The State of Venezuela

In this episode, we're joined by returning guest Joseph Humire, Executive Director of the Center for a Secure Free Society, and host of the new Border Wars podcast, to discuss recent developments along the Colombia-Venezuela border as they relate to Russia's ongoing invasion of neighboring Ukraine, as well as the recent trip by senior officials from the U.S. State Department to Caracas to meet with Nicolas Maduro and other officials from the regime's inner circle.   Joseph M. Humire is a national security expert, specialized in analyzing Transregional Threat Networks in the Western Hemisphere. Mr. Humire provides regular briefings and lectures on combating international terrorism, countering transnational organized crime, as well as China, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah’s influence in the Americas to various entities within the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as prominent think tanks and universities worldwide. He has testified numerous times before the U.S. Congress as well as the European and Canadian Parliament. Mr. Humire is a regular national security commentator and contributor for a variety of English and Spanish language media outlets, including Univision, Telemundo, CNN en Español, Fox News, The Hill, and Newsmax.   Joseph Humire's new podcast series, Border Wars, is both a documentary series and interview-style show that provides viewers and listeners alike a firsthand look into the geopolitical dimensions of border conflicts in the Western Hemisphere.   Links: Border Wars: Arauca, Colombia and Venezuela's Rising Tension I Episode 01 Border Wars Podcast: Weaponized Drug Trafficking I Episode 01 Washington Post: U.S. weighs engagement with Venezuela, a Russian foothold in America’s backyard Foreign Policy: Another Conflict Is Brewing in the Caribbean Human Rights Watch: Colombia-Venezuela Border Area Abuses by Armed Groups