Debunking Venezuela

In the hours after the Jan. 3 US invasion of Venezuela, social media was inundated with fake videos and images. Some showed Venezuelans holding huge rallies in favor of the US invasion. Others showed US troops landing or firing from helicopters. Others showed Maduro being kidnapped. Not all were AI. Some were old, showing anti-government rallies from years past. Or from other places—other invasions or bombing raids, unrelated to the current US attack. But these videos racked up tons of views, misleading millions of people about what was happening on the ground. Many of those people still don’t know the truth. It was only the tip of the iceberg.<br /><br />Today, host Michael Fox looks at the misconceptions, myths, and misinformation that has been spread about Venezuela in the wake of the US invasion and, together with political scientist Steve Ellner, dives headfirst into the biased reporting and slanted truths that have underpinned the mainstream narrative on Venezuela in recent weeks, years, and decades. <br /><br /><a href="https://therealnews.com/under-the-shadow" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Under the Shadow</a> is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. Season 2 responds in real time to the Trump administration’s onslaught on Latin America.<br /><br />Hosted, written, and produced by <a href="https://www.patreon.com/mfox" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Michael Fox</a>. Script editing by <a href="https://www.heathergies.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Heather Gies.</a><br /><br />This podcast is produced in partnership between <a href="https://therealnews.com/under-the-shadow" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">The Real News Network</a> and <a href="https://nacla.org/under-shadow" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">NACLA</a>.  <br /><br />Theme music by <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nexDyQCZI89JH8zsYu5wa" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Monte Perdido</a> and Michael Fox. Monte Perdido's new album Ofrenda is now out. You can listen to the full album on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1THq4wHHqkY8yydUMJRmWj" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://www.deezer.com/pt/album/587476202" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Deezer</a>, <a href="https://music.apple.com/za/album/ofrenda/1746696244" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Apple Music</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n1lCcdFJEQczm-VSiraOuUpGcbzLxnRXs" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">YouTube</a> or wherever you listen to music. Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.<br /><br />Guests: <br /><a href="https://steveellnersblog.blogspot.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Steve Ellner</a><br /><a href="https://x.com/talhagin?lang=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Tal Hagin</a><br /><br />Resources <br /><ul><li>X users and media outlets fact checking the wave of fake videos and images posted online following the January 3 US invasion of Venezuela:<ul><li><a href="https://x.com/Shayan86/status/2007878255135887709" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">AI video</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://x.com/Shayan86/status/2008231629270008230" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Misinformation … Venezuela / great stuff - January 5</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://x.com/Shayan86/status/2007896154097209392" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">January 4</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://x.com/Shayan86/status/2007368249583739033" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">January 3</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.89P629E" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">AP - Ouster of Venezuela's Maduro unleashes waves of misinformation online</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://x.com/talhagin/status/2008182438992789759" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Chavez Mausoleum</a> </li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/technology/nicolas-maduro-ai-images-deepfakes.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">A.I. Images of Maduro Spread Rapidly, Despite Safeguards</a></li><li><a href="https://en.tempo.co/read/2081394/fact-check-viral-video-of-maduro-arrest-celebration-is-ai-generated?utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_medium=dlvr.it#google_vignette" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Fact Check: Viral Video of Maduro Arrest Celebration Is AI-Generated</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Under the Shadow<ul><li><a href="https://therealnews.com/under-the-shadow" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">You can check out the first season of Under the Shadow by clicking here</a></li><li><a href="https://therealnews.com/the-beginning-monroe-and-migration-under-the-shadow-episode-1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">The Beginning: Monroe And Migration | Under The Shadow, Episode 1</a></li><li><a href="https://therealnews.com/panama-us-invasion-under-the-shadow-episode-13" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Panama. Us Invasion. | Under The Shadow, Episode 13</a></li><li><a href="https://therealnews.com/he-legacy-of-monroe-under-the-shadow-bonus-episode-4" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">The Legacy Of Monroe | Under The Shadow, bonus Episode 4 </a></li><li>Michael Fox’s recent reporting on the boat strikes and the ramp-up for war in Venezuela: <ul><li><a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/world/venezuela-trump-air-strike-monroe-doctrine/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">With the Strike on a “Drug-Carrying Boat,” Trump Returns to a Dangerous US Policy for Latin America</a></li><li><a href="https://truthout.org/articles/caribbean-leaders-call-for-unified-latin-american-resistance-to-us-attacks/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Caribbean Leaders Call for Unified Latin American Resistance to US Attacks</a></li><li><a href="https://truthout.org/articles/trumps-monroe-doctrine-2-0-outlines-imperial-intentions-for-latin-america/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Trump’s Monroe Doctrine 2.0 Outlines Imperial Intentions for Latin America</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>NACLA’s <a href="https://nacla.org/a-curated-guide-to-the-us-attack-on-venezuela/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Curated Guide to the US Attack on Venezuela </a></li><li>Truthout’s ongoing reporting on <a href="https://truthout.org/section/war-and-peace/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">War and Peace</a> and the US invasion of Venezuela</li><li>Visit <a href="https://therealnews.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">TRNN</a> for all of The Real News’s coverage on this and so much more.</li></ul>Support Under the ShadowPlease consider supporting this podcast and Michael Fox’s reporting on his Patreon account: <a href="http://patreon.com/mfox" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">patreon.com/mfox</a>. There you can also see exclusive pictures, video, and interviews.<br />You can check out Michael’s <a href="https://therealnews.com/thousands-march-against-trump-war-venezuela" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">recent episode of Stories of Resistance</a> about the protests against US intervention in Venezuela.<br /><br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-news-podcast--2952221/support?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-news-podcast--2952221/support</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-news-podcast--2952221/support" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.</a><br /><b></b><br /><b>Follow us on:</b><br /><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/therealnews.com" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Bluesky: @therealnews.com</a><b><br /></b><a href="https://facebook.com/therealnews" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Facebook: The Real News Network</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/therealnews" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Twitter: @TheRealNews</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/therealnews" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">YouTube: @therealnews</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/therealnewsnetwork/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Instagram: @therealnewsnetwork</a><br /><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-news-podcast--2952221/support" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><b></b></a><br /><b></b><a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-news-podcast--2952221/support" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><b>Become a member and join the Supporters Club for The Real News Podcast today!</b></a>