This is why Trump's crazy Venezuela plan will fail - and blow back on the US

This is why Trump's crazy Venezuela plan will fail - and blow back on the US

Author: Ben Norton January 12, 2026 Duration: 56:57
Donald Trump claims he will "run" Venezuela, after he bombed it and abducted President Nicolás Maduro. However, his plan makes no sense -- and will likely blow back on the USA. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez is still independent, and not cutting off China. US sanctions devastated Venezuela's oil infrastructure, and its heavy crude is expensive to produce -- and US companies do not see it as profitable enough, amid a global supply glut. Ben Norton explains. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbpdfPK8jVE Topics 0:00 US attack on Venezuela 0:49 (CLIP) Trump: USA will "run the country" 1:31 Two main US demands for Venezuela 2:20 Chavista government is intact 3:21 Oil corporations are skeptical 4:57 Trump's oil deal with Venezuela 7:44 US oil industry benefits rich elites 8:27 China, Russia, Iran, Cuba ties 10:08 USA wants heavy crude 10:46 Economic war 11:53 Marco Rubio targets Cuba 12:24 China and Venezuelan oil 13:02 Pete Hegseth threatens China & Russia 13:44 US seizes Russian-flagged tanker 14:16 Trump wants $1.5 trillion military budget 14:58 Trump bombed 7 countries in 2025 15:20 China's oil imports by country 17:43 Imperialist Monroe/Donroe Doctrine 18:21 Desperation of declining US empire 19:12 International law & UN Charter 20:19 China: South America's top trading partner 21:17 Forcing Venezuela to buy US products 22:07 Latin America exports 23:56 US is trade competitor with Latin America 25:24 US National Security Strategy 26:03 Pressure to cut ties with China 27:30 Geopolitics vs trade 28:45 USA threatens Venezuelan officials 30:30 Opposition leader María Corina Machado 32:56 Acting President Delcy Rodríguez 35:03 Delcy Rodríguez reaffirms China support 36:02 Trump will not have a US colony 37:40 Chevron deal in Venezuela 40:38 Sanctions exemptions in oil sector 41:53 US sanctions devastated oil industry 44:02 US purchases of Venezuelan oil 45:14 US imports heavy crude 46:25 US oil refineries want heavy crude 47:50 Oil companies say it's "uninvestable" 48:37 Oil deal possible, but not colonialism 49:42 High cost of Venezuelan crude 52:34 Global oil supply glut 53:34 US oil companies want gov't benefits 54:13 Destructive US interventions 56:47 Outro

Trying to make sense of international headlines often feels like seeing only the ripples on the water's surface, without understanding the powerful currents moving beneath. Geopolitical Economy Report, hosted by journalist Ben Norton, dives into those deeper forces. This isn't just a recap of the day's events; it's a dedicated exploration of how economic systems, historical context, and raw power politics fundamentally shape global conflicts and alliances. Each episode builds on the work of the independent news outlet of the same name, translating its original journalism and analysis into a compelling audio format. You'll hear detailed discussions that connect financial policies to social movements, or trace the historical roots of a modern trade war, always with an eye toward understanding the larger, changing structure of the world. For anyone tired of superficial news cycles and seeking a more substantive, connected perspective on why nations and institutions act the way they do, this podcast offers a crucial and clarifying lens. Tune in for a regular dose of context that the mainstream frequently overlooks.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Geopolitical Economy Report
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