What Comes After Maduro: Trust in Machado, Legitimate Elections, and Venezuela’s Next Test - with Marcos Falcone Part 2

In the second half of America’s NewsHour, Bill Bernardoni continues the conversation with Marcos Falcone of the Cato Institute, digging into whether opposition leader María Corina Machado truly has the public support needed to govern—and what happens next if Venezuela moves beyond Nicolás Maduro. Falcone explains why Machado enjoys unusually high trust among Venezuelans, how fraudulent institutions remain entrenched even after Maduro’s removal, and why internationally recognized elections are the critical next step. The discussion also examines internal power struggles within the remnants of the regime, the risks of violence during a transition, and the difficult choices facing the Donald Trump administration as pressure builds for a legitimate democratic handover. Most importantly, Falcone outlines why Machado’s team may be more prepared for governing than the world realizes—and why that preparation could determine whether Venezuela finally restores liberty and democracy.

Should the U.S. push immediately for new elections in Venezuela, even if it risks short-term instability during the transition?