The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Special Episode: The Truth with Lisa Boothe—Maduro Arrested: What It Means for Venezuela, U.S. Foreign Policy, and Global Power Politics
Date: January 6, 2026
Guests: Daniel DiMartino (Venezuelan-American economist, Manhattan Institute fellow)
Host: Lisa Boothe

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the stunning arrest and extradition of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, exploring its significance for U.S. foreign policy, energy markets, and global power dynamics. Lisa Boothe welcomes Daniel DiMartino to delve into the impact on Venezuela’s future, repercussions for America’s adversaries (Russia, Iran, China), and what these developments mean for American interests and everyday listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Reaction to Maduro’s Arrest

• DiMartino’s initial response:
  • “It was so glorious, Lisa. It was, first, unbelievable because... you would have expected [this] for a long time and never thought would happen.” (01:24)
  • He keeps the New York Post cover as a souvenir and describes Trump’s role as “glorious, beautiful.”

2. Why the U.S. Involvement Matters

• U.S. Strategic Interests:
  • Lower gas prices, reduced drug trafficking, decreased illegal immigration, and prevention of foreign election interference (“these all sound like... important foreign policy goals that all come from the same source, which is the Maduro regime.” – DiMartino, 02:10).
  • DiMartino frames the operation as enforcing the rule of law and potentially facilitating Venezuela’s path back to democracy.
  • “If the Trump administration... can make Venezuela a free country... that will be the greatest foreign policy achievement since the end of the Cold War.” (02:10)

3. Reaction within Venezuela: Support, Risks, and Backlash

• Popular Sentiment:

  • “The Venezuelan population is thrilled... but... the military, not the regular soldiers, but everyone above them and the Cubans... they are all loyalists because they’re all drug traffickers.” (03:16)
  • Suggestion that only force, not diplomacy, motivates regime loyalists to relinquish power.

• On U.S. Role:

  • Pushback against accusations of imperialism: “Venezuelan people support this. We want the regime out, and we trust Donald Trump and Marco Rubio more than Nicolás Maduro. So give me a break.” (04:29)

4. Scenarios for Venezuela’s Political Future

• Optimism for Transitional Government:
  • Pre-arrest, DiMartino estimated a 95% likelihood of no change; now sees a 50%+ chance of peaceful, orderly transition by year’s end, while also warning of regime stalling tactics if Trump leaves office. (05:05)

5. Ripple Effects for Global Adversaries

• Strategic Setback for Russia, Iran, China, and Cuba:

  • Most casualties during the raid were Cubans, underscoring Cuba’s deep involvement.
  • New (interim) president Delsey Rodriguez immediately met with ambassadors from China, Russia, Iran—highlighting their central role.
  • “This should be our hemisphere. This should not be the Chinese, the Russian, and the Iranian hemisphere.” (06:43)
  • Predicts regime leaders will flee, receive amnesty, and that Venezuela’s pro-American opposition will step in.

• Impact on Russia:

  • “Russia was profiting from the illegal oil trade... It was an intelligence base. They were even building Iranian drones... If they lose control of Venezuela, America becomes much safer.” (08:00)

6. Implications for Oil, Energy, and Economy

• Restoration of Oil Exports:

  • U.S. Gulf Coast refineries are tailored for Venezuelan heavy oil; current lack of supply has hurt the U.S.
  • “If Venezuela could produce just at pre-Chavez, pre-socialism levels... that would mean three more million barrels of oil a day in output. It would mean every single American would pay less in gas.” (08:40)
  • Notes oil prices dropped after Maduro’s arrest, countering predictions of a spike.

• Opportunities for U.S. Business:

  • “The opportunities are really large... [for] restoring the oil industry... electric sector, water... cheap real estate opportunity...” (10:03)
  • Venezuela’s eventual recovery, driven by American investment, would exclude current adversaries: “...the Russians, the Chinese... are to blame for what happened to us, and we don’t want them ever again in our country.” (10:53)

7. Strategic Reasons for Targeting Venezuela

• Drugs, Oil, and Geopolitical Leverage:
  • DiMartino emphasizes Venezuela’s unique potential for change over Cuba or Nicaragua due to oil, active opposition movement, and less totalitarian governance.
  • “If Venezuela can become a free country, Cuba will be next and Nicaragua will be next... Venezuela actually may contribute both financially and militarily to overthrow the Cuban regime...” (12:15)

8. Stabilizing the Transition: Challenges & Recommendations

• Major Hurdles:

  • Getting regime remnants to actually relinquish power and organizing free elections.
  • Suggests amnesty and even organizing safe exile for regime leaders: “If what Venezuela needs to be orderly, a free country, is that, I’m very happy to give them all amnesty.” (12:56–13:49)

• Maintaining Pressure:

  • Recommends hardline tactics if negotiations stall or if regime attempts deceit: “...tighten [the screws]... perhaps we need to sink some oil tanks... and demonstrate to Delsey that we are serious and we have the guns. You don’t.” (14:30)

9. Internal Regime Tensions and Security

• Mutual Distrust and Possible Betrayal:
  • Speculates interim president Delsey Rodriguez may have betrayed Maduro:
    • “Maybe Delsey was the one who ratted Maduro out... in which case, she should be scared of other Maduro loyalists, including his own son...” (15:55)
  • Suggests Trump’s operation sowed fear and paranoia, undermining regime cohesion: “Trump probably succeeded at making the entire regime paranoid of each other... it’s kind of funny how genius Trump has been about this.” (15:55–16:35)

10. Global Signal: U.S. Power Reasserted

• Message to Adversaries:
  • The operation signals American capability and resolve, warning Russia, China, Iran: “Look what we can do. We can do this to you, too, if you try something.” (17:14)
  • Connects this action to broader deterrence (Taiwan, Ukraine, Iran’s nuclear program).

11. U.S. Domestic Political Response

• Democratic Opposition:
  • DiMartino critiques Democratic leaders for opposing the action, noting electoral risks and hypocrisy given prior offers for Maduro’s capture under Biden.
  • “...the optics are very bad electorally for them... they're looking like they're standing against the poor Venezuelan immigrants...” (18:31)
  • Argues Trump took responsible action: “Trump could have killed Maduro, and instead he chose to bring him to justice.” (19:17)
  • Foresees potential for U.S. investigations to uncover corrupt foreign officials complicit in Maduro’s regime.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On U.S. Interests:
  “In US Interest is lower gas prices... reducing drug trafficking... reducing illegal immigration... reducing the rigging of elections in foreign countries... all come from the same source, which is the Maduro regime.” — Daniel DiMartino (02:10)

• On International Impact:
  “This should not be the Chinese, the Russian, and the Iranian hemisphere... from which they can plan attacks, finance terror.” — DiMartino (06:43)

• On Energy Markets:
  “Oil prices went down because the market expects higher oil production from Venezuela once it becomes a free country.” — DiMartino (09:05)

• On Regime Survival:
  “Trump probably succeeded at making the entire regime paranoid of each other... it’s kind of funny how genius Trump has been about this.” — DiMartino (15:55–16:35)

• On Strategic Deterrence:
  “What Trump is doing here... is sending a signal to China and Russia and Iran. Look what we can do.” — DiMartino (17:14)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:24 – DiMartino’s personal reaction to Maduro’s arrest
• 02:10 – Why U.S. intervention aligns with American interests
• 03:16 – Discussion of possible backlash, military loyalists
• 05:05 – Scenarios for Venezuela’s transition
• 06:10 – Effects on international adversaries (Cuba, Russia, Iran, China)
• 08:00 – Impact on Russian interests
• 08:40 – Oil, energy markets, and U.S. economic interests
• 10:03 – Opportunities for American business and Venezuelan recovery
• 12:15 – Why Venezuela’s fate could trigger regional change (Cuba, Nicaragua)
• 12:56 – Challenges for real transition, need for amnesty
• 14:30 – Need to maintain pressure and avoid regime stalling
• 15:55 – Internal regime mistrust, possible betrayal
• 17:14 – U.S. strategic messaging to global adversaries
• 18:31 – Democratic opposition and potential fallout

Conclusion

Lisa Boothe and Daniel DiMartino break down the momentous impact of Nicolás Maduro’s arrest on Venezuela’s democratic prospects, American energy and security interests, and the strategic position of rival world powers. The conversation blends firsthand insight, foreign policy analysis, and skeptical takes on domestic U.S. political reactions—conveying the magnitude of this global event in accessible, engaging fashion.