In this episode, we examine the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and the predictable outrage that followed—outrage framed around sovereignty, regime change, and accusations of American overreach. Beneath those slogans, however, lies a far more serious set of questions.
What does sovereignty actually mean when a regime actively facilitates transnational crime? Can a government that voids legitimate elections, harbors criminal networks, and functions as a narco-state still claim the moral protections of international law? And should this moment be understood not as imperial adventurism, but as the reassertion of American influence in a world where rival powers are consolidating and aligning?
In this episode, we argue that Venezuela is not Iraq, that “regime change” did not begin with the United States, and that democracy can fail from within when institutions are hollowed out and economic power is centralized in the state. We also explore the legal authority behind the action, why the ultimate judgment depends on what happens next, and how this episode fits into a broader strategic contest involving China, Russia, Iran, and the Western Hemisphere.
Finally, we note an often-ignored disconnect: the loudest condemnations tend to come from Western commentators speaking on behalf of Venezuelans, while many Venezuelan-Americans—especially those who fled the regime—appear far less troubled.
This is not a defense of force for its own sake. It is an examination of legitimacy, accountability, and whether American retreat leaves a vacuum filled by far worse actors.