SPECIAL, Episode 66: I always imagined the end of the maras playing out differently. Since I am a pathological romantic, I imagined people in the street in some sort of march with drums and tears of joy. Or going to leave flowers at a monument for the victims of so much darkness… But no.

This special episode shares an audio column by El Faro special investigations reporter Carlos Martínez, translated by William Palomo from Alma de Izote, and narrated by El Faro English editor Roman Gressier. Sound design by Omnionn.

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Episode 65: With crimes against humanity in El Salvador on full international display, Bukele denounces the reports as a “coordinated” conspiracy. Trump’s pick as ambassador to El Salvador, former DHS official Troy Edgar, goes before the Senate.

China’s future in Honduras hangs in the balance with the new Trump-backed president, Nasry Asfura. In his election campaign, he promised to restore relations with Taiwan, which were cut in 2023, but the administration is keeping its options open.

Yuliana Ramazzini, Gabriela Cáceres, and Roman Gressier wrote this episode, with sound design by Omnionn. Find Central America in Minutes on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

Episode 64: The Inter-American Court of Human Rights condemned the state of Honduras for trying to uproot the Afro-Indigenous Garifuna community from Cayos Cochinos at the behest of a tourism conglomerate and a European TV spinoff of Survivor.

Guatemalan political elites battle over a top court tainted by allegations of corruption and insider dealing. With all five seats up for grabs this week, both Arévalo and his enemies claim only they really understand where Trump stands.

The human rights organization Cristosal reports 245 cases of political persecution in El Salvador. They identify a web of judicial and extrajudicial attacks leading to exile, self-censorship, and even death.

This episode was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Yuliana Ramazzini, Gabriel Labrador, and Roman Gressier, with sound design by Omnionn.

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Episode 63: A federal judge denounces intimidation and death threats on social media after suspending Trump’s rollback of TPS for Haiti. An appeals court allows Trump to cancel the program for Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal as litigation continues.

In Guatemala, an internationally sanctioned judge annuls the 1993 arrest warrant for coup president Jorge Serrano Elías, a fugitive in Panama. The same judge oversees terrorism charges against Indigenous leaders who fended off a coup effort in 2023.

Costa Rica denounces the theft of tens of millions of dollars of gold extracted every year by Nicaraguan miners. The government inches toward a proposal to reactivate open-pit mining across an area 100 times larger than the illegal mining operation.

This episode was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Yuliana Ramazzini, Gabriel Labrador, and Roman Gressier, with sound design by Omnionn.

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Episode 62: U.N. experts tie internationally sanctioned Guatemalan AG Consuelo Porras to an illegal adoption scheme during the armed conflict. They make the allegations public on the same day she runs for constitutional magistrate.

The Bukele-controlled Assembly in El Salvador claims it is running a 2026 “austerity” budget for legislative operations, but is keeping line items under lock and key. 

After Trump’s invasion of Venezuela, the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua reinstates visa requirements for Cuba, heeding yearslong calls from the U.S. to cut off a migration route.

This episode was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Yuliana Ramazzini and Gabriel Labrador, with editing by Roman Gressier and sound design by Omnionn.

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Episode 61: Costa Rican authorities arrest the fifth suspect in the murder of prominent Nicaraguan exile Roberto Samcam, in a brazen case underscoring fear and insecurity for refugees in Costa Rica. Some have decided to leave the country.

A Guatemalan court orders —yet again— the release on house arrest of newspaperman Jose Rubén Zamora in the second of two cases that had kept him in prison awaiting retrial on internationally condemned charges of money laundering.

Over 94,000 Salvadorans have been arrested and at least 470 died in prison under the state of exception, per an independent count. Polls show Bukele’s high popularity, but also growing fears of voicing opinions in public, for fear of arrest.

This episode was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Yuliana Ramazzini and Roman Gressier with sound design by Omnionn. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 60: The Trump administration sends mixed signals to Nicaragua on trade, sanctions, and anti-narcotics while the Ortega-Murillo regime signs new commercial agreements with Russia and China.

Costa Rican President-elect Laura Fernández wins the election by sweeping margin and promises continuity with the Rodrigo Chaves administration’s agenda. She says she will consider a state of exception modeled after El Salvador. 

Guatemala signs a trade agreement with the United States, promising to buy 50 million gallons of ethanol every year. Guatemala and El Salvador agree to replicate Trump trade sanctions on third countries. 

This episode was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Yuliana Ramazzini and Roman Gressier with sound design by Omnionn. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 59: In exchange for select exemption from Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, Bukele signs a trade deal promising the U.S. mining and energy access and calling on El Salvador to co-sign Trump’s trade sanctions.

In Honduras, Tito Asfura takes office on promises to cut back the state, while the National Party proposes Bible readings in schools. Honduras asks to return to a World Bank forum to resolve disputes with international investors. 

Nicaragua and Spain expel each others’ ambassadors in Managua’s escalating feud with international bodies. Stepping up its passport repression against dissidents and their relatives in Nicaragua, the Sandinista regime prohibits dual citizenship.  

This episode of Central America in Minutes was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Roman Gressier with sound design by Omnionn. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 58: UCR pollsters place Laura Fernández, Minister of the Presidency under Rodrigo Chaves, with 40% of the vote. If that lead holds on February 1, Chaves’ “heir” will win the presidency outright without a runoff.

Days before the transfer of power in Honduras, the National Party takes the reins of Congress and President-elect Tito Asfura meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The National and Liberal Parties set the groundwork for a legislative alliance.

Spanish authorities release Salvadoran photojournalist and asylum seeker Diego Rosales after his detention at the Bukele regime’s request. The Salvadoran Journalists’ Association calls for an end to persecution of journalists under the state of exception.

This episode of Central America in Minutes was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Roman Gressier with sound design by Omnionn. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.

CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 57: Honduran President Xiomara Castro orders a controversial last-second electoral recount and calls for dialogue with Trump. Meanwhile, President-elect Tito Asfura meets with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Israeli ambassador in Washington.

Before the February 1 election iBefore the February 1 election in Costa Rica, the electoral tribunal rejects a request to prevent Bukele from attending the ground-breaking of a CECOT-style megaprison while President Rodrigo Chaves claims the tribunal is pursuing his allies.

This episode of Central America in Minutes was produced with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. It was written by Yuliana Ramazzini and edited by Roman Gressier. Sound design by Omnionn. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.