By Adam Johnson

February 12, 2019 “Information Clearing House” – The Trump administration’s now completely overt effort to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had a very successful public relations effort this week, as major Western media outlets uniformly echoed its simplistic, pre-packaged claim that the Venezuelan government was heartlessly withholding foreign aid:

• Tensions Rise as Venezuela Blocks Border Bridge in Standoff Over Aid (CNN, 2/7/19)
• Maduro Blocks Critical Aid Sent to Venezuela (CNN, 2/7/19)
• Aid Arrives at Venezuela Border as US Demands Maduro Let It In (ABC News, 2/7/19)
• Venezuela Crisis: Pompeo Demands Aid Corridor Opened (BBC, 2/7/19)
• The US Says Maduro Is Blocking Aid to Starving People. The Venezuelan Says His People Aren’t Beggars. (Washington Post, 2/8/19)
• Humanitarian Aid Arrives for Venezuela — But Maduro Blocks It (NPR, 2/8/19)

All of the above articles—and scores more like it