Ayesha Rascoe

The Sunday Story team includes Andrew Mambo, Jenny Schmidt, and Liana Simstrom.

Thomas Coltrane is our intern.

Our executive producer is Irene Noguchi.

I'm Aisha Roscoe.

Up First will be back tomorrow with all the news you need to start your week.

Until then, have a great rest of your weekend.

Now, a special bonus episode of Up First.

It's a conversation with the winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize from an undisclosed location as she continues to fear for her safety at the hands of Venezuela's ruling party.

That's in just a moment.

The committee says she is, quote, one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times.

That committee is the Nobel Committee, and they are referring to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whom they have honored with 2025's Nobel Peace Prize.

She's been in hiding since last year when Nicolas Maduro claimed victory in an election widely seen by independent experts as fraudulent.

And she joins us now.

Maria Corina Machado, congratulations.

What was it like to receive that phone call?

Were you expecting it?

Absolutely not.

I'm still in shock.

I think it's still unbelievable.

Well, you have been shot at, targeted by federal prosecutors, banned from running for office.