All In Interview - Maria Corina Machado - Recap and Notes - October 28 2025

 October 28 2025

• Background and the tragedy of oil wealth
  • Political context
    • María Corina Machado (MCM) won the Nobel Peace Prize shortly before this interview.
    • She won the presidential primary in October 2023 but was disqualified from the general election.
    • MCM appointed Edmundo Gonzalez as her surrogate candidate.
    • The opposition claimed 69.12% of the general election votes, contradicting Maduro's declaration of 51% victory.
  • Oil reserves and history
    • Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world at roughly 300 billion barrels.
    • The economic boom started after oil discovery in 1914 and accelerated in 1922.
    • The economy transitioned from investment by the "seven sisters" oil companies to nationalized oil production.
  • Lesson
    • Venezuela, once among the richest and freest countries in the Americas, has become one of the poorest.
    • Natural endowments are not wealth; wealth requires talent, institutions, and freedom to turn resources into well‑being.
• Rise of Chávez and the socialist cycle
  • Pre‑Chávez conditions
    • Venezuela had widespread education and health care but lacked a truly free economy due to excessive state control.
    • The state controlled the economy because oil companies had been nationalized.
    • A political crisis, corruption, and low oil prices (around $8–14 a barrel) created tension.
  • Chávez takes power (1999)
    • Chávez used a populist narrative promising equality and revenge against elites.
    • He aligned with foreign actors, specifically Fidel Castro in Cuba.
    • Oil prices quickly spiked to $100–150 a barrel, giving Chávez massive resources.
  • Consequences of socialism
    • The approach turns into a coercive state where the government dictates decisions.
    • The goal becomes making everyone "equal in absolute misery".
    • Key insight: There is no socialism without tyranny.
• Consolidation of tyranny and criminal networks
  • Dismantling democracy
    • Media control: Purchase of outlets and censorship made it risky to speak out.
    • Destruction of meritocracy: Competent individuals removed; only absolutely loyal people promoted in military, state jobs, and academia.
    • Oil money used to buy loyalty, lobby, and support ideological groups globally.
  • Global tyranny coordination
    • Autocratic groups exchange technology, information, and support each other in international forums.
    • Democratic movements have been comparatively isolated.
  • Massive corruption
    • Estimates suggest over $2 trillion stolen in 26 years.
  • Humanitarian crisis
    • 86% of the population lives in poverty.
    • Pensions are less than $1 a month.
    • Roughly 9 million people (about 30% of the population) have fled the country.
  • Criminal structure
    • Activities include drug trafficking (Cartel de los Soles), gold smuggling, arms smuggling, and human trafficking.
    • Venezuela became a safe haven for enemies of the West.
    • Ties to Russia (major weapons buyer), Iran (financial system to bypass sanctions), and groups like Hezbollah and Hamas (given Venezuelan passports).
  • Maduro's role
    • Chosen by the Cubans for total loyalty; lacks Chávez's charisma but uses extreme violence and force.
  • China's involvement
    • Venezuela is China’s main debtor (over $60 billion).
    • China stopped funding Maduro about seven years ago due to extreme corruption but continues to receive oil for debt payments.
    • China maintains intelligence and satellite installations.
• MCM's path and the fight against repression
  • Civic engagement
    • MCM co‑founded Sumate to organize petitions for a recall referendum.
    • Ran for Congress in 2010, winning with the highest number of votes in Venezuelan Congress history.
    • The Internet was crucial for organizing and victory because state media would not interview her.
  • State violence
    • After accusing Maduro of human rights violations at the OAS in 2014, MCM was expelled from the National Assembly.
    • The regime uses Cuban intelligence to infiltrate and violently suppress peaceful protests.
    • Methods include systematic detention, torture, and sexual assault. About 2,500 people were imprisoned in 24 hours after a key election.
    • The regime targets activists' families, seizing mothers or children if the activist is not found.
    • Actions are described as state terrorism and crimes against humanity.
  • Unification
    • MCM traveled across the country despite a flight ban, driving her car.
    • Unity achieved is about human dignity, not left/right politics.
    • MCM asserts that 90% of the population is unified, enabling an orderly transition.
• Epic strategy to prove victory (2024 election)
  • Primary
    • The 2023 primary was organized entirely by citizens to restore trust, without regime involvement.
    • Over 3 million people voted; MCM won 92% of the vote, leading to her ban.
  • Challenge
    • Facing an extremely fraudulent electoral system, the opposition aimed to prove victory to the world.
  • Organization
    • Operated with a zero‑publicity budget.
    • Built a "legion" of over 1 million volunteers trained to monitor polling stations.
    • Developed apps for monitoring and smuggled hardware (Starlink, generators, laptops) into the country.
    • Installed 130 operational centers nationwide.
  • Audit
    • Collected, scanned, and published original poll sheets on a robust digitized webpage.
    • In under 24 hours, they demonstrated victory; data audited by 20+ independent technicians.
    • Set a new standard for electoral integrity.
  • Way forward
    • Maduro has been defeated in hearts, minds, and ballot boxes.
    • Next step is to break the criminal structure by cutting inflows of criminal money.
    • Goal is to transform Venezuela into an energy hub, technology hub, and democracy hub of the Americas.
• Warning to the West
  • Taking freedom for granted
    • Many believed "Venezuela is not Cuba" and took democracy for granted.
    • Peace and prosperity require freedom and democracy.
  • The cost of "free"
    • Offers of things "for free" ultimately cost people their freedom and decision‑making capacity.
  • Mandate
    • Democracy must be defended every day; once lost, it is very hard to recover.