Smart Girl Dumb Questions – Episode Summary
Episode Overview
Podcast: Smart Girl Dumb Questions
Host: Nayeema Raza
Episode: Why Do Venezuelans Want This?
Date: January 19, 2026
This episode tackles the emotional, political, and personal complexity facing Venezuelan Americans after the dramatic U.S. intervention in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Nayeema Raza brings together three prominent Venezuelan Americans—author/journalist Mariana Atencio, comedian/writer Joanna Hausmann, and comedian/actor Francisco Ramos—to explore how they and their communities are processing the seismic changes in their homeland, the nuances of “liberation” versus U.S. imperialism, and their hopes and anxieties about Venezuela’s uncertain future.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Initial Emotions—Before, During, and After
(01:27–03:24)
Each guest is asked to sum up their feelings at three points: a month ago, during Maduro’s capture, and now.
- Joanna: Hopeless → Cautiously optimistic → “Really, really, really anxious.”
"I haven't slept in nights. My therapist gets texts from me every 30 minutes." (01:43) - Mariana: Impatient → Vindicated → Nervous
- Francisco: Disengaged (“nothing ever happens”) → Happy & scared → Anxious/nervous
2. The U.S. Intervention: Iraq Redux or Panama Parallel?
(03:24–07:19)
The guests grapple with analogies (Iraq 2003, Panama/Noriega) and the persistent narrative imperialism of U.S. foreign policy:
- Joanna: Rejects Iraq comparison, describes a “narrative imperialism” that reduces Venezuelan agency and history.
"It's exhausting as a Venezuelan, because it doesn't take into account the nuances of our history." (04:16) - Mariana: Highlights frustrations when non-Venezuelans speak for Venezuelans.
- Francisco: Notes accusations that celebrating Maduro's capture means supporting Trump, pushing back against American binary thinking.
"Just because you're happy because one thing happened doesn't make you...a Trumper." (05:51)
3. Trump, Gratitude, and the 'Ugly Middle'
(07:18–17:49)
Nuanced takes on the U.S. role, Trump, and feelings of gratitude—even from those critical of him domestically.
- Many Venezuelans feel thankful to Trump for acting after 25 years of dictatorship and humanitarian disaster, despite qualms about U.S. motives or domestic politics.
- The tension between personal/family stakes (e.g., loved ones still in Venezuela) and broader American debates on intervention.
- Discussion of America's limited understanding of allowing for "two things to be true," and how complex emotions coexist—relief about intervention, fear over U.S. methods, unease about implications for both Venezuela and the U.S.
Mariana: "We're talking about life and death here. And when the stakes are that high, nothing else matters." (17:37)
Memorable Quote:
Joanna: "It's so weird for me to say...The privilege of being from one place—while Venezuelans, we don't have the privilege of being picky about what happens." (14:37)
4. Life Stories: Why & How They Left
(09:51–13:26)
- Francisco: Moved to D.C. at 12 in 1994, mom works at Pan American Health Organization; lots of family still in Venezuela.
- Joanna: Grew up in Caracas in Chavez era; personally experienced regime backlash; family targeted, some imprisoned.
- Mariana: Came at 24 for journalism after Chavez shut down media; vowed to tell Venezuela’s story in the U.S.
5. The Current State in Venezuela
(19:17–26:48)
- Deep insecurity and repression remain; little celebration on the ground due to fear.
- Power is not truly transitioned—“the puppeteers are still in charge.” The Rodriguez siblings, Diosdado Cabello, and Padrino López continue to wield real power.
- Mariana’s reporting: Polls indicate 80% of Venezuelans see intervention as positive, but 60% fear more repression.
(19:17)
6. What Would It Take to Go Home?
(38:29–47:32) Guests express longing to return and help rebuild, but only if real rights, security, and democratic freedoms are restored. For now, fears remain:
- Joanna: “As soon as Venezuelans get their rights back, I am ready to hop on a plane…and help build a comedy theater.”
- Francisco: Wants to feel safe—even from “light robbery” rather than political retaliation.
- Mariana: Would love to return, but faces personal risks as a vocal journalist and must consider family safety.
7. Democracy, Sovereignty & Political Prisoners
(21:30–37:29; 48:17–50:19)
- Democracy and sovereignty are deeply intertwined for these guests—Venezuela hasn’t had the genuine will of the people for years.
- Ongoing U.S. involvement is seen as necessary to ensure a real democratic transition, not a mere change of faces.
- Release of political prisoners is a crucial marker for real change (as of recording, only 5% released, under restrictive conditions).
8. The Opposition & Maria Corina Machado
(33:31–37:52)
- Machado’s exclusion from power (despite her party's landslide win) underscores the regime’s grip. She is seen as strategic, with hopes for a future role.
- “Negotiating with the devil”—fears that quick change without transition could backfire, as in Venezuela’s 2002 failed coup.
9. Oil, Corruption & American Interests
(32:10–33:23)
- Oil wealth has been siphoned by foreign powers (Russia, China, Cuba), with little benefit to Venezuelans.
- Hope that U.S. involvement could route industry income back to national reconstruction.
10. U.S. Politics & Latino Vote Impact
(52:07–54:17)
- While the NYT claims Venezuela may not swing the Latino vote, Mariana senses broader Latino solidarity with Venezuelans’ struggle against dictatorship.
- This issue will weigh heavily on her own voting choices.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Joanna on gratitude and nuance:
"It's so weird for me to say that ... Venezuelans, we don't have the privilege of being picky about what happens." (14:37) - Mariana on reporting and risk:
"I've been told by my loved ones not to go there... they've really gone after journalists that have been working domestically down there for years." (47:32) - Francisco on the new power structure:
"We took away the face, Nicolás Maduro, but he was really the puppet. The puppeteers are still in place..." (23:08) - Joanna—why leaving Venezuela or 'hands off' doesn't work:
"People that are like, hands off Venezuela... that's psychotic to me. If you just leave the country [as it is], you are literally murdering people. ... We want to run our freakin' country." (20:41–21:30) - Francisco’s analogy on U.S. aid:
"Your house is on fire and you call the fire department and they save you. And then the fire department's like, well, now it's my house. I'm like, why?" (07:19) - On hopes for Venezuelan democracy:
"Rights leads to economic development. Rights leads to investment. Rights leads to property. Like, rights are at the center of all of this." — Joanna (39:25) - On the legacy of corruption:
"This is a cancer that has spread, Naima, throughout our entire society." — Mariana (27:22) - Closing reflection:
"What we need more of are these kinds of conversations and people ... that can be bridges between both countries." — Mariana (47:16)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:20: Opening—the state of Venezuela after U.S. intervention
- 01:27–03:24: Guest emotions, “three words” exercise
- 03:24–07:19: U.S. in Venezuela—imperialism, analogies, dual feelings
- 09:51–13:26: Guests' migration stories
- 14:37–17:49: Gratitude for Trump, complex political emotions
- 19:17: On-the-ground feelings; poll results
- 20:41–22:36: The “stabilization phase”; reality on the ground
- 23:08–26:48: Who really controls Venezuela; the Gang of Four
- 32:10–33:23: Oil, corruption, and foreign interests
- 33:31–37:52: Maria Corina Machado and the path (or not) to democracy
- 38:29–47:32: Would they go home? Personal and professional stakes
- 48:17–50:19: Political prisoners, requirements for “real change”
- 52:07–54:17: Effect on American electoral politics; Latino vote
- 54:54–56:39: Lightning round: Things they’re “dumb” about
Tone and Conversation Style
- Candid, humorous, and deeply personal, with plenty of self-deprecating jokes ("Not even some arepas to...?" "Light robbery, not political prisoner.") and vivid analogies.
- The guests and host continually stress nuance, insist on the right to feel complex and even contradictory emotions, and resist American binary and “us versus them” frameworks.
- They blend heavy discussions of trauma and politics with pop culture references (Sopranos, Amazon Prime deliveries, "fuck, marry, kill"), making the conversation accessible and even entertaining, despite the gravity of the subject.
Key Takeaways
- Venezuelan Americans’ reactions are layered, not cheerleading U.S. intervention but not mourning Maduro’s fall either—they occupy an “ugly middle”.
- Gratitude for Trump’s action comes mingled with personal political discomfort over his domestic policies and an anxiety over what comes next.
- Most power has merely shifted faces; actual structural change, release of political prisoners, and real economic reform are still pending.
- Rebuilding Venezuela will take more than removing a dictator—it will require restoring rights, tackling deep-rooted corruption, and supporting Venezuelan voices in shaping the country’s future.
- The larger message: “Two things can be true.” One can praise a single historic act—and still fiercely critique the actor’s broader agenda or methods.
"Binary thoughts are really hurting Venezuelans... I don't want to think in a binary because it oversimplifies very complex situations." — Joanna (41:20)
Episode Links
- Mariana Atencio: Instagram / Substack
- Joanna Hausmann: Instagram: @johaus
- Francisco Ramos: Instagram: @framoscomedy
If you haven’t listened to the episode, this summary should leave you well-prepared to understand both the headlines and the emotional undercurrents shaping the Venezuelan diaspora’s current moment.