
Code Switch Venezuela and the long tradition of US interference
Jan 14, 2026
Join Jasmine Garsd, an NPR immigration correspondent with firsthand reporting on Venezuelan migration, and Greg Grandin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, as they dissect the turbulent history of U.S. interventions in Latin America. Jasmine shares her surreal experience at Nicolás Maduro's court appearance, revealing polarized reactions from the crowd. Meanwhile, Greg dives into how Latin American struggles shaped modern notions of sovereignty and critiques U.S. policies that intertwine material interests with ideology, shedding light on the refugee crisis fueled by decades of interference.
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Maduro In Manhattan Courtroom
- Jasmine Garsd recounts seeing Nicolás Maduro enter a Manhattan courtroom in a prison uniform and wish reporters a 'Happy New Year.'
- She describes a noisy, polarized crowd outside with both celebrants and protesters demanding U.S. noninterference.
Crowd Split: Joy And Rage
- Jasmine describes a crowd split between those celebrating Maduro's removal and those denouncing U.S. intervention and defending Venezuelan sovereignty.
- She shares voices of Venezuelan exiles who felt profound joy and relief at the outcome.
Engineer Maria Su's Relief
- Jasmine shares Maria Su's story: an engineer who fled Venezuela after refusing to align with Maduro and felt indescribable happiness at his removal.
- Maria publicly thanked U.S. forces and expressed trust in U.S. politicians to rebuild Venezuela.




