President Donald Trump believes US companies can revive Venezuela’s beleaguered oil industry, benefiting both that nation and America. But even if that happens, it would be a fraction of changes needed to get the destitute country back on its feet.

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Start your morning with The National News Desk as Jan Jeffcoat sits down with Steve Moore to discuss Venezuela's economic collapse, bringing insight and context to the stories shaping the day. Watch weekday mornings from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. EST, Monday through Friday.

Venezuela’s oil decline began years before sanctions, but sanctions still hold the key to how much production could return and how quickly.

BY CASSIDY GODA Cassidy Goda is a Pre-Law/ Political Science Major at Skidmore College. She serves on the Saratoga Springs

Despite holding the world’s largest proven oil reserves, Venezuela’s oil industry collapsed after expropriations, mismanagement, and the loss of foreign expertise left it unable to produce its technically demanding heavy crude at scale.

The possible return of a South American oil powerhouse is threatening to exacerbate a supply glut that has already sent prices plunging to near four-year lows.

U.S. sanctions helped cause the collapse of Venezuelan oil production — damage that Trump is now using as justification for his strike against the country.

From Venezuela to Minneapolis, the rapid rollout of deepfakes around major news events is stirring confusion and suspicion about real news.