The Americas Quarterly Podcast

Gustavo Petro is polling well in the run-up to Colombia's first-round presidential election on May 29. But recent events suggest the former mayor of Bogotá might struggle to bring more moderate voters to his side. What concessions is he willing to make to build bridges to the center and center-left? And which of his competitors is best positioned to close the gap in the weeks ahead? Joining the AQ podcast this week to offer an unvarnished look at the race and how the frontrunners might govern is Miguel Silva, the founder of Galileo 6, a strategic communications, political and crisis management firm based in Bogotá, Colombia.

Expectations are sky-high in Chile following Gabriel Boric's inauguration as president on March 11. But challenges abound, from tensions with Mapuche indigenous groups and anti-immigrant protests to the uncertain impact of rising commodities prices. All this as the country rewrites its constitution – a messy process with the potential to upend public policy and politics. How will Chile's young leader navigate these obstacles? Isabel Aninat, dean of the law school at Adolfo Ibáñez University, joins the AQ podcast to offer her realistic expectations for Boric's first months in office.

The war in Ukraine has become a litmus test for how governments in Latin America view the changing global order. How is Washington positioning itself as the region's preferred partner for development and economic growth? How have the Biden administration's relationships with countries like Mexico, Brazil and El Salvador evolved since taking office last year? Ahead of June's Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, the White House's top aide on Latin America, Juan Gonzalez, joins the AQ podcast for a special extended edition.Guests:Juan Gonzalez is senior director for the Western Hemisphere at the National Security Council. Brian Winter is AQ's editor-in-chiefSupplemental readingHow Biden Can Get the Summit of the Americas Right by Oliver Stuenkel (https://americasquarterly.org/article/how-biden-can-get-the-summit-of-the-americas-right)Latin America Looks East by Brian Winter (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/review-essay/2022-02-24/latin-america-looks-east)

Entering the second half of his six-year term, Andrés Manuel López Obrador's presidency has taken a contentious turn. What's behind the Mexican president's recent war of words with the media and other critics? Arturo Sarukhan, a former Mexican ambassador to the U.S. and career diplomat for more than 20 years, joins AQ to discuss the key issues driving Mexico's current political debate.Guests:Arturo Sarukhan is an international consultant based in Washington, D.C. A board member of the Americas Society, he is the former Mexican ambassador to the U.S. (2007-13) and a career diplomat for more than 20 years. He served as Mexican consul general in New York and chief of policy planning at the Mexican foreign ministry, among other posts. Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.Supplemental reading:Mexico's Energy Reform: 3 Risks to Investors by Ana Lilia Moreno (https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/mexicos-energy-reform-3-risks-to-investors)

Students in Latin America missed more school because of the pandemic than any other part of the world. What will this mean for the region's long-term prosperity? Fernando Reimers, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-editor of Learning to Build Better Futures for Education, joins AQ to discuss the toll COVID has taken on Latin American education – and what businesses, policymakers and educators can do to avoid another "lost decade."

It's been six months since Pedro Castillo was sworn in as Peru's president. But despite the threat of impeachment and a crisis in the mining sector, he has yet to offer a clear view of how he wants to govern. Andrea Moncada, a Peruvian journalist, analyst and contributing columnist to AQ, joins the podcast to examine Castillo's political isolation and uncomfortable relationship with power thus far.Guests: Andrea Moncada, a contributing columnist to Americas Quarterly, is a Peruvian journalist and political analyst currently based in the UK. Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.Supplemental reading: Pedro Castillo Isn't Out of Danger by Andrea Moncada(https://americasquarterly.org/article/a-reprieve-not-a-release-for-pedro-castillo/)Correction: This podcast incorrectly stated Fitch’s Peru GDP forecast for 2022. It should have said that Peru’s government expects 4-5% growth, while many private forecasts are for significantly less, including Fitch’s revised forecast for a 2.5% expansion.

Latin America’s transition away from oil and gas is well underway, with green energy investments bearing fruit in countries including Colombia, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. The region has a chance to be a leader, although unpredictable politics and this year's elections may get in the way, energy analyst Luisa Palacios says.Guests:-Luisa Palacios is a senior research scholar at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy.-Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.Supplemental reading:"The Huge Risk Facing Latin American Oil Companies" by Luisa Palacios and Francisco Monaldi (https://americasquarterly.org/article/the-huge-risk-facing-latin-american-oil-companies/)

Jair Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are early favorites in Brazil's presidential election next October. Can a "third way" candidate defy expectations, or is the country headed for a showdown between two divisive figures? Thomas Traumann, a journalist and consultant, joins AQ to look at the contenders' strategies – and whether any of them can end Brazil’s decade-long malaise.Guests: Thomas Traumann is a journalist and independent consultant, and was Brazil's communications minister from 2014-2015Brian Winter is AQ's editor-in-chiefSupplemental reading:Lula Is Back. But Which Lula? by Thomas Traumann(https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/lula-is-back-but-which-lula)Why Lula vs. Bolsonaro Leaves Little Room for Others by Oliver Stuenkel(https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/why-lula-vs-bolsonaro-in-brazil-leaves-little-room-for-others)Have Brazilians Given Up on Bolsonaro? by Brian Winter(https://americasquarterly.org/article/has-bolsonaro-suffered-his-hurricane-katrina-moment)

Many Latin American economies bounced back strongly this year. Still, 2022 is likely to provide a reality check, says economist Alberto Ramos in this “from 30,000 feet” survey of what to expect. The outcome will have consequences for elections in Brazil and Colombia, as well as social stability everywhere.Guests:Alberto Ramos is the chief economist for Latin America at Goldman SachsBrian Winter is AQ's editor-in-chief.Supplemental Reading:"Could the U.S. and China Spoil Latin America’s Rebound?," by Otaviano Canuto (https://americasquarterly.org/article/could-the-u-s-and-china-spoil-latin-americas-rebound/)

After jailing his opponents, Daniel Ortega won an election on November 7, extending his hold on power. On this episode, Nicaraguan journalist María Lilly Delgado weighs in on what’s next for independent voices like herself in a consolidating dictatorship. Former Panamanian Vice President Isabel Saint Malo also joins the episode with a message for the international community. Guests:María Lilly Delgado is an independent journalist and co-founder of the Huellas de la Impunidad journalistic project. Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado is the former vice president and foreign affairs minister of Panama and a member of AQ’s editorial board. Brian Winter is AQ’s editor-in-chief. Supplemental reading:"Nicaragua’s Sham Election Is Over. What Should the World Do Now?" by Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado(https://americasquarterly.org/article/nicaraguas-sham-election-is-over-what-should-the-world-do-now/)"Another 5 Years for Daniel Ortega?"(https://americasquarterly.org/article/another-5-years-for-daniel-ortega/)