Under the Shadow

Epizody

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  Trump's Plan to Swing Brazil's Election for Bolsonaro | Ep. 15 01.10.2026 47min

  Brazil votes this Sunday, and the Trump administration has spent months trying to tilt the outcome toward far-right presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro. Tariffs. Terrorist designations. Revoked visas. Frequent meetings with the Bolsonaro family. Taken alone, each move looks random. Put the pieces together, and a picture emerges: U.S. interference in Brazil's 2026 elections. Over the last year, Trump has met frequently with members of the Bolsonaro family. In June, the State Department put two Brazilian gangs on the terrorist list. Just a few weeks later, Trump shared an article on Truth Social that said Brazil was his next big challenge. Less than a month later, in July, Trump imposed new 25% tariffs on Brazilian goods. In August, Trump revoked the U.S. visa of the Brazilian ambassador. The Brazilian Intelligence Agency recently raised the risk of external influence and interference by the United States in Brazil’s 2026 elections to a quote, “critical level.”This is Episode 15 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.Follow Under the Shadow on Spotify and Apple PodcastsHosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA. It is supported, in part, by Global Exchange.VOTE by October 15: Under the Shadow has been nominated for three podcast Signal Awards. Please consider voting for Under the Shadow and The Real News:https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/shows/craft/best-host-documentaryhttps://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/craft/most-innovative-audio-experiencehttps://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/activism-public-service-social-impacthttps://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/shows/genre/documentaryPanamerican Dispatch You can check out Michael Fox's new reporting project on Brazil, Panamerican Dispatch. It's a project of The Real News in partnership with Global Exchange. The website is www.panamericandispatch.org.You can also follow us on social media below:Bluesky
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  Fernando Cerimedo: Revealing Trump's Election Interference in Latin America | Ep. 14 17.09.2026 37min

  Fernando Cerimedo. A name that unless you follow Latin America closely, you likely have never heard.He’s been called “MAGA’s man” in Latin America. And he is at the heart of a shocking scandal that includes “attempted femicide,” election rigging, fake news, disinformation and powerful political ties to far-right presidents across Latin America, and even the White House, under Donald Trump.It’s big news in Latin America, even though it's been largely under the radar in the United States, until now.The scandal has dire implications for the legitimacy of elections up and down the Americas, including elections where U.S. President Donald Trump has been throwing his weight around over the last year. Elections where right-wingers have won close, but shocking victories. And big elections are coming up in Brazil and elsewhere.This is Episode 14 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.Follow Under the Shadow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.It is supported, in part, by Global Exchange.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: Jake JohnstonMaria Martha BrunoResources: Progressive International’s Investigation into Fernando Cerimedo — 
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  'American Dominance': Boat Strikes, Cuba, and Latin American Pushback | Ep. 13 03.09.2026 54min

  This week marks the 1-year anniversary of Trump’s boat strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific oceans. On September 2, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the first air strike on a boat in the Caribbean. Trump said the boat allegedly carried drugs off the coast of Venezuela. It marked the beginning of a hostile U.S. foreign policy that has seen the U.S. invade Venezuela, unleash a devastating oil blockade on Cuba, and justify it all under a renewed Monroe Doctrine, which the President is calling his Donroe Doctrine.Meanwhile, the boat strikes have continued until today, even though Trump administration officials say they have not actually decreased the amount of drugs arriving on U.S. soil. As of this week, the U.S. government has attacked at least 68 boats over the last year, killing more than 220 people.The Trump administration is now using his foreign policy to attack progressive opponents at home, labelling them pawns of Cuba, and "one of the single largest, most sophisticated and dangerous vectors for hostile foreign influence in modern American history."In this episode, Michael Fox walks through the anniversary of the boat strikes. He dissects a new Cuban report published by the State Department to attack dissidents at home, and then looks at the regional resistance to Trump at the Panamerican Congress, which was held in August in Montevideo, Uruguay. This is Episode 13 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.It is supported, in part, by Global Exchange.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: Alexander MainJake JohnstonResources: Belly of the Beast is a U.S-based independent media outlet, reporting from Havana. Many thanks for their...
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  Brazil’s Battle Against Fake News & the US War to Undermine it | Ep. 12 16.07.2026 1h 20min

  Just over the last 24 hours, Trump announced that he is levying new 25% tariffs on Brazilian goods. This is supposed to combat supposed quote "UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES” by Brazil. In reality, Trump is rolling out these tariffs out in defense of his personal interests and those of his allies. That includes powerful US credit card companies. And as I look at in depth in this episode… Silicon Valley tech billionaires and their far right allies. There is one other important thing at stake in Brazil right now: the upcoming presidential elections in October. President Lula is running for reelection. The Bolsonaro family is trying to take the presidency back. Trump has already said that he sees this as his next big challenge. This episode is a joint collaboration together with my podcasts Brazil on Fire, Under the Shadow, and The Battle for Free Speech. The Battle for Free Speech is my latest. It’s an 8-part investigative narrative podcast series. I’ve been working on it for the last year. It looks at the attacks on free speech today from the Trump administration. But also how people are standing up and pushing back. This is episode 6 of that podcast. If you like what you hear, please consider subscribing and listening, wherever you get your podcasts. OK. I hope you enjoy the show… This is really a tale of two countries: the United States and Brazil. In both countries, far-right presidents come to power — Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro. In both those countries, the presidents spent several years unraveling democratic institutions and public policy. Both presidents then ran for reelection. Both presidents lied about their country's voting systems in order to undermine the elections and whip up their base. Both those presidents lost their reelections — Trump in 2020. Bolsonaro in 2022. They both claimed fraud and tried to carry out a coup to stay in power. But that is where these two paths diverged. In the United States, President Donald Trump continued to peddle his lies about the elections. He created his own social media platform and he used it to push his agenda. He was reelected in 2024 and returned to power. In Brazil, however, the country’s Supreme Electoral Court blocked former President Jair Bolsonaro from running for office for eight years, because of the lies he told about the country’s electoral system.It wasn't censorship. it was a different interpretation of free speech. One that said the right to free expression must be balanced with the other rights in the country and the country’s democratic system. The United States doesn’t agree. And the Trump administration has been pushing to bend Brazil toward its definition of "free speech."In this episode, Michael Fox journeys to Brazil to understand the lengths that the country has gone to fight disinformation. Michael is joined in the episode by Maximillian Alvarez, editor-in-chief and co-executive director of The Real News Network and the host of the Working People Podcast.The Battle for Free Speech is a production of The Real News Network.Hosted by Michael Fox and Marc Steiner. Theme music by Michael Fox, Jordan Klein and Daniel Nuñez. Other music from Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound. Production and Sound Design by Michael Fox and Stephen Frank. Editorial support by Kayla Rivara. Research by Ben Schweiger.Guests: Fabio de Sa e Silva
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  Fired and Jailed: Attacks on Free Speech under Trump (BONUS) 25.06.2026 1h 9min

  A bonus drop for Under the Shadow listeners: we're introducing The Battle for Free Speech, a new multipart narrative series from The Real News, hosted by Michael Fox and Marc Steiner. In this first episode, "Fired and Jailed," we look at how hundreds of people have been fired, suspended, investigated, or detained for speaking out under the Trump administration — and why it's just the tip of the iceberg.Follow The Battle For Free Speech on Spotify or Apple PodcastsSign up for our newsletter and never miss an episodeShow notes: Mahmoud Khalil was detained and arrested at his Manhattan apartment. The video is chilling. Plainclothes agents are there. They refuse to give their names. He’s handcuffed and shoved into the back of a car. His wife — eight months pregnant — watches and tries to understand what’s happening.This is not a scene from some dark chapter of a distant past filled with black-and-white photos of bygone dictatorships. This happened here, in the United States of America, in 2025.In this podcast series, in the lead-up to the country’s 250th anniversary, journalists Michael Fox and Marc Steiner look at the battle for our free speech rights today, and attacks on people speaking out in the United States.Hosted by Michael Fox and Marc Steiner. Theme music by Michael Fox, Jordan Klein, and Daniel Nuñez. Other music from Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound. Production and Sound Design by Michael Fox and Stephen Frank.  Editorial support by: Kayla Rivara and Heather Gies. Research by Ben Schweiger.Guests: Lisa Femia, Staff Attorney, Electronic Frontier FoundationCorinna Mullin, CUNY professorDavid Rubin, Staff Attorney, Foundation for Individual Rights and ExpressionAllen Chaney, Legal Director, ACLU - South CarolinaResources: The Charlie Kirk purge: How 600 Americans were punished in a pro-Trump crackdown  Clemson Settles With Professor Fired for Kirk CommentsRetired police officer jailed over Charlie Kirk post settles lawsuit for more than $800K The war on our sightBecome a supporter of this podcast:
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  HondurasGate: Leaks Reveal Right-Wing Plot to Dismantle Latin American Left | Ep. 11 28.05.2026 57min

  On the morning of April 30, the Spanish website Diario Red and the television channel Canal Red began to release a series of leaked audio recordings between powerful right-wing figures in the Americas. They called it HondurasGate.By May 6, the outlets had released a total of 37 WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram messages. What they reveal is a shocking network pushing undermine leftist leaders in the region.It’s one of the biggest political scandals in the Americas in years… and it implicates the Trump administration, Israel, Argentina's libertarian president, a load of right-wing Honduran officials in underhanded activities to take down political opponents… with thousands of dollars funneled into a right-wing propaganda outlet, allegedly located in the United States.The messages have been independently verified twice, confirming that they are not AI-generated.And you have likely heard little, if nothing, about them.Today, host Michael Fox walks you through the leaks. What they are, what they mean, and the repercussions for the region.This is Episode 11 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.It is supported, in part, by Global Exchange.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: Arturo DominguezAlberto MarescaResources: You can check out Michael Fox’s Patreon.Here is Arturo Dominguez’s latest piece on this, “How Far Will Trump Go to Destabilize Latin...
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  Trump Re-ups the Forever Drug War — How US Policy Fueled Mexico's Cartel Crisis | Ep. 10 09.04.2026 49min

  The U.S. has funneled billions into allies in the region 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 and witness, first hand, the long history of foreign and, in particular, U.S. intervention in the country. Today, he brings listeners up to the present…. Diving headfirst into the U.S.-backed drug war in Mexico, which has overtaken the country in recent decades and fueled an epidemic of violence that has disappeared more than a hundred thousand people over the last 20 years. We’ll look at Trump’s threats, 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.Guests: Christy Thornton, Associate Professor of History at NYUJohn Lindsay-PolandPlease check out the Global Exchange campaign… Stop US Arms to MexicoMany thanks to the Mexico-based journalists Clayton Conn and Tamara Pearson for their reporting in this episode. You can find their work at… Clayton Conn: https://www.instagram.com/clayton.conn/Tamara Pearson: 
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  How the United States Stole Mexico | Ep. 9 26.03.2026 36min

  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 harken 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.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. 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.GuestsChristy Thornton, Associate Professor of History at NYUResourcesHere 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 the episode of Michael Fox’s podcast Stories of Resistance about the St. Patrick’s Brigade.This is Christy Thornton’s book, 
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  Shield of the Americas: Trump's Donroe Coalition | Ep. 8 12.03.2026 1h 6min

  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 7th.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 in collaboration with countries allied with Trump. We’ve already begun to see this unfold in Ecuador. 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.Guests:Alexander Main from the Center for Economic and Policy ResearchAlexis Ponce Script editing by Heather Gies. Hosted, written, produced, mixed and edited by Michael Fox.Resources: You can read Alex’s excellent analysis of the Shield of the Americas summit, here.Please also check out CEPR's Americas Live Update Blog, with all of the latest from the region.
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  Trump’s War on Cuba: Crisis Made in the USA | Ep. 7 05.03.2026 1h 2min

  Cuba is facing the greatest existential threat it has seen in decades. Trash is filling streets, because garbage trucks can’t make the rounds. Rolling blackouts, rising food prices and cuts to transportation, university classes, and hospitals amid a gas shortage, the likes of which the country hasn’t seen in years.US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other officials have made it clear that they aren’t interested in anything less than regime change. And they’re going after that goal full throttle. The United States is now imposing an oil blockade on the island nation that is pushing it to the brink – and hitting its most vulnerable residents the hardest.In this episode, we look at Cuba, the history of the more than 65-year-old US embargo on Cuba and Trump’s actions, which are pushing the country to the brink.This is Episode 7 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 episode was made in collaboration with Belly of the Beast. Many thanks to them 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.Guests: Liz Oliva Fernandez with Belly of the BeastCamila PineiroMedea Benjamin with Code PinkPeter Kornbluh with National Security ArchivesGreg Wilpert, founder of VenezuelanalysisScript editing by Heather...
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  Homeland Empire: Venezuela to Minneapolis | Ep. 6 19.02.2026 48min

  Since the beginning of 2026, US forces have killed people in Caracas, Venezuela, on boat strikes in the Pacific, and in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is a new era, where US law enforcement kill people in plain sight and then blame it on the victims, accusing them of being agitators or terrorists — domestic or foreign — whether they are in fishing boats in the Caribbean and Pacific or protesting on the streets of Minneapolis.Today's episode turns the lens back on the United States. Because the shadow of the United States itself is hanging dangerously over US cities and communities like never before.This is episode 6 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.Guests: Nikhil SinghAlexander AvinaSarah LazareGreg WilpertScript editing by Heather Gies. Hosted, written, produced, mixed and edited by Michael Fox.Please consider supporting this podcast and Michael Fox’s reporting on his Patreon account: patreon.com/mfox. There, you can also see exclusive pictures, video, and interviews.Resources: Notes From The Palestine-Mexico Border | NACLAThe 13th Largest Army in World Is Unleashing Violence in Chicago | In These Times
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  When the Bombs Fell on Caracas | Ep. 5 02.02.2026 44min

  On January 3, 2026, the United States invaded Venezuela and kidnapped president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. It was the first U.S. invasion of a Latin American country since the 1989 invasion of Panama. The United States fired missiles and bombs that blew out windows and hit residential apartment blocks. Helicopters. Explosions. Firebombs. They cut electricity. They destroyed a medical supplies warehouse. Testimonies say helicopters fired on innocent people. They traumatized thousands, if not, millions of Venezuelans.The aftermath for everyday Venezuelans has been completely ignored. The voices of those on the ground — the voices of the victims — have been largely silenced in the international press and then forgotten as the news cycle hurtles on and our attention shifts elsewhere — to Greenland, Minneapolis, Iran, Gaza, or whatever Trump happens to be blustering about on social media.So today, we’re heading to Caracas to speak to people who experienced the invasion first hand, whether sheltered in place in their homes or running for their lives in the streets of their city. We’ll hear their stories of Trump’s “impressive” attack, their messages for the U.S., and how they’ve promised to resist the ongoing attack on their sovereignty.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.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. All of the ambient sound of the invasion in this episode was taken from cell phone videos filmed and posted on social media or shared over WhatsApp on January 3rd, during the pre-dawn U.S. invasion.Script editing by Heather Gies.Hosted, written, produced, mixed and edited by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.Translator and freelance journalist Coromoto Jaraba Pineda helped with reporting for this episode. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram.Many thanks to Ricardo Vaz and Jessica dos Santos.Resources: Today’s episode features filmmaker Angel Palacios. Below are some links to his documentary films:Puente Llaguno: Claves de Una Massacre (en Español)
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  Debunking the US Narrative on Venezuela | Ep. 4 23.01.2026 48min

  In the hours after the Jan. 3 US invasion of Venezuela, social media was inundated with fake videos and images. Some showed Venezuelans holding huge rallies in favor of the US invasion. Others showed US troops landing or firing from helicopters. Others showed Maduro being kidnapped. Not all were AI. Some were old, showing anti-government rallies from years past. Or from other places—other invasions or bombing raids, unrelated to the current US attack. But these videos racked up tons of views, misleading millions of people about what was happening on the ground. Many of those people still don’t know the truth. It was only the tip of the iceberg.Today, host Michael Fox looks at the misconceptions, myths, and misinformation that has been spread about Venezuela in the wake of the US invasion and, together with political scientist Steve Ellner, dives headfirst into the biased reporting and slanted truths that have underpinned the mainstream narrative on Venezuela in recent weeks, years, and decades. 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, written, and produced by Michael Fox. Script editing by Heather Gies.This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.  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.Guests: Steve EllnerTal HaginResources X users and media outlets fact checking the wave of fake videos and images posted online following the January 3 US invasion of Venezuela:AI videoMisinformation … Venezuela / great stuff - January 5January 4January 3AP - Ouster of Venezuela's Maduro unleashes waves of misinformation online
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  Hands Off Latin America | Ep. 3 16.01.2026 49min

  Thousands have marched against Trump’s invasion of Venezuela. And leaders are leading the charge against U.S. intervention in the region, in some unexpected places. But Trump is now also pointing elsewhere in the region. Cuba, Colombia and Mexico are in his sights.Today, host Michael Fox looks at the response around the world to Trump's invasion of Venezuela. He also takes a deep dive into Trump’s threats elsewhere across the region, and introduces you to some of the leaders and the people standing up to Trump both inside the United States and far beyond.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 in 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 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.Guests: Steve EllnerTamara PearsonSoyini GreyAlexander AviñaAlexander MainRafael IorisCamila Feix VidalGilma Camargo Script editing by Heather GiesResources for Under the Shadow:You can check out the first season of Under the Shadow by clicking hereThe Beginning: Monroe And Migration | Under The Shadow, Episode 1
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  Understanding the US Invasion of Venezuela | Ep. 2 05.01.2026 41min

  In the early hours of Saturday morning, January 3rd, Venezuelans were awoken by the sounds of bombs falling. US helicopters whirled overhead. Explosions struck across the capital Caracas and in surrounding states. Hours of chaos, fear, and uncertainty.President Donald Trump would post over social media that the US had “captured” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores amid a “large-scale” strike against the country.This is the first US invasion of another country in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, when the US kidnapped and detained Panamanian President Manuel Noriega under charges of drug trafficking. The Trump administration used the same excuse to detain Maduro, despite lack of evidence linking Maduro to drug trafficking.With this strike, the United States has taken an unprecedented step: This is the first time the United States has used its own military to invade a South American country.Today, we go to Caracas to look in-depth at the January 3rd US invasion of Venezuela. Host Michael Fox speaks with Caracas-based reporter Ricardo Vaz.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 in 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 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.Resources for Under the Shadow:You can check out the first season of Under the Shadow by clicking hereThe Beginning: Monroe And Migration | Under The Shadow, Episode 1Panama. Us Invasion. | Under The Shadow, Episode 13The Legacy Of Monroe | Under The Shadow, bonus Episode 4 Michael Fox’s recent reporting on the boat strikes and the ramp-up for war in Venezuela: With the Strike on a “Drug-Carrying Boat,” Trump Returns to a Dangerous US Policy for Latin America
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  Trump’s Piracy in the Caribbean | Ep. 1 23.12.2025 44min

  On September 2, 2025, President Donald Trump announced from the Oval Office that the U.S. Navy had carried out an air strike on a boat in international waters. That boat strike rewrote U.S. policy for Latin America overnight. Three months later, 26 boats have been hit, killing more than 90 people.The United States has codified its justification for the boat strikes as part of a new National Security Strategy, published in early December 2025. In the National Security Strategy, Trump announced a new Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which he hopes can propel the United States and the U.S. military to preeminence in the hemisphere. Trump’s actions suggest he believes he has broad latitude to take whatever measures he deems necessary, regardless of international law, the sovereignty of other nations, or the impact on human life. This reenvisioning of U.S. policy for Latin America has disastrous implications for the region. More missile strikes. Loss of innocent lives. And even wrapping the United States into war close to home.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 will respond in real time to the Trump Administration’s onslaught in Latin America. We begin today where we started in the last episode of Season 1… in Panama.Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox. Edited by Heather Gies.This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.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.Resources: Under the ShadowYou can check out the first season of Under the Shadow by clicking hereTHE BEGINNING: MONROE AND MIGRATION | UNDER THE SHADOW, EPISODE 1PANAMA. US INVASION. | UNDER THE SHADOW, EPISODE 13THE LEGACY OF MONROE | UNDER THE SHADOW, BONUS EPISODE 4 Michael Fox’s recent reporting on the boat strikes and the ramp-up for war in Venezuela: 
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  Introducing: Stories of Resistance 23.07.2025 5min

  Hi folks, this is Michael Fox, the host of Under the Shadow. If you've enjoyed this series, you will be happy to know that I’ll be bringing you Season 2 next year. Over the last year, I’ve been traveling across South America and this season will be a deep dive into the dictatorships of the 1970s, Plan Condor, the fight for justice and memory today, and of course, the role of the United States. But before we get there, I wanted to let you know about a podcast I’ve been writing, hosting and producing this year. It’s called Stories of Resistance.It’s investigative journalism, prose, poetry, historical memory, and above all — story.Think vignettes… Eduardo Galeano-style, for a new Trump era. For a few minutes each day, I transport you to another place, in another time, where others also stood up, resisted, and planted seeds of hope, despite the circumstances. A little bit of hope and inspiration in these dark times. There’s a lot of crossover between Under the Shadow and Stories of Resistance. So today, I’m bringing you the first episode of Stories of Resistance. It dropped on January 20, 2025. Donald Trump’s inauguration day.You can listen to more episodes just like this wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for Stories of Resistance, or you can follow the links in the show notes. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, like, share, comment or leave a review. You can also support my work and this show, and find out what I’ve been up to lately on my Patreon.  That’s patreon.com/mfoxSubscribe to Stories of Resistance podcast hereBecome a member and join the Stories of Resistance Supporters Club today!Sign up for our newsletterFollow us on BlueskyLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterDonate to support this podcastFollow Under the Shadow on Spotify and Apple PodcastsHelp us continue producing Under the Shadow by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Follow us on:Bluesky: @therealnews.comFacebook: The Real News Network
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  US Invasion of Panama 05.09.2024 54min

  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 GonzalezEdited 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:
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  The Legacy of Monroe 13.08.2024 1h 4min

  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,
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  Venezuela. Media War. 06.08.2024 1h

  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