Federalist Radio Hour – “You're Wrong” with Mollie Hemingway and David Harsanyi
Episode 181: Maduro
Date: January 7, 2026
Host: Mollie Hemingway & David Harsanyi
Producer: Radio America
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into U.S. foreign policy focusing on the recent high-profile military operation — “Operation Absolute Resolve” — in Venezuela that resulted in the capture and extradition of Nicolás Maduro. Mollie Hemingway and David Harsanyi unpack the success and implications of the raid, discuss American interests in Latin America, critique the regime change debate, and shift into concerns about domestic policy including immigration, welfare fraud, and broader questions of American identity. The discussion closes with their trademark cultural recommendations and a spirited exchange about movies.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Operation Absolute Resolve: The Venezuela Raid
- Opening Salvo: David considers the operation “impressive”, noting the U.S. extracted Maduro and his wife Cecilia Flores with no American casualties (00:59).
- Mollie emphasizes the operational precision, contrasting it to previous military missteps like Afghanistan:
- “This was not easy. This is a guy who understood that he was wanted in the same way that Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden understood they were wanted … it was just really impressive and well done.” (02:01)
- Strategic Merits:
- Venezuela as a hemispheric threat—“an important part of countries that are sworn enemies of ours... China or Iran or Russia.”
- The efficacy of Chinese/Russian defense systems, which “completely failed” against U.S. action (04:20).
- Domestic Distractions:
- Mollie raises concerns that despite military victories, domestic issues (like welfare fraud) threaten U.S. strength long-term (05:45).
Notable Quote
“When you look at how botched the withdrawal from Afghanistan was, it's a good comparison to remind the rest of the world that our military is fierce... you do not want to come up against it.”
–Mollie Hemingway [03:00]
2. The Regime Change/Nation Building Debate
- David distances this operation from Iraq-style occupation:
- “We have not taken over this country. There are no real boots on the ground. Also, this is not the duly elected leader of that country.” (08:26)
- Mollie: Skepticism about U.S. track record on regime change is legitimate, but this looks different under Trump. (07:38)
- Pressure not occupation:
- The strategy is pressure via oil, pushing for real elections and expelling Russian, Cuban, Iranian influence.
- Legal Grey Area:
- Both wrestle with questions about constitutional authority and legality, referencing historical precedent (e.g., Noriega) (18:51).
Notable Quote
“Donald Trump has gotten us past that where he hasn’t embraced the kind of idealistic neocon view but he certainly is not the type of isolationist … He is driving international events in a way that is very aggressive.”
–David Harsanyi [09:00]
3. America’s Approach to Foreign Policy and Strength
- Rules-based order vs. National Interest:
- Mollie critiques the naive faith in international “rules,” favoring a Monroe Doctrine-esque focus (12:30).
- “A rules based order isn’t going to protect us from Venezuela, particularly when they’re working with China and Russia and Iran.” –Mollie Hemingway [13:59]
- David dismisses “international law” as toothless:
- “International law is never followed by these rogue regimes ever...” (14:29)
4. Communism as a Foreign and Domestic Threat
- From Havana to Home:
- The threat of communism abroad (Venezuela, Cuba) and as a metaphor for leftist policies domestically.
- Mollie: “We have a growing threat of what they call it gay race communism... We need to take it very seriously and take it out.” [16:40]
- On “commie” regimes:
- David: “Anytime there’s a commie dragged in front of a court and handcuffs, I think that’s a good day.” (14:29)
5. Domestic Policy Pivot: Immigration & Somali Welfare Fraud
- Transition to Homefront: Mollie and David pivot to welfare fraud, specifically the Somali community in Minnesota (35:00).
- Vast fraud cases:
- Reports that “half of all money sent” to Medicaid may be fraudulent in some centers (36:25).
- Media’s defense reflex:
- CNN attempts to discredit whistleblowers instead of investigating the scandal (36:28).
- Assimilation vs. Ethnic Enclaves:
- Debates over the failure of immigrant assimilation, and the role of non-profits that set up unassimilated “mini Somalias.”
- “We have a responsibility to bring people into this country who are. Who are successful and who assimilate and who embrace.” –David (37:47)
- Systemic breakdown:
- Mollie warns: “I’m worried about the breakdown of entire civil society... These Somalis do no work and they get your money...” (43:12)
- Public charge principle:
- David: “The reasoning for it is because it’s antithetical to American principles to be a dependent on the state.” (44:03)
- Critical of blanket immigration cheerleading.
- Humorous banter about Somali celebrities and pop culture references (46:33).
Notable Quote
“There’s this cultural force feeding of this idea that all immigration is good, all immigration is equally good ... And they don’t realize how much of earlier immigration stories did not involve welfare and involved a lot of effort and assimilation.”
–Mollie Hemingway [41:40]
6. American Identity: “Ideas,” Borders, and Religion
- Soil, blood, or ideas?
- David: “We are a country of ideas and principles with borders, and we have to protect those borders. By protecting those borders, we protect the ideas inside.” (50:19)
- No magic in naturalization:
- Mollie: “Being American is not just paperwork. It's about norms and ideas and cultures.” (49:00)
- Concerns about importing incompatible cultures:
- “You can’t... import the entirety of the Muslim world and expect that they're going to have the same ideas about rule of law that we have.” (50:43)
7. Culture Segment: Movies & Media (53:20 – end)
- Most heated feedback: Mollie’s Grinch take
- She received “the most negative email ever” for disliking the animated Grinch. (53:41)
- What They've Watched:
- Movies:
- Amos and Andrew (1993)
- The Ref
- Crazy Rich Asians
- One False Move (early ’90s, Billy Bob Thornton)
- The Phoenician Scheme
- F1 with Brad Pitt (liked for its simplicity)
- Mission Impossible 7/8 (“boring and bad,” per David)
- Notable banter: Both hosts joke about old movies, actor scandals, and the formula of sports/action films.
- Movies:
- Sports:
- John Elway documentary discussed (54:28).
- Mollie: “Kind of a childhood hero of mine.”
- TV & Podcasts:
- Molly plugs Issues, Etc. podcast for thoughtful interviews (24:04).
Notable Quotes & Moments by Timestamp
- On Op Absolute Resolve’s Precision:
- “When you look at how botched the withdrawal from Afghanistan was…it’s a good comparison…” –Mollie [03:00]
- On Trump’s Foreign Policy Doctrine:
- “He’s not the type of isolationist that a lot of people pretend he is…he is driving international events in a way that is very aggressive.” –David [09:00]
- On International Law:
- “International law is never followed by these rogue regimes…can’t exist because we haven’t voted for it.” –David [14:29]
- On Communism at Home:
- “We have a growing threat of…‘gay race communism’. This communism that’s happening right now in our country on the left...” –Mollie [16:40]
- On Immigration & Assimilation:
- “I’m worried about the breakdown of entire civil society. When you look at how these Somalis do no work and they get your money and then you have to work really hard and follow all the rules or your life is destroyed.” –Mollie [43:12]
- On American Identity:
- “We are a country of ideas and principles with borders, and we have to protect those borders. By protecting those borders, we protect the ideas inside.” –David [50:15]
- Cultural Hot Take:
- “The most negative email I’ve ever gotten on this podcast was when I said I didn’t like the animated version of the Grinch.” –Mollie [53:41]
Topic Timestamps
- 00:16 – Show Open; Venezuela Raid Overview
- 02:01 – Mollie’s military operation analysis
- 06:24 – David & Mollie on domestic priorities
- 07:38 – Regime change and lessons from the past
- 08:26 – David on administration’s real aims
- 11:31 – Political hypocrisy, Monroe Doctrine debate
- 12:30 – “Rules-Based Order” critique
- 14:29 – International law and U.S. morality
- 16:40 – Communism, foreign and domestic threats
- 18:51 – Legalities, Noriega precedent
- 21:22 – Presidential alignment and personal politics
- 24:04 – Issues, Etc. podcast plug
- 24:38 – Greenland: Strategic joke or serious pivot
- 29:09 – Public opinion & polling post-Venezuela
- 32:34 – Iran protests and their authenticity
- 35:00 – Somali welfare fraud in Minnesota
- 43:12 – Welfare, assimilation, American identity
- 50:15 – Defining “American-ness”; ideas vs. culture
- 53:41 – Culture Segment: Movies, TV, Sports
- 61:07 – Episode closes, culture picks wrap-up
Tone & Style
The conversation is incisive, witty, and pointedly critical of both foreign adversaries and domestic policy failures — all in The Federalist’s confidently contrarian tone. Debate is brisk, with plenty of side commentary, self-aware jokes, and rhetorical jabs at the bipartisan foreign policy “blob” and media hypocrisy.