Protests in Panama: pensions, environmental issues, a state of emergency, and rising anti-U.S. sentiment

Protests in Panama: pensions, environmental issues, a state of emergency, and rising anti-U.S. sentiment

Author: Joshua Collins July 2, 2025 Duration: 19:56

Paid subscribers get early access to the Pirate Wire Radio podcast series! This episode will become available to all subscribers in five days.

In this episode of Pirate Wire Radio, we speak with Mat Youkee, a journalist in Panama City, and a regular contributor at the Guardian and the Economist, about massive protests in Panama.

He describes the reasons behind growing anti-U.S and anti-Trump sentiment in the country, as well as breaks down the complex and myriad reasons that have kept thousands in the streets for months in protests that have at times clashed with police.

Meanwhile, authorities have declared a state of emergency and begun crackdowns in the regions where protests have been fiercest.

We get into all the details, as well the role of U.S. fruit company Chiquita!

You can find Mat’s Substack, the Sulaco Times, here.



Get full access to Pirate Wire Services at www.piratewireservices.com/subscribe

Hosted by Joshua Collins, Pirate Wire Radio delivers original journalism focused on the complex realities of Latin America. This isn't a surface-level recap of headlines; it's a deep, narrative-driven exploration of the forces shaping the region. Each episode moves beyond the news cycle to connect political shifts and economic currents with the deeply human stories unfolding on the ground. You'll hear about crime, the drug trade, cultural movements, and societal changes, all presented through rigorous reporting and firsthand perspectives. The podcast aims to provide context often missing from mainstream coverage, weaving together analysis of current events with documentary-style storytelling. For anyone seeking to understand the true texture of life and power across Latin America, from boardrooms and government palaces to street corners and rural communities, this show offers an essential, unvarnished listen. Tune in for a compelling and nuanced portrait of a dynamic part of the world, delivered directly through your preferred podcast app.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 28

Pirate Wire Radio
Podcast Episodes
The Protests that changed Colombia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:55
Ahoy there!We hope this week has been more plain sailing than stormy seas wherever you are. Amy is confined to hard labour in the galley after trying to pick up a pan and finding it stuck to the stovetop. Dani is fending…
Fraud allegations are the new black? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:01
**Deslízate hacia abajo para leer en castellano***Ahoy! It’s Holy Week (Semana Santa) and we hope you’ve all weighed anchor somewhere nice for Easter: irrespective of our faith, most of us have a long weekend. Colombia’s…
Protests in Peru: right-wing resistance or popular demonstrations? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:42
Ahoy!Welcome to this week’s Pirate Wire Services, we hope you’ve successfully navigated the seas of April so far. In this podcast episode, Paulo Rosas is looking at a wave of protests in Peru this week. These were initia…
Podcast: How can media report violence well? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:11
Buenas tardes!When we started Pirate Wire Services, we were always hoping to turn it into a podcast one day. So instead of the usual Friday newsletter, this week we’ve recorded a podcast episode.The war in Ukraine has un…
Bitcoin in El Salvador: future boom or utter bust? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:30
Is Bitcoin a good move for El Salvador? The country is courting a boom with BTC set to become legal tender this week. We speak with an activist/journalist John Dennehy and skeptic Mat Youkee, journalist for the Guardian,…