Latin Pulse

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