“He’s counting on being able to wait this out,” said Cynthia Arnson, a fellow at The Wilson Center. “The problem is the country is in a death spiral and there’s no chance the economy will recover without the legitimacy that comes from a fair election.” apnews.com/article/venezu…

Brazilian flag briefly raised at Argentine ambassador’s residence in Caracas today. A half dozen opposition activists have been holed up in the diplomatic compound for weeks, avoiding arrest. Maduro threw out Argentina’s dips, so now Brazil is the mission’s caretaker.

Nobody answering at the Buenos Aires offices of Ex-Cle. The Argentine firm runs the voting machines in Venezuela after the previous vendor left, denouncing fraud. Ex-Cle, which the U.S. sanctioned in 2020, has so far refused to answer questions about the presidential election

Citing the need for prosecutorial integrity, U.S. Department of Justice is refusing to release info about the alleged crimes of Alex Saab, a close ally of Nicolás Maduro. Lawmakers led by Chuck Grassley requested the case file after Biden swapped Saab for Americans jailed in Venezuela.

The last time anyone heard from Edni López was when the 33-year old was preparing to board an international flight. What happened next remains a mystery — one contributing to the fear that has engulfed Venezuela following its disputed presidential vote. apnews.com/article/venezu…

The spree of detentions — urged on by Maduro himself — is unprecedented, and puts Venezuela on pace to easily exceed those jailed during three previous crackdowns against government opponents. apnews.com/article/f59c93…

Internet searches on Goudreau’s cell phone allegedly included “how to be a successful fugitive.” Feds say the ex Green Beret tied to a failed coup in Venezuela also moved savings into cryptocurrency and snuck across the U.S. border into Mexico and Canada apnews.com/article/venezu…

Prosecutors allege Goudreau also spent $90k on a yacht to transport ammo for AR-15 rifles. But the gear never made it because the yacht sank in the middle of the Caribbean. Goudreau and an unnamed associate had to be rescued by a passing tanker. apnews.com/article/venezu…

A grandy jury in Miami charged the co-founder of Smartmatic with paying $1 million in bribes to officials in the Philippines. The Florida-based voting machine firm got its start running elections in Venezuela and is a target of allies of Donald J. Trump apnews.com/article/smartm…

Follow: Chuck Grassley decries "disastrous" Biden policy on Venezuela for freeing Maduro ally Alex Saab in a failed bid to promote democracy. Grassley adds a link on how to redact text from a PDF in snarky retort to U.S. Department of Justice for disclosing zilch about the closed case.

A panel of experts sent by the United Nations to monitor Venezuela’s recent presidential election said the vote counting lacked “basic transparency and integrity,” adding that the lack of published results “had no precedent in contemporary democratic elections.” apnews.com/article/venezu…

White House now walking this back. A spokesperson said Biden was not referring to the Brazilian proposal for an election re-do but responding to a question about whether he thought Maduro was wrong to claim he won the July 28 vote. "I do," President Biden said. apnews.com/article/brazil…

Investigation by Armando.Info into Ex-Cle, the tech firm sanctioned by the U.S. that has been running Venezuela's elections. According to this report, two Argentine executives who ran the Caracas office have left Venezuela and returned home. armando.info/como-privatiza…

“We don’t know how committed they are to democracy,” said Javier Corrales about diplomatic efforts in Venezuela by LatAm's left. “Maybe in private they are pressuring Maduro to step down but in their statements there’s no evidence this is a priority.” apnews.com/article/venezu…

One of the nation’s most prolific federal narcotics prosecutors flouted ethics rules when he drunkenly handed his business card to police investigating a hit-and-run, DOJ Inspector General found. Joseph Ruddy was spared a DUI by state prosecutors. W/ Jim Mustian apnews.com/article/dui-fe…

Does American tennis have a pickleball problem? apnews.com/article/6a95ff…

US government seizes plane used by Venezuelan president, citing sanctions violations (from The Associated Press) with ⁦Regina Garcia Cano⁩ and ⁦Joshua Goodman⁩ apnews.com/article/cceb18…

The San Marino-registered luxury jet was previously owned by Florida-based Six G Aviation, a broker. FAA records indicate it was exported to St. Vincent & Grenadines in 2023. "I've been instructed by FBI not to talk to anyone," Six G's owner told The Associated Press. apnews.com/article/justic…

“If I were put in his shoes, I would’ve gotten out of Dodge way before an indictment,” a federal judge in Tampa said in ordering Jordan Goudreau’s release pending his trial on weapons smuggling charges tied to a failed coup attempt in Venezuela. apnews.com/article/venezu…

In Jan. 2020, Goudreau was interviewed by federal law enforcement and assured agents from HSI/CBP he would not export any weapons without a license, according to a report cited by the prosecutor. Two months later he did just that, the government alleges. apnews.com/article/53bff1…