The News with Rick Sanchez - April 17, 2019 (20:00 ET)

‘Traitor!’: Riots erupt in Ecuador capital over Assange arrest

Rick Sanchez reports on the public outcry in Quito, Ecuador where Ecuadoreans are joining the worldwide chorus of voices protesting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s arrest in the UK. Protestors in Ecuador have come to see President Moreno as “corrupted” by the US and say that he sold out Assange for money.

Is Assange guilty of theft? Why not?

Julian Assange has been indicted for the crimes of hacking and conspiracy. Part of the indictment focuses on the measures Assange took to conceal US Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning as the source of the leaks, which should frighten any news outlet that makes use of anonymous sources. RT’s Caleb Maupin reports. Then former journalism professor Lyle Slack of Woodbury University joins Rick Sanchez to share his insights. 

Venezuela about to run out of energy — who’s to blame?

Venezuela’s oil production hit a record low last month. Rick Sanchez asks the extent to which US interference is in part responsible for the destruction of Venezuela’s economy. Latin American Studies professor Miguel Tinker Salas joins Rick Sanchez to weigh in, pointing out that the sanctions imposed on Venezuela took advantage of the country’s overreliance on oil and led to the current economic devastation.