TRASHFUTURE Black Bag Diplomacy ft. Jana Silverman
Jan 6, 2026
Jana Silverman, a Professor of International Relations at UFABC in Brazil and DSA International Committee co-chair, dives deep into U.S. intervention in Venezuela. She unpacks the historical roots from the Monroe Doctrine to modern covert operations, revealing how economic interests drive foreign policy. The conversation touches on the challenges of legitimacy in media portrayals, Trump's unpredictable influence, and the implications of military hegemony. Jana speculates on Venezuela's future and critiques how interventions affect regional stability and global dynamics.
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Media Theater Around Opposition Figures
- Hosts highlight the absurdity of media and political theater around regime-change figures like María Corina Machado.
- They mock her seeking prizes and praise and how that influenced U.S. attention on Venezuela.
Longstanding Monroe Doctrine Continuity
- U.S. interventions in Latin America follow a long historical pattern dating to the Monroe Doctrine and Roosevelt Corollary.
- Jana Silverman argues the Venezuela action is a continuation of that hemispheric hegemony, not a new phenomenon.
Hegemony, Not Democracy, Drives Action
- Recent U.S. moves against Venezuela mix old-style coercion with modern motives like blocking Chinese influence.
- Silverman links the intervention to U.S. hegemony concerns and China's regional economic rise.