The Briefing Venezuela releases political prisoners, business news and Brazil at the Golden Globes
Jan 12, 2026
Ed Stocker, Monocle's Europe editor, shares insights on the recent release of political prisoners in Venezuela and the implications for US-Venezuela relations. Ewan Potts, a Bloomberg journalist, discusses the pressures on the US Federal Reserve and the challenges facing American retail amid a mall crisis. Fernando Augusto Pacheco, Monocle's senior correspondent, highlights the success of Brazilian cinema at the Golden Globes and reflects on cultural icons like Wagner Moura, enriching the discussion on Brazil's cinematic landscape.
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Episode notes
US Focuses On Venezuelan Oil
- Donald Trump prioritises Venezuelan oil and seeks $100bn of private investment from US firms.
- Ed Stocker notes companies call Venezuela "uninvestable" due to past asset seizures and heavy crude costs.
Prisoner Releases Are A Trickle
- Maduro was removed on 3 January and Delcio Rodriguez, a former deputy, now leads a fragile administration.
- Ed Stocker says only a trickle of releases has occurred so far, with maybe 800–900 political prisoners in total.
Use Diplomatic Pressure To Increase Releases
- The pace of further releases depends on whether the US makes them a diplomatic priority.
- Ed Stocker advises that renewed US pressure could increase releases while Venezuela balances domestic politics and reengagement.
