Soberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast

Soberanía Podcast
  • 4.9 (64)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

Soberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast brings you news and analysis about Mexico from a grassroots and leftist perspective, helping English-language audiences better understand the country, its politics and players.

  1. 2d ago

    Arrest of Trump-linked Operator Reveals Seamy Underworld of Latin American Far Right

    In episode 120 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth open with the arrest of Fernando Cerimedo, a far-right political operative tied to Javier Milei, Rodrigo Paz of Bolivia, and Honduras's Tito Asfura. Cerimedo was detained in Bolivia after his ex-partner — who was pregnant with his child — survived an assassination attempt. The hosts explore how this case exposes the interconnected web of far-right consultants, CIA-linked operatives, and disinformation networks that have been instrumental in installing right-wing governments across Latin America.Next, they examine the U.S. instrumentalization of visa cancellations as a political weapon, from the revocation of Andrés Manuel López Beltrán's visa to broader pressure campaigns against left-wing officials across the region. The hosts contrast this with the worrisome image of Mexico's security chief smiling alongside DEA head Terry Cole, the same official who has accused the Mexican government of being aligned with drug cartels.The episode also covers the ongoing ICE brutality against Mexican migrants, including the case of José Mejía Hernández, who was brutally beaten and tasered during a detention in Virginia.Losers and Haters takes aim at the PAN's pathetic Photoshop of Andrés Manuel López Beltrán's face onto Nicolás Maduro's body; a transparent attempt to smear the former president's son while openly advocating for the kind of U.S. military intervention that has already kidnapped a sitting head of state. The hosts also call out self-styled "investigative journalist" Peniley Ramírez for amplifying unsubstantiated rumors without any corroboration, noting that the Attorney General's Office has already dismissed her claims as false.

    Arrest of Trump-linked Operator Reveals Seamy Underworld of Latin American Far Right

  2. Aug 13

    Ayotzinapa Back in Spotlight: Progress in Case of Missing 43 Students After Major Arrest

    In episode 119 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth cover the long-awaited development in the case of the forcibly disappeared 43 Ayotzinapa students with the arrest of former Guerrero Governor Ángel Aguirre Rivero. While the hosts welcome this development, they note that the investigation remains stalled by stonewalling, and that the National Human Rights Commission's recent report effectively exonerated the armed forces, drawing fierce protests from victims' families and activists.Next, they dissect the State Department's extraordinary five-minute video glorifying the Monroe Doctrine, openly celebrating U.S. "dominance" over the hemisphere and even taking credit for Mexico's defeat of the Habsburg monarchy (which was actually achieved by Benito Juárez and the Mexican people). The hosts argue this "saying the quiet part out loud" moment reveals what U.S. policy has always been: not cooperation, but imperial domination.The conversation then turns to South America. They run down Colombian President Abelardo de la Espirella's first days in office — a whirlwind of embarrassing behavior, recognizing Israel's claim to the Golan Heights, backing out of the Belt and Road Initiative, and refusing earthquake aid — before noting positive developments: Mexico's foreign minister met with Lula in Brazil, diplomatic relations with Peru have been restored, and Argentina saw mass protests against Milei's plan to sell off national territory to foreign interests.Losers and Haters takes aim once again at PRI president Alejandro Moreno, who traveled to Washington to request U.S. sanctions against Mexican electoral officials — yet another embarrassing display of a "vendepatria" begging for foreign intervention while corruption investigations close in on him at home.

    Ayotzinapa Back in Spotlight: Progress in Case of Missing 43 Students After Major Arrest

  3. Aug 5

    Exposing Mexican Media's Bogus 'Censorship' Claims

    In episode 118 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth dive into Mexico's new audience rights legislation — a constitutional reform originally passed in 2013 under Peña Nieto that requires broadcasters to have a code of ethics, an ombudsman, and a mechanism for audience reply. The hosts dismantle the corporate media's "censorship" narrative, noting that the law applies only to concessionaires of the public airwaves, does not regulate content, and merely gives audiences a voice against the kind of weaponized misinformation that corporate media has wielded for decades. They also provide an update on Canal Once, retaken by workers after a two-month student occupation, and argue the students, while having legitimate grievances about the polytechnic, chose the wrong target and damaged public access to information.Next, they examine the UNAM admissions fiasco, where an online exam administered by a private contractor produced anomalous results — with perfect scores skyrocketing 450% in some programs. The hosts connect the exam furor to broader structural issues: the privileged "golden caste" running the UNAM, the exploitation of precarious adjunct professors paid 120 pesos an hour, and the need for systemic reform.The conversation then turns to the escalating diplomatic dispute between Brazil and the U.S., where Washington has revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador after Lula blocked two U.S. officials from entering the country — officials Brazil believes were planning to undermine confidence in its electoral system. Kurt and José Luis argue this is a necessary act of defiance against a pattern of U.S. election interference seen across the region.Losers and Haters takes aim at Nexus magazine, which published a grotesque defense of Israel's genocide in Gaza, complete with racist tropes about Palestinian children being "future martyrs." The hosts note the sad state of Mexico's cultural journalism — where the only remaining magazines are either genocidal apologists or hollowed-out shells.

    Exposing Mexican Media's Bogus 'Censorship' Claims

  4. Jul 29

    Live Long and Prosper: Mexico Beats Vulcan Materials at World Bank Court

    In episode 117 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth cover a rare legal victory for Mexico, the ongoing occupation of Canal Once, and the latest tariff theatrics from Washington.The episode opens with Mexico's decisive win at the World Bank's ICSID tribunal against Vulcan Materials. The U.S. company had demanded $1.7 billion in compensation after Mexico closed its limestone quarrying operations in Quintana Roo, the tribunal awarded Vulcan less than 1% of what it sought. The hosts break down the long history of the case: how the original concession was granted illegally under de la Madrid, extended under Salinas, and how AMLO spent years trying to negotiate before finally declaring the area a protected natural zone. U.S. Congress even passed a bill to retaliate against Mexico, which now looks absurd after the ruling.Next, they turn to the student occupation of Canal Once, Mexico's premier public television station. While the students' grievances about educational conditions are legitimate, the hosts argue the occupation has long since lost its way. The occupiers, a tiny group of perhaps five students, have shut down the station entirely and are now threatening irreplaceable archives. The hosts contrast this with the 2006 Oaxaca uprising, where protesters took over a TV station to broadcast their message; here, they've occupied the station but refuse to use it, raising questions about who might benefit from keeping a critical public broadcaster off the air.Finally, they look at Trump's latest tariff announcement, where Mexico once again comes out the relative winner.Losers and Haters takes aim at Argentine President Javier Milei who blamed Mexico, Brazil, and the U.S. Democratic Party for recent criticism of Argentina.

    Live Long and Prosper: Mexico Beats Vulcan Materials at World Bank Court

  5. Jul 22

    Failed Magnate Backs Call for Deportation of Fellow Mexicans: 'ICE Do Your Thing'

    In episode 116 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth open with Claudia Sheinbaum's last-minute trip to New York for the World Cup final — and the overwhelming reception she received from the Mexican migrant community. The hosts contrast this with the reaction of oligarch Ricardo Salinas Pliego, who responded to video of the welcoming crowd by retweeting a tweet with the text "ICE do your thing," effectively calling for the agency to target his own compatriots. Next, they analyze the life sentence handed down to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada — and the death of the opposition's fever dream that he would "sing" and implicate AMLO, Sheinbaum, or Morena, dashing the hopes of those who spent months insinuating otherwise, including former ambassador Ken Salazar, who peddled the rumor for the grubby purpose of increasing book sales.The episode then covers the dismantling of the largest fuel-smuggling network in the country, linked to former Baja California governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel, who allegedly defrauded the treasury of over 4 billion pesos. The hosts note the irony of the right-wing opposition immediately crying "political prisoner" while simultaneously launching a new political party whose first major cause is defending an accused gasoline smuggler. The hosts also highlight a scoop from colleague Jesús García: weapons linked to the U.S. State Department have been seized from criminal groups in Tamaulipas, adding yet another chapter to the long history of U.S. arms ending up in cartel hands.Losers and Haters takes aim at the right-wing echo chamber — from Kenya López Rabadán calling Ruffo a political prisoner to columnist Sergio Sarmiento defending him with the flimsiest of pretexts.

    Failed Magnate Backs Call for Deportation of Fellow Mexicans: 'ICE Do Your Thing'

  6. Jul 16

    Claudia Sheinbaum Takes on the ICE K*lling Machine

    In episode 115 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth (broadcasting from Oaxaca) cover Mexico's sharp escalation in the fight against ICE abuses. The government is now filing criminal complaints with U.S. state and federal prosecutors over the deaths of Mexican nationals in detention and during enforcement operations, while also sending cease-and-desist letters to private prison operators like GEO Group and CoreCivic, and taking the issue to the UN Human Rights Commission. Next, they examine the scandal surrounding Baja California Governor Mariana del Pilar, who was caught in leaked audio speaking to unidentified people claiming to be U.S. intermediaries about getting her visa reinstated. While this isn't the outright treason of Chihuahua's Maru Campos, the hosts argue it's still embarrassing: a governor begging to cooperate with the U.S. to get her visa back, apparently willing to talk to anyone and offer anything.The episode also highlights a victory for public transportation: the Buena Vista–Felipe Ángeles Airport train has become a surprise hit, not just for airport travelers but for commuters from the state of Mexico who now shave hours off their daily journeys. The hosts argue this is what happens when you invest in public infrastructure — and contrast it with the U.S. model of privatized, car-centric development.Losers and Haters takes aim at far-right influencer and law professor Natalia Torres, who went on a podcast to argue that not everyone should be allowed to vote. The hosts note the deeply classist, racist, and medieval thinking behind such a statement — and how it perfectly encapsulates why the Mexican right remains its own worst enemy.

    Claudia Sheinbaum Takes on the ICE K*lling Machine

  7. Jul 8

    Liar, Liar, Ten-Gallon Hat on Fire: Ex Amb Salazar Caught up in Scandal of His Own Making

    In episode 114 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth (broadcasting remotely) cover a week of diplomatic scandals, World Cup drama, and economic news. The episode opens with the explosive revelation that the FBI has donated the plane used to kidnap Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada to a museum — effectively admitting U.S. involvement in the operation after years of denials. The hosts break down how Ken Salazar, the former U.S. ambassador, lied repeatedly about the incident. They connect this to the broader pattern of U.S. hypocrisy: negotiating with cartels while accusing Mexico of doing the same, and violating sovereignty while demanding cooperation. Next, they turn to FIFA's corruption on full display during the World Cup. From Trump personally intervening to overturn a red card for the U.S. star player, to blatant calls that robbed Iran and Egypt, the hosts argue the tournament now has a massive asterisk. Yet they also highlight Mexico's stellar performance as a host — welcoming England fans, embracing the Iranian team, and earning praise from supporters' groups worldwide — in stark contrast to the U.S. government's xenophobic and petty behavior. The episode also examines Mexico's return to the top 10 for foreign direct investment, with $41 billion in 2025. While the hosts acknowledge the importance of capital inflows, they caution that FDI doesn't automatically translate into quality jobs or reduced inequality, and note the tension between attracting investment and the U.S. demands for a veto on Chinese trade in USMCA negotiations. Losers and Haters takes aim at Argentine journalist Eduardo Feinmann, who went on a xenophobic rant against Mexico. The hosts note his ties to Ricardo Salinas Pliego, the Mexican billionaire who wants to be president, and contrast his hateful rhetoric with the hospitality Mexico showed the world during the World Cup.

    Liar, Liar, Ten-Gallon Hat on Fire: Ex Amb Salazar Caught up in Scandal of His Own Making

  8. Jul 1

    Sports as Diplomacy: Everybody Loves Mexico

    In episode 113 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth kick off with a celebration — Mexico has advanced past a knockout stage at the World Cup for the first time since 1986, and the country's hospitality has won hearts worldwide, especially with its embrace of the Iranian team. They argue this moment reveals Mexico's genuine sportsmanship and internationalist spirit, in stark contrast to the U.S. government's petty and xenophobic treatment of Iran.Next, they examine two new developments on the Mexican right: the registration of a new opposition party, "Somos México," and the PAN's latest relaunch. The hosts break down the recycled cast of characters behind Somos México — oligarchs, failed politicians, and former electoral officials — and question whether it can survive the requirement to win 3% of the vote on its own in the next election. The PAN's new platform, meanwhile, reads like a greatest hits of failed neoliberal policies: privatizing the Dos Bocas refinery, scrapping the new public health system, drone patrols, mega-prisons, and tax cuts that the same party previously raised. Losers and Haters takes aim at a New York Times piece that claims Morena officials are secretly cooperating with U.S. investigators. The hosts dismantle the article's sourcing — eight anonymous "people involved in conversations" who are never quoted, recycled allegations from the same reporters who previously insinuated AMLO's sons were caught on video picking up drug money (a claim never substantiated), and the endless parade of the same irrelevant Mexican commentators. It's a case study in lazy, source-free rumor peddling dressed up as prestige journalism.

    Sports as Diplomacy: Everybody Loves Mexico
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Soberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast brings you news and analysis about Mexico from a grassroots and leftist perspective, helping English-language audiences better understand the country, its politics and players.

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