Bob Murphy Show Ep. 462 The Full Story Behind the Venezuelan Motorboats
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Nov 13, 2025 Kyle Anzalone, a journalist with Antiwar.com, discusses the recent US strikes on boats off the Venezuelan coast. He examines the implications of survivor releases and questions surrounding civilian casualties. Kyle critiques the Trump administration's narco-terrorism policies and argues that the strikes may serve a regime-change agenda rather than genuine fentanyl concerns. He also touches on the historical context of US interventions in Venezuela, addressing the tensions related to Maduro's government and the broader implications for US foreign policy.
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Questions Around Motorboat Strikes
- The Trump administration is conducting lethal strikes on Caribbean and Eastern Pacific boats labeled "narco-terrorists," but evidence linking Venezuela to U.S.-bound fentanyl is weak.
- Survivors returned to Ecuador were released, suggesting U.S. authorities lacked prosecutable evidence and raising civilian casualty concerns.
Venezuela Isn't A Fentanyl Hub
- Venezuela is not a major source of fentanyl to the U.S.; most Latin American drug flows to the U.S. come via the Pacific, not the Caribbean.
- Economic incentives favor trafficking from Venezuela toward Europe rather than the U.S., contradicting the administration's fentanyl framing.
Regime-Change Motive Behind Actions
- Policy toward Venezuela appears driven by South Florida political figures seeking regime change, not strictly by counter-narcotics evidence.
- The administration leverages drug and migration narratives to justify pressure on Maduro's government.