Trump’s Venezuelan oil grift
Summary
Vox’s Anne Applebaum explains that the U.S. is prioritizing opaque oil deals with Venezuela’s de facto leader, Delcy Rodriguez, over democratic transition. She details how the administration sidelined opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and partnered with a corrupt crony for a major oil agreement, creating a "coalition of two kleptocracies." Applebaum argues this approach has disillusioned Venezuelans, who now view the U.S. as an exploitative force rather than a partner in restoring rule of law and legitimate governance.
Topics discussed
Intro: Rahm Emanuel's call for investigations
Preview: Venezuela's democracy and oil grift
Sponsors: Anthropic and ServiceNow
Show Introduction
Interview: US policy and Delcy Rodriguez
Machado's return and public disillusionment
Machado's arrival and US foot-dragging
Machado's role in galvanizing change
Who is in charge? Opacity and legitimacy
Other potential leaders and the need for elections
Sponsors: Anthropic, Indeed, and Walmart
The Oil Grift: Where the money goes
The Pentagon deal and Alejandro Betancourt
Public anger and questions about the deal
Why legitimate government matters for investment
Coalition of kleptocracies and Venezuelan agency
Credits and final sponsor: La Bola Negra
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