The LatinNews Podcast is a fortnightly deep dive into key developments from across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Real insights from the region’s sharpest minds.
Stream the latest episodes on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.
Season 1 | Episode 67
In our first episode of 2026, we take a look at Chile under president-elect José Antonio Kast who is due to be sworn into office in March 2026, marking a significant swing to the Right in the Andean nation.
Joining us on The LatinNews Podcast this week is Lucia Dammert, Professor of International Relations at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile.
We discuss how Kast won the elections so convincingly and what were the failures of President Gabriel Boric. Will Kast open lithium to private investors, what are his solutions to rising crime in Chile and will he carry out mass expulsions of immigrants, as promised during the campaign trail.
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In this episode we discuss:
• Why José Antonio Kast won decisively
• The political failures of the Boric government
• Crime, insecurity and migration in Chile
• Economic policy, lithium and foreign relations
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Professor Lucía Dammert
Lucía Dammert is a Professor of International Relations at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile and a leading expert on public security, criminal organisations and public policy in Latin America. Born in Peru, she holds a Ph.D. in political science and has written extensively on crime, governance and state-society relations across the region.
Dammert has held advisory roles in Chile and elsewhere in the Americas, served on international policy bodies, and been a visiting scholar at Harvard University’s Latin American studies centre. Her work combines academic research with practical insights into security, institutional reform and political dynamics in contemporary Latin America.
The LatinNews Podcast is hosted by Richard McColl, a foreign correspondent in Colombia. Having first travelled to Colombia in the late 90s, McColl made the move to Bogotá in 2007. He holds a Diploma in Conflict resolution and a PhD in Social and Human Sciences both at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. He has worked as a journalist across Latin America.
Political Analyst, Richard McColl