Latin Pulse: 1.02.2015

This week, Latin Pulse looks at the historic decision of the United States and Cuba to normalize diplomatic relations. After more than a half-century of tensions and embargoes, the next steps for Cuba are the central focus of this program. The program also includes analysis of the human rights situation in the country and debates the effectiveness of democracy-building programs initiated by the United States. The news segment of the program looks at the onset of recession in Venezuela and the reaction of the government to the economic problems. The program includes an in-depth interview with: Eric Hershberg of American University's Center for Latin American and Latino Studies (CLALS); and Phil Peters of the Cuba Resource Center. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. (To download or stream this podcast, click here click here.) (To see a set list of songs used in the production of this program, please go here.) (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 42 MB.) podcast news Latin America embargo Cuba business Raul Castro diplomacy democracy United States politics political prisoners espionage Barack Obama economics Angel Carromero Ladies in White Dissidents Alan Gross Cuban Five Oswaldo Payá Aron Modig Republican Party Sanctions Venezuela human rights recession oil trade conservatives USAID Spain repression poverty human rights intelligence services Marco Rubio Jeff Flake Rand Paul U.S. Senate U.S. Congress Harold Cepero free speech U.S. State Department Rolando Sarraff Trujillo