What Next What Next | Daily News and Analysis - Don’t Call It a Regime Change
28 snips
Jan 5, 2026 
Shane Harris, a national security and intelligence writer for The Atlantic, explores the U.S. operation against Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. He discusses the motives behind the mission, including narcoterrorism and oil interests, while questioning the future leadership in Venezuela. Harris critiques the framing of the operation as law enforcement rather than military action, assesses the international response, and highlights daily life in Caracas amid uncertainty. His insights reveal the complexities and risks of U.S. involvement in the region.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
U.S. Action Was Deliberate Coercion
- The U.S. military extracted Nicolás Maduro and his wife from Venezuela in a high-risk operation framed as law enforcement and accountability.
- Shane Harris argues this action reflects deliberate U.S. coercion, not surprise, and signals a new aggressive hemispheric posture.
Not Regime Change, But Gunpoint Diplomacy
- Shane Harris warns this is not regime change because Venezuela's regime remains in place under an interim president.
- He says the U.S. is holding Venezuela "at gunpoint" to force compliance rather than running the country directly.
Legal Grey Area Around The Attack
- The operation violated Venezuelan sovereignty and could legally be deemed an invasion, though U.S. law doesn't label it a war.
- Congress was not authorizing this use of force and received notification only after the fact, raising legal questions.