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'

Author: Soberanía Podcast July 22, 2026 Duration: 58:15

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.


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
Claudia Sheinbaum Takes on the ICE K*lling Machine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:50
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 w…
Sports as Diplomacy: Everybody Loves Mexico [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:32
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 hosp…
AMLO in the Crosshairs (Again) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:43
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, ho…
On My Whistle: Mexico Braces for World Cup Conflict [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:52
In episode 110 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth open with an in-depth look at the ongoing teachers' protest in Mexico City. The hosts distinguish between the legitimate demands of the CNTE (…
Sheinbaum to US Ambassador: Mind Your Own Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:52
In the first live episode of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth break down a week of dramatic escalation in U.S.-Mexico tensions and President Sheinbaum's forceful response.The episode opens with…
CIA Out of Chihuahua: 20,000 Protest Secret Incursion into Mexico [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:43
In episode 107 of Soberanía, hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth break down Morena's massive march in Chihuahua — 20,000 people demanding the impeachment of Governor Maru Campos for allowing CIA operatives t…