Podcast appearances and mentions of Gustavo Petro

Colombia's former President Gustavo Petro formally accused the USA and Israel of meddling in his country's election to put in power new far-right leader Abelardo de la Espriella, a US citizen and Trump ally who worked as a lawyer for years in Miami, Florida, defending drug traffickers. Ben Norton explains. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rBhz7_rlg0 Check out our related video on the Sandinista Revolution and Nicaragua's resistance against US imperialism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIXMyFvMeMc Topics 0:00 US & Israeli meddling in Colombian election 2:34 US-backed coups in Latin America 4:23 Abelardo de la Espriella, US citizen 6:36 De la Espriella defended drug traffickers 8:19 US govt supports drug traffickers 11:17 De la Espriella's business interests 12:14 De la Espriella's botox scandals 13:40 Far-right paramilitaries in Colombia 15:42 Sociopathy 16:23 Colombia's new right-wing regime 16:52 Marco Rubio 17:27 US military alliance with Colombia 18:27 US-backed narco leader Álvaro Uribe 19:58 Marco Rubio's extremist ties 20:34 War on Drugs 2.0 22:13 Ecuador's narco-dictator Daniel Noboa 23:38 Operation Condor 2.0 25:27 Colonialist Donroe Doctrine 26:53 Gustavo Petro cut ties with Israel 28:48 Israel's new alliance with Colombia 29:53 Colombia: the Israel of Latin America 31:08 Israel occupies Syria's Golan Heights 32:50 Morocco occupies Western Sahara 33:23 Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic 36:00 Morocco supports Israel 36:53 US backs Morocco in Western Sahara 38:09 Colombia's relations with China 39:39 US Cold War Two against China 40:22 US puppet regimes in Latin America 41:15 US National Security Strategy 42:45 Neocolonialism 43:56 Anti-imperialist resistance 45:23 Outro

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, which includes forced coca eradication, the capture of criminal leaders and plans to construct ten megaprisons.Richard and Glaeldys discuss the influence of President Nayib Bukele's security model and the legacy of former president Gustavo Petro's Total Peace policy, as Colombia once again shifts its approach to armed and criminal groups. The episode also considers closer relations with the United States, changing political alliances across the region and tensions with Nicaragua.The discussion draws on International Crisis Group's new report, From Total Peace to Iron Fist: Colombia's Risky Turn to Hard Security, and considers the limits of a mano dura strategy in a country where criminal groups have become increasingly fragmented and adaptable. Security operations are only part of the picture, with territorial development, stronger state institutions and dialogue remaining central to any longer-term response.Follow LatinNews for  analysis on economic, political, and security developments in Latin America & the Caribbean. Twitter: @latinnewslondonLinkedIn: Latin American NewslettersFacebook: @latinnews1967For more insightful, expert-led analysis on Latin America's political and economic landscape, read our reports for free with a 14-day trial. Get full access to our entire portfolio.

En esta emisión del 29 de julio de 2026, el informativo aborda la aprobación de la Cámara de Representantes para que la posesión presidencial de Abelardo de la Espriella se realice en Cali, así como la confirmación de asistencia de los presidentes Javier Milei y Santiago Peña.También incluye el respaldo oficial del Partido Conservador al nuevo gobierno, el ultimátum de diez días dado a grupos armados ilegales para someterse a la justicia y la controversia entre el presidente Gustavo Petro y la directora del Fondo de Adaptación, Angie Rodríguez.En el ámbito nacional, se destacan la puesta en marcha de la historia clínica electrónica interoperable, el nuevo proyecto de ley minera presentado por el Gobierno y las decisiones judiciales relacionadas con el escándalo de corrupción de la UNGRD. El noticiero también cubre deportes, cultura y entretenimiento, con la destacada actuación de Colombia en los Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe, el regreso de Chayanne a Colombia y las principales noticias de actualidad nacional e internacional.

A chegada de Abelardo De La Espriella à presidência da Colômbia reforça a guinada à direita na América Latina e a crescente influência dos Estados Unidos na região. Em seu discurso de posse, na última sexta-feira (7), em uma base militar em Cali, no sudoeste do país, o novo presidente sinalizou a intenção de estreitar as relações com Washington e alinhar sua política de segurança às prioridades dos Estados Unidos. Pedro Pannunzio, especial de Cali para a RFI No fim de semana, De La Espriella ordenou operações militares em várias regiões do país contra dissidências das Farc e o Clã do Golfo, marcando o início de uma estratégia de combate frontal aos grupos armados.  As ações conduzidas pela Força Pública resultaram em mortes, prisões e na apreensão de armas e material de inteligência. Durante a posse, o presidente afirmou que um dos primeiros atos de seu governo seria aderir ao "Escudo das Américas", para "fortalecer a ação conjunta das nações livres diante das ameaças que afetam a segurança regional". A declaração foi feita diante de centenas de militares perfilados em posição de sentido. A organização, que reúne países liderados por políticos de direita alinhados a Washington, foi criada em março deste ano pelo governo de Donald Trump com o objetivo de estabelecer uma cooperação militar no continente americano. Os Estados Unidos, por sua vez, anunciaram a intenção de enviar a Colômbia uma ajuda financeira de US$ 1 bilhão “como parte de um pacote de segurança para apoiar o governo do Presidente De La Espriella na conquista de objetivos comuns”, de acordo com um comunicado divulgado pelo Departamento de Estado no dia da posse do novo dirigente sul-americano. No domingo (9), a presidência colombiana divulgou uma nota em que afirma ter recebido “com profunda satisfação” o anúncio da intenção de financiamento. O comunicado diz, ainda, que o pacote fortalece o uso de “tecnologia norte-americana de alto nível” pelas forças armadas do país agora comandado por De La Espriella. Para Vladimir Rouvinski, professor de relações internacionais da Universidade Icesi, em Cali, a nova configuração da relação entre os dois países guarda semelhanças com uma experiência do passado. “O que nós provavelmente veremos é uma espécie de Plano Colômbia 2.0. O Plano Colômbia inicial buscava, em várias frentes, enfrentar a questão do narcotráfico na Colômbia a partir do fortalecimento das Forças Armadas colombianas.” O Plano Colômbia foi um acordo de cooperação bilateral em conjunto com os Estados Unidos criado em 1999. O projeto combinou ajuda financeira em larga escala e apoio militar norte-americano para combater o narcotráfico e enfraquecer grupos guerrilheiros de esquerda, como as FARC. A chegada de De La Espriella ao poder ocorre em um momento de fortalecimento de lideranças de ultradireita na região. O novo presidente colombiano, que nunca havia ocupado um cargo público, tem entre suas promessas a construção de megapresídios inspirados no modelo adotado pelo presidente de El Salvador, Nayib Bukele. Austeridade e política linha-dura Na área econômica, ele deve implementar medidas de austeridade. Em seu primeiro discurso como presidente do país, prometeu publicar um decreto para congelar os gastos públicos, sem explicar exatamente como a medida funcionaria. “O regime que deixa o poder promoveu um crescimento desmedido dos gastos, baseado em um endividamento que enfraqueceu as finanças nacionais”, alegou. Por outro lado, disse que iria eliminar o imposto ao patrimônio. Carlos Ortiz, professor da Universidade del Valle, acredita que as políticas do governo colombiano devem levar o país “novamente a um conflito social”. Para ele, as medidas anunciadas pelo novo governo representam um retrocesso em relação aos avanços democráticos durante a gestão de Gustavo Petro, antecessor de De La Espriella e primeiro presidente de esquerda a governar a Colômbia. “Evidentemente, é um movimento que tende a reduzir os avanços democráticos alcançados no passado e a fortalecer o papel do Estado em favor das grandes corporações e dos grandes oligarcas. Esse afastamento das necessidades dos setores populares, para insistir sempre nos benefícios dos mais ricos, é algo que voltará a se impor com este governo.” Enquanto a direita avança em boa parte da América Latina e a influência de Washington cresce na região, o Brasil permanece sob um governo de centro-esquerda, sem alinhamento com os Estados Unidos. Para o professor Vladimir Rouvinski, o país, no entanto, não está isolado e ainda exerce um importante peso político sobre os vizinhos sul-americanos. Para ele, caso Lula vença as eleições de outubro, o Brasil poderia atuar como uma espécie de contrapeso ao aumento da presença de Washington na América do Sul. “Eu diria que, nesse caso, o Brasil pode desempenhar um papel. Se Lula vencer, o país pode atuar como uma espécie de contrapeso, em muitos sentidos, ao aumento da presença dos Estados Unidos na América do Sul.”

[Ep.341 - T9] Se acabó el gobierno de Gustavo Petro y revisamos cómo lo cubrió la prensa. El balance del balance de todas las peores semanas del gobierno a través de una mirada a los puntos de vista, la manipulación de los datos y la ausencia de relatos.Con Laura Bonilla, subdirectora de Pares como invitada que conversa con Santiago Rivas y Emepé.Presunto no es un podcast milagro. Ayúdenos a seguir - conviértase en Patreon.Posproducción: Mónica CastiblancoCollage: Santiago RivasEdición editorial: EmepéEstamos en todas las redes como @presuntopodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Escuche el episodio del 7 de agosto de 2026. En La Luciérnaga, mezcla extraña de realidad y ficción, hablamos de la posesión de Abelardo de la Espriella, sus invitados y las personas que no asistirán, además de las últimas decisiones de Gustavo Petro.Programa completo y más información en caracol.com.co

El candidato de ultraderecha propuso en primera instancia celebrar la ceremonia en unas instalaciones militares, pero el presidente saliente, Gustavo Petro, rechazó esta idea.   Tras una serie de polémicas sobre el lugar de la ceremonia, Abelardo de la Espriella, el candidato de la derecha trumpista, quien triunfó en la elección presidencial, asumirá su cargo en Cali y no en la capital colombiana. Una decisión que no sorprende al politólogo Andrés Dávila, de la Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá.  "De la Espriella sigue un poco la tónica que propuso en un comienzo para su Gobierno, que es romper con las formas existentes, con los lugares desde donde se gobernaba. Eso, en principio, es un símbolo de que él no es parte de la política tradicional, de que él es un outsider; aunque, la verdad, para mí no lo es tanto, teniendo en cuenta de dónde proviene y la cantidad de relaciones que ha tenido con políticos narcotraficantes y paramilitares. Pero esto es lo que él está tratando de demostrar. Su campaña fue muy diferente, más parecida a la puesta en escena de un cantante, utilizando mucho los símbolos futbolísticos, aun sabiendo lo que hacen las barras de fútbol aquí en Colombia y en América Latina", cuenta Andrés Dávila.  Un desafío a la izquierda Inicialmente, de la Espriella quería tomar posesión en un cuartel. Decisión a la que se opuso el mandatario saliente Gustavo Petro. El presidente electo optó finalmente por una investidura en Cali como símbolo de la descentralización del poder, o como acto de desafío político, según el politólogo.  Dávila considera que la elección de Cali "consiste en meterse en el territorio que es más petrista y en donde ha habido más movilización social. Recordemos que allí la movilización en 2021 fue fuertísima y es donde está el monumento de Puerto Resistencia. Yo creo que es también una manera de desafiar a la izquierda y al petrismo".  Cierre de embajadas en Cuba y Nicaragua Uno de los primeros anuncios de Abelardo de la Espriella ya tras su elección fue el cierre de 14 embajadas y la suspensión de las relaciones diplomáticas con Cuba y Nicaragua. Una decisión más política que económica, opina Andrés Dávila.  "El cuento de que entonces hay que reducir las embajadas, eso ahí no produce ahorros significativos, eso no impacta en el problema fiscal. Eso es solo para mostrar cosas, y en este caso yo creo que se va a utilizar para cerrar aquellas que para la derecha resultan incómodas en una mirada de las relaciones internacionales y de la política exterior. Que es un poco provincial a mi gusto", apunta el politólogo de la Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá. Por su parte, el candidato de izquierda, Iván Zepeda, quien perdió la elección por menos de un punto porcentual, llamó a movilizarse en las calles para defender los avances sociales del Gobierno de Gustavo Petro.

El gobierno español muestra firmeza ante la situación en Ceuta, asegurando el retorno de la mayoría de migrantes a Marruecos. Exige rectificaciones a Italia por los controles fronterizos a ciudadanos españoles y advierte con medidas proporcionales si no se normaliza la situación antes del 9 de agosto. Critica a Italia por generar conflictos, mientras Meloni prorroga los controles hasta el 15 de agosto, lo que el ministro Ábalos califica de "torpedo" a la Unión Europea. Se percibe una estrategia del gobierno para desviar la atención de la responsabilidad de Marruecos y la gestión de la crisis en Ceuta, abriendo un frente ideológico con Italia. Ceuta sigue colapsada con menores y cuatro ministros comparecen en el Congreso a partir del 25 de agosto para dar explicaciones. En otras noticias, Gustavo Petro toma posesión como presidente de Colombia y se desarticula una red de tráfico de personas entre España y Argelia. Meta es multada en Estados Unidos por perjudicar la salud de jóvenes. Se ...

Après quatre ans de gouvernance de gauche, l'extrême droite prend les rênes du pouvoir en Colombie. Le nouveau président Abelardo de la Espriella est investi ce vendredi 7 août 2026. Abelardo de la Espriella a fait de la lutte contre l'insécurité et la criminalité l'une de ses priorités. Pour marquer cet engagement, il a choisi de prêter serment à Cali, une région touchée par plusieurs attentats ces derniers mois, plutôt que dans la capitale Bogota. Ce début de mandat devrait donc être marqué par une stratégie répressive, une offensive militaire et par la fin des négociations avec les groupes armés et criminels. Une rupture, donc, avec la politique de « paix totale » et de dialogue du président sortant Gustavo Petro. Les explications de Sarah Krakovitch, du service International de RFI. Un éléphant blanc au Sénat colombien En ce mois d'août 2026, RFI vous propose une série de portraits de jeunes qui feront parler d'eux dans les six prochains mois. Cap aujourd'hui sur la Colombie où un éléphant blanc siège désormais au Congrès. El Elefante blanco, Luis Carlos Rua de son vrai nom, est un militant anti-corruption qui dénonce depuis des années la mauvaise utilisation des fonds publics sur les réseaux sociaux, déguisé en éléphant blanc. Il vient de se faire élire sénateur. Son portrait par Marine de La Moissonnière, du service International de RFI.   En Haïti, des hospitalisations qui posent question En Haïti, des membres de gangs, et même l'un de leurs principaux chefs, profiteraient de conditions de soins privilégiées dans un hôpital de Carrefour, à une dizaine de kilomètres à l'ouest du centre de Port-au-Prince. C'est ce que révèle une enquête du média d'investigation indépendant Ayibopost. Nous en parlons avec son auteur, Jérôme Wendy Norestyl. À écouter aussiEn Haïti, les conséquences dramatiques de la pénurie de poches de sang     Le journal d'Outre-mer la 1re Une immersion dans le service territorial de la police judiciaire et scientifique de Cayenne, en Guyane.

El candidato de ultraderecha propuso en primera instancia celebrar la ceremonia en unas instalaciones militares, pero el presidente saliente, Gustavo Petro, rechazó esta idea.   Tras una serie de polémicas sobre el lugar de la ceremonia, Abelardo de la Espriella, el candidato de la derecha trumpista, quien triunfó en la elección presidencial, asumirá su cargo en Cali y no en la capital colombiana. Una decisión que no sorprende al politólogo Andrés Dávila, de la Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá.  "De la Espriella sigue un poco la tónica que propuso en un comienzo para su Gobierno, que es romper con las formas existentes, con los lugares desde donde se gobernaba. Eso, en principio, es un símbolo de que él no es parte de la política tradicional, de que él es un outsider; aunque, la verdad, para mí no lo es tanto, teniendo en cuenta de dónde proviene y la cantidad de relaciones que ha tenido con políticos narcotraficantes y paramilitares. Pero esto es lo que él está tratando de demostrar. Su campaña fue muy diferente, más parecida a la puesta en escena de un cantante, utilizando mucho los símbolos futbolísticos, aun sabiendo lo que hacen las barras de fútbol aquí en Colombia y en América Latina", cuenta Andrés Dávila.  Un desafío a la izquierda Inicialmente, de la Espriella quería tomar posesión en un cuartel. Decisión a la que se opuso el mandatario saliente Gustavo Petro. El presidente electo optó finalmente por una investidura en Cali como símbolo de la descentralización del poder, o como acto de desafío político, según el politólogo.  Dávila considera que la elección de Cali "consiste en meterse en el territorio que es más petrista y en donde ha habido más movilización social. Recordemos que allí la movilización en 2021 fue fuertísima y es donde está el monumento de Puerto Resistencia. Yo creo que es también una manera de desafiar a la izquierda y al petrismo".  Cierre de embajadas en Cuba y Nicaragua Uno de los primeros anuncios de Abelardo de la Espriella ya tras su elección fue el cierre de 14 embajadas y la suspensión de las relaciones diplomáticas con Cuba y Nicaragua. Una decisión más política que económica, opina Andrés Dávila.  "El cuento de que entonces hay que reducir las embajadas, eso ahí no produce ahorros significativos, eso no impacta en el problema fiscal. Eso es solo para mostrar cosas, y en este caso yo creo que se va a utilizar para cerrar aquellas que para la derecha resultan incómodas en una mirada de las relaciones internacionales y de la política exterior. Que es un poco provincial a mi gusto", apunta el politólogo de la Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá. Por su parte, el candidato de izquierda, Iván Zepeda, quien perdió la elección por menos de un punto porcentual, llamó a movilizarse en las calles para defender los avances sociales del Gobierno de Gustavo Petro.

Escuche el episodio del 5 de agosto de 2026. En La Luciérnaga, mezcla extraña de realidad y ficción, hablamos del homenaje a Alfonso Lizarazo, el presunto ataque con bus bomba en Cali y las intervenciones sobre Gustavo Petro y Abelardo de la Espriella.Programa completo y más información en caracol.com.co

L'avocat d'extrême droite Abelardo de la Espriella prend ses fonctions de président de la Colombie vendredi 7 août 2026. Il a promis une lutte plus ferme contre les groupes armés et les narcotrafiquants. Dans les zones rurales, meurtries par la violence de ces groupes, les habitants attendent beaucoup de l'État. C'est le cas à Betulia, dans la région d'Antioquia, où une école avait dû fermer ses portes il y a quelques semaines pour garantir la sécurité des enfants. Le maire de la ville, lui, a renforcé les mesures pour ramener le calme. De notre envoyée spéciale à Betulia, Betulia est une petite ville du nord-ouest de la Colombie, nichée au milieu de collines couvertes de caféiers. Sur la place principale, tout juste rénovée, de nouvelles cabanes servent de points de vente. Une sculpture proclame « J'aime Betulia », cœur inclus, prisée pour les photos souvenirs. Dans le bureau du maire, les rendez-vous avec les habitants s'enchaînent. Ce matin, c'est au tour de l'assemblée communale du quartier El Nariño de venir faire le point. Quatre représentants des résidents sont regroupés autour de l'édile. Jaime De Jesus Muñoz Ruiz préside l'action communale de Betulia. Il raconte comment ce quartier est, depuis plusieurs années, le théâtre d'une guerre de territoire entre deux bandes criminelles : le Gang du 20-Juillet et le Clan del Golfo, le plus puissant groupe de narcotrafiquants du pays. « Le quartier Nariño, à Betulia, c'est un quartier populaire, pauvre. Dans ces quartiers, c'est là que l'on vend et que l'on consomme le plus de drogue. Avant, sans exagérer, on comptait un mort, parfois deux, chaque semaine… [Il pleure] Pardon, je n'arrive pas à en parler sans pleurer, à chaque fois », se lamente-t-il. Pour mieux comprendre la situation, le maire nous emmène dans ce quartier qu'il décrit comme « pris en otage ». Depuis deux ans, l'édile tente de reprendre le contrôle en aidant à la rénovation des maisons et en étant plus présent auprès des habitants. À quelques mètres de la place principale, une rangée de maisons aux toits de tôle : certaines sont encore en travaux. Dans celle où nous entrons, on refait le sol. Bientôt, il y aura un carrelage tout neuf. Camilo Serna, maire de la ville de Betulia, explique : « Avant, on ne pouvait même pas entrer ici. Quand on le faisait, c'était toujours fortement escorté par l'armée, par la police. » L'élu ne cache pas son souhait de voir la nouvelle politique sécuritaire nationale se montrer plus offensive. En parallèle, la ville mise sur de nouveaux événements et sur son identité de terre de café pour relancer un tourisme freiné par son image négative en termes de sécurité. « Notre région a souvent été mise de côté par l'ancien gouvernement de Gustavo Petro parce qu'il détestait Antioquia. Le nouveau président élu a montré son intérêt pour Antioquia. Nous avons besoin de plus de sécurité et qu'il y ait plus d'investissements dans les projets sociaux et agricoles », souligne-t-il. Selon le maire, le calme serait revenu à Betulia. Mais l'exil de plusieurs dirigeants sociaux locaux rappelle que la situation reste fragile. Ici, tous attendent de voir ce que changera l'entrée en fonction du nouveau président. À lire aussiColombie: au moins 14 blessés dans l'explosion d'un camion piégé, à six jours de l'investiture du président élu

La situación en Ceuta es crítica una semana después de la entrada masiva de personas, con cifras inciertas de quienes permanecen. El rey Felipe VI recibe al presidente ceutí, Juan Jesús Vivas, quien confirma el compromiso del monarca de visitar la ciudad, aunque la fecha es incierta debido al control gubernamental sobre su agenda y las relaciones con Marruecos. En Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella asume la presidencia en un ambiente tenso y polarizado, con Gustavo Petro sin reconocer los resultados. De la Espriella prioriza la lucha contra el narcotráfico y busca estrechar lazos con Estados Unidos e Israel. A nivel nacional, la ministra de Igualdad solicita una reunión con Juanma Moreno por la cesión de competencias de violencia machista a VOX en Andalucía. Se informa de detenciones por violencia de género en Murcia y Madrid. España roza los 50 millones de habitantes por la llegada de extranjeros y aumentan los casos de virus del Nilo en Sevilla. En deportes, Vinicius renueva con el ...

SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW 8-3-20261705Husain Haqqani: Iran is openly boasting that it uses diplomatic pauses to reconstitute its military arsenal for future attacks on energy infrastructure. Ambassador Haqqani critiques the current US approach as a haphazard war lacking a clear end-state or ground strategy, which causes deep anxiety among Gulf allies. While GCC states such as the UAE have successfully fended off missile barrages, they feel Washington has not provided the military commitment necessary for long-term protection. Consequently, China is emerging as a winner in the conflict, gaining respect through silence while the US appears as a helpless giant unable to achieve an honorable peace. (1)Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa: The inauguration of Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella marks a pivotal shift toward the "Shield of the Americas" initiative to combat drug trafficking and organized crime. Unlike his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, the new administration seeks close cooperation with the US to dismantle narco-socialist structures. Meanwhile, Venezuela remains in crisis seven months after the detention of Nicolás Maduro, with the Rodríguez family still wielding significant power. The US is attempting to facilitate negotiations with the opposition, yet critics argue the current transition model fails the population. Regionally, Brazilian President Lula da Silva faces increasing isolation as his neighbors shift toward conservative, security-focused governance. (2)Malcolm Hoenlein: Recent reports reveal the existence of Iranian-backed assassination cells such as the Foxtrot group, which recruits European criminals to target Jewish and Israeli figures. In the Levant, the IDF continues to discover unprecedented tunnel complexes in Lebanon and Gaza, some so vast they require dedicated cement factories to seal. These reinforced, air-conditioned structures demonstrate a massive diversion of humanitarian funds toward military infrastructure. While a pilot zone plan aims to restore Lebanese sovereign authority, Hezbollah's refusal to disarm remains the primary obstacle. Similarly, in Gaza, Hamas is reportedly distributing rifles to operatives to circumvent disarmament agreements while demanding an Israeli withdrawal. (3)General Blaine Holt and Gordon Chang: Concerns are rising regarding the flow of Chinese and Russian aid to Iran, which includes potential shipments of anti-aircraft missiles. While some interpret President Trump's reserved stance as weakness, General Holt suggests it may be a strategic gambit to exploit internal CCP factional infighting. Within the Party, a reformer named Hu Chunhua is reportedly rising as a potential rival to Xi Jinping. However, experts warn that provocative Chinese actions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait require a steel-with-steel confrontation. Critics argue that the US must eventually humiliate the Chinese leadership through economic and espionage crackdowns to project true force. (4)Andrew Collier and Gordon Chang: China's banking system faces a time bomb with an estimated $7.7 trillion in unreported bad loans, largely due to government-backed entities rolling over debt to mask insolvency. The property market remains a crater, and while manufacturing and tech sectors such as EVs are growing, they represent only a fraction of the GDP once provided by real estate. Xi Jinping resists bazooka stimulus programs, preferring state-led investment in high tech over consumer-driven growth. This has resulted in a K-shaped economy in which wealthy urbanites thrive while rural citizens face declining property values and job insecurity. Ultimately, China risks a multi-decade slump similar to Japan's lost decades. (5)David Daoud: A recent drone attack on an IDF vehicle near the Ali Taher Ridge highlights the fragility of the current ceasefire in Lebanon. The IDF maintains control over the ridge's surface, yet Hezbollah continues to operate within a vast underground tunnel network. Despite diplomatic efforts, Iran has boasted that ceasefires are used primarily to rearm and redeploy its proxies. Hezbollah's regeneration efforts, including weapons shipments through Syria and recruitment via the IRGC's Imam Hussein division, reportedly outpace Israeli interdiction. While the Lebanese government denies these activities, evidence suggests Hezbollah remains a significant fighting force south of the Litani River. (6)Edmund Fitton-Brown: The Houthis have launched a blockade against Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, targeting energy routes critical to global markets. In response, Saudi Arabia has formed a fourteen-nation defense coalition to protect the Bab el-Mandeb, notably excluding the UAE and Oman. While the Houthis maintain some autonomy, they are heavily dependent on Iranian technical assistance and resupply. Iran has used regional pauses to restock its arsenal and now threatens Saudi infrastructure, including desalination plants and pipelines. Experts believe the US remains the elephant in the room, but a lack of consistent policy from Washington emboldens the Houthis to continue their aggressive psychological warfare. (7)Samuel Ben-Ur: President Trump has announced a tentative Hamas deal involving a phased disarmament and the transition of governance to a National Committee. However, the plan faces significant hurdles, as Israel demands the complete destruction of terror infrastructure before any withdrawal. Hamas seeks to retain small arms, potentially leading to a Hezbollah-style shadow governance. This diplomatic friction coincides with a tight Israeli election between Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot. Netanyahu faces criticism for allowing US interests to dictate Israeli policy, particularly regarding Iran's ballistic missile threat. Voters are increasingly focused on national security autonomy and the domestic cost of living ahead of the October polls. (8)Janatan Sayeh: The Iranian regime has dramatically escalated its internal reign of terror, with executions increasing by over 100 percent in some regions. Revolutionary courts, led by brutal judges such as Mohammad Reza Tavakoli, use public hangings and floggings to desensitize and intimidate the population. These courts specifically target young dissidents, journalists, and even musicians for offending the supreme leader or waging war against God. Washington is criticized for failing to invoke human rights sanctions since January, even as other Western nations act. The surge in executions often coincides with diplomatic negotiations, serving as the regime's deliberate internal priority to liquidate all political dissent. (9)John Hardie: President Zelenskyy has proposed a plan to use Elon Musk's Starlink network to bypass the need for scarce Patriot interceptors, enabling deep strikes against Russian missile launchers. Starlink provides the low latency required for controlling drones beyond the radio horizon, though SpaceX currently restricts its use in certain territories. Simultaneously, Russia has implemented a crippling blockade of Odessa, targeting port infrastructure and civilian vessels with new Banderol cruise missiles. This offensive has brought agricultural and metal exports to a near standstill, threatening global food security and Ukraine's hard currency earnings. Without a maritime corridor, Ukraine faces its toughest winter challenge of the war. (10)Two names to confirm: the CCP reformer rendered in the raw as "Huchen Hua" — I set it as Hu Chunhua; and the revolutionary court judge given as "Muhammad Raza Takav Tavakoli" — I set it as Mohammad Reza Tavakoli. Also still open from earlier batches: Lorenzo Fiato or Fiori.

Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa: The inauguration of Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella marks a pivotal shift toward the "Shield of the Americas" initiative to combat drug trafficking and organized crime. Unlike his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, the new administration seeks close cooperation with the US to dismantle narco-socialist structures. Meanwhile, Venezuela remains in crisis seven months after the detention of Nicolás Maduro, with the Rodríguez family still wielding significant power. The US is attempting to facilitate negotiations with the opposition, yet critics argue the current transition model fails the population. Regionally, Brazilian President Lula da Silva faces increasing isolation as his neighbors shift toward conservative, security-focused governance. (2)1910 CARACAS

Gustavo Petro defendió a Verónica Alcocer tras las denuncias por una presunta red de corrupción y anunció acciones legales. En paralelo, el Congreso comenzó a estudiar un proyecto que permitiría entregar hasta el 50 % de la pensión al ex cónyuge inocente en casos de divorcio. La jornada también dejó novedades sobre el Metro de Bogotá, un caso de feminicidio y los preparativos para la posesión presidencial del 7 de agosto.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Llegó el segundo episodio de la temporada 9.En el episodio 340 analizamos una semana (la úlitma peor) en el cierre del gobierno de Gustavo Petro: denuncias de corrupción, acusaciones de maltrato, fracturas internas, ajustes de última hora y una sensación creciente de desorden en los días finales de esta dministración.Revisamos cómo los medios están narrando este momento político: qué historias dominan la agenda, qué marcos interpretativos se repiten y qué queda fuera de la conversación pública.Con Santiago Rivas, Andrés Páramo y Juan Álvarez.Posproducción: Mónica Castiblanco.Presunto es un proyecto independiente. Si les gusta lo que hacemos y quieren que sigamos analizando medios, periodismo y poder, apóyennos y compartan este episodio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Después de cuatro meses, un ocelote vuelve a su hábitat en Oaxaca Petro se despide con un viaje a Cuba antes de dejar la PresidenciaLa ciencia confirma que la alegría también protege tu saludMás información en nuestro podcast#grc

Mary Anastasia O'Grady reports that following a narrow election victory, center-right businessman Abelardo de la Espriella faces fierce opposition from outgoing President Gustavo Petro. Petro, a former M19 terrorist, has refused to recognize the results, alleging fraud and foreign interference. De la Espriella plans to take a hard line against illegal armed groups like the ELN and FARC. To build support, he intends to hold his inauguration at a military garrison, signaling a commitment to restoring national security. (14)1898 BOGOTA

SCHEDULE FOR THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 7-29-26.1885  CHILE STEEL SIDED WARSHIPRebecca Grant and Gordon Chang report China is escalating provocations against the Philippines and Japan, including dangerous maneuvers near Second Thomas Shoal and firing missiles from submarines. Grant highlights the US Navy's preparedness to defend allies, noting a "red line" if Filipino sailors are killed. Despite China's permanent presence, the US maintains dominance through carrier strike groups and superior undersea warfare. The lack of operational officers on China's Central Military Commission suggests potential command risks. (1)Rick Fisher and Gordon Chang discuss reports that China is transferring hundreds of advanced QW-12 and FN-16 man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) to Iran via Hong Kong intermediaries. Fisher warns this poses a significant threat to US aircraft in the Strait of Hormuz. Chang advocates for reimposing sanctions on Hong Kong. The transfer, which China denies, represents a major escalation and highlights China's ongoing role in arming US adversaries like North Korea and Pakistan. (2)Charles Burton and Gordon Chang note Xi Jinping broke tradition by skipping the 50th anniversary of the devastating Tangshan earthquake, sending a surrogate instead. Burton suggests this absence may signal political instability or paranoia regarding his domestic standing. The earthquake historically symbolizes a loss of the "mandate of heaven." Furthermore, vacancies on the Central Military Commission and the mysterious death of former Premier Li Keqiangindicate profound internal disarray and a lack of clear succession. (3)Charles Burton and Gordon Chang discuss how trade tensions and rhetoric from the US have led to increased disdain among Canadians toward their neighbor. Burton discusses a poll showing Canadians view China more favorably than the US due to perceived economic threats from American tariffs. While the integrated North American market remains strong, Canadian provincial governments are reportedly restricting US alcohol sales. There are even suggestions that Canada should adopt "resistance" strategies similar to Ukraine. (4)Evan Ellis reports Keiko Fujimori has been inaugurated as Peru's president, appointing a respected center-right cabinet focused on fiscal discipline and US alignment. However, she faces challenges from endemic insecurity, corruption, and significant Chinese investment. Meanwhile, the influence of Cuba remains a concern across Latin America, with accusations of espionage and interference in democratic processes. Díaz-Canel's regime is under pressure from the Trump administration, potentially facing coercive negotiations or military action. (5)Evan Ellis previews Brazil's upcoming October election, which pits the leftist Lula da Silva against Flavio Bolsonaro, son of the former president. While Lula currently leads in polls, his Workers' Party background and ties to the São Paulo Forum raise concerns about radicalism and increased engagement with China. Ellis warns that a Lula victory could lead Brazil into a recession and a state-centric social policy, potentially settling political scores while lacking necessary financial resources. (6)Evan Ellis surveys shifting political landscapes: Javier Milei is rallying support for the Bolsonaros in Brazil, highlighting a new era of cross-border political interference. In Colombia, President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella is signaling a pro-US shift by cutting ties with Cuba and Nicaragua. Conversely, Venezuela remains in a "holding pattern" under Delcy Rodríguez. Despite reports of crumbling oil infrastructure, major investment is unlikely until a legitimate government is established to address the nation's $240 billion debt. (7)Evan Ellis notes President Claudia Sheinbaum has seen success in reducing homicides and cooperating on border security, but deep-seated corruption persists. The USMCA's future is uncertain, with the Trump administration using ongoing negotiations as leverage. Additionally, China is quietly expanding its presence in Mexico's telecom and automotive sectors. Sheinbaum must navigate a delicate balance: pursuing economic diversification and relationships with China without jeopardizing critical access to the US market. (8)Michael Bernstam reports Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries have severely pinched Moscow's fuel production, forcing it to import refined products from India. Bernstam argues that the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have merged into a singular global energy crisis. With critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea threatened, a quarter of the world's oil supply is endangered. As governmental reserves dwindle, the US has become a primary exporter. (9)Michael Bernstam notes official statistics reveal the Russian economy has entered a state of stagnation, with GDP growth at a mere 0.2% for the first half of 2026. While weapons production remains high, the civilian economy—including agriculture and construction—is in recession. Bernstam notes that "perceived inflation" for Russian consumers is roughly 15%, significantly higher than official reports. Reckless interest rate cuts have further invited inflation, signaling a deepening commercial and fiscal crisis. (10)Sadanand Dhume observes that despite having a vast pool of engineers and data, India lags behind the US and China in developing frontier AI models. Dhume discusses the "winner-take-all" fear versus the belief that AI technology will eventually diffuse globally. While the Indian government is investing in semiconductors, many IT sector jobs in coding and back-office support are threatened by automation. The debate continues over whether India can successfully reap benefits without being a front-runner. (11)Sadanand Dhume examines India's "reservations" system, a rigid quota-based affirmative action program facing intense criticism for undermining university competitiveness. Originally intended to redress historical caste-based wrongs, quotas have expanded to cover roughly 60% of medical school seats. Dhume notes that while merit-based systems in Chinaprovide a brutal but efficient benchmark, Indian political parties fear touching the quota system would be "electoral suicide." This policy has entrenched caste identities. (12)General Blaine Holt analyzes reports of China supplying advanced shoulder-launched missiles (MANPADS) to Iran via Hong Kong and Pakistan, signaling a major geopolitical shift. Holt explains that while these weapons threaten low-flying aircraft, the supply chain is vulnerable to intelligence interdiction. Holt observes that recent Iranian escalations in Iraq and the Gulf suggest a fragmented leadership in disarray rather than a cohesive strategy. The US and Saudi Arabiaare actively striking Iranian-backed militias. (13)Mary Anastasia O'Grady reports that following a narrow election victory, center-right businessman Abelardo de la Espriella faces fierce opposition from outgoing President Gustavo Petro. Petro, a former M19 terrorist, has refused to recognize the results, alleging fraud and foreign interference. De la Espriella plans to take a hard line against illegal armed groups like the ELN and FARC. To build support, he intends to hold his inauguration at a military garrison, signaling a commitment to restoring national security. (14)Bob Zimmerman reports SpaceX's 13th Starship Super Heavy launch was a major success, demonstrating the reliability of Raptor 3 engines and the thermal protection system. Zimmerman highlights the shift toward a "capitalism model," where private companies manage missions for NASA. Meanwhile, a schizophrenic GAO report on NASA's workforce reductions suggests that budget cuts have not significantly impacted major projects, despite agency officials' claims that funding decreases are "disastrous." (15)Bob Zimmerman notes the Deep Space Network facility in Spain narrowly avoided destruction by wildfires, highlighting the fragility of planetary communication nodes. Beyond Earth, astronomers have observed a precipitous drop in star formation within the Andromeda galaxy as it moves toward an eventual collision with the Milky Way. Additionally, NASA's Dragonfly mission to Titan faces potential power shortages from its nuclear sources. Despite these risks, commercial space continues to expand into private stations. (16)Corrections applied: Rick Fisher (transcribed as "Fischer" in segment 2 — matching the spelling from your earlier batch), Delcy Rodríguez, Díaz-Canel, and São Paulo Forum with accents. Also standardized "man-pads" to MANPADS and hyphenated the QW-12/FN-16 designations. Stray double commas from the source cleaned throughout.5

Escuche el episodio del 29 de julio de 2026. En La Luciérnaga, mezcla extraña de realidad y ficción, hablamos de la denuncia de Angie Rodríguez contra el presidente Gustavo Petro, la situación de Wadith Manzur y los temas relacionados con la Aerocivil.Programa completo y más información en caracol.com.co

La exdirectora del Dapre, Angie Rodríguez, denunció formalmente al presidente Gustavo Petro ante la Comisión de Acusación por presuntos delitos como tráfico de influencias, injuria y calumnia. La jornada también estuvo marcada por el atentado contra dos policías en Norte de Santander, la imposibilidad de posesión de la congresista Karen Manrique, el caos vial en La Línea y la recuperación de 13 cuerpos de víctimas del conflicto armado en Huila.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Petro y Uribe, dos históricos rivales de la política colombiana, protagonizaron esta semana una inesperada coincidencia en la elección de la mesa directiva del Senado. En el nuevo episodio de La Siguiente Movida , Juanita León y Héctor Riveros analizan qué hay detrás de esta alianza circunstancial entre el Pacto Histórico y el Centro Democrático, qué intereses comunes los unen —desde el fuero presidencial hasta las reformas pendientes—, y qué tan sostenible puede ser este "petrouribismo" de cara al nuevo gobierno de Abelardo de la Espriella. 

El traslado de la espada de Bolívar a la Quinta de Bolívar, tras el fin del gobierno de Gustavo Petro, marcó una jornada con múltiples hechos de impacto nacional. También avanzan las investigaciones por el caso de Yulissa Tolosa, las autoridades buscan posibles fosas comunes en un cementerio de Norte de Santander, la Contraloría detectó millonarios hallazgos fiscales en electrificadoras y crece la preocupación por casos de violencia, protestas y problemas de seguridad en distintas regiones del país.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

En Cinco Continentes abrimos nuevamente con la vista puesta en el estrecho de Ormuz, que está siendo nuevamente escenario de ataques tanto de Estados Unidos como de Irán como nos cuenta María Eulate. Cristina Sánchez también pone el foco en los hermanos Andrew y Tristan Tate, que han alcanzado fama y dinero promoviendo la misoginia en internet y que pasan su cuarto día en una prisión de Miami. Nuestro corresponsal en Londres, Guillaume Bontoux, nos traza un perfil del nuevo primer ministro británico, Andy Burnham. En la India, el gobierno de Narendra Modi afronta una de las mayores protestas juveniles de los últimos años. Entrevistamos a Beatriz Martínez Saavedra, historiadora y profesora de la Universidad Autónoma de México y experta en el país asiático. Beatriz Viaño nos trae los detalles sobre la demanda del presidente saliente de Colombia, Gustavo Petro, en la que reclama que se anulen las elecciones presidenciales. Cerramos con el informe de la FAO presentado hoy sobre el hambre en el mundo.Escuchar audio

Escuche el episodio del 20 de julio de 2026. En La Luciérnaga, mezcla extraña de realidad y ficción, hablamos del Congreso de la República, el discurso del 20 de julio del presidente Gustavo Petro y los temas que marcaron la jornada legislativa.Programa completo y más información en caracol.com.co

Resumen informativo con las noticias más destacadas de Colombia del sábado 18 de julio de 2026 a las siete de la noche.

En La Siguiente Movida, Juanita León y Héctor Riveros analizan las señales que muestra el nuevo gobierno de Abelardo De la Espriella, la disputa por la posesión de la Presidencia, la intención del nuevo presidente de dejar el centralismo y llevar el poder a las regiones. Producción: Jose Gutiérrez, Santiago Bernal y Juan Sebastián Correa Torres.Entrevista: Juanita León y Héctor Riveros.Material de archivo: Santiago Bernal.

This episode brings together two experts to discuss recent second-round presidential elections in Peru and Colombia: Jo-Marie Burt, a senior fellow at WOLA and professor at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government, and a leading expert on Peru; and Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, WOLA's Director for the Andes, who maintains close contact with Colombian civil society. Both elections produced razor-thin margins, and both delivered victories to right-wing, populist candidates promising crackdowns on crime and a hard line against their political adversaries. In Peru, Keiko Fujimori won the presidency on her fourth attempt, while in Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella narrowly defeated left-leaning Iván Cepeda. Burt describes Fujimori's ascent as the culmination of years spent consolidating control over Peru's key institutions, like Congress, the constitutional tribunal, and the attorney general's office. She characterizes Fujimori as "singularly motivated, singularly ambitious, and singularly ruthless," shaped by her upbringing under her father Alberto Fujimori's authoritarian government. Burt warns that Fujimori is driven by a desire for revenge against those who helped prosecute and imprison her father, including journalists like Gustavo Gorriti, human rights lawyers, prosecutors, and judges. She details a legislative landscape already tilted toward impunity—amnesty laws shielding police and military, and restrictions crippling NGOs' ability to represent victims. Burt argues Peru has drifted toward a hybrid or even authoritarian regime. Sánchez-Garzoli paints a tense picture in Colombia, where outgoing President Gustavo Petro has refused to recognize the election results, alleging fraud and foreign interference despite institutional findings to the contrary. She notes intervention by the Trump administration and U.S. lawmakers. With the transition suspended and Petro calling supporters into the streets, while armed groups reposition, Sánchez-Garzoli warns of a real risk of political violence. She outlines de la Espriella's "iron fist" agenda: mega-prisons modeled on El Salvador's Nayib Bukele, reviving the controversial ESMAD riot police, and a "special urban defense bloc" that she fears could blur the line between state security and paramilitary activity, echoing Colombia's dark history. "Colombia can't return to the belief that problems can be solved through bullets," she says, paraphrasing Colombian human rights defender Leyner Palacios. The conversation explores the deeper social fractures driving these results: in Peru, divisions of race, class, and region between Lima and the neglected Andean provinces, alongside a "frozen" collective memory of the 1980s-90s internal armed conflict manipulated to smear the left as communist. In Colombia, urban-rural divides also shape perceptions of security and the peace process. Both guests anticipate closer alignment with Washington, though they distinguish ideological affinity from generous funding. Sánchez-Garzoli expects a "total reset" in U.S.-Colombia relations, possible joint operations, and migration cooperation including reports of a plan to facilitate deportations of Colombian asylum seekers. Burt notes U.S. concern over China's growing influence in Peru. Despite the grim outlook, both find grains of hope: in Peru, a tentative opposition alliance and a still-vibrant regional civil society; in Colombia, strong institutions, a diverse Congress, and a resilient press and civil society. The episode closes with a reflection that both presidents-elect, lacking strong bases, face the "Milei challenge" of governing without a coalition.

Escuche el episodio del 15 de julio de 2026. En La Luciérnaga, mezcla extraña de realidad y ficción, hablamos sobre el gabinete de Abelardo de la Espriella, el caso de Daniel Quintero por Aguas Vivas y la reducción de la jornada laboral. Programa completo y más información en caracol.com.co

Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa condemn Gustavo Petro's refusal to recognize election results in Colombia. They criticize Brazil's President Lula for his silence on criminal leftist regimes. The "Shield of the Americas" alliance is emerging to defend regional democracy and fight corruption. (15)1918

CLiz Peek discusses the strong American economy, noting that small businesses feel relief as tariff threats abate and inflation falls. Lower energy and gasoline prices have cheered investors. Anecdotal evidence from local bookstores and ice cream parlors reinforces a positive outlook for consumer sentiment. (1)Liz Peek highlights the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America as a significant threat to established Democraticincumbents. Young voters are flocking to radical platforms promising free services. Rahm Emanuel emerges as a blunt voice for the party, urging a challenge against these "loons." (2)Jonathan Schanzer reports on the restart of hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz, where oil prices have hit $87 per barrel. The US is conducting air strikes against Iranian naval assets and drone bases. Schanzer questions why these strategic targets were not hit earlier in the conflict. (3)Jonathan Schanzer explores the Houthi threat in North Yemen and the potential for a wider regional conflict. While the US keeps Israel on the sidelines to avoid escalation, Turkey's "neo-Ottoman" ambitions are rising. Schanzer warns that Turkey seeks to fill the power vacuum left by Iran. (4)Mary Kissel analyzes the failure of the Iran ceasefire, noting that Iran calculated the US lacks the will for ground intervention. The conflict centers on Iran's suspect nuclear program, with potential new targets at Pickaxe Mountain. Public engagement remains low despite rising energy costs. (5)Mary Kissel discusses NATO's decision to reinforce Ukraine with advanced drone technology and Patriot missile manufacturing. Ukraine is hailed as the "future of warfare," transitioning from a security consumer to a security contributor. Kissel emphasizes the need for the US to counter Russian propaganda. (6)Joseph Sternberg examines Germany's economic struggles under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, including a shift toward deregulation and infrastructure borrowing. Massive layoffs at Volkswagen signal the end of traditional "lifetime employment." Merz faces political challenges from Social Democrats who resist aggressive free-market changes. (7)Joseph Sternberg addresses the assassination of former MP Ann Widdecombe, which is being investigated as a possible act of political violence. Sternberg notes that existential political rhetoric on social media often inspires such attacks. These tensions reflect broader global concerns regarding political polarization. (8)Gregory Copley critiques the stalemate in the Persian Gulf, suggesting that US air strikes alone cannot win without a plan for regime change. He advocates for supporting the domestic Iranian population against the clerical leadership. Turkey's opposition to empowering Kurdish forces remains a significant complication. (9)Gregory Copley discusses the inevitability of Ukraine's path to NATO, a move he views as a provocation to Russia. He argues the war preserves President Zelensky's power without a democratic mandate. However, he acknowledges Ukraine's technological ingenuity in developing swarming drone capabilities for modern combat. (10)Gregory Copley highlights Australia's declining regional power as Indonesia and India rise strategically. China'smissile tests and interest in Antarctica further destabilize the South Pacific. As the Antarctic Treaty ends, a scramble for the world's largest oil deposits appears imminent. (11)Gregory Copley details King Charles III's visit to the Isle of Man, the world's oldest continuous parliament. The King also held a private, discreet meeting with Prince Harry. Meanwhile, the UK faces rising anxiety over security for political leaders following the assassination of Ann Widdecombe. (12)Jeff McCausland discusses the closing of the Strait of Hormuz due to Iranian threats from land-based missiles and drones. President Trump faces a dilemma: muddle through, escalate with ground forces, or withdraw. McCausland warns that seizing territory like Kharg Island would result in significant casualties. (13)Jeff McCausland notes that Europe now views Ukraine as a security contributor due to its mastery of drone and robotic warfare. While Putin considers escalation or mobilization, Chinese pressure likely prevents the use of tactical nuclear weapons. The US continues to communicate "serious consequences." (14)Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa condemn Gustavo Petro's refusal to recognize election results in Colombia. They criticize Brazil's President Lula for his silence on criminal leftist regimes. The "Shield of the Americas" alliance is emerging to defend regional democracy and fight corruption. (15)Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa report that 60,000 people are missing in Venezuela following catastrophic earthquakes and government neglect. They propose an emergency temporary government to replace the Rodriguezsiblings. Brazil hosts 700,000 refugees fleeing the "gangland" regime's destruction. (16)All 16 segments formatted, tail numbers (1)–(16). Name check clean: Liz Peek, Peña Esclusa, Araújo with the accent, Ann Widdecombe all correct.

Al menos dos soldados murieron y cinco más resultaron heridos durante una operación del Ejército colombiano que permitió la liberación de 39 personas secuestradas por la guerrilla del ELN. A tres semanas de la toma de posesión del presidente electo, Abelardo de la Espriella, el episodio vuelve a poner en evidencia la capacidad de control territorial de los grupos armados y añade presión a la transición política. Entrevista con Francisco Daza, coordinador de la Fundación Paz y Reconciliación. Guerrilleros del ELN secuestraron a 39 personas, entre ellas dos menores de edad, en una carretera de una zona rural del departamento del Chocó, en el noroeste de Colombia. Se trata de una región donde esta organización mantiene una fuerte presencia y obtiene financiación a través del narcotráfico y la minería ilegal. El hecho vuelve a situar la violencia en el centro de la transición política entre el presidente saliente, Gustavo Petro, y el presidente electo, Abelardo de la Espriella. La operación militar que permitió la liberación de los secuestrados dejó al menos dos soldados muertos y cinco heridos. Para Francisco Daza, coordinador de la Fundación Paz y Reconciliación, el episodio refleja la capacidad de control territorial que mantiene el ELN en varias regiones del país. "El ELN tiene presencia territorial en 156 municipios de Colombia", explica Francisco Daza, coordinador de la Fundación Paz y Reconciliación. "Desde nuestra Fundación identificamos que el secuestro de 39 personas en el departamento de Chocó se dio en el marco de prácticas de control social y territorial por parte de ese grupo armado. El departamento de Chocó vive desde hace cuatro o cinco años un escenario de disputa armada entre el ELN y el Ejército Gaitanista de Colombia", agrega.  "El ELN no tiene ningún proceso de negociación activo en el marco de la Paz Total. Este proceso se suspendió luego de las confrontaciones que adelantó el ELN contra el Estado Mayor de los bloques y frentes presentes en el departamento de Norte de Santander, que derivaron en una crisis humanitaria que se ha extendido por más de un año", dice Daza. El Ejército de Liberación Nacional es hoy la principal guerrilla activa de Colombia. A diferencia de las antiguas FARC, funciona bajo una estructura regional sólida y, pese a los esfuerzos diplomáticos por alcanzar la paz, este episodio añade tensión a la compleja transición política que vive el país. "Los retos asociados a la seguridad están en función del panorama actual de presencia de grupos armados organizados y de su proliferación en los últimos años. A esto se suma la tecnificación de la guerra. Recientemente, durante el último año, los grupos armados han comenzado a utilizar drones cargados con explosivos", dice.  "Otro de los retos está relacionado con las recientes declaraciones del presidente electo, asociadas a que no va a continuar con el ecosistema de paz que se consolidó tras la firma del Acuerdo de Paz de 2016. El Estado siempre ha sido más reactivo que preventivo. Por ahí puede ir una de las soluciones para evitar, justamente, que se presenten hechos como este". Con el aumento de los ataques y su impacto directo sobre la población civil, el ELN vuelve a situarse en el centro de las preocupaciones del próximo gobierno colombiano.

À Cap-Haïtien, faute de stocks de poches de sang suffisants pour effectuer des transfusions, de nombreux patients ne peuvent être pris en charge et bien souvent décèdent. Le chef-lieu du département du Nord fait face, depuis plusieurs mois, à une grave pénurie de sang transfusionnel. Faute de matériels adéquats et de locaux appropriés, la Croix-Rouge du Cap-Haïtien se trouve dans l'incapacité de collecter et de conserver le sang dans de bonnes conditions. Elle ne dispose pas non plus de laboratoire. Les quelques poches de sang collectées doivent ainsi être envoyées dans la capitale pour être traitées et analysées, avant d'être retournées à la Croix-Rouge. Très souvent, elles ne reviennent jamais alors que les malades agonisent. Un dossier de Ronel Paul.   Le Cartel de Jalisco menace des gangs rivaux à Mexico Au Mexique, le Cartel de Jalisco Nouvelle Génération, l'une des organisations de narcotrafiquants les plus puissantes du pays, refait parler de lui. L'une de ses branches vient de diffuser une vidéo de propagande sur les réseaux sociaux. Elle y déclare la guerre à deux groupes criminels rivaux de la région de Mexico. Une vidéo publiée alors que le cartel a subi plusieurs revers ces derniers mois : la mort de son chef, El Mencho, tué dans une opération de l'armée mexicaine en février ; et la capture de son potentiel successeur, « le Jardinier », en avril. Explications, François-Damien Bourgery, du service International de RFI.   En Colombie, les effets de la réforme du travail La Colombie se prépare à investir son nouveau président, le millionnaire d'extrême droite, Abelardo de la Espriella élu en juin. Il prendra la place du gouvernement de gauche de Gustavo Petro, le 7 août 2026, qui laissera derrière lui une réforme majeure du temps de travail qui entre en vigueur aujourd'hui. Les Colombiens ne travailleront plus que 42 heures par semaine, contre 44 heures jusqu'à présent. Marine de La Moissonnière, du service International de RFI, s'est rendue dans le quartier de Barrios Unidos à Bogota, un quartier de classe moyenne.

La alternancia y la transición pacífica del poder son pilares fundamentales para la preservación de la democracia y el Estado de Derecho. En este episodio María Alejandra Villamizar y Juan Carlos Restrepo conversan con Mauricio Pava, abogado y conjuez de la Corte Suprema de Justicia sobre la polarización y conflictividad que se está dando en el empalme entre Gustavo Petro y Abelardo de la Espriella, y lo que esto puede representar para Colombia.

Hoy en #LosDanieles analizamos los recientes nombramientos del gabinete ministerial de Abelardo de la Espriella. También conmemoramos al poeta León De Greiff en los 50 años de aniversario de su muerte.

The Department of Justice subpoenas New York Times reporters regarding an intel leak about the new Air Force One presidential plane.The U.S.-led Shield of the Americas Western Hemisphere coalition supports the results of the contested Colombian election, as President Gustavo Petro refuses to recognize the incoming conservative leader.

Escuche el episodio del 8 de julio de 2026. En La Luciérnaga, mezcla extraña de realidad y ficción, hablamos del empalme de Abelardo de la Espriella, las declaraciones de Iván Cepeda y las reacciones por la eliminación de la Selección Colombia.Programa completo y más información en caracol.com.co

Ghost dives into a jam-packed NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump shows up dressed like he's attending NATO's funeral (his words, basically) and proceeds to cozy up to Erdogan over F35 jets, lifted sanctions, and some very pointed remarks about allies who didn't show up when it mattered. Meanwhile Netanyahu is not thrilled, Macron can't seem to take his sunglasses off after a bombing in Damascus, and Giorgia Meloni finds herself an unlikely folk hero across Italy's entire political spectrum. Then the show pivots hard into Colombia, where Gustavo Petro is naming names, accusing an Israeli intelligence firm of rigging the election, and calling for nationwide protests on July 20th. It is geopolitics at its most soap opera. Expect maps, government structure breakdowns, a few conspiracy-adjacent detours, and Ghost's trademark habit of reading the room better than most of the leaders he covers.

Confira os destaques de Os Pingos nos Is desta terça-feira (07):O senador e pré-candidato à Presidência da República Flávio Bolsonaro classificou o Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) como o “partido das taxas”. Flávio está nos Estados Unidos, segundo ele, para defender os brasileiros de uma possível taxação do governo americano. O Ministério das Relações Exteriores, sob o comando de Mauro Vieira, evitou detalhar a tese enviada à Câmara dos Deputados sobre o risco de os Estados Unidos realizarem ações militares na América do Sul contra facções do crime organizado. A hipótese foi levantada após o governo brasileiro alegar que não foi comunicado sobre a classificação do PCC e do CV como terroristas. O Departamento de Estados dos EUA negou a possibilidade. O pré-candidato do União Brasil ao Senado pelo Rio de Janeiro, Márcio Canella, foi preso nesta terça-feira (07) após a Polícia Federal (PF) encontrar um fuzil em seu carro, durante cumprimento de mandado de busca e apreensão expedido na 6ª fase da Operação Unha e Carne. Canella era investigado pela corporação por participar de um esquema de lavagem de dinheiro. As ex-ministras Marina Silva (Rede) e Simone Tebet (PSB) aparecem na frente em uma pesquisa de intenção de votos do Datafolha para o Senado por São Paulo, divulgada nesta terça-feira (07). Marina lidera com 18%, enquanto Tebet aparece em segundo, com 16%. Ricardo Salles (Novo), com 13%, e André do Prado (PL), com (11%), aparecem na sequência. O governo do presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) criticou a participação de Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), senador e pré-candidato à Presidência da República, em audiência nos Estados Unidos, nesta terça-feira (07). De acordo com o governo federal, o senador teve objetivo eleitoreiro. Flávio criticou Lula e chamou o PT de “partido das taxas” em sua fala.O presidente da Colômbia, Abelardo de la Espriella, acusou o atual líder colombiano Gustavo Petro de tentar articular um golpe de Estado para se manter no poder. A transição de governo foi suspensa. O presidente dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, afirmou que a guerra entre Rússia e Ucrânia, que já se arrasta por mais de quatro anos, será resolvida “em breve”. Após manter conversações diretas por telefone com Vladimir Putin e Volodymyr Zelensky, o líder americano afirmou na cúpula da Otan que os dois lados demonstram real interesse em selar um acordo de paz. O líder do PT na Câmara dos Deputados, Pedro Uczai (PT-SC), ameaçou rotular o presidente do Senado, Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), como "inimigo dos trabalhadores" caso a tramitação da PEC do fim da escala 6x1 não avance na Casa. Por outro lado, Alcolumbre afirmou que não irá tolerar ameaças. Você confere essas e outras notícias em Os Pingos nos Is.

Pratap Chatterjee, executive director of CorpWatch, joins us to discuss their latest report, MAGA Inc., which identifies the Crypto Czars, the Tech Titans and the Prison Profiteers who have bankrolled and benefited the most from Donald Trump's corrupt regime. Then, Ralph welcomes Elliot Negin, executive editor of Money Trail to talk about how Donald Trump is trying to turn Washington DC into a monument to himself.Pratap Chatterjee is an investigative journalist, producer and executive director of CorpWatch, an organization that works to promote environmental, social and human rights by holding multinational corporations accountable for their actions. He is the author of several books, including Verax: The True History of Whistleblowers, Drone Warfare, and Mass Surveillance, Halliburton's Army, and Iraq Inc.: A Profitable Occupation.Palantir is really critical to understanding how the surveillance state works, especially in identifying people to deport and locations and people to kill in Trump's new wars overseas, such as in Iran…Palantir's data analytical capabilities are actually extremely simplistic and terrible. But when it comes to looking for an easy solution, that's what Palantir offers. And they've been able to offer this to the Trump administration—to have them speed up their political plans such as deportation, such as waging war against Iran by giving them easy answers.Pratap ChatterjeeThe biggest company behind the cryptocurrency used by criminals and drug dealers and gun traffickers has come out of the shadows, into the light, thanks specifically to the credibility offered by the Trump administration. And so this is really a sea change.Pratap ChatterjeeElliott Negin, executive editor of the Substack newsletter Money Trail, is an award-winning writer, illustrator and publication designer. Prior to co-founding Money Trail in February 2025, he was the managing editor of American Journalism Review, editor and art director of Public Citizen and Nuclear Times magazines, a news editor at NPR, and a regular contributor to HuffPost and the Union of Concerned Scientists' Equation. His freelance articles have appeared in The Atlantic, Common Dreams, The Hill, L.A. Progressive, The Nation, Scientific American, the Washington Post and other publications.It turns out that there is a government-owned ballroom less than a mile from the White House that would serve the purposes of a state dinner, which is one of the only events that you would need a ballroom for. If Trump builds a ballroom, it will not be used probably 360 days out of the year… To have a building that big that's going to be sitting empty for all that time makes no sense whatsoever.Elliott NeginRight now, the cost of this ballroom has been escalating… And half of it's supposed to be covered by taxpayers. Give credit to Public Citizen. It did a report that found out that more than half the donors that were identified as donating to the project when it was pegged at $400 million (including Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Palantir) have gained contracts with the federal government worth more than $50 billion in the last six months. That's a hell of a return on investment.Elliott NeginNews 7/3/26* Our top stories this week are the Colorado primaries. First, DSA-backed insurgent Melat Kiros successfully ousted 29-year incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Diana DeGette in the state's first congressional district, winning in a surprise blowout of over 13 points. Kiros, a 29-year old Tigrayan-American lawyer and PhD student, was fired from Sidley Austin – a “biglaw” firm in 2023, after she “posted an open letter defending students protesting Israel's war in Gaza from charges of antisemitism,” per Colorado Newsline. Axios reports many House Democrats, speaking anonymously, have bemoaned DeGette's loss, with one accusing Kiros of trafficking in “performative politics,” but Usamah Andrabi, spokesperson for Justice Democrats, one of the main groups that backed Kiros, put it simply when he said “If DeGette didn't deserve a primary, Denverites wouldn't have elected Melat” by double digits.* Also in Colorado, state Attorney General Phil Weiser easily defeated Senator Michael Bennet in the primary to succeed Jared Polis as Governor. While Weiser did run to Bennet's left, the real victory for progressives is that Bennet finishing out his own term means the Colorado Democratic establishment won't be able to appoint someone – likely a centrist member of the House – to replace him, per Axios. Meanwhile, John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democratic institution won his primary as well, fending off a challenge from his left by state Senator Julie Gonzales. However, Gonzales came within 6 points of Hickenlooper, according to Colorado Public Radio, a tantalizingly close margin. Moreover, not only has Hickenlooper vowed that this would be his final Senate term, many are speculating that Bennet himself won't run when his term ends in 2028. That is all to say, it is possible we have not seen the last of Ms. Gonzales.* Speaking of Gonzales, much has been made of the fact that she “softly” distanced herself from DSA as she launched her primary campaign, per Colorado Pols. Perhaps maintaining that organizational relationship would not have resulted in her victory, but the stunning successes of DSA-backed candidates – including Melat Kiros in Colorado – speaks to the group's impressive organizational muscle. In fact, the group can boast of winning yet another seat in the New York State Assembly, with Maurice “Mo” Brown declaring victory against longtime incumbent Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli in the 129th Assembly District. Magnarelli held the seat for 30 years. Brown won by just over 100 votes after all the absentee and affidavit votes were tallied, according to Syracuse.com. With Brown's victory, DSA will send 16 members to Albany next session, nearly doubling its presence across both chambers of the state legislature.* More impressive than the electoral victories however is the fact that DSA members in office are delivering on their campaign promises. Most notably, in New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has successfully forced a vote through the Rent Guidelines Board to enact a rent freeze for the Big Apple's 1 million rent-stabilized apartments, Time reports. These units make up a whopping 27% of the city's housing stock and house around 2 million people. Mamdani's predecessor, the corporate-friendly Democrat Eric Adams, pushed through rent hikes via the guidelines board, raising the rent by 12.6% over the course of his term in office. Mamdani called this the “relief that working people across our city deserve.” This move has, predictably, drawn the ire of landlords and their industry representatives, but there is no denying that the people of New York City voted for Mamdani in large part for this exact policy and he delivered.* In Congress, another socialist – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – is fighting for key amendments to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act. These run the gamut from prohibiting the transfer of weapons to countries hampering the delivery of humanitarian aid, such as Israel, to demanding that the Secretary of Defense conduct declassification reviews or release unclassified reports on American assistance to the dictatorship in Brazil and the coup in Chile, barring Pentagon funds from being used to enforce sanctions on Cuba, and many more. As the scope of national legislation has narrowed in recent decades, amendments to massive flagship funding bills like the NDAA have become a primary means of getting legislation through the gridlock. It is very encouraging to see AOC take advantage of this mechanism to force votes on these issues.* Of course, the centrists will not simply cede power to the left without a fight. Yahoo reports 13 Democratic House members and candidates have signed onto what they are calling the “Promise to America,” consisting mainly of vague commitments to principles like “Growth, Competition, and Broad Prosperity,” or “Safety, Security, and Human Dignity.” They have also stepped up their rhetoric, saying “there's going to be a war” between themselves and the new crop of progressive and DSA lawmakers, per Fox News. Of course, this all makes one wonder whether the Democrats would be in this position at all if they were this confrontational with the Republicans instead of their own voter base.* Another emerging theater of combat between the center and the left is the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The CHC is led by the lame duck New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat, who was defeated in his primary by Darializa Avila Chevalier. Both Espaillat and Avila Chevalier – or DAC as she has come to be known – are Dominican, despite Espaillat's last-minute smear campaign calling her Haitian, and she plans to join the CHC once she takes her seat in the House. Yet, POLITICO reports the CHC is divided about admitting DAC. While no member is going so far as to say outright that she should not be admitted, many, such as CHC Whip Sylvia Garcia of Texas, are saying things like if DAC is “aligned with all our priorities and all our legislative programs, we would welcome her.” Of course this raises the question of if she is not, would they still welcome her. The all-Democratic CHC has previously barred the entry of Republican Hispanic Congressman Carlos Curbelo of Florida and the Congressional Black Caucus barred Espaillat himself from joining after a feud between him and former Congressman Charles Rangel. In addition to DAC's accession, the CHC will also have to decide on a new leader with Espaillat gone. The Vice-Chair, Darren Soto of Florida, may lose reelection due to redistricting in Florida, leaving the seat up for grabs.* In more Florida-related news, on June 25th Florida Governor Ron DeSantis formally announced the closure of “Alligator Alcatraz” the immigrant detention facility much hyped in the early days of the second Trump administration. While DeSantis claims that the facility had simply “fulfilled the role it was designed to serve,” there is an alternate story being told in the native community. Native News Online has published a statement by Judith LeBlanc (Caddo), executive director of Native Organizers Alliance, which highlights that the facility was constructed and operated “in violation of the sovereign rights of the Miccosukee Tribe, who took the government to court for illegally constructing the center without their consultation or consent,” and hailed the closure as “a victory for human rights and Tribal Sovereignty.” The statement further decried “The administration's violent crackdown on migrant communities” as “an affront to all we stand for as Native peoples.”* Turning further south, the Guardian is out with a chilling story concerning the death of Monika Silva Koniuszek, a Polish anti-corruption activist, who was supposedly investigating self-dealing within the ruling Noboa family of Ecuador. According to her colleagues, Silva Koniuszek was investigating “Noboa Trading, the fruit conglomerate belonging to the family of the rightwing president, Daniel Noboa.” Specifically, they said she had been pursuing allegations that “several tonnes of cocaine had been seized in Noboa Trading banana containers,” and that “high-ranking Ecuadorian judicial officials were stalling the investigations.” Additionally, “Shortly before she was killed, she told friends that she had delivered a dossier of allegations to the US embassy in Quito.” Koniuszek was found dead with a noose around her neck, and Ecuador's interior minister announced that she had died by suicide even before the autopsy results were released. Once those results came out, they contradicted this claim, finding that her cause of death was “a blow to the head and strangulation.”* Finally, in neighboring Colombia, leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda, who lost the recent presidential election, has called on the people of that country to engage in mass civil disobedience, according to Jorge Bastidas, a Colombian Congressman and member of Cepeda's party. Specifically, Cepeda is demanding that the Colombian people not recognize the presidency of Abelardo de la Espriella unless and until he meets certain demands, including renouncing his U.S. nationality, disproving claims that he is a CIA collaborator, and vowing not to persecute and extradite his political opponents including outgoing President Gustavo Petro. Cepeda has stressed that this mass action, if pursued, will be peaceful.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Ep. 57 — "De Uribe a De la Espriella: el nuevo mapa de la derecha colombiana" Con el politólogo Andrés Agudelo --- Sobre el invitado Andrés Agudelo es politólogo bogotano, profesor de la Universidad de la Sabana (Bogotá) y doctor por una universidad pública mexicana. Su investigación se centra en el populismo comparado en América Latina, con estudios de caso sobre Colombia y Venezuela. De qué trata el episodio El domingo 21 de junio, Abelardo de la Espriella ganó la presidencia de Colombia por un margen de apenas 250,000 votos sobre Iván Cepeda, el candidato del Pacto Histórico y respaldado por el presidente saliente Gustavo Petro. Rafael conversa con Agudelo sobre el resultado, el legado del primer gobierno de izquierda en la historia de Colombia y lo que representa este nuevo populismo de derecha. Temas de la conversación - El resultado electoral y el país dividido casi al 49%-48% - Quién es Andrés Agudelo y su especialización en populismo comparado - El legado de Gustavo Petro: reforma agraria, política exterior, inestabilidad de gabinete y la deuda fiscal - La campaña de segunda vuelta entre De la Espriella y Cepeda - El perfil de Abelardo de la Espriella y su vicepresidente, José Manuel Restrepo - Populismo de derecha: comparaciones con Uribe, Bukele, Milei y Bolsonaro - El respaldo de Donald Trump y Marco Rubio a la campaña de De la Espriella - El triángulo Colombia-Venezuela-Estados Unidos - Los retos del nuevo gobierno: erosión democrática, desigualdad, disidencias de las FARC y reconciliación nacional Recomendaciones de lectura de Andrés Agudelo - El ejército ciego, de David Toscano - Calle Londres 38: casos de impunidad, de Philip Sands Próximo episodio La próxima semana, La Ventana PR conversa con la economista Iyari Ríos González sobre la Comisión para la Revisión del Salario Mínimo en Puerto Rico (PC 1115). Sígueme en las redes sociales: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, X, y TikTok --- *Suscríbete a La Ventana PR en laventanapr.substack.com y en YouTube.*

Ghost opens this bonus episode with Thomas Massie's 420-0 House vote to expose which members paid off sexual misconduct allegations with taxpayer money, then delivers his GART closing remarks calling Congress a crime scene that needs a forensic team, not a press release. Colombia's post-election fallout gets a full breakdown: El Tigre's ties to Alex Saab and the Maduro orbit, Gustavo Petro's documented anti-cartel record being memory-holed, and the contradiction of neocon Republicans backing a man who was Maduro's lawyer. Venezuela's twin 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude earthquakes have left 2,000 dead and 10,000 missing, and Ghost flags the Clinton Global Initiative activating on the ground with a pointed reference to Laura Silsby and Haiti. Burkina Faso formally severs ties with France, and Ghost maps out Ibrahim Traore's full story alongside a psyop trying to paint him as an Israeli puppet. Italy quietly blocks NATO's open-ended Ukraine commitment for 2027. Trump tells reporters Erdogan and Xi both stayed out of the Iran war at his personal request. The episode closes with Syria as the next flashpoint: IDF troops terrorizing villages inside Syrian territory, Erdogan warning Turkey is next, and Ghost's prediction of an Israel-Turkey confrontation finally coming into view.

Reviva el programa del 1 de julio de 2026. En La Luciérnaga, mezcla extraña de realidad y ficción, abordamos la situación en Venezuela, las declaraciones sobre desobediencia civil, la gira de Gustavo Petro en Italia y las noticias deportivas.Programa completo y más información en caracol.com.co

Ralph speaks to economist Dean Baker about the hypocrisies behind the supposed Social Security shortfall and Republicans' "waste, fraud, and abuse" panic. Then, Ralph talks to journalist and ocean activist David Helvarg about his new book: Forest of the Sea: The Remarkable Life and Imperiled Future of Kelp.Dean Baker is a Senior Economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, where he authors “Beat the Press,” his regular commentary on economic reporting. He has written several books, including Getting Back to Full Employment: A Better Bargain for Working People, The End of Loser Liberalism: Making Markets Progressive, False Profits: Recovering from the Bubble Economy, and The Conservative Nanny State: How the Wealthy Use the Government to Stay Rich and Get Richer.People will hear big numbers. They'll hear “$300 billion” and they'll go “Oh my God, that's a lot of money. That's money out of my pocket. It's causing the government deficit,” whatever. That's because they haven't given it any context…If we could, in any conceivable world, afford to pay $500 billion to increase the military budget, surely we can afford to pay $300 billion to ensure that everyone gets their Social Security benefits. It's just a case of: put it in context. I'm not going to say it's a small number. It isn't. But it's smaller— $300 billion is smaller than $500 billion, and that's really not a disputable point.Dean BakerWhere [DOGE] had the biggest consequences is with foreign aid. [Musk] just got a big kick out of that— USAID, he just shut it down. He boasted about that. He goes, “Last weekend I fed USAID into the wood chipper.” That's almost verbatim what he said. Now, what this meant was that you have people— and you could find waste in that program just like any other program, but this is a program that provided millions of people with medicine, with nutrition, with healthcare. And suddenly they couldn't get it…And Elon Musk was boasting that he killed that program. That's great. But millions of people, I mean, thankfully, I don't think it's millions yet, but if that program doesn't get restarted or funded somewhere else, you're going to see millions of people lose their lives.Dean BakerSo we're saying we have people on Medicaid that are committing fraud? No one gets a check from Medicaid. What would that even mean? Like, you signed up for Medicaid and you weren't eligible, so that would mean that they might be making a payment to a doctor or hospital that they don't actually have to make because you didn't qualify? I'm sure that happens sometimes but it's not like someone's living high on the hog because they were able to get Medicaid to pay for their doctor's visit when it actually shouldn't have.Dean BakerDavid Helvarg is a journalist and ocean activist. He is the founder and executive director of Blue Frontier, an ocean policy and media group, and producer of Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast. He has produced more than 40 documentaries for media outlets, including PBS and the Discovery Channel. And he has written several books, including Blue Frontier, The War Against the Greens, and Forest of the Sea: The Remarkable Life and Imperiled Future of Kelp.I've been pushing with my colleagues in journalism the idea of the “blue beat.” The only resource in the ocean not fully exploited at this point is good investigative reporting and narrative storytelling. Because people don't connect with it, a lot of people think the environment ends at the shoreline. And that's really where 95% of the living space on the planet begins.David HelvargPeople at least know that corals are in trouble and they have some sense of what a coral reef is. People don't know that the planet has this other forest crisis—that kelp forests cover an area larger than the Amazon basin, and they're also being impacted by these marine heat waves that are growing every year. And as you add more heat to the system, it gets more energetic, which is why we have more and more extreme storms. I covered Katrina in 2005. I thought that would be a turning point (we had 1,800 people killed and a million environmental refugees). But the propaganda by the oil and gas industry is such that we keep having these disasters from a warming ocean planet, we see the melting of the Arctic ice, and instead of an alarm bell, it became a dinner bell for all the shipping industries and people who want to exploit the oil and gas in the increasingly open Arctic waters. So we're in this crisis point. I'm more frustrated than despairing because we know what the solutions are. It's creating the political will to enact them.David HelvargWhen I started Blue Frontier 20 years ago, the main threats were overfishing and pollution—oil, chemical, plastic, nutrient pollution. Today, that's being overwhelmed by these marine heat waves.David HelvargNews 6/26/26* Our top story this week comes to us from New York City, where democratic socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani has pulled off a stunning hat trick, with all three candidates for Congress endorsed by the Mayor winning their primaries on Tuesday. The most surprising victory is that of Darializa Avila Chevalier, who ousted the powerful incumbent Congressman Adriano Espaillat, head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in New York's 13th congressional district. This primary had turned ugly, with Espaillat's campaign seeking to weaponize anti-Haitian racism in the Dominican community against Avila Chevalier, per the Haitian Times, despite the fact that she is not in fact Haitian. Impressive in another way is the victory of UAW organizer and New York State Assemblywoman Claire Valdez in New York's 7th district. Much has been made of this race being a proxy battle between Mamdani and his onetime supporter, retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, who backed her protégé, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso to succeed her in this seat. Reynoso enjoyed the support of a broad range of New York elected officials – including Velazquez along with New York Attorney General Letitia James, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and a broad range of unions and civil society groups, most notably the Working Families Party – but was absolutely trounced by Valdez, who won by over 20 points with the support of Mamdani and NYC-DSA. Meanwhile, in the 10th district, Brad Lander won by an even greater margin, outrunning incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman by over 30 points while running on a pro-Palestine platform in the most Jewish congressional district in America. These victories send a clear signal to the sclerotic, ossified leadership of the Democratic Party. The only question now is will they listen.* Beyond the congressional races, DSA won a remarkable number of races at the state level. According to Democratic Left, DSA will send as many as seven new legislators to Albany this cycle, for a total of “four state senators and 11 or 12 members of the state assembly.” As the magazine notes, this means that the “2027-2028 socialist bloc in Albany will be the second largest in a state legislature in U.S. history…behind 20 members in Wisconsin in 1919 and ahead of 14 members in Wisconsin in 1911.” Within New York City, DSA endorsed candidates won seven out of eight races for seats in the state legislature, per NYC-DSA. All told, it was a thunderous victory for the left in New York and raises the clout of Zohran and his compatriots to dizzying heights.* Meanwhile, in Washington DC, NOTUS reports the local DSA has exploded in membership, adding nearly 1,000 new members since this time last year. This growing bloc flexed its political muscle in the recent Democratic primaries, electing DSA members Janeese Lewis George for Mayor and Aparna Raj for the Ward 1 seat on the DC Council, as well as Oye Owolewa for an at-large seat. Axios notes that they are already eying, “two more openings — to fill Lewis George's Ward 4 seat and the at-large seat of Congress-bound Robert White.” If these votes go in DSA's favor, Lewis George could assume the mayoralty with a progressive majority of seven out of 13 members on the Council. Since her victory last Tuesday, Lewis George has emphasized her plan to lower utility costs through “expanding government solar,” and “balcony solar” for apartment tenants, optimizing efficiency at local government agencies and maximizing federal housing grants.* In Maryland, the results for DSA and progressives more generally were not quite so decisive but the left notched key victories nonetheless. DSA endorsed candidate McKayla Wilkes won her primary for the Charles County Commission and incumbent State Delegate Gabriel Acevero won reelection to his seat. Senators Dalya Attar and Nancy King, both centrist incumbents, lost to progressive challengers, per Maryland Matters. Will Jawando in Montgomery County won the County Executive position with broad support from the Maryland political establishment and progressives, while Maryland Senate Majority Leader Bill Ferguson fended off his first real challenge in years only after a last minute pledge to reverse his position on Maryland congressional redistricting. However, in the 5th congressional district, Steny Hoyer protégé and “AIPAC-backed” Adrian Boafo won the primary to succeed his mentor in Congress. According to the Jerusalem Post, “AIPAC poured $5.7 million into his campaign through its super PAC.” Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn came in a distant third place, despite scoring the endorsement of Nancy Pelosi. In short, the left has more work to do in order to build a political machine in Maryland as they have in New York and DC.* The next major contest between the factions of the party will occur next week in Colorado, where Melat Kiros, a DSA-backed progressive challenger born in 1997, is taking on Congresswoman Diana DeGette, who first took office that same year, per Zeteo. According to a poll conducted on behalf of the Kiros-aligned Justice Democrats, she leads DeGette by five points and she has now won the endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator and former Governor John Hickenlooper is also facing a progressive primary challenge from State Senator Julie Gonzales and, according to the polls, he holds but a single digit lead, the Coloradan reports. We will be watching both of these races closely.* Meanwhile in Congress, the Senate has passed a new resolution on Iran, this time directing Trump to “remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by Congress, other than to defend America, an ally or partner from ‘imminent attack,'” according to the Wall Street Journal. The Journal notes that while the resolution is nonbinding, it was previously passed by the House, marking “the first time both chambers of Congress have passed the same measure to curb” presidential power to wage war on the Islamic Republic. The resolution passed 50-48, with the support of Republican Senators Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul. Senators Mitch McConnell and Dave McCormick were absent, and Senator John Fetterman again broke ranks with the Democrats to vote no.* Turning from the Senate floor to the shop floor, the United Auto Workers (UAW) concluded their 39th Constitutional Convention last week, with a momentous vote to divest the union's investments from Israel bonds. UAW's divestment decision is the latest victory in the campaign to disentangle the finances of American organized labor from the state of Israel, following the United Electrical Workers (UE) in 2015 and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in 2023. UAW members also heard from Abdul El-Sayed, the candidate the union has endorsed in the Michigan Senate race. This contentious campaign will not be over until August, but El-Sayed, occupying the progressive lane, has moved into the lead and appears to be consolidating his lead, winning the endorsement of Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen just this week, per the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Van Hollen himself has recently begun hinting that he may seek higher office, recently telling NOTUS that he is “kicking the tires” on a 2028 presidential bid.* Turning to foreign affairs, this week saw the fall of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer, a centrist who was elected Labour Party leader in 2020 following the ouster of leftist Jeremy Corbyn, has held the post of Prime Minister since 2024 when Labour won an historic landslide. Since then however, his personal approval rating and that of the party has cratered, creating space for the rise of the far-right Reform UK party. The BBC reports Starmer will remain in his post until a new leader is chosen from within the party, with the presumptive successor being MP Andy Burnham who recently beat back a challenge in his own seat by a Reform candidate by a large margin. Starmer is now set to be the shortest serving Labour PM in British history, while Burnham is set to become the UK's seventh Prime Minister in the last ten years, both indications of the precariousness of the post-Brexit British political order.* Our final two stories come to us from Latin America. First, in Bolivia, the country's union confederation has maintained a general strike against the right-wing government of Rodrigo Paz for nearly two months over his administration's initiatives to privatize government services and rescind the land reform program instituted over the last several decades of rule by the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS). On June 19th, journalist Ollie Vargas reported that the government had blinked and signed an agreement to withdraw these plans in exchange for the unions ending the general strike. However, Vargas notes that “most affiliated unions state that they want to maintain strike until [the Paz government] resigns.”* Finally, in Colombia, the right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella emerged victorious from Sunday's runoff presidential election, defeating leftist Ivan Cepeda, the handpicked successor of sitting President Gustavo Petro, by less than one percentage point. In the immediate wake of the election, President Petro “alleged that Israel interfered” in the election, citing “irregularities in the country's vote counting process and calling for a full audit and recount,” per Drop Site News. However, by Wednesday, Cepeda himself formally conceded, framing his decision to do so as “an act of democratic responsibility, to contribute to harmony, peace and dialogue among Colombians,” Al Jazeera reports. As one of his first acts, Abelardo de la Espriella has committed to reestablishing diplomatic relations with Israel, which had been severed under President Petro.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOCR SHOW, 6-24-2026MEXICO CITYThe Imprisonment of Jimmy Lai and the Future of Hong Kong. Guest: Mark Clifford and Gordon Chang. Jimmy Lai has spent over 2,000 days in prison, becoming a symbol of resistance against the Chinese Communist Party. His fate mirrors that of Hong Kong, which is transforming into a national security state where surveillance and espionage extend to international cities like London. 1US Navy Control and the Opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Guest: Rebecca Grant and Gordon Chang. Despite Iranian claims of closure, the US Navy maintains tactical control over the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring sea lanes remain open for international shipping. Advanced mine-clearing technology and persistent patrols have neutralized threats, though economic signals like the Jones Act waiver remain points of discussion. 2Canadian Public Opinion on the Chinese Threat and US Trade. Guest: Charles Burton and Gordon Chang. A majority of Canadians perceive China as a threat following revelations of election interference and malign influence operations. Meanwhile, concerns grow regarding the reliability of the United States as a partner under the Trumpadministration and the potential abrogation of the USMCA trade agreement. 3Strengthening Defense Ties Between the Philippines and Canada. Guest: Charles Burton and Gordon Chang.Canada is deepening security cooperation with the Philippines to counter Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea. This partnership includes logistical agreements and military training, even as Canada faces challenges protecting its own Arctic sovereignty against increasing Russian and Chinese strategic reach in the North. 4Ukrainian Drone Attacks Cripple Russian Oil Infrastructure. Guest: Michael Bernstam. Cheap Ukrainian drones have successfully targeted Russian refineries and fuel transport, causing significant shortages of gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel. This technological warfare has forced Russia to ban exports and implement rationing, as traditional air defense systems struggle to counter swarms of small, maneuverable drones. 5Declining Russian Oil Production and the Shadow Fleet. Guest: Michael Bernstam. Russian oil production is falling due to aging fields and a lack of investment, failing to meet OPEC quotas. While Russia utilizes a "shadow fleet" to bypass sanctions, it must offer steep discounts to India and China as Brent crude prices decline and fiscal pressures mount. 6European Heatwave, Commodity Prices, and UK Political Shifts. Guest: Simon Constable. A "Godzilla El Niño" has triggered record-breaking heatwaves across Europe, impacting energy demand and agriculture. Amid falling Brent crude prices, attention shifts to UK politics, where the potential rise of Andy Burnham within the Labour Party signals a move toward higher taxes and increased government spending. 7The Infrastructure and Economic Impact of Data Centers. Guest: Simon Constable. Data centers have become essential infrastructure for AI development, consuming vast amounts of water and electricity. While they provide significant tax revenue for localities, particularly in states like Virginia and Texas, their construction often faces local opposition due to their immense resource requirements and costs. 8Colombia's Presidential Shift Toward Security and Law and Order. Guest: Evan Ellis. Abelardo de la Espriellaappears to have won the Colombian presidency, promising a crackdown on insecurity and organized crime modeled after El Salvador's policies. His victory signals a likely return to strong security cooperation with the United States and a departure from the policies of Gustavo Petro. 9Keiko Fujimori and the Return of the Fujimori Dynasty. Guest: Evan Ellis. Keiko Fujimori has likely secured the Peruvian presidency, narrowly defeating her socialist opponent through overseas votes. Her administration faces a deeply divided nation, widespread illegal mining, and cocaine production, but may benefit from a new bicameral Congress intended to provide greater political stability than previous years. 10Political Instability in Bolivia and Regional Alliances. Guest: Evan Ellis. President Rodrigo Paz has survived a 50-day crisis in Bolivia after declaring a state of emergency to clear blockades led by Evo Morales. While regional allies have supported Paz, Brazil's absence from this coalition highlights President Lula's role as a principal counterweight to US influence. 11Mexico's Economic Growth and USMCA Renegotiation Tensions. Guest: Evan Ellis. The Mexican economy saw its sharpest expansion in five years, yet the upcoming USMCA renegotiation creates significant uncertainty. While Mexicoattempts to appease the US through high-level investigations into cartel-linked officials, the Sheinbaum government remains hesitant to fully confront powerful political figures within its own party. 12Pope Leo XIV's Warning on Artificial Intelligence. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. In a 43,000-word encyclical, Pope Leo XIV warns that artificial intelligence risks dehumanizing society and excluding God from the human experience. While acknowledging technological benefits, the Pope emphasizes the danger of treating humans as mere means and the erosion of authentic human relationships in favor of machines. 13AI in Education and the Necessity of Liberal Learning. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. The rise of AI in academia tempts students to bypass the essential struggle of thinking, leading to intellectual atrophy. Educators argue that liberal education is now more vital than ever to help students cultivate a flourishing mind and recognize the limitations of technological shortcuts. 14Private Innovation and Infrastructure Challenges in Space. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. SpaceX successfully defeated legal challenges in Texas while NASA's aging infrastructure faces funding gaps and restrictive laws. Meanwhile, private startups like Catalyst are attempting robotic satellite rescues, signaling a shift toward a capitalist model in space operations as government agencies struggle with delays and inefficiencies. 15New Discoveries in Planetary Science and Cosmology. Guest: Bob Zimmerman. The Lucy probe's flyby of asteroid Donaldjohanson revealed a "tumbling peanut" shape, providing insights into its 155-million-year history. Additionally, observations of asymmetric radio galaxies highlight galactic movement through the intergalactic medium, while debates continue among cosmologists regarding the existence and properties of dark energy. 16One correction folded in: Labour Party (UK spelling) in file 7. I also expanded the file 9 headline's "Law Order" to "Law and Order" — flag if you wanted it left verbatim.

Colombia's Presidential Shift Toward Security and Law and Order. Guest: Evan Ellis. Abelardo de la Espriellaappears to have won the Colombian presidency, promising a crackdown on insecurity and organized crime modeled after El Salvador's policies. His victory signals a likely return to strong security cooperation with the United States and a departure from the policies of Gustavo Petro. 91900 MEXICO

Convidados: Danilo Alves, editor da GloboNews Internacional e enviado especial para a cobertura das eleições no Peru e na Colômbia; e Maurício Santoro, doutor em Ciência Política pelo Iuperj (Instituto Universitário de Pesquisas do Rio de Janeiro) e colaborador do Centro de Estudos Político-Estratégicos da Marinha do Brasil. Os resultados ainda não são oficiais, mas as apurações dos votos na Colômbia e no Peru indicam que os dois países elegeram presidentes de direita. A eleição peruana foi realizada em 7 de junho e está com 99,7% dos votos contabilizados: Keiko Fujimori tem cerca de 40 mil votos de vantagem sobre o candidato de esquerda, Roberto Sánchez. Keiko é filha de Alberto Fujimori, ditador peruano que governou o país entre 1990 e 2000 e que foi condenado por corrupção e crimes contra a humanidade. Na Colômbia, os eleitores foram às urnas neste domingo (21) e elegeram o empresário Abelardo de la Espriella, de acordo com a contagem preliminar: são menos de 250 mil votos sobre Iván Cepeda, senador e candidato que tem o apoio do atual presidente Gustavo Petro. Abelardo fez campanha baseado nos discursos "anti-establishment" e “linha-dura” contra o crime, inspirado no presidente de El Salvador Nayib Bukele. O resultado nas urnas reforça a tendência das últimas eleições sul-americanas, que elegeram candidatos do campo conservador. Neste episódio, Natuza Nery tem dois convidados. Primeiro, ela fala com Danilo Alves, correspondente da GloboNews que foi a Lima e está em Bogotá, sobre o resultado das eleições. Depois, Natuza entrevista o cientista político Maurício Santoro sobre o movimento de direita que se forma no continente e a influência de Donald Trump nesse processo histórico.

Colombians are voting in a presidential run-off election. The vote pits a leftist reformer against a right-wing political newcomer who wants to use force to combat drug cartels and rebel groups. Abelardo de la Espriella, who's backed by President Trump, has vowed to wage a full-scale military campaign in contrast to Senator Ivan Cepeda who's promising to continue the less confrontational policies of the outgoing president, Gustavo Petro.Also in the programme: US Vice-President JD Vance describes 'great progress' in talks with Iran in Switzerland; and research that suggests men with children have better performing brains.(Photo: A man fills out a ballot as people vote in a presidential runoff election in Colombia, June 21, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Jair Coll)