We're discussing a subject that's personal for us in this episode. Nayib Bukele is the populist President of El Salvador who enjoys wide popular approval from the Salvadoran people, but has also been consistently criticized for some of his anti-democratic actions as President. The weekend of March 26th saw the most public violence carried out by gangs since the end of the Salvadoran civil war in 1992 and President Bukele has responded with a wave of arrests and suspensions of due process protections.

Javier, Doug and Jay are all of Salvadoran descent and have all watched Bukele's presidency with keen interest. We discuss the history of violence in El Salvador, the rise of the gangs, the truce negotiated in 2012, how Bukele came to power, and his response to the recent spike in violence. We also discuss Bukele's presidency in general, and to what extent we're worried about his potential for authoritarianism. Grab your drink and join us in this important discussion!

The introductory song is Adentro by Calle 13.
The closing songs are Linda Muchachita and Las Salvadorenas by Hermanos Flores

The video clips used in this episode are below:

• "Bukele threatens reprisals to El Salvador gangs over spike in violence" Al Jazeera English
• "Nayib Bukele a las pandillas 'No habra comida ni en las cárceles'" JPMas

The clip of the young woman describing what she thinks should be done about the gangs comes from NPR's Radio Ambulante podcast. The episode is called The Truce and it gives an excellent detailed account of the truce negotiated in 2012 and the fallout that came after it was reported.

If you'd like to learn more about the specific subjects we covered in this episode, below are some excellent resources:

• Colonel Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez (article)
• In the Name of the People: El Salvador's Civil War (documentary)
• Killed in El Salvador: An American Story (documentary and New York Times article)
• Ross Kemp on Gangs: El Salvador MS13 (documentary)
• Bukele: Hero or Dictator of the Most Violent Country in the World (short video)
• Nayib Bukele's interview with Al Jazeera
• Nayib Bukele's interview with Tucker Carlson
• President Bukele: El Salvador's Authoritarian Ruler (hour-long discussion)