from WNYC studios. I'm Brian Lerer. This is my daily politics podcast. It's Wednesday, January 27th.

Trump said in his inaugural address that the mountain in Alaska, known by the Native American

named Donali, will revert to being called Mount McKinley.

And Trump identifies with McKinley. In Monday's inaugural address, Trump described McKinley as a, quote,

natural businessman, as someone who, quote, made our country very rich through tariffs,

and who, quote, gave Teddy Roosevelt the money for many

of the great things he did, including the Panama Canal.

Which brings us to our first conversation topic today.

What's this about taking back the Panama Canal?

Is the president planning to go to war in our hemisphere?

In the inaugural address, he said flat out, we're taking the Panama Canal back.

American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape, or form.

And that includes the United States Navy.

And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal.

And we didn't give it to China.

We gave it to Panama.

And we're taking it back.

President Trump from the inaugural address. And with us now with some history of the Panama Canal

and implications of the U.S. desire to take it back.

Our two guests, Jason Marzak, Vice President and Senior Director of the Adrian Arst Latin America Center at the Think Tank, the Atlantic Council.

The council describes itself as a nonpartisan organization that galvanizes U.S. leadership and engagement in the world

in partnership with allies and partners to shape solutions to global challenges.

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