Ralph Nader Radio Hour — January 11, 2026

Main Theme:
A piercing examination of the U.S. kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after the bombing of Caracas under the Trump administration, its international law implications, blowback risk, and the end of the rule-based order. Ralph Nader and co-hosts bring in Ambassador Chas Freeman for a diplomatic perspective and Bruce Fein for a constitutional law analysis. Related topics include the undercounting of Palestinian deaths in Gaza and the broader unraveling of global legal norms.

1. Opening and Context (01:07–02:42)

• Ralph Nader sets the tone for this urgent episode, warning about "holding Congress accountable" and pointing out the escalating crisis:

  “Nobody can stop you. And it’s a lot easier than you think to hold that Congress accountable, which is the only institution that can hold Donald Trump to account.” — Ralph Nader (01:07)

• Steve Skrovan recaps: The new year began with Trump ordering the bombing of Caracas and the forced removal (kidnapping) of Maduro, who is brought to the U.S. for trial.
• Segment structure: Diplomatic perspective (with Chas Freeman), then legal analysis (with Bruce Fein).

2. Ambassador Chas Freeman Interview

The End of International Law? (03:28–08:51)

• Freeman frames the events as the “end of the Westphalian order” (03:59).

  “We're back to might makes right and the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must… We have been guilty of acts of piracy, seizing vessels on the high seas on the basis of no authority and very dangerously. We have seized a Russian flagged tanker that is escorted by a Russian submarine… We are risking a war with a nuclear armed superpower over an issue that is peripheral to Venezuela." — Chas Freeman (03:59)

• Reiterates the historic significance:

  “The first time, by the way, in 250 years that we've… invaded that government's territory.” (Freeman, 04:43)

• Forecasts blowback and global destabilization:

  "If we can go into Venezuela and kidnap the chief of state… what’s to stop another country… from coming in and abducting our president?" — (Freeman, 07:02)

Retaliation & Blowback (08:51–11:03)

• Nader and Freeman discuss U.S. vulnerability to retaliation given the erosion of global norms.

  “Terrorism is basically an act by someone with a grudge and no air force.” — Freeman (09:44)

• No real debate or public understanding of what leads to anti-U.S. backlash ("blowback").
• Biden and Trump administration both ignored diplomatic overtures and doubled down on military incursions.

3. Discussion: Gaza Death Toll and Media Complicity (11:03–18:35)

• Nader raises the “vast death undercount” in Gaza — up to 680,000 deaths, most uncounted and undiscussed in U.S. media (11:03–15:50).

  “No other ethnic group has had its dead so disrespected as to be massively undercounted and most of them children, because babies have been targeted by the snipers...” — Nader (15:50)

• Freeman sees a media/government conspiracy of silence and shaming of truth-tellers (15:50).

  “The mainstream media have completely failed the American public… becoming scribes for the established narrative, the government sponsored truth.” — Freeman (15:50)

• The destruction of the framework of laws—Geneva Conventions, Genocide Convention—meant to prevent future genocides is being led by the U.S. and Israel:

  "We’re seeing… the return of the law of the jungle. And this is not an accident, but it is terribly ironic..." — Freeman (18:37)

• The Venezuelan intervention is called "a violation of every constitutional principle and international law that exists… just plain stupid." — Freeman (22:00)

4. The Domination Doctrine in the Americas; Rubio’s Role (23:05–28:33)

• Steve Skrovan presses Freeman: Did Rubio (Secretary of State) play a driving role?

  “Marco Rubio has driven this policy. I think you’re quite correct to imply the ultimate target is his parents’ homeland, Cuba…” — Freeman (23:35)

• U.S. policy: “force every country in the region to bow to our own presumed interests,” demanding Venezuela break ties with China, Russia, Iran.
• Attempt to topple regimes (Cuba, Venezuela) is part of a broader ambition for hemispheric dominance.

5. Does Impeachment Matter? (Trump, Vance, Rubio) (26:52–28:33)

• If Trump is impeached, would his successors be different?

  “I don’t think we would have a fundamental change. What we would lose is the cult following, the sort of intimidation of that cult…” — Freeman (27:16)

• Nader notes: Trump informed oil executives of the Venezuela strike but not Congress—"another extension of the corporate state" (28:33).

6. Global Diplomatic Response (28:57–31:57)

• Hannah asks: What is the global diplomatic community doing?
• Freeman’s blunt reply:

  "They're doing far too little, of course. The Europeans are the worst." — Freeman (29:13)

• Asia condemns the U.S. more forcefully (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Russia), while South America is split.
• Predicts a regional arms race and that U.S. diplomacy is in crisis.

7. Citizen Action — Summing Up with Freeman (31:57–32:37)

• Nader urges local citizen organizing to pressure Congress using town hall meetings and signature drives.

  “Without the rule of law, without constitutional government, without a free press, what’s left of our republic.” — Nader (31:57)

8. Corporate Crime Report Update (32:54–33:55)

• Russell Mokhyber reports on Congressional pushback against Trump’s move to cripple the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by transferring cases to the DOJ.

9. Bruce Fein Interview – The Legal/Constitutional Crisis

Impeachment and Accountability (34:15–37:56)

• Fein calls for immediate impeachment:

  “There should be impeachment and removal from office immediately… this is going to unleash… a decade, if not more, of turbulence like the Napoleonic wars…” — Fein (34:57)

• Outlines Trump’s global aggressions (bombings, threats, kidnappings, willingness to attack allies like Denmark/Greenland).
• Fein argues that Vice President Vance would act differently if he saw impeachment as a real threat.

Risks of Blowback and U.S. Militarization (37:56–41:35)

• Nader and Fein discuss U.S. overreaction to retaliation:

  "You can't keep killing thousands of people around the world... and not... haunt us." — Nader (39:44)

• Trump thrives in chaos; martial law after attacks possible.
• Fein argues that Americans are more fragile to “blowback” than those in countries the U.S. bombards.

The Legal Collapse of the American Empire (42:22–43:44)

• Fein summarizes his book:

  “We decided to make a Faustian bargain... to cast aside liberty, due process, wisdom, and benevolence for power.” — Fein (42:22)

NATO, Greenland, and Isolation (43:44–45:49)

• Trump’s plan for Greenland could lead to a NATO article 5 crisis:

  “If you read the NATO in Article 5… we may be at war with all the other NATO members…” — Fein (44:05)

• Warns that such moves echo historic aggressors like Hitler and Napoleon.

International Law: Could Venezuela Strike Back? (45:49–46:24)

• Nader: Would Venezuela be legally justified in attacking the U.S. in self-defense?
• Fein: “Yeah, it’s called self-defense… as legal as after Pearl Harbor.” (46:09)

10. The Maduro Case – Legal Arguments and Due Process (46:24–52:49)

• Fein is associated with Maduro's defense team.
• Explains head-of-state immunity normally applies, but “there’s a Trump exception to everything” now (46:29).
• Prosecution built on “utter nonsense” (48:22), with little or no evidence.
• On due process and the Fourth Amendment:

  “No one really believes that this is an effort to dent drug trafficking. Mr. Trump just pardoned the former president of Honduras who smuggled in 400 tons of cocaine…” — Fein (51:01)

8th Amendment & Detention Conditions (51:10–52:49)

• Fein doesn’t see egregious Eighth Amendment violations at the Brooklyn Detention Center, but solitary is common. Concerns are flagged, but not at ‘cruel and unusual’ level unless serious neglect occurs.

11. Prospects and Turmoil Ahead (52:51–55:15)

• Francesca asks: Will U.S. settle for new Venezuelan leadership? Is more military adventurism ahead (Colombia, Cuba, Mexico)?

  “I think Trump is capable of anything, including dropping a bomb in Istanbul or any other place… to flex his muscles.” — Fein (53:30)

• Predicts a “decade… of international turbulence, like the Napoleonic Wars.” (54:46)
• Russia and China likely to become more aggressive as U.S. global constraints break down.

12. Final Reflections & Call for Courage (55:15–56:08)

• Nader laments the lack of “first responder” courage in the legal profession and calls for law schools, bar associations, and citizens to stand up.
• Fein closes with Aristotle:

  “Without courage, no other virtue is possible.” — Fein (55:57)

Memorable Quotes & Key Timestamps

• “We’re back to might makes right…” — Chas Freeman (03:59)
• “Terrorism is… an act by someone with a grudge and no air force.” — Freeman (09:44)
• “This is a violation of every constitutional principle and international law… but more… it’s just plain stupid.” — Freeman (22:00)
• “Marco Rubio has driven this policy…” — Freeman (23:35)
• “He notified the oil companies… but he didn’t notify the Congress.” — Nader (28:33)
• “There should be impeachment and removal from office immediately…” — Fein (34:57)
• “We decided to make a Faustian bargain… to cast aside liberty… for power” — Fein (42:22)
• “Yeah, it’s called self-defense… as legal as after Pearl Harbor.” — Fein (46:09)
• “Without courage, no other virtue is possible.” — Fein quoting Aristotle (55:57)

Summary Table of Key Segments

| Segment | Main Points | Timestamps | |--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------| | Overview and Urgency | Trump’s escalation, citizen action urged | 01:07–02:42 | | Diplomatic Fallout (Freeman) | End of international law, risk of blowback, U.S. isolation | 03:28–08:51 | | Gaza Death Toll, Media Complicity | Deliberate undercount, international law destroyed, West in moral decline | 11:03–18:35 | | U.S. Hemispheric Domination, Cuba Domino | Rubio’s ambitions, forced regional compliance, targeting Cuba | 23:05–28:33 | | Impeachment & Authoritarianism | Trump vs. Rubio vs. Vance; cult of personality, congressional abdication | 26:52–28:33 | | International Reactions | European passivity, Asian condemnation, arms race brewing | 29:13–31:57 | | Legal Analysis with Bruce Fein | Grounds for impeachment, risk to global order, U.S. as imperial rogue actor | 34:15–41:35 | | NATO, Greenland Crisis | U.S. risking alliance collapse, triggers for war over Greenland | 43:44–45:49 | | Legal Case Against Maduro | Due process, head-of-state immunity, mockery of law | 46:24–52:49 | | Prospects for Expansion of U.S. Aggression | Other countries at risk, era of turbulence akin to Napoleonic Wars | 52:51–55:15 | | Final Call to Action & Courage | Need for professional/legal resistance and citizen action | 55:15–56:08 |

Overall Tone and Takeaways

• Sober, urgent, and deeply critical of both U.S. domestic leadership and the international community.
• The episode underscores how easy—and how crucial—it is for citizens to organize and demand congressional oversight.
• Nader and guests see U.S. actions as portending a dangerous collapse of international order and norms, with unpredictable, potentially catastrophic blowback.

For further information:

• Links to guests’ appearances and writings at ralphnaderradiohour.com
• For information on mobilizing Congress: capitolcitizen.com

This summary was consciously structured to offer the flow, critical arguments, and the most piercing quotes by segment, using the voices and tone of the featured speakers.