Critics question legality of Venezuela oil deals NPR | By John Otis, Steve Inskeep Published September 3, 2026 at 1:07 AM PDT LinkedIn Email Listen • 3:36 Chevron's $7 billion Venezuela bet deepens U.S. ties to the country's oil industry. Critics say the deal poses risks to democracy and could fuel discontent over Washington's embrace of the government. Copyright 2026 NPR