“Suddenly the power went out and I had a feeling something was going on. Then there was a huge boom, like something I’d never felt before,” says journalist Ricardo Vaz. This is Season 2, Episode 2 of Under the Shadow.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, January 3, Venezuelans were awoken by the sounds of bombs falling. U.S. helicopters whirled overhead. Explosions struck across the capital of Caracas and surrounding states.
Hours of chaos, fear, and uncertainty.
Hours later, President Donald Trump posted on social media that the United States had “captured” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores amid a “large-scale” strike against the country.
This is the first U.S. invasion of another country in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, when the United States kidnapped and detained Panamanian president Manuel Noriega under charges of drug trafficking. The Trump administration used the same excuse to detain Maduro, despite lack of evidence linking Maduro to drug trafficking.
With this strike, the U.S. government has taken an unprecedented step: This is the first time the United States has used its own military to invade a South American country.
Today, we go to Caracas to look in-depth at the January 3 U.S. invasion of Venezuela. Host Michael Fox speaks with Caracas-based reporter Ricardo Vaz.
Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. Season 2 responds in real time to the Trump Administration’s onslaught in Latin America.
Under the Shadow is hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. It is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.
Theme music by Monte Perdido and Michael Fox. Monte Perdido’s new album Ofrenda is now out. You can listen to the full album on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube or wherever you listen to music.
Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.
Related Episodes
Check out the first season of Under the Shadow here.
Michael Fox’s recent reporting on the boat strikes and the ramp-up for war in Venezuela
- With the Strike on a “Drug-Carrying Boat,” Trump Returns to a Dangerous US Policy for Latin America
- Caribbean Leaders Call for Unified Latin American Resistance to US Attacks
- Trump’s Monroe Doctrine 2.0 Outlines Imperial Intentions for Latin America
Other Resources
Check out Ricardo Vaz’s reporting at www.venezuelanalysis.com. You can follow them on X at https://x.com/venanalysis
For more English-language reporting on Venezuela, you can follow the Orinoco Tribune, Kawsachun News, and Sovereign Media.
Support Under the Shadow:
Please consider supporting this podcast and Michael Fox’s reporting on his Patreon account: patreon.com/mfox. There you can also see exclusive phots, videos, and interviews.
Check out Michael Fox’s recent episode of Stories of Resistance about the protests against U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
Written and produced by Michael Fox.