Jan. 5, 2026

With Maduro gone, what's Venezuela's future?

With Maduro gone, what's Venezuela's future?
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With Maduro gone, what's Venezuela's future?

After Nicolás Maduro’s capture, Venezuela’s future – and Washington’s role in it.

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After U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, President Donald Trump declared: “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.”

The world is still digesting the consequences of the intervention, which the Trump administration has characterized as a law enforcement mission against Maduro rather than a military operation in a foreign country. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and machine gun possession.

White House reporter Michael Birnbaum joins host Martine Powers to explain the political ramifications of Maduro’s arrest, the next steps of the Trump administration and the reactions of Venezuelans.

We also hear from Ana Vanessa Herrero, The Post’s reporter in Caracas.

Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff, with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy and Reena Flores. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter.

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