In an olive branch to Trump, Venezuela has released one of 10 imprisoned Americans. Trump is about to give oil companies more time to pump oil there. Is this a turning point in relations? #OOTT w/ Vera Bergengruen www.wsj.com/world/americ...

Bombshell Cadem poll puts Chile’s center-right and far-right presidential hopefuls running neck and neck ahead of November election to replace outgoing incumbent Gabriel Boric.

A must-read on the far-right coalition of Zionists and Christians undermining free speech and democracy in the United States. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/u...

President Trump is threatening to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell unless he cuts interest rates to cushion the economic blow from tariffs. The tension has put the two on a collision course.

First Columbia, now Yale. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/u...

🚨Measles cases in the US surge 35% in ONE WEEK—now at 222 in 12 states. We’re nearing last year’s TOTAL of 285, and it’s only March. Two deaths already, both unvaccinated. Texas is the epicenter with 198 cases. The CDC’s weekly data lags, so the numbers are likely even higher.

“More oil for fewer migrants” from #Venezuela risks becoming “No oil for more migrants”. #oott www.wsj.com/business/ene...

#Chile is waking up wondering why the lights went out for some eight hours yesterday. One short-circuit on a transmission line run by ISA INTERCHILE was followed by a series of breakdowns in back-up systems -- A rare blackout in a robust grid. 1/

Amid stormy seas, #LNG exporter #Trinidad & Tobago is gripping the mast of oil and gas. Will it hold? gasoutlook.com/analysis/geo...

Trump envoy Ric Grenell upstages Sec of State Marco Rubio with first Latam trip, to Venezuela of all places, aimed to win release of Americans and send back migrants. Just don’t say oil. www.wsj.com/world/americ...

#Venezuela Stay tuned as Maduro prepares to swear another spurious presidential oath today, while his main foe is back underground after yesterday’s cinematic cameo and brief detention. www.wsj.com/world/americ...

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has turned up the heat on the incoming Trump administration by recently seizing 50 foreigners, several of them American passport holders

Guided by past prisoner swaps, some 50 foreign passport holders locked up in Venezuela are Maduro’s potential bargaining chips as he prepares to start another six-year term based on a stolen election. Stay tuned. www.wsj.com/world/americ...

Majestic view from the San Isidro lighthouse at the tip of the Brunswick Peninsula in deep southern Chile, where the Strait of Magellan veers between the Atlantic & Pacific oceans. Site of a future national park. Thanks to Fundación Rewilding Chile & Tompkins Conservation for the chance to visit.

A modest cargo of Venezuelan asphalt arrived a few miles from Mar-a-Lago last week. Will it help pave a new US policy toward Caracas? www.wsj.com/world/americ...

This was entirely predictable, and in fact previewed by Trump long before the election, but oil industry enthusiasm for him seemed genuine. Are leases and deregulation (both reversible in 4 years) worth more than losing major export markets and dealing with other business costs of trade wars?

Between Scott Bessent’s idea to push for a 15% increase in oil output and Trump’s first salvo of tariffs, the U.S. energy sector faces some pain after January 20. Soybeans are faring worse - with China taking half of US exports, and other suppliers available, Beijing retaliation target seems clear.

Sunday was a good day for the center-left in Chile’s gubernatorial run-off elections. The man to watch is the re-elected governor of the Santiago met region, Claudio Orrego.

🔴 Claudio Orrego supera a Francisco Orrego y consigue la reelección en la Región Metropolitana www.latercera.com/politica/not...

Chileans are counting votes in today’s gubernatorial run-offs, a transparent, efficient process and example of civic participation. The election is seen as a referendum on the govt of President Gabriel Boric. Stay tuned.

The U.S. oil and gas industry is deeply divided over Trump's plans to encourage drilling, impose trade tariffs and slash methane regulations, Benoît Morenne and Collin Eaton write in the The Wall Street Journal today.

The bromance between Milei and Trump obscures fundamental differences over tariffs, Ukraine By Ryan Dubé www.wsj.com/world/americ...

It was an honor to moderate a respectful discussion between two earnest young politicians in #Chile this week, Jaime Bellolio from the right and Tomás Vodanovic from the left. @uchicagopress.bsky.social dfmas.df.cl/df-mas/coffe...