Congressman Jim McGovern Talks US and Venezuela Tensions

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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

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Jim McGovern 0:40
Let's stick with Venezuela for a moment, though, knowing that this boat has been seized. And look, we've got another six tankers that have been sanctioned. So we could soon have our own shadow fleet, it sounds like. The president talked about this yesterday at the White House. Listen.
Joe Mathieu 0:53
It's about a lot of things, but one of the things it's about is the fact that they've allowed millions of people to come into our country from their prisons, from gangs, from drug dealers, and from mental institutions, probably proportionately more than anybody else. So it has to do with a lot of things. They've treated us badly, and I guess now we're not treating them so good.
Jim McGovern 1:13
That's where we start our conversation, with a gentleman from Massachusetts who has authored a War Powers Act that could soon hit the floor. Unless, of course, the Speaker doesn't want to see that happen. This is a conversation that Democrats and Republicans are having here in Washington. Jim McGovern, Democrat from Massachusetts, ranking member on the House Rules Committee, with us in studio right now. It's really great to see you. Happy to be with you. Thanks for coming in, Congressman. My pleasure. You've introduced this War Powers Resolution some time ago. Will it hit the floor soon? Yeah, I expect to force a vote on it next week. It'll be ripe to be considered on Wednesday or Thursday of next week.
Jim McGovern 1:53
We have Republican co-sponsors, Representative Massey and Representative Bacon and Marjorie Taylor Greene are on board on this resolution as well. You know, I Again, this is not a democratic initiative. This is a bipartisan effort by those of us who actually believe the Constitution means something and Congress has a role to play. And we don't want this president going into a war without a debate and without a vote and authorization by Congress. Would this be specific to Venezuela or more broad?

What are the current tensions between the US and Venezuela?

Jim McGovern 2:24
It would be specific to Venezuela because that's the conflict we seem to be getting sucked into. Although the clip you just showed of the president, he went on to further threaten Colombia, where he might do further action. But look, wars are easy to get into, they're hard as hell to get out of. And we have a history of talking tough, of getting sucked into these wars that cost billions and billions of dollars, and then we find ourselves in a quagmire that we can't get out of. I know for a fact that you understand the politics of the Caribbean better than most on Capitol Hill. You helped to begin normalizing relations with Cuba in the Obama administration. You've spent a lot of time in the region.
Jim McGovern 3:06
So what do you think the president's aim is here? Is it regime change or something else? Yeah, I think it's oil, quite frankly. I think this president is not about promoting human rights. He doesn't give a damn about democracy. And this is not about drugs. I mean, he pardoned the former president of Honduras, who's one of the biggest narco traffickers in the world. Hundreds of tons of cocaine. Yeah, so I think, I mean, there must be some financial interest in pursuing this policy for the president, because that's all he really cares about, making money for his family and money for those who are close to him. Look, our history in Latin America has been one of arrogance, has been one of putting profits ahead of human rights.
Jim McGovern 3:45
And by the way, this administration doesn't give a damn about human rights. They just issued their national security strategy. And this is the first administration.

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