Venezuela's Unraveling

While Maduro’s regime is unlikely to agree to free and fair elections, the opposition may be able to secure smaller concessions, like prisoner releases.

Disputes over whether to boycott the vote risk further weakening Guiado and his interim government’s legitimacy, thus leaving President Maduro in power for longer.

Moscow’s move to give up its majority stake continues the oil giant’s decadeslong shift toward a more market-driven future.

In a notable shift from its hardline anti-Maduro rhetoric, Washington has called on both sides of Venezuela's political battle to step aside for a new transitional government and free elections.

Bolton's departure has the potential to affect U.S. policy on everything from Iran to arms control.

Frustrated by the lack of progress toward a coup or a negotiation yielding elections, the U.S. administration ramps up economic pressure in hopes of breaking the stalemate in Caracas.

With dissident leader Juan Guaido faltering in his efforts to oust Venezuela's current government, foreign bondholders will go after the country's assets more aggressively -- hurting the economic prospects of any post-Maduro administration.

If true, it could signal that the opposition push to remove Maduro will fall apart as competing centers of power in the opposition jockey to determine his successor.