Embattled Sinaloa Governor Returns and Leaves Office Again (In One Weekend)

Embattled Sinaloa Governor Returns and Leaves Office Again (In One Weekend)

Author: Soberanía Podcast August 26, 2026 Duration: 58:59

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.


Navigating the complex landscape of Mexican politics requires more than just headlines. Soberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast offers a distinct entry point, providing consistent news and analysis grounded in a grassroots, leftist perspective. This isn't about distant political commentary; it's about understanding the forces, movements, and people shaping Mexico from the ground up. Each episode digs into the stories behind the news, examining the players and power dynamics that often get lost in translation for English-language audiences. You'll hear discussions that connect policy to everyday life, analyzing developments with a focus on social movements, labor, and community action. The goal is to foster a deeper, more nuanced comprehension of the country beyond conventional narratives. By tuning into this podcast, you gain access to a dedicated space for thoughtful exploration of Mexican current affairs, where analysis is tied directly to the perspectives of those most impacted by political decisions. The Soberanía Podcast serves as a vital resource for anyone looking to move past superficial reporting and engage with the substantive, often overlooked, conversations defining Mexico's present and future.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Soberanía: The Mexican Politics Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Goodbye Grift: Mexico Neuters US-Funded NGOs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:37
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 countr…
Iran's Existential Fight: Lessons for Latin America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:18
In episode 98 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth analyze the widening global conflict following the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran and its implications for Mexico and Latin America.The episode le…
Mexico Takes Down El Mencho: Fake News War Erupts Online [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:43
In episode 97 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth dissect the fallout from the Mexican military's operation that killed Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generati…
The Mining Minefield: US Sets Sights on Mexico’s Strategic Minerals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:29
In episode 95 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth tackle the controversy surrounding the U.S.-Mexico critical minerals agreement, examining what it actually says, what it doesn’t, and why it ha…