Episode #85 - January 2026

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In the wake of the U.S. capture of Nicholás Maduro, a lot of questions have swirled around this major international event. Two things seem indisputable at this point. First, this was a near flawless and impressive operation by the U.S. military. Second, Nicholás Maduro is not a good guy. Beyond that, people around the world seem to fall into two main camps, this was a law enforcement operation taking a dangerous person off the "streets" or this was an illegal capture of a sitting leader that sets a bad precedent. As with most international events, the truth probably lands somewhere in the middle. 

For this month's episode we brought back Henry Ziemer, associate fellow with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, to update us on the latest information about the raid, the future of Venezuela, and what this all means for the region. This episode does not aim to decide the legality of the U.S.' action, but rather to provide key insights and context into how this may shape the world moving forward. From providing insights into the background of interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, to how the U.S. is reshaping its relationship to Latin America, listeners will come away with greater insights on this major geopolitical shake-up.

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Henry Ziemer is an associate fellow with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he supports the program’s research agenda and coordinates event planning and outreach. He previously served as an intern for the Americas Program. His research interests include transnational organized crime and human rights and security in Central America. Mr. Ziemer holds a BA in global affairs and history from Yale University.

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