2025 in Review: Is Trump trying to start a war with Venezuela?
The Take
Al Jazeera
4.7 • 748 Ratings
🗓️ 30 December 2025
⏱️ 23 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As the year wraps up, we're looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on August 28. None of the dates, titles, or other references has been changed.
Thousands of US troops are on warships stationed near Venezuela. President Donald Trump says the move is to fight drug cartels that the US has labelled “terrorist” organizations. In response, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered troops to the border and called on citizens to mobilize to defend the country. Is Trump’s mission about fighting drugs, or is it a signal of broader US intervention?
In this episode:
- Alessandro Rampietti (@rampietti), Al Jazeera Reporter
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Noor Wazwaz, Kylene Kiang, Diana Ferrero and Tracie Hunte, with Manny Panaretos, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Kisaa Zehra, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Amy Walters and Sarí el-Khalili.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Al Jazeera Podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | Hi, Kevin here. |
| 0:14.0 | This week, we're continuing to bring you the takes year in review. |
| 0:18.0 | Ten episodes looking at the stories that shaped 2025. |
| 0:22.8 | Today's episode, why are U.S. warships going to Venezuela? |
| 0:26.9 | This episode first aired on August 28, 2025. |
| 0:30.8 | All dates and references are from that time. |
| 0:33.2 | Thank you. Today, why are American warships sailing towards Venezuela? |
| 0:45.3 | The U.S. is deploying destroyers and thousands of Marines towards Venezuela as President |
| 0:51.8 | Trump looks to crack down on cartels and the Maduro regime. |
| 0:56.4 | With Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro calling on citizens to mobilize to defend the country, |
| 1:02.0 | what's behind Trump's latest move? |
| 1:07.1 | I'm Kevin Horton, and this is The Take. |
| 1:18.0 | My name is Alessandro Rampietti. |
| 1:24.4 | I'm Algezeguay English correspondent in Colombia, and I'm talking to you from the capital of Columbia, Bogota. |
| 1:26.0 | Well, let's start with what's happening right now. |
| 1:28.9 | Let's just jump right in. |
| 1:30.0 | As we speak, American warships and thousands of troops are sailing to the Southern Caribbean |
| 1:35.4 | outside of Venezuela. |
| 1:38.0 | Three U.S. destroyers carrying Marines are heading in the direction of Venezuela. |
| 1:43.8 | According to the White House, the mission is to target drug cartels that traffic narcotics to the United States. |
| 1:51.0 | What is the official line on this? What is Washington saying? |
... |
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