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Can't Keep Up with the Radical Left

The inconsistent left - a political cartoon
The inconsistent left - a political cartoon

From "No Kings" to Defending Venezuela's Dictator?

In the ever-shifting landscape of American political activism, few things highlight inconsistencies like the recent wave of protests following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Just months ago, progressive voices were chanting "No Kings" in response to the Supreme Court's July 2024 ruling on presidential immunity, emphasizing that no one—not even a U.S. president—should be above the law. Now, as Maduro faces arraignment in a New York federal court on January 5, 2026, on long-standing drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges, some on the radical left appear to have pivoted to defending a leader widely accused of authoritarianism, election rigging, and human rights abuses.


Maduro's dramatic fall came after U.S. military strikes in Venezuela in early January 2026, leading to his capture alongside his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation, authorized under President Donald Trump's second administration, marks the culmination of years of U.S. pressure on the Venezuelan regime. Trump has since proclaimed that the U.S. will oversee Venezuela's transition, warning other nations that similar actions could follow. The charges against Maduro date back to a 2020 indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice under Trump's first term, accusing him of leading a "narco-terrorism" conspiracy to flood the U.S. with cocaine. A $15 million bounty was initially placed on his head at that time.


Contrary to some narratives, the groundwork for the US antagonism with Venezuela was started by the Obama Administration. The Obama administration imposed initial sanctions on Venezuelan officials in 2015 for human rights violations and corruption. During Trump's first term the DOJ issued the criminal indictment and bounty in 2020. The Biden administration later escalated the reward to $25 million in January 2025 following Maduro's stolen 2024 reelection. Trump doubled the reward again to $50 million in August 2025 upon returning to office. In essence, Obama started the anti-Venezuela rhetoric, Trump initiated the legal pursuit, Biden amplified it, and Trump executed the capture.


The scheduled arraignment today in Manhattan of Maduro has drawn international scrutiny, with the United Nations Security Council convening to discuss the crisis. Maduro, held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, is expected to appear before Judge Alvin Hellerstein, where he and his wife Cilia Flores will face charges including narcoterrorism and money laundering. Protests have erupted outside the courthouse and in cities like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago, with demonstrators condemning the U.S. actions as imperialistic and demanding Maduro's release.


Critics argue these protests reveal a stark hypocrisy. The same activists who decried potential "king-like" immunity for U.S. leaders now rally for a man who has clung to power through stolen elections, suppressed opposition, and overseen a humanitarian crisis that displaced millions of Venezuelans. Reports suggest many protests are organized by groups like The People's Forum, a socialist NGO allegedly funded by Chinese billionaire Neville Roy Singham, who has ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Singham, based in Shanghai, has reportedly funneled tens of millions to such organizations, which produce uniform signs and mobilize crowds rapidly—often with few actual Venezuelans involved.


Identical signage appearing in multiple cities has fueled accusations of "astroturfing"—manufactured grassroots movements. China, a key ally to Maduro's regime through massive oil-for-loans deals worth over $100 billion, has vocally condemned the capture and urged Maduro's immediate release, framing it as U.S. "toppling" of a sovereign government. This financial entanglement explains Beijing's outrage: Maduro's ouster disrupts China's strategic foothold in Latin America.


However, it's worth noting that not all left-leaning groups support Maduro. Many progressives and Venezuelan exiles in the U.S. celebrate his capture as a step toward accountability, viewing him as a corrupt dictator rather than a socialist hero. A stark example is a recent interview with former CIA head John Brennan, when Jen Psaki, on a MSNBC interview, phrased a question expecting him to bash Trump's actions. Instead, he praised the operations success, calling Maduro an "illegitimately installled dictator" that needed to be taken down. The protests seem driven by a niche of anti-imperialist activists aligned with global powers like China and Russia, who have publicly backed Maduro. This raises questions about foreign influence in U.S. demonstrations, echoing broader concerns over hybrid warfare tactics.


As Maduro's court appearance unfolds, the world watches a geopolitical chess game. For Venezuelans suffering under his rule, this could signal hope for democratic restoration. For critics of U.S. intervention, it's another chapter in a long history of hemispheric dominance. Yet the rapid flip from decrying unchecked power at home to shielding it abroad underscores the complexities—and potential contradictions—in ideological activism.


Whether these protests represent genuine solidarity or funded agitation, they highlight how global agitators can shape domestic discourse.


Sources:

"No Kings" Slogan and Supreme Court Presidential Immunity Ruling (2024)

2. Protests Defending Maduro After U.S. Capture (January 2026)

3. Allegations of Paid Protests, Uniform Signs in Multiple Cities

4. Links to Chinese Billionaire Neville Roy Singham and Funding of Protests

5. Maduro's Arraignment in New York (January 5, 2026)

6. Obama Administration Sanctions/Embargo on Venezuela

7. Biden Administration Warrant, Bounty, and Rules for Apprehension

8. Trump Administration Indictment (2020) and Execution of Capture

9. John Brennan Interview Praising the Operation

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