Ian Bremmer unpacks the fallout from the Trump administration’s dramatic operation in Caracas that captured Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro and brought him to the US to face federal charges. The raid was a stark demonstration of American power, and few are mourning the fall of a leader whose rule helped collapse Venezuela and drive millions to flee. But even with Maduro gone, the hard questions start immediately: who governs now, how long does the US stay involved, and how quickly could “stability” turn into something far messier?

First, Bremmer speaks with Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego, who says the operation may have been “limited” in scope, but the political and strategic risks are only beginning. Gallego argues that the White House is improvising and that Congress is watching closely for signs of escalation. “There really isn’t a plan,” he warns. “They’re kind of just playing this as it goes, which is very scary that they’re doing that.” He lays out what a more sustainable path could look like, including releasing political prisoners, setting a timeline for elections, and pursuing economic steps that reduce the chances of renewed conflict.

Then Bremmer is joined by Stanford political scientist Frank Fukuyama, who cautions against viewing Maduro’s capture as a clean “one and done” victory. The regime, he argues, is bigger than any single leader, and the US may be stepping into a long, unpredictable project whether it admits it or not. “Let’s not kid ourselves,” Fukuyama says. “This is a nation building exercise.” From the risk of economic collapse and refugee flows to the precedent set by a US foreign policy driven by raw leverage, Fukuyama and Bremmer explore what happens when Washington embraces the “law of the jungle,” and why the consequences could extend well beyond Venezuela.

Host: Ian Bremmer

Guests: Ruben Gallego and Francis Fukuyama

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With the global order under increasing strain, 2026 is shaping up to be a tipping point for geopolitics. From political upheaval in the United States to widening conflicts abroad, the risks facing governments, markets, and societies are converging faster—and more forcefully—than at any time in recent memory.

To break it all down, journalist Julia Chatterley moderated a wide-ranging conversation with Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media, and a panel of Eurasia Group experts, to examine the findings of their newly-released Top Risks of 2026 report.

One theme dominates the discussion: the United States itself. From an accelerating political revolution at home to a more aggressive projection of power abroad, Washington has become the single biggest driver of global risk. That shift is playing out vividly in the Western Hemisphere, where dramatic developments in Venezuela signal a renewed US willingness to shape political outcomes closer to home.

Along with Ian Bremmer, the Eurasia Group panel included Gerald Butts, Vice Chairman; Risa Grais-Targow, Director, Latin America; Cliff Kupchan, Chairman; and Mujtaba (Mij) Rahman, Managing Director, Europe. Their discussion also digs into the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, rising instability among US allies in Europe, intensifying US-China competition, and the growing geopolitical consequences of artificial intelligence—all against the backdrop of a world with fewer guardrails and weaker global leadership.

As Bremmer argues, these risks are not isolated. They are symptoms of a deeper transformation: a GZERO world, where power is unconstrained, alliances are fragile, and no single country can—or will—stabilize the international system.

Host: Julia Chatterley

Guests: Ian Bremmer, Risa Grais-Targow, Cliff Kupchan, Mujtaba (Mij) Rahman, Gerald Butts

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This week, instead of zooming in on a single conflict, the GZERO World Podcast looks back on 2025 and takes stock of a world increasingly defined by conflict. Ian Bremmer sits down with CNN Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward and Comfort Ero, President and CEO of the International Crisis Group to look at some of the biggest crises of 2025–-both the headline making wars and the ones the world overlooked.

Gaza and Ukraine captured the world’s attention this year. But at the same time, around 60 other armed conflicts and struggles have been raging around the world. It’s the most active period of conflict since the end of World War II. Some are decades-long battles, like Myanmar’s devastating civil war. Others are more recent, like the surge of terrorist insurgent groups in Africa’s Sahel. But each is a symptom of a broader global order breaking down—driven by weakening institutions, regional rivalries, climate shocks, and failing states. Bremmer sits down first with Clarissa Ward, to discuss her reporting from war zones around the world and then with Comfort Ero, for a global perspective on the conditions that have created so much strife.

Host: Ian Bremmer

Guests: Clarissa Ward, Comfort Ero

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