Soberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast

In episode 105 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth dissect the U.S. government's extradition request for Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya — and why the timing looks less like justice and more like retaliation.The episode opens with a breakdown of the indictment, highlighting three red flags: the U.S. made it public within hours of notifying Mexico; they requested provisional arrest without providing evidence; and the charges rely on testimony from protected witnesses — likely the Chapitos — whose credibility is compromised. All of this comes just days after the Chihuahua scandal, where CIA agents were caught operating illegally with a PAN governor.The conversation then examines the newly released U.S. National Drug Control Strategy, which prioritizes militarized interdiction and "the healing power of faith" over public health — revealing that U.S. drug policy is about imperial control, not solving addiction.Finally, they turn to Morena's new party president, Adriana Montiel, a former wellbeing secretary who helped build Mexico's social programs inside the territory. Her first act? Expressing solidarity with Cuba — a promising shift for a party needing territory work, not spotlight seekers.Losers and Haters takes aim at a New York Times piece on Cuba's May Day march, which the hosts dismantle as propaganda: unscientific surveys, unsubstantiated claims, and an "embattled president" framing that ignores the actual U.S. blockade causing the crisis.

In episode 104 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth dive into the deepening scandal over CIA operatives operating illegally in Mexico—and the U.S. ambassador's aggressive response.The episode opens with an update on the fallout from the Chihuahua incident, where two CIA agents died in a car crash while on an unauthorized operation alongside state authorities. The hosts trace how the story has evolved: the state attorney general's shifting explanations, the resignation of key officials, and Governor Maru Campos's refusal to appear before the Senate. They also examine the broader implications of U.S. Ambassador Ron Johnson's provocative statements about a coming "anti-corruption campaign" targeting Mexican politicians—a move that feels less about accountability and more about leveraging the USMCA negotiations.Next, they share a rare piece of good news: the long-awaited inauguration of the Felipe Ángeles Airport train line. Mexico City now has a reliable, affordable rail connection to its second airport—part of a broader state-led push for public transit that stands in stark contrast to the privatization models pushed by previous neoliberal administrations.Kurt then reports back from his recent trip to Chicago, where he spoke with Mexican migrant organizers about the shared struggle against U.S. aggression and the need to build bridges between communities on both sides of the border. The conversation touches on the 40-million-strong Mexican diaspora's political potential, the lingering effects of corporatist structures from the PRI era, and the challenge of building new forms of participation under the Fourth Transformation.Finally, Losers and Haters takes aim at a Wall Street Journal hit piece that paints President Sheinbaum as exhausted, short-tempered, and overwhelmed—relying on anonymous sources, tired stereotypes, and the ever-present Jorge Castañeda. The hosts dismantle the piece as misogynistic gossip dressed up as journalism, noting that for all the supposed chaos, Mexico's exports are up, its trains are running, and its president remains popular.

In episode 103 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth return from Cuba with firsthand observations of life under the intensifying U.S. blockade.The episode opens with their report from the fifth Patria colloquium in Havana, where they witnessed both the resistence of the Cuban people and the daily reality of hours-hour blackouts, fuel shortages, and a growing waitlist for medical operations—including 11,000 children. Yet amid the hardship, they found a population that remains fiercely committed to defending its socialist project, grateful for Mexican solidarity, and determined not to give the empire the easy win it seeks.Next, they break down an explosive scandal: two CIA operatives died in a car crash in Chihuahua while returning from an operation led by state authorities. The problem? The Mexican federal government knew nothing about it. The hosts explain why this collaboration between a PAN state governor and U.S. intelligence is unconstitutional, illegal, and a profound violation of national sovereignty—and why Ambassador Ron Johnson has serious questions to answer.The episode closes on a positive note: Mexico's proposed transition to a universal, portable health care system. Kurt walks through the nuts and bolts of the plan, which would integrate the country's fragmented health subsystems by 2030—a rare bright spot of social investment at a time when much of the world is slashing public services.

In episode 102 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth open with an in-depth examination of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances' unprecedented decision to refer Mexico's case to the General Assembly. The hosts break down why the Mexican government has rejected the report, arguing that the committee improperly extrapolated from outdated data (2009-2016) and stretched the definition of "enforced disappearance" beyond the committee's own definition—all while ignoring progress made since 2018. They question the timing and motivations behind the move.Next, the conversation shifts to Mexico's more assertive stance on migrant deaths in U.S. immigration custody. For the first time, Mexico is taking the issue to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights while also joining an amicus curiae brief in a lawsuit over the Adelanto detention center in California, where Mexican nationals have died. The hosts analyze what this shift signals about the new foreign policy approach under incoming foreign secretary Roberto Velasco.Finally, they introduce Velasco, the 38-year-old openly gay diplomat rising through the ranks as a protégé of Marcelo Ebrard. While not expecting a radical departure from past policy, the hosts note early signs of a more vocal and social media-savvy foreign ministry—a welcome change after the muted performance of his predecessor.The episode closes with a sobering Losers and Haters focused on Donald Trump's social media threats to "wipe a civilization off the face of the earth," and what that means for Mexico's long-term deterrence strategy.

In episode 101 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth return from a brief break to tackle the Mexican tax authority's decision to revoke the tax-deductible status some NGOs operating in the country, including prominent organizations linked to the opposition and US funding. The hosts break down what actually happened—a routine administrative review that these groups failed to comply with—and why the outcry reveals more about the privileges they've enjoyed than any actual repression.Next, they examine two recent incidents of U.S. troops entering Mexican territory without authorization, including a recent episode at the US-Mexico border and a November 2024 case where private contractors posted signs declaring Mexican land a U.S. restricted area. While the government has downplayed both incidents, the hosts argue they are part of a pattern of provocations that demand a serious deterrent strategy—something Mexico currently lacks.The conversation then turns to a U.S. House bill targeting Mexico over the Vulcan Materials dispute, a long-running environmental conflict in the Yucatán. The hosts detail how the Mexican government tried to negotiate a buyout before declaring the area a protected natural zone, and why the company's refusal to accept a fair price has now escalated into a congressional showdown.Finally, Losers and Haters takes aim at the PT party for blocking key elements of the electoral reform Plan B—a move that has angered the coalition's base and exposed the limits of governing with smaller parties more interested in self-preservation than principle.