After Maduro: Venezuela Three Months On

About this episode

The episode discusses the political situation in Venezuela three months after Nicolás Maduro's capture, focusing on Delcy Rodríguez's consolidation of power and the implications for US-Venezuela relations.

Nearly three months after Nicolás Maduro's capture, Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez is consolidating her grip on power. In a sweeping shakeup, she replaced nearly half of her cabinet and all senior military commanders, including replacing defense minister Vladimir Padrino López with Gustavo González López, who has been sanctioned by the US for his past role in repression. Of Maduro's original inner circle, only three remain in the regime. Over 500 political prisoners are still behind bars, and a new amnesty law has proven to be very selective. Yet Rodríguez faces a potential new source of internal pressure, with labor groups protesting frozen wages and pensions. In the meantime, as the Trump administration pursues its phased transition strategy, it is deepening its partnership with the Rodríguez government. In recent weeks, the US formally recognized Rodríguez as Venezuela's sole leader, expanded sanctions relief beyond oil and gas to include the mining sector, and downgraded the State Department's travel advisory. Join Hudson Institute for a discussion with former US Ambassador to Venezuela James Story to examine developments in Venezuela and prospects for…

People in this episode

Host: Hudson Institute

Guest: James Story

Topics covered

• Venezuela politics
• Maduro regime
• US foreign policy
• political prisoners
• labor protests

Keywords

• Venezuela
• Delcy Rodríguez
• Nicolás Maduro
• political prisoners
• US sanctions
• labor protests
• Trump administration

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Trump administration

Places: Venezuela, US

More episodes of Hudson Institute Events Podcast

• Helping Ukraine Defend Europe’s Skies: The Urgent Need for PAC-3 Interceptors · June 12, 2026 · 38 min
• Growing the DIB: A Conversation with Deputy Assistant Secretary of War James Mismash · June 12, 2026 · 1h 9m
• Spain’s Latin American Reckoning · June 4, 2026 · 60 min
• Authoritarian Persistence in Latin America: What Should the US Do? · June 3, 2026 · 58 min
• The Western Hemisphere’s Energy Moment · May 22, 2026 · 1h 4m
• Georgia at a Geopolitical Crossroads: Iranian Influence and Strategic Competition · May 21, 2026 · 59 min