KQED's Forum What the Military Extraction of Venezuela's President Means for Global Politics and Oil
11 snips
Jan 7, 2026 
U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin discusses military oversight and the implications of capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, urging for accountability in national security. Kevin Whitaker, a former ambassador, analyzes the shifting geopolitical landscape and U.S. interests in Venezuela's vast oil reserves. Antonia Juhasz, an investigative journalist, explores the challenges of extracting Venezuelan oil amid sanctions and political risks. Together, they debate how these developments might reshape U.S. foreign policy and influence global oil dynamics.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Foreign Policy As a Political Look
- President Trump's Venezuela operation emphasizes projecting toughness abroad to distract from domestic failures.
- Senator Elissa Slotkin warns this reflects a novel, transactional foreign-policy focus on oil and power projection.
Reinstate Robust Congressional Oversight
- Congress should exercise rigorous oversight of executive military actions, especially covert operations.
- Senator Elissa Slotkin criticizes Republican abdication of committee responsibilities and calls for hearings and accountability.
Secrecy Risks Domestic Repression
- The administration's secrecy over target lists, legal authority, and intelligence raises domestic civil-liberties risks.
- Slotkin fears secret foreign-target practices could be mirrored domestically via a classified list of 'domestic terrorist organizations.'
