Midnight’s Edge Calls Out Shallow Hollywood Trade Coverage of Trump’s Venezuela Raid — Delivers Context Media Refused to Provide

The YouTube channel Midnight’s Edge highlighted how Hollywood trade publications are reporting on the situation in Venezuela, pointing out important background information that most major news outlets have ignored.

Following President Trump’s attempt to remove Nicolás Maduro, Hollywood’s entertainment news outlets have largely treated the situation in Venezuela as a simple political show. Publications like The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline quickly published brief articles that focused on presenting a particular viewpoint rather than providing in-depth information. Crucially missing from their coverage was the necessary background – historical, economic, and geopolitical factors – to help readers understand the significance of the events.

That’s precisely the gap Midnight’s Edge set out to fill.

Andre from Midnight’s Edge recently went beyond typical entertainment commentary to offer a thorough explanation of the situation in Venezuela. Unlike many news outlets and mainstream media sources, he presented it as a significant geopolitical event with potentially lasting worldwide effects.

This analysis was much more thorough and detailed than the superficial information typically available to the public.

The Problem With Trade Coverage

Andre isn’t just upset that Hollywood publications reported on the Venezuela operation; he’s critical because they didn’t provide any meaningful context or explanation.

He believes publications like The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline focused on the drama of the situation instead of understanding its global implications. He calls their coverage “superficial” and lacking real insight. Ultimately, he feels readers don’t learn anything new and simply have their existing beliefs confirmed.

To illustrate the point, Andre uses a deliberately provocative example.

Andre stated that even after Mark Ruffalo reads all the industry news, he’ll remain as clueless as before, yet will still act like he knows what’s right.

He argues this problem isn’t limited to movies and TV; he feels most news organizations haven’t covered the story well either. This lack of good reporting is why Midnight’s Edge decided to temporarily move beyond entertainment reviews and directly address the issue.

According to Andre, he temporarily stopped his usual reporting to offer insight that other news sources haven’t – specifically, a broader understanding of why the Trump administration took this action, with a focus on the role of the petrodollar and its impact on America’s global influence.

The way this is presented is key, because it makes it clear the video isn’t about simply supporting a political side. Instead, it focuses on how things work, what motivates people, and what happens as a result.

Rebuilding the Context the Media Skipped

Andre starts by providing historical context about Venezuela, a perspective often missing from reports about the country’s trade.

Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world – around 303 billion barrels – and should have been a very rich country. However, after decades of poor leadership and government control, it tragically became a prime example of how a country’s economy can completely fall apart.

Andre explains how taking control of the oil industry, setting strict price limits, and weakening private businesses damaged Venezuela’s farming and manufacturing sectors. When oil prices suddenly dropped in 2014-2015, the whole system fell apart. He specifically points to Venezuela as a clear example of the “Dutch disease,” showing how runaway inflation, scarcity of goods, and widespread job losses followed.

Understanding Venezuela’s history is important because, as Andre suggests, without it, people are likely to simply respond to headlines like “taking control of oil” or “reviving industry” without grasping the underlying reasons why the country was initially in a difficult situation.

Another Dictator Bites the Dust

Then, Andre examines the operation and the reasons the Trump administration gave for carrying it out.

He acknowledges that the commonly used explanations – like linking the situation to drug trafficking, terrorism, and the weakening of democracy – might have some truth to them, but he doesn’t think they fully explain what’s happening. He points out that this isn’t about trying to build a new nation, and no one really believes it is, even if that’s what ultimately results.

Andre points out that Trump has been remarkably direct when discussing oil, even suggesting taking control of assets and having U.S. companies help rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry. Andre doesn’t see this as a mistake, but rather a rare instance of a politician openly stating a previously unsaid intention.

But oil infrastructure alone, he argues, is not the real prize.

The All-Mighty Petrodollar

This is where Andre’s analysis sharply diverges from mainstream coverage.

He believes Venezuela’s importance isn’t about oil production itself, but about its role in the global financial system. As Andre puts it, the reason America became so powerful wasn’t its military strength, but the dominance of the U.S. dollar in oil transactions – the ‘petrodollar’.

Andre explains how the practice of pricing oil in U.S. dollars created consistent worldwide demand for American currency. He argues this financial system is the foundation of U.S. power, allowing it to exert economic and political influence globally, and that military strength is a result of this financial dominance, not its cause.

This context reframes Venezuela’s importance entirely.

Emerging Threats and Why Venezuela Mattered

Beginning in 2017-2018, Venezuela started selling oil in currencies other than US dollars, and also began using China’s CIPS payment system. They even applied to join the BRICS economic group. Andre argues these actions, while largely symbolic, posed a significant threat to the dollar’s dominance in global trade.

Venezuela’s failing infrastructure, by itself, didn’t pose an immediate danger. However, Andre believes this, combined with Saudi Arabia’s increasing willingness to trade in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, suggests the world is gradually moving away from American financial leadership.

That, he argues, was the trajectory — until Trump returned to office.

The Saudis Get Back in Line — and the Final Piece Falls

According to Andre, Saudi Arabia changed its plans after Trump’s return to power. They went back to using dollars for trade and pledged to invest heavily in the U.S. economy, which he believes eliminated the biggest danger to the petrodollar system.

That left Venezuela as the remaining pressure point.

If Maduro were to leave power and the U.S. regained control over Venezuela’s oil industry, Andre believes China would be in a difficult position. They would have to decide whether to keep buying Venezuelan oil by using U.S. dollars, or risk losing access to it completely.

Looking at it this way, the situation in Venezuela isn’t about gaining regional influence—it’s about securing financial control.

What Could Go Wrong?

Importantly, Andre does not present the situation as risk-free.

He admits there’s a risk of rebellion, political opposition, and future leaders changing course. He’s also concerned about strained relationships with European allies. Regarding Russia, he points out that increased oil production could disrupt funding for the war, which could lead to unexpected outcomes.

The point, Andre emphasizes, is not certainty but clarity.

Why This Coverage Matters

Andre ends by asking if his analysis offered viewers insights they didn’t get from typical news reports.

That question really gets to the heart of why the video was so impactful. While news outlets focused on what happened and how people reacted, Midnight’s Edge explained how it happened, provided important background information, and showed the clear connection between events.

That’s why independent reporting and fresh perspectives, like the ones you’re seeing here, are so important – they cover what traditional media often misses.

2026-01-08 19:59