Global News Podcast – US Exerts More Pressure on Venezuela

Host: Ankur Desai, BBC World Service
Date: December 12, 2025

Episode Overview

This edition of the BBC Global News Podcast provides in-depth coverage of significant global news stories, focusing on the United States’ increased sanctions and mounting pressure on Venezuela. Other stories include peace negotiations regarding Ukraine, a groundbreaking AI deal between Disney and OpenAI, skyrocketing World Cup ticket prices, Austria’s new law on religious head coverings in schools, interspecies cooperation between dolphins and killer whales, and the surprising appointment of rapper Snoop Dogg as an honorary coach for Team USA at the Winter Olympics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US Pressure on Venezuela Intensifies

[00:50 – 07:10]

• New Sanctions:
  The US administration, under President Trump, imposed new sanctions on relatives of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a businessman close to him, and six shipping companies. The US seized an oil tanker in the Caribbean, allegedly carrying black market oil supporting Venezuela’s regime.
• White House Statement:
  Press Secretary Caroline Levitt emphasized a tougher stance:

  “We’re not going to stand by and watch sanctioned vessels sail the seas with black market oil, the proceeds of which will fuel narco terrorism of rogue and illegitimate regimes around the world.” (Caroline Levitt, 02:05)

• Escalating Tensions:
  The seizure is considered a significant escalation. Dozens were recently killed in US airstrikes targeting so-called drug smuggling boats allegedly aiding Venezuela (no evidence yet provided).
• NATO and Russia’s Role:
  President Putin reaffirmed support for Maduro. Venezuela, in turn, accused the US of “piracy,” claiming the seizure is about US attempts to take Venezuelan resources.
• Reporter Analysis:

  “The ratcheting up of tensions is the clearest sign yet that Mr. Trump seeks to further target Venezuela’s economy, which is heavily dependent on oil exports…” (Tom Bateman, State Department Correspondent, 05:00)

• Opposition Response:
  Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Carina Machado mentioned growing foreign military and criminal influence in Venezuela and speculated about the potential for direct US intervention.

Memorable moment:
The US avoidance of committing to future actions publicly, leaving open the prospect of more aggressive moves.

2. The Ukraine Peace Plan Stalemate

[07:15 – 13:55]

• Key Disagreements:
  President Zelensky cites disputed control of eastern Donetsk and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant as sticking points with Washington.
• Revised Peace Plan:
  Zelensky sent an updated 20-point plan to the US. The proposed “free economic/demilitarized zone”—which would require Ukrainian troop withdrawal—raises security concerns:

  “If Ukraine is being asked to withdraw its troops 5 to 10 kilometers, why isn’t Russia being asked to do the same? Who is going to police this territory to make sure that Russia doesn’t take it in the future?” (Jonathan Beale, Defence Correspondent, 12:30)

• NATO’s Call to Action:
  Mark Rutte, NATO leader, warned European states to prepare for possible Russian aggression, urging increased defense spending:

  “Spend, spend, spend on defense, not sometime in the future, but now because Russia’s at your door.” (Katya Adler, reporting on Rutte’s speech, 13:45)

3. Disney & OpenAI’s $1 Billion AI Deal

[20:00 – 23:25]

• Deal Details:
  Disney acquires a $1 billion stake in OpenAI, giving the AI firm access to over 200 Disney characters for content creation.
• Significance:
  This follows longstanding disputes over copyright, as most popular AI video prompts involve familiar copyrighted characters.
• Industry Impact and Concerns:

  “The best thing we can do is educate ourselves as best we can to try to figure out all the possible revenue streams that can come from AI and just lean into it.” (Alicia Cooper, 21:45) Disney’s move is seen as both a precaution against being left behind and a way to explore AI-powered content creation, despite Hollywood’s ongoing anxiety over AI’s disruption.

Notable quote:

“… gives Disney a stake with a company that frankly has ruffled a lot of feathers in Hollywood.” (Lily Jamali, Tech Correspondent, 22:40)

4. Outrage over Men’s World Cup Ticket Prices

[15:40 – 19:40]

• Fan Reactions:
  Ticket prices for the 2026 Men’s World Cup have soared—up to seven times higher than in 2022, with opening match hotels jumping from $150 to $4,000 per night.
• Fans and Advocacy Groups Speak Out:

  “The cheapest seats for Croatia fans…$265 going up to $700 in the top category. That’s three times the price of a similar ticket from the last World Cup in 2022. For the World Cup final, tickets start at, get ready, $4,185 in the cheap seats!” (Manny Jasmy, 17:55)

• Football Supporters Europe called prices a “monumental betrayal” of World Cup traditions.
• FIFA claims all revenue supports football development.

5. Austria Bans Head Coverings for Girls Under 14

[24:00 – 26:45]

• Policy Overview:
  Austria bans hijabs and burqas for girls under 14 in all schools. The government claims it’s promoting gender equality, but critics argue the law is discriminatory and could be unconstitutional.
• Opposition Voices:

  “Instead of empowering children, it would just mean that they would be stigmatized and marginalized.” (Bethany Bell, reading from Austria’s Islamic Community response, 26:20)

• Political Context:
  The move is part of a broader anti-immigration agenda. The opposition Green Party and Austria’s official Islamic community vow to challenge the law.

6. Cooperative Hunting: Killer Whales & Dolphins

[28:20 – 32:30]

• Scientific Breakthrough:
  Researchers in Canada captured the first-ever footage of killer whales and dolphins “cooperatively hunting” for salmon.
• How it Works:

  “When the killer whales are feeding on their own, they've got their lights on looking for the buffet. But when the dolphins show up, it's as if they're hunting with the high beams on…and they have like a larger acoustic field of view.” (Dr. Sarah Fortune, 30:45)

• Benefits:
  Dolphins get scraps from the whales; both species may benefit from each other’s hunting techniques and protection.

7. Snoop Dogg Becomes Team USA’s Olympic “Coach”

[33:50 – 35:15]

• Unlikely Appointment:
  The rapper Snoop Dogg will join Team USA’s coaching staff at the Winter Olympics as an honorary coach, offering encouragement and humor.
• Background:
  Snoop Dogg gained acclaim for his viral Olympic commentary in Paris and his promotion of youth sports in the US.

Fun quote:

“He can’t wait to drop a little wisdom from the sidelines.” (Will Chalk, 34:40)

Additional Notes

• UNESCO’s Recognition of Kohl Eyeliner:
  Recognized as intangible cultural heritage for its social, practical, spiritual, and medicinal roles across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (20:30 – 23:00).

Notable Quotes & Their Speakers

• Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary ([02:05]):
  “We’re not going to stand by and watch sanctioned vessels sail the seas with black market oil, the proceeds of which will fuel narco terrorism of rogue and illegitimate regimes around the world.”

• Tom Bateman, State Department Correspondent ([05:00]):
  “The ratcheting up of tensions is the clearest sign yet that Mr. Trump seeks to further target Venezuela’s economy, which is heavily dependent on oil exports…”

• Jonathan Beale, Defence Correspondent ([12:30]):
  “If Ukraine is being asked to withdraw its troops 5 to 10 kilometers, why isn’t Russia being asked to do the same? Who is going to police this territory to make sure that Russia doesn’t take it in the future?”

• Katya Adler, Europe Editor ([13:45]):
  “Spend, spend, spend on defense, not sometime in the future, but now because Russia’s at your door.”

• Manny Jasmy, BBC Sports ([17:55]):
  “For the World cup final, tickets start at, get ready, $4,185 in the cheap seats, which is seven times the cost of an equivalent ticket in 2022.”

• Bethany Bell, Vienna Correspondent ([26:20]):
  “Instead of empowering children, it would just mean that they would be stigmatized and marginalized.”

• Dr. Sarah Fortune, Marine Scientist ([30:45]):
  “When the killer whales are feeding on their own, they've got their lights on looking for the buffet. But when the dolphins show up, it's as if they're hunting with the high beams on.”

• Will Chalk, Newsroom ([34:40]):
  “He can’t wait to drop a little wisdom from the sidelines.”

Timestamps Summary

| Segment | Time (MM:SS) | |--------------------------------------------|--------------| | US sanctions and Venezuela | 00:50–07:10 | | Ukraine peace plan & NATO statements | 07:15–13:55 | | FIFA World Cup ticket controversy | 15:40–19:40 | | UNESCO recognition of kohl eyeliner | 20:30–23:00 | | Disney & OpenAI deal | 20:00–23:25 | | Austria headscarf ban | 24:00–26:45 | | Killer whales & dolphins cooperate | 28:20–32:30 | | Snoop Dogg Olympic coaching role | 33:50–35:15 |

This episode provides a rich and timely briefing on major international stories, blending rigorous reporting with memorable human and cultural moments.