On The Freedom Side LIVE, Thursday, 1/08 at 12pm ET/ 9AM PT, Rania Khalek and Eugene Puryear are joined by special guests: Carlos Ron of the Tricontinental Institute and former Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister joins the show to challenge U.S. claims of “regime change” after Washington’s illegal attack and the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro, explaining that the government remains in power, the armed forces are intact, and mass mobilizations are demanding Maduro’s return and an end to U.S. aggression. Ron will discuss the latest escalation, from the U.S. seizure of a Russian-linked oil tanker to Trump’s claim that Venezuela has handed over up to 50 million barrels of oil, and the continuity of the Bolivarian Revolution in the face of intensifying U.S. pressure and disinformation. Eugene and Rania discuss the recent fatal shooting of a legal observer in Minneapolis by ICE. The killing occurred just one day after 2,000 ICE agents flooded the city as part of what the Dept. of Homeland Security called the “largest immigration operation ever.” Andreína Chávez Alava, a Venezuelan journalist based in Caracas, joins the show with on-the-ground updates as thousands continue to mobilize nationwide, demanding the return of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. Days after the U.S. attack, the full toll remains unknown; dozens were killed in just 140 minutes as nearly 150 aircraft struck military and civilian targets and dismantled Venezuela’s air defenses. Chávez will report on the human cost of the attack and how Venezuelans are organizing in the streets amid escalating U.S. aggression. Maureen Tkacik, investigations editor at The American Prospect, joins the show to discuss Marco Rubio’s role in pushing Trump’s attack on Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro which was sold to the public through a false drug-trafficking narrative. Tkacik breaks down Rubio’s own narco-terrorist ties, his push to elevate cartel-linked figures across Latin American governments, and why he appears determined to resurrect an Iran-Contra–style playbook. Giorgio Cafiero, CEO of Gulf State Analytics, joins the show to break down Yemen’s escalating proxy war as Saudi Arabia pushes UAE-backed forces out of eastern Yemen and moves to reshape the country into four regions. He will explain the intensifying conflict — and who stands to gain from Yemen’s fragmentation. 📅 LIVE Thursday, January 8 🕚 12 PM Eastern 🔔 Set a reminder and subscribe to Breakthrough News so you don’t miss it.

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