Fentanyl: WMD or an excuse for War with Venezuela? Episode 34

President #Trump declared fentanyl a "weapon of mass destruction," as the U.S. continues strikes against small boats from #Venezuela . The Trump administration alleges the boats are smuggling drugs into the U.S. More than 90 have been killed since the boat strikes began. One of the most controversial Caribbean boat strikes occurred on Sept. 2, and included a "double tap," in which the US initiated a second strike to kill 2 survivors of the first strike. Doubts remain about how this second strike was carried out and whether it met the standards of the military code of conduct; Congress has since called upon Admiral Bradley to testify about the double tap incident. Members of #Congress have reviewed unreleased footage of the second strike, and President Trump has deferred to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to decide whether to release video of the second strike.Fentanyl kills around 70,000 to 80,000 Americans each year, and the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. is a grave tragedy, but it could also be a convenient excuse for toppling the Maduro regime. Previously, Trump has cut funding for research into substance use disorder, and he has also pardoned people convicted of drug trafficking charges.Clarification: the U.S. intercepted a Venezuelan *oil tanker/the Skipper* last week off the coast of Venezuela, *not an aircraft carrier,* as mentioned. After this video was recorded, President Trump announced a blockade against sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers. This episode was recorded on December 16, 2025. All opinions are our own and do not reflect those of any institution or affiliation, past or present.