Democracy Now! Audio Democracy Now! 2025-12-01 Monday
8 snips
Dec 1, 2025 Rodolfo Pastor, a prominent Honduran politician and former presidential secretary, discusses the implications of Trump's threat to pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez, emphasizing the risks to Honduran democracy. Dana Frank, a historian and expert on U.S. intervention in Honduras, critiques the trial against Hernandez and the hypocrisy surrounding the potential pardon. Spencer Ackerman, an investigative journalist, connects the legacy of U.S. military actions in Latin America to current geopolitical tensions, calling for accountability for war crimes.
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Boat Strikes May Be War Crimes
- Spencer Ackerman and Amy Goodman highlight that killing survivors of struck boats may constitute war crimes under international law.
- The alleged order "to kill everybody" signals a dangerous erosion of legal constraints on U.S. military actions.
Pardon Announcement Intervenes In Honduras
- Amy Goodman and Rodolfo Pastor note Trump's pledge to pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez came days before Honduras's election and followed a public endorsement of a candidate.
- The move is framed as direct U.S. intervention likely to influence Honduran sovereignty and electoral outcomes.
Hernandez's Rise After The 2009 Coup
- Rodolfo Pastor recounts how Juan Orlando Hernandez rose after the 2009 coup and secured reelection despite constitutional limits.
- He describes how fraud, repression, and U.S. support enabled Hernandez's long hold on power.
