Activist Leopoldo López learned the true value of freedom in a solitary confinement cell, when someone else decided if he would eat or see sunlight. In this searching conversation, he explains why democracy is losing ground across the globe, the state of Venezuela’s transition after Maduro’s capture and the 2026 earthquakes — and why he founded the World Liberty Congress to unite activists in the fight against autocracies. (This conversation, hosted by TED’s Whitney Pennington Rogers, was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. TED Membership is the best way to support and engage with the big ideas you love from TED. To learn more, visit ted.com/membership.) (Recorded at TED Membership on September 16, 2026)
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@MiguelLara-gj4hi
November 13, 2026 at 11:07 am
Leopoldo López is despised by the vast majority of Venezuelans. He is part of Venezuela’s corrupt political caste that has collaborated with the Chavista communist regime.”
@emild579
November 13, 2026 at 11:23 am
The level of hypocrisy is somewhere around “humanitarian bombings”
@GustavoCasas
November 13, 2026 at 11:30 am
Desperate and outdated, he doesn’t represent Venezuela thank God!
@francesbernard2445
November 13, 2026 at 11:43 am
Adequate rest and medical care while aging to reach advanced old age should never be taken for granted in democracies however people who have never managed somehow to make a run for it whenver needing to don’t take that for granted same as people not living in democracies. So who then all are for real in both what is called democracy and communal living structured nation for real are being complacent about that sort of thing.
@TheTuubster
November 13, 2026 at 11:49 am
Correct. About a third of a nation’s population would have zero problems with suppressing the citizens that stands against them and their interests. Once this third has full access to the state institutions, Democracy is over. And they will have no problem with calling their autocracy “Democracy” (see the dictatorship in East Germany, calling itself “The Democratic Republic of Germany”, or North Korea calling itself “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”), because for them “Demos” is not “The People” but “my tribe”.
@Reboldoeux
November 13, 2026 at 12:27 pm
Uno de los grandes terroristas. Culpable de que Venezuela esté como está.
@ExistentialWolf
November 13, 2026 at 12:43 pm
First step is exercise. You need to create a complete community and the best way is through competition and sport. Those that do show up, easily form government. Remember, government is supposed to be tucked away. You need community leaders to influence the population, and let the politicians ensure value is there for everyone. The perpetual soap box of today’s generations is misleading. You want to be happy to get home, not happy someone who had to just be there, showed up for work.
@RTL2L
November 13, 2026 at 1:26 pm
My God these people are ruthless. And they are doing it with this nice charming smile on their faces.
@hrmkmdtv
November 13, 2026 at 1:49 pm
Pure propaganda video, Ted is cooked! We all saw what happened and know everything about it.