Maria and Julio are joined by Jamil Smith , essayist for the Los Angeles Times, and Sabrina Rodríguez , national political reporter for The Washington Post, to discuss the storming of Brazil’s Congress by far-right Bolsonaro supporters, and the similarities to the January 6th Capitol attack in the United States. They also get into Biden’s brief visit to the southern border city of El Paso and the latest in Congress with Kevin McCarthy’s fight for House speakership. ITT Staff Picks: Yascha Mounk ...
Jan 11, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio unpack what’s happening in the House of Representatives and the numerous votes to elect a new House Speaker. They also connect this to the January 6th attempted coup at the U.S. Capitol, which happened two years ago today. Finally, they discuss President Biden’s latest announcement regarding new immigration restrictions and expanding Title 42. ITT Staff Picks: Molly Jong-Fast writes about the Republican “Trumpified party” and its performative inability to elect a House Speaker in...
Jan 06, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio reflect on the state of our democracy with Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. , James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University, and Ese Olumhense , reporter for Reveal. They discuss the takeaways from the 2022 midterm elections, including the increase in voter suppression tactics since 2020. They also look ahead to the 2024 presidential election and talk about what it will take to protect voting rights. ITT Staff Picks: Host Al Letson talks to Ese Olumhense and o...
Jan 03, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Wrapping up another amazing year at In The Thick, Maria and Julio reflect on some of their favorite moments of 2022, including ITT’s first in-person live show since the pandemic, election coverage in collaboration with Latino USA, and the opportunity to speak to and elevate brilliant guests on the show. They also unpack some very tough moments that happened this year, from ongoing gun violence to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. ITT Staff Picks: If you missed this brilliant episode from April, Ma...
Dec 30, 2022•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this rebroadcast episode from 2020, Maria and Julio welcome Valarie Kaur , renowned Sikh activist, civil rights lawyer, and author of the book “See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love.” They reflect on Valarie’s activist roots and her experience writing her book. They also discuss America’s history of state-sanctioned violence against communities of color and explore how revolutionary love is a feminist intervention and a force for justice. ITT Staff Picks: Melissa Harri...
Dec 27, 2022•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Futuro Media is off for winter break, Maria and Julio check in with all of you, our dear ITT listeners. We’re sending you lots of love and joy this holiday season. But don’t go away for too long– In The Thick will be back in the new year with brand new episodes and our always fire guests! We'll see you next year, familia. No te vayas! Photo credit: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Dec 23, 2022•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast In The Thick is excited to present an episode from our sister podcast, Latino USA. In this episode, Maria talks with Rafael Reif , who is stepping down as president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at the end of the month. Reif reflects on his tenure, how his upbringing in Venezuela brought him to the helm of one of the world’s top universities, and shares his message for Latino and Latina students pursuing higher education. Subscribe to Latino USA wherever you get your podcasts!...
Dec 20, 2022•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast In The Thick is excited to share this week’s episode of Latino Rebels Radio . Julio talks to Nelson Rauda , a Salvadoran journalist for El Faro, about a lawsuit he and other journalists at El Faro filed against NSO Group, an Israeli company whose surveillance software was used to track their communications. They talk about what this lawsuit says about the media landscape in El Salvador, and what it signals about freedom of the press around the world. Subscribe to Latino Rebels Radio wherever you...
Dec 16, 2022•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Julio is joined by Anjali Enjeti , author and co-founder of the Georgia chapter of They See Blue, and Anoa Changa , journalist and editor at NewsOne, to unpack the results of the Georgia Senate runoff election, and what it signals about party dynamics in the state and across the country. They get into voting issues in Georgia, including barriers to voting, the impact of organizing and voter outreach, and what we can expect in the next Senate session. ITT Staff Picks: Anoa Changa writes about her...
Dec 14, 2022•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio discuss the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from a Russian penal colony in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. They also get into Senator Raphael Warnock’s win in the Georgia runoff election, and the news of the Trump Organization being found guilty on multiple charges of tax fraud and falsifying business records. ITT Staff Picks: Orion Rummler spoke to Black LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary leaders about the significance of Brittney Griner’s release, for The 19th . Poli...
Dec 09, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio are joined by Peniley Ramírez , executive producer of Futuro Unidad Hinojosa and Futuro’s Special Projects and Investigative Units to discuss the new upcoming podcast “USA v. García Luna.” Maria and Peniley talk about their experience reporting and hosting the five-episode series that examines the rise and fall of Genaro García Luna, a former high-ranking Mexican official facing trial in New York City next month for allegedly working with drug cartels to bring drugs into the Unit...
Dec 07, 2022•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio unpack the latest with Congress, including the Senate vote against paid sick leave for railway workers. They also discuss the Respect for Marriage Act, which would require that all same-sex and interracial marriages be protected at the federal level. Finally, they get into immigration policy and New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ new plan to allow involuntary hospitalization of people with presumed mental health issues. ITT Staff Picks: Zach Schonfeld discusses the 12 Senate Republi...
Dec 02, 2022•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria is joined by Renée Graham , opinion columnist and associate editor at The Boston Globe, and Wajahat Ali , Daily Beast columnist and co-host of the podcast Democracy-ISH, to unpack the mass shooting at an LGBTQ club in Colorado as well as the growing white supremacy within the Republican Party. They also discuss the latest with the midterm elections, including the upcoming Georgia runoff, and what to expect in 2024. ITT Staff Picks: Wajahat Ali talks about stochastic terrorism, a term that ...
Nov 30, 2022•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio are joined by Daniela Pierre-Bravo , reporter for MSNBC’s Morning Joe, to discuss her new book, “The Other: How to Own Your Power at Work as a Woman of Color.” They talk about overcoming imposter syndrome and biases within our own communities. They also unpack the inequities and systemic issues in workplaces that contribute to feelings of otherness for Black and brown women. ITT Staff Picks: “Consider our desire to be acknowledged for what we already are—Americans, plain and simp...
Nov 25, 2022•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio are joined by Anthony Orozco , a journalist who just wrapped up his time as the Latino communities reporter for WITF, and Rachel Leingang , writer of Arizona Agenda on Substack, for a hyperlocal conversation about the 2022 midterms in Pennsylvania and Arizona. They unpack key races in both states and discuss how progressivism will impact state politics going forward. ITT Staff Picks: In the latest Arizona Agenda piece, Rachel Leingang and Hank Stephenson break down what lessons D...
Nov 22, 2022•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King , managing editor at BuzzFeed News, talk about the latest election results and former President Trump’s announcement that he’s running again in 2024. They also unpack the ongoing issue of gun violence after the shooting at UVA, where three students were killed. Finally, they get into the human rights issues surrounding the FIFA World Cup in Doha, Qatar. ITT Staff Picks: “Pelosi got a lot right in her time as leader of the Democratic caucus — but her hesitancy...
Nov 18, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast For this year’s midterms, In The Thick and Latino USA are teaming up for a special post-election roundtable discussion. Maria and Julio are joined by Christian Paz , senior politics reporter for Vox, and Maya King , politics reporter for the New York Times, to discuss Democratic victories in the Senate, the re-election of Republican governors across the South, the role of young voters, and the impact of abortion on people’s decisions. And, they consider what this all means for 2024. Through it a...
Nov 15, 2022•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio recap the 2022 midterm election results so far. They look into key wins for both Democrats and Republicans, including in Ohio, Florida, and Michigan. They also discuss young voter turnout, how abortion played a role at the ballot box, and what mainstream media and polling sites got wrong in their analysis. ITT Staff Picks: “From John Fetterman’s victory over Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania and incumbent senator Maggie Hassan’s success in New Hampshire to incumbent governors Gretchen Wh...
Nov 11, 2022•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio are joined by Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly and Kaila Philo , investigative reporter for Talking Points Memo, to dive into the 2022 midterm elections. They discuss election administration and the issues around voter intimidation and voter registration. They also look at the impact that 2020 election denial has had on the integrity of this year’s midterms, and share what voters can do to stay informed. ITT Staff Picks: Barbara Rodriguez writes about the predominantl...
Nov 08, 2022•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio talk about the targeted attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, and how responses from some Republicans are normalizing this kind of political violence. They also get into the latest with voter intimidation and suppression efforts across the country leading up to the midterms, and what Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter means for the future of our democracy. ITT Staff Picks: “The political violence in our nation’s history is organized and purposeful. It is norma...
Nov 04, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio are joined by Astead Herndon , national political reporter for The New York Times and host of their politics podcast The Run-Up, to discuss the stakes of the upcoming midterm elections, the fate of our democracy and the power of community organizing. They also talk about the rise of anti-immigration rhetoric and Christian nationalism within the Republican party. ITT Staff Picks: In this episode of The Run Up, Astead Herndon talks with Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams...
Nov 01, 2022•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio get into the latest with the midterms, including the Pennsylvania Senate debate between Republican candidate Mehmet Oz and Democratic candidate John Fetterman. They also talk about the mainstream media’s coverage of the election, the consequences of Kanye West’s antisemitic and anti-Black comments and voter intimidation efforts in Arizona. ITT Staff Picks: “It’s a reflection of a larger issue: our country’s persisting discomfort around disabled bodies and minds. In some ways, it’...
Oct 28, 2022•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio are joined by Jennifer Medina, a national politics reporter for The New York Times. They break down recent polling on Latino and Latina voters, including Futuro Media’s first-ever political poll. They also discuss the issues that actually matter to Latino and Latina voters, and what both parties are missing in their outreach. And, they get into Jennifer’s reporting on the rise of right-wing, conservative Latina candidates running on GOP platforms. ITT Staff Picks: Jennifer Medina...
Oct 25, 2022•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio talk through the latest with the upcoming midterm elections, including the heated Senate debates in Georgia and Florida, and the record-breaking early voter turnout in Georgia this week. They also discuss the newly released body-cam footage of voter fraud arrests in Florida, and unpack recent polling about the decline in democracy. ITT Staff Picks: With three weeks left before the midterm elections, Lisa Lerer breaks down the “state of the races for the House and Senate,” in this...
Oct 21, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria is joined by Erika D. Smith , columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and Alberto Retana , president and CEO of Community Coalition in South Los Angeles, to discuss the political scandal within the Los Angeles City Council. They get into the impact of redistricting on the city, and how this will all play out in the upcoming mayoral election between Rep. Karen Bass and Rick Caruso. They also address anti-blackness within Latino communities and the hope for true multiracial solidarity. ITT Staf...
Oct 18, 2022•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio discuss the racist comments made by some Latino Los Angeles City Council members in a leaked audio recording. They also get into the move to subpoena former President Trump during this week’s January 6th hearing, and discuss charges against former San Antonio police officer James Brennand for the shooting of 17-year-old Erik Cantu. ITT Staff Picks: “As the Latino population increases and diversifies, the persistence of racism threatens to dissolve hard-won Latino political and ci...
Oct 14, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and Julio are joined by Dr. Steven Thrasher , journalist and author of the new book, “The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide.” They discuss how viruses, from HIV/AIDS to the coronavirus, reveal inequities in our society. They also talk about the ways that COVID-19 continues impacting the most vulnerable populations, even as our leaders shift to a “post-pandemic” reality. ITT Staff Picks: “Future pandemics aren’t hypothetical; they’re inevitable and imminen...
Oct 11, 2022•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Maria and guest co-host Imara Jones , journalist and award-winning creator of TransLash Media, discuss President Biden’s warning of nuclear “Armageddon” from Russia and his move to pardon federal marijuana possession convictions. They also get into the recent court ruling on DACA, the alleged abortion hypocrisy surrounding Republican candidate Herschel Walker, and the women-led protests in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa “Zhina” Amini. ITT Staff Picks: Noah Berlatsky writes about t...
Oct 07, 2022•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Julio is joined by Sabrina Rodríguez , national political reporter for the Washington Post, and Fernanda Santos , editorial director of Futuro Media and contributing columnist for the Washington Post, to discuss the changing political climates around the world, including Brazil’s presidential election. They also discuss voter turnout in the U.S. within communities of color and how to build cross-racial solidarity ahead of the midterms. ITT Staff Picks: “The candidates and their vision for Brazil...
Oct 04, 2022•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Julio and guest co-host Renée Graham , opinion columnist at The Boston Globe, discuss the impact of Hurricane Ian in Florida, and recent polling of Latino voters and how it will impact the midterms. They also get into the controversy surrounding retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre, who used state welfare funds to finance his own projects in Mississippi. ITT Staff Picks: There are many reasons people decide to stay put during a hurricane. The Washington Post spoke to some Florida residents about ...
Sep 30, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
