S8 Ep572: 7. Professor Evan Ellis evaluates the political maneuvers in Venezuela, where the U.S. is dealing directly with Delcy and Jorge Rodriguez to manage oil production and mining investments. He notes that while new laws have expanded the autonomy of foreign o
The John Batchelor Show
John Batchelor
4.5 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 12 March 2026
⏱️ 13 minutes
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Summary
7. Professor Evan Ellis evaluates the political maneuvers in Venezuela, where the U.S. is dealing directly with Delcy and Jorge Rodriguez to manage oil production and mining investments. He notes that while new laws have expanded the autonomy of foreign oil companies like Chevron and Shell, the broader goal of a democratic transition remains stalled. Simultaneously, Ellis tracks electoral trends in Colombia and Peru, where right-of-center candidates like Paloma Valencia and Keiko Fujimori are emerging as front-runners. (7)
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| 0:00.0 | I'm John Batchel. This is the New World Report with Professor Evan Ellis, the Arts Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. Venezuela. Delcea Rodriguez is the acting president. Her brother, Jorge, is in charge of the National Assembly. As I understand the Reuters' headlines these last weeks, the Trump administration is dealing directly with the brother and sister. With regard to |
| 0:39.4 | oil and income, of course, but also the next step, which is a transfer or transition of authority |
| 0:47.0 | into the hands of people who were actually elected to reign that authority. That would be the |
| 0:52.6 | opposition now in exile. |
| 0:54.9 | Professor, my first question is not to do with oil, it's to do with Machado, the leader of the opposition. |
| 1:01.3 | There was a statement a week ago that she might, by Ms. Machado, that she might be returning to Venezuela in the coming weeks. |
| 1:09.9 | Has there been any clarity about that? |
| 1:11.7 | And why not? |
| 1:12.7 | Why would she not return? |
| 1:16.2 | Well, John, there hasn't been yet any clarity. |
| 1:18.6 | And certainly if Marie-Colini Machado was going to return, |
| 1:21.2 | she probably would keep the details of that clandestine |
| 1:24.5 | because she understands that there are still, |
| 1:26.2 | as Delci Rodriguez has openly said, |
| 1:29.3 | outstanding charges and legal investigations against her. So there's some uncertainty whether |
| 1:34.0 | she would either be blocked from entry if she tried to do it in an overt way, rallying supporters, |
| 1:39.9 | or even when she got in the country, she could be picked up by the security services. And so what's likely is more cloak and dagger where she'll slip into the country and then appear at some rally, someplace to try to rally support, trying to make sure that the pressure of the third phase of the operation that you alluded to and that, you know, Marco Rubio has put out, you know, that first of all, we're looking for stability and then for reopening the Cuban economy and then for political transition. |
| 2:04.1 | You know, Maria Carina Machado, wanting to make sure that that third phase is actually gotten to the political transition to either have elections or, you know, probably less realistically recognize the legitimately elected democratic government of |
| 2:18.1 | Dermundo Gonzalez, of which Marie Kudina Machado is at least, you know, in a du jour fashion, |
| 2:22.8 | named as vice president. |
| 2:24.4 | And Delsa Rodriguez, she is part of the decision making in Venezuela now. |
| 2:30.4 | She's not absolute. |
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