Episode 10, Part 1 | Nicaragua, 1980s. Revolution

The 1979 Nicaraguan revolution that overthrew a brutal U.S.-backed dictator ushered in a wave of hope in the Central American country. The new Sandinista government launched literacy and healthcare campaigns, carried out land reform and promised to improving the lives of all.<br /><br />But the United States, under president Ronald Reagan, feared the dominos would fall across Central America, and they unleashed assault on the country: paramilitary war, CIA attacks, economic blockade, and much more.<br /><br />In this episode, host Michael Fox, walks by into the 1980s, to the overthrow of dictator Anastasio Somoza and the beginning of both the Sandinista government and the U.S. response.This is Part 1, of episode 10.<br /><br /><a href="https://therealnews.com/under-the-shadow" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Under the Shadow</a> is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present.<br /><br />In each episode, host Michael Fox takes us to a location where something historic happened — a landmark of revolutionary struggle or foreign intervention. Today, it might look like a random street corner, a church, a mall, a monument, or a museum. But every place he takes us was once the site of history-making events that shook countries, impacted lives, and left deep marks on the world.<br /><br />Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.<br /><br />This podcast is produced in partnership between <a href="https://therealnews.com/under-the-shadow" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">The Real News Network</a> and <a href="https://nacla.org/under-shadow" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">NACLA</a>.<br /><br />Guests:<br /><a href="https://twitter.com/Alexander_Avina" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Alex Aviña</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/w_i_robinson" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">William Robinson</a><br />Marvin Ortega Rodriguez<br /><a href="https://twitter.com/ElinevanOmmen" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Eline Van Ommen</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/peterkornbluh" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Peter Kornbluh</a><br /><br />Edited by Heather Gies.<br />Sound design by <a href="https://twitter.com/coletivocatarse" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Gustavo Türck</a>.<br />Theme music by <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nexDyQCZI89JH8zsYu5wa" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Monte Perdido</a>and Michael Fox<br />Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.<br /><br />Follow and support journalist Michael Fox or Under the Shadow at <a href="https://www.patreon.com/mfox" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/mfox</a><br /><br />You can also see pictures and listen to full clips of Michael Fox’s music for this episode.<br /><br />For Declassified documents on the U.S. contra war on Nicaragua, and Iran Contra, you can visit Peter Kornbluh's National Security Archives <a href="https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/events/iran-contra-affair-1985-1994" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/iran/2016-11-25/iran-contra-affair-30-years-later-milestone-post-truth-politics" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />Eline van Ommen’s book, Nicaragua Must Survive: Sandinista Revolutionary Diplomacy in the Global Cold War (University of California Press, 2023), is available <a href="https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520390768/nicaragua-must-survive" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />For the 2007 documentary American Sandinista, you can visit the website of director <a href="https://jasonblalock.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Jason Blalock</a>. <a href="https://jasonblalock.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">https://jasonblalock.com/</a><br /><br />Here are links to the 1980 documentaries about Nicaragua's literacy campaign that I mention in this episode: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvOoGxEuqMw" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">La Salida</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVRCL47rlJw" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">La Llegada</a><br /><br /><b>The Real News Network</b><br />Donate: <a href="https://support.therealnews.com/-/XGHNRVVY" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">therealnews.com/uts-pod-donate</a><br />Sign up for our newsletter: <a href="https://therealnews.com/eos-pod-subscribe" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">https://therealnews.com/uts-pod-subscribe</a><br />Like us on Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/therealnews" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">https://facebook.com/therealnews</a><br />Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/therealnews" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/therealnews</a><br /><br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a 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