The Audio Long Read We published explosive stories about the president of El Salvador. Now we can’t go home
Jan 26, 2026
Journalists describe leaving their country to avoid arrest after releasing videos about alleged links between gang leaders and the president. They recount state accusations, leaked arrest plans and new laws used to silence critics. The story covers cancelled return plans, a warned airport arrest that forced exile, and the emotional toll of life uprooted in a neighboring country.
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Preventative Departure Packed Light
- Journalists left El Salvador with carry-on bags expecting a short preventative departure.
- What began as a brief precaution turned into an indefinite exile after publishing the gang interviews.
Video Confessions Trump Paper Evidence
- El Faro's videos of gang leaders naming alleged deals with Nayib Bukele reshaped public perception more than documents did.
- In the social-media era, a fugitive leader's on-camera confession often outweighs official evidence.
Presidential Power On Social Media
- Bukele rules through social media, issuing policy and shaping narratives directly from his platforms.
- His online popularity can be rapidly disrupted by viral investigative content.