by Michael Fox | Apr 9, 2026 | Latin America, Podcast, Politics and Movements: International, Politics and Movements: US, Under the Shadow, war on drugs
The US has funneled billions into its allies in Latin America under the guise of fighting the drug traffickers. It has ripped apart countries. And the violence has only gotten worse. Decades of fighting, with little to show for it except human rights abuses, displacement, and tens of thousands of dead and disappeared.
In the last episode, host Michael Fox took you to Mexico City to walk through Mexico’s Museum of Interventions to witness firsthand the long history of foreign and, in particular, US intervention in the country.Â
Today, he brings listeners up to the present, diving head-first into the US-backed drug war in Mexico, which has overtaken the country in recent decades and fueled an epidemic of violence that has disappeared more than 100,000 people over the last 20 years. We’ll look at Trump’s threats and the repercussions they are having in the country, and we’ll also hear the voices of Mexicans who are standing up.
This is Episode 10 of Under the Shadow, Season 2.
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. Season 2 responds in real time to the Trump administration’s onslaught on Latin America.
Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.
This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.
Theme music by Michael Fox’s band, Monte Perdido. Monte Perdido’s 2024 album Ofrenda is available on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube or wherever you listen to music.
Other music from Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound.
Script editing by Heather Gies. Hosted, written, produced, mixed, and edited by Michael Fox.
Many thanks to the Mexico-based journalists
by Michael Fox | Mar 26, 2026 | mexico, Podcast, Politics and Movements: International, Under the Shadow
Increasingly, Trump has his sights set on Mexico—promising to send in US troops in the name of fighting cartels and advancing a so-called drug war policy. But Trump’s actions hearken back to an era of US empire much, much older.
See, Mexico has withstood a long history of foreign intervention by the Spanish, French, and multiple times by the United States.Â
In 1848, Mexico lost more than half its territory to the United States. The US states of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and more used to be part of Mexico.Â
Today, host Michael Fox visits Mexico’s National Museum of Interventions in Mexico City, and we look back at the devastating history of foreign intervention in Mexico amid Trump’s threats against Mexico and elsewhere in the region today.
This is Episode 9 of Under the Shadow, Season 2.
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. Season 2 responds in real time to the Trump administration’s onslaught on Latin America.
Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.
This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.
Theme music by Michael Fox’s band, Monte Perdido. Monte Perdido’s 2024 album Ofrenda is available on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube or wherever you listen to music.
Other music from Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound.
Script editing by Heather Gies. Hosted, written, produced, mixed, and edited by Michael Fox.
Guests
Christy Thornton, Associate Professor of History at NYU
Resources
Here is the link to Mexico’s National Museum of Interventions.
You can check out Michael Fox’s Patreon to see exclusive pictures of the museum and the wall out front.
Here is
by Michael Fox | Mar 12, 2026 | Ecuador, Latin America, Podcast, Politics and Movements: International, Politics and Movements: US, Trump, Under the Shadow
At least 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are on board with Trump’s new military alliance. They are calling it the America’s Counter Cartel Coalition. Latin America’s top right-wing leaders are involved, including El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele and Argentina’s Javier Milei. They met in Florida for the event, on March 7.
The United States has promised to use lethal force to destroy cartels and narco-traffickers in those nations. Kristi Noem, the former head of Homeland Security, is the new special envoy for the coalition.
This is a new phase of Trump’s plan for Latin America. Trump’s Donroe Doctrine—Monroe 2.0. The first was the offensive against his enemies in the region. Now Trump is shoring up his allies, and building a coalition where the US military can continue to take action, now in collaboration with countries allied with Trump. We’ve already begun to see this unfold in Ecuador.Â
This is Episode 8 of Under the Shadow, Season 2.
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. Season 2 responds in real time to the Trump administration’s onslaught on Latin America.
Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.
Many thanks to Belly of the Beast for the interview with Liz Oliva Fernandez and the use of the sound from several of their videos.
This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.
Theme music by Michael Fox’s band, Monte Perdido. Monte Perdido’s 2024 album Ofrenda is available on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube or wherever you listen to music.
Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.
Script editing by Heather Gies. Hosted,
by Michael Fox | Mar 5, 2026 | cuba, Podcast, Politics and Movements: International, Politics and Movements: US, Trump, Under the Shadow
by Michael Fox | Feb 20, 2026 | ICE, Minneapolis, Podcast, Politics and Movements: International, Politics and Movements: US, Prisons and Policing, Trump, Under the Shadow, Venezuela
Transcript
The following is a rushed transcript and may contain errors. A proofread version will be made available as soon as possible.
MICHAEL FOX [NARRATION]: Â Minneapolis has been on fire.
People in the streets against an onslaught from Trump’s ICE agents the likes of which the country has never seen.Â
Homeland Security has deployed thousands of agents, unleashing an assault that has ripped apart families and neighborhoods. They’ve killed two people, under shocking circumstances. Both U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Federal agents have arrested 4,000 people in Minnesota alone since they launched Operation Metro Surge two months ago.
KRISTI NOEM [CLIP]: But we’re surging operations because of the dangerous situation we see in this country and because we’re no longer going to allow illegal criminals to damage and harm, to kill, to sexually abuse, to proliferate drugs, and to steal American taxpayers dollars.Â
MICHAEL FOX [NARRATION]:  That’s Kristi Noem. The head of the Department of Homeland Security. Of course, none of it’s true. But that doesn’t stop her or president Donald Trump from repeating these lines.Â
And Minneapolis, Minnesota, is just the latest city on Trump’s hit list.
SARAH LAZARE:Â I mean, there are so many horrific stories.
MICHAEL FOX [NARRATION]: Sarah Lazare is a labor journalist based in Chicago who’s traveled to Minneapolis in recent weeks to cover the ICE attack and the people’s response.
SARAH LAZARE: And really, the federal assault is only growing more intense. Like Chicago was really bad. There were really terrible things that happened. And you don’t want to compare tragedies at all because it’s all horrible. But the federal occupation of Minnesota, just in terms of scale and numbers, is just
by Michael Fox | Feb 2, 2026 | Podcast, Politics and Movements: International, Under the Shadow, Venezuela
