American Empire

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]

American Empire

Episode 11  |  How did the United States become Hugo Chávez's enemy?  Support the show on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/15932964/join [https://www.patreon.com/15932964/join]  After the failed coup of 2002, Chávez transformed a Venezuelan political crisis into something much bigger: a global battle between his revolution and U.S. imperialism.  And it worked.  Around the world, Chávez became famous for standing up to American power. But inside Venezuela, that same rhetoric was used to persecute the opposition, silence the media, and intimidate civil society.  This is the story of how Hugo Chávez turned anti-Americanism into a weapon for his "Bolivarian Revolution."

Names on a List

Episode 10  |  What was the Tascón List?  Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/15932964/join [https://www.patreon.com/15932964/join]  In 2004, Hugo Chávez faced a recall referendum that threatened to remove him from power.  But as millions of Venezuelans signed to demand a vote, their names were turned into a political weapon. The infamous Tascón List exposed citizens—and helped transform democracy into a system of loyalty and fear.  This is the story of the 2004 recall referendum, the Bolivarian Missions, and the blacklist that divided Venezuela.