Critics question legality of Venezuela oil deals

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. Transcript STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: The Trump administration is celebrating more agreements to give the U.S. access to Venezuelan oil.MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: Energy Secretary Chris Wright was in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, on Wednesday. He appeared with acting President Delcy Rodriguez to announce new energy deals.(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)CHRIS WRIGHT: Today is a historic day in the transformation of Venezuela and the expansion of the possibilities for the Venezuelan people.MARTIN: The agreements come with the same authoritarian government that the U.S. once opposed. American troops captured Rodriguez's predecessor, Nicolás Maduro. But if the new boss is the same as the old boss, what does that mean for democracy?INSKEEP: Reporter John Otis is following this from neighboring Colombia. John, good morning.JOHN OTIS, BYLINE: Good morning, Steve.INSKEEP: How do these energy agreements work?OTIS: Well, under the first agreement that was announced by Trump last Friday, the U.S. governmen...