The Reason Roundtable What Does It Mean To 'Run' Venezuela?
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Jan 6, 2026 
Robby Soave, Reason's senior editor known for his insights on legal and civil liberties issues, joins the discussion about the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro. They explore the implications of claiming to 'run' another country without congressional approval, debating U.S. foreign policy motives, including oil interests and influence over China. The conversation shifts to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's controversial efforts to promote collectivism and the political fallout surrounding Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as he faces scrutiny amid a fraud scandal.
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Regime Decapitation, Not Clear Governance
- The Trump administration's capture of Maduro is a rapid, unclear form of regime decapitation rather than a full regime-change occupation.
- Matt Welch warns this destabilizes international relations and lacks a coherent plan to “run” Venezuela.
The Old Regime-Change Rationale Reappears
- Katherine Mangu-Ward steel-mans the case: removing Maduro could free millions and serve U.S. hemispheric interests.
- She cautions history shows regime removals often repeat Iraq/Libya mistakes without clear post-conflict plans.
Law Enforcement Framing Raises Legal Alarms
- Robby Soave highlights legality concerns: the administration treated the action like law enforcement, avoiding congressional war authorization.
- He warns bypassing Congress weakens constitutional and diplomatic norms.
