With a curiously low tone, striking tranquility, and changing the picture of Hugo Chavez for one of Simon Bolivar in the main shot, Diosdado Cabello led his first episode of 'With the Diosdado Cabello's show, "Mazo Dando," aired after the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in the early hours of January 3rd. There was no audience present, nor were there any warnings or threats, much less the usual bulletin board where he exposes social media users who speak out against the Chavista regime. The format was different, cautious, without laughter or defiant stares. Cabello made it clear that Trump's hand is inside Venezuela. Although the gavel remained on the desk, as an image alluding to the television program, it seemed more innocuous than ever. The program also started late, due to Cabello's prior meeting with Delcy Rodriguez, the interim president of Venezuela, and a commission of deputies from the National Assembly. Rumors circulated on social media that there would be no broadcast, but he finally appeared.

“I must clarify that we weren't scheduled to broadcast this Wednesday, but next Wednesday. However, the situation itself indicates that morally we must go out and speak with our people, to maintain that constant contact,” he commented in the opening seconds.

Diosdado Cabello is the current Minister of the Interior and Justice of Venezuela, and is also considered the number two figure in Chavismo. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is offering a reward of up to $25 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction. This figure places Cabello alongside Indian terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, who also faces a reward of the same magnitude.just like the one offered by Osama bin Laden.

Diosdado admits the oil agreement between Venezuela and the U.S.

Regarding oil and President Trump's recent announcements that Venezuela will deliver between 30 and 50 million barrels of high-quality oil to the United States, Cabello emphasized that the Caribbean country has "always" sold oil to the U.S., a discourse that significantly changes from previous statements.

In other statements, Cabello had warned: "We will not give a single drop of oil to the United States if they bomb Venezuela." However, four days after the military intervention, he stated: "If they are willing to buy our oil, they will buy it." He even mentioned the statement from Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the main oil company, which confirms the sale of crude oil within the framework of trade between the two countries. President Trump also clarified that the United States could govern Venezuela for years, emphasizing his goal of laying the foundations for a stable economy. In this regard, Marco Rubio, his trusted advisor and Secretary of State, announced a three-step plan for Venezuela.

'Con el Mazo Dando' ended an hour earlier than usual

While he did not maintain a defiant stance, at no point during the program did Cabello maintain his position against the United States government and broadcast several videos of the late former president Hugo Chavez, including the one from December 2012, when he asked the people to vote for Nicolas Maduro if the cancer he suffered from politically incapacitated him.

'Con el Mazo Dando' ended at 10:51 pm, a little over an hour earlier than usual, which was also noteworthy, although he insisted that the program's broadcast was not scheduled.

“We wanted to have this contact with you. Next week will surely be different, but we have to regularize this channel of communication between the government and the people. Receive a big hug and remember that whatever happens, we “We will win,” he said, clasping his hands, offering blessings, and adding a “take good care of yourselves” that seemed more sincere than sarcastic.

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