Latin Pulse

This special edition of Latin Pulse includes a different perspective on the presidential elections in the U.S.: a view from Cuba.  A Cuban professor discusses how the elections could have an impact on the warming relations between the two countries.  The program also discusses the rise of English as a mandated second language in South America and how that could reflect cultural imperialism. The news segment of the program covers the negotiations between opposition parties in Venezuela and the president to avert further protests and a move by the National Assembly to hold an impeachment trial. The program includes interviews with: Santiago Perez Benitez of the University of Havana & the Cuban Center for International Political Research (CIPI); and DJ Kaiser of Webster University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Jim Singer.  (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Brazil Venezuela Cuba diplomacy education Uruguay The Vatican Nicolas Maduro Argentina Paraguay Peru Pope Francis Nicolas Maduro National Assembly United States embargo elections reparations Guantanamo immigration Barack Obama Hillary Clinton U.S. Congress computers Donald Trump internet Ted Cruz Marco Rubio cultural imperialism indigenous languages indigenous issues Guarani tourism business technology linguistics

We celebrate the Latin Pulse five-year anniversary fiesta, with out-takes and excerpts from the past year, a tradition for the program.  The audience's favorite themes are on display.  Those themes include: the clash between the National Assembly and the president in Venezuela; the shift to the right in Argentina; the impeachment trial and corruption scandals in Brazil; and the Feast of San Lazaro and Santeria. The news segment of the program covers the defense by Brazil's President Michel Temer before the United Nations' General Assembly, justifying the impeachment and removal of Dilma Rousseff, an act that brought Temer to power. The program includes interviews with: Eric Hershberg of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS); David Smilde of Tulane University; Matthew Taylor of American University; Chris Sabatini of Columbia University; and  Michael Atwood Mason of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Jim Singer.  (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Brazil impeachment corruption Santeria Petrobras Venezuela Dilma Rousseff United Nations Argentina Cuba UN Michel Temer Nicolas Maduro National Assembly Eduardo Cunha justice elections economics Afro-Cubans Odebrecht welfare programs Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Fernando Henrique Cardoso Mauricio Macri United States finances San Lazaro religion Africa

On Mexico's independence day Latin Pulse focuses this week on key themes for the country: the Drug War, national security, immigration, corruption, justice, and of course, politics. The program includes an in-depth interview tracking the effects of the visit of U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump to Mexico.  The program also looks at a new violent uptick in the Drug War, with clashes between the Sinaloa Cartel and the Nueva Generacion Jalisco Cartel. The news segment of the program covers new indictments against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the popular former president of Brazil often just called Lula. The program includes an in-depth interview with: Maureen Myer of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).  Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Jim Singer.  (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Brazil Mexico corruption PRI Petrobras PAN Dilma Rousseff United States oil prisons immigration Michel Temer Petrobras oil Drug War Eduardo Cunha trade Donald Trump Central America media human rights Sinaloa Cartel Workers Party Enrique Pena Nieto Institutional Revolutionary Party National Action Party Joaquin El Chapo Guzman Nueva Generacion Jalisco Cartel Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva violence elections Felipe Calderon extrajudicial killings disappearances justice military torture massacres Ayotzinapa police diplomacy Joe Biden Barack Obama drug cartels

Brazil and its various concerns are again on the radar of Latin Pulse this week. First, looks at what is in store for Brazil politically and economically after the ouster of President Dilma Rousseff by the country's Congress. And how will the Temer administration deal with anti-government protests? Also, the program discusses ways to fight the Zika virus, after the disease started in Brazil but has now spread to Central America and beyond. The news segment of the program covers how funds to fight Zika and support research for Zika vaccines are stalled in the U.S. Congress. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Prof. Matthew Taylor of American University; and Dr. Reina Turcios-Ruiz of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Technical Director: Jim Singer.  (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Brazil impeachment Zika Guatemala Honduras Dilma Rousseff United States corruption PMDB coup Petrobras oil Michel Temer Puerto Rico U.S. Senate economics health issues Central America elections Harry Reid U.S. Congress Workers Party Fernando Collor de Mello Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva CDC mosquitoes birth defects

The proposed peace treaty dealing with the FARC in Colombia and the deterioration of democracy in Nicaragua are the twin themes on Latin Pulse this week. First, the program dissects the proposed peace pact between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC by its Spanish acronym) and the Colombian government. Also, the program explores how President Daniel Ortega has manipulated the electoral system in Nicaragua. The news segment of the program covers the end of Dilma Rousseff's presidency as the Brazilian Senate found her guilty of shifting funds without Congressional approval and with misleading the Brazilian Congress. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and Manuel Orozco of the Inter-American Dialogue. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Technical Director: Jim Singer.  (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Brazil impeachment Colombia FARC ELN Dilma Rousseff United States Nicaragua Sandinistas FSLN justice Venezuela Michel Temer peace treaty civil war justice Alvaro Uribe Daniel Ortega elections democracy UN ceasefire Pedro Reyes Liberal Party Fidel Castro crime Joe Biden United Nations business infrastructure inequality transportation oil racism Afro-Cubans minority issues Honduras

LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, or trans-gender) issues at the Summer Olympics in Rio, along with economics and politics provide the varied themes on Latin Pulse this week. First, the program delves into homophobia in Brazil and how Brazilian crowds have reacted to LGBT athletes.  The program also includes an in-depth analysis into the current economic and political issues facing Cuba. The news segment of the program discusses the uptick in Zika cases in Honduras and how newborns are being affected there, while civil society groups call for more access to birth control. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Jim Buzinski of Outsports; and Dan Hellinger of Webster University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Technical Director: Jim Singer.  *This program includes frank discussion of adult themes related to sexuality and sexual identity. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Olympics Cuba economics Brazil Zika birth control United States homophobia volleyball sports rugby Venezuela health issues LGBT issues human rights soccer women's sports gender issues media internet agriculture tourism Raul Castro human rights Fidel Castro communism labor issues business infrastructure inequality transportation Puerto Rico oil racism Afro-Cubans minority issues Honduras

Fútbol (or soccer) at the Olympics and concerns about the military and police in Honduras    provide the varied themes on Latin Pulse this week. The program provides an in-depth analysis of both the women's and men's fútbol competitions at the Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  The program also concludes its two-part critique of the Honduran military. The program also discusses the role the military is playing in both the Drug War and in the political sphere in Honduras. The news segment of the program discusses U.S. President Barack Obama's support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (the TPP). The program includes in-depth interviews with: Joshua Nadel of North Carolina Central University; and Orlando Perez of Millersville University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and  Production Assistant: Chorsie Martin. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Olympics TPP trade Brazil Colombia Barack Obama United States Juan Orlando Hernandez El Salvador drug cartels Soccer War Venezuela soccer women's sports gender issues Central America human rights U.S. Senate fútbol Copa America military sports Honduras Manuel Zelaya police Colombia Ecuador Argentina Drug War Mexico Chile Portugal Germany corruption Sweden Nigeria violence homicide Guatemala gangs coup

Venezuela, Colombia, and their simmering problems provide the central themes on Latin Pulse this week. The program includes an in-depth analysis reviewing the state of democracy in Venezuela and how that affects the current crisis situation.  The program also discusses how minority groups (Afro-Colombians and indigenous tribes) have been marginalized as part of the negotiations to end the country's long-running civil war. The news segment of the program covers the inauguration of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski as both Peru's newest and oldest president, along with noting his support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (the TPP). The program includes in-depth interviews with: Dan Hellinger of Webster University; and Gimena Sanchez of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and  Production Assistant: Chorsie Martin. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Peru TPP trade Venezuela Colombia Barack Obama peace talks Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Afro-Latin American issues diplomacy UN food shortages food riots civil war recall movement protest movement corruption protest movement military United States Nicolas Maduro unions Cuba Henrique Capriles Hugo Chavez media oil extractive industries environmental issues indigenous issues FARC Afro-Colombians Drug War minority issues land reform land mines paramilitaries democracy mining gold corruption atrocities health issues massacres Wayuu

An hour-long special covers various issues regarding human rights and democratization on Latin Pulse this week. The program includes a wide-ranging discussion of the various crises affecting Venezuela, including the political and economic situations.  The analysis also includes discussions on the peace process in Colombia and accusations of human rights abuses by the military in Honduras.  The program also includes a review of a book on corruption in Brazil. The news segment of the program covers how El Salvador's Supreme Court struck down the country's amnesty law opening the door to human rights prosecutions linked to the country's civil war. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Dan Hellinger of Webster University;  Orlando Perez of Millersville University; Gimena Sanchez of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and Alex Cuadros, author of Brazillionaires. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and  Production Assistant: Chorsie Martin. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 60 minutes in length and the file size is 83 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Brazil atrocities massacres violence crime human rights El Salvador Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Organization of American States Juan Orlando Hernandez Juan Manuel Santos Carlos Andres Perez military UN Berta Caceres Dilma Rousseff U.S. Congress corruption protest movement Colombia Petrobras Spain Jesuits assassinations economics OAS CELAC media impeachment food shortages food riots recall movement political repression Honduras media oil UNASUR coup democracy authoritarianism police homicide ELN paramilitaries FARC cocaine infrastructure torture Nicolas Maduro Hugo Chavez Luis Almagro United Nations Manuel Zelaya Drug War peace process United States Workers Party Mexico

The Rio Olympics set for this summer in Brazil and their various problems provide the central themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program analyzes a variety of challenges for these games including security, crime, transportation, infrastructure, and environmental and economic impacts of the games.  The program also discusses the various health issues confronting these games including the zika virus and super bacteria that are present in some of the venues for water events in the Olympics. The news segment of the program covers the resignation of Eduardo Cunha, president of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies due to corruption charges. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Andrew Zimbalist of Smith College; and Alex Cuadros, author of Brazillionaires. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and  Production Assistant: Chorsie Martin. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Brazil Olympics IOC violence crime Eduardo Cunha Michel Temer International Olympic Committee Mexico City Olympics health UN Rio Olympics Dilma Rousseff zika virus corruption protest movement sports Petrobras poverty PMDB pollution soccer futbol environment sailing impeachment Tlatelolco Massacre World Cup super bacteria political repression economics tourism patronage evangelicals media zika Mexico

Corruption and its corrosive effects on politics in Brazil and international fùtbol/soccer tournaments is the central theme this week on Latin Pulse. The program analyzes the rocky beginnings of the administration of Interim President Michel Temer in Brazil.  The program also provides an analysis of the Copa America in its centennial year, which includes a preview of this weekend's finale between Argentina and Chile.  The news segment of the program covers the historic agreement between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (the FARC) and the Colombian government, agreeing to a ceasefire before a permanent peace treaty. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Alex Cuadros, author of Brazillionaires; and Joshua Nadel of North Carolina Central University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and  Production Assistant: Chorsie Martin. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Brazil Argentina Colombia FARC ceasefire peace talks United Nations Juan Manuel Santos ELN UN Copa America Dilma Rousseff United States corruption Workers Party Chile Petrobras oil PMDB Venezuela soccer futbol FIFA sports impeachment Lionel Messi economics media Univision

Taking stock of the new leaders in Peru and Argentina is the where our weekly political analysis heads this week on Latin Pulse. The program delves into how Pedro Pablo Kuczynski managed to upset Keiko Fujimori in Peru's presidential race and what a Kuczynski administration will likely mean for Peru.  The program also reviews the opening months of President Mauricio Macri's term in Argentina and how his policy shifts have changed his country.  The news segment of the program covers U.S. President Barack Obama's call for the U.S. Congress to find solutions for the debt crisis in Puerto Rico. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Jo-Marie Burt of George Mason University and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and Mark Jones of Rice University and the Baker Institute. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and  Production Assistant: Chorsie Martin. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Peru Argentina elections agriculture finance Keiko Fujimori human rights U.S. Supreme Court Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Alberto Fujimori Mauricio Macri Nestor Kirchner labor Japan debt crisis Puerto Rico Chile corruption economics military torture Barack Obama U.S. Congress The Amazon Alejandro Toledo Shining Path Drug War United States protest movements soybeans business Monsanto diplomacy justice oil energy utilities DEA transportation

Human rights violations in Mexico and Guatemala provide the themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program delves into a new report on atrocities in Mexico that have some calling for action by the International Criminal Court.  Analysis includes discussion of some of the worst cases of abuses by security forces in Mexico, including the case of missing students in Guerrero.  The program also discusses moves toward justice in Guatemala for the indigenous Maya, including analysis of the genocide case against former dictator Efrain Rios Montt.  The news segment of the program covers the upset by Pedro Pablo Kuczynski over Keiko Fujimori in the presidential race in Peru. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Eric Witte of the Open Society Justice Initiative; and Jo-Marie Burt of George Mason University and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and  Production Assistant: Chorsie Martin. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Peru Mexico elections Guatemala violence Keiko Fujimori human rights torture Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Claudia Paz y Paz Enrique Pena Nieto Efrain Rios Montt Central America Zetas Cartel Drug War military justice indigenous issues United Nations impunity corruption Ayotzinapa CICIG UN genocide rape protest movement gender issues police diplomacy sexual slavery

The controversial presidential election in Peru is the centerpiece of discussion this week on Latin Pulse. The program includes two interviews recorded at the recent Latin American Studies Association (LASA) meetings in New York City with two of the top experts on Peruvian politics. Besides providing details about the two challengers Keiko Fujimori and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, the program also talks about the legacy of corruption left by Fujimori's father, Alberto, who once was Peru's dictator but is now serving time for his various crimes.  The program also discusses the recent scandals haunting the Fujimori campaign. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Cynthia McClintock of George Washington University; and Jo-Marie Burt of George Mason University and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and  Production Assistant: Chorsie Martin. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Peru corruption elections DEA TPP Keiko Fujimori Alberto Fujimori tourism Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Drug Enforcement Administration human rights Panama Papers Drug War media democracy Barack Obama Ollanta Humala Hillary Clinton United States Vladimiro Montesinos poverty economics

Corruption in Argentina and Honduras provides the central theme this week on Latin Pulse. The program includes a wide-ranging analysis of corruption in Argentina, along with key tangents on the Argentine economy and challenges for the new president, Mauricio Macri.  The program details the indictment against the former president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and why both Fernandez and Macri are mentioned in the Panama Papers.  The program also gives a deep analysis of corruption in Honduras and how the opposition in that country is concerned that the country is slipping toward authoritarianism. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Mark Jones of Rice University & the Baker Institute; and Dana Frank of the University of California, Santa Cruz.  Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and  Production Assistant: Chorsie Martin. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Argentina corruption elections Honduras economics Central America Mauricio Macri police military coup Panama Papers Manuel Zelaya OAS justice Guatemala UN United Nations scandal Organization of American States Juan Orlando Hernandez Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Otto Perez Molina human rights assassinations Alberto Nisman Venezuela Brazil inflation Peronists impunity MACCIH CICIG Berta Caceres Roberto Micheletti Drug War United States Sergio Massa

Puerto Rico and Mexico provide the central locales for the main themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program analyzes a proposal before the U.S. Congress to help Puerto Rico survive its debt crisis. But the proposal includes a fiscal control board that can supersede the powers of Puerto Rico's government, a provision that some find controversial. The program also includes a wide ranging discussion of corruption, politics and diplomacy with Mexico. The news segment of the program covers the outcome of the presidential elections in the Dominican Republic and the re-election of President Danilo Medina. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Brad Setser of the Council on Foreign Relations; and Shannon O'Neil of the Council on Foreign Relations.  Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and  Production Assistant: Chorsie Martin. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Mexico corruption elections diplomacy economics Puerto Rico debt crisis finance oil China Dominican Republic Danilo Medina OAS justice trade immigration education violence infrastructure Organization of American States Alejandro Garcia Padilla U.S. Congress United States Donald Trump Hillary Clinton

Presidential politics in both Brazil and the Dominican Republic provides the twin themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program recounts the historic movements to suspend President Dilma Rousseff from office this past week along with how Michel Temer has moved initially to fill the role of interim president.  This week's analysis includes a look forward at the impeachment process that could permanently remove Rousseff from the presidency.  The program also provides a preview of this weekend's presidential vote in the Dominican Republic and gauges the chances for President Danilo Medina to be re-elected. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Matthew Taylor of American University; and Christopher Mitchell of New York University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and  Production Assistant: Chorsie Martin. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Brazil impeachment elections PT PMDB Dilma Rousseff Michel Temer corruption Dominican Republic Danilo Medina Brazilian Democratic Movement Party Dominican Liberation Party Modern Revolutionary Party Minerva Tavarez Mirabal Luis Abinader Eduardo Cunha Workers Party protest movement gender issues minority issues economics reforms labor unemployment education justice media PLD PRM free speech Guillermo Moreno

Another push to recall a president and the power of remittances provide the twin themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program analyzes the latest moves with diplomacy and electoral laws to recall President Nicolas Maduro or at least restore some balance to the eroded democratic system in Venezuela.  The program reviews the debate between Argentina and Venezuela at the Organization of American States (OAS).  The program also includes the second part of our extended look at the links between remittances and globalization.  The news segment of the program includes the latest developments regarding the debt crisis in Puerto Rico. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Michael McCarthy of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS) & the Woodrow Wilson Center ; and Manuel Orozco of the Inter-American Dialogue. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Jim Singer. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Mexico Venezuela diplomacy coup Argentina United States Puerto Rico OAS debt crisis U.S. Congress Organization of American States economics military Honduras migration remittances globalization Argentina Unasur labor justice military immigration Nicolas Maduro recall movement recall petition Central America Luis Almagro National Assembly Mauricio Macri The Vatican Supreme Court El Salvador Cuba Nicaragua violence Guatemala globalization

Mexico with its problems with human rights, corruption, and migration provides the central themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program includes a wide-ranging segment discussing the findings by independent investigators for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights that the Mexican government actively harassed their workers and thwarted the inquiry into the case of 43 missing university students. The Mexican government disputes that view.  The program also discusses how remittances by Mexican migrants are not only more and more economically important, but also have become an issue in the U.S. during the presidential campaign. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Shannon O'Neil of the Council on Foreign Relations; and Manuel Orozco of the Inter-American Dialogue. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Jim Singer. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Mexico violence kidnapping justice corruption human rights Drug War police extrajudicial killings Panama Papers Enrique Pena Nieto economics military torture oil reforms PRI Guerrero Pemex labor remittances migration elections trade immigration Donald Trump United States United Nations globalization

Politics in both Brazil and the Dominican Republic provides the discussion points this week on Latin Pulse. Several segments of the program deal with the fallout from the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff and what are the next steps for Brazil's Congress as it works to remove her.  The program covers the political arguments Rousseff is making to retain her office. The program also sketches the important issues, parties, and candidates involved in the presidential race in the Dominican Republic.  The discussion revolves around the possibility that President Danilo Medina may win re-election on the first round of voting in May. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Matthew Taylor of American University; and Jeb Sprague of the University of California Santa Barbara. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Brittney Madison. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Brazil elections impeachment justice corruption Dilma Rousseff Workers Party PT protest movement Eduardo Cunha Marina Silva Workers Party economics Afro-Latin American topics minority issues Luiz Inancio Lula da Silva Fernando Collor de Mello Fernando Henrique Cardoso welfare programs Brazilian Democratic Movement PMDB Petrobras oil PRD PLD globalization Haiti labor remittances racism mining USAID Michel Temer Dominican Republic Danilo Medina Luis Abinadar undocumented migrants gender issues LGBT issues

Consequences regarding abuses of power provide the central discussion this week on Latin Pulse. The program delves into the politics of impeachment in Brazil as President Dilma Rousseff tangles with members of Congress.  Congress says Rousseff misled them about the country's finances.  But many of those looking to prosecute Rousseff are themselves tangled in various corruption scandals.  The program's analysis gives the necessary context before a Congressional impeachment vote this coming weekend. The program also looks at the reaction in Latin America to the Panama Papers scandal.  The discussion revolves around the Panamanian view of the corruption scandal. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Alex Cuadros, the author of Brazillionaires; and Luis Botello of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Brittney Madison. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Brazil Panama impeachment Argentina corruption Dilma Rousseff Panama Papers media protest movement Eduardo Cunha Paulo Maluf Workers Party Michel Temer Luiz Inancio Lula da Silva Juan Carlos Varela conspiracy theories Brazilian Democratic Movement Globo Petrobras oil justice economics PMDB financing journalists democracy violence Mexico Ecuador Mossack Fonseca Central America Venezuela military poverty

A controversial presidential race in Peru and seeking justice in El Salvador provide the themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program analyzes how protest marches and concerns raised by the Organization of American States (OAS) may impact the voting in Peru after several candidates were removed from the ballot.  The program also traces moves toward justice in the massacre of Jesuit priests and religious workers in El Salvador; a case that began in 1989.  The news segment of the program outlines the report known as the Panama Papers and how those revelations may affect politicians in Argentina and Mexico. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Cynthia McClintock of George Washington University; and Geoff Thale of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Brittney Madison. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics elections Panama Peru Mexico corruption United States Panama Papers Argentina Mauricio Macri protest movement Keiko Fujimori Alberto Fujimori human rights Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner George H. W. Bush Enrique Pena Nieto Juan Carlos Varela Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Inocente Orlando Montano Luis Almagro El Salvador Central America civil war Julio Guzman Cesar Acuna Ronald Reagan OAS Jesuits massacre religion justice coup dictatorship democracy Spain military Guatemala military amnesty

Politics in Brazil and diplomacy with Argentina provide the central themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program examines the meltdown of the administration of President Dilma Rousseff in Brazil as she copes with a major corruption scandal and the threat of impeachment due to charges she abused her powers.  The program unravels what is behind the charges of abuse of power against not just Rousseff, but also former President Lula and other top politicians.  The program also provides an analysis of President Obama's trip to Argentina and why it was met with mixed results by Argentines. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Matthew Taylor of American University; and Chris Sabatini of Columbia University and Latin America Goes Global. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Cuba diplomacy Brazil corruption United States Barack Obama Dilma Rousseff Eduardo Cunha human rights protest movement Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva George H. W. Bush George W. Bush Carlos Menem financial crisis Dirty War Henry Kissinger Jimmy Carter Lula impeachment Petrobras justice elections economics Argentina oil construction Odebrecht Mauricio Macri unemployment coup military intelligence

President Barack Obama and his historic trip to Cuba provide the central themes on Latin Pulse this week. The program includes news about various details of Obama's trip to Cuba and Argentina, and in-depth analysis of the political, human rights, and business changes resonating through both countries after the trip.  Although only minor initiatives were signed during the state visit, Obama's trip provides a symbolic touchstone for moving forward on improving the human rights climate in Cuba, discussing what to do with the U.S. economic embargo and resolving the issue of Guantanamo. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Bill LeoGrande of American University; and Chris Gutierrez of KC SmartPort. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Cuba diplomacy business trade United States Barack Obama Raul Castro Fidel Castro human rights Cold War Major League Baseball embargo Guantanamo baseball agriculture sports economics transportation infrastructure police media internet terrorism dissidents tourism Brazil

War and peace in Colombia and Mexico provide the themes on Latin Pulse. The program updates the status of the long-running peace talks in the 51-year-old civil war in Colombia.  This discussion includes fears that different rebel groups will supplant the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (the FARC).  The program also analyzes the problems of human rights and corruption in Mexico as that country tries to prosecute its part in the Drug War. The news segment of the program covers the feud between Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump and Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico, over Trump's immigration proposals. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and Eric Olson of the Woodrow Wilson Center. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics elections Colombia Mexico immigration United States Barack Obama civil war Drug War Donald Trump Vicente Fox Juan Manuel Santos Enrique Pena Nieto Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman FARC peace negotiations Alvaro Uribe organized crime drug cartels illegal mining Felipe Calderon ELN justice Cuba violence economics militias infrastructure police insurgents rebels cocaine PAN homicides oil Cuba diplomacy finance crime Argentina

Latin American cinema provides the key discussion points this week on Latin Pulse. The program includes an in-depth discussion with the director of Embrace of the Serpent, the first Colombian film nominated for an Academy Award.  The program also includes a survey of some of the most interesting newer film releases from Brazil, including Casa Grande, The Second Mother, and Neighboring Sounds. The news segment of the program covers the latest move by U.S. President Barack Obama to close the detention facilities at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo and how the U.S. Congress has thwarted those efforts. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Ciro Guerra, director of Embrace of the Serpent; and Kathy Corley of Webster University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Cuba films Colombia Brazil Guantanamo United States Barack Obama Pope Francis U.S. Congress minority issues indigenous issues Afro-Brazilian issues Casa Grande Neighboring Sounds The Amazon Latin American films Latin American cinema Embrace of the Serpent The Second Mother spirituality indigenous religion Academy Awards racial issues education income inequity business media violence security poverty culture

Politics in Venezuela and Bolivia provide the central themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program analyzes the political fights between Venezuela's new National Assembly and President Nicolas Maduro, often with the Venezuelan Supreme Court reinforcing the president's positions. The program also provides a preview of the important referendum in Bolivia that could extend the term of President Evo Morales. The news segment of the program covers Pope Francis and his recent trip to Mexico, including his scolding of Mexican bishops due to corruption, his condemnation of Donald Trump, and his reaction to the Zika virus. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Michael McCarthy of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS); and Rob Albro also of (CLALS). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Venezuela politics Mexico Bolivia referendum United States Nicolas Maduro Pope Francis economics immigration Donald Trump Evo Morales Drug War electoral fraud Henry Ramos Accion Democratica Primero Justicia corruption Venezuelan Supreme Court elections immigration oil violence justice media Henrique Capriles Hugo Chavez PSUV recession economic crisis inflation energy homicide guns police MAS autocracy Ecuador hydroelectric dams indigenous issues environmental issues Rafael Correa

Pope Francis and his trip to Mexico provide the central themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program discusses the pope's fourth trip to Latin America, which will primarily focus on key stops throughout Mexico. The program reflects on the pope's efforts to put the global refugee crisis and the need to ease migration restrictions in front of policymakers in the hemisphere.  The news segment of the program covers testimony from the Centers for Disease Control in the United States officially linking the zika virus outbreak to microcephaly, a condition that causes brain damage in infants. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU); and Maureen Meyer of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Brazil politics Mexico zika Cuba United States health issues Pope Francis religion immigration El Salvador Central America drug cartels indigenous issues Sinaloa Cartel U.S. Congress Drug War corruption global refugee crisis Virgin of Guadalupe Pope Benedict XVI Knights Templar Cartel Enrique Pena Nieto Catholicism migrants scandal violence Honduras poverty Catholic Church Costa Rica Panama Nicaragua human rights

Peru and its presidential politics provide the primary themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program discusses the upcoming election in Peru that currently has a crowded field of 19 candidates, including two former presidents.  The program discusses in depth the chances of front-runner Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of Alberto Fujimori, another former Peruvian president now in prison. The news segment of the program covers the national address by President Dilma Rousseff in Brazil to make her country aware of the nation's new program to eradicate mosquitoes carrying the zika virus. The program includes an in-depth interview with: Moises Arce of the University of Missouri. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Brazil politics Peru zika elections United States health issues Barack Obama diplomacy immigration Dilma Rousseff Keiko Fujimori Fuerza Popular Alberto Fujimori Alan Garcia Ullanta Humala Alejandro Toledo human rights environmental issues extractive industries Trans-Pacific Partnership Cesar Acuna Julio Guzman corruption the Shining Path Asian-Latin American issues economics insurgents Japanese-Peruvian Chinese-Peruvian populism mining TPP business trade media neo-liberalism Drug War coca production Drug Enforcement Administration DEA

Cuba, diplomacy and the Cuban refugee crisis in Central America provide the primary themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program discusses the diplomatic, business, and tourist openings that continue to improve between Cuba and the United States, including a discussion of new reforms announced this week regarding travel and economic concerns.  The program also shares the view from Central America about the problem of Cuban refugees there.  The news segment of the program covers the alarm this week from health officials about the outbreak of the zika virus in the Western Hemisphere and especially how Brazil is responding. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Eric Hershberg, the director of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS); and  Carlos Sandoval Garcia of the Universidad de Costa Rica. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Brazil politics Mexico zika Cuba diplomacy immigration United States health issues Margaret Chan business World Health Organization El Salvador Costa Rica Central America Barack Obama WHO economics refugees embargo tourism Raul Castro currency justice Guantanamo Venezuela Guatemala Nicaragua Panama Ecuador

Latin Pulse registers its 200th episode this week, so the program looks back at the audience's favorite programs since the program became an online radio project.  Themes included in the program include migration, the Drug War, the civil war in Colombia, indigenous issues, and the construction of the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil. The program also includes a discussion of religion, including Santeria and about the folk saint Santa Muerte.  The news segment of the program analyzes the surprise diplomatic move this week by President Mauricio Macri in Argentina to reach out to the United Kingdom. The program includes interviews with: Maureen Meyer of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); Gimena Sanchez of WOLA; Eve Bratman of American University; Michael Atwood Mason, Director of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage; and Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Brazil politics Mexico Argentina Cuba diplomacy immigration United States Drug War Falkland Islands violence U.S. Border Patrol Afro-Latin American issues Belo Monte Dam Los Malvinas United Kingdom David Cameron Mauricio Macri drug cartels indigenous issues military Colombia FARC religion cocaine aerial fumigation The Amazon media media Santeria Santa Muerte health issues indigenous religion narco-religion

Looking ahead at what appear to be the key issues for 2016 in Latin America is the mission for Latin Pulse this week.  The program includes an in-depth and extended discussion with a director of one of the top research centers reviewing Latin American affairs and includes in-depth discussion of Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, and United States policy towards the region.  The news segment of the program discusses the move this week to extradite Mexican cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States after he was recaptured in Mexico. The program includes an in-depth interview with: Eric Hershberg, the director of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Brazil politics Mexico Venezuela Cuba corruption economics United States Drug War Barack Obama China oil commodities Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman poverty Nicolas Maduro Diosdado Cabello human rights Central America infrastructure Argentina Ecuador Chile Guatemala justice Dilma Rousseff Mauricio Macri Bolivia Uruguay recall referendum diplomacy immigration Caribbean region Joe Biden Trans-Pacific Partnership NAFTA trade

Latin American films provide the central focus for Latin Pulse this week.  The program completes its two-part conversation on the film Olvidados, which recounts Operation Condor and its human rights abuses from a Bolivian perspective.  The program also reviews the top Brazilian film of the past year, The Second Mother.  The news segment of the program delves into the controversy between the new National Assembly in Venezuela and that country's Supreme Court over accusations of electoral fraud and the power politics behind the swearing in of three new members of the National Assembly. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Carla Ortiz, the producer of Olvidados; and Kathy Corley of Webster University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Brazil politics Bolivia Venezuela elections films culture United States racial issues Afro-Brazilian issues security terrorism military School of the Americas Latin American films The Second Mother City of God torture Nicolas Maduro Diosdado Cabello human rights Henry Ramos gender issues Bolivian cuisine Olvidados internet business Operation Condor

Politics and diplomacy provide the main themes for Latin Pulse this week.  The program marks the anniversary of the diplomatic opening between Cuba and the United States with an interview recorded in Havana.  The program deals with the prospects for the end of the embargo.  The program also follows the complicated corruption scandal in Brazil that has now intersected with the political movement to impeach and unseat President Dilma Rousseff.  The scandal has now evolved into a political crisis as all branches of the Brazilian government are involved in which politicians should be prosecuted and removed from office. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Bob Holden, former Governor of Missouri and now with Webster University; and Matt Taylor of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Brazil politics Cuba diplomacy business trade embargo Dilma Rousseff Raul Castro Barack Obama tourism impeachment economics corruption poverty Petrobras justice PT agriculture China Communism oil PMBD Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva United States Eduardo Cunha Workers Party

Religion and politics, the so-called taboo subjects provide the central themes for Latin Pulse this week.  The program provides a preview of Cuba's favorite religious celebration, the feast day of San Lazaro.  The program explores the mix of faiths that honor that day on Dec. 17, including the practitioners of Santeria and those with Christian beliefs.  The program also goes in-depth on reaction to the surprising landslide win of opposition groups in Venezuela in that country's Congressional elections. The program includes excerpts from an international press conference that analyzes the political scene in Venezuela. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Michael Atwood Mason,* the Director of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage; and David Smilde† of Tulane University and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  *Michael Atwood Mason is also the author, editor, and curator of a cultural blog called Baba Who? Babalu! †David Smilde is also the curator, editor and author of the WOLA blog, Venezuela Politics & Human Rights.   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America elections politics Cuba Venezuela religion Santeria Catholicism Afro-Cuban issues minority issues Nicolas Maduro democracy Nigeria economics inflation poverty health capitalism socialism agriculture Babalu-Aye diplomacy Chavismo military Feast of San Lazaro Vladimir Padrino Lopez United States Leopoldo Lopez John Kerry

Latin Pulse returns from holiday hiatus this week, with a program about culture and politics.  The program previews the film Olvidados, about Operation Condor, that will soon make its cable debut on HBO Latino.  The film tells the story of Operation Condor from a Bolivian perspective.  And the program catches up with the results of the Argentine presidential elections and analyzes how a shift to a conservative government means historic changes for that country.  The news segment of the program looks at the move this week to begin official impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff in Brazil. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Carla Ortiz, the producer of Olvidados; and Chris Sabatini of Columbia University & Latin America Goes Global. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America elections politics torture CIA culture films Argentina Operation Condor human rights intelligence services Dilma Rousseff Brazil Augusto Pinochet impeachment economics Bolivia authoritarianism Chile capitalism Communism violence indigenous issues education Mauricio Macri Nestor Kirchner Daniel Scioli Republican Proposal Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner International Monetary Fund United States justice Peronists IMF

Reflections on a special trip to Cuba provide the main themes on Latin Pulse this week.  The program includes interviews with a U.S. delegation on a cultural and educational exchange in Cuba, including the delegation's leader, the former governor of Missouri.  The program also includes viewpoints on the U.S. embargo of Cuba and the possibility of business development on the island.  The discussion ranges through politics, economics and shared interests between the U.S. and Cuba.  The news segment of the program discusses the capture of Syrians using illegal passports in Honduras to possibly enter the U.S. illegally. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Bob Holden, former governor of Missouri and now with Webster University; and Chris Gutierrez, SmartPort of Kansas City. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America elections politics immigration terrorism Mexico Honduras Syria U.S. Congress Barack Obama Hillary Clinton United States refugees Panama Canal Puerto Rico economics Cuba tourism internet Nicaragua Brazil business trade transportation embargo Spain agriculture manufacturing infrastructure Russia commodities

Femicide and violence against women in Latin America provide the themes on Latin Pulse this week.  The program focuses on murders aimed at women in Central America and Mexico, the region with the worst global statistics as assembled by the United Nations.  The program also discusses linkages between such violence and unauthorized immigration.  The program discusses the causes behind femicide and includes analysis about the need to improve the justice in the region.  The news segment of the program covers the constitutional changes in Bolivia to allow President Evo Morales to run for re-election in four years if he wishes. The program includes an in-depth interview with: Karen Musalo of the University of California. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America elections politics Bolivia violence Mexico Guatemala femicide Evo Morales Central America El Salvador United States homicide United Nations civil war human rights economics Honduras machismo genocide Nicaragua rape torture impunity street gangs organized crime domestic violence police justice crime immigration asylum

Trade, finance and economics provide the main themes on Latin Pulse this week. The program gives an in-depth analysis of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and what obstacles it faces in the U.S. Congress and the U.S. political system.  The program also reviews the current status of the debt crisis in Puerto Rico and dissects how the island territory piled up billions in debt.  The news segment of the program covers the results of presidential elections in Latin America, with a focus on why the presidential race in Argentina is headed to a second round of voting. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Chris Sabatini of Columbia University & Latin America Goes Global; and Mauro Guillen of the Lauder Institute of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America elections politics trade Argentina finance Guatemala China debt crisis Daniel Scioli Puerto Rico United States TPP Barack Obama Hillary Clinton Bernie Sanders Alejandro Garcia Padilla economics default Mexico Peru Chile Canada NAFTA labor U.S. Senate Trans-Pacific Partnership environmental issues Central America Dominican Republic U.S. Congress agriculture unions Colombia Vietnam Australia commodities Honduras textiles Brazil Mercosur business

Presidential politics and elections in Latin America provide the main themes on Latin Pulse this week. The program goes in-depth on this weekend's presidential elections in Guatemala and Argentina.  In Guatemala, comedian Jimmy Morales is the front-runner by a wide margin but some are asking if he is a true break with Guatemala's military past.  And in Argentina, Daniel Scioli leads the pack as the handpicked successor of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, but can he make his own way?  The news segment of the program covers the latest developments with the debt crisis in Puerto Rico. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Eric Olson of the Wilson Center; and Peter Hakim of the Inter-American Dialogue. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America elections politics corruption Argentina Venezuela Guatemala China Jimmy Morales Daniel Scioli Puerto Rico debt crisis China Nicolas Maduro Sandra Torres Manuel Baldizon Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Front for Victory Alliance Otto Perez Molina Alejandro Garcia Padilla National Convergence Front economics default crime military CICIG Peronists justice oil U.S. Senate United Nations human rights campaign finance Mauricio Macri Sergio Massa inflation Nestor Kirchner protest movement

Politics and the competencies of governments in Venezuela and Brazil are the central themes on Latin Pulse this week. The program includes an in-depth discussion about the state of democracy in Venezuela and how it has deteriorated due to crackdowns on opposition leaders.  The program also includes a discussion of the political repercussions of the Petrobras corruption scandal in Brazil and further calls for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff.  The news segment of the program covers the murder of an activist for transgender rights in Argentina. The program includes in-depth interviews with: David Smilde of Tulane University; and Carlos Pereira of the Getulio Vargas Foundation. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Brazil politics corruption Argentina Venezuela democracy elections LGBT issues Dilma Rousseff human rights Leopoldo Lopez violence Nicolas Maduro gender issues election fraud Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva economics energy crime impeachment Petrobras oil justice media Hugo Chavez Ernesto Samper Henrique Cardoso UNASUR OAS social welfare

War and peace are the central themes on Latin Pulse this week. The program includes an in-depth discussion about breakthroughs in the peace process that could end 51 years of civil war in Colombia.  The program also discusses tensions in the border regions between Venezuela and Colombia, and on Venezuela's border with Guyana and what those tensions mean in the current political climate.  The news segment of the program covers new calls for impeachment to remove President Dilma Rousseff from office in Brazil. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and David Smilde of Tulane University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Assistant Producer: Brooklynn Engel. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Brazil politics corruption Colombia Venezuela Guyana business United Nations Dilma Rousseff civil war Drug War FARC Nicolas Maduro Rodrigo Londono human rights Juan Manuel Santos economics energy diplomacy impeachment Petrobras oil justice economics peace talks El Salvador Central America military media insurgents paramilitaries Guatemala ELN violence crime deportations UNASUR David Granger border dispute Ban Ki-Moon

Brazil and its struggles with corruption and development provides the central focus on Latin Pulse this week. The program discusses in detail the various corruption scandals that have created political gridlock in Brazil.  The program also has the latest on the development of the controversial Bello Monte dam and how that project is the source of environmental and cultural damage in the Amazon region.  The news segment of the program covers the speech by U.S. President Barack Obama at the United Nations calling for the U.S. Congress to strike down the economic embargo against the country. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Matt Taylor of American University; and Eve Bratman of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Brazil development politics corruption culture Cuba business United Nations Barack Obama Raul Castro environment indigenous issues hydro-electric dams U.S. Congress Dilma Rousseff Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Fernando Collor de Mello Bello Monte Dam embargo energy diplomacy impeachment Petrobras oil justice economics protest movement Itaipu Dam human rights Workers Party

Culture and politics provide the themes on Latin Pulse this week. The program looks backward at the end of the popular Univision program Sabado Gigante and how it survived despite criticisms of its content.  The program provided a cultural link on Saturday evenings to many audiences throughout Latin America.  Latin Pulse also reviews the upcoming presidential elections in Argentina and how the final stage of the presidency of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner casts a shadow on the process.  The news segment of the program reviews the trip to Cuba by Pope Francis and its implications for politics and diplomacy. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Constanza Mujica of Universidad Catolica; and Amy Williams of Latin America Goes Global. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America media television politics Chile culture Cuba Argentina United States Pope Francis Sabado Gigante elections Mario Kruetzberger Augusto Pinochet Daniel Scioli Mauricio Macri Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner United for a New Alternative Alliance Alliance for Change embargo Colombia diplomacy Univision immigration internet sexism racism Sergio Massa Peronists inflation Venezuela economics social welfare financial crisis vulture funds China Russia banking corruption Dilma Rousseff Brazil

It's the fourth anniversary of Latin Pulse, and the program celebrates in its own way:  a medley of out-takes and pithy comments from the most popular programs of the past year. The topics on the program range from a review of the crisis of unaccompanied minors on the U.S.-Mexico border to covering various fronts in the Drug War.  The program also includes segments on the economic impact of China on Latin America.  The news segment of the program covers the aftereffects of the earthquake in Chile that saw a million people evacuate their homes. The program includes interview segments with: Eric Olson of the Woodrow Wilson Center;  Jo Tuckman of The Guardian; Jeremy McDermott of InSight Crime; Mark Jones of Rice University; Kevin Gallagher of Boston University; and Ignacio Siles of the Universidad de Costa Rica. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Guatemala corruption politics Chile disaster Cuba Mexico Michelle Bachelet Central America United States Brazil Drug War El Salvador U.S. Congress Zetas Cartel Guerreros Unidos Gang Knights Templar Cartel immigration violence Beltran-Leyva Cartel Gulf Cartel diplomacy poverty Tijuana Cartel Sinaloa Cartel gangs cartels police Honduras justice crime Venezuela military Felipe Calderon Hugo Chavez Nicolas Maduro Costa Rica media China Argentina Cuba Paraguay Uruguay mining elections agriculture environment Peru Ecuador Brazil Colombia newspapers internet advertising trade Barack Obama The Amazon La Nacion economics

Religion in Latin America provides the theme this week on Latin Pulse, as Cuba prepares for an official visit from Pope Francis. The program analyzes the importance of the pope's upcoming trip to Cuba and reflects on how the Cuba trip will provide a preface for the pope's visit to the United States. The program also reviews a new book that deals with how religion is fighting violence throughout Latin America, especially Central America.  The news segment of the program reviews the results in the first round of the Guatemalan presidential voting and the upset of comedian Jimmy Morales. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University; and Alex Wilde of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Guatemala corruption politics elections Catholicism Cuba Mexico Pope Francis Central America United States Brazil Jimmy Morales Raul Castro Fidel Castro Junipero Serra Otto Perez Molina Afro-Latin American issues colonialism Bolivia liberation theology LGBT issues same-sex marriage indigenous issues diplomacy violence colonialism Bolivia Honduras poverty democracy prisons evangelicals immigration human rights El Salvador Oscar Romero street gangs religion capitalism

The seismic political shift in Guatemala provides the focus this week on Latin Pulse. The program covers both the resignation of President Otto Perez Molina due to a corruption scandal and the presidential elections that will have the country voting on new leaders this weekend.  The program analyzes the impact of the United Nations' International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG, by its Spanish acronym) in uncovering corruption and supporting the justice system.  The program also provides a preview of the elections and how the issue of corruption has become the centerpiece of that process too. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Adriana Beltran of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and Julie Lopez of Plaza Publica. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Guatemala corruption politics elections justice scandal CICIG Roxanna Baldetti Central America protest movement democracy United Nations Alejandro Maldonado Manuel Baldizon Edgar Barquin Otto Perez Molina National Convergence Front rule of law International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala LIDER Party Jimmy Morales Sandra Torres UNE Party oligarchy violence media impunity

Violence, crime and national security provide the themes this week on Latin Pulse. First, the program reviews security in Mexico, and discusses the rise of various cartels, especially the Sinaloa Cartel.  Another in-depth part of the program deals with the crisis in El Salvador due to the involvement of street gangs in a transportation strike. Both segments discuss how the central governments in these countries do not have the power to stop the criminal groups. The news segment of the program covers the border crisis between Venezuela and Colombia due to unauthorized immigration, violence and the influence of criminal groups. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Jo Tuckman of The Guardian; and Hector Silva of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Guatemala Mexico Colombia diplomacy Venezuela military immigration El Salvador Central America protest movement immigration human rights Jalisco Cartel Sinaloa Cartel organized crime Enrique Pena Nieto Salvador Sanchez Ceren Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman drug cartels extrajudicial killings death squads United States Barrio 18 justice politics democracy media MS-13 poverty economics impunity violence corruption police

Pursuit of justice in major human rights cases in Central America provide the central focus this week on Latin Pulse. First, the program considers the potential extradition of Inocente Montano, a former high-ranking military official in El Salvador who a Spanish court is attempting to try for his part in ordering the massacre of Jesuit priests and religious workers.  The second case concerns former dictator Efrain Rios Montt accused of genocide in the killing of Mayan villagers in Guatemala. The news segment of the program covers the controversies swirling around the reopening of the U.S. embassy in Havana. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Hector Silva of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS); and Kelsey Alford Jones of the Guatemala Human Rights Commission. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Announcer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Guatemala Cuba dissidents diplomacy Jesuits military Spain civil war indigenous issues El Salvador amnesty human rights Central America Inocente Montano Catholic Church Efrain Rios Montt U.S. State Department John Kerry Ronald Reagan Cold War health issues justice impunity genocide corruption oligarchy

Colombia and its civil war provide some of the central themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program discusses land reform, rural development, and indigenous issues and how they are related to the civil war.  The program also reflects on the Colombian emigrant experience and the various social and cultural forms that this community works to keep alive.  The program discusses Colombian music, dance, and customs.  The news segment of the program covers the debt default of Puerto Rico and its economic crisis. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Jack Laun of the Colombia Support Network; and Maria Amparo Holmes, author of Conexiones/Connections. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Colombia development agriculture mining culture music police civil war indigenous issues Puerto Rico music debt crisis dance immigrtion FARC transportation insurgents Barack Obama U.S. Congress land reform rebels poverty trade military agribusiness infrastructure environmental issues Brazil Peru tourism oil Canada business Juan Manuel Santos Afro-Latin American Issues poverty tourism roses internal refugees cuisine Japan infrastructure siestas

Looking back at the violent history of repression in the Dominican Republic is the central theme this week on Latin Pulse, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of U.S. efforts to bolster a military dictatorship.  The program discusses the U.S. invasion and occupation in some depth and discusses how this event continues to resonate with Dominicans to this day.  The program also explores the political and economic fallout from that invasion.  The news segment of the program covers the violent transportation strike in El Salvador and how street gangs have amplified the tense conditions. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Tim Shenk of the Committee on U.S.-Latin American Relations (CUSLAR); and Lauren Derby of UCLA. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America elections politics military Cuba invasion Haiti police United States Juan Bosch Dominican Republic corruption El Salvador coup gangs economics transportation violence Joaquin Balaguer Rafael Trujillo human rights rebellion poverty trade immigration PLD Communism labor strife PRD land reform labor Puerto Rico tourism CAFTA agriculture media John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson Barrio 18 Gang Afro-Latin American Issues Fidel Castro

Issues in the Caribbean provide the central themes this week on Latin Pulse.  The program provides a deep analysis of the issues confronting the new relationship between Cuba and the United States.  Major parts of the discussion reveal how these relations are linked to domestic presidential politics in the United States.  The second segment in the program discusses the racial tensions fueling immigration policy in the Dominican Republic, regarding threats to deport Haitian immigrants.  The news segment of the program covers the details of the historic ceremonies to officially open the Cuban embassy in Washington, D.C. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Bill LeoGrande of American University; and Tim Shenk of the Committee on U.S.-Latin American Relations (CUSLAR). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America elections politics military Cuba diplomacy Haiti immigration United States John Kerry Dominican Republic corruption U.S. Congress racism media economics Canada agriculture Jeb Bush Marco Rubio USAID propaganda Ted Cruz Pope Francis internet Barack Obama labor Raul Castro justice business Rand Paul Catholic Church human rights minority issues Afro-Latin American issues

War and politics provide the themes on Latin Pulse, this week, as the program tunes in to events in Guatemala and Colombia. The first segment of the program discusses the complex political matrix in Guatemala as the country heads toward presidential elections and what effects the anti-corruption protests in the country might have on that process.  The second part of the program examines how U.S. policies have affected the conduct of the civil war in Colombia. The news segment of the program gives details of the prison escape by Joaquin "El Chapo Shorty" Guzman, the head of the Sinaloa Cartel. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Julie Lopez of Plaza Publica; and Winifred Tate of Colby College. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America elections politics military Guatemala Colombia Mexico prisons civil war Drug War drug cartels corruption Sinaloa Cartel environmentalism media plagiarism immigration FARC LIDER Party Manuel Baldizon paramilitaries insurgents protest movement Prensa Libre economics Roberto Gonzalez coca CREO Party cocaine Monsanto violence glyshophate herbicides diplomacy Sandra Torres UNE Party peace talks Plan Colombia aerial spraying health issues human rights United States Otto Perez Molina Juan Manuel Santos World Health Organization Joaquin 'El Chapo Shorty' Guzman

Pope Francis and his trip to the Andes region of Latin America provides the central theme on Latin Pulse. The program includes a deep theological discussion of how Pope Francis is redirecting the philosophy of the Church to take the concerns of poverty more seriously.  The program also discusses the Church's views on LGBT rights, indigenous issues, and euthanasia.  The program also reviews the political issues in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Paraguay that intersect with the pope's trip. The news segment of the program covers the criticisms of ecological policies in Ecuador leveled by the pope during his trip. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Rev. Joe Eldridge of American University; and Alex Wilde of the Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS) at American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Announcer: Guillermo Rodriguez. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America religion politics Catholicism Paraguay Argentina Bolivia Ecuador indigenous issues Pope Francis Rafael Correa oil Evo Morales environmentalism poverty Colombia euthanasia evangelicals indigenous issues LGBT issues colonialism corruption Rafael Correa Evo Morales economics Catholic Church Vatican The Amazon internet media

Pope Francis and his upcoming trip to the Andes provide the central theme this week on Latin Pulse. The program includes analysis from Rome and how the issues of marriage equality and LGBT acceptance by the Catholic Church may arise during the pope's trip.  The program also includes discussion of the pope's role in bringing Cuba and the United States together diplomatically during the past year.  The program includes analysis of the pope's shift to favor liberation theology. The news segment of the program covers the plans between Cuba and the United States to resume normal diplomatic relations. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Joshua McElwee of the National Catholic Reporter; and Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America religion politics Catholicism Paraguay Argentina Bolivia Ecuador Barack Obama Pope Francis Dilma Rousseff Brazil United States liberation theology the Phillipines LGBT issues Cuba diplomacy poverty environmentalism Mexico politics Canada marriage equality same-sex marriage climate change Catholic Church Vatican evangelicals Raul Castro Fidel Castro Drug War Central America El Salvador Oscar Romero Enrique Pena Nieto abortion media

Looking ahead to next week and the important meetings between Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff and U.S. President Barack Obama, Latin Pulse gives an analytical preview of what to expect.  The program includes viewpoints from both Brazil and the United States, taking into account the domestic problems Rousseff faces, including the worst economic climate in a generation as Brazil slips into recession, and the worst presidential popularity ratings in Brazil's democratic history. The news segment of the program covers the success of special trade authority in the U.S. Congress this week and what that means for Mexico, Peru and Chile. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Matias Spektor of the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Brazil; and Victoria Langland of the University of Michigan. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America trade politics finance economics Argentina Chile TPP Barack Obama Trans-Pacific Partnership Dilma Rousseff Brazil United States U.S. Congress Snowden affair Xi Jinping investment diplomacy espionage spying China infrastructure agriculture human rights Joe Biden climate change gender issues military history environment Venezuela Cuba transportation Petrobras oil elections

Violence and salvation are the themes this week on Latin Pulse. The alarming rise in homicide rates in El Salvador catches our attention and the program discusses the causes and how the government is reacting to the rise in gang-related violence.  The reaction seems to be extrajudicial killings and the return of death squads.  The program also includes an analysis about the shift of religious beliefs in Latin America, including the rise of evangelicals and religious pluralism. The news segment of the program covers the latest votes related to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and special trade authority for President Barack Obama. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Hector Silva of the Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS) at American University; and Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America trade politics religion homicide violence Puerto Rico gangs Mexico United States El Salvador Barrio 18 Peru Chile MS-13 Trans-Pacific Partnership Catholicism Canada TPP Barack Obama John Boehner U.S. Congress death squads extrajudicial killings police military ARENA Mauricio Funes poverty education John Kerry Salvador Sanchez Ceren FMLN business Juan Orlando Hernandez Afro-Latin American issues Guatemala Honduras Brazil impunity coup evangelicals agnostics Uruguay Cuba atheists Santeria Candomble Umbanda Nicaragua Paraguay justice media crime United Nations Santa Muerte folk saints Central America

Trade and financial concerns provide the central themes this week on Latin Pulse as the program focuses on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the debt crisis in Puerto Rico.  With the U.S. Congress split over the TPP, the program debriefs an economic expert on how the proposed trade pact will have an impact on jobs in Latin America, the U.S. and Asia too.  The program also unravels the key issues related to the debt problems of Puerto Rico. The news segment of the program covers the ongoing debate between Argentina and the U.K. over disputed islands in the South Atlantic. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Rob Scott of the Economic Policy Institute; and Mauro Guillen of the Lauder Institute of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America trade politics finance economics Argentina Puerto Rico Chile Mexico United States United Kingdom Falkland Islands Peru labor NAFTA globalization education TPP Barack Obama Trans-Pacific Partnership debt crisis Las Malvinas David Cameron Hector Timmerman healthcare pharmaceuticals Canada copyright law welfare taxes U.S. Congress Alejandro Garcia Padilla

Violence provides the central theme this week on Latin Pulse as the program looks at troubles in Colombia and El Salvador. In Colombia, as the country's civil war turns the corner on 51 years of pain, the peace process seems stalled as violence escalates in the war.  In El Salvador, violence levels are higher than they have been in more than 20 years.  The news segment of the program covers how women demonstrated across South America this week to call attention to the high levels of violence aimed at them and the need for laws to combat the problem. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Winifred Tate of Colby College; and Hector Silva of the Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS) at American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Colombia politics violence media Argentina gender issues Chile Uruguay El Salvador civil war peace talks gangs justice police crime military FARC ELN refugees agribusiness agriculture oil extractive industries Juan Manuel Santos Salvador Sanchez Ceren land reform mining insurgents paramilitaries MS-13 Barrio 18 Central America social media extrajudicial killings economics impunity Cuba prisons homocides

Originating in Puerto Rico again this week, Latin Pulse looks at issues of identity, the media and politics on both the island and in Mexico. The program discusses how U.S. and Latino media often homogenize programming and forget the Puerto Rican experience.  The program also reveals how in Mexico, issues of equity and media corruption distort the political debate.  How do the political left and right find space for debate in a system dominated by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (the PRI).  The news segment of the program covers set backs in the peace process for the Colombian civil war. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Federico Subervi of Kent State University; and Manuel Alejandro Guerrero of the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico politics PRI media culture Puerto Rico education Colombia United States protest movement drug cartels democracy justice corruption crime television FARC sports baseball PAN PRD gambling civil war Enrique Pena Nieto peace talks prejudice Televisa Univision Telemundo free speech Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador MORENA

Originating in Puerto Rico this week, Latin Pulse takes a look at the status of the island and whether there is movement forward on a change to statehood or independence.  The program also covers the issues of identity, culture and economics facing the island commonwealth.  The program also delves into the special relationship the U.S. has developed with Mexico and how trade pacts and economic reforms have brought the countries closer.  The news segment of the program deals with the latest charges and counter-charges related to allegations that powerful leaders in Venezuela are connected to the drug trade. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Maria Acosta Cruz of Clark University; and Shannon O'Neil of the Council on Foreign Relations. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico trade politics PRI Venezuela media emigration immigration economics music culture terrorism Drug War Puerto Rico education Colombia United States protest movement drug cartels United States Diosdado Cabello Enrique Pena Nieto Nicolas Maduro debt crisis colonialism NAFTA Calle 13 democracy justice Canada oil energy disappearances corruption impunity violence police diplomacy crime human rights gun smuggling

What happens when you mix drug cartels with religion? This week, Latin Pulse explores the rise of narco-religion in Mexico.  The discussion includes a heady mix of discussion regarding the veneration of Catholic saints by violent criminals but also the rise of the devotion of folk saints such as Santa Muerte.  The program also discusses curanderos and the use of witchcraft by the cartels.  The news segment of the program covers the outbreak of violence in student protests in Chile; the protestors are calling for more equity in higher education in the country. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University; and Tim Knab of the Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico religion Chile students education Michoacan media internet YouTube violence blasphemy curanderos Drug War Catholic Church Argentina Colombia folk saints protest movement drug cartels Jesus Malverde Sinaloa Cartel St. Jude Thaddeus Knights Templar Cartel Servando "La Tuta" Gomez Martinez La Virgen de Guadalupe Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman San La Muerte Los Zetas Cartel Tijuana Cartel Arellano-Felix Cartel narco-religion Sinaloa Santa Muerte Paraguay death cults Beltran-Leyva Cartel folk religion Pope Francis indigenous religion

This week, Latin Pulse concludes its spring series of programs looking at the roiling political waters in Venezuela. Experts on the program look at the use of conspiracy theories and how they are used to make propaganda gains and control the political discourse.  The program also discusses the breakdown of democratic institutions in the country and the credibility of elections. The news segment of the program covers accusations by the head of the Venezuelan National Assembly that he expects the political opposition to use fraud to make political gains in elections for the assembly later this year. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Hugo Perez Hernaiz* of the Universidad Central de Venezuela; and Michael McCarthy of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.) *Hugo Perez Hernaiz is also the author of the Venezuela Conspiracy Theories Monitor blog.  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America diplomacy politics Venezuela autocracy justice elections PSUV socialists media conspiracy propaganda military United States coup plots democracy violence domestic espionage Nicolas Maduro Diosdado Cabello Leopoldo Lopez Antonio Ledezma Drug Enforcement Administration political repression Hugo Chavez coup DEA Drug War imperialism Maria Corina Machado Operation Jericho plot conspiracy theories human rights Henrique Capriles Julio Borges military tribunal Copei secret police free expression Carlos Andres Perez

Debating conditions in Venezuela provides a special topic this week on Latin Pulse, as the program provides an extended time for a diplomatic representative of the Bolivarian government to respond to questions. Beyond an official representative of the Venezuelan government a left-wing critic of the government also discusses his view that Venezuela is slipping into autocracy. The news segment of the program covers the call this week for further investigations into illegal domestic spying in Colombia and the sentencing of former government officials to long prison sentences for ordering such illegal activities. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Jesus Rodriguez-Espinoza, Consul General for the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela; and James Bloodworth, editor of Left Foot Forward. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 60 minutes in length and the file size is 83 MB.)   podcast news Latin America diplomacy politics Venezuela autocracy justice authoritarianism Cuba spying media economics politics military United States Barack Obama energy housing domestic espionage riots Alvaro Uribe human rights Nicolas Maduro economic sanctions coup oil democracy dictatorship inflation national security Summit of the Americas George W. Bush Antonio Ledezma Drug Enforcement Administration political repression Hugo Chavez protest movement electrical grid hydro-electric dams alternative media cocaine smuggling Raul Castro Fidel Castro Drug War Leopoldo Lopez secret police infrastructure imperialism DEA Spain France torture CELAC ALBA colonialism environmentalism Bolivia Diosdado Cabello SEBIN

Justice, human rights and immigration policy regarding Central America provide the triple themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program focuses on the extradition case of Inocente Montano, a former colonel and leader for the Salvadoran military during El Salvador's civil war.  Spanish authorities want Montano sent to Spain to face human rights charges connected to the massacre of Jesuit priests at a university in San Salvador.  The program also looks at Congressional concerns over U.S. immigration policy in Central America. The news segment of the program reviews the controversial trade mission to Cuba of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Geoff Thale of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and Eric Olson of the Woodrow Wilson Center. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America diplomacy politics Guatemala Honduras justice immigration Cuba Catholics Jesuits Mexico military United States Barack Obama impunity crime El Salvador police Central America human rights Inocente Montano civil war economics violence homocide gangs corruption trade U.S. Congress Inter-American Development Bank death squads United Nations Joe Biden migrant children economic development undocumented immigration

Memories and reviews of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and his work take center stage this week on Latin Pulse as this week marks a year since the death of this winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. The program traces Garcia Marquez from his beginnings as a journalist through his fame as an author setting an example for writers worldwide.  The program also discusses the writer's ties to Cuba. The news segment of the program reviews the outcome of the Summit of the Americas and Panama and how the United States and Cuba continue working toward normalized diplomatic relations. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Gustavo Arango of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oneonta; and Nuria Vilanova of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock; and Announcer: Guillermo Rodriguez. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America diplomacy politics Argentina writers literature Uruguay Colombia culture Mexico Cuba Panama United States Barack Obama colonialism imperialism free speech Russia Raul Castro Fidel Castro Eduardo Galeano magical realism media Juan Rulfo Gabriel Garcia Marquez Mario Vargas Llosa Miguel de Cervantes Cuban revolution Augusto Pinochet Jorge Videla Cuban cinema James Joyce Virginia Woolf William Faulkner

The United States and its participation in the Summit of the Americas this weekend provides the central theme this week on Latin Pulse. Although the summit has a specific agenda to deal with economic inequality in Latin America, experts expect that diplomacy between the U.S. and Cuba, and U.S. relations with Venezuela will dominate what happens at this meeting. The news segment of the program covers deportations and extraditions concerning former members of the Salvadoran military who sought asylum from prosecution on human rights charges stemming from their actions in the Salvadoran Civil War. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Eric Olson of the Woodrow Wilson Center; and Peter Hakim of the Inter-American Dialogue. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America diplomacy politics Argentina military immigration Uruguay Brazil justice Mexico Cuba Panama United States Barack Obama poverty economics human rights Colombia El Salvador Central America economic sanctions UNASUR Luis Almagro Raul Castro Venezuela Honduras Summit of the Americas prisoners of war Drug War Chile Guatemala crime violence OAS Guantanamo Peru

Judaism, anti-semitism, and Argentina provide the main themes this week on Latin Pulse.  The program revisits the mysterious case of the death of Alberto Nisman, a special prosecutor looking at terrorism cases that may have links to Iran.  The program discusses how the Nisman case continues to provide a crisis atmosphere in Argentina.  Also, the program reflects on the history of Judaism in Latin America and the various waves of prejudice that the Jewish population of the region has weathered. The news segment of the program covers the latest round of diplomacy between Cuba and the United States regarding human rights. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Shannon O'Neil of the Council on Foreign Relations; and Marjorie Agosin of Wellesley College. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America elections politics Argentina military espionage Cuba Alberto Nisman United States culture economics anti-semitism human rights Juan Peron Hector Timmerman debt crisis religion Maximo Kirchner Daniel Scioli Sergio Massa Judaism diplomacy Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Salvador Allende Augusto Pinochet Chile Peronism default debt finances terrorism Iran Brazil justice Mexico colonialism Spain Nazis immigration Uruguay coup Israel Hezbollah Palestinians Peru Carlos Menem corruption

The arts and the internet in Cuba provide the twin themes this week on Latin Pulse.  The program includes an in-depth discussion with two of Cuba's leaders in the arts, discussing artistic freedom and freedom of expression, along with the cultural themes of their work in the theater. The program also discusses the development of the internet and dissident media in Cuba. The news segment of the program covers the rise in tensions between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, and the U.K.'s plans to modernize its defenses on the islands. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Flora Lauten & Raquel Carrio of Cuba's Teatro Buendia; and Ted Henken of Baruch College of the City University of New York (CUNY). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America dissidents Cuba Yoani Sanchez Raul Castro Fidel Castro United States Afro-Cuban issues elections politics Argentina military arts Falkland Islands culture economics military human rights Antonio Rodiles free speech culture theater Afro-Latin American culture United Kingdom Las Malvinas internet Santeria dance socialism censorship dissidents travel media writers

The martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador provides the theme this week on Latin Pulse.  The program includes discussions of the philosophical debate embodied in the stalled progress of Romero's status as an official Catholic martyr.  The program also includes a discussion of Vatican politics that stretches over the past 30 years.  The program also includes reflections on U.S. policy and how it sparked a climate of violence in Central America.  The news segment of the program covers the controversial economic sanctions from the United States aimed at Venezuela and how that move was condemned by UNASUR. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Jeanette Rodriguez of Seattle University; and Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America dissidents Venezuela Nicolas Maduro El Salvador Oscar Romero liberation theology Catholicism politics religion UNASUR poverty Drug War inequality United States economics military social justice Central America paramilitaries insurgents capitalism Russia gangs history pentecostalism Jesuits economic sanctions human rights U.S. State Department Pope John Paul II Pope Benedict XVI Pope Francis civil war Ronald Reagan Cold War evangelical Christianity Catholic Church the Vatican

Two years after the death of Hugo Chavez, this week Latin Pulse reviews the legacy of this polarizing political figure and what policies from the Chavez era still affect the current state of affairs in Venezuela. The program includes analysis on the handling of politics and economics by the government of President Nicolas Maduro and whether that government is now slipping into authoritarianism as it jails members of opposition groups.  The news segment of the program tracks the successful arrests this past week in Mexico and Bolivia of both drug cartel leaders and those in government working with illegal organizations. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Hugo Perez Hernaiz* of the Universidad Central de Venezuela & the Venezuelan Politics & Human Rights blog; and Dan Hellinger of Webster University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   *Hugo Perez Hernaiz is also the author of the Venezuela Conspiracy Theories Monitor blog.  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America diplomacy Venezuela Nicolas Maduro Antonio Ledezma Leopoldo Lopez Hugo Chavez repression Mexico politics Bolivia Argentina Drug War protest United States corruption Zetas cartel Central America cocaine imperialism justice Chavismo coup economics COPEI democracy poverty economic crisis conspiracy theories elections Honduras violence media oil OPEC military authoritarianism dissent Knights Templar cartel Barack Obama economic sanctions economic equality El Salvador Bolivarian Revolution drug cartels

Turmoil in Venezuela and the progress in the peace talks for the civil war in Colombia are the twin themes this week on Latin Pulse. The first half of the program analyzes the politics surrounding the arrest of Mayor Antonio Ledezma of Caracas and how that arrest has drawn international reaction.  The second half of the program tracks the ongoing talks attempting to end the 51-year-old war in Colombia.  The news segment of the program covers the latest in the case of Alberto Nisman in Argentina and how a judge has set aside an indictment against the country's president. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Michael McCarthy of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS); and Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America diplomacy Colombia Venezuela Ecuador politics repression Argentina Alberto Nisman protest United States Brazil protest movement civil war FARC Cuba justice Peru terrorism economics espionage UNASUR OAS Julio Borges Salvador Allende inflation Spain Chile media coup ceasefire military weapons imperialism Juan Manuel Santos Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Nicolas Maduro Antonio Ledezma Leopoldo Lopez Joe Biden peace talks Ernesto Samper United Nations Hugo Chavez

China and its economic and geopolitical strategy and cultural influence provide the central themes for this week's edition of Latin Pulse. The first half of the program examines the trade and economic issues connected to China's strategies in Latin America.  And the program debates the response of the U.S. to this economic expansion.  The second half of the program examines the history and cultural influence of Chinese emigration to Peru.  The news segment of the program covers the protests this week against the handling of the investigation into the death of special prosecutor Alberto Nisman in Argentina. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Mark Jones of Rice University;  Kevin Gallagher of Boston University; Larry Clayton of the University of Alabama; and  Adam McKeown, author of Chinese Migrant Networks and Cultural Change. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 60 minutes in length and the file size is 83 MB.)   podcast news Latin America diplomacy trade Argentina Alberto Nisman Iran United States Brazil Barack Obama Chinese diaspora China Mexico Peru terrorism economics culture justice immigration Xi Jinping Nicaraguan canal CELAC oil OAS Nicaragua environmentalism Venezuela Ecuador banking Cuba Panama politics IMF Paraguay International Monetary Fund Argentine debt crisis Afro-Latin American issues Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Uruguay Colombia manufacturing transportation agriculture commodities coal mining soybeans deforestation opium labor food cuisine Japanese prejudice corruption history chifa hydro-electric plants Nicolas Maduro Diosdado Cabello high-speed rail extractive industries The Amazon Alberto Fujimori LGBT issues indentured servitude Panama Canal Asian-Latin American issues Japanese-Latin Americans Mario Vargas Llosa The Shining Path

Mystery and celebration are the twin themes of Latin Pulse this week. The mystery is provided through an analysis of the complex case regarding the death of Alberto Nisman, a special prosecutor in Argentina.  The program sorts through the case linked to the bombing of a Jewish community center in the 1990s.  The celebration theme comes in the form of Carnival in Brazil. The news segment of the program discusses how the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team has cast doubt on the explanation of the Mexican government regarding 43 missing students, a case that has galvanized a protest movement in Mexico. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Fulton Armstrong*, of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS); and  Rachel Glickhouse, author of the Rio Gringa blog. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola. *More from Fulton Armstrong on the Nisman case can be found here. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America diplomacy trade Argentina Alberto Nisman Iran Hector Timmerman Brazil Intelligence Secretariat Drug War espionage Mexico violence terrorism scandal culture music Afro-Brazilians AMIA bombing Carlos Menem Hezbollah oil justice conspiracy Israel impunity media China Catholicism Carnival samba parades celebration Jewish community center Antonio Jaime Stiusso Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner

The debate over immigration in the U.S. took center stage in Washington, DC, and with the U.S. Congress this week, and that provides one of the main themes for this edition of Latin Pulse this week. The program looks at the historical context of the immigration debate and analyzes the potential for progress on immigration reform.  The program also provides an update on the Zapatistas in Chiapas and discusses the problems that they face with violence and repression. The news segment of the program looks the series of hearings this week regarding diplomacy between the U.S. and Cuba. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Susan Martin, director of Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of International Migration (ISIM); and  Giles Clarke* of Getty Images Reportage. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola. *Clarke's photo essay on the Zapatistas for Business Insider can be found here. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Cuba diplomacy trade United States tourism Raul Castro travel Barack Obama U.S. Congress espionage Brazil Colombia immigration economics politics Argentina terrorism Intelligence Secretariat Alberto Nisman violence free speech internet Guantanamo baseball cigars remittances embargo shipping democracy censorship music Panama USAID economic sanctions Panama Canal Cuban rappers rap music hip hop Los Aldeanos Robert Menendez Marco Rubio U.S. State Department Colombian Civil War Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner

The tensions within U.S. policy toward Cuba provide the main focus on Latin Pulse this week. The program analyzes how domestic politics in the United States continue to have an effect on the diplomatic changes in Cuba.  The program also focuses on the continuation of controversial democracy building programs from USAID, aimed at Cuba. The news segment of the program looks at the complex case in Argentina linking the country's spy agency and the murder of a special prosecutor.  The program covers the surprise reaction of the country's president this week. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Eric Hershberg, director of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS); and  Sujatha Fernandes of the City University of New York (CUNY). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Cuba diplomacy trade United States tourism Raul Castro travel Barack Obama U.S. Congress espionage Brazil Colombia immigration economics politics Argentina terrorism Intelligence Secretariat Alberto Nisman violence free speech internet Guantanamo baseball cigars remittances embargo shipping democracy censorship music Panama USAID economic sanctions Panama Canal Cuban rappers rap music hip hop Los Aldeanos Robert Menendez Marco Rubio U.S. State Department Colombian Civil War Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner

The historic changes between Cuba and the United States are rolling out but the Obama administration is also making aggressive diplomatic moves throughout Latin America.  That strategic shift provides the centerpiece for discussion on Latin Pulse this week. The program takes a wide-ranging view of the geopolitical situation in Latin America and provides a preview of the summit next week of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).  The news segment of the program focuses on the negotiations between the U.S. and Cuba and President Barack Obama's policy pronouncements on Cuba. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and Michael McCarthy of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer;  Engineering Support: Zach Kromer; and Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Cuba Mexico Guatemala diplomacy trade United States tourism Raul Castro travel Central America Barack Obama U.S. Congress espionage Alan Gross NSA Pope Francis Iran China Canada CELAC Brazil Bolivia Colombia Honduras Nicaragua immigration Venezuela economics politics coups OAS Panama John Kerry Joe Biden Dilma Rousseff Evo Morales El Salvador Costa Rica Nicolas Maduro Patrick Leahy Jeff Flake Robert Menendez Marco Rubio Ted Cruz Edward Snowden Laura Chinchilla Daniel Ortega Monroe Doctrine Summit of the Americas U.S. State Department Chris Van Hollen Luis Guillermo Solis

During the first month of the new year, Latin Pulse focuses on the spiritual aspects of indigenous communities as a way of providing reflection on this time of change.  The program features the stories and analysis of experts on archaeology and anthropology to provide context on these deep topics.  The program looks at spiritual practice and history in Mexico and Guatemala.  The news segment of the program discusses the latest change in travel and trade regulations between the U.S. and Cuba, allowing travelers from the United States to travel to Cuba unfettered for the first time in many decades. The program includes in-depth interviews with: David Freidel of Washington University; and Tim Knab of the Universidad de las Americas - Puebla. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Cuba Mexico Guatemala indigenous religion diplomacy trade United States tourism Raul Castro travel political prisoners archaeology ancestor worship Day of the Dead anthropology Central America dream analysis Maya Aztecs Nahuatl agriculture shamans curanderos Tikal Teotihuacan colonialism Catholicism culture health

Venezuela, its economy, and its structure as a petro-state are the central themes this week on Latin Pulse.  As Venezuela slips into recession and shortages of consumer goods become more acute, criticism of the government of President Nicolas Maduro is increasing.  The program looks at the patterns of how oil prices have often dictated the popularity of presidents and the shape of politics in Venezuela.  The news segment of the program covers the meeting this week between U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto and how protests broke out in the United States due to the visit. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Dan Hellinger of Webster University; and Alejandro Velasco* of New York University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.) *Velasco is also the author of the forthcoming book: Barrio Rising.  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Venezuela Cuba oil Nicolas Maduro diplomacy Mexico United States politics drug cartels violence Barack Obama economics Hugo Chavez Enrique Pena Nieto protests social programs currency exchange Jorge Castaneda corruption petro-state gasoline inflation recession China socialism Russia OPEC riots military coups PSUV history Bolivia Ecuador Brazil Chile trade media Carlos Andres Perez Alvaro Garcia Linera

This week, Latin Pulse looks at the historic decision of the United States and Cuba to normalize diplomatic relations.  After more than a half-century of tensions and embargoes, the next steps for Cuba are the central focus of this program.  The program also includes analysis of the human rights situation in the country and debates the effectiveness of democracy-building programs initiated by the United States.  The news segment of the program looks at the onset of recession in Venezuela and the reaction of the government to the economic problems. The program includes an in-depth interview with: Eric Hershberg of American University's Center for Latin American and Latino Studies (CLALS); and Phil Peters of the Cuba Resource Center.   Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here click here.) (To see a set list of songs used in the production of this program, please go here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America embargo Cuba business Raul Castro diplomacy democracy United States politics political prisoners espionage Barack Obama economics Angel Carromero Ladies in White Dissidents Alan Gross Cuban Five Oswaldo Payá Aron Modig Republican Party Sanctions Venezuela human rights recession oil trade conservatives USAID Spain repression poverty human rights intelligence services Marco Rubio Jeff Flake Rand Paul U.S. Senate U.S. Congress Harold Cepero free speech U.S. State Department Rolando Sarraff Trujillo

In this special edition of Latin Pulse, we dip into the holiday spirit, literally, by exploring the spirit of tequila.  The program includes an in-depth discussion of the business and economics surrounding the trade of tequila and how the taste for tequila has changed, propelled by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  The program also includes a tasting and discussion of top shelf tequilas. The news segment of the program looks at the historic proposal this week worked out between the Cuban and U.S. governments regarding discussions of normalizing diplomatic relations after more than 53 years of conflict. The program includes an in-depth interview with: Ramses Armendariz of Webster University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.) (To see a set list of songs used in the production of this program, please go here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America tequila Cuba Business NAFTA micro-distillers Mexico United States Cuervo Don Julio Bacardi Barack Obama diplomacy alcohol Agave Jalisco Alan Gross Cuban Five Cuervo Reserva de la Familia trade alcoholic beverages whiskey bourbon Canada mezcal Diageo economics beer

This week, Latin Pulse rejoins its analysis of Venezuela with a focus on the political and economic debate there.  With the U.S. levying economic sanctions on the country due to human rights violations, the opposition and protests movements again take center stage in the debate.  The program also looks at the issues of justice regarding accusations leveled at opposition politicians and the jailing of Leopoldo Lopez.  The program includes a wide-ranging discussion of the development of the current form of Venezuelan government and how the death of President Hugo Chavez continues to be felt in amidst the current crisis. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Alejandro Velasco* of New York University; and Dan Hellinger of Webster University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.) *Velasco is also the author of the forthcoming book: Barrio Rising.  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Venezuela Nicolas Maduro Hugo Chavez Leopoldo Lopez democracy Colombia United States oil Chavismo protests justice economics Maria Corina Machado sanctions violence elections Barack Obama human rights politics political opposition economic sanctions U.S. Senate U.S. Congress Amnesty International conspiracy United Nations protest movement Henrique Capriles Alvaro Uribe Diosdado Cabello Human Rights Watch imperialism violence diplomacy PSUV socialism internet

This week, Latin Pulse puts its focus back on Cuba as Alan Gross, an imprisoned U.S. citizen passed the five year mark of his incarceration on the island.  The program includes an in-depth interview analyzing the Gross case and what it means for U.S.-Cuba relations.  The program also looks at the modern history of secret negotiations between the U.S. and Cuba and how those negotiations have subtly changed policy.  The news segment of the program looks at the resumption of peace talks in Colombia after the release of a general held captive by rebels. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Phil Peters of the Cuba Research Center; and Bill LeoGrande of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Cuba immigration Alan Gross diplomacy espionage Colombia United States internet negotiations USAID democracy civil war peace negotiations Russia United States immigration Barack Obama Africa politics media health issues embargo Cuban Five Fidel Castro Richard Nixon Ronald Reagan Bill Clinton Carlos Salinas Jimmy Carter Radio Marti John Kennedy Lyndon Johnson Juan Manuel Santos George W. Bush Gabriel Garcia Marquez George H. W. Bush

This week, Latin Pulse goes in-depth on politics and the environment.  The program gives a preview of the United Nations conference on climate set for next month in Peru.  And the program looks ahead to the run-off presidential race in Uruguay set for the end of the month.  The analysis of the race in Uruguay also covers the country's controversial marijuana law. The news segment of the program covers the announcement by President Barack Obama that the government will give relief to unauthorized immigrants and likely five million immigrants will be able to put off deportation for a limited time. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Andrew Miller of Amazon Watch; and Chris Sabatini of Americas Quarterly. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico immigration U.S. Congress Uruguay climate Peru United States China environment economics Oil United Nations illegal logging elections Tabare Vazquez marijuana tobacco laws Ecuador Brazil politics Petrobras activism violence Venezuela Mercosur Colorado diplomacy indigenous rights Ashaninka Tribe marijuana legalization Aecio Neves Dilma Rousseff Nicolas Maduro Henrique Capriles health issues extractive industries Jose 'Pepe" Mujica Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou Argentina

This week, Latin Pulse dives into the Drug War.  The program explores two of the most important fronts in that war: Mexico and Venezuela.  The segment of the program on Mexico gives an overview of the condition of various cartels and why the strategy to focus on drug kingpins has mostly failed. The segment on Venezuela focuses on the ties between Venezuela's military and the drug trade. The news segment of the program gives the latest information about the controversy surrounding 43 missing university students in Mexico and whether they were massacred by police and drug cartels colluding together. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Jo Tuckman of The Guardian; Jeremy McDermott of InSight Crime. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico Venezuela violence Enrique Pena Nieto disapperances crime police military DEA cocaine Central America Felipe Calderon Aruba justice impunity Brazil cartels Panama corruption PRI Drug War drugs gangs Ayotzinapa politics Beltran Leyva Cartel organized crime Sinaloa Cartel protest movement Tijuana Cartel civil society violence homicide media Colombia Honduras Ecuador France FARC justice Cuba imperialism drug cartels Gulf Cartel Knights Templar Jalisco Cartel Dominican Republic Air France United States Javier 'El Chapo' Guzman U.S. State Department Los Zetas Cartel Hugo Armando Carvajal

This week, Latin Pulse takes a deeper look at the disappearance of students from Ayotzinapa and Cuban migration to the United States. Global activists are protesting due to the disappearance of the 43 university students in Mexico. The situation is emblematic of decades of corruption and collusion in the Mexican government. This time, however, it appears the Mexican government will be held to account. Later in the program, Cuban immigrants are coming to the U.S. in higher numbers now than any time in the past 20 years. The program looks at the reason behind this increased immigrant flow. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Maureen Meyer of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); William LeoGrande of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico Iguala Cuba violence Enrique Pena Nieto disapperances crime police military migration immigration Jose Luis Abarca Felipe Calderon education justice impunity refugees economics cartels Agriculture corruption PRI tourism remittances inequality oil ebola Venezuela Angola Ayotzinapa Chile Liberia politics Beltran Leyva Cartel Drug War Fidel Castro Raul Castro Guerreros Unidos human rights civil society organized crime Juarez Cartel Tijuana Cartel Sinaloa Cartel extrajudicial killings human trafficking health issues medical services protest movement

This week, Latin Pulse studies the culture of indigenous religions as the program dives into the history of the Day of the Dead. The program takes a look at the impact of colonialism on this holiday, and how those changes impact Latin America today. However, the day continues to be a celebration of humanity's relationship with death and the environment. Then, in the second half of the show, the program analyzes Mayan spirituality and its central role in Mayan culture. The news segment of the program follows the evolving situation with a group of missing university students in Mexico. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Roberto Barrios of Southern Illinois University - Carbondale; David Freidel of Washington University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico religion tradition death Mexico Aztecs Enrique Pena Nieto indigenous religion violence disappearances migration immigration Catholic Church Catholicism education history colonization colonialism Pre-Columbian Day of the Dead agriculture environment anthropology spirituality Maya Mayan Guatemala ancient text civilization custom culture Indian indigenous archeology celebration

This week, Latin Pulse provides insight into important elections in South America: presidential races in Brazil and Uruguay.  Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff is fighting for her political life as some polls show conservative challenger Aecio Neves ahead with voting coming this weekend. In Uruguay, polls show former president Tabare Vazquez is the front-runner.  However, balloting this weekend may reveal he is not popular enough to avoid a second round of voting.  Necessary improvements in education is an issue driving both races.  The news segment covers an informal alliance between Cuba and the U.S. to fight Ebola together in West Africa. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Cristina Pacheco of the State University of Paraiba; Francisco Panizza of the London School of Economics. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Uruguay elections politics Brazil economics Dilma Rousseff Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Marina Silva corruption Workers Party Cuba United States Ebola health issues Fidel Castro education crime protest movement marijuana finance business media Aecio Neves Tabare Vazquez Pedro Bordaberry Fernando Henrique Cardoso Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou Jose Mujica World Cup labor marijuana legalization drug legalization Broad Front poverty tobacco laws

This week, Latin Pulse focuses on Argentina's debt crisis. A federal judge in the U.S. is holding Argentina in contempt for failing to come up with a plan that satisfies all of its creditors from a default in 2001.  The U.S. Supreme Court ruled it would not review the case, thus upholding the lower court decisions on the bond repayments.  That decision triggered a second default.  This case holds implications not only for Argentina's economic future, but for the position of financial outlets in New York. This week's news segment covers the victory claims of President Evo Morales in Bolivia. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Peter Schechter of Adrienne Arsht Latin American Center of the Atlantic Council; and Leslie Armijo of Portland State University.  Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell;  Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   News Latin America Argentina Latin America debt crisis Evo Morales Bolivia elections politics vulture funds economics Thomas Griesa Hugo Chavez diplomacy trade finance Mexico Colombia Peru Venezuela Ecuador Nicaragua China Chile banking justice Barack Obama George Soros United States U.S. Supreme Court Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner