Latin America has seen rapid changes over recent years, most significantly with the rise of left-leaning leaders who are willing to fight massive corporations and even stand up to the massive presence of the US in their countries.  Director Oliver Stone decided to go to Venezuela to meet Chavez for himself, but when he got there, Chavez pointed out that the story was much bigger than just him.

Stone and his screenwriter Tariq Ali met seven Latin American leaders and shot an amazing film, South of the Border, and they met with Laura this week in New York to talk about the film, the American left, Obama, the BP disaster, and more.

The US Social Forum is still ongoing this week in Detroit, and activists young and old from across the country have gathered, each bringing his or her own causes to the mix.  Our friends at ColorLines put together this segment, interviewing attendees about why they're in Detroit--and what they hope to accomplish.

Finally, Nikki Haley may become South Carolina's new governor in the fall. But is her Republican primary victory, as a South Asian woman, proof of Republican progress? Samhita Mukhopadhyay of Feministing.com thinks otherwise.