Under the Shadow

4.7 (48)
POLITICS
UPDATED DAILY

A podcast on US intervention and revolutionary resistance in Latin America, and all the ghosts that still linger, from independent journalist Michael Fox. Co-produced by The Real News Network and NACLA (North American Congress on Latin America). Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/under-the-shadow--5958129/support.

09/05/2024

Episode 13 | US Invasion of Panama

On December 20, 1989, the United States invaded Panama with tens of thousands of troops. It was the largest US invasion since Vietnam. The first US military action since the fall of the Berlin Wall one month before. The testing ground for the Iraq Wars. The US invading forces destroyed 20,000 homes and killed hundreds of innocent Panamanians, dumping bodies into mass graves. And the United States government and the mainstream media ignored or whitewashed the violence. The story told to the American people was that of a tremendous success: The liberation of the people of Panama. All in the name of "democracy" and the so-called "war on drugs." In this episode, host Michael Fox takes us to the working-class Panama City neighborhood of El Chorrillo, which received the brunt of the US attack. He meets with Panamanians who have long fought for justice, and visits a former US military barracks that was the first home of the US School of the Americas. This is Episode 13. Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present.In each episode, host Michael Fox takes us to a location where something historic happened—a landmark of revolutionary struggle or foreign intervention. Today, it might look like a random street corner, a church, a mall, a monument, or a museum. But every place he takes us was once the site of history-making events that shook countries, impacted lives, and left deep marks on the world. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Guests: John Lindsay Poland, Olmedo Beluche, Celia Sanjur, Gilma CamargoGrahame Russell, Pedro Silva, Efrain Guerrero, Omar Gonzalez Edited by Heather Gies. Sound design by Gustavo Türck. Theme music by Monte Perdido and Michael Fox. Monte Perdido's new album Ofrenda is now out. You can listen to the full album on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube or wherever you listen to music. Other music from Blue Dot Sessions. Additional links/info:br...

54 min
08/13/2024

Bonus Episode 4 | The Legacy of Monroe

In December 1823, US president James Monroe delivered his State of the Union address in which he coined what would become known as the Monroe Doctrine. It was a framework that would later be used to legitimize US intervention up and down the hemisphere. But in those early days, Monroe’s statements were applauded by Latin American leaders as supporting their independence struggles. They were even embraced at Simon Bolivar’s Panama Congress of 1826. In this episode, host Michael Fox travels to see what’s left of the former site of the Panama Congress, and then dives in to the past and present with Yale historian Greg Grandin. They look at Simon Bolivar’s Panama Congress, but also Monroe and the legacy of US imperialism in the region until today, including US-backed death squads, the Iran Contra Scandal, Manifest Destiny, and so much more. Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. In each episode, host Michael Fox takes us to a location where something historic happened—a landmark of revolutionary struggle or foreign intervention. Today, it might look like a random street corner, a church, a mall, a monument, or a museum. But every place he takes us was once the site of history-making events that shook countries, impacted lives, and left deep marks on the world. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Additional info: You can see pictures of the Simon Bolivar monument, in Panama City, here.Follow and support Michael Fox and Under the Shadow at https://www.patreon.com/mfoxYou can follow historian Greg Grandin, on Twitter, here.Below are links to Greg Grandin's books mentioned in the episode:The Blood of Guatemala: A History of Race and Nation (2000, Duke University Press Books)Empire's Workshop: Latin America, the United States, and the Making of an Imperial Republic (Holt, 2006)The Last Colonial Massacre: Latin America in the Cold War (2011, The University of Chicago)Kissinger's Shadow: The Long Reach of America's Most Controversial Statesman (2016, MacMillan)You can find more of Greg’s books, here.Theme music by Monte PerdidoMonte Perdido’s new album Ofrenda is out now. You can listen to the full album on Spotify, a...

1h 4m
08/06/2024

Bonus Episode 3 | Venezuela. Media War.

On Sunday, July 28th, President Nicolas Maduro won reelection there. According to the country’s national electoral council, he took 51% of votes over 44% for his rival Edmundo González Urrutia. But the opposition called fraud, claiming that they actually won the vote. Most international media have been on board with that narrative. In fact, the United States, and several other right-wing led Latin American countries have now recognized the opposition candidate as the victory. At the same time, more than 40 other countries have recognized Maduro. To make sense of it all, and the media spin that’s influencing this story, we speak with Alan MacLeod, a journalist and the senior staff writer at Mint Press News, with a PhD focused on media coverage of Venezuela. Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present.In each episode, host Michael Fox takes us to a location where something historic happened—a landmark of revolutionary struggle or foreign intervention. Today, it might look like a random street corner, a church, a mall, a monument, or a museum. But every place he takes us was once the site of history-making events that shook countries, impacted lives, and left deep marks on the world. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. Additional links: This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.You can listen to the first episode of Michael Fox’s new podcast, Panamerican Dispatch, here.Follow and support him and Under the Shadow at https://www.patreon.com/mfoxYou can find Michael Fox’s book, Venezuela Speaks!, that’s mentioned in the podcast, here.Here is the link to a thread by Michael Fox about the Venezuelan elections.You can follow Alan MacLeod on Twitter for ongoing media analysis and coverage.Theme music by Monte Perdido .Monte Perdido’s new album Ofrenda is out now. You can listen to the full album on Spotify , Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube, or wherever you listen to music.Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.Help us continue producing Under the Shadow by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer. Sign up for our newsletter a href="https://facebook.com/therealnews" target="_blank"...

1 hr
07/23/2024

Episode 12 | The Panama Canal

Panama is, perhaps, the country in Central America that has suffered under the longest US shadow, right from the very beginning. The country and its famous canal would grow to become the United States's most important asset in the region. During World War II, the US installed as many as 100 military bases throughout Panama, and it was the base of Washington’s Latin American military training apparatus. Panama became the heart of the United States in Latin America, and the US ripped apart the country to do it, clearing and flooding whole cities, installing its own walls and fences, segregating its new territory into an apartheid system on foreign soil. In this episode, host Michael Fox walks us from present-day Panama to the very beginning, to the genesis of what was once the United States’s most important asset in Latin America. This is Episode 12 of Under the Shadow. Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. In each episode, host Michael Fox takes us to a location where something historic happened—a landmark of revolutionary struggle or foreign intervention. Today, it might look like a random street corner, a church, a mall, a monument, or a museum. But every place he takes us was once the site of history-making events that shook countries, impacted lives, and left deep marks on the world. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Guests: John Lindsay Poland Marixa Lasso Olmedo Beluche Celia Sanjur Gilma Camargo Claire Nevache-Weill Edited by Heather Gies. Sound design by Gustavo Türck. Theme music by Monte Perdido and Michael Fox. Other music from Blue Dot Sessions. Follow and support journalist Michael Fox and Under the Shadow, and listen to his new podcast Panamerican Dispatch at https://www.patreon.com/mfox Help us continue producing Under the Shadow by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer. Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter a...

56 min
07/09/2024

Episode 11 | The US hand in Costa Rica

In this episode of Under the Shadow, host Michael Fox takes us to Costa Rica to examine the so-called peaceful and democratic beacon in a region beset by dictatorships and violence, and the myths surrounding the elimination of the country's military, along with how the United States did its utmost to encourage San Jose to do its bidding. This is Episode 11. Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. In each episode, host Michael Fox takes us to a location where something historic happened—a landmark of revolutionary struggle or foreign intervention. Today, it might look like a random street corner, a church, a mall, a monument, or a museum. But every place he takes us was once the site of history-making events that shook countries, impacted lives, and left deep marks on the world. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Guests: Ciska Raventós David Díaz Ivan Molina Rotsay Rosales Gustavo Fuchs Edited by Heather Gies. Sound design by Gustavo Türck. Theme music by Monte Perdido and Michael Fox. Monte Perdido's new album Ofrenda is now out. You can listen to the full album on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube or wherever you listen to music. Other music from Blue Dot Sessions. You can see pictures of Costa Rica’s National Museum and Butterfly Garden here. Follow and support journalist Michael Fox and Under the Shadow, and listen to his new podcast Panamerican Dispatch at https://www.patreon.com/mfox Here’s a...

1h 1m
06/25/2024

Bonus Episode 2 | Chomsky on US Intervention in Central America

Noam Chomsky needs no introduction. He’s a celebrated linguist, who has long denounced U.S. empire at home and abroad. And he has a long relationship with Latin America. Chomsky’s 1985 book, Turning the Tide: U.S. Intervention in Central America and the Struggle for Peace, was formative for many academics and activists analyzing the U.S. role in the region. In 2012, NACLA awarded him the Latin America Peace and Justice Award for his ongoing commitment to social justice in the Americas. Chomsky’s wife, Valeria Wasserman, is from Brazil. That’s where he is now. Chomsky suffered a stroke last year and was recently in a hospital in São Paulo, though he has since been released. You can think of this as our small tribute to the great Noam Chomsky. In this second bonus episode of Under the Shadow, host Michael Fox takes us to a October 26, 1983 lecture by Noam Chomsky, at the University of Colorado, on the impact of U.S. military intervention in Central America. It’s fascinating to look into what we knew then, even as the events were still unfolding, and hear the historical context from someone like Chomsky. Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. In each episode, host Michael Fox takes us to a location where something historic happened—a landmark of revolutionary struggle or foreign intervention. Today, it might look like a random street corner, a church, a mall, a monument, or a museum. But every place he takes us was once the site of history-making events that shook countries, impacted lives, and left deep marks on the world. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Additional info/links: You can listen to the first episode of Michael Fox’s new podcast, Panamerican Dispatch, here.Follow and support him and Under the Shadow at https://www.patreon.com/mfoxTheme music by Monte Perdido.Monte Perdido’s new album Ofrenda is out now. You can listen to the full album on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube, or wherever you listen to music.Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.Many thanks to PM Press for their permission to showcase the clip from Noam Chomsky’s 1983 talk in today’s bonus episode.You can find...

14 min
06/11/2024

Bonus Episode 1 | Hollywood. Empire.

In the late 1980s, British film director Alex Cox spent several months in Nicaragua filming Walker, a movie about the U.S. filibuster who invaded and took over the country in the mid-1800s. As Cox puts it, he was trying to make “a revolutionary film in a revolutionary context." That did not go over well in Hollywood. The movie would get him blacklisted. Even today, you still can’t find the movie streaming. In this bonus episode for Under the Shadow, host Michael Fox speaks with Cox about his 1987 movie Walker and his filming of the movie in Nicaragua in the 1980s. They also look at U.S. intervention and the film industry. Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. In each episode, host Michael Fox takes us to a location where something historic happened — a landmark of revolutionary struggle or foreign intervention. Today, it might look like a random street corner, a church, a mall, a monument, or a museum. But every place he takes us was once the site of history-making events that shook countries, impacted lives, and left deep marks on the world. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. You can listen to the first episode of Michael Fox’s new podcast, Panamerican Dispatch, here. Follow and support him and Under the Shadow, at https://www.patreon.com/mfox Theme music by Monte Perdido and Michael Fox. Monte Perdido's new album Ofrenda is now out. You can listen to the full album on Spotify Other music from Blue Dot Sessions. Here is the Trailer to Alex Cox’s movie Walker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XImi7fT7-J0 You can purchase the DVD to the movie Walker, here: https://www.amazon.com/Walker-Criterion-Collection-Marlee-Matlin/dp/B000ZM1MJ6 You can hear Joe Strummer’s soundtrack to Walker, here. And, if you liked this episode, don’t forget to check out Episode 8 of Under the Shadow that looks back on William Walker. The Real News Network Donate: therealnews.com/uts-pod-donate Sign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/uts-pod-subscribe Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnews Follow us on Twitter: a...

35 min
05/28/2024

Episode 10, Part 2 | Nicaragua, 1980s. Contra War.

In the early 1980s, U.S. President Ronald Reagan launched a covert war to destroy the fledgling Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua. It was brutal: Paramilitary war, CIA attacks, economic blockade, and more. It would wreak havoc on the country, killing tens of thousands and ravaging the economy. But an international solidarity movement stood up in response. And the Reagan government's hubris, and drive to fuel its war on Nicaragua, would break U.S. laws and lead to a shocking scandal in Washington: Iran Contra. In this episode, host Michael Fox walks back into the 1980s, to the U.S. response to revolution in Nicaragua and to the international solidarity that pushed back.This is Part 2 of Episode 10. Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. In each episode, host Michael Fox takes us to a location where something historic happened — a landmark of revolutionary struggle or foreign intervention. Today, it might look like a random street corner, a church, a mall, a monument, or a museum. But every place he takes us was once the site of history-making events that shook countries, impacted lives, and left deep marks on the world. Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. Guests: Alex Aviña William Robinson Alex Cox Marvin Ortega Rodriguez Eline Van Ommen Peter Kornbluh Coleen Littlejohn Grahame Russell Jose Francisco Artola Edited by Heather Gies. Sound design by Gustavo Türck. Theme music by Monte Perdido and Michael Fox. Permanent links Follow and support journalist Michael Fox or Under the Shadow at https://www.patreon.com/mfox. You can also see pictures and listen to full clips of Michael Fox’s music for this episode.Additional links/info Monte Perdido's new album Ofrenda is now out. You can listen to the full album on SpotifyOther music from Blue Dot Sessions.For declassified documents on the U.S. Contra war on Nicaragua and the Iran Contra affair, you can visit Peter Kornbluh's National Security Archives here and here.Brian...

1h 8m

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TRAILER

Trailer: Under the Shadow

Support the production of this podcast now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brasilonfire/under-the-shadow-of-the-united-states-a-podcast History is often lost in the past. Hard to grasp. Difficult to explain. The story of the US role abroad is often muddled or forgotten. In this podcast series on US intervention and revolutionary resistance in Latin America, independent journalist Michael Fox makes that history come to life, taking listeners to places in the present on a search for the legacies of the past. It's a search for the ghosts that still linger—and what it all means today. This is particularly important this year—2023—the 200-year anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine, the US foreign policy that defined Latin America as its backyard, to do with what it would like. And yet, throughout the region there has been pushback — a revolutionary spirit of the past and ongoing movements in the present. "Under the Shadow" is a highly produced, sound-rich, investigative podcast series that takes listeners across Latin America to the scenes of some of the region’s most devastating, revolutionary, and historic moments — both good and bad. Season 1 — coming soon — dives deep into the past of Central America, uncovering the history of US intervention that still lingers in the region today. With first-hand reporting, profound interviews, and archival footage, each of the nine episodes stands alone. But they also fit together as part of a larger story of the legacies of repressive governments, revolution, and the role of the United States in invasions, coups, and the wars of the 1980s. Michael Fox is a longtime radio reporter, editor, and journalist who has spent the better part of the last 20 years in Latin America. He is the former editor of the NACLA Report on the Americas, the former director of video production at teleSUR English, and a former member of the steering committee of the daily radio news show FSRN. Last year, he reported and produced the highly successful investigative podcast series Brazil on Fire, about Brazil's descent toward authoritarianism under President Jair Bolsonaro. https://www.mfox.us/ The Real News Network (TRNN) makes media that amplifies movements and organizers fighting for a better future. We are a multi-platform digital newsroom based in Baltimore but reporting nationally and internationally. https://therealnews.com The North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1966 to examine and critique US imperialism and political, economic, and military intervention in the Western hemisphere. For more than 50 years, NACLA has been a leading source of English-language research and analysis on Latin America and the Caribbean. https://nacla.org Help cover the production costs of Under the Shadow: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brasilonfire/under-the-shadow-of-the-united-states-a-podcast Series logo image credit: Museo de la Palabra y la Imagen (MUPI) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/under-the-shadow--5958129/support.

S1

•

4 min

4.7

out of 5

48 Ratings

Real journalism

08/09/2024

AWildBill

This is exactly what they don’t teach us in school, and unfortunately most of the people I know can’t point out Honduras on a map. So this is a great step in the right direction. Keep up the fine work!
An amazing eye opener

08/01/2024

Keeper at home Ela

I’m a German immigrant to the USA and have never before heard of the huge over reach (to say it mildly) of this Government. I was only aware of some of the “behind the scenes “ stunts they pulled in Europe, the Middle East, and in Africa…. This podcast is now part of our homeschooling curriculum. Thank you so much for bringing attention to the atrocities done (and ongoing) just for the sake of money and power.
Incredibly informative

06/05/2024

Ddehghan

The only thing I wish is a companion map and geographical supplements and link to bios of the historical figures mentioned. A companion blog post would be greatly appreciated. I am happy to help if someone want to start it.
Historically Captivating Podcast

05/16/2024

Genociders

We need more podcasts like this. Great depth to the information, and an impressive amount of interviewees per episode who are very credible and knowledgeable and reflect on US empire with a rugged honesty that is so lacking in many historical accounts. This is clearly a passion project project, because the love and dedication that goes into editing - the complexities of the narration from the sound clippings, interview testimony, historical music, narrative storytelling, and description of historical geographies from past to present, is done so well. Listing to this podcast I feel like I’m there with you and being actively taken through history. Can’t wait for the next episode!