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By Joshua Scheer
Lets start with Chris Hedges who calls this for what it is that “America is a Gangster State” writing on Substack that the United States has become a “gangster state,” arguing that its foreign policy increasingly relies on coercion, force, and economic predation rather than international law.
Later in this post, we’ll share two important videos that highlight the need for a vital, free, and well-funded press. But first, I want to share something I saw this morning from Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, writing on X:”
“Ukraine has consistently defended the right of nations to live freely, free of dictatorship, oppression, and human rights violations. The Maduro regime has violated all such principles in every respect. Democratic countries and human rights organizations across the globe have emphasized his regime’s widespread crimes, violence, torture, oppression, abuse of all basic freedoms, stolen votes, and destruction of democracy and the rule of law. Ukraine has not recognised Maduro’s legitimacy following rigged elections and violence against protestors, along with dozens of other countries in different parts of the world. The people of Venezuela must have a chance for a normal life, security, prosperity, and human dignity. We will continue to support their right to such normality, respect, and freedom. We stand for further developments in accordance with the principles of international law, prioritising democracy, human rights, and the interests of Venezuelans. Thank you to everyone around the world who helps to protect life.”
I wrote briefly about the possible parallels between his country and Venezuela, particularly regarding questions of sovereignty. I guess, currently, the Ukrainians are trying to curry favor with Trump. I wish them good luck in the ongoing war, but the likelihood of their country achieving peace or regaining lost territory seems slim. Trump respects bullies because he is one himself, and as we’ve seen in Latin America, he favors strongman dictators—just ones that support him. Good luck to Ukraine, but I wouldn’t hold out much hope.
These are two vital sources of information—BreakThrough News and The Katie Halper Show—and I wanted to share them now to highlight their perspective
First BreakThrough News hosted an extensive live discussion offering an alternative to mainstream media coverage. The broadcast covered the US bombing of Venezuela and the capture and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro, hosted by Rania Khalek, Eugene Puryear, and Zoe Alexandra, with guests including Vijay Prashad, José Luis Granados Ceja, Andreína Chávez Alava, and Manolo De Los Santos. The panel discussed how Trump’s “large-scale attack” on Caracas targeted multiple sites across the capital after months of US officials openly stating their objective of controlling Venezuela’s vast oil and natural resource reserves—despite the looming prospect of what critics describe as politically motivated drug charges against Maduro in New York.
Next up is the Kaite Halper Show where Vijay Prashad, Andreína Chávez, and José Luis Granados Ceja join The Katie Halper Show to break down what just happened in Venezuela, why it happened, and what comes next. The panel examines US interventionism, media narratives, regional and global implications, and the broader structures of imperial power shaping events on the ground.
Her guests Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian and journalist and the author of over forty books, including Washington Bullets, The Darker Nations, The Poorer Nations, and The Withdrawal (with Noam Chomsky). He is executive director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, chief correspondent for Globetrotter, and chief editor of LeftWord Books.
Andreína Chávez is a Venezuelan journalist based in Caracas.
José Luis Granados Ceja is a writer and photojournalist based in Mexico City, former staff writer at teleSUR, and host of the Soberanía podcast. His work focuses on grassroots political and social movements across Latin America. Follow him on X: @GranadosCeja