Latin America in Focus

Mafalda, Quino’s beloved comic strip from Argentina—first published in 1964—has conquered the world, appearing in at least 25 languages. Six decades on, she is finally reaching Anglophone audiences, translated into English for the first time. Award-winning translator Frank Wynne speaks on his experience translating Mafalda into English, noting the challenges of preserving Quino's subtle humor and political commentary across cultures and languages and explaining why the beloved icon remains a perfect companion for today's turbulent times. Read Mafalda: Book 1: https://archipelagobooks.org/book/mafalda-book-one/ [https://archipelagobooks.org/book/mafalda-book-one/] Read Kamchatka, by Marcelo Figueras: https://groveatlantic.com/book/kamchatka/ [https://groveatlantic.com/book/kamchatka/] Read The Mouse and its Child, by Russell Hoban: https://russellhoban.org/1967/01/01/title-the-mouse-and-his-child/ [https://russellhoban.org/1967/01/01/title-the-mouse-and-his-child/] The music in this podcast was the classic milonga "El conventillo," performed by the Chúcara Trío [https://youtu.be/pObhdFhIc1g?si=OYGTRZrpP2ZjxB8h]. You also listened to Argentine harmonica player Santiago Álvarez [https://youtu.be/N5cfjTliRb8?si=WV-n4gEyhyI9Aqst ]. These were performed for the Americas Society “En Casa” series.  Visit AS/COA’s YouTube channel to see over 500 videos of music from across the Americas. And if you like the soundtrack of this podcast, find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org and consider becoming a member of Americas Society [https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society]for preferential access to all concerts at 680 Park Avenue in New York, as well art exhibitions, book talks, and more exciting events. Send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org [latamfocus@as-coa.org] Subscribe on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latin-america-in-focus/id1089353175], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7wTMMhLMCkYP46gKuvmAoj?si=9be3f5825064458f], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/ASCOAonline], or wherever you listen to podcasts. Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.   📧Sign up for our newsletters: as-coa.org/newsletters [http://as-coa.org/newsletters] Follow us on social media: Twitter/X: @ASCOA [https://twitter.com/ASCOA] Instagram: @ascoa [https://www.instagram.com/ascoa/?hl=en] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/] Bluesky: @ascoa.bsky.social  [https://bsky.app/profile/ascoa.bsky.social] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/ [https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ascoa [https://www.threads.net/@ascoa]

Tucked inside the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill is a proposed tax of 3.5 percent on remittances that could have major consequences for how much money Latin American immigrants can send home to their loved ones—and how they send it. “Immigrants are going to absorb that tax in order to keep sending money to their families [or] they could change the channels they use,” says René Maldonado [https://blogs.iadb.org/migracion/es/author/rmaldonado/], coordinator of CEMLA’s remittances program and consultant for the IDB’s migration unit. In this episode, Maldonado talks with AS/COA’s Carin Zissis about shifting remittance trends in the region, how immigrants have adapted to maintain an economic lifeline, and the potential impact of the current political climate on future remittance flows.    For more of our coverage on the impact of Trump’s policies in Latin America, visit as-coa.org/trump [http://as-coa.org/trump] to keep up to date with migration, trade, and more. And to learn more about the IDB’s research on remittances, read the 2024 report [https://publications.iadb.org/en/remittances-latin-america-and-caribbean-2024-diminishing-rates-growth ] co-authored by Maldonado and check out their blog, La Maleta Abierta [https://blogs.iadb.org/migracion/es/]. The music in the podcast is “Sonora y sus ojos negros” by Suspenso del Norte and “Lamentos do Morro” by Felipe Reis for Americas Society’s “En Casa” concert series. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org [http://musicoftheamericas.org/].  Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society [https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society].  Becoming a member [https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society  ] gives you preferential access to music performances, art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.  Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org [latamfocus@as-coa.org]. Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.    Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.   📧Sign up for our newsletters: as-coa.org/newsletters [http://as-coa.org/newsletters] Follow us on social media: Twitter/X: @ASCOA [https://twitter.com/ASCOA] Instagram: @ascoa [https://www.instagram.com/ascoa/?hl=en] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/] Bluesky: @ascoa.bsky.social  [https://bsky.app/profile/ascoa.bsky.social] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/ [https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ascoa [https://www.threads.net/@ascoa]

“Brazil has historically been a driving force of regional integration,” points out Laura Trajber Waisbich [https://igarape.org.br/en/laura-trajber-waisbich/], Deputy Director of Programs at the Igarapé Institute. And under the administrations of President Lula da Silva, the country has leveraged its size and diplomatic credibility to not only assert its own agency on the world stage, but also advocate for the needs of the Global South. The place for that? Multilateral organizations. In a year when Brazil hosts both the BRICS Summit and the COP30, Waisbich explores how Brazil navigates global divides and domestic pressures to spur action on climate and more.   The music in this podcast was “Acaçá” composed by the Brazilian giant Dorival Caymmi, and performed by Ternoar group for Americas Society “En Casa” concert series. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org [www.musicoftheamericas.org]. Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society  [https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society ]  Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast [www.as-coa.org/podcast] and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org.  Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.     Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.   📧Sign up for our newsletters: as-coa.org/newsletters [http://as-coa.org/newsletters] Follow us on social media: Twitter/X: @ASCOA [https://twitter.com/ASCOA] Instagram: @ascoa [https://www.instagram.com/ascoa/?hl=en] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/] Bluesky: @ascoa.bsky.social  [https://bsky.app/profile/ascoa.bsky.social] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/ [https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ascoa [https://www.threads.net/@ascoa]

Competing engagement between Washington and Beijing is nothing new in Latin America, where both countries have sought out economic partnerships. But with a new U.S. administration and shifting macroeconomic conditions in China, has the U.S.-China calculus shifted for governments across the region? Managing Director of the Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins Margaret Myers explains the shifting state of play in the U.S.-China competition, the Trump administration’s approach, and the view from Beijing to understand the changing picture for the region's leaders. Get more insight on Trump and Latin America in our guide: https://www.as-coa.org/content/trump-administration-latin-america  [https://www.as-coa.org/content/trump-administration-latin-america ] The music in this episode is “Mamãe Oxum [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7CXYzQNoLw],” performed by Alexandre and Douglas Lora for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at: musicoftheamericas.org [www.musicoftheamericas.org] Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast [http://www.as-coa.org/podcast] Send us feedback at: latamfocus@as-coa.org Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society [https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society] Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.   📧Sign up for our newsletters: as-coa.org/newsletters [http://as-coa.org/newsletters] Follow us on social media: Twitter/X: @ASCOA [https://twitter.com/ASCOA] Instagram: @ascoa [https://www.instagram.com/ascoa/?hl=en] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/] Bluesky: @ascoa.bsky.social  [https://bsky.app/profile/ascoa.bsky.social] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/ [https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ascoa [https://www.threads.net/@ascoa]

Peru has cycled through seven presidents in the last 10 years. Four of them were impeached or resigned before they could be. The country’s current president, Dina Boluarte, even with  a 4 percent approval rating, has been able to finish her term with elections scheduled for April 12, 2026. With one year to deliberate, what will be top of mind for Peru’s jaded electorate? In this episode, electoral analyst Javier Albán breaks down the institutional factors that have contributed to Peru’s political morass and the types of candidates he expects to emerge from the 43 registered political parties. Then, Bloomberg’s Lima Bureau Chief, Marcelo Rochabrún, discusses the dynamics among the executive, legislative, and judicial powers, and the issues that will define the electoral campaign as well as the next presidential term, such as a rise in violence and extortions that have shaken the country. If you want to learn more about Peru’s elections and economy in the year ahead, check our website www.as-coa.org [www.as-coa.org]. Council of the Americas will be in Lima on May 26 [https://www.as-coa.org/events/2025-latin-american-cities-conferences-lima   ] to discuss opportunities in the country with leaders of the private and public sectors.  Keep up to date on all of the region’s votes this year with our election guide. You will find more podcasts, articles, poll trackers, and expert commentary at as-coa.org/2025elections [as-coa.org/2025elections] The music in this episode is “Piano Station”, by Bianca Gismonti Trio [https://youtu.be/_aT_eJA-0Bc?si=-LPwhbTAKL0neWgL] for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org [https://www.as-coa.org/music] Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society [https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society]. Becoming a member [https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society] gives you preferential access to music performances, art gallery, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.  Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.   📧Sign up for our newsletters: as-coa.org/newsletters [http://as-coa.org/newsletters] Follow us on social media: Twitter/X: @ASCOA [https://twitter.com/ASCOA] Instagram: @ascoa [https://www.instagram.com/ascoa/?hl=en] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/] Bluesky: @ascoa.bsky.social  [https://bsky.app/profile/ascoa.bsky.social] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/ [https://www.facebook.com/ASCOA/] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ascoa [https://www.threads.net/@ascoa]