos directos, y sugirió una alianza pública y privada para afrontar la reconstrucción. Reportaje de nuestro corresponsal en Venezuela, Victor Amaya. Golpear paredes y tumbar frisos para llegar a columnas y vigas es el paso fundamental para determinar si las consecuencias del doble sismo implican un desalojo completo de la estructura. El gobierno de Delcy Rodríguez afirma que ya ha revisado más de 20 mil edificios. Lo hace con una metodología acordada con el gremio de ingenieros del país y aplicando un sistema que han llamado el semáforo: etiquetas de colores para determinar el estatus de una infraestructura. Se aplica el color verde para aquellas con daño leve, pero seguras. Amarillo para afectaciones parciales en paredes o fachadas, por lo cual se restringe el acceso. Y rojo para los edificios colapsados o con daños graves, que no deben ser habitados. “Después del amarillo y rojo, empieza a haber una segunda instancia de revisión que va a permitir un estudio más profundo que va a llevar a reparar con unas guías técnicas que se están dando”, precisó el ministro de Transporte Francisco Garcés. En Catia, una populosa comunidad caraqueña, encontramos al ingeniero Rigel Sergent, de la comisión presidencial, evaluando varios edificios. Le ponía una etiqueta roja a uno de ellos, debido a la corrosión en sus columnas causadas por filtraciones previas pero con daños acentuados por los terremotos. “Decidimos que lleva etiqueta roja porque hay que apuntalar y hay que disminuir las cargas el uso de varios inmuebles, en especial en esta área”. El trabajo gubernamental no se da abasto con las solicitudes. Todos quieren saber si el techo bajo el que duermen es seguro o no. Si las paredes que ven rotas pueden caer. Si en vez de entrar a sus casas deben seguir durmiendo en carpas a las afueras. Los vecinos viven con miedo. “¿Hay riesgo de que esa pared se vaya a caer? Porque mira cómo se movió aquí”, nos indicó una vecina. “Yo siento que cada día se mueve más”. Otra vecina nos deja entrar a su casa. Nos señala la parte más afectada de su hogar. “Tiene grietas por todos lados”. Otra vecina revivió momentos después del temblor. “Había réplicas con las que eso se movía y eso me daba mucho terror” Fuerza de los venezolanos Ante la falta de atención y medios del gobierno para determinar el estado de las construcciones, grupos de la sociedad civil se han organizado para también hacer inspecciones preliminares, sin poner etiquetas pero sí brindando certezas a los vecinos. “Yo soy ingeniero y busqué a algunos amigos que estudiaron conmigo y así empezó. Luego a través de redes sociales hicimos una convocatoria y se creó un voluntariado con más de 800 ingenieros”,  nos contó Jesús Armas, director de la ONG Monitor Ciudad. Por su parte, el Colegio de Ingenieros de Venezuela le ha dado herramientas a más de 4 mil voluntarios activos que han revisado más de 8 500 edificaciones, de las cuales el 12% fueron declaradas como colapsadas. Las inspecciones en sitio develan un cúmulo de problemas: edificaciones con modificaciones informales, materiales antiguos o de poca calidad, materiales de poca calidad y estructuras pensadas para resolver viviendas y no para aguantar sismos; casi todas habitadas por personas afectadas por la pobreza estructural del país y caras largas cuando empiezan a calcular los costos de reparación.

Varias asociaciones de derechos humanos han denunciado la doble tragedia de los cientos de presos políticos en Venezuela tras los terremotos vividos en el país hace un mes, que dejaron 5346 personas fallecidas, según el último balance de las autoridades. Las oenegés denuncian que no se les evacuó, a pesar de las réplicas, agregando las malas condiciones en las que ya se encuentran. Las familias de los presos venezolanos denuncian que no se respetaron los protocolos de evacuación, ni de prevención a pesar de las débiles infraestructuras de las cárceles en las que se encuentran. La activista Andreina Baduel, cuyo hermano lleva seis años en la cárcel del rodeo, en las afueras de Caracas, indicó que durante los dobles sismos y las diferentes réplicas que ha vivido el país, “no hubo protocolos de evacuación oportuna”. Baduel aseguró que “pasaron casi 50 minutos para que ellos fueran evacuados oportunamente, pero no conforme con ello, durante esas dos semanas posteriores al terremoto estuvimos denunciando que ese lugar tenía infraestructuras que habrían sufrido daños. La respuesta del régimen fue torturarlos, amenazarlos y chantajear a algunos en otras cárceles para obligar a tenerlos encerrados 24/7”, denunció. Al riesgo que vivieron en las cárceles tras el terremoto se suman las violaciones de derechos humanos, donde según esta activista, se tortura a los presos y no se les presta asistencia médica, como le ocurrió a su hermano y a su padre. “Lamentablemente es una situación bastante crítica. Adolfo tiene seis años y dos meses presos. De los seis años pasó cuatro en el Helicoide, en donde fue brutalmente torturado, por lo cual hoy amerita cuatro operaciones por secuelas de tortura. En el Helicoide también vivió la peor tortura de su vida y fue ver morir a mi papá en sus brazos, a pesar de que mi hermano rogó, suplicó, imploró que lo atendieran, no le brindaron atención médica y lamentablemente mi papá murió en la cárcel”, contó. La presidenta interina, Delcy Rodríguez, que asumió el mando en Venezuela tras la captura de Nicolás Maduro, impulsó en febrero una ley de amnistía para liberar a cientos de presos por razones políticas, aunque las oenegés lo consideran insuficiente.  Insistimos en la necesidad de que no se invisibilice las violaciones de Derechos Humanos que sigue haciendo el régimen venezolano. Aunque, ellos han promovido un aparataje propagandístico y comunicacional en donde hablan de un nuevo momento político, de reconciliación y de paz, todavía vemos 500 familias esperando la excarcelación de los nuestros. En Venezuela, 372 personas siguen detenidas por motivos políticos, según la oenegé Foro Penal, que lidera la defensa de estos detenidos, aunque se calcula que la cifra asciende a 500.

Segob busca libertad anticipada para personas vulnerables Concluye reparación de un socavón en la Del Valle Trump pide inmunidad judicial para Delcy Rodríguez #grc

Esmeralda Ruiz analiza la declaración del socio del expresidente del Gobierno ante el juez de la Audiencia Nacional que investiga el caso Plus Ultra.

Ralph welcomes back his old running mate, Native American activist, Winona LaDuke, who has devoted her life to advocating for Indigenous control of their homelands, natural resources, and cultural practices to talk about her latest incarnation: hemp farmer. Then, we'll speak to Hal Weitzman, from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, about how Elon Musk's feud with Delaware may transform corporate America. Plus, we tick off Robert Reich's ten policy prescriptions the Democratic Party should fight for to beat the GOP in the upcoming midterms.Winona LaDuke is an activist, economist, and author, who has devoted her life to advocating for Indigenous control of their homelands, natural resources, and cultural practices. She is also a two-time vice-presidential candidate with Ralph Nader. Ms. LaDuke lives and works on the White Earth Ojibwe reservation in northern Minnesota, where she runs Winona's Hemp & Heritage Farm. She is also a member of the Indigenous Hemp & Cannabis Farmer's Cooperative.I'm looking first at seed sovereignty. We're growing [European hemp] varieties and then we're growing these feral hemp varieties. They're called feral varieties (which of course, that's something that I love) which means that when they eradicated hemp in the 1930s with the Marijuana Prohibition Act—well, they missed some spots. And those guys kept growing. And so 80 years of being illegal—isn't that great? Something that's illegal for 80 years is still with us, rocking out. And so I figure if you grew illegally for 80 years, you are really a tough hemp plant…And so we are growing out these hemp varieties and built a cooperative because we want to own the seeds and we want to own the technology (the value-added processing), and we want to use this hemp as a part of our future as tribes.Winona LaDukeMy grandsons are farming. I don't know who else can say their grandchildren are farming—let me know. My grandchildren are farming. They're running the horses. They're running the farms. You know, that's a retirement plan. My 401k will be worth nothing, but my grandchildren will feed me. This is my strategy.Winona LaDukeHal Weitzman is Executive Director for Intellectual Capital at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, editor-in-chief of Chicago Booth Review, and host of The Chicago Booth Review podcast. A former Financial Times editor and foreign correspondent, he is the author of Latin Lessons: How South America Stopped Listening to the United States and Started Prospering and What's the Matter with Delaware?: How the First State Has Favored the Rich, Powerful, and Criminal—and How It Costs Us All.There is a race to the bottom. There's been a race to the bottom for many decades. That's not new. I think it's accelerated somewhat. Delaware has joined that race from having been something of a “premium product” in terms of incorporating companies—Delaware has become a bit more “cut-price” I would say, and in that sense has followed Texas and Nevada. So the conclusion that we have a race to the bottom and it may be worse than Delaware—actually I think Delaware's already there. So it's not that it's getting worse outside of Delaware, it's getting worse including Delaware.Hal WeitzmanThe trend I think we're seeing is the exclusion of small shareholders completely—regardless of the status of your shares, this is about how big you are. And if you're a small shareholder there is no corporate democracy for you… It was practice in the past for activist groups, campaigning groups, to buy one share of a company and then to go to the shareholder meeting so they could make the point that they wanted to make. Now that kind of shareholder democracy is being encroached on. And the extent now is to say: unless you have a large position (regardless of the size of the company and the cost of the shares), you will not be allowed to bring suits against the executives for the correct running of the company.Hal WeitzmanNews 7/17/26* Our top story this week is New York Governor Kathy Hochul's decision to impose a one-year “pause” on the construction of AI data centers across the state. ABC7 reports that this is the first such moratorium in the nation, despite similar attempts in several states, most notably Maine where Governor Janet Mills vetoed a bill to this effect. Hochul argues that the pause is necessary so lawmakers and regulators can formulate “Guardrails to reduce the risk to our energy grid, minimize land disruption, noise pollution, and protect our natural resources, especially our water supply.” Hochul's move comes amidst a broader push against AI data centers from the left. Semafor reports Senator Bernie Sanders proposed a nationwide ban in March and many progressives running for state and local office in the midterms have made this a cornerstone of their campaigns. According to this piece, “In February, polling from Marquette Law School found 70% of all Wisconsinites agreeing that ‘the costs of the data centers outweigh the benefits.' Among Democrats, the number was 85%.”* Another progressive Member of Congress quite literally stepped into another hot-button political issue this week. While visiting a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank Wednesday, Al Jazeera reports armed settlers stopped the van of Representative Ro Khanna and were “later joined by Israeli soldiers who continued to block the road.” In a video, Khanna points out, settlers can be seen “brandishing M4s [rifles], kicking the tyres of our van, laughing at us, mocking at us, videotaping us.” This continued for over an hour and was only resolved when he reached out to the American Embassy, according to Khanna. Israel has responded to this fiasco by blaming Khanna, accusing the congressman of failing to coordinate his trip with the Israeli government; Khanna retorted that “The [Israeli military] is lying” and called for the arrest of the violent settlers. Conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson excoriated U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, writing “An American member of congress is threatened by foreign terrorists carrying American rifles, backed by a foreign military paid for by American taxpayers, and the US ambassador to that country says not a word in defense of his own countryman…It's too much, too insulting and humiliating to America.”* Following his return from occupied Palestine, Khanna again teamed up with Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky to sponsor an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which would have removed the “United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative” from the must-pass legislation. Responsible Statecraft describes the initiative as “an unprecedented integration of the U.S. and Israeli military industrial complexes,” by creating “an executive agent within the Department of Defense whose sole responsibility is furthering U.S. and Israeli military tech integration across nearly every facet of the defense process.” This article also notes that “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described this shift in the U.S.-Israel relationship as ‘my plan.'” However, House leadership is not backing this commonsense, bipartisan amendment. In a letter, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he would vote against the amendment, calling it “overly broad” and claiming the amendment would “restrict our country's ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel,” per the Times of Israel. However, Jeffries pledged not to whip votes against the amendment and indeed the House Minority Whip, Congresswoman Katherine Clark, voted for the amendment as did Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, despite the opposition of Jeffries and House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar. The Congressional Progressive Caucus reportedly whipped votes in favor of the amendment.* In more Israel-related news, this week Marco Rubio – who serves as Secretary of State as well as the acting National Security Advisor – announced that the State Department will launch a “sweeping campaign to dismantle…the International Criminal Court.” CNN observes that “The administration's ire against the ICC goes back to President Donald Trump's first term, when it targeted the ICC for seeking to investigate alleged war crimes committed by US forces in Afghanistan,” and that since taking office for the second time, the Trump administration has “imposed a slew of sanctions against ICC officials for their attempts to investigate the US and Israel.” CNN also quotes a State Department official who said that top officials, including Secretary Rubio and US ambassadors, “are calling countries as part of a campaign to diplomatically isolate the International Criminal Court.” It is worth noting that “all American presidents since the ICC's ratification have maintained that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over Americans,” and that Congress even passed a law calling for an invasion and occupation of the Hague if any American serviceman was ever prosecuted by the ICC, implying that this crackdown on the court is not about American sovereignty at all but rather the prosecution of Israeli officials for their war crimes in Gaza.* In another stunning story starring Marco Rubio, the New York Times reports the Secretary of State is functionally “running Venezuela from afar.” The Times story characterizes Rubio's position as the “de facto viceroy of Venezuela,” effectively controlling the country's “finances, the distribution of its natural resources and its government.” This story makes clear that while Delcy Rodríguez, the former Vice President of Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro, nominally occupies the presidency, Rubio is the one really calling the shots, with Rubio setting the conditions on what Venezuela's export revenue “can be spent on, and by whom,” and having the authority to approve or deny key governmental appointments in the country, such as the minister of defense. In short, the United States has established a shocking explicitly neo-colonial regime in the country, fulfilling the gravest prognostications of anti-imperialist critics of American intervention in the Bolivarian Republic.* Closer to home, Bloomberg reports the federal government has officially launched a grand jury investigation into the United Auto Workers and the union's outspoken president, Shawn Fain. The investigation stems from accusations made by the union's Vice President, Rich Boyer, who alleged that Fain used his position to secure benefits for his fiancée and her sister – and when Boyer refused to approve the benefits, Fain retaliated by stripping Boyer of his duties as chief negotiator with Stellantis NV. Fain has called the allegations “false” and is accusing Boyer of seeking to influence the upcoming UAW leadership election. Fain also claims that Boyer is the one retaliating after Fain “refused the vice president's request to hire family members to positions in the union.” Fain has long maintained that the Justice Department, and specifically the DOJ-appointed monitor, Neil Barofsky, has a political grudge against him because “the UAW took an anti-war stance about what was happening in Gaza.” According to Bloomberg, “Both Fain and Boyer have slates running and each is accusing the other of attempting to abuse their positions to benefit family.”* This week, another victim of harassment by the federal government, student activist Mahmoud Khalil, filed a landmark civil rights suit alleging that the government conspired with a number of private groups – including the Heritage Foundation, Betar, and Canary Mission – to “suppress criticism of Israel through a coordinated campaign to dox, jail and ultimately deport student activists.” According to the lawsuit, said activists were “nearly automatically targeted by the Federal Defendants for arrest and removal.” Khalil's lawyers argue that this “public-private partnership” could violate the “Ku Klux Klan Act, a Reconstruction-era law that sought to restrict government coordination with vigilante groups.” The suit is led by the Center for Constitutional Rights. The AP reports “Soon after his arrest, both Canary Mission and Betar boasted of their role in flagging Khalil's noncitizen status to the government.” Since Khalil's arrest, Betar has agreed to “dissolve its nonprofit status,” following a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James accusing Betar's members of harassing Palestinians.* Turning to the state level, this week 12 state attorneys general, led by California's Rob Bonta, filed an antitrust lawsuit seeking to block the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance, controlled by the Trump-aligned David Ellison. The proposed, $110 billion merger was approved by the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department last month, which reached the dubious conclusion that the merger is “not likely to result in harm to competition or American consumers.” In the filing, Bonta and the state AGs for Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Washington allege that the merger “would extinguish competition between Paramount and Warner Bros. and inflict substantial harm on movie theatres, basic cable distributors, and, ultimately, audiences nationwide.” This from Reason.* In the world of philanthropy, CNBC reports Warren Buffett, the billionaire chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, has “excluded the Gates Foundation from his sizable annual charitable donations.” As this report notes, the Gates Foundation has been among the top recipients of his annual Berkshire donations, totaling $47 billion worth of Berkshire stock since 2006. The reason for the exclusion of the Gates Foundation has been much speculated upon, in particular, whether it was due to the recent revelations about Gates' relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Asked about this, Buffett said that he had “read a great deal…in terms of what happened, with Bill and Epstein,” calling their relationship “distasteful,” but also saying that he “found nothing in there that was beyond what [he] could picture [himself] doing.” Instead of the Gates Foundation, all of this year's donations will go to foundations linked to the Buffett family.* Finally, British multinational diamond conglomerate De Beers, famous for coining the “A Diamond is Forever” tagline in 1947, reported this week that they plan to halt work at their “flagship” Venetia mine in South Africa as demand for the stones wanes. The BBC highlights both slackening consumer demand as well as competition from lab-grown diamonds, particularly those produced in China. That said, the closing of the Venetia mine – the biggest in South Africa, accounting for over 40% of the country's diamond production – will send shockwaves through that country's already shaky economy. That mine alone employs more than 4,000 people, while the mining sector employs nearly half a million. De Beers said they plan to reopen the mine in two years; in the meantime, they are looking to expand copper mining to keep up with demand from AI data centers.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Tonight, in this incendiary investigative edition of Light ‘Em Up!We're burying our nose into the international intrigue, kidnapping and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.The arrest of Maduro is not the first time the US has captured a sitting head of government in Latin America.In December 1989, the George H.W. Bush administration launched Operation Just Cause, deploying over 24,000 U.S. troops to depose Panama's Manuel Noriega and bring him to the United States to face federal drug-trafficking charges.For the longest time, President Trump has had a “hard on” for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.Maduro is accused by U.S. authorities of being one of the world's largest narco-traffickers, actively working with cartels to smuggle fentanyl-laced cocaine into the U.S. and engaging in narco-terrorism.In March 2020, Maduro was charged in a Southern District of New York federal indictment for:—     narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine,—     possession of machine guns and destructive devices,—     and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 960a and 963, and 18 U.S.C. § 924.—     The U.S. Government initially offered a reward offer of up to $15 million for any information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Nicolás Maduro Moros in 2020.  The Biden Administration's Department of State on January 8, 2025, announced raising the reward offer to up to $25 million and ultimately $50 million under Trump 2.0.President Trump's opposition to Maduro was driven by Maduro's alleged authoritarian governance, political corruption, and alleged involvement in large-scale drug trafficking.Trump also frequently criticized Maduro for undermining democratic elections (as he himself has done) and allying with U.S. geopolitical rivals like China, Russia, and Iran.In this episode, we'll shine the antiseptic light of the truth and examine:The allegations that Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro stand accused of — and have been indicted on.As you know from previous episodes of Light ‘Em Up:Criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty at trial or by plea.—     Straight from the indictment we'll investigate the Trump administration's case and legal arguments …—     We'll examine the legal nuances of the DOJ indictment detailing narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges,—     As well as the international impacts and law that cover head of state sovereignty, state sovereignty and the “legality” of such a sweeping international action.—     All with an intense focus on the response from the EU, Latin America, China, Russia.Trump says, “The Venezuelan people are “Happy”.  We've learned differently.The fallout from this raid continues to shape international relations, with global leaders split between condemning the breach of sovereignty and supporting the removal of an autocratic regime.Arresting and extraditing your political enemies can serve as a convenient way to get rid of political rivals — but it doesn't make the process clean, easy or lawful.Was this massive use of military force in Caracas a violation of international law, and more specifically Article 2 §4 of The UN Charter?Is Mr. Maduro entitled to immunity as the head of state of a sovereign country?  The U.S. government maintains that he obtained the status through a fraudulent election. General Noriega made a similar claim and lost.Nicolás Maduro declared himself a prisoner of war, a status that the last Latin American leader seized by U.S. forces, Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega, also claimed.What will be the geopolitical impact for Venezuela and what does its future look like in conjunction with President Trump's declaration that the U.S. would “oversee” Venezuela's transition, and the subsequent installation of Maduro's Number 2 … interim president Delcy Rodríguez.These actions will certainly have broader geopolitical and energy implications for the region. The search for the truth and justice begins RIGHT HERE … and RIGHT NOW!Tune in for all the explosive details and our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot!We want to hear from you!Support the show

La Ventana PR — Episodio 59 Venezuela bajo tutela: terremotos, transición y el nuevo orden en el Caribe Invitado: Ronal Rodríguez, Observatorio de Venezuela (Universidad del Rosario) Publicación: 17 de julio de 2026 --- En este episodio conversamos con Ronal Rodríguez, vocero e investigador del Observatorio de Venezuela de la Facultad de Estudios Internacionales, Políticos y Urbanos de la Universidad del Rosario (Colombia), sobre el momento más convulso de la historia reciente venezolana: los terremotos del 24 de junio, la extracción de Nicolás Maduro por Estados Unidos el 3 de enero y el proceso político que se maneja, cada vez con menos disimulo, desde Washington. Lo que discutimos - La emergencia humanitaria tras el doble terremoto del 24 de junio: más de 4,700 fallecidos (cifra que podría duplicarse), el cierre de la fase de búsqueda y rescate, y la crisis de salud pública en La Guaira. - El aeropuerto Simón Bolívar bajo administración militar estadounidense: solo opera la pista presidencial, y el impacto económico supera al del colapso del viaducto Caracas–La Guaira en 2007 (que costó 3% del PIB). - La respuesta de Washington: comparaciones con Haití 2010, el rol de Marco Rubio como tutor de facto del gobierno de Delcy Rodríguez, y los desafortunados comentarios de Trump — un paralelo incómodo con su manejo del huracán María en Puerto Rico. - Los tres objetivos de EE.UU. en Venezuela: control geopolítico de la cuenca del Caribe, acceso a la riqueza petrolera y minera, y un gobierno cooperativo — que no necesariamente significa una democracia. - Las purgas dentro del chavismo: Padrino López, Tareck El Aissami y el caso clave de Alex Saab, la llave del sistema financiero oculto que conecta a Venezuela con Irán, Rusia y China. - Dos mujeres frente a frente: Delcy Rodríguez como presidenta encargada y María Corina Machado como líder indiscutible de la oposición. - ¿Hay transición?: elecciones sin fecha ni reglas, el reto de 8 millones de venezolanos en el exterior, el Manifiesto de Panamá y su eco histórico en el Plan de Barranquilla de 1931. - El petróleo: de 3.6 millones de barriles diarios antes de la revolución bolivariana a cerca de 1.2 millones hoy; una recuperación que requeriría más de $200,000 millones y hasta 40–50 años. - La dimensión colombiana: 2.84 millones de venezolanos en Colombia, el comercio bilateral que creció 182%, y lo que significa la elección de Abelardo de la Espriella para la relación con Caracas y Washington. En la introducción - El tutelaje de Washington confirmado: la nota del New York Times sobre la relación entre Marco Rubio y Delcy Rodríguez. - La Asamblea Nacional del 2015 y el parlamento chavista anuncian una agenda de trabajo conjunta a partir del 1 de agosto — posible inicio de la transición política. - Cómo apoyar a Venezuela: canales institucionales Cáritas (Iglesia Católica), Cruz Roja Venezolana. Recursos mencionados - Observatorio de Venezuela, Universidad del Rosario — investigaciones, libros y monitoreo de la relación colombo-venezolana. - Libro sobre los 10 años de la respuesta colombiana a la migración venezolana. - Episodio 57 de La Ventana PR: las elecciones en Colombia, con Andrés Agudelo. --- Suscríbete a nuestra lista de correos en laventanapr.substack.com  

Listen/Watch the FULL EPISODE ad-free/early on Substack: https://coffeeandamike.substack.com/ Gary Heavin is the founder of Curves International Fitness, a businessman, author, filmmaker and philanthropist. He talks his recent trip to Venezuela, Trump's grip on the country, meeting with acting President Delcy Rodríguez, and much more. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE LIKE AND SHARE THIS PODCAST!!!   Follow Me X- https://x.com/CoffeeandaMike IG- https://www.instagram.com/coffeeandamike/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/CoffeeandaMike/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@Coffeeandamike Rumble- https://rumble.com/search/all?q=coffee%20and%20a%20mike Substack- https://coffeeandamike.substack.com/ Apple Podcasts- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-and-a-mike/id1436799008 Gab- https://gab.com/CoffeeandaMike Locals- https://coffeeandamike.locals.com/ Website- www.coffeeandamike.com Email- info@coffeeandamike.com   Support My Work Venmo- https://www.venmo.com/u/coffeeandamike Paypal- https://www.paypal.com/biz/profile/Coffeeandamike Substack- https://coffeeandamike.substack.com/ Patreon- http://patreon.com/coffeeandamike Locals- https://coffeeandamike.locals.com/ Cash App- https://cash.app/$coffeeandamike Buy Me a Coffee- https://buymeacoffee.com/coffeeandamike Bitcoin- coffeeandamike@strike.me   Mail Check or Money Order- Coffee and a Mike LLC P.O. Box 25383 Scottsdale, AZ 85255-9998   Sponsors Vaulted/Precious Metals- https://vaulted.blbvux.net/coffeeandamike McAlvany Precious Metals- https://mcalvany.com/coffeeandamike/

On June 24, 2026, two consecutive earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude—the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century—devastated the country's northern coast, including the city of La Guaira and parts of Caracas. This episode features Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, WOLA's president, who was visiting Venezuela when the earthquakes hit and subsequently traveled to the hardest-hit zone, and Laura Dib, director of WOLA's Venezuela program, who has closely tracked the humanitarian response and U.S. policy dimensions. Carolina offers a firsthand account of the disaster and its aftermath. She describes the profound isolation caused by the Venezuelan government's pre-existing censorship regime—with platforms like X, CNN, and independent media blocked—which left citizens unable to access life-saving information during the critical first hours. Traveling to La Guaira, she found scenes closer to "a war zone" than a natural disaster, with collapsed buildings, others on the brink of collapse, precarious improvised shelters, and families living in the open air without adequate water, food, or assistance. Above all, she encountered a pervasive sense of abandonment. A central theme of the conversation is the "hollowness" of the Venezuelan state, laid bare by years of corruption, authoritarian misrule, and the emigration of some eight million people—including doctors, nurses, and engineers. Carolina notes that the armed forces, which acted as first responders during earlier tragedies, now function largely as a repressive and surveilling force, controlling access to disaster sites rather than aiding survivors. Laura provides data and policy analysis. The government, through National Assembly head Jorge Rodríguez—brother of de facto ruler Delcy Rodríguez—reports roughly 3,500 deaths and 16,000 injured, though the U.S. Geological Survey estimates the toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000. The UN estimates direct infrastructure damage at $37 billion. Laura situates the disaster within a longstanding humanitarian emergency and explains how the 2025 dismantling of USAID reduced disaster-response capacity, even as the U.S. pledged $300 million, a figure dwarfed by the $1.15 billion pledged after Haiti's 2010 earthquake. Laura and Carolina discuss the uncomfortable U.S. alignment with the unelected Delcy Rodríguez government, whose constitutional legitimacy has expired without new elections. They argue the disaster has badly set back the Trump administration's three-stage transition plan and revealed the state's incapacity to protect its citizens. Notably, Venezuelan social movements are now directing their demands at the U.S. government rather than their own institutions. Venezuela's beleagured civil society is a bright spot. Despite an anti-NGO law criminalizing foreign funding, organizations like Caritas and Fe y Alegría, alongside diaspora networks and ordinary citizens, have organized shelters, distributed supplies, and built databases to track the missing and separated children. A reputable site for donations to disaster relief is Donar Seguro. WOLA recommends that aid flow through transparent, accountable channels; that the anti-NGO law be repealed; that social media and VPN blockades be lifted; that the U.S.-run oil-revenue fund be used transparently for Venezuelans' benefit; and that the Trump administration reinstate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and halt deportations of Venezuelans in the United States. A deportation flight of 146 people arrived on the day of the earthquake, most of whom died in a hotel—a site the political police blocked Carolina from visiting. Venezuela's reconstruction will require a long-term commitment and, crucially, the rebuilding of public trust. This can only happen in the context of a genuine democratic transition.

As Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez says she has faith and hope that survivors of Wednesday's earthquakes will be rescued - we hear about the reality from Carcas. Also on the programme: after the US Supreme Court removes the protected status from hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in America, we hear from one woman who could be affected; and an appreciation of Mel Brooks - as the comedy legend turns 100 years old. (Photo: Family members react as firefighters and volunteers work to get their loved ones out from the rubble of a collapsed building after earthquakes hit the country in La Guaira on June 26, 2026. Credit: Reuters)

Rescue efforts are under way in Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes caused buildings to collapse and killed at least 164 people, and there are fears the death toll could rise significantly. A state of emergency has been declared by the country's interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, who said 971 people have been injured and more casualties are expected. Lucy Hough speaks to Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus