NPR News: 01-04-2026 4AM EST
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Why was Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro captured in Brooklyn and what are the political reactions?
Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro is being held at a detention center in Brooklyn one day after U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife on a military base in Caracas. The military action was quick and its planning was kept a secret, even from members of Congress. Now members of both parties are complaining about being kept in the dark. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says Trump is being hypocritical by arresting Maduro while pardoning.
How do you explain? Be bold. And glaring contradiction.
How are Venezuelan officials and citizens responding to the shock of Maduro’s arrest?
between parting Mont uh Hernandez of Honduras. Who was convicted of I believe sending four hundred uh kilos of cocaine into the United States?
Venezuelan Vice President Del C Rodriguez, meanwhile, held a meeting with top leaders of the government on Saturday. She declared that there's still only one president of Venezuela, and that's Nicolas Maduro. She also remained defiant, saying the country will not be run by the US. Meanwhile, residents of the capital are waiting in lines in order to stock up on food and medicines. NPR's Kerry Kahn has more.
The overall sentiment in Caracas has been one of shock after the capital was rocked by explosions early Saturday morning. Retired government worker Sandra Martinez, however, says Maduro had to go.
What does China’s foreign ministry say about the legality of Maduro’s detention?
It was necessary already, she said, and if a transition is to happen, God willing, she said she hopes it will be peaceful. Shopkeeper Carlos Bernada, who is fifty seven years old, said he felt the shockwaves of the explosions, but now he's worried about what's next. Everyone is saying the next days will be difficult. He says he's decided to take the little money he has stashed away and buy as much food as he can.
China's foreign ministry says the US should immediately release Nicolas Maduro and his wife. In a statement, officials say the capture of Maduro violates international laws and norms. The capture of Venezuela's president comes some thirty six years after the US captured another leader, Panamanian president Manuel Norega, but as NPR's Frank Langfit reports, the path forward isn't quite as clear now as it was then.
John Feely, a former US ambassador to Panama, says one reason that invasion succeeded was because the political opposition was prepared to take over. He says President Trump's vision for Maduro's replacement is fuzzy.
How does the historical precedent of the 1989 Panama president capture inform the current situation?
There seems to be popular will to get rid of him. What there does not seem to be, in my view, so far, is any kind of transition plan.
On Sunday, President Trump said the U.S. would quote run Venezuela for now, promising a quote, safe, proper, and judicious transition later. Frank Langfitt, NPR News.
And you're listening to NPR News. Long track speed skaters will continue later today to try and qualify for the U.S. Olympic team at team trials in Milwaukee. Chuck Kornbach reports on women's and men's results Saturday in the one thousand meters events.
What are the plans and challenges for a potential transition of power in Venezuela?
Aaron Jackson was the first black woman to win an individual gold medal in the winter Olympics when she did so four years ago. Now the thirty-three year old Florida resident will skate in the women's one thousand meter event in next month's Milan Cortina Olympics after winning in Milwaukee. The former inline skater says she still loves to compete.
I feel like I started on the ice kind of late. I think I was like twenty-five, so I feel like I'm still kind of making up for lost time.
Connor McDermott Mistoey won the men's one thousand meters, top ranked skater Jordan Stoles fell at the start of his race, but still finished third. He had pre qualified for the Olympic team in the event. For NPR News, I'm Chuck Quernbach in Milwaukee.
National security advisors from Europe and other allies were meeting in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Saturday.
What security and diplomatic developments are unfolding in Ukraine and Iran?
They gather to discuss security guarantees and economic support for Ukraine once the fighting there stops. The meeting comes just days before European leaders will meet in Kyiv with Ukraine's president. That meeting take place takes place on Tuesday. In a sign that leaders in Iran may be taking a more aggressive approach with protesters there.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Why was Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro captured in Brooklyn and what are the political reactions?
0:01–0:33
2
How are Venezuelan officials and citizens responding to the shock of Maduro’s arrest?
0:33–1:20
3
What does China’s foreign ministry say about the legality of Maduro’s detention?
1:20–2:32
4
How does the historical precedent of the 1989 Panama president capture inform the current situation?
2:32–3:13
5
What are the plans and challenges for a potential transition of power in Venezuela?
3:13–4:03
6
What security and diplomatic developments are unfolding in Ukraine and Iran?
4:03–4:39