The World from PRX

A man in a military uniform and cap speaks into a microphone while gesturing with both hands during a ceremony. He stands in front of a group of uniformed military personnel seated behind him. A ceremonial sword is displayed on a glass podium to his left.

As US pressure mounts, Venezuela’s president cracks down on dissent

Full Episode
49:05

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a civic-military event at the military academy in Caracas, Venezuela, Nov. 25, 2025.

Ariana Cubillos/AP

As the US ramps up military pressure on Venezuela, the Maduro government is tightening its grip at home. Families of political prisoners describe disappearances, torture and a justice system that forces detainees to accept state-appointed lawyers. Also, Hong Kong officials have announced that more than 150 people are now confirmed dead after last week’s massive fire that gutted several high-rise apartment buildings in the Tai Po district. And, a discussion about the status of peace talks for Ukraine. Plus, a radiation-eating fungus found at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air.

In This Episode

As US pressure mounts, Venezuela’s Maduro cracks down on dissent
6:53
Searching for the cause of a deadly Hong Kong fire
6:24
‘That’s not negotiation, that’s acquiescence’: A former diplomat on Ukraine peace talks
8:22
Postcard from flood-stricken city in Thailand
6:37
A busy city street is lined with trees and flanked by modern high-rise buildings under a partly cloudy sky, with cars and buses visible on the road.
Shenzhen: The city that rewrote China’s future
Special Coverage
9:51
In Chernobyl, a fungus eats radiation
5:10
Pub-goers get free pints when Northern Ireland’s Charlie Smyth scores in NFL debut
1:42
As US pressure mounts, Venezuela's president cracks down on dissent - The World from PRX