The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Special Episode: After Maduro’s Ouster, What Are Trump’s Plans for Venezuela?

28 snips
Jan 6, 2026
Jon Lee Anderson, a seasoned New Yorker staff writer known for his in-depth Latin American coverage, joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss the audacious U.S. military operation that captured Nicolás Maduro. They explore the unique nature of this raid, its shaky intelligence, and the implications for U.S. intervention in Venezuela. The conversation delves into the motives behind the operation—especially oil—and what governance might look like post-Maduro. Anderson also analyzes the broader consequences for Latin America and geopolitical tensions with China and Russia.
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INSIGHT

Unprecedented Raid Signals New U.S. Posture

  • The U.S. capture of Maduro was unprecedented in scale and brazenness compared to modern operations.
  • Jon Lee Anderson compares it to Noriega and Saddam as signaling American military resolve in the hemisphere.
INSIGHT

Seamless Operation Implies Inside Help

  • The raid's seamless execution suggests inside informants or superior signals intelligence.
  • Anderson notes internal splits in Venezuela and the $50 million bounty could have incentivized betrayals.
INSIGHT

Narco-Terror Claims Are Not Incontrovertible

  • Anderson questions the evidentiary basis for narco-terrorism claims against Maduro.
  • He argues drug-trafficking accusations are not incontrovertibly proven and may be politically framed.
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