Post Reports – "With Maduro Gone, What's Venezuela's Future?"

Episode Date: January 5, 2026
Host: Martine Powers
Key Guests: Ana Vanessa Herrero (Washington Post Caracas Correspondent), Michael Birnbaum (White House Reporter)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the fallout from the dramatic arrest and extradition of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, exploring immediate reactions in Venezuela and the U.S., as well as the uncertain political future now that Maduro is gone. Host Martine Powers, with insightful reporting from Ana Vanessa Herrero and analysis from Michael Birnbaum, breaks down the significance of these developments and their far-reaching consequences for Venezuelans and U.S. foreign policy.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Maduro's Arrest and First Reactions (00:03–02:49)

• Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, appeared in a U.S. court facing charges of drug trafficking. Through an interpreter, both pleaded not guilty and declined to seek bail.
• The Trump administration faces criticism over the legality and secrecy of the military operation—Congress was not briefed, intensifying debate over executive overreach.
• In Venezuela, Maduro’s arrest led to complex, emotional reactions among citizens. While many celebrate the end of his regime, the immediate emotion was “shock and relief,” not euphoria.
  • Quote: “It wasn’t like a joyful, explosion. It was more like a shock and a moment of relief and finally letting it out, whatever they were feeling.” – Ana Vanessa Herrero (02:22)

2. Details of the U.S. Raid (02:49–04:06)

• Early Saturday, U.S. Delta Force troops descended by helicopter on Maduro’s Caracas compound. After a failed attempt by Maduro to barricade himself, he and his wife were taken into U.S. custody.
• The operation was deadly: at least 40 people killed by U.S. forces during the attack and associated airstrikes.

3. Who Runs Venezuela Now? (04:10–09:50)

• Maduro’s Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, is now acting president. She’s known as a technocrat, previously a Maduro loyalist but seen as more open to negotiation with the U.S.

• U.S. officials (notably President Trump & Secretary of State Marco Rubio) expect Rodríguez to cooperate with American interests, especially regarding oil—with threats of further U.S. military action if she doesn’t comply.

  • Quote: “She said ‘we’ll do whatever you need.’ I think she was quite gracious, but she really doesn’t have a choice.” – Unnamed U.S. Official (05:14)

• Rodríguez publicly condemns Maduro’s arrest as illegal and an invasion, yet simultaneously attempts to signal openness toward reconciliation.

• The Venezuelan opposition, notably Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado (whose party unofficially won the 2024 election), is sidelined in U.S. strategy—despite international support.

  • Trump called Machado “a very nice woman, but… she lacks the support and respect of the Venezuelan people to actually lead the country.” (08:51)

• U.S. aims to keep Maduro’s regime intact via a more pliant successor, rather than pursuing disruptive regime change.

4. U.S. Goals: Oil, Stability, and Control (09:50–16:33)

• Trump’s administration is not focused on restoring democracy; instead, their goal is “advancing U.S. interests with whatever foreign partner, democratic or not.” (09:50)
• The plan is to pressure Rodríguez to re-open Venezuela’s oil fields to U.S. companies, a process many believe will take years due to decayed infrastructure and the complexity of the industry.
  • Quote: “What they mean by running the country is… dictating terms to the existing Venezuelan government … their hope is that she will open Venezuelan oil fields to U.S. oil companies.” – Michael Birnbaum (13:17)
• Trump has stated the U.S. will “run Venezuela in the short term,” not through direct occupation, but by controlling policy through Rodríguez.

5. Humanitarian and Local Impact (18:55–21:24)

• The U.S. attack caused substantial civilian damage. Herrero reports scenes of devastation, with residents left to clear rubble alone and seeking help from the U.S. for rebuilding.

  • Quote: “She was asking the government of the United States to help her rebuild the house … she said it was up to that government because they dropped the bombs.” – Ana Vanessa Herrero (19:20)

• Ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela includes food insecurity, poor healthcare, and millions of refugees—compounded by uncertainty about what comes next.

6. Legality and Precedent: U.S. Political Response (21:24–25:59)

• Widespread unease about the precedent set by the operation:

  • “It’s a pretty dangerous precedent to just have one country go in the middle of the night, essentially kidnap the leader of a country and extract them and stick them in a jail in another country.” – Michael Birnbaum (21:24)

• Domestically, Democrats criticize the administration for failing to notify Congress and for what they deem an illegal act of war. The Trump administration calls it a law enforcement action, not war.

• The administration justifies it with claims that Maduro’s removal will reduce drug trafficking and facilitate the return of Venezuelan asylum seekers.

7. Reactions Among Americans and Venezuelan-Americans (25:59–30:10)

• Among Venezuelan Americans (e.g., in Miami), emotions ran high, with some expressing gratitude towards Trump.

  • Quote: “Only I once said, thank you, Trump. Thank you.” – Leomar Nunez (26:46)

• Discussion about Trump’s “America First” rhetoric versus this bold foreign intervention:

  • Some in Trump’s base approve the daring strike; others (notably Marjorie Taylor Greene) criticize him for straying from his non-interventionist, “America First” stance.
  • Quote: “We thought was putting America first. I want to see domestic policy be the priority.” – Marjorie Taylor Greene on Meet the Press (29:44)

8. What Comes Next? (30:19–32:26)

• The coming weeks will reveal whether Delcy Rodríguez complies with U.S. demands, and whether the U.S. pushes for new elections—or becomes further entangled in Venezuelan affairs.
• Historically, toppling autocrats (e.g., Gaddafi in Libya, Hussein in Iraq) led to chaos. There’s no guarantee Venezuela avoids a similar outcome.
  • Quote: “Anytime you go and depose a leader of a country, it unleashes so many unpredictable consequences... the United States could well get sucked into something that President Trump did not anticipate and did not want.” – Michael Birnbaum (31:13)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “It wasn’t like a joyful...explosion. It was more like a shock and a moment of relief.” – Ana Vanessa Herrero (02:22)
• “She said ‘we’ll do whatever you need.’ I think she was quite gracious, but she really doesn’t have a choice.” – (05:14)
• “What they mean by running the country is...dictating terms to the existing Venezuelan government.” – Michael Birnbaum (13:17)
• “She was asking the government of the United States to help her rebuild the house … she said it was up to that government because they dropped the bombs.” – Ana Vanessa Herrero (19:20)
• “It’s a pretty dangerous precedent to just have one country...kidnap the leader of a country and extract them and stick them in a jail in another country.” – Michael Birnbaum (21:24)
• “Only I once said, thank you, Trump.” – Leomar Nunez (26:46)
• “[We] thought [Trump] was putting America first. I want to see domestic policy be the priority.” – Marjorie Taylor Greene (29:44)
• “Anytime you go and depose a leader of a country, it unleashes so many unpredictable consequences... the United States could well get sucked into something that President Trump did not anticipate and did not want.” – Michael Birnbaum (31:13)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:03] Opening: Maduro's arrest and U.S. legal proceedings
• [01:45] Reactions in Caracas (Ana Vanessa Herrero)
• [04:10] Power vacuum—Delcy Rodríguez as acting president
• [08:51] U.S. response to Venezuela’s opposition figures
• [13:17] U.S. oil interests and strategy
• [18:55] Civilian toll and humanitarian aftermath (Ana Vanessa Herrero)
• [21:24] Legality and international precedent (Michael Birnbaum analysis)
• [25:59] Responses among Venezuelan Americans and Trump base
• [29:44] GOP dissent—Marjorie Taylor Greene's critique
• [30:38] What’s next? Forecasts and warnings

Tone and Style

The episode’s tone is journalistic, analytic, and empathetic, balancing the gravity of political upheaval with firsthand human reactions and a clear-eyed look at the risks and uncertainties that lie ahead for both Venezuela and U.S. policy.

This summary captures the main threads, crucial details, and emotional texture of a pivotal episode, providing listeners or readers with a deep understanding of the stakes and lingering questions now that Maduro’s rule has ended.