Samantha Schmidt

Bogotá, Colombia

Bogotá bureau chief, covering the Andes and Southern Cone regions of South America

Education: Indiana University, BA in journalism and Arabic

Samantha Schmidt is The Washington Post's Bogotá bureau chief, covering all of Spanish-speaking South America. She previously reported on gender and family issues for the local desk, with a focus on the LGBTQ community. She joined The Post in 2016 as a reporter on the Morning Mix team, covering news overnight from around the country and the world. She also has worked as a reporting fellow for the New York Times.
Latest from Samantha Schmidt

Venezuela detains U.S. sailor, officials say

The incident occurred amid an increasingly adversarial relationship between Washington and Caracas.

September 5, 2024
The Pentagon.

Venezuela orders arrest of candidate who U.S., others say won election

Venezuela’s public prosecutor’s office accused opposition candidate Edmundo González of usurpation and instigating disobedience, among other crimes.

September 3, 2024
Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo González greets supporters at a campaign rally in El Hatillo in June.

U.S. seizes airplane used by Venezuela’s President Maduro

Officials say the aircraft was illegally purchased and smuggled out of Florida. Its seizure reflects growing tensions between the two countries.

September 2, 2024
An aircraft that U.S. officials say was illegally purchased and transferred to Venezuela for use by President Nicolás Maduro sits at a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., airport on Monday.

Venezuelans stage global protests, seek recognition of election victory

In Venezuela and cities around the world, protesters carried vote tally receipts collected by the opposition showing that their candidate won more votes.

August 17, 2024
A protester holds up a vote tally sheet during a rally to protest results declaring President Nicolás Maduro the winner of the July presidential election, in Caracas, Venezuela on Saturday.

Amid calls for new elections in Venezuela, opposition weighs next move

Opposition leaders are rejecting proposals to rerun the election last month in which Edmundo González won a landslide victory over President Nicolás Maduro.

August 15, 2024
Opposition leader María Corina Machado talks to presidential candidate Edmundo González on July 29.

U.N. experts say Venezuela election results lack basic transparency

A panel of four U.N. experts criticized Venezuela’s decision to announce an election outcome without offering a detailed breakdown of the vote.

August 13, 2024
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro shows an election document as he addresses the media after an appearance before the Supreme Court of Justice in Caracas, Venezuela, on Friday.

Amid Venezuela tumult, U.S. wants Latin American countries to lead in finding a solution

The Biden administration has preferred to let leaders of Colombia, Brazil and Mexico take the lead pressuring the Maduro government, but a more active U.S. role may be inevitable.

August 10, 2024
A vigil in Caracas on Thursday called by the opposition in Venezuela demands freedom for political prisoners arrested during protests following the contested reelection of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Maduro boasts 2,200 arrests since election; rights groups say 23 dead

The number of detainees has been too high for defense lawyers to keep up.

August 8, 2024
A woman sits outside the national police detention center in Caracas, Venezuela, where her boyfriend is being held. President Nicolás Maduro says security forces have arrested more than 2,200 people since he claimed to have won reelection July 28.

The escalating fight over Venezuela's future

In the week since the presidential election in Venezuela, both incumbent President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition, led by Edmundo González, have claimed victory. But what do the voting receipts say?

August 5, 2024

Maduro perdió las elecciones según actas recopiladas por la oposición

Edmundo González habría vencido al presidente Nicolás Maduro el 28 de julio por millones de votos, según muestra un análisis de datos de las actas electorales.

August 5, 2024
González y la líder opositora  María Corina Machado se dirigen a sus partidarios en Caracas el 30 de Julio después de que Maduro fuese declarado el ganador.