DeProgram with John Kiriakou and Ted Rall Venezuela Crackdown | DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou
Jan 8, 2026
Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou dive deep into the chaos of Venezuela's government amid U.S. threats. They discuss Trump's erratic political maneuvers, including a precarious invitation to Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The duo explores Maduro's legal defenses with high-profile U.S. attorneys and questions the real drivers behind American interest in Venezuela—oil or the U.S. dollar. With humor, they also touch on the limited Iranian and Hezbollah presence in the country, providing a firm critique of mainstream narratives.
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Paranoia Follows Foreign Intervention
- Ted Rall and John Kiriakou note Venezuela's acting post-coup government has become paranoid and is searching citizens' phones at checkpoints.
- They warn U.S. intervention history can make targeted governments turn on their own people and escalate repression.
Maduro Hires High-Profile U.S. Lawyers
- John Kiriakou recounts Bruce Fein unexpectedly calling to say he was representing Nicolás Maduro.
- Fein told John he spent the day with Maduro and believes the U.S. case is weak, claiming the CIA kidnapped Maduro and the charges are specious.
Invitation Comes With Risky Theater
- Both hosts question whether Colombian President Gustavo Petro should trust Trump's White House invitation.
- They note Trump might enjoy trolling foreign leaders and raise kidnapping or arrest fears despite diplomatic or head-of-state immunity complexities.