In The Thick

Maria and Julio discuss remarks from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the 38th annual NALEO Conference, and they get into the vice president’s visit to El Paso and the US-Mexico border. We hear from Fernando García, founding director of the Border Network for Human Rights, about reimagining immigration policy and rhetoric. They also unpack recent developments in voting right...

Maria and Julio are joined by Alexa Muñoz, a teacher and translator based in Washington Heights, and Dr. Jessica Marie Johnson, assistant professor in the department of history at Johns Hopkins University. They dive into a conversation about colorism and anti-Blackness in Hollywood and Latinx communities in light of the controversy sparked around the film release of “In The Heights.” They also unp...

Roots of Cultural Expression Maria and Julio talk with fiber artist and teacher, Bisa Butler, about her quilted portraits that celebrate Black life. They also get into the history of Juneteenth and the push by Republican lawmakers to take critical race theory out of classrooms. And, they dive into the significance of textile art and quilting as a medium for storytelling.  Bisa Butler’s portraits a...

Last month, in her first in-person interview for Latino USA since the start of the pandemic, Maria sat down with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and we wanted to share this incredible conversation with you. They get into the lasting impact of the January 6 Capitol riot and what it means to recognize and process trauma in the aftermath. They also talk about the coronavirus pandemic, and issues aroun...

Maria and Julio unpack Vice President Kamala Harris’ visits to Guatemala and Mexico, and give the historical context behind her speech on immigration. We hear from Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas, about the U.S.’ involvement in Central America. They also talk about two incidents at high school graduation ceremonies where students were reprimanded for expressing their Mexican h...

Maria and Julio are joined by Middle East political analyst Omar Baddar to unpack the recent events in Palestine and Israel. They give an update on the forced evictions of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, and the situation in Gaza following the bombings and airstrikes last month. They also discuss the impact of social media in documenting what is happening, and the U.S.’ role in Israel.  IT...

Maria and guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast, discuss the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. They also dive into recent anti-trans legislation coinciding with the start of Pride Month and give an immigration update about the termination of former President Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy. This episode is sponsored by Ground News - The world's fir...

Maria and Julio are joined by Karen Washington, an urban farmer and food justice activist, and Adrian Chang, a cook and food writer, for a conversation about the racial history of farming in the United States and the systemic inequities in food access. They also dive into how food can be used to foster meaningful solidarity between communities. This episode is sponsored by Ground News - The world'...

Maria and Julio reflect on one year since the murder of George Floyd. They share highlights from ITT’s first virtual live show of 2021 this week, where they were joined by local Minneapolis journalists Georgia Fort and Tarkor Zehn to talk about police violence, racial justice and the Black Lives Matter movement. They also discuss race education in schools and mainstream media’s coverage of movemen...

One year after the murder of George Floyd, Maria and Julio are joined by Mel Reeves, political organizer and community editor of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, and Hibah Ansari, immigration reporter at Sahan Journal, to reflect on policing in the United States. They break down what has been missing from mainstream media coverage and discuss the radical transformations needed on the local and na...

Maria and Julio reflect on the toll of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and the issues with mainstream media’s coverage of this news. They also dive into the recent push to create an independent commission that would investigate the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and give a quick update on the latest immigration news. SAVE THE DATE: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on Wednesday, May 26th a...

Julio is joined by Manhattan District Attorney candidate Tahanie Aboushi for a conversation about restorative justice, decriminalizing sex work and her vision for the office. We also hear from Nicole Smith Futrell, an associate professor and supervising attorney in the Criminal Defense Clinic at the CUNY School of Law, who talks about the devastating impacts of incarceration on New Yorkers.  This...

Maria is joined by guest co-host and ITT All-star Jamilah King to discuss the continued violence and attacks against Palestinians by Israeli settlers and forces in Gaza. We hear from Gaza-based journalist Hana Salah about what she is seeing on the ground. They also talk about the recent implosion of the Republican Party, including the removal of House Rep. Liz Cheney, an aggressive confrontation b...

Maria is joined by Marinah Valenzuela Farrell, a Chicanx midwife and director of the Changing Woman Initiative, and Dr. Rachel Hardeman, a reproductive health equity researcher and a Tenured Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, for a conversation about inequity in birthing healthcare—particularly for women of color and the LGBTQ community. They discuss how t...

Maria and Julio discuss recent updates on immigration and COVID-19 vaccine equity. They also dive into current global protests in Colombia and East Jerusalem, where civilians have been met with extreme police violence.  SAVE THE DATE: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on Wednesday, May 26th at 7pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by Georgia Fort, award winning independent journalist and Tarkor Z...

Maria and Julio are joined by Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College, historian and author of “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks” and co-editor of the new book “Julian Bond’s Time To Teach: A History of the Southern Civil Rights Movement.” They talk about the legacy of activist, politician and educator Julian Bond and the lessons from his lectures -...

Maria and Julio discuss President Biden’s first address to Congress, marking the first 100 days of his presidency. They also get into U.S. foreign policy in Central America, and give a COVID update, including the ongoing crisis in India. We also hear from Lorella Praeli, co-president of Community Change Action, who spoke about immigration policy in this moment.  Also ITT familia! In The Thick is n...

As COVID-19 vaccines open up for all adults in the United States, Maria and Julio unpack the next phase of the pandemic and its global impact, including vaccination equity and immunoprivilege. For this discussion, they’re joined by Dr. Keisha Ray, bioethicist at McGovern Medical School at University of Texas Health in Houston, and Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children's Center for Vac...

Maria and Julio discuss the verdict of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty on all charges for the murder of George Floyd. They unpack the ongoing police violence and the collective work needed to protect Black communities and end this state violence. They also give an immigration update and push back against revisionist history narratives. Need some positive news...

As we continue to see police violence throughout the country, Maria and Julio reimagine community safety with guests Victoria Law, freelance journalist and author of the new book, “Prisons Make Us Safe: and 20 Other Myths About Mass Incarceration,” and Joshua Briond, abolitionist and co-host of the “Millennials Are Killing Capitalism” podcast. They discuss abolition, resistance and what justice an...

Maria and Julio discuss the heaviness of this week with the latest in acts of racist police violence includingthe police murder of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, which happened this past Sunday. We hear from Kandace Montgomery of Black Visions, a Black-led community organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that’s committed to justice for and liberation of Black people.  ITT Staff...

Maria is joined by guest co-host Dr. Christina Greer, associate professor at Fordham University and co-host of the FAQ NYC and What’s In It For Us podcasts, to discuss the #MeToo Movement in light of the sexual harassment allegations against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. They talk with Josefa Velásquez, senior reporter for The City, about covering the Cuomo administration and the recent scandals...

Maria and Julio discuss the latest in federal and state legislation, including President Biden's executive orders on gun control and the anti-trans bills that have been introduced in states across the country. They also talk about the COVID-19 relief fund for undocumented immigrants in New York, which was passed in the state this week following a 23-day hunger strike. We hear from Angeles Solis, t...

Maria and Julio talk with ITT All-Stars Renée Graham, a columnist for The Boston Globe, and Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr., James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University, about the murder trial for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. They also get into the second Capitol attack and voter suppression in Georgia and around the country. ITT Staff Picks: - Renée writ...

Maria is joined by guest co-host, Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast. They unpack the latest on the Derek Chauvin trial, which began this week, and talk about the powerful and heartbreaking testimonies of those who were witnesses to George Floyd's murder. They also give a COVID-19 update and discuss the record number of anti-trans bills that have been introduced in states...