US ships are getting ripped off at the Panama Canal. That’s the claim. But is it true? Ambassador John Feeley unpacks the facts behind the rhetoric — from Panama’s role as a flag of convenience to why the majority of commercial shipping isn't even American. This is not just

On this week’s #LatinNewsPodcast: We unpack mass deportations from the US, violent crime in Trinidad & Tobago, and the upcoming elections — with expert insight from Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith. 🎧 Full episode: bit.ly/4itXmh8 #CaribbeanPolitics #TrinidadAndTobago

Trinidad & Tobago is under a state of emergency, facing rising gang violence and political transition ahead of April’s elections. We speak with security expert Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith on crime, deportations & geopolitics. 🎧 bit.ly/4itXmh8 #TrinidadAndTobago

“If you can list 106 gangs in Trinidad, I’ll give you $1,000.” In this week’s LatinNews Podcast, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith challenges the popular narrative around gang violence in Trinidad & Tobago — pointing to sensationalist media, inflated numbers, and a deeper

Trump’s tariffs may have spared Latin America, but not for the reasons you think. A temporary reprieve from steep US levies has sparked cautious relief in the region, but beneath the surface lies a complex mix of geopolitics, trade imbalances, and shifting alliances.

As if we hardly need reminding that Chile's controversial pension reforms were the focal point of protests at the heart of the civil unrest or "estallido social". This has been particularly incendiary in Chile with the AFP's origins dating back to the Pinochet dictatorship.

Professor Nicholas Barr recalls challenging the World Bank’s overselling of Chile’s pension model in the 1990s. In this clip, he explains why the Chilean case was never a universal blueprint and why other countries misread the lesson. Watch the full conversation on The

Chile’s pension model was once copied across Latin America and Eastern Europe. Now, almost none of those countries follow it. In this clip, Professor Nicholas Barr explains what went wrong, why most governments reversed course, and why Chile remains the outlier. Watch the full

The Rise of the Far-Right in the Southern Cone How much is historical revisionism in South America's southern cone responsible for a rise in the far-right in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay? What does this mean for the largely prevailing consensus on the brutality and the

Chile was once seen as Latin America’s democratic success story. Strong growth. Falling poverty. A deep process of transitional justice. But somewhere between institutional strength and disaffection, the foundations began to shift. Scott Mainwaring lays out the trajectory that

Professor Scott Mainwaring traces the collapse of public trust in both the left and right. Years of economic stagnation, corruption scandals, and disillusionment paved the way for a political outsider who openly celebrated #Brazil’s military dictatorship. Listen to the full

The Catholic Church has a new pope, and he’s American. But Pope Leo XIV spent decades in Peru, earning deep Latin American roots. Will he follow Pope Francis’ legacy of justice, or clash with Trump on migration? Journalist Richard McColl (@casaamarilla) speaks with Professor

Pope Francis didn’t follow protocol. He walked across the street, bypassed bureaucracy, and got things done. Professor Prof. Mario I Aguilar shares a rare behind-the-scenes view of Francis’ Latin American leadership style and how it shaped his Vatican years. Full episode of The

Professor Mario I Aguilar reflects on Pope Francis’ legacy as a hands-on leader shaped by his Latin American roots. From unannounced visits to the presidential palace in Buenos Aires to redefining the Church’s role in international affairs, Francis brought a direct and personal

Costa Rica is often seen as the calm exception in Latin America. No army. Stable democracy. Peaceful society. But as Professor Mary Fran T. Malone explains, homicide rates are rising fast, and organized crime is taking hold. Full episode: bit.ly/4jVRez5

Officials warn Cuba can now meet only half of electricity demand. Blackouts of up to 20 hours are being reported as fuel shortages, failing infrastructure, and rising heat converge. President Díaz-Canel calls the situation “critical”, admitting it has nearly paralysed the

Costa Rica has outperformed many of its regional peers in terms of economic growth and debt reduction, winning praise from institutions like the IMF. But behind these indicators lies a more troubling trend: rising inequality. As Professor Mary Fran T. Malone explains on The