A few days ago, my friend Daniel Duquena, editor of Venezuela News & Views, told me that the economy is a big #1 down in Venezuela.  He shared stories of economic shortages and even lack of basic medicine.  It's really bad. Today, the Maduro administration has finally admitted that there is a first-rate "emergencia," as reported by The New York Times: The Venezuelan government on Friday declared an emergency to address the country’s deteriorating economy.  The plan was short on specific policy changes but sought to give President Nicolás Maduro the power to bypass the National Assembly on spending matters, among other measures. But any expansion of executive power would have to be approved by the National Assembly, which is controlled by Mr. Maduro’s rivals who took control of the chamber in January with their own promises to address Venezuela’s economic problems. Later in the day, Mr. Maduro...(Read Full Post)