"It's very clear [President Maduro] is putting money behind his priorities, but those don't necessarily include the population of the country" says AS/COA’s Eric Farnsworth.

Venezuelans marked April 19, their president’s fourth anniversary in office, with mass protests. Here are issues to keep in mind for the rest of his six-year term.

Raúl Gallegos traces the roots of Venezuela's current collapse along the lines of its oil-laden history.

Peaceful protests almost always work better than violent ones - even against repressive governments.

Shortages and a crumbling economy have forced Venezuelans to change their eating habits; many are losing weight and battling malnutrition.

The United States has worked under a laissez-faire approach to encourage others to fill a void in regional leadership toward Venezuela, points out AS/COA’s Eric Farnsworth.

Despite growing protests and widespread suffering, Venezuela’s president continues to outfox the opposition and foreign critics.