Central America in Minutes

El Faro English
  • 5.0 (5)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Central America in Minutes is a short-form podcast from El Faro English delivering reported briefings and analysis on the politics shaping our region.

  1. U.N. Experts Warn of Illegal Adoptions Tied to Guatemalan AG

    6D AGO

    U.N. Experts Warn of Illegal Adoptions Tied to Guatemalan AG

    Episode 62: U.N. experts tie internationally sanctioned Guatemalan AG Consuelo Porras to an illegal adoption scheme during the armed conflict. They make the allegations public on the same day she runs for constitutional magistrate. The Bukele-controlled Assembly in El Salvador claims it is running a 2026 “austerity” budget for legislative operations, but is keeping line items under lock and key.  After Trump’s invasion of Venezuela, the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua reinstates visa requirements for Cuba, heeding yearslong calls from the U.S. to cut off a migration route. This episode was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Yuliana Ramazzini and Gabriel Labrador, with editing by Roman Gressier and sound design by Omnionn. Stream Central America in Minutes on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

    10 min
  2. Nicaragua Accused of “State Terrorism” in Murder of Exile

    FEB 13

    Nicaragua Accused of “State Terrorism” in Murder of Exile

    Episode 61: Costa Rican authorities arrest the fifth suspect in the murder of prominent Nicaraguan exile Roberto Samcam, in a brazen case underscoring fear and insecurity for refugees in Costa Rica. Some have decided to leave the country. A Guatemalan court orders —yet again— the release on house arrest of newspaperman Jose Rubén Zamora in the second of two cases that had kept him in prison awaiting retrial on internationally condemned charges of money laundering. Over 94,000 Salvadorans have been arrested and at least 470 died in prison under the state of exception, per an independent count. Polls show Bukele’s high popularity, but also growing fears of voicing opinions in public, for fear of arrest. This episode was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Yuliana Ramazzini and Roman Gressier with sound design by Omnionn. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

    9 min
  3. Nicaragua Gets Mixed Signals from Trump

    FEB 6

    Nicaragua Gets Mixed Signals from Trump

    CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 60: The Trump administration sends mixed signals to Nicaragua on trade, sanctions, and anti-narcotics while the Ortega-Murillo regime signs new commercial agreements with Russia and China. Costa Rican President-elect Laura Fernández wins the election by sweeping margin and promises continuity with the Rodrigo Chaves administration’s agenda. She says she will consider a state of exception modeled after El Salvador.  Guatemala signs a trade agreement with the United States, promising to buy 50 million gallons of ethanol every year. Guatemala and El Salvador agree to replicate Trump trade sanctions on third countries.  This episode was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Yuliana Ramazzini and Roman Gressier with sound design by Omnionn. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

    8 min
  4. Bukele Celebrates a Hardly-Reciprocal Trade Deal with Trump

    JAN 30

    Bukele Celebrates a Hardly-Reciprocal Trade Deal with Trump

    CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 59: In exchange for select exemption from Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, Bukele signs a trade deal promising the U.S. mining and energy access and calling on El Salvador to co-sign Trump’s trade sanctions. In Honduras, Tito Asfura takes office on promises to cut back the state, while the National Party proposes Bible readings in schools. Honduras asks to return to a World Bank forum to resolve disputes with international investors.  Nicaragua and Spain expel each others’ ambassadors in Managua’s escalating feud with international bodies. Stepping up its passport repression against dissidents and their relatives in Nicaragua, the Sandinista regime prohibits dual citizenship.   This episode of Central America in Minutes was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Roman Gressier with sound design by Omnionn. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

    10 min
  5. Rodrigo Chaves’ “Heir” in Costa Rica Outruns the Pack

    JAN 23

    Rodrigo Chaves’ “Heir” in Costa Rica Outruns the Pack

    CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 58: UCR pollsters place Laura Fernández, Minister of the Presidency under Rodrigo Chaves, with 40% of the vote. If that lead holds on February 1, Chaves’ “heir” will win the presidency outright without a runoff. Days before the transfer of power in Honduras, the National Party takes the reins of Congress and President-elect Tito Asfura meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The National and Liberal Parties set the groundwork for a legislative alliance. Spanish authorities release Salvadoran photojournalist and asylum seeker Diego Rosales after his detention at the Bukele regime’s request. The Salvadoran Journalists’ Association calls for an end to persecution of journalists under the state of exception. This episode of Central America in Minutes was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Roman Gressier with sound design by Omnionn. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

    9 min
  6. Honduras Appeals to Trump Weeks Before Transfer of Power

    JAN 16

    Honduras Appeals to Trump Weeks Before Transfer of Power

    CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 57: Honduran President Xiomara Castro orders a controversial last-second electoral recount and calls for dialogue with Trump. Meanwhile, President-elect Tito Asfura meets with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Israeli ambassador in Washington. Before the February 1 election iBefore the February 1 election in Costa Rica, the electoral tribunal rejects a request to prevent Bukele from attending the ground-breaking of a CECOT-style megaprison while President Rodrigo Chaves claims the tribunal is pursuing his allies. This episode of Central America in Minutes was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Yuliana Ramazzini and edited by Roman Gressier. Sound design by Omnionn. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

    9 min
  7. Trump’s Invasion of Venezuela Polarizes Central America

    JAN 9

    Trump’s Invasion of Venezuela Polarizes Central America

    CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 56: After the U.S. invasion of Venezuela, the Nicaraguan dictatorship tightens state surveillance, Nayib Bukele mocks Maduro to settle a score, and Panama calls for the Venezuelan opposition to be put in charge. The White House declares a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, shaking up its envoys to Central America. Trump taps a billionaire couple who donated to his 2020 campaign for Costa Rica and a top deportations official for El Salvador. A new report in Plaza Pública shows the number of undocumented migrants passing through Tapachula, the Mexican town bordering Guatemala known in the Biden years as “prison city,” dramatically fell by three quarters between 2024 and 2025. This episode of Central America in Minutes was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Yuliana Ramazzini and Roman Gressier. Sound design by Omnionn. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

    10 min
  8. How a White House Lie About “Sex Changes” in Guatemala Helped Decimate USAID

    12/12/2025

    How a White House Lie About “Sex Changes” in Guatemala Helped Decimate USAID

    Ep. 55, SPECIAL with LATINO USA: This year, the White House falsely claimed that millions of U.S. taxpayers’ dollars were funding “sex changes” in Guatemala — a lie used to justify gutting USAID, which has provided aid worldwide for over 60 years. In this episode produced with Latino USA, we travel to Guatemala to uncover the truth, hear from local organizations caught in the controversy, and learn how losing USAID funding has affected these LGBTQ+ organizations and damaged U.S. credibility abroad. This episode was produced by Reynaldo Leaños Jr. It was edited by Mitra Bonshahi and Peniley Ramírez and mixed by Julia Caruso. Fact-checking by Roxana Aguirre. Fernanda Echavarri is the managing editor of Latino USA. Production for El Faro English by Omnionn, with editing by Roman Gressier and photography for the web version by Carlos Barrera.

    30 min
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About

Central America in Minutes is a short-form podcast from El Faro English delivering reported briefings and analysis on the politics shaping our region.

Information

  • Creator
    El Faro English
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    152
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © El Faro English
  • Show Website
    Central America in Minutes

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