Latin America in Focus

The Math Behind Cartel Recruitment in Mexico

Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:05:00 +0000

After a February military operation led to the death of Nemesio Rubén “El Mencho” Oseguera, Mexican authorities searched the cartel leader’s cabin and uncovered logs showing that low-level members of El Mencho’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel earned as little as $140 per week. Many people were surprised by how little the cartel lookouts and hitmen earn, given that their jobs can be, quite literally, deadly. Despite that, the number of people working for these crime groups could fill Estadio Azteca, the stadium where the World Cup kickoff will take place, about two times over.

In this week's episode, Complexity Science Hub’s Dr. Rafael Prieto-Curiel covers why stemming cartel recruitment is crucial for curbing violence in Mexico. The mathematician coauthored a groundbreaking study calculating that, with 175,000 members, cartels represent Mexico’s fifth-largest employer. Moreover, he estimates that they count as the country’s top recruiter, given that they have to repeatedly replenish their ranks following arrests, killings, and disappearances. “They are preventing their own collapse,” he tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis.

This episode was produced by Khalea Robertson, Luisa Leme, and Camilo Salas. Carin Zissis is the host.

Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify,YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org.

Read Dr. Prieto-Curiel's research in Science.

The music in the podcast is performed by Alejandro Escuer and Leandro Díaz Keller for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society.

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

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What's on the Trade Menu? Beef

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:05:00 +0000

When the United States and Argentina signed a bilateral trade deal in February, one part of the agreement turned heads: Washington would be quadrupling the amount of tariff-free beef it would allow to be imported from the South American country.

Historically, the United States, like countries across the world, limits the amount of beef it imports to help promote its domestic ranching industry.

But now, the United States and Europe are opening their markets, just as China, who became the largest consumer of South American beef in recent years, is imposing quotas on the product for the first time.

Argentine trade expert Francisco Resnicoff joins AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison to talk all things beef. How will new trade pacts and quotas affect the beef market? And what do shifts in the beef industry mean for domestic politics in countries like Argentina?

This episode was produced by Luisa Leme and Camilo Salas. Carin Zissis is the host.

Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org.

Francisco Resnicoff previously joined the podcast to discuss the 2024 G20. Listen to the episode: https://shorturl.at/TYaTY

Find out more about Trump’s policies in Latin America by subscribing to our weekly newsletter covering Washington’s hemispheric policy: www.as-coa.org/dispatch

The music in the podcast is “Chacarera en el aire," performed by Nicolás Fioravanti for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art exhibitions, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.  

What Will It Take to Secure Haiti’s 2026 Elections?

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 05:11:26 +0000

Haiti has been without an elected leader since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, and a spiraling security crisis threatens to derail plans to hold elections this August.

In this episode, Romain Le Cour-Grandmaison, director of the Haiti and Caribbean Observatory at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, covers bumpy governance transitions and “the triangular relationship between the political sector, economic sector, and violent actors” in Haiti, as well as the role U.S. government’s role in addressing the crisis. Bringing on-the-ground observations of Haiti’s turbulent security context, Le Cour traces the complicated—and uncertain—path to the country’s first election in a decade. And as for the long-term future of Haiti’s democracy, he stressed, “We need to address and dismantle the system that makes the gangs attractive to political and economic actors and vice versa. So basically, we need a justice component.”

This episode was produced by Khalea Robertson. Carin Zissis is the host. Latin America in Focus’ executive producer is Luisa Leme.

Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org.

Read Romain Le Cour's article on "Ending Haiti's Criminal Governance Crisis" in Americas Quarterly.

The music in the podcast is "Finesse," performed by Rafa Aslan for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art exhibitions, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.   

After IEEPA, What Tariff Tools Will Trump Turn to Next?

lleme@as-coa.org (Diego Marroquín, Carin Zissis, Luisa Leme) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:21:31 +0000

Close followers of trade news were waiting for this moment: On February 20, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 against President Donald Trump’s use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, to slap tariffs on trade partners around the world.

Trump first used IEEPA, a measure typically used to apply sanctions, a year ago, when he imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China with the argument that these three countries hadn’t done enough to stop fentanyl flows into the United States. Then he invoked IEEPA again in April 2025, when he slapped tariffs on countries around the world.

Although SCOTUS' decision reined in Trump's tariffs on one front,he soon enough used another piece of legislation, section 122, to impose new global duties.

“President Trump has a huge trade arsenal at his disposal, and what we're going to be seeing in the next few weeks is the Trump administration using other measures [that are] more procedural but are less legally exposed,” Diego Marroquín Bitar, a fellow with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies and USMCA expert, told AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis.

From IEEPA to legal measures like 122, 232, and 301, understanding trade policy can be like speaking another language. Marroquín untangles them all, explaining what the Court decision means for issues like the upcoming USMCA review and the future of trade policy in the region.

This episode was produced by Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host.

Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Access othr episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org.

Diego Marroquín Bitar previously joined the podcast to discuss why corn is a thorny U.S-Mexico trade issue. Listen to the episode: t.ly/yCPW0

Find out more about Trump’s policies in Latin America by subscribing to our weekly newsletter covering Washington’s hemispheric policy, visit: www.as-coa.org/dispatch

The music in the podcast performed by Heloísa Fernandes for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art exhibitions, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.      

Why the Right Hasn’t Risen in Mexico — Yet

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:05:00 +0000

Across Latin America, the political right has been on the march. From El Salvador to Argentina, we’ve seen the pink tide recede as voters back right-wing leaders who are oftentimes allied with the MAGA movement in the United States.

Then there’s Mexico. The largest Spanish-speaking country in the world remains firmly in the hands of Morena, a left-wing party, and its popular president, Claudia Sheinbaum. That doesn’t mean the right-wing leaders haven’t tried to break ground. As we’ll hear, the ultra-Catholic Eduardo Verástegui, who brought CPAC to Mexico, made a failed bid to run as an independent in 2024. And the name of one man has been making the rounds as a potential opposition figure: libertarian business leader and media mogul Ricardo Salinas Pliego.

In this episode, we hear from Gema Kloppe-Santamaría, a historian and sociologist at the University College Cork and George Washington University, and Alex González Ormerod, director of the Mexico Political Economist and author of the book La derecha no existe (pero ahí está) on the state of the Mexican right today. In a conversation with host Carin Zissis, our guests explain why a 100-year-old religious conflict weighs on the Mexican right today, what’s behind the decline of the traditional conservative party—the PAN, and what it would take for the Mexican right to stage a comeback.

Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org.

Find out more about right-wing movements in Mexico by reading articles by both of our guests and our host in Americas Quarterly.
Alex González Ormerod: https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/the-death-and-rebirth-of-the-mexican-right/
Gema Kloppe-Santamaría: https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/the-long-shadow-of-mexicos-war-over-catholicism/
Carin Zissis: https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/right-wing-populism-hasnt-thrived-in-mexico-why/

The music in the podcast was “Cascabel jarana de arco” performed by Alejandro Loredo for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art exhibitions, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.

What's ahead for China's Latin America Ties in the Great Power Game?

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:48:25 +0000

The Trump’s administration national security strategy was the talk of the foreign policy world late last year, not least of all because it renewed Washington’s focus on the Americas. But a few days later, China released its own policy paper focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean. But then the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro of January 3 upended the hemispheric chessboard.

Parsifal D’Sola Alvarado of the Andrés Bello Foundation for China and Latin America Research joined AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis to talk about why this new era marks an end of what he calls “cheap ambiguity” for hemispheric countries figuring out how to juggle ties with the two great powers. He explains what we can glean from China’s reaction to U.S. moves in Venezuela; how countries such as Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico been adjusting their approach to Beijing; and why Latin America needs to get its own China strategy up and running.

Read D'Sola’s analysis on what the post-Maduro era means for Sino–Latin American ties: t.ly/l05Jh

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org. Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.  

The music in the podcast was “Collector,” performed by Jorge Haro for Americas Society. https://youtu.be/R_2pw75RlcY?si=I60yHUNlUYddvEoe Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. https://www.as-coa.org/membership Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art exhibitions, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.

What’s on the Table for Brazil’s Security Issues ahead of 2026 Elections?

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 06:24:08 +0000

Organized crime continues to drive murder rates in Latin America and the Caribbean to levels well above global averages. Now in a context in which the United States has shown itself willing to flex its military muscle in the region in its battle against narcoterrorism, Latin American governments are under increasing pressure to appear tough on crime.

This episode zooms in on Brazil, from where security policy expert Robert Muggah, co-founder of the Igarapé Institute, speaks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about how two recent major police operations shed light on the increasing sophistication of criminal actors. Ahead of Brazil’s elections in October, Muggah discusses the growing appeal of hard-line policies across the region while putting forward alternative, evidence-based solutions for sustainable crime and violence prevention.

The music in the podcast was performed by 2vieira, a trumpet-acoustic bass duo formed by brothers Sidmar and Sidiel Vieira, for Americas Society. https://youtu.be/Hn2vsuRK-2c Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. https://www.as-coa.org/membership Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art exhibitions, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.

Latin America in the Spotlight in 2026

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:36:16 +0000

From the Donroe Doctrine to tariff turmoil a rightward electoral tilt, 2025 was a year of shifts for Latin America. Now, with Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Haiti, and Peru gearing up for presidential votes in 2026, more change is on the way.To make sense of what's to come, this episode of Latin America in focus brings back four of our prior guests from across the region: Venezuelan journalist and political scientist Tony Frangie Mawad, Mexican international affairs expert Brenda Estefan, Brazilian journalist and political analyst Thomas Traumann, and Latino and hemispheric digital democracy expert Roberta Braga.Then, in conversation with host Carin Zissis, the OAS’ director of electoral monitoring, Gerardo de Icaza, draws on over a decade of experience overseeing missions in 27 countries to explain the evolving challenges on the ground for election observers, from being victims of increasing political polarization to finding practical ways to leverage artificial intelligence for stronger election processes—as well as what it all means for democracy in the region.

Monitor what’s in store for 2026 elections with our guide at: www.as-coa.org/2026Listen to past episodes with our guests:

Tony Frangie Mawad on Venezuelan elections: t.ly/DszOS
Brenda Estefan on Mexican foreign policy: t.ly/2Mfs5
Thomas Traumann on Brazilian votes: t.ly/jp64b
Roberta Braga on Nayib Bukele’s online reach: t.ly/vU0tE

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org. Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.The music in the podcast is “Me Gusta Soñar,” our show's theme from the C4 Trío of Venezuela. https://youtu.be/NZ123ysut9s?si=tr5Qu25ujhSTXGIC Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org and share your love for Latin American culture and politics by joining Americas Society. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society

Andrés Velasco on How Latin America Can Reboot Its Economic Rules

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 06:10:36 +0000

Thirty-five years after the Washington Consensus, a group of the world’s leading economists have assembled a new book formulating an alternative road map for developing economies, The London Consensus: Economic Principles for the 21st Century. One of the books co-editors, prominent Chilean economist Andrés Velasco, recently stopped by the New York headquarters of Americas Society/Council of the Americas to present core principles to guide refreshed and adaptable economic policies in Latin America and beyond.

In conversation with AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal, the former finance minister of Chile and current dean of the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science emphasized the need for greater attention to delivering well-being for all and boosting state capacity to complement private-sector efforts. Given the diversity of today’s challenges—from climate change, to AI and the future of work, to trade fragmentation and political polarization—Velasco called for economists and policymakers to be more like medical doctors: assessing symptoms before handing out prescriptions.

The music in the podcast is “One Day at a Time” by Franco Pinna for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org and share your love for Latin America by joining Americas Society. Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art exhibitions, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.

Can Rodrigo Paz Unearth Bolivia’s Lithium Potential?

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 05:29:06 +0000

For decades, Bolivia’s abundant reserves of lithium, thought to be the largest in the world, have been touted as the country’s ticket to economic prosperity. But time and again, the sector has run into political hurdles, social resistance, technical issues, and a lack of investment. As newly inaugurated President Rodrigo Paz enters office under a promise of “Capitalism for all,” what will it take to get Bolivia’s lithium sector off—and out from under—the ground?

In this episode, political scientist Dr. Diego von Vacano of Texas A&M University, unpacks Bolivia’s decades-long struggle to advance its lithium industry, how it compares with Chile and Argentina—the other two points of the “lithium triangle,” and prospects for Paz to attract the foreign investment needed to develop critical technological infrastructure while attending to social and environmental concerns.

Learn more about Bolivia’s 2025 election https://www.as-coa.org/articles/explainer-bolivias-2025-elections and other votes across Latin America this year. https://www.as-coa.org/content/guide-2025-latin-american-elections

The music in the podcast is "Octubre" by Carla Derpic and Mauricio Copa for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society
Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art exhibitions, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.  

Will Chileans Pivot at the Polls?

lleme@as-coa.org (Paz Zarate, Luisa Leme, Chase Harrison, Carin Zissis) — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:10:37 +0000

After two failed constitutional rewrites, Chileans return to the polls to pick their new president. And like those referendums, this year’s vote will be compulsory. In this episode, international lawyer and columnist Paz Zárate covers what the mandatory vote could mean for the outcome of the first-round presidential vote. How are voters who typically don’t cast ballots approaching a contest where four right-wing candidates are polling in the double digits? From political platforms to infighting to foreign policy, Zárate gives a panorama ahead of the November 16 election.

This episode was produced by Chase Harrison with Executive Producer Luisa Leme.
Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org.

Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.  

The music in the podcast is “Sobre tu playa” by Inti-illimani performed for Americas Society: https://tinyurl.com/2p9nk4c8
Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org
Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. Membership gives you preferential access to music performances, the art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.

A Crack in U.S.-Colombia Cooperation

lleme@as-coa.org (Sergio Guzman, Luisa Leme, Carin Zissis, Chase Harrison) — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:03:07 +0000

Colombia has long been considered Washington’s greatest ally in Latin America. But the Trump administration’s decertification of Colombia as a partner in the war on drugs and its revocation of the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro have brought tension to the once ironclad relationship. On this episode, Sergio Guzmán, director of Colombia Risk Analysis, talks with host Carin Zissis in a conversation that takes stock of the bilateral relationship as Petro’s term draws to an end. With presidential elections scheduled for May, Guzmán also covers Bogotá’s relations with Beijing, Colombia’s role in regional security matters, and what the future might hold for the country’s politics.

This episode was produced by Chase Harrison with Executive Producer Luisa Leme. Additional production support was provided by Rafael de Osma.

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org.

Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.  

The music in the podcast is “Acrílicos en la sonrisa” by Jacarandá Dúo and Angélica Achury for Americas Society: https://tinyurl.com/2p9nk4c8 Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Hear more of Guzmán’s commentary on Latin America in Focus episodes on Colombia’s 2023 midterms tinyurl.com/ew32zsnz and 2021 election tickets. https://tinyurl.com/yc77zy4s

Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. Membership gives you preferential access to music performances, the art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.  

Energy and Security Go Hand in Hand in the Caribbean

Thu, 2 Oct 2025 04:05:00 +0000

Things are heating up in the southern Caribbean. Recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels from Venezuela have compounded escalating tensions between Venezuela and its much smaller neighbor, Guyana, an emerging energy powerhouse, over the oil-rich Essequibo region. In this episode, former U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about U.S. interest in securing Guyana’s energy future, as well as the Amazonian territory’s rising geopolitical profile.

Then, Dr. Francisco Monaldi, director of the Latin America Energy program at Rice University’s Baker Institute, contextualizes Guyana’s "unbelievable story” of oil-powered economic transformation. Looking just across Guyana’s borders, he draws lessons from Trinidad and Tobago, a regional LNG pioneer now in decline, and maps out what’s ahead for future oil producer Suriname.

Learn more about Guyana’s September 2025 elections: https://ow.ly/IEAc50X4GaU

Listen to a past episode featuring Dr. Monaldi on Venezuela’s oil sector: https://ow.ly/g0vE50X4Gea

The music in the podcast is by Vin Gordon and the Original Wailers’ Horn Section for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org.

Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society
Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art exhibitions, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.  

Navigating Trump’s Tariff Tests—The Brazil Edition

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 20:11:03 +0000

On July 9, President Donald Trump threw 200 years of diplomatic relations with Brazil for a loop. Latin America’s largest economy got hit with the highest tariff in the region—a whopping 50 percent. But what truly got President Lula’s administration riled up was the U.S. government’s justification for the additional rate.

“Talking with U.S. officials, they insisted that Brazil should give amnesty to the members of the attempted coup of January 8. Nobody told them that even if Congress passes that, it would be unconstitutional,” says Welber Barral, an international trade advisor and former foreign trade secretary.

In this episode, the second part of our two-part kickoff of the Latin America in Focus season, Barral discusses the impact of Bolsonaro’s trial on the bilateral relationship, information gaps impeding progress on trade negotiations, possible paths to reconciliation, and steps Brazil’s government has taken to protect its exporters in the meantime.

Don't forget to listen to part one. In it, Kenneth Smith Ramos, a partner at Agon and Mexico’s former chief USMCA negotiator, analyzes the delicate balancing act that Mexico has to maintain in tariff talks with its most important trading partner as the USMCA review process unfolds.

Listen to Part 1 of this episode, on Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum government's delicate balancing act to protect bilateral trade ties.

This episode was produced by Executive Producer Luisa Leme, along with host and AS/COA Online Editor-in-Chief Carin Zissis, and Associate Producer Khalea Robertson.

Read about the Trump administration policies in the Americas to keep up on trade, migration, security, and more: www.as-coa.org/trump

The music in the podcast is “Me gusta soñar” by the C4 Trio for Americas Society. And if you like the soundtrack of this podcast, find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org

Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, the art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.  

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org.

Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Navigating Trump’s Tariff Tests—The Mexico Edition

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:38:09 +0000

On the one hand, Mexico’s President Sheinbaum has won praise for artfully handling relations with Trump administration, as well as standing out among global leaders for winning a 90-day tariff delay. On the other, more is at stake for Mexico than most countries, given that over 80 percent of its exports are U.S.-bound. And soon it will face a new challenge: a potentially turbulent review process of the trilateral USMCA deal. How will Mexico maneuver the treacherous waters ahead?

We turned to a top expert, Kenneth Smith Ramos, for answers. A partner at Agon and Mexico’s former chief USMCA negotiator, Smith Ramos tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis, “ In negotiating with the U.S., we're facing a complex three-ring circus where you have, of course, the trade issues, but [also] immigration and fentanyl issues.” As Mexico tries to juggle these demands, he adds, it’s also taking a more protectionist tone with China and other Asian economies.

Mexico may be the top trade U.S. partner, but it’s not the only Latin American giant navigating Washington’s new trade paradigm. Don’t miss the second part of this kickoff to the Latin America in Focus season that looks at the politically charged maelstrom facing Brazil. Listen to international trade advisor Welber Barral unpack the diplomatic hurdles upending U.S.-Brazil trade relations.

Read about the Trump administration policies in the Americas to keep up on trade, migration, security, and more: www.as-coa.org/trump

Learn about AS/COA’s programming and content on Mexico.

The music in the episode and soundtrack for the podcast is “Me gusta soñar,” by the C4 Trio for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts: musicoftheamericas.org

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org.

Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Mafalda, Argentina’s Feisty Heroine, Now Speaks English

lleme@as-coa.org (Frank Wynne, Aime Iglesias Lukin, Luisa Leme, Carin Zissis) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 20:08:30 +0000

Mafalda, Quino’s beloved comic strip from Argentina—first published in 1964—has conquered the world, appearing in at least 25 languages. Six decades on, she is finally reaching Anglophone audiences, translated into English for the first time. Award-winning translator Frank Wynne speaks on his experience translating Mafalda into English, noting the challenges of preserving Quino's subtle humor and political commentary across cultures and languages and explaining why the beloved icon remains a perfect companion for today's turbulent times.

Read Mafalda: Book 1: https://archipelagobooks.org/book/mafalda-book-one/

Read Kamchatka, by Marcelo Figueras: https://groveatlantic.com/book/kamchatka/

Read The Mouse and its Child, by Russell Hoban: https://russellhoban.org/1967/01/01/title-the-mouse-and-his-child/

The music in this podcast was the classic milonga "El conventillo," performed by the Chúcara Trío. You also listened to Argentine harmonica player Santiago Álvarez. These were performed for the Americas Society “En Casa” series.

Visit AS/COA’s YouTube channel to see over 500 videos of music from across the Americas. And if you like the soundtrack of this podcast, find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org and consider becoming a member of Americas Society for preferential access to all concerts at 680 Park Avenue in New York, as well art exhibitions, book talks, and more exciting events.

Send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

How a U.S. Tax Could Hit Latin American Remittances

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 04:05:00 +0000

Tucked inside the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill is a proposed tax of 3.5 percent on remittances that could have major consequences for how much money Latin American immigrants can send home to their loved ones—and how they send it. “Immigrants are going to absorb that tax in order to keep sending money to their families [or] they could change the channels they use,” says René Maldonado, coordinator of CEMLA’s remittances program and consultant for the IDB’s migration unit.

In this episode, Maldonado talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about shifting remittance trends in the region, how immigrants have adapted to maintain an economic lifeline, and the potential impact of the current political climate on future remittance flows.

For more of our coverage on the impact of Trump’s policies in Latin America, visit as-coa.org/trump to keep up to date with migration, trade, and more.

And to learn more about the IDB’s research on remittances, read the 2024 report co-authored by Maldonado and check out their blog, La Maleta Abierta.

The music in the podcast is “Sonora y sus ojos negros” by Suspenso del Norte and “Lamentos do Morro” by Felipe Reis for Americas Society’s “En Casa” concert series. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org.

Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society.  Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org. Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What's Behind Brazil's International Game?

Wed, 4 Jun 2025 22:05:06 +0000

“Brazil has historically been a driving force of regional integration,” points out Laura Trajber Waisbich, Deputy Director of Programs at the Igarapé Institute. And under the administrations of President Lula da Silva, the country has leveraged its size and diplomatic credibility to not only assert its own agency on the world stage, but also advocate for the needs of the Global South. The place for that? Multilateral organizations. In a year when Brazil hosts both the BRICS Summit and the COP30, Waisbich explores how Brazil navigates global divides and domestic pressures to spur action on climate and more.

The music in this podcast was “Acaçá” composed by the Brazilian giant Dorival Caymmi, and performed by Ternoar group for Americas Society “En Casa” concert series. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org.

Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society

The New Era of U.S.-China Competition in Latin America

lleme@as-coa.org (Luisa Leme, Chase Harrison, Fabrizio Ricalde, Margaret Myers) — Wed, 14 May 2025 04:12:57 +0000

Competing engagement between Washington and Beijing is nothing new in Latin America, where both countries have sought out economic partnerships. But with a new U.S. administration and shifting macroeconomic conditions in China, has the U.S.-China calculus shifted for governments across the region? Managing Director of the Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins Margaret Myers explains the shifting state of play in the U.S.-China competition, the Trump administration’s approach, and the view from Beijing to understand the changing picture for the region's leaders.

Get more insight on Trump and Latin America in our guide: https://www.as-coa.org/content/trump-administration-latin-america

The music in this episode is “Mamãe Oxum,” performed by Alexandre and Douglas Lora for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society

Could the 2026 Vote Be Peru’s Political Reset?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 04:49:51 +0000

Peru has cycled through seven presidents in the last 10 years. Four of them were impeached or resigned before they could be. The country’s current president, Dina Boluarte, even with a 4 percent approval rating, has been able to finish her term with elections scheduled for April 12, 2026.

With one year to deliberate, what will be top of mind for Peru’s jaded electorate?

In this episode, electoral analyst Javier Albán breaks down the institutional factors that have contributed to Peru’s political morass and the types of candidates he expects to emerge from the 43 registered political parties. Then, Bloomberg’s Lima Bureau Chief, Marcelo Rochabrún, discusses the dynamics among the executive, legislative, and judicial powers, and the issues that will define the electoral campaign as well as the next presidential term, such as a rise in violence and extortions that have shaken the country.

If you want to learn more about Peru’s elections and economy in the year ahead, check our website www.as-coa.org. Council of the Americas will be in Lima on May 26 to discuss opportunities in the country with leaders of the private and public sectors.

Keep up to date on all of the region’s votes this year with our election guide. You will find more podcasts, articles, poll trackers, and expert commentary at as-coa.org/2025elections

The music in this episode is “Piano Station”, by Bianca Gismonti Trio for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org

Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.

Bonus Episode: Remembering Mario Vargas Llosa

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 19:40:24 +0000

On April 14, Latin American letters lost a giant. Mario Vargas Llosa, the prolific Peruvian writer, passed away in Lima at the age of 89. Vargas Llosa was a frequent visitor to Americas Society over the years and even served on Americas Society’s Literature Advisory Board. This bonus episode brings you an English-language conversation between Vargas Llosa and legendary translator Edith Grossman, recorded at Americas Society in 2012. Learn about the author’s reading habits, Faulkner’s influence on his writing, and more.

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org

Listen to Beyond the Boom—Latin American Writing in Translation, a previous episode in which translators discuss the state of Latin American letters in English and honor the legacy of Edith Grossman.

The music in this podcast is by Pedro Ximénez de Abrill Tirado. It was composed in the 1820s in Arequipa and was performed by Eybler Quartet for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org.

Top Mexican CEOs on the Depth of U.S.-Mexico Integration

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:17:56 +0000

In 2024, more than $800 billion dollars worth of goods were traded between Mexico and the United States, making the two countries each other’s largest trade partners. But beyond the goods moving across the border, there’s also investment running in both directions. In this episode, top Mexican CEOs detail the scale and scope of Mexican investment in the United States, which has been north of $5 billion per year for the last four years. What does this financing look like on the ground?

This podcast episode is an edited version of a panel hosted by the Council of the Americas on April 3.

You can watch the entire event on our website: https://www.as-coa.org/watchlisten/mexican-investment-united-states-jobs-regional-presence-and-economic-growth and learn more about COA’s activities focused on Mexico at: as-coa.org/mexico

Speakers:

Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of Economy of Mexico
Juan Pablo del Valle, Orbia
Daniel Servitje, Grupo Bimbo
Arturo Gutiérrez Hernández, Arca Continental
Fernando Villanueva, DEACERO USA
Luis de la Calle, De la Calle, Madrazo, Mancera
Luis Alberto Moreno, Allen & Co.
Susan Segal, Americas Society Council of the Americas

Get all the analysis on the Trump administration’s actions toward Latin America: https://www.as-coa.org/content/trump-administration-latin-america

Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society

Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org. Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Trade and Tensions—Latin America Braces for Trump's Tariffs

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:58:07 +0000

April 2 is a date that looms large for Latin America. It’s the day that the Trump administration will initiate reciprocal tariffs globally and tariffs on automobiles. This is after the application of 25% tariffs on many goods coming from Mexico and Canada in March. What will this changing trade landscape mean for Latin America? Kellie Meiman Hock, a senior counselor at McLarty Associates, explains the main drivers behind this shift in U.S. trade policy and what Trump’s new tariffs mean for the countries across the region.

Read more about the Trump administration’s approach to trade:

AS/COA Online’s Tracking Trump and Latin America: Trade https://www.as-coa.org/articles/tracking-trump-and-latin-america-trade-tariffs-countries-importing-venezuelan-oil
The Americas Quarterly article by Marcelo Claver Carone that Kellie Meiman Hock mentioned during the interview https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/trumps-vision-make-the-americas-grow-again/

Get all the analysis on the Trump administration’s actions toward Latin America: https://www.as-coa.org/content/trump-administration-latin-america

Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society

Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.

Drugs, Guns, and Dollars: Unpacking the Implications of Cartels' FTO Designation

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 07:26:33 +0000

The Trump administration recently named six of Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, or FTOs. The new designation widens who can be charged for supporting these groups. What effect might this have? Pablo Zárate of FTI Consulting looks at how business operating in Mexico will have to revamp compliance with increased risk. And Cecilia Farfán-Méndez of ITAM explains the complexity of the drug trade and spotlights how this action may impact the bilateral relationship.

What Brazil Can Teach the Americas About Immigration

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 17:56:58 +0000

Migration management has surged to the top of the policy agenda in the region due to unprecedented numbers of Latin Americans on the move in recent years. With the new administration in the United States—the Western Hemisphere’s leading destination for migrants—cracking down on immigration, how have other host countries in the Americas been coping with hundreds of thousands of new arrivals from places like Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Ecuador?

AS/COA Online speaks with Diego Chaves-González, senior manager of the Latin America and Caribbean Initiative at the Migration Policy Institute, and Professor João Jarochinski Silva of the Federal University of Roraima to get the rundown of Latin America’s efforts to receive the region’s migrants. We zoom in on a special program in Brazil, Operation Welcome, as an example, however imperfect, of how to regularize and integrate people who have left their home countries.

You can read more about how migration policy has been changing in the region on our website. We’ve been tracking the Trump’s administration actions on Latin America at as-coa.org/trump

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org. Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The music in this podcast is by Yamandu Costa, performing for Americas Society. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI2oMLOkUbI Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society
Becoming a member gives you access to music performances, art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society

The Durability of Mano Dura in Ecuador

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Ecuador, once among the safest countries in Latin America, now faces an insecurity crisis with the incursion of international criminal groups. President Daniel Noboa, now facing a reelection fight, is attempting to convince voters his hardline mano dura approach is one of the reasons to stay the course. Vanda Felbab-Brown, a security expert at Brookings Institution, explains what caused a perfect storm of insecurity in the country, what Noboa’s approach has been so far, and why the success of Nayib Bukele of El Salvador may be tough to replicate in Ecuador.

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org. Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Get more insights on what’s driving voters in Latin America in this year's 2025 Election Guide: www.as-coa.org/2025elections

The music in this episode is Jasper String Quartet performing Vivian Fung’s “Insects and Machines” for Americas Society.

Borders, Bargains, and Bluster: Did Trump's Day One Set the Tone for Latin America?

lleme@as-coa.org (Brian Winter, Juan Cruz Díaz, Luisa Leme, Carin Zissis) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 07:54:00 +0000

President Donald Trump broke tradition at his second inauguration, inviting world leaders, including from Latin America, to attend. But his day-one executive orders initiated a bumpy ride for the region in 2025. What can Latin American countries expect of "America First?" On this episode, three AS/COA experts—Carin Zissis, Brian Winter, and Juan Cruz Díaz—discussed Trump's initial moves on the border and migration, possible Mexico tariffs, the Panama Canal, and his Latin American allies. Listen to the editor-in-chiefs of AS/COA Online and Americas Quarterly, as well as the managing director of Cefeidas Group, on how Trump's second presidency will shape U.S. relations with Latin America.

Learn more:

Trump and Latin America: Inauguration Day and Executive Orders
https://www.as-coa.org/articles/trump-and-latin-america-inauguration-day-and-executive-orders
Read the new Americas Quarterly issue: https://americasquarterly.org/article/new-aq-the-risk-from-the-north/
Latin America Is About to Become a Priority for U.S. Foreign Policy, by Brian Winter
https://www.as-coa.org/articles/latin-america-about-become-priority-us-foreign-policy

The music in this podcast is "Old Wooden Chair" performed by Nation Beat for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

The Soft Power of Latin American Music

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 05:05:00 +0000

For many Latin America enthusiasts, music serves as a gateway for understanding the cultural contours of the region. Sebastián Zubieta, Music Director at Americas Society, understands this profoundly. In conversation with Luisa Leme, Zubieta outlines his approach to striking an emotional chord with audiences while showcasing a mix of music and musicians that define and defy the musical traditions of the Hemisphere.

Plus, ahead of the 60th anniversary of Americas Society in 2025, Zubieta provides a sneak peek of what’s to come with Music of the Americas in 2025. And the AS/COA Online staff gives a Latin America in Focus holiday list of recommendations.

Music of the Americas performances mentioned during the interview:

Claude Vivier, “Kopernikus” (performed by Meridionalis) https://youtu.be/CHIP9GjfSMc?si=MNP2sLd8iisI-R8Q
Coro Acardenchado https://www.as-coa.org/events/celebrate-mexico-now-coro-acardenchado
Egberto Gismonti https://youtu.be/_BdWAEoPbac?si=M-v_fRGQG6cxX4ep
Hermero Pascoal https://youtu.be/WtWUjgPtEns?si=MgDTtXJb0twsB9RX
Izaline Calister
Las Añez https://youtu.be/38R89JXIkrk?si=8kqprWUPbSwZ5vlt
Monica Salmaso https://youtu.be/Z2uI8cMHosc?si=-Ef88vVkPDQw0eUj
Pauchi Sasaki https://youtu.be/2O78v8Dnkz4?si=OVVhsXTbvHskFDmW
Bobby Sanabria and the Multiverse Band https://youtu.be/YecX8vtBTRk?si=TT57DpyVgpqEGGKW

AS/COA Online Holiday list:

I’m Still Here, by Walter Salles (feature film) https://tiff.net/events/im-still-here
You Dreamed of Empires, by Álvaro Enrigue (novel) https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/722363/you-dreamed-of-empires-by-alvaro-enrigue-translated-by-natasha-wimmer/
LatinoLand, A Portrait of America's Largest and Least Understood Minority, by Marie Arana (non-fiction) https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/LatinoLand/Marie-Arana/9781982184896
Las Amazonas de Yaxunah, by Alfonso Algara (documentary) https://nylatinofilmfestival.com/2024/movies/las-amazonas-de-yaxunah/
The Great Divide, by Cristina Henriquez (novel) https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-great-divide-cristina-henriquez?variant=41079220469794

Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society.
Becoming a member gives you exclusive access to music performances, art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society

The music featured in this podcast is “Me gusta soñar”, by the C4 Trio. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Lula, Sheinbaum, and Milei on a Shifting Global Stage

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

It’s been a stuffed season of summits. October and November saw BRICS in Russia, APEC in Peru, and the G20 in Brazil. But with Trump’s reelection, leaders are adjusting their strategies and outlooks for the future of global forums. What does this mean for Latin America?

We’ve convened a G3 of speakers from the region’s three G20 members. On this episode of Latin America in Focus, Francisco Resnicoff of Argentina, Cecilia Tornaghi of Brazil, and Brenda Estefan of Mexico speak about how each administration is approaching its international relations, what Trump’s return means for summitry, and what they foresee for the future of U.S.-China competition in the region.

The music in this podcast is "Espinha de bacalhau" performed by the trio Solar for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Latin America’s Companies of Tomorrow, Today

Thu, 7 Nov 2024 21:50:39 +0000

Latin America is known worldwide for its entrepreneurship. With unicorns, new ecosystems, and investments back to pre-pandemic levels, what's the region's secret sauce? Three of the Latin America's most successful business visionaries—Francisco Alvarez-Demalde of Riverwood Capital, Sebastian Mejia of Rappi, and Mariano Gomide de Faria of VTEX—sat down with long-time Americas investor Susan Segal of AS/COA for a conversation about how the region has an edge on creating the companies of tomorrow. In this conversation recorded at the 2024 COA Symposium in Miami this October, they discuss what it takes to build billion-dollar companies, Latin America's promising technology prospects, and the future of the region’s entrepreneurial businesses.

Learn more about the 2024 COA Symposium in Miami and the BRAVO Business Awards.

Subscribe to the BRAVO Leadership Forums podcasts for conversations with business leaders shaping the region: www.as-coa.org/BRAVO

The music in this podcast is performed by “Ya,” by Eric Kurimski Quartet, for Americas Society.
Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

What Do Brazil's Municipal Elections Tell About Polarization in Latin America?

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 04:54:11 +0000

Local concerns like sanitation, funding for schools, or road repairs were low on the agenda during Brazil’s October 6 municipal elections. Campaigns for mayorships and town-council seats were flashpoints for national fissures of identity politics that are reshaping the traditional left-right spectrum. Thomas Traumann, a journalist and political consultant, discussed the implications of this polarization rippling through politics in the country. He spoke with Luisa Leme on which political blocks made clear progress this year, next steps for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and what these races for Brazilian cities tell us about the 2026 presidential election.

Traumann is co-author of Biografia do Abismo (“Biography of the Abyss”), on polarization in Brazil, and O Pior Emprego do Mundo (“The Worst Job in the World”), about Brazilian finance ministers.

Check out Traumann’s past participation in the podcast and the 2022 episodes on Brazil’s presidential elections:

How VP Choices Are Shaping Presidential Races in Colombia and Brazil
https://www.as-coa.org/articles/latam-focus-how-vp-choices-are-shaping-presidential-races-colombia-and-brazil

Kingmakers and Key Issues in Brazil's Lula-Bolsonaro Showdown
https://www.as-coa.org/articles/latam-focus-kingmakers-and-key-issues-brazils-lula-bolsonaro-showdown

The Battle for Brazil's Divided Electorate
https://www.as-coa.org/articles/latam-focus-battle-brazils-divided-electorate

The music in this podcast is is performed by Tiganá Santana for Americas Society.
Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Could a Referendum Rattle Uruguay's Presidential Race?

Thu, 3 Oct 2024 04:05:00 +0000

Uruguayans head to the polls on October 27 for what is looking to be a close contest between the incumbent conservative coalition and the leftist Broad Front. But there’s another key player in the race: a constitutional referendum that could reshape the country’s pension system. Nicolás Saldías, a senior analyst for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Economist Intelligence Unit, profiles the major presidential candidates and details what’s on the line economically and politically if the pension reform is approved.

The music in this podcast is “Three Points of View" performed by Gustavo Casenave for Americas Society.

Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

What Brazil’s Twitter Ban Tells Us about Internet Laws in Latin America

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 04:05:00 +0000

On August 31, users of Twitter/X woke up to a platform devoid of Brazilians. After a protracted fight with CEO Elon Musk, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered a shutdown of the social media site in his country. Marie Santini, founder of Net Lab, details the timeline that led to the shutdown and how it fits in the Brazil’s larger efforts around Internet regulation. Then, University of Palermo’s Agustina Del Campo gives a regional panorama and explains what’s changing with the approach of countries—and companies—to Internet moderation.

The music in this podcast is "Caiboaté" performed by Alejandro Brittes and Baroque Ensemble for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

LatAm in Focus at 200: What Do We Know about Electoral Trends in the Americas?

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 04:41:41 +0000

Our latest edition of Latin America in Focus marks a major milestone: episode 200. Over the past eight years, we’ve covered a range of topics—and asked a lot of questions, including in our episode titles. For this episode, we decided to revisit three of those questions to see how we would answer them now. Half the world is going to the polls in 2024, so we focus on elections.

Americas Quarterly Editor-in-Chief and AS/COA Vice President of Policy Brian Winter tells us why Latin America’s anti-incumbency trend may be coming to a close. Pew Research Center’s Director of Race and Ethnicity Research Mark Hugo Lopez covers how Latino voters view the high-stakes U.S. presidential competition between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. And, AS/COA Online Editor-in-Chief Carin Zissis shares what to watch for in Mexico, where Claudia Sheinbaum is preparing to take the presidential reins in Mexico.

Speaking of elections, check out AS/COA’s 2024 guide for more about this year’s votes. www.as-coa.org/2024

Find out more about what the Latino vote means for the U.S. elections in our poll tracker: https://www.as-coa.org/articles/poll-tracker-latino-vote-2024-us-presidential-election

Listen to the original episodes that sparked these three segments:

“Will the Anti-incumbency Wave Reach Argentina and Guatemala?” https://www.as-coa.org/articles/latam-focus-will-anti-incumbency-wave-reach-argentina-and-guatemala
“What Do We Really Know about the Latino Vote?” https://www.as-coa.org/articles/latam-focus-what-do-we-really-know-about-latino-vote Mark Hugo Lopez also appeared in an episode titled, “The Myth of the Monolithic Latino Vote” https://www.as-coa.org/articles/latam-focus-myth-monolithic-latino-vote
“In Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Won Big: Now What?” https://www.as-coa.org/articles/latam-focus-mexico-claudia-sheinbaum-won-big-now-what

The music in this podcast is “Galopada” by Itiberê Zwarg, performed for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

On the Ground and Online: Venezuela's Electoral Battle

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 04:05:00 +0000

Since he came to power 11 years ago, Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro has been stacking the decks in his political favor. But will he hit a wall in the July 28 election? The regime disqualified popular rival candidate Maria Corina Machado, yet a unified opposition is leading the polls. “[The Maduro government] could try to do a mega fraud, but the political costs, even within the ruling coalition, could be very high,” journalist and political analyst Tony Frangie Mawad tells AS/COA’s Guillermo Zubillaga in an on-the-ground view of the electoral competition.

The fight to govern Venezuela is being played out online as well. Mariví Marin Vázquez, founder and executive director of digital observatory ProBox, explains why the country’s voters have turned to social media to get news. She told AS/COA’s Carin Zissis how the regime exploits social media algorithms as it seeks to soften Maduro’s image, even as online tools offer an opportunity for independent news sources and civil society to share information.

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

Learn more about Venezuela’s elections at: www.as-coa.org/2024

Read ProBox resources on Venezuelan social media use (t.ly/y7bh3) and the Maduro regime’s use of online tools (t.ly/Kk1NG).

Read an Americas Quarterly article by AS/COA’s Board Chair Andrés Gluski and President/CEO Susan Segal about why this electoral round may be different: t.ly/NDCxh

This is the seventh episode in our 2024 election series. Prior episodes covered what comes next for Mexico after Claudia’s Sheinbaum’s electoral win, how Latin America figures into the Trump-Biden battle, the Dominican Republic’s unique political culture, the economic agenda for Panama’s next president, the youth vote in Mexico, and Nayib Bukele’s global reach. Find this content and more in this year's election guide at: www.as-coa.org/2024

The music in this podcast is “Nos volveremos a encontrar,” performed by Venezuelan singer-songwriter Geraldyn García and cuatro player Daniel Molina for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

How Can Latin America Fix Its Water Crisis?

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 04:05:00 +0000

Latin America, the biggest source of freshwater in the world, is running dry. Amid record-breaking temperatures, 150 million people live in water-scarce areas and water insecurity is becoming a new normal for many.

But solutions exist. World Meteorological Organization’s Rodney Martinez and Acción Andina’s Florent Kaiser cover how Latin American countries can address the region’s water crisis. They talk how science and early warning systems are available for use, that simple solutions can restore water access in dry areas, and how water can be a decisive argument when engaging stakeholders to take action.

Read more about this episode: https://tinyurl.com/yvr7p5n3
Read an Americas Quarterly issue on water: https://tinyurl.com/ytt3xkmz
Read WMO’s recent report on the State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean 2023 https://tinyurl.com/2kpptghk

Get other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

The music in this podcast was performed by Tiganá Santana for Americas Society.

You can catch this concert and others on our YouTube channel. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

In Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Won Big. Now What?

Thu, 6 Jun 2024 06:58:04 +0000

Claudia Sheinbaum and her Morena party won Mexico’s June 2 election by a landslide, and that means the country’s first woman president is set to have a huge mandate. What will she do with it? On the ground in Mexico City, AS/COA Online spoke to voters and then three experts on concerns and priorities for Sheinbaum’s sexenio. One question kept coming up: How will Sheinbaum differ from her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador? Hear from Oscar Ocampo of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness on energy and climate, Brenda Estefan of IPADE Business School and Reforma on the future of Mexican foreign affairs, and Isaac Morales of FTI Consulting on the country’s cybersecurity policy.

This is the sixth episode in our 2024 election series. Prior episodes covered how Latin America figures into the Trump-Biden battle, the Dominican Republic’s unique political culture, the economic agenda for Panama’s next president, the youth vote in Mexico, and Nayib Bukele’s global reach. Find this content and more electoral insight in this year guide at www.as-coa.org/2024.

Watch Claudia Sheinbaum speak at a COA event in Mexico City in April 2024. https://www.as-coa.org/watchlisten/programa-exclusivo-claudia-sheinbaum-candidata-presidencial-de-mexico

Get other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

The music in this podcast includes “La folia,” “Descarga Gandinga, Mondongo y Sandunga,” and “Llorarás” all performed for Americas Society.

Learn about upcoming concerts at: www.musicoftheamericas.org

How Latin America Fits into the Biden-Trump Battle

Thu, 16 May 2024 04:05:00 +0000

Buckle up: U.S. politics are headed for a bumpy ride. And the issue of migration, particularly at the U.S. Southern border, will significantly influence this year’s elections. In this episode, AS/COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth moderates a conversation between two top political consultants—a Democrat and a Republican—to get a view of Latin America's impact on the U.S. electoral scenario. Doug Sosnik is senior advisor at The Brunswick Group and served as a political consultant for, among others top Democrats, former President Bill Clinton. Meanwhile, Russ Schriefer, founding partner at Strategic Partners & Media, has advised high-ranking Republicans, such as Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.

The conversation took place at the State Department during COA’s Washington Conference on the Americas on May 7. Watch the panel: t.ly/cUBlx

Catch other speakers and panels from the conference: t.ly/W2I7V

This is the fifth episode in our 2024 election series. Prior episodes covered the economic agenda for Panama’s next president, the youth vote in Mexico, Nayib Bukele’s global reach, and how the DR election bucks regional political trends. Get this content and more electoral insights in this year's Election Guide at: www.as-coa.org/2024

Fabrizio Ricalde produced this episode. Luis Leme is the executive producer. Carin Zissis is the host. Get other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

The music in this podcast is "A mis hermanos,” performed by C4 Trio for Americas Society. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVJ57F2TPl4

Find out about upcoming concerts at: www.musicoftheamericas.org

How the Dominican Republic Breaks Latin America’s Election Mold

lleme@as-coa.org (Maria Despradel, Jon Orbach, Carin Zissis) — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:13:15 +0000

The Dominican Republic’s Luis Abinader is one of the most popular leaders in Latin America, if not the world, so it may come as little surprise that Abinader appears to be on comfortable footing to win in the first round of the country’s presidential vote on May 19. But then again, the country’s political climate differs from that of the rest of Latin America in that presidents tend to be popular, elections don’t usually go to runoffs, and polarization levels remain low. In this episode, Temple University Professor Emeritus Rosario Espinal talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis, providing a larger context to this Dominican electoral cycle.

This is the fourth episode in our 2024 election series. Prior episodes covered the economic agenda for Panama’s next president, the youth vote in Mexico, and Nayib Bukele’s global reach. Get this content and more electoral insight in this year guide at www.as-coa.org/2024. Access a poll tracker for the Dominican presidential race.

We will host President Abinader at the 54th Washington Conference on the Americas. Learn more about the May 8, 2024 event: https://www.as-coa.org/wca2024Read an Americas Quarterly profile of the president: https://americasquarterly.org/article/the-rare-popular-incumbent/

Jon Orbach produced this episode. Maria Despradel contributed reporting. Carin Zissis is the host. Get other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

The music in this podcast is "Pacholí” performed by Pedro Martínez for Americas Society. Watch the full performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIwKjvpkzN8
Find out about upcoming concerts at: www.musicoftheamericas.org

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

Is Latin America Ready for Another Pandemic?

lleme@as-coa.org (mariangela simao, chase harrison, luisa leme, jon orbach) — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 04:05:00 +0000

An old adversary of Latin America is back: Dengue. The current outbreak of the mosquito-transmitted disease is the worst in years. Across the region, from Argentina to Brazil to Puerto Rico, images of hospitals filled with patients are coming into view. Four years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, how well-equipped is the region to tackle this one—or those to follow? In this episode, we hear from Dr. Mariangela Simão, the head of the Brazilian Instituto Todos pela Saude and formerly of the WHO. In a conversation with AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison, she covers the outbreak, the strengths and liabilities Latin America has in battling pandemics, and what advice she’d give Brazil’s president.

Learn about AS/COA’s Healthcare Series: https://www.as-coa.org/healthcare

Visit www.as-coa.org/podcast to subscribe at your preferred platform and so you don’t miss future episodes. Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via X at @ASCOA.

The music in this podcast is performed by Bobby Sanabria and the Multiverse Big Band for Americas Society.
Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

What's on the Economic Agenda for Panama's Next President?

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 04:05:00 +0000

Panama is facing a moment of uncertainty amid an electoral race with eight candidates, droughts affecting the Panama Canal, and fallout over massive 2023 mining protests. But Felipe Chapman, chairman and managing partner of economic and financial advisory firm INDESA, remains optimistic about his country’s future. In a conversation with AS/COA Vice President Randy Melzi, he says Panama’s challenges are “fixable” as he outlines the economic agenda for the next administration.

This is the third episode in our monthly series on 2024 elections in Latin America. Listen to the first episode on Nayib Bukele’s global reach and the second episode on Mexico’s youth vote.

See our Panama election poll tracker at: www.as-coa.org/panama-polls

Get election coverage in our guide at: www.as-coa.org/2024

Visit www.as-coa.org/podcast to subscribe at your preferred platform and so you don’t miss future episodes.
Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via X at @ASCOA.

The music in this podcast is "Cadenza con pajarillo,” performed by Eddy Marcano & Trío Acústico for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

Brian A. Nichols on the Biden Administration's Latin America Policy

lleme@as-coa.org (Brian A. Nichols, Eric Farnsworth, Jon Orbach) — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 04:05:00 +0000

Just hours before Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere Brian A. Nichols joined AS/COA in an event covering the state of U.S. policy in the Americas. In a conversation with AS/COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth, Ambassador Nichols laid out the administration’s positions on regional quagmires, such as Haiti’s humanitarian and political crises and the fairness of Venezuela’s July elections. But he also delved into opportunities in the region like partnering on critical minerals and renewable energy with Argentina or deepening already strong economic ties with Mexico. What will Washington do if the Maduro regime doesn’t allow opposition candidate María Corina Machado to run? How will Mexico’s election affect the bilateral relationship? All this and more are covered in this episode.

Watch the video of this event: https://www.as-coa.org/BrianNichols2024

Visit www.as-coa.org/podcast to subscribe at your preferred platform and so you don’t miss future episodes.

Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via X at @ASCOA.

The music in this podcast is Arrecife Urbano, performed by Cuarteto de Guitarras de Costa Rica for Americas Society. Watch the performance: https://youtu.be/jUHzWiavG1o?si=0gUQiE_jmUjeNZ8g

Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

As Mexico’s Election Fires Up, a Look at Youth and Democracy

lleme@as-coa.org (Alexandra Zapata, Noam Lupu, Luisa Leme, Carin Zissis) — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:05:00 +0000

In Mexico’s 2024 vote, more than a quarter of eligible voters are under 30 and nearly half are under 40. That means younger voters have an opportunity to play a major role in an election not only for president, but one that will see more than 20,000 seats up for grabs. But they have to participate if they want to have an impact. Me Veo, an organization focused on getting out the vote in this election, is seeking to do just that. Its director, Alexandra Zapata, joined the podcast to spells out ways to get Mexico’s young voters engaged. And in the opening segment, Professor Noam Lupu of Vanderbilt University’s LAPOP Lab explains the latest AmericasBarometer report, which shows Latin America’s young voters may be more committed to democracy than previously thought.

Access the 2023 AmericasBarometer report: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/

This is the second episode in our monthly series on 2024 elections in Latin America. Listen to the first episode on El Salvador’s expat votes and Nayib Bukele’s reach: http://t.ly/H0Lnd
Get more election coverage in our guide at: www.as-coa.org/2024
See our Mexico election poll tracker at: http://t.ly/NPtoz

Visit www.as-coa.org/podcast to subscribe at your preferred platform and so you don’t miss future episodes.
Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via X at @ASCOA.
The music in this podcast was performed by Ernest Ranglin at Americas Society. Watch the performance: t.ly/9wmDJ Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

How Courts Can Make or Break Latin America's Corruption Battle

Thu, 8 Feb 2024 15:56:13 +0000

When it comes to corruption perceptions, Latin America is stagnating. And what’s one major obstacle to improvement? Judiciary independence, explains Transparency International’s Luciana Torchiaro. In this episode, she dives deep into how the region fared in her organization’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index, released in January 2024, and tells AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme why attempts to weaken the judiciaries in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Honduras are hindering the battle against corruption. But the news isn’t all bad. She explains how steps taken in the Dominican Republic serve as a model, and why Chile has an opportunity to restore its standing as a regional transparency leader.

Access the Transparency International 2023 report: http://t.ly/nvrSP

Read Luciana Torchiaro’s analysis on the challenges to independent judiciaries in Latin America: http://t.ly/1Q3ZW

AS/COA also monitors corruption progress in Latin America. See our 2023 Capacity to Combat Corruption Index, published in partnership with Control Risks: https://www.as-coa.org/CCC2023

The music in this episode is “Compay” by Ártemis Duo. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRxcjm2Sia4 Find out about upcoming concerts at: www.musicoftheamericas.org

Check out other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus on your preferred platform via: www.as-coa.org/podcast

We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

Online Reach and Expat Votes in El Salvador’s Election

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:05:00 +0000

2024 will be a big year for Latin American elections, and the first one takes place in El Salvador. Popular President Nayib Bukele is likely to win a race that showcases his regional—and global—influence. Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas’ Roberta Braga explains how Bukele’s social media strategy spreads beyond El Salvador’s borders and calls for a rethink of how online disinformation. Virginia Commonwealth University’s Michael Paarlberg delves into how that message is being received in the large Salvadoran diaspora, which is expected to vote in record numbers this year.

This episode will be the first in a series exploring the year’s elections and the forces shaping them. Catch the series and learn about 2024 elections via our guide at: www.as-coa.org/2024

Read our Explainer: El Salvador's 2024 Presidential and Legislative Elections

This podcast was produced by Executive Producer Luisa Leme with support from Jon Orbach. Carin Zissis is the host.
The music in this podcast is “Receitas de Samba” by C4 Trio and was recorded for Americas Society.

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

Ten Years in, What's the Future of Mexico's Morena Party?

lleme@as-coa.org (Lorena Becerra, Javier Aparicio, Luisa Leme, Carin Zissis) — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 05:05:00 +0000

2024 doesn’t just mark Mexico’s biggest elections ever, but the tenth anniversary since Morena, the party of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, became an official party. And it now faces a test: will it build on its expanding control or find itself reined in by Mexican voters in June 2024? In this episode, long-time pollster Lorena Becerra and CIDE political scientist Javier Aparicio cover whether Morena could become a hegemonic party akin to the PRI, the challenges for López Obrador’s chosen successor Claudia Sheinbaum and the opposition’s Xóchitl Gálvez, and where Mexico sits in Latin America’s anti-incumbency arc. “Morena’s Achilles’ heel is for them to become part of the old party system at some point,” Becerra tells AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis. “And that can happen if they don't prove to be different.”

This podcast was produced by Executive Producer Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host.

AS/COA Online will be covering Mexico’s elections. Get regular updates at: www.as-coa.org/mexicoelects2024

Check out our poll tracker at: https://www.as-coa.org/articles/poll-tracker-contenders-mexicos-2024-presidential-vote
Learn about other 2024 elections in our guide at: www.as-coa.org/2024

This podcast was produced by Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host.

The music in this podcast was recorded for Americas Society and includes: “La danza del camalote” by José Caro, https://bit.ly/3GIzaYa as well as "Cheni" and "Nostalgia" by La Bruja de Texcoco. https://bit.ly/48fEkX7

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org
Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

Beyond the Boom: Latin American Writing in Translation

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 17:11:00 +0000

Earlier this year, Latin American literature lost a champion when Edith Grossman, one of the foremost Spanish language translators, passed away. Grossman not only translated some of the region's master writers, but she advocated for her profession and for the value of reading in translation. In this episode, two acclaimed translators, Megan McDowell and Esther Allen, speak about her legacy, the titles grabbing attention in the United States, the role of women authors in a current Latin American boom, and the connection between books in translation and events in the region today.

Below is a list of authors and titles available in English mentioned in this podcast:

Why Translation Matters, by Edith Grossman
The Silentiary, by Antonio di Benedetto, translated from Spanish by Esther Allen, introduction by Juan José Saer
Zama, by Antonio di Benedetto, translated from Spanish by Esther Allen
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, by Mariana Enríquez, translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell
The Words That Remain, by Stênio Gardel, translated from Portuguese by Bruna Dantas Lobato; Winner, National Book Awards 2023 for Translated Literature
Seven Empty Houses, by Samanta Schweblin, translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell; Winner, National Book Awards 2022 for Translated Literature
Ways of Going Home, by Alejandro Zambra, translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell

The music in this episode was performed for Americas Society and includes:

“Fiesta Manka,” performed by Dario Acosta Teich & Eleanor Dubinsky. https://bit.ly/3uNqRas
“Editus and "Danzón," performed by Ricardo Ramírez and Edín Solís. https://bit.ly/46CvLo4
"Isla," performed by Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna https://bit.ly/3T5QJc2

Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

This episode was produced by Chase Harrison and Executive Producer Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host.
Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast

We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

Did Colombia’s Local Elections Spell Problems for Petro?

lleme@as-coa.org (jon orbach, sergio guzmán, luisa leme, Carin Zissis) — Thu, 9 Nov 2023 05:05:00 +0000

On October 29, Colombians voted for mayors and governors across the country, and President Gustavo Petro’s candidates fared poorly in an election that many say served as a referendum on his leadership. Sergio Guzmán, director of Colombia Risk Analysis, talks with AS/COA Online’s Jon Orbach about what we can learn from mayoral races in Bogotá and Medellín, how the overall results provide a window into the mood in Colombia, and why Washington should pay attention to the country’s domestic politics.

This podcast was produced by Jon Orbach. Carin Zissis is the host. Luisa Leme is the executive producer.

Learn more about this year’s Latin American elections at: www.as-coa.org/2023

The music in this episode is “Gentil Montaña” performed by the Fabian Forero Trio. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/OsE9ENAq12Y?si=9B4TStMwJNPf3aK1 Find out about upcoming concerts at: www.musicoftheamericas.org

Check out other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus on your preferred platform via: www.as-coa.org/podcast

We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

Venezuela’s Energy Sector Primes for a Thaw

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +0000

October was a busy month for Venezuela. The United States eased sanctions on the country’s oil sector, the opposition and the Maduro regime sketched out an electoral roadmap, and María Corina Machado triumphed in the opposition primary. What does all this mean for the country’s energy sector?

"I estimate that instead of getting half a billion dollars per month, they will be getting closer to a billion dollars per month. So, it's a very important amount of money that Maduro could use to improve his electoral chances by spending money for electoral purposes," says Francisco Monaldi, a fellow and the director of the Latin American Energy Program at Rice University’s Baker Institute. He spoke with AS/COA Venezuela Working Group Director Guillermo Zubillaga about the outlook for the sector and Venezuela's 2024 elections.

This podcast was produced by Jon Orbach. Carin Zissis is the host. Luisa Leme is the executive producer.

Listen to an Americas Quarterly’s interview with the White House’s Juan Gonzalez that is mentioned in the episode: t.ly/foX6f

The music in this episode is “Pasa Mi Padre” performed by Jorge Torres. Watch the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgJUwTOsK1w

Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Check out other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus on your preferred platform via: www.as-coa.org/podcast

We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

Can Carbon Markets Finance Brazil’s Green Transition?

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 04:00:00 +0000

As the world falters in its 2015 Paris Agreement goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Brazil is helping turn the tide. As the country’s Senate approved a bill that would regulate companies releasing more than 10,000 tons of CO2 per year, it looks to start making a profit on emissions too. In this episode, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro’s Emilio La Rovere talks to Luisa Leme about the benefits of putting a price on emissions, Brazil’s comparative advantage, and why Latin America needs to work with industrialized countries to get the world closer to a net-zero economy.

The music in this episode is "Samba do lago" performed by Diego Salvetti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPAmkg-VTtQ Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. https://www.as-coa.org/music

This podcast was produced by Luisa Leme and Jon Orbach. Carin Zissis is the host. Check out other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus on your preferred platform via: https://www.as-coa.org/podcast

We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

Dollarization, Inflation, and Voter Frustration in Argentina

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Argentines face a three-horse race when they vote for a president on October 22. Each contender has distinct ideas for resolving the country’s economic and security woes. One of those candidates— libertarian Congressman Javier Milei—has brought back the idea of dollarizing the country’s economy. Are voters open to the idea? In this episode, Reuters Correspondent Anna-Catherine Brigida speaks from Buenos Aires about how each candidate is pitching themselves to voters and the interplay between their supporters. “There is a break from some of the traditional parties and left-right,” she told Chase Harrison.

Learn about Argentina’s 2023 vote with our election guide at: www.as-coa.org/2023

Check our Argentina poll tracker at: as-coa.org/ARGpolls

The music in this podcast was performed by Alejandro Brittes Baroque Ensemble for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. Watch the performance for Americas Society.

This podcast was produced by Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host. Check out other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus on your preferred platform via: www.as-coa.org/podcast

We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

How Women Won Political Parity in Mexico—and What Comes Next

lleme@as-coa.org (Mónica Tapia, Luisa Leme, Carin Zissis) — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 04:05:00 +0000

With Mexico’s two main political alliances selecting Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez as their 2024 contenders, it’s looking likely that the country’s next president will be a woman. But already in Mexico, women hold a range of top political seats and have achieved gender parity in Congress. In this episode, Mónica Tapia talks with Carin Zissis about the history of how Mexican women carved a path to rising political representation, the role of a resurgent women’s movement, and the two women competing for the presidency. Tapia—co-founder of Aúna, an accelerator that helps women gain political roles across Mexico—also explains the next steps, saying: “What needs to happen is that women not only become governor or president, but that they really have their power.”

Learn about Mexico’s elections at: www.as-coa.org/2024

Find out about AS/COA’s Women’s Hemispheric Network at: www.as-coa.org/women

The music in this episode was performed by La Bruja de Texcoco at Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

This podcast was produced by Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host. Check out other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus on your preferred platform via: www.as-coa.org/podcast

We’d love to hear from you. Share feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

What AI’s “Tectonic Change” Means for Latin America

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Artificial intelligence may spark job loss fears across the Americas, but businesses and people in the region are increasingly adopting the technology. Ángel Melguizo, partner at Argia and Latin America advisor to UNESCO on ethics and AI, outlined what countries need to do to benefit from the AI revolution without leaving people behind. He also covers the urgent need for a “coalition of the good” in terms of AI regulation, and where Latin America stands on the matter.

Learn more about the AS/COA Tech Series: www.as-coa.org/tech
Hear our previous episode with Melguizo about the China Belt and Road initiative.
https://bit.ly/3KvWjPV

The music in this episode is "Thakita” by Ganesh Anandan, performed by Alejandro Escuer and Felipe Perez Santiago for Americas Society. Learn more about upcoming concerts: musicoftheamericas.org

This episode was produced by Executive Producer Luisa Leme. Carin Zissis is the host.
Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via Twitter: @ASCOA

Michael Reid on This EU-Latin American Moment

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 06:20:00 +0000

The second half of 2023 will see Spain take over several EU leadership posts, and Madrid has pledged to deepen its focus on EU-Latin American relations. Could this lead to aflourishing regional relations? Ahead of the EU-CELAC summit in July, author Michael Reid explained the roadblocks to trans-Atlantic integration. From Ukraine to a Mercosur-EU free trade agreement to Venezuela, Reid explains how a lack of a unified Latin American front affects its relationship with Europe and beyond.

The music in this podcast is “La pollera colorá” by Carlota Santana for Americas Society. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slc6K5cE44o

Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast

Send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

Empowering North American Goals

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 16:56:19 +0000

In a world struggling with geopolitical uncertainty, how can North America offer a secure environment and economic stability? In this episode, conducted in collaboration with the U.S.-Mexico Foundation (USMF), we explore the answer to this question and more. USMF Managing Director Enrique Perret interviews AS/COA’s Susan Segal about how Canada, Mexico, and the United States can build on 30 years of free-trade ties to drive exponential trade growth. The conversation emphasizes the need to eliminate North American barriers to labor mobility, how the 2026 World Cup gives the region the chance to amplify cultural relations, and how 2024 elections in both the United States and Mexico offer a chance to reframe the discussion around bilateral ties.

Susan Segal is co-chair of USMF’s North Capital Forum this year, taking place in Mexico City in October 2023.
Learn more: https://www.northcapitalforum.com/

The music in the intro and outro of this podcast was recorded for Americas Society.
For more about upcoming concerts, visit: www.musicoftheamericas.org

Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast

Send us feedback and comments at: latamfocus@as-coa.org

Guatemala's Electoral Crossroads

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 7 Jun 2023 18:58:03 +0000

Guatemalans head to the polls June 25 with their country’s democracy at a crossroads. Despite nearly two dozen presidential candidates on the ballot, three key contenders were eliminated and dozens of the country’s corruption-battling prosecutors and journalists face exile or imprisonment. What does this mean for the election? What is the U.S.’s role? How do Guatemala’s youth see their country’s prospects? Veteran journalist Juan Luis Font, a radio anchor with ConCriterio covering his country’s politics in exile, talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis,

Learn more about Guatemala’s elections.
Poll tracker: t.ly/aBnKf
AS/COA’s election explainer: t.ly/YW6g
Guide to 2023 Latin American Elections: www.as-coa.org/2023

The music in this episode is "El arpómetro de Carlos," by P. Coulon and H. Martínez, performed by Ángel Tolosa for Americas Society. Learn more about upcoming concerts: musicoftheamericas.org

This episode was produced by Executive Producer Luisa Leme and Associate Producer Jon Orbach. Carin Zissis is the host. Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast
Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via Twitter: @ASCOA

Life after “Crossed Death” in Ecuador

Wed, 24 May 2023 20:08:24 +0000

Ecuador’s Guillermo Lasso chose to do something unprecedented on May 17, invoking a constitutional clause that dissolved the National Assembly and triggered a new set of elections for the executive and legislative branches. Now that he’s Lasso ruling by decree, what can Ecuadorans expect in this period of uncertainty? And who are the big players ahead of the upcoming election?

Atrevia’s Quito-based Carmen Sánchez-Laulhé talks with AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison about the road ahead as the Andean country heads into uncharted territory.

The music in this episode is "Yumbo," by Gerardo Guevara, performed by Ensamble InConcerto for Americas Society.
Watch the performance: https://youtu.be/S3Bqxo0hdwg

Find out about upcoming concerts: musicoftheamericas.org

Read our recent coverage of Ecuador’s impeachment process https://tinyurl.com/27cwchvz and timeline of events: https://tinyurl.com/y45b4357

Stay up on what might come next in our 2023 Election Guide: www.as-coa.org/2023

This episode was produced by Jon Orbach. Luisa Leme is the executive producer. Carin Zissis is the host. Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast

Send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org or via Twitter @ASCOA

The Story of Unlikely Art Genius Bispo do Rosario

Thu, 4 May 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Arthur Bispo do Rosario never intended to become an artist. But he’s now recognized as a pioneering force in Latin American art. After experiencing hallucinations at the age of 29, he was checked in to a psychiatric institution where he spent the rest of his life. While there, he heard voices that told him to recreate all existing materials on earth. It’s from this idea that Americas Society drew the name for its exhibition, Bispo do Rosario: All Existing Materials on Earth. In this episode, we hear a conversation with the four curators exploring Bispo’s life, art, influence, and first U.S. solo show.

The show is open in New York City at Americas Society through May 20. See images, videos, and a pocket book about the exhibition at: www.as-coa.org/bispo

The music in this podcast was "Sexteto Místico" by Heitor Villa-Lobos, performed at Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at  musicoftheamericas.org

The voice of Bispo do Rosario you hear in this episode comes from the documentary O Prisioneiro da Passagem, by Hugo Denizart. You can watch the film on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/8MzFTaOvsCQ

Check out other episodes at: www.as-coa.org/podcast

We’d love your feedback! Write us at latamfocus@as-coa.org with comments, questions, and ideas.

The China-Taiwan Tussle in the Americas

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 14:43:26 +0000

With Honduras having switched sides to Beijing in March 2023, only 13 countries worldwide recognize Taiwan over China. More than half are in Latin America and the Caribbean. Why are so many of Taipei’s allies based in the region? What happens after a country chooses China? And what do upcoming elections in Paraguay and Guatemala—the two biggest economies that still recognize Taiwan—mean for the future of this East Asian diplomatic tug of war? Florida International University’s Leland Lazarus, who served in U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. foreign service, answers these questions and more in a conversation with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis.

Learn more about upcoming elections with AS/COA’s 2023 guide: www.as-coa.org/2023
Hear about elections in Guatemala in a prior episode: t.ly/1vU2q
Read about Paraguay’s elections: t.ly/Qhb8

Read our guest’s research:
Red Flags among Golden Passports—An Analysis of Chinese Influence in Five Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Program at FIU t.ly/iCPX
What Taiwan Can Learn from Honduras’ Switch to China, Foreign Policy, co-authored with Ryan C. Berg t.ly/Srxo

The music in this episode is “El Choclo” performed by Sergio Reyes and Emilio Teubal for Americas Society. Watch the performance: https://youtu.be/czRjMxxM_eM

Find out about upcoming concerts: musicoftheamericas.org

This episode was produced by Jon Orbach. Luisa Leme is the executive producer. Carin Zissis is the host. Learn more about and subscribe to Latin America in Focus: www.as-coa.org/podcast

Send us feedback at ascoa.online@as-coa.org or via Twitter @ASCOA.

What the SVB Collapse Signals for Latin America

lleme@as-coa.org (Susan Segal, Luisa Leme, Carin Zissis, Chase Harrison) — Wed, 5 Apr 2023 17:31:29 +0000

Latin America’s startups have spent the past three years navigating the tricky macroeconomic environment wrought by the pandemic. Now, they’re fending with high interest rates, a tightening pool of venture capital, and—oh yeah!—the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. AS/COA CEO and President Susan Segal explains why the collapse won’t rattle Latin America’s markets and how the region’s startups can thrive amid uncertainty, and she offers her short-term macroeconomic concerns.

Check out other episodes at: www.as-coa.org/podcast
The music in this podcast is "Las dos milongas" performed by Estefanía Melonio (https://youtu.be/KMu5nVWZlFY) and “Descarga Gandinga, Mondongo y Sandunga” performed by Uzzo Ismael (https://youtu.be/28MeIwqw4y4). Learn more and find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Could a Clash over Corn Upend U.S.-Mexico Trade Ties?

lleme@as-coa.org (Diego Marroquín, Carin Zissis) — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 14:38:13 +0000

When thinking about challenges for U.S.-Mexico ties, corn might not be the first thing to come to mind. But a simmering trade dispute over a potential Mexican ban of GMO corn could have enormous consequences for these intertwined economies. In this episode, North American trade expert Diego Marroquín tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about the potential impact of such a ban and why the case is a “litmus test for Mexico’s commitment to USMCA.”

The music in this podcast is performed by Tembembe Ensemble Continuo for Americas Society.
Watch the video of this performance: https://youtu.be/MHA33RgI51o
Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org

Other music in the podcast was performed by Botellita de Jerez and Nostalgia Huasteca.

Learn more about Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast

A Decade of Nicolás Maduro

Wed, 1 Mar 2023 05:15:00 +0000

March 5, 2023 marks 10 years of President Nicolás Maduro’s rule in Venezuela. Maduro has overseen a decade of economic turmoil, democratic backsliding, and a mass exodus of more than seven million Venezuelans. How does the government operate? And what will the 2024 elections bring? Bloomberg journalist Fabiola Zerpa and Amherst College professor of political science Javier Corrales discuss Venezuela’s political history and prospects with AS/COA Senior Director Guillermo Zubillaga.

Check out other episodes at: www.as-coa.org/podcast

The music in this podcast is: “Zumba Cum Laude” by C4 Trío. https://youtu.be/F_pdNY_wz5k

Learn more at: musicoftheamericas.org

Can a Lawsuit Stem Spyware Use in Central America?

lleme@as-coa.org (Chase Harrison, Roman Gressier, Carin Zissis, Luisa Leme) — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000

After his phone was hacked with Pegasus spyware four times, El Faro journalist Roman Gressier and 17* colleagues at the Salvadoran outlet decided to sue a software manufacturer in a U.S. court. His lawsuit is part of a growing effort to regulate the exploding market for digital surveillance worldwide. But can anything stop governments from using these tools? Gressier tells AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison about the case, the role of Pegasus in Central America, and why he is pessimistic about the future of spyware.

Check out other episodes at: www.as-coa.org/podcast

The music in this podcast is: “Epílogo para Jazmín” by Monique Fernandez. https://youtu.be/KwI1mtzOOwA
Learn more at: musicoftheamericas.org

*Editor's note: The original version of this podcast stated that there are 22 plaintiffs in the case. The correct figure at the time of publishing was 18.

Will the Anti-Incumbency Wave Reach Argentina and Guatemala?

lleme@as-coa.org (Carin Zissis, Marielos Chang, Juan Cruz Díaz, Luisa Leme) — Thu, 2 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

What’s the mood on the ground in Guatemala and Argentina, both of which hold presidential elections this year? Given voter dissatisfaction, will they follow the regional trend of backing the other side and bucking the status quo? Universidad del Valle de Guatemala’s Marielos Chang tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis why voters in the Central American country are frustrated by corruption and a dizzying array of political parties. Meanwhile, Cefeidas Group’s Juan Cruz Díaz talks with AS/COA’s Luisa Leme about what to watch in the race for the Casa Rosada and why runaway inflation will play a role in the outcome.

For more on this year's Latin American elections, visit our guide: www.as-coa.org/2023

The music in this podcast is:
“Descarga Gandinga, Mondongo y Sandunga” performed by Uzzo Ismael
“Admonición” performed by Fátima Abramo and Asunción Cantero

Learn more at: musicoftheamericas.org

Three Stories You May Have Missed in 2022

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 19:11:45 +0000

Hear some of the uncovered stories of the year. Sofía Ramirez Aguilar of México ¿Cómo Vamos? details why Mexicans, who long had one of the lowest vacation rates in the world, got some good news in time for the holiday season. Claudio Ruiz of Derechos Digitales explains Chile’s moves to be a digital rights pioneer. And journalist Simeon Tegel talks about the controversial Mayor-elect of Lima Rafael López Aliaga, who has his eyes on the presidency.

The music in this podcast is Eric Kurimski Quartet performing “Ya.” Watch the video: https://youtu.be/PbrXlWnGtFo

Learn more about Latin America in Focus at: www.as-coa.org/podcast

Who Will Foot the Bill for Climate Adaptation?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 2 Dec 2022 14:28:49 +0000

It could cost up to $6 trillion a year to finance the transition away from a carbon-intensive economy. That’s triple the current yearly global commitment. What would it take to rapidly expand the amount of financing available for decarbonization, sustainable infrastructure, and compensation for the effects of climate change? The UN’s Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez and Marsh McLennan’s Amy Barnes explains how the public and private sector are funding decarbonization and the transition to a green economy.

Listen to the music included in this episode performed by Alejandro Escuer: http://y2u.be/ARW3j2Vyslw.

Superpesos? Coldplay Dollars? Inside Latin America's Currency Markets

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 21:14:32 +0000

The U.S. dollar is stronger than it’s been in decades against currencies around the world. But that’s not true across Latin America where, in some cases, smart policies by governments and central banks have helped keep domestic currencies steady. XP Investment’s Alberto Bernal tells AS/COA Vice President Randy Melzi which countries have been successful and which are at risk.

This episode features a quiz! Get the answers to the lightening round of currency trivia at: www.as-coa.org/podcast

The music featured in this episode is "Adiós Fulana" (A.M. Peñaloza) performed by La Manga for Americas Society.
Watch the video:  https://youtu.be/bP7pC7Fd_XU
Learn more at:  https://musicoftheamericas.org

Bonus Episode: Amb. Thomas Shannon on How Lula's Win Resets Brazil's Foreign Policy

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 3 Nov 2022 16:20:00 +0000

In January, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will start a third term as Brazil’s president two decades after he began his first—and in a remarkably changed world. In this episode, former U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Thomas Shannon tells Executive Producer Luisa Leme what Lula’s comeback means for Latin America, U.S. relations, China, and the world.

To learn more about this year’s Latin American elections, visit: www.as-coa.org/2022

The music in this episode is "Tarde de Chuva" by Paulo Moura, performed by Cliff Korman Ensemble for Americas Society. Learn more at: www.musicoftheamericas.org

What the Guacamaya Hacks Reveal about Latin American Militaries

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In September, a group of hacktivists known as Guacamaya sparked reverberations across much of Latin America when it released millions of documents and emails from the military and police forces of Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, and Peru. In this episode, UC San Diego’s Cecilia Farfán Mendez explains the impact of the leaks in Mexico, which accounts for six of the 10 terabytes of data released. And Cybersecurity expert Juan Pablo Castro explains why Latin America’s militaries were so susceptible to attacks and whether the identity of Guacamaya matters at all.

Learn more about Mexicans’ views of their military: t.ly/9SG1

Hear a recent Latin America in Focus episode about how cyber attacks in Costa Rica expose a regional threat. https://bit.ly/3zoFZuq

Listen to the music included in this episode performed by Julio Cobelli https://youtu.be/ER52AFZct5E and Trio Miramar https://youtu.be/8lWSqRZjkmo

The Battle For Brazil's Divided Electorate

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 20:55:55 +0000

On October 2nd, Brazilians split the ballots—and the country—between former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. Quaest pollster Felipe Nunes talks about whether the polls got the first round wrong, how Lula and Bolsonaro are now dueling for the battleground state of Minas Gerais, and why Lula needs to fight against voter abstention to secure a win in the October 30 runoff.

Listen to our previous episode with Felipe Nunes on Brazil's first-round vote. https://bit.ly/3yHpJoh

For a Brazil runoff poll tracker and more on this year’s Latin American elections, visit: www.as-coa.org/2022

The music in this episode is “Galopada” by Itiberê Zwarg, recorded for Americas Society. Learn more at www.musicoftheamericas.org.

What Do We Really Know about the Latino Vote?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 18:00:22 +0000

Every election cycle, both Democrats and Republicans are reminded of the power of the Latino voter—who are now the second largest demographic group in the electorate. However, is either party’s approach to this group effective? And are Latinos really a cogent voting bloc? Two experts, Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro of UnidosUS and Sabrina Rodríguez of The Washington Post, discuss Latinos’ top issues, how to perform effective outreach to this group, and how the landscape of Latino politics changes between South Florida and Texas.

UnidosUS national poll of Latino voters: t.ly/Jv7W
AS/COA Online Latino vote tracker: t.ly/8IxE
Access reporting by Sabrina Rodríguez via The Washington Post: t.ly/SxFn
Music by Quinteto Latino for Americas Society: https://youtu.be/jBQn-DwzMPs

Mexico's March toward the 2024 Election

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 19:30:53 +0000

From the presidential state of the union to Independence Day, September in Mexico is a politically momentous time. This year, it saw President Andrés Manuel López Obrador usher through a deepening military control over public security just in time for independence celebrations. In this episode, political analyst Carlos Bravo Regidor talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about AMLO’s military moves, the building of his legacy, and how it all relates to a 2024 presidential race that’s already well underway.

Listen to a prior episode with Bravo Regidor about AMLO’s first 100 days in office: t.ly/BFOZ

Hear other episodes and subscribe to Latin America in Focus at: www.as-coa.org/podcast

The music in this episode is Cantos de México by Carlos Chávez performed by Orquesta Pasatono for Americas Society.

Kingmakers and Key Issues in Brazil's Lula–Bolsonaro Showdown

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 04:00:36 +0000

Pollster Felipe Nunes talks with AS/COA Online about swing votes, electoral issues, and what’s at stake for the Lula and Bolsonaro presidential campaigns ahead of the October 2 presidential election. In addition, John Hopkins University’s Beatriz Rey explains why Congress matters more than ever to the next president of Brazil.

Access polls and learn more about the Brazilian election at: www.as-coa.org/2022

The music in this podcast was “Sarará” by Yamandu Costa performed for Americas Society. Watch the video of “Sarará.” https://youtu.be/xI2oMLOkUbI Learn more about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org.

Reissue: Emily Hersh on Whether Latin America Can Power Up Its Lithium Prospects

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 04:00:32 +0000

Latin America in Focus is taking a break to recharge and we’re reissuing one of our favorite episodes this year. We hope you get a chance to take time off and that you can join us for new episodes soon about Brazil’s elections, Chile’s constitutional vote, and more.

Demand for lithium is expected to keep growing exponentially in the race to ensure we can power our smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles. That could be a boon for Latin American economies, home to the lithium triangle countries of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. But of course, things aren’t always that simple. Luna Lithium’s Emily Hersh talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about statist approaches, environmental worries, community concerns, and prospects for a lithium OPEC.

The music featured in this podcast is “Labyrinth” (Pinna) by Franco Pinna for Americas Society En Casa series. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/HlgK96H9zLU

Cyber Attacks In Costa Rica Expose A Regional Threat

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 09:00:28 +0000

Starting in April, Costa Rica experienced a debilitating cyberattack that crippled the government and the private sector’s ability to operate. It also served as a warning to countries across Latin America about how high the stakes are on digital crimes. On the podcast, AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison talks to Belisario Contreras, the former head of cybersecurity for the Organization of Americas States, about how prepared the region is to protect its digital assets.

The music in this episode is Costa Rica’s Manny Oquendo performing at the Americas Society. Learn more at: musicoftheamericas.org

How Latin America Is Fighting Inflation

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 18:00:13 +0000

As economies around the world face inflationary pressures, they may want to check the Latin American playbook. Otaviano Canuto, fellow at the Policy Center for the New South and former World Bank president, talks about why the region is positioned to avoid the runaway inflation woes of the past. But he also warns of social unrest on the horizon amid a shift toward populist leaders who make promises they just can’t keep.

Also in this episode, AS/COA Vice President Brian Winter covers the results of the 2022 Capacity to Combat Corruption Index and why Latin America’s anti-corruption drive is alive and well.

Access the CCC Index https://www.as-coa.org/ccc2022

The music featured in this episode is “Mamãe Oxum,” recorded by Alexandre and Douglas Lora, and “Tarde,” performed by the Cliff Korman Ensemble.
Watch the videos of "Mamãe Oxum" https://youtu.be/b7CXYzQNoLw and "Tarde" https://youtu.be/c_BT3ud-V88

Colombian Voters Buck the Presidential Status Quo

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 9 Jun 2022 21:21:06 +0000

Colombians dealt a blow to the political status quo by picking two anti-establishment candidates to face off in the second round of their 2022 presidential election. The Washington Post’s Bogotá Bureau Chief, Samantha Schmidt, tells AS/COA Online’s Jon Orbach who they are, what they’re proposing, and tales from a recent trip to one of their hometowns.

Editor's note: The introduction to this podcast indicates the Mexican political party know as the PRI will, following 2022 gubernatorial inaugurations, control two of 32 governorships. However, it will control three of 32.

Election guide: www.as-coa.org/2022
Runoff poll tracker: https://bit.ly/3H7VgT4

The music in this episode is Nilko Andreas Guarín performing “Guitar Prelude No. 4 (H. Villa-Lobos)” for the Music Program at Americas Society. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/UIcEcfAXK8U

The Once and Future Summit of the Americas

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 26 May 2022 17:45:46 +0000

It’s been a bumpy road to the June 2022 Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, which comes as the hemisphere faces challenges like pandemic recovery, spiking inflation, and waning support for democracy. In this episode, AS/COA Senior Director Steve Liston, former U.S. deputy national coordinator for the Summits of the Americas, compares this round to its historic predecessors, explains what distinguishes the event from other summits, and covers what’s needed to make future ones a success.

Read Americas Quarterly’s Special Report on the Summit: t.ly/-gD8
Get the who, what, where, when, why of the Ninth Summit: t.ly/UOn7
Check the guest list: t.ly/C9By

The salsa music in this podcast was recorded by Uzzo Ismael for Americas Society. Watch him perform “Descarga Gandinga, Mondongo y Sandunga” on YouTube. https://youtu.be/28MeIwqw4y4

Can Xiomara Castro Take Control of Honduras' Reins?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 5 May 2022 17:40:03 +0000

In her first 100 days, Honduran President Xiomara Castro has taken some steps forward on campaign pledges, but her leadership has been overshadowed by two former presidents: her outspoken husband and Juan Orlando Hernández, who was extradited the United States on charges of narcotrafficking. Can she take control of the reins? AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison spoke to journalist Jeff Ernst, who covers Honduras.

The music in this episode is Aurelio Martínez performing at the Americas Society. Watch a video of his performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAZav1XOz7w

How VP Choices Are Shaping Presidential Races in Colombia and Brazil

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 18:48:21 +0000

The choice of a running mate gives a presidential hopeful a chance to widen the net, solidify a profile, or win over a rival’s supporters. What can we glean from vice-presidential choices in Brazil and Colombia, both of which hold game-changing elections in the coming months? In this episode, we hear from Colombia Risk Analysis’ Sergio Guzman on VP choices for the top three candidates, as well as how Gustavo Petro’s running mate Francia Márquez reframed the race. Then Fundação Getulio Vargas’ Thomas Traumann explains Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s vice-presidential play for the center and why incumbent Jair Bolsonaro’s ticket is all about him.

For polls and more on this year’s Latin American elections, visit: www.as-coa.org/2022

The music in this episode is Danilo Brito performing Madrigal Merencório for Americas Society. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/KTjGiMJQn9o

Guillermo Lasso's Tricky Year

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 8 Apr 2022 13:17:48 +0000

One year ago, Guillermo Lasso beat the odds to capture Ecuador’s presidency. After some early successes, Lasso finds himself struggling to work with a fragmented Congress, as security problems mount. What’s the path forward for the business-friendly leader? Paolo Moncagatta of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito explains Lasso’s options.

See AS/COA’s Brazil elections poll tracker: https://bit.ly/3v2H2NU
The music featured in this podcast is Santiago Del Curto "Three Smiles for Tracey" by A. Hailstork for Americas Society. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/UeAaxFk-LrE

Why Is Mexico Holding a Presidential Recall Vote?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 19:01:05 +0000

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has long pledged that voters would get to decide whether he should finish his six-year term. One constitutional reform and millions of signatures later, they’ll get to do just that in a recall vote on April 10. But, given that all signs point to voters of all stripes agreeing he should finish his time in office, why hold it? Journalist and political analyst Fernanda Caso of Gatopardo and Latitud 3°12 shares answers with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis.

See AS/COA’s tracker of AMLO’s approval: t.ly/mH9E
Find out about other Latin American votes in our 2022 election guide: https://as-coa.org/2022
Hear Caso on Gatopardo’s weekly podcast: t.ly/Lzyw
The music featured in this podcast is Mexico’s Ónix Ensamble performing Charles Halka’s “Por la fuerza las tierras” for Americas Society. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/jWsPOXVYS8I

From Fertilizers to Fuel—What the Ukraine Crisis Means for Latin America

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 20:43:54 +0000

Jair Bolsonaro drew criticism for meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow a week before Russia invaded Ukraine. Why would the Brazilian president take such a questionable step? One big reason was fertilizer imports that power his country's agricultural sector, but it looks like the trip did little to stem rising food prices. In this episode, Samantha Pearson, São Paulo-based correspondent for The Wall Street Journal tells AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison how the conflict in the Ukraine is being felt economically and politically in Latin America.

The music in this episode is “Menino das Laranjas" performed by Jamile Staevie and Saul Cosme.
Watch the video: https://bit.ly/3CFe61S

Read Pearson’s coverage of how the conflict is affecting Brazilian agriculture: https://on.wsj.com/3CAMgUu

What the IMF's Ilan Goldfajn Sees in Latin America's Economic Future

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 19:37:08 +0000

In the pandemic, Latin American countries used every bit of fiscal space to stimulate their economies and aid their populations. Now, says Ilan Goldfajn, the director of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department, they face the reality of ensuring fiscal responsibility while also increasing the region’s growth potential and balancing social demands. In a public AS/COA event, he addressed the region’s path forward.

The music in this episode is “New Padjanbel," performed by the Jacques Schwarz-Bart Quintet. Watch the video: https://bit.ly/3LTVyis

The Elections of Colombia's Discontent

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 17:07:42 +0000

Colombians could get three chances to cast ballots for the next president this year: in March’s interparty consultations, May’s first round, and a June runoff. A crowded candidate field ahead of the March elections—which coincide with legislative elections—is indicative of widespread dissatisfaction with the status quo, says Muni Jensen, a former Colombian diplomat now a political analyst with the Albright Stonebridge Group. She gives a rundown of the notable candidates, the mood of voters, and how the new Congress may be reshaped.

More coverage at AS/COA’s 2022 Election Guide: as-coa.org/2022

The music in this episode is “Las Horas,” performed by Colombian trio Trip Trip Trip. Watch the video: bit.ly/3gJfKoZ

Can Latin America Power Up Its Lithium Prospects?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 16:24:17 +0000

Three Stories You May Have Missed in 2021

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:55:14 +0000

We dive into the under-covered but crucial issues facing the region this year. In this episode: AS/COA's Eric Farnsworth gets into how the high number of U.S. ambassador vacancies can upend Washington's Latin America policy, U.S.-Mexico Foundation's Axel Cabrera and Pedro Casas Alatriste cover why a surge in migration to Mexico could prompt a change to the immigration narrative, and the Panama Canal Authority's Ilya Espino de Marotta explains how supply chain delays and climate change affect the hemisphere's busiest waterway.

The Democracy that Chileans Want

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 9 Dec 2021 07:00:12 +0000

The presidential runoff between the right’s José Antonio Kast and the left’s Gabriel Boric leaves many voters feeling like “orphans” with no political home, raising a fundamental question about what type of democracy Chile wants, says CNN Chile host and La Tercera columnist Paula Escobar Chavarría. In this interview, she talks about what makes a candidate extreme, the ways Kast and Boric risk alienating female voters, and the parallels between Chile’s 2021 presidential race and the first vote in which she participated: the 1988 referendum.

COP26's Gauntlet for Brazil and Latin America

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 21:33:16 +0000

At November’s COP26 climate conference, countries met to generate stronger action on climate change. In attendance was Institute Talanoa’s Natalie Unterstell, a former Brazilian negotiator at climate summits. Unterstell talks to AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about what happened at COP26, what it means for Latin America, and what more Brazil—the region’s biggest contributor to climate change—can do.

Democratic Tests in Honduras and Nicaragua

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 1 Nov 2021 18:58:21 +0000

November brings with it two tricky electoral tests in Central America—Nicaragua on November 7 and Honduras on November 28. Both will be major tests for the countries democratic systems and for the ability of citizens to make their voices heard. In conversations with AS/COA Online, International Crisis Group’s Tiziano Breda explains the electoral scenario for both elections while El Milenio’s Juan Pablo Sabillón explains his organization’s efforts to battle young voters’ discontent with democracy.

Rewriting Mexico’s Security and Energy Agendas

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

October 2021 opened with big shifts in areas high on Mexico’s agenda: security and energy. Both issues are, arguably, the most crucial to the country’s future course. In conversations with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis, UC San Diego’s Cecilia Farfán-Méndez covers what’s new—and not so new—in an updated U.S.-Mexico security accord while Montserrat Ramiro, former commissioner of Mexico’s energy regulatory agency, gets into why a new electricity reform is sparking discord.

What to Expect When Expecting the Brazilian Elections

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 20:30:43 +0000

We're one year out from Brazil's October 2022 presidential vote, but there are a lot of clues about the shape of the race already. IDEIA Big Data’s Mauricio Moura tells AS/COA Online's Luisa Leme how Jair Bolsonaro’s approval ratings, the pandemic, technology, and Brazilians' lack of interest in politics could make—or break—the incumbent’s reelection plans.

El Salvador's Bitcoin Gamble

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 20:45:15 +0000

On September 7, El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt a cryptocurrency as official legal tender. But while President Nayib Bukele has grown accustomed to high levels of popularity, citizens marked the country’s September 15 bicentennial by protesting his Bitcoin decision. The National Association of Private Enterprise’s Leonor Selva tells AS/COA’s Chase Harrison about implementation missteps and what other Latin American countries are learning from the experiment.

The Midway Point for Mexico's AMLO

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 1 Sep 2021 20:27:29 +0000

Luis Rubio, president of México Evalúa, joins AS/COA’s Carin Zissis to dig into how President Andrés Manuel López Obrador will work with a newly elected legislature as he shapes his legacy halfway into his presidency, as well as how U.S.-Mexico relations do—and don’t—work as a check on the Mexican leader’s power.

How to Vaccinate a Hemisphere

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 5 Aug 2021 09:00:24 +0000

Acquiring hundreds of millions of vaccines is one thing. Getting them in the arms of hundreds of millions of Latin Americans is another. But partnerships with the private sector, existing vaccination networks, and the potential for boosted domestic production could upgrade the pandemic outlook for a region that could use some bullish pandemic projections. Direct Relief’s Thomas Tighe and Dr. Marco Aurelio Sáfadi talk with us about the on-the-ground logistics of vaccine rollout in the region.

Pedro Castillo Gets the Keys to Peru’s Castle

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Journalist Mitra Taj and legal expert Alonso Gurmendi discuss the bumpy road ahead for Peru’s president elect, who faces opposition in Congress and among Lima’s elite, but whose presidency could change the face of the country’s politics and redefine the left.

What Happened to Latin America's Anti-Corruption Push?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 10:00:49 +0000

In recent years, Latin America’s political pendulum has swung from building strong institutions toward electing strong leaders. The shift weakened the region’s nascent anti-corruption movement, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t bright spots. AS/COA Vice President and Americas Quarterly Editor-in-Chief Brian Winter talks with Luisa Leme about the findings of the 2021 Capacity to Combat Corruption Index and explains why the pandemic only heightens the need to strengthen anti-graft mechanisms.

A Complicated Copa América

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 13:55:17 +0000

The 2021 Copa America kicks off June 13 in an almost empty stadium in Brasília. The tournament was slated to take place in Argentina and Colombia, but a combination of Covid-19 and social unrest forced them to give it up. Still, with Brazil struggling to overcome the pandemic, politicians, players, and fans alike are asking: Is now the time to be hosting a major sporting event? Felipe Cárdenas, staff writer for The Athletic, talks with AS/COA Online’s Chase Harrison about the controversies surrounding the Copa.

A Pre-Midterm Pulse Check on the Mexican Electorate

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 27 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

With Mexicans casting ballots for roughly 21,000 seats nationwide, the June 6 elections give voters a chance to assess President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s political movement nearly halfway through his presidency. El Financiero pollster and ITAM political scientist Alejandro Moreno tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis covers what polls show about shifts in support, the pandemic’s impact, polarization, and more.

Learn more about the 2021 Latin American elections at: www.as-coa.org/2021

Chile’s Busy Electoral Calendar

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 10 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Chile kicks off its electoral cycle in May with a vote for local, gubernatorial, and constitutional delegates and concludes with the selection of its next president. Isabel Aninat of Universidad Adolfo Ibañez in Santiago joins AS/COA Online’s Luisa Horwitz to discuss what’s at stake in each vote taking place.

The Push for Data Protection in Brazil

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The transition to a fully digital world for many Brazilians reaffirmed data protection as a fundamental right. Still, concerns over both data privacy and protection loom large for the country after the recent implementation of a new data protection law and ahead of next year’s general elections. Rafael Zanatta of the Data Privacy Brasil Research Association joins Katie Hopkins to discuss.

The Story behind Joaquín Orellana's Musical Sculptures

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 14:00:26 +0000

Sonarimba, imbaluna, sinusoido, ululante. Joaquín Orellana’s musical sculptures have unusual names, formed by mixing words to describe the sounds they create. Co-curators Sebastian Zubieta and Diana Flatto tell us about the career of Guatemalan composer and artist featured in The Spine of Music.

Learn more about the exhibition: https://www.as-coa.org/orellana
Watch and listen to Efluvios y puntos: https://youtu.be/TZpeCMolCAk

Voter Fatigue in Ecuador and Peru

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 19:03:34 +0000

Ecuadorans were hoping for something new. Peruvians simply want a government that will work. In both countries, which hold elections on April 11, voters are largely unenthused by traditional politics—but have few viable alternative options. We preview both countries’ April 11 elections in conversations with Professors Alonso Gurmendi and Grace Jaramillo.

How the Pandemic Boosted Financial Inclusion

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 04:00:38 +0000

There may be few silver linings to the pandemic, but accelerated financial inclusion in Latin America is one of them. In this episode, Luz Gomez and Arturo Franco of Mastercard’s Center for Inclusive Growth tell AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis how COVID-19 compressed a decade’s worth of financial inclusion achievements into one year, and why the progress is crucial in a region that has long battled informality.

Madeleine Albright and Mack McLarty on Democratic Resiliency in the Americas

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 5 Mar 2021 15:45:22 +0000

“I hate to say this, but democracy is not in good shape at the moment,” says former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, in conversation with ex-White House Chief of Staff Mack McLarty. In light of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the two discuss their thoughts on how the United States can repair its leadership image in the Western Hemisphere, with moderator Eric Farnsworth of AS/COA.
Watch the full video of the discussion: t.ly/mmx6

Washington's Shifts on Central America Policy

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 20:17:21 +0000

Joe Biden pledged a shift from Donald Trump’s policies when it comes to Central America, particularly on issues like migration, democracy promotion, and corruption. In this episode, we speak to Salvadoran journalist Nelson Rauda of El Faro about the differences between the two presidents' approaches to the region and how that will impact domestic politics in countries like El Salvador and Honduras.

Vaccines and Variants a Year into the Pandemic

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 3 Feb 2021 21:42:43 +0000

February marks a year since the first coronavirus cases were confirmed in Latin America. Now the pandemic has entered a new phase, one in which countries are trying to roll out vaccines as quickly as they can even as variants threaten to undermine the protection those vaccines offer. In this episode, COVID-19 researcher Dr. Roselyn Lemus-Martin covers vaccine rollout in the region while Doctors Without Borders’ Pierre Van Heddegem gives a ground-level view of a variant-fueled outbreak in Brazil’s Amazonas.

What’s on the Horizon for U.S.-Mexico Ties in a Biden Administration

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 22:16:31 +0000

From tensions over the U.S. investigation against a Mexican general to reversing the Trump administration's immigration policy, there are plenty of pressing topics on the U.S.-Mexico agenda. COMEXI President and Mexico’s ex-Deputy Minister for North America Sergio Alcocer tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis how bilateral relations could shake out in 2021 and beyond.

Three Stories You May Have Missed in 2020

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 20:28:25 +0000

From an absent president to illegal fishing to agro-tech, AS/COA Online dives into under-covered—but important—issues facing Latin America in a year of competing headlines. In this episode: AEI’s Ryan Berg talks about the deepening crackdown on Nicaragua’s opposition, Pew’s Dawn Borg Costanzi covers what the region can do to slow illegal fishing, and Frubana’s Carlos Upegui Echavarría gets into how the pandemic has accelerated change for the region’s food businesses.

IMF’s Kristalina Georgieva on Preventing another Lost Decade in Latin America

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 20:48:57 +0000

Latin America should use the current crisis to “push for a greener, digital, and more inclusive future for the region,” said International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. In this conversation with AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal, the economist outlined the structural reforms the region must undertake to avoid stagnation.

Latin America’s Potential for a Green Recovery

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 2 Dec 2020 14:33:22 +0000

With growing climate change concerns and the rising cost of oil extraction and production, governments around the world are considering reactivating their economies with more sustainable and less fossil fuel-reliant investments. IHS Markit’s Steven Knell and Escopo Energia’s Lavinia Hollanda explain what it takes to spur the development of renewable energy in Latin America.

How Data Voids Exploit the Latino Vote

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

If there isn’t quality, factual content on a topic, trolls and bots will be there to fill the gap with disinformation on online platforms. Claudia Flores-Saviaga, a Facebook fellow and PHD candidate at West Virginia University, tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis what that meant for Latino voters in the 2020 U.S. election and for Spanish speakers overall, as well as ways to stop the spread of disinformation.

On the Ground during Chile’s Year of Change

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 2 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Unrest, a pandemic, polarization, and an election. In 2020, we could be referring to a number of countries. But in this episode, we’re talking about Chile’s transformational year, beginning with an October 2019 protest against a transit-fare hike that sparked a movement to rewrite the country’s dictatorship-era constitution. Santiago-based journalist John Bartlett gives an on-the-ground view of what it’s been like to cover the country through it all.

The Good and Bad of COVID-19’s Education Disruption

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 17:25:34 +0000

Most Latin American countries have yet to reopen schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. What does it mean for Latin America’s present and future human capital development? Brookings Institution’s Emiliana Vegas and Tinker Foundation’s Caroline Kronley cover the problems, but also the silver linings, of the disruption in schooling.

A Look at How Migrant Money Cushions Economies

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 20:30:23 +0000

Remittances help pay medical bills and keep people fed in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In Latin America, where many work informally and don’t have access to government assistance, the cash migrants send to their loved ones can even boost political stability and provide a buffer for national economies. In this episode, we hear about remittance trends in pandemic times from Creative’s Manuel Orozco, NYU’s Roy Germano, and Remitly’s Matt Oppenheimer.

How Business Schools Adapt in Times of Crisis

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 15:01:49 +0000

The pandemic is upending education as we know it. But even before COVID-19 hit, political unrest sparked by economic and social inequality proved the desire for a conscientious approach to business. In this episode, Joanne Li of FIU Business and Ignacio de la Vega of Tecnológico de Monterrey’s EGADE tell AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis how their programs are adapting to both COVID-19 and the drive for compassionate leadership.

Watch the deans’ participation in an AS/COA panel on business schools in the Americas:  www.as-coa.org/bizeducation

Putting Women at the Center of Latin America's COVID-19 Response

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 17:03:40 +0000

Women were already struggling to achieve gender equity in Latin America. Then along came COVID-19, threatening jobs and bringing new burdens at home. PepsiCo’s Monica Bauer and Think Olga’s Juliana de Faria talk about the hurdles, as well as the opportunities arising for women in the region during the pandemic.     

Learn about the AS/COA Women’s Hemispheric Network at as-coa.org/women.

The Strange Case of El Salvador's Plummeting Homicide Rate

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 14:34:58 +0000

Was President Nayib Bukele’s tough-on-crime approach the reason behind El Salvador’s murder rate dropping 60 percent during his first year in office? International Crisis Group’s Tiziano Breda tells AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis there’s more to the story.

Read the report co-authored by Breda titled “Miracle or Mirage? Gangs and Plunging Gang Violence” here: https://bit.ly/3jQMi0n

How Uruguay Got It Right

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 15:27:16 +0000

Around the world, tales of pandemic mismanagement abound. But there are success stories as well, such as Uruguay. The country’s PAHO representative, Dr. Giovani Escalante, spoke with AS/COA Online about the country’s quick steps—from voluntary quarantine to an integrated healthcare response—to contain the pandemic.

Shining a Light on Police Abuse In Mexico

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 04:00:42 +0000

Earlier this month, as demonstrators across the United States took to the streets to oppose police violence, Mexico was witnessing protests of its own following the extrajudicial killing of a construction worker by police in Guadalajara. Roberto Hernández, a lawyer and co-director of the film Presunto culpable, delves into the findings of World Justice Project report showing the high rate and underreporting of police brutality. As he tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis: “Mexico is using torture and ill treatment as investigative tools.”

Get the WJP report: https://bit.ly/3hDdQW3

How Brazil Could Slow Its Coronavirus Outbreak

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 15:40:41 +0000

If Latin America is now being described as the new coronavirus epicenter, then Brazil’s raging outbreak is a major reason why. But that doesn’t mean solutions don’t exist. Marcia Castro is chair of the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard University and a demographer who has done extensive research on malaria and Zika. She tells AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme that, despite leadership mistakes, “There is still time,” explaining that one answer lies in the country’s teams of community health workers who make up part of Brazil’s universal healthcare system.

Find out more about COVID-19 in Latin America at: www.as-coa.org/coronavirus

The Myth Of The Monolithic Latino Vote

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 7 May 2020 16:14:07 +0000

“Latino outreach” shouldn’t just be in Spanish. U.S. Latinos are split on deportation policy, and they’re being hit hardest economically by COVID-19. In this episode, AS/COA Online chisels away at the data on the voting bloc with Mark Hugo Lopez of the Pew Research Center.

How Is the Coronavirus Changing Brazil?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 18:38:54 +0000

In Brazil, the coronavirus is a crisis that’s piling up on top of a previous recession, deforestation worries, and political polarization. AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme spoke with three prior Latin America in Focus guests—Mauricio Santoro, Tai Nailon, and Maria Antonia Tigre—to understand the pandemic’s impact on China relations, misinformation campaigns, and the environment.

Past episodes with our guests:

How Asia-Brazil Trade Shifted Bolsonaro's China View
https://j.mp/3bPYcn4

Fact-Checking Brazil's Misinformation Crisis
https://j.mp/3eWtdHM

Can International Law Save the Amazon?
https://j.mp/2VPW6hn

Queens of the Migrant Trail

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 20:27:56 +0000

“It felt like doing a movie,” says Cuban-American photojournalist Lisette Poole, talking to AS/COA Online’s Luisa Horwitz about her 51-day journey documenting two Cuban women migrating through 13 countries to reach the United States in 2016, before the end of Washington's “wet foot, dry foot” policy.

Dr. Julio Frenk on the Coronavirus Pandemic in an Age of Populism

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 21:20:56 +0000

“We need to understand that health security is national and global security,” says the University of Miami president, a former health minister of Mexico and dean of Harvard University’s School of Public Health who has held decision-making roles during a number of pandemics. Dr. Frenk tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis that, with a fraction of what’s been lost in the stock market during this pandemic, “we could have competent surveillance and preparedness systems. But again, this is the invisible part of the health system. It’s the thing that we only notice when it fails.”

Learn more about how the pandemic is affecting Latin America: https://www.as-coa.org/covid19
Learn about our Healthcare Series: https://www.as-coa.org/healthcare

Mexico’s Fight against Femicide Reaches a Boiling Point

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 3 Mar 2020 16:30:24 +0000

Abril, Ingrid, Fátima. It’d take seven more names to get to 10—the average number of women killed daily in Mexico. Though the country poured resources into battling the violence, the femicide rate rose 138 percent from 2015 to 2019. And women are taking to the street to demand action. EQUIS Justice for Women’s Ana Pecova talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about why Mexican institutions have failed to stop rising femicide, as well as the changes needed to turn the tide.

Read Pecova’s award-winning piece, “Derechos de papel.” https://bit.ly/2VFTJOC

Latin American Cinema’s Point of No Return

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 17:06:49 +0000

Despite challenges like economic hardships and culture wars, the film industry faces big changes in countries such as Brazil and Argentina. Still, Latin America’s booming sector is making its mark in festivals and screens globally. Film critic Ela Bittencourt speaks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about how the world’s perception of cinema from the region is shifting.

Films cited:
Bacurau, by Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles (Brazil)
http://bit.ly/385Ws6d

Zama, by Lucrecia Martel (Argentina)
http://bit.ly/391xl69

La Flor, by Mariano Llinás (Argentina)
https://nyti.ms/3aavBaW

Coffee with Cinnamon, by Glenda Nicácio, Ary Rosa (Brazil)
http://bit.ly/2SYYYqP

The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmão, by Karim Aïnouz (Brazil)
http://bit.ly/3a4GTNG

The Future of Fintech in Argentina

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 14:14:08 +0000

Fintech in Latin America is growing, and Argentine entrepreneur Pierpaolo Barbieri talks with AS/COA Online about how technological innovations in the financial sector are transforming the economy in both his own country and the region at large.

How Can Latin American Economies Grow Again?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 6 Feb 2020 10:00:20 +0000

Is Latin America suffering from secular stagnation? Bloomberg's John Authers interviews the IMF's Western Hemisphere Department Director Alejandro Werner on the economic scenario in 2020 as the region—and the world at large—face uncertain times.

Brazil's New And Old Hurdles In 2020

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 06:00:30 +0000

In 2020, Brazil's economic woes might be similar to those of last year, but the world around it is changing fast. The Peterson Institute's Monica de Bolle talks about the country's nationalistic government and its efforts to recover growth amid global concerns about Brazilian climate change policy and rising discontent in Latin America.

Have a Little Faith in Peru—and Its Constitution

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 21:49:41 +0000

Ahead of January 26 special legislative elections in Peru, we talk with constitutional law expert Alonso Gurmendi of Universidad del Pacífico about what makes these elections “weird” and how the country’s Magna Carta is holding up amid considerable constitutional strain.

What's on the Docket for Latin America in 2020?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 14:26:15 +0000

2019 closed with disruption and discontent across much of Latin America. If we didn’t see last year’s wave of protests coming, what are the stories we’re overlooking as 2020 starts? James Bosworth, author of Latin America Risk Report and founder of Hxagon, talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about what to watch in the coming year.

Get the Latin America Risk Report newsletter: https://boz.substack.com/

Reissue: Monica de Bolle on Whether Bolsonaro Can Fix Brazil's Economy

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 1 Jan 2020 06:00:13 +0000

After his first six months in government, Jair Bolsonaro has been more disruptive when it comes to social issues than tackling Brazil stagnant economy. Can he fix the country’s problems? Economist Monica de Bolle of SAIS and the Peterson Institute for International Economics tells AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about Brazil’s economic growth problems and explains what’s standing in the way as the new government tries to get the country back on track.

Reissue: Carlos Bravo Regidor on the Start of AMLO's Presidency

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 05:00:03 +0000

As Andrés Manuel López Obrador rounds out his first 100 days in office as president of Mexico, CIDE’s Carlos Bravo Regidor talks with AS/COA's Carin Zissis about his popularity, use of corruption as a political weapon, “omnipresence” through message control, and nostalgia. “He has this fantasy that he’s going to be able to choose his place in posterity,” says Bravo Regidor.

Follow Carlos Bravo Regidor on Twitter: twitter.com/carlosbravoreg
Learn more about AMLO’s first 100 days: www.as-coa.org/amlo100

Reissue: Nayib Bukele on His Plans for El Salvador

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 05:02:13 +0000

He’s 37, a social media maven, and he won El Salvador’s presidential election without the backing of the country’s two main parties. Nayib Bukele, an ex-mayor of San Salvador, isn’t exactly a political newcomer. But his June inauguration will end 10 years of the leftist FMLN in power. Bukele spoke with CNBC’s Michelle Caruso-Cabrera our COA’s 49th Washington Conference about U.S. ties, Venezuela, China, and an ambitious promise on immigration.

The #2019WCA conference lineup included U.S. VP Mike Pence, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, and Colombian VP Marta Lucía Ramírez. See what they had to say: www.as-coa.org/wcarecap

The Role of Chilean Women in a New Constitution

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:11:53 +0000

After a month of protests, the Chilean government agreed to a major demand of reform-minded protestors: one for a new constitution. Now the challenge is to figure out not only what that constitution will look like, but who will be at the table to write it. In this episode, constitutional lawyer Claudia Sarmiento talks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Horwitz about the importance of female participation in drafting a new magna carta.

President AMLO’s Scorecard One Year In

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 3 Dec 2019 23:09:41 +0000

One year into his presidency, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, or AMLO, is riding a wave of popularity. But the country’s homicide rate keeps going up while economic growth slows, raising questions about whether AMLO’s approval could take a hit. Pollster Jorge Buendía and IMCO’s Alexandra Zapata explain what could challenge AMLO’s popularity.

How Asia-Brazil Trade Shifted Bolsonaro’s China View

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 6 Nov 2019 22:36:59 +0000

President Jair Bolsonaro’s warming to China can be explained by the strong economic ties Brazil has with Asia, but there’s still a learning curve for the Sino-Brazilian partnership. Political scientist Maurício Santoro talks about the growth of Chinese investment in Brazil, the impact of the U.S.-China trade war on Latin American economies, and what Asia ties mean for issues like the Amazon and Mercosur.

Argentina’s 2019 Election Brings in a New President

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 21:22:25 +0000

Argentina’s 2019 presidential competition ended on October 27, when Alberto Fernández and running mate ex-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner won in the first round, unseating President Mauricio Macri. Buenos Aires-based Special Advisor to AS/COA Juan Cruz Díaz talks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Horwitz about Macri’s legacy, the importance of the presidential transition, and the future of Argentine foreign relations.

Behind Uruguay’s Presidential Vote

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 18:20:35 +0000

Uruguay’s 2019 race might not yield major political shifts, but the next president will still face unknown territory, says American University’s Arturo Porzecanski. With the first-round vote on October 27, the professor and international economist tells AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme what is driving voters’ desire for change, how a new right-wing party entered the scene, and steps his country should have and could still take to become a Singapore-style success story.

Marie Arana Talks Silver, Sword, and Stone

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 14:20:11 +0000

Marie Arana’s Silver, Sword, and Stone takes the readers from pre-Columbian times through the region’s conquest, independence movements, dirty wars, and right down to the present. In doing so, the book explores three driving forces in the region’s history: mining—and particularly mining, violence, and religion through the tales of three contemporary Latin Americans. In this episode, the award-winning author tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis why she wrote this sweeping history now. Find out more about her work at www.mariearana.net.

Can International Law Save the Amazon?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 04:02:45 +0000

The Amazon fires have sparked international calls to curb deforestation, but the nine countries that are home to the region need to make a coordinated effort, says Maria Antonia Tigre, an environmental attorney and doctoral candidate at PACE University. “There needs to be practical guidebook of what [governments] plan and want to do.”

Colombia at a Crossroads

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 17:42:03 +0000

Half of all peace agreements fall apart within five years. Three years after signing a storied deal, ex-FARC rebels say they’re taking back up their arms. The situation—compounded with election violence and a tense situation with neighboring Venezuela—is sobering, says Muni Jensen of the Albright Stonebridge Group, but Colombia nonetheless has a pragmatic president in office and a relatively solid economy.

What's Keeping Urban Development in Brazil "from Being Free"?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 19:05:38 +0000

Brazil is a vast country. But how open is it actually? To examine this question, four architects set out to show what is often hard to see, creating a series of ten oversized, interdisciplinary maps in the exhibition, Walls of Air: The Brazilian Pavilion at the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale, on display now at Americas Society. In this episode, architects Laura González Fierro and MIT's Gabriel Kozlowski speak with AS/COA Online's Luisa Leme about the maps, which show how things like immigration, climate change, housing, and more are shaping architecture and urban development in Brazil today.

Explaining Mexico’s National Guard

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 20:02:04 +0000

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador made a campaign pledge to stop using the military for policing. But last month, he inaugurated a National Guard—a force he plans will be 150,000 strong. But does it offer something different from prior security policies? UC San Diego’s Cecilia Farfán-Méndez explains the National Guard to AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis.

Can the Bolsonaro Government Fix Brazil's Economy?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 20:04:34 +0000

Making Sense of a New U.S.-Mexican Migration Deal

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 21:11:04 +0000

Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Mexican goods is over—for now. The next question is how a U.S.-Mexican deal seeking to stem migration will take shape. Mexico Security Initiative’s Stephanie Leutert tells host Carin Zissis why Mexico might succeed at slowing Central American migration—if only in the short term.

Listen to our previous episode with Leutert covering the migrant caravan crisis: https://bit.ly/2yv74wz

Who’s In and Who’s Out in Guatemala’s Presidential Race

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 30 May 2019 16:59:07 +0000

It’s become known as the week that changed everything, or at least everything in Guatemala’s presidential race. In mid-May, two of the country’s three leading presidential candidates were disqualified from running. That leaves one woman, Sandra Torres, standing as the frontrunner. But she doesn’t necessarily have it in the bag. Political scientist Marielos Chang tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis who’s in and who’s out ahead of the June 16 vote.

What’s behind Brazil’s Education Debate

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 22 May 2019 20:47:19 +0000

On May 15, Brazil's new government saw its first national protests since Jair Bolsonaro took office as thousands across the country protested new budget cuts. But the 40-million-students system has challenges that go beyond ideological or budgetary battles. In this episode, Nova Escola’s Leandro Beguoci talks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme and gives a perspective from the ground on how education is becoming part of Brazil’s civil society debate, where performance gaps exist, and lessons from countries that invested in education during periods of economic hardship.

President-elect Nayib Bukele on His Plans for El Salvador

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 9 May 2019 20:52:27 +0000

Meet Cuba's Emerging Artist, Cimafunk

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 12:00:04 +0000

From Pinar del Rio to Havana, Paris to New York, Cimafunk is taking his Afro-Cuban sound on the road. AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez sat down with the emerging musician and AS/COA Music Director Sebastián Zubieta to discuss the evolution of Cimafunk’s sound at home and abroad. Hear more Cimafunk at www.cimafunk.com. Learn more about upcoming Americas Society concerts at www.musicoftheamericas.org.

Ambassador Feeley on Daniel Ortega's Flagging Grip on Nicaragua

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 18:27:05 +0000

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega running down his political and economic capital, says former U.S. Ambassador John Feeley in this conversation with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland on the one-year anniversary of when civil unrest first broke out in the Central American country. The ex-diplomat also talks about his firsthand experience of the diplomatic tug-of-war between Taiwan and China in the Central America.

Jair Bolsonaro's First 100 Days

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 4 Apr 2019 18:37:09 +0000

Viewed as the outsider candidate in Brazil’s election last year, President Jair Bolsonaro took office January 1 with promises to address some of the country’s biggest problems: economic growth, corruption, and security. But running as an outsider and governing are proving to be two very different things. AS/COA Brazil experts Brian Winter and Roberto Simon take stock of Bolsonaro’s performance negotiating pension reform with Congress, warming up to the United States, and fighting crime and corruption.

Sizing Up the Start of AMLO's Presidency

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 7 Mar 2019 18:09:57 +0000

Follow Carlos Bravo Regidor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlosbravoreg
Learn more about AMLO’s first 100 days: www.as-coa.org/amlo100

Can Bolsonaro Get What He Wants from Brazil’s Congress?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 22:10:30 +0000

In an effort to deliver law and order for voters doubting democracy, President Jair Bolsonaro promised to renew politics in Brasília. The problem with that plan? Brazil’s multiparty system—also known as Congress. Fundação Getulio Vargas’ Carlos Pereira talks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about the new president’s legislative strategy—and the headaches he faces.

For more on the start of the Bolsonaro government, visit: http://www.as-coa.org/bolsonaro100

Cuba’s New Constitution and 60 Years of the Revolution

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 18:59:45 +0000

Just as Cuba’s Revolution marks its 60-year anniversary, the country is preparing to vote on the biggest constitutional overhaul since 1976. Cuba analyst Michael Bustamente and Cuba Working Group (CWG) head Alana Tummino sat down with AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez to discuss the changes and the online debate taking place ahead of the February 24 constitutional referendum. Learn more about the AS/COA CWG at as-coa.org/cuba

What's Next in Venezuela's Tug of War?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 5 Feb 2019 22:45:42 +0000

If a crisis was already simmering in Venezuela, in the past month it’s boiled over. Guillermo Zubillaga, head of the AS/COA Venezuela Working Group, talks with Holly K. Sonneland about everything from China’s calculus in the current political standoff, the generosity of Colombia and Canada, and how we might yet be surprised as to how this all ends.

How Healthy Is Democracy in Latin America?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 21:43:39 +0000

“Latin Americans are not thrilled with democracy, but there’s very little evidence that…voters prefer any alternative,” says Steven Levitsky, co-author of How Democracies Die. In this interview with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland, the Harvard professor talks about Brazil’s election, strategies for the Venezuelan opposition, and the lack of female authoritarians.

What to Expect from an AMLO Presidency

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 06:00:14 +0000

Since Andrés Manuel López Obrador won the election by a landslide in July, observers have been looking for clues about whether the incoming president, who takes office December 1, will end up being a populist or a pragmatist. Former Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan tells AS/COA’s Carin Zissis why Donald Trump and AMLO have gotten along so far—and what might burst the bubbles. Plus, Speyside Mexico’s Amy Glover explains why AMLO is giving the private sector the jitters, but why we should give the new administration a chance.

Follow Sarukhan for commentary: https://twitter.com/Arturo_Sarukhan
Read Glover’s column: https://bit.ly/2P50h2l
Find out more about Mexico’s 2018 election and transition: www.as-coa.org/mxelex

Fact-Checking Brazil’s Misinformation Crisis

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 7 Nov 2018 16:34:14 +0000

Was Brazil’s presidential election the epicenter of fake news crisis? Aos Fatos’ Tai Nalon spoke with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about how misinformation on social media and closed messaging applications such as WhatsApp can interfere with democracy, and what that means on a global scale. Learn more: www.as-coa.org/brazil2018

What a Bolsonaro Win Means for Brazil’s Economy

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 17:48:03 +0000

Brazil elected far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro as president and the markets are rallying. “It is a change in route in the Brazilian economy that is much appreciated, considering that we have been in a recession for a very long time,” says J.P. Morgan’s Emy Shayo of the economic platform proposed by Bolsonaro’s pick for economic minister, Paulo Guedes. Learn about the country’s economic prospects under Brazil’s next administration. Get more information about Brazil’s election at: www.as-coa.org/brazil2018

Amid Caravan Crisis, a Look at Mexico's Migration Policy

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 21:21:58 +0000

Thousands in a migrant caravan are making their way on foot, through tear gas, and over rivers to get from Central America to the United States. "They know what they're facing when they hit Mexico, they know what they're facing with the Trump administration…and they keep moving forward," Stephanie Leutert, Mexico Security Initiative director at UT Austin’s Strauss Center, tells AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis in an episode that takes stock of Mexico’s migration policy as it prepares for a new president.

Why Peru's Political Establishment Is Scared

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000

What worries Peru’s leaders? They don’t want to go to jail, says past and future presidential candidate Julio Guzmán of the Purple Party in this interview with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland. Guzmán also talks about the opportunity he finds in everything from the Pacific Alliance, to Peru’s youth, to the reversal of Alberto Fujimori’s pardon.

A Closer Look at Hurricane Maria’s Death Toll

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 16:51:27 +0000

The Trump administration disputed the Hurricane Maria death toll. We went to the source. AS/COA Online’s Brian Harper interviewed epidemiologist Dr. Ann Goldman, part of the team on the George Washington University report on excess mortality in Puerto Rico after the storm. “Using excess mortality as an indicator in a disaster situation is a good, fast way to start to get a handle on it,” said Dr. Goldman, who herself is from the island.

Access the GW report: https://bit.ly/2wwqEqF

Who Will Win Brazil's Nostalgia Vote?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 14:30:27 +0000

“This is a country that has been through massive traumas over the last couple of years. And you might say ‘okay, so they’re going to bottom out, things couldn’t get worse.’ Things could get worse.” In this podcast episode, AS/COA Online interviews two in-house Brazilian experts, Americas Quarterly Editor-in-Chief and AS/COA Vice President Brian Winter and new AS/COA Senior Director of Policy Roberto Simon, on what’s at stake ahead of the October 7 first-round vote, candidates’ advantages and disadvantages, and the overlooked congressional elections.

Learn more about the Brazilian elections at as-coa.org/brazil2018
Get the poll numbers at as-coa.org/brazilpolls

The Venezuelan Exodus

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 16:46:04 +0000

For decades, Venezuela welcomed immigrants. Now, it’s Latin America’s time to welcome the 2.3 million migrants who’ve fled the country in the last five years, says Human Rights Watch Senior Researcher Tamara Taraciuk Broner, lead author of the report, The Venezuelan Exodus. She tells AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland about the report's findings and regional recommendations.

Access the HRW report: https://bit.ly/2x17ZnV
Learn more about AS/COA’s Venezuela Working Group at: as-coa.org/vwg

MORENA Holds the Cards in Mexico’s New Congress

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 4 Sep 2018 16:05:42 +0000

On September 1, Mexico witnessed the historic opening session of a new federal Congress. Why historic? Because it represented an upending of the prior party system. With sweeping wins in the July elections, MORENA, the party of incoming President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, holds a solid majority in both houses. Odracir Barquera, who served as a chief of staff in the last Senate, talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about changes in the legislature, who can be a counterweight, and gender parity in Congress.

For more on Mexico’s elections, visit: www.as-coa.org/mxelex

Clandestina's Founders on Building a Fashion Brand in a Shifting Cuba

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 19:13:57 +0000

Cuba’s private sector has made a significant leap since its opening, counting nearly 600,000 micro-businesses owners, or cuentapropistas, today. Among its best-known entrepreneurs are the founders of Clandestina, Cuba’s first independent fashion label. AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez spoke to Idania del Rio and Leire Fernandez about their experience launching their business, the implications of the latest private-sector reforms, and the future of same-sex marriage on the island.

This conversation took place at an AS/COA Young Professionals of the Americas event. Find out more at: www.as-coa.org/ypa

How Nicaragua Became Latin America's New Crisis

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 20:34:47 +0000

Since protests broke out in April, the number of Nicaraguans killed in clashes between the government and protesters—now over 300—is greater than the number of protestors killed in Venezuela in all of 2017. How did this small Central American country, lauded for having the second-fastest growing economy in the hemisphere, get to this point? Political analyst Javier Arguello tells AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez how President Daniel Ortega systematically consolidated power over the last 40 years and how Washington might in fact be Managua’s best hope these days.

Why There Isn’t and Won’t Be Mass Latino Migration

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 14:47:56 +0000

Net undocumented migration from Mexico to the United States ended a decade ago, says Princeton sociologist Douglas Massey in this interview with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland. And even though Central American migration of families is expected to continue, there’s just not the demographic potential for it to become what Mexican migration was, due to smaller populations and lower birth rates.

Millennials’ Big Role in the Mexican Elections

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 18:18:50 +0000

At 64, Mexico’s presidential frontrunner Andrés Manuel López Obrador is the oldest candidate, but that’s not stopping 51 percent of millennials from backing him. Their support matters: They have the potential to account for nearly half of the electorate, explains Nación321’s Pancho Parra. From the Wikipolítica movement to how viral humor has defined the race, we cover how the country’s youth are looking at politics and their futures.

For more on the Mexican election go to: www.as-coa.org/mxelex
Check out Nación321’s 2018 millennial poll: https://bit.ly/2KdlgT6
Listen to our first podcast with Pancho Parra on millennials and the future of Mexican elections: https://bit.ly/2N2MucI

Why Mexico's Election Will Redraw the Country's Political Map

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 17:57:58 +0000

The closer we get to Mexico's July 1 vote, the more Andrés Manuel López Obrador's poll lead grows, and some 3,400 seats are up for grabs-about 60 percent more than in the 2012 vote-which helps MORENA, AMLO's political party. "MORENA will have a lot of jobs to offer," pollster Jorge Buendía told AS/COA's Carin Zissis in Mexico City. "And the question here is, then what are going to be the checks and balances on López Obrador?"

Check out Oraculus' "poll of polls." https://oraculus.mx/
Access our Mexico Election Guide. http://www.as-coa.org/mxelex
Check the poll tracker. https://bit.ly/2s1fvMl

Latin America in the Era of Fake News

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 7 Jun 2018 21:42:25 +0000

Separating fact from fiction is a growing challenge in an era of fake news and "infoxification," given that we consume four times the amount of information that we did in 1986. Moreover, citizens are increasingly turning to peers over leaders, explained Partner and COO of Latin America for Llorente & Cuenca Luisa García. Listen to her conversation with AS/COA's Alana Tummino at a June 2018 Young Professionals of the Americas event in New York. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2sOYsgU

El sueño americano en Cuba y los desafíos del cuentapropista

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 29 May 2018 11:52:06 +0000

In this special episode of Latin America in Focus, we travel to Cuba to meet with cuentapropistas, Cuban entrepreneurs faced with the challenges of evolving policies in both Washington and Havana. This episode is in Spanish.

  El anuncio de Donald Trump el junio pasado, la suspensión de las licencias para negocios privados en Cuba, el huracán Irma, la reducción del personal en ambas embajadas, son todos parte de la serie de eventos de la segunda mitad del 2017 que culminó con una caída turística devastadora para los cuentapropistas en Cuba. Leani Garcia y Elizabeth Gonzalez de AS/COA entrevistaron a emprendedores durante una visita a la isla.

Aprenda sobre el Grupo de Trabajo de Cuba de AS/COA: www.as-coa.org/cuba
Suscríbase a nuestra serie de podcast: www.as-coa.org/podcast

Creating, Rebuilding, and Reinventing Latin American Cities

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 23 May 2018 16:37:37 +0000

Some 80% of Latin Americans live in cities—more than twice 1950’s rate. How did these urban areas become the metropolises we know today? In this two-segment episode, we look at the history and future of Latin American cities. First, 100 Resilient Cities’ Eugene Zapata-Garesché explains how cities are leading public policy today. Then the Getty Research Institute’s Maristella Casciato and Idurre Alonso walk us through The Metropolis in Latin America, 1830–1930, an exhibition running through June 30, 2018, at the Americas Society gallery.

Listen to an AS/COA Online podcast with Zapata-Garesché about Mexico’s September 2017 earthquake. https://bit.ly/2DL2TNe

Learn more about The Metropolis in Latin America exhibition at http://www.as-coa.org/metropolis and if you can’t make it to the show in New York, check out a video here: https://youtu.be/PAy_1U-2CR8

Everything More Important than Venezuela’s Election

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 16 May 2018 20:52:27 +0000

With the May 20 presidential vote unlikely to bring regime change, the international private sector might be more effective than sanctions at putting pressure on Nicolás Maduro, Northwestern University’s Daniel Lansberg-Rodríguez tells AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland. If and when Venezuela’s recovery comes, he says, it’ll be quicker and more robust than many expect, due in no small part to a highly educated, entrepreneurial diaspora.
Learn about our venezuela working group at www.as-coa.org/venezuela and see the latest AQ issue on "Rebuilding Venezuela" at https://bit.ly/2wMskQh.

What the Summit of the Americas Was, Is, and Could Be

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 14:40:45 +0000

In 1994, the first Summit of the Americas took place just after the Cold War amid growing faith in democracy. But, over time, the Summit became increasingly marked by divisions. As the VIII Summit takes place in Lima, AS/COA’s Eric Farnsworth offers this quick take on the issues on the table and ways the event can become more effective.

We hope you enjoy this podcast. If so, write us a review and subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, or Stitcher.

Put a Little Trust in Mexico

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 17:07:37 +0000

It’s election time in Mexico, and that means mudslinging and memes. It also means an unhappy electorate. A study found that Mexicans are more distrustful of their government than people in any of the other 27 countries surveyed, Edelman México’s Mariana Sanz tells AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis. But certain sectors shine in Mexicans’ view and one is civil society. Gabriela Hernández Cardoso of Méxicos Posibles explains a new citizens’ initiative and its hope to tackle the country’s problems of illegality, insecurity, and inequality.

Access Edelman’s 2018 Trust Barometer: https://bit.ly/2GdgNwS
Find out about Méxicos Posibles: https://bit.ly/2GhG74O
Write us a review and subscribe to our podcast series: http://www.as-coa.org/podcast

In Colombia's 2018 Elections, Drama Is Good for Democracy

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:59:46 +0000

Iván Duque and Gustavo Petro are leading the presidential race, but both will have their work cut out for them to expand their bases ahead of the May 27 first vote and June 17 runoff, says legal analyst Alvaro Forero Tascón. The country is both fragmented and divided, AS/COA’s Adriana La Rotta tells colleague Holly K. Sonneland—but that’s actually a sign of just how healthy Colombia’s democracy is in 2018.

Back to the Future in Chile and El Salvador?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 8 Mar 2018 15:39:17 +0000

In Chile, center-right Sebastian Piñera replaces center-left Michelle Bachelet as president on March 11. Meanwhile, El Salvador’s March 4 legislative and municipal elections saw conservative parties picking up seats at the governing party’s expense. But, in both cases, to what degree did voters turn right and to what degree did they turn against the parties in control? Carin Zissis speaks with American University’s Héctor Silva Ávalos about what El Salvador’s election means for next year’s presidential race and Elizabeth Gonzalez talks with NYU’s Patricio Navia about what Piñera will seek to accomplish in his first 100 days.

For more about Latin American elections, visit www.as-coa.org/2018.

The music in this podcast was recorded at an Americas Society concert. visit www.musicoftheamericas.org for more information about upcoming performances.

Giving Women the "Right Space to Thrive"

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 23:09:33 +0000

How has the #MeToo movement made 2018 the year of the woman and what does it mean in a Latin American context? We speak with Dr. Felicia Knaul, director of the University of Miami's Institute for Advanced Studies of the Americas, and Susan Segal, president and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas, about how #MeToo has created a space for dialogue about women in the workforce, from being what Knaul calls "passionate professionals" to giving women, particularly in Latin America, "the right space to thrive," says Segal. Both women share insights from their careers in the spheres of public health and banking.

Both women will speak at AS/COA's Women's Hemispheric Network forum in Miami on February 22. Join the conversation at: www.as-coa.org/miami2018

Segal talks about what inspired her to launch the network. Learn more about the initiative and hear women share their experiences at: www.as-coa.org/women

During the podcast, Dr. Knaul speaks about findings from a report on women and health for The Lancet. That study can be downloaded for free here: http://bit.ly/1BUcn1j.

Latin America Has One Foot in China's Belt and Road

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 8 Feb 2018 18:08:07 +0000

Just before taking off on his Latin America tour this month, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned about China's growing engagement in the region. But with the TPP off the table and the future of NAFTA in doubt, there's more room than ever for China to fill the vacuum left by United States. The OECD's head of the Latin America and Caribbean unit Ángel Melguizo speaks with AS/COA Online's Elizabeth Gonzalez about how the region can shape its relationship with Beijing. Listen to our first podcast with Melguizo at as-coa.org/newchina and watch the full AS/COA panel on sharp power at as-coa.org/sharpower

Costa Rican Voters Are “Blowing in the Wind”

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 21:51:30 +0000

On the eve of February 4 general elections, the greatest bloc of Tico voters are still undecided about who they’re going to pick for president. No fewer than six candidates have legitimate chances at making it into the Easter Sunday runoff, say pollsters Felipe Alpízar and Ronald Alfaro of the University of Costa Rica’s Center for Research and Political Studies in this episode with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland. A January 9 court ruling on gay marriage is only fueling voter anxieties, especially among conservatives.

Get the background on the election, top candidates, and more on the 2018 Costa Rica elections at https://www.as-coa.org/cr2018 and find out about Latin America’s big year of elections at https://www.as-coa.org/2018.

From Elections to Trade, Latin America's Big 2018 Stories

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 18:55:39 +0000

If 2017 was the year that changed the United States, 2018 will be the year that could change Latin America. A wave of elections will wash across the region, with voters choosing between the status quo and a rising tide of outsiders. All of this takes place as the United States increasingly looks inward, sparking questions about NAFTA’s fate and China’s global role. AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis hosts our first podcast of the year in which Luisa Leme talks with Americas Quarterly’s Brian Winter about the region’s packed electoral calendar, Eric Farnsworth of COA’s Washington office explains why trade will be a headline issue, and Venezuela Working Group head Guillermo Zubillaga tells Holly K. Sonneland that Caracas needs an intervention.

If you like this podcast, please subscribe, review us on iTunes, and hit share to tell your friends about the series. We’ll be covering elections all year, so head to www.as-coa.org/2018 for more on Latin America’s packed electoral calendar.

Venezuela, Elections, Sanctions, and Baseball

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 16:46:33 +0000

Improbably, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is still in power at the close of 2017. But he'll lose "handily" in the 2018 presidential election—provided it's a remotely free and fair contest—said Mark Feierstein. The NSC senior director for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the Obama administration talked with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland about electoral strategies, sanctions, and baseball.

A New Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 5 Dec 2017 22:48:06 +0000

“If there is any silver lining to this crisis, it might be that finally we will see a new political class emerging,” says Edwin Meléndez, Director of CUNY’s Center for Puerto Rican Studies, in this podcast with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme.

What to Look for in Chile’s Presidential Elections

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 13:14:44 +0000

Chileans vote for president November 19, though the chance that they’ll have to vote again in a December 17 runoff is almost certain. So far, former President Sebastián Piñera has a 20-point lead against his closest competitor, former news anchor Alejandro Guillier, but turnout will be the final determining factor. Political scientist Patricio Navia tells AS/COA’s Elizabeth Gonzalez why.

Why Restructuring Venezuelan Debt Won’t Happen under Maduro

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 8 Nov 2017 17:49:50 +0000

Venezuela has invited bondholders to Caracas on November 13 to renegotiate $66 billion in external debt—but restructuring is not going to be possible under the administration of Nicolás Maduro, says Siobhan Morden, head of Latin America fixed income strategy at Nomura Securities International, in this podcast with AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland.

Getting Ready for the Next Big Earthquake in Mexico City

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 19:13:09 +0000

On September 19, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook Mexico City to its core, but also showed strides made since the last big one in 1985. “There is, of course, always room for improvement,” says 100 Resilient Cities’ Eugene Zapata-Garesché. He talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about how the capital can learn from the most recent disaster to ready itself for inevitable future quakes.

Mexico’s Big Year Ahead

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 15:36:35 +0000

2017 has been turbulent for Mexico, thanks in part to a new occupant in the White House. From NAFTA negotiations to presidential elections, there’s much at stake in the coming year as well. Victor Herrera, the former office head for S&P’s Global Ratings in Mexico City, speaks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about Mexico’s big issues to watch.

Economic Realities Facing Chile’s Next President

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 14:11:45 +0000

Chile’s economy is slowing down, and the governing party may pay the price when the November 19 presidential election comes around. Former Finance Minister Felipe Larraín, who is now heading candidate Sebastián Piñera’s economic platform, talks with AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez about tax reform, youth unemployment, copper, and more.

What to Watch in NAFTA Negotiations

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 18:33:55 +0000

The Peterson Institute’s Gary Hufbauer talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about the ins and outs of NAFTA renegotiations, covering everything from rules of origin to trade deficits, as well as explaining how U.S. President Donald Trump could actually make good on his threats to withdraw from the 23-year-old deal.

Las elecciones legislativas y el escenario político de Argentina

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 8 Aug 2017 16:04:38 +0000

Con las elecciones primarias para el congreso el 13 de agosto, el Gobernador de Córdoba Juan Schiaretti comparte su perspectiva sobre el panorama político y el rol internacional de Argentina.

Rodrigo Janot e o como o Brasil está exportando a luta contra a corrupção

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 16:59:50 +0000

Para o Procurador Geral da República Rodrigo Janot, as ações da Lava Jato contra a corrupção no Brasil são irreversíveis, mas a resposta para a crise política no país deve vir do Congresso e eleitores durante as eleições de 2018. Em entrevista a Luisa Leme do Conselho das Américas em Nova York, Janot falou sobre o poder das delações premiadas e como o Ministério Público está trabalhando com outros países da América Latina. Read an English translation of this interview: as-coa.org/janot

Six Weeks to Fix Venezuela's Health Crisis

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 14:25:48 +0000

More than 11 percent of Venezuelan children now suffer from moderate to severe malnutrition, which puts the country at crisis levels, says health and nutrition expert Susana Raffalli, who spoke with AS/COA's Guillermo Zubillaga about how the government is squarely responsible for the crisis and could fix it in as little as six weeks—if it wanted to.

Why the Paris Agreement Spells Wins for Latin America

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 7 Jul 2017 14:37:19 +0000

Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement might make Latin American countries more competitive in the global shift towards a clean economy. Brown University's Guy Edwards spoke with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about how the region can attract investments for clean energy and resilient infrastructure while playing a global role in the climate change fight.

Brazil’s Economic Gains amid Political Crisis

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 15:11:12 +0000

Brazil’s political crisis does not mean there aren’t new economic opportunities in the country. Prospectiva Consulting’s Ricardo Sennes spoke with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about how the government is attracting new investments amid corruption scandals and what presidential candidates need to do to be successful in the upcoming elections.

Chilean Voters “Are Not Looking for Pure, Perfect Politicians”

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 17:46:28 +0000

It’s election season in Chile, marking the start of a long electoral cycle across some 10 Latin American countries voting for president through 2018. Chile’s first-round vote isn’t until November 19, but presidential hopefuls are already prepping ahead of the July 2 primary. Political scientist Patricio Navia spoke to AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez about the top issues and candidates in the race.

Francisco Goldman on Chronicling Mexico City

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 6 Jun 2017 19:05:49 +0000

Francisco Goldman spent nearly two decades living off and on in Mexico City when he decided to take on a daunting task: learning to drive in the biggest megalopolis in the Americas. In a conversation with poet Mónica de la Torre at the Americas Society, the writer talks about his memoir The Interior Circuit, wending his way through his driving adventure, politics and crime in the capital, and the city’s circus-like energy.

Can U.S. Agricultural Exports to Cuba Line up with White House Policy?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 1 Jun 2017 15:00:56 +0000

Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) has taken on the role of arbiter when it comes to negotiating U.S. agricultural trade to Cuba, sponsoring a bill that allows U.S. firms to let Cuba pay for exports with credit. The legislator has been working with Cuban-American lawmakers to widen the base of support on Capitol Hill and line up with the White House's trade agenda. “This fits very well in the Trump model: bilateral trade deals, and jobs, and America first,” he told AS/COA Online's Elizabeth Gonzalez in this interview.

Fitch’s Rafael Guedes on Brazil’s Economy

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 2 May 2017 20:29:18 +0000

Brazil’s pension reform delay is an obstacle for the country to regain its investment-grade credit rating, Fitch Rating’s Rafael Guedes told AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme. The head of the ratings agency in Brazil explains the rocky road for rising investor confidence to translate into sustained economic growth.

What's Happening with Colombia's FARC Peace Process?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 15:03:45 +0000

“Signing an accord is really not the key. Implementing the accord is the key,” says Virginia Bouvier, a senior advisor for peace processes at the U.S. Institute of Peace. She tells AS/COA Online’s Holly K. Sonneland which agenda items are still pending, the role of the international community, and how everything from elections to the weather affects Colombia’s landmark deal.

Políticos latinoamericanos deben entender que la agenda LGBT es “mainstream”

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:20:03 +0000

En Latinoamérica, al menos cuatro países hoy en día han legalizado matrimonios del mismo sexo. Sin embargo a pesar de esto, los avances en los derechos de la comunidad LGBT están rezagados en comparación con la opinión pública en la región. Jaime Parada Hoyl, el primer político abiertamente gay elegido en Chile, conversa con Elizabeth Gonzalez de AS/COA Online sobre los desafíos que enfrenta su país y la región en general.

Cambiando la cultura machista de América Latina

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 18:44:40 +0000

Tras haber sido una de las regiones del mundo con mayor representación femenina en la política, el hemisferio occidental podría quedarse sin ninguna presidenta o primera ministra en el 2018. Violeta Domínguez del banco de desarrollo CAF habló con Elizabeth Gonzalez de AS/COA Online sobre los avances alcanzados y los obstáculos que impiden cerrar la brecha de género en las Americas.

Jorge Castañeda Portends Changing Times for Mexico

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 14:36:03 +0000

What’s the next step for Mexico in its 10-year-old drug war? What would it take to end the country’s corruption epidemic? Who will win the 2018 presidential election? Jorge Castañeda, ex-foreign secretary of Mexico, spoke with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis, sharing answers to these questions and how they relate to turbulence in U.S.-Mexican ties under the Trump administration.

In Latin America, the New China Is Here to Stay

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 18:52:39 +0000

China’s growing middle class is an opportunity for Latin American economies, but the region has to be proactive about it, says Angel Melguizo. The head of the Latin American and Caribbean Unit in the OECD’s Development Center tells AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez about the changing relationship with Beijing, from rising trade with Mexico to Venezuela's loans.

What's Ahead for Mexico's Economy in the Trump Era?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 15:34:26 +0000

Something surprising happened with the Mexican peso since Donald Trump took office. The currency, which took a beating during the U.S. election, started making gains. So what’s ahead for the Mexican economy? Jorge Suárez-Vélez, a columnist with El Financiero, tells AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis what’s working for and against Mexico as we begin the Trump era.

Alejandro Werner on Bright Spots in 2017

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 19:17:06 +0000

Despite uncertainty facing North America over NAFTA, there are positive trends across Latin America, from the biggest to the smallest economies, says Alejandro Werner, the fund's Western Hemisphere director, in this podcast with AS/COA Online's Holly K. Sonneland.

Maurício Santoro on Brazil's Old Problems in a New Year

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 5 Jan 2017 15:22:54 +0000

After a year of political and economic turbulence in Brazil, Maurício Santoro of the Rio de Janeiro State University spoke with AS/COA Online's Luisa Leme about what the rise of political outsiders and a global protectionist tone mean for the country in 2017 and beyond.

La salida a la crisis de Venezuela, según un exmilitar

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 7 Dec 2016 18:46:17 +0000

El general retirado Antonio Rivero es uno de los pocos militares venezolanos que ha salido de los rangos del chavismo. Y ha pagado cara su defección. En este episodio, el general habla con Holly K. Sonneland de AS/COA Online sobre el nivel de descontento entre los cuadros militares en Venezuela, la probabilidad de que haya una salida “de fuerza” a la crisis actual y las diferencias entre el Presidente electo de EE.UU. Donald Trump y el fallecido Presidente de Venezuela Hugo Chávez.

Richard Feinberg on the Post-Castro Cuban Economy

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 2 Dec 2016 16:45:22 +0000

How will Cuba change after Fidel Castro’s death and with a new U.S. president taking office? Richard Feinberg shared his insights with AS/COA’s Alana Tummino at a launch for his new book Open for Business: Building the New Cuban Economy.

Millennials and the Future of Mexican Elections

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 23:01:25 +0000

While pundits piece together what was behind a Trump win in the U.S., Mexicans are looking ahead to their 2018 presidential vote. The results could be just as hard to predict, thanks to shifting political views held by millennials. Nacion321’s Alejandro Moreno and Pancho Parra tell AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis why Mexico’s next election belongs to that generation.

Russ Dallen on Venezuela's Not-Quite Breaking Point

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 1 Nov 2016 18:50:36 +0000

The worst thing about Venezuela's crisis? It's that there's nothing left from the trillions of dollars reaped during the oil boom, says Caracas Capital's Russ Dallen. In this podcast, Dallen, also a lawyer and journalist, analyzes the country's latest swap deal, production figures, and more with AS/COA Online's Holly K. Sonneland.

Breaking Gender Norms in the Field of Law

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 17:16:51 +0000

Cristina López was 29 when she and a group of women colleagues defied a gender norm and started a law firm. Nine years later, it’s become one of Panama’s leading legal firms and continues to be run by women. López spoke with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about what sets apart an all-female firm.

How One New York Entrepreneur Made It in Medellín

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 16:36:19 +0000

What makes Medellín the Silicon Valley of Latin America? For tech entrepreneur Nelson Almanzar, it’s the talent, technology, and business resources. In an interview with AS/COA Online’s Elizabeth Gonzalez, Almanzar talks about opening up shop for Talos Digital in Colombia’s second-largest city.

Keeping Mexico City from the Brink of Disaster

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 6 Oct 2016 18:21:10 +0000

Earthquakes. Floods. Traffic. Pollution. Mexico City is prone to its fair share of hazards. But how does a metropolitan area that's home to 20 million people not only respond to them but also prepare to mitigate the risks? With a resilience strategy. AS/COA Online's Carin Zissis spoke with Mexico City's Chief Resilience Officer Arnoldo Matus Kramer about the capital's new resilience plan, starting with how to explain the concept in the first place.

Analyzing the 2016 Latino Vote with Bendixen & Amandi

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 7 Sep 2016 20:15:07 +0000

Florida's changing Latino demographics are turning the swing state blue. The Miami polling firm’s Anthony Williams talked with AS/COA Online's Holly K. Sonneland about Donald Trump's "astronomically" low approval rating among Hispanic voters and how Hillary Clinton should focus on making sure people actually get out of bed and vote for her on Election Day.

Julio Borges on Civil Disobedience in Venezuela

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 15:54:57 +0000

In Venezuela, since the government no longer follows the Constitution, calls to practice civil disobedience in fact seek a return to order, says congressional opposition leader Julio Borges. The Justice First party leader talks with AS/COA Online's Holly K. Sonneland about the recall referendum against President Nicolás Maduro, the September 1 march on Caracas, and telling his young quadruplets why government supporters beat him.

More: http://www.as-coa.org/articles/latam-focus-julio-borges-civil-disobedience-venezuela

The Achilles Heel of Cuba's Energy Sector

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 19:18:34 +0000

Venezuelan oil production is at its lowest point in 13 years, and that means Cuba risks taking on a $1.3-billion deficit if oil shipments from Caracas were to stop. University of Texas at Austin's Jorge R. Piñon talks with AS/COA Online's Elizabeth Gonzalez about whether the island's economy can handle the shock.

An On-the-Ground View of Rio’s Olympic Dream

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 16:32:18 +0000

Getting ready for the Olympics brought big changes to Rio, but the city was already going through a transformation. Rio-based Julia Michaels, author of RioReal blog, talks with AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme about what cariocas have gained from mega-event preparations, even as Brazil tackles corruption scandals and economic woes.

The Intertwined Nature Of U.S.-Mexico Ties

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 21:41:01 +0000

Diego Gómez Pickering spoke with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about the message that Mexico is working to get out about close ties with the United States. “Nowadays we cannot talk of the Mexican economy and the American economy separately,” he says. “If jobs are lost here, jobs are lost in Mexico. If we create jobs in Mexico, jobs are created here in the United States.”

The Agenda for the North American Leaders' Summit

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 21:50:12 +0000

Days after British voters backed Brexit, the heads of state of Canada, Mexico, and the United States meet for the North American Leaders' Summit. Integration's benefits count as one issue on their full agenda, explains Council of the Americas' Eric Farnsworth to AS/COA Online's Carin Zissis.

The Trump Threat to North American Security

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 19:04:55 +0000

What do you do when a U.S. presidential candidate makes bashing your country a campaign centerpiece? Try to set the record straight. Agustín Barrios Gómez, Mexico Image Foundation president and former Mexican congressman, talks with AS/COA Online’s Carin Zissis about the risks involved with damaging the U.S.-Mexican relationship.

Simón Gaviria on Financing Peace in Colombia

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Sat, 11 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Foreign direct investment in Colombia stands to triple in a post-conflict era. Simón Gaviria speaks with AS/COA Online’s Holly Sonneland about how Colombia's government is financing peace in the anticipation of an agreement with the FARC.

Josefina Vidal on a Changing Cuba

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 7 Jun 2016 16:03:17 +0000

As Cuba continues to expand its private sector, AS/COA Online talks with Josefina Vidal, Cuba’s director of foreign affairs with the United States, on the country’s economic reforms. Vidal offers a Cuban perspective on the U.S. presidential elections and bilateral policy priorities, and challenges Cuban-Americans' interpretation of changes on the island.

Argentina's Rocky Road to Growth

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 31 May 2016 15:55:19 +0000

Argentina’s economy will expand 3.5 percent in 2017, but that’s after a few bumps and a recession in 2016. AS/COA Online's Elizabeth Gonzalez spoke to economist Fernando Navajas of the Buenos Aires-based think tank Fundación de Investigaciones Económicas Latinoamericanas about the government's economic agenda ahead of the 2017 midterm elections.

Colombia's Post-Conflict Challenges

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Wed, 18 May 2016 15:54:20 +0000

Frank Pearl, a negotiator in peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC and ELN, talks with AS/COA's Adriana La Rotta about what comes next once the peace deal is signed. He addressed how Colombians perceive the peace process and the potential success to reintegrate millions of people affected by the conflict.

Fixing Brazil's Economy

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 5 May 2016 15:05:42 +0000

The IMF's executive director outlines where economic policy went wrong and draws lessons from Brazil's worst crisis in decades, saying the process could lead to a new relationship between the private and public sectors.

El rol de las redes sociales en la democracia venezolana

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Luz Mely Reyes, cofundadora del medio noticioso comunitario y colaborativo Efecto Cocuyo, habla con Guillermo Zubillaga sobre su carrera, el rol de las redes sociales en la democracia venezolana y por qué su página lleva el nombre de un insecto fosforescente.

Para más del grupo de trabajo sobre Venezuela de AS/COA, diríjase a: www.as-coa.org/venezuela

Mexico’s Evolving Marijuana Laws

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 19:01:08 +0000

Alejandro Hope, El Daily Post’s security editor, speaks with Carin Zissis about how national-level changes in drug policy in the Americas have an impact on global policy. He predicts a large portion of the legislation that underpins marijuana prohibition in Mexico today will eventually be declared unconstitutional.

Peru's Dramatic 2016 Presidential Election

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 7 Apr 2016 16:48:49 +0000

Harvard's Steven Levitsky talks with Holly K. Sonneland about Peru's 2016 presidential election, the candidates, and the ups and downs of the race.

For more content from AS/COA, go to www.as-coa.org.

Congressman Rick Crawford on U.S. Agricultural Trade with Cuba

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Mon, 4 Apr 2016 13:50:45 +0000

Trade is good business for both the U.S. and Cuban economies, says Arkansas Republican Rick Crawford, who talks with Elizabeth Gonzalez about a bill he introduced that would ease trade restrictions between Washington and Havana.

Get more content on Cuba from AS/COA's Cuba Working Group: www.as-coa.org/cuba

Crisis Mode: Brazil’s Current Scenario

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 21:33:27 +0000

Ricardo Gandour, director of Grupo Estado, speaks with Luisa Leme about the “perfect storm” of events putting Brazil in crisis mode. His proposed solution? A new constitution. Hear what the head of one of Brazil’s largest media companies has to say.

Will Venezuela Default?

lleme@as-coa.org (AS/COA Online) — Tue, 1 Mar 2016 22:45:16 +0000

Moody's Jaime Reusche talks with Holly K. Sonneland about Venezuela's upcoming bond payments, its complicated relationship with China, and what oil price will keep the budget in the black.

Get more content on Venezuela from AS/COA here: www.as-coa.org/venezuela