Soberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast

"$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 Peñ...

As Attorney General Pam Bondi calls Mexico a "foreign adversary" and the US Treasury Department sanctions three Mexican financial institutions, President Sheinbaum's patience is clearly running out. In today's episode, José Luis and Kurt discuss Mexico's diplomatic dilemma in the face of the Trump administration's constant turning of the screws. They also discuss the United States' amusing threat...

In a world in crisis, with the moral vacuity of the global north devastatingly evident with each passing day, a voice like Mexico's is desperately needed on the world stage. In this episode of "Soberanía," Kurt and José Luis consider the ongoing debate in Mexico over how to respond to the genocide in Gaza and the Iran/Iraq war. In the midst of all the tumult, Mexico's economy con...

Take that man's phone away! In the latest episode of Soberanía, a triggered Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau goes full rage-doxx against a MORENA party official, President Sheinbaum attends the G7 in Calgary, Kurt and José Luis reflect on the Iran-Israel conflict, and an update on opposition to the ICE raids in the context of the "No Kings" protests . The show concludes w...

As the Tigres del Norte song goes, “I didn’t cross the border; the border crossed me.” In today’s episode, Kurt and José Luis analyze the latest developments in Los Angeles, as Mexican communities resist the abuses and kidnappings of ICE, Mexican flags are waved throughout the conflict area, and Trump seeks to turn the screws ever further. The provocations spill over into the diplomatic front, as...

¡Tómala! On Sunday, June 1st, Mexico went to the polls to elect the entire Supreme Court and half of the federal judiciary (the other half will be elected in 2027). Kurt and José Luis will have the full rundown of this historic step forward in bringing democracy to a branch riddled with corruption, nepotism, obscene privileges, and collusion with oligarchies domestic and international. Sunday also...

Brother, can you spare $2.4 billion? In a coup for Mexico's Financial Investigation's Unit, a Florida court has found Felipe Calderon's former Security Minister and his wife guilty of embezzling funds from the state. Kurt and José Luis have the full rundown of what it means and the precedent it sets. Also, the dissident sections of the federal teachers' union, known as the CNTE, ar...

Sounds like a Graham Greene novel, but it’s real: Trump’s Green Beret/CIA ambassador has arrived to take up his post as US ambassador to Mexico. And his first day in the country was…interesting. Kurt and José Luis analyze the implications of such a dark figure pulling the levers in the new embassy building. And on the very day the ambassador arrived, Propublica reporter (and DEA frontman) Tim Gold...

It’s bizarro world! In today’s episode, we kick off by discussing the recent summit between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), attended by President Xi Jinping and several Latin American heads of state of varying degrees of progressivism. With the threat of Trumpism and tariffs hanging in the air, the summit acquired both greater impetus and urgency. In section...

The 40-hour workweek will be a reality in Mexico...eventually. In this episode, Kurt and José Luis discuss the May Day announcement, weighing the pros-and-cons of MORENA's attempts to pass labor reforms with corporate buy-in. They also discuss the recent Sheinbaum-Trump calls regarding tariffs and her refusal of the US "offer" to send troops, the presidenta's recent shape-up lett...

President Claudia Sheinbaum wants to stop foreign governments from being able to run offensive ads and seeks to revamp Mexico's outdated telecom laws, including making broadband internet more accessible and increasing community access to airwaves, but corporate media, the Mexican opposition and some critics are accusing her government of censorship. Co-hosts José Luis and Kurt discuss the new...

Eager to pursue his campaign goal of the largest deportation operation in US history, Donald Trump has militarized the border, turning over the early-twentieth-century Roosevelt Reservation to the Department of Defense in order to circumvent Posse Comitatus Act and get US troops to take part in the deportation of migrants. Plus, co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth follow up on the...

These dangerous times call for regional unity, but can Latin America unite against Trump threats? Co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth answer this question as they look at the events of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) summit last week and the threat posed by Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa following the questionable results announced Sunday night declaring him th...

Trump’s tariff plan turned out worse than everyone expected but somehow Mexico has come out unscathed. While close friends and allies of Trump were hit with devastating tariffs, Mexico was spared thanks to President Claudia Sheinbaum’s negotiating and now the country is poised to take advantage of its comparative advantage in the refashioned world of global commerce. However that’s not her whole p...

…Who needs enemies? In this second episode from their brand spanking-new studio space, Kurt and José Luis discuss Claudia Sheinbaum’s taking one for the team by meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in the final stop of Noem’s “cringe tour” through Latin America. They also discuss the media attempt to play up China’s supposed pivot away from Mexico and the extent to which any of the...

Live from the new studio! From their new digs, Kurt and José Luis discuss the Trump administration's denial of Mexico's special request for water for Tijuana and what that bodes for the 1944 treaty governing water sharing along the border. They also discuss migrant mistreatment at the Krome Detention Center in Miami, Florida, including the harrowing viral video in which a Mexican detainee...

Right-wing politicians in Mexico are working with Mexican oligarch Ricardo Salinas Pliego to build links with the far right, hosting meetings with representatives from Vox, the Atlas Network, and the Fundación Internacional para la Libertad. Is there cause for concern? Co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth also discuss the recent grim findings in Teuchitlán, Jalisco and break down th...

On Sunday, March 9, 350,000 people filled Mexico City's Zocalo to overflowing in a national unity rally to protest Trump's tariff threats. In this episode, Kurt and José Luis analyze the effects of this display of people power together with President Sheinbaum's negotiating skills. They also discuss recent consitutional reforms, including anti-nepotism and anti-reelection measures toge...

US President Donald Trump has decided to impose sweeping 25% tariffs on Mexican goods imported into the United States, upending the North American economic partnership. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has responded swiftly, labelling his decision as “offensive” and calling for supporters to demonstrate this Sunday in the name of national unity in the face of this attack. In the latest episode...

Elon Musk wants drone strikes in Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has responded by proposing two reforms aimed at toughening the defense of sovereignty in the constitution and imposing the harshest penalties on foreigners involved in activities that infringe on Mexican sovereignty. Yet at the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is softening his rhetoric, proposing cooperation i...

In the latest episode of Soberanía, Kurt and José Luis discuss the implications for Mexico of hardliner Terry Cole being nominated to lead the DEA, as the agency struggles to rediscover its mojo following a series of embarrassing scandals. They also analyze the USAID's historic role as a soft-power arm of empire, with its tentacles well-placed in Mexico, and go on to consider the devastating c...

Mexico wants to become a silicon powerhouse, build a million homes, and defend its sovereignty. In the latest episode of Soberanía, co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth look at plans to create Kutzari, National Semiconductor Design Center, as well as updated efforts to build housing; plus a look at the country’s development model that is keeping inflation and unemployment down. As a...

Following a successful negotiation by President Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump walked back his executive order imposing 25% tariffs on Mexico. Co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth tell the story of this week’s rollercoaster of events in the Mexico-US bilateral relationship, looking at Trump’s executive order, Sheinbaum’s response, and the deal that was ultimately struck. 

The first salvo has been fired. After Colombian President Gustavo Petro turned back deportation flights over the inhumane treatment of migrants, Trump threatened to impose tariffs in retaliation, although he ultimately backed down. What does this latest episode tell us about how Mexico and Latin America need to respond to Trump? What is the US president seeking to get out of Mexico? Co-hosts José...

Trump is back in the White House and has already approved a series of executive orders that will impact Mexico and the bilateral relationship. Co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth review the first actions by the new Trump administration and Mexico’s response, including steps the Sheinbaum government is taking to attend to migrants in the face of mass deportations by the US. Plus, we...