In this episode, I had a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Francisco Rodriguez, a distinguished Venezuelan economist. Francisco's extensive career includes key roles such as serving as the Chief of the Economic and Financial Advisor of the National Assembly of Venezuela from 2000 to 2004, leading the Research Team for the Office of the United Nations Human Development Report from 2008 to 2011, and contributing his expertise to the private sector as the Andean Chief Economist at Bank of America from 2011 to 2016. Additionally, his extensive career includes teaching economics and Latin American studies at various institutions and contributing to esteemed publications such as Foreign Affairs, The Financial Times, and The New York Times. Notably, his forthcoming book, "Scorched Earth: The Political Economy of Venezuela's Collapse," set to be published in 2024, promises to be a significant addition to the discourse on Venezuela's complex challenges. In our conversation with Francisco, we'll explore the intricate dynamics of Venezuela, a nation once celebrated for its abundant oil resources but now plagued by a heart-wrenching humanitarian crisis. Francisco will shed light on the pressing issue of de facto oil embargoes and economic sanctions. Francisco's mission is clear: to hold those in power accountable and make a compelling case for re-evaluating the use of economic sanctions against entire nations, arguing that they should be treated with the same gravity as the use of military weapons against civilians.