The US now effectively controls Venezuela through a holdover regime, a win for Washington but a bad deal for Venezuelans still waiting on democracy.

• After US forces arrested Maduro in January, Washington installed his former VP Delcy Rodriguez as acting president instead of the opposition.
• Marco Rubio runs the country from afar — signing off on senior appointments, foreign policy, and even a Rodriguez trip to India before her own government announced it.
• The US took control of Venezuela's oil money, which now flows through the US Treasury; oil output topped 1 million barrels a day and America replaced China as the top buyer.
• A June earthquake killed over 5,000 people and could wipe out 6% of the economy, stalling the promised move toward elections.
• Rodriguez is deeply unpopular at home, and both she and Washington have little reason to rush a vote she would lose.

Outlook: Elections keep getting pushed back, and with Washington getting everything it wants, real democratic reform looks years away at best.