As Venezuelan ruler Nicolas Maduro struggled against violent protests against him, the U.S. based company General Motors had its means of production seized by the socialist regime Thursday. “General Motors tonight saying it's been forced to suspend its operation in Venezuela after the government there confiscated its factory,” announced ABC Anchor David Muir during World News Tonight, “GM forced to lay off 2700 workers, but vowing to fight this tonight.” Sadly, CBS was the only network not to report the theft.
On NBC Nightly News, Anchor Lester Holt reported that “today General Motors said it will halt operations in Venezuela after the government seized one of its car plants.” “Anti-government protesters clashing in the streets with police as the country teeters on the brink both politically and economically,” he continued.
“Venezuela is at a breaking point,” declared NBC’s Jacob Rascon at the start of his report, “Thousands taking to the streets yet again today after weeks of violent protests in the capital city of Caracas.” According to Rascon, “More than 400 arrested, at least seven people killed.”
In a video call with Rascon, a Venezuelan doctor who had seen the carnage first hand exclaimed to him that “People are hungry but for democracy, for liberties, for rights!” Rascon followed that comment up with a picture of a woman standing by herself, draped in a Venezuelan flag as she went head to head with a military truck. A symbolic image reminiscent of the Tiananmen Square protest in China decades ago.
“The Venezuelan economy has been in free-fall for years after oil prices collapsed, leading to widespread shortages of food, water, medicine and other essentials,” Rascon explained. He elaborated, saying that “Protesters blame President Nicolas Maduro and his socialist government, which has seized control of many companies over the years.” He then noted the seizer of the GM factory.
Rascon also highlighted the corresponding protests here at home, saying: “Thousands from Miami to Houston marched in solidarity.” “An unprecedented crisis in what used to be the envy of Latin America,” he concluded.
The seizer of private property belonging to a U.S. based business by a foreign and hostile government, for the benefit of said government needed to be reported. It’s extremely embarrassing that CBS couldn’t find time for even a simple news brief during CBS Evening News. And yet, they managed to close out the program with a full report on a government group that breeds cheetahs, or as their reporter joked “cupid for cheetahs.”
Transcripts below:
ABC
World News Tonight
April 20, 2017
6:44:37 PM EasternDAVID MUIR: General Motors tonight saying it's been forced to suspend its operation in Venezuela after the government there confiscated its factory. GM forced to lay off 2700 workers, but vowing to fight this tonight. It comes amid the violent demonstrations across Venezuela that we have reported on here. Three people killed in just the last 24 hours alone.
...
NBC Nightly News
April 20, 2017
7:12:45 PM EasternLESTER HOLT: To the violence boiling over in Venezuela. Anti-government protesters clashing in the streets with police as the country teeters on the brink both politically and economically. And today General Motors said it will halt operations in Venezuela after the government seized one of its car plants. NBC's Jacob Rascon has more.
[Cuts to video]
JACOB RASCON: Venezuela is at a breaking point. Thousands taking to the streets yet again today after weeks of violent protests in the capital city of Caracas. More than 400 arrested, at least seven people killed. Dr. Jorge Olivero was on the front lines.
JORGE OLIVERO: People are hungry but for democracy, for liberties, for rights.
RASCON: This woman now a symbol of defiance facing down a National Guard armored truck. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson voicing concern late yesterday.
REX TILLERSON: Well, we are concern that the government of Maduro is violating its own constitution.
RASCON: The Venezuelan economy has been in free-fall for years after oil prices collapsed, leading to widespread shortages of food, water, medicine and other essentials. Protesters blame President Nicolas Maduro and his socialist government, which has seized control of many companies over the years. Most recently U.S. owned General Motors, which immediately halted production. Thousands from Miami to Houston marched in solidarity. An unprecedented crisis in what used to be the envy of Latin America. Jacob Rascon, NBC news.
