Venezuela’s Resilient Free Press with María Alejandra Márquez

Venezuela’s Resilient Free Press with María Alejandra Márquez

Atlas Network host Michael Carnuccio interviews María Alejandra Márquez, CEO of Venezuelan regional news outlet El Tiempo, about how the Chavez and Maduro governments dismantled democratic institutions and independent media, with over 400 outlets disappearing through tactics such as license nonrenewals, taxation, asset seizures, restrictions on newsprint, intimidation, and imprisonment. Márquez explains how economic collapse and hyperinflation pushed citizens into survival mode, weakening resistance and crippling ad- and reader-supported journalism, while COVID restrictions further enabled movement controls that blocked distribution. El Tiempo downsized from a large print operation to a lean digital, nonprofit model and rebuilt community trust by reporting on local public services, creating a safer space for expression. She discusses fear as a tool of repression, post-2024 election crackdowns, Venezuelans’ desire for elections and restored institutions, perceptions of the US, and how Atlas Network support helped expand reporting capacity and partnerships. Support freedom worldwide: https://www.AtlasNetwork.org [https://www.atlasnetwork.org] Show Notes / Timestamps 00:00 Survival Over Liberty 00:36 Venezuela Press Under Siege 02:32 How Chavez Silenced Media 05:58 Paper Shortages and Collapse 07:23 Skeptics and Digital Survival 08:59 Misinformation and Social Control 11:12 Choosing Courage Amid Fear 15:20 Economy as a Weapon 18:44 COVID Restrictions and Distribution 20:14 US Misconceptions and Anti-US Rhetoric 23:28 US Pressure and Hope for Change 28:41 Democracy Still Matters 29:03 Baseball and National Hope 31:41 Get Involved With Atlas 32:50 Media Survival to Nonprofit 37:47 Why Donations Matter 42:22 El Tiempo Family Legacy 46:36 Reporting Services Safely 50:39 Venezuela Future Outlook 54:44 How Support Helps Now 58:25 Closing and Call to Action

Faisal Saeed Al Mutar on Ideas Beyond Borders, Entrepreneurship, and Reform in the Middle East

Atlas Network Podcast host Michael Carnuccio interviews Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, founder of Ideas Beyond Borders, about countering simplistic narratives of the Middle East by expanding access to liberty, free markets, scientific inquiry, and open debate through translation projects like House of Wisdom 2.0 and original regional content. Al Mutar describes audiences’ strongest interest in prosperity and understanding the region’s diversity, argues cultures are malleable and not destined for authoritarianism, and highlights reforms and entrepreneurial energy, including his Smart Bets-winning “Kurdistan Is Open for Business,” which helped move business registration in Iraqi Kurdistan from months to days and enabled over 7,000 registrations. He explains launching Middle East Uncovered to present nuanced, independent reporting amid lobbying and state-influenced narratives, shares examples of regional resilience, discusses personal risks and his background growing up in Iraq under Saddam and later Al-Qaeda control, and outlines a 10-year vision of a region with more visitors than escapees. Support freedom worldwide: https://www.AtlasNetwork.org [https://www.atlasnetwork.org] Show Notes / Timestamps 00:00 Middle East Beyond Misery 00:32 Meet Faisal Al Mutar 02:27 Voices of Life vs Death 04:59 House of Wisdom Revival 07:09 Ideas People Want Most 08:32 Can Liberalism Work Here 12:04 Smart Bets Stage Moment 14:35 Liberty Forum Advice 16:37 Kurdistan Open for Business 20:25 Youth Hope and Oil Curse 25:30 Middle East Uncovered Mission 30:48 Untold Stories That Inspire 34:43 Risk and Resolve 38:04 How You Can Help 40:53 Does Support Move Needle 44:30 Rapid Fire and Food 46:53 Faisal’s Iraq Story 50:35 Vision for 10 Years 53:09 Closing and Call to Action

Has Greece Achieved Economic Freedom? KEFiM’s Fight for Tax Reform and Policy Change

Atlas Network Podcast host Michael Carnuccio interviews Nicos Rompapas, president of KEFiM (Center of Liberal Studies), about Greece’s post-2009 crisis recovery and why economic freedom still lags despite strong EU-leading growth, rising investment, and lower tax rates. Rompapas says Greece lost over a third of GDP, remains below 2009 output, and is far behind EU-wide gains, meaning catch-up could take a lifetime. He cites major barriers including an oversized government and high debt, and argues taxation is the key battleground, noting tax revenue remains steady even as rates fall and that Greeks still work about half the year just to cover taxes and pension contributions. Rompapas recounts KEFiM’s evolution from a volunteer group to an influential, politically independent think tank supported by Atlas Network, highlighting breakthroughs via events, Tax Freedom Day, media impact, policy briefs, and engagement with top officials; he also discusses upcoming reform priorities, network learning, and a vision for a freer, more competitive Greece. Support freedom worldwide: https://www.AtlasNetwork.org [https://www.atlasnetwork.org] Show Notes / Timestamps 00:00 Hope After Crisis 00:47 Greece’s Recovery Paradox 03:39 Why Catching Up Takes Decades 05:49 Economic Freedom Barriers 09:15 Taxes Size of Government 11:46 KEFiM’s Origin Story 15:48 Breakthrough Media Moments 21:18 Why Focus on Tax Policy 23:03 Reforms and Misconceptions 26:58 Staying Politically Independent 30:13 Learning Through Atlas Network 34:57 Ambition Vision and Culture 46:36 Free Market Model 50:27 Athens, Food, and Friendship 52:51 Closing Call to Action

Smart Bets and Ukraine’s Future: Scaling Economic Education with Nataliya Melnyk

Atlas Network podcast host Michael Carnuccio interviews Nataliya Melnyk, executive director of the Bendukidze Free Market Center, about rebuilding Ukraine’s long-term freedom through human capital and economic education. Nataliya explains why education must be prioritized alongside physical reconstruction and describes efforts to scale access via digital tools, teacher networks, and co-creation with educators, including “hackathons” and small grants. She highlights the Economics Olympiad’s reach (nearly 28,000 participants from 700 institutions) and discusses adapting existing English-language materials through translation and localization. She credits Atlas Network programs—especially Smart Bets, which she calls a risk-tolerant “trust card”—plus training, mentoring, and peer networks for enabling bold innovation and cross-border partnerships with groups in countries such as Georgia and Moldova. Support freedom worldwide: https://www.AtlasNetwork.org [https://www.atlasnetwork.org] Show Notes / Timestamps 00:00 Smart Bets Explained 00:43 Ukraine Rebuild Starts Now 03:14 Human Capital First 05:23 Why Education Beats Roads 06:47 Ukraine in Ten Years 08:03 Winning Smart Bets 11:09 Kids Are The Future 13:16 Co Creating With Teachers 16:45 Listening And Piloting 20:05 Breaking Language Barriers 22:53 Changing A Rigid System 25:54 Olympiad Scale And Parents 27:49 Economic Thinking Basics 28:54 Teachers Multiply Impact 31:34 Digital Tools for Educators 33:37 Economics Olympiad Momentum 35:48 Support Atlas Network 36:25 Cross Border Partnerships 42:57 Atlas Network Training and Mentorship 45:49 CEO Summit Peer Learning 51:15 Motivation and Hope 55:21 Closing and Get Involved

Bolivia’s Post-Socialist Pivot: Building Pro-Freedom Leadership with Libra Bolivia

The episode discusses Bolivia’s recent political shift after nearly two decades of socialism and what it could mean for lasting economic freedom. Guest Jorge Velarde-Rosso, founder and CEO of Libra Bolivia, says President Rodrigo Paz won by recognizing Bolivians’ growing desire for freedom, entrepreneurship, and “capitalism for all,” while noting cultural and institutional risks of reverting to old patterns. He explains how support from Atlas Network’s Smart Bets program helped Libera scale at this pivotal moment, including plans to develop independent economic data, support legal reforms to attract foreign investment, and expand leadership development from an incubator to a new “Leadership Accelerator.” Jorge also describes Libera’s storytelling strategy through documentaries about informal-market entrepreneurs to show how freedom works and to reach younger audiences, and he praises Atlas Network’s collaborative, adaptive partnership culture and encourages donations to support the work. Support freedom worldwide: https://www.AtlasNetwork.org [https://www.atlasnetwork.org] Show Notes / Timestamps 00:00 Bolivia at a Crossroads 00:33 Meet Jorge and Libera 01:33 Election Shift and Risks 04:20 Why Freedom Is Rising 06:48 Smart Bets Scaling Up 09:57 Independent CPI Rethink 13:27 Leadership Accelerator Vision 16:41 Storytelling and Entrepreneurs 20:02 Betting on Young Leaders 27:45 Atlas Network Partnership 30:14 CEO Summit Lessons 38:23 Foreign Investment Opportunity 42:23 Beer Tradition and Wrap Up 43:41 Final Call to Support