Donald Trump’s second presidency has come with a surprising, but much-needed twist: making the Western Hemisphere a top foreign policy priority, once again. For over a century, this strategic thinking guided U.

Maduro took office last week for a third consecutive term. Now, he’s consolidating his position as dictator Nicolás Maduro has now been in power in Venezuela since 2013 – gradually usurping power over the past twelve years until becoming a full dictator.

The message seemed designed to reach Washington as one administration prepares to hand the baton to the next: If the United States keeps messing with Venezuela, then Caracas will retaliate by “liberating” the US territory of Puerto Rico,

The first thing greeting me as I disembarked from my flight in Caracas was a wanted poster for one Edmundo González Urrutia. The reward was $100,000. Not

Maduro's promised election was neither fair nor free, and the longtime president was sworn in this month for a third six-year term despite credible evidence that his opponent got more votes. Yet, the sanctions reprieve the U.S. offered “to support the restoration of democracy” is still helping fill state coffers.

President Nicolas Maduro looks on during a press conference after testifying before the electoral chamber at main headquarters of the Supreme Court of Justice on Aug. 2, 2024, at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela.