Failed Magnate Backs Call for Deportation of Fellow Mexicans: 'ICE Do Your Thing'

Failed Magnate Backs Call for Deportation of Fellow Mexicans: 'ICE Do Your Thing'

In episode 116 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth open with Claudia Sheinbaum's last-minute trip to New York for the World Cup final — and the overwhelming reception she received from the Mexican migrant community. The hosts contrast this with the reaction of oligarch Ricardo Salinas Pliego, who responded to video of the welcoming crowd by retweeting a tweet with the text "ICE do your thing," effectively calling for the agency to target his own compatriots. Next, they analyze the life sentence handed down to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada — and the death of the opposition's fever dream that he would "sing" and implicate AMLO, Sheinbaum, or Morena, dashing the hopes of those who spent months insinuating otherwise, including former ambassador Ken Salazar, who peddled the rumor for the grubby purpose of increasing book sales.The episode then covers the dismantling of the largest fuel-smuggling network in the country, linked to former Baja California governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel, who allegedly defrauded the treasury of over 4 billion pesos. The hosts note the irony of the right-wing opposition immediately crying "political prisoner" while simultaneously launching a new political party whose first major cause is defending an accused gasoline smuggler. The hosts also highlight a scoop from colleague Jesús García: weapons linked to the U.S. State Department have been seized from criminal groups in Tamaulipas, adding yet another chapter to the long history of U.S. arms ending up in cartel hands.Losers and Haters takes aim at the right-wing echo chamber — from Kenya López Rabadán calling Ruffo a political prisoner to columnist Sergio Sarmiento defending him with the flimsiest of pretexts.

Claudia Sheinbaum Takes on the ICE K*lling Machine

In episode 115 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth (broadcasting from Oaxaca) cover Mexico's sharp escalation in the fight against ICE abuses. The government is now filing criminal complaints with U.S. state and federal prosecutors over the deaths of Mexican nationals in detention and during enforcement operations, while also sending cease-and-desist letters to private prison operators like GEO Group and CoreCivic, and taking the issue to the UN Human Rights Commission. Next, they examine the scandal surrounding Baja California Governor Mariana del Pilar, who was caught in leaked audio speaking to unidentified people claiming to be U.S. intermediaries about getting her visa reinstated. While this isn't the outright treason of Chihuahua's Maru Campos, the hosts argue it's still embarrassing: a governor begging to cooperate with the U.S. to get her visa back, apparently willing to talk to anyone and offer anything.The episode also highlights a victory for public transportation: the Buena Vista–Felipe Ángeles Airport train has become a surprise hit, not just for airport travelers but for commuters from the state of Mexico who now shave hours off their daily journeys. The hosts argue this is what happens when you invest in public infrastructure — and contrast it with the U.S. model of privatized, car-centric development.Losers and Haters takes aim at far-right influencer and law professor Natalia Torres, who went on a podcast to argue that not everyone should be allowed to vote. The hosts note the deeply classist, racist, and medieval thinking behind such a statement — and how it perfectly encapsulates why the Mexican right remains its own worst enemy.

Liar, Liar, Ten-Gallon Hat on Fire: Ex Amb Salazar Caught up in Scandal of His Own Making

In episode 114 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth (broadcasting remotely) cover a week of diplomatic scandals, World Cup drama, and economic news. The episode opens with the explosive revelation that the FBI has donated the plane used to kidnap Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada to a museum — effectively admitting U.S. involvement in the operation after years of denials. The hosts break down how Ken Salazar, the former U.S. ambassador, lied repeatedly about the incident. They connect this to the broader pattern of U.S. hypocrisy: negotiating with cartels while accusing Mexico of doing the same, and violating sovereignty while demanding cooperation. Next, they turn to FIFA's corruption on full display during the World Cup. From Trump personally intervening to overturn a red card for the U.S. star player, to blatant calls that robbed Iran and Egypt, the hosts argue the tournament now has a massive asterisk. Yet they also highlight Mexico's stellar performance as a host — welcoming England fans, embracing the Iranian team, and earning praise from supporters' groups worldwide — in stark contrast to the U.S. government's xenophobic and petty behavior. The episode also examines Mexico's return to the top 10 for foreign direct investment, with $41 billion in 2025. While the hosts acknowledge the importance of capital inflows, they caution that FDI doesn't automatically translate into quality jobs or reduced inequality, and note the tension between attracting investment and the U.S. demands for a veto on Chinese trade in USMCA negotiations. Losers and Haters takes aim at Argentine journalist Eduardo Feinmann, who went on a xenophobic rant against Mexico. The hosts note his ties to Ricardo Salinas Pliego, the Mexican billionaire who wants to be president, and contrast his hateful rhetoric with the hospitality Mexico showed the world during the World Cup.

Sports as Diplomacy: Everybody Loves Mexico

In episode 113 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth kick off with a celebration — Mexico has advanced past a knockout stage at the World Cup for the first time since 1986, and the country's hospitality has won hearts worldwide, especially with its embrace of the Iranian team. They argue this moment reveals Mexico's genuine sportsmanship and internationalist spirit, in stark contrast to the U.S. government's petty and xenophobic treatment of Iran.Next, they examine two new developments on the Mexican right: the registration of a new opposition party, "Somos México," and the PAN's latest relaunch. The hosts break down the recycled cast of characters behind Somos México — oligarchs, failed politicians, and former electoral officials — and question whether it can survive the requirement to win 3% of the vote on its own in the next election. The PAN's new platform, meanwhile, reads like a greatest hits of failed neoliberal policies: privatizing the Dos Bocas refinery, scrapping the new public health system, drone patrols, mega-prisons, and tax cuts that the same party previously raised. Losers and Haters takes aim at a New York Times piece that claims Morena officials are secretly cooperating with U.S. investigators. The hosts dismantle the article's sourcing — eight anonymous "people involved in conversations" who are never quoted, recycled allegations from the same reporters who previously insinuated AMLO's sons were caught on video picking up drug money (a claim never substantiated), and the endless parade of the same irrelevant Mexican commentators. It's a case study in lazy, source-free rumor peddling dressed up as prestige journalism.

AMLO in the Crosshairs (Again)

In episode 112 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth open with the fabricated "interview" of Carlos Monsiváis published by El Universal, which smears Andrés Manuel López Obrador with baseless, homophobic innuendo. The hosts demonstrate how the timeline doesn't match, how Monsiváis's family has denied the interview's authenticity, and how the episode reveals the moral bankruptcy of the Mexican right. They connect this to the broader campaign to destroy AMLO's moral authority as a way to weaken Claudia Sheinbaum's presidency. Next, they examine the Schrödinger's box of the USMCA trade agreement. The hosts explain that while the agreement will automatically extend for at least 10 more years, the U.S. may opt for annual reviews — a nightmare scenario that would allow Trump to hold a cudgel over Mexico's head every single year until 2036. The conversation then turns to the electoral results in Colombia and Peru. Iván Cepeda conceded a razor-thin defeat (by just 251,000 votes) to a far-right candidate endorsed by Trump, while in Peru, left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez refuses to recognize Keiko Fujimori's victory, citing widespread fraud. The hosts analyze the different strategies — Cepeda's cautious concession versus Sánchez's defiance — and draw lessons for the Latin American left about the need to defang political opponents before they regain power. Losers and Haters takes aim at the BBC, which unironically tweeted that global trust in news has hit an all-time low — while ignoring its own role in that collapse, from its genocidal coverage of Gaza to its Middle East editor's ties to a CIA front group.