Cartels Look OUT! Trump sends Military to Southern Caribbean & Venezuela Waters

Summary

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The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Cartels Look OUT! Trump Sends Military to Southern Caribbean & Venezuela Waters

Date: September 2, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson

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Overview of the Episode

This episode centers on President Trump's bold escalation of U.S. military operations in the southern Caribbean and off the Venezuelan coast. Ferguson unpacks the unprecedented deployment of warships, Marines, and intelligence assets with the stated aim of disrupting drug cartels and applying pressure to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The discussion features insights from Venezuelan dissidents and analyzes both regional and domestic implications, including security, politics, and humanitarian hopes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major U.S. Military Buildup Near Venezuela

[03:21–05:44]

• President Trump has dramatically increased U.S. military presence in the southern Caribbean, deploying 7-8 warships (including a nuclear submarine) and over 4,000 personnel, including 2,200 Marines.
• The move is officially aimed at combatting Latin American drug cartels, newly designated as terrorist organizations.
• This action also heightens pressure on President Maduro, with the U.S. offering a $50 million bounty for his capture as a narco-terrorist.
• Maduro responds by mobilizing Venezuela's military, deploying troops along the coast and borders, encouraging civilian militias, and accusing the U.S. of pursuing "gunboat diplomacy" and regime change.

"President Donald Trump made it very clear ... if you are in the drug trade, he considers you a dangerous individual that is a member of a terrorist organization."
— Ben Ferguson [03:24]

"[Maduro] warned he would, quote, 'constitutionally declare republic in arms if the US forces attack.'"
— Ben Ferguson [05:18]

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2. Venezuelan Public Sentiment & Dissident Insights

[05:44–08:45]

• Interview segment introduces Venezuelan dissident Jorge Galicia and commentator Franklin Camargo, both describing profound but quiet optimism within Venezuela despite the risks of public support for the U.S. presence.
• The majority of Venezuelans silently support U.S. action due to pervasive fear of regime retaliation.
• Venezuelans abroad are openly celebrating—posting viral videos of U.S. destroyers arriving and expressing gratitude for the Trump administration.

"Many people in Venezuela are extremely optimistic. They cannot really be loud about it because they're facing a terrible criminal regime."
— Jorge Galicia [06:32]

"It's a silent euphoria."
— Opposition activist via Rachel [06:43]

"Venezuelans recognize that Trump is an ally, that the US Government is probably the biggest hope that we currently have."
— Franklin Camargo [07:31]

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3. Cartels as Terrorist Threats: New Strategy & Policy

[08:45–11:40]

• Trump's designation of cartels (including the Venezuelan Cartel of the Suns) as foreign terrorist organizations opens the door to using expanded military and intelligence force.
• The U.S. is now prepared to employ tactics against cartels as enemy combatants, not just criminal groups.
• Fox News segment explores potential operations—intercepting narcotics shipments, targeting cartel leaders, and even drone strikes on drug labs.
• Mexico’s President Sheinbaum claims to cooperate with U.S. enforcement but insists there will be “no boots on the ground” within Mexican territory.

"It allows us to now target what they're operating and to use other elements of American power. Intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense, whatever, to target these groups."
— Fox News Correspondent [10:28]

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4. Linking Cartels to U.S. Overdose Crisis

[11:18–13:24]

• Cartels and drug trafficking into the U.S. are underscored as major factors behind more than 265,000 fentanyl overdose deaths during the Biden administration, according to Ferguson and Pentagon statements.
• The administration frames the current offensive as an urgent "whole-of-government" effort.
• Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell reiterates the national security imperative to eliminate cartel threats.

"Under the Biden administration, more than a quarter million Americans died from fentanyl, an overdose from fentanyl. You think about that number and then you think about these cartels."
— Ben Ferguson [11:58]

"It requires a whole of government effort ... to eliminate the ability of these cartels to threaten the territory, safety and the security of the United States and its people."
— Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell [12:30]

"I'm not waiting around for nations to act. I'm going to act now because it's important that we protect and defend America's homeland and make sure that ... another quarter million Americans don't lose their lives to fentanyl overdoses."
— Ben Ferguson [13:05]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Silent Hope Inside Venezuela:
  "They cannot really be loud about it because they're facing a terrible criminal regime."
  — Jorge Galicia [06:32]

• Public Shows of Solidarity Abroad:
  "Venezuelans who are living abroad are putting out the most remarkable TikTok Instagram videos ... and just the euphoria from the dissident community who's abroad is so palpable and thankful to the administration."
  — Rachel [06:43]

• Elevating the Stakes
  "Cartel members become enemy combatants and allow the use of military assets."
  — Fox News Correspondent [10:44]

• Direct Link to the U.S. Drug Crisis
  "They have destabilized the economies and internal security of countries while also flooding the United States with deadly drugs, violent criminals, and vicious gangs."
  — Ben Ferguson, quoting Pentagon [12:00]

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Key Segment Timestamps

• [00:25] — Episode opens, headline story preview
• [03:21–05:44] — Detailed rundown of U.S. military buildup
• [05:44–08:45] — Interview/discussion on how Venezuelans and expats are reacting
• [10:18–11:40] — Policy shift: designating cartels as terrorist entities, operational implications
• [11:58–13:24] — U.S. fentanyl crisis, military and whole-of-government response
• [13:24] — Episode close

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Episode Tone & Takeaway

Ferguson's language is direct and urgent, framing the Trump administration's military escalation as a necessary and overdue response to both transnational criminal threats and domestic crisis. Venezuelan dissident voices add emotional depth, emphasizing the stakes for those living under the Maduro regime and the ripple effects throughout the hemisphere. There is a strong undercurrent of support for Trump’s assertive approach, echoed by exiles and described as a beacon of hope.

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Summary

In this episode, Ben Ferguson provides exclusive and passionate insight into President Trump's unprecedented military intervention aimed at dismantling Venezuelan-backed drug cartels, labeling them as terrorist organizations and heightening pressure on Nicolás Maduro. Through expert interviews and policy analysis, the episode explores the human and security stakes for both Venezuelans and Americans, painting the deployment as both a regional and domestic turning point in U.S. counter-narcotics policy.

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Transcript

[Ben Ferguson]

This is an iheart podcast.

[Jorge Galicia]

If they express their gratitude towards the United States government and towards President Trump for the pressure he's adding against Maduro, they're going to face horrible consequences. That's why you don't really see a lot of expressions coming out of Venezuela. But, you know, I have people there, I talk to them. They are happy.

[Ben Ferguson]

You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.

Good Tuesday morning. It is nice to have you with us after the Labor Day weekend. And to all American workers, thank you for what you do. We've got one big story this morning and it involves Donald Trump going after cartels who've been designated as terrorist organizations in a way we haven't seen in my lifetime. The United States has significantly ramped up its military presence in the southern Caribbean. And now there are seven to eight warships, including a nuclear powered submarine on top of thousands of U. S. Military personnel. So what is this all about? I'm going to explain it to you. And why is Maduro terrified after we've upped the bounty on him as a narco terrorist?

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47 Morning Update and it starts right now.

Story number one, President Donald Trump made.

It very clear when he was running for president and backing it up now that if you are in the drug trade, he considers you a dangerous individual that is a member of a terrorist organization and he's not going to allow Americans to die at the hands of fentanyl and other drugs that have been pouring into this country. Now, lots of those drugs have been stopped because we have secured the border. But the president says that's not enough. And now we're seeing what is next on the president's agenda. The United States has significantly ramped up its military presence in the southern Caribbean. We are now learning this started in late August and now into September as the US Navy has deployed around seven to eight warships, including very large cruisers, amphibious assault vessels and at least one nuclear powered submarine. That's not all. More than 4,000 U.S. personnel, including about 2,200 Marines are now operating in the area. This buildup includes surveillance aircraft and even a US Spy plane. We're being told the stated objective is actually very clear, combat drug cartels. And the Trump administration has framed this deployment as part of a broader campaign against Latin American drug trafficking and criminal networks. Officials have labeled Venezuelan President Maduro as a narco trafficker, boosting the reward for his Capture now to 50 million and designating his alleged cartel of the Suns, a terrorist organization. Maduro's reaction has been fierce. He's armed and mobilized and defiant. President Maduro taking strong countermeasures, deploying troops along the coast and Colombia border. He's also called on citizens to join civilian militias and warned he would, quote, constitutionally declare republic in arms if the US Forces attack. Maduro and other Venezuelan officials are now accusing the US of using anti drug rhetoric as a pretext for regime change and gunboat diplomacy. Here's more about the move from FOX news.

[Rachel]

Well, the US Is deploying destroyers and thousands of Marines towards Venezuela as President Trump looks to crack down on cartels and the Maduro regime. They could reportedly reach the country's coast as soon as tomorrow. Here to discuss is dissident, project speaker and an immigrant from Venezuela, Jorge Galicia, along with Prager U political commentator and Venezuelan political refugee Franklin Camargo. So great to have you both on. I'm going to start with you, Jorge. What is the reaction of Venezuelans? I know you guys are in close contact with people who are living there right now. Over 70, 80% of the country voted for the opposition party against Maduro. How are they feeling in this moment knowing that these destroyers are coming so close to the Venezuelan coast?

[Jorge Galicia]

Well, first of all, Rachel, thank you for having me. Again, I think many people in Venezuela are extremely optimistic. They cannot really be loud about it because they're facing a terrible criminal regime.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Rachel]

I spoke to one of the opposition activists who was holed up in that embassy for over a year before she was rescued. And I asked her and she said it's a silent euphoria. And so while they're quietly celebrating what President Trump is doing right now in Venezuela and frankly for the whole Western hemisphere, Franklin, meanwhile, Venezuelans who are living abroad are putting out the most remarkable TikTok Instagram videos I've ever seen. You're seeing the destroyers coming into the ocean and the planes coming overhead and YMCA playing. And just the euphoria from the dissident community who's abroad is so palpable and thankful to the administration. Give us more context to that.

[Franklin Camargo]

Yes, the Venezuelan people recognizes that the Trump administration is probably one of the biggest allies that freedom fighters, Venezuelan freedom fighters have had over the last 25 years. Is someone who has recognized that Maduro is not just a threat to South America, it's not just a threat to Venezuelans, but it's also a threat to the American people. And I think this is the most important thing to mention right now. When we talk about Nicolas Maduro, when we talk about the Venezuelan regime, we're not just talking about a government that we dislike or a dictatorship, a soft dictatorship. We're talking about a narco state, a government that produced over 25% of the entire cocaine that is produced in the entire world. It's also a regime that sent Trendor Agua, the same criminal organization that killed, for example, Lakin Riley or that killed Jocelyn Nungaray. So there is a need for the American people, for the well being of the American people in the Western Hemisphere to have a regime change to a stop to stop these cartels. But Venezuelans recognize that Trump is an ally, that the US Government is probably the biggest hope that we currently have.

[Ben Ferguson]

Now, you hear the stats there, and it's very clear that not only is this, in essence, a failed state, it's a state where the people rose up against Maduro and he just clung to power anyway. And now we know that he is nothing but a narcotic terrorists. It is a terrorist organization that he's a part of. And his money is coming directly from the cocaine that he is delivering to the world. Yet Venezuela's president is now accusing United States of seeking regime change in his country. And the military deployment that has happened now, it was authorized by President Trump in a simple effort to disrupt drug cartel activity. It's part of the White House, as they described it, his broader border policy. Maduro said the buildup is an intervention in his, quote, countries affairs, saying this to the people. They are seeking regime change through military threat. And that's what he also wants the rest of the world to believe. Maduro added, quote, venezuela is confronting the biggest threat that it has ever seen on our continent in the last hundred years. And saying a situation like this has never been seen. Maduro said Venezuela won't bow to threats and that it was super prepared. Now the Trump administration is accused again Maduro of engaging in drug trafficking, going so far as to announce that $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest and his conviction. The $50 million, that is not a little amount of money when it comes to how much we're willing to pay as a nation. This is one of the biggest rewards we've ever had. Take a listen to this from Fox as well.

[Fox News Correspondent]

People have wanted to do this for years. President Trump putting war back in the war on drugs, designating eight drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

[Ben Ferguson]

It allows us to now target what they're operating and to use other elements of American power. Intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense, whatever, to target these groups. If we have an opportunity to do it, we have to start treating them as armed terrorist organizations, not simply drug dealing organizations.

[Fox News Correspondent]

That changes the battlefield. Cartel members become enemy combatants and allow the use of military assets. The question is how the Navy intercepting ships carrying narcotics, special operations targeting cartel leaders, or drone strikes on drug labs in Mexico.

[Ben Ferguson]

Mexico probably doesn't want that, but we.

[Fox News Correspondent]

Have to do what's right. Publicly, President Claudia Sheinbaum says Mexico will cooperate, but claims the US Plans no boots on the ground.

[Ben Ferguson]

It has Nothing to do with Mexican territory. It has to do with their country.

[Franklin Camargo]

It does not involve our territory.

[Fox News Correspondent]

Yet most cocaine goes through Mexico and it produces most of the fentanyl that killed more than 265,000Americans during President Biden's term.

[Ben Ferguson]

These are armed organizations that have their own militaries.

I absolutely believe that we need to take action.

It's what type of action are we going to take?

[Fox News Correspondent]

But just because you don't hear about an operation doesn't mean it didn't happen. Now, one of the named cartels is the Venezuelan gang Trende Aragua. Last week, the US slapped a $50 million bounty on President Nicolas Maduro, accusing him of using it to help traffic narcotics into the U.S. let's just stop.

[Ben Ferguson]

There for a second and also just recognize something that was said there. Under the Biden administration, more than a quarter million Americans died from fentanyl, an overdose from fentanyl. You think about that number and then you think about these cartels. They've engaged in historic violence and terror throughout our hemisphere and around the globe. They have destabilized the economies and internal security of countries while also flooding the United States with deadly drugs, violent criminals, and vicious gangs. That is what the chief Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, said during a news conference this week. He also said this. It requires a whole of government effort and through coordination with regional partners, the Department of Defense will undoubtedly play an important role in meeting the President's objective to eliminate the ability of these cartels to threat the territory, safety and the security of the United States and its people. As a matter of security and policy, we do not speculate on future operations. Now, what is very clear is the President saying, I'm not waiting around for nations to act. I'm going to act now because it's important that we protect and defend America's homeland and make sure that while he's present, another quarter million Americans don't lose their lives to fentanyl overdoses. And that doesn't count all of those that are killed by cartel members and the violent gangs that are in America as well.

Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. And for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow.

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