Topic: Caracas

Donald Trump announced the capture and extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. Delta Force soldiers and a CIA team. The operation, which occurred in Caracas, resulted in Maduro being transported to the USS Iwo Jima and subsequently to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Trump declared that the United States would run Venezuela until a transition occurs, emphasizing control over the country's oil infrastructure.

Juan Guaidó was reportedly replaced as the head of Venezuela's National Assembly by Luis Parra after failing to secure enough votes for a new term. Despite U.S. media reports of a "blockade," evidence suggests Guaidó staged a fence-jumping incident for cameras while a legal quorum elected Parra inside. The U.S. State Department continues to recognize Guaidó as the interim president despite the legislative shift.

Univision journalist Jorge Ramos and his crew were briefly detained at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas after an interview with President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro reportedly became incensed by the questions and confiscated the team's equipment. The incident was discussed as a potential piece of "controlled opposition" or a staged event to further pressure the Venezuelan government.

Professor Humberto Velasco reports a palpable level of discontent among the popular sectors in Venezuela that previously supported Hugo Chávez. While the Maduro government lacks legal legitimacy and popular support due to failing public services and high prices, it remains unclear if the populace supports the opposition. The current moves by the opposition are seen as plunging the nation into social uncertainty.

Nicolas Maduro is inaugurated for a second term as President of Venezuela, blaming U.S. "imperialism" for the country's economic crisis. While the Trump administration and many Latin American nations refuse to recognize the election results, leaders from Cuba, Nicaragua, and Bolivia attended the ceremony. The hosts discuss the severe food and medicine shortages facing the Venezuelan people.

A 2003 report from Venezuela describes how a power shortage caused the nation's electric clocks to run slow, losing 150 seconds per day. The hosts use this to illustrate the potential consequences of messing with the 60Hz cycle in the United States.