20×State TV talked about the earthquake 20 times more than its average this year · Last 7 days vs. the 2026 average.
−94%94% fewer mentions of Trump on state TV · While the opposition mentioned Trump over a thousand times this week.
−94%94% fewer mentions of 'elections' on state TV · In the opposition, the topic rose 25%.
Acting president Delcy Rodríguez on Saturday decorated 6,000 rescuers and canine units at Maiquetía airport, EFE reported, putting the death toll from the June 24 earthquakes at 5,119, with 16,740 injured and 21,470 displaced across 107 camps. Diosdado Cabello and Jorge Rodríguez attended, according to EFE and VTV.
VTV and the armed forces channel aired the ceremony and Rodríguez's visits to camps. In the opposition, Daniel Lara Farías criticized the lack of official guidance to the public for new quakes, and Patricia Poleo devoted her show to survivors writing to Pope Leo.
«No fire department official from the Capital District or Vargas state shows up to speak to people with expert judgment on handling tragedies»— Daniel Lara Farías, July 17, 2026 · watch
«This is the moment for unity…»— La Iguana TV, July 18, 2026 · watch
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Dinorah Figuera announced a roadmap starting August 1, backed by the State Department, to overhaul the CNE electoral council and the TSJ supreme court, Confirmado reported. On VPItv, Blanca Rosa Mármol rejected talks and the idea of "settling differences".
David Placeres said Washington chose Figuera, not María Corina Machado, to steer the selection of the electoral body. Gaby Perozo said on VPItv that those chosen must not be the people Delcy Rodríguez has been appointing.
«We don't want to hear anything more about conversations, or supposed dialogues, or meetings…»— Blanca Rosa Mármol, July 18, 2026 · watch
«The people chosen cannot be the ones Delcy Rodríguez has been choosing»— Gaby Perozo, July 17, 2026 · watch
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FIFA named Jesús Valenzuela to referee the France-England third-place match on Saturday, July 18, with two fellow Venezuelans as assistants, Efecto Cocuyo reported. It is the first time a Venezuelan referee takes charge of a World Cup match of that weight.
