Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Are Venezuela's troubles the legacy of populism?

    Twenty years ago, the late Hugo Chavez promised to save democracy in Venezuela. Today, Venezuela is moving toward a dictatorship, with the opposition divided against authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro. Late last year there were massive street protests, and this weekend the Supreme Court stripped the legislature of its power.

    • rss
    • Share
    By Warren Olney • Apr 4, 2017 • 1 min read

    Twenty years ago, the late Hugo Chavez promised to save democracy in Venezuela. Today, Venezuela is moving toward a dictatorship, with the opposition divided against authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro. Late last year there were massive street protests, and this weekend the Supreme Court stripped the legislature of its power. When the rest of the world took notice, that ruling was mostly reversed -- but economic depression continues, and the government refuses food or medical aid. We hear what life is like in the nation with the world’s largest oil reserves -- and hear a debate about how it got that way.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Is Venezuela becoming a dictatorship?
    1. 1:24Gas attack in Syria kills dozens, including children
    2. 8:00Are Venezuela's troubles the legacy of populism?You’re reading this
    3. 41:59Uncovering a secret meeting to establish Trump-Putin back channel
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sáša Woodruff

      Producer, 'To the Point'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Yael Even Or

      Producer, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Luke Vander Ploeg

      Producer, 'To the Point'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Andrew Rosati

      Bloomberg

    • KCRW placeholder

      Daniel Lansberg-Rodríguez

      Northwestern University / Foreign Policy magazine

    • KCRW placeholder

      Mark Weisbrot

      Center for Economic and Policy Research

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Is Venezuela becoming a dictatorship?
    1. 1:24Gas attack in Syria kills dozens, including children
    2. 8:00Are Venezuela's troubles the legacy of populism?You’re reading this
    3. 41:59Uncovering a secret meeting to establish Trump-Putin back channel
    Back to To the Point