Latin Pulse

This special edition of Latin Pulse includes an opportunity to hear a Cuban perspective on politics and diplomacy, along with an analysis of what derailed the peace process in Colombia.  A Cuban professor discusses the importance of continued exchanges between the United States and Cuba, while analyzing reactions to U.S. programs designed at political change and Cuban succession.  The program also discusses the rejection of the peace treaty with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The news segment covers doubts about the sincerity of Venezuela's president during the papal negotiations to end the country's political crisis and avert violence. The program includes interviews with: Santiago Perez Benitez of the University of Havana & the Cuban Center for International Political Research (CIPI); and Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Jim Singer.  (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)   (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.)   podcast news Latin America politics Venezuela Cuba diplomacy education The Vatican Nicolas Maduro Pope Francis Colombia United States embargo Juan Manuel Santos U.S. State Department USAID economics corruption agriculture Raul Castro media Russia China Canada Fidel Castro economic reform Miguel Diaz-Canel plebiscite Alvaro Uribe FARC justice European Union human rights peace accord

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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