In Chapter 7 of Badlands Book Club, hosts CannCon and Ashe in America are joined by special guest Colonel Towner for a detailed examination of Venezuela as presented in Stolen Elections. The discussion focuses on Hugo Chávez’s rise to power, disputed claims surrounding democratic legitimacy, and the broader historical context often omitted from mainstream narratives. Together, they unpack the book’s treatment of U.S. intelligence involvement, sanctions, oil nationalization, Cuban influence, and the framing of authoritarianism versus foreign intervention. The conversation highlights contradictions in timelines, contested allegations of election manipulation, and how economic pressure and narrative shaping are portrayed as contributing to Venezuela’s collapse. Particular attention is given to how history is written, which actors benefit from selective framing, and what gaps in the record suggest when viewed through a geopolitical and military lens. This chapter-driven discussion emphasizes critical reading, historical context, and the importance of questioning accepted explanations.