On September 2, President Donald Trump announced from the Oval Office that the U.S. Navy had carried out an air strike on a boat in international waters. That boat strike rewrote U.S. policy for Latin America overnight. Three months later, 26 boats have been hit, killing more than 100 people.
The United States has codified its justification for the boat strikes as part of a new National Security Strategy, published in early December 2025. In the National Security Strategy, Trump announced a new Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which he hopes can propel the United States and the U.S. military to preeminence in the hemisphere. Trump clearly feels he has carte blanche to take whatever measure he deems necessary without regard for international law, the sovereignty of other nations, or the impact on human life. This reinvisioning of U.S. policy for Latin America has disastrous implications for the region. More missile strikes. Loss of innocent lives. And even wrapping the United States into war close to home.
Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. Season 2 will respond in real time to the Trump Administration’s onslaught in Latin America. We begin today, where we started in the last episode of Season 1… in Panama.
Under the Shadow is hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox and edited by Heather Gies. It is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.
Theme music by Monte Perdido and Michael Fox. Monte Perdido’s new album Ofrenda is now out. You can listen to the full album on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube or wherever you listen to music.
Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.
Related Episodes
Check out the first season of Under the Shadow here.
Michael Fox’s recent reporting on the boat strikes and the ramp-up for war in Venezuela
- With the Strike on a “Drug-Carrying Boat,” Trump Returns to a Dangerous US Policy for Latin America
- Caribbean Leaders Call for Unified Latin American Resistance to US Attacks
- Trump’s Monroe Doctrine 2.0 Outlines Imperial Intentions for Latin America
Other Resources
- Emperors in the Jungle: The Hidden History of the U.S. in Panama (Duke, 2003), is John Lindsay Poland’s expose on the U.S. military involvement in Panama.
- View the documentary, The Panama Deception, here.
- Click here to view to Democracy Now! coverage of the U.S. push toward war on Venezuela.
Support Under the Shadow:
See pictures of host Michael Fox’s reporting in Panama City, here.
Check out Michael’s latest episode of Stories of Resistance about the annual protests demanding justice for the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama.
Listen to his new podcast, Panamerican Dispatch, on Patreon. There, you can follow and support Michael Fox and Under the Shadow: https://www.patreon.com/mfox