To the Point
Is Trump a ‘Good Neighbor’ to Venezuela and Central America?
Oil sanctions for Venezuela and aid cuts to Central America: Trump claims they promote democracy and curb illegal immigration. Will they make life better or worse for poverty-stricken people in repressive regimes of both the Left and the Right?
By Warren Olney • • 49m ListenAmerica’s historic claim of “good neighbor” policies toward South and Central America is under question again. Despite Venezuela’s 87% poverty rate, President Trump has imposed oil sanctions to pressure the leftist Maduro regime. He’s also cutting aid to Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to pressure conservative governments to prevent their people from fleeing deadly violence. We’ll look at the humanitarian consequences and the implications for international relations and Trump’s re-election campaign.
Warren Olney
former KCRW broadcaster
Andrea Brody
Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast
Philip Reeves
South American correspondent for National Public Radio
Anita Isaacs
Professor of political science at Haverford College. She’s a co-directors of the Migration Encounters oral history project.