Soberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast

Episodet

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  Mexico Turns to China as U.S. Threats Mount 09.09.2026 58min

  In episode 123 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth cover Mexico's foreign minister Roberto Velasco's visit to China, where Beijing reaffirmed its support for Mexico's sovereignty and opposition to foreign interference — a clear signal as Mexico seeks to diversify its relationships amid U.S. pressure. The hosts argue that with the U.S.-Canada trade war escalating (including unprecedented product bans), Mexico cannot afford to remain dependent on a single partner, especially as the U.S. declines technologically while China leads.Next, they break down the 2027 economic package, which avoids raising taxes on the wealthy and instead targets tax evasion through fake invoicing (the "factureras") and pushes for a digital economy with reduced cash use. While the hosts support going after tax cheats, they question the plan's reliance on private banks — which charge exorbitant fees — instead of strengthening the state-run Banco de Bienestar. They also highlight the real culprit behind weak investment: Trump's instability, not Mexico's policies, and note that foreign direct investment remains at record highs.The episode then examines a suspicious document published by Televisa's investigative unit, allegedly showing Senator Julieta Ramírez seeking a cooperation deal with the U.S. Justice Department. The hosts point out multiple red flags: the document is in Spanish without an accompanying English version, has no signatures, and Televisa didn't contact Ramírez or the DOJ for comment. They suspect either journalistic incompetence or a deliberate smear against a rising Morena politician from a border state.Losers and Haters takes aim at Fox News for hyping the Pentagon's downing of "cartel drones" as a justification for lethal military action — when Mexican officials have clarified these are commercial surveillance drones used for migrant trafficking, not weapons. The hosts see this as part of a deliberate campaign to build public support for unilateral U.S. military strikes in Mexico.
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  Sheinbaum’s Second State of the Union: Why It Matters 02.09.2026 59min

  In episode 122 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth break down Claudia Sheinbaum's second State of the Union address — a sweeping accounting of progress that reveals a government entering a new phase.The episode opens with a detailed look at the informe, from the 51% drop in homicides to the recovery of the minimum wage (up 154% in real terms since 2018), to the expansion of social programs including the women's pension at age 60 and the "Salud Casa por Casa" home-visit health program. The hosts note the contrast with U.S. State of the Union speeches: in Mexico, the focus is on granular policy achievements and state-led development — housing, rail networks, new universities — rather than tax cuts and military spending. Sheinbaum's approval remains at 69-70%, a testament to the government's continuity and delivery.Next, they examine the proposed constitutional reform to bar dual citizens from holding the presidency or state governorships. The hosts dismantle the hissy fits from figures like Carlos Jiménez and Ricardo Salinas Pliego — the latter of whom inadvertently admitted his own dual nationality by objecting. They argue the reform is a sensible measure in an era of U.S. interventionism, especially given examples like Daniel Noboa and Gustavo Petro's successor in Colombia, who openly prioritize Washington over their own capitals.The conversation then turns to the controversial U.S.-Venezuela oil deal. The hosts cut through the hyperbolic declarations of a "sellout" to examine the nuanced reality: contracts signed under coercion are legally invalid; the oil fields require years and billions in investment; and both sides are hedging — with Rubio claiming it's not really a deal with the government, and Chavista legislators calling the contracts illegitimate. They caution against declaring the death of the Bolivarian Revolution while the organized working class continues to resist.Losers and Haters takes aim at Código Magenta, which published a sensationalist article claiming Sheinbaum suffered a "stress-related crisis" before her speech — with zero sources, no attribution, and nothing to back it up. The hosts argue this kind of lazy fabrication is why trust in media is collapsing, and why audience rights legislation is urgently needed.
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  Embattled Sinaloa Governor Returns and Leaves Office Again (In One Weekend) 26.08.2026 58min

  In episode 121 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth open with the return and swift departure of Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, who briefly reclaimed his office after 112 days on leave — only to face blistering criticism from President Sheinbaum and his own party. The hosts unpack the onion-like layers of the Sinaloa case: the bitter university rivalry between Rocha and his slain rival Héctor Melesio Cuen, the internal cartel war between the Chapitos and Mayitos the opaque role of the U.S. government, and the politically timed indictment that conveniently distracted from the Chihuahua CIA scandal. They argue the U.S. is using the case to destabilize Mexico ahead of the 2027 midterms.Next, they examine the collapse of U.S.-Canada trade talks and what it means for Mexico. With Canada walking away from the negotiating table and imposing retaliatory tariffs, the hosts see a golden opportunity for Mexico to stand firm — since the U.S. can't afford a trade war on two fronts. They contrast Canada's consumer boycott of U.S. products with the Mexican right's slavish devotion to American imports.The conversation then returns to the Cerimedo affair, the far-right operative arrested in Bolivia for allegedly masterminding an assassination attempt on his pregnant ex-partner. The hosts connect the dots between Cerimedo, Javier Negre, Ricardo Salinas Pliego, and the wider network of MAGA-linked consultants — including Brad Parscale and the Miami-based lobbyists who are paid by Mexican taxpayer dollars to undermine Mexico's own government. They warn that while Cerimedo may be down, the infrastructure that enabled him remains intact.Losers and Haters takes aim at Bloomberg for publishing a video claiming investors are treating Mexican debt like junk — despite Mexico's strong economic fundamentals. The hosts argue this is part of a coordinated campaign to pressure Mexico into privatizing its energy sector, with ratings agencies serving as weapons of financial blackmail.
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  Arrest of Trump-linked Operator Reveals Seamy Underworld of Latin American Far Right 19.08.2026 57min

  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.
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  Ayotzinapa Back in Spotlight: Progress in Case of Missing 43 Students After Major Arrest 13.08.2026 58min

  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.
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  Exposing Mexican Media's Bogus 'Censorship' Claims 05.08.2026 59min

  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.
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  Live Long and Prosper: Mexico Beats Vulcan Materials at World Bank Court 29.07.2026 59min

  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.
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  Failed Magnate Backs Call for Deportation of Fellow Mexicans: 'ICE Do Your Thing' 22.07.2026 58min

  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.
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  Claudia Sheinbaum Takes on the ICE K*lling Machine 16.07.2026 59min

  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.
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  Liar, Liar, Ten-Gallon Hat on Fire: Ex Amb Salazar Caught up in Scandal of His Own Making 08.07.2026 58min

  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.
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  Sports as Diplomacy: Everybody Loves Mexico 01.07.2026 58min

  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.
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  AMLO in the Crosshairs (Again) 24.06.2026 59min

  In episode 112 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth open with the fabricated "interview" of Carlos Monsiváis published by El Universal, which smears Andrés Manuel López Obrador with baseless, homophobic innuendo. The hosts demonstrate how the timeline doesn't match, how Monsiváis's family has denied the interview's authenticity, and how the episode reveals the moral bankruptcy of the Mexican right. They connect this to the broader campaign to destroy AMLO's moral authority as a way to weaken Claudia Sheinbaum's presidency.Next, they examine the Schrödinger's box of the USMCA trade agreement. The hosts explain that while the agreement will automatically extend for at least 10 more years, the U.S. may opt for annual reviews — a nightmare scenario that would allow Trump to hold a cudgel over Mexico's head every single year until 2036.The conversation then turns to the electoral results in Colombia and Peru. Iván Cepeda conceded a razor-thin defeat (by just 251,000 votes) to a far-right candidate endorsed by Trump, while in Peru, left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez refuses to recognize Keiko Fujimori's victory, citing widespread fraud. The hosts analyze the different strategies — Cepeda's cautious concession versus Sánchez's defiance — and draw lessons for the Latin American left about the need to defang political opponents before they regain power.Losers and Haters takes aim at the BBC, which unironically tweeted that global trust in news has hit an all-time low — while ignoring its own role in that collapse, from its genocidal coverage of Gaza to its Middle East editor's ties to a CIA front group.
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  'La Perra de Trump': Mexican Soccer Fans Give Right-Wing Oligarch a Rude Awakening 17.06.2026 57min

  In episode 111 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth cover a week of contrast — from a billionaire's public humiliation to a heartwarming display of South-South solidarity.The episode opens with the spectacular failure of Ricardo Salinas Pliego's attempt to use the World Cup as a launchpad for his presidential ambitions. Expecting to be greeted as a popular hero, the TV Azteca owner was instead met with chants of "Trump's bitch" from the crowd — a moment that went instantly viral. The hosts connect this to the deeper history of the Salinas family's ties to the CIA, documented in a recent investigation showing how far-right Mexican figures have been in Washington's orbit since the 1970s.Next, they turn to the warm reception Mexico has given the Iranian national team, who were forced to base themselves in Tijuana after the U.S. refused to let them stay on US soil. From the mayor of Tijuana hosting a reception, to crowds cheering them at their hotel, to the Iranian booth at the Chapultepec World Cup village drawing huge crowds, the hosts argue this is Mexico at its best — a rebuke to U.S. racism and a genuine expression of solidarity with a nation under attack.The episode also examines new polling showing Claudia Scheinbaum's approval at 71 percent — unchanged despite months of U.S.-backed smear campaigns. Homicides have dropped 46 percent under her administration, a statistic that gets virtually no English-language coverage because it undercuts the narrative of a "cartel-controlled" Mexico. The hosts note that even as the U.S. tries to justify intervention, Mexico's security strategy is producing results.Losers and Haters takes aim at U.S. commentators who can't accept that America lost its war with Iran and now has to take a bad deal. The segment highlights the cognitive dissonance of pundits demanding Trump renege on the agreement — as if losing a war doesn't require making concessions.
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  On My Whistle: Mexico Braces for World Cup Conflict 10.06.2026 59min

  In episode 110 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth open with an in-depth look at the ongoing teachers' protest in Mexico City. The hosts distinguish between the legitimate demands of the CNTE (including the reversal of a 2007 pension privatization) and the government's claim that violent tactics are being used to project an image of chaos ahead of the World Cup. They note that while the union has protested every government regardless of party, the current context, with FIFA demanding cosmetic works and Ricardo Salinas Pliego calling for radical action, has created a volatile mix.Next, they turn to a rare good news story: Mexico's first domestically produced electric vehicle, the Olinia. Priced at 150,000 pesos (about $8,600), the small car is designed for specific Mexican urban needs — school runs, market trips, mobility for people with disabilities — not for export or highway competition. The hosts explain how the vehicle fits into Plan Mexico's broader goal of building national industrial capacity and reducing dependence on imports, while also potentially improving Mexico City's air quality.The episode then examines the American Society gala, a who's-who of opposition figures who gathered to hear a proposal for a "crime-fighting treaty" with the U.S. While Ambassador Ron Johnson was a no-show, the hosts note the event's corporatist structure and its alignment with the Trump administration's push for direct U.S. military intervention in Mexico.Losers and Haters takes aim at cartoonist Paco Calderón, whose attempt to defend Maru Campos only highlighted the opposition's inability to maintain a consistent narrative about the Chihuahua CIA scandal, two months later and they still can't agree on whether she collaborated with U.S. agencies or not.Cover photo by Jay Watts
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  Sheinbaum to US Ambassador: Mind Your Own Business 03.06.2026 58min

  In the first live episode of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth break down a week of dramatic escalation in U.S.-Mexico tensions and President Sheinbaum's forceful response.The episode opens with a firsthand report from the massive Morena rally at the Monumento a la Revolución, where Sheinbaum delivered her toughest speech yet on U.S. interference. After listing the government's achievements over two years, she turned to the extradition request against Sinaloa Governor Rocha Moya and asked bluntly whether Washington is genuinely interested in fighting cartels or simply positioning itself to influence Mexico's 2027 elections. "Mexico is nobody's piñata," she said, warning that if the U.S. can target one governor, it will come for others until the Justice Department becomes "the principal elector in Mexico."The hosts then examine new fronts in U.S. pressure: reports that two more governors — Alfonso Durazo of Sonora and Américo Villarreal of Tamaulipas — are under federal investigation and have had their visas withdrawn, and Marco Rubio's testimony warning that Mexican cartels could use drones against U.S. interests — a new pretext for intervention. Meanwhile, new tariffs citing "forced labor" in Mexico ignore the actual forced labor happening in U.S. prisons and ICE detention centers.Losers and Haters takes aim at two figures: Héctor Aguilar Camín, and Enrique Krauze, who embarrassed himself by celebrating a right-wing Spanish politician lecturing Mexico on sovereignty. The hosts note that the opposition's reliance on foreign intervention only confirms how bankrupt their domestic project has become.
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  Narco-Morena... Again!?: Why the Right's 'Narco' Narrative Keeps Failing 27.05.2026 57min

  In episode 108 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth break down the latest astroturf campaign targeting Mexico's government and why it's likely to backfire.The episode opens with Sin Embargo's investigation into "Mexicanos al Grito de Paz," a shadowy group backed by billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego that has been organizing flash mobs and banner campaigns against President Sheinbaum. Following the same playbook as the failed "Gen Z" movement, the group's social media follows just five accounts — all tied to the country's rightist media — and pushes a single message: narco-Morena. The hosts explain why this one-note strategy is failing to gain traction with a Mexican public that has repeatedly rejected U.S.-backed smears.Next, they examine Mexico's proposed legislation to block foreign interference in elections; a direct response to U.S. meddling in Honduras, Argentina, and the upcoming Colombian elections. While the New York Times frames the move as authoritarian, the hosts clarify how electoral annulment actually works in Mexico: foreign interference would be just one of several legal grounds, and proving it changed an election result remains a high bar. Plus, new polling shows Morena has gained five points since February, while the PAN and PRI continue to collapse, the PAN now at just 4% party identification. Losers and Haters takes aim at a journalist who criticized Mexico for agreeing to host Iran's World Cup delegation in Tijuana after the U.S. refused to let them stay on American soil. The hosts dismantle her regurgitation of State Department talking points, noting the Iranian embassy's gracious response and the Mexican government's mature handling of a diplomatic logjam not of its making.
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  CIA Out of Chihuahua: 20,000 Protest Secret Incursion into Mexico 20.05.2026 56min

  In episode 107 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth break down Morena's massive march in Chihuahua — 20,000 people demanding the impeachment of Governor Maru Campos for allowing CIA operatives to conduct illegal operations on Mexican soil. The hosts discuss how the party's new leadership under Ariadna Montiel has finally taken an aggressive stance against treasonous state-level collaboration, contrasting this with past hesitancy.Next, they turn to a timely revelation from the morning press conference, Mexico's foreign secretary disclosed that of 269 extradition requests Mexico has made to the U.S. since 2018, not one has been fulfilled. The hosts highlight the glaring hypocrisy: the U.S. demands immediate cooperation while stonewalling Mexico's own requests, including for figures linked to the Ayotzinapa case.The episode also features a look at President Sheinbaum's typical weekend — two hospitals, a university campus, a high school, universal scholarships, a milk pasteurization plant, and supervision of the Maya Train cargo expansion, all in a single weekend. The hosts argue this relentless pace of public investment explains why Sheinbaum continues to enjoy widespread support.Losers and Haters takes aim at Luis Rubio of Mexico Evalúa, whose America's Quarterly piece masquerades as analysis but reads as a plea for U.S. capital to be allowed to pillage Mexico's resources — a confession of what all the diplomatic pressure is really about.
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  Trump's Twin Threats: US Goes After Mexican Consulates and Weaponizes Counter-Terrorism Policy 13.05.2026 58min

  In episode 106 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth examine the latest U.S. pressure tactics against Mexico — and why they're not working.The episode opens with two coordinated threats. First, the State Department has announced a review of all 53 Mexican consulates in the U.S., echoing a conspiracy theory pushed by far-right operatives about Mexican diplomats meddling in American affairs. Second, Trump's new counterterrorism strategy centers drug cartels and left-wing domestic groups as the primary threats — with language explicitly reserving the right to act unilaterally if a country "cannot or will not" cooperate.Next, the hosts recount the spectacular failure of Isabel Díaz Ayuso's visit to Mexico. The Madrid regional leader arrived expecting to be celebrated, instead faced protests everywhere and cut her trip short. Her post-visit response, calling Mexico a dangerous narco-state, only underscored how badly she misread the country. The hosts note that four PAN governors who met with her managed to hand Morena a gift by changing the news cycle away from the Rocha indictment.Finally, despite relentless U.S. pressure, new polling shows President Sheinbaum's approval has risen to 72 percent. Most telling: in Sinaloa, 60 percent oppose U.S. military operations on Mexican soil, even amid ongoing cartel violence. The episode closes with Losers and Haters targeting PRI president Alejandro Moreno, who traveled to Washington to formally request that Morena be designated a terrorist organization.
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  The Empire Strikes Back: US Releases Sinaloa Indictment to Distract from Chihuahua CIA Scandal 06.05.2026 57min

  In episode 105 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth dissect the U.S. government's extradition request for Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya — and why the timing looks less like justice and more like retaliation.The episode opens with a breakdown of the indictment, highlighting three red flags: the U.S. made it public within hours of notifying Mexico; they requested provisional arrest without providing evidence; and the charges rely on testimony from protected witnesses — likely the Chapitos — whose credibility is compromised. All of this comes just days after the Chihuahua scandal, where CIA agents were caught operating illegally with a PAN governor.The conversation then examines the newly released U.S. National Drug Control Strategy, which prioritizes militarized interdiction and "the healing power of faith" over public health — revealing that U.S. drug policy is about imperial control, not solving addiction.Finally, they turn to Morena's new party president, Adriana Montiel, a former wellbeing secretary who helped build Mexico's social programs inside the territory. Her first act? Expressing solidarity with Cuba — a promising shift for a party needing territory work, not spotlight seekers.Losers and Haters takes aim at a New York Times piece on Cuba's May Day march, which the hosts dismantle as propaganda: unscientific surveys, unsubstantiated claims, and an "embattled president" framing that ignores the actual U.S. blockade causing the crisis.
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  Can't Spell Chihuahua Without CIA: Right-Wing Governor Faces Treason Allegations 29.04.2026 58min

  In episode 104 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth dive into the deepening scandal over CIA operatives operating illegally in Mexico—and the U.S. ambassador's aggressive response.The episode opens with an update on the fallout from the Chihuahua incident, where two CIA agents died in a car crash while on an unauthorized operation alongside state authorities. The hosts trace how the story has evolved: the state attorney general's shifting explanations, the resignation of key officials, and Governor Maru Campos's refusal to appear before the Senate. They also examine the broader implications of U.S. Ambassador Ron Johnson's provocative statements about a coming "anti-corruption campaign" targeting Mexican politicians—a move that feels less about accountability and more about leveraging the USMCA negotiations.Next, they share a rare piece of good news: the long-awaited inauguration of the Felipe Ángeles Airport train line. Mexico City now has a reliable, affordable rail connection to its second airport—part of a broader state-led push for public transit that stands in stark contrast to the privatization models pushed by previous neoliberal administrations.Kurt then reports back from his recent trip to Chicago, where he spoke with Mexican migrant organizers about the shared struggle against U.S. aggression and the need to build bridges between communities on both sides of the border. The conversation touches on the 40-million-strong Mexican diaspora's political potential, the lingering effects of corporatist structures from the PRI era, and the challenge of building new forms of participation under the Fourth Transformation.Finally, Losers and Haters takes aim at a Wall Street Journal hit piece that paints President Sheinbaum as exhausted, short-tempered, and overwhelmed—relying on anonymous sources, tired stereotypes, and the ever-present Jorge Castañeda. The hosts dismantle the piece as misogynistic gossip dressed up as journalism, noting that for all the supposed chaos, Mexico's exports are up, its trains are running, and its president remains popular.