In this episode of We The People, we take a hard, no-nonsense look at U.S.–Cuba relations and the real impact of decades-long sanctions. From the legal foundation of the embargo to the renewed pressure strategy in early 2026, this episode breaks down what authority the United States actually has, what strategic goals sanctions are meant to achieve, and whether they are producing measurable results. We examine Cuba’s worsening energy crisis, prolonged blackouts, and humanitarian suffering, separating political narratives from structural realities that long predate recent policy changes. The discussion also explores the limits of diplomacy, the difference between communication and negotiation, and why “dialogue” alone has failed to move the needle. This episode challenges viewers to ask the harder question: is current pressure being used intelligently, with clear benchmarks and an endgame, or is it simply enduring policy without outcomes? A sober, fact-driven analysis focused on law, strategy, national security, and the human consequences on the Cuban people.

In this powerful episode of We the People, host Alina Gonzalez Dockery breaks down two seemingly separate crises—Venezuela’s post-Maduro power struggle and violent unrest in Minneapolis—and reveals the common thread: when systems lose control, the public pays the price.

We examine the confirmed removal of Nicolás Maduro, the interim leadership of Delcy Rodríguez, and what truly determines whether Venezuela returns to democracy or falls into a rebranded regime. From oil leverage and U.S. oversight to political prisoners, cartel influence, and election benchmarks, this episode separates fact from propaganda.

Back at home, Minneapolis becomes a national case study as federal ICE enforcement, political rhetoric, and public protests collide—resulting in deaths, injuries, and forced coordination between President Trump, Governor Tim Walz, and Mayor Jacob Frey.

In this compelling episode of We The People (aired January 23, 2026), host Alina Gonzalez Dockery examines Venezuela’s historic turning point following the removal of Nicolás Maduro. Joined by José Pereira, former Citgo president and one of the Citgo Six, the conversation reveals the brutal realities of political imprisonment, hostage diplomacy, and life inside Venezuela’s darkest prisons.

Drawing from firsthand experience, Pereira explains why removing a dictator is only the beginning—and why dismantling a corrupt system rooted in fear, military control, and compromised courts is the real challenge. The episode explores accountability, democratic transition, U.S. involvement, and the hope of rebuilding Venezuela through free elections, institutional reform, and economic recovery.