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.
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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.
In this week’s episode of Soberanía, hosts Kurt Hackbarth and José Luis Granados Ceja unpack Claudia Sheinbaum’s decision to call Israel’s assault on Gaza a “genocide” for the first time ahead of the UN General Assembly, exploring what this means for Mexico’s diplomatic stance and the grassroots pressure that has shaped public debate. The conversation then turns to a Washington Post report revealing that the DEA actively pushed bombing Mexican territory in the initial months of Trump's second administration. Next, in the "Oh... Canada" segment, they discuss Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Mexico and his attempt to repair bilateral relations after years of mismanagement. The episode closes with their regular Losers and Haters segment, taking aim at Border Czar Tom Homan's alleged bribes worth $50,000 in exchange for contracts from the boss. Who's the criminal now, Tom?
On this special Independence Day episode of Soberanía, we dive into President Claudia Sheinbaum’s historic first Grito, Mexico’s growing sense of optimism, and the stark contrast with a United States gripped by fear, censorship, and violence. We also unpack reports of CIA activity in Mexico, Trump’s drone strikes near Venezuela, and what Washington’s doctrine of extrajudicial killings could mean for Mexico’s sovereignty. Finally, in Losers and Haters, those in the press - and think tanks - who would whitewash US aggression in the region.
Hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth dive into the major stories shaping Mexican politics this week. They begin with Mexico’s 2026 budget proposal, examining what Claudia Sheinbaum’s second budget means for banks, Pemex, and social spending. Next, they break down the Sheinbaum administration's crackdown on "huachicol fiscal", the fuel smuggling and tax evasion scheme, analyzing the timing of the operation and why ending impunity is essential to protect public resources. They then turn to culture and politics at Saturday's concert of Residente in Mexico City, where a massive free show in the Zócalo transformed into a powerful moment of solidarity with Palestine, with refugees and the Palestinian ambassador joining the singer on stage. Finally, in their regular segment "Losers and Haters", they analyze how billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego and TV Azteca are using AI-generated videos to twist the legacy of Benito Juárez into neoliberal propaganda as part of the magnate's wishful-thinking political ambitions.
On this episode of Soberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth unpack Mexico’s historic September 1st, when the country inaugurated its first Supreme Court chosen by popular vote and President Claudia Sheinbaum delivered her first State of the Union address.They also look at U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s visit to Mexico and Washington’s pressure campaign, Mexico–Brazil ties and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and PRI boss Alito “Vandalito” Moreno’s violent antics in Congress. The show closes with the Losers and Haters segment, this week focusing on Human Rights Watch.👉 Context, analysis, and a closer look at how Mexico’s transformation is reshaping politics at home and abroad.
In this episode of Soberanía, hosts Kurt Hackbarth and José Luis Granados Ceja break down Senator Lilly Téllez’s call for U.S. intervention in Mexico during a Fox News appearance - an act which many in Mexico equate with treason. They also fact-check the DEA’s recent false claims (or more bluntly, "pulling it out of their a**) about a supposed joint project with Mexico, exposing how narratives get manufactured in a way that resembles a certain Dr Strangelove. Kurt and José Luis also discuss Ken Klippenstein’s three-part series on U.S. invasion plans targeting Mexico, and how much credence to give to a clear trail of leaking that began with last week's Rolling Stone piece. Then, in their regular Losers and Haters segment, our hosts take apart the Baker Institute’s deeply flawed report on Mexico, with breathless wonder at its ability to be disproven so thoroughly and quickly. And finally: a preview of coming attractions on "Soberanía," with a trailer introducing a brand-new segment!
Poverty is down...and opposition justifications are up. In the latest episode of Soberanía - following the introduction of Jose Luis' new toy - our intrepid hosts discuss the remarkable findings from the INEGI's 2024 Multidimensional Poverty Report: 13.4 million Mexicans exited poverty under AMLO's watch. Even the Guardian was forced to admit it! They further discuss Mexico's expulsion (not extradition) of 26 capos to the United States in the context of ongoing negotiations over tariffs and security with the Trump administration which Rolling Stone Magazine considers to be "less like a negotiating tactic and more like a mafia-style intimidation campaign." In that vein, Kurt and José Luis assess the ongoing US military buildup in the region (serious threat or bluff?), and, in Losers and Haters, another piece of right-wing-attack-masquerading-as-left-wing-critique from the NACLA Report.
In the latest episode of Soberanía, José Luis and Kurt discuss Trump’s latest executive order against the cartels: a serious threat or more antics from a flailing administration looking to throw another helping of red at its base? Also, Canada tries to play nice with Mexico after throwing it under a bus, a notable reduction in violent crime in the first ten months of the Sheinbaum administration and, in Losers and Haters, the New York Times is back on the trail of fentanyl… except when it crosses into the United States.
Bring it! On this episode of Soberanía - with a brand-spanking-new intro and outro - Kurt and José Luis break down their experience at the second Panamerican Congress held in Mexico City. Is there any way for the peoples of the Americas to truly understand each other? Also, good economic news on three fronts: reducing poverty, rescuing PEMEX and holding tariffs at bay. Expanding the definition of "cartel" north of the Rio Grande with reports from Seth Harp (Fort Bragg) and José Olivares (Cibola County Correctional Center). And finally, a hyper-gentrified loser and hater.
In this crossover episode of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth are joined by David Griscom of Left Reckoning to unpack how militarized spending and reactionary politics have turned the U.S.-Mexico border into a profitable battleground. From Texas sheriffs chasing cable news fame to ICE's record-breaking budgets, they explore how state power and corruption fuel a bipartisan consensus of repression. The conversation also touches on “terror Keynesianism,” the erosion of civil rights, lessons from Mexico’s leftward turn, and the international boomerang of U.S. imperial policy—from the borderlands to Gaza.
The unfriendly skies, indeed: as part of its ongoing turning-of-screws, the Trump administration is now meddling in Mexico's internal aviation rules, with a series of fresh threats against flights to the US and the Delta-Aeromexico joint venture. Kurt and José Luis have a full breakdown. According to a new study, the biggest beneficiaries of the Mexico-US-Canada free-trade agreements have been: [drumroll], the big multinationals, vindicating what Chomsky warned about in the lead-up to the original NAFTA in 1994. The borough head of Cuauhtémoc rolls the culture-war dice by removing a popular statue of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara close to where they first met, and... burning books at the anti-gentrification rally?
This is getting old. Donald Trump has now threatened Mexico with tariffs for the fourth time since being elected, with an ever-shifting carousel of justifications. In today's episode, José Luis and Kurt have the entire breakdown. New sets of polls on both sides of the border demonstrate that USers are souring on Trump's immigration measures...and that Mexicans are souring on the US. Better late than never: Mexico decides to attend the Emergency Conference of States to End the Gaza Genocide amidst rumors that Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente's passive approach to diplomacy is wearing thin. And in Losers and Haters, a US narco-lawyer tries to pick a fight with President Sheinbaum.
"$178 billion: the amount allocated to immigration enforcement in Trump's recently passed budget. In this episode of "Soberanía," Kurt and José Luis analyze the implications of such a colossal figure in the context of a disastrous budget that strips away social protections to shower even more benefits on the wealthy while ratcheting up the punitive state. Also: former Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto reemerges on the public scene in a fitting way: enmeshed in another corruption scandal. Will this tip the hand of the federal government to finally prosecute him? Anti-gentrification demonstrations come to Mexico City and, in our "Losers and Haters" segment, some particularly inappropriate comments about said protests."
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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?