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

Is there a way out for Venezuela?

I'm Leon Krause, in for Warren only, and this is to the point.

Venezuela sits atop the world's largest oil reserves,

but you wouldn't know it if you visited the country today.

Over the past 60 days, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have held massive protests,

fed up with a repressive government that is sinking the country into poverty and hunger.

The descent into potential chaos has become an increasingly complex challenge for the

international community. That will be our main topic. And later, on today's talking point,

what happens when reality becomes stranger than fiction? How does scripted TV like House of Cards,

the Americans, or the handmade's tale relate to politics in the age of Trump.

But first, here's the news.

Check out KCRW's all-news channel, News 24.

Programming from KCRW, NPR, the BBC, and more.

24 hours a day.

Check out KCRW.com slash News24 or listen on KCRW's app.

Support for To the Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International Program Fund.

I'm Leon Krause in for Warn only, and this is to the point.

Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war.

With time running out, what can the international community do to pull the country from the edge of collapse?

What sustains the repressive government led by President Nicolas Maduro? That's our main topic.

And on today's talking point, there once was a time when the TV series House of Cards

...