This is a compilation of all "Latin Pulse" programs that deal with the topic of U.S. contractor Alan Gross and his imprisonment in Cuba.


The photo of Alan Gross is from the Free Alan Gross campaign’s Facebook page and is in the public domain: www.facebook.com/FreeAlanPGross


The Alan Gross Case

A controversial election and a controversial prisoner hold the primary focus on Latin Pulse this week.  The election was held in Honduras, where opposition parties claim the National Party used fraud to stay in power.  The way the election was carried out has some questioning whether reforms to bolster the rule of law are possible.  The program also looks at the case of Alan Gross during the week he marked his fourth year incarcerated in Cuba.  The program looks at how the Gross case is tied to the case of the Cuban Five and U.S. support for Cuban exile groups. 

The program includes interviews with:


Adriana Beltran of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and
Bill LeoGrande of American University. 


Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and
Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml.


The photo is from the election campaign of Juan Orlando Hernandez in Honduras and is in the public domain.


“Latin Pulse” is produced at American University’s School of Communication. This program is sponsored by the university’s Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS), in association with Link TV.

http://www.american.edu/soc/
http://www.american.edu/clals/latin-pulse.cfm



The Disputed Elections in Honduras & the Cuban Imprisonment of Alan Gross (Lp12052013)

The problems corruption causes for politics, policy, and society is the central topic for this extended version of "Latin Pulse" this week.  The program traces the effects of political scandals in Colombia, Brazil, Panama, and Costa Rica.  The expert panel on this program also discusses some of the countries with the worst corruption problems including Honduras and Venezuela.  The program also features an in-depth report on the Cuban Five espionage case. The news segment of the program gives an update on the unrest in Venezuela led by the political opposition and the student movement. 

The program includes in-depth interviews with:


Fulton Armstrong of the Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS) at American University; 
Luis Botello of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ)http://www.american.edu/sis/faculty/colgan.cfm; and
Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).


Other interviews include:


Gloria La Riva of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five; 
Stephen Kimber the University of King's College, Halifax, Canada; and
Robert Muse, attorney. 


Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; 
Repoter: Rachel Baye; and
Associate Producer: Zach Cohen.

The photo is from the United Nations and is in the public domain.

“Latin Pulse” is produced at American University’s School of Communication. This program is sponsored by the university’s Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS), in association with Link TV.


Analyzing Corruption in Latin America & the Case of the Cuban Five (Lp2212014)

(This is an episode of "Latin Pulse" from the program's archives that has not been previously available via SoundCloud and is available now during the program's summer hiatus. The historical and political insights included in this program prove to be useful, even after almost three years since they were broadcast online.)

This week, Latin Pulse focuses on electoral politics, both in Latin America and the United States. The program features a review of upcoming elections in Argentina, Nicaragua and Guatemala. One of the in-depth interviews this week also discusses the Obama administration's policies concerning Cuba and how those might be affected by the 2012 elections in the U.S.


In-Depth Interviews:
Bill LeoGrande, Dean of the School of Public Affairs at American University; and
Eric Hershberg, Director of the Center for Latin American & Latino Studies at American University.


Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces-Gonzatti

The photo of Presidents Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina and Raul Castro of Cuba is from the Argentine government and is in the public domain.


From the Archives: The U.S., Cuba Policy & Electoral Politics in Latin America (Lp9302011)

This week, Latin Pulse puts its focus back on Cuba as Alan Gross, an imprisoned U.S. citizen passed the five year mark of his incarceration on the island.  The program includes an in-depth interview analyzing the Gross case and what it means for U.S.-Cuba relations.  The program also looks at the modern history of secret negotiations between the U.S. and Cuba and how those negotiations have subtly changed policy.  The news segment of the program looks at the resumption of peace talks in Colombia after the release of a general held captive by rebels.

The program includes in-depth interviews with:

Phil Peters of the Cuba Research Center; and
Bill LeoGrande of American University.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; 
Producer: Jim Singer; and

Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola.

The photo of Alan Gross is from the Facebook page campaigning for his release and is in the public domain:  https://www.facebook.com/FreeAlanPGross

The program is produced at Webster University: www.webster.edu/


Cuba: The Alan Gross Case & the History of Secret Negotiations (Lp12052014)

This week, Latin Pulse looks at the historic decision of the United States and Cuba to normalize diplomatic relations.  After more than a half-century of tensions and embargoes, the next steps for Cuba are the central focus of this program.  The program also includes analysis of the human rights situation in the country and debates the effectiveness of democracy-building programs initiated by the United States.  The news segment of the program looks at the onset of recession in Venezuela and the reaction of the government to the economic problems.

The program includes an in-depth interview with:

Eric Hershberg of American University's Center for Latin American and Latino Studies (CLALS); and
Phil Peters of the Cuba Resource Center. 
 
Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; 
Producer: Jim Singer; and
Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola.

The photo of Cuba’s President Raul Castro making a television address about the diplomatic changes is from the Cuban government and is in the public domain.

The program is produced at Webster University: www.webster.edu/


Cuba: The Historic Diplomatic Opening & Human Rights (Lp1022015)

The historic changes between Cuba and the United States are rolling out but the Obama administration is also making aggressive diplomatic moves throughout Latin America.  That strategic shift provides the centerpiece for discussion on Latin Pulse this week. The program takes a wide-ranging view of the geopolitical situation in Latin America and provides a preview of the summit next week of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).  The news segment of the program focuses on the negotiations between the U.S. and Cuba and President Barack Obama's policy pronouncements on Cuba.

Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and
Michael McCarthy of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS). 

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; 
Producer: Jim Singer; 
Engineering Support: Zach Kromer; and
Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola.

The photo is from the Brazilian government and is in the public domain.

The program is produced at Webster University: www.webster.edu/


Latin America: The Obama Administration's Policy Changes & the CELAC Summit (Lp1232015)

Religion and politics, the topics we're told not to bring up in polite company take center stage this week on Latin Pulse, with the focus again returning to Cuba.  The Cuban government's response to the visit of Pope Benedict XVI continues to resonate across the island in the human rights community and beyond.  The program also includes news of the death of Sandinista leader Tomas Borge in Nicaragua.

In-Depth Interviews:
Tom Quigley formerly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and
Rev. Joe Eldridge of American University.
 
Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Lydia Beyoud

(The photo is from teleSUR, the non-profit, intra-governmental television network based in Venezuela, and is in the public domain: http://www.telesurtv.net/ )

The Pope's Aftermath in Cuba (Lp5042012)

With the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis this week, Latin Pulse focuses on that island nation.  The program features an interview with Judy Gross, the wife of Alan Gross, a U.S. government contractor imprisoned in Cuba.  The program also looks at how a crisis from 50 years ago continues framing relations between the United States and Cuba.  The news segment of the program has an update on the peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla movement.

In-depth interviews include:
Judy Gross and her attorney Jared Genser; 
and 
Phil Brenner of American University.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Curt Devine 
Writer: Jordan D'eri.

The photo of Alan Gross is from the Free Alan Gross campaign’s Facebook page and is in the public domain: https://www.facebook.com/FreeAlanPGross

A sequel to this program with the second part of the interview with Judy Gross can be found here: http://soundcloud.com/latinpulse/alan-gross-case-honduran-primaries-lp11092012

Cuba: Alan Gross & the Missile Crisis Anniversary (Lp10192012)

Cuba is again the central focus on Latin Pulse with the second part of our interview with Judy Gross, the wife of Alan Gross, who is imprisoned in Cuba.  The program also analyzes the upcoming primary elections in Honduras and the candidates from the three major parties.  This episode also includes a commentary about the importance of the Latino community in the recent elections in the United States.  The news segment of the program covers the recent earthquake in Guatemala.

In-depth interviews include:

Judy Gross and her attorney Jared Genser;

and

Prof. Dario Euraque of Trinity College.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Curt Devine
Writer: Colin Campbell and Jordan D'eri.

The photo is from the Gross Family and is used with permission.

The first program in this series featuring interviews on the Gross case can be found here: http://soundcloud.com/latinpulse/cuba-alan-gross-missile-crisis-anniversary-lp10192012

The Alan Gross Case & the Honduran Primaries (Lp11092012)

With the passing this week of the third anniversary of the incarceration of Alan Gross, Latin Pulse returns to a focus on Cuba. The program looks at prospects for change between the U.S. and Cuba during the next term of the Obama administration.  The program also features discussion of a new mini-documentary produced by Cuban documentary-makers about housing conditions in Havana, an example of reforms and a loosening of communication controls.
In-depth interviews include:

Phil Peters of the Lexington Institute; 
and 
Prof. Bill Gentile of American University.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Curt Devine 
Writer: Jordan D'eri.

The photo is by Nathan Laurell of Chicago, Ill., via Flickr, using a Creative Commons license: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nglklm/7146476901/


Cuba: Diplomatic Obstacles & Documentary Insights (Lp12072012)

Cuba is the central focus of "Latin Pulse" this week, with discussions of new diplomatic proposals and a new documentary about the island. The debate about Cuba covers why the United States lists the country as a state sponsor of terrorism and how the two nations could move beyond their diplomatic deadlock. The documentary preview includes views on the effects of the revolution and how race plays a key role in everyday Cuba. The news segment discusses the recent railway tragedy in Argentina and the program also includes a commentary about China's trade and diplomacy with Latin America.

The program includes in-depth interviews with:

Andres Serbin of CRIES; and
Bill Gentile of American University 

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Curt Devine
Writer: Zach Cohen.

The photo of Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont visiting with Cuban President Raul Castro earlier this year is from the Cuban government and is in the public domain.


Cuba: Diplomacy & Documentary Insights (Lp6142013)

“Latin Pulse” is a weekly program that reviews news from Latin America and analyzes politics, culture, religion, and important issues throughout the region. This weekly podcast is distributed by Link TV, iTunes, and, of course, SoundCloud.  

The Alan Gross Case

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