American Empire

Millionaires of the Revolution

Episode 14  |  How did Hugo Chávez’s socialist revolution create a new class of millionaires?  This episode explains how CADIVI, Fonden, and Venezuela’s historic oil boom became engines of corruption—and how loyalty to Chávez gave insiders access to cheap dollars, government contracts, and impunity—giving rise to a new oligarchy in Venezuela: the Bolivarian bourgeoisie.

Special Report: This Tragedy Is Political

Special Report  |  More than ten days after back-to-back earthquakes devastated the country, the Venezuelan regime has blocked rescuers, controlled aid, monitored journalists, and persecuted victims who have spoken out.  In this episode, we examine the aftermath of this tragedy, exposing the true nature of the Venezuelan dictatorship.  Link to verified organizations providing assistance in Venezuela can be found here: https://donarseguro.com/en [https://donarseguro.com/en]

Special Report: Earthquakes in Venezuela

Special Report  |  On June 24, two massive earthquakes—magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5—struck Venezuela just seconds apart, destroying hundreds of buildings and leaving tens of thousands of people dead, missing, or homeless.  In this episode, I examine the scale of the destruction, the regime’s disastrous response, and the ordinary Venezuelans who were forced to dig through the rubble and organize relief efforts themselves.  Link to verified organizations providing assistance in Venezuela can be found here: https://donarseguro.com/en [https://donarseguro.com/en]

¡Exprópiese!

Episode 13  |  How did Hugo Chávez destroy Venezuela’s economy?  In this episode, we examine the mass expropriations at the heart of Chávez’s socialist project—from banks and supermarkets, to factories and farms. We explore how worker “co-management,” price controls, state ownership, and corruption devastated domestic production.  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/15932964/join [https://www.patreon.com/15932964/join]

Socialism of the 21st Century

Episode 12  |  What was "Socialism of the 21st Century"?  After winning reelection in 2006, Hugo Chávez claimed Venezuela had voted for "socialism." But what did that actually mean?  In this episode, we explore how Chávez came to adopt socialism. How he turned a vague slogan into the blueprint for a new political order built around the "Communal State"—a new, terrifying alternative to the state outlined in the Venezuelan constitution.  Support the show on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/15932964/join [https://www.patreon.com/15932964/join]