CNN 5 Things One Thing: The US Captured Maduro. Now What?
Jan 4, 2026
Mary Triny Mena is a freelance journalist based in Caracas, offering insights into Venezuela's social dynamics, while Natasha Bertrand is a CNN correspondent specializing in national security and military operations. They discuss the dramatic U.S. operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, revealing residents' shocked reactions and the immediate chaos in Caracas. The impact on U.S.-Venezuela relations and the potential for an unstable future are explored. Mena notes public fear alongside fleeting celebrations, raising questions about who truly controls Venezuela now.
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Caracas Woke To Explosions And Silence
- Mary Triny Mena woke up to prolonged detonations, helicopters and distant gunfire across Caracas during the early-morning raid.
- She described streets later as unusually silent and people staying home under state media calls for calm.
Center Of Caracas Fell Quiet After Raid
- Mary Triny Mena reported empty highways and a 'radio silence' in central Caracas hours after the raid announcement.
- State media urged calm while authorities declared a state of emergency and deployed troops across Venezuela.
Military Loyalty Creates Transition Uncertainty
- The Venezuelan military's top leaders publicly remain loyal to Maduro, making stability after his removal uncertain.
- Fear of reprisals has suppressed visible opposition and complicates immediate political transition.