Week # Air Date, 10/03/2005

Segment #1: CHAVEZ IN VENEZUELA

The already testy relations between the United States and Venezuela were further strained recently, when conservative televangelist Pat Robertson suggested President Hugo Chavez be assassinated. Since his election in 1998, Chavez has played a leading role in the rising tide of leftist governments in South America. And Chavez has been a thorn in the side of the Bush Administration for years with his close ties to Cuba's Fidel Castro, his socialist economic policies, and brash Criticisms of U.S. foreign policy. Chavez continues to blame the Bush administration for a 2002 coup that briefly removed him from power. The White House accuses Chavez of ruling like a dictator and undermining democracy in the hemisphere. Still, Chavez enjoys high approval ratings with promises to redistribute wealth in a country where the gap between rich and poor is tremendous. Our correspondent Jen Ross went to Caracas to have a closer look at Chavez's self-styled Bolivarian Revolution. (6:08)

Segment #2: CHAVEZ IN NEW YORK

President Hugo Chavez attended the recent United Nation's Summit in New York City, where world leaders gathered to talk about how to alleviate poverty and advance development. Even with Hurricane Katrina and the war in Iraq dominating the news, Chavez managed to steal the headlines nearly every time he spoke. Chavez denounced the'war n Iraq and accused the U.S. of plotting to invade his country. Meanwhile the White House announced it was crossing Venezuela off its list of allies in the war against drugs, and would continue funding political groups opposed to Chavez. In the midst of all this diplomatic squabbling, Chavez took his populist message directly to the streets of New York. As Cindy Rodriguez reports, the Venezuelan president's tour of the South Bronx is part of a new campaign to appeal directly to working class American people. (4:10)

Segment #3: AIDS IN BRAZIL

The Brazilian government provides free health care and drugs to anyone who is HIV positive. For years, Brazil has set an example for the developing world, but now activists say the U.S. can learn from that experience as well. Independent producer Reese Erlich reported this story from Oakland, California, and Rio de Janeiro. (4:53)

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Reese Erlich's reporting for this story was funded, in part, with a grant from the Kaiser Media Fellowship program.

Segment #4: Commentary: YOUNG LATINOS WITH AIDS

A report earlier this year from Los Angeles County shows cases of AIDS in the Latino community have outpaced those in any other ethnic group. Youth Radio's Luis Sierra has worked on the frontlines as a HIV and AIDS educator for seven years in various communities around the county. He isn't surprised to see the report cites a major cause of the increase is lack of information about AIDS. (2:16)

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Luis Sierra's commentary comes to us from Youth Radio.