Venezuela's collapse is about way more than socialism and oil. <a href="https://www.ryanmcbeth.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ryan McBeth</a> breaks down how a resource-rich nation became a cautionary tale on our doorstep.Welcome to what we're calling our "Out of the Loop" episodes, where we dig a little deeper into fascinating current events that may only register as a blip on the media's news cycle and have conversations with the people who find themselves immersed in them.Full show notes and resources can be found here: <a href="https://jordanharbinger.com/1269" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jordanharbinger.com/1269</a>On This Episode of Out of the Loop:<ul><li>Venezuela's collapse wasn't caused by a single villain or policy — it happened because oil money replaced accountability. Institutions were hollowed out, competence was swapped for loyalty, and when the cash dried up, the regime compensated with control instead of reform.</li><li>Hugo Chavez's "Bolivarian Revolution" brought real benefits early on — redistributing oil wealth and challenging entrenched elites. But the gains depended entirely on high oil prices, and when those collapsed around 2010, hyperinflation, shortages, and mass migration followed.</li><li>Venezuela matters strategically to the US because it sits near the Panama Canal and Gulf Coast refineries — making it a pressure point for energy markets, migration flows, and criminal networks. China and Russia have both moved in, treating the instability like an open house.</li><li>Nicolás Maduro wasn't so much a supreme leader as a traffic cop managing competing mafias. The country's power structure fractured into factions — military, political, criminal — each with its own incentives, making any clean transition extremely difficult.</li><li>Venezuela's story is a reminder that resource wealth without strong institutions becomes a trap — but it also shows that populations who've experienced democracy and prosperity tend to push back. That memory of better times can become the foundation for rebuilding.</li><li>And much more!</li><li>Connect with Jordan&nbsp;on <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanHarbinger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jordanharbinger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/THEJORDANHARBINGERSHOW" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on an Out of the Loop episode, drop Jordan a line at <a href="mailto:jordan@jordanharbinger.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jordan@jordanharbinger.com</a> and let him know!</li><li>Connect with Ryan McBeth&nbsp;at his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmcbeth.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/RyanMcbeth" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/therealryanmcbeth/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RyanMcBethProgramming" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. If you’d like to stay on top of what’s happening in the world,&nbsp;<a href="https://ryanmcbeth.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to Ryan’s Substack</a>!</li></ul><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1344999619?mt=2&ls=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here</a> — even one sentence helps! <ul><li>Sign up for <a href="https://jordanharbinger.com/course" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Six-Minute Networking</a> — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at <a href="https://jordanharbinger.com/course" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jordanharbinger.com/course</a>!</li><li>Subscribe to our once-a-week <a href="https://www.jordanharbinger.com/news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wee Bit Wiser</a> newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!</li><li>Do you even Reddit, bro? <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/JordanHarbinger/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Join us at r/JordanHarbinger</a>!</li></ul>This Episode Is Brought To You By <a href="https://www.jordanharbinger.com/deals/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Our Fine Sponsors</a>: <ul><li>Tonal: <a href="https://www.tonal.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$200 off: tonal.com, code JORDAN</a></li><li>Quince: <a href="https://www.quince.com/jordan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Free shipping & 365-day returns: quince.com/jordan</a></li><li>SimpliSafe: <a href="https://simplisafe.com/jordan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordan</a></li><li>Progressive: <a href="https://www.progressive.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Free online quote: progressive.com</a></li><li>Homes.com: <a href="https://www.homes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Find your home: homes.com</a></li></ul>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

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