This week, Hora Cero’s The Central American Drop dives into a region caught between political calculation, environmental collapse, and social strain. In Nicaragua, journalist Camilo de Castro exposes the hidden cost of illegal cattle ranching — a deforestation crisis tied to the global meat industry. From Washington to San Salvador, a controversial deal between U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and President Bukele raises questions about power, security, and human rights.

Across the isthmus, Costa Rica’s elections reveal a troubling paradox: more political parties than ever, yet fewer citizens showing up to vote. El Salvador’s government tightens its grip on the press, as independent media face escalating harassment. In Honduras, torrential rains have left twelve people dead and over ten thousand displaced, underscoring the region’s climate vulnerability.

Meanwhile, Nicaragua’s economic model threatens to destabilize the DR-CAFTA trade pact, deepening regional uncertainty. And as instability rises, we turn our gaze northward — to the growing number of Americans wondering what it means to leave their own country behind.

From corruption to climate, this week’s stories trace the fragile ties between governance, freedom, and survival in the Americas.