Podcast Summary: "SALDREMOS CON VENEZUELA" | Saldremos Mejores 5x16

Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: Inés Hernán & Nerea Pérez de las Heras
Guests: Celina Cárquez (journalist, Caracas), Yago Álvarez (economist, El Salto), Juan Diego Quesada (journalist, Cúcuta)
Podcast: Saldremos Mejores – Podium Podcast

Overview

This episode dives deep into the dramatic recent US military intervention in Venezuela, the abduction and transfer to US custody of President Nicolás Maduro, the chaotic new reality on the ground, and the wider ideological and economic power dynamics at play in Latin America. Hosts Inés and Nerea seek clarity amid sensationalist coverage and geopolitical noise, bringing direct testimony from Venezuela and expert interviews to dissect the motives, consequences, and historical context of this unprecedented crisis.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. Opening Reflections: Post-Holiday Realities & Setting the Tone

• The hosts reflect on post-holiday fatigue and the tendency for self-victimization around family gatherings, urging listeners to take ownership of their experiences.
• Transition into the seriousness of the episode: “El tema del día es Venezuela.” (03:00)
• Emphasis on presenting clear, calm analysis amid media hysteria and conflicting narratives.

"Querida mejorcita, necesitabas que se arrojase un poco de claridad y de luz ante tanta información, tanto ruido..."
—Inés Hernán [03:00]

2. The Venezuelan Crisis: Facts & First Impressions

• Event Recap:
  US forces bomb Venezuela, abduct Maduro and his wife, who are then brought before a NYC federal court. Venezuela denounces a “grave military aggression” and reports civilian casualties. US alleges Maduro ran a major narco-trafficking operation, but this charge is quickly dropped in court.
• The illegality of such interventions, citing international law and the UN Charter (Article 24).
• Discussion on public and political reactions: Right-wing voices in Spain justify the intervention, while others warn against trading a local tyrant for a global one.
• Historical context: US “imperialism” and pattern of intervention in Latin America for economic gain, with parallels to Guatemala, Chile, Argentina, Panama, and Iraq.

“La intervención en un país soberano unilateralmente para controlar sus recursos porque te conviene económicamente, por mucho que este país tenga un tirano...sigue siendo ilegal.”
—Nerea Pérez [04:43]

3. Historical Parallels: The Long Shadow of US Interventions

• Guatemala (1954): US coup to protect United Fruit Company.
• Chile (1973): CIA involvement in ousting Allende for copper.
• Argentina (1976): Support for the military junta (Plan Cóndor).
• Panama (1989): US invasion under anti-drug pretext, actually about canal control.
• Iraq (2003): Invasion for oil, justified by false WMD claims.

“Siempre hay una coartada... unas armas de destrucción... un supuesto tirano. Es como, bueno, estás con una mano dando de comer a unos tiranos y con la otra encarcelando a otros.”
—Nerea Pérez [11:33]

4. On the Ground: Venezuelan Perspective

Celina Cárquez (Journalist in Caracas)

[14:47] Venezuela During the Bombing

• Recounts the shock, confusion, and practical blackout during the bombings:
  “Yo estaba dormida cuando a la 1.50 de la mañana empezó el bombardeo y no paró como hasta las 4.30...”
• Massive disruption: power outages, closed pharmacies, communications collapse.
• Uncertainty spreads as casualty numbers rise; public distrusts official figures.
• Public reaction to Trump’s statements is overwhelmingly negative; uncertainty dominates.

[17:32] The “Inside Job” Theory

• Belief among many that Maduro was handed over by someone close, given the massive bounty.
• US oil companies had advance warning; rebuilding Venezuela’s oil industry will require years of investment.

[19:37] The New Power Structure

• Trump recognizes not the opposition leader but Delcy Rodríguez (vicepresidenta chavista) as the required interlocutor, signaling continuity with Chavismo.
• US control delegated to a group including Marco Rubio, JD Vance, Stephen Miller, and the Secretary of War. Trump pushes for direct management of Venezuela’s oil.
• US insists Venezuela must not sell oil to rivals China/Iran.
• Venezuela’s internal economy: 70%+ in poverty, with prices in dollars but wages a fraction of global poverty line.

“Venezuela está muy empobrecida... la situación económica aquí es ruinosa, espantosa, o sea, las madres tienen que dejar de comer ellas para que coman sus hijos...”
—Celina Cárquez [23:59]

[26:30] On US Intervention

• “EEUU no tiene ningún derecho, ninguno, ninguno a meterse en ningún país en Latinoamérica... lo que quiere es petróleo.”

—Celina Cárquez

5. Deconstructing the Narrative: Motives & Media Bias

• Hosts point out the selective outrage and inconsistencies in Spanish and international politics regarding foreign intervention.
• Trump justifies intervention openly for resource control, abandoning past diplomatic euphemisms.

“La administración Trump ha abandonado ya los eufemismos diplomáticos... entrarían a Venezuela para modernizar la infraestructura y crucialmente para hacer dinero que compense los costos de esa intervención.”
—Inés Hernán [29:56]

6. Economic Lens: Petrodollars and Global Power

Yago Álvarez (Economist)

[31:12] Control Beyond Barrels: The Dollar System

• US seeks not only oil but to enforce the trade of oil in dollars (petrodollar system), crucial to its global financial hegemony.
• Venezuela’s switch to trading oil with China in yuan was a direct challenge.
• Historical pattern: Leaders who try to break the petrodollar system (Iraq’s Hussein, Libya’s Gaddafi) have faced US-overthrow.
• Dollar-based transactions allow US to enforce sanctions, economic embargoes.

“Cada vez que alguien se le ocurra decir que se podría cambiar ese sistema llamado petrodólares [...] eliminarlo y sacarlo del mapa.”
—Yago Álvarez [32:07]

[36:10] Geoeconomics: China and Russia

• China more significant for Venezuela than Russia; largest creditor and technology partner.
• If Venezuela can’t sell oil to China, its economic comeback is crushed. Trump wants to break this.
• Potential knock-on effects: By controlling Venezuelan oil, US can indirectly cripple Cuba and Nicaragua.
• Cautionary example: When Panama tried to make deals with China over its canal, Trump threatened direct military action.

“Si Panamá no lo hubiera hecho [...] estaríamos oyendo hablar de el cártel del narcotráfico de los Lunas de Panamá y en tres meses le harían a Panamá lo mismo que han hecho Venezuela.”
—Yago Álvarez [40:55]

7. The Rightward Shift: Regional Political Realignment

• Series of rightward "corrections" in Latin America:
  • Argentina: Emergency lending and support to Milei, ensuring his victory (42:30).
  • El Salvador: Trump backs Bukele’s "megacárceles" policy; re-election and deportation deals (43:30).
  • Chile: Kast’s victory, celebrated as end of Chilean communism (44:30).
  • Ecuador & Bolivia: Rightward victories, end of “pink tide”. Only Lula (Brazil) and Petro (Colombia) remain on the left, albeit embattled.

8. Trump’s Regional Strategy and its Unpredictability

Juan Diego Quesada (Journalist, Cúcuta)

[45:31] Regional "Security Network" and Imperialism

• Trump aims for "America for the Americans" in practice, not metaphor—a neocolonial regional order.
• Unpredictability highlighted: Old alliances discarded overnight; “acercarse a él también es una forma de quemarse.”
• Betrayal of María Corina (opposition) in Venezuela: despite expectations, Trump empowers continuity Chavismo via Delcy Rodríguez.

“Trump es impredecible... acercarse a él también es una forma de quemarse.”
—Juan Diego Quesada [46:23]

[48:00] The New Conservatism Wave

• Rightward swing seen as globally inevitable. Only Colombia (Petro) stands as a significant exception, buoyed by reaction to US aggression.
• Previous leftist victories fell short in transforming underlying regional inequalities.

[51:07] The Dual Trap: Authoritarian Continuity and Foreign Control

• Trump’s brand of "conservatism" is at root capitalist and unpredictable, driven by immediate advisers and private interests.
• Internal Chavista survivors (the Rodríguez siblings) have shown ability to adapt and survive, now positioned to manage US tutelage, leveraging both sides for potential economic recovery.

"Van a jugar a que en este nuevo ecosistema tutelados por tal, supuestamente va a mejorar la economía..."
—Juan Diego Quesada [55:21]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

| Speaker | Quote | Timestamp | |:-|:-|:-| | Nerea Pérez | “La intervención en un país soberano unilateralmente... sigue siendo ilegal.” | 04:43 | | Inés Hernán | “Os animamos a la práctica del contacto cero... estamos a 2026.” | 02:02 | | Celina Cárquez | “La mayoría de la gente estaba dormida... fue una conmoción.” | 14:47 | | Celina Cárquez | “Venezuela está muy empobrecida... la situación económica aquí es ruinosa.” | 23:59 | | Yago Álvarez | “Esto es un golpe encima de la mesa. Ojo, si os atrevéis a saliros del sistema del dólar voy a ir a por vosotros y os voy a destrozar.” | 32:07 | | Juan Diego Quesada | “Trump es impredecible... acercarse a él también es una forma de quemarse.” | 46:23 | | Inés Hernán | “Como bien sabéis, las fuerzas estadounidenses bombardearon Venezuela en la noche del pasado sábado y secuestraron al presidente…” | 03:30 | | Celina Cárquez | “EEUU no tiene ningún derecho, ninguno, ninguno a meterse en ningún país en Latinoamérica...” | 26:30 |

Memorable Moments

• Personal Account: Celina Cárquez’s recounting of the bombing night and the economic devastation [14:47–23:59].
• Pattern Recognition: The hosts’ concise rundown of US-backed coups and interventions as a recurring motif [07:58–13:23].
• Economic Analysis: Yago Álvarez’s breakdown of petrodollar supremacy and the chilling sigificance of Venezuela’s switch to yuan [31:12–35:38].
• Geopolitical Layering: Clear connections drawn between new US interventionism and the rightward turn across Latin America’s leadership [42:26–45:19].
• Live Uncertainty: Juan Diego Quesada’s account of the fast-changing power dynamic in Venezuela and the unpredictability of US policy [54:38–58:45].

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Section | Description | Timestamps | |:--|:--|:--| | Holiday opening & podcast intro| Setting the tone, moving to Venezuela crisis | 00:22–03:00 | | Venezuela event recap & legality | Narrating intervention, UN Charter, context | 03:00–07:58 | | US in Latin America: History | Precedents from Guatemala to Iraq | 07:58–13:23 | | Direct testimony: Celina Cárquez | The bombing night, public mood, new regime | 14:47–19:37, 23:59–26:30 | | Economic motives & petrodollars | Yago Álvarez on oil, dollars, and sanctions | 31:12–39:26 | | Regional realignment | Rightward shift, US support of new regimes | 42:30–45:19 | | Unpredictable alliances | Juan Diego Quesada on Trump’s strategy | 46:23–51:07 | | Future scenarios | Analysis of potential outcomes in Venezuela | 55:21–58:45 |

Conclusion

The episode argues that the latest events in Venezuela epitomize a return to the open, colonial-style extraction and regime management that defined earlier periods of US intervention, now aided by a resurgent New Right across Latin America. Both hosts and guests stress the gravity and illegality of the intervention, highlight the real impact on Venezuelan lives, and dissect the tangled, self-contradictory motives of Trump's foreign policy. The prognosis is one of deepening uncertainty for the region, increased hardship for ordinary Venezuelans, and a schism between public justifications and economic realities.

“La convivencia de las dos peores opciones juntas—continuismo con el chavismo, y un tutelaje imperialista, casi colonialista. Es alucinante lo que estamos viendo.”
—Nerea Pérez [58:45]

End of summary.