In 2023, U.S. trade with Mexico grew to nearly $800 billion, leading Mexico to surpass both Canada and China as the United States’ number one trading partner. While U.S.-Mexico trade has long been a pillar of North American economic competitiveness, Washington’s efforts to move trade away from China in favor of nearshoring and friendshoring in the Western Hemisphere, coupled with the advantages of a modernized trade agreement in the form of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has underpinned this increase in bilateral trade and investment. At the same time, Chinese investment in Mexico has skyrocketed, with estimates finding that in 2022 Chinese foreign direct investment in Mexico was more than double that of 2018.  In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Kenneth Smith Ramos, Chief Trade Negotiator for Mexico from 2017 to 2018 and one of the architects of USMCA. Together, they discuss the evolution of USMCA since its entry into force in 2020, with a focus on the recent surge of Chinese invesment in Mexico, understanding the nature of this investment, as well as the potential challenges it may present. They also discuss the upcoming 2026 Joint Review of the agreement, and what can be done by all three countries to lay the groundwork for a more constructive session.

On Sunday, May 5, Panamanians will cast their votes to determine the next president, as well as all members of the National Assembly. With a crowded field of candidates vying for the presidency, and only a single round to determine the victor, it promises to be a divided field. The elections are also taking place within a deeply polarized context, as Panama has been rocked by mass protests against the Cobre Panama Mining project, the country grapples with both a worsening water crisis, and the endemic challenge of corruption continues to loom large. In this special episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Annette Planells, a civil society leader and anticorruption activist, and Executive President of the newspaper La Prensa. Together, they discuss the election's implications for Panama's ongoing fight against corruption, especially in light of the disqualification of ex-president and former frontrunner Ricardo Martinelli following his conviction on bribery charges. They also reflect on how the various candidates will navigate some of the most salient questions in Panamanian politics today, including water insecurity, infrastructure, as well as Panama's relations with both China and the United States. 

Looking across the hemisphere today, crime and insecurity appears on the march, with transnational criminal groups ascendant from Mexico to the Caribbean and southern cone. In light of this, it is important to reflect upon the history of U.S.-LAC security cooperation, where we have seen two major, multi-year security initiatives launched and concluded in the past 25 years, Plan Colombia, and the Mérida Initiative.   In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Dr. Paul Angelo, Director of the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies at National Defense University. Together, they discuss his new book From Peril to Partnership: US Security Assistance and the Bid to Stabilize Colombia and Mexico. They trace the divergent origins and outcomes of both Plan Colombia and the Mérida Initiative, as well as the current security challenges facing the hemisphere. 

Semiconductors form the building blocks of modern digital life. Chips govern everything from missile guidance systems to the headlights in your car, and the fight for the cutting edge of this technology appears to be entering a new phase. The United States, in partnership with allies like Japan and the Netherlands, has sought to cut off China’s access to advanced chip designs and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. In response, China has announced a raft of export controls on minerals needed to produce modern chips, leveraging its dominance in the supply chain for mining and refining key minerals. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Dr. Chris Miller, Associate Professor with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and author of Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology. Together, they analyze the challenges and choke points in the semiconductor supply chain, including the need to identify and certify alternative suppliers, as well as the role that countries in the Western Hemisphere can play in breaking China's monopoly over the raw material inputs for semiconductors. They also unpack the challenges to getting more mining, refining, and processing online, and how the United States can better partner with allies to shore up this sector of the supply chain.

Haiti’s years-long political and security crisis entered a new phase last week when Prime Minister Ariel Henry, Haiti’s acting head of state since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, announced his resignation. Now, Haiti faces a period of profound uncertainty, with a serious power vacuum in government, ascendant criminal groups within striking distance of the halls of state power, and increasingly narrow prospects for a long-awaited international aid mission. In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Georges Fauriol, Senior Associate with the CSIS Americas Program and fellow with the Caribbean Policy Consortium. Together, they unpack the implications of Henry's resignation, the recent surge in gang activity, as well as what the future may hold as Haiti continues to struggle to come to terms with citizen security. They also discuss the reactions of Haitian civil society, and the lack of substantial action on the part of the international community.

Citizens from LAC countries have also played a more direct role in the conflict as foreign fighters for both sides. Neither Moscow nor Kyiv publish exact data on the number or nationality of LAC fighters who join their ranks, but estimates range from several hundred to more than a thousand fighters total spread across each front.  On February 23, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, sat down with Elizabeth M.F. Grasmeder, Adjunct Professor of National Security Policy with Duke University, and Andrei Serbin Pont, Executive Director of CRIES-LAC, for a conversation on X (formerly Twitter) about the role of foreign fights from LAC on both sides in Ukraine. Together, they unpacked the motivations of fighters for joining both Ukraine and Russia, why Moscow and Kyiv have turned to recruiting foreign fighters, and the broader implications of war in Ukraine for Latin American countries. 

On Sunday, February 4, Salvadorans headed to the polls to cast their votes in what virtually all analysts predicted would yield a landslide victory for incumbent President Nayib Bukele. However, official confirmation of Bukele’s victory was interrupted as the president declared the opposition was “pulverized” before the final transmission of the votes had been completed and announced by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. While this appears to have been resolved in Bukele’s favor, with the tribunal officially announcing Bukele’s victory with some 83 percent of the vote, this incident is but the latest in a steady march of democratic backsliding in El Salvador, one where Bukele has shown contempt for any effort to check his executive authority. In this special episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Noah Bullock, Executive Director of Cristosal, a leading human rights organization which has been closely tracking the infringements upon civil and political rights under the Bukele administration. Together, they unpack the consequences of El Salvador's presidential elections, what to expect under a second Bukele term, and how the United States should respond.

Last month, Ecuador was rocked by a series of attacks carried out by members of criminal gangs. Over the course of two days of grueling violence, inmates rioted and took over prisons, gangs detonated car bombs across the country, and armed gunmen even stormed a live television broadcast in the violence-wracked city of Guayaquil. Then a few days later, the prosecutor investigating the attack on the TV station was gunned-down in cold blood. In response, newly-elected President Daniel Noboa has mobilized the armed forces and declared a state of “internal armed conflict” along with designating some 22 criminal groups as terrorist organizations. In this episode, Sebastián Hurtado, President and Founder of the Quito-based political risk consultancy Prófitas returns to 35 West to sit down with Christopher Hernandez-Roy. Together, they analyze the causes and consequences of spiking violence in Ecuador, the pressures Noboa faces to deliver quick results, and the challenges facing the Ecuadorian government's attempts to regain control over prisons and tamp down on ascendant criminal groups.

In the months since Bernardo Arevalo's upset victory in Guatemala's presidential elections, a small elite often referred as “the pact of the corrupt,” has tried to derail the president-elect from taking office. In response, the United States imposed visa restrictions on nearly 300 Guatemalan congressmen and business leaders, while the Organization of American States, other international organizations and civil society raised mounting cries to respect the outcome of the election. For the time being, their tireless efforts appear to have paid off, with President Arrevalo taking office on January 14th, but only after a last-ditch effort by members in congress to block him.  In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Ambassador Frank O. Mora, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States. Together, they shine a spotlight on the efforts of Guatemalan civil society, the OAS and the U.S. to defend democracy from efforts to overturn electoral results. They also look ahead to upcoming elections in the hemisphere, and analyze the role of the United States and OAS in safeguarding election integrity, and resisting democratic backsliding.

En esta edición especial en español, Christopher Hernández-Roy, Director Adjunto y Senior Fellow del Programa sobre las Américas, conversa con Yaxys Cires, Director de Estrategia del Observatorio Cubano de Derechos Humanos sobre los resultados del último Examen Periódico Universal de Cuba del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de Naciones Unidas. Analizan la dicotomía entre la retórica gubernamental y la triste realidad de los derechos humanos en Cuba así como la profunda crisis económica que atraviesa la isla y cómo el régimen de Díaz-Canel ha respondido a estas presiones. In this special Spanish-language episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow with the Americas Program, sits down with Yaxys Cires, Director of Strategy at the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights to discuss the recent United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review of Cuba. They discuss the dichotomy between the government’s rhetoric and the sad reality of Cuba's human rights record. They also discuss the mounting economic crisis facing the island and how the Díaz-Canel government has responded to these pressures. 

Mexico's general election on June 2 of 2024 promises to be a seminal moment for Mexican politics and society on a number of fronts, in particular, the race has made headlines as a contest between two women, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum on one hand, and Senator Xóchitl Gálvez on the other, promising to herald Mexico’s first female president. But the race is also a test of the staying power of current President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Morena Party, and whether its breakout success in 2018 can be translated into sustained influence over Mexican politics. In this special episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Alma Caballero, Northern Latin America Managing Director at McLarty Associates. Together, they discuss the policy positions of the frontrunners, the challenges that will face either a Gálvez or a Sheinbaum government, and the influence President López Obrador is likely to wield over Mexico's political environment even after departing office. They also delve into questions of security, and the threat organized crime may pose to the electoral process next year.

En este episodio especial en español, Laura Delgado López, becaria visitante del programa de las Américas, se sienta a conversar con Victoria Valdivia Cerda, profesora de la Academia Nacional de Estudios Políticos y Estratégicos (ANEPE) y experta en política y derecho espacial. Ellas conversan sobre las distintas formas en que los países latinoamericanos enfocan su actividad espacial, incluyendo el desarrollo tecnológico, la cooperación internacional y el impacto de la competencia entre grandes potencias en los programas espaciales de la región. También, discuten el desarrollo de capacidades espaciales de doble uso, los riesgos de las armas antisatélite y cómo sus implicaciones van más allá del sector espacial.   In this special Spanish-language episode, Laura Delgado López, visiting fellow with the Americas Program, sits down with Victoria Valdivia Cerda, professor at the National Academy of Political and Strategic Studies (ANEPE) and expert in space policy and law. They discuss the different ways in which Latin American countries approach space activities, including technology development, international cooperation, and the impact of great power competition on regional space programs. They also discuss the development of dual-use space capabilities, the risks of anti-satellite weapons and how their implications go beyond the space sector.

On October 29, more than ten thousand elected positions, from local councils to departmental governors, throughout Colombia went up for election. The results confirmed predictions of setbacks for President Gustavo Petro’s governing Pacto Histórico coalition, which lost races in key cities such as Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali, in addition to several governorships. In this special episode, Juliana Rubio sits down with Sergio Guzmán, the Director of Colombia Risk Analysis. Together, they explore the key trends shaping the electoral environment, and delve into a couple of key races such as the Bogotá mayoral election. They also outline ways in which the Petro government may react, and prospects for the president to push forward his ambitious agenda within a more divided political context.

On Sunday, October 15, following a race that appeared neck-and-neck at several points, Daniel Noboa emerged victorious as Ecuador’s youngest elected president. Noboa’s victory over opponent Luisa González, the handpicked representative of former president Rafael Correa, signaled a desire for a change among the electorate, not only a departure from the outgoing Lasso government, but also a rejection of efforts to campaign off of nostalgia for the early Correa years. Yet whether Noboa, son of one of the country’s wealthiest businessmen, can deliver the kinds of novel change needed to pull Ecuador out of both a flagging economic situation and spiraling security crisis remains to be seen. In this special episode, Sebastián Hurtado, President and Founder of the Quito-based political risk consultancy Prófitas returns to 35 West to sit down with Christopher Hernandez-Roy. Together, they discuss the implications of Noboa's victory for Ecuador-U.S. relations, Noboa's agenda, and how he might plan to work with a divided legislature to deliver on key campaign promises.

En este episodio especial en español, Ryan C. Berg se sienta a conversar con Brenda Struminger, periodista y corresponsal de la Casa Rosada para Infobae. Ellos conversaron sobre la primera vuelta de las elecciones presidenciales argentinas y las cuestiones claves en juego, especialmente los planes de cada candidato para resolver la crisis económica del país. También analizaron la relación bilateral entre Argentina y Estados Unidos, y lo que significarán las elecciones para los esfuerzos de Argentina por hacer frente a la creciente inseguridad. In this special Spanish-Language episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Brenda Struminger, a journalist and Casa Rosada correspondent for Infobae. They discuss Argentina's upcoming first-round presidential elections and the key issues at play, most notably the plans of each candidate to resolve Argentina's current economic crisis. They also dig into the bilateral relationship between Argentina and the United States, and what elections will mean for Argentina's efforts to tackle rising insecurity. 

The level of economic integration that Mexico, the United States, and Canada have managed to achieve with one another is surely one of the defining success stories of the Western Hemisphere. Undoubtedly however, more needs to be done to realize the full potential of North American trade, especially as politically charged disputes over key issues from energy to automotives and agriculture risk undermining support within all three countries at a time when it is most sorely needed.   In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Orlando Pérez, Senior Counsel at TMI Abogados, and the principal negotiator of USMCA’s intellectual property chapter. Together, they discuss the genesis of USMCA, contemporary challenges to the agreement, and what needs to be done to encourage further trade integration in light of the recent 2023 U.S.-Mexico High-Level Economic Dialogue. They also investigate recent calls for extending USMCA to countries outside of North America, and lessons for future trade policy.

En este episodio especial en español, Juliana Rubio se sienta a conversar con Tamara Dávila, Tamara Dávila, psicóloga, feminista y activista política, y también una de las 222 presas políticas que fueron enviadas a los Estados Unidos el 9 febrero de este año.  Ellos conversaron sobre el activismo continuo de Tamara en favor de los derechos humanos y la democracia en Nicaragua, así como en el papel indispensable de las mujeres en los movimientos democráticos. Además la conversación se centró en las formas en que la represión política en Nicaragua se cruza con el género y otras identidades, y la necesidad de una presión sostenida contra el régimen. In this special Spanish-Language episode, Juliana Rubio sits down with Tamara Dávila, psychologist, feminist, and political activist, and one of the 222 political prisoners sent to the United States on February 9 of this year.  They delve into Tamara's continued activism on behalf of human rights and democracy in Nicaragua, as well as the indispensable role of women in democratic movements. They also outline the ways in which political repression in Nicaragua intersects with gender and other identities, and the need for sustained pressure against the regime.

On Sunday, August 20, Ecuadorians went to the polls to vote in a snap election clouded by political upheaval, violence, and uncertainty.  The campaign was marred especially by the assassination of vocal anticorruption candidate Fernando Villavicencio on August 9. With no candidate on August 20 securing the margin needed to win outright, Ecuador’s period of political uncertainty will stretch on further, and with it, important questions of security, democracy, and the future of U.S.-Ecuador relations. In this special episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Sebastián Hurtado, President and Founder of the Quito-based political risk consultancy Prófitas. Together, they unpack key trends in and around the first round election, including the performance of key candidates, the overlay of insecurity and entrenched corruption, and what to expect from the run-off on October 15. They also delve into the composition of the new National Assembly, and two key ballot initiatives on environmental issues.

On August 20, Guatemalans will head to the polls to elect their next president, marking the culmination of a long and fraught electoral process. The election will pit Sandra Torres, a longstanding political force heading one of the country’s most well-oiled political machines, against unexpected contender Bernardo Arevalo, who surged to claim second place in the June first round elections.  In this special episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Will Freeman, Fellow for Latin America Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Together, they set the stage for the coming elections, outlining the unexpected rise of Arevalo and his party, the policy positions of the two candidates, and the overarching context of Guatemala's evolving political environment and democracy. They also touch upon the implications of this elections for U.S.-Guatemala relations, as well as common threads between Guatemala and Ecuador, who will host elections on the same day.

Energy is an often overlooked, yet fundamental building block for economic growth and prosperity— especially in light of a shifting geopolitical context which has placed a premium on securing supply chains from disruption by malign actors and strategic competitors, there is a unique opportunity for North America as a bloc to rethink energy security. But the development of the North American natural gas industry has unfolded unevenly. While the United States has been quick to make the jump, even becoming a net energy exporter, Mexico in particular has been steadily decreasing its domestic production in favor of cheap, competitive U.S. imports. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Benigna Cortés Leiss, Nonresident Fellow in Latin American Energy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Together, they discuss the obstacles facing Mexico's domestic natural gas sector, and how a focus on state-owned oil company PEMEX to the exclusion of other actors, has undermined the country's potential to capitalize on its other energy resources. They also discuss how a more robust Mexican gas industry could join the United States and Canada to seize on opportunities and ameliorate global energy insecurity prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

A shifting global narcotics market has brought on new challenges, with one of the most significant developments occurring in the global cocaine trade, where Europe has emerged as the preeminent destination for these illicit shipments. As drug trafficking organizations pivot their operations to take advantage of the high prices cocaine fetches on the European markets and low penalties for distributors, the Caribbean becomes a more important transshipment point. The Caribbean’s strategic geography, insufficient port security and interdiction assets, direct connections to Europe, along with criminal networks make this region an appealing transit point for drug trafficking organizations. In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Rufus Ferdinand, Deputy Chief Operations Officer for the Joint Regional Communications Center (JRCC) at the Caribbean Community’s Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS). Together, they discuss the agency's priorities for confronting shifting criminal dynamics, improving intelligence cooperation, and enhancing technology adoption and training. They also delve into the second-order consequences of narcotics trafficking, especially firearms trafficking in and through the region.

Linked by trade, geography, and shared democratic institutions, the partnership between Panama and the United States allowed both countries to reap significant benefits. However, beyond any economic factors, Panama’s commitment to democracy, including as a founding member of the Alliance for Development in Democracy, alongside Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, is truly what cements the importance of the U.S.-Panama partnership.  In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Janaina Tewaney, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama. Together, they analyze the role of U.S.-Panama cooperation across a range of topics from nearshoring, to environmental conservation, and the ongoing fight against organized crime. The conversation also emphasizes the historical roots of the bilateral relationship, and future opportunities to strengthen cooperation.

In recent years, the authoritarian Ortega-Murillo regime has consolidated power, systematically dismantled organized opposition, and brutally cracked down on public protests. To push back against the regime, the United States has deployed sanctions, on individuals, entities, and state-owned companies, as well as directed its executive directors at multilateral lending institutions to oppose financing to Managua. These measures remain insufficient to place genuine pressure on the regime, however, and a more muscular sanctions architecture is in order as the Nicaraguan regime continues to run roughshod over human rights and presents a geopolitical threat the United States.   In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Eric Olson, Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for the Seattle International Foundation. Together, they assess the current state of U.S. sanctions against Nicaragua, as well as future directions for bringing pressure against the regime. They also evaluate the risks inherent in a sanctions campaign, and how to balance between denying revenues to the regime and preserving the livelihoods of Nicaraguan citizens, as well as avoiding exacerbating already serious migration flows from Nicaragua.

After four years of a so-called “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign against Venezuela, there seems to be a push from Washington to revisit this sanctions architecture. Sanctions relief has long been a priority for the Maduro regime, which also ascribes blame for all manner of Venezuela’s economic woes on the U.S.-led sanctions campaign. However, the United States should be highly skeptical about pledges from the regime without concrete signs of improvement, and must be able to credibly threaten that these measures will snap back in the case of worsening conditions.  In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Carrie Filipetti, Executive Director of the Vandenberg Coalition, and former Deputy Special Representative for Venezuela at the U.S. Department of State. Together, they discuss into the state of U.S. sanctions today against the Maduro regime, the role these will play in the leadup to planned presidential elections, and what can be done to further pressure the regime to make meaningful concessions at the negotiating table.

AUKUS, the newly-established security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and United States, has made waves of late as a result of its focus on helping Australia operate, acquire, and eventually build its own nuclear-powered attack submarines. But the agreement goes well beyond that, to touch on emerging technologies and providing greater deterrence to revisionist and revanchist powers. Canada, despite its membership in important partnerships like NATO and the Five Eyes, was absent from initial AUKUS discussions, and while Ottawa is now apparently considering the benefits of the agreement, Canada’s defense posture remains woefully out of sync with that of its allies. In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Vincent Rigby, senior adviser with the CSIS Americas Program and visiting professor at the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University. Together they discuss the findings of a recent CSIS Commentary making the case for Canadian membership in AUKUS, the advantages participation in the agreement would garner, as well as what Canada could bring to the table. They also go beyond AUKUS to examine Canada’s broader defense posture and security challenges.

Rising geopolitical tensions between the United States, Russia, and China, have prompted some to argue the world is heading towards a polarized and fragmented future, with some countries split into opposing camps between democracies and autocracies and others not wanting to choose sides. In Latin America, rising U.S.-China competition has provoked fears that the region may be forced to choose between the economic development and trade which China offers, and its longstanding relationship with the United States. In response, a new strategy, known as Active Non-Alignment, has been proposed for the region.  In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Ambassador Jorge Heine, one of the most prominent luminaries on the theory of active non-alignment and is also the co-editor of a new influential book Latin American Foreign Policies in the New World Order: The Active Non-Alignment Option. Together, they discuss the theory and various perspectives on Active Non-Alignment, its application by countries in the region as a response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the future of the strategy for a world marked by U.S.-China competition.  

Latin American and Caribbean countries face mounting risks from natural disasters, with the region ranking as one of the most climate vulnerable areas in the world. With climate change likely to exacerbate these challenges, developing effective strategies for delivering Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), is of critical importance in the Western Hemisphere.   In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with CDR (ret.) Pat Paterson, Professor of Practice at National Defense University’s William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies. Together they discuss a recent report from the Perry Center on improving U.S. humanitarian aid efforts. They delve into current approaches, areas for increased cooperation, as well as the still small but growing footprint of China's HADR efforts in the western hemisphere.

On April 3, 2023, the Maduro regime denounced the statement by International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan that the ICC would continue to press its investigation into human rights abuses perpetrated by the Venezuelan security forces. This marks the latest bout in a series of exchanges between the regime and the court, as Maduro seeks to undermine the investigation by pretending to address the question of impunity with occasional trials. In this "Best of 35 West" episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with José Ignacio Hernández, the former Special Prosecutor of the Interim Government of Venezuela, and a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Center for International Development. Together, they discuss the likely outcomes of the investigation and progress made so far. They also highlight the importance of international criminal investigations for advancing the conversation around human rights and democracy within Venezuela.

The Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have long faced challenges from gangs which have become entrenched criminal networks. In response, governments throughout the region have periodically adopted hardline, or mano dura, security policies to clamp down on gangs. Most recently, El Salvador has seen one of the most extreme versions of such a policy under President Nayib Bukele, using a state of emergency to curtail constitutional protections, jailing upwards of sixty thousand alleged gang members, and serving as a backdrop for his consolidation of power and attacks on civil society and the press. In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Steven Dudley, Co-Director of InSight Crime and author of the award-winning book MS-13: The Making of America’s Most Notorious Gang. Together, they unpack the nature of El Salvador's state of exception, what differentiates it from past hardline policies, and the threat this "Plan Bukele" poses to El Salvador and to democracies throughout the region. They also delve into the impact of both gang violence and counter-gang repression on Salvadoran citizens, and what can be done to promote lasting security in Central America.

More than one year after Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, Latin America and the Caribbean has been impacted in a number of ways. Demand for oil has prompted the United States to pursue an opening to Venezuela, empowering the authoritarian Maduro regime even as Washington denounces extra-hemispheric dictators. Meanwhile, disruptions to energy and fertilizer supplies more broadly have stalled economic recovery in a region already struggling to bounce back from the Covid-19 pandemic.  In this episode, Ryan C. Berg and Christopher Hernandez-Roy sit down to unpack a recent CSIS Americas commentary on Latin America's response to the war in Ukraine and reflect on developments in the hemisphere at about the one-year mark of the conflict. Together, they outline the economic, political, and diplomatic pressures the conflict has placed on governments throughout the region. They also delve into the tendency of many countries to hedge against offering support to Ukraine and the troubling implications this holds as the war enters into its second year.

Semiconductors, materials used to control the flow of electricity through a circuit in precise patterns, are the lifeblood of the modern digital economy. However, the global semiconductor industry remains highly concentrated, signaling a clear need to develop supply chain resiliency in the semiconductor industry. This trend in turn carries significant potential for Latin American countries, which could see their burgeoning chip manufacturing and research industries catalyzed by new investments. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Jackie Sturm, Corporate Vice President for Global Supply Chain Operations at Intel Corporation. Together, they discuss rebalancing semiconductor supply chains, and opportunities for the Western Hemisphere, especially in countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil. They also highlight the importance of U.S. policy, notably the CHIPS Act, and the work Intel is doing to engage throughout the hemisphere to support resilient supply chains for this critical industry.

With a rich network of volcanoes on the Ring of Fire, Latin America is uniquely positioned to benefit from developing geothermal energy within their countries. However, because geothermal energy is not found at the surface level of the earth, exploration costs, which translate to market price, are very high, and at the moment limit the potential for Latin America to draw out its full geothermal potential. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Ximena Guardia Muguruza, an Environmental Engineer and expert on geothermal energy currently studying at the University of Rekjavik. Together, they discuss the landscape of geothermal energy projects in Latin America, with a close focus on Peru, where the industry remains in its very early stages. They also unpack the key benefits offered by geothermal power sources, and outline what determinants of success will look like for tapping the full potential of geothermal in Peru, and throughout the hemisphere.

En este episodio especial en español Ryan C. Berg se sienta a conversar con Valeria Moy, directora general del Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad, uno de los centros de investigación más reconocido en México. Ellos conversaron sobre el estado del sector digital en México y los desafíos para el acceso seguro y fiable a Internet para todos. Aunque México tiene potencial significante en el espacio digital, el sector de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) sufre de prácticas anticompetitivas. Además la conversación se centró del estado más amplio de las relaciones económicas entre México y Estados Unidos, incluso el T-MEC y Diálogo Económico de Alto Nivel. In this special Spanish-Language episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Valeria Moy, Director General of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness, one of the most well-known think tanks in Mexico. They discussed the state of the digital sector in Mexico and the challenges to secure, reliable access to internet for all. While Mexico has great potential in the digital space, its Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector is held back by anticompetitive practices. The conversation also focused on broader developments in the U.S.-Mexico economic relationship, including the USMCA and High-Level Economic Dialogue.  

In recent years, hydrogen has risen as an important prospect in the energy transition. Latin America is looking closely at the hydrogen industry, and governments in countries such as Chile, Colombia, Brazil, and Paraguay are betting on green hydrogen production; that is, hydrogen that is produced with renewable resources, such as wind and solar, as opposed to coal, natural gas, or other non-renewables.   In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Sunita Satyapal, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Together, they unpack the uses and role of hydrogen, the state of play in the Western Hemisphere, and some of the actions the United States is taking to promote further hydrogen development. They also underscore the importance of partnerships across the public and private sectors to cultivate expertise and accelerate hydrogen technology adoption.

The Western Hemisphere has been rocked by a series of regional and global shocks, from supply chain disruptions, to growing food insecurity, to political polarization and ongoing environmental shifts. In the face of these disruptions, private enterprise and the business community play an important role, maintaining livelihoods, supporting innovative technologies, and advocating for sustainable development. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Ambassador Juan Carlos Pinzón, a Visiting Diplomatic Fellow with the CSIS Americas program, and former two-time Ambassador of Colombia to the United States. Together, they discuss the importance of the private sector for Latin America's post-pandemic recovery and economic future. They also dig into rising political polarization and democratic backsliding in the region, and how the private sector can respond to these challenges.

Journalists throughout the region must not only navigate rising disinformation, misinformation, and political polarization, but also threats to their own physical safety as the hemisphere continues to rank as one of the deadliest regions for journalist protections. To fortify the free and independent press throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, the Organization of American States recently announced the establishment of the Center for Media Integrity of the Americas, a hub for best practices and support for journalists throughout the region. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Ambassador John Feeley, former U.S. Ambassador to Panama and the inaugural Executive Director of the Center for Media Integrity of the Americas. Together, they discuss the Center's emergent role and efforts to uplift journalistic integrity amid a shifting media landscape. They also discuss the persistence of threats to journalists' safety, and the increased role of social media in shaping informational environments. 

No dia 2 de Outubro, o povo brasileiro votou no primeiro turno das eleições presidenciais. Por mais que nenhum candidato tenha conseguido uma maioria total, o Presidente Jair Bolsonaro e o ex-presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, que ganharam respectivamente 43 e 48% dos votos válidos, irão para o segundo turno. Nessa semana, Ryan C. Berg conversará com Thiago de Aragão, um senior associate no CSIS e diretor de estratégia na Arko Advice. Juntos, eles analisam os resultados da eleição, discutem as razões por trás da surpreendentemente pequena margem entre Lula e Bolsonaro e os principais erros das pesquisas, e o que podemos esperar até o segundo turno. Eles também discutem a parceria dos Estados Unidos com o Brazil, um dos principais aliados americanos no hemisfério, e o futuro da política estrangeira estado-unidense com o Brasil independentemente do próximo presidente. On October 2, Brazilians voted in the first round of the country’s presidential elections. While no candidate secured a majority of the vote that would allow them to claim victory immediately, both incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and former president Luis Inacio “Lula” da Silva emerged as clear frontrunners, receiving approximately 43 and 48 percent of all votes cast respectively. This week, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Thiago de Aragão, a senior associate with CSIS and director of strategy at Arko Advice, a political risk analysis firm based in Brazil. Together, they unpack the election results, why some polls significantly underestimated the margin of support for Bolsonaro and Lula, and what to expect as the election heads towards a run-off. They also discuss the importance of Brazil as a strategic partner of the United States and keystone country in the hemisphere, and weigh in on U.S. foreign policy options for Brazil no matter who emerges as the next president.

On September 4, Chileans took to the polls for a constitutional referendum that saw a highly progressive draft constitution overwhelmingly rejected, with 62 percent voting against, and just 38 percent in favor. The outcome is a setback for the Boric government, which has tied itself to the constitutional reform project, and promises to lengthen an already long-running process. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Patricio Navia, Professor of Liberal Studies at New York University and Professor of Political Science at Universidad Diego Portales in Chile. Together, they unpack why the referendum resulted in a significant win for the "reject" campaign despite high levels of support for a new constitution in general. They also analyze the implications of the vote for the Chilean government, options for re-drafting a constitution, and what lessons can be learned from the referendum for the region as a whole.

China has significantly expanded its presence throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, elevating worries that the democratic traditions of the Western Hemisphere could be at risk. However, the types of engagement China pursues and the consequences they present are often poorly understood, leading to misunderstandings between Washington and the region.   In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Pepe Zhang, associate director and fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. Together they break down the various economic, political, and institutional ways China has pursued a closer relationship with Latin American and Caribbean countries. They also sketch the contours of a U.S. strategy for addressing China's engagement in the hemisphere, and argue that the United States to put the needs of the region first for such a strategy to be effective.

Nicaragua’s descent into authoritarianism has had far-reaching humanitarian, economic, and diplomatic consequences. One lesser-understood dimension of this crisis has been the growing reliance of the Ortega-Murillo regime on extra-hemispheric authoritarian states to help cement its hold on power in the face of both international and domestic pressures. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Evan Ellis, research professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute, and a Senior Associate with the CSIS Americas Program. Together, they discuss how Nicaragua has cultivated alliances with autocratic regimes around the world, including Russia, China, and Iran, in addition to like-minded regimes within the hemisphere. They also discuss options for the United States and allies to push back against these global authoritarian networks and increase pressure on the Ortega-Murillo regime.

En este episodio especial en español Ryan C. Berg se sienta a conversar con Valeria Moy, directora general del Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad, uno de los centros de investigación más reconocido en México. Ellos conversaron sobre el estado del sector digital en México y los desafíos para el acceso seguro y fiable a Internet para todos. Aunque México tiene potencial significante en el espacio digital, el sector de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) sufre de prácticas anticompetitivas. Además la conversación se centró del estado más amplio de las relaciones económicas entre México y Estados Unidos, incluso el T-MEC y Diálogo Económico de Alto Nivel. In this special Spanish-Language episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Valeria Moy, Director General of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness, one of the most well-known think tanks in Mexico. They discussed the state of the digital sector in Mexico and the challenges to secure, reliable access to internet for all. While Mexico has great potential in the digital space, its Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector is held back by anticompetitive practices. The conversation also focused on broader developments in the U.S.-Mexico economic relationship, including the USMCA and High-Level Economic Dialogue.  

Around the world, democratic institutions have come under siege, while consolidation within and between autocratic regimes has accelerated in recent years. As it becomes increasingly evident that autocrats are following a shared ‘playbook,’ it is of extreme importance that democracies build their own set of shared tactics for promoting civil and political rights, defending electoral integrity, and sustaining rule of law. In this "best of" episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America, the US and the Americas Programme at Chatham House. Together, they outline what the international community can do to push back on rising authoritarianism, and empower democracy defenders. They focus in particular on the case of Venezuela, considering the options available for the opposition, United States, and global democratic community for dismantling Maduro's dictatorial playbook. 

The victory of Gustavo Petro in the recent Colombian presidential elections heralds a political change in Colombia. However, Colombia remains an important strategic partner for the U.S. in the hemisphere, and a new government does not change this fact. In this episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Peter Natiello, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Together, Margarita and Peter unpack USAID's longstanding partnership with Colombia, and how the agency plans to work with the Petro’s Administration. They also outline USAID's steadfast contribution to the peace process in Colombia and continued efforts to consolidate peace gains for all Colombians.

In this special Portuguese-language episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Vice-Admiral Alexandre Rabello de Faria, Chairman of the Council of Delegates of the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB). The IADB exists to provide the Organization of American States and its members with technical, advisory, and educational services on issues related to military and defense matters in the hemisphere. Together, they discuss the work of the IADB and the evolution of its role over the past 80 years. The episode touches upon the importance of a multilateral approach to emerging challenges in the Americas from cybersecurity to disaster relief and attacks on democratic institutions. The conversation also touched upon the Board's global role in responding to threats from malign extra-hemispheric actors as well as work with other multilateral institutions. A Junta Interamericana de Defesa em um Hemisfério em Mudança Neste episódio especial em língua portuguesa, Ryan C. Berg senta-se com o Vice-Almirante Alexandre Rabello de Faria, Presidente do Conselho de Delegados da Junta Interamericana de Defesa (JID). A JID existe para fornecer à Organização dos Estados Americanos e seus membros serviços técnicos, consultivos e educação sobre questões relacionadas a assuntos militares e de defesa no hemisfério. Juntos, eles discutem o trabalho da JID e a evolução de seu papel nos últimos 80 anos. O episódio aborda a importância de uma abordagem multilateral para os desafios emergentes nas Américas, da segurança cibernética  ao alívio de desastres e ataques às instituições democráticas. A conversa também abordou o papel global do Conselho para responder às ameaças de atores malignos extra-hemisféricos, assim como para trabalhar com outras instituições multilaterais.

As the Western Hemisphere works to recover from the ongoing pandemic, adjust to new global economic shocks, and create good-paying jobs and stable livelihoods for citizens, the private sector will play a key role in fostering development. Special Economic Zones, or SEZs represent an important and multifaceted tool for empowering economic development throughout the region, especially as the United States looks to nearshore or "friendshore" key industries.    In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Greg Huger, Executive Director of the HUGE Business and Investment Council. Together, they discuss the factors that make an SEZ successful not just for attracting and promoting private enterprise, but engaging local communities and national governments. They focus on the role of SEZ operators in the geopolitical space as well, especially in light of China's efforts to export its own SEZ governance frameworks to the region, as well as the U.S. commitment to support economic rebuilding in Central America at the Summit of the Americas.

The upcoming Summit of the Americas ought to be an important venue for the United States and the region to align responses to shared challenges and strengthen hemispheric cooperation. Nevertheless, the summit is already struggling to live up to this potential, facing criticism that the current agenda downplays the concerns voiced by the region, as well as recent threats by several countries including Mexico, Bolivia, and Honduras to boycott the event. In this episode, Juan Cruz, Senior Adviser and Director of the CSIS Argentina-U.S. Strategic Forum, sits down with Dr. Francisco de Santibañes, Vice President of the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI), one of the most prominent Argentine foreign policy think tanks. Together, the two discuss prospects for the summit and share a south-to-north perspective on the key issues that should be on the table, but have not received sufficient attention in summit coverage. These include the importance of infrastructure investments for the region, the growth of the digital economy, and the role educational and scientific exchanges play in bonding the hemisphere together.

Around the world, democratic institutions have come under siege, while consolidation within and between autocratic regimes has accelerated in recent years. As it becomes increasingly evident that autocrats are following a shared ‘playbook,’ it is of extreme importance that democracies build their own set of shared tactics for promoting civil and political rights, defending electoral integrity, and sustaining rule of law. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America, the US and the Americas Programme at Chatham House. Together, they outline what the international community can do to push back on rising authoritarianism, and empower democracy defenders. They focus in particular on the case of Venezuela, considering the options available for the opposition, United States, and global democratic community for dismantling Maduro's dictatorial playbook. 

The recent move by the Honduran Congress to repeal the 2013 law authorizing the Zones for Employment and Economic Development (Zonas de Empleo y Desarollo Económico, or ZEDEs) has wide-ranging consequences for the country's economic future. While the Zones have been heavily criticized by the Castro administration, eliminating them risks a complicated legal and political battle in no party's best interest. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Matthew Rooney, Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships at the George W. Bush Center. Together, they discuss expectations for the ZEDE model and its impact on economic growth, as well as some of the obstacles the zones confront when it comes to political stability and change. They also discuss the implications of the vote by Congress for the ZEDEs, and investment in Honduras more broadly.

Forced Labor & Environmental Degradation in the Mining Industry Special re-release: In this special Spanish-language episode, Margarita sits down with Pilar Velasquez of the Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking in the Bureau of International Labor Affairs at the United States Department of Labor (USDOL). They discuss artisanal and small-scale mining and its connection to environmental degradation, forced labor, and child labor in the Andean region. Pilar introduces some of the USDOL's efforts to mitigate these environmental and human rights effects and discusses how the private sector and civil society can engage with this issue. This episode originally aired January 7, 2021. Trabajo forzoso y degradación ambiental en el sector minero En este episodio especial en español, Margarita conversa con Pilar Velásquez de la Oficina de Trabajo Infantil, Trabajo Forzado, y Trata de Personas de la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales Laborales en el Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos (USDOL). Pilar y Margarita conversan sobre la minería de oro informal e ilegal en la Región Andina y su conexión con la degradación ambiental y el trabajo forzoso. Pilar comparte algunos esfuerzos del USDOL para mitigar estos efectos y analiza el papel del sector privado y de la sociedad civil.

En este episodio especial en español Ryan C. Berg se sienta a conversar con Indira Urbaneja, analista política y la CEO de Reunificados, una organización venezolana sin fines de lucro que apoyo democracia, inclusión, y derechos humanos. Ellos conversaron sobre las facciones más importantes dentro del chavismo y el surgimiento de un grupo dentro del partido que desea revitalizar el chavismo con campañas y elecciones legítimas. Aunque Maduro se ha consolidado en el poder, el PSUV no es un monolito, y hay fuerzas dentro del partido de gobierno que pueden crear situaciones imprevisibles y difíciles de controlar para el régimen. Además la conversación se centró de la oposición, y de los retos y los posibilidades que se presentan para las elecciones de 2024. The Future of Chavismo in Venezuela In this special Spanish-Language episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Indira Urbaneja, a political analyst and the CEO of Reunificados, a Venezuelan non-profit dedicated to supporting democracy, inclusion, and human rights. They discussed some of the important factions within the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), and the rise of a group within the party that is looking to revitalize chavismo through campaigns and legitimate elections. Although Maduro has consolidated his hold on power, the PSUV is not a monolith, and there are forces within the governing party that can create situations that are unpredictable and difficult for the regime to control. The conversation also focused on the opposition, and the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead for the 2024 elections.

In the May 2021, Vice President Kamala Harris announced a call to action for private sector actors to help address the root causes of migration by generating new economic opportunities in Central America. Born from this pledge, the Partnership for Central America (PCA) has emerged as a coordinating body for businesses and social enterprises to support innovative, effective, and scalable initiatives aimed at economic growth and human development. In this episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Mark Lopes, Chief Operating Officer of the Partnership for Central America. Together, they discuss the vision behind the PCA, its current projects in the region, and work on gender and inclusion. They also reflect on future directions for the PCA, and the importance of choosing the right metrics for assessing large-scale development projects.

Between 1970 and 2019, disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean impacted almost 300 million people, killed more than half a million people, and had an estimated cost the region close to half a trillion dollars. These disasters are especially harmful for already-vulnerable populations, and create new forms of long-lasting vulnerability in their wake, making disaster risk reduction and resilience a top priority for the region. In this episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Kamilah Morain, the Head of the Trinidad and Tobago office at the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), and an expert in community-led development. Together, the two unpack disaster risk reduction policies, with a focus on the inclusion of community voices highlighting the role new technologies can play in supporting these efforts and underscoring the critical importance of choosing the right technologies for the job.

Since 2018 the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating abuses perpetrated by the Venezuelan security forces. Last November, the ICC Chief Prosecutor signed a Letter of Understanding with Nicolás Maduro beginning a formal investigation—the first of its kind launched in a Latin American country.  In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with José Ignacio Hernández, the former Special Prosecutor of the Interim Government of Venezuela, and a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Center for International Development. Together, they discuss the likely outcomes of the investigation and progress made so far. They also highlight the importance of international criminal investigations for advancing the conversation around human rights and democracy within Venezuela.

With around 500 different special economic zones (SEZs) in Latin America and the Caribbean, these zones act as accelerators for trade and investment. While many focus on tax rates, tariffs, and regulatory environments to incentivize business development, some models go well beyond to create entirely new institutions within their borders.   In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Shanker Singham, CEO of the Competere Group, to talk about the role special economic zones play in Central America. Together, they delve into the nuances of different SEZ models, in particular the Zones for Employment and Economic Development (ZEDEs in Spanish) in Honduras. The subject of intense debate within Honduras, Shanker provides insights into the challenges and opportunities the ZEDEs present and how the United States should approach these zones.

On February 6, Costa Ricans will head to the polls in the first round of presidential elections. With a crowded field featuring no fewer than 25 presidential hopefuls, and much of the electorate still undecided, the situation on the ground, and consequences for the country are difficult to parse. In this episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Glenda Umaña, a journalist with over 25 years of experience whose recent project "Por Quién Voto" focuses on spreading awareness about candidate positions on critical issues in the Costa Rican elections. Together, they discuss the electoral landscape in Costa Rica, outline some of the major issues at play such as corruption and economic recovery, and what to expect in a likely run-off.

Mining is an essential economic sector for many countries in the Andes-Amazon region. However, due to a spike in global demand for mineral resources and lack of proper regulation on the industry, transnational criminal organizations have taken advantage of the ​lucrative industry to fuel their operations in the region, while harming local communities and ecosystems.   In this episode Ryan C. Berg sits down with Gastón Schulmeister, Director of the Department Against Transnational Organized Crime at the Organization of American States. Together, they explore the rise in global demand for mineral resources, the connection between illegal mining and transnational criminal organizations, and regulations that governments and the international community can enact to limit this harmful activity. Gastón also shares insights from a series of reports recently published by his department at the OAS entitled "On The Trail of Illicit Gold Proceeds: Strengthening The Fight Against Illegal Mining Finances."

The past year has showcased both the resiliency and failures of democracies throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. With key elections coming up in 2022, the region will continue to grapple in meaningful and challenging ways with its democratic future.    In this episode Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Father Matthew Carnes, the interim director for academic affairs at the Georgetown Americas Institute. Together, they analyze the challenges and opportunities democracies faced in 2021, discuss how these will evolve in the new year, and highlight the role of civil society actors in safeguarding the region's democratic health.

In this special Spanish-language episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Marcos Peña, principal investigator of a recently published CSIS report titled “A New Political Leadership for the Twenty-First Century.”    They discussed an alternative leadership model, one that is “more human, more collaborative, more group oriented, more connected with emotions, and humbler to be effective.” Their discussion focused on the nine dimensions that should be included in the democratic political leader’s toolbox and highlighted how these “tools” feed and complement each other. These tools also offer different ways to help leaders be more connected with their humanity and with their emotions, thus allowing them to be more effective in their roles and establishing a more sustainable balance in performing their job duties in the long term.     “Un nuevo liderazgo político para el siglo XXI.”   En este episodio especial en español, Margarita R. Seminario se sienta a conversar con Marcos Peña, investigador principal de un informe del CSIS recientemente publicado titulado “Un nuevo liderazgo político para el siglo XXI.”  Ellos conversaron sobre un modelo de liderazgo alternativo, uno que es “más humano, más colaborativo, más orientado a grupos, más conectado con las emociones y más humilde para ser efectivo.” La conversación se centró en las nueve dimensiones que deberían incluirse en la caja de herramientas del líder político democrático y destacó cómo dichas “herramientas” se complementan entre sí y ofrecen diferentes formas de ayudar a los líderes a estar más conectados con su humanidad y con sus emociones y, por lo tanto, ser más eficaces en su función y más sostenibles a largo plazo. 

On Sunday, November 7, the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua held sham elections that reaffirmed the regime’s grip on power in the country. This is the latest in a series of efforts by the regime to consolidate authoritarianism in Nicaragua, following years of human and political rights violations.   In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Bianca Jagger, Founder and Chair of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation and a tireless defender of social justice in her native Nicaragua. Together, they discuss the consolidation of an authoritarian regime in Nicaragua and the role of the U.S. and the international community in restoring democracy to Nicaragua. Further, they outline concrete actions the international community can take to increase pressure on the Ortega-Murillo regime moving forward.

The Gallup Organization and several partner organizations produce the annual "World Happiness Report". This report seeks to measure wellbeing beyond GDP. The 2021 research focused on the effects of Covid-19 on the structure and quality of people's lives and evaluated how governments around the world dealt with the pandemic. In this episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Gerver Torres, a research adviser with the Gallup Organization to discuss the information and data behind the World Happiness Report and the impact of Covid-19 on different social groups in Latin America as well as the importance of government transparency and government responses to the pandemic. Further, they also discuss how this research may be used by governments in the region to develop public policies that capture the importance of the pursuit of happiness and wellbeing as a sustainable development goal.

The Maduro regime's environmental degradation in Venezuela is nearing a point of no return. The effects of this environmental assault are not contained within Venezuela's borders, and disproportionately affect Indigenous communities throughout the Amazon Basin. Ryan C. Berg sits down with Luis Felipe Duchicela, Senior Advisor for Indigenous People's Issues at the U.S. Agency for International Development, and Cristina Burelli, Director of the V5Initiative, to discuss the impacts of environmental degradation on Indigenous communities in Venezuela and throughout the Amazon Basin. Together, they highlight the cultural diversity found in the Amazon Basin, discuss the environmentally damaging policies and practices of the Maduro regime, and expound on the various impacts these have on Indigenous peoples. Further, they chart a path forward for an inclusive and sustainable recovery for Venezuela and the region, specifically highlighting the role of Indigenous communities in this process. Recommendations for further reading Gold flows from Venezuela: supporting due diligence on the production and trade of gold, OECD, Sept. 8, 2021, (http://mneguidelines.oecd.org/gold-flows-from-venezuela-supporting-due-diligence.htm) These 15 innovations are helping to restore and protect the Amazon, World Economic Forum, Sept. 23, 2021 (https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/09/innovations-restoration-amazon-bioeconomy-ecopreneurs/)

The threats from hurricanes, the losses to floods, and the lack of disaster preparedness all impact on people’s decisions in the Northern Triangle to migrate to the United States. Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Dr. Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian, Director of the Department of Social Inclusion at the Organization of American States to discuss her recent publication “Environmental Explanations of Central American Migration: Challenges and Policy Recommendations". This report underscores how exposed Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras are to climate events and how, compounded with lack of economic opportunities and security vulnerabilities, climate change impacts their decision to migrate to the United States. Furthermore, it provides specific policy recommendations on a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach to respond to climate-related drivers of migration.

Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Moises Rendon, CSIS Senior Associate and the former director of the Future of Venezuela Initiative. Moises introduces the world of cryptocurrencies and outlines key differences between decentralized and public currencies, such as Bitcoin, and state-sponsored cryptocurrencies, like the Venezuelan Petro. They discuss why cryptocurrencies have become so popular in Venezuela, and how they are transforming the humanitarian sector. This episode was first released on March 18, 2021.

On July 28, Pedro Castillo Terrones, was inaugurated as Peru’s 63rd constitutional president. Castillo’s victory came after a highly contentious electoral process that was characterized by health and safety concerns due to the Covid-19 pandemic and false accusations of electoral fraud. Castillo ultimately won by 44,263 votes. In this episode, Margarita R. Seminario sat down with Dr. Jo-Marie Burt of George Mason University and discussed how a rural schoolteacher and union leader like Castillo captured the imagination of poor, rural, indigenous Peruvians who have lived excluded and marginalized for decades. Dr. Burt shared her insights on the recent elections, what to expect during the first 100 days of the Castillo administration, and she highlighted some policy concerns and recommendations for the US government regarding engagement with Peru.   Dr. Burt also recently published a book called “Transitional Justice in the Aftermath of Civil Conflict Societies: Lessons from Peru, Guatemala and El Salvador” found here: http://www.dplf.org/sites/default/files/pictures/transitional_justice_final.pdf

Haiti on a good day is highly complex. The recent set of events triggered by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse created a power vacuum and threw the Caribbean nation into even deeper turmoil.  Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Georges A. Fauriol, Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, to discuss the current crisis in Haiti and how key actors, like the Haitian government, civil society, private sector, and the international community, can play an effective role in sketching a more stable path forward. Fauriol also sketches recommendations for the Biden-Harris administration and the U.S. Congress.

Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Michael Eddy, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Latin America and the Caribbean Bureau of the U.S. Agency for International Development to discuss Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the Western Hemisphere. Highlights of their conversation include: who is impacted by IUU fishing and how, the challenges of combatting IUU fishing, the importance of multilateral efforts and interagency collaboration, as well why this is a priority for the Biden-Harris administration. This podcast was made possible through the generous support of the U.S. Agency for International Development through Environmental Incentives. To learn more about the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development on IUU Fishing, please go to: https://www.usaid.gov/biodiversity/illegal-unreported-and-unregulated-fishing

Please enjoy this special Building the Future episode with 35 West host and CSIS Americas Deputy Director Margarita R. Seminario. In this episode, we talk with Mia Mitchell (from the U.S. Department of State) and Sonja Kelly (from the Women's World Banking) to understand the barriers we face to enabling inclusive access to finance to women around the world while discussing the various opportunities that the U.S. government has in overcoming such hurdles.

In this "Best of" 35 West episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Logan Coleman, a Program Manager at the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF). They discuss the challenges faced by Venezuelan youth and women in the Caribbean, an often-overlooked host destination for migrants. Logan explains the value of using a gender lens to understand the migrant crisis and explains why Venezuelans are vulnerable to trafficking in persons. She and Margarita explore how programming by PADF and other organizations can address these circumstances. Read PADF's " A Story of Hope" here. This episode was first released on April 15, 2020. 

Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Dr. Jennie K. Lincoln, a Senior Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean at The Carter Center on peace initiatives, to discuss the deterioration of democracy, human rights, and governance in Nicaragua under the Ortega regime. They cover the lack of conditions for elections in November, the challenges faced by voters and candidates, the Ortega regime’s systematic actions against opposition presidential contenders, and need for the international community to act in a determined and coordinated manner.   Since the podcast was recorded on June 7th, two more presidential candidates have been detained and imprisoned and multiple opposition voices brutally silenced.

En este episodio especial en español, Margarita R. Seminario conversa con Juanita Millán Hernández, Capitán de Corbeta de la Reserva Activa de la Armada Colombiana y asesora principal en materia de seguridad del equipo de reserva de expertos en mediación del Departamento de Asuntos Políticos y Consolidación de la Paz de las Naciones Unidas. Juanita comparte su experiencia como mediadora durante el proceso de paz de Colombia y nos cuenta su experiencia como la única mujer de la delegación de las Fuerzas Militares de Colombia en la mesa de negociación entre el gobierno colombiano y las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia. Durante la entrevista, se analiza la importancia de la aplicación de un enfoque de género y como las mujeres efectivamente llegaron a jugar un papel relevante en las negociaciones y en la implementación del proceso de paz. Se referencia en la entrevista una publicación altamente útil: "Una perspectiva de género en la construcción de la paz" que se puede descargar aquí. Gender Perspective and the Colombian Peace Process: A Conversation with Juanita Millán Hernández In this special Spanish-language episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Juanita Millán Hernández, a Lieutenant Commander of the Colombian Navy's active reserve and Senior Mediation Advisor for security arrangements on the Standby Team of the United Nations' Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). Juanita shares her experiences as a mediator during the Colombian peace process and as the only woman in the Colombian military's delegation to the negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC. During the interview, they analyze the importance of the incorporation of a gender perspective and discuss how Colombian women came to effectively play a relevant role in peace process negotiations and implementation. The interview references a useful publication: "Una perspectiva de género en la construcción de la paz" can be downloaded in Spanish here.

In this special guest host episode, Dan Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the CSIS Americas Program, sits down with Ricardo Mussa, CEO of Raízen, a Brazilian integrated energy company focused on bioenergy and renewables. They discuss how Ricardo got his start in the bioenergy business, the steps Raízen is taking to achieve its public commitment to emission reductions, and the status of bioenergy implementation in Brazil as well as its benefits for everyday Brazilians. They also examine the biofuel production process, debunking elements of the "food versus fuel" argument that biofuel production risks interference with food supply security, and analyze the future of U.S.-Brazil cooperation in the biofuels space.

Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Jose Miguel Cruz, Director of Research at Florida International University's Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center.  Jose Miguel shares the results of two USAID-funded studies prepared with Democracy International on gang disengagement in Guatemala and Honduras. They examine the conditions that facilitate gang exit and the role non-state actors like the faith-based groups, civil society organizations, and the private sector can play in promoting gang disengagement. Also, they discuss practical policy recommendations for the U.S. and Northern Triangle governments to promote an enabling environment that reduces gang involvement and promotes decent employment for youth to break the cycle of encierro, destierro, y entierro.   "A Study of Gang Disengagement in Honduras" can be found here. "A Study of Gang Disengagement in Guatemala" can be found here.

Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Logan Coleman, a Program Manager at the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF). They discuss the challenges faced by Venezuelan youth and women in the Caribbean, an often-overlooked host destination for migrants. Logan explains the value of using a gender lens to understand the migrant crisis and explains why Venezuelans are vulnerable to trafficking in persons. She and Margarita explore how programming by PADF and other organizations can address these circumstances.    Read PADF's " A Story of Hope" here.

In this special Spanish-language episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Piero Corvetto, the Head of Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE). Piero introduces the vital role of the ONPE in Peruvian elections and explains the measures being undertaken to ensure citizens can vote safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. They discuss the importance of Peru's 2021 elections and the challenges in ensuring that Peruvians living abroad can participate.  Elecciones 2021: Las elecciones generales de Perú En este episodio especial en español, Margarita R. Seminario conversa con Piero Corvetto, jefe de la Oficina Nacional de Procesos Electorales (ONPE) de Perú. Piero explica el papel vital que juega la ONPE en el proceso electoral peruano y comparte las medidas adoptadas para asegurar que peruanos puedan votar de forma segura en el contexto de la pandemia de Covid-19. Ellos conversan sobre la importancia de las elecciones de 2021 y los esfuerzos de la ONPE para garantizar que los peruanos en el extranjero también puedan participar.

Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Moises Rendon, CSIS Senior Associate and the former director of the Future of Venezuela Initiative. Moises introduces the world of cryptocurrencies and outlines key differences between decentralized and public currencies, such as Bitcoin, and state-sponsored cryptocurrencies, like the Venezuelan Petro. They discuss why cryptocurrencies have become so popular in Venezuela, and how they are transforming the humanitarian sector.

Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Gerardo Berthin, Director of the Latin America and Caribbean Programs at Freedom House. Gerardo introduces Freedom House's new tracker, "Election Watch for the Digital Age" and explains the methodology Freedom House uses to determine how digital technologies are disrupting electoral processes around the world. They discuss the specific vulnerabilities that may affect this year's elections in Ecuador, El Salvador, and Peru.  Freedom House's "Election Watch for the Digital Age" can be found here.  The Americas Program is also proud to present a new podcast, Mexico Matters. Each week, Mariana Campero, CSIS Senior Associate, will speak with leading voices from both sides of the border to bring you in-depth analysis on the strategic importance of the U.S.-Mexico relationship. 

Moises Rendon sits down with Ambassador Francisco Santos Calderón, Colombian Ambassador to the United States and former Vice President of Colombia from 2002 to 2010. They discuss the humanitarian impact of the Venezuelan migrant crisis playing out in neighboring Colombia and the security repercussions of growing criminal presence along the border. Ambassador Santos outlines the recent shifts in the Venezuelan crisis along with his thoughts on why the Biden administration should pay special attention to Venezuela as a regional threat to democracy and stability. 

Moises Rendon sits down with CSIS Senior Advisor Ambassador William Brownfield, former Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela, Chile, and Colombia. They discuss developments in these three countries considering the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Chile's constitutional referendum, and the Biden-Harris Administration's priorities for the region. Ambassador Brownfield outlines his policy recommendations for the Biden administration in its efforts to engage the region going forward.

Forced Labor & Environmental Degradation in the Mining Industry   In this special Spanish-language episode, Margarita sits down with Pilar Velasquez of the office of child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking in the bureau of international labor affairs at the United States Department of Labor (USDOL). They discuss informal and illegal gold mining and its connection to environmental degradation and forced labor in the Andean region. Pilar introduces some of the USDOL's efforts to mitigate these environmental and human rights effects and discusses how the private sector and civil society can engage with this issue.     Trabajo forzoso y degradación ambiental en el sector minero   En este episodio especial en español, Margarita conversa con Pilar Velásquez de la oficina de trabajo infantil, trabajo forzado, y trata de personas de la oficina de asuntos internacionales laborales en el Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos (USDOL). Pilar y Margarita conversan sobre la minería de oro informal e ilegal en la Región Andina y su conexión con la degradación ambiental y el trabajo forzoso. Pilar comparte algunos esfuerzos del USDOL para mitigar estos efectos y analiza el papel del sector privado y de la sociedad civil.

Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian, director of the department of social inclusion at the Organization of American States (OAS). They discuss food insecurity, poverty, gender disparities, and other barriers to social inclusion in the region. Betilde outlines how the Covid-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations, including women, indigenous peoples, Afro-Latinos, and people with disabilities. She shares her vision for how the OAS can work with other organizations to achieve greater equity and social inclusion in the region.

Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Luis Felipe Duchicela, Senior Advisor for Indigenous Peoples' Issues for the Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance at USAID's Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance. They discuss how Luis Felipe's background brought him to this leadership position, and USAID's new Policy on Promoting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Luis Felipe outlines the barriers that the international development community has historically faced in assisting indigenous communities, and how those barriers helped shape USAID's new policy.

Moises Rendon sits down with Elisabeth Pramendorfer, Senior Human Rights Officer at the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. They discuss how the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) applies to the case of Venezuela, particularly considering the report of the United Nations Human Rights Council Independent fact-finding mission. Elisabeth outlines common misconceptions about the use and scope of R2P and discusses next steps for the international community to protect human rights in Venezuela.

Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Ambassador John C. Richmond, the United States Ambassador-at-large to monitor and combat trafficking in persons. They discuss trafficking in persons in the Andean region, and particularly in the context of the informal mining sector. Ambassador Richmond outlines the progress that has been made in the past 20 years to identify, monitor, and combat trafficking in the region, as well as how these efforts have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.  

This is a special Spanish-language episode of 35 West hosted by Dan Runde, Senior Vice President and the Director of the CSIS Americas Program. Dan sits down with María Eugenia Vidal, the former Governor of the Buenos Aires Province in Argentina. They discuss how she got her start in politics, as well as key policy issues she prioritized during her time as governor, including crime reduction and poverty. They also discuss how the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation in key sectors, such as education.   Cómo Reducir el Crimen y la Pobreza: Una Conversación con María Eugenia Vidal Este es un episodio especial de 35 West presentado por Dan Runde, Vicepresidente y director del Programa de las Américas en CSIS. Dan conversa con Maria Eugenia Vidal, la ex gobernadora de la provincia de Buenos Aires en Argentina, sobre cómo ella se inició en la política y sobre temas en materia de política pública durante su mandato, como la reducción del delito y la pobreza. También conversan sobre cómo se ha acelerado la transformación digital en sectores como, por ejemplo, la educación, a causa de la pandemia de Covid-19.  

Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Felipe Buitrago Restrepo, Viceminister for Creativity and the Orange Economy in the Colombian Ministry of Culture. Viceminister Buitrago shares his experience in designing policies to promote the orange economy in Colombia. They discuss the untapped potential of the creative economy in Latin America, as well as how creative industries have been transformed by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Moises Rendon sits down with John Barsa, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). They discuss how Venezuela fits into Administrator Barsa's global vision for USAID, the challenges the agency has faced in providing critical humanitarian assistance to the Venezuelan people, and the United States' perspective on Venezuela's upcoming parliamentary elections. 

Maria Moreno, Head of Private Sector Engagement and Head of Operations at USA for IOM, sits down with Moises Rendon to talk about the private sector's response to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. They discuss the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform established by IOM and UNHCR, as well as the important role of the Venezuelan diaspora in addressing the immediate and long-term needs of Venezuelan migrants. 

In the final episode of the series, Moises talks to CSIS Senior Advisers Juan Cruz and Mark Feierstein about the United States' strategy toward Venezuela. They discuss the successes and shortcomings of the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign and consider how this policy may evolve after U.S. presidential elections in November. 

In this episode, Moises discusses political persecution and human rights violations with Tamara Taraciuk Broner of Human Rights Watch. They hear from two Venezuelans—Rafaela Requesens and Jose Arocha—who were persecuted by the Maduro regime, and discuss what the international community needs to do to protect Venezuelan political prisoners and restore human rights in the country. Tamara is the acting deputy director of the Americas Division at Human Rights Watch. Voices of Venezuela is a ten-episode miniseries produced by The Future of Venezuela Initiative (FVI) in partnership with the Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS. Voices of Venezuela is a unique narrative-based podcast that weaves together stories recorded on the ground with commentary from CSIS experts, who will offer their insights from a broader policy perspective. Note: As the Covid-19 pandemic changes rapidly, the quality of this series may vary over the next couple of months. We are still in production remotely so you won't miss out on any new episodes of Voices of Venezuela.

Moises speaks with Ambassador William Brownfield about the violence, crime, and insecurity that have plagued Venezuela in recent years. They hear from Venezuelans who have experienced crime and insecurity firsthand, and discuss how colectivos, drug traffickers, and armed groups play a key role within the Maduro regime. Ambassador Brownfield is currently a senior adviser to the Americas Program at CSIS. Voices of Venezuela is a ten-episode miniseries produced by The Future of Venezuela Initiative (FVI) in partnership with the Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS. Voices of Venezuela is a unique narrative-based podcast that weaves together stories recorded on the ground with commentary from CSIS experts, who will offer their insights from a broader policy perspective. Note: As the Covid-19 pandemic changes rapidly, the quality of this series may vary over the next couple of months. We are still in production remotely so you won't miss out on any new episodes of Voices of Venezuela.

In this episode, Moises talks to Alexandra Winkler, senior associate of CSIS's Americas Program, about the daily struggles faced by Venezuelan women amid the ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis. They also discuss why it is critical for Venezuelan women to play a role in the political process. Alexandra is former deputy mayor of El Hatillo, one of the five municipalities of the capital city of Caracas, Venezuela. Voices of Venezuela is a ten-episode miniseries produced by The Future of Venezuela Initiative (FVI) in partnership with the Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS. Voices of Venezuela is a unique narrative-based podcast that weaves together stories recorded on the ground with commentary from CSIS experts, who will offer their insights from a broader policy perspective. Note: As the Covid-19 pandemic changes rapidly, the quality of this series may vary over the next couple of months. We are still in production remotely so you won't miss out on any new episodes of Voices of Venezuela.

In this episode, Moises talks to Ben Cahill, senior fellow in the Energy Security and Climate Change program at CSIS. They hear from Venezuelans who have experienced frequent blackouts that widely disrupt their day-to-day lives, as well as discuss what it will take to rebuild the country's electricity infrastructure. Voices of Venezuela is a ten-episode miniseries produced by The Future of Venezuela Initiative (FVI) in partnership with the Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS. Voices of Venezuela is a unique narrative-based podcast that weaves together stories recorded on the ground with commentary from CSIS experts, who will offer their insights from a broader policy perspective. Note: As the Covid-19 pandemic changes rapidly, the quality of this series may vary over the next couple of months. We are still in production remotely so you won't miss out on any new episodes of Voices of Venezuela.

In this episode, Moises speaks with Mark Schneider (CSIS) about Venezuela's crumbling water system, which is having tremendous health impacts on the population. They hear from Venezuelans who have experienced water shortages and discuss what would be needed to restore the water system in a Day After scenario. Mr. Schneider is a senior adviser with the Americas Program and the Human Rights Initiative at CSIS. Voices of Venezuela is a ten-episode miniseries produced by The Future of Venezuela Initiative (FVI) in partnership with the Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS. Voices of Venezuela is a unique narrative-based podcast that weaves together stories recorded on the ground with commentary from CSIS experts, who will offer their insights from a broader policy perspective. Note: As the Covid-19 pandemic changes rapidly, the quality of this series may vary over the next couple of months. We are still in production remotely so you won't miss out on any new episodes of Voices of Venezuela.

In this episode, Moises is joined by Gerver Torres to discuss key aspects of Venezuela's economic crisis, including hyperinflation, dollarization, and the Maduro regime's recent push for privatization. They listen to first-hand accounts from Venezuelans on the ground and discuss what the international community can do to rebuild Venezuela's economy in a Day After scenario. Mr. Torres is a senior associate of the America's Program at CSIS and an economist working with the Gallup Organization as a research adviser. Voices of Venezuela is a ten-episode miniseries produced by The Future of Venezuela Initiative (FVI) in partnership with the Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS. Voices of Venezuela is a unique narrative-based podcast that weaves together stories recorded on the ground with commentary from CSIS experts, who will offer their insights from a broader policy perspective. Note: As the Covid-19 pandemic changes rapidly, the quality of this series may vary over the next couple of months. We are still in production remotely so you won't miss out on any new episodes of Voices of Venezuela.

In this episode, Moises speaks with Katherine Bliss, senior fellow with the Global Health Policy Center at CSIS, to discuss Venezuela's decaying health system, which is now facing the added factor of Covid-19. They listen to testimonies from Venezuelan migrants and discuss what can be done to rebuild the country's failing health system and address malnutrition.  Voices of Venezuela is a ten-episode miniseries produced by The Future of Venezuela Initiative (FVI) in partnership with the Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS. Voices of Venezuela is a unique narrative-based podcast that weaves together stories recorded on the ground with commentary from CSIS experts, who will offer their insights from a broader policy perspective. Note: As the Covid-19 pandemic changes rapidly, the quality of this series may vary over the next couple of months. We are still in production remotely so you won't miss out on any new episodes of Voices of Venezuela.

By the end of 2020, an estimated 6 million Venezuelans will have been forced to flee, making it the largest migrant crisis in the world.  In the second episode of Voices of Venezuela, Moises speaks with Erol Yayboke, Deputy Director of CSIS’s Project on Prosperity and Development, to dissect the push factors for Venezuelan migration, testimonies from Venezuelans on the journey outside Venezuela, and what the country’s mass displacement means more broadly for the Hemisphere.  Voices of Venezuela is a ten-episode miniseries produced by The Future of Venezuela Initiative (FVI) in partnership with the Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS. Voices of Venezuela is a unique narrative-based podcast that weaves together stories recorded on the ground with commentary from CSIS experts, who will offer their insights from a broader policy perspective.

In this first episode of the Voices of Venezuela miniseries, we will discuss the political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. We will introduce a few voices of Venezuelan citizens who are affected by the crisis on a day-to-day basis, and share with listeners what to expect in the coming weeks from this podcast. Voices of Venezuela is a ten-episode miniseries produced by The Future of Venezuela Initiative (FVI) in partnership with the Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS. Voices of Venezuela is a unique narrative-based podcast that weaves together stories recorded on the ground with commentary from CSIS experts, who will offer their insights from a broader policy perspective.

Illegal mining of the vast mineral resources in Venezuela, specifically gold, has devastated the southern part of the country. In this episode of 35 West, CSIS Future of Venezuela Initiative Director Moises Rendon speaks to Cristina Burelli, Advisor & International Liaison at SOS Orinoco, about the impact of illegal mining on the environment, human rights, and security in the region.

Youth violence in Latin America and the Caribbean is a big problem, but how well do we understand it? Richard Miles talks to Dr. Patricia Campie, an expert who was commissioned by USAID to find out which violence prevention interventions in the region worked, and which didn’t. She found that parenting and after school programs worked well, but other interventions had very mixed results. You can read about many other findings in the full report, What Works to Prevent Lethal Youth Violence in the LAC Region: A Global Review of the Research.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Gerónimo Gutiérrez, former Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S., sits down with CSIS Senior Associate Richard Miles to talk about the fundamentals of the U.S.-Mexico relationship. Have the two countries grown closer or further apart over the last two generations? What has been the effect of increased trade, investment, security cooperation, cultural ties, and migration? Does it matter who sits in the White House and Los Pinos? Listen to the thoughts of one of Mexico’s top experts on the U.S. and his predictions for the next few years.  

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales resigned following the OAS Electoral Observation Mission denouncement of the October presidential elections as fraudulent, and massive street-wide protests. As a result and according to the Bolivian Constitution, an interim government led by Senator Jeanine Áñez took over with the objective to host free and fair elections in the spring of 2020. Electoral and political challenges remain as the country has only a few months to prepare for these elections. During this episode, CSIS experts Margarita Seminario and Moises Rendon discuss the road ahead for Bolivia with former Bolivian President Jorge ‘Tuto’ Quiroga and Bolivian Ambassador to the OAS Jaime Aparicio.

According to the UN, the number of Venezuelan refugees in Colombia will reach 6.5 million in 2020. While Colombia has shown patience in trying to mitigate the issues of its global neighbor, it is also facing an important and delicate time internally. CSIS's Moises Rendon invites former U.S. Ambassador to Colombia Kevin Whitaker to discuss Colombia's priorities for peace integration efforts, its relationship with the U.S., as well as how the Venezuelan crisis is directly impacting Colombia's security and improvement.

For one week last June, dozens of reporters in the USA Today network coordinated stories on migrants attempting to cross the U.S. southern border in the article "One deadly week reveals where the immigration crisis begins - and where it ends." Daniel Gonzalez, a long-time immigration reporter for The Arizona Republic, tells what they found, and recounts some of his interviews in Guatemala and Mexico’s southern border. Most Central American families, he found, are fleeing economic misery rather than persecution. They are also lured in part by U.S. asylum law, a trend that saw a massive increase in apprehensions in 2019, especially in May and June.

Argentines go to the polls on October 27th, and the results may spell the end of Mauricio Macri’s presidency. What went wrong? Michael Matera, Argentine expert and Director of the Americas Program at CSIS, explains how inflation never went away and growth never returned. He also makes predictions on the polices of a likely Alberto Fernández - Cristina Fernández de Kirchner government, and whether the two can even govern together.

The Trump Administration has dramatically reduced the annual number of refugees that the U.S. will accept. Erol Yayboke of CSIS’s Project for Prosperity and Development tells us what being a “refugee” means in international law, and details the ebb and flow of post-World War II U.S. refugee policy. He also explains the effects the policy will have on Mexico and Central America, the largest sources of those seeking to enter the U.S. based on claims of violence and persecution.

National elections take place in Canada on October 2, and Justin Trudeau could be out of a job. Will the election turn on foreign policy? Canada expert Christopher Sands of Johns Hopkins University is back to explain why this might be the case, how Canada is tied to the U.S., like it or not, and how Canada views itself in the world.

Brazil is a world leader in crime, particularly violent crime. Part of the dynamic is the prison system, which serves as an incubator for even more violence. David Van Patten, Chief Operating Officer of Prison Fellowship International, explains the PFI model and why the overwhelmed Brazilian government has entrusted Prison Fellowship Brazil with the rehabilitation of about 4,000 prisoners convicted of violent crimes. The PF-run prisons, which operate in 117 countries (including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Uruguay), cost less and show lower recidivism rates.

The “future of work” looks quite different for developing countries. Robotics and artificial intelligence mean less to countries that still don’t have decent Internet access. Senior Fellow Romina Bandura, co-author of a CSIS study on the subject, explains how the Fourth Industrial Revolution is impacting countries like Brazil and Argentina, and some of the policies that governments need to consider. Pulling in the private sector, she says, is a major part of the solution.

Brazil has vast oil reserves, but can the Bolsonaro government get the energy to market? Returning guest Lisa Viscidi of the Inter-American Dialogue says reforms are already in place that will enable oil production “to take off.” The real obstacles are the financial stability of Petrobras, the shaky state oil conglomerate, and the monopoly that the state has on most aspects of energy production, delivery, and even retail sales. Lisa also comments on market worries about Mexican president López Obrador’s commitment to existing energy contracts, and the huge effect of sanctions on Venezuelan oil production.

Latin America has had a love-hate relationship with foreign investment. China is the latest suitor to test the region’s readiness to join the global economy. Stephen Kaplan, professor of international affairs and political science at George Washington University, dissects China’s role in the region, as well as the prospects for Venezuela to eventually rebuild its economy.

The number of Central Americans fleeing their countries for the U.S. has skyrocketed in the last few months. On the latest episode of 35 West, Rick Jones of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has some answers. With close to 30 years of experience in the region, Rick also details how CRS has helped build alternative futures for young people mired in poverty and violence.

Justin Trudeau is in trouble for meddling in a criminal investigation and dumping his attorney general. Mr. Canada, a.k.a. Chris Sands of Johns Hopkins University, is back to explain the details and how they could affect Canadian politics sooner rather than later.

As global forced migration increases rapidly, Mexico has transitioned from just an exporter of people north to a transit and a recipient country all in one. While significant challenges remain, Mexico has an opportunity for regional leadership on migration. Erol Yayboke, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow at the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development, and CSIS Americas’ Moises Rendon discuss their recent research trip to Mexico City and Tapachula. They focus on how Mexico’s government and society are responding to the growing migration flows from Central America and other countries to Mexico.

Ambassador Jay Anania, born two blocks from the State Department, was drawn to the U.S. Foreign Service partly by the examples of his NSA dad and CIA mom. His 30-year career started in Tijuana and ended in Paramaribo, with stops along the way in Amman, Havana, Abu Dhabi, Berlin, Hong Kong, and Baghdad. He and host Richard Miles discuss changes on the U.S. southern border as well as the effectiveness of the Organization of American States, where Jay served as the senior management official from 2015-2017.

Juan Guaidó, the 35-year old legitimate head of the Venezuelan National Assembly, is facing off against Nicolas Maduro, who clings to his illegitimate power. Venezuela experts Moises Rendon of CSIS and Eric Farnsworth of the Council of the Americas are back to describe the role of the United States, the international community, and the Cubans. Guaidó himself, according to Moises, has a promising political future and may be the rarest of creatures in the Bolivarian Republic; someone who can unite factions against the government. If he can convince the military that it won’t be unfairly prosecuted by a successor government, we may be in the final throes of the Maduro regime.

Images of migrants charging the U.S. border obscure a larger trend. Many Mexican and Central American migrants are returning home, whether they want to or not. Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, returns to talk about who is coming and who is going. What are the governments of Mexico and the Northern Triangle doing to handle this reverse influx and what does it mean for U.S. immigration policy? Finally, will Americans support an immigration deal anytime soon?

Texas is greatly affected by tariffs, trade, and travel across the U.S. southern border. Matthew Rooney, director of the Economic Growth Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas, gives us the view from the Lone Star State. He also explains border infrastructure, supply chains, and the long-term economic effects of trade barriers on North America. He and Richard also trade predictions on the art of an immigration deal before the 2020 elections.

Democrats now run the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Does it matter for Latin America? According to former Bush official José Cardenas, apart from Trump’s Wall there is remarkable bipartisan consensus on what needs to be done in hotspots like Venezuela, Nicaragua, and even Central America. On migration and border security, Cardenas argues against a “Fortress America” mentality if we want to preserve a dynamic economy. Finally, he predicts the eventual assimilation of Latin American voters into both major parties.

Arguably no state is more politically important than Florida, which has become an electoral microcosm for the whole country. But Hispanic voting patterns in the Sunshine State - and the definition of Hispanic - is very different. Ana Quintana, an expert at the Heritage Foundation, explains the results of the 2018 midterms on statewide races. She and Richard also discuss the importance of the immigration issue to Mexican voters, and the effect it will have on both parties for the 2020 campaign and beyond.

Mexico’s government has surrendered its monopoly on the use of force, while large Mexican companies exert one in the marketplace. So argues Francisco González of SAIS in this week’s episode of 35 West. Along the way, Francisco covers 50 years of Mexican politics, Mexicans’ support for democracy, and the prospects for reducing violence and the flow of drugs to the U.S. Finally, he predicts stability in the US-Mexican political relationship, at least until the Mexican midterm elections in 2020.

January 10, the date a new presidential period begins, represents an unprecedented opportunity for the international community to help halt Venezuela’s collapse. Despite the refusal of nearly 50 countries to recognize the May 2018 Venezuelan presidential elections, Nicolas Maduro plans to be sworn in. The implications of so many nations not recognizing Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president after January 10 have yet to be determined. CSIS Senior Advisor Mark Schneider and Venezuela expert Antonio de La Cruz join CSIS’ Moises Rendon to discuss the political, diplomatic and legal implications moving forward.

New leaders in Mexico and Brazil may mean big changes to their respective energy sectors. Energy expert Lisa Viscidi of the Inter-American Dialogue says a Mexican delay on offshore bidding could have a major impact, but that Brazil is likely to maintain the status quo. Finally, Venezuela may eventually run dry, given the massive investment required to reverse declining oil output.   

Cryptocurrency use is increasing amongst everyday Venezuelans. The Maduro regime has been tightening controls on the economy and continues to reject humanitarian aid. However, independent cryptocurrencies (as opposed to regime-controlled petro) are enabling censorship-resistant peer-to-peer digital cash transactions. Alejandro Machado, Founder of Open Money Initiative, joins CSIS’ Moises Rendon.

Current international pressure on the Venezuelan regime has not been enough to help restore the country’s democracy – at least, not yet. Venezuela is enduring the worst humanitarian crisis in the region, which is having an overwhelming impact on neighboring countries, including unprecedented waves of migrants and refugees. Fernando Cutz, a former National Security Council advisor at the White House, joins Moises Rendon for a discussion on what options are left for helping Venezuela.

Caravans from Central America. They were big news for a while, now not so much. But they are sure to return to the front pages. Manuel Orozco, Director of Migration at the Inter-American Dialogue, joins Richard for a discussion on what is causing Hondurans, Guatemalans, and Nicaraguans to leave their countries. He argues that bad governance, not just gang violence, is a big contributor. Do U.S. policymakers have any good options?

Gone are hopes for a swift congressional ratification of USMCA with the House returning to the Democrats in January. Is Canada worried, and if so, why? Christopher Sands of Johns Hopkins University is back to help us empathize with our northern neighbors, as well as the changes in the post World War II global order.

The Axis of Evil is out, the Troika of Tyranny is in. Are Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba the prisms through which U.S. policy in Latin America can be seen? Pedro Burelli, a former director of Venezuela’s state oil company, Moises Rendon of CSIS, and host Richard Miles talk dictators, despots, sanctions, and regional stability.

Over 1,300 miles remain for a caravan of 7,000 Honduran migrants headed to the U.S. by foot. How many will peel off in Mexico, and what happens if and when they reach the U.S. border in several months? Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, explains what’s going on, what Mexico and the U.S. can do, and why it is likely to happen again.

Has incoming Mexican president López Obrador cracked the Trump code? So far, his non-confrontational stance with the U.S. has analysts predicting a more tranquil bilateral relationship than expected. Mexico expert Pamela Starr from the University of Southern California returns to assess AMLO’s priorities, Cabinet picks, and possible friction points with the U.S. Richard vows to go NAFTA-free after this episode.

Voters in Brazil joined the trend of upending expectations by giving Jair Bolsonaro 46% in the first round of the presidential elections. Is this jolt part of the global antiestablishment movement, or is it uniquely Brazilian? Gabrielle Trebat, a former Treasury Department official and a Brazil expert at McLarty Associates, provides details on the political landscape and insights on Bolsonero’s potential policies, including his almost complete lack of knowledge of the U.S.

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) talks about his recent trip to Guatemala and Mexico, and discusses U.S. efforts to help fight corruption, strengthen borders, and to go after narcotics traffickers. The real hope, he believes, is in  strengthening the regional economies through trade and development, a trend that also delivers economic benefits to states like Louisiana.  

Once South America’s richest country has now collapsed. About 2.5 million Venezuelans have fled their country in the last few years, putting unprecedented pressure on overwhelmed neighbors like Colombia and Brazil. Francisco Santos, Colombian Ambassador to the U.S., and David Smolansky, Chair of an Organization of American States Working Group, give their take. 

Has everything gone wrong since Trump came along? Regardless of whether Canada stays, walks or sprints away from a NAFTA deal, the experience has forced Canada to look at its entire relationship with the U.S. Christopher Sands of SAIS is back to talk about the effects on trade, travel, defense, Canadian nationalism, and his consumption of Molson. 

How will the enhanced “rule of origin” content requirements affect the North American automotive industry, especially in Mexico? Dr. Luz Maria de la Mora, a former Mexican trade negotiator, explains what Mexico got and what it gave up on autos, dispute resolution, and other proposed changes to NAFTA. Finally, what does this do to Mexico’s relationship with Canada?

Venezuela is currently experiencing 44 million percent (not a typo) annual inflation. Apart from forcing everyone to do more math, what is the Maduro regime doing about it? Unfortunately, nothing that matters, according to Professor Ricardo Hausmann from Harvard’s JFK School of Government. Moises Rendon of CSIS joins us to describe the human cost, including Venezuelans fleeing their country, starvation, and misery. Both predict that nothing will improve without a new government, but even then, it will take at least a decade to put Venezuela back together.

Crisis, scandal, and politics in Argentina. Does bad news for Cristina Kirchner equal good times for Mauricio Macri? Benjamin Gedan of the Wilson Center argues that Argentina’s very own Car Wash scandal – complete with couriers carrying cash to the Kirchners - gives President Macri a short reprieve, but that voters will hold him accountable for a tumbling economy in next year’s presidential elections.

Will Andrés Manuel López Obrador the “leftwing firebrand” or the “realistic pragmatist” show up for work on December 1?   Mexico expert Duncan Wood of the Wilson Center helps sort out Mexican president-elect AMLO’s mandate and governing philosophy, and predicts that renewed Central American migration will trigger AMLO’s first bilateral crisis with the U.S. 

Once again, a NAFTA deal may be close – or not.  Tossing in tariffs, our experts Scott Miller and Chris Sands return to tell us why the Mexicans are up, the Canadians are down, and why farmers and car manufacturers are out of luck. Do we have a deal or no deal before the U.S. mid-term elections and the new Mexican government takes power, and if not, does it matter?

What kind of workers does the North American economy need, and how will it get them?  Former U.S. diplomat Anthony Wayne points out the “alarming skills gap,” in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, the rapid technological changes, and the need for the education system, private sector, and governments to come up with a better process.  Even setting aside the national politics – which are difficult – this will not be easy. 

Nicaragua joins – again – the list of imploding socialist states in Latin America. Daniel Ortega is using increasingly brutal tactics, including paramilitary death squads, to put down protests led in part by the Catholic Church. Mark Schneider, former Peace Corps director and a long-time expert on Central America, refreshes our memory on how Nicaragua ended up where it started forty years ago.

How low can Venezuela go?  We’ve been predicting its collapse for a year, but it’s still around.  Moises Rendon, our resident Venezuela expert, updates us on the misery resulting from the Maduro government’s policies, and explains how blockchain technology could help Venezuela rebuild once it hits bottom. More than a source of digital currency, the technology enables international aid, electoral security, the protection of property rights, and helps fight corruption.     For more information, read Moises full report How the Blockchain Can Help Venezuela’s Future Recovery. To learn how the Venezuelan government is controlling the distribution of food through the CLAP program, read his latest article The Maduro Diet: Food v. Freedom in Venezuela.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s big victory in Mexico may mean changes for the U.S. Shannon O’Neil of the Council on Foreign relations returns to assess AMLO’s top priorities, his initial post-election signals, and the prospect of good relations with President Trump.    

The former Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Alan Bersin, explains exactly how the Trump Administration policy of detaining migrants works. He and Richard discuss the steep decline over the last two decade in apprehensions on the southwest border, the spike in Central American migration, and a potential remedy for the broken asylum process.

President Trump got very mad at Prime Minister Trudeau at the recent G7 Summit in Canada. Christopher Sands of the School of Advanced International Studies explains how the blow up may affect Canadian politics and trade with the U.S. He also reveals what Canadians really think of Americans. Sarah Baumunk returns with Big Little News about which non-Americans to cheer on in the World Cup.    

The top oil producing countries in Latin America are all having elections this year. How will political changes in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela affect their oil output, and does this matter for the United States? Most importantly, will a new government in Mexico reverse course or slow roll broader energy reforms?  Expert Lisa Viscidi of the Inter-American Dialogue explains the details. 

Are Mexico and the United States growing apart, or are they growing together? Mexico expert Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, discusses his new book, Vanishing Frontiers: The Forces Driving Mexico and the United States Together. He talks about counterintuitive trends such as Mexican investment in the U.S., a new attitude towards history among younger Mexicans, and border communities drawing closer for purely practical reasons.

After one of the lowest participations in Venezuela’s Electoral history, and widely seen as fraudulent, the U.S. and other like-minded countries are not recognizing the results of May 20th Venezuela’s presidential elections. Unfortunately for the people of Venezuela, the on-the-ground humanitarian and economic crisis will only likely to exacerbate, triggering further humanitarian and security threats to the region. During this 35 West Special Spanish Episode, CSIS Associate Fellow Moises Rendon sits down with Venezuelan opposition leader Julio Borges and CSIS Senior Associate Gustavo Tarre to discuss the post-election political dynamics of the Venezuelan crisis, what the Maduro victory means for the future of Venezuela and the international community, and how the international community can best respond.

for many U.S. states and Canadian provinces. The U.S. currently gets 45% of its crude oil from Canada, about 1 ½ times more than from all of the OPEC countries combined. In a joint podcast, economic driver with Canada is now worth $95 billion annually and is a significant energy tradeOur 35 West and Energy 360 dive into the details of our cross-border energy trade, how it may or may not be affected by NAFTA turmoil, and what lies ahead. Andrew Stanley of CSIS and Christopher Sands from the School of Advanced International Studies expertly run the numbers for Richard, and he pretends to understand them.     

The Car Wash scandal triggered investigations that uncovered dirt on dozens of politicians and companies in Brazil and abroad. Brian Winter, editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly, compares Car Wash to other corruption scandals and updates us on a growing anti-corruption movement in Latin America. Sarah Baumunk lightens the mood by explaining how inflation affects every day life in Argentina.

As Venezuela endures an upcoming presidential election on May 20th, widely seen as illegitimate, the U.S. and other like-minded countries are considering further sanctions on the Maduro regime. In a joint production of the Financial Integrity Network and CSIS, Juan Zarate sits down with Moises Rendon, Jose Luis Stein, and David Murray to discuss the effectiveness of sanctions on Venezuela and the opportunities ahead.

The security situation in Mexico remains grim, and is a major theme of Mexico’s presidential campaign. David Shedd, former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, long time CIA professional, and Latin American expert, assesses the state of the drug war, the scope of US-Mexico security cooperation, and the future direction of Mexico’s war against the cartels. On Big Little News, Sarah explains how to steal over $1 million of fajitas, and in the process creates a new meme. 

How do entire economies become more innovative?  Jackson Streeter, an expert on technology transfer, maps the ecosystem of innovation. Strong intellectual property rights, investments in research and development, a risk-taking mentality, and seed funding are all necessary parts. Can they be nurtured and developed in Latin America? Sarah’s Big Little News is the rise of marriage fraud in Costa Rica.