In The Thick - podcast cover

In The Thick

Futuro Mediainthethick.org

Politics, unfiltered. Futuro Media presents a political podcast where journalists tell you what you’re missing from the mainstream news. Hosted by Maria Hinojosa. Cohosted by Dr. Christina Greer, Paola Ramos and Judy Reyes. Produced by Futuro Media.

Episodes

Introducing - Suave: Season Two

The Pulitzer Prize-winning podcast from Futuro Studios returns for its second season.“Suave” Gonzalez was one of thousands of juvenile lifers granted a second chance at life. Season 2 is his story about life after incarceration—and the search for the true meaning of freedom Suave: Season 2 is out everywhere on 4/15. New episodes every Tuesday.

Apr 15, 20253 min

Building The Future: A Message From Maria

We’re doing something different! Today, Maria Hinojosa joins listeners for a special message announcing something new from Futuro. Been dreaming of immediate full season access, and behind the scenes chisme from your favorite shows at Futuro? We have too! Listen to hear more about what’s next for Futuro. To help us grow the future of journalism go to: futuromediagroup.org/joinplus The Futuro Plus team includes producer Sam J Leeds, production managers Francis Poon and Jessica Ellis, marketing ma...

Apr 07, 202516 min

Don’t Cross Kat

Kat Torres shows an Instagram-perfect life to her large following. She’s a supermodel turned life coach who seems harmless but is hiding a secret. And when one of her followers goes missing, one woman sets out to bring her best friend. Paty won’t stop until she finds her friend who has fallen under Kat’s spell of this modern-day guru. You can listen to more episodes of Don't Cross Kat here ....

Apr 04, 202535 min

A Vengeful Return

This week, on a special In The Thick and Latino USA collaboration, we hear directly from individuals most affected by President Trump’s first actions in office. Host Maria Hinojosa is also joined by author and professor of African American studies Dr. Eddie Glaude and senior political reporter at Vox, Nicole Narea. The three discuss where we go from here and what we can expect in the coming months of Trump’s return to the White House. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram . Subscribe to our newslett...

Jan 24, 202527 min

The Fight for Trans Futures

Maria Hinojosa is joined by two trailblazers in the fight for trans rights: Chase Strangio, co-director of the ACLU’s LGBT and HIV Project, and Raquel Willis, journalist and co-founder of the Gender Liberation Movement. Chase recently made history as the first openly trans attorney to argue before the Supreme Court, challenging Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Raquel was recently arrested after staging a sit-in in a Capitol Hill bathroom to protest a bill aimed at banning tra...

Dec 12, 202431 min

An All-American Tragedy

ITT hosts Maria Hinojosa and Paola Ramos are joined by NBC News correspondent Jacob Soboroff for a deep dive into the devastating consequences of Donald Trump’s first term immigration policy. They discuss the upcoming film “Separated,” based on Soboroff’s 2020 book by the same name, Trump’s child separation policy, and what a repeat of one of the darkest chapters in U.S. immigration history could look like. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram . Subscribe to our newsletter by going to the top of ou...

Dec 05, 202430 min

The Elián Effect: How One Boy’s Story Reshaped Latino Politics

Maria Hinojosa is joined by investigative journalist Peniley Ramírez and Producer Tasha Sandoval as they commemorate the 25 year anniversary of the case of Elián González — the six-year-old boy found floating in an inner tube off the coast of Florida after his mother died attempting to flee from Cuba. The custody battle that ensued led to a media firestorm and an international controversy that changed the course of history. Maria, Peniley and Tasha talk about what this case can teach us about to...

Nov 27, 202433 min

Trump vs. Life on Earth

ITT co-hosts Maria Hinojosa and Dr. Christina Greer are joined by the renowned environmental justice lawyer and executive director of UPROSE, Elizabeth Yeampierre. They dig into the future of the environmental justice movement, Trump’s cabinet picks and the global implications of a deregulated fossil fuel industry. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram . Subscribe to our newsletter by going to the top of our homepage ....

Nov 21, 202426 min

Unpacking American Extremism

A week after the re-election of Donald Trump, Maria Hinojosa is joined by ITT all-stars Imara Jones, journalist and founder of Translash Media, and Karen Attiah, Washington Post Opinion columnist. They dive into the far-reaching implications of Trump’s victory for our communities and what it means for the future of American democracy. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram . Subscribe to our newsletter by going to the top of our homepage ....

Nov 14, 202431 min

Trump Is Back, Now What?

In The Thick teamed up with Futuro Media’s Latino USA to bring you a special episode, as part of its ongoing 2024 election coverage “The Latino Factor: How We Vote” series. In the election that many Americans said was “the most important of their lifetimes,” Maria Hinojosa spends the day speaking to voters, students, journalists and movement leaders across the country. Later Maria is joined by journalists Paola Ramos, Jean Guerrero and Jamil Smith to unpack key updates and trends in the election...

Nov 08, 202450 minSeason 2Ep. 9

Nobody's Garbage

With less than a week until Election Day, ITT hosts Maria Hinojosa, Judy Reyes, Paola Ramos and Dr. Christina Greer analyze everything from the Trump rally at Madison Square Garden that drew comparisons to an American Nazi Party rally, to the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post's refusal to endorse a Presidential candidate for the first time in decades. They talk about the Latino community’s response to Puerto Rico being called “a floating island of garbage” at the Trump rally, the meaning beh...

Oct 30, 202432 minSeason 2Ep. 8

In The Thick Presents: The Misinformation Web

This week In The Thick shares an episode of Latino USA. The 2024 presidential election has seen a rise in Spanish-language misinformation and in the content creators making a living by pushing out false content. For months, Futuro Investigates in collaboration with Latino USA, tracked how lies and conspiracies about the election and the candidates that originated in English soon found their way to Spanish-speaking audiences, amid the expanded monetization of tech platforms and the rise of techno...

Oct 28, 202456 min

Abortion, Beyond the Ballot

ITT hosts Maria Hinojosa and Judy Reyes are tacking the critical issue of abortion and how it’s shaping the 2024 election. They are joined by Imani Gandy of Rewire News Group and Monica Simpson of SisterSong to discuss the future of the reproductive justice movement and the fight for bodily autonomy. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram . Subscribe to our newsletter by going to the top of our homepage ....

Oct 24, 202429 min

The Voter Suppression Playbook

ITT hosts Maria Hinojosa and Paola Ramos are joined by LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter and Frankie Miranda, president and CEO of the Hispanic Federation to discuss voter suppression in Black and Latino communities. They break down the legal, social and political methods being used by the far-right and reveal how these misunderstood voting blocs could decide the outcome of the 2024 election. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram . Subscribe to our newsletter by going to the top of ou...

Oct 17, 202429 minSeason 2Ep. 6

In The Thick Presents: Chess Piece: The Elián González Story

Introducing a new series that we think you'll love: "Chess Piece: The Elián González Story," from Futuro Studios, in collaboration with iHeartRadio's My Cultura Podcast Network. In 1999, two Florida fishermen found a cherub of a boy named Elián González in the sea on Thanksgiving. The boy had floated alone for days. His mother managed to save her son’s life by strapping him to an inner tube before she drowned. Elián's father in Cuba desperately tried to get his son back.Our host, investigative j...

Oct 15, 202432 min

Solidarity & Resistance In A Year of Devastation

A year after Oct 7, 2023, Maria is joined by Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour and Rabbi Alissa Wise to talk about what this past year of unimaginable loss, rage, and resistance has meant for their communities, and how they are building towards a future of solidarity. They discuss the election, the mobilizing power of grief, and what it looks like to create a world in which every life is treated as sacred . Follow us on TikTok and Instagram . Subscribe to our newsletter by going to the...

Oct 10, 202439 minSeason 2Ep. 5

Midwest Manners and Mass Deportations: Unpacking the VP Debate

ITT Co-hosts Judy Reyes, Maria Hinojosa, Christina Greer and Paola Ramos dig into the first and only VP debate before the election. While mainstream media has praised both men for their “civil” performance, we go beyond the Midwest niceties to unpack the authoritarian policies being talked about on the debate stage, and what both candidates really mean when they talk about their abortion and immigration plans. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram . Subscribe to our newsletter by going to the top of...

Oct 03, 202429 minSeason 2Ep. 4

The Rise of the Latino Far Right

Maria is joined by Paola Ramos, co-host and author of “Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America” to examine the growing support for extremism in America and why Latinos can be especially susceptible to far-right ideologies. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram . Subscribe to our newsletter by going to the top of our homepage ....

Sep 25, 202433 minSeason 2Ep. 3

Black Woman, White House

Maria and co-host Dr. Christina Greer are joined by Mother Jones Editorial Director Jamilah King for a deep dive into how Vice President Kamala Harris is being portrayed by the right and the left, and what it tells us about our country’s understanding of race. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram . Subscribe to our newsletter by going to the top of our homepage ....

Sep 18, 202427 minSeason 2Ep. 2

ITT Is Back: Decoding the Debate

ITT is relaunching for a popup season to help you break down this unprecedented political moment and what it means for our communities and our futures. In our first episode, Maria Hinojosa is joined by her fellow co-hosts political scientist Dr. Christina Greer, journalist Paola Ramos and actress Judy Reyes. Together they help you decode this week's presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram . Subscribe to our new...

Sep 13, 202432 minSeason 2Ep. 1

In The Thick Presents: Stars and Stars with Isa

Futuro Studios presents Stars and Stars with Isa in collaboration with Stitcher Studios. Each week our host and astrologer, Isa Nakazawa, sits down with some of the most talented stars and thinkers of our time, to find what their birth chart reveals about them and their purpose. You’ll laugh, you might cry, and you’ll definitely connect with your favorites. And who knows, maybe, you’ll learn a little bit more about yourself. In this episode, Isa speaks with standup comedian, host, director, and ...

Aug 22, 202419 min

Introducing: My Divo

Introducing "My Divo" For host Maria Garcia, Mexican megastar Juan Gabriel has always held a singular allure. He was a prolific composer and one of the world’s greatest showmen. There was a lightness and a bigness to him—a big queer exuberance. And now, as the first openly gay woman in her family line, Maria looks to Juan Gabriel as a key to reconcile her queerness with her Mexican heritage. "My Divo" is an Apple Original podcast produced by Futuro Studios. Follow and listen: Apple Podcasts...

Jul 02, 202428 min

Gov. Wes Moore on Redefining Patriotism, from TIME’s Person of The Week

This week, we’re sharing something special from our friends over at TIME. It’s a preview of their first original podcast, Person of the Week. Each week, TIME Senior Correspondent Charlotte Alter hosts candid conversations with the people who shape the world, about the forces that shape them. In this episode, Maryland Governor Wes Moore dives deep into the heart of patriotism, unpacking the often-misunderstood term, the symbolism of the American flag and what it means to be an American in today's...

Sep 14, 202311 min

A Message for Our Listeners

Maria checks in with an important update about In The Thick. Your favorite political podcast is taking a break for the rest of 2023. While we won't be releasing any new episodes during this hiatus, all of our previous episodes are still available on your podcast feeds. We’ll be restructuring and coming up with something new and better than ever as we get ready for our 2024 election coverage! And we want to hear from you, dear listener. Reach out to us on social media and let us know what you’d l...

Sep 13, 20232 min

AI Is Not What You Think

In this episode, we’re unpacking AI. Julio is joined by Karen Hao , contributing writer for The Atlantic focusing on AI, to talk about the human impact of the rapidly evolving technology and what it means to decolonize AI. ITT Staff Picks: Rebecca Tan and Regine Cabato report on the “digital sweatshops” across the Global South, where workers have to sort and label data for AI models, in this article for the Washington Post . “Many creative types are wrestling with the credit conundrum and questi...

Sep 06, 202327 min

A Pivotal Moment in American Labor

Futuro Media is taking a short summer break, so we’re sharing an episode from 2022, where Maria and Julio talk with Kim Kelly , labor journalist and author of “Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor,” about the history of labor organizing in the United States and what it says about the labor movement today. They also discuss how women of color have been at the forefront of these movements. Photo credit: AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez...

Aug 30, 202333 min

The Party of Authoritarianism

Julio and guest co-host Fernanda Santos kick off the show with some of the latest news, including the first Republican 2024 presidential debate, and an update on extreme climate across the globe. In our roundtable, Mike German , fellow with the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty and National Security Program, joins Maria and Julio to talk about why people of color join white supremacist movements, and how authoritarianism in the Republican Party is nothing new. ITT Staff Picks: As the GOP pres...

Aug 23, 202329 min

Oppenheimer’s Nuclear Colonialism

Maria and Julio discuss the indictment of Donald Trump and his allies in Georgia, and the devastating fires in Maui. Then, we share a recent episode of Latino Rebels Radio . Julio talks to Myrriah Gómez , associate professor at the University of New Mexico, about the film “Oppenheimer” and its omission of New Mexican history in the creation of the atomic bomb. ITT Staff Picks: “Trevian Kutti, a former publicist for rappers Ye (Kanye West) and R-Kelly, is named as a co-defendant in the sprawling ...

Aug 16, 202339 min

All the Other Barbies

Julio and guest co-host Fernanda Santos discuss the reelection of Tennessee state Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones and the move by New York City Mayor Eric Adams to relocate migrants seeking shelter. In our roundtable, Dr. Aria S. Halliday , associate professor in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Kentucky, joins them in Barbieland to break down the legacy of Black Barbie. ITT Staff Picks: Michelle Boorstein discusses the changing role of the Black church in ...

Aug 09, 202338 min

Hot Labor Summer

Julio and guest co-host Fernanda Santos discuss Gov. Ron DeSantis’ alarming amendments to the Florida school curriculum regarding slavery. They also discuss the newest indictment against former President Donald Trump. In our roundtable, Lauren Kaori Gurley , labor reporter for the Washington post, and Dani Fernandez , writer and actor on strike, join Julio to talk about the Hollywood strikes and the labor movement in the United States. ITT Staff Picks: “If you’re wondering how Trump has survived...

Aug 02, 202339 min