PBS News Hour - Full Show January 16, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
Jan 17, 2026
Maria Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader, shares her concerns about collaborating with local officials and advocate for democratic governance in her country. Abbas Malani, Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford, discusses the ongoing protests in Iran, highlighting that grievances remain despite a crackdown. David Brooks, a prominent columnist, offers political analysis on U.S. actions in Venezuela and other international issues, emphasizing the complexities of global governance.
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U.S. Realpolitik In Venezuela
- The U.S. meeting with Delcy Rodriguez signals a pragmatic shift in Venezuela policy despite rhetorical support for the opposition.
- Nick Schifrin and Maria Corina Machado show Washington may prioritize short-term gains over long-term democratic stability.
Perilous Escape To Washington
- Brian Stern organized Maria Corina Machado's risky escape from Venezuela on a small boat through rough seas.
- Machado admitted she feared she would not survive but called her arrival a miracle and credited divine help.
AI Safety Requires Practical Testing Rights
- Grok's image-generator failures reveal how hard it is to police AI models once deployed at scale.
- Rihanna Pfefferkorn argues red teaming and legal safe harbors are needed to let developers test and fix models.
