In a stunning display of American force, U.S. Special Forces remove Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in a rapid, high-precision operation that sends shockwaves across the globe. Trudy Stern is joined by leading international law expert Eugene Kontorovich to examine what the capture of Maduro means for Venezuela’s future, U.S. deterrence, and America’s adversaries—from China and Iran to Russia and Cuba. Together, they unpack the strategic message behind the operation, the legal authority underpinning it, the limits of regime change, and the dangerous precedents such actions may set in an increasingly unstable world.

As 2026 begins, Trudy Stern takes stock of a turbulent global landscape and asks whether President Trump’s promise to end wars and restore deterrence has delivered real results. Joined by Middle East and national security expert Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, the conversation examines the state of global conflict after 2025—from Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional proxies to shifting power dynamics in the Middle East, Ukraine, and beyond. Together, they assess where U.S. strategy has succeeded, where it has fallen short, and whether today’s conflicts are isolated crises or part of a broader global struggle shaping the year ahead.

On this episode of Nothing But the Truth, Trudy Stern speaks with Sydney-based psychotherapist and author Margo Lowy about the alarming rise of antisemitism in Australia. Drawing on her personal history and professional expertise, Lowy examines how a country once seen as one of the safest places for Jews began to change—and why warning signs were ignored until violence became unavoidable. Together, they explore denial, societal silence, and what Australia’s experience may reveal about risks facing other Western democracies, including the United States.