Latin Pulse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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