Careful in Caracas  

O

ver the past week, there has been an outbreak of “Venexplaining,” as many armchair theorists seem to have suddenly become experts on President Donald Trump’s decision to remove dictator Nicolás Maduro from power in Caracas. But what is really happening? How are people’s daily lives in Venezuela being affected by the rapid changes?

Mishpacha spoke with numerous Venezuelans on the ground to understand how they are experiencing these strange days. At their request, their names have been changed. This is largely due to the uncertain security situation for Jews following the turmoil of Maduro’s capture. Although the initial chaos has dissipated, the repercussions are still being felt — on the political situation, on the economy, on the country’s overall direction. There are still state militias patrolling the streets for anyone expressing anti-Maduro opinions, which they consider treasonous.

Maduro’s ouster has gradually made one thing clearer, though, and it came through in the words of the Venezuelans we spoke to: Now Caracas has to seek approval from Washington. And in certain ways, that is a big improvement.

But at first there was only the fog of a coup d’etat.