Claim OwnershipSoberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast
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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.
102 Episodes
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In episode 95 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth tackle the controversy surrounding the U.S.-Mexico critical minerals agreement, examining what it actually says, what it doesn’t, and why it has sparked widespread concern over national sovereignty and resource control. They contrast the deal with the government’s parallel effort to revoke inactive mining concessions, a move that reaffirms state authority over strategic resources.Next, they turn to the Mexican politicians who attended CPAC in Washington, including the so-called “migrant deputy” Raúl Torres. At a time of aggressive ICE raids and documented abuses against Mexican nationals, the hosts scrutinize the absence of migrant defense and the optics of aligning with the U.S. far right.Finally, they investigate a damning report from the ICIJ revealing that nearly half of the .50 caliber ammunition seized from cartels in Mexico comes from a single U.S. Army-owned plant, highlighting the contradiction of U.S. demands for Mexican action while Washington profits from the arms flow.The episode closes with a sharp Losers and Haters segment aimed at Felipe Calderón, who uncritically amplified unsubstantiated allegations against López Obrador—an irony not lost on the hosts.
In episode 94 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth dive into the Mexico connections in the Jeffrey Epstein files, focusing on serious allegations against a former U.S. ambassador and the impunity that protects powerful figures. Next, they provide an urgent update on U.S. efforts to strangle Cuba with an oil blockade, examining Mexico's diplomatic response and the looming humanitarian crisis. Finally, the hosts celebrate a major domestic achievement: the full inauguration of the "El Insurgente" commuter train, a symbol of infrastructure progress and national priorities.The episode concludes with a special segment of "Can I Borrow You For A Minute?" featuring an insightful interview with the hosts of the Blowback podcast on U.S. imperialism and global resistance.
In episode 93 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth return from a major anti-imperialist conference in Colombia to analyze its outcomes and the urgent challenges facing Latin America.They share their impressions from the “Nuestra América” summit in Bogotá, discussing the push for regional unity, the importance of the upcoming Colombian elections, and the need to turn solidarity into concrete action. Back on the home front, the hosts examine mounting pressures on Mexican sovereignty, from the contentious suspension of an oil shipment to Cuba to disputed narratives around a high-profile arrest. Amidst these diplomatic storms, they also highlight a positive domestic story: the government’s progress on delivering affordable public housing.As always, José Luis and Kurt provide sharp, on-the-ground analysis of the political forces shaping Mexico and the region, wrapping up with a critical look at a new conspiracy theory targeting Mexico’s consular network in the U.S.
In episode 92 of Soberanía, we begin by looking at how much can change in just two weeks, using Mark Carney’s comments at the World Economic Forum as a starting point to discuss shifting economic and political signals and what they mean for Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum. The conversation then turns to Mexico’s decision to expel criminal figures and what that action reveals about US pressure on Mexico. In the third segment, we examine Mexico’s push toward universal health care, focusing specifically on the rollout of new Mexican health cards and what they mean in practice for access and coverage. Finally, in Loser and Haters we pick on the Mexican opposition.
In episode 91 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth unpack the political response in Mexico following the U.S. attack on Venezuela.The show starts with an on-the-ground report from the large anti-imperialist march in Mexico City, analyzing the turnout, the diverse participants, and the powerful message of regional solidarity against U.S. aggression. The conversation then shifts to the shifting diplomatic pressures from Washington, breaking down the contradictory "good cop, bad cop" dynamic emerging between Marco Rubio and Donald Trump in their dealings with President Sheinbaum's administration.Finally, the hosts delve into an investigative report exposing how U.S. government funds, funneled through CIA-linked contractors, are being used to interfere in Mexican labor unions under the guise of enforcing trade agreements. Plus a Losers and Haters segment on stupid headlines from bad writers.
In episode 90 of Soberania, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth confront a watershed moment for Latin America: the U.S. military attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro.The hosts dissect the attack as a stark escalation of U.S. intervention, breaking down the dubious legal pretexts used to justify it and the severe breach of international law. They unpack the geopolitical fallout, from Mexico's firm defense of sovereignty to what this move signals about Washington's broader aims in Latin America. José Luis and Kurt also take aim at the media narratives and commentators who helped pave the way for the crisis.
Welcome to Part 2 of our special year-end episode on Soberanía! In this segment, we continue our countdown of the top 10 stories about Mexico from 2025, covering stories 5 through 1. Join us as we discuss U.S. regional threats against Latin America, the groundbreaking judicial election in Mexico, the Gen Z Astro Turf March, significant poverty reduction efforts in Mexico, and how Claudia Sheinbaum held off Trump's aggressive policies. Don't miss this comprehensive recap with our hosts and special guest, Samuel, as we wrap up the year's most impactful stories.
Welcome to Part 1 of our special year-end episode on Soberanía! In this segment, we delve into the top 10 stories about Mexico from 2025, covering stories 10 through 6. Join us as we discuss the opposition's missteps, the ambitious Plan Mexico, the influence of US actors in Mexico, mass Morena demonstrations, and Claudia Sheinbaum's impactful first year in office. Don't miss this engaging recap with our hosts and special guest, Samuel, as we prepare to reveal the top 5 stories in the next episode. Stay tuned for part 2 next week!
In this year-end episode of Soberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast, co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth close out the year with an in-depth analysis of Mexico’s newly announced tariff package, examining the policy debate behind it and the pros and cons of this strategy. The conversation then turns to the U.S. move to frame fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction," exploring what that designation could mean for bilateral relations and why Mexico has reason to be wary given how similar declarations have been used in the past.In the third segment, the hosts look ahead to 2026. What's in store for Sheinbaum's government? The episode wraps up with the return of Losers and Haters, where this week’s target is—once again—the New York Times.https://www.gofundme.com/f/empower-soberanias-antiimperialist-reporting
This week on Soberanía: we report on the demonstration in Zócalo on the seventh anniversary of the Fourth Transformation, the significance of hundreds of thousands taking to the streets, and Claudia Sheinbaum’s push to expand Mexico’s public health system. We break down the proposed shift to a 40-hour workweek, what it really means for workers, and how minimum-wage gains fit into the bigger picture. We then examine the scandal ex-DEA personnel, crypto money-laundering, and weapons for the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel. We close with our Losers & Haters segment calling out the LA Times.
In this episode of the Soberanía Podcast, hosts Jose Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth discuss: the reappearance of AMLO, the resignation of Mexico's Attorney General Gertz Manero, and the recent elections in Honduras. They delve into AMLO's return to public life, his new book, and the political implications of his actions. The resignation of Gertz Manero is analyzed in the context of his controversial tenure and the challenges facing Mexico's justice system. The hosts also explore the surprising election results in Honduras, highlighting the role of US intervention and the impact on regional politics. The episode concludes with the usual 'losers and haters' segment, where they critique an Obama-era figure.
In this episode, we explore protests by Mexican farmers who are challenging the low prices they receive for corn, highlighting the role of intermediaries in the agricultural supply chain and how corn dumping by the US is putting pressure on campesinos. We then return to Gen Z march in Mexico, focusing on the ties to the opposition and the colossal failure of their second attempt to hold a demonstration. Finally, we delve into the strategic maneuvers of the United States in Latin America, particularly focusing on Honduras as a testing ground for US policies and its implications for regional stability. And as always, don't miss our "Losers and Haters" segment, where we critique a New York Times article on "Russian disinformation" in Mexico.
How do you do, fellow kids? In this special episode of Soberanía, hosts Kurt Hackbarth and José Luis Granados Ceja lay out the truth behind what was billed as a "youth" march and instead was a by-the-book, attempt at astroturfed destablization. This includes blow-by-blow coverage of the march itself, from their search for actual young people among the marchers to the scenes of violence in the Zócalo provoked for international consumption. All of this leading directly to President Trump saying, on cue, that he would be "okay" with airstriking Mexico, and the US embassy tweeting that there would only be an intervention "if Mexico wants it." Kurt and José Luis then analyze the interests behind the destabilization attempt, including Ricardo Salinas Pliego, whose Elektra Group lost seven tax cases before the Supreme Court last week, and international far-right interests such as The Atlas Network and the website "La Derecha Diario", which egged on the most extreme scenes witnessed on Saturday.
This week on Soberanía, Kurt Hackbarth and José Luis Granados Ceja bundle up for a freezing Mexico City episode and break down three stories that reveal where Mexico stands in today’s shifting global politics. First, they explore Mexico and the “old world” — new meetings between Mexico, France, Spain, the EU and CELAC, and what these diplomatic moves say about Latin America’s growing independence from European influence. Then they turn to Ricardo Salinas Pliego, as Mexico’s most notorious oligarch finally faces the Supreme Court after years of legal dodges by his companies. The hosts unpack what this long-delayed reckoning means for accountability and the balance between power and money in Mexico. Finally, they examine Israel’s false claim of an “Iranian plot” in Mexico, how the story unraveled, and what it reveals about media manipulation and foreign attempts to drag Mexico into geopolitical narratives. And as always, it all wraps up with Losers and Haters of the Week, this time focusing on the so-called Gen Z protests and how they’re being weaponized by the opposition and media to push an anti-government narrative.
In this episode of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth dive into four key stories shaping Mexico and the region: first, the political vultures circling after the assassination of the mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, amongst renewed calls for US intervention and failed “war on cartels” policies. Second, a leaked U.S. memo exposing what Washington is demanding behind the scenes in the USMCA revision: a total handover of Mexican national sovereignty. Third, Spain’s cautious, long-delayed, and bet-heding apology for the legacy of conquest in the voice of their Foreign Minister. And, finally, in our perenntial “Losers & Haters” segment, a Florida politician that wants to wield that very agreement to pressure Mexico to cut off support for Cuba.
In this week's episode of Soberanía, hosts Kurt Hackbarth and José Luis Granados Ceja dive into the Trump administration’s latest round of extrajudicial military assassinations — this time in the Pacific — and Mexico’s response after rescuing a survivor off the Acapulco coast. With no end to the military buildup in sight, and while attempting to make military action against Venezuela look increasingly inevitable, the US is backing itself into a corner of its own making. Our hosts proceed to break down the new round of North American trade negotiations and what they reveal about how Mexico and Canada are navigating their respective relationships with Washington. Kurt and José Luis also report back from a recent conference on “delinking” — how countries in the Global South can move beyond the historical dominance of the Global North to create genuine sovereignty in the political, economic, and financial realms. And as always, tey wrap up with their Loser and Hater of the week, tied to the last-minute attempt to manufacture consent for U.S. military aggression.
In this episode of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth unpack the supposed relaunch of Mexico's right-wing party, the PAN: can it really reclaim relevance with the same people peddling the same program, simply by means of an updated logo? José Luis and Kurt then shift to the government’s response to recent torrental rains and flooding in five states, assessing preparedness, relief efforts, and attempts by the opposition, as always, to make political hay out of a natural disaster. They then turn to foreign policy, as President Sheinbaum steps up sales of excess diesel to Cuba, despite the anachronistic whining of the same tired voices from the cold-war generation. One of them is then profiled in our regular Losers & Haters segment: a familiar figure to longtime listeners.
In this week's episode of Soberanía, hosts Kurt Hackbarth and José Luis Granados react to the farcical irony of far-right Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, unpacking her long record of backing coups, sanctions, and foreign intervention, what this award reveals about Western hypocrisy, and what it all could mean for Mexico. They then turn to President Claudia Sheinbaum’s decision to skip the Summit of the Americas, exploring how it builds on López Obrador's refusal to attend the Los Angeles edition in 2022 to promote Latin American regional sovereignty against US exclusionism. The discussion continues with the debate around Mexico's amparo reform bill - in its final stages in Congress - breaking down how it could close off the elites' endless attempts to game the system and the pushback it has thus sparked from Mexico’s conservative establishment. The episode closes with Losers and Haters, revisiting a familiar figure whose newfound power threatens to do real damage from within the newly dubbed "War" Department.
This week on Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth break down Washington’s latest escalation as the US declares itself to be in a "non-international armed conflict" with cartels, exploring how it is set to revive post-9/11 war-on-terror tactics in Latin America. They proceed to discuss the case of the kidnapped Mexicans finally freed after the kidnapping of the Global Sumud Flotilla, what it says about Mexico’s foreign policy, and what a transformational approach to foreign affairs could look like. The conversation turns to US bullying (again), with fresh threats under the USMCA aimed at Mexico’s energy and telecom sectors, among others, before taking a polling deep dive to contrast Claudia Sheinbaum's sky-high numbers with those of MORENA. In Losers & Haters, the hosts take aim at media spin from the LA Times and NY Times, and finally tease an upcoming Tren Maya discussion on their El Taller interview show.
Join hosts Jose Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth on Soberania as they explore Claudia Sheinbaum's first year in office, highlighting her impressive 79% approval rating and the challenges she's faced with U.S. tariffs. They also debate Mexico's new tariffs on China and what it means for the country's economic future. In a new segment called "Latin America Roundup," they cover the latest developments in Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, and Peru offering a comprehensive view of the region's political landscape. Don't miss the "Losers and Haters" segment, where they humorously critique the week's turd sandwich.
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the mic sound is too low.
you guys are goofy. lol
Being a Mexican resident with geopolitical interests and poor Spanish; I very much appreciate finding this podcast as a resource. I want to know about current events in Mexico that aren't garnered from sound bites, FB, twitter, or the expat papers which all share the same information and are written like my old high school newspaper (1976-1979). Thank you!
could the son's sue the nyt for Defamation?