AoSHQ The Morning Report
October 7, 2026
The conservative "It's funny how ever since we shuttered USAID, Latin America has been electing right-wing leaders" line was repeated across social media as some sort of factual talking point. I even saw people whom I respect and admire posting it and agreeing. It's a theory. It's a meme. The problem is that it leaves out a lot of important nuance that makes it not quite the flex many think it is.In Other News
It's the equivalent of me saying I stopped eating sugar this year, and my neighbor lost 70 pounds. The only way my diet maybe impacted my neighbor's weight loss was that I stopped sending him cookies on Christmas. That's not how he lost 70 pounds. He actually lost the weight through eating better and exercising.
The political change in Latin America is real. I've been covering it and predicting it for two years here at PJ Media. Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Honduras, Costa Rica, Peru, and Colombia have all elected conservative, U.S./Donald Trump-aligned leaders since USAID shut down in 2025.
The fact that USAID did political work is real. The Trump administration has opened our eyes to just how bad it was over the last year and a half. We know that "political competition and consensus building" was part of its portfolio.
But when you dive a little deeper and look at the facts, you realize that while both things are true, they aren't necessarily related.
Stand with Team Minogue at Mike's First Debate
Join us Thursday, October 8th at 4:00 PM outside CBS Boston (1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston). We'll be holding signs and showing the cameras, the crews, and everyone arriving that Mike has the momentum to win.
Parking: Charles River Reservation (1175A Soldiers Field Road) or Soldiers Field Parking (992 Soldiers Field Road), both a short walk away.
Wear red, bring a friend, and come for as long as you're able. Sign up below so we can look for you there!