From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Are Venezuela's troubles the legacy of populism?

Hello again, I'm Aronaldi, and this is To the Point.

Once a model democracy, Venezuela is moving toward a dictatorship with the opposition divided against authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro.

Late last year, there were massive street protests, and this weekend the Supreme Court stripped the legislature of its power.

When the rest of the world took notice, that ruling was mostly reversed, but economic depression continues and the government

refuses food or medical aid. We'll hear what life is like in the nation with the world's

largest oil reserves, and we'll hear a debate about how it got that way. Later, on today's

talking point, a secret meeting reported to establish back-channel communications between

President Trump and Vladimir Putin.

First, here's the news.

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Hello again, Mormon-Aulney, back with To the Point. Venezuela may have the world's largest oil reserves, but it's a nation in trouble, economically and politically.

It's a populist promise to rescue democracy turning out to be a prelude to dictatorship.

Today's talking point later, the Blackwater Security firm got a bad name during the war in Iraq.

Now its founder, Eric Prince, reportedly helped the Trump transition team make contact with Vladimir Putin,

with the goal of curtailing Russia's relationship with Iran.

First, this news update.

On Friday, the Trump administration said regime change in Syria was no longer a U.S. objective,

but today it's blaming President Assad for a chemical attack, a chemical weapons attack,

...