What A Day — "The U.S. Takes Aim At Venezuela"

Host: Jane Coaston, Crooked Media
Guest: Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, former White House National Security Council senior director for the Western Hemisphere under President Joe Biden
Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the Trump administration’s escalating posture toward Venezuela, the potential for American military intervention, and the intertwined motivations of domestic politics and immigration control. Host Jane Coaston speaks with Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, an expert on Latin American affairs, to unpack the nuances behind recent US military moves, the talk of regime change, and the broader implications for US policy, Venezuelan stability, and the rights of Americans.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Military Escalation Around Venezuela

• Aircraft Carrier Deployment
  • The USS Gerald Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, entered the Caribbean, signaling a shift from symbolic presence to a credible threat of intervention.
  • “[The US] has enough to actually take Venezuela from my perspective.” (Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, 02:38)
• Ambiguity from Trump
  • Trump refuses to rule out deploying US troops in Venezuela:
    • “No, I don't rule out that. I don't rule out anything. We just have to take care of Venezuela. They dumped.” (Donald Trump, 01:00)
• Contradictory Positions
  • The administration is simultaneously suggesting willingness to negotiate with President Maduro while planning for possible regime change.

2. The Real Motives Behind U.S. Actions

• Migration as a Driver
  • Gonzalez argues much of the escalation is about justifying harsh migration policies using the Alien Enemies Act, rather than legitimate security threats.
    • "This entire deployment is just so that the administration can continue to use the Alien Enemies act to deport Venezuelans without due process." (Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, 03:52)
• Political Calculus
  • Hardline elements in South Florida’s Venezuelan exile community are pushing US intervention, amplified by Secretary of State Marco Rubio's political ambitions.
    • "Even though Marco Rubio is the Secretary of State, he's fundamentally still a South Florida politician... he's listening primarily to the diaspora community from South Florida that is very much pushing for the United States to get involved." (Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, 05:42)

3. Regime Change: Narratives and Risks

• Legal Justifications and the Cartel de los Soles
  • The Trump administration labels the Venezuelan government as a cartel for legal and political cover.
    • “Cartel de los Soles is a made up name that refers to elements of the Venezuelan government... They're being described as the largest cartel in the world. That's Sinaloa in Mexico.” (Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, 07:21)
  • This enables extrajudicial actions and may set precedents for dangerous legal logic both abroad and at home.
• Iraq Syndrome
  • Warnings that US intervention could lead to prolonged chaos, referencing the long US involvement in Iraq.
    • "You start seeing a situation, kind of a break it, you buy it situation where if they don't go in after removing Maduro, the country will descend into chaos." (Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, 10:53)
  • The hardline “with us or against us” mentality is eliminating serious debate.

4. Congressional and Legal Limits

• War Powers Resolution
  • Recent Senate attempts to require congressional approval failed after the administration claimed it lacked legal justification for land attacks—though this may be a temporary assurance.
    • "If this administration escalates... you may see that that resolution is revived." (Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, 08:50)
• Domestic Civil Liberties at Risk
  • Designating individuals or organizations as foreign terrorists could enable sweeping actions against Americans, including asset seizure or detention without due process.
    • “If you're designated as an enemy combatant, even if you're an American citizen and you're on U.S. soil, then you're fair game...” (Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, 09:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jane Coaston’s trademark skepticism:

  • “Fantastic. I love doing war for reasons I don't 100% understand.” (Jane Coaston, 03:11)

• Clarifying the real purpose of military moves:

  • “This is really, it looks, walks and talks like a regime change preparation from my perspective.” (Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, 07:21)

• Warning on the loss of debate:

  • “There is this mentality right now where if you're not for regime change, then you're a supporter of Maduro. Just like if you were against the Iraq invasion, you were a supporter of Saddam.” (Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, 10:53)

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |---------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:02 | Jane’s intro, Trump’s unclear stance on Venezuela | | 01:00 | Trump refuses to rule out US troops in Venezuela | | 02:26 | Interview with Juan Sebastian Gonzalez begins | | 02:38 | Details on the military buildup near Venezuela | | 03:52 | Motives: migration, negotiation ploys, regime change | | 05:42 | South Florida politics and Secretary Marcus Rubio’s role | | 07:21 | Cartel de los Soles designation and its implications | | 08:50 | Senate’s failed bid for War Powers Resolution | | 09:32 | Risk of domestic rights violations | | 10:53 | Historical warning: “break it, you buy it” Iraq parallel | | 11:58 | End of main interview |

Additional Headlines (Post-main Segment Highlights)

• Trump to Sell F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia (15:05)
• UN Security Council Approves International Force in Gaza
  • U.S.-led diplomatic win; plans for Palestinian statehood remain contentious (18:01)
• International Student Enrollment in U.S. Drops
  • Trump visa policies impacting universities financially (19:45)
• Trump’s Position on the Epstein Files
  • Calls to release files, blames Democrats, reframes issue away from himself (21:48)

Tone & Style

The episode features Jane’s blend of incisive questioning and wry humor, with expert but accessible analysis from Gonzalez. The tone is critical of the Trump administration’s foreign and domestic policy maneuvers, with consistent focus on real-world consequences for both US and Venezuelan people.

Conclusion

This episode dissects the Trump administration’s highly ambiguous, potentially dangerous approach to Venezuela. Through expert commentary, it reveals how migration politics, South Florida exiles, dubious legal justifications, and a lack of realistic planning are driving the US toward possible intervention, with echoes of recent American misadventures abroad. The conversation foregrounds the domestic civil liberties at risk and warns listeners of the cyclical nature of American regime change ambitions.

For listeners seeking a clear-eyed breakdown of America’s altercations with Venezuela and their entwinement with U.S. domestic politics—and who want more than hype or outrage—this episode delivers.