Latin America In Focus

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/MHA33RgI51oFind out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.orgOther 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 Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

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/podcastThe music in this podcast is: “Zumba Cum Laude” by C4 Trío. https://youtu.be/F_pdNY_wz5kLearn more at: musicoftheamericas.org Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

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/podcastThe music in this podcast is: “Epílogo para Jazmín” by Monique Fernandez. https://youtu.be/KwI1mtzOOwALearn 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. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

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/2023The 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 Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Cou

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

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

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

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