The New Monroe Doctrine: It’s Getting Hot In Here…

Welcome to “The New Monroe Doctrine,” where I give you an update on what’s going on in the Western Hemisphere, south of our border, especially as it relates to the United States.

I don’t know about where you are, but it’s been warm here in Atlanta lately. The dogwoods and azaleas are in full bloom like they would be in March or April, but it’s felt more like May or June. We’ve had temperatures in the 80s. They’re saying it’s the second-warmest March on record, thanks to some sort of heat dome that won’t move or something. I don’t know — I didn’t go to meteorology school. All I know is that I’ve had to run my AC almost every night.

Our neighbors to the south have also experienced extreme temps in recent weeks. Several Mexican states set records with temperatures over 105 degrees in March, and parts of Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil also experienced extreme heat. It’s a good thing we’re a resilient bunch here in the Western Hemisphere. (Well, most of us anyway. In Canada, they probably offer euthanasia if you get too warm, which is why they’re not allowed in this column.)

But the temperatures aren’t the only things that have been hot here in the Americas. The headlines have been too. Let’s round a few of them up as we head into Easter weekend.