Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Venezuelan expert Quico Toro explains why he is baffled by the Trump admin's support of the Venezuelan VP, why this feels like a betrayal to so many Venezuelans, and what really matters to Washington right now.
After Maduro’s removal, many Venezuelans expected María Corina Machado to lead the country. Instead, the U.S. is signaling it’s willing to work with the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and Delcy Rodríguez - a regime insider steeped in Cuban-style communism.
Other topics discussed:
-Trump’s openly transactional foreign policy and focus on oil extraction over democracy
– Why oil concessions are the central leverage point for the U.S. in Venezuela
– The moral cost of prioritizing energy deals over political prisoners and human rights
– The risk of Venezuela becoming a long-term gray zone similar to Iraq between the Gulf Wars
– Cycles of U.S. engagement, coercion, disengagement, and limited military action
– How regime corruption intersects with Cuban interests and financial flows back to Havana
#Venezuela #WorldPolitics #USPolitics #Communism #Geopolitics
This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt
_______________________
Join the "Gist List" membership and get access to the Gist List Newsletter:
mikepesca.substack.com
Get a premium edition of the podcast and help support Mike's work:
subscribe.mikepesca.com
Follow us:
INSTAGRAM:
/ pescagist
TWITTER:
https://x.com/PescaGist
https://x.com/pescami
Visit Mike's website:
mikepesca.com
_______________________
CREDITS:
Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca
Producer:
Corey Wara
Venezuelan expert Quico Toro explains why he is baffled by the Trump admin's support of the Venezuelan VP, why this feels like a betrayal to so many Venezuelans, and what really matters to Washington right now.
After Maduro’s removal, many Venezuelans expected María Corina Machado to lead the country. Instead, the U.S. is signaling it’s willing to work with the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and Delcy Rodríguez - a regime insider steeped in Cuban-style communism.
Other topics discussed:
-Trump’s openly transactional foreign policy and focus on oil extraction over democracy
– Why oil concessions are the central leverage point for the U.S. in Venezuela
– The moral cost of prioritizing energy deals over political prisoners and human rights
– The risk of Venezuela becoming a long-term gray zone similar to Iraq between the Gulf Wars
– Cycles of U.S. engagement, coercion, disengagement, and limited military action
– How regime corruption intersects with Cuban interests and financial flows back to Havana
#Venezuela #WorldPolitics #USPolitics #Communism #Geopolitics
This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt
_______________________
Join the "Gist List" membership and get access to the Gist List Newsletter:
mikepesca.substack.com
Get a premium edition of the podcast and help support Mike's work:
subscribe.mikepesca.com
Follow us:
INSTAGRAM:
/ pescagist
TWITTER:
https://x.com/PescaGist
https://x.com/pescami
Visit Mike's website:
mikepesca.com
_______________________
CREDITS:
Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca
Producer:
Corey Wara
