Conversations With Coleman Maduro Is Gone. The Mafia State Remains.
42 snips
Jan 12, 2026 
Thor Halvorssen, a Venezuelan human rights activist and founder of the Human Rights Foundation, shares his gripping journey into activism sparked by his mother's ordeal with regime violence. He explicates how Venezuela operates as a cartel-state, blending oil, narcotics, and foreign alliances in a unique geopolitical disaster. Discussing media misrepresentation, Halvorssen highlights the regime's deep-rooted corruption and humanitarian crisis. He also outlines a realistic approach to political transition, emphasizing the necessity of sustained international attention.
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Origin Story Of An Activist
- Thor Halvorssen's activism began after his mother was shot by pro-regime forces during an election dispute in 2004.
- That event pushed him to co-found the Human Rights Foundation to focus on dictatorships globally.
Venezuela As Cartel-State
- Thor argues Venezuela already experienced regime change in 2024 when Maduro lost elections decisively but stayed in power through fraud.
- He also says Venezuela functions as a cartel-state where the government itself runs criminal networks.
Frame Actions As Law Enforcement
- Treat actions against Venezuela as law enforcement operations targeting criminal networks, not classic regime-change wars.
- Expect investigations to reveal state-run narcotics production and follow up with prosecutions.
