Ruben In The Center

Host Ruben Navarrette catches up with his old college friend, Dr. Ron Granieri, about growing up and out growing the politics of your youth, and whether Americas can find common ground in the center of the road. Guest: Ron Granieri, PhD, Associate Professor of History at US Army War College

Host Ruben Navarrette talks about the law, politics, the Supreme Court, and current events with his good friend, David Iglesias, U.S. Navy Captain, former JAG lawyer, former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, and currently professor of law and politics at Wheaton College as well as director of the Wheaton College Center for Faith, Politics and Economics. Guest: David Iglesias, Professor at Wheaton Coll...

Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his old friend, Tavis Smiley, about the recent anti-Black hate crime in Buffalo, NY -- and whether Black people are safe in America, as long as there are so many White people with AR-15's who think they're being replaced. Guest: Tavis Smiley, Radio Host at KBLA-1580 AM and Media Entrepreneur

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Monica Guzman, author of "I Never Thought Of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times" about the power of curiosity and the value of talking to people whose ideas you might consider strange.

Host Ruben Navarrette unpacks the challenges and opportunities of being a California farmer -- specifically, a Southern California farmer -- where land goes for a premium, costs are higher, and creativity is an essential survival tool.

Host Ruben Navarrette discusses journalism, commentary and editorial cartoons with one of the best in the business and his former colleague -- Steve Breen, San Diego Union-Tribune editorial columnist & two-time Pulitzer Prize winner.

Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his friend, Gary Acosta, about the difficulty that Latinos have had in building wealth -- for themselves and their communities, and how to change that and create a new reality.

Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his friend, John Manzella, about the interlocking nature of several items in the news these days: trade, immigration, globalization, automation and the global supply chain. Guest: John Manzella, speaker, author and expert on U.S. trade policy & labor force

To mark his special 100th episode, host Ruben Navarrette interviews two American teenagers -- his son, Santiago Navarrette, and daughter, Jacqui Navarrette-- about the challenges and opportunities of coming of age in the 2020's.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Hollywood writer and producer Jeff Valdez about his long and unconventional personal journey from Pueblo Colorado to Beverly Hills, and his new series on HBO-MAX: "The Garcias" in which the Mexican-American protagonists -- living in Mexico -- are delightfully normal. Guest: Jeff Valdez, Producer & Writer of Most Recently, "The Garcias" on HBO-MAX

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, college classmate, and UCLA law professor Laura Gomez about Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown, affirmative action in college admissions and the state of race in America. Guest: Laura Gomez, UCLA Law School Professor

Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his friend, Phillip Rodriguez, about his long career of making more than a dozen documentary films -- including many for PBS -- about various aspects of the Latino experience in America, and why that road has been so difficult to travel. Guest: Phillip Rodriguez, Documentary Filmmaker

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, Chris Salcedo, about why neither political party has done right by Latinos and other Americans -- and why, from Salcedo's point of view, Latinos should definitely avoid Democrats like COVID-19. Guest: Chris Salcedo, Radio Host & Newsmax-TV Host

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, and fellow journalist Macarena Hernandez, about the Latino Experience, and how America's largest minority is doing in its constant pursuit of the one thing it craves most of all: respect. Guest: Macarena Hernandez, Journalist & Former Journalism Professor

Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his friend, Neal Griffin, about the serious challenges of policing America's streets after the murder of George Floyd, in the midst of a global pandemic, and against the backdrop of a new crime wave. Guest: Neal Griffin, Retired Police Detective Lt and Bestselling Crime Novelist

Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his old friend, and college classmate, Ron Granieri -- who is now Dr. Ronald Granieri, Associate Professor of History at the US Army War College -- about his specialty: Europe, NATO and US-European relations, all in the context of the current crisis in Ukraine. Guest: Dr. Ronald Granieri, Associate Professor of History in the Department of National Security and Str...

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, Al Pando, a lifelong journalist and news executive who was born in Havana, Cuba about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and something a lot of Americans don't understand: the true meaning of freedom. Guest: Albert Pando, Journalist & Media Innovator

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Cid Martinez, Sociology Professor at the University of San Diego, about the deteriorating relationship between police and people of color -- and why President Biden's preferred remedy of "community policing" will only make things worse. Guest: Cid Martinez, Sociology Professor at the University of San Diego

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Nancy Maldonado, President & CEO of The Chicano Federation of San Diego County about the term "Chicano" and the condition of the Mexican-American community in the United States. Guest: Nancy Maldonado, President & CEO of The Chicano Federation of San Diego County

Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his friend, Marine Corps Col. Trace Deneke about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the startling possibility that the world order may be changing before our eyes. Guest: Trace Deneke, Marine Corps Colonel (ret.), Teacher & Coach

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, Tim O'Leary, about the historical experience and valuable contributions of Irish-Americans in celebration of Irish-American Heritage Month. Guest: Tim O'Leary, Journalist

Host Ruben Navarrette celebrates Black History Month by having a passionate discussion with his old friend of nearly 40 years, and former college roommate, Jay Stewart. An African American graduate of Harvard College and Georgetown Law School, Stewart is an instructor at Howard University where he teaches courses in criminology, sociology, law and politics. The two friends discuss affirmative acti...

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Esther Valdes Clayton about her dual roles as an immigration attorney fighting to prevent individuals from being deported, and an outspoken school board member for the Coronado School District -- all from her unique perch as a pro-life, pro-immigration Mexican-American Republican. Guest: Esther Valdes Clayton, Immigration Attorney & Coronado School District Board M...

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Linda Caballero Sotelo, Executive Director of New Americans Museum, about leadership, public service, Latinos in America and the contributions of immigrants to our nation. Guest: Linda Caballero Sotelo, Executive Director of New Americans Museum

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend Anna Maria Chavez, Chief Impact Officer at Encantos & President of Encantos.org, about K-12 education, technology as a tool to reach students, the generation gap and what women leaders bring to the table. Guest: Anna Maria Chavez, Chief Impact Officer at Encantos & President of Encantos.org