US President-Elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico, Canada, and China on his first day in office but Mexico’s government is unbowed. In this week’s episode, co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth discuss President Sheinbaum’s reaction and the possible fallout from Trump’s proposal. Plus a conversation about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s deceitful, double-faced approach to Mexico-Canada relations; as well as a look at...

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum makes her debut on the World stage at the G20 where she called on countries to use 1% of the money they spend on defense to instead fund a global reforestation program in the style of Mexico’s Sembrado Vida. Sheinbaum also reiterated Mexico’s call for a reform of the UN and its Security Council. In this week’s episode, co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth also analyze The Mexican president’s first budget and what it says about her...

What does Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections mean for the Mexico-US bilateral relationship? President Claudia Sheinbaum has her answer. In this week’s episode, co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth look at the implications of another Trump presidency for Mexico, as well as the groveling response by the Mexican opposition. Plus a discussion on lessons from Mexico as people finally turn their gaze south to try to discover what policies are working to win more support...

A repost of our special live episode on Nov. 5 to discuss the coup effort by the Mexican Supreme Court, which failed to overturn the Constitution, as well as a conversation on the US Election and its implications for Mexico. In this episode, co-hosts Jose Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth were joined by Sin Censura's J. Antonio Ruiz.

It’s fun watching Mexican oligarchs get their comeuppance. This week Soberanía podcast co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth discuss the fall of Televisa Chairman Emilio Azcárraga Jean and the problems facing TV Azteca. We also break down the miscarriage of justice being attempted against an underage victim in Querétario by state Attorney General Víctor Antonio Jesús Hernández. Plus, you won’t be surprised to learn that Kurt and José Luis agreed with President Sheinbaum when she...

One judge in Mexico thinks she can overrule 36 million voters, ordering the president to unpublish the recently approved judicial reform and threatening to jail President Claudia Sheinbaum if she does not listen! Of course she doesn’t have the power to do so but her threats speak to the undemocratic attitude of the opposition and their allies. Soberanía podcast co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth also talk about the 38-year prison sentence for Felipe Calderon´s security head...

Tired of US Ambassador Ken Salazar running around Mexico like he owns the place, President Claudia Sheinbaum put a short leash on him, ordering the US diplomat to refrain from accessing her cabinet members directly and instead requesting meetings through the Foreign Affairs Secretariat, as it should be. Soberanía podcast co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth also discuss Antonio Garci Nieto, the reactionary cartoonist, and his cry of victimhood after Senator Andrea Chávez...

In our last episode we wondered what would be President Claudia Sheinbaum’s first crisis, well we didn’t have to wait long. In her first week, the newly inaugurated Mexican president has had to face security challenges, the impact of hurricanes, and a coup plot by the Supreme Court of Justice. In the latest episode of the Soberanía podcast co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth discuss Sheinbaum’s efforts to tackle the many challenges facing Mexico. Plus we introduce a new...

Mexico has a new president: Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. In this latest episode, co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth go over her first speeches as president on Oct 1, first in the Congress and later in Mexico City’s Zócalo, where the president outlined her 100-point agenda to a roaring and enthusiastic crowd. Plus, the mañaneras (daily morning press conferences by the president) are here to stay! Kurt and José Luis chat about Sheinbaum’s own touch on this critical communications...

From storming the Senate Chamber to attacking elected officials out in public, supporters of the political right in Mexico are increasingly turning to extreme forms of protest. In this latest episode, co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth analyze this worrisome trend and compare the opposition’s disarray to Morena’s stability, having just organized the party’s congress that saw a new leadership elected. Plus we listen to Claudia Sheinbaum’s last speech before becoming president...

In the face of the defeat, Mexico’s political opposition is taking desperate measures. They have dragged out former neoliberal President Ernesto Zedillo (of the corrupt PRI) to speak out against the Judicial Reform. Co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth discuss this and the opposition’s virtual collapse after yet another loss, as well as the symbolism of AMLO signing the decree officially modifying the Constitution on September 15, Mexican Independence Day. In our Losers and...

Soberanía takes a deep dive into Morena’s Judicial Reform. Co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth start by providing an overview of what the constitutional reform actually intends to accomplish. We also talk about the unhinged response by some members of the opposition to the push to approve the reform; as well as a response to the Washington Post by two of Claudia Sheinbaum’s incoming cabinet members. Plus, Supreme Court President Norma Piña finally leaves the comfort of her...

Morena did it. Their presence in the Senate has risen to 85 after two defections from the moribund PRD. In this episode Soberanía co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth ask what Morena's Supermajority means for Mexico and the deepening of the Fourth Transformation? Plus a report back from our participation in the 1st Continental Gathering of Independent Communicators held in Mexico City, as well as our on-the-ground coverage of President López Obrador’s final state of the union...

After repeatedly interfering in Mexico’s internal affairs, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador told US Ambassador Ken Salazar to keep his nose out of the country’s business. In this episode Soberanía co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth discuss Salazar’s inappropriate comments on the judicial reform that is being debated in Congress. Plus a look at Mexico’s fringe opposition and their participation in the CPAC Mexico conference alongside an AI Ronald Reagan. Kurt and...

Is the United States backing the Mexican opposition via the NED and the US Embassy’s funding of the NGO “Mexicanos Contra la Corruption y la Impunidad”? A new report from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests the CIA cutout National Endowment for Democracy says Mexico is “major target country for infiltration” and US funding bothered President Andres Manuel López Obrador so much that he sent a diplomatic letter to Joe Biden. Soberanía co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth...

Mexico’s Morena-led government continues to push ahead to fulfill the mandate delivered by the voters, Soberanía co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth discuss the country’s historic debt to Indigenous and afro-descendant peoples and the approval of a monumental (and long overdue) constitutional reform that would make Indigenous communities the subjects of rights under the constitution, grant their traditional governance standing in the law, and the right to decide what...

Voters delivered a strong mandate to Claudia Sheinbaum who promised to build the “second floor” of the Fourth Transformation of Mexico, and deepen progressive changes. Morena and its allies in Congress are already quickly moving to deliver but the opposition wants to change the rules of the game after the final whistle. In this episode, Soberanía co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth discuss Morena’s moves to push forward progressive constitutional reforms on housing, the...

One of the most notorious drug traffickers has been caught. In this episode, Soberanía co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth discuss who wins and who loses as a result and ask: what's behind the capture of El mayo Zambada? Plus a discussion about Ricardo Salinas Pliego’s effort to muzzle independent journalists. And in the second half of the show Kurt and José Luis discuss the recent presidential election in Venezuela and the parallels with Mexico. Finally, in our Losers and...

Mexico’s opposition parties want the courts to give them what they could not win at the ballot box! Soberanía co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth look into efforts to steal Morena’s legislative supermajority through electoral lawfare. Plus a discussion on the right-wing PAN’s confession of what we always knew all along, they are opposed to social programs and would have canceled them had they won. Finally, Kurt and José Luis spend some extra time in our Loser and Haters...

In view of Trump surviving an assassination attempt, what are the potential consequences of a second Donald Trump presidency for Mexico? Soberanía co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth look at plans laid out by the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 and a policy paper from the pro-MAGA Center for Renewing America and warn that efforts to trample on Mexico’s sovereignty, and even an invasion, might be around the corner. Kurt and José Luis also provide an update on Morena’s...

We’re back! In this episode we dive into the criminal investigation into dubious financing of anti-AMLO media outlet Latinus, which far from being a reputable news organization, is instead a propaganda outfit created to attack President López Obrador and his political movement. But where does their money come from? Kurt Hackbarth and José Luis Granados Ceja also discuss two controversies inside Morena, one involving Sergio Mayer and the other Gerardo Fernández Noroña. Plus a look at...

In this special co-production with the Democratic Constitution Podcast, Soberanía co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth join Luke Pickrell to discuss Morena’s efforts to move quickly on their massive mandate and approve Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s proposed constitutional reforms, including the controversial effort to radically change Mexico’s judicial branch of government, and why these proposed changes can cement AMLO’s progressive legacy.

Soberanía co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth discuss the negative reaction by international financial markets to Claudia Sheinbaum’s intention to follow through on her party’s mandate and pursue constitutional reforms. Plus a conversation on the efforts to paint Morena’s supermajority in Congress as undemocratic. And in our last segment, Kurt and José Luis criticize the ultra-left take on the election by outlets such as Ojalá.

Soberanía co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth review the results from Sunday’s election that saw Claudia Sheinbaum make history by becoming Mexico’s first woman president. Elected on a left-wing program promising to deepen the political transformation started by outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, her victory has provoked the ire of Mexico’s right-wing elites and intellectuals, who once again have failed to grasp why voters chose to elect Morena and give them a...