(Even more here)

May 24, 2017

Brazil

• Stephanie Nolen, Elisangela Mendonca, “In Brazil’s Crooked Political Game, Is Anybody Playing Fair? A Search for an Honest Political Player” (The Globe and Mail (Toronto Canada), May 24, 2017).

We wound up with just a dozen names and decided to seek out one from each major political party – and one unicorn, the only politician everyone agrees is clean

Colombia

• Sergio Gomez Maseri, , “Trump Solicito Reduccion de los Recursos Que Ee. Uu. Le Da a Colombia” (El Tiempo (Colombia), May 24, 2017).

En su presupuesto para el año 2018, el presidente republicano solicita US$ 251.400 millones en recursos administrados por el Departamento de Estado para la guerra contra las drogas y algunos programas de desarrollo social y posconflicto

Mexico

• Anahi Rama, “Mexico’s Ruling Party Battles Leftist Nemesis in Key State Vote” (Reuters **, May 24, 2017).

Polls show the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), the new party of veteran leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, could wrest control of the state of Mexico from the PRI

• Mathieu Tourliere, “Trump Propone Drastico Recorte de Ayuda para Mexico en 2018” (Proceso (Mexico), May 24, 2017).

En materia de cooperación militar destinó 87 millones 660 mil dólares a México, aproximadamente la mitad de los fondos que se enviaron al país en 2016

• Laura Litvan, “Trump’s Budget Seeks Fraction of U.S.-Mexico Border-Wall Cost” (Bloomberg, May 24, 2017).

The request would cover 32 miles of border wall construction, 28 miles of levee wall in the Rio Grande Valley, and 14 miles of a new border wall system to replace fencing south of San Diego

• Maria Recio, “Trump’s Budget Calls for 74 Miles of Border Wall, Almost All in Texas” (The Austin American-Statesman, May 24, 2017).

“We are absolutely dead serious about the wall,” Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said

Central America Regional, Mexico

• Gabriel Stargardter, “Trump Proposes Deep U.S. Spending Cuts in Mexico, Central America” (Reuters **, May 24, 2017).

Tuesday’s proposal foresees 2018 Mexican aid of $87.66 million, down more than 45 percent from the 2016 outlay

Nicaragua

• Yohany López, Octavio Enríquez, “Donald Trump Propone Recortar en 98% Ayuda a Nicaragua” (La Prensa (Nicaragua), May 24, 2017).

La cooperación caería a 200,000 dólares para el año fiscal 2017 – 2018 y se concentraría solo en educación y formación militar internacional

Venezuela

• Jorge Rueda, Christine Armario, “Venezuela Regional Election Date Set Amid Opposition Rebuke” (Associated Press **, May 24, 2017).

The apparent olive branch may never come to fruition, as a special assembly to rewrite the nation’s constitution is slated to take place first

• Mariana Zuniga, Nick Miroff, “Venezuela Is Sliding Into Anarchy” (The Washington Post, May 24, 2017).

Both the government and opposition leaders — who urge nonviolence — appear to be losing control

• Alexandra Ulmer, Corina Pons, “As Venezuela Unrest Spreads, Maduro Presses on With Plans to Rewrite Charter” (Reuters **, May 24, 2017).

Riots and looting have raised risks that protests could spin out of control