News Brief: As Trump Attacks Venezuela, Media Takes His Absurd “Drug War” Pretext at Face Value

In this News Brief, we detail how the AP, Atlantic, Washington Post and New York Times are accepting Trump's framing that his attacks on Venezuela and Colombia are about "going after drug cartels" when it's clear they are—based on Trump's own words—about controlling Venezuela's oil. 

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Show Notes

News Brief: Venezuela and the NYT's Long History of Backing U.S. Coups (January 31, 2019)

News Brief: Rubio and Trump's Cynical Venezuelan Aid PR Stunt (February 13, 2019)

As Trump openly plots regime change in Venezuela, top Dems’ response ranges from silence to half-hearted opposition

Adam Johnson | October 17, 2025 | The Real News Network

U.S. intelligence memo says Venezuelan government does not control Tren de Aragua gang

Jasmine Garsd and Greg Myre | May 6, 2025 | NPR

Evaluation of the DoD Internal Controls Related to Patient Eligibility and Pharmaceutical Management Within the National Capital Region Executive Medicine Services

U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General | January 8, 2024

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Transcript

For a full transcript of this News Brief, go here. You can also find transcripts of past episodes, live shows, Beg-a-Thons, Interviews and News Briefs here.

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Credits

Senior Producer: Florence Barrau-Adams

Producer: Julianne Tveten

Production Assistant: Trendel Lightburn

Newsletter: Marco Cartolano

Music: Grandaddy

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