The LatinNews Podcast

On Episode 3 of the LatinNews Podcast we take a look at Lula 3.0 in Brazil and discuss the challenges facing the president. Richard Lapper, author of "Beef, Bible and Bullets, Brazil in the Age of Bolsonaro," joins us to discuss four main talking points, Brazil's relationship with China and Russia, the economy, the political difficulties within Brazil and finally, the environment and protection of the Amazon. 

Show Notes:

• Brazil, China and Russia

• Brazil's stance on the Ukraine invasion

• Where will the economy growth come from?

• Protection of the Amazon

Richard Lapper is a writer and consultant, specializing in Latin America. He has extensive experience as a journalist in the region and is a research affiliate at King’s College, London.

Richard is author of ‘Beef, Bullets and Bible: Brazil in The Age of Bolsonaro’ published in June 2021 by Manchester University Press.

He worked for the Financial Times for 25 years, occupying the post of Latin America editor between 1998 and 2008. He was a principal at FT Confidential between 2010 and 2015, an FT information service for investors.

He has written and broadcast widely on Latin America and Southern Africa and spoken at a range of international conferences.

On Episode 2 of The LatinNews Podcast, we discuss the challenges facing President Gabriel Boric as he seeks to regain the political initiative which has swung considerably in favour of the rightwing opposition. Freelance journalist and expert analyst on Chile, Andrew Thompson joins The LatinNews Podcast to share his thoughts on the issues most affecting Boric from protests by militant Mapuche groups, Chile's worsening security situation, economic inequality and his need to score a quick and effective win, soon. Can Boric succeed in getting his government's second attempt at a constitutional reform passed through a referendum in December 2023?

Show Notes:

• Chilean democracy - post Pinochet era

• The emergence of Gabriel Boric 

• Why did the constitution reform fail? 

• Can President Boric claw back support?

Andrew Thompson is a journalist and political risk analyst who covers Latin America. 

He was previously a foreign correspondent in Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, and head of the BBC’s Latin American Service. 

He is currently focusing on journalism, economic analysis and political risk on a number of projects with different organizations, including Oxford Business Group, EIU, LatinNews, and Canning House.

On this, the first episode of the all-new LatinNews podcast, Jon Farmer, analyst and journalist, takes us through the reasons for Peru's current political crisis. We discuss several contemporary Peruvian presidents and their roles in today's unrest, beginning with current president Dina Boluarte and finishing with the Fujimori regime, taking in events along the way such as the Odebrecht scandal and the absence of any trust in the political class. Having seen six presidents in seven years, we ask, can the "Peruvian Paradox" continue, what does this mean for investment and tourism in the country and where can Peru go from here?

Show Notes:

• The lasting impact of the Alberto Fujimori era 

• Peru's current political climate 

• Pedro Castillo's presidential campaign 

• Article 113 of the Peruvian constitution 

• Economic outlook for Peru

Jon Farmer is Editor-in-chief at LatinNews and editor of our Latin American Weekly Report, the company’s flagship publication. Just as comfortable sitting in front of a camera as a computer, he has made numerous media appearances on news networks such as the BBC and CNN. He has participated in panel discussions for Canning House on key political developments in Latin America (the Honduran coup d’état in June 2009 produced a particularly lively debate).

Jon has also worked in Central America, covering elections in Guatemala, El Salvador and Panama, and has travelled extensively across the entire region. A prodigious reader on and off topic, Jon’s special interests include governance and democracy; caudillismo and political leadership; and the challenge of national and indigenous identities.

He holds an MA in Latin American Studies from the Institute for the Study of the Americas, School of Advanced Studies, University of London, where he majored in the International Politics of Latin America and Economics of Latin America.