What happens when survival turns into obedience?

In this episode of The Social Primate, host Eddie Aguirre sits down with award-winning journalist Michelle Zacarías to break down how generations of Latinos were taught to find safety through assimilation and how that belief still shapes our politics, identity, and silence today.

Michelle shares what she’s witnessed on the ground covering ICE raids, protests, and community resistance from Los Angeles to Chicago, reflecting on how people are organizing in the face of fear and reclaiming what safety really means.

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Show Notes:

00:50 Michelle's Journey into Journalism

03:19 Educational Background and Early Career

04:32 Challenges in Journalism and Community Reporting

05:40 Hyperlocal Reporting and Fellowship Experience

07:08 Chicago Raid and National Implications

13:23 Assimilation Politics and Latino Identity

21:21 Military Recruitment and Latino Community

28:52 Understanding Latino Trump Supporters

30:17 The Impact of Right-Wing Propaganda

30:38 Analyzing Poll Results and Voter Behavior

31:56 Challenges Facing the Democratic Party

33:01 The Role of Masculinity in Politics

34:34 Community and Mental Health

41:55 Latino Voter Demographics and Trends

44:06 The Importance of Local Community Action

45:36 Reflections on Activism and Journalism

52:10 Advice for Staying Engaged and Informed

How do you hold power accountable when the rules are built to protect it?

In this episode, investigative journalist Joey Scott joins Social Primate to talk about policing, surveillance, and state power in Los Angeles. From stockpiles of “less-lethal” weapons to escalating protest crackdowns, to surveillance tools and local agencies working alongside ICE.

He also underscores the importance of community solidarity, informed hope, and continuous resistance in facing these challenges.

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Show Notes:

00:19 Meet Joey Scott: Investigative Journalist and Photographer

00:45 The Rise of Surveillance and State Power

01:29 Joey Scott's Journey into Journalism

05:56 Unveiling Police and State Actions

07:32 Military Equipment in Police Departments

14:55 On the Ground: Protest Documentation

19:29 The Escalation of Police Violence

22:29 The Surveillance State and Public Awareness

24:59 The Intrusiveness of Surveillance

25:22 The Profit Motive Behind Policing

26:56 Paranoia and Distrust in Law Enforcement

28:37 Social Media Monitoring and Privacy Concerns

30:13 The Power of Language and Labels

32:59 ICE Cooperation and Community Betrayal

43:28 The Emotional Toll of Journalism

47:52 Finding Hope and Community Action

Episode 1: “La Lucha No Tiene Edad”

It was a gloomy Saturday morning when, on my way to Maywood, I came across an older gentleman standing by the railroad tracks in the city of Bell, handing out stickers that read No ICE.

Jack is 89 years old. He could be spending his time anywhere else, but instead he’s out here trying to spread a message.

As I was capturing his story, another man stepped in with a very different view. For me, it was a reminder of the work still needed to bring people together even in the smallest of neighborhoods.

**Ground Level is a new mini series featuring community voices and moments in and around Los Angeles.**

What does it mean to be silenced without ever being convicted?

In this episode we hear Jag Arreola’s story of repression after Operation Accountability. Though the felony charges against him collapsed in court, he was still punished: silenced by a gag order, erased from social media, and stripped of his livelihood.

This conversation exposes how dissent in America is met with punishment first, justice later and how the system erases voices long before a verdict is reached.

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Show Notes:

00:30 Recap of Previous Conversation

01:29 Jag Arreola's Arrest and Investigation

03:15 Community Support and Legal Battle

05:55 Impact on Career and Personal Life

09:55 Political Activism and Systemic Issues

15:58 Interrogation and Jail Experience

29:07 Reflecting on Struggles and Solidarity

31:46 Global Perspective in Music

32:36 Class Consciousness and Unity

35:38 The Importance of Ethnic Studies

39:05 Unmasking and Personal Liberation

47:57 Mobilizing and Organizing for Change

51:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:29 Amanda's Journalism Journey

03:55 Challenges in the Media Industry

05:38 Breaking into CBS and Radio

06:56 Community-Centric Journalism

14:39 The Role of LA Public Press

25:35 Media Literacy and Collaboration

28:19 The Challenges of Being a Lone Reporter

29:14 Building Community Connections

30:53 Covering Important Stories

31:48 The Battle of Bell Incident

46:07 Documenting and Reporting on Raids

48:51 Tips for Civilian Documentarians

51:20 Conclusion and Contact Information

What do you do when corporations and politicians treat your neighborhood as expendable?

In this episode, Laura Cortez, organizer and co-director of East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice (EYCEJ), discusses growing up in Southeast LA, where pollution was treated as “normal,” and realizing it was environmental racism by design. We dig into EYCEJ’s history and victories: from shutting down the Exide battery plant to stopping the 710 freeway expansion

This is a conversation about grassroots power, holding systems accountable, and how collective action turns survival into lasting change.

Show Notes:

00:15 Meet Lara Cortez: Environmental Justice Advocate

00:50 Growing Up in Southeast LA

01:43 Discovering Environmental Injustices

02:14 Lara's Journey into Environmental Justice

07:50 The Impact of Pollution and Racism

09:22 Organizing for Change

11:42 The Power of Community and Culture

14:05 Navigating Bureaucratic Obstacles

21:51 Celebrating Wins in Environmental Justice

24:00 Community Actions and Organizing Efforts

25:31 EPA's Involvement and Legal Challenges

26:14 Victory Against Freeway Expansion

26:59 Exide Battery Plant Closure

28:39 Ongoing Cleanup and Local Hiring

30:38 Lead Contamination and Health Impacts

33:30 Community Engagement and Solidarity

42:37 Encouragement for New Activists

44:34 National and Regional Collaborations

46:50 Conclusion and Call to Action

What happens when helping your community puts you in the crosshairs of the federal government?

In this episode, Marine veteran and organizer Alejandro Orellana shares how a morning at home turned into a federal raid — and what the fight that followed reveals about solidarity, risk, and why showing up for each other matters.

Show Notes:

00:32 Alejandro Rena's Arrest and Charges

01:51 Events Leading to the Arrest

02:44 The Raid and Its Aftermath

09:31 Alejandro's Background and Activism

14:38 Legal Battle and Community Support

21:34 Charges Dropped and Moving Forward

31:27 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

What does “back to school” look like when your community is bracing for ICE raids?

In this episode, educator and organizer Lupe Carrasco Cardona joins us to talk about protecting students through Know Your Rights workshops, walking school buses, and community safety plans. We also explore her 2022 lawsuit over teaching ethnic studies (dismissed in 2024) and how that fight connects to resisting the criminalization of immigrant families. From mutual aid to decolonized curriculum, Lupe shows why defending truth in the classroom is inseparable from defending our communities.

Show Notes:

00:23 The Fight for Ethnic Studies

03:35 Formation of Liberated Ethnic Studies

07:55 The Impact of Ethnic Studies on Personal Identity

10:18 Community Solidarity and Defense Initiatives

13:23 Workshops and Training for ICE Raids

22:19 Empowering Communities Through Education and Solidarity

28:40 Discovering the Power of Mutual Aid

29:09 Indigenous Socialism and Community Building

29:50 The Theft of Labor and Wealth Inequality

31:11 Generational Responsibility and Environmental Concerns

32:37 The Struggle Against Racism and Capitalism

33:43 Challenges in Promoting Ethnic Studies

40:33 The Importance of Ancestral Knowledge

43:05 Legal Battles and Community Organizing

47:11 Standing Firm Against Oppression

What do you do when ICE shows up?

In this episode, Eddie Aguirre sits down with Sandra De Anda, a writer, organizer, and Director of Policy and Legal Strategy at the OC Rapid Response Network to talk real-time resistance in Orange County.

From court patrols to community alerts, Sandra breaks down how people are showing up to watch ICE, protect their neighbors, and turn fear into action.

This isn’t just about policy, it’s about presence. And making sure no one disappears quietly.

Show Notes:

00:21 Anaheim Joins the Lawsuit

01:55 Sandra Denda's Background and Activism

06:47 The OC Rapid Response Network

10:45 Challenges of Organizing in Orange County

16:58 Impact of Different Administrations on Immigration Enforcement

30:10 Rapid Response Network in Action

36:31 Empowering the Criminalized: Community Defense and Legal Strategies

37:16 Impact Litigation and Decarceration Efforts

38:19 Rapid Response Network: Volunteers and Committees

39:11 Migra Watch: Documenting ICE Enforcement

42:48 Challenges in Identifying and Confronting ICE Agents

49:49 Supporting Detained Loved Ones: Tools and Strategies

57:56 Personal Reflections and Mental Health

01:00:24 The Role of Joy in Resistance

01:01:57 Abolitionist Perspectives and Political Will

01:07:42 Conclusion and Call to Action

What role should local leaders play when federal agents target your community?

In this urgent conversation, Eddie and Santa Ana Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez speak from the frontlines of back-to-back ICE raids in Southern California. Together, they unpack how local governments can either protect or abandon their people — and why understanding your city’s power matters more than ever.

Hernandez also sheds light on significant initiatives in Santa Ana such as establishing rent control, police oversight, and Chicano Heritage Month celebrations. The episode serves as a powerful call to action for community solidarity and the need for proactive local governance in fighting systemic oppression.

Show Notes:

00:19 Meeting at the Chicano Moratorium

01:25 The Importance of Independent Journalism

02:20 Jonathan's Background and Family History

04:15 Growing Up in Santana

05:40 Impact of Music and Art

07:36 Current Immigration Issues and Community Response

11:36 ICE Raids and Community Impact

14:58 Police and ICE Collaboration

22:37 Historical Context and Modern-Day Parallels

38:57 City Council Responses and Community Activism

43:01 Executive Order Breakdown

44:50 Legal Defense and Empowerment

45:35 Public Awareness and Reaction

47:21 Santa Ana's Diverse Community

48:32 Coalition Building and Policy Introduction

49:00 ICE Notifications and Public Records

50:21 Targeted by the Trump Administration

53:56 Local Government Challenges and Powers

57:45 Rent Control and Legal Battles

01:02:06 Police Violence and Community Response

01:19:55 Chicano Heritage Month and Community Unity

01:24:23 Conclusion and Call to Action