Keri Kahn

Yes, no surprise that Trump's policies get a very warm reception, and they're being mirrored here too.

Among conservative voters and anti-left voters, his military intervention against Venezuela and drug traffickers is very popular.

Trump's also stepped in for many of his favorite candidates and his allies.

There was that $20 billion bailout for Argentina's far-right libertarian president, Javier Mele.

That came right before he was facing a tough midterm election.

And Trump pledges support for the new right leaders in Bolivia and in Chile.

And the populist anti-crime rhetoric is really working.

Some have even coined it with a new term, security populism.

Will Freeman of the Council on Foreign Relations was talking to me about that.

And he says it's not surprising that this is gaining so much popularity given how powerful and rich organized crime groups have become here.

And we're seeing countries like Uruguay and Chile that had relatively strong institutions just falter in the face of these crime gangs.

Sure, but they're richer than ever.

They're making billions, and not just from drugs, but migrant trafficking and increasingly illegal gold trafficking.

Gold prices are soaring right now.

And so is demand for drugs in the U.S.

and Europe, and especially cocaine.

It's on the rise, the use in the U.S., but cocaine use is at an all-time high in Europe.

And so is coca production, and that happens mainly in Colombia.

So most cocaine smuggling and transportation goes through Ecuador.

And I just spent a lot of time there this year, and I spent time with this one banana farmer, and I just want to tell you a little bit about him.