The arrest – and return – of General Salvador Cienfuegos by U.S. authorities were both surprising developments in what has already turned out to be an unpredictable U.S.-Mexico relationship under Presidents Donald Trump and Andrés Manuel López Obrador. But a “reevaluation of the Mexican approach” is likely in store when the Joe Biden administration takes over, says the Wilson Center’s Duncan Wood.Guests:-Duncan Wood is director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center.-Brian Winter is the ed...
Nov 24, 2020•31 min
Joe Biden - not Donald Trump - will be the next U.S. president. What does that mean for Trump's biggest fan in South America, Jair Bolsonaro? How might a Biden victory change Brazil's relationship with China? AQ columnist Oliver Stuenkel joins editor-in-chief Brian Winter to break down what life after Trump could really mean for the Brazilian president and his base.Guests:-Oliver Stuenkel is a contributing columnist for Americas Quarterly and teaches international relations at the Getulio Vargas...
Nov 10, 2020•32 min
Chileans voted overwhelmingly to embark on what will be a long, expensive and imperfect journey to a new constitution. Despite the challenges, there's plenty of reason for optimism, says author and journalist Paula Schmidt. AQ's Brian Winter spoke with Schmidt about what we can expect next, the new constitution's potential to help close Chile's gender gap, and the marginalized community that Schmidt fears is being left out of the process.Guests:-Paula Schmidt is a journalist, a columnist in the ...
Oct 28, 2020•32 min
Like his presidency in general, Donald Trump’s relationship with Latin America has not been without surprises. Among them: his unexpectedly close relationship with some of the region’s key leaders. But how have US-Latin America relations really changed under Trump – and where might they be headed if Trump surprises again and wins reelection? Juan Cruz, a former special advisor to the president, gave AQ’s Brian Winter an insider’s view on Trump’s approach to the region.Guests:- Juan Cruz is a sen...
Oct 15, 2020•37 min
The early days of the pandemic saw Argentines rally around their new president, Alberto Fernández. But “those days are over,” says pollster Alejandro Catterberg, who points to a resurgence in polarization as COVID cases spread and the economy sinks deeper into recession. That’s bad news for the half of the country that wants to move past the divisive politics of former Presidents Mauricio Macri and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, said Catterberg, who spoke to AQ’s Brian Winter from Buenos Aires....
Sep 30, 2020•26 min
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 C...
Sep 17, 2020•26 min
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.
Sep 03, 2020•28 min
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 cent...
Aug 12, 2020•24 min
"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. Gonzale...
Jul 28, 2020•43 min
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 ...
Jul 16, 2020•28 min
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.- ...
Jul 01, 2020•22 min
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 Niem...
Jun 17, 2020•28 min
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 Wi...
Jun 03, 2020•25 min
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 Winte...
May 20, 2020•27 min
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...
May 07, 2020•29 min
The resignation of Brazil's popular Justice Minister Sérgio Moro shook Brazilian politics on April 24, but its ripples are still being felt. Political analyst Thomas Traumann joins AQ's Brian Winter to discuss the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that may have led to Moro's demise. They'll also assess the likelihood of impeachment and the future of Finance Minister Paulo Guedes, whose motivations for staying on the job seem less clear than they did a month ago.Guests:- Thomas Traumann is a Rio de J...
Apr 28, 2020•28 min
Colombia and Peru have taken in more Venezuelan migrants than any other country. But as the coronavirus spreads, the story of their warm welcome threatens to become one of xenophobia and exclusion. What are governments doing to prevent that? How is the pandemic changing life on the ground for migrants in Colombia and Peru? AQ's Editor-in-chief Brian Winter discussed the challenging situation with Feline Freier, a migration expert in Lima, and Lala Lovera, a migrant advocate in Bogotá.Guests:Lala...
Apr 23, 2020•27 min
As other Latin American governments pass big stimulus packages to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has opted for austerity. Why? Is there any chance he changes his mind? Vanessa Rubio Márquez, a senator and Mexico's former undersecretary of finance and public credit, spoke to AQ's Editor-in-chief Brian Winter about the response so far - and a different path forward.
Apr 17, 2020•25 min
China was instrumental in helping Latin America weather the last global financial crisis. Can it do so again? The coming recession could offer the superpower a new opportunity to build influence in Latin America. But this isn't 2008, says China-Latin America expert Margaret Myers, and the regional relationship is a lot more complicated. Myers joined AQ's Editor-in-chief Brian Winter to discuss what China wants in Latin America, and what the pandemic changes.Guests:Margaret Myers is the director ...
Apr 09, 2020•26 min
Governments across Latin America are urgently trying to find the right balance between protecting jobs and protecting public health. Perhaps nowhere has the debate been as contentious as in Brazil, where the president has said the country needs to protect jobs, not practice social distancing. But is this a false choice? Brazilian economist Monica de Bolle joins AQ's Editor-in-chief Brian Winter to discuss how Brazil can contain the virus, as well as the economic fallout. Background reading:- "Ho...
Apr 02, 2020•27 min
The coronavirus has sent a devastating shock throughout the global economy. How vulnerable is Latin America? Which countries are best prepared to handle it? AQ's Editor-in-chief Brian Winter discusses the region’s response with the Council on Foreign Relations' Shannon O'Neil. Background reading:1) "Latin America, With Few Bullets to Spare," by Eduardo Levy Yeyati (shorturl.at/HKNV0)2) "Latin America 'Needs Fiscal Stimulus Today,' Mauricio Cárdenas Says," by Leonie Rauls (shorturl.at/FTW04) 3) "...
Mar 19, 2020•26 min
Polls show Chile wants to replace its dictatorship-era constitution. But is a new constitution what’s best for Chile? Patricio Navia, an AQ columnist and political scientist at NYU, says it’s not. In the inaugural episode of the Americas Quarterly Podcast, Navia joins AQ Editor-in-chief Brian Winter to talk about the risks of starting from scratch.The Americas Quarterly Podcast is a new production of Americas Quarterly. For more information, check out AmericasQuarterly.orgBackground reading1. Ch...
Mar 05, 2020•26 min
