TDS Time Machine | Venezuela - The Backstory

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition

TDS Time Machine | Venezuela - The Backstory

Date: January 10, 2026
Host: Jon Stewart, with Wyatt Cenac and guest Nicholas Kozlov

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Overview

This episode dives deep into the modern history and political turmoil of Venezuela, tracing its story from the era of Hugo Chavez through to the crisis-laden tenure of Nicolás Maduro. With The Daily Show’s signature blend of satire and sharp political analysis, Jon Stewart and the team unpack U.S.-Venezuela relations, media portrayals, realpolitik, and the surreal, chaotic reality on the ground. Special guest Nicholas Kozlov, a senior research fellow and author on Chavez and Venezuelan oil politics, provides critical context and commentary.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Hugo Chavez: The U.S. & A Paintbrush of Persona

[01:18–04:12]

• Stewart introduces Hugo Chavez as the "crazy anti-American strongman right in our own backyard," juxtaposing his bombastic threats against the U.S. with tongue-in-cheek references to pop culture.
• Chavez recently cut all ties to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, heightening tensions.
• Pat Robertson’s Controversy: The Christian Coalition founder openly suggests assassinating Chavez, prompting backlash and hilarity over media and evangelical responses.
  • Stewart ridicules the media’s defense tactics: dismissing message, messenger, or critical thinking altogether.

Jon Stewart [01:18]: "Chavez concluded his remarks with a stirring vision for his countrymen... socialism is the only path. And now in the true spirit of socialism, I will share with all of you one of my many pockets. Come take a pocket."

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Media Reactions & U.S. Hypocrisy

[04:12–07:51]

• Religious right and media play defense:
  • Strategies include segmenting Robertson’s comments as “pundit, not pastor,” dismissing his influence, or sidestepping the issue entirely.
  • Satirical commentary: The media uses Chavez as a caricature, overshadowing the deeper context of U.S.-Latin America relations.
• Observation: Americans tend to disdain or misunderstand the leaders they claim to democratize.

Jon Stewart [07:52]: "Why do we keep spreading democracy to places that resent our spreading of it? Don't they know we know what's best for them?"

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Chavez’s Rule: Populist, Paranoid, or Demagogue?

[11:53–17:54]

• Nicholas Kozlov joins for an extended interview:
  • Chavez as Performer:
    Chavez’s media-savvy persona distracts from the substance of his policies and Venezuela’s complex socio-political context.
  • U.S. Coup Involvement:
    Kozlov asserts the U.S. was, at minimum, aware of – and probably complicit in – Venezuela’s 2002 coup.
  • Regional Impact & Populism:
    Chavez’s brand of socialism and anti-U.S. sentiment has significant traction throughout Latin America.
  • Oil, Social Welfare & Long-Term Viability:
    Venezuela’s dependence on oil revenues empowers Chavez’s reforms, but Kozlov warns of the likely unraveling should prices drop.
  • Popularity vs. Demonization:
    Despite U.S. demonization, Chavez enjoys popularity domestically and regionally—far surpassing U.S. politicians’ polling numbers.

Nicholas Kozlov [12:09]: "He's a pretty larger than life, bombastic character. If you're in doubt, just see his videos where he yells at Bush in bad English: 'Mr. Bush, you are a donkey.'"

Kozlov [13:35]: "It's not as if Chavez doesn't have some reason for feeling paranoid about Bush... the U.S. definitely poses a threat to Venezuela."

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Authoritarian Moves & The Limits of Populism

[17:00–21:01]

• Discussion of Chavez’s constitutional reforms to remove term limits and closing down opposition media—moves seen as increasingly authoritarian.
• Kozlov acknowledges these are concerning, but stresses they do not justify U.S. intervention or media simplification.

Jon Stewart [14:09, on coups]: "Isn't South American politics a slightly more rambunctious animal?"

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Maduro’s Venezuela: Descent into Crisis

[24:25–29:41]

• Wyatt Cenac and Stewart transition to the Maduro era:
  • Venezuela faces extreme economic meltdown, food shortages, hyperinflation (10,000,000%), and violent protests.
  • Failed Coup Attempts & International Drama:
    • Juan Guaidó self-declares as interim president, with international backing—but the struggle grows farcical as Guaidó is physically blocked from parliament and attempts to scale the fence ("South American Ninja Warrior").
    • U.S. tactics: If the U.S. supports the new leader, "it's not a coup, it's just couple."

Wyatt Cenac [25:35]: "Venezuela... has recently descended into chaos and violence. Kind of like how Best Buy is usually a chill place, but then on Black Friday, someone gets murdered over a toaster."

Jon Stewart [26:36]: "Opposition leader Juan Guaido swore himself in as president, declaring that President Nicolas Maduro was unconstitutionally sworn in for a second term."

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The Mercenary Farce: Operation "Clown Show"

[30:37–31:27]

• Failed U.S. Mercenary Coup:
  • Two American ex-special forces operatives, now mercenaries, are caught after a botched coup attempt. Their Florida-based company even live-tweeted the operation.
• Stewart and Cenac mock the amateurishness and absurdity of the incident ("Tiger King" sequel, "live-tweeted their coup... and it only got six likes").

Wyatt Cenac [31:27]: "...the coup attempt only got like six likes. Ouch."

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Pat Robertson’s Direct Call for Assassination

  • "If US Forces get the crazy idea of coming to invade us, we'll make them bite the dust."
    – Jon Stewart quoting Chavez [01:18]

• Satire on American Media Coverage:

  • "Who in their right mind would even pay attention to this guy anymore? Pat, welcome back."
    – Jon Stewart on media double standards [06:27]

• Kozlov on Chavez’s Paranoia:

  • "It's not as if Chavez doesn't have some reason for feeling paranoid about Bush... I think that this is something that's lost in the mainstream media." – Nicholas Kozlov [13:35]

• On Guaidó’s Fence-Climbing Attempt:

  • "That would never happen in America... Can you imagine Mitch McConnell climbing a fence to try and get into Congress?"
    – Wyatt Cenac [29:37]

• On the Mercenary Coup:

  • "I don't know what's more embarrassing, the fact that they live-tweeted their coup or that the coup attempt only got like six likes."
    – Wyatt Cenac [31:27]

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Timestamps to Key Segments

• 01:18 – Chavez’s anti-U.S. rhetoric & U.S. policy
• 02:22 – Chavez cuts DEA ties, U.S. response
• 03:56 – Pat Robertson’s assassination comments
• 05:29 – Evangelical & Fox News reactions
• 07:51 – U.S. democracy promotion mocked
• 11:53 – Nicholas Kozlov interview starts: Chavez caricature vs. substance
• 13:35 – U.S. role in Venezuela’s coup
• 16:05 – Economics: oil, social programs & populism
• 17:00 – Social welfare and legitimacy of Chavez
• 24:25 – Venezuela in crisis under Maduro
• 26:43 – Guaidó swears himself in
• 28:41 – Live coup attempts, U.S. support of Guaidó
• 30:41 – Mercenary “clown show” coup attempt
• 31:27 – Satire on social media and failed coups

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Tone and Style

Irreverent, playful, and incisive, the episode balances expert context, biting satire, and headline recaps. The hosts mock U.S. myopia, highlight Latin American perspectives, and lampoon the spectacle of contemporary geopolitics—all while keeping Venezuela’s real struggles and stakes in view.

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Useful Takeaways for Listeners

• The history of Venezuela’s crisis is deeply entangled with U.S. policy, oversimplified media narratives, and the rise and fall of oil-fueled populism.
• Populist leaders like Chavez and Maduro wield spectacle and paranoia, but their appeal is rooted in tangible (if unsustainable) social programs.
• The line between farce and tragedy in Venezuelan politics—especially in recent years—illustrates the intersection of authoritarian ambition, foreign meddling, and mass discontent.
• Throughout, The Daily Show exposes the absurdities of both U.S. foreign policy and Venezuela’s leadership, using humor to underscore the deeper geopolitical and human stakes.

Transcript

[Jon Stewart]

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[Nicholas Kozlov]

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[Jon Stewart]

Right now, America's foreign policy largely focused in the Middle East. But did you know that there's a crazy anti American strongman right in our own backyard? Meet Hugo Chavez. Earlier this week, the Venezuelan president told a group of students, if US Forces get the crazy idea of coming to invade us, we'll make them bite the dust. That's Hugo Chavez preemptively attacking the United States with queen lyrics from 1980 you will bite the dust and I will take you to funky town. Chavez concluded his remarks with a stirring vision for his countrymen.

[Wyatt Cenac]

And so socialism is the only path. And now in the true spirit of socialism, I will share with all of you one of my many pockets. Come take a pocket.

[Jon Stewart]

Chavez has a lot of pockets. This week, Chavez cut all ties to the U.S. drug Enforcement Administration, seen here outside your house right now. A State Department spokesman responded forcefully to the move. Venezuela is going to end cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Agency on fighting drug trafficking. Those are certainly, those are certainly regrettable. And. As for reports that. Dude, were you ever the spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Agency on wee. We begin tonight with a continuing fallout from Monday's comments about Venezuela's Hugo Chavez by Christian Coalition founder and two time squint champion Pat Robertson. He thinks we're trying to assassinate him. I think we really ought to go ahead and do it. We have the ability to take him out and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong armed dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the COVID operatives do the.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Job and then get it over with.

[Jon Stewart]

Robertson added, and peace be with. This morning, Robertson took to the airwaves to clarify his patois. I didn't say assassination.

[Wyatt Cenac]

I said our Special Forces should, quote, take him out.

[Jon Stewart]

He didn't say assassination. He said Special Forces should take him out. Except I think that's not. Can we play the original again? If he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it. Well, to be fair, he did use it as a verb and not a noun, so I guess he's right. What was the reaction of Robertson's fellow evangelicals, the Traditional Values Coalition, the Family Research Council, and the Christian Coalition? All told the New York Times, they were too busy to comment, although all three groups have been frantically prepping protests for the new PlayStation 2 game Homo Abortion City, Sexy edition.

[Wyatt Cenac]

To write about the.

[Jon Stewart]

I hope Senator Lott knows what he's doing. Robertson's right wing allies in the media also found themselves in a tight spot. How to defend a man of God calling for the killing of another human being? Well, there were three ways. First, strategy, dismiss the message. I think you have to understand the context of it. You know, his program has one section.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Of it that's a Christian exhortation and.

[Jon Stewart]

In another section where he's a political pundit. See, what you don't understand is Robertson didn't make his comment during the time of day in which he's a Christian, by the way. Very understandable. Have you ever tried to actually live your life by what this guy says? I mean, after an hour or so, you need some me time now over on Fox News. Over on Fox News, a second strategy was dismiss the messenger.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Pat Robertson's day has long since passed.

[Jon Stewart]

I agree with Mort.

[Wyatt Cenac]

It really appears that his day has passed, that he's not a very influential player and there's a danger in giving him too much credibility here.

[Jon Stewart]

Well, look, I mean, he is ready.

[Wyatt Cenac]

For retirement and he's resurrected by the press because he's outrageous and because supposedly he speaks on behalf of a conservative America.

[Jon Stewart]

It's a liberal media snow job is what it is. Who in their right mind would even pay attention to this guy anymore? Pat, welcome back.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Reverend Robertson, welcome back.

[Jon Stewart]

Good to see you again. Yeah, good.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Good to see you. Can I talk about the double standard?

[Jon Stewart]

Hannity and Combs clearly behind the times. That was August 15th. So just a week but the third, and to my mind, the most interesting way of dealing with Pat Robertson's remarks dismiss critical thinking. Has controversial Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson finally gone too far? Or is he onto something? Late this afternoon, Pat Robertson issued a formal apology for his remarks. So far, Paula Zahn has not. How is democracy doing beyond our borders? That's the subject of tonight's Democracy on the crawl. In Nice. In Venezuela, where even their flag looks unhappy, democracy is doing great. Monday's presidential election went smoothly, and by a 2 million vote margin, the people have reelected leftist America hater Hugo Chavez.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Wow.

[Jon Stewart]

Why do we keep spreading democracy to places that resent our spreading of it? Don't they know we know what's best for them? Chavez's campaign blanketed the country in his signature red, also winning voters hearts, the chain of Hugo Chavez Lumber stores. That's Hugo Chavez lumber. Look for the giant Hugo Chavez. So socialism is spreading in South America, but not a problem, because in between us and them sits Mexico, a bulwark against socialism. Where the conservative candidate recently. Oh boy, that's not gonna. Oh, funny story. Back in July, conservative Mexican presidential candidate Felipe Calderon barely defeated leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who figured at least one of his names would win. Obrador. Well, last week, Calderon was finally due to get sworn in, causing leftists to riot outside Mexico's congress. But of course, inside, well, everything. Oh boy, that's. Well, that's not two political parties fighting, just a spirited game of who's got the gavel. As for Obrador, he's gone so far as to declare himself Mexico's legitimate president and has even set up a parallel government, sort of a bizarro Mexico, which Americans sneak into to not do the jobs Bizarro Mexicans want. Also, there in Bizarro Mexico, pinatas are made out of candy and kids break them open for the delicious paper mache. Inside, it's a weird place. Hugo Chavez. Hugo Chavez, a bit of a thorn in America's side. Pebble in our shoe, severed finger in our taco Grande, if you will. Well, on Sunday, the feisty Venezuelan president railed against pretty much everything having to do with America except High School Musical 2. He enjoyed it. He made that clear in a marathon six hour speech punctuated by an additional two hours of win, lose or draw South Pacific gum disease. One of Chavez's topics, a constitutional reform, abolishing presidential election term limits. El Jefe wants to be El Jefe for lifo. And the only way to do that is to silence your critics, which is why Another move Chavez is making is to shut down an entire Venezuelan television station that provides an alternative voice to his unique brand of politics. But that may prove risky.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Is there a risk here for Chavez that you know, that television channel, very important move by him to jerk it off the air.

[Jon Stewart]

If you don't mind me saying, that's certainly not something you want to do on the air. Apparently the people aren't the only thing this guy is strong arming. So anyway, is Chavez just a flake? Well, apparently he's going to be a well armed one. As it turns out, Chavez is going to buy $3 billion worth of arms in preparation for a possible guerrilla style war, quote, if the United States were to invade. If the United States were to invade. Why would America invade a country run by a dictator sitting atop billions and billions of untapped oil reserves? My guest tonight to tell us more about this Hugo Chavez, a senior research fellow for the Council on Hemispheric Affairs. His book Hugo Chavez, Oil Politics and the Challenge to the United States is now out in paperback. Please welcome Nicholas Kozlov. Nicholas, thank you for joining us.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Please.

[Jon Stewart]

Thank you for being here. Chavez, this is your book. Talk to me. Chavez, revolutionary, man of the people, crazy person, demagogue. What are we dealing with here?

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Well, I think he's a pretty larger than life, bombastic character. And if you're in any doubt about that, then you could just go into YouTube and just see some recent videos. For example, when he denounced Bush and he has this imitation, he goes in me mal English, in my bad English, Mr. Bush, you are a donkey. And he goes on and on about you are a coward. Come on here to Venezuela, I'm waiting for you.

[Jon Stewart]

So now why do the pro wrestling thing? Wouldn't his, you know, because if he is making poverty reforms in his country, doesn't he diminish himself and any positive that he does in Venezuela by acting the Hulk Hogan?

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Well, I think that Chavez definitely uses the media, but I think what's lost in this equation is that the media tends to pay a lot of attention to his Persona. And I think that's natural given that he's this larger than life character. But I think what's happened is that the media builds up these misconceptions. They basically play the tape of Chavez insulting Bush and people don't have any context to know, well, why would Chavez actually be making these comments? It seems like an utterly.

[Jon Stewart]

Why would he call our president a donkey? Give me the context. Well, imagine if he's carrying coffee up a mic mountain.

[Nicholas Kozlov]

I can't speak to that particular word choice, but what I would say is that it's not as if Chavez doesn't have some reason for feeling paranoid about Bush. And I think that this is something that's lost in the mainstream media. We're always told that Chavez is a threat to the US which in my view is totally unfounded. I think that the United States definitely poses a threat to Venezuela. There is abundant evidence that we at least knew that a coup d' etat was going to happen in April 2002, at the very least.

[Jon Stewart]

But in South America, isn't that. Isn't the coup a midterm? Isn't that. Isn't South American politics a slightly more rambunctious and powerful? And what are we to make of him changing the Constitution and trying to close down television stations?

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Well, I certainly. If he extends term limits, and that would definitely give me pause. But I think that whatever the internal politics of Venezuela might be, that in no way justifies U.S. intervention. And I think that there's a lot of evidence to support the claim that we didn't just collude in the coup in 2002, that we had some hand in maybe directing it. As you yourself pointed out on your show, Cheney is very secretive. He has that man's high, safe and is. And so I said, what?

[Jon Stewart]

You know, I don't watch this show. I think it's crass. What's his plan? What's he want? Is he trying to consolidate? Is this a. Does he see himself as sort of a Bolivar? Is he a guy that thinks, I will unite South America and.

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Well, indeed. You know, I just got back from a long trip through South America and I interviewed a lot of folks, and I think that the United States is confronting a very different political milieu, which is a lot more challenging for us. And I think to a great degree, that has to do with Chavez. And you go to places like Bolivia and elsewhere, and Chavez is regarded very favorably. So actually, well, populism is always.

[Jon Stewart]

I mean, this is a guy bringing some hope to indigenous peoples and things like that. But when the price of oil goes down, like, you know, similar thing happened in the 70s with South America. As soon as the price of oil goes down, is he suddenly. Then he's got to call Russia and go, I can only pay for two tanks. And you know, what happens then?

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Well, I think that's. I think that's the true litmus test of his progressive politics. As a result of the high price of oil, he's been able to push These ambitious social programs. But I think you're right. I think time will tell. But in the meantime, I think despite what the media says, Chavez has a lot of popularity in Venezuela and throughout the hemisphere. Unlike Bush, he's at 40% popularity or Congress at 17, 40% in South America.

[Jon Stewart]

He could be their president because here in America, he's only like 30, I think, or maybe even 10, I don't really know. Is he really. You know, the talk is now that he is thinking about arming himself, is this just playing to the base? He's a guy who's just, you know, I mean, typically you bring in Sean Penn, Harry Belafonte. How are you playing to the South American base there?

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Well, I think that, I think he's. He's not just appealed to Hollywood figures. I've spoken to a lot of people who have benefited from the social programs. According to opinion polls, he's got about 70% popularity. And this claim that he's a threat to wider South America is totally bogus. I spoke to people throughout.

[Jon Stewart]

Are they balanced out by Brazil? Is Brazil the big dog still?

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Yeah, I think that some Brazilians may not regard him with a lot of seriousness, but it's not like in the US where he's demonized and there's no possibility.

[Jon Stewart]

In the US we really don't. I mean, the idea that Chavez is demonized, I think he still appears to be a fringe. We don't know that much about South America. I certainly don't.

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Yeah. But I think that Americans might want to pay more attention. That's why I wrote the book. Because also I thought that.

[Jon Stewart]

That may be the best line I've ever heard on the show. That's kind of why I wrote the book. But it is a very interesting book. It's about Hugo Chavez and it's on the bookshelves now in paperback. Nicholas Kozlov, thank you so very much. This week in Demagogues. That is incredibly professional looking. We begin in Geneva, Switzerland, where the world's tiniest autocrat, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, or as we like to refer to him, Hummel Hitler, spoke at a UN conference whose aim was to stamp out intolerance worldwide, which should work as well as that time. Captain Ahab headlined the Save the Whales foundation dinner. Unfortunately, just as Ahmadinejad was about to launch into his famed. You know you're a hull of Holocaust denier if routine, the esteemed representative from Turkestan began to heckle. Illah rabbal ameen. He added, deet, deet dee dee dee dee Dee dee, dee, dee dee. You know, as bad as throwing a shoe is in the Muslim world, think of what throwing a clown shoe. Devastating. The European delegations also walked out on Ahmadinejad's speech, either in opposition to his predictable tirade or to see how the clown show would end in the hallway. Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad's comrade and lack of charms, Hugo Chavez, attended the Summit of the Americas, a gathering of Western Hemisphere leaders held in Trinidad. Hey, you know, I think Barack Obama is supposed to attend that. Well, I'm sure they'll take great pains to keep the two of those guys. No. Oh, no. A smiling handshake with Chavez on the heels of a bow to the Saudi King Obama. Add that to your Christmas card from last year. I mean, people are going to start to talk. Actually, the summit was a chance for Barack Obama to meet with such southern hemispheric luminaries as Nicaragua's Ortega, El Salvador's Antonio Saga, Ecuador's Rafael Correa, Brazil's Pele, and Chile's baby back ribs. Chili's national anthem always makes me so hungry. Obama's contact with Chavez was not all fun and games. Cameras picked up a more tense interaction where our president appears to be pressing a point with the Venezuelan leader that the translator is scared to relay. Mr. Obama, don't make me say that day. Fortunately, Daily show lip readers were able to decipher the conversation.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Hey, Holmes, it's great to meet you. Your last president was a real diablo grande. Hopefully our two countries can find some common ground with the stuff, and then the jello and the Theo and the kids will say the darndest thing.

[Jon Stewart]

Come back. That's it. Wyatt? Wyatt, is that you back there? Is that you doing the trick?

[Wyatt Cenac]

Yeah, I'm a lip reader. I learned it before regular reading.

[Jon Stewart]

Well, that's great, but Obama and Chavez, they don't sound like that, so.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Yeah, I know, but those are the only two voices I can do. But that is what they're saying.

[Jon Stewart]

All right, well, thank you, Wyatt. I appreciate it.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Okay. Thank you.

[Jon Stewart]

Wyatt, I'm Jon Stewart.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Hey, I found a third voice.

[Jon Stewart]

Wyatt Cenac. Perhaps the most awkward Chavez Obama interaction occurred when Obama sat down for a panel discussion, only to get bum rushed by Chavez with what I can only assume is a script his cousin wrote about a handsome yet charismatic South American leader named Mugo Maves. Actually, the book he handed him was Open veins of Latin 5 centuries of the Pillage of a Continent. It's an anti imperialist diatribe by left wing scholar Eduardo Galeano and You'll never guess who plays the imperialist pillagers. My favorite part of Chavez getting his Facebook moment with Obama, Hillary Clinton's reaction in the background. You gotta check it out. Look at her. She's laughing her ass off at this. She knows this ain't gonna play well and she thinks it's hilarious. I believe that's the former presidential rival version of ha ha. Honestly though, isn't the entire point of this summit to meet other leaders? It's not going to play that badly at home. It was like laughing, hugging. Obama plays kissy face with him, embracing him and fist bumping and making lovey dovey in the hotel. God knows what went on behind closed doors. Do you think they touched wieners? Because as everyone knows, they are hombres del fuego. I'm gonna call it. Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Fox News officially crosses the line from reporting to fan fiction. But more importantly than the pundits, what does one of America's most beloved political figures and diplomat extraordinaire think of this?

[Wyatt Cenac]

The position we took in the Bush administration was to ignore him.

[Jon Stewart]

I think that was the right thing to do. But you were always wrong. Why do we keep asking Cheney questions? Seriously, why do we keep asking Cheney questions about things? Hey, I want to catch the roadrunner. Wile E. Coyote. What do you think I should do?

[Wyatt Cenac]

Right now the nation of Venezuela is not having a good time. The country's bankrupt, there's food shortages, and something tells me everyone is not a fan of the President.

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Next to the alleged assassination attempt playing.

[Jon Stewart]

Out on live tv, the President of Venezuela speaking in a public square in.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Interrupted by a series of blasts.

[Jon Stewart]

His bodyguards jumping in to protect him, holding up shields. The President says it was an attack.

[Wyatt Cenac]

By drones armed with bombs. Okay, that is insane. Why are they trying to protect the President with yoga mats? Like, what is going on there? I knew that they were pretty left leaning down there, but that's next level. Quickly get into downward dog. Sir. Now, luckily for Maduro, he survived that attack. But I wouldn't be too secure if I were him because he's holding his military parade. But did you see how they reacted when the explosion goes off in necess. What the hell is that? Military? It's like left, right, left, right. Ah, left, right, left, right, left, right.

[Jon Stewart]

Left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right.

[Wyatt Cenac]

So it's still developing and this is really a weird story. I don't know what to make of it other than I like how Maduro wears a sash. It's like it's like he won Venezuela in a beauty pageant. I love it. Venezuela, Venezuela. Once South America's most affluent nation, it has recently descended into chaos and violence. Kind of like how Best Buy is usually a chilled place, but then on Black Friday, uh, someone gets murdered over a toaster. And that's not a joke, by the way. It's a true story. I'll miss you, Uncle Billy, but I told you that was my toaster. Anyway, Venezuelans have been taking to the streets to protest food shortages and a collapsing economy with 10 million percent inflation. The man responsible for all of this is Venezuela's authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro. The people tried to vote him out last year, but. But he rigged the election. And so now an opposition leader has stepped up to say basta. A violent power struggle playing out in Venezuela.

[Jon Stewart]

Opposition leader Juan Guaido swore himself in as president, declaring that President Nicolas Maduro was unconstitutionally sworn in for a second term.

[Wyatt Cenac]

On a stage in downtown Caracas, in front of a crowd of thousands, 35 year old Juan Guido raised his right.

[Jon Stewart]

Hand and administered his own oath of office.

[Wyatt Cenac]

I swear to formally assume the powers of the national executive as the president.

[Nicholas Kozlov]

In charge of Venezuela.

[Wyatt Cenac]

This is pretty historic. A 35 year old just swore himself in as the new president of Venezuela. Yeah. The world's first selfie inauguration. Very millennial. Very millennial. And, and not only do a ton of Venezuelans support Juan Guaido, he also has the support of major world leaders, including Trump, Merkel, Trudeau, Theresa May and Tony the Tiger. This is a big deal. And now moving on to another formerly prosperous country that is now falling into unrest, the United States. If you were planning a vacation to Venezuela this week, I hope you've got trip insurance. Breaking news out of Venezuela, where an attempted coup is underway. There, you heard that right. Opposition leader Juan Guaido calling for the military to oust the sitting president, Nicolas Maduro. In an early morning video, Guaido sang, quote, the moment is now calling for his supporters to take to the streets and many answering that call. That's right. As we speak, Venezuela is in the throes of an attempted coup. After five years of repression and economic crisis, the country has just finally reached a tipping point. Well, it's either that or everyone was just super inspired by watching Avengers and Game of Thrones in the same weekend. And they're like, we can do it. Although I say, I say it's a coup. But according to John Bolton, President Trump's national security advisor and janitor who ate his own mop, this is not A coup? No, the US Government says it's not a coup because the US Government recognizes Juan Guaido as the legitimate president. Yeah, so they say it's not a coup. And you gotta admit, America's pretty gangster about this.

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Yeah, yeah.

[Wyatt Cenac]

If it likes the people overthrowing the government, it's not a coup. It's just couple. All right, moving on from people who don't want to go back to work to one guy who really does. You may remember that Venezuela is a country in chaos right now. The economy has crashed, people can't afford food, and two men both claim to be the rightful leader, President Nicolas Maduro and the head of the Venezuelan Congress, Juan Guaido. And over the weekend, there was an awkward moment when Guaido showed up at the office and found that Maduro had changed the locks. There was chaos outside Venezuela's opposition controlled National Assembly. Security forces blocked opposition leader Juan Guaido from presiding over a special session of Congress to elect a leader. At one point yesterday, Guaido tried to climb a fence, but was prevented from entering. Guaido has been recognized as Venezuela's head by more than 50 nations, including the US opposition leaders blamed President Nicolas Maduro for the move to try and oust Guaido. God damn. What is going on in Venezuela? Like South American ninja warrior. What is that? Politicians are trying to climb over the fence just to vote. That would never happen in America. Can you imagine Mitch McConnell climbing a fence to try and get into Congress? Although he probably wouldn't climb. He would just try and ooze through the bars. He'd just be like, yeah, I'm. I'm mostly scared. Seriously. I'm very impressed by Guaido because there's no vote that would be important enough for me to try and jump a fence that had all of those sharp points on top of it. I'd be like, uh, is this a vote to replace my testicles for free? Uh, then no, I'm gonna wait outside. I bet there was one politician inside the building who was like, I wonder which way Guaido's gonna vote. Because right now he seems to be on the fence. Get it, get it.

[Jon Stewart]

Just me.

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Okay.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Some strange non corona news coming out of Venezuela this morning.

[Jon Stewart]

President Trump says the United States had.

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Nothing to do with an alleged coup on Venezuela.

[Jon Stewart]

This video that you're seeing shows two.

[Nicholas Kozlov]

American mercenaries who were arrested there on Monday. President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela claims that.

[Jon Stewart]

The men were sent to that country to assassinate him. Both are former U.S. special Forces soldiers with ties to a Florida based security company named Silver Corp. Silver Corp CEO.

[Nicholas Kozlov]

Admitted that he was leading a mission to infiltrate Venezuela and capture President Maduro.

[Wyatt Cenac]

What we've learned publicly thus far about.

[Jon Stewart]

This operation is it appears to be somewhat of a clown show and not of the caliber one would expect if it were a operation that had been arranged by our intelligence community.

[Wyatt Cenac]

Okay, I know this sounds like the sequel to Tiger King, but it's actually true. Here's what happened. As far as we know, American mercenaries, just a group of random guys who may have worked as security guards at Donald Trump rallies, put together a small team of people which they thought was going to be enough to take down the entire Venezuelan government. And one reason the operation didn't work out is that the security company, the security company tweeted about the operation while it was underway. And I don't know what's more embarrassing, the fact that they live tweeted their coup or that the coup attempt only got like six likes. Ouch. And you know, this whole story, this whole story just makes me wish that social media existed in the past because it probably would have stopped a lot of bad things from happening. Like Abraham Lincoln was, would have been like, honey, this John Wilkes Booth guy keeps tweeting me the gun emoji, skull emoji and the top hat emoji. I think we should just stay home and watch Netflix tonight. Oh, come now, Abraham. One night at the theater is not gonna kill you. Explore more shows from the Daily show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central. Ankha Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount. Plus, this has been a Comedy Central podcast.