1 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: On the last couple of days of my trip to Alsavador, 2 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: I finally got to take some time off reporting and 3 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: just relax with my family. One of the first things 4 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 1: we did was take a tour of the house that 5 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: my parents built in their hometown, San Miguel. 6 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 2: It's Okira, yeah there from fourteen. 7 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: The plot of land that this house is built on 8 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: was bought by my great grandmother almost one hundred years ago. 9 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 1: It's the land where my grandmother was born, then my 10 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: mom and my sisters too, Where there was once only 11 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: a wooden shack on dirt. My parents built a five 12 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: bedroom house with concrete walls and ceramic tile floors. 13 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's nicetyle. 14 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: It's not the taj Mahal, but it's nice, comfortable and homie, 15 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: and it's nice to see my mom so happy and excited. 16 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,479 Speaker 1: And while my mom is really happy to be retired, 17 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: my dad's happy too, but for very different reasons. So 18 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: here I am in the finest famous Langer, my mom 19 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 1: and dad's restaurant that they opened uh next to their 20 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,119 Speaker 1: house in San Miguel. 21 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 2: Uh. 22 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: It's hard to describe. Behind the house, my dad has 23 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: constructed a giant, and I mean giant dance hall slash restaurant. 24 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: He named it e Langer the Hangar and made the 25 00:01:55,480 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: whole place airplane themed for reasons unknown. And on top 26 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: of this restaurant is a life sized single seater metal 27 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: plane that my dad welded out of scrap metal. And 28 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 1: my dad will probably tell everyone that you can see 29 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: it from space, which is not true, but you can 30 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: see it on Google Maps. For Google Maps, you you 31 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: can look down and see the plane that was on 32 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: top of my dad's restaurant, Elangarre. The plane is painted 33 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: bright yellow with a red racing stripe down the sides, 34 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: and when I asked him how he got it on 35 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: the roof, he told me he paid a crane to 36 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,959 Speaker 1: come and lift it onto the building. On the side 37 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: of the plane is a sticker with the cover art 38 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 1: for the last show that I made, Princess of South Beach, 39 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: which if you need a palate cleanser from this show, 40 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 1: that's a good bet. I have to say I never 41 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: thought this day would come my whole life. My parents 42 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,519 Speaker 1: told us that when they we retired, they wanted to 43 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 1: go live in El Salvador, that they wanted to live 44 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: out their old age in the place that they still 45 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: thought of as home. My dad has dreamed of opening 46 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: this restaurant and getting to MC karaoke nights here his 47 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: entire life, but that just never really seemed like a possibility. 48 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: It was dangerous to open a business here. You didn't 49 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: know how much trouble the gangs were going to give 50 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: you if they let you do it at all. But 51 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty one, after spending their whole lives working 52 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: in the US, my parents finally felt confident enough to 53 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: do it. And there's one person who my mom credits 54 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: with making that happens book. 55 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 3: So Lueirasier was penctralive. 56 00:03:57,800 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 4: General. 57 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 2: Yes, I guess a really. 58 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: President naib Bukele. My dad loves to tease my mom 59 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: about how much she loves him. In twenty nineteen, naib 60 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: Bukele became president of El Salvador and the sole focus 61 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: of his administration was getting rid of the gangs to 62 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: make El Salvador a safe place to live, and in 63 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: large part he has done that. There is finally peace 64 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: in El Salvador, but the price for that piece has 65 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 1: been very, very steep. I'm Jasmine Romero and this is 66 00:04:51,080 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 1: sacred Scandal. Nation of Saints episode ten the Future. On 67 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 1: a hot summer morning in twenty nineteen, a then thirty 68 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: seven year old Naive Bugle walks across the steps of 69 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 1: the National Palace in San Salvador. It's across the plaza 70 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: from La Catrel, the cathedral where Oscar Romero's funeral was held, 71 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: and just like that day almost forty years ago, the 72 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: plaza is filled with Salvadorans, but this time they're not 73 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 1: crying tears of mourning. They're openly weeping with tears of joy. 74 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 1: Bukele has a thick black beard and slicked back hair. 75 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: He stands smiling before his adoring crowd, and he's wrapped 76 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: in a blue and white sash that's emblazoned with the 77 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: crest of the Salvadoran flag. This young man has just 78 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 1: become the first person to win the Salvadoran presidency as 79 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: part of a new party, No Lessivas, No Ideas, and 80 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 1: this party it's important for a lot of reasons, but 81 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 1: mainly because it's considered an alternative to the two parties 82 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: that have been in power since the end of the war. 83 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 1: The FMLN and ARENA have taken turns running the government 84 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: since nineteen ninety two, and both sides have been charged 85 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 1: with corruption. Presidents from both parties have been convicted of 86 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: embezzling millions of dollars, all while the country plunged further 87 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: and further into gang controlled violence. And so, in many ways, 88 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 1: Bouken's rise is seen as a rejection of the politics 89 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 1: of the war embrace of a newer, more relevant kind 90 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: of politics. So on this sunny day, Bucele steps up 91 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: to the mic like a preacher on the pulpit to 92 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: address the nation. 93 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 3: Nostro pays is common inia fermo No sto cara toos 94 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 3: puiarlo no stock calorratos tom marga, No sto caloratoos so 95 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 3: freedom pocomermandos. 96 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: Familia. 97 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: And he tells the crowd, our country is like a 98 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: sick child and it's up to all of us to 99 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: take care of it, even if that means drinking medicina 100 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: a marga, bitter medicine. But the crowd doesn't flinch. They 101 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: love him, and it's clear to see why. He's a 102 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: young man with an excellent smile and a ton of charisma. 103 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:03,679 Speaker 5: Nod. 104 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: When coming into office, Bugle's big promise to the people 105 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: of El Salvador was to get rid of the gangs 106 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: MS thirteen and Barrio gangs that had terrorized the population 107 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: for decades and given the country the title of murder 108 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: capital of the world. But to get rid of those gangs, 109 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:48,599 Speaker 1: Bugle needed money, lots of it. Within six months of 110 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:52,959 Speaker 1: taking office, Bugle asked the Legislative Assembly the salvador In 111 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: Congress to pass a two hundred million dollars spending bill. 112 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 2: To pay for. 113 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:04,599 Speaker 1: Oral his plan to combat the gangs. But there was 114 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: a lot of questions about exactly how that money would 115 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 1: be used. Buchen's administration claimed that he couldn't reveal that 116 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: information because the plans were all top secret, and when 117 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: he couldn't provide answers for how he would spend the money, 118 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: the Legislative Assembly signaled that they wouldn't pass the bill, 119 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: which really pissed off Bugle claimed that this was all 120 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,839 Speaker 1: a game of dirty politics, that the members of the 121 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: Assembly were just working against him because he wasn't part 122 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 1: of their political parties at AA and the f MLN. 123 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: He told the legislatives, sent you have until this weekend 124 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: to get me the money or else, And by the 125 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: weekend the world got a taste of the bitter medicine 126 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 1: that Bugle had promised. 127 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 6: The country's soldiers entered the building while President Naib was 128 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 6: about to address lawmakers. The soldiers were armed with automatic weapons. 129 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 6: The reason for such action was to step up the 130 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 6: pressure on lawmakers to force them to back a proposed 131 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:27,319 Speaker 6: plan to fight crime. 132 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: On February ninth, twenty twenty, Bucele stormed the Assembly building 133 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: with forty armed soldiers behind him to preside over the 134 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: voting and ensure that his bill passed. It was a 135 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:49,679 Speaker 1: move straight out of an authoritarian textbook, and it made 136 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:53,599 Speaker 1: headlines around the world, condemning this action as anti democratic. 137 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 7: COSEI miiuel vivanco victoria hum and RAI watch par las 138 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:05,839 Speaker 7: America's opin to Kenixsimi soon for urgent organization The americanos. 139 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 8: Cordo a military military age user algo vierno. 140 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 3: Is tamos protestando ericamente tito. 141 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 2: Singressol latio. 142 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 1: But in El Salvador it drew cheering crowds. It was 143 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: seen as a power move by someone who was finally 144 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,719 Speaker 1: willing to do whatever it takes to get rid of 145 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 1: the gangs. Bukele even leaned into the international fame changing 146 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:51,319 Speaker 1: his Twitter bio to quote the world's coolest dictator. In 147 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: the end, buccell got the money that he needed and 148 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: he got to work executing his grand vision for Al Salvador, 149 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:01,719 Speaker 1: one that included a lot of big, flashy projects. He 150 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 1: invested in the now famous Surf City, an entire beach 151 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 1: town sponsored by the government to promote El Salvador as 152 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 1: a global surf destination, And in perhaps the flashiest and 153 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:18,679 Speaker 1: most confusing move, Bugle made bitcoin one of the official 154 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: legal currencies in El Salvador. 155 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 4: De Bitcoin lawmakers in El Salvador broke into applause after 156 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 4: voting to approve bitcoin as legal tender on Wednesday, making 157 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,719 Speaker 4: the Central American country the first in the world to 158 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 4: fully adopt the cryptocurrency. 159 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 1: And while these things might sound a little outlandish for Salvadorans, 160 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:50,319 Speaker 1: it was really a breath of fresh air. For once 161 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: the world was hearing a story about us that wasn't 162 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: about gangs or death and destruction. It was something good, 163 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: or at least it was something different. Plus, Bucele might 164 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: be a little eccentric, but his plans seemed to be working. 165 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 1: Within the first two years of his presidency, the murder 166 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:16,839 Speaker 1: rate dropped by fifty two percent. To be fair, the 167 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 1: murder rate had already been on the decline since it's 168 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: high in twenty fifteen, but still, even for people living 169 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: in the US, people like my parents, the progress Bugele 170 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: was making was clear. 171 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 5: El siempre siempre quiso di questuviera el pa mejor peroo pora. 172 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 1: Yes, my parents had always wanted to come back to Alsavor, 173 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: and while my dad was a little more cavalier about 174 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 1: the threat of gang violence, my mom was more fearful. 175 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:04,719 Speaker 1: She worried about being extorted or threatened. But with the 176 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 1: progress that Bugele was making, my mom finally felt confident 177 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 1: enough to sell their home in the United States, and 178 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty one they moved to San Miguel permanently, 179 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: to the house that they had spent a lifetime building. 180 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: Twenty twenty one is also the year that Bugele's party 181 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: Novasiveas overwhelmingly won seats in the Legislative Assembly, and that 182 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: Legislative Assembly promptly voted to oust five sitting Supreme Court 183 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: justices and basically got the entire judicial branch of the government. 184 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: In doing so, cases across the country were dropped in 185 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: an instant, including one seeking justice for the victims of Elmosote. 186 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: But again this move drew cheers from many, as Bugle 187 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 1: insisted that these were necessary steps to weed out corruption 188 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: and fight the gangs. With the murder rate under control 189 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: and the country rapidly drawing more bitcoin and surf tourists, 190 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: it seems like Bugel could do no wrong. That is 191 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 1: until the weekend of March twenty seventh of twenty twenty two. 192 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 9: Tonight about that is under state of emergency after a 193 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 9: deadly weekend of gang violence, the National Civil Police reporting 194 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 9: fourteen people murdered on Friday and sixty two the following day, 195 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 9: making Saturday one of the deadliest days in thirty years. 196 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 10: Over two thousand arrests made in just four days in 197 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 10: response to one of the bloodiest weekends in the country 198 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 10: in thirty years, the National Civil Police reporting sixty two 199 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 10: homicides on Saturday alone. 200 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: All over the country, there were reports of murders and 201 00:15:54,040 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: not gang shootouts, seemingly random murders. In the span of 202 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: a weekend, eighty seven people were killed in El Salvador. 203 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: One body was even hauntingly laid out on the road 204 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: to Bucelees, surf city, after the break the message behind these. 205 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 9: Murders Tonight, El Salvador is under state of emergency after 206 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 9: a deadly weekend of gang violence. 207 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: After all the progress made, it really felt like a 208 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: slap in the face for Salvadorans to have the deadliest 209 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 1: weekend on record in more than a century. These murders 210 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: were of seemingly innocent civilians, and all the reports signaled 211 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: that they were carried out by gang members, gangs that 212 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 1: President Bugle claimed to have under control. The murders seemed 213 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 1: to be a direct message aimed at the president himself, 214 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 1: news that he did not take lightly. 215 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 3: Las amb Salvador solicitude the president and najib rehimen deception 216 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 3: an alpais queda palo el projecto treto ke containing rejimeng 217 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 3: de escepsion. 218 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: In an emergency session of the Legislative Assembly, Bukele called 219 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: for unestallo de excepcion, a state of exception. What Bukele 220 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: was asking for was an immediate suspension of civil liberties 221 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 1: once guaranteed in the constitution, so that he could declare 222 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: all out war on the gangs, and with his party 223 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: controlling judicial and legislative branches, the state of exception easily passed. 224 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: Within that state of exception, the government could now arrest 225 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:16,120 Speaker 1: anyone for any reason. There would be no presumption of innocence, 226 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,880 Speaker 1: no need for warrants, and no guarantee for when you'd 227 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:24,120 Speaker 1: be released. Agents of the state could come and pick 228 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: you up on the mere suspicion that you were a 229 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: gang member. Bukelet also approved the use of deadly force 230 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 1: for officers of the state. Overnight, billboards went up across 231 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: the country showing the number for tip lines, where you 232 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: could anonymously report anyone who you thought might be in 233 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: a gang or affiliated with one. I even saw a 234 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 1: couple on my trip on the highway there was a 235 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 1: sign listed or I guess like a billboard over the 236 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 1: highway that's said, with your tax dollars, we keep fighting 237 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: the gangs. And there was a phone number and it 238 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 1: said declare your rent, meaning the rent that people paid 239 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:18,360 Speaker 1: monthly to the gangs to keep them from bothering them. 240 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 1: But it wasn't just gang members that they were after. 241 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:25,639 Speaker 1: It was anyone who could be affiliated with the gangs. 242 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:30,639 Speaker 1: You could be arrested for being a collaborator, someone suspected 243 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: of giving the gangs information or money, or of hiding 244 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:39,159 Speaker 1: a gang member. Within days of the state of exception 245 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 1: being declared, the Bukee administration sent the police and military 246 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: out to conduct massive raids. Thousands of people were rounded 247 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 1: up and sent to processing centers. Children as young as 248 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 1: twelve were sent into overcrowded prison cells to await processing 249 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: in the now backlogged judicialsts. Between March and December of 250 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, over sixty thousand people were detained by 251 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 1: Bugeli's administration, and to hold all of these arrested people, 252 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 1: Bugele approved the building of a megaprison with a capacity 253 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 1: for forty thousand people, one of the largest in the world. 254 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 11: The Terrorism Confinement Center can fit up to forty thousand 255 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 11: inmates and is considered to be the largest jail in 256 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 11: the Americas. 257 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:35,440 Speaker 8: The president announced that he was moving thousands of high 258 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 8: ranking gang members to the country's new so called mega jail. 259 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 11: It looks like a sea of skin and tattoos. These 260 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 11: images released by El Salvador's government shows the transfer of 261 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 11: about two thousand inmates. 262 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: Human rights groups around the globe criticized these actions, saying 263 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 1: that the roundups were accept that many of those detained 264 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:07,160 Speaker 1: and arrested had no verifiable connection with the gangs. Tebukele 265 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 1: and his government were using the state of exception to 266 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 1: arrest and threaten those who opposed his regime, including environmental activists, journalists, 267 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:21,439 Speaker 1: and academics in opposition to the administration, and that abuses 268 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: and death were happening within the prison system. But still 269 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:33,119 Speaker 1: the Salvadoran people supported the president all over social media, 270 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: Salvadorans snapped back at the president's critics. 271 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 7: How can you be worried about criminals human rights? 272 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,639 Speaker 9: They didn't care about our human rights when they killed us. 273 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 11: Anyone who criticizes the government is for the gangs and 274 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:49,400 Speaker 11: should be arrested. 275 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 9: If some innocent people have to suffer to get rid 276 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:54,159 Speaker 9: of the gangs, it's worth it. 277 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 1: It feels weird to say this, but on a certain 278 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:03,879 Speaker 1: level I get it. Looking across the last forty years 279 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:09,200 Speaker 1: at how much the Salvadoran people have suffered. What price 280 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: wouldn't they be willing to pay for peace, for a 281 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 1: chance that their children could grow up in safety. And anyway, 282 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:22,879 Speaker 1: it was the gangs who provoked him, right, They're the 283 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: ones who killed almost one hundred people in a weekend. 284 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: Well as it turns out. 285 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 12: For the mostly Confianza. 286 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,400 Speaker 8: But miyao, mi mono. 287 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: What you're hearing is a conversation between a senior member 288 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,400 Speaker 1: of the Bugle administration and a leader of MS thirteen. 289 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 1: Remember in twenty twenty one when the murder rate dropped 290 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:55,679 Speaker 1: by fifty percent. Well, as it turns out, that's because 291 00:22:55,720 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 1: Bugle had a pact with the gangs basedummer reporting by 292 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 1: the Salvador news outlet El Faro. In exchange for lowering 293 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: the murdery, the Bukele administration agreed to give preferential treatment 294 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 1: to high ranking gang members in prison. That's what this 295 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:21,640 Speaker 1: conversation we're listening to is about, Antossente Royer. In the recording, 296 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,680 Speaker 1: a Bugle official is talking to a gang leader and 297 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: telling them how much their administration has done to show 298 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 1: them its loyalty and good faith, and he even admits 299 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: to personally escorting a gang leader named Elgruk from his 300 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: prison cell in El Salvador across the border to freedom 301 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:46,720 Speaker 1: in Guatemala. It was the breakdown of these negotiations that 302 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 1: led to the spike in murders during that deadly weekend 303 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 1: in March of twenty twenty two. The reactions to this 304 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 1: news from the public have varied. Some of Bukeli's supporters 305 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 1: say that the news is fake, that Ilfaro is simply 306 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,199 Speaker 1: against the president and working in service of the gangs. 307 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:08,200 Speaker 1: Others say that the president was justified in doing whatever 308 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:09,959 Speaker 1: he needed to do to get rid of the gangs, 309 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 1: even if that includes these kinds of negotiations. Either way, 310 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: the reports of these negotiations didn't affect the president's approval ratings, 311 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 1: which are currently around ninety two percent. In September of 312 00:24:35,119 --> 00:24:37,879 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, as Bugel was nearing the end of 313 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 1: his term as president, he decided to address the country 314 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: for a special announcement. The venue stood in stark contrast 315 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:49,200 Speaker 1: to the sunny morning when he took office. Instead of 316 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: the open steps of the National Palace, the announcement took 317 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:55,679 Speaker 1: place in a darkened conference room well into the night. 318 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:59,879 Speaker 1: In place of the adoring crowds, a small group of 319 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 1: well dressed officials and foreign dignitaries stood clapping, welcoming Bugle 320 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 1: to take his place at the dais. Behind the president 321 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:13,680 Speaker 1: is a towering portrait of a man dressed in white 322 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 1: robes with a cross necklace draped across his chest. It's 323 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:22,159 Speaker 1: a portrait of a man with some seriously enviable eyebrows, 324 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 1: whose face carries the weight of the entire salvadorn people. 325 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 1: The man, of course, is Oscar Romero, who was named 326 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 1: saint in twenty eighteen. President Bucele steps in front of 327 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 1: the portrait of Oscar Romero and proceeds to tell the 328 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: audience that he plans to run for president once again. 329 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:56,880 Speaker 3: Esporeso quefamilia ano esi correcom candiato a preci. 330 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:15,160 Speaker 1: The audience collaps. No one is surprised, despite the fact 331 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:19,120 Speaker 1: that this move goes directly against the constitution of El Salvador. 332 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:24,640 Speaker 1: According to that constitution, no president is allowed to remain 333 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:29,680 Speaker 1: in office for two consecutive terms. To run again is 334 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 1: the equivalent of an American president running for a third time. 335 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:38,200 Speaker 1: But Bugele doesn't care. With the support of so much 336 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: of the Salvadoran population behind him, he knows that this 337 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:47,880 Speaker 1: rule doesn't apply to him, and he's right. The unconstitutionality 338 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:52,440 Speaker 1: won't matter, and in February of twenty twenty four, Bugele 339 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:57,400 Speaker 1: easily wins his second term. With his win, he controls 340 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:01,960 Speaker 1: all three branches of government, such all the power in 341 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:08,159 Speaker 1: El Salvador outside a full military guard stands at attention. 342 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 1: Since implementing the state of exception, almost ninety thousand people 343 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:19,879 Speaker 1: have been arrested in Al Salvador. At least two hundred 344 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 1: and forty people have died in police custody, and while 345 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 1: the murder rate is now one of the lowest in 346 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:31,400 Speaker 1: the world, reports of disappearances are up, and it's hard 347 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:34,920 Speaker 1: to get a solid number on exactly how many because 348 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 1: Bugeli's administration has changed the way it counts disappearances, but 349 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,120 Speaker 1: human rights organizations say that there are over twenty eight 350 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 1: thousand cases of disappearances currently open in El Salvador. After 351 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 1: making this series and seeing how much death and destruction 352 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 1: came from the hands of the government, Bugeles rise is 353 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 1: really scary to me. Salvador in history is full of 354 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 1: governments using order as a justification for horrendous acts of violence. 355 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:22,160 Speaker 1: There are always innocent people who are collateral damage, whether 356 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:27,879 Speaker 1: they're peasants or priests, or student activists or my Dia Margarita. 357 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: I went on this journey to understand my family and 358 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:36,399 Speaker 1: our history, and over the course of the last two years, 359 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 1: I've realized that our story isn't just ours. It's the 360 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:45,400 Speaker 1: story of a country and a history that's too easy 361 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: to repeat. Seeing the military on our streets, searching people 362 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 1: at bus stops, arresting people with impunity, it all just 363 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 1: looks like the start of the same cycle over again. 364 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 1: But my mom, she sees it differently. 365 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 5: With Mirida Tingos Struta Viatopor Nadi Nipo, al kal Nipur 366 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:24,280 Speaker 5: presidentes Piro alfink Pusami Esperanza, sen Al yinqus Promtiplin though 367 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 5: he is naibuke. 368 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 1: My mom had never voted in a savador In election 369 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 1: before twenty nineteen. Since she left the country as a teenager, 370 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 1: she's watched a government after government come in and failed 371 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 1: to protect its own people, first the death squads and 372 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 1: the war, and then the gangs. After spending a lifetime 373 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 1: waiting for Al Savador to be safe, the fact that 374 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 1: Bukela has made the country livable for her is enough 375 00:29:57,080 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 1: to win her love and support. 376 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 5: Ike boys. 377 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:22,680 Speaker 1: In a world where you have to choose between freedom 378 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:28,480 Speaker 1: and safety, safety wins every time. Al Savor now holds 379 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 1: the title for the country with the highest incarceration rate 380 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:35,720 Speaker 1: per capita in the world, and bus approval rating has 381 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:39,800 Speaker 1: never been higher. My mom is part of the ninety 382 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 1: two percent of Salvadorans who say they approve of the 383 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 1: president's actions. On one of my last days in al Savador, 384 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 1: my parents decided that we should take a trip to 385 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 1: a nearby beach, Elkuco. It's about a thirty minute drive 386 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 1: away from my parents' house. My mom called up Mitiavilma 387 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:04,760 Speaker 1: to see if she wanted to come too, and she 388 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 1: said yes, but only if she could bring along my 389 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:12,480 Speaker 1: little cousin, Anguel Jokin. He's seven and he rarely gets 390 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 1: a chance to go to the beach. Angueil Jokin's mother, 391 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:20,000 Speaker 1: my cousin Carmen, is in prison for being in a gang. 392 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:27,600 Speaker 1: His father is too. Back when Mitia Margarrita died, Mitiavilma 393 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 1: took in her kids and now she's raising a new 394 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:41,920 Speaker 1: generation of kids left behind, including Angheljokin. We all pile 395 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: into my dad's pickup truck and head off to Alkugo. 396 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:48,080 Speaker 1: I remember trips like this when I was a kid. 397 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:51,000 Speaker 1: Every time we came to visit. We had to go 398 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:54,000 Speaker 1: to Alkugo and need some fresh fish and play in 399 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 1: the warm ocean water. The beach is different now there 400 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 1: are more resorts and the streets are better paved, but 401 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 1: it's still full of old men coming in with the 402 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 1: catch of the day and little brown children playing in 403 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:08,400 Speaker 1: the sand. 404 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 12: It's one nineteen in the afternoon and I'm at Elcucouco. 405 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:20,360 Speaker 12: She's the closest beach to my family's house in San Miguel, 406 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:23,560 Speaker 12: is about a thirty forty minute drive, and I'm here 407 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:28,120 Speaker 12: with my aunts and my cousin. The beach is beautiful. 408 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:34,680 Speaker 12: The water is like backwater. You keep walking and walking 409 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 12: and it doesn't pass your knees. It's amazing. 410 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 1: As we walk down the beach, I noticed a pickup 411 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:45,160 Speaker 1: truck that's driving down along the water. The truck parks 412 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:47,320 Speaker 1: and four men hop out of the back. 413 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 5: Well. 414 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:54,440 Speaker 1: This is surprising. Four guys and for four soldiers and 415 00:32:54,480 --> 00:33:01,440 Speaker 1: full fatigues and rifles, just just scrolling down the beach. 416 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:06,000 Speaker 1: The soldiers are wearing helmets, boots, and carrying what looked 417 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 1: like M sixteen rifles. As they walk past us, I 418 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:14,560 Speaker 1: can see that they're inspecting us. They linger for a moment, 419 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:18,360 Speaker 1: but then they continue to walk down the beach. Their 420 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:24,400 Speaker 1: boots leave heavy footprints in the sand. As of this recording, 421 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:27,200 Speaker 1: the state of Exception in El Salvador has been renewed 422 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:31,760 Speaker 1: twenty six times. There is no timeline for when civil 423 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:35,880 Speaker 1: liberties will be re established, and until the state of 424 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:39,440 Speaker 1: exception is dropped, El Salvador will in essence be a 425 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:44,400 Speaker 1: police state, one where there is safety but not freedom. 426 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 1: After a good meal of biscalo and some time laying 427 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 1: in the hammock, it's time to go. As the sun 428 00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 1: starts to set, we start packing up to make the 429 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:02,560 Speaker 1: drive back to San Miguel. But before we go, I 430 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 1: decide to take one last step in the water, and 431 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:08,440 Speaker 1: I ask my little cousin, ang uell Joaquin if he 432 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 1: wants to come to He smiles a big, gap toothed 433 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:25,279 Speaker 1: grin and takes off running for the water. I catch 434 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,239 Speaker 1: up to him and hold his hand. As we run 435 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:30,759 Speaker 1: towards the water. I watch his little feet pound the 436 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:37,240 Speaker 1: sand as he dives headfirst into the waves. In another lifetime, 437 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:41,360 Speaker 1: this boy might have been conscripted into the army or 438 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:45,080 Speaker 1: into the Geria. He might have left his family to 439 00:34:45,200 --> 00:34:49,279 Speaker 1: travel north and cross a river, or stayed home and 440 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:52,560 Speaker 1: become a marero, a foot soldier in a street gang. 441 00:34:54,160 --> 00:34:59,160 Speaker 1: These pathways are still possible, but for now he can 442 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:03,520 Speaker 1: be what he is, a little boy enjoying a day 443 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 1: in the sun with his cousin from the States. I 444 00:35:08,719 --> 00:35:11,520 Speaker 1: don't know what the future will bring for Al Salvador, 445 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:16,440 Speaker 1: how long Bugel will be in office. I don't know 446 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:21,279 Speaker 1: what Anguel Joaquin's future will be. But at least for now, 447 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:26,080 Speaker 1: there is a future to dream of. There is hope 448 00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:31,640 Speaker 1: for what this boy might become, for what this place 449 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:33,280 Speaker 1: might become. 450 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:56,080 Speaker 2: And Anghel Hacquin is having a good time. Raby there Ahala. 451 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:04,600 Speaker 1: If you're interested in learning more about Bukele and the 452 00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:07,920 Speaker 1: current state of El Salvador, I highly recommend you check 453 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:15,120 Speaker 1: out the podcast buke fromos and Umo Murder and Silence 454 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:19,600 Speaker 1: in El Salvador from Sonoro. If you've enjoyed our show, 455 00:36:20,120 --> 00:36:23,280 Speaker 1: please leave us a rating and review in the podcast 456 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 1: listening app of your choice and send the show to 457 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:33,120 Speaker 1: someone you think would enjoy it. We'll be back next 458 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:35,600 Speaker 1: week in a special conversation with one of the people 459 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:39,600 Speaker 1: who sent me on this journey, Salvador in American comedian Marcelo. 460 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:50,440 Speaker 1: Sacred Scandal. Nation of Saints is a production of a 461 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:54,719 Speaker 1: HA podcast in partnership with Iheart's Mikultura podcast network and 462 00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:58,799 Speaker 1: is hosted and written by me Jasmine Romero. Produced by 463 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:03,320 Speaker 1: Jasmine Romero with help from Alvaro Sespelez. Research and reporting 464 00:37:03,440 --> 00:37:07,680 Speaker 1: by Jasmine Romero, edited by sare Kevelo. Nation of Saints 465 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:09,799 Speaker 1: was recorded in New York City at the Relic Room 466 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:14,320 Speaker 1: with engineering by Sam Bear, mixing and sound designed by Paciquinones. 467 00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:18,719 Speaker 1: Original music by Golden Mines, Darko and Dieme based on 468 00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:23,760 Speaker 1: Patrick Hart's original composition. Fact checking by Erendira Aquino Ayala. 469 00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:28,320 Speaker 1: Executive producers are Carman gerterol isaac Lee Rose Reed, and 470 00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:32,200 Speaker 1: Nando Villa. Our executive producers at iHeart are Giselle Mances 471 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:36,600 Speaker 1: and Arlene Santana. Sacred Scandal was created by Melanie Bartley 472 00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:40,400 Speaker 1: and Paula Vadros. For more podcasts, go to the iHeartRadio 473 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:42,920 Speaker 1: app or anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts.