The Americas Quarterly Podcast

A modest degree of change appears to be underway in Venezuela. There are signs that a years-long economic crisis may finally have bottomed out. And the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro looks set to return to negotiations with opposition leaders after calling off talks last October. How much if any hope should these developments generate for a potential political and economic opening? What do they mean for Venezuela's relationships with the U.S. and other international actors? And what's the long game for chavismo as Maduro's government faces pressure at home and abroad? Raúl Stolk, director of the news site Caracas Chronicles, joins the AQ podcast for an in-depth conversation on Venezuela's future.

In the past year Haiti has lived through the assassination of a president, multiple natural disasters and an exodus of people. Now, a simmering political crisis has put pressure on the country's leadership and raised questions about how it will chart a path toward new elections. What role should the international community play in helping Haiti find a way forward? What are the limitations of U.S. involvement? Monique Clesca, a journalist and member of the Commission to Search for a Haitian Solution to the Crisis, joins the AQ Podcast to provide an overview of where the country stands today.

Despite a host of challenges, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro appears to be in a stronger position to win re-election in October than many expected. Though still trailing in polls to former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro has started to close the gap in recent weeks. What's behind this shift, and how might Lula respond as the campaign progresses? Joining the AQ podcast is Fábio Zanini, a columnist at Folha de S. Paulo who has spent years covering the conservative movement that brought Bolsonaro to power.

It's shaping up as another difficult year in Latin America for freedom of the press, judicial independence and separation of powers. From El Salvador to Peru to Mexico and beyond, fundamental rights are under pressure. What's behind the backsliding, and what can be done to push the region's democracies in the right direction? Tamara Taraciuk Broner, acting Americas director at Human Rights Watch, joins the AQ podcast for a tour of trouble spots around the region.

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.