Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Annika Rothstein, an independent journalist, has been reporting for some time on the miseries – and resilience – of the Venezuelan people. Last weekend she went to the Colombian border, where government forces had assembled to keep an aid convoy from entering the country.
The story she got was one she was lucky to survive. We speak to her in relative safety, where she recounts the story of a very bad day in a dangerous country – and what the people she encountered say about the forces wrecking Venezuela.
Subscribe to The Ricochet Podcast in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.
Annika, no matter who is paying you, no matter how much they are paying you, it’s not enough.
James, bringing up the possibility that the laptop may be compromised shows you have a conspiratorial mind. So how come you’re never at the meetings?
Amazing. So glad Annika is safe and pray she continues to remain so. I was struck by the story of absolute baseness in one instance and such kindness on the other. It is past time for Maduro to be pulled from a spider hole and hung.
Setting aside the wisdom of being there at all, I can’t seem to grasp the value of having “security people” who just get kicked around too.
We don’t normally do this kind of thing, but Annika was robbed in her encounter with the Colectivos. If you’d like to help out here is a link to her PayPal account:
Annika Rothstein
She sent me a note from Caracas, “I am still in a bit of a chaotic situation so if anyone wants to help in some small way that is of course massively appreciated.”
Annika, your Twitter feed has been invaluable. So glad you are safe……..you are rivaling Claire B in putting yourself in hazardous situations! God bless
Annika,
You’ve done a great service. Sometimes it is most important to face the worst of it. The Colectivos are a sick creation of Maduro. Just as you said, they don’t represent the Venezuelan people but rather Maduro’s perversity. That is why your post went viral. The Venezuelan people want their story told as it happens.
U.N. Condemns Venezuela Violence as U.S. Imposes Fresh Sanctions
Univision anchor Jorge Ramos, team detained, released in Venezuela, network says
Maduro reveals himself and the true nature of his regime. Recognizing Guaido was not a mistake. The people of Venezuela have the right to defend themselves against the Colectivos and to choose a government that protects their rights.
Stay safe Annika. Sometimes just surviving is the greatest victory.
Regards,
Jim
I can never remember who the other informant is.
Word gets around:
Annika, you have done your duty and exposed the thugs. But now it’s time to get out. We don’t want to sacrifice a nice Jewish girl like you to these barbarians.
There’s not much one security guard could do in that situation.
A frightening and but important reminder of what actual Journalism is. Thanks for the interview. It alone is worth the price of a membership.
Hey, next time you want to see what’s happening at the border, land in Bucaramanga and drive from there. Colombia has to be the safer approach by far.
She mentioned the airports are closed to foreign travel and that would have been her preferred route.
There are thousands of foreigners going to the border from the Colombian side for the concert, so I guess she wanted to be inside Venezuela. I’m glad she did, this was the first report on the collectivos I’d heard and I hear hours of reporting daily here in Colombia. Fascinating. That’s a whole new angle. Maduro and the Cubans will have to deal with them until they start pouring into Colombia. This was the Cubans as they did the same to us.
Remember when Cuba emptied its jails as it opened escape to the US. Was that the early 80’s? Cubans are doing the same with the Collectivos. They’ll be heading to Colombia after this crisis.
Journalism as it should be. Brave and important. Interesting that none of the big established media organizations come even close to reporting on this level.
Thanks for the interview. I am scared for her but appreciate hearing what is happening on the ground. Real reporting instead of spoon feeding questions to J Smollet or following K Harris around and helping her buy clothes.
Colleen,
I agree about 1,000%. Aren’t you sick of journalists who tell you how significant their work is when you can see for yourself that they are just lazy overpaid manipulators? When news reporting is significant nobody needs to tell you that it’s significant.
Regards,
Jim
Mariel BoatLift
I felt like I had a week shaved off my life just listening to that story, can hardly fathom living through it. She exemplifies the best of journalism. How long can this situation continue? We will watch another country fall into chaos with its autocrat protected by Putin and a cabal of miscreant nations. It seems to me it is not enough to just recognize the legitimate government of Venezuela. The international community should be ready to back up that legitimacy with force. At the least we should tighten the economic noose on Maduro and all his international supporters. Renew sanctions against Cuba, Russia, and any nation supporting this butchery.
Programming note: Annika will be on tomorrow’s Ricochet Podcast to give an update.
Annika. Your reporting is great, but not worth losing your life over.
Get out ASAP.
She is doing a powerful service, and reminds me of Lara Logan, but even more courageous.