Wall Street Week US-Venezuela Policy, Farming Without Subsidies, Robotaxis, Mount Everest Exclusivity
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Jan 10, 2026 
Richard N. Haass, a foreign policy expert and former diplomat, discusses U.S. strategies for Venezuela, focusing on oil access and regional stability. Ed Ludlow, a tech journalist, explores the potential arrival of robotaxis in 2026, highlighting industry competition and differing business models. The conversation also touches on New Zealand's subsidy-free farming model and its implications for agricultural practices, alongside the rise of ultra-luxury Mount Everest expeditions, raising questions about ethics and accessibility in adventure tourism.
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U.S. Goals In Venezuela Prioritize Oil
- Richard Haass says the U.S. priority in Venezuela is access to its oil and economic leverage, not regime change or democracy promotion.
- He warns this approach risks nationalist backlash and political continuity rather than democratic reform.
Foreign Policy Shifts Toward Regional Economics
- Richard Haass argues the administration frames foreign policy as economic and regional rather than global, shifting focus from Europe and Asia.
- He suggests this creates informal spheres of influence and reduces U.S. engagement in traditional theaters.
New Zealand's Sudden Subsidy Removal
- Lockwood Smith recounts New Zealand abolishing all farm subsidies and many tariffs in 1985 practically overnight.
- He cautions he wouldn't recommend others replicate the speed of that single-year removal of supports.