Inside Caracas: Venezuela after Maduro

In this episode of The Intelligence from The Economist, host Rosie Bloor explores the dramatic political transformation in Venezuela following the unexpected extraction of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. special forces. Correspondent Kinley Salmon reports from Caracas and surrounding areas, describing a surge in public optimism and political activity despite the continued presence of the Chavismo regime under acting president Delcy Rodríguez. The episode captures a nation in transition: political prisoners have been released, rallies are flourishing, and citizens speak openly of hope for the first time in years. Yet deep challenges remain—economic collapse, hyperinflation, and lingering repression, including house arrest for opposition figures. Central to the narrative is María Corina Machado, the exiled opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who remains a unifying symbol of democratic resistance. She expresses confidence in a swift democratic transition, backed by U.S. pressure, particularly from Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, the path forward is fraught with uncertainty—regime procrastination, fears of rigged elections, and the risk of violent resistance. The episode ends on a note of cautious hope, anchored in Machado’s belief that the Venezuelan people’s voice will ultimately determine their future.