Scott Simon

And this is Up First from NPR News.

A political shift to the right and an increase in U.S.

actions in the region.

We'll play the highlight reel.

Well, my bet, Scott, is you'll say fear the deer one more time.

This time last year, we were taking stock of an extraordinary election, and now we're reflecting on the first year of the second Trump administration.

Several countries in South America elected conservative and even far-right leaders in 2025.

For more, we go now to NPR correspondent Keri Kahn in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Thanks for being here, Keri.

So let's start just talking about this big turn to the right in the region.

So what is the big issue here for voters?

Is it anti-encompassing?

Is it something else?

OK, so what are what are some of those measures?

Wow, which sounds a lot like Trump's pledges here in the U.S.,

Why are these crime groups becoming so powerful right now?

I mean, hasn't organized crime been a problem for a long time in Latin America?

Oh, wow.

Are we going to see more of this shift to the right in the coming year?

Okay.