Podcast / American Prestige / Sep 17, 2024

The US vs. Social Democracy in Ecuador

On this episode of American Prestige, Ryan Grim and Jose Olivares discuss the US’s interest in Ecuadorian politics.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

The US vs Social Democracy in Ecuador w/ Ryan Grim and Jose Olivares | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

On this episode of American Prestige, Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site Newsand investigative journalist José Olivares join the show to talk about their recent piece for Drop Site revealing how Ecuador’s US-linked attorney general is using her office to attack the country’s left. The group gives the background of Rafael Correa and his left-wing “Correísmo” movement, how Correa and his successors became targets of “anti-corruption” Attorney General Diana Salazar, leaked messages of Salazar’s obtained by Drop Site leading to explosive allegations, the United States' potential links with assassinated presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, and why the US remains interested in domestic Ecuadorian politics.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

People march to the headquarters of the Attorney General’s Office in support of the actions of Attorney General Diana Salazar in Quito on March 27, 2024.

(Rodrigo Buendia / AFP)

On this episode of American Prestige, Ryan Grim, cofounder of Drop Site Newsand investigative journalist José Olivares join the show to talk about their recent piece for Drop Site revealing how Ecuador’s US-linked attorney general is using her office to attack the country’s left. The group gives the background of Rafael Correa and his left-wing “Correísmo” movement, how Correa and his successors became targets of “anti-corruption” Attorney General Diana Salazar, leaked messages of Salazar’s obtained by Drop Site leading to explosive allegations, the United States’ potential links with assassinated presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, and why the US remains interested in domestic Ecuadorian politics.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

News — New US Sanctions on Iran, Syrian Democratic Forces Dissolve, US-Canada Trade Talks Collapse / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

American Prestige brand MREs use Argentinian beef, but don't worry, it's the good kind. In this week’s news: the US launches a new sanctions campaign against Iran (1:35); Iran and Oman negotiate the management of the Strait of Hormuz (5:49); a Haitian gang killing (9:20); the Israeli government takes bids for its E1 settlement (11:52); the US removes Syria from the terrorism sponsors list (14:30); the Syrian Democratic Forces announces its dissolution (15:43); Trump submits the Saudi nuclear deal to Congress (18:31); progress is made in negotiations between the DRC and M23 (23:46); the Ebola outbreak in the DRC continues to expand (26:26); the CIA director visits Russia (28:07); US-Canada trade talks collapse (31:10); and the United States prepares a deep sea mining auction around overseas territories (35:35).

Don't forget Derek's Substack, ⁠Foreign Exchanges⁠.

Enjoy Danny's new Substack, I⁠mperialist Realism⁠.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Derek Davison

Derek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.

Daniel Bessner

Daniel Bessner is a historian of US foreign relations and is the author of, among other books, Imperialist Realism.

More from The Nation

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after he announced a new set of sanctions against Iran.

The Iran War Stalemate The Iran War Stalemate

The Trump administration has announced a new set of harsh sanctions against Iran. This is a strange development since originally Trump launched a war on Iran on the pretext that sa…

Podcast / The Time of Monsters

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calls on reporters after announcing a new set of sanctions against Iran on August 24, 2026, in Washington, DC.

The US Imposes New Sanctions on Iran, the Syrian Democratic Forces Dissolve, US-Canada Trade Talks Collapse The US Imposes New Sanctions on Iran, the Syrian Democratic Forces Dissolve, US-Canada Trade Talks Collapse

Danny and Derek unpack the week’s global news, from Iran, Syria, and the DRC to Saudi Arabia, Russia, US-Canada trade, and deep-sea mining.

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

Google headquarters campus in Mountain View, California.

How Mass Layoffs Changed Working in Tech—Clarissa Redwine & JS Tan How Mass Layoffs Changed Working in Tech—Clarissa Redwine & JS Tan

Discussing the state of worker organizing in the tech industry, including how it’s changed since the mid-2010s and where it needs to go from here.

Paris Marx

North Korea’s Roots in Christianity—With Jonathan Cheng

North Korea’s Roots in Christianity—With Jonathan Cheng North Korea’s Roots in Christianity—With Jonathan Cheng

Jonathan Cheng joins Danny and Derek to explore Christianity’s influence on North Korea’s founding ideology, the Kim family, and its enduring personality cult.

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

An official mail ballot drop box during a 2026 primary election in New York.

The Supremes, Trump, and Voting—Plus Colson Whitehead’s Harlem The Supremes, Trump, and Voting—Plus Colson Whitehead’s Harlem

David Cole explains the latest court rulings on Trump’s efforts to undermine Democratic voting, and John Powers comments on the new novel “Cool Machine.”

Jon Wiener

Graham Platner on June 7, 2026, in Portland, Maine.

Unpacking Platner Unpacking Platner

On today’s episode of Fighting Fascism, reflections on Graham Platner, the lessons of primary season, debates over “wokeness,” data centers, and what lies ahead in November.

x