On January 3, 2026, the United States invaded Venezuela and kidnapped president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. It was the first U.S. invasion of a Latin American country since the 1989 invasion of Panama. 

The United States fired missiles and bombs that blew out windows and hit residential apartment blocks. Helicopters. Explosions. Firebombs. They cut electricity. They destroyed a medical supplies warehouse. Testimonies say helicopters fired on innocent people. They traumatized thousands, if not, millions of Venezuelans.

The aftermath for everyday Venezuelans has been completely ignored. The voices of those on the ground — the voices of the victims — have been largely silenced in the international press and then forgotten as the news cycle hurtles on and our attention shifts elsewhere — to Greenland, Minneapolis, Iran, Gaza, or whatever Trump happens to be blustering about on social media.

So today, we’re heading to Caracas to speak to people who experienced the invasion first hand, whether sheltered in place in their homes or running for their lives in the streets of their city. We’ll hear their stories of Trump’s “impressive” attack, their messages for the U.S., and how they’ve promised to resist the ongoing attack on their sovereignty.

Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. Season 2 responds in real time to the Trump administration’s onslaught on Latin America.

This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.

Theme music by Michael Fox’s band, Monte Perdido. Monte Perdido's 2024 album Ofrenda is available on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube or wherever you listen to music. Other music from Blue Dot Sessions. All of the ambient sound of the invasion in this episode was taken from cell phone videos filmed and posted on social media or shared over WhatsApp on January 3rd, during the pre-dawn U.S. invasion.

Script editing by Heather Gies.
Hosted, written, produced, mixed and edited by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.
Translator and freelance journalist Coromoto Jaraba Pineda helped with reporting for this episode. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram.
Many thanks to Ricardo Vaz and Jessica dos Santos.

Resources: 

Today’s episode features filmmaker Angel Palacios. Below are some links to his documentary films:

• Puente Llaguno: Claves de Una Massacre (en Español)
• Llaguno Bridge: Keys to a Massacre (in English)
• Angel’s film series InjerenCIA: The Silent Invasion (en Español)

Check out the previous Under the Shadow episodes on the U.S. invasion of Venezuela:

• Episode 2: The Americas will never be the same
• Episode 3: Hands Off Latin America
• Episode 4: Debunking the US narrative on Venezuela

Under the Shadow

• You can check out the first season of Under the Shadow by clicking here
• The Beginning: Monroe And Migration | Under The Shadow, Episode 1
• Panama. Us Invasion. | Under The Shadow, Episode 13
• The Legacy Of Monroe | Under The Shadow, bonus Episode 4 
• Michael Fox’s recent reporting on the boat strikes and the ramp-up for war in Venezuela: 
  • With the Strike on a “Drug-Carrying Boat,” Trump Returns to a Dangerous US Policy for Latin America
  • Caribbean Leaders Call for Unified Latin American Resistance to US Attacks
  • Trump’s Monroe Doctrine 2.0 Outlines Imperial Intentions for Latin America

• NACLA’s Curated Guide to the US Attack on Venezuela 
• Truthout’s ongoing reporting on War and Peace and the US invasion of Venezuela
• Visit TRNN for all of The Real News’s coverage on this and so much more

Support Under the ShadowPlease consider supporting this podcast and Michael Fox’s reporting on his Patreon account: patreon.com/mfox. There you can also see exclusive pictures, video, and interviews.

You can check out Michael’s recent episode of Stories of Resistance about the protests against US intervention in Venezuela.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-news-podcast--2952221/support.

Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.

Follow us on:
Bluesky: @therealnews.com
Facebook: The Real News Network
Twitter: @TheRealNews
YouTube: @therealnews
Instagram: @therealnewsnetwork

Become a member and join the Supporters Club for The Real News Podcast today!