Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico
Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) and a PhD candidate for political science at the New School; columnist for the Mexican newspaper, Reforma
Mexico: The Drug War and Sunday's Presidential Election Tens of thousands of Mexicans have been killed since President Felipe Calderón began his war on brutal drug cartels after taking office six years ago. To date that war has killed more than 50,000. Four days before Sunday's presidential election, that's on the mind of every potential voter but, in the campaigns to replace Calderón, no candidate has come up with a persuasive strategy. We hear about the likely return of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which ruled Mexico for 71 years until it was rejected 12 years ago and about a youth movement against continued corruption. What's happened to the promises of real democracy and the end of corruption? What's the potential impact of a youth movement that began on college campuses and that's spreading on social media? Before beginning our panel discussion, we hear a production from Sonic Trace, a project at KCRW, which is telling the stories of immigrants from Mexico and Central America. As an introduction to the presidential election, we hear from Luis, a 17-year-old, Mexican-born junior at a Los Angeles high school and what he learned about the politics of his homeland. Sonic Trace is produced by Anayansi Diaz-Cortes and Eric Pearse-Chavez. It is part of Localore, an initiative of the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It's home is KCRW's Independent Producer Project. The project is co-produced by Zeega, a non-profit inventing new forms of interactive storytelling. Thanks to Jacob Conrad, who edited the story, audio engineer Mario Diaz, and to Marco Morales. Follow Sonic Trace on Facebook and Twitter .
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.