The Americas Quarterly Podcast

Panama’s president-elect José Raúl Mulino assumes control of a country struggling with challenges that pertain not only to its population but to many other countries as well. Climate change is affecting the Panama canal and there is rising migration through the Darien Gap. Panama is also a theater for the U.S.-China competition. In today's episode we explore what to expect from Mulino's term in office regarding these and other issues, such as the copper mine that has been a center of controversy in the past year and what's next for Ricardo Martinelli, the former president who helped put Mulino in office while simultaneously hiding in the Nicaraguan embassy to escape a conviction for money laundering. Our guest is Mat Youkee, a journalist who has covered Latin America for many years and Panama since 2018.

In an attempt to gauge what another Joe Biden or Donald Trump administration would mean for policy toward Latin America, the AQ Podcast is bringing in people with intimate knowledge of both camps. In this episode, Ricardo Zúniga, a major figure on Latin America policy under the Barack Obama and Biden administrations, reviews the major events on the past fours years and looks ahead to what could change if Biden is reelected in November. He discusses overarching policy strategies towards the region, how the U.S. has addressed China’s growing presence there, migration and trade, as well as the specific dynamics of the relationships with Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Cuba and Argentina.

Pollster and political strategist Ana Iparraguirre discusses why Argentineans are still supporting Milei despite economic hardships, highlighting his pro-market agenda and ambitions on the global stage. The podcast explores the challenges faced by Milei in building alliances, enacting reforms, and navigating the political landscape in Argentina. It also touches on the clash between libertarian ideals and regulatory needs, as well as the evolving political ideologies in the country.

Brazil's economy performed better than expected last year, expanding almost 3%. But in 2024 the outlook is more complex, as last year's sources of growth are not expected to perform in the same way. There is also a tug of war inside the Lula administration about public spending and government oversight in national oil company Petrobras. In this episode we assess Latin America's largest economy from an investment perspective and look at the politics behind recent government decisions and what is to come. Our guest is Mário Braga, a senior analyst for Brazil at Control Risks consultancy firm.

Jose Vicente Carr, an expert on Venezuelan politics, discusses Maduro's power consolidation strategies and the opposition's willingness to participate in the upcoming election. The episode explores Maduro's control tactics, the importance of a unified opposition, Maria Corina's strategic maneuvers, US-Venezuela relations, and the challenges faced by the Biden administration in engaging with Maduro.

Organized crime has in recent years begun to affect formerly calm countries like Chile and Ecuador, while remaining strong in places such as Mexico and Brazil. In this episode, an analysis of recent crime trends in the region. We’ll also assess how governments have been responding – some choose to disengage altogether, while others toughen their approach. Our guest is Jeremy McDermott, one of the founders of InSight Crime, a think tank and publication that produces in-depth reports and analysis on international crime in Latin America.

Less than three months away from Mexico's elections, many analysts see it as a given that Claudia Sheinbaum, the frontrunner, is likely to win. Sheinbaum’s biggest asset is the endorsement of the current president, Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador, known as AMLO, who seems to be transferring his popularity to her candidacy. But there are still a lot of questions about this race and about the candidates. Is there any chance that the opposition candidate Xochitl Gálvez could still pull this off? What defines these two candidates? How might Claudia Sheinbaum be different from López Obrador once she’s elected, in style, and in areas such as energy and security? How is Mexico’s next president likely to interact with the United States, especially given Donald Trump’s past and current rhetoric about Mexico? In this episode, political commentator Carlos Bravo Regidor takes the temperature of the political climate in Mexico. 

The goal of building ties between global south countries has driven foreign policy in Latin America and elsewhere in recent years. In this episode we dive into what that has amounted to. What have been the most successful examples of cooperation between Latin America and other global south countries? Which presidents have prioritized this, and what's their motivation? What are the challenges or barriers hindering effective cooperation between Latin America and other global south countries? And what does this agenda mean for countries of the global north? Our guest is Andrea Ordóñez, Senior Research Fellow at Southern Voice.

Exploring political turmoil in Peru with focus on democratic backsliding, corruption allegations, and removal of judicial members. Analysis of coalition in Congress promoting anti-transparency measures. Scandal involving Prime Minister raising government instability concerns. Peru's challenges with organized crime, societal issues, and historical resilience.