Ruben In The Center: Recent Episodes
CloudCast
The extremes have it all wrong. Naturally. On every issue, they only see half the picture.
The ideologues always lead to a dead-end. You need to travel the middle of the road.
That’s where the action is — in the center.
On the basketball court, the chessboard, or the boxing ring, the center is where you want to be.
Now more than ever, our country needs to be centered. While other journalists lurch to the right or left, nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette keeps it one hundred by writing —
and fighting — in the center.
Here’s your host, Ruben Navarrette
Host Ruben Navarrette has a timely and entertaining conversation with his friend and fellow Harvard graduate Marcela Davison Avilés. A Stanford-educated lawyer-turned-filmmaker Marcela grew up in Southern Arizona -- specifically Nogales and Tucson -- where her family has deep roots. She spent many years living in San Francisco and working in Hollywood as a writer and consultant to major film projects. She worked closely with storytellers of Latino/Latinx who were interested in exploring subject matter related to that community. Recently, she and her wife left California and moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin to be closer to family. As a managing partner in TomKat Media, Marcella remains connected to the film industry. The two friends talk about hometowns, storytelling, the film and entertainment industry, the Western spirit, the media, California, Arizona, politics from the center-left, immigration, Mexican culture and the healing power of mariachi music.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a timely and critically important conversation with his old friend of nearly 40 years, Arnold Torres, a Sacramento CA-based policy analyst, political commentator & Spanish-language radio host. As a lifelong observer of politics and immigration -- and the politics of the immigration debate -- Torres is horrified by what he is seeing take place in Minnesota, which has been invaded by federal ICE agents. He has three things he desperately wants to talk about with his old friend: the fact that the federal government is abusing its power in Minnesota and other places; the necessary conversation that he thinks needs to take place about state's rights and the 10th Amendment provides the mechanism to push back against federal overreach; and the pathetic lack of leadership being served up by Latino elected officials, who are busy hiding from this crisis impacting the community they claim to represent. Navarrette agrees with Torres, except where he doesn't. Then, as usual with these two, sparks fly.
In this special episode, host Ruben Navarrette has a very personal and heartfelt conversation with his brother, entertainment marketing specialist Roman Navarrette. The two talk about their father, Ruben G. Navarrette Sr., who passed away on Dec. 7 at the age of 84. They dissect a life that unfolded in three acts: childhood and adolescence and enlistment in the U.S. Army; a long career in law enforcement; and retirement, becoming a grandfather and caregiver. Totally unscripted, and straight from the heart, the brothers put together a very special tribute to a good man, not a perfect man but a good man and a great dad who had a life well-lived.
Host Ruben Navarrette has an interesting and wide-ranging conversation with Mark Madrid, an Austin TX-based author, consultant and expert on business excellence, entrepreneurship, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The two talk about the challenges and opportunities facing Latino-owned small businesses, what entrepreneurship means to Latinos, and what U.S. companies do right or wrong in term of attracting Latino customers. They also discuss the media, and the ways in which the coverage of Latinos in the United States seems to be inaccurate or incomplete.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with Rene Alegria, the Atlanta-based Chief Innovation Officer at Neuvo Network. The former president and CEO of MundoNow, and founding CEO of Mamiverse Media, Alegria also guided the launch of the groundbreaking Latino podcast network, Oyenos Audio. Before all that, the Tucson native founded and served as publisher of the book imprint Rayo/HarperCollins. Today, he continues to look for new ways to connect with and inspire Latino audiences with compelling stories. The two media pioneers talk about where Latinos fit into the modern media landscape, and what the world of digital media gets wrong and right about America's largest minority.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with Pedro Rios, who -- like him -- has been intimately acquainted with the immigration issue for more than 30 years. The San Diego native, and graduate of the University of San Diego, is the director of the U.S.-Mexico Border Program for the American Friends Service Committee. He is also an op-ed contributor to the online publication, Cal Matters. The two of them talk about how the root causes of the flow of immigrants into the United States, whether ICE should be defunded, and whether the left went too far in accommodating the undocumented -- and thus enabled the right. They also talk about why racism controls the Republican Party, how profoundly the Democratic Party failed Latinos, and what a real immigration solution would look like.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with Esther Valdez Clayton, a San Diego-based Mexican American immigration attorney and evangelical Christian who is also a pro-Trump Republican. The two discuss the ICE raids and the reasons for the drop in Latino support for President Trump. They unpack the complexities of the immigration debate and address the personal responsibility that immigrants have to get right with the law. They also talk about the pervasiveness of racism toward immigrants, and where Democrats went wrong with Latino voters. Finally, they talk about what the Bible says about welcoming the stranger and whether or not Jesus Christ was really a lawbreaker.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with Elsa Sevilla, Tijuana-born television journalist and host of the KPBS documentary series, “Historic Places w/ Elsa Sevilla.” She is also a San Diego-based filmmaker, professional speaker and author of the recently published book “Camera Ready: From Hardship To The Spotlight.” The two talk about Sevilla's personal and professional journey. They also delve into the power of history, geography, filmmaking, journalism and storytelling. Finally, they unpack the Mexican/Mexican-American experience unfolding on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a candid and far-reaching conversation with his old friend, Alfredo Estrada, the Harvard-educated trailblazing magazine publisher and chronicler of the experience of U.S. Latinos over the last four decades. They talk about how President Donald Trump's war on immigrants is actually a war against Latinos, and the degreee to which Trump has united the different factions of the Latino community. They also discuss whether future generations will still seek to migrate to the United States, or perhaps decide to go elsewhere. And finally, they unpack where Latinos are politically -- and whether Trump's immigration raids are changing things.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a spirited conversation with Sacramento CA-based GOP Political Consultant Mike Madrid, Co-Founder of The Lincoln Project, Co-Host of "The Latino Vote" Podcast & Author of "The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy." The two Mexican American Californians talk about politics, the Latino vote, changing demographics and white resistance, new digital media, Generation Z and the intricacies of the immigration debate. They also discuss what Democrats and Republicans are doing right in going after Latino voters, and what they're doing wrong. Finally, they dive into what's behind what some political observers consider a real headscratcher: the fact that nearly half of Latino voters support Donald Trump.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, Dr. Jose Angel Gutierrez, a retired professor of political science at University of Texas at Arlington, a former civil rights attorney, and the author of more than 30 books on history, politics, race and culture. Gutierrez was a young activist in his native Texas who left his mark on the Chicano Civil Rights Movement of the early 1970's through his involvement in the Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO) and later as the founder of the La Raza Unida Party. Born of frustration at how poorly Latinos were served by both Republicans and Democrats, La Raza Unida reached the height of its power and influence in 1972 when it managed to run a candidate for president of the United States.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Dr. Kristina Lopez, PhD, Professor of Social Work. A graduate of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor with a degree in social work and psychology, Lopez explores disparities in early diagnosis and subsequent treatment of underserved children and their families with special emphasis on Latino/a children with autism. The two talk about how Latino families have come to understand autism, and how they take the news that their child might be on the autism spectrum. They also talk about what parents should do if they suspect a child may have some form of autism or another neurodivergent condition. Finally, they discuss the public schools and where they fall short in helping students with special needs.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend and former Harvard classmate, Dr. Ronald J. Granieri who is a history professor at the United States Army War College, as well as a Templeton Education Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Given that Dr. Granieri's speciality is European history, with an emphasis on the study of allies and adversaries, the conversation could not be better timed. The two old friends talk about America's place in the world, and the changes in the U.S.-E.U. partnership in the era of President Trump. They also discuss Russia and Ukraine, trade and tariffs, immigration and global economics.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend and spirtual adviser Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, one of the nation's most prominent Latino evangelical leaders. They discuss faith, social activism and impactful storytelling. They also talk about the moral soul of America, which seems to be hurting at the moment -- and what can be done to heal it. Finally, they delve into the inner workings of Generation Z and explore what religion and faith means to a younger generation of Americans.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Marisa Calderon, CEO of Prosperity Now, and Bob Friedman, the organization's founder. They discuss social activism, racial justice, and prosperity for all. They also talk about what the political parties have done right and wrong over the years, and how organizations like theirs can help make a better world and build a more perfect union.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with his old friend, Chris Salcedo, a fellow professional communicator and broadcaster who traded living in California for Texas about the same time that Navarrette did the opposite. The two talk about politics, MAGA, the turbulent state of media, and why Latinos are finding a new home with a group of people they detested just 30 years ago: Republicans.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with his old friend, Emiliano Limon, about the new media and what went wrong with the old media. They talk about Limon's long career in talk radio and how that medium changed America -- and then went off the rails. They also discuss broadcast media in general, and what the future holds for an industry that seems to be changing by the week.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with his old friend, and former Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, Michael Fisher. They discuss immigration enforcement policy, and the most effective methods of securing the nearly 2000-mile long border between the United States and Mexico. They also talk about politics, leadership and the need to speak honestly about complicated problems that don't have simple solutions.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with Tavis Smiley, his old friend of 30 years and former LA radio co-host. They talk about Smiley's new book, which offers a fresh look at a project he started two decades ago -- "The Covenant With Black America, 20 Years Later." They address the current state of Black America, where it's been and where it's going. They also talk about the 2024 Election and how Black voters are likely to fit into that storyline.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a great conversation with powerhouse mother-daughter team, Lupita Castañeda-Liles & Maria Soco Castañeda about their lives, their partnership, and their shared passion for their exciting social media platform, "Becoming Mujeres: Translating Cultural Expectations Into Opportunities." They talk about the mental health challenges facing Latinas -- especially young Latinas -- and the long list of opportunities that await the next generation.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Dr. Max Cuevas, CEO of Clinicas de Salud del Valle de Salinas, a string of non-profit and low-cost medical clinics sprinkled throughout the central coast and Salinas valley. They talk about the lack of health care insurance coverage, the high cost of health care, and an innovative project being run by the CSVS that imports doctors from Mexico to treat Mexican farm workers and other members of the working poor living in California.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Neal Griffin, about the retired police lieutenant's latest career enhancement -- going from peace officer to crime novelist to beat reporter for a local Wisconsin newspaper. They talk about storytelling, journalism, politics and the state of modern-day policing among other topics.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his longtime friend, Arnold Torres, about the state of American politics, the various challenges facing the country's 62 million Latinos, and the dangerous times in which we live now that Donald Trump has promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants -- most of whom are Latino.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Bob Harrison, director of Command College, researcher for RAND Corporation and former police chief in three different California cities. They discuss policing in the modern era, the recent round of protests on university campuses and what the public thinks of the police when its time to restore order.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his longtime friend, Martin Mares, founder and executive director of the Ivy League Project -- a unique leadership initiative that has taken thousands of high school students from migrant and working-class backgrounds to visit Ivy League and other selective universities -- with remarkable results.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, veterano Latino journalist Ray Suarez, about his new book on immigration, "We Are Home: Becoming American In The 21st Century." Touching on history and politics, they discuss all that immigrants from all over the world give to the United States, and what the United States takes in return.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Melissa Vela Williamson, a San Antonio-based public relations specialist. She is the author of “Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Need to Know.” They discuss the science of communications, the Latino community, and how to get America talking again.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Dr. Yasmin Davidds, a Los Angeles-based organizational psychologist with additional certification in emotional intelligence. A popular speaker, negotiating specialist, and expert on women and leadership, Davidds is the author of several books including, most recently, the forthcoming: "Graciously Assertive: How Becoming A Better Human Makes You a Better Leader." She is also Founder/CEO of The Dr. Yasmin Davidds Leadership Institute and serves on the board of the Foundation for California Community Colleges.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Veronica Navarrette -- his Mexican-born wife, and better 7/8 -- about her long career helping kids on the margins as a bilingual Montessori-trained, certified academic language therapist, dyslexia specialist and speech & language pathologist.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews David Telisman -- his cousin through marriage -- about branding, messaging, and storytelling about issues ranging from mental health awareness to the experience of being Jewish in America post Oct 7.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews fellow Generation X'er Jean Twenge, PhD -- a renowned national expert, speaker, and consultant on the generations -- about some of what she has learned over 30 years of looking at generational differences, her new book, and what it's like to be a Gen X'er raising three Gen Z'ers.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Julio Ricardo Varela -- a Harvard-educated Latino journalist, with roots in Puerto Rico -- about the media, politics, the Latino community and the issues surrounding the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Jeff Hall, Sam Taylor, and Tania Ruedas-Ortiz from "Our National Conversation" -- a new digital media organization run by Generation Z that aims to fix what's broken in the Fourth Estate and get Americans talking in a civilized way.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Nely Galan -- a Latina powerhouse who he first met 29 years ago, and whose remarkable life and career he has followed ever since. Born in Cuba, Galan arrived in the United States at age 5. She's been striving and achieving ever since. As a TV producer, network executive, author, real estate investor, and podcast host, she hasn't just lived the American Dream. She has redefined it.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Wendy Patrick -- a prosecutor, TV commentator, speaker and author -- about the topic of her new book: how to use the Bible's teachings to make better choices in life, love and friendship.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a conversation with his friend, veteran reporter Russell Contreras about how he sees digital media. race, justice, Latino culture, politics and journalism from his unique perch -- Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Host Ruben Navarrette has a conversation with his friend, Jimmy Sengenberger about his experience as a veteran of talk radio and the world view it gives him as a young independent-minded conservative who prefers Reagan to Trump.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Angel Mendez, a member of several boards and former c-suite Silicon Valley tech executive about his unique upbringing as a Cuban raised in Puerto Rico, how corporate America sees Latinos, and the various opportunities that lie ahead for both.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Dr. Kristina Lopez, a trained psychologist based in Arizona who specializes in autism, especially in Latino and other at-risk children.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews cop mom & police lieutenant Julia Clasby about the challenges of juggling the separate worlds of law enforcement and motherhood.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Al Gonzales, the dean of the Belmont University School of Law and former U.S. Attorney General about the crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border, the legal back-and-forth over Title 42, and whether Donald Trump is likely to be indicted by current Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his longtime friend, Rudy Carrasco, about racking up a lifetime of achievements, succeeding against the odds, following God's path, and using charitable giving to make a difference in people's lives.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Dr. Linda Lopez, CEO of Impact Strategies, a consulting firm providing advice to foundations, government and corporate sector on social and economic investments. She is a former Associate Dean at USC, former Chief of the Office of Immigrant Affairs for the City of Los Angeles, and former Senior Advisor to Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his longtime friend, and former co-worker at the Arizona Republic, Kathy Murillo Cano, aka "The Crafty Chica" about personal branding, building a successful business and her lifelong love affair with creativity and glitter.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend Arnold Torres about the 2022 midterm elections, the future of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a leading Democrat, and what happened with the Latino vote.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend Carlos Sanchez about the path forward from the 2022 midterm elections and what the future may hold for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, one of the nation's most prominent Republican elected officials.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his longtime friend, Rep. Joaquin Castro D-Texas, about the lack of Latino representation in media and Hollywood and the Latino vote in the 2022 midterm elections.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend and compadre, Enrique Morones, about the San Diego's advocate's quest to change the name of the Texas Rangers and about the Latino vote in the 2022 midterm elections.
Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his friend, Rick Amato, a longtime San Diego-based conservative TV/radio/podcast host about his upbringing in Pittsburgh, his early work in finance, his Italian-American heritage, and the lessons learned from his decades of media work.
Guest: Rick Amato, Media Personality
Host Ruben Navarrette catches up with his grad school friend, Jesse Leon, about his incredible life, surviving trauma and perseverance -- and hears all about his powerful new memoir, "I'm Not Broken" (Penguin/Random House).
Guest: Jesse Leon, Social Policy Consultant & Author of "I'm Not Broken"
Host Ruben Navarrette catches up with his old college friend, Dr. Ron Granieri, about growing up and out growing the politics of your youth, and whether Americas can find common ground in the center of the road.
Guest: Ron Granieri, PhD, Associate Professor of History at US Army War College
Host Ruben Navarrette talks about the law, politics, the Supreme Court, and current events with his good friend, David Iglesias, U.S. Navy Captain, former JAG lawyer, former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, and currently professor of law and politics at Wheaton College as well as director of the Wheaton College Center for Faith, Politics and Economics.
Guest: David Iglesias, Professor at Wheaton College and Director of the Wheaton College Center for Faith, Politics and Economics
Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his old friend, Tavis Smiley, about the recent anti-Black hate crime in Buffalo, NY -- and whether Black people are safe in America, as long as there are so many White people with AR-15's who think they're being replaced.
Guest: Tavis Smiley, Radio Host at KBLA-1580 AM and Media Entrepreneur
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Monica Guzman, author of "I Never Thought Of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times" about the power of curiosity and the value of talking to people whose ideas you might consider strange.
Host Ruben Navarrette unpacks the challenges and opportunities of being a California farmer -- specifically, a Southern California farmer -- where land goes for a premium, costs are higher, and creativity is an essential survival tool.
Host Ruben Navarrette discusses journalism, commentary and editorial cartoons with one of the best in the business and his former colleague -- Steve Breen, San Diego Union-Tribune editorial columnist & two-time Pulitzer Prize winner.
Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his friend, Gary Acosta, about the difficulty that Latinos have had in building wealth -- for themselves and their communities, and how to change that and create a new reality.
Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his friend, John Manzella, about the interlocking nature of several items in the news these days: trade, immigration, globalization, automation and the global supply chain.
Guest: John Manzella, speaker, author and expert on U.S. trade policy & labor force
To mark his special 100th episode, host Ruben Navarrette interviews two American teenagers -- his son, Santiago Navarrette, and daughter, Jacqui Navarrette-- about the challenges and opportunities of coming of age in the 2020's.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Hollywood writer and producer Jeff Valdez about his long and unconventional personal journey from Pueblo Colorado to Beverly Hills, and his new series on HBO-MAX: "The Garcias" in which the Mexican-American protagonists -- living in Mexico -- are delightfully normal.
Guest: Jeff Valdez, Producer & Writer of Most Recently, "The Garcias" on HBO-MAX
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, college classmate, and UCLA law professor Laura Gomez about Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown, affirmative action in college admissions and the state of race in America.
Guest: Laura Gomez, UCLA Law School Professor
Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his friend, Phillip Rodriguez, about his long career of making more than a dozen documentary films -- including many for PBS -- about various aspects of the Latino experience in America, and why that road has been so difficult to travel.
Guest: Phillip Rodriguez, Documentary Filmmaker
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, Chris Salcedo, about why neither political party has done right by Latinos and other Americans -- and why, from Salcedo's point of view, Latinos should definitely avoid Democrats like COVID-19.
Guest: Chris Salcedo, Radio Host & Newsmax-TV Host
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, and fellow journalist Macarena Hernandez, about the Latino Experience, and how America's largest minority is doing in its constant pursuit of the one thing it craves most of all: respect.
Guest: Macarena Hernandez, Journalist & Former Journalism Professor
Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his friend, Neal Griffin, about the serious challenges of policing America's streets after the murder of George Floyd, in the midst of a global pandemic, and against the backdrop of a new crime wave.
Guest: Neal Griffin, Retired Police Detective Lt and Bestselling Crime Novelist
Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his old friend, and college classmate, Ron Granieri -- who is now Dr. Ronald Granieri, Associate Professor of History at the US Army War College -- about his specialty: Europe, NATO and US-European relations, all in the context of the current crisis in Ukraine.
Guest: Dr. Ronald Granieri, Associate Professor of History in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the United States Army War College
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, Al Pando, a lifelong journalist and news executive who was born in Havana, Cuba about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and something a lot of Americans don't understand: the true meaning of freedom.
Guest: Albert Pando, Journalist & Media Innovator
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Cid Martinez, Sociology Professor at the University of San Diego, about the deteriorating relationship between police and people of color -- and why President Biden's preferred remedy of "community policing" will only make things worse.
Guest: Cid Martinez, Sociology Professor at the University of San Diego
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Nancy Maldonado, President & CEO of The Chicano Federation of San Diego County about the term "Chicano" and the condition of the Mexican-American community in the United States.
Guest: Nancy Maldonado, President & CEO of The Chicano Federation of San Diego County
Host Ruben Navarrette talks with his friend, Marine Corps Col. Trace Deneke about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the startling possibility that the world order may be changing before our eyes.
Guest: Trace Deneke, Marine Corps Colonel (ret.), Teacher & Coach
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, Tim O'Leary, about the historical experience and valuable contributions of Irish-Americans in celebration of Irish-American Heritage Month.
Guest: Tim O'Leary, Journalist
Host Ruben Navarrette celebrates Black History Month by having a passionate discussion with his old friend of nearly 40 years, and former college roommate, Jay Stewart. An African American graduate of Harvard College and Georgetown Law School, Stewart is an instructor at Howard University where he teaches courses in criminology, sociology, law and politics. The two friends discuss affirmative action, and much more.
Guest: Jay Stewart, Howard University Instructor and Former Civil Rights Attorney
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Esther Valdes Clayton about her dual roles as an immigration attorney fighting to prevent individuals from being deported, and an outspoken school board member for the Coronado School District -- all from her unique perch as a pro-life, pro-immigration Mexican-American Republican.
Guest: Esther Valdes Clayton, Immigration Attorney & Coronado School District Board Member
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Linda Caballero Sotelo, Executive Director of New Americans Museum, about leadership, public service, Latinos in America and the contributions of immigrants to our nation.
Guest: Linda Caballero Sotelo, Executive Director of New Americans Museum
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend Anna Maria Chavez, Chief Impact Officer at Encantos & President of Encantos.org, about K-12 education, technology as a tool to reach students, the generation gap and what women leaders bring to the table.
Guest: Anna Maria Chavez, Chief Impact Officer at Encantos & President of Encantos.org
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Marty Chavez, Partner & Vice Chairman of Sixth Street and Former Goldman Sachs CIO & CFO, about his remarkable story — from Albuquerque to Harvard to Stanford to Silicon Valley to Goldman Sachs — and lessons learned along the way.
Guest: Marty Chavez, Partner & Vice Chairman of Sixth Street and Former Goldman Sachs CIO & CFO
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Carlos Sanchez, director of public affairs for Hidalgo County, TX, and a former journalist who worked — over 37 years — in several newsrooms including those at the Washington Post and Texas Monthly.
Guest: Carlos Sanchez, Director of Public Affairs for Hidalgo County TX and former journalist
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, UCLA law professor Laura Gomez, about the state of race relations in America including the current national outcry over so-called critical race theory. What is it? And why the ruckus?
Guest: Laura Gomez, UCLA Professor of Law and director of the law school’s Critical Race Studies Program
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Mexican-American writer, author and columnist Raoul Lowery Contreras about his life’s journey and 30-year career in newspapers, radio and TV.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Monica Guzman, journalist, storyteller and author of the forthcoming book, "I Never Thought of It That Way" about the power of curiosity and the value of being able to see even the most divisive issues from the point of view of someone else.
Guest: Monica Guzman, journalist, storyteller, and author of the forthcoming book, "I Never Thought of It That Way"
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend Rick Sanchez, former CNN and RT America anchor, media entrepreneur, and co-founder of Cano Health about the real "art of the comeback" and how to live your best life after television.
Guest: Rick Sanchez, journalist, former CNN & RT America anchor, media entrepreneur and co-founder of Cano Health
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Jose Angel Gutierrez, civil rights activist, UT Arlington political science professor (emeritus), and author of the new children's book, "Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin: My Story of Cinco de Mayo" about the Latino experience in America.
Guest: Jose Angel Gutierrez, civil rights activist, retired UT Arlington political science professor and author of "Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin: My Story of Cinco de Mayo"
Host Ruben Navarrette goes after a band of GOP senators who unfairly attacked Attorney General Merrick Garland over — they said — sending the FBI and federal prosecutors after parents. Nonsense. Here’s how Garland should have responded.
Host Ruben Navarrette defends the use of vaccine mandates — especially in the case of public servants and public service employees such as police, nurses, and members of the military.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Harvard classmate Luis Razo — who grew up in Southern California but now lives in Barcelona Spain — about the “Hispanic Triangle”: Spain, Mexico and the United States.
Guest: Luis Razo Bravo, author & founder/director of The European Institute of Science in Management (EISM)
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Harvard Law School Professor Randall Kennedy — his former professor, as a Harvard undergraduate — about race in America in 2021 and his new book: “Say It Out: On Race, Law, History, and Culture.”
Guest: Randall Kennedy, Harvard Law School Professor and author of “Say It Loud: On Race, Law, History, and Culture”
Host Ruben Navarrette marks Dyslexia Awareness Month by interviewing Dr. Kelli Sandman-Hurley, co-founder of the San Diego-based Dyslexia Training Institute and author, most recently, of the forthcoming book: “The Adult Side of Dyslexia.”
Guest: Dr. Kelli Sandman-Hurley, co-founder of the San Diego-based Dyslexia Training Institute and author of “The Adult Side of Dyslexia”
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Ana Valdez, Executive Director of the Los Angeles-based Latino Donor Collaborative, about the significance and value of the now concluded Hispanic Heritage Month. If there is any.
Guest: Ana Valdez, Executive Director of the Los Angeles-based Latino Donor Collaborative
Host Ruben Navarrette decries our nation’s broken promise: to the Haitians, who took literally the idea that “huddled masses” are welcomed in this country, only to be deported after traveling thousands of miles and spending their life savings. Shame on us!
Host Ruben Navarrette tears into clueless California Republicans, who play dumb and pretend they don’t know why Latinos hate them, and then turn around and throw a party for 300 conservatives to honor he whose name shall not be spoken: Pete Wilson.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, Arnold Torres, about the predicament that Latino voters face in choosing between two terrible political parties and explores whether Latinos are better off today than they were 50 years ago.
Guest: Arnold Torres, Policy Analyst, TV Commentator and Radio Host
Host Ruben Navarrette dives into the extreme level of denial that many CA Republicans have about the events over the last 25 years that have driven away Latinos, and forced them into the waiting arms of Democrats who abuse and neglect them
Host Ruben Navarrette unpacks the ins-and-outs of the wacky CA recall election that kept failed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in office, and kept hapless Republicans out of power once again.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, and fellow Latino journo and author, Ray Suarez about the enormous Latino community in the United States, and where it stands in the year 2021.
Guest: Ray Suarez, television journalist and author
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend of 27 years, Larry Elder, a lawyer, syndicated radio talk show host, and the leading Republican candidate to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in the Sept. 14 recall election.
Host Ruben Navarrette dives back into the biggest political story in the country: the too-close-to-call Sept 14 recall election that will decide the fate of beleaguered California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Host Ruben Navarrette unpacks the recent desmadre of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and explains why the blame for the entire episode — including the deaths of 13 members of the U.S. military — belongs exclusively to the Biden administration.
Guest: Alfredo Corchado, journalist and author
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, and fellow Latino journo and author, Alfredo Corchado about his fascinating beat covering Mexico, the United States and the border that lies in-between.
Host Ruben Navarrette explores why California’s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom — who was elected handily — is fighting a recall effort in a dark blue state, and explains why polls show the race to be a toss-up. Newsom would win the recall battle, but still lose the war of public confidence.
Host Ruben Navarrette — the son of a retired cop — unpacks the paradox of pro-cop, back-the-blue conservatives refusing to condemn the Jan. 6 melee at the U.S. capitol which resulted in Capitol Police Officers and DC Metro Police Officers being tased, beaten, sprayed with tear gas and bear spray and threatened with death by an angry, pro-Trump mob of rabid right-wingers.
Host Ruben Navarrette breaks down a couple of bizarre recent events on the immigration front, where the Biden administration has taken a hardline against admitting refugee families while promising to be more accommodating to immigrants and refugees.
Host Ruben Navarrette unpacks one of the exceptions to the "never quit, don't give up" rule: knowing when to get off the hamster wheel or change course or make a u-turn or stop and breathe. That's what gold medal Olympic gymnast Simone Biles did in stepping away from the 2020 Tokyo games, and it's not a bad thing.
Host Ruben Navarrette chats with his friend, and fellow journalist, Macarena Hernandez about the magical power of American journalism to make the country’s largest minority, and its stories, disappear into oblivion.
Guest: Macarena Hernandez
Host Ruben Navarrette examines the public relations mess that California officials created with their on-again, off-again, on-again policy about whether students who return in the Fall will be required to wear masks.
Host Ruben Navarrette tackles Americans’ arrogance toward COVID-19, which may be one reason why Los Angeles — a city which was a virus hotspot throughout 2020 — recently went back to mandatory masking for the vaccinated and unvaccinated alike.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Arsalan Iftikhar, about his new book detailing the history and present-day reality of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry in the U.S. and around the globe.
Guest: Arsalan Iftikhar, human rights lawyer, writer and author of “Fear of A Muslim Planet: Global Islamophobia in The New World Order”
Host Ruben Navarrette, the son of a retired cop who was on the job for 37 years, bemoans the fact that so many police officers are quitting and hanging up their badges amid the low morale in the profession following the murder of George Floyd.
Host Ruben Navarrette delves into the controversy at ESPN, over remarks by host Rachel Nichols who griped about the fact that her colleague, Maria Taylor, got a hosting gig she didn’t. Nichols is White, Taylor is Black. And yet, there is no racism here.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his old friend, and former LA radio co-host, Tavis Smiley about his career, his canceling, his comeback, and his take on the state of Black Americans in the post-George Floyd era.
Guest: Tavis Smiley, TV/Radio Host/Author & Media Entrepreneur
Host Ruben Navarrette explains — in blunt and clear language — exactly what Republicans do wrong when they talk about immigration, and why they can’t help themselves from screwing this up.
Host Ruben Navarrette reflects on President Biden’s solution to the worker shortage: “Pay them more” and suggests the real solution is not monetary but to treat workers as equals deserving of respect and dignity.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Alberto Pando, his friend and fellow lifelong journalist — and a media executive who has worked in news, sports and scripted entertainment over the last three decades — about the lack of public trust in the modern media.
Guest: Alberto Pando, Journalist & Media Executive
Host Ruben Navarrette explores the interesting phenomenon of a Democratic administration (Biden/Harris) that got 2/3 of the Latino vote — and yet, still, seems to not know the first thing about Latinos.
Host Ruben Navarrette reflects on what America means to him and his family, at a time when this country appears to be stuck somewhere between lockdown and freedom.
Host Ruben Navarrette visits with his friend — and compadre -- Enrique Morones, who was at the heart of the public protests and pressure campaign over the recent tortilla tossing incident that led the Coronado High School basketball team to be stripped this week of their championship title.
Guest: Enrique Morones, human rights activist, immigrant advocate, and founder/executive director of the organization "Gente Unida."
Host Ruben Navarrette applauds two members of the U.S. Senate who refuse to go along with their Democratic colleagues just to get along: Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. They’re not the problem. They’re the solution.
Host Ruben Navarrette looks at the so-called “tortilla toss” near San Diego, where White fans and high school basketball players tossed tortillas at the players of an opposing team who just happened to be Latino. I’m sure that’s just a coincidence.
Host Ruben Navarrette visits with Kevin Faulconer about the former San Diego mayor’s bid to become the first Republican governor of California in 15 years, and only the second one in the last 23 years.
Host Ruben Navarrette examines whether police reform could be in the cards as more cities and communities begin to “reimagine” what policing in America could look like if it had a much-needed overhaul.
Host Ruben Navarrette roasts Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for creating his own immigration policy and build a border wall, in violation of both the Constitution and Republican rhetoric about how states can’t go rogue and sidestep the federal government.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend John Manzella, a Buffalo NY-based columnist, author, and expert on U.S. trade policy about this week’s NATO meeting in Brussel’s and the decision to end a trade war in the West — to focus on the East.
Guest: John Manzella, columnist, author, and expert on U.S. trade policy
Host Ruben Navarrette returns to the timely and controversial subject of the current worker shortage and explores the reasons for it beyond low wages and higher-than-usual unemployment benefits.
Host Ruben Navarrette examines the bizarre case of a North Carolina high school student who decided to celebrate his ethnic heritage by wearing the Mexican flag on his high school graduation gown and was denied his diploma because of it.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews San Diego-based journalist Jean Guerrero about her recent piece in the LA Times about Vice President Kamala Harris’ ill-fated trip south of the border, and the turmoil it caused.
Host Ruben Navarrette looks at the so-called “Democracy Reform” movement, which has been taken up by both Republicans who want to stop their ideological enemies from voting, and Democrats who are hell-bent on stopping Republicans.
Host Ruben Navarrette takes a critical look at his own profession in light of the scandal/non-scandal involving CNN’s Chris Cuomo advising his brother, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, about how to get out of a scape of his own. But that’s just the beginning.
Guest: Laura Gomez, Author and UCLA Professor of Law
Host Ruben Navarrette welcomes back his friend, and former college classmate, UCLA Law Professor Laura Gomez to discuss one of her specialties which also happens to be the latest boogeyman for white male conservatives: critical race theory.
Host Ruben Navarrette explores America’s blind spot with Latinos (aka “The other non-white meat”) who — according to a new survey — are less like African-Americans than they are the Italian and Irish immigrants of 100 years ago.
Host Ruben Navarrette speaks with his friend Chris Valadez, CEO of The Grower-Shipper Association of Central California about a new vaccination project aimed at farmworkers and a new California drought as well as old challenges over labor and trade as farming plows through the 21st Century.
Host Ruben Navarrette discusses how mega-podcaster Joe Rogan — a straight white male who recently signed a $100M deal with Spotify — believes that straight white men are being oppressed, canceled, and silenced. Seriously.
Host Ruben Navarrette reflects on his own visit to Israel in 2012 and offers his analysis on what’s causing the latest round of Middle East violence — and the one before that. Hint: It’s not land, politics or religion. It’s hate, bigotry, and revenge.
Topic: “California Politics: Where the Pacific Meets the Crazy”
Guest: Arnold Torres
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his longtime friend and foil, Sacramento-based policy analyst and political consultant Arnold Torres about the strange happenings in California politics: including the attempted recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom and whether a Latino Democrat couldn’t be the party’s best chance of keeping the governor’s mansion.
Host Ruben Navarrette delves into the hilarious episode of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez being harassed and harangued by the GOP’s version of AOC: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who recently chased the Democratic congresswoman through the halls of Congress demanding that she debate her. This sounds familiar. AOC has engaged in her share of theatrics. This is justice.
Host Ruben Navarrette unpacks the recent criticism of “woke-ism” by some liberal Democrats — some White liberal Democrats — who fear that it is driving voters away from the Democratic Party. Latinos aren’t fans of the woke movement because it runs afoul of freedom and patriotism. Meanwhile, the GOP gets it wrong by playing the victim against the woke; it has little to worry about.
Host Ruben Navarrette interviews his friend, Todd Bensman -- an ex-journalist and now senior fellow at the Washington DC-based anti-immigrant group The Center for Immigration Studies -- about the refugee border crisis and his new book on how Islamic radicals infiltrate the U.S.-Mexico border.
Guest: Todd Bensman, Author of “America’s Covert Border War: The Untold Story of the Nation’s Battle to Prevent Jihadist Infiltration” and Texas-based Senior Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies.
Host Ruben Navarrette debunks the rumored demise of the Golden State, which is still home to 40 million people, controls 10% of the U.S. economy, and holds 20% of the electoral votes necessary to elect the president of the United States. California is the state of second chances, and those never go out of style.
Host Ruben Navarrette explains the real takeaway from a depressing April jobs report that came in at only about a quarter of what economists had predicted. The problem is not that U.S. workers don’t want to work. I suspect it's that they don’t want to work for U.S. employers. Whose fault is that? U.S. employers.
Guest: Laura Gomez
Host Ruben Navarrette has a conversation with author and UCLA Law Professor Laura Gomez about the 2020 Census and what it’s likely to tell us about 60M Latinos and the “other.”
Host Ruben Navarrette gives a fair, honest, down-the-middle assessment of President Joe Biden’s first 100 days — the good, the bad, and the indefensible.
Host Ruben Navarrette discusses the attack by White liberals on Sen. Tim Scott, R-SC, as a sellout, an Uncle Tom, and an “oreo” for daring to think for himself.
Host Ruben Navarrette speaks with San Diego author/journalist Jean Guerrero about the hottest story in the country, which also happens to be the most divisive issue since slavery: immigration.
Host Ruben Navarrette breaks down a plan offered up by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador that intends to solve two problems at once: climate change and the refugee crisis.
Host Ruben Navarrette hammers the media for not covering the killing of 13-year-old Adam Toledo by Chicago police like they have the killing of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant by police in Columbus, OH.
Host Ruben Navarrette speaks with Bob Harrison, director of California Command College, a three-time former chief of police and co-host — with Ruben — of the podcast “Comm4Cops.”
Host Ruben Navarrette unpacks the likely recall election for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and why Newsom — master politician but a lousy leader — is likely to win the battle but lose the war.
Host Ruben Navarrette speaks with Lee Ann Kim, a first-generation Korean American, former award-winning television journalist, and founder of the San Diego Asian Film Festival.
Host Ruben Navarrette digs into the deliciously ironic story about how President Biden — who once campaigned against Donald Trump’s border wall — may just now finish it.
Host Ruben Navarrette talks about the ongoing trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin and whether the details might be triggering PTSD among black journalists covering it.
Guest: Cathy Areu, Cuban-American writer, publisher of Catalina Magazine, TV commentator, and Host of the Podcast, “The Liberal Sherpa.”
Host Ruben Navarrette has an engaging conversation with Cathy Areu, Cuban-American writer, publisher of Catalina Magazine, TV commentator, and host of the podcast, “The Liberal Sherpa.”
Host Ruben Navarrette steers into the intersection of two explosive topics: the refugee crisis involving children and teens & the teacher-union orchestrated lockdown of CA’s public schools.
Host Ruben Navarrette uses centrist common sense to explain why Major League Baseball is pulling the All-Star Game out of Georgia over a voter restriction law.
Guest: Angela Korcherga, News Director of KTEP — El Paso Public Radio
Host Ruben Navarrette speaks with his good friend, fellow journalist Angela Kocherga, who — like the host — has covered immigration for 30 years. Angela is the News Director of KTEP, El Paso Public Radio and has a front-row seat to the latest flare up in the border immigration challenge.
Host Ruben Navarrette takes a hard look — from the center — at the scourge of anti-Asian violence in America, and why many Americans are in denial.
Host Ruben Navarrette looks at issues ranging from abortion to gun control to explain why the center is the only sensible place to be.
Host Ruben Navarrette has an engaging conversation with Anthony Butler, an African-American millennial podcaster who camps out in the middle of the road regularly on his "Where's The Purple Podcast."
Host Ruben Navarrette breaks down the importance of being in the middle of the road, and why it matters in everything from politics to media to everyday life.
Host Ruben Navarrette introduces himself and explains the mission behind this unique podcast, an overdue journey to where the action is: the center.