The Latino Vote

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.

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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

Find us on Substack: https://substack.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

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

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!

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

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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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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!

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

Find us on Substack: https://substack.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

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

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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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

Find us on Substack: https://substack.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

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

As tanks roll into D.C. and protesters flood the streets of LA, Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid break down the chaos—and the calculated cruelty driving it. Together, they dissect the fear gripping immigrant communities, the optics of waving Mexican flags vs. American ones, and how left-wing agitators are playing right into Trump’s hands.

With brutal honesty and a few wrestling metaphors (shoutout to Fritz Von Erich), the duo explores why “Cruelty is the Point” isn’t just a phrase—it’s a political strategy. They tackle Gavin Newsom’s unexpected comeback, the rising Latino vote for the New Jersey Governor's race, and yes… a Texas wrestling tangent.

It’s raw, urgent, and sharply strategic—because the stakes have never been higher.

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Chuck Rocha has a new show on Substack! Check out the Rocha Revolution airing every Wednesdays! (https://substack.com/@chuckrocha)

Read Mike Madrid's article on the Sacramento Bee - 'A message to Trump protesters in California: Put down the Mexican flags | Opinion' (https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article308246310.html)

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Recorded June 11, 2025.

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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

Find us on Substack: https://substack.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

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

In this episode of the Latino Vote Podcast, Mike Madrid is back and is here to tackle the hard truth: the Latino voter shift isn’t about turnout—it’s about policy.
While Democrats scramble to reconnect with a base that’s drifting right, Chuck and Mike break down the real reasons why working-class Latino voters are leaving the party. Spoiler: it’s not because Democrats didn’t show up to enough quinceañeras.

💥 Mike says it’s not a tactical problem—it’s a policy one.
📉 Chuck lays out how the party's strategy is built on outdated assumptions.
👷‍♂️ Together, they expose why working-class Latinos are walking away.

This is the conversation political insiders don’t want you to hear.
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Recorded on June 4, 2025.

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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

Find us on Substack: https://substack.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

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Download the Catalist 'What Happened in 2024' Report: https://catalist.us/whathappened2024/

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Chuck Rocha is joined by guest co-host Maria Cardona and Catalist CEO Michael Frias to unpack the hard truths and hidden opportunities in the Democratic Party’s relationship with Latino voters. With Mike Madrid off for the week, Chuck, Maria, and Michael dig deep into the latest Catalist's 'What Happened in 2024' report, detailing Latino Voter trends since 2012, with a distinct focus on the 2024 election. From Obama’s 2012 10% share to today’s razor-thin margins, Michael delivers the “Rocha Cliff Notes” on where Democrats gained, where they lost, and why the competition for Latino voters has never been fiercer. 

📊 Real data. 🔥 Real talk. 💡 Real solutions.

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Recorded May 28, 2025

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Catalist on X: https://x.com/catalist_us

Maria Cardona on X: https://x.com/mariatcardona

Michael Frias on X: https://x.com/mjfrias

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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

Find us on Substack: https://substack.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

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

If you haven't yet, check out The Jim Acosta Show on Substack: https://jimacosta.substack.com/
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"You have to be fearless, if you want to go into covering politics.  This is not a line of work where you're going to get liked."

Renown Journalist, Jim Acosta, joins The Latino Vote Podcast for a raw, unfiltered conversation with Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid about the urgent need for fearless journalism in an era of rising authoritarianism. Known for holding power to account during the Trump era—Acosta does not hold back.

👉 In this powerful episode:

• Jim's venture into Substack and the rise of The Jim Acosta Show
• Alarming immigration cases, including the deportation of young children with cancer
• How disinformation and political intimidation are eroding the free press
• His Cuban immigrant roots and what it means to be American
• An glimpse into the Ad Spending totals per issue, per party.
• Why journalists may soon need legal defense funds just to do their jobs

This is more than a podcast—it’s a call to action. If you care about democracy, truth, and the power of the Latino voice, don’t miss this.

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Recorded May 14, 2025.

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Learn more about Jim Acosta:

• https://www.facebook.com/jimacostanews/
• https://www.instagram.com/jimacosta
• https://x.com/Acosta
• https://bsky.app/profile/jimacosta.bsky.social

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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

Find us on Substack: https://substack.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

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

"Habemus Papam. We have a new pope!"

Chuck Rocha and resident Catholic expert Mike Madrid unpack the whirlwind election of our first American Pope—Pope Leo XIV—and explore what his ascendancy means for Latino culture, faith, and politics. From the storied rituals of white and black smoke in the Sistine Chapel to the surprising influence of betting markets on a secretive conclave, Mike sheds light on the historical parallels between Pope Leo’s rapid three-round election and that of Pius XII in 1939. Together, they examine how the “Catholic imagination” shapes Latino identity, the resurgence of young men embracing traditional Catholicism, and why Latino women are charting divergent spiritual paths.

Also Chuck recounts his electrifying appearance at the Milken Institute's marquee policy forum in Los Angeles.

If you're looking for a fast-paced, thought-provoking ride through faith, policy, and the future of the Latino Vote, you've come to the right place!
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Recorded May 8, 2025.
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Chuck got the quote of the day at the Milken Institute Global Conference 2025. Read the Politico article here: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook/2025/05/07/trump-feud-universities-milken-00332600

Watch the panel here: https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/event-panels/leading-democratic-party-future

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

Find us on Substack: https://substack.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

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!