Under the Shadow

In the 1980s, Honduras was ground zero for US operations in Central America—it was the primary point from which the US would wage its proxy wars and launch its interventionist operations across the region in the name of “fighting communism.” The 1954 CIA coup in Guatemala, which we explored in Episode 2 of Under the Shadow, was staged from Honduras. It was the main base of operations where US forces trained, funded, and backed Contras in their war against Nicaragua’s Sandinista government. And today, Honduras is home to the Soto Cano Air Base, previously known as Palmerola, the largest US military base in Central America. One of the largest in Latin America.Within Honduran society itself, that meant squashing any revolutionary activity that could destabilize this key US ally and its strategic importance for US imperial operations. The impact on the country was tremendous: massacres, disappearances, many at the hands of an elite US-trained death squad known as Battalion 316. “There was a lot of repression. A huge military presence,” says Karla Lara, a Honduran journalist and well-known singer. In this episode, host Michael Fox takes us to present-day Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, then we descend back in time to one of darkest periods in Honduran history. Fox visits Honduran family members of the disappeared and walks right up to the walls of the Soto Cano Air Base.Under the Shadow is a new investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. In each episode, host Michael Fox takes us to a location where something historic happened—a landmark of revolutionary struggle or foreign intervention. Today, it might look like a random street corner, a church, a mall, a monument, or a museum. But every place he takes us was once the site of history-making events that shook countries, impacted lives, and left deep marks on the world.Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.Guests:Bertha Oliva, COFADEHAdrienne PineKarla LaraGrahame Russell, Rights ActionEdited by Heather Gies.Sound design by Gustavo Türck.Voice Actors: Andalusia K. SoloffTheme music by Monte Perdido. Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.Follow and support journalist Michael Fox or Under the Shadow at https://www.patreon.com/mfoxThe Real News NetworkDonate: therealnews.com/uts-pod-donateSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/uts-pod-subscribeLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/under-the-shadow--5958129/support.Help us continue producing Under the Shadow by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Follow us on:Bluesky: @therealnews.comFacebook: The Real News NetworkTwitter: @TheRealNewsYouTube: @therealnewsInstagram: @therealnewsnetwork

In this engaging discussion, Jorge Cuellar, a Dartmouth assistant professor specializing in Latin American studies, delves into the recent re-election of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador. He highlights the astounding 83% of votes received amid growing concerns about democracy and electoral integrity. The conversation also explores Bukele's controversial governance, media manipulation, and the impact of Bitcoin on everyday lives. Cuellar sheds light on the divided public sentiment, the potential for authoritarianism, and the future political landscape in El Salvador.

Guatemala's new president Bernardo Arévalo was inaugurated on January 14. But it did not come off without a hitch. Outgoing opposition lawmakers did their best to try to stymie the swearing-in of Arévalo and some of his party members. Arévalo’s supporters rallied in Guatemala City. As we looked at in Episode 2, Bernardo Arévalo is the son of Guatemala's first democratic leader Juan José Arévalo, who ushered in the Guatemalan Spring. Bernardo Arévalo has promised to lift Guatemala once again, but… even after winning the election, he faced constant legal maneuvers, led by the attorney general, that aimed to overturn the results and block his inauguration.In this update to our reporting on Guatemala, host Michael Fox speaks with political scientist Jo-Marie Burt. She was on the ground in Guatemala City for Arévalo’s inauguration. In this update, she takes us there, and looks at what it means for Arévalo’s incoming government.Under the Shadow is a new investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, to tell the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. In each episode, host Michael Fox takes us to a location where something historic happened — a landmark of revolutionary struggle or foreign intervention. Today, it might look like a random street corner, a church, a mall, a monument or a museum. But every place he takes us was once the site of history-making events that shook countries, impacted lives, and left deep marks on the world.Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.Guests: Jo-Marie Burt.Edited by Heather Gies and Maximillian Alvarez.Sound design by Gustavo Türck.Theme music by Monte Perdido. Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.Follow and support journalist Michael Fox or Under the Shadow at https://www.patreon.com/mfoxThe Real News NetworkDonate: therealnews.com/uts-pod-donateSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/uts-pod-subscribeLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/under-the-shadow--5958129/support.Help us continue producing Under the Shadow by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Follow us on:Bluesky: @therealnews.comFacebook: The Real News NetworkTwitter: @TheRealNewsYouTube: @therealnewsInstagram: @therealnewsnetwork

Carlos Henríquez Consalvi, a Venezuelan journalist and founder of the Museum of Word and Image, joins Lucio Vásquez, a former child guerrilla, to discuss the powerful legacy of Radio Venceremos. They share gripping stories about how this grassroots radio fought against state violence during El Salvador's civil war. Listeners will learn about creative survival tactics used by the radio team amidst military threats. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of preserving these historical broadcasts for future generations.

Chio (Lucio Vasquez), a young boy whose life was shattered by the El Salvador civil war, shares his heart-wrenching experiences of loss and displacement. He discusses the tragic massacre of innocent civilians during a protest and reflects on the profound impact of U.S. military aid that intensified the violence. The conversation delves into the historical context of the war, the culture of impunity, and the lasting scars on today's society. Chio's story serves as a poignant reminder of the human toll of conflict.

Jo Marie Burt, a political scientist and senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America, shares her expertise on Guatemala's troubled past. She discusses the genocide of Indigenous peoples in the 1980s and the complicity of the U.S. government in this violence. Burt touches on the ongoing search for justice and remembrance for the disappeared, as well as the implications of the upcoming inauguration of Bernardo Arévalo. The conversation sheds light on the emotional scars left by history and the resilience of affected communities.

Explore the gripping tale of United Fruit's dominance in Guatemala and its tangled web of political influence. Listen as the host walks through historical sites, revealing the company’s vast power and its impact on local labor struggles. Delve into the dark shadows of the 1954 CIA coup that ousted a democratically elected president in the name of U.S. interests. The narrative intertwines past and present, reflecting on the legacy of these interventions as Guatemala prepares for a new chapter in its political history.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Marixa Lasso, a Panamanian historian, Adrienne Pine, an expert on migration, and Marique Salasso, a scholar of the Roosevelt Corollary, tackle the lasting impact of the Monroe Doctrine on Latin America. They delve into the historical U.S. interventions that have shaped migration patterns, highlighting personal stories of migrants facing perilous journeys north. The conversation reveals how past policies laid the groundwork for contemporary issues, offering a stark reminder of history's enduring shadows.

Support the production of this podcast now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brasilonfire/under-the-shadow-of-the-united-states-a-podcastHistory is often lost in the past. Hard to grasp. Difficult to explain. The story of the US role abroad is often muddled or forgotten.In this podcast series on US intervention and revolutionary resistance in Latin America, independent journalist Michael Fox makes that history come to life, taking listeners to places in the present on a search for the legacies of the past. It's a search for the ghosts that still linger—and what it all means today. This is particularly important this year—2023—the 200-year anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine, the US foreign policy that defined Latin America as its backyard, to do with what it would like. And yet, throughout the region there has been pushback — a revolutionary spirit of the past and ongoing movements in the present."Under the Shadow" is a highly produced, sound-rich, investigative podcast series that takes listeners across Latin America to the scenes of some of the region’s most devastating, revolutionary, and historic moments — both good and bad. Season 1 — coming soon — dives deep into the past of Central America, uncovering the history of US intervention that still lingers in the region today.With first-hand reporting, profound interviews, and archival footage, each of the nine episodes stands alone. But they also fit together as part of a larger story of the legacies of repressive governments, revolution, and the role of the United States in invasions, coups, and the wars of the 1980s.Michael Fox is a longtime radio reporter, editor, and journalist who has spent the better part of the last 20 years in Latin America. He is the former editor of the NACLA Report on the Americas, the former director of video production at teleSUR English, and a former member of the steering committee of the daily radio news show FSRN. Last year, he reported and produced the highly successful investigative podcast series Brazil on Fire, about Brazil's descent toward authoritarianism under President Jair Bolsonaro. https://www.mfox.us/ The Real News Network (TRNN) makes media that amplifies movements and organizers fighting for a better future. We are a multi-platform digital newsroom based in Baltimore but reporting nationally and internationally. https://therealnews.comThe North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1966 to examine and critique US imperialism and political, economic, and military intervention in the Western hemisphere. For more than 50 years, NACLA has been a leading source of English-language research and analysis on Latin America and the Caribbean. https://nacla.orgHelp cover the production costs of Under the Shadow: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brasilonfire/under-the-shadow-of-the-united-states-a-podcastSeries logo image credit: Museo de la Palabra y la Imagen (MUPI)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/under-the-shadow--5958129/support.Help us continue producing Under the Shadow by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Follow us on:Bluesky: @therealnews.comFacebook: The Real News NetworkTwitter: @TheRealNewsYouTube: @therealnewsInstagram: @therealnewsnetwork