Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid dig into fresh polling from EquisLab — the “Memo: Summer 2025 Latino PulseCheck” — and lay out why a sizable slice of 2024 Latino Trump voters are disappointed or regretful, especially on the economy, mass deportations, rising costs, and cuts to social programs. From concerns about ICE's use of 'indefinite detention' to fears of Medicaid/SNAP cuts in the GOP’s “big, beautiful bill,” Chuck and Mike map out the political danger — and the opportunity — of refocusing on affordability, blue-collar messaging, and localized persuasion. 

They also walk through the looming California redistricting fight, upcoming off-cycle races in Virginia and New Jersey, and why both parties risk losing Latino trust. Plus—Chuck shares his plans to tackle Yosemite’s Half Dome, while Mike preps for the political battles back in Sacramento.
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Recorded August 20, 2025.
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• Check out Equis Research 'Memo: Summer 2025 Latino PulseCheck': https://www.weareequis.us/research/memo-july-2025-latino-pulsecheck

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After a week away, Chuck Rocha returns from New Orleans to Washington D.C. where Trump’s show of military force has locals on edge. The two dig into what’s really behind the spectacle—midterm messaging, crime politics, and redistricting battles. Chuck assesses the messaging battlefield for the 2026 midterms, while Mike presses that the key to Democrats winning is through the Latino Vote, rather than pursuing a redistricting fiasco. With anecdotes from Netroots Nation, a look at Ruben Gallego’s approach to winning over working-class voters, and a blunt conversation about what Democrats must do to avoid losing the Latino Vote again, you won't want to miss this episode.
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Recorded August 13, 2025.
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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

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Check out Brandon Loran Maxwell's latest works:

• Bomb the Wall: Musings From The Beltway To The Barrio - https://www.amazon.com/Bomb-Wall-Musings-Beltway-Barrio/dp/B0DTQDFLC2
• American Homeboy - https://americanhomeboy.com
• Inside L.A. Lowrider Club History with Compton David | DEFIANT HISTORY | S1 E1 | Full Episode -  
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edca71_95fk
• The Daily Chela - Substack (https://www.thedailychela.com/)
• DailyChelaTV - https://chelatv.com/

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Brandon Loran Maxwell joins Mike Madrid for a raw and revealing conversation about his journey from surviving gang life on the streets of Portland to working on Capitol Hill — and why Latino voters are rejecting the old political playbook.

Brandon shares how his time in gang culture, prison, and the arts shaped his voice as a filmmaker and political commentator; with behind-the-scenes stories from his film American Homeboy, previews his new web series Defiant History, and breaks down what inspired his bestselling book Bomb the Wall.

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Recorded August 6, 2025.

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote

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From DC and Guadalajara, Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid go deep on the redistricting wars heating up across the country. Texas Republicans have unveiled a bold new map designed to create more Latino-majority districts—but is it a strategic play or a dangerous overreach? Chuck breaks down how the new lines threaten key Democratic seats, while Mike warns that Republicans may be betting too hard on the Latino rightward shift.

Meanwhile, California Democrats are considering a mid-decade redistricting maneuver of their own—despite the state’s voter-approved safeguards. Mike sounds the alarm on what he calls a “triple-bank-shot” power grab that risks backfiring in both politics and principle.

But before any of that Chuck Rocha shares his growing frustration over the lack of Latino-owned consultants in major campaigns and argue why authentic representation isn’t just “nice to have” but essential for winning elections.

Redistricting, representation, and the soul of democracy are on the line—and Chuck and Mike aren’t pulling punches.

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Recorded July 30, 2025.
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Read the breaking news report from Punchbowl News AM - 'A Texas-sized gamble: Details on the new map' - (https://punchbowl.news/archive/73025-am/)

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

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Live from outside the NALEO conference in Atlanta, Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid are joined by CNN veteran Nick Valencia and CBS political contributor Fin Gómez to unpack seismic shifts in Latino politics. They unpack the latest CBS News polling on Latino voters, analyze how immigration and economic discontent are driving voters away from both parties, and spotlight the redistricting chaos looming in Texas and California. From the streets of Delano to the suburbs of Atlanta, this episode explores the real-life consequences of political decisions—and why 2026 might be the most consequential off-year for Latino communities yet.

Plus: sharp insights into media narratives, voter identity, and the growing disconnect between elected officials and the voters they claim to represent.

Buckle up.

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📍 Recorded live at NALEO 2025 in Atlanta
🎙️ Featuring: Nick Valencia (Substack/CNN), Fin Gomez (CBS News)

Check out the latest CBS News Poll 'CBS News poll finds support for Trump's deportation program falls; Americans call for more focus on prices': https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-news-poll-trump-deportation-program-prices/

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

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Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid break down the shocking Arizona special election - that wasn’t so shocking to anyone paying attention. Adelita Grijalva didn’t just win — she crushed her competition — despite the hype around viral social media candidates. What does her landslide win say about the myth of the “progressive takeover”?

Our hosts also take you deep into Texas, where a mid-decade redistricting power grab could unravel the GOP — and maybe the courts. Chuck drops precinct-level knowledge on Houston and Dallas districts (by literally drawing them out with his fists), while Mike sounds the alarm on how 'opening pandora's box' could backfire spectacularly.

Plus: California’s own battle lines, DC drama in Ward 8, and a close look at the key 2026 battleground in California’s Central Valley. Don’t miss this one.

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Recorded July 16, 2025.

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

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Chuck Rocha returns from the mangroves of Mexico, roosters and all, just in time for a deep dive into the "Big, Beautiful Budget Bill" that’s anything but beautiful—especially for Latinos. Joined by Senior Washington Correspondent for The Independent Eric Garcia and co-host Mike Madrid, the trio breaks down what really went down on Capitol Hill, from backroom Senate deals to ICE’s ballooning budget, and why Latinos—particularly Latinas—might be the sleeping giant of 2024. They tackle Medicaid cuts, Trump’s tax tricks (including the tip bait), and the rise of a potential paramilitary ICE force bigger than the U.S. Marine Corps. Mike even asks: Could Trump actually do immigration reform?

From the frontlines of CPAC Latino to the overlooked power of the Latina vote, this episode doesn't pull punches.
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Recorded July 9, 2025
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Learn more about this episode's guest Eric Garcia:

• Read his most recent articles on The Independent (https://www.the-independent.com/author/eric-garcia?CMP=ILC-refresh)
• Visit his website (http://www.ericmgarcia.net/)
• Follow him on X (https://x.com/ericmgarcia)

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote

Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote

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In this urgent solo dispatch, Mike Madrid unpacks the jaw-dropping implications of the newly passed federal budget — a bill that dramatically expands ICE and Border Patrol into what he calls a “paramilitary operation.” From scenes of federal agents detaining U.S. citizens in churches and Home Depots to the chilling rhetoric of “Alligator Alcatraz,” this episode explores how cruelty has become policy — and the American mythos is being rewritten in real time.

Madrid connects the dots between this moment and a long history of racial fear, anti-Latino sentiment, and political cowardice from both parties. He asks the hard questions: Is this really who we are as a nation? Or has this always been who we’ve been, just more polite about it?

With 2026 on the horizon, Mike challenges Latino voters to reckon with their power, their identity, and whether this country still belongs to all of us.

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Recorded Juiy 3, 2025.

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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

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Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid are joined by legendary columnist and commentator Ruben Navarrette to unpack the political earthquake in New York City. From Andrew Cuomo's downfall to Zohran Mamdani's insurgent rise, the trio dives deep into why Mamdani winning New York City's Democratic Primary isn't a left vs. right moment—it’s a populist revolt shaking the Democratic establishment to its core. They explore how early voting, outsider campaigns, and a growing anti-establishment sentiment are redefining the electorate—and why Latino voters are at the heart of it. Plus, Ruben drops powerful reflections on Mexican-American identity in the age of mass deportations and viral resistance. This one’s raw, urgent, and essential listening.

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Recorded June 25, 2025.

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Learn more about Ruben Navarrette and his articles by visiting his website: https://rubennavarrette.com/

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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

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Catch up on Jack Herrera's recent articles on ICE deportations:

• Could You Prove You’re a Citizen? For Americans wrongfully detained by ICE, it can be nearly impossible to escape.  (https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-ice-detained-citizenship-proof.html)
• Trump’s De-legalization Campaign (https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/trumps-de-legalization-campaign)
• For One Texas County, Arresting Migrants Made Big Money (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/us/migrants-border-bail-forfeit-kinney-county-texas.html)

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Chuck Rocha welcomes acclaimed reporter, Jack Herrera (Texas Monthly, Political Magazine) for an in-depth conversation about the state of immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Jack shares how he went from covering the 2018 migrant caravans in Tijuana to exposing the end of the CHNV parole program—half a million Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who did everything “the right way” now rendered deportable overnight.

Together they unpack:

• CHNV Parole Termination: How Trump’s decision to cut short two-year legal status forced CBP fingerprints into fast-track deportations of fully vetted migrants.
• ICE Out of Control: The alarming rise in U.S. citizens, including Congressional candidates and everyday families, being detained by ICE, the National Guard and U.S. Marshals—even without warrants.
• Personal Roots: Jack’s own family story—from 12th-generation Texans to NASA chemists—illustrates the enduring contributions of Latino communities.
• Looking Ahead: What these enforcement tactics mean for Latino voters, the 2025 midterms and the future of U.S. immigration policy.

Plus: Jack’s off-duty passions—backpacking Colorado’s San Juans, finding wild brown trout, and what hiking teaches him about America’s greatest resource: its people.

🔔 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube and join us every Friday for the latest episode of The Latino Vote Podcast. Don’t forget to like, share and leave a review!
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Recorded on June 18, 2025.
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