ABC News Daily Where is next for Trump after Venezuela?
Jan 6, 2026
Join John Lyons, ABC's Americas Editor and a savvy commentator on US foreign policy, as he dives into the fallout from Nicolás Maduro's recent court appearances and the US's controversial operations in Venezuela. They explore the backlash at the UN and Trump's military threats in Latin America. Former DEA Chief Ray Donovan highlights the long effort to arrest Maduro and discusses his ties to drug trafficking. Lyons also reveals how this situation sends strong signals about future military actions and appeals to Trump's political base.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
US Asserts Hemispheric Control
- The US captured Nicolás Maduro in a rapid operation and arraigned him in New York on narco-terrorism charges.
- The action signals the US intends to assert control in the Western Hemisphere and act unilaterally when it sees fit.
Venezuela As A Drug Transit Hub
- Venezuela served primarily as a transport and facilitation hub for massive cocaine shipments from Colombia.
- Drugs moved from southern Colombia through Venezuela to the Caribbean and onward to the US, Europe, and West Africa.
Fentanyl Comes From Cartel Partners
- Venezuela is not a fentanyl producer but collaborated with Mexican cartels who produced fentanyl.
- The Maduro administration acted as a facilitator linking Colombian and Mexican trafficking groups.