Earlier this year, the White House falsely claimed that millions of US taxpayers’ dollars were funding “sex changes” in Guatemala — a lie used to justify gutting USAID, which has provided aid worldwide for more than 60 years.

In this episode, we travel to Guatemala to uncover the truth, hear from local organizations caught in the controversy, and learn how losing USAID funding has affected these LGBTQ+ organizations and damaged U.S. credibility abroad.

Plus, we talk to a former Biden-Harris official about the direct link between these aid cuts, the resulting damage to U.S. soft power, and the increased migration to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Editor’s Note: This reporting was produced in partnership with El Faro English and it’s part of the Ida B. Wells Society Investigative Reporting Fellowship. 

Featured image by Carlos Barrera/El Faro English.

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Episode credits:

Host: Maria Hinojosa

Producer and Reporter: Reynaldo Leaños Jr.

Editors: Mitra Bonshahi and Peniley Ramirez

Fact Checker: Roxana Aguirre

Social Media: Luis Luna, Paloma Perez and Anhelo Reyes 

Engineer: Julia Caruso

Managing Editor: Fernanda Echavarri

Executive Producers: Peniley Ramirez and Maria Hinojosa