Venezuela Sneak Attack: Hidden Reasons and What Now?

Matt Robison (host of Worth Knowing) and Jonathan Larsen (creator and writer of The Fucking News) do a deep dive on the hidden reasons behind Donald Trump’s recent attack on Venezuela, based on Larsen’s reporting and analysis from his Substack. We break down why Trump ordered strikes in Venezuela and the operation that captured Nicolas Maduro — and what’s really driving all of this.📌 Jonathan Larsen brings decades of hard-earned political media experience: TFN creator and writer Jonathan Larsen co-created Up w/ Chris Hayes and wrote for Countdown with Keith Olbermann at MSNBC, helped launch CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360° and Air America Radio, and has also worked at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Young Turks.📌 Your host, Matt Robison, is the founder and host of Worth Knowing, a newsletter and analysis hub focused on politics, big ideas, and power flows. Matt writes for Newsweek and hosts the Beyond Politics podcast, bringing a clear-thinking, evidence-forward lens to the biggest stories shaping our world.

00:00 Introduction and Overview01:16 Trump's Venezuela Attack: Four Explanations01:37 Explanation 1: The Drug Case Against Maduro04:31 Explanation 2: Access to Oil06:36 Explanation 3: Political Distraction08:13 Explanation 4: No Coherent Plan09:44 Interview with Jonathan Larson: Hidden Agendas10:41 The Role of two operatives14:02 Election Denial and Anti-Maduro Campaign19:20 Complexities and Conspiracies22:33 Debating the Justifications and Consequences30:32 Audience Interaction and Final Thoughts31:35 Debating the Legality of Military Actions33:44 Congress's Role and Responsibilities35:56 Media Influence and Public Opinion38:09 Theories Behind the Venezuela Situation47:48 Domestic Political Implications55:15 Future Predictions and Legal Challenges01:01:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts