What A Day – "Trump Extracts Oil -- And The Venezuelan President"

Date: January 5, 2026
Host: Jane Coaston

Episode Overview

This episode dives deeply into the dramatic U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, and their immediate extradition to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges. Jane Coaston unpacks the legal, political, and international ramifications of the operation with insightful commentary and a detailed interview with Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, former NSC Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere. The conversation explores who’s now running Venezuela, what this means for U.S. foreign policy, and why oil—not democracy—may be the driving factor behind this unprecedented intervention.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The U.S. Capture of Nicolás Maduro

• Summary of Events:

  • Over the weekend, a U.S. military operation in Caracas resulted in the capture and transfer of Maduro and his wife to the U.S.
  • The operation was quick—under three hours—and resulted in significant casualties, including 80 Venezuelan troops and civilians.
  • Both are now in federal custody awaiting trial in the Southern District of New York.
  • [01:30] Marco Rubio (Secretary of State) justifies the action as a law enforcement effort against a "narco trafficker."

• Key Quote:

  "We arrested a narco trafficker who's now going to stand trial in the United States for the crimes he's committed against our people for 15 years."
  — Marco Rubio [01:30]

2. Unclear Post-Invasion Strategy / "Running Venezuela"

• Jane Coaston emphasizes the lack of a clear post-operation plan by the Trump administration.

• Rubio hints the U.S. will “run Venezuela… for the foreseeable future” [01:44].

• The Trump administration is supporting Delsey Rodriguez, a Maduro loyalist and Minister of Petroleum, over opposition figures.

• Key Quote:

  "They want the oil and the resources inside of the country, but this could go very much sideways… This is not regime change, it's autocrat change."
  — Juan Sebastian Gonzalez [05:42]

3. Interview with Juan Sebastian Gonzalez

(Former NSC Senior Director, Western Hemisphere) [03:39–13:56]

Operation Details & U.S. Motivations

• [03:47] Gonzalez describes the operation’s military precision and the surprise that such a deeply coup-proofed regime could be so swiftly toppled.

• Comparison: Closest precedent is Panama 1989 (Noriega), but U.S. is taking a lighter footprint approach, hoping to “own” Venezuela with minimum boots on the ground.

• The Trump administration’s pivot from “democratic project” to “strategic and economic takeover” is highlighted.

• Key Concern: Keeping Delsey Rodriguez in power keeps the oil flowing but undermines democratic transition and Venezuelan opposition.

• Key Quote:

  "They got Maduro, they can check the box, they aren't putting boots on the ground and now they got the oil. It seems like they've thrown the Venezuelan opposition completely under the bus."
  — Juan Sebastian Gonzalez [06:54]

Legal and Ethical Questions

• [08:14] There are bipartisan concerns regarding the operation’s legal basis.
• Gonzalez: “The authority the administration has used is a law enforcement authority to just go in and get their guy… But this was a military action where they should actually have gone to Congress for authorization.”

Scenarios for Venezuela's Future

• Managed Transition: U.S. pressure could force elections or transition; best-case scenario, but unlikely.

• Maduro "Lite": Rodriguez acts as figurehead, keeping old networks alive while reforms are “theater.”

• Violent Power Struggle: Potential for armed conflict, state collapse, and deeper U.S. military involvement.

• Key Quote:

  “If this goes horribly sideways, then Rubio goes under the bus. And so I think Trump is in a great position and Rubio, I think, has to be able to deliver.”
  — Juan Sebastian Gonzalez [11:54]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Irony of “America First” Overseas:

  “[Marjorie Taylor Greene] pointed out that it's hard to put America first if you're also running Venezuela.”
  — Jane Coaston [20:31]

• On the Real Motivations:

  “It's absolutely about oil.”
  — Juan Sebastian Gonzalez [08:14]

• On Congressional Oversight:

  "He's being asked to explain an imperial adventure… The job of a member of Congress is to approach the president, regardless of that president's party, with skepticism."
  — Rep. Jim Himes [18:50]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:03–02:36 — Opening rundown and summary of U.S. action in Venezuela
• 03:39–13:56 — Main interview with Juan Sebastian Gonzalez: Details of the operation, legal and political fallout, scenarios for Venezuela
• 17:03–21:57 — Headlines: Congressional reaction, Marjorie Taylor Greene's resignation, NYC Mayor Momdani's response
• 22:08–22:36 — Trump on the difficulties of international diplomacy and Ukraine updates
• 21:17–21:47; 20:55–21:17 — NYC’s new mayor on local impacts for Venezuelan New Yorkers

Congressional and Political Responses

• Democratic Leaders:

  • Condemn the lack of Congressional authorization and fear escalation.
  • Chuck Schumer and Jim Himes vocal about overreach and violation of international law.
  • Emphasize system of checks and balances.

• Republican Leaders:

  • Defend the action as in “American interests.”
  • Jim Jordan: “I trust Secretary Rubio. I trust President Trump… and frankly, I trust our military.” [18:06]
  • Divergent voices among GOP with Marjorie Taylor Greene criticizing the operation as more about oil than law enforcement or democracy.

Local and International Fallout

• NYC Mayor Zoramdani Momdani: Voices strong opposition, highlighting risks to the city’s large Venezuelan community and concerns over violation of international law.

  • Key Quote:

    "I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act and to make clear that it was an opposition based on being opposed to a pursuit of regime change, to the violation of federal international law."
    — Mayor Momdani [20:55]

• International Reactions:

  • President Zelenskyy of Ukraine signals conditional positivity, seeing the U.S. operation as a possible precedent for dealing with dictators. [22:20]

Conclusion and Takeaways

• U.S. action in Venezuela marks a dramatic, controversial shift—potentially prioritizing oil interests over democratic aspirations and setting shaky precedent for international law and U.S. military engagement.
• Bipartisan unease over legality and future strategy.
• Venezuela’s path remains uncertain, with scenarios ranging from a forced and hopeful transition to extended conflict and regional destabilization.
• Memorable episode for its candid, skeptical analysis of U.S. foreign policy, highlighting both the human cost and political calculus at play.