Latin Pulse

The emerging genre of narco-literature is the special focus this week on Latin Pulse.  The program takes an in-depth look at award-winning Mexican author, Elmer Mendoza, regarded by critics as the leading voice in this area of crime literature.  The program also sets Mendoza's work in the larger spectrum of Mexican crime novels and Spanish-language literature in general.  The program also compares work to other leading Mexican writers, such as Paco Ignacio Taibo II.  The news segment of the program deals with proposals for comprehensive immigration reform put forth by President Barack Obama and the U.S. Senate. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Prof. Nuria Vilanova of American University; and Jeff Siegel, author of The American Detective. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico Barack Obama reforms violence immigration crime U.S. Congress literature crime Drug War Elmer Mendoza Colombia Sinaloa narco-literature United States drug cartels Raymond Chandler Dashiell Hammett Paco Ignacio Taibo II writers media culture

Prospects for comprehensive immigration reform in the United States are the primary focus of the discussion this week on Latin Pulse.  President Barack Obama signaled that immigration will be a major agenda item in his second term during this week's inaugural speech.  How will Republicans react to the push for immigration reform and what specific steps might the country see in the next year.  The news segment of the program deals with a controversial kidnapping case that has caused diplomatic rifts between Mexico and France. The program includes an in-depth interview with: Alan Kraut of American University. Other key interviews include: Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue; Stephen Dinan of The Washington Times; and Carlos Amador of United We Dream.   Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine Writer: Colin Campbell. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico Barack Obama reforms politics immigration elections U.S. Congress justice crime Dream Act Achieve Act deportation Latinos business economics United States

Cuba's new travel policies and the future of Cuban diplomatic relations with the United States are the primary focus of the discussion this week on Latin Pulse.  The program also takes a wide-ranging look at how President Barack Obama's second term might spell out some differences in U.S. policies toward Latin America moving forward.  Topics covered include:  immigration, the Drug War, and U.S. relations with Venezuela. In-depth interviews in this program: Bill LeoGrande of American University; and Mark Schneider of the International Crisis Group. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Venezuela Cuba reforms Raul Castro Hugo Chavez Nicolas Maduro politics diplomacy trade immigration economics elections Mexico Barack Obama Guatemala trade United States Dominican Republic Alan Gross Drug War Central America OAS Afro-Cubans NAFTA violence gun smuggling Felipe Calderon Enrique Pena Nieto Otto Perez Molina U.S. State Department drug decriminalization drug legalization marijuana cocaine

The health of Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela provides the central focus on Latin Pulse, this week.  The program reviews the legal climate regarding the debate over Venezuela's constitution and how it reflects on questions of whether Chavez is too ill to govern.  The program also looks at how changes in China's leadership may affect investment and trade, not just in Venezuela, but throughout Latin America.  The program includes a commentary covering bilateral trade relations between Brazil and Mexico. In-depth interviews in this program: Jennifer McCoy of the Carter Center; and Margaret Myers of the Inter-American Dialogue. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Venezuela cancer health Xi Jinping Hugo Chavez Nicolas Maduro politics China trade Chile economics elections Argentina health issues oil Brazil commodities Colombia

Marijuana legalization and its effects on the drug cartels provide the focus on  Latin Pulse this week.  After Colorado and Washington state in the U.S. changed laws late last year, experts began analyzing and speculating about whether this would have an impact on the Drug War.  This program examines the political and economic scene in the U.S. and in Latin America after these historic votes.  The news segment of the program covers the latest on the health condition of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. The in-depth interview is with: John Walsh of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Other expert interviews include: Dr. Jon Caulkins of Carnegie Mellon University; Allen St. Pierre of NORML; and  Dr. Bruce Bagley of the University of Miami. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Alexia Campbell Writer: Jordan D'eri. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico cancer health Drug War Hugo Chavez Nicolas Maduro Venezuela marijuana Uruguay crime economics politics elections Enrique Pena Nieto recreational drugs drug cartels drug legalization Barack Obama Washington state Washington Colorado United States

This week, Latin Pulse comes one day early to provide a special centered around the myths of the Mayan calendar.  Although some wrongly attribute beliefs about a doomsday on Dec. 21, 2012 to the Mayan calendar, this program traces the origins of such misinformation and discusses Mayan astronomy, astrology, and religion.  The news segment of the program covers the creation of a new federal police force in Mexico and how that might affect the Drug War and human rights concerns in that country. In-depth interviews include: Dr. Mark Van Stone of Southwest College; and Dr. David Freidel of Washington University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine (To download or stream this podcast, click here.) (For a list of songs used in this special, please click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico Guatemala Mayans Drug War indigenous issues Mayan calendar archaeology NASA culture 2012 astronomy Mayan apocalypse human rights religion astrology Enrique Pena Nieto Human Rights Watch indigenous religions

Latin Pulse this week takes a close look at politics and elections in Ecuador, with presidential elections coming in that South American country in February of 2013. Ecuador's President Rafael Correa is far ahead in most polls, but does he face any real political or policy challenges?  The program attempts to answer that question while also looking at Correa's inconsistent record regarding free speech.  Both the news segment of the program and a commentary focus on the renewed health concerns regarding President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. In-depth interviews include: Rob Albro of the Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS) at American University; and Luis Botello of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Ecuador Venezuela cancer Rafael Correa Hugo Chavez free speech health politics elections Bolivia media Evo Morales Guillermo Lasso Alvaro Naboa indigenous rights indigenous politics oil democracy

With the passing this week of the third anniversary of the incarceration of Alan Gross, Latin Pulse returns to a focus on Cuba. The program looks at prospects for change between the U.S. and Cuba during the next term of the Obama administration.  The program also features discussion of a new mini-documentary produced by Cuban documentary-makers about housing conditions in Havana, an example of reforms and a loosening of communication controls. In-depth interviews include: Phil Peters of the Lexington Institute; and Prof. Bill Gentile of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine Writer: Jordan D'eri. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Cuba diplomacy economics United States Barack Obama Alan Gross embargo documentaries housing communication USAID economic reforms Raul Castro Fidel Castro internet

This week Latin Pulse returns with a focus on Mexico and the man elected to lead that nation for the next six years:  Enrique Peña Nieto.  The program looks deeply at politics in Mexico including the history of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI, by its Spanish acronym) and prospects for how that party will help Peña Nieto govern a country confronted by the challenges of corruption and the violent Drug War. The program also discussed Peña Nieto's visit to Washington, D.C. this week and how the administration of President Barack Obama will respond to this leadership change in Mexico. In-depth interviews include: Eric Olson of the Wilson Center; and Dr. John Ackerman of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine Writers: Jordan D'eri and Colin Campbell. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America immigration Mexico media United States Barack Obama Drug War politics diplomacy business trade PRI corruption democracy Enrique Pena Nieto#Yo Soy 132Felipe Calderon

This week Latin Pulse provides a special focus on telenovelas, the very popular cultural form produced throughout the region and exported successfully worldwide.  The program includes insights on the gender issues raised by these popular shows and the program looks at how these shows demonstrate how the Drug War is resonating culturally.  The news segment of the program deals with announcements this week from U.S. President Barack Obama about the prospects for comprehensive immigration reform during his second term in office. In-depth interviews include: Prof. Carolina Acosta-Alzuru of the University of Georgia; and Prof. Nataly Guzman of the Universidad de CentroAmerica in El Salvador. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine Writers: Jordan D'eri and Colin Campbell. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.) To see a list of musical themes cited in this podcast from the telenovelas under analysis, please go here.  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America immigration culture telenovelas elections media Mexico Brazil Colombia Venezuela United States Barack Obama gender issues Drug War narco novelas machismo La Reina del Sur La Monecas de la Mafia Sin Tetas No Hay Paraiso

Cuba is again the central focus on Latin Pulse with the second part of our interview with Judy Gross, the wife of Alan Gross, who is imprisoned in Cuba.  The program also analyzes the upcoming primary elections in Honduras and the candidates from the three major parties.  This episode also includes a commentary about the importance of the Latino community in the recent elections in the United States.  The news segment of the program covers the recent earthquake in Guatemala. In-depth interviews include: Judy Gross and her attorney Jared Genser; and Prof. Dario Euraque of Trinity College. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine Writers: Colin Campbell and Jordan D'eri. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Cuba Guatemala disaster Honduras elections politics espionage internet cancer diplomacy United States Alan Gross Raul Castro USAID Jewish community dissidents Cuban Five Manuel Zelaya Yani Rosenthal Mauricio Villeda Libre Party National Party Liberal Party Central America Ricardo Alvarez Miguel Pastor Otto Perez Molina Xiomara Castro de Zelaya United States State Department

This week, Latin Pulse focuses on the elections in the United States and what issues that concern Latin America have made the radar screens of the major party candidates.  The program focuses primarily on the issue of immigration and undocumented immigrants, along with a focus on business opportunities in Latin America that could be pursued after the presidential election.  The news segment of the program deals with voting and democracy in Argentina and how that country has lowered its voting age. In-depth interviews include: Prof. Alan Kraut of American University, and Prof. Frank DuBois of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine Writer: Colin Campbell. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Cuba Argentina voting democracy elections business trade Brazil economics immigration Mitt Romney Barack Obama Mexico Latinos undocumented workers Venezuela Arizona Alabama China oil agriculture Costa Rica Petrobras manufacturing economic development United States

Spirituality and religion are at the heart of Latin Pulse this week.  The program discusses the rise of Santeria, tracing the religion from its Afro-Cuban roots to the variety of countries in Latin America that find it appealing.  The program also discusses the popularity of the Mexican folk saint known as Santa Muerte, and traces her history back through the Spanish Inquisition up to modern times and the Drug War.  The news segment of the program has an update on the destructive Hurricane Sandy. In-depth interviews include: Michael Atwood Mason of the Smithsonian Institution and author of Living Santeria; and Prof. R. Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University and author of Devoted to Death. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine Writers: Jordan D'eri and Colin Campbell. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (Michael Atwood Mason also authors the blog Baba Who? Babalú!.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.) podcast news Latin America Cuba Hurricane Sandy Colombia disaster religion spirituality Santeria Afro-Cuban Brazil Venezuela Nigeria Benin animal sacrifice spirit possession Mexico Santa Muerte Spanish Inquisition grim reaper folk saint skeleton saint Dia de los Muertos Catholicism Drug War  indigenous religions

With the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis this week, Latin Pulse focuses on that island nation.  The program features an interview with Judy Gross, the wife of Alan Gross, a U.S. government contractor imprisoned in Cuba.  The program also looks at how a crisis from 50 years ago continues framing relations between the United States and Cuba.  The news segment of the program has an update on the peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla movement. In-depth interviews include: Judy Gross and her attorney Jared Genser; and Phil Brenner of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine Writer: Jordan D'eri. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.) podcast news Latin America Cuba peace talks Colombia Cold War Cuban Missile Crisis Alan Gross cancer crisis diplomacy FARC travel restrictions Barack Obama John F. Kennedy espionage United States Norway visas Cuban Five Russia civil war Raul Castro dissidents Nikita Khrushchev Soviet Union United States State Department USAID reforms

Venezuela and Colombia provide the central focus this week on Latin Pulse.  The program looks forward to the peace talks set to begin in the next week concerning the civil war in Colombia, where Venezuela's foreign policy also plays a role.  The program also analyzes the re-election of President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela.  The program looks at the complex ties between the Drug War, Colombia's civil war, and Venezuela.  The program also looks at the ties between Venezuela, China and Iran, fostered by Chavez. In-depth interviews include: Juan Carlos Hidalgo, the Cato Institute; and Stephen Johnson, the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine Writers: Colin Campbell and Jordan D'eri. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.) podcast news Latin America Venezuela peace talks Colombia health issues Henrique Capriles Radonski Hugo Chavez cancer democracy elections FARC Alvaro Uribe Barack Obama Juan Manuel Santos politics United States China Iran Mitt Romney economics diplomacy civil war drug war oil