Venezuelanalysis Podcast
The Venezuelanalysis Podcast offers independent, English-language reporting and analysis on Venezuela and the Bolivarian Process. Episodes feature on-the-ground coverage of news and deeper discussion of the country’s political and social developments. The show also highlights leftist and grassroots forces shaping Venezuela.
Episodios
Venezuela and 21st Century Neocolonialism | VA Podcast Ep. 48
Nine months after the January 3 US bombing, Venezuela’s oil revenues are held at the US Treasury and its government has made a sharp political turn. In this anniversary episode, the Venezuelanalysis editorial team asks how to characterize Venezuela’s present reality, and who stands to gain or lose from it.Recorded live to mark Venezuelanalysis’ 23rd anniversary, Episode 48 of the VA Podcast is our
The “Donroe Doctrine”: From Haiti to Venezuela | VA Podcast Ep. 47
What does the so-called “Donroe Doctrine” mean for Venezuela and the wider region?In Episode 47 of the Venezuelanalysis Podcast, VA Editor Ricardo Vaz speaks with Jake Johnston, Director of International Research at the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), and Jacqueline Luqman, Chairperson of the Coordinating Committee of the Black Alliance for Peace.The conversation examines the incre
Imperialism and Hybrid Warfare from Venezuela to Iran
How are Venezuela and Iran resisting US imperialism? What role does China play in the emerging multipolar world?In this episode of the Venezuelanalysis Podcast, Ricardo Vaz is joined by VA co-editor Lucas Koerner and scholar Matteo Capasso to discuss imperialism, hybrid warfare, sanctions, sovereignty, deterrence, and international anti-imperialist solidarity.Matteo Capasso is Professor at the Sch
International Solidarity in the Belly of the Beast
In Episode 45 of the Venezuelanalysis podcast, Ricardo Vaz speaks with Austin Cole and Michela Martinazzi about international solidarity with Venezuela and the challenges of organizing against imperialism from inside the United States.The discussion covers solidarity efforts with Venezuela, escalating attacks abroad and repression at home, the need to connect struggles for justice domestically and
Venezuela's Natural Resources, Oil Reform, and Sovereignty
Venezuela’s January 2026 hydrocarbons law reform marks a major shift in the country’s oil sector. It establishes a more flexible fiscal regime in the name of “international competitiveness,” while expanding the private sector role in extraction, operations, and dispute resolution mechanisms.The reform follows years of US sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry and coincides with new US licenses allo
Venezuela After January 3: A New Stage of US Imperialism
The VA Podcast is back. In our Season 3 premiere, we tackle the fallout of the January 3rd military escalation against Caracas, an event that marks a volatile new chapter in the long history of US intervention in the region.Join Venezuelanalysis Chief Editor Ricardo Vaz, Associate Editor Lucas Koerner, and VA Founder Greg Wilpert as they break down the geopolitical shift from "maximum pressure
No Peaceful Activist: Maria Corina Machado's Long and Violent History of Regime Change in Venezuela
In this episode of the Venezuela Analysis Podcast, José Luis Granados Ceja and Andreína Chávez dive into the contentious awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Machado. The show explores her divisive role in Venezuelan politics, alongside Trump's approval of lethal covert CIA activities and the cutting of diplomatic ties. The episode underscores the urgent need to defend Venezuelan sovereignty,
Unpacking US Military Threats and Venezuelan Resistance
Host José Luis Granados Ceja is joined by fellow VA staff writer Cira Pascual-Marquina as they delve into the escalating US aggressions against Venezuela. This episode explores the recent military actions, including strikes on Venezuelan vessels, and the broader implications for the Bolivarian process. José and Cira provide in-depth analysis on the international response, the role of media narrati
Is The US Preparing to Invade Venezuela?
The US war drums are beating louder with a Caribbean military deployment, but Caracas has responded with defiance and mobilization.In our latest podcast episode, host José Luis Granados Ceja is joined by fellow VA member Andreína Chávez Alava to take stock of recent US policies against Venezuela, including dubious "narco-terrorism" charges and a crackdown on migrants.
Communes, Anti-Imperialism and National Liberation
In this episode, we explore the pivotal role of communes in socialist construction and anti-imperialist struggles, featuring insights from writer Chris Gilbert and fellow VA staff member Cira Pascual Marquina. Gilbert and Pascual Marquina were guest editors of the latest issue of Monthly Review, "Communes in Socialist Construction." Our discussion delves into the definition and significanc
Venezuela, Iran and the Right Side of History
The recent Israeli war on Iran led to a strong reaction from Venezuela, with the Maduro government standing firm with one of its key international allies and popular movements taking to the streets to express support for Tehran.In this podcast episode, host José Luis Granados Ceja is joined by fellow VA member Andreína Chávez Alava to take stock of the Venezuela-Iran alliance, the Maduro governmen
Venezuela's Fight Against Trump's Illegal Sanctions and Tariffs
With the Trump administration ramping up its economic attacks against Venezuela, the Venezuelanalysis podcast returns to discuss the measures, their impact, and the efforts to fight back.Host José Luis Granados Ceja is joined by fellow VA member Ricardo Vaz in the latest episode. What can we make of "secondary tariffs"? Is Chevron staying or leaving? And allies like Russia and China, what
First They Sanction, Then They Expel You - The US' Perverse Venezuela Policy
"What they're saying is we're going to set your house on fire and we're also going to close all the doors because you cannot leave this hell that we're going to create for you." The US' perverse Venezuela policy is attempting to destroy the country's economy while also denying any opportunity for Venezuelan migrants to escape the very conditions sanctions have creat
Popular Feminism in Venezuela
Our latest podcast episode coincides with International Working Women's Day (March 8) to take stock of popular feminist struggles under the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela.VA staff member Cira Pascual Marquina joins host José Luis Granados Ceja to discuss the impact of sanctions on women, the role of women in popular power, a recent conservative/religious offensive, and lots more!
Opposing Trump's Fascist Crackdown on Venezuelan Migrants
The Trump administration has wasted no time in targeting migrants, with a criminalizing discourse and human rights violations galore. In this context, Venezuelans have been specially singled out, with more than 100 sent to Guantánamo.In this podcast episode, VA members José Luis Granados Ceja and Ricardo Vaz took stock of the latest developments, the emerging narratives, and the different moving p
Latin America Vs. Trump, Round 2
In the latest of episode of the Venezuelanalysis podcast Host José Luis Granados Ceja is joined by fellow VA writer Cira Pascual Marquina and Sentido Común's Kurt Hackbarth to discuss what the second Donald Trump presidency has in store for Latin America. We talk about what we can conclude thus far based on these early hectic first weeks, what his mass deportation plans have in store for US re
Unrelenting US Imperialism, Undeterred Venezuelan Resistance
In our yearly review, the editorial team from Venezuelanalysis looks at the state of the economy in Venezuela today, including efforts to build a grassroots alternative, as well as the 2024 presidential election and its aftermath. Plus we take a look at what 2025 might have in store for Venezuela and the Bolivarian Process.
Is Edmundo González 'Guaidó 2.0'?
The Venezuelanalysis podcast tackles the proverbial million-dollar question everyone is talking about: is the Trump administration about to do a rerun of the "interim government," this time with Edmundo González in place of Juan Guaidó?Host José Luis Granados Ceja is joined by fellow VA writer and editor Ricardo Vaz to talk about the different scenarios, sanctions and the economic balancin
Really Existing Self Gov't and Communal Democracy in Venezuela and Beyond
The latest VA podcast episode dives into the recent Congress on Communal Democracy, exploring its history, participants, and its mission to build grassroots alternatives to “liberal democracy.”Host José Luis Granados Ceja, fellow VA member Cira Pascual Marquina and Catalan activist Isa Chacón discuss the limits of current political systems, the power of collective self-determination and autonomy,
Venezuela Between Mercenary Plots and BRICS Aspirations
The latest Venezuelanalysis podcast episode catches up on the latest developments from Venezuela on many fronts.Host José Luis Granados Ceja is joined by fellow VA writer Andreína Chávez Alava to discuss the recent arrests of foreign nationals and weapons seizures, the XVI BRICS Summit, and new corruption allegations in the Venezuelan oil industry.
Will Imperialism Rescue Venezuela’s Steamless Opposition?
With the Venezuelan opposition in disarray following its most recent attempts to take power, the ball is now in Washington's court. Where does the US empire go from here?Venezuelanalysis podcast host José Luis Granados Ceja and editor Ricardo Vaz went over the different scenarios in the latest episode. The conversation also covered the plunder of assets like CITGO, the thirst for Venezuelan re
The Rise of Fascism and Grassroots Resistance from Venezuela to Palestine
The Venezuelan political landscape has seen the farthest-right sectors, led by María Corina Machado, emerge as the leaders of the opposition. But this trend is far from unique to Venezuela. From Argentina to Italy, and with the Gaza genocide as the ugliest exponent, fascism and its violent impact are growing.In the latest VA podcast episode, staff members José Luis Granados Ceja and Cira Pascual M
The Electoral Aftermath in Venezuela
Following a short hiatus, the Venezuelanalysis Podcast is back with a new format. On-the-ground staff members are set to feature more prominently, with the podcast now published on YouTube and delivered on a more regular basis.In this episode, host José Luis Granados Ceja is joined by editor Ricardo Vaz to catch up on the latest from Venezuela: renewed US sanctions, Edmundo González's exile, a
Special Episode: Soft Power and the 2024 Venezuelan Election
With the Venezuelan presidential elections fast approaching, Venezuelanalysis members José Luis Granados Ceja and Andreína Chávez sat down for a special podcast episode to discuss a range of topics, from imperialist soft power to corporate media propaganda.
The Communard Union and the Socialist Horizon
The brutal US-led sanctions campaign has led grassroots socialist organizations to reinvent themselves and come together to survive the conditions created by the economic blockade. In our latest podcast episode, we go deep into communes and the socialist project in Venezuela, discussing the challenges in building a communal economy, political autonomy and lots more. Host José Luis Granados Ceja is
Building Socialism to Resist Sanctions
With the US reimposing oil sanctions, we look at the implications and how grassroots socialist movements hold the key to fighting back. On today’s episode we talk with Laura Lorenzo about the Pueblo a Pueblo initiative, a grassroots plan for organizing the production, distribution, and consumption of food that directly connects agricultural producers with urban dwellers. Host José Luis Granados Ce
Culture as a Political Battlefield
The ruling class must establish its hegemony in order to assure its survival, and cultural production is critical to this process, dominance over our cultural lives is indispensable for capitalism to reproduce itself.As Gramsci wrote: “To achieve a revolutionary perspective, the worker must first be freed of the ideological fetters imposed on him by the cultural organizations of the ruling class.”
The Past, Present & Future of Education in Venezuela
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez sought to build a participatory democracy that would directly include the population in decision making and knew that a robust education system, one that would seek to incorporate those historically excluded from the formal educational system, was indispensable.From primary school all the way into higher education, Venezuela massively expanded educational opportuni
The Global South Struggle for Climate Justice
By retaking control of the region’s natural resources, pink-tide governments throughout Latin America were able to make great strides in the redistribution of wealth, working to attend to the social debt owed to the population. But this came at a cost. Today there is a clear global consensus that climate change is real and we risk making the planet uninhabitable if we do not take urgent action imm
Sanctions, the Essequibo and the 2024 Elections
With another year nearly behind us, Venezuelanalysis hosts a special podcast episode where we once again take stock of the Venezuelan political landscape and look at the most important topics from Venezuela. This time around, the VA staff sat down to discuss sanctions relief, the Essequibo dispute, upcoming elections and a lot more.
What Is Behind Sanctions Relief for Venezuela?
What is behind the decision by the US Treasury Department to suspend sanctions on Venezuela? Is it because of increased Venezuelan migration to the US? Is it owed to fears of wider instability in the Middle East? Or has the White House finally come to terms with the failure of the current regime-change strategy?You won’t be surprised to learn that the answer is yes, to all of that, and more. In ou
A War Without Bombs and Communal Resistance
On today’s episode, we present to you two new books on Venezuela. The first is “A War Without Bombs: The social, political and economic impact of sanctions against Venezuela” written and published by the Venezuelanalysis team.The book is now available to everyone to download for free on our brand new website. A War Without Bombs aims to provide Venezuelanalysis readers, internationalists, activist
Challenging the Bipartisan Imperialist Consensus on Venezuela
On today’s program we’re looking into the bipartisan imperialist consensus in Washington when it comes to Venezuela.Following a recent US Congressional delegation to Brazil, Chile, and Colombia by Representatives Greg Casar, Nydia Velázquez, Joaquin Castro, Maxwell Frost, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, media outlets were once again filled with headlines about the need for the US to change its relat
Life Is Better in the Commune
At the end of June, dozens of popular power collectives gathered at the El Panal Commune in western Caracas to participate in the “Reflections on Communal Democracy” summit. It was a space to reflect and debate on the progress and challenges for the construction of socialism in Venezuela. In this podcast episode, host José Luis Granados Ceja is joined by Dahís Suárez and Iván Tamariz, from the Pan
The Imperialist Plunder of Venezuelan Assets
Trump’s recent candor about his push for regime change in Venezuela to secure access to oil proved that US support for the so-called interim government was never about democracy or human rights. It was always about imperialism and the neocolonial drive for the control of Venezuela’s resources. While the prospects of the US-backed opposition taking political power by force fizzled out swiftly, anot
Dispatch: Burying the Monroe Doctrine
Following a day-long discussion about U.S. interventionism and efforts to resist imperialism at the Latin America and the Caribbean Policy Forum, host José Luis Granados Ceja is joined by Nick Estes from The Red Nation, Claudia De La Cruz from The People’s Forum, Teri Mattson of the WTF is Going on in Latin America and the Caribbean podcast, Hector Figarella from the Anti-Imperialist Action Commit
Corruption, Inflation, and Class Struggle
Last month, the National Anti-Corruption Police revealed alleged “serious acts of corruption" in state-owned oil company PDVSA. Fallout was swift, over 50 individuals have now been arraigned. The charges include misappropriation of public funds, influence peddling and money laundering. Some may even face treason charges. Calling the anti-corruption drive an “ethical, spiritual, and moral battl
Ten Years Without Chávez
“El Golpe de Timón” - was Hugo Chávez’s address to his cabinet of ministers on October 20th, 2012, shortly after his resounding reelection on October 7, 2012.The speech, translated into English as “Strike at the Helm”, is considered his political testament, broadcast live over-the-air, it was his last major political address to his government and the Venezuelan people.Today, as we commemorate the
Solidarity vs. Sanctions
Sanctions, also known as unilateral coercive measures, should primarily be understood as a tool of neocolonialism. Unilateral Coercive Measures are aimed at inflicting collective punishment on a sovereign state. In the case of Venezuela, they are driven by an effort to secure access to the country’s vast oil wealth, to once again bring Venezuela under the heel of US dominance in the region. Washin
Special Episode: 2022 in Review
With the year drawing to a close, the Venezuelanalysis staff recorded a special podcast episode. In this episode we take stock of the Venezuelan political landscape. Host José Luis Granados Ceja is joined by Cira Pascual Marquina, Andreína Chávez and Ricardo Vaz, each chose their "top story" for the year, analyzing different aspects of the Bolivarian Process, from popular power to anti-imp
Truths and Myths on Venezuelan Migration
We focus on a complex issue: Venezuelan migration. We look at the causes behind the exodus of millions of Venezuelans and the dishonest, politicized propaganda surrounding the issue.While coverage of Venezuela in the mainstream media is notoriously poor, when it comes to migration it has been flat out dishonest. Deliberately distorting the issue, the corporate media propaganda effort not only serv
The New Horizon of Venezuela-Colombia Relations
President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela and President Gustavo Petro of Colombia announced that the border between the two countries, after being closed for years, will officially reopen on September 26.The decision to reopen the border represents yet another step in the restoration of diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Colombia following the arrival of Petro to the presidency, as the two nei
The Worker Takeover of the Means of Production
One of the clearest expressions of the struggle of the Venezuelan working class against the bourgeoisie today is the efforts by workers to seize control of the means of production directly, taking the factory out of the hands of the bosses and running their workplaces democratically.In the tenth episode of the Venezuelanalysis Podcast, the subject is workers' control! Podcast host José Luís Gr
The Praxis of Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, born July 28 1954, is undoubtedly the most important figure in modern Venezuelan history. Former Uruguayan President Pepe Mujica, upon hearing news of Chávez’s death on March 5th, 2013, said: "I met Che, I met Mao, but I can say this man is a character who broke the mold."In the ninth Venezuelanalysis Podcast episode, we go go over Chávez's revolutionary legac
Your Questions About Venezuela Answered
In this episode, the team at Venezuelanalysis answers questions submitted by readers and followers. From questions about Venezuela’s relations with its neighbors to the future of the struggle against US imperialism, it’s everything you always wanted to know about Venezuela.
The Decommodification of Housing in Venezuela
The Great Housing Mission is undoubtedly one of the flagships of the Bolivarian Revolution. The program created by Hugo Chávez in 2011 has provided a reported four million houses for low-income families and looks to reach five million by 2025.In the newest episode of the Venezuelanalysis podcast, we go over the struggle to establish housing as a human right in Venezuela, as opposed to a capitalist
Venezuela, Russia, and the Geopolitical Shift
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has upended the previously existing geopolitical order. With mid-term elections looming and rising energy costs inside the US as a result of the conflict and the subsequent ban of Russian oil imports, the White House was left scrambling.This global scenario led Washington to abandon its years-long strategy of pretending that Juan Guaidó was president and forced high-lev
Building Feminism Everyday in Venezuela
The Bolivarian Revolution has always worked to put social inclusion at the very center of its political program, focusing on attending to the needs of the most marginalized. In a capitalist patriarchal system this meant expanding the political participation of women; but this also doubled the social reproduction work of women, who found themselves working, taking care of their families and taking
Campesinos, Class Struggle, and the Land
With its immense oil reserves, there was a time when Venezuela was called the “Saudi Arabia” of Latin America. This reliance on oil rents invariably distorted much of the economy, making it cheaper to import food rather than produce it locally. This decades-long arrangement helps explain Venezuela’s challenges when it comes to securing food sovereignty. With the collapse in the price of oil and th
Anti-imperialist Media Strikes Back
Today more than ever, it is critical to support anti-imperialist media. With recent victories by the left in Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Honduras, US Imperialism is nervous. The response by the US Department of State to these recent elections in Latin America, discrediting the first two and only reluctantly embracing the latter, is proof that neo-colonial domination over the region remains very much
Dispatch: Chavismo Wins 'Mega-elections'
In our first Dispatch you’ll be hearing directly from members of the Venezuela Analysis team who were on the ground covering the election in the capital and surrounding region where the United Socialist Party secured an important victory in Venezuela’s regional and local elections on Sunday, winning at least 19 of the 23 governorships.The 42.3% turnout was twelve points higher than December’s parl
Back to the Ballot
On November 21, Venezuela will hold its 27th election since Chávez came to power, critically this will be the first time since 2015 that Chavismo will face most of the opposition in an electoral contest after the self-styled Group of Four parties finally abandoned their boycott strategy.The third episode of the Venezuelanalysis podcast looks at the upcoming “mega elections” in Venezuela where over
Popular Power Under Duress
The corporate media coverage of Venezuela has always placed its focus on Chávez and Maduro, what the government did or said. This narrative, and the respective counter-narrative, ignore one key element of the Bolivarian Process: popular power.The second episode of the Venezuelanalysis podcast focuses on grassroots organizations under conditions of duress: a years-long economic crisis and devastati
Sanctions Kill
In this episode we take a look at the impact of US-led sanctions against Venezuela. We’ll speak with UN Special Rapporteur Alena Douhan on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights.https://venezuelanalysis.com/Music:Embandolaos - Los Caimanes NegrosJavier Marin - LlantoSandino Primera - Cómo Quisera Olvidarte
