logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
24m 12s

The View From Panama

Global Dispatches
About this episode

Trump is serious about his intention to seize the Panama Canal. He discussed it in his inauguration address and has dispatched Marco Rubio to Panama to put a plan in motion. But what do Panamanians think about this? My interview guest is Ed Price, a political economist at New York University and a columnist for the Financial Times. We begin by discussing the general mood on the streets of Panama City before turning to a broader conversation about how political and policy elites in Panama are responding to this assault on their sovereignty. We also examine the wider geopolitical implications of Trump's ambitions for territorial expansion, including annexing the Panama Canal, acquiring Greenland, and making Canada the "51st state."

Up next
Nov 2
Can the Next UN Secretary-General Restore the UN's Role as a Peacemaker? | Jeffrey Feltman
We are down to the wire in the race for UN Secretary-General, as eight candidates vie to lead the United Nations. They are a diverse group of diplomats, but one thing unites them: each has made revitalizing the UN's role in peacemaking, conflict mediation, and conflict prevention ... Show More
25m 52s
Oct 29
Making Sense of Israel's Election Results
About an hour after polls closed in Israel yesterday, I caught up with longtime Israeli politics analyst Joel Braunold, Managing Director of The Center Project, for a wide-ranging conversation about the implications of the election results. We kick off with a summary of where thi ... Show More
26m 39s
Oct 26
Inside the "Shadow Fleet" That Russia and Iran Use to Evade Sanctions
Over the last several years, a vast network of aging oil tankers operating under opaque ownership structures has emerged as a critical lifeline for countries facing Western sanctions—particularly Russia and Iran. This so-called shadow fleet now accounts for about 20% of all seabo ... Show More
29m 8s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Take Back the Canal?
Donald Trump's latest threat is to take back the Panama Canal. How is that country's president responding? Plus, once a staunch supporter of the death penalty, President Biden is now commuting the sentences of dozens of federal death row inmates. And we bring you the best strateg ... Show More
46m 37s
Jan 2025
Inauguration 2025: The Trump world order
From declaring an emergency on the US-Mexico border to announcing that the US will retake the Panama Canal, Donald Trump introduced several bold proposals in his inaugural address. Now, as he enters his second term, what might the Trump world order look like? In this episode: Tri ... Show More
21m 3s
Mar 2025
Deep Dive: The Economic Power Struggle Over the Panama Canal
<p>For over a century, the Panama Canal has been a vital artery of global trade and a symbol of U.S. economic dominance. But in 2025, it’s back in the headlines—Donald Trump is calling to reclaim it, and BlackRock has just acquired key ports on either side of the canal. This epis ... Show More
9m 23s
Mar 2025
The Sunday Edition: Donald Trump’s imperial ambitions
This episode was originally published in January.The US president-elect has sparked a series of diplomatic rows after saying he was willing to use military or economic force to take control of Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada. How seriously should we take Donald Trump’s cla ... Show More
28m 29s
Dec 2024
Will Trump Take Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal? The News in Slow English
<p>If you like learning about the current news and improving your English for your next English conversation, this English lesson is for you. While watching a news report about President-Elect Trump wanting to take Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal, you will learn English ph ... Show More
19m 29s
Jan 2025
Swamp Notes: Greenland, USA
<p>Donald Trump has an aggressive negotiating method: he makes big threats in order to extract concessions. But now that he’s floated the idea of invading Danish and Panamanian territories this week, America’s allies are especially nervous. The FT’s Nordic and Baltic bureau chief ... Show More
14m 35s