Ruben In The Center

Host Ruben Navarrette breaks down a couple of bizarre recent events on the immigration front, where the Biden administration has taken a hardline against admitting refugee families while promising to be more accommodating to immigrants and refugees.

Host Ruben Navarrette unpacks one of the exceptions to the "never quit, don't give up" rule: knowing when to get off the hamster wheel or change course or make a u-turn or stop and breathe. That's what gold medal Olympic gymnast Simone Biles did in stepping away from the 2020 Tokyo games, and it's not a bad thing.

Host Ruben Navarrette chats with his friend, and fellow journalist, Macarena Hernandez about the magical power of American journalism to make the country’s largest minority, and its stories, disappear into oblivion. Guest: Macarena Hernandez

Host Ruben Navarrette examines the public relations mess that California officials created with their on-again, off-again, on-again policy about whether students who return in the Fall will be required to wear masks.

Host Ruben Navarrette tackles Americans’ arrogance toward COVID-19, which may be one reason why Los Angeles — a city which was a virus hotspot throughout 2020 — recently went back to mandatory masking for the vaccinated and unvaccinated alike.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Arsalan Iftikhar, about his new book detailing the history and present-day reality of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry in the U.S. and around the globe. Guest: Arsalan Iftikhar, human rights lawyer, writer and author of “Fear of A Muslim Planet: Global Islamophobia in The New World Order”

Host Ruben Navarrette, the son of a retired cop who was on the job for 37 years, bemoans the fact that so many police officers are quitting and hanging up their badges amid the low morale in the profession following the murder of George Floyd.

Host Ruben Navarrette delves into the controversy at ESPN, over remarks by host Rachel Nichols who griped about the fact that her colleague, Maria Taylor, got a hosting gig she didn’t. Nichols is White, Taylor is Black. And yet, there is no racism here.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, and former LA radio co-host, Tavis Smiley about his career, his canceling, his comeback, and his take on the state of Black Americans in the post-George Floyd era. Guest: Tavis Smiley, TV/Radio Host/Author & Media Entrepreneur

Host Ruben Navarrette explains — in blunt and clear language — exactly what Republicans do wrong when they talk about immigration, and why they can’t help themselves from screwing this up.

Host Ruben Navarrette reflects on President Biden’s solution to the worker shortage: “Pay them more” and suggests the real solution is not monetary but to treat workers as equals deserving of respect and dignity.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Alberto Pando, his friend and fellow lifelong journalist — and a media executive who has worked in news, sports and scripted entertainment over the last three decades — about the lack of public trust in the modern media. Guest: Alberto Pando, Journalist & Media Executive

Host Ruben Navarrette explores the interesting phenomenon of a Democratic administration (Biden/Harris) that got 2/3 of the Latino vote — and yet, still, seems to not know the first thing about Latinos.

Host Ruben Navarrette reflects on what America means to him and his family, at a time when this country appears to be stuck somewhere between lockdown and freedom.

Host Ruben Navarrette visits with his friend — and compadre -- Enrique Morones, who was at the heart of the public protests and pressure campaign over the recent tortilla tossing incident that led the Coronado High School basketball team to be stripped this week of their championship title. Guest: Enrique Morones, human rights activist, immigrant advocate, and founder/executive director of the org...

Host Ruben Navarrette applauds two members of the U.S. Senate who refuse to go along with their Democratic colleagues just to get along: Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. They’re not the problem. They’re the solution.

Host Ruben Navarrette looks at the so-called “tortilla toss” near San Diego, where White fans and high school basketball players tossed tortillas at the players of an opposing team who just happened to be Latino. I’m sure that’s just a coincidence.

Host Ruben Navarrette visits with Kevin Faulconer about the former San Diego mayor’s bid to become the first Republican governor of California in 15 years, and only the second one in the last 23 years.

Host Ruben Navarrette examines whether police reform could be in the cards as more cities and communities begin to “reimagine” what policing in America could look like if it had a much-needed overhaul.

Host Ruben Navarrette roasts Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for creating his own immigration policy and build a border wall, in violation of both the Constitution and Republican rhetoric about how states can’t go rogue and sidestep the federal government.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend John Manzella, a Buffalo NY-based columnist, author, and expert on U.S. trade policy about this week’s NATO meeting in Brussel’s and the decision to end a trade war in the West — to focus on the East. Guest: John Manzella, columnist, author, and expert on U.S. trade policy

Host Ruben Navarrette returns to the timely and controversial subject of the current worker shortage and explores the reasons for it beyond low wages and higher-than-usual unemployment benefits.

Host Ruben Navarrette examines the bizarre case of a North Carolina high school student who decided to celebrate his ethnic heritage by wearing the Mexican flag on his high school graduation gown and was denied his diploma because of it.

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews San Diego-based journalist Jean Guerrero about her recent piece in the LA Times about Vice President Kamala Harris’ ill-fated trip south of the border, and the turmoil it caused.

Host Ruben Navarrette looks at the so-called “Democracy Reform” movement, which has been taken up by both Republicans who want to stop their ideological enemies from voting, and Democrats who are hell-bent on stopping Republicans.