Hosts Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo react to the January 3rd raid on Caracas that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. They examine the Venezuelan narco-state, its actions that led to this historic moment, and what distinguishes this from previous U.S. attempts at regime change.

They also discuss what could be next for Mexico, whose Morena regime openly condemned the U.S. operation.

Referenced in this episode:

In Venezuela, the Era of Escaping Consequences Is Over: https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/01/in-venezuela-the-era-of-escaping-consequences-is-over/

Mexico Is Acting Like an Adversary to the U.S.: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/mexico-is-acting-like-an-adversary-to-the-u-s-5ed0b781

Morena's Proyecto de Nación (2024-2030): https://morenademocracia.mx/proyecto-de-nacion-2024-2030/

Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hard-country/id1671237964

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iz8VwMiAU7FvW7Ewj9Vez

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Hosts Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo react to recent revelations about Russian spies residing in Mexico, President Trump threatening Mexico with higher tariffs over a water treaty, and opportunities to extract concessions in the upcoming USMCA trade agreement review.

They also discuss Mexico's refusal to give up cartel-connected political figures, President Claudia Sheinbaum's response to nine Mexican mayors being murdered in the past year, and Joshua's latest op-ed on Venezuela.

Referenced in this episode:

• New York Times: The U.S. Gave Mexico a List of Russian Spies. Mexico Let Them Stay.
• Reuters: Trump threatens Mexico with 5% tariff increase over water dispute
• Wall Street Journal: How to Save Trump’s USMCA
• Wall Street Journal: ‘Welcome to America!’ Captured Drug Lords Choose: Snitch or Suffer
• Wall Street Journal: Mexico’s President Has a Murder Problem
• Sheinbaum Announces the Michoacán Plan for Peace and Justice
• National Review: What Brought the Trump Administration to the Brink with the Venezuelan Regime

Mexico preaches the Estrada Doctrine of “non-intervention”—but the MORENA regime under AMLO and Claudia Sheinbaum has propped up dictators in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and beyond while trafficking millions across the U.S. border. Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo trace the hypocrisy from the 1860s French invasion and Maximilian’s fall to today’s oil shipments to Havana and Cuban “doctors” (read: spies) in Mexico City.

00:00 – Intro: Lincoln, Maximilian, and the birth of U.S. non-recognition
02:15 – The Estrada Doctrine: 1930 promise Mexico never kept
05:40 – Spanish Civil War: Mexico arms the Reds alongside Stalin
08:10 – 1915 Plan de San Diego: Mexican-backed race war in Texas
12:30 – 2019: Mexican Air Force rescues Evo Morales
15:45 – CELAC vs. OAS: MORENA’s anti-U.S. parallel summit
19:20 – Sheinbaum at CELAC 2025: “No coercion”… while sending oil to Maduro
22:50 – Cuban agents in Mexico & record oil exports to Havana
26:30 – María Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize—and Sheinbaum’s silence