NEWS

Maduro’s Capture by U.S. Forces Polarizes Reactions and Fuels Questions About Venezuela’s Future

Red River Radio | By Jeff Ferrell

Published January 5, 2026 at 10:27 AM CST

Government supporters demand President Nicolas Maduro's release from U.S. custody during a protest in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.

LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow worries that with no specific plans in place after Maduro's removal, chaos is already a serious concern inside Venezuela. He says there's a small window of time to restore order successfully with decisive short-term steps.

From pundits to politicians, many describe a complex picture that’s unfolding in Venezuela and here at home politically in assessing Saturday’s raid in Venezuela by U.S. forces, which ultimately led to the capture of the country’s President Nicolas Maduro. That complexity first arises from the strong reactions both for and against the military operation, either celebrating or condemning the action.
And second, the sheer number of questions that arise when a country’s leader is so swiftly removed from power and taken away; namely who's in charge now? Will there be elections in the not-too-distant future? and so on.
Exactly what happens now with the country's oil industry and word of American oil and gas giants returning to Venezuela adds just one more level of complexity to a country reeling from years of crises, and now U.S. intervention.

LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow, PhD Says he sees a very real possibility for Venezuela to successfully rebound in the long-term from its recent struggles with authoritarian regimes and return to a stable democracy, much like it has had in its not-too-distant past. Prof. Sadow worries, however, about the immediate future. — LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow, PhD, says he sees a very real possibility for Venezuela to successfully rebound in the long-term from its recent struggles with authoritarian regimes and return to a stable democracy, much like it had in its not-too-distant past. Prof. Sadow worries, however, about the immediate future.

LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow, PhD, says many people may not be all that familiar with the history of the South American nation. But Professor Sadow explains Venezuela had been one of the longest running and most stable democracies in the southern hemisphere until the last quarter century. It's that historical legacy of the country’s democratic traditions that leaves Sadow confident in the long-term return of normalcy and stability to Venezuela.
But, all the questions at the moment center around decisions that will be made in the days, weeks and months ahead and who exactly will be making the lion’s share of those decisions. Sadow says much of what happens to the country will likely be a function of what role the United States may or may not play in the country’s permanent transition of leadership.
Timing is critical, he says, and the window of opportunity for best results may be a narrow one. “In the short term, again, it’s just, it’s just so chaotic, Trump saying, ‘well, you know, maybe we’re gonna, maybe we’ll put some boots on the ground, maybe not. Doesn’t seem like that there’s much of a plan there. And of course there’s total chaos within the Venezuelan government and the population, what’s going on now. So, really we have to get those questions resolved in the very short term.”

U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro, Democrat from San Antonio, Texas, Congressional District 20, was among the lawmakers who had introduced a war powers resolution back in December to block President Trump from escalating operations in Venezuela. But the House rejected the idea. — U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro, Democrat from San Antonio, Texas representing Congressional District 20, was among the lawmakers who had proposed instituting a war powers resolution back in December to block President Trump from escalating operations in Venezuela. But the House rejected the idea.

Over the weekend in Texas, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio), also shared his reaction to the Trump administration's actions in Venezuela. Castro is the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. As Texas Public Radio reports, Castro said, “The administration did this without coming before Congress, without allowing Congress to weigh in, and more than that, without notifying the whole Congress, and even a big part of the folks on the foreign affairs committee and on the Intelligence Committee.” Castro says he fears Saturday’s military operation will only destabilize Venezuela further.
During an interview with NPR’s Daniel Estrin shortly after Maduro’s capture on Saturday, January 3, 2026, Castro explained this is exactly why he and other lawmakers had introduced a war powers resolution back in December to block President Trump from escalating operations in Venezuela. But the House rejected the idea.