1A Why The Trump Administration Is Blowing Up Venezuelan Boats
Oct 15, 2025
Julie Turkowitz, Andes bureau chief for The New York Times, and Eric Bazel-Emile, national security reporter at Politico, dive into the Trump administration's controversial boat strikes off Venezuela. They discuss the murky distinction between targeting drug cartels and ambitions for regime change. Legal implications arise as they question due process and the designation of cartels as unlawful combatants. Both guests explore Venezuelan perspectives, regional instability concerns, and the evolving U.S. strategy towards Maduro, highlighting complex dynamics at play.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Limited Public Evidence For Strikes
- The U.S. has released limited evidence tying the boat strikes to drug trafficking and the public explanation remains sparse.
- Eric Bazel-Emile says the strikes appear sporadic and lack concrete, publicly available proof of cartel involvement.
Messaging Shift To Narco-Terrorism
- The administration has unified messaging framing targets as "narco-terrorists" and a direct U.S. security threat.
- Eric Bazel-Emile notes officials reduced rhetoric about Maduro's illegitimacy and emphasized counter-narcotics justification.
Venezuela's Limited Drug Role
- Venezuela plays a smaller role in the overall U.S. drug supply chain than Colombia or Caribbean routes.
- Eric Bazel-Emile points out this military-led campaign is an unusual escalation from typical Coast Guard interdictions.