Was the invasion surprising?

In the early hours of Saturday morning, January 3rd, Venezuelans were awoken by the sounds of bombs falling. US helicopters whirled overhead. Explosions struck across the capital Caracas and in surrounding states. Hours of chaos, fear, and uncertainty.

President Donald Trump would post over social media that the US had “captured” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores amid a “large-scale” strike against the country.
This is the first US invasion of another country in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, when the US kidnapped and detained Panamanian President Manuel Noriega under charges of drug trafficking. The Trump administration used the same excuse to detain Maduro, despite lack of evidence linking Maduro to drug trafficking.

With this strike, the United States has taken an unprecedented step: This is the first time the United States has used its own military to invade a South American country.

Today, we go to Caracas to look in-depth at the January 3rd US invasion of Venezuela. Host Michael Fox speaks with Caracas-based reporter Ricardo Vaz.

Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. 

Season 2 responds in real time to the Trump Administration’s onslaught in Latin America.

Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.
This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.

Theme music by Monte Perdido and Michael Fox. Monte Perdido's new album Ofrenda is now out. You can listen to the full album on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube or wherever you listen to music. Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.

Resources for Under the Shadow:

• You can check out the first season of Under the Shadow by clicking here
• The Beginning: Monroe And Migration | Under The Shadow, Episode 1
• Panama. Us Invasion. | Under The Shadow, Episode 13
• The Legacy Of Monroe | Under The Shadow, bonus Episode 4 
• Michael Fox’s recent reporting on the boat strikes and the ramp-up for war in Venezuela: 
  • With the Strike on a “Drug-Carrying Boat,” Trump Returns to a Dangerous US Policy for Latin America
  • Caribbean Leaders Call for Unified Latin American Resistance to US Attacks
  • Trump’s Monroe Doctrine 2.0 Outlines Imperial Intentions for Latin America

You can check out Ricardo Vaz’s reporting at www.venezuelanalysis.com.You can follow them on X at https://x.com/venanalysis

For more English-language reporting on Venezuela, you can follow the Orinoco Tribune, Kawsachun News, and Sovereign Media.

You can check out Michael’s recent episode of Stories of Resistance about the protests against US intervention in Venezuela.

Please consider supporting this podcast and Michael Fox’s reporting on his Patreon account: patreon.com/mfox. There you can also see exclusive pictures, video, and interviews.

Written and produced by Michael Fox.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/under-the-shadow--5958129/support.

Help us continue producing Under the Shadow by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.

Follow us on:
Bluesky: @therealnews.com
Facebook: The Real News Network
Twitter: @TheRealNews
YouTube: @therealnews
Instagram: @therealnewsnetwork