María Corina Machado, The Woman Who Stole Donald Trump's Nobel Prize (María Corina Machado, La Mujer que le Quitó el Nobel a Donald Trump)

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Welcome to another exciting episode of the LearnSpanish with Stories Podcast Season 5.

I'm Anthony your host and I'm thrilled to guide you on an adventure where storytelling

and the reading while listening or RWL method combine to supercharge your Spanish learning.

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Now let's get started with another great story.

In a country filled with beauty and pain, one woman stood tall while many lost hope.

Her name is Maria Corina Machado.

She was born in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, a place once full of promise and opportunity.

From a young age, she learned that courage means speaking the truth, even when others stay silent.

Her voice would one day become one of the strongest in the nation.

Venezuela has changed over the years.

People have faced fear, hunger and injustice, yet they still dream of freedom.

In this difficult time, Maria Corina has become a symbol of strength.

She is not a soul during Carries no weapons, yet her words have reached far and touched millions.

Her ideas, her calm spirit and her belief in peaceful change have inspired many who had lost faith in leaders.

This is the path of a woman who refuses to give up, even when the world around her seems to fall apart.

It is a journey through danger, courage and hope.

Her story reminds us that the power to transform a country can begin with one determined person who dares to believe that freedom is possible again.

Episode 25. Maria Corina Machado, the woman who removed the novel Adonal Trump.

Today I will tell you that Maria Corina Machado Pariska was born on October 7, 1967 in Caracas, Venezuela.

Her family was part of the Venezuelan bourgeoisie.

In fact, her father Enrique Machado Zuluaga was linked to the heterological sector, as a businessman,

and her mother, Corina Pariska Pérez, was a psychologist and also an externalist recognized in her youth.

Likewise, I will tell you that she grew up as the largest of four sisters, in an environment with abundant resources and opportunities for education.

That's why she left a rigorous academic formation, including an international in the United States.

Later, she studied in industrial engineering in the Catholic University Andrés Vello, Laucab, in Caracas, where she graduated with great merit.

Later, she continued with studies in finance at the Institute of upper studies of administration and ESA,

to also participate in international programs, as the world leaders of public politics of the University of Yale.

Now, before entering the formal political, Maria Corina participated in social and NG actions,

and together with her mother founded the foundation of Tenea,

oriented to protect and support children in a vulnerable situation.

In 2002, she was the founder of the Sumat organization,

an initiative of the Civil Society that sought to observe electoral processes, defend the transparency and promote the citizen participation.

Sumat became one of the most visible platforms of the electoral control independent against the Chavista government, which began in 1999.

In those initial years, Maria Corina did not occupy public services, but she was projected as a critical and active voice in the Civil Society.

But after entering the formal political, she was able to serve the desire of a better Venezuela.

So, after having worked hard on defense of democracy in the nation, in 2010, she abandoned the Presidency of Sumat,

and was elected deputy before the National Assembly of Venezuela, by the state of Miranda.

It is time to highlight that in that election there was one of the largest votes in votes within that meeting.

And as a deputy, she began to take very critical positions against the Chavista government,

and then face the government of Nicolás Maduro.

During those years, she also participated in primary elections within the opposition.

For example, in the first years of 2012, she aspired to be a presidential candidate for the opposition block,

but she did not result in a winner.

Even so, her presence was registered as a emergent figure of the leader of the opposition,

especially because of her direct and posture of firmness.

And it is that her speech was hard, she taught irregularities and institutional denunciations of corruption and abuse of power.

In response, the Chavismo did not only ridiculous her to treat her as a Milanarla,

so as it is to imagine, her legislative career faced increasingly obstacles.

For the disgust that she was already becoming a dictatorial regime without any doubt,

she did not stay shut and left to face.

And she led protests against what was most difficult to hide every time.

ensuring that the electoral process after the death of Hugo Chaves had been fraudulent,

among other things.

In 2014, her situation in the National Assembly changed radically,

since she was exposed to her deputated condition by a decision of the state organs,

under the argument of alleged constitutional violations,

which generated a great controversy in the national and international political environment.

And that was a key point,

due to what was done from then on, the idea that the institutional power could use mechanisms

to stop opposition with legal force, and not so legal too.

This first plot of her life and trajectory formed the feelings of what would come later.

A powerful combination of technical formation, social activism,

and a will to confront political power from the institutional and citizen's ambit.

After her exit from the National Assembly, Maria Corina Machado became one of the most firm voices

against the government of Nicolás Maduro.

From then on, her political activity was still focused on running the country,

articulating citizen movement and consolidating a discourse of democratic resistance.

That same year Venezuela lived one of the most intense protests of its recent history.

The scenes of manifestations were recorded in different cities,

and Maria Corina was among the political figures that accompanied the students

and social leaders in the streets.

The authorities used to incite violence,

and it was an object of judicial investigations,

such as inability and political persecution.

Despite the threats, she had a firm posture,

and she continued to announce the violations to the human rights committed during the repression.

Her speech became a symbol of courage for some,

and in a comfortable figure for the established power.

In that same context, she founded the 20 Venezuela movement,

a liberal organization of democratic inspiration that promoted the freedom of the economy,

the human rights and the political change by the civic mobilization,

forcing her leadership between the sectors that caused a more deciduous and coherent opposition.

With the past of the years, she has been consoled to her image as an intelligent,

immeasurable one.

In the international forums, she insisted on the need to restore the state of the right

and promote free elections,

maintaining contact with government and multilateral organizations,

and fighting the international pressure to favor being a democratic transition.

Although it was inability in several occasions to be public cargoes,

she continued to participate in the political life by the middle of the 20 Venezuela

and the United States' platform.

Therefore, her voice became recurrent between communication and social media,

from where she did not get tired of denouncing the institutional crisis,

corruption and humanitarian emergency.

In the following years,

the political crisis and economic crisis of the country continued to record,

and in that time, new leaders emerged within the opposition,

such as Juan Guaidó, with whom she had coincidences in the goal of changing the regime,

although with divergences in the strategies.

That's right, Machado rejected any negotiation that did not guarantee a definitive exit

of the power of Maduro, which led her to sustain an absolute firm position.

That posture, although divisive within the opposition block,

strengthened her image before who desired a leadership without concessions.

Accordingly, the continuous deterioration of the basic services,

the massive migration and international isolation of the Venezuelan government

generated a new climate of discontent.

Without her being Machado continued to record regional parties in the country,

reuniting with communities that confronted Casés and poor extreme.

Her direct style and her ability to connect with the citizen's evil,

consolidated it as a reference of hope for many Venezuelans who had lost faith

in the traditional games.

What happened then?

In 2023, her career had a decisive turn when the primary elections were celebrated

in opposition, after having had for a long time as president in charge and more chaos

socio-political in Venezuela.

Despite the institutional and individual issues and her inability,

Machado participated as a candidate and had a massive respawn.

Her victory in those primaries represented an unprecedented effect,

a woman, without a traditional political party facing the system,

managed to become the main opposition figure of the country.

From that moment on, her leadership was projected beyond the Venezuelan borders,

since other governments and international organizations began to recognize her role

in the Pacific defense of democracy.

Now that the figure of Maria Corina Machado was transformed into a symbol of civil resistance,

without public resources nor institutional protection,

she maintained a network of volunteers and sympathizers that supported her

roots, organized acts and defended her messages.

The most impressive thing, in an adverse context, she had managed to maintain

the cohesion and hope of a large part of the country.

After the primaries of 2023, the political situation of Maria Corina Machado

became even more complex.

Although she had won contundently within the opposition block,

the National Council, the Electoral, ratified her inability to occupy public cars.

That immediate respawn due to the Supreme Court of Justice was seen

by broad sectors of society as an attempt to prevent a real competition

in the presidential elections.

Despite that, Machado did not advance nor contendently.

This brave woman continues running the country,

mobilizing thousands of citizens and consolidating a national network of support.

Her message insisted on the need to maintain the Pacific air and

stop the internal and external pressure to be respected by the popular government.

During the first months of 2024, the attention increased.

The opposition tried to log in with representatives of the government,

looking for electoral guarantees at least.

Although Machado did not participate directly in those conversations,

because they did not allow it, his figure included in the whole process.

The international community continued with the conflict,

especially after the publication of organism forms such as the UN and the OEA,

which documented violations to human rights and policies.

At the same time, the shows were multiplied to her as part of democratic leaders in different countries.

Despite the difficulties, her popularity continued growing inside and outside Venezuela.

The international media highlighted her as a woman who had faced the repression

with interest and without resorting to violence.

And her movement, 20 Venezuela, broadened the structure,

organizing in cities and cities in all states.

In rural areas and in popular communities, her presence generated

enthusiasm and hope.

Many Venezuelans, even those without political evidence,

began to see her as a possible change.

Then the electoral process entered into a decisive phase.

The regime insisted on maintaining the inability of Machado,

so the opposition debatized and presented a consensus.

She, on her side, accepted that another figure was formally assumed in the candidature,

always respected the popular mandate expressed in primaries.

This gesture was interpreted as a demonstration of political maturity

and, although it did not appear in electoral ballots,

she continued to be the main voice of the opposition

and her image dominated the public sectors and the political narrative of the year.

The day of elections began with great expectations.

The official results favored the candidate of the government,

Nicolás Maduro, but numerous national and international organizations

documented and regulated means,

such as the negative of the national council of the National National Assembly,

the CNA, to publish the media arts, the auditorial suspension

and the absence of transparent verification.

This led to the opposition to signing,

supporting the majority of the digitized acts

that his candidate, Edmund González Urrutia, had won.

The subsequent protests once again were reprimanded with duresa,

leaving a large sale of detenites, wounds and deaths.

In the middle of that climate, the city was insisting on maintaining the civic life,

rejecting the entire form of violence.

In the following months, the diplomatic pressure was intensified over Caracas.

The European United States and the United States

claimed the right to participate in free elections.

The city of Machado became a global representation of peaceful resistance

against authoritarian regimes.

In addition, international forums began to be mentioned

along with historical leaders who had promoted democratic transitions

without resorting to strength.

And it is that their leaders later sent the Venezuelan coyote

and began to represent one of the most broad fights

for democratic values in Latin America.

With different media and academics dedicating their coherence,

the ability to inspire and insist that the transformation

should be moral, political and citizen.

The year 2025 began with another unexpected hero in the Venezuelan policy

and in the trajectory of Maria Corina Machado.

In the middle of a national situation marked by the economic crisis,

the massive migration and the diplomatic isolation of the government,

his name and face continued to occupy international headlines.

His insistence to maintain a peaceful fight

accompanied by a constant defense of human rights,

despite everything, became a reference to civic resistance.

And at the beginning of that year, international organizations

proposed his name among the candidates at the Nobel Prize of Peace.

Although the announcement caused a lot of surprises,

he was expelled by European military officers,

Latin American activists and presidents who valued his role

in the defense of democracy in extreme conditions.

During almost all of the 2025,

Machado continued to participate in international forums

through video conferences and interviews

from a clandestine location,

as he faced restrictions to come out of the country

and strong threats to the regime.

In each intervention reiterated that the exit to the Venezuelan crisis

had to be built with the vote, the citizen organization

and the institutional pressure to the Pacific.

His words found echo in different regions of the world,

especially in Latin America and Europe of the East,

where his message was perceived as a reformation

of the resistance in front of the authoritarian regimes.

In October of 2025, the Committee on the Nobel Prize,

announced that Maya Corina Machado had been awarded

with the Nobel Prize of Peace,

highlighting his persistent defense of freedom

and human dignity in a prolonged press context

and recognizing his leadership in the promotion

of a democratic change by violent days.

The news generated a immediate impact

on the people who came out of the streets

to celebrate the recognition,

interpreting it as a validation of the US effort

to recover democracy.

The whole world got to know the message of congratulations

and international media celebrated it

as the first Venezuelan to receive that distinction.

You knew Donald Trump said that they were talking

in a call and he accepted the award in his honor

because he really deserved it.

A gesture that Trump described as very friendly

and beautiful,

ensuring that he didn't respond to it.

So give it to me.

Even if, according to him, Machado would have given it

because he is very friendly

and he has been helping him a lot,

because Venezuela needs a lot of help,

according to him.

What do you think?

And it was like this, eventually.

In the middle of January of 2016,

María Corina Machado was reunited with Donald Trump

for two hours in the White House

and took an obstacle.

He was his medalist in the peace novel,

which gave him Trump as a wonderful gesture

of mutual respect,

according to the president of the United States.

Some saw it as a way of María Corina

to remember Trump, his commitment to Venezuela.

After having moved to Nicolás Maduro del Poder,

the 3rd of January of 2016,

a theme that we will play with depth

more ahead of this season in our podcast.

Now, the peace novel has consolidated it

as a global leader

and put it back to Venezuela

in the international debate center,

with diplomatic and media academics

inciting that the press represents

more than an individual recognition

called the international community

to accompany the Venezuelan people

in their search for freedom.

After receiving the Nobel Prize of Peace in 2025,

María Corina Machado

experienced a change deep in the perception

that the world had of Venezuela.

His recognition was in evidence

to the magnitude of the democratic crisis

of the country

and at the same time,

he projected a new hope

for millions of citizens.

From then on, the Venezuelan government

faced an increase

of the international pressure

starting from the Donald Trump government.

Several nations intensified their

political opening and liberation

of awareness prices.

Meanwhile, within the country,

the people found the recognition

Machado had a motivation

to keep active and organized,

despite the adversity.

The Galaardón also

generates debates inside Venezuela

with some sectors of the officialism

minimizing it

and analysts opposition

seeing it as a respite

to its leadership

and an estimate for the change.

In any case,

the country entered a new phase

of collective reflection.

More than a consensus

what happened was that

new discussions

about the future of Venezuela

that reached political spaces

academic and communitarians.

In turn,

how to rebuild the trust,

strengthen institutions

and re-compose the social and other

years of crisis.

Machado insisted

that the international recognition

should not be common

in the end

but as a responsibility.

In previous interviews,

he stated that the award

did not belong to a person

but to a people

who refused to surrender.

With the passage of time,

his role has been oriented

more towards the formation

of new ideas

impulsing young and women

to participate actively

in public life.

And his message

has been centered

in civic culture,

education

and honesty

as essential basis

for any national project.

The truth is that the recent

of Venezuela has been marked

by that stage

and the novel of peace

has become

in a representation

of serene resistance

and democratic aspiration.

Well, beyond politics,

he represented the possibility

of imagining a different country

capable of reborn

from the truth and justice.

And before that possibility,

a question remains

floating in collective consciousness.

Is it enough

the hope

to transform the destiny

of a nation

that has so much suffered

but still dreams of freedom?

This has been the 25th episode

of the Learn Spanish

with Stories Podcast Season 5.

Maria Corina Machado,

the woman who left the novel

Adonal Trump.

How do you heard

of this brave and determined

Venezuelan woman?

What are your thoughts

on her fight for democracy

in her country

and how the regime

treated her?

The following is a section

of questions

for you to test your knowledge

on the story

to make sure that you understood

everything.

Are you ready?

Let's start.

Question 1.

Maria Corina Machado.

Question 2.

Que organización

ayudo afundar

en dos mil dos?

Question 3.

Que cargo ocupó

en dos mil diez?

Question 4.

¿Por qué recibió

el premio Nobel de la paz

en dos mil veinticinco?

Question 5.

Que hizo Maria Corina Machado

con su premio Nobel?

Corina idea what the answers are?

Let's hear them now.

Answer for Question 1.

¿Dónde nació Maria Corina Machado?

Nació en Caracas, Venezuela.

¿She was born in Caracas, Venezuela?

Answer for Question 2.

Que organización

ayudo afundar en dos mil dos?

¿Fundo sumate?

Una organización ciudadana?

¿She helped create sumate?

A citizen's organization?

Answer for Question 3.

Que cargo ocupó

en dos mil diez?

Fue diputada en la Asamblea Nacional.

She became a member of the National Assembly.

Answer for Question 4.

¿Por qué recibió

el premio Nobel de la paz en dos mil veinticinco?

Por su defensa pacífica de la democracia

y los derechos humanos en Venezuela.

For her peaceful defense of democracy

and human rights in Venezuela.

Answer for Question 5.

¿Qué hizo Maria Corina Machado con su premio Nobel?

Se lo regaló al presidente Donald Trump.

She gifted it to President Donald Trump.

Now, time for the summary of the story.

Maria Corina Machado was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1967.

She studied industrial engineering and later became active

in social projects that helped children and promoted fair elections.

In 2002, she helped create Somade,

an organization that defended people's rights to vote freely.

Later, she became a member of the National Assembly

and spoke strongly against the government.

After she lost her seat in 2014,

she continued fighting peacefully for democracy.

She formed a new political group called Bente Venezuela

and traveled around the country listening to citizens.

Many people saw her as a brave woman who never gave up.

Even when she faced threats and bans from the government.

In 2023, she won the opposition's primary election,

but she was not allowed to run for president.

Still, her popularity grew inside and outside Venezuela.

She became a symbol of peaceful resistance

and inspired others to believe in change.

In 2025, Maria Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize

for her defense of freedom and human rights,

before gifting it to her ally, President Donald Trump.

Her message of courage and unity gave hope to millions.

She reminded everyone that true peace begins with justice

and that even one voice can help a nation dream again.

That's all for today, but your Spanish learning journey continues.

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