Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Ricardo Vaz of Venezuelanalysis joins Steve Grumbine on Macro N Cheese for a deep dive into the Bolivarian Revolution from an insider's perspective, covering its history, achievements, struggles, and the current U.S.-led imperial assault.
Steve opens with a somber tone, overwhelmed by current events and the recent U.S. military attack and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro. The episode aims to move beyond headlines, providing historical context for Venezuela's socialist project. Vaz details the revolution's origins under Hugo Chávez, its ambitious goals of "protagonistic and participatory democracy" through communal councils and communes, and its tangible gains in poverty reduction, healthcare, and education. The conversation then explores the constant external pressure from the U.S.—from the 2002 coup to devastating economic sanctions—and how these forces, combined with internal contradictions and an over-reliance on oil, have shaped Venezuela's current crisis. The discussion dismantles mainstream narratives, framing the U.S. intervention not as a liberation but as a naked resource grab for oil corporations like ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips.
Chapters
00:00 Ep 363 - Ricardo Vaz
00:45 Introduction
02:32 Guest Introduction - Ricardo Vaz
04:17 Historical Context - The Bolivarian Revolution
08:23 Hugo Chavez and the 2002 Coup
09:51 Social Programs and Poverty Reduction
15:29 Communal Councils and Participatory Democracy
17:04 The Communes - Venezuela's Path to Socialism
18:49 Chavez's Vision and Historical Influences
24:13 Counter-Revolutionary Forces and Class Struggle
28:34 International Solidarity and Oil Politics
38:34 Oil Nationalization and US Corporate Interests
45:05 Maduro's Presidency and Economic Crisis
47:47 US Sanctions and Their Impact
50:57 Maria Corina Machado and US Intervention
54:32 Delcy Rodriguez - Acting President
01:02:14 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
Weaponize Knowledge with Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)
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We believe all materials used in this video fall under Fair Use as defined in Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976.
#mmt
Weaponize Knowledge with Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)
Please help our Real Progressives efforts in spreading and become a monthly donor!
At PayPal
paypal.me/RealProgressives/25
At Patreon
patreon.com/realprogressives
Write for Real Progressives
realprogressives.org/submit-an-article
Visit our website:
realprogressives.org
Listen to our podcast:
realprogressives.org/macro-n-cheese-podcast
We believe all materials used in this video fall under Fair Use as defined in Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976.
Ricardo Vaz of Venezuelanalysis joins Steve Grumbine on Macro N Cheese for a deep dive into the Bolivarian Revolution from an insider's perspective, covering its history, achievements, struggles, and the current U.S.-led imperial assault.
Steve opens with a somber tone, overwhelmed by current events and the recent U.S. military attack and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro. The episode aims to move beyond headlines, providing historical context for Venezuela's socialist project. Vaz details the revolution's origins under Hugo Chávez, its ambitious goals of "protagonistic and participatory democracy" through communal councils and communes, and its tangible gains in poverty reduction, healthcare, and education. The conversation then explores the constant external pressure from the U.S.—from the 2002 coup to devastating economic sanctions—and how these forces, combined with internal contradictions and an over-reliance on oil, have shaped Venezuela's current crisis. The discussion dismantles mainstream narratives, framing the U.S. intervention not as a liberation but as a naked resource grab for oil corporations like ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips.
Chapters
00:00 Ep 363 - Ricardo Vaz
00:45 Introduction
02:32 Guest Introduction - Ricardo Vaz
04:17 Historical Context - The Bolivarian Revolution
08:23 Hugo Chavez and the 2002 Coup
09:51 Social Programs and Poverty Reduction
15:29 Communal Councils and Participatory Democracy
17:04 The Communes - Venezuela's Path to Socialism
18:49 Chavez's Vision and Historical Influences
24:13 Counter-Revolutionary Forces and Class Struggle
28:34 International Solidarity and Oil Politics
38:34 Oil Nationalization and US Corporate Interests
45:05 Maduro's Presidency and Economic Crisis
47:47 US Sanctions and Their Impact
50:57 Maria Corina Machado and US Intervention
54:32 Delcy Rodriguez - Acting President
01:02:14 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
Weaponize Knowledge with Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)
Please help our Real Progressives efforts in spreading and become a monthly donor!
At PayPal
paypal.me/RealProgressives/25
At Patreon
patreon.com/realprogressives
Donorbox
donorbox.org/each-one-teach-one-3
Write for Real Progressives
realprogressives.org/submit-an-article
Visit our website:
realprogressives.org
Listen to our podcast:
realprogressives.org/macro-n-cheese-podcast
Subscribe to our Substack:
realprogressives.substack.com
We believe all materials used in this video fall under Fair Use as defined in Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976.
#mmt
Weaponize Knowledge with Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)
Please help our Real Progressives efforts in spreading and become a monthly donor!
At PayPal
paypal.me/RealProgressives/25
At Patreon
patreon.com/realprogressives
Write for Real Progressives
realprogressives.org/submit-an-article
Visit our website:
realprogressives.org
Listen to our podcast:
realprogressives.org/macro-n-cheese-podcast
We believe all materials used in this video fall under Fair Use as defined in Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976.
