Why the Americas Are Letting Venezuela Self-Destruct

At the Turn of the 21st Century, Latin American Nations Made Commitments to Defend Democracy. Those Days Are Gone.

Elected leaders across the hemisphere gathered to condemn and possibly sanction a neighboring president who closed down independent media and harassed political opponents.

Venezuela? If only. That was Peru in 2000.

The actions of Peru’s former president Alberto Fujimori back then pale in comparison to the recent steps taken by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Partisan distribution of resources to local governments? Seizure of independent media critical of the government? The packing of the judicial system and the electoral commission with political supporters? In Venezuela those are so yesterday. All those things occurred …

Will Cuba Go From Enemy to Frenemy?

What the Resumption of Diplomatic Relations Means for the U.S. and Our Island Neighbor

Just this past week, historic talks were held in Washington with the goal of inching closer to a goal that, for decades, has been unimaginable: restored diplomatic relations between the …

Stop Making Argentina Your Morality Tale

After Years of Every Default and Inflation Scenario Imaginable, Arcane Financial Developments Are Now Dinner Table Conversation

I woke up a couple of weeks ago to an Argentina that had, against its will, defaulted on its sovereign debt. For those unversed in international finance terminology, that basically …

When Kids Crossed the Border with the U.S. Government’s Help

In the 1960s, Operation Pedro Pan Brought Children Like Me Out of an Unstable Cuba

The images in recent weeks of minors crossing the border, unaccompanied and scared, fleeing violence and uncertain futures in their home countries, many seeking their relatives already in the United …

A Flight from Caracas to Exile

We Made It to Montreal, But Can We Leave Venezuela’s Turmoil Behind?

At the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas on March 19, my wife, 8-month-old daughter, and I stopped to take photos of our feet. We were standing over a colorful, …

Brazilian Protestors, Take Note: This Could End Badly

A 1968 Massacre in Mexico—the Last Country to Host a Summer Olympics and World Cup Back-to-Back—Holds Tragic Lessons

Protestors clashed with riot police as the World Cup kicked off in Sao Paulo, the latest manifestation of widespread discontent with the expensive (and behind-schedule) preparations for the massive sporting …