The LatinNews Podcast

The current situation in Haiti is dire, marked by a catastrophic security and political crisis. To shed light on this complex landscape, we speak to Robert Fatton, Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia and a native Haitian on this episode of The LatinNews podcast. The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 created a political vacuum filled by Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who promised elections and reforms that never materialized. "The elections didn...

Brazil heads to the polls on 4 October in a presidential election shaped by deep political polarization, economic concerns and growing controversy surrounding the country’s Supreme Court. In this episode of The LatinNews Podcast, Richard McColl speaks with James N. Green, Professor Emeritus of Brazilian History and Culture at Brown University and President of the Board of Directors of the Washington Brazil Office, about the contest between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator...

In this episode on The LatinNews Podcast, we are joined by Marla Dukharan, economist and advisor on the Caribbean, who discusses the financial challenges Caribbean nations face due to increasing climate disasters, the role of international aid, and potential solutions like insurance and fiscal responsibility. The conversation delves into the Bridgetown Initiative, which aims to improve access to concessional financing. While acknowledging the initiative's intent, Marla raises concerns about ...

Illegal gold mining in the Amazon is about far more than what happens at the extraction site. In this episode of The LatinNews Podcast, Richard McColl speaks with Melina Risso, Research Director at the Igarapé Institute in Brazil, about the networks that allow illegally mined gold to enter legitimate markets and move across borders. They discuss the growing involvement of organised crime and local elites, regulatory gaps across the Amazon, and how stronger controls and new tracing technologie...

In this episode of The LatinNews Podcast, host Richard McColl speaks with Glaeldys González, Andean Region Analyst at International Crisis Group, about the challenges facing Colombia at the beginning of President Abelardo de la Espriella's administration. The recent earthquake provides an immediate test for the new government, adding further pressure to an already serious humanitarian situation. Beyond the emergency response, attention is turning to President de la Espriella's security agenda...