Intro

Quick Takes

Max Notes

Killer Left Take of the Week

Chart of the Week

Outro

This week we tore apart The Heritage Foundation’s spin on the Venezuela oil deal—the “world’s gas station” line slogan, the math on what Venezuela gets back is embarrassing, and what’s really happening is a century-old colonial playbook dressed up in PR language. Then we looked at a Pew chart: global favorability of the U.S. just dropped below China’s for the first time. That’s where dollar dominance eventually ends—not in the bond market, but in reputation. And we’re burning through ours fast.

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:38

Quick Takes: 00:01:43

Max Notes: 00:06:13

Killer Left Take of the Week: 00:20:47

Chart of the Week: 00:22:17

Outro: 00:24:20

Resources

NBC News: Far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos detained by ICE at New Orleans airport

The New York Times: Milo Yiannopoulos, Right-Wing Agitator, Deported Home to U.K.

U.S. Democratic Socialists: Angie Nixon DESTROYS Laura Loomer After Disgusting Comments!

The Omission: 78 Days

NBC News: Kalshi permanently bans George Santos after he secretly bet on himself

WGRZ-TV: Seneca nation President reacts to Lake Ontario name change

The Progressive: The Long Con of John Roberts

CNN: Google Maps changes Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’ in US searches

Bloomberg Podcasts: Venezuela Oil Deal Raises Questions Over US Role

PBS News: What we know about Trump’s deal giving U.S. access to vast oil reserves in Venezuela

The Heritage Foundation: Why American Energy Dominance Is a Strategic Imperative

Reuters: Venezuela PDVSA’s 2011 net profit rises 42 pct

El País: Venezuela’s economic crisis fueled by looting of its state-owned oil company

The Heritage Foundation: Fighting a Just War in Iraq

ConocoPhillips: International Arbitration Tribunal Orders Venezuela to Pay ConocoPhillips $8.7 Billion for Unlawful Expropriation of Company’s Oil Investments

Al Jazeera: ‘Profoundly pro-American’: Machado outlines a vision for Venezuela’s future

CNBC: Venezuela’s interim president says U.S. energy deal will last 25 years

Marketplace: Earnings show why big oil isn’t eager to go all-in on Venezuela

Council on Foreign Relations: The U.S. Took Over Venezuela’s Oil Industry. Where Has All the Money Gone?

Vox: How success in Venezuela set Trump up for disaster in Iran

Brittany Page: The Exact Moment Darline Graham Fumbled Her Campaign

Pew Research Center: Views of China have turned more positive – and views of the U.S. more negative – across 20 countries

UNFTR Resources

Video: On The Record 09-01-26 (The Real Story Behind the ‘Great’ Venezuela Oil Deal.)

Essay: Iraqezuela.

Video: Did Reagan Destroy the American Dream?

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This week we tore apart The Heritage Foundation&rsquo;s spin on the Venezuela oil deal&mdash;the &ldquo;world&rsquo;s gas station&rdquo; line slogan, the math on what Venezuela gets back is embarrassing, and what&rsquo;s really happening is a century-old colonial playbook dressed up in PR language. Then we looked at a Pew chart: global favorability of the U.S. just dropped below China&rsquo;s for the first time. That&rsquo;s where dollar dominance eventually ends&mdash;not in the bond market, but in reputation. And we&rsquo;re burning through ours fast.
Chapters
Intro: 00:00:38
Quick Takes: 00:01:43
Max Notes: 00:06:13
Killer Left Take of the Week: 00:20:47
Chart of the Week: 00:22:17
Outro: 00:24:20
Resources
NBC News: <a href="https://youtu.be/Z5sCW78bM2c?t=8">Far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos detained by ICE at New Orleans airport</a>
The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/29/us/politics/milo-yiannopoulos-deported.html">Milo Yiannopoulos, Right-Wing Agitator, Deported Home to U.K.</a>
U.S. Democratic Socialists: <a href="https://youtu.be/xl9esLwzApQ?t=44">Angie Nixon DESTROYS Laura Loomer After Disgusting Comments!</a>
The Omission: <a href="https://substack.com/@theomission26/note/c-326635246">78 Days</a>
NBC News: <a href="https://youtu.be/OqLQKJLqX1o">Kalshi permanently bans George Santos after he secretly bet on himself</a>
WGRZ-TV: <a href="https://youtu.be/kXJ-CkjOEJA">Seneca nation President reacts to Lake Ontario name change</a>
The Progressive: <a href="https://progressive.org/magazine/the-long-con-of-john-roberts-blum-20260821/">The Long Con of John Roberts</a>
CNN: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/30/politics/google-maps-changes-lake-ontario-to-lake-america">Google Maps changes Lake Ontario to &lsquo;Lake America&rsquo; in US searches</a>
Bloomberg Podcasts: <a href="https://youtu.be/QTtQm2l_Ovg?t=40">Venezuela Oil Deal Raises Questions Over US Role</a>
PBS News: <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-we-know-about-trumps-deal-giving-u-s-access-to-vast-oil-reserves-in-venezuela">What we know about Trump&rsquo;s deal giving U.S. access to vast oil reserves in Venezuela</a>
The Heritage Foundation: <a href="https://www.heritage.org/energy/commentary/why-american-energy-dominance-strategic-imperative">Why American Energy Dominance Is a Strategic Imperative</a>
Reuters: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/business/energy/venezuela-pdvsas-2011-net-profit-rises-42-pct-idUSL2E8FH4QI/">Venezuela PDVSA&rsquo;s 2011 net profit rises 42 pct</a>
El Pa&iacute;s: <a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2024-04-17/venezuelas-economic-crisis-fueled-by-looting-of-its-state-owned-oil-company.html">Venezuela&rsquo;s economic crisis fueled by looting of its state-owned oil company</a>
The Heritage Foundation: <a href="https://www.heritage.org/middle-east/report/fighting-just-war-iraq">Fighting a Just War in Iraq</a>
ConocoPhillips: <a href="https://www.conocophillips.com/news-media/story/international-arbitration-tribunal-orders-venezuela-to-pay-conocophillips-8-7-billion-for-unlawful-expropriation-of-company-s-oil-investments/">International Arbitration Tribunal Orders Venezuela to Pay ConocoPhillips $8.7 Billion for Unlawful Expropriation of Company&rsquo;s Oil Investments</a>
Al Jazeera: <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/16/profoundly-pro-american-machado-outlines-a-vision-for-venezuelas-future">&lsquo;Profoundly pro-American&rsquo;: Machado outlines a vision for Venezuela&rsquo;s future</a>
CNBC: <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/30/venezuelas-interim-president-says-us-energy-deal-will-last-25-years.html">Venezuela&rsquo;s interim president says U.S. energy deal will last 25 years</a>
Marketplace: <a href="https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/01/30/earnings-show-why-big-oil-isnt-eager-to-go-allin-on-venezuela">Earnings show why big oil isn&rsquo;t eager to go all-in on Venezuela</a>
Council on Foreign Relations: <a href="https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-u-s-took-over-venezuelas-oil-industry-where-has-all-the-money-gone">The U.S. Took Over Venezuela&rsquo;s Oil Industry. Where Has All the Money Gone?</a>
Vox: <a href="https://www.vox.com/politics/495917/trump-venezuela-iran">How success in Venezuela set Trump up for disaster in Iran</a>
Brittany Page: <a href="https://youtu.be/KypRFI91i60?t=96">The Exact Moment Darline Graham Fumbled Her Campaign</a>
Pew Research Center: <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/07/15/people-in-many-countries-now-view-china-more-positively-than-the-u-s/pg_2026-07-15_china-balance-power_0_01/">Views of China have turned more positive &ndash; and views of the U.S. more negative &ndash; across 20 countries</a>
UNFTR Resources
Video: <a href="https://youtu.be/yMpeIh0ZT_0">On The Record 09-01-26 (The Real Story Behind the &lsquo;Great&rsquo; Venezuela Oil Deal.)</a>
Essay: <a href="https://www.unftr.com/blog/iraqezuela">Iraqezuela.</a>
Video: <a href="https://youtu.be/PDbSQ0Al61k">Did Reagan Destroy the American Dream?</a>
--
If you like #UNFTR, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: <a href="https://unftr.com/rate">unftr.com/rate</a> and follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Unfucking-The-Republic-102319714930389">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/unftr.com">Bluesky</a>,&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/unftrpod/">Instagram</a> at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at <a href="https://www.unftr.com/">unftr.com</a>.
Become a member at <a href="https://www.unftr.com/memberships">unftr.com/memberships</a>.
Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee at <a href="https://shop.unftr.com/">shop.unftr.com</a>.
Visit our bookshop.org page at <a href="https://bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod">bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod</a> to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at <a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations">bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations</a>.
Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at <a href="https://www.unftr.com/accessibility">unftr.com/accessibility</a>

Unf*cking The Republic® (UNFTR) is dedicated to progressive politics, leftist economic theories, and social justice in the United States. Join us for deep dives into socialism, labor rights, climate justice, and the fight against inequality. Whether you're curious about Marxist ideas, modern social movements, or progressive policies, UNFTR delivers thoroughly sourced critiques, analyses, and interviews with the historical context mainstream media won't provide. Subscribe for informative and unabashedly progressive coverage of the leftist political and economic landscape.

Unf*cking The Republic&reg; (UNFTR) is dedicated to progressive politics, leftist economic theories, and social justice in the United States. Join us for deep dives into socialism, labor rights, climate justice, and the fight against inequality. Whether you're curious about Marxist ideas, modern social movements, or progressive policies, UNFTR delivers thoroughly sourced critiques, analyses, and interviews with the historical context mainstream media won't provide. Subscribe for informative and unabashedly progressive coverage of the leftist political and economic landscape.