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.

Trudy Stern examines two seemingly distant crises—Venezuela and the war in Ukraine—and reveals how they are connected fronts in a broader global struggle against authoritarian regimes, terror networks, and criminal organizations. Joined by Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, she breaks down Venezuela’s role as a narco-terror state tied to cartels and terrorist groups, the strategic pressure campaign against the Maduro regime, and how these threats intersect with Russia’s war in Ukraine and wider efforts to undermine democracy, U.S. security, and global stability.

Trudy Stern sits down with Ambassador Jeff Bartos, the U.S. Representative to the UN for Management and Reform, to break down how the United Nations really works, why it’s struggling, and what America is doing to hold it accountable. They explore the UN’s shifting power dynamics, rising authoritarian influence, and Bartos’s mission to restore transparency, efficiency, and shared financial responsibility inside the institution.

On Nothing But the Truth, host Trudy Stern opens with a warning about what she calls a growing ideological war within America’s education system—one she links to long-term infiltration by radical anti-Western movements. She introduces guest Jeffrey Lax, a CUNY department chair who has become a vocal critic of rising antisemitism on campuses. Lax details a controversial job posting at Hunter College seeking an instructor aligned with anti-Israel ideology, arguing it reflects a deeper, systemic rot within CUNY’s leadership and curriculum approval process. He accuses state officials of superficial fixes and describes how academic culture has shifted from education to political indoctrination. Lax recounts alarming incidents from inside CUNY, including discriminatory comments from administrators, to illustrate how far the institution has fallen over the past decade.

In this episode of Nothing But the Truth, Trudy Stern sits down with Dr. Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies to break down the latest developments in the Middle East. They unpack the newly passed 20-point UN Gazan plan, why its origins are so surprising, and what it would actually require from Hamas, Qatar, and Israel. Schanzer explains the significance of the remaining unrecovered hostages, the leverage the U.S. now holds over Qatar, and why Hamas—despite its attempts to stall—has become a militarily depleted force. Together, they cut through the noise to clarify what this moment means for the region, American diplomacy, and the future of the conflict.

In this episode of Nothing But the Truth, Trudy Stern welcomes back journalist and analyst Karis Rhea to examine the rise of the “woke right”—a faction on the political right that blends grievance politics, identity ideology, and extreme rhetoric. They review the movement’s origins, key figures, and online networks, exploring how formerly fringe ideas are gaining traction among younger conservatives. Rhea also discusses recent developments, including the evolving roles of prominent figures like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Steve Bannon, and the Groiper movement, highlighting the ideological shifts and growing influence within mainstream conservative spaces.