Venezuela today

Alex Saab pleads guilty to money laundering; sentencing set for January 2027

Alex Saab appeared before Judge Williams in Miami and pleaded guilty to Count 1 of a money-laundering scheme tied to the CLAP food program, according to the court filing. Prosecutors and the defense submitted a factual proffer that Saab agrees is accurate, and the court set sentencing for January 20, 2027, according to Al Jazeera and The Washington Post.

On YouTube, journalist Patricia Poleo said Saab has promised to hand over evidence within 14 days and asked why the FBI has not arrested Diosdado Cabello. Commentator David Placeres said Saab "was the one who designed, who structured and who ran the entire financial structure" tied to Nicolás Maduro.

«What is the excuse they have for citizens of the United States like me for why they don't capture Diosdado Cabello?»— Patricia Poleo, September 16, 2026 · watch

«Alex, for Nicolás Maduro, was the one who designed, who structured and who ran the entire financial structure tied to the criminality.»— David Placeres, September 16, 2026 · watch

Guri plant failure knocks 1,200 MW off Venezuela's power grid

A unit at the Guri hydroelectric dam's Unit 17 failed, and the national grid lost 1,200 megawatts, according to El Pitazo, which cited estimates that repairs could take up to two years. The outlet reported blackouts and power fluctuations in several states in the days before, according to Lapatilla.

On El Pitazo's program, the electrical engineer interviewed said the situation reflects "the most dysfunctional management in the history of Venezuela's electric sector" and questioned whether announced investments in the sector will reach households or only oil production.

«This is the most dysfunctional management in the history of Venezuela's electric sector.»— El Pitazo, September 15, 2026 · watch