The Americas Quarterly Podcast

Amid a pandemic and ongoing food shortages, politics isn't exactly the top priority for many Venezuelans. But fresh divisions within the country's opposition are likely to have significant repercussions on how the coalition engages with the Nicolas Maduro regime. On this week's podcast, AQ's Brian Winter spoke to the Washington Post's Ana Vanessa Herrero about the opposition's changing dynamics and diverging plans.Guests:- Ana Vanessa Herrero is a correspondent for the Washington Post based in Caracas, Venezuela.- Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.

The corruption case against former Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya has turned Mexican business and politics upside down. But how much will the case ultimately change - and for whom? Transparencia Mexicana's Eduardo Bohórquez joined AQ's Brian Winter to plot out where Latin America's latest big corruption scandal may lead.Guests:- Eduardo Bohórquez is the executive director of Transparencia Mexicana. - Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.

The situation in Brazil "feels pretty bad right now," says Arminio Fraga, a policy expert and former central bank chief. But on the podcast this week, Fraga sees reason for a nuanced discussion. He spoke to AQ's Brian Winter about the government's big pandemic spending, how to strengthen Brazil's health care system, and why he considers himself a "progressive liberal type."Guests:- Arminio Fraga is the chair of the Institute for Health Policy Studies (IEPS)and a former president of Brazil’s central bank.- Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.Background reading:"Despite Troubles, Brazil’s SUS Health System Can Be a Model for Latin America," by Arminio Fraga, Miguel Lago and Rudi Rocha (https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/5-big-ideas-universal-health/)

"The countries of the hemisphere are at an inflection point," writes Juan S. Gonzalez, a former special advisor to Vice President Joe Biden, in a new op-ed for AQ. Gonzalez spoke to AQ's Brian Winter about how a Biden administration might lead the region in confronting challenges like COVID-19, climate change and democratic instability, with insight into how Biden might engage Nicolás Maduro and why the presidential contender sees Colombia as the "keystone to the region."Guests:- Juan S. Gonzalez is a principal at JSG Strategy and a former special advisor to Vice President Joe Biden.- Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly. Background Reading:"Joe Biden and the Future of the Americas," by Juan S. Gonzalez (https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/joe-biden-and-the-future-of-the-americas/)"Miller Versus Biden: Competing U.S. Doctrines for Latin America," by Russell Crandall (https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/miller-versus-biden-competing-u-s-doctrines-for-latin-america/)"The Incredible Unknown Bond between Joe Biden and Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff," by Brian Winter (https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/the-incredible-unknown-bond-between-joe-biden-and-brazils-dilma-rousseff/)

Today, the density and informality that often define Latin American cities have made them particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus. But that doesn't mean their future is a bleak one, says Eugene Zapata Garesché of the Global Resilient Cities Network. The urban development expert spoke to AQ's Brian Winter about the ways cities are changing, and how good local leadership has never been so important.Guests: - Eugene Zapata Garesché is the managing director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Global Resilient Cities Network- Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas QuarterlyBackground reading:"Could the Pandemic Start a Biking Revolution in Latin America?" by Leonie Rauls (https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/could-the-pandemic-start-a-biking-revolution-in-latin-america/)

Colombia has seen relative success controlling the outbreak of COVID-19, providing a needed boost in citizens’ confidence in President Iván Duque. But that could be changing. This week, AQ‘s Editor-in-chief Brian Winter speaks with political analyst Laura Gil about his initial response, recent slip-ups, and why Colombia’s fragile peace process is “on life support.”Guests:- Laura Gil leads the consultancy Diálogos y Estrategias, and is director of the political analysis site La Línea del Medio.- Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.Background reading:"Colombia Needs to Think Bigger to Escape Crisis," by Luis Fernando Mejía(https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/colombias-way-out-of-the-crisis/)"What Colombia’s Record Says About COVID-19 Testing," by Luis Guillermo Plata (https://americasquarterly.org/article/what-colombias-covid-strategy-says-about-testing/)"Trump, Venezuela and the ELN: The Geopolitics of Peace in Colombia," by BY Karen Arteaga Garzón, Gwen Burnyeat, Andrei Gómez-Suárez and Germán Otálora Gallego (https://americasquarterly.org/article/trump-venezuela-and-the-eln-the-geopolitics-of-peace-in-colombia/)

Jeanine Áñez ascended to Bolivia's presidency on a promise to hold elections that could move the country out of a bitter political crisis. Seven months later, uncertainty lingers over when voters will choose a new government. To get some clarity on the state of things, AQ's Editor-in-chief Brian Winter speaks with award-winning journalist Raúl Peñaranda.Guests:- Raúl Peñaranda is the director of the Bolivian news portal Brújula Digital, recipient of the coveted Maria Moors Cabot prize and a Nieman fellowship at Harvard University. - Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.Background reading:"Four Urgent Questions on Bolivia’s Election," by Brendan O'Boyle (https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/four-urgent-questions-on-bolivias-election/)"The Cost of Delayed Votes in Chile, Bolivia and Beyond," by Leonie Rauls and Emilie Sweigart (https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/the-cost-of-delayed-votes-in-chile-bolivia-and-beyond/)

Scenes of rioting and police brutality in the U.S. are a reminder of the deepening crisis across the Americas. Pressures on civil liberties are already high across the region, with fears that leaders may be using the pandemic as a pretext for harsh policies. To discuss the state of human rights in the Americas at this tense time, AQ's Editor-in-chief Brian Winter speaks to Human Rights Watch's José Miguel Vivanco.Guests: José Miguel Vivanco is the Americas director at Human Rights Watch.Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.

For the third time in just two decades, Argentina finds itself on the brink of defaulting on its foreign debt. As the government rushes to reach a deal with creditors, AQ's Editor-in-chief Brian Winter speaks to the Woodrow Wilson Center's Benjamin Gedan about the implications of a default on Argentina's fragile economy and rocky political landscape. Guests: - Benjamin Gedan is the deputy director the Wilson Center's Latin American Program and the director of its Argentina Project. - Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.  Background Reading:"Argentina Can Stop Its March Toward Default," by Arturo Porzecanski (https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/argentina-can-stop-its-march-toward-default/)

As it tears through Latin America, the coronavirus has highlighted both the impact of smart governance, as well as the toll of the region’s inequality. On the Americas Quarterly Podcast, Editor-in-chief Brian Winter speaks to doctors on the frontlines of the crisis about what they’re seeing, what they’ve learned about prevention, and how they envision a more equitable healthcare system.Guests:Dr. Enrique Boloña is the director of the intensive care unit at Clínica Guayaquil.Dr. David Acuña is an emergency room doctor at Hospital Clínico de la Universidad Católica and at Hospital Sótero del Río in Santiago, Chile.Dr. Sidney Klajner is a surgeon and president of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in São Paulo, Brazil. Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly.