Soberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast

In episode 124 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth celebrate Mexican Independence Day by examining the many fronts on which Mexico must defend its sovereignty today.The episode opens with a reflection on the meaning of independence in 2026 — not as a hollow ritual but as a daily practice. The hosts break down six dimensions of sovereignty: economic (control over resources and trade), security (rejecting DEA/CIA operations), diplomatic (the right to relations with Cuba, China, Iran), digital (data and platform regulation), cultural (language and media ownership), and informational (combating foreign disinformation). They note that sovereignty is not a one-time achievement but a permanent struggle.The conversation then turns to a leaked State Department document, reported by News Nation, claiming a majority of Mexicans support U.S. military intervention against cartels. The hosts dismantle the "poll" — no named firm, no methodology — and connect it to a broader effort to manufacture consent for unilateral U.S. action. They contrast it with a recent El Financiero poll showing 78% of Mexicans reject intervention. This is a dangerous psy-op, they argue, aimed at legitimizing what would be a catastrophic violation of Mexican sovereignty.Next, they examine Marco Rubio's Latin America tour, where he visited U.S.-born puppets in Ecuador and Colombia, threatened to "blow up ships if need be," and claimed vast territories in Mexico are "not governed by the state." The episode also looks at a suspicious "pro-Palestine" march in Mexico City's Polanco neighborhood, where participants chanted antisemitic slogans and held the Palestinian flag upside down. The hosts, who have attended many authentic Palestine solidarity marches, identify this as an astroturf provocation designed to smear the movement, criminalize anti-Zionism, and sow division — part of a broader Zionist effort to gain a foothold in Latin America as Israel loses support in the West.Losers and Haters takes aim at Aristegui Noticias for amplifying the bogus News Nation report as "breaking news." They also mock former DEA administrator Derek Maltz for citing a Twitter poll from a notorious charlatan as evidence that Mexicans want U.S. special forces to arrest their politicians.

In episode 123 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth cover Mexico's foreign minister Roberto Velasco's visit to China, where Beijing reaffirmed its support for Mexico's sovereignty and opposition to foreign interference — a clear signal as Mexico seeks to diversify its relationships amid U.S. pressure. The hosts argue that with the U.S.-Canada trade war escalating (including unprecedented product bans), Mexico cannot afford to remain dependent on a single partner, especially as the U.S. declines technologically while China leads.Next, they break down the 2027 economic package, which avoids raising taxes on the wealthy and instead targets tax evasion through fake invoicing (the "factureras") and pushes for a digital economy with reduced cash use. While the hosts support going after tax cheats, they question the plan's reliance on private banks — which charge exorbitant fees — instead of strengthening the state-run Banco de Bienestar. They also highlight the real culprit behind weak investment: Trump's instability, not Mexico's policies, and note that foreign direct investment remains at record highs.The episode then examines a suspicious document published by Televisa's investigative unit, allegedly showing Senator Julieta Ramírez seeking a cooperation deal with the U.S. Justice Department. The hosts point out multiple red flags: the document is in Spanish without an accompanying English version, has no signatures, and Televisa didn't contact Ramírez or the DOJ for comment. They suspect either journalistic incompetence or a deliberate smear against a rising Morena politician from a border state.Losers and Haters takes aim at Fox News for hyping the Pentagon's downing of "cartel drones" as a justification for lethal military action — when Mexican officials have clarified these are commercial surveillance drones used for migrant trafficking, not weapons. The hosts see this as part of a deliberate campaign to build public support for unilateral U.S. military strikes in Mexico.

In episode 122 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth break down Claudia Sheinbaum's second State of the Union address — a sweeping accounting of progress that reveals a government entering a new phase.The episode opens with a detailed look at the informe, from the 51% drop in homicides to the recovery of the minimum wage (up 154% in real terms since 2018), to the expansion of social programs including the women's pension at age 60 and the "Salud Casa por Casa" home-visit health program. The hosts note the contrast with U.S. State of the Union speeches: in Mexico, the focus is on granular policy achievements and state-led development — housing, rail networks, new universities — rather than tax cuts and military spending. Sheinbaum's approval remains at 69-70%, a testament to the government's continuity and delivery.Next, they examine the proposed constitutional reform to bar dual citizens from holding the presidency or state governorships. The hosts dismantle the hissy fits from figures like Carlos Jiménez and Ricardo Salinas Pliego — the latter of whom inadvertently admitted his own dual nationality by objecting. They argue the reform is a sensible measure in an era of U.S. interventionism, especially given examples like Daniel Noboa and Gustavo Petro's successor in Colombia, who openly prioritize Washington over their own capitals.The conversation then turns to the controversial U.S.-Venezuela oil deal. The hosts cut through the hyperbolic declarations of a "sellout" to examine the nuanced reality: contracts signed under coercion are legally invalid; the oil fields require years and billions in investment; and both sides are hedging — with Rubio claiming it's not really a deal with the government, and Chavista legislators calling the contracts illegitimate. They caution against declaring the death of the Bolivarian Revolution while the organized working class continues to resist.Losers and Haters takes aim at Código Magenta, which published a sensationalist article claiming Sheinbaum suffered a "stress-related crisis" before her speech — with zero sources, no attribution, and nothing to back it up. The hosts argue this kind of lazy fabrication is why trust in media is collapsing, and why audience rights legislation is urgently needed.

In episode 121 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth open with the return and swift departure of Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, who briefly reclaimed his office after 112 days on leave — only to face blistering criticism from President Sheinbaum and his own party. The hosts unpack the onion-like layers of the Sinaloa case: the bitter university rivalry between Rocha and his slain rival Héctor Melesio Cuen, the internal cartel war between the Chapitos and Mayitos the opaque role of the U.S. government, and the politically timed indictment that conveniently distracted from the Chihuahua CIA scandal. They argue the U.S. is using the case to destabilize Mexico ahead of the 2027 midterms.Next, they examine the collapse of U.S.-Canada trade talks and what it means for Mexico. With Canada walking away from the negotiating table and imposing retaliatory tariffs, the hosts see a golden opportunity for Mexico to stand firm — since the U.S. can't afford a trade war on two fronts. They contrast Canada's consumer boycott of U.S. products with the Mexican right's slavish devotion to American imports.The conversation then returns to the Cerimedo affair, the far-right operative arrested in Bolivia for allegedly masterminding an assassination attempt on his pregnant ex-partner. The hosts connect the dots between Cerimedo, Javier Negre, Ricardo Salinas Pliego, and the wider network of MAGA-linked consultants — including Brad Parscale and the Miami-based lobbyists who are paid by Mexican taxpayer dollars to undermine Mexico's own government. They warn that while Cerimedo may be down, the infrastructure that enabled him remains intact.Losers and Haters takes aim at Bloomberg for publishing a video claiming investors are treating Mexican debt like junk — despite Mexico's strong economic fundamentals. The hosts argue this is part of a coordinated campaign to pressure Mexico into privatizing its energy sector, with ratings agencies serving as weapons of financial blackmail.

In episode 120 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth open with the arrest of Fernando Cerimedo, a far-right political operative tied to Javier Milei, Rodrigo Paz of Bolivia, and Honduras's Tito Asfura. Cerimedo was detained in Bolivia after his ex-partner — who was pregnant with his child — survived an assassination attempt. The hosts explore how this case exposes the interconnected web of far-right consultants, CIA-linked operatives, and disinformation networks that have been instrumental in installing right-wing governments across Latin America.Next, they examine the U.S. instrumentalization of visa cancellations as a political weapon, from the revocation of Andrés Manuel López Beltrán's visa to broader pressure campaigns against left-wing officials across the region. The hosts contrast this with the worrisome image of Mexico's security chief smiling alongside DEA head Terry Cole, the same official who has accused the Mexican government of being aligned with drug cartels.The episode also covers the ongoing ICE brutality against Mexican migrants, including the case of José Mejía Hernández, who was brutally beaten and tasered during a detention in Virginia.Losers and Haters takes aim at the PAN's pathetic Photoshop of Andrés Manuel López Beltrán's face onto Nicolás Maduro's body; a transparent attempt to smear the former president's son while openly advocating for the kind of U.S. military intervention that has already kidnapped a sitting head of state. The hosts also call out self-styled "investigative journalist" Peniley Ramírez for amplifying unsubstantiated rumors without any corroboration, noting that the Attorney General's Office has already dismissed her claims as false.