Scholar discusses Trump's claims of a new Venezuelan oil agreement

NPR | By A Martínez

Published August 31, 2026 at 6:49 AM EDT

NPR's A Martínez speaks with Francisco Monaldi, director of the Latin America Energy Program at Rice University, about President Trump's claims of a Venezuelan oil agreement.

A Martínez

A Martínez is one of the hosts of Morning Edition and Up First.

Support nonprofit, fact-based public service journalism

WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.

Contribute now

Related Content

NPR News

U.S., Venezuela strike oil deal. And, the staggering hidden toll of U.S. heat deaths

Brittney Melton

The U.S. and Venezuela have entered into an oil deal. And, NPR spent two years tracking heat-related deaths and found that people in the U.S. are dying from heat more than the official counts show.
Trump says U.S. struck deal to take control of 65 billion barrels Venezuelan oil

Franco Ordoñez, Leila Fadel

President Trump is touting a new deal for the U.S. to access Venezuelan oil fields. Trump says it's a major boon for the American people, but it's unclear when they'll see the benefits.
At least 15 people missing after Grand Canyon flash flood

Chris Clements

Several people are missing or unaccounted for after severe flash flooding in the Grand Canyon on Saturday caused significant damage.
NPR News

Russia's jet-powered drones bring empty Kyiv supermarket shelves and rattle Ukrainians

The Associated Press

Russian forces relentlessly battered Kyiv and cities in the region around the Ukrainian capital for a fifth straight day, leaving some supermarket shelves bare after repeated strikes on warehouses.
NPR News

Attacks flare between U.S., Iran after month-long pause

Jane Arraf, Hadeel Al-Shalchi

U.S. threats erupt into attacks in the Strait of Hormuz; Iran retaliates against U.S. targets in the UAE and Jordan in the first exchange of fire since July 29