Vijay Prashad on those claiming Venezuela leadership made a deal with the USEvery single Western corporate newspaper has now run a story on how the Venezuelan leadership made a deal with US hyper-imperialism to hand over President Nicolás Maduro and Cillia Flores. These stories have the following points in common:
1. No names sources. All anonymous.
2. No indication that even the editor had spoken to the sources to verify the journalist’s very incendiary claims.
3. No acknowledgment that these same papers had cared nothing for the intricacies of Venezuelan politics until now.
4. No sense of how we now know fundamentally that Western intelligence uses these news outlets to allow its information warfare to strike the target.
5. These stories are impossible to rebut. They are based on anonymous sources, they put the people in the stories in a position to have to deny what is ridiculous, and they attain the objectives of those who want to sow division and dismay.
President Maduro from captivity: We trust Delcy RodríguezNational Assembly deputy Nicolás Maduro Guerra conveyed a message this Jan. 13 from his father, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In the communication, the head of state expressed his firm, unconditional support for Acting President Delcy Rodríguez and confidence in the government team. “Yesterday we had a message from him and from her; they tell us they are steadfast and strong, that they are clear about the role of struggle they must play, that they have peace of conscience and their faith placed in God and in the people of Venezuela. They trust in Delcy, in the team at the helm and in us. That was the message they sent us yesterday.”
TeleSur: Venezuela Rejects The Guardian Report on Alleged Secret TalksVenezuela rejected fake news published by the British outlet The Guardian, which claimed that Acting President Delcy Rodriguez and her brother, Jorge Rodriguez, had “secretly” reached an agreement with the US for the removal of President Maduro. The article, published Jan. 22, is titled “Delcy Rodriguez assured U.S. cooperation in the capture of Maduro.” The report relies exclusively on testimony from alleged “sources involved at high levels of the discussions,” whose identities are not disclosed. The Guardian report seeks to construct a narrative of conspiracy and betrayal at the highest level, describing alleged secret communications maintained since the fall of 2025. It claims that even after President Maduro refused to leave power following a phone call with Trump in November, Delcy Rodriguez continued to send messages of cooperation to Washington. This, combined with the total lack of corroboration from the public figures cited — such as Marco Rubio or Mauricio Claver-Carone, who declined to comment or did not respond — makes clear the unsubstantiated nature of the story.
Juventud Rebelde: Venezuelans with Delcy and against US military intervention Venezuelans display widespread support for acting president, Delcy Rodríguez. She has a 79% approval rating nationwide, while 95% oppose the US military aggression that culminated in the kidnapping of constitutional president Nicolás Maduro and his partner, Cilia Flores, an illegal action rejected by 94% of those consulted. 91% believed it was time for Venezuelans to unite and support Delcy.
Fair.org: Labeling Kidnapping a ‘Capture,’ Media Legitimate Violation of International Law Corporate media have deployed a lexicon of legitimation in their coverage of the deadly US invasion of Venezuela and the abduction of President Maduro, along with his wife and fellow politician Cilia Flores. Major news outlets have routinely described these events using words like “capture” or “arrest”, which presents them as a matter of enforcing the law against fugitives or criminals, and carries the built-in but false assumption that the US had the right or even duty to conduct its operation in the first place. The ludicrous premise is that any time an arrest warrant is issued somewhere in the US, the US has the right to do anything, anywhere in the world, in pursuit of the subject—including bombing another country, invading it, killing its citizens, and spiriting away its president and first lady.
Speech by Acting President Delcy Rodriguez before the National Assembly video with translation. Her speech starts at minute 32.
Testimony of a Cuban combatant who defended President Maduro “They had much more firepower than we did,” says Yohandri, “we only had light weapons. The other thing in their favor was that they seemed to know where everything was. So they fired at the barracks and dormitories where we Cubans were staying and managed to kill the leaders among the first.” “We had to shoot and shoot. Defend and kill,” he said. “We fought there against the planes that were strafing us. Even though our weapons were smaller, we didn’t stop fighting; we confronted them. I am trained and I know how to fight, but they were superior to us. At that moment, my only thought was to fight. We had to shoot, and I started doing it.” “Despite their firepower advantage,” he added, “I’m sure we inflicted casualties on them. More than they admit. We fought hard. We kept shooting until almost all of us were falling, dead or wounded.”
TeleSur: Beijing Pledges Continued Political and Economic Support for Cuba China has reaffirmed its commitment to providing sustained political and economic support to Cuba, underscoring a long-standing partnership rooted in shared strategic interests and resistance to external pressure. Beijing’s message signals not only solidarity, but a clear intention to remain engaged as a stabilizing partner in Cuba’s development and international positioning. China recently sent 30,000 tons of rice to assist the Cuban people. Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her country’s solidarity with Cuba, emphasizing that oil shipments to that country have not been halted.
TeleSur: Acting President Delcy Rodriguez Rejects U.S. Claims of Control Over Venezuela Acting President Delcy Rodriguez categorically stated that the Venezuelan government does not respond to external orders and obeys exclusively the will of its people. She said “The [US}Treasury secretary has made statements that are inappropriate and offensive. The people of Venezuela do not accept orders from any external force. The people of Venezuela have a government, and this government obeys the people. There is reciprocity between the Venezuelan people, their authorities and their institutions. At this difficult moment for the country, I am happy to have the honor of representing Venezuelans and obeying the Venezuelan people. We have no other external authority to obey. Regarding the personal threats I receive, I want you to know that I was already aware of them when I was sworn in as acting president. We are not afraid. Nor are we afraid of respectful relations with the United States, but they must be based on respect for international law, interpersonal relations, dignity and Venezuelan history.”
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Upcoming Events:
Week of Action for Venezuela January 23-31 https://linktr.ee/handsoffvenezuela
Saturday, January 31, 2:00 pm ET: NYC March for Venezuela. At Times Square — 43rd St & Broadway. End U.S. War & Sanctions on Venezuela! Free President Nicolás Maduro & First Combatant Cilia Flores! Abolish ICE! Flyers in English & Spanish, plus the many endorsing organizations, found here.
Monday, February 9, 2:30 pm ET: Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition monthly meeting on zoom.Email NicaraguaSolidarityCoalition@gmail.com for zoom access
Sarah Woodard 2026 U.S. Speaking Tour, March 10 – May 20. To invite her, or to send questions or offers of travel help (e.g., airplane miles), email sarah@jhc-cdca.org. Sarah Woodard represents the work of the Jubilee House Community, a nonprofit she helped form in 1979. She has worked the last 32 years in Nicaragua, with the Center for Development in Central America. The JHC-CDCA continues to respond to local needs, seeking resources to help the poor accomplish what they see as their priorities, particularly in the areas of sustainable economic development, organic agriculture, health care, and education. Now, with the world in chaos, Sarah’s U.S. tour is focusing on educating those in the global north on the amazing realities developing within Nicaragua where the social and political will is aimed at helping the majority of the population, the poorest of the poor. The preliminary tour schedule: https://www.jhc-cdca.org/blog/spring-2026-speaking-tour.
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Delegations to Cuba, Nicaragua:
Cuba – Video: Yes You can Travel to Cuba
Labor & Youth Activists Delegation, April 23- May 3
Building Relations with Cuban Labor May Day Delegation
NNOC 19th International May Day Brigade
May Day in Santiago de Cuba 2026 (download info doc)
Witness for Peace 2026 delegations to Cuba
Friendly Planet delegations to Cuba
Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade
Nicaragua
Casa Ben Linder Email casabenjaminlinder@gmail.com to apply:
7 -15 March 2026: Power & Protagonism: Women in Nicaragua
June 2026: Global Health: Family and Community Health in Nicaragua
July 2026: Solidarity in Action: Nicaragua’s Popular Revolution
October 2026: Salud & Solidaridad: Hands-On Healthcare in Nicaragua
Now offering Spanish classes! Fun and practical language classes at Casa Ben Linder – our model teaches 1/2 day class & 1/2 day practice in a community setting.
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Chicago ALBA Solidarity 