Machado recounts how Venezuela's democracy eroded after Chávez exploited political vulnerabilities and oil dependency to consolidate power, leading to systemic corruption and economic ruin. She entered politics through grassroots mobilization, co-founding Súmate and winning a landmark legislative seat despite limited support. After being expelled for exposing human rights abuses, she continued leading resistance efforts under severe repression. Despite being banned from office, she won a citizen-led primary by a landslide and used technology to document election fraud in 2024. The Maduro regime responds with intimidation, but a broad, domestically driven movement persists. Machado rejects claims of foreign allegiance, emphasizing widespread national consensus for change. She warns against the dangers of socialism, citing Venezuela’s collapse, and calls on younger generations to safeguard democracy, stressing that freedom requires constant vigilance and civic courage.