January 6, 2026 • 7 mins
Host of the Enrique Santos Show and President and Chief Creative Officer of iHeartLatino, Enrique Santos, explains the reaction within the Venezuelan community to Maduro’s capture.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Go to the hotline and bring in host of the
Enrique Santos Show, President and chief creative officer of iHeart Latino.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Enrique Santos is back with us. Enrique.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
I want to thank you so much for taking a
few minutes to come on the show, and I wanted
to connect with you about this story involving the capture
of Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
What was your reaction when you first saw the news?
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Good morning, Ryan, and I disagree with you. A couple
of days ago you said we can't say Happy New
Year for a couple of days if I haven't talked
to you, if I haven't seen.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
You, three day rule each other so hard and fast
ruling rey k three days. I don't agree with the
three day rule.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I like saying Happy New Year, buddy.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Great to be with you.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
What did I feel the same thing that a lot
of people felt?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Wow, unbelievable? Is this really happening?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Am I watching a lot Netflix series? My Little Isn't us?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Custody?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Amazing? Definitely, shock, definitely a bit of surprise and celebration
at the same time. And hope, I would say, hope, what.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Have you been hearing from those within the Venezuelan community,
especially in South Florida. I mean, we've seen some of
the celebrations and things like that, but those who you've
talked to, what have they been saying directly to you.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Well, listen, these celebrations in South Florida, and I say
around the world right now, are because of the Venezuelan
the aspora. Right people who were forced to flee their
homeland under Chavas, under Malutle. They're reacting to the fact
that Maludu is now in custody. For them, isn't politics,
this is personal. Venezuela has seen more than seven million
(01:39):
people displaced, one of the largest refugee crisises in the
entire world. There are hundreds of political prisoners, documented cases
of torture, abuse, disappearances, and a regime that's deeply tied
to narco trafficking and organized crime, like we've just seen
in the indictment that was just released. So people are
celebrating that revenge. But I would say, of you know,
(02:01):
the idea that a figurehead of repression is finally facing justice.
So this is a it's a celebration also, not just
for Venezuelan's but for Cubans like my parents and my grandparents.
I'm Cuban Americans, so I'm celebrating this as well. For
Nico Rogwins. Anyone who's lived under dictators like Castro, like Tonilkday,
got child is my little So what is a better
place without these people in power? Anyone who believes and
(02:24):
respects and loves democracy understands that.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
We're joined by host of the Enrique Santo Show and
president and chief creative officer of iHeart Latino, Enrique Santosis
with us this morning. Let's talk about the Cuban community
for a moment, which you're part of. Is there a
feeling of hope or is it still kind of hard
to wrap your head around, you know, something like what
we're seeing in Venezuela happening there.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
There's definitely hope, you know. I would love to see
a free Cuba in my lifetime. I would love to
visit a pre Venezuela, which I never have. And that
is the hope. That's the hope that's been rekindled. I
would say with the arrest of Niculace Malula, not just Venezuelans,
but for anyone who is forced to leave their country
like my parents and my grandparents, and that this amazing country,
the United States of America, opened its arms to my
(03:12):
parents and grandparents. And because of that great heart and
that respect for democracy and wanting to make people lives better,
my life is so much better because I was born
here in the United States. So I understand and I
respect that not just Cubans and Nicaraguans and anyone who
lives under oppression and under these dictatorships. Venezuelans included that
(03:32):
we don't want a Madudle gone only to see the
system continue. Madula's vice president, Elsie Rodriguez, we just saw
yesterday has been sworn in. So people are asking is
this real change, real change, or is is this just
Maludle without Madudle, a continuation of that dictatorship. So I
think that all lovers of democracy around the world, what
we want is what we want to see, we would
(03:54):
love to see, is justice served. I think we're want
to step closer with the arrest of Madrudle, what Venezuelan's
in particular as well, watch justice which again has already started,
and then a real chance to choose the future democratically,
without fear, without manipulation, without violence.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Final question for you.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
You know, I was talking about this this earlier because
there is a concern what comes next in Venezuela, especially
with who's currently leading the country. But it's also very
early on in this process. It's it's probably going to
be a messy process. This stuff doesn't just happen easily
(04:33):
moving forward. What do you think the Venezuelan community and
in the broader South Florida community will be looking for,
especially from the Trump administration Secretary of State Marco Rubio,
to help ensure that Venezuela eventually has that choice that
(04:53):
everyone there and so many who have had to flee
that country are seeking.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah. First, I think we have to recognize that there's
thirty more than thirty million Venezuelans in the country. There's
many internal groups, there's many different views, but they all
share one thing. They don't want a continuation of the
same regime, right, and I think the Venezuelans and Venezuela
it self deserves that a real change, a democratic change
(05:19):
where they can again freely elect their next leader. I
think there's a lot of fear within the country and
around the world that if there's no negotiated transition and
the military fractures stability is absolutely possible, so that can
lead to.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
A civil war.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
So what's next for Venezuela is really unclear. You know,
any intern leadership, I would say, tied to the old regime,
which is what we just all sworn in yesterday, is
going to lack credibility. And that's where people are concerned
right now. Re elections with international oversight are the only
legitimate path. How do we get there? I think that
the Trough administration and Marco Rubio I applaud the administration
(05:56):
by what's been done. I think that no one can
argue that this was done by our Delta Force in
a very well organized and correct correct way. Was it
was amazing, really what was done. This is a law
enforcement operation, like Marco Rubio explained. Although there's a lot
(06:16):
of people that don't agree with this, I don't know
how you cannot agree with with a dictatorship that has
so much bloodshed on his on his hands. The world
is better is a world, The world is definitely a
better place with this man in custodium that he is
now facing justice. I really hope that the administration gets
this right, that they support the Venezuelan people so that
(06:37):
they can have free and fair elections and that they
can really elect their way forward in a democratic, democratic way.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Host of The Enrique Santo Show and President and chief
creative officer of iHeart Latino. Enrique Santos back with us
and Enrique. Always great to catch up with you. Thanks
for taking a few moments to come back on this morning.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Thank you, Ryan, and again happy to here. Same to
you with The Ryan Gorman Show five to nine, every
weekday morning on news radio w FLA.
Go to the hotline and bring in host of the
Enrique Santos Show, President and chief creative officer of iHeart Latino.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Enrique Santos is back with us. Enrique.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
I want to thank you so much for taking a
few minutes to come on the show, and I wanted
to connect with you about this story involving the capture
of Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
What was your reaction when you first saw the news?
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Good morning, Ryan, and I disagree with you. A couple
of days ago you said we can't say Happy New
Year for a couple of days if I haven't talked
to you, if I haven't seen.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
You, three day rule each other so hard and fast
ruling rey k three days. I don't agree with the
three day rule.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I like saying Happy New Year, buddy.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Great to be with you.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
What did I feel the same thing that a lot
of people felt?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Wow, unbelievable? Is this really happening?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Am I watching a lot Netflix series? My Little Isn't us?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Custody?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Amazing? Definitely, shock, definitely a bit of surprise and celebration
at the same time. And hope, I would say, hope, what.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Have you been hearing from those within the Venezuelan community,
especially in South Florida. I mean, we've seen some of
the celebrations and things like that, but those who you've
talked to, what have they been saying directly to you.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Well, listen, these celebrations in South Florida, and I say
around the world right now, are because of the Venezuelan
the aspora. Right people who were forced to flee their
homeland under Chavas, under Malutle. They're reacting to the fact
that Maludu is now in custody. For them, isn't politics,
this is personal. Venezuela has seen more than seven million
(01:39):
people displaced, one of the largest refugee crisises in the
entire world. There are hundreds of political prisoners, documented cases
of torture, abuse, disappearances, and a regime that's deeply tied
to narco trafficking and organized crime, like we've just seen
in the indictment that was just released. So people are
celebrating that revenge. But I would say, of you know,
(02:01):
the idea that a figurehead of repression is finally facing justice.
So this is a it's a celebration also, not just
for Venezuelan's but for Cubans like my parents and my grandparents.
I'm Cuban Americans, so I'm celebrating this as well. For
Nico Rogwins. Anyone who's lived under dictators like Castro, like Tonilkday,
got child is my little So what is a better
place without these people in power? Anyone who believes and
(02:24):
respects and loves democracy understands that.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
We're joined by host of the Enrique Santo Show and
president and chief creative officer of iHeart Latino, Enrique Santosis
with us this morning. Let's talk about the Cuban community
for a moment, which you're part of. Is there a
feeling of hope or is it still kind of hard
to wrap your head around, you know, something like what
we're seeing in Venezuela happening there.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
There's definitely hope, you know. I would love to see
a free Cuba in my lifetime. I would love to
visit a pre Venezuela, which I never have. And that
is the hope. That's the hope that's been rekindled. I
would say with the arrest of Niculace Malula, not just Venezuelans,
but for anyone who is forced to leave their country
like my parents and my grandparents, and that this amazing country,
the United States of America, opened its arms to my
(03:12):
parents and grandparents. And because of that great heart and
that respect for democracy and wanting to make people lives better,
my life is so much better because I was born
here in the United States. So I understand and I
respect that not just Cubans and Nicaraguans and anyone who
lives under oppression and under these dictatorships. Venezuelans included that
(03:32):
we don't want a Madudle gone only to see the
system continue. Madula's vice president, Elsie Rodriguez, we just saw
yesterday has been sworn in. So people are asking is
this real change, real change, or is is this just
Maludle without Madudle, a continuation of that dictatorship. So I
think that all lovers of democracy around the world, what
we want is what we want to see, we would
(03:54):
love to see, is justice served. I think we're want
to step closer with the arrest of Madrudle, what Venezuelan's
in particular as well, watch justice which again has already started,
and then a real chance to choose the future democratically,
without fear, without manipulation, without violence.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Final question for you.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
You know, I was talking about this this earlier because
there is a concern what comes next in Venezuela, especially
with who's currently leading the country. But it's also very
early on in this process. It's it's probably going to
be a messy process. This stuff doesn't just happen easily
(04:33):
moving forward. What do you think the Venezuelan community and
in the broader South Florida community will be looking for,
especially from the Trump administration Secretary of State Marco Rubio,
to help ensure that Venezuela eventually has that choice that
(04:53):
everyone there and so many who have had to flee
that country are seeking.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah. First, I think we have to recognize that there's
thirty more than thirty million Venezuelans in the country. There's
many internal groups, there's many different views, but they all
share one thing. They don't want a continuation of the
same regime, right, and I think the Venezuelans and Venezuela
it self deserves that a real change, a democratic change
(05:19):
where they can again freely elect their next leader. I
think there's a lot of fear within the country and
around the world that if there's no negotiated transition and
the military fractures stability is absolutely possible, so that can
lead to.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
A civil war.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
So what's next for Venezuela is really unclear. You know,
any intern leadership, I would say, tied to the old regime,
which is what we just all sworn in yesterday, is
going to lack credibility. And that's where people are concerned
right now. Re elections with international oversight are the only
legitimate path. How do we get there? I think that
the Trough administration and Marco Rubio I applaud the administration
(05:56):
by what's been done. I think that no one can
argue that this was done by our Delta Force in
a very well organized and correct correct way. Was it
was amazing, really what was done. This is a law
enforcement operation, like Marco Rubio explained. Although there's a lot
(06:16):
of people that don't agree with this, I don't know
how you cannot agree with with a dictatorship that has
so much bloodshed on his on his hands. The world
is better is a world, The world is definitely a
better place with this man in custodium that he is
now facing justice. I really hope that the administration gets
this right, that they support the Venezuelan people so that
(06:37):
they can have free and fair elections and that they
can really elect their way forward in a democratic, democratic way.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Host of The Enrique Santo Show and President and chief
creative officer of iHeart Latino. Enrique Santos back with us
and Enrique. Always great to catch up with you. Thanks
for taking a few moments to come back on this morning.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Thank you, Ryan, and again happy to here. Same to
you with The Ryan Gorman Show five to nine, every
weekday morning on news radio w FLA.
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