The American Mind Podcast Maduro No Más: Venezuela's Future After His Capture ft. Josh Treviño & R.J. Pestritto
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Jan 8, 2026 In this engaging discussion, Josh Treviño, a Latin American geopolitics expert, and R.J. Pestritto, a scholar on the administrative state, dive into Nicolás Maduro's capture and its implications for Venezuela and U.S. foreign policy. Treviño breaks down the complexity of narco-state dynamics, while critiquing past presidential approaches to drug-related regimes. Pestritto examines the administrative state's rise, emphasizing its impact during the COVID era and potential congressional reforms. The conversation blends geopolitics with governance, making for a thought-provoking listen.
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The Emergence Of The Estado De Narco
- Josh Treviño describes the rise of the "Estado de Narco" as a cartel-state synthesis where criminal groups and formal governments mutually benefit one another.
- This model corrodes civil society, provides deniable warfare against the U.S., and requires new U.S. rollback strategies beyond mere indictments.
Obama DOJ Killed AMLO Probe
- Josh recounts the Obama DOJ killing an investigation into Andrés Manuel López Obrador's links to the Sinaloa cartel around 2012.
- He suggests that decision materially worsened Mexico's drift toward narco-state dynamics and had long-term regional consequences.
Raid Highlights U.S. Operational Superiority
- Treviño argues the Maduro raid showed extraordinary U.S. operational competence and the ability to defeat layered Chinese and Russian defenses without big firefights.
- He warns tactical success must be matched by strategic statecraft to sustain gains and deter extra-hemispheric backers.
