Professor, activist, abolitionist and author of We Created Chavez, Geo Maher helps unpack what's going on in Venezuela from the often neglected perspective of the grassroots.

While the moves of state actors are to be watched and analyzed, Maher argues they alone do not hold the fate of Venezuela in their hands.

Semi-autonomous communities, mostly within the poorer barrios of the country, with roots older than even Chavez, wield a power that goes well beyond that of Maduro or the ruling Party. Maher talks about how those 'communes' and the history of the Bolivarian Revolution will be massive barriers to Trump's Imperialist agenda.

These 'experiments in democracy', as Maher refers to them, may hold some answers to the questions Canadians find themselves asking in the wake of Trump's threats against them. Namely, how do we best protect against US aggression?

Hosted by: Jessa McLean

Call to Action: Contact Your MP and demand Canada lift all sanctions against Venezuela

Related Episodes:

• Lessons From: South America, Alexander Moldovan on the social movements in Venezuela; stories of workers and communities fighting back while building networks of support.
• Canadian Mining Imperialism, on a Canadian landmark legal case that exposed the industry's use of sexual violence, destruction, and death in Guatemala.

More Resources:

• Venezuela Month of Action - International League of Peoples' Struggle
• BBC: US Discussing Options to Acquire Greenland
• Canada's Official Statement on Venezuela
• Guest's Recommended Read: America, América – Greg Grandin
• Canada imposes new sanctions against Venezuelan officials (Mar 2025)

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