On with Kara Swisher Venezuela After Maduro: Can Trump Control Caracas From Afar?
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Jan 8, 2026 
David Sanger, a national security correspondent for The New York Times, Luisa Palacios, an energy finance expert, and Alejandro Velasco, a historian of Venezuelan politics, delve into the aftermath of Maduro's arrest. They explore the motivations behind the U.S. action, assess the feasibility of controlling Venezuela without ground troops, and unravel the implications for everyday Venezuelans. The guests also discuss the intertwined history of U.S. interests in Venezuelan oil and the potential risks of occupation, while reflecting on the broader consequences for American credibility in global politics.
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U.S. Reasserts Regional Dominance
- The Trump administration framed its Venezuela action as a new Monroe Doctrine asserting U.S. rights to intervene in the hemisphere.
- David Sanger warns this reassertion signals a return to gunboat diplomacy with global signalling to China and Russia.
Regime Change Without Regime Replacement
- The operation felt dramatic but left the core regime structures largely intact, creating a paradox: regime change without changing the regime.
- Alejandro Velasco highlights the anxiety this creates and the risk of mounting repression despite leadership shifts.
Virtual Occupation As Strategy
- The U.S. appears to be attempting a 'virtual occupation' by coercing Venezuela from offshore rather than deploying large ground forces.
- David Sanger calls this an unprecedented experiment in exercising control from afar with an armada as leverage.
