Reposted by Dr. Ricardo J. ValenciaDavid Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 27/09/2026The techbros don't want you to see this trailer. Pass it on. 3249672749
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Darth Vader Bukele: my political comparison of Nayib Bukele to the authoritarian imagery of Darth Vader. 010
Reposted by Dr. Ricardo J. ValenciaIan James @ianjames.bsky.social · 05/09/2026“Climate change is bankrupting ranchers.” Seven Colorado ranchers are speaking out in a major climate case that soon will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. They say big oil companies should be held accountable for their role in causing climate change. www.latimes.com/environment/...latimes.comGlobal warming is ruining their way of life. These Colorado ranchers demand accountabilityColorado ranchers struggling with severe drought and heat have filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a climate case that soon will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. 48137
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Lots of American democratic socialists would be considered moderate social democrats in much of the world. Until 2016, @BernieSanders was practically a one-man club. Now, that movement has grown to include dozens of elected officials. Instead of attacking them, Democrats should welcome them. 030
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Delay it, please. Wait until after November and strengthen the regulations. Don’t let the crypto baron off the hook. rollcall.com/2026/08/18/c...rollcall.comCrypto bill in limbo as stakeholders ramp up recess effortsA five-week wait on a crucial Senate vote on major cryptocurrency legislation has opened wide a window of opportunity for both advocates and opponents of the measure, which would flesh out in greater ... 020
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 19/08/2026The future of American soccer! It makes me so happy! 032
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 11/08/2026I lived in Denmark, and I can tell you that Trump is soft compared with the anti-immigrant sentiment there. Both liberals and conservatives can be pretty extreme on immigration. Denmark is not exactly a good model for progressives. www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...euronews.comMeloni, Frederiksen reiterate opposition to 'uncontrolled immigration'Meloni and Frederiksen issued a joint statement rejecting "uncontrolled immigration," calling for third-country return hubs and citing shared European values they vowed to defend. #EuropeNews 110
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 10/08/2026It seems the British far right has already reached out to El Salvador about a deal to jail immigrants with criminal records in Bukele’s torture chambers. Bukele is increasingly becoming the U.K. and U.S. right’s sicario—outsourcing the dirty work they don’t want to do themselves. 020
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 15/07/2026Bukele is a dictator, and he seems particularly sensitive when people point that out. He also presides over a mediocre economy, an unattractive investment climate, and a cost of living that many people can no longer afford. 020
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 12/07/2026En 2011, las ideas de que había "demasiados" negros y árabes en Francia encontraron eco en la Federación Francesa de Fútbol. Incluso se discutió limitar el acceso de jóvenes no blancos, de apenas 12 o 13 años, a los centros de formación y academias. www.theguardian.com/world/2011/a...theguardian.comFrance football heads mired in race row over alleged quotas for ethnic playersSenior heads of national team allegedly approved system to limit black players and those of north African origins 010
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 25/06/2026I often teach my Mexican American students glimpses of Mexican history, even though I'm not Mexican. I’ve also known the words to the Mexican national anthem for years. 020
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Few weeks ago, I spoke with an activist involved in efforts to protect Salvadorans with TPS. He told me that much of their hope rested on this SCOTUS case. Now, the ruling gives the administration the green light to end TPS protections and potentially deport thousands. apnews.com/article/immi...apnews.comThe Supreme Court lets the Trump administration end legal protections for Haitians and SyriansThe Supreme Court is allowing the Trump administration to end legal protections for migrants fleeing violence and natural disaster in Haiti and Syria, exposing hundreds of thousands more people to pot... 030
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Antes experimentaban con cuerpos humanos. Hoy pueden experimentar con datos. Escribo en @elfaroenglish.bsky.social sobre cómo Bukele puede convertir El Salvador en laboratorio para gigantes tecnológicos como Google y Nvidia. beta.elfaro.net/opinion/buke...beta.elfaro.netBukele convierte El Salvador en laboratorio de Silicon ValleyNo se trata hoy de experimentos médicos sobre cuerpos humanos, sino de experimentos sobre información privada. Pero en ambos casos aparece una misma lógica: poblaciones vulnerables convertidas en mate... 010
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 24/06/2026My column: El Salvador Embarks on a Perilous A.I. Experiment 032
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 16/06/2026Europe will save us, some say. Meanwhile, Friedrich Merz is bootlicking Trump. 000
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 10/06/2026If you want to see the risks of unregulated AI in a country with weak privacy protections and a brutal dictatorship, look at the creation of large-scale "synthetic citizens" built from citizens' personal data in El Salvador 1/3 www.eldiariodehoy.com/negocios/el-...eldiariodehoy.comEl gobierno salvadoreño ya creó un millón de «ciudadanos virtuales» para entrenar sistemas de IACon apoyo de NVIDIA y la empresa tecnológica WideLabs, el gobierno desarrolló una base de datos de un millón de perfiles sintéticos (ficticios) que buscan reproducir las características demográficas d... 140
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 26/05/2026Bukele’s AI strategy is as hollow as its creators, Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert, the same people who promised #Bitcoin would make El Salvador richer. It’s basically a refurbished version of the same #Bitcoin illusions, now wrapped in AI jargon. My take 🧵 110
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 22/04/2026No has leído mi columna en El Faro y querés escucharla? El Faro Audio la tiene en YouTube y en todas las plataformas de podcasts. www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYdm...youtube.comOpinión | El régimen de excepción de Bukele ya no es un tema marginal en WashingtonYouTube video by El Faro 010
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 20/04/2026I wrote on @elfaroenglish.bsky.social about what appears to be a shift in Washington’s tone toward Bukele’s brutal state of exception. @tlhumanrights.bsky.social shows the issue is becoming bipartisan—and there are fissures in Republican discourse. beta.elfaro.net/en/opinion-e...beta.elfaro.netBukele’s State of Exception Is No Longer a Marginal Issue in WashingtonIt would be naive to think that Trump will make a 180-degree turn in policy toward El Salvador. But as a recent hearing in Washington suggests, concern is growing within sectors of Trump’s coalition a... 032
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 06/04/2026U-turn hits just before the @frontlinepbs.bsky.social @elfaroenglish.bsky.social report. NYC Prosecutors unveiled evidence against top Salvadoran gang leaders, signaling the case could move forward—even after Bukele asked Trump to return them following their earlier release. x.com/HsilvAvalos/... 111
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 06/04/2026Tomorrow, Frontline and El Faro may reveal more on the migration deal between Nayib Bukele and Donald Trump—and the shadow negotiations between Bukele and gangs. For Trump, it backfired fast—triggering backlash and eroding support. For Bukele: what did he gain—and at what cost? 🧵 161
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 05/04/2026Bukele’s brother/adviser Ibrajim—the same one who asked @secrubio.govpeeps.us to extradite MS-13 members in exchange for holding U.S. deportees in CECOT—now admits an anonymous cabinet group decides who’s “innocent.” Not the courts—the Bukele family. 012
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 05/04/2026After the Bukele deal—sending U.S. deportees to what many called torture chambers—blew up in public opinion, Trump appears to be shifting tactics: cozying up to distant autocrats while cutting softer deals with countries in the hemisphere ( Costa Rica) www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/w...nytimes.comTrump Wants to Make Deportation Deals. Autocrats Are Ready to Listen. 000
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 04/04/2026In 1984, @frontlinepbs reported from El Salvador, interviewing ordinary people during the civil war. The government claimed Salvadorans were free—yet no one dared speak openly. Decades later, the parallels are hard to ignore.Watch the clip below. 000
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 04/04/2026Recuerdo cuando uno de los hermanos de Bukele me llamó arrogante por decir que tengo un doctorado. ¿El hermano del presidente? ¿Heredero de millonario? Sí, tengo un doctorado, pero soy hijo de la clase trabajadora. Como decia Ellacuría: con los poderosos, firmeza; con los humildes, humildad. 010
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 03/04/2026Acuerdo Trump-Bukele para encarcelar deportados salió caro a Trump. Semanas después, aprobación migración se desplomó, ahora por suelos.Desde entonces, ES quedó fuera acuerdos con terceros países. + detalles: @frontlinepbs.bsky.social El Faro abril 7. www.pbswesternreserve.org/blogs/progra...pbswesternreserve.orgFrontline, The Deal: Trump, Bukele & the Gangs of El Salvador | PBS Western ReserveThe Salvadoran president’s deal with Trump to imprison deportees and what each stood to gain. 000
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 03/04/2026Soon we might learn more through @frontlinepbs.bsky.social and @elfaroenglish.bsky.social but deal between Trump & Bukele to jail US deportees did not work in favor of the US. Within weeks,Trump’s immigration approval turned negative. Year later, he burned his signature issues & scaled back plans 000
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 03/04/2026Mar 15–16, 2025: Trump deported ~200 Venezuelans—along with Kilmar Abrego—to prison camps in El Salvador, defying a judge’s orders to advance his mass deportation agenda. A year later, it’s seen as his first major political misstep. More from @FrontlinePBS + @ElFaro on Apr 7 100
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 02/04/2026Looking forward to @frontlinepbs.bsky.social and @elfaroenglish.bsky.social collab on how Trump and Salv dictator Bukele teamed up—and what each gets from a deal that violates U.S. law and human rights.Premieres Apr 7 on @pbs.org and online www.facebook.com/reel/1323254...facebook.com 001
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 02/04/2026Before preaching the “Salvadoran miracle” , remember: 84.1% of people there live on under $435 a month. www.eldiariodehoy.com/negocios/el-...eldiariodehoy.comEl 84.1% de los salvadoreños gana, en promedio, menos de $435 al mes, según los datos de la EHPMEl ingreso de la mayoría de los salvadoreños apenas alcanza para cubrir lo básico. Según la última Encuesta de Hogares, el 84.1% de la población ocupada gana menos de $435 al mes, en un contexto donde... 020
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 01/04/2026The American superpower has long drawn people from around the world and made them “Americans.” Once it loses that ability, the U.S. will begin to decay—just as Europe has. www.ocregister.com/2026/04/01/t...ocregister.comTrump plans to attend Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing on his bid to limit birthright citizenshipA definitive ruling from the Supreme Court is expected by early summer. 010
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 01/04/2026My latest column in El Faro: why Bukele and his government fear a crimes-against-humanity report—and how it edges them closer to an ICC probe, like Maduro and Duterte. I spoke with one of the report's expert. beta.elfaro.net/opinion/los-...beta.elfaro.netLos fantasmas de Maduro y Duterte acechan a BukeleUno de los autores del informe GIPES sobre El Salvador habló conmingo sobre el impacto de su trabajo. “Bukele es joven y puede ver cómo este proceso se desarrollará frente a él, sobre todo porque esto... 000
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 31/03/2026So the Salvadoran “miracle” is real—but investors are fleeing? FDI down 37%.My take: propaganda is a bubble—global capital doesn’t buy into high-risk, low-reward regimes. www.laprensagrafica.com/economia/la-...laprensagrafica.comLa inversión extranjera directa en El Salvador se redujo un 37 % en 2025 - La Prensa GráficaEl monto de inversión captado en 2025 ascendió a $474.8 millones, la cifra más baja desde 2022, según datos del BCR. 120
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 30/03/2026Mi columna en El Faro sobre por qué Bukele y su Gobierno muestran terror ante un informe sobre crímenes de lesa humanidad en El Salvador y cómo los acercan a una investigación de la Corte Penal Internacional como Maduro y Duterte. Conversé con uno de sus autores beta.elfaro.net/opinion/los-...beta.elfaro.netLos fantasmas de Maduro y Duterte acechan a BukeleUno de los autores del informe GIPES sobre El Salvador habló conmingo sobre el impacto de su trabajo. “Bukele es joven y puede ver cómo este proceso se desarrollará frente a él, sobre todo porque esto... 000
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 26/03/2026Months ago, writing about Honduras, I argued Bukele’s role as Washington’s main immigration “enforcer” was already shrinking. One key reason: U.S. domestic politics—El Salvador’s human rights record is simply radioactive for Trump🧵 beta.elfaro.net/en/opinion-e... 110
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 25/03/2026This is an example of how one element of the Shield of the Americas is turning Latin American armies into Washington’s personal militia, acting on the worst instincts of this administration. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/w...nytimes.comThe U.S. Said It Helped Bomb a Drug Camp. It Was a Dairy Farm. 173
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 19/03/2026@efe.com me entrevistó sobre las revelaciones de César Chávez: desmontar mitos también es justicia. “Estos logros no fueron individuales: mujeres como Dolores Huerta fueron fundamentales.” www.infobae.com/america/agen...infobae.comEscándalo de César Chávez impulsará el reconocimiento a mujeres activistas, dicen expertosEscándalo de César Chávez impulsará el reconocimiento a mujeres activistas, dicen expertos 000
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 15/03/2026My column in El Faro about the Shield of the Americas and how the Trump administration's diplomacy oscillates between blackmail and the exploitation of world leaders' vanities. Latin American governments and their armies are aspiring to become private armies in Trump’s employ. 064
Reposted by Dr. Ricardo J. ValenciaEl Faro English @elfaroenglish.bsky.social · 15/03/2026The Shield of the Americas seeks to impose a militarized agenda against drug trafficking, writes @ricardovalp.bsky.social in #efOpinion. In return, Trump rewards certain leaders, from traditional conservatives to crypto-authoritarians, with a semblance of friendship. beta.elfaro.net/en/opinion-e...beta.elfaro.netTrump Deals In Blackmail and Flattery with Latin American MilitariesThe Shield of the Americas seeks to impose a militarized agenda against drug trafficking. In return, Trump rewards certain leaders, from traditional conservatives to crypto-authoritarians, with a semb... 054
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 10/03/2026ReVista: @harvard.edu Review of Latin American Studies, published my review of Rick Rockwell’s book on Latin American journalism. Also, I noted how journalism has changed since the emergence of digital media such @elfaroenglish.bsky.social revista.drclas.harvard.edu/a-review-of-...revista.drclas.harvard.eduA Review of The History of Journalism in Latin AmericaWhile writing my MA thesis at the University of Hamburg on ideological bias in Salvadoran newspapers, I read Rick Rockwell's book, Media Power in Central America. At the time, in the late 2000s, Rockw... 052
Reposted by Dr. Ricardo J. ValenciaMax Berger @maxberger.bsky.social · 28/02/2026I promise you that the government that murdered Alex Pretti and Renee Good does not give a flying fuck about the protests in Iran. 308190243905
Reposted by Dr. Ricardo J. ValenciaCongressman Greg Casar @repcasar.bsky.social · 28/02/2026I’m sick and tired of politicians sending other people’s kids to fight and die in endless wars. It’s not D.C. politicians whose lives get put at risk. It’s not their billionaire donors’. It’s working class kids. Enough. 1328978
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 28/02/2026After calling for a new world order without the U.S., 🇨🇦 folds to the very policy that humiliates it and attacks its sovereignty. No new wars! 010
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 15/02/2026Europe folded like a kebab—thankfully, the European Union rode in to rescue liberal democracy. 000
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 12/02/2026Between lines, @bloomberg.com suggests that Bukele may be expecting Trump to bail him out—just as he did with Argentina—and sidestep the IMF: "(R) question of whether El Salvador may ditch the IMF program altogether and, instead, rely on the US as financial backer" www.bloomberg.com/news/article...bloomberg.comBitcoin Rout Exposes Bukele’s Gamble and Hits El Salvador DebtBitcoin’s crash has hit few places as hard as El Salvador, exposing the risks of President Nayib Bukele’s high-stakes embrace of crypto and whipsawing the country’s debt markets. 000
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 12/02/2026After blood, sweat, and snow, the people of Minnesota, along with the solidarity of the people of the US, forced ICE to leave Minnesota. Abolish and dismantle ICE. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...nytimes.com 020
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 09/02/2026Bad Bunny’s halftime show proves the enduring power of the American Dream myth. Much of it is fiction, but the part that may be real is the elasticity of U.S. identity. Bad Bunny is a U.S. citizen, singing in Spanish, breaking viewership records. This cultural elasticity is what made me leave Europe 010
Reposted by Dr. Ricardo J. ValenciaSenator Bernie Sanders @sanders.senate.gov · 05/02/2026If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff. Democracy dies in oligarchy. 11585203614523
Dr. Ricardo J. Valencia @ricardovalp.bsky.social · 05/02/2026People compare Bukele to Milei, Noboa, Kast or Asfura. But among them, Bukele has the weakest relationship with Washington. Why? He bet everything on Trump’s orbit, bypassed traditional conservatives (exception Rubio) and moderates, and turned Democrats into enemies 🧵 100