The Truth with Lisa Boothe: Maduro Arrested: What It Means for Venezuela, U.S. Foreign Policy, and Global Power Politics

Summary

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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

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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.

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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.”

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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).

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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.

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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)

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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

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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.

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Transcript

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast, Guaranteed Human. Welcome to the Truth with Lisa Booth, where we get to the heart of the issues that matter to you. Today. We're talking about the stunning turn of events. US Forces capturing Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro, bringing him to the United States, to New York to face narco terrorism charges. We're going to have Daniel D. Martino on the show. We've had him on previously. He was very interesting. He, he's a Venezuelan American economist and a fellow at the Manhattan Institute. So we're going to talk about what this means for the United States, its impact on oil, on energy, and also the impact and the blow it will have to our adversaries like Russia, Iran and China. So we're going to dig it into all of it. What do you need to know? Why should you care? Why does this matter to you? Stay tuned for Daniel DiMartino, Foreign. It's great to have you back on the show. You were so interesting last time. So when I saw the news of Maduro's arrest, wanted to have you back on. So appreciate you making the time. I know you're busy right now. I see you making the rounds in the media. So appreciate you for making the time for us.

[B]

Of course, this is a very important moment.

[A]

You know, as someone who has fled Venezuela, what was it like to see the news that Maduro had been arrested?

[B]

Honestly, it was so glorious, Lisa. It was first unbelievable because it is something that you would have expected for a long time and never thought would happen. I have the COVID of the New York Post from yesterday that I'm keeping as a, as a souvenir that says captured. And the picture that Trump posted of Maduro with a water bottle ice covered and that is really amazing because this is such an evil man that Trump just got him to come him to bring him to justice. That is such a glorious, beautiful thing and I'm so grateful to the president for it.

[A]

You know, if people say, wonder if this is in the United States interests, you know, should we be meddling in Venezuela, what would you say to that?

[B]

Well, what I would say is the most important thing here is what's in the United States interest and what is in the United States interest is lower gas prices. In US Interest is reducing drug trafficking. In US Interest is reducing illegal immigration. In US Interest is reducing the rigging of elections in foreign countries by the Maduro regime, by China, by Russia and US Interests. These all sound like very good and important foreign policy goals that all come from the same source, which is the Maduro regime. And if the Trump administration not only bring to justice Maduro, which is a good thing on its own for implementing the rule of law, but can make Venezuela a free country again by this intervention that's very targeted, then that will be the greatest foreign policy achievement since the end of the Cold War, and it will be Trump who did it.

[A]

Do you think there will be potential backlash in Venezuela? You know, does he have supporters? What does that look like in Venezuela? And does he still have, you know, loyalist factions within the Venezuela military? Or how do you see that sort of playing out?

[B]

So backlash in a popular support way? Absolutely not. The Venezuelan population is thrilled. And, you know, if they, you know, I know people joke about giving the position of every position to Marco Rubio and making him governor of Venezuela or something, but if they put Marco Rubio on the ballot, Marco Rubio would win the election in a landslide. That's the truth. He has very high name recognition. I will say, same as Donald Trump. And so the support among the population is very high. But it is true that the military, not the regular soldiers, but every person above them and the Cubans that are embedded in it, they are all loyalists because they're all drug traffickers. And the only way to get them to leave was through force. They thought Trump was bluffing with his threats. They thought he was only gonna station this aircraft carrier and these boats and these airplanes, all to intimidate them to leave. And now they learned this weekend that Trump was not playing, that he was for real, that Maduro is the first step, and that he already threatened them with a second, more powerful attack in case they don't leave and they don't do what's right. This is not gonna be. Because it would be in vain. And Trump said, this is not gonna be in vain. They're gonna have another thug take over the country. In his press conference yesterday, that what's gonna happen here is the US Is gonna be in charge of the transition. That really help, you know, made me feel very good, because we actually do need the US in charge. People are saying, oh, that's imperialism. Whatever. Look, the Venezuelan people support this. We want the regime out, and we trust Donald Trump and Marco Rubio more than Nicolas Maduro. So give me a break.

[A]

So what do you see then, the path forward for the future of Venezuelan government? You know, kind of. How do you. How do you see this playing out?

[B]

Well, I see two scenarios now. Before this strike, to be honest, I thought nothing was going to happen. I thought that was the 95% likelihood. I didn't think the strike was coming in part because I would rather be conservative in my expectations and be pleasantly surprised like it happened this weekend and not be disappointed. You know, after 27 years of regime, I have to emotionally protect my brain. And so now I see it as over 50% chance there's a peaceful and orderly transition in the next year, like before this year ends. And the rest of the possibility is that the Maduro regime, the remnants, they dupe the Trump administration into lengthening the transition so much that Trump is out of office, and then they stay in power forever. That's the downside risk.

[A]

You just sort of walk us through how the loss of Maduro as an ally weakens sort of the strategic positions of Russia, Iran, and China against Western powers. You know, could this lead to shifts in international alliances or proxy conflicts elsewhere? How do you see all that playing out?

[B]

Yes, so this is important. You know, the. The majority of the casualties from this capture that happened this weekend were Cubans. They were not Venezuelan, interestingly. Right. That's because those are the people running the security and intelligence apparatus. What? There are Iranians, too, that collaborate with terror groups. There are the Russians, there are the Chinese. You know, Delsey Rodriguez, the vice president, she just got SW in in all these fake ceremonies because all the positions are fake in Venezuela. They're just a gang. Right. But she got sworn in as president. And guess who she shook hands first with this morning? She shook hands with the ambassador of China, the ambassador of Russia, and the ambassador of Iran. Those were the three people. It is not a coincidence. Those are the people who finance them. This is part of why this is in US Interest to support this transition away, because this should be our hemisphere. This should not be the Chinese, the Russian, and the Iranian hemisphere from which they can plan attacks, finance terror. And so how I see the transition happening is Trump has threatened this. They're gonna have a few months to organize new elections or give power away, and then they're gonna leave with all the money they stole without being persecuted. Everybody you know, Delsey, Jorge Yoastado, Vladimir Padrino, all the key figures in the regime, and they're gonna go to another country. Then there's gonna be an amnesty for everybody inside the country left. And then Venezuela will gradually return to becoming a normal country with private investment. This is part of why Machado is so good. Right? She might not have the support of the military yet, but she's the only pro American leader in Venezuela.

[A]

What does this mean for Russia, who's been a key ally to Maduro through military aid and debt restructuring.

[B]

Well, what it means for Russia is that Russia was profiting from the illegal oil trade, same as Iran and China. And if Venezuela stopped supplying oil to China in Iranian and Russian ships, this is a big economic blow for them. It's an intelligence blow. Do you think they had Venezuela here just for oil? No, it was an intelligence base. They were even building Iranian drones. That's their goal. Right. And so if they lose control of Venezuela, America becomes much safer.

[A]

Talk about how this affects Venezuelan oil production and exports. And what does that mean for the United States? Energy prices and reliance on opec?

[B]

Yes. So Venezuela, and this is important to note, was one of the major oil producers of the world, was one of the main sources of oil for the United States. The refineries in the Gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana were designed to refine Venezuelan heavy oil, which is the heavy oil that we are not producing anymore, by the way. We produce very light oil. The Middle east produces light oil. Only Canada essentially produces heavy oil. And so this is a very good source to diversify our oil production from. And if Venezuela could produce just at pre Chavez, pre socialism levels of oil, that would mean three more million barrels of oil a day in output. It would mean every single American would pay less in gas. Look, all the people who criticized the President and warned against this intervention, including people like Tucker Carlson, were saying oil prices are going to shut up if we do any kind of thing in Venezuela. Guess what happened this morning when oil markets opened and after the intervention, oil prices went down because the market expects higher oil production from Venezuela once it becomes a free country. It's barely producing any oil and the sanctions will be lifted so we could import more of it. So this is very good for our energy prospects.

[A]

What sort of economic opportunities do you think would open for American companies in Venezuela and what does that mean for both Americans and Venezuelans?

[B]

Yes. So the opportunities are really large. I've read some estimates that the investment required to restore the oil industry in Venezuela is about 10 billion a year for the next several years. But Venezuela also needs investment in electric sector water. You know, there's a lot of real estate investment opportunity that if you are somebody who's betting on, on Venezuela recovering. There's a whole lot of cheap real estate right now in Caracas and the rest of the country. There's very cheap beach houses. Let me tell you, you know, you can buy, I'm not joking. You can buy a beach apartment for less than $10,000, a beachfront apartment. So all of that means that a lot of money is going to flow into Venezuela, and that's going to be very good for the Venezuelan population, is going to create jobs, raise tax revenue and things that the Venezuelan people desperately need, and it's gonna be a lot of profits to Americans. Because, believe me, when Venezuela is a free country, the Russians, the Chinese and all those evil regimes, they're gonna be shut out of Venezuela. Why? Because they're to blame for what happened to us. And we don't want them ever again in our country.

[A]

Quick break. Stay with us. If you like what you're hearing, please share to social media or send it to your family and friends. How much of President Trump going after Maduro, how much was it about the drugs versus, you know, oil? And obviously the strategic advantage of trying to push out Russia, Iran and China from the Western Hemisphere.

[B]

So I, I think that what happened in Venezuela and the reason this was done in Venezuela, now, Venezuela was picked over, say Cuba, is a confluence of reasons. We mentioned the drug trafficking. That's key. But what's also key is the oil. You mentioned that. True. Venezuela has oil, Cuba doesn't. Venezuela is also, you know, an ally of Russia, of China, same, similar as Cuba. But then Venezuela also is easier to become a free country than Cuba. Venezuela has an active opposition movement that won an election, has a longer history of democracy that's much more recent and is less totalitarian than Cuba or Nicaragua. And because it's also the cash cow for those regimes. If Venezuela can become a free country, Cuba will be next and Nicaragua will be next. Not because Trump is going to extract the Cuban leader, but because Venezuela actually may contribute both financially and militarily to overthrow the Cuban regime once it becomes a free country. This is something that the opposition leader has said, by the way, Maria Corina Machado herself, that after Venezuela is free, she's going to ensure that the free Venezuela helps liberate Cuba.

[A]

Challenging is the path forward for the Trump administration and Venezuela to sort of keep things stabilized.

[B]

Yeah, so the. Look, there's. There's going to be a lot of, obviously, incidents and death, but that's already happening. And the media is going to exaggerate a lot of the things that happen if this is successful. But right now, the regime is still in power, and the biggest challenge ahead is getting them to give up. It's getting them. Yes, we're gonna organize free elections and we're gonna give up and we're gonna go live in a different country. One challenge, I'm not sure how challenging this is. For the admin, I don't have privileged information but you know, has another country guaranteed them freedom? Do they have a place to go that's important? We need to give them a place to go. Obviously I would prefer to have them all arrested or eradicated. But if what Venezuela needs to be orderly, a free country, is that I'm very happy to give them all amnesty. That's step number one. Step number two is do they believe their life is threatened if they don't leave? I think that after what happened this weekend they do. And if they don't, then the President needs to remind them. Number one, the CIA is still in Venezuela. How do you think they found where Maduro lived? How do you think they did all of this? They have people underground the United States right now. And I think that Del C and the other leaders should be afraid and if they are, they will comply.

[A]

Well, when he's threatened Delsey Rodriguez, do you think she'll heed those warnings? I mean she, right now it at least appears as if she wants to cooperate with the United States. But can that be trusted?

[B]

Yeah, that's what she's saying. I'll tell you that's not what she's telling Venezuelans inside the country. You might say, well, she's just putting on a show for strength. But the show is for who because it's not like the Venezuelan people like her. So she doesn't have to put in a show for us. We all hate her, we don't believe her anyway. So I fear that they are just double faced and they're trying to persuade some people in Trump administration to let them lengthen the transition to live longer. And if that's what's happening, I think the Trump administration needs to harden the screws on them, tighten them. And one of the ways to do that would be we are going to do another strike or we're gonna do some sort of CIA covert operation inside the country. There are some oil tanks that are trying to escape. We need to capture them all. And if they escape, perhaps we need to sink some oil tanks. And that's the situation that needs to happen and demonstrate to Delsey that we are serious and we have the guns. You don't.

[A]

I mean, should Delsey be concerned about internal opposition to her? I mean I found it really interesting as you pointed out what we've seen reported that Cuba says 32% of its combatants were killed in the US raid protecting Maduro. I mean to me that would signal that he doesn't trust Venezuelans to protect Him.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

For Delsey, then.

[B]

Oh, the question is, maybe Delsey was the one who ratted Maduro out. Right. But in which case, if that's the case, then she should be scared of other Maduro loyalists, including his own son, who's still in Venezuela. And he's a powerful person, you know, and there might be some internal regime strife. So Trump probably succeeded at making the entire regime paranoid of each other on seeing who is the liar. Right. And that is a very good thing. I mean, in a way, it's genius. Right. I mean, it's kind of funny how genius Trump has been about this. And Marco Rubio knows this very, very well because he has been studying this issue. He knows Del C. He knows Maduro for more than two decades. Right. So we have very smart people in power, and I think Americans should know that, that this is not being improvised.

[A]

Well, and then also, you just look at how strategic the United States.

[B]

Was.

[A]

And how precise in taking out Maduro, and, you know, what message that sends to, you know, some of these other leaders to really watch their backs. You know, the United States is not messing around, and we are still extremely powerful and the leading superpower as well.

[B]

That's exactly right. This is. And what Trump is doing here is part of. It's not only gonna be helpful for the US because of energy, because of crime, because of immigration, because of the region. It's also sending a signal to China and Russia and Iran. Look what we can do. We can do this to you, too, if you try something. Right. You know, what if China invades Taiwan? Look what we can do here. What if Russia keeps playing games in Ukraine and not come to a peace agreement like Trump is pushing for? Right. This is a big intimidation tactic against Putin, the same as in Iran. Right. What if they try to build a new nuclear weapon? They already bombed their sites. Trump is showing how to use American strength without a cost to America.

[A]

You know, and then before we go, have you been surprised to see the opposition from Democrat leaders in the country? I mean, it was the Biden administration who had previously offered 25 million for information leading to the arrest of Nicholas Maduro as well, after, you know, he. You know, the fake election in Venezuela. But have you been surprised to see the left's opposition, particularly when so many of them have previously supported ousting Maduro?

[B]

Yeah. You know, on one part of me is not surprised because they're just going to oppose everything Trump does. But the part of me that is surprised is that the optics are very bad electorally for them. Nobody has been negatively affected by the action that took place in the weekend, only positively affected. Unless that person is Maduro and you are like cahoots with him. Right? And that's what they're looking like. They're looking like they're standing against the poor Venezuelan immigrants and in favor. You know, they're saying it's illegal and all this. But give me a break. Obama bombed Libya, Right. And he actually let ISIS take over. We are doing something with the consent of the local population that its diaspora supports. We're arresting somebody who's rightfully indicted in US Court. Like Trump could have killed Maduro, and instead he chose to bring him to justice. And the United States has a great opportunity to dismantle not just the criminal networks that are happening, but all the corruption, all the people who collaborated financially with the Maduro regime in our countries. I think a lot of foreign leaders, Colombia's president, the Spanish government, people in the Middle East. They are right now very, very afraid of what the United States may find out. And I think that's a great thing. And I'm very grateful for what Trump did.

[A]

Interesting. That's a Good point. Daniel DeMartino, appreciate you bringing your expertise to the show. I know it's a great day for you and, well, I mean, for America, but for many Venezuelans as well. So thank you so much for coming on the show.

[B]

Thanks, Lisa.

[A]

That was Daniel DiMartino. Appreciate him for coming on the show. Appreciate you guys at home for listening every Tuesday and Thursday, but you can listen throughout the week. Also want to thank my producer, John Cassiar, for putting the show together. Until next time.

[B]

This is an I Heart podcast.

[A]

Guaranteed human.