November 5, 2025 • 61 mins
It’s been a full year since Donald Trump won the presidency once again. Now, after a round of elections in a few states, @JorgeRamosNews and @PaoRamos unpack the results in a conversation with The Moment’s Executive Producer, Daniel Alarcón.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, I'm Corc Ramos and I'm Bala Ramos.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
And welcome to the moment. So, Bala, we're going to
be doing things a little differently today. We're going to
be answering the questions. And this happened after the election
yesterday and one year after Donald Trump was re elected,
(00:23):
and I think we want to see where the country
is going and exactly what happened last night.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
I think today November fifth, Democrats woke up feeling hopeful,
if some would even say that they woke up feeling
something that they felt only during Barack Obama's two thousand
and eight victory, which is this idea that hope and
changes once again possible for this party that I think
we've talked about may have been going through some type
of identity crisis. And so today from New York City
(00:51):
where Zohar mam Danny wins, to New Jersey, to Virginia
where both Democratic candidates won as governors, to California Proposition fifty,
Democrats had a very very big night yesterday, and so
today we'll be talking about whether or not this victory
is that a referendum on Trump? Is that actually a
(01:12):
referendum on the Democratic Party. Is there a way forward
when you have a Democratic socialist in New York City
to moderates in New Jersey and Virginia. Is there a
way forward for both of those entities to coexist in
this Democratic Party? And how do Democrats keep going? But
to do this today, we are going to do things
slightly different. We will be joined by Danila Ragnho's the
(01:34):
executive producer of the moment. He is someone that is
literally putting this show together every single day and he
will be the one that's asking us questions today and.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
We'll be right back.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Great, welcome.
Speaker 5 (01:48):
So let's begin with probably the biggest result from last night,
and Paula Zor Mamdani was a political unknown just a
year ago and he won the New York City mayoroal's race.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
It was a historic turn out.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
More than two million votes cast and ma'm donny beat
back an independent run from former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Now
you both spoke with Mamdanni here on the moment, so
you have a sense of who he is and what
he represents. I want to hear just a clip from
his victory speech last night, which which was you know
and I Apolo, you were there, so you heard this,
but let's let's play it.
Speaker 6 (02:19):
New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city
built by immigrants, power by immigrants, and as of tonight
Land by an immigrant.
Speaker 5 (02:39):
So I guess I want to ask what his victory
says about the political future of the country's largest city,
and of course, whether we can extrapolate from this historic
win any lessons for the national the national scene.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah you're there.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Yeah, let me let me start as So I was.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
I was inside of the room, right, I was inside
the official victory party that Zora Mundahmi was having and
the energy that I think is palpable for listeners, and
as you're hearing this was exactly what people were feeling
inside and outside.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
I mean, the room was absolutely packed.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
It was full of young people, millennials, gen zers, one
of the most diverse crowds that I've ever seen, and
what people kept saying what stood out for me is
that it felt very much like Obama's victory.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Right.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
No one mentioned Joe Biden, no one mentioned the twenty
twenty election, but they mentioned that two thousand and eight moment,
which I think made a whole generation of people feel
inspired again. And I think That's what I would say
is one of the takeaways. Yes, of course Zorin has
a very dynamic message with that economic populism.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Yes, he was able to mobilize voters.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
But I think more than anything, what people have been
craving is some type of inspiration around this idea of
change and hope, which I know that sounds clear shame,
but I think after all these years of Trump is
after a Joe Biden administration, I think that is what's
missing in democratic politics, not this idea of inspiration.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
It was very different at the moment, was completely completely different.
I think it's the best night. I don't know what
you think, danil And and Paula, but the best night
for Democrats since Joe Biden won in twenty twenty. It's
just this perception, this optimism, that that victory is possible.
I think Democrats got used to losing so much that
(04:33):
finally there was a night in which everything was completely different.
In Virginia and New Jersey and California, in New York
and then that speech by Mandani Danielle. Are we in
the same country as Donald Trump? It feels completely different.
It feels like a different planet. Of course, in New
York in a sery of what eight point five million people,
(04:55):
you have more than three million immigrants, So it just
makes sense that an immigrant now is going to we
live in the city. But the feeling and the sense
that the country is changing is right there. And I
think that the message to Donald Trump is very clear.
It is this is not your country, this is our country.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
I think that was so key about his message, that
he was so unapologetic, right. I think some people were
expecting after his victory that he would somehow maybe soften
his message or somehow me moderates maybe in the middle.
But I think that message was him presenting himself as
exactly who he was, right. He once again reinforces that
(05:34):
he is Muslim, that he's a democratic socialist, that he
is young, and that he owns all of those labels.
And I have to say that once I left the
victory party and I got in a cab and I
went from downtown Brooklyn over to wollens Bring Yerk, which
is where I live. My cab driver was Pakistani and
he was celebrating, and he too was saying exactly that
how proud he was that an immigrant like him was
(05:57):
mayor of the city. And so I think it's I
think the energy is probable. And like I said, I
don't think this city. And I would say that even
before Joe Biden, like even Joe Biden's victory doesn't represent
this because this is to me, this goes beyond trump Ism.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
Well, I think a couple things there. I think that
the generational change is something worth pointing out. I mean,
he's thirty four years old and that obviously excites a
lot of people. And the other thing is, and I wonder,
and this is a question, did he have to moderate
if Cuomo was endorsed by Trump himself and Elon Musk
and Stephen Miller and a lot of people who are
(06:35):
not super popular in New York City. I mean, maybe
he didn't have to attack to the center.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
No, And I think I think that I would imagine
maybe an important lesson for Democrats.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Right.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
I think what makes what I believe made a successful
campaign was that he was rooted in a very clear
eyed ideology, right that didn't really waiver, right, you know,
and he's said it right. You know that he has
for immigrants, he has for trans people, he wants tell
black people, and there's no wavering. It's very clear, and
I think that type of ideology is what's missing at
(07:11):
the national level. Right. I think you hear Democrats across
the country that are tiptoeing around party lines.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
But I think Zoran is someone that is very clear
about where he stands.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
And I think you're right. I think there's no need.
I think he wins precisely because of that, right, because
he did it Titto as much as maybe some wanted
him to.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Okay, some people might be saying that he is the
new phase of the Democratic Party. Well, in a sense,
it is, but I think the Democratic Party is really
too broad. I know we're going to be talking Danail
about what happened in New Jersey and in Virginia, but
if you see the candidates in those two states, they
were centrist. I mean, they were not like Mandani. So
(07:51):
I think the challenge, which is a good challenge, is
a good problem to have for Democrats, is going to
be what kind of party we want to be. Are
We're going to be the party of Mamdani or gonna
be the party that we saw in New Jersey and
in Virginia. Obviously, part of the problem with Democrats is
that the lack of message I think Mandanny had said
(08:11):
that the party needed an affirmative message. Well, the message
is completely there. The question is going to be should
should you go to the center? I still remember Bill
Linton used to say that the elections in the United States,
you got to win them in the center. In other words,
that you would need voters from both parties in order
to win. But in this case that's that's not the case.
(08:34):
Mandanni won on the extreme of the party in New
Jersey and Virginia. It was different. Still, it was a
great night for Democrats.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
Yeah, I wonder if Bill Clinton's axiom is still true
in the post Trump era.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
In the Trump what do you think that you think
it's not a doesn't apply anymore.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
I certainly don't think that like Trump never tagged to
the center to win an election. I think he what
he did successfully is move the Overton window of what's
acceptable political discourse to the right, and and not even
to the right, to this kind.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Of trollish populism.
Speaker 5 (09:09):
That is what we've been seeing from you know, and
even more so we saw it in the first administration,
but we see even more so now where you have
you know, government agencies tweeting out you know your mother
back to reporters, and so it's not even ideological, it's
more just like almost a cultural shift. And so I wonder,
(09:30):
I honestly, and it's a it's a it's a question
that that I think about a lot. That idea of
moving to the center. Is it Is it a viable
or necessary political option anymore?
Speaker 4 (09:39):
And I'm not I'm not totally sure it is.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
But let's also not forget that he he by heat
Zoron also was in part because of Trump supporters.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Right.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
One of one of the things that he's able to
do and during the primary is this summer, was that
he he as we've discussed in this show, right, he
performs really well in the precincts where Donald Trump wins
and twenty twenty four, again, like people think of New
York City as this anomaly or as this like progressive
liberal bashi. But the truth is that we have a
pretty complex political history where republic The two out of
(10:13):
the last four mayors in this city have been Republicans. Right,
Harry Adams is a former Republican. We elected a former cop.
This is a place where Donald Trump did extremely well.
Kamala Harris only ones by thirty seven points. And so
the only way that Zoron created this coalition is not
just by mobilizing a Barack Obama esque coalition or young people,
(10:35):
but it is also by tapping into that that Trump
supporter no, that that resonates with Zoron's economic populism. And
so I think that like that is that is a
new way forward for a democratic, progressive socialist to be
able to expand that tent like that, There's something to
(10:56):
study there. And perhaps the question is do you have
to go to the center. Perhaps the question is are
democrats comfortable with allowing allowing both, you know, both identities
and both type of approaches to coexist in the party?
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Right?
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Does it have to be either or.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
And and And maybe maybe that's the way Forwardeah, I
don't know.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
I keep thinking about what Rubya Diego told us when
we spoke to him on the moment, that really authenticity
is what people respond to.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
And again I.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Think that yeah, different song was what his his videos
work completely viral, and I think that's that's part of
the reason why he why he won. Also, I think
overall there's a message against Donald Trump. I think it's
not only the Mandaney one. It is also uh telling
telling President Trump, this is not what we want, This
(11:46):
is not what we what we voted for. You know,
I was I was doing my homework. I saw a
CNN poll. Really interesting, forty seven percent of registered voters
say they would pick a Democrat in the election if
the election were today, in contrast with only forty two
percent of Republicans, and that this approval President Trump is incredible.
(12:07):
Is sixty three percent of Americans don't agree with him.
And when you go step by step, sixty eight percent
say that the country is in bad shape, and sixty
one percent blame President Trump for the situation of the economy.
Now we have to remember that we're right in the
(12:28):
middle of the shutdown, so voters are reacting to that.
It is not only politics and ideology. It is hey,
I don't have a check today. It is if I'm
going to travel the it is going to be maybe
three hours, as it happened at at the airport in Houston.
(12:48):
So the message to Trump, I think it is very clear.
One has to do with maybe is the Trump effect
that if Trump is not on the ballot, Republicans are
having a really hard time just to get elected, and
the second one is that this is not the country
he expected to be in.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
I have a question for for I think all those
points are really valid. And I am also as a
as a as a sometime New Yorker concerned because Trump
has been pretty explicit with with his threats about what
would happen, uh if Mom Donnie were to win. Now
we have Mum Donnie as mayor elect January first, he
(13:30):
will be the mayor of New York City. And Trump
has been, you know, very threatening on social media about
about what he intends to do. And we've seen what's
happened in Chicago, in Los Angeles and Portland and other
sort of cities led by by Democrats. So, Parla, you
live in New York? Are you concerned? Should New Yorkers
(13:50):
be worried about what's to come in terms of ice,
in terms of funding cuts?
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Yeah, what's what's gonna happen? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I mean I think, I think, And this is something
that people talk about constantly, right, like even yesterday, people
were celebrating. But then one of the one of the
expressions I kept hearing is, oh, we're going to go
to war with Washington, d C. Right, And they used
and they used those words and think just even if
you you kind of take a step back, like Donald
Trump is someone that governs with revenge and with retribution.
(14:19):
And Donald Trump is someone has a very beyond Zoron,
a very complicated relationship, a love hate relationship with New
York City. Donald Trump was born in New York City.
He's a he's a he's a you know, from Queens
and yet he is rejected by his city. So I
think he's always kind of had this, yes, like this
this love hate. Remember that he indicted New York's Attorney General,
(14:40):
Leticia James, so his eyes are now set on I
think this individual that is now the antithesis not just
of who he is, but at a national level, right
like Zorn has all the qualities almost it reminds me
of Barack Obama, right Like Donald Trump is so envious
of a Brock Obama figure, right Like he's always been
(15:01):
obsessed with him, and every other sentence, every other year,
he's someone that is constantly attacking Barack Obama. No one
really understands why. But I think we're about to see
the same thing with Zoron. So I think what New
Yungers can expect and what they do expect is is
Donald Trump two point zero right where the ice rays
that we've seen the deployment of the national troops, that
(15:23):
intensity in which he's governing through immigration enforcement, like, we're
about to see all of that playing out in New
York City. And so I think the question that becomes
for Zoron, you know, how how does he ensure that
New York City continues to be a sanctuary city, which
we've we've almost lost touch and sense of what that
even means because Eric Adams has, of course, you know,
(15:45):
really blurred the lines of what a sanctuary city is
supposed to meet these days.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
But I think New Ayngers are expecting exactly that.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Yeah, and the confrontation is about to begin. I think
we have to remember that Donald Trump is calling from
Mom Daney, my little communist, and of course he's trying
to confuse the terms communists with socialism. But also we
have to remember that in New York City is a
sanctuary city. That means that the city is supposed to
(16:12):
protect immigrants, to protect more than three million immigrants. I
was seeing some of the numbers. There are about four
hundred thousand New Yorkers right now at this moment that
are facing deportation four hundred thousand. So the question is
what is Mandani gonna be gonna be doing. Being a
(16:33):
sentary city means that the local police should not cooperate
with ICE agents. And we're not talking about the National
Guard right now. Obviously down Trumps might want to send
the National Guard to New York, but we will.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Say he will try so hard he.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Will, and we'll see what happens in the courts and
if he follows the rules and so on. But the
important thing is what's gonna happen with the local police.
Mandani is going to order the New York Police unless
something dramatic changes, He's going to tell them you cannot
cooperate with ICE agents, Simply you cannot do that, and
(17:10):
that that's gonna be the confrontation. And right in the
middle of everything is four hundred thousand people in New
York who are facing deportation and who are in danger
that there's gonna be there's gonna be terror in the city.
And maybe that's maybe that's the element that that Doronald
Trump wants to use FORMATDAN and say, hey, look this
(17:30):
is what you bought it for, and now you have
a city that's completely in disarray.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I think that's a really good point because I think
that's where Trump thrives of that narrative. Right, So, yes,
this is a victory for Democrats. Yeah, and I think
that's like remember that during the last Mentorum elections, the
narrative that came out of the Republican Party was crime, crime, crime.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
So to now have you know.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
A self described self declared progressive democratic socialist in New
York City gives Trump the perfect, perfect opportunity, the perfect story, right,
the perfect story to paint New York City as this
communist run, chaotic city and decline.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
And so I think you're right. I think there's a
flip side to this story.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (18:16):
I want to shift to California, which is you know,
voted last night in favor by sixty percent. I believe
in favor of Proposition fifty, which creates new boundaries for
California's fifty two congressional districts. This is a big, big vote,
This is a big win for the Democrats. This new
congressional map would cancel out the five or so Republican
(18:39):
seats that Texas redrew in their favor back in June.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
So I have a couple of questions about this.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
I want to understand from your point of view, the
kind of national strategy behind this. But part of me,
and not a small part, really worries that. While I
understand why this was done, why the Democrats push this,
why Newsom pushed this? Governor Gavin Newsom, I also wonder
if we're at risk as a nation of gerrymandering ourselves
(19:07):
into permanent political grid luck.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
So, I don't know what.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
What do you guys think it is important? I think
the first lesson nothing it is that Democrats finally responded.
Four months after Trump took over the White House. There
was no response and the Democratic Party was completely invisible.
As a matter of fact, I think the three of
(19:29):
us we had conversations in which we were asking ourselves
who's the leader of the Democratic Party. Nobody knows, Nobody
really knows. So Gavin Newsom said, let's take the challenge,
and then he started with videos. He started making fun
of President Trump and he hates that so much. By
(19:50):
the way, you were asking why Trump hates Obama so much, Well,
there was a speech in twenty eleven in which Obama
made fun of Trump, and he kept that many years later,
and then he ran for president obviously in twenty fifteen,
and now he's obviously the person of the United States.
But going back to California, Daniel, where I live and
(20:10):
where I feel really, really at home, I think Californias.
And Gavin Newsom is saying, Okay, this is the only
game in town. What should we do. If they're going
to be destricting districticking everything in Texas, then should we
just wait passively and do nothing or should we do
exactly the same thing? So the game is on, and
(20:34):
Gavin Newsom things that that's the only way to deal
with Trump because otherwise what would happen, Daniel, It would
be only Texas gaining members of Congress.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
No, I hear you.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
It's it's basically sort of like, you know, what I
think this represents is, and tell me if I'm wrong.
Is this idea that the Democrats were finally willing to
get their hands dirty and do something that you see
they were like, oh no, that we can't, we can't
go that far.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
That's never been done.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
And they're playing by these these rules, whereas the Republicans
certainly weren't.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
And I think the rules of engagement have changed right
like that there are and ensure maybe there's like a
a dangerous side to this to your point, Daniel, But
in the Trump era, those rules have changed. And so
the question for Democrats were are you going to play
by the rules or do you try to out Trump
Trump using his own strategies. And I think given how
(21:29):
popular and given how many people voted for this proposition,
I think once again there's an appetite for Democrats to
act with a little bit more of spine no, to
be to be almost as ruthless as Republicans have been.
And I use the word ruthless because I think the
idea of gerrymandering is it new, right like? Jerymandering is
(21:49):
a very old tactic that has been weaponized by both parties.
I mean, Democrats have also traditionally done that, but Republicans
have historically been more ruthless about the way in which
and when the jerry mander from Texas to Colorado, Georgia,
North Carolina. And so now you know the question is
in Trump era, in a moment in which even we
(22:12):
have an administration that is even openly flirting with the
idea of a third term, where they are so hungry
to hold on to power.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
How do you respond to that?
Speaker 3 (22:23):
And I think part of the answer is that you
can't really answer that question without out Trump and Trump
and using his own strategies, and it kind of seems
like it's it's working.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
And I share your Concernsaniel, this is dirty politics. Obviously,
this is not the perfect scenario. But these are not
normal times. It's not normal politics. I think we are
with the election of Sorom and Dani, with what happened
in New Jersey and Virginia, in California, it's the time
for confrontation. I think that's that's exactly what we're seeing now.
(22:56):
We're going to see a Democratic Party that is going
to feel invigorated, that's going to feel stronger, and that's
going to be willing to tackle Donald Trump. Trump is
going to use probably revenge and all the power in
his government to try to change things. And so I
think the next year is going to be incredibly difficult.
(23:17):
And obviously at the end we're thinking November twenty twenty six,
we're thinking what's going to be happening in the midterm
elections and the possibility that Democrats will regain it either
the Senate or the House, because that would be the
only way to compensate what we're seeing. But the next
year is going to be brutal. The next year is
going to be incredibly difficult. It's going to be dirty politics.
(23:40):
It's going to be I mean, there's no possibility of conversation,
possibility of dialogue. Let's put aside politics. Let's think about
the government and the shutdown thirty six days in which
we are not seeing Democrats and Republicans just sitting in
a room right now in a hotel New York, in Washington,
(24:01):
this scene just talking because at the end, we know
the bodyet has to be has to be there, they
have to find a way to to solve their differences,
and we're not seeing that and not even the intention
to do that. So I think the next year is
going to be incredibly complicated. This is not going to
be It is not normal, and I and I agree
with you, Daniel, it is it is. I don't like
(24:24):
what what what's happened in California, the same way I
don't like what's happening in Texas. But they're using all
the power that they have in order just to change
things in their favor.
Speaker 5 (24:35):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, I want to talk about a little bit.
You know, most of our audiences is Latino, or much
of our audience is Latino, and I want to ask
like these these you know, for example, this uh, this
redistrict thing, does it do anything to uh improve the
lives of Latinos in the United States, given that it
could tilt an election a year from now, a national
(24:58):
election a year from now.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
I mean, I think it arguably, at least in California.
I think the idea is to counter what Republicans are doing.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
One of the.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Consequences of what they're doing in Texas is that they're
minimizing and reducing the power of black and brown voters
in Texas, and so in a way, I think part
of the strategy is to regain, to regain part of
that power.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Part of that political power.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
And so at least politically, I think symbolically, right, this
is all symbolic. I think symbolically the idea is to
counterweight that. So I think, yes, but I don't know
how all of this, you know, directly transfers into a
direct impact towards Latino beyond just this like symbolic political power.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah, but at the end, I think it is important
is a matter of representation. It is overall. Let let's
talk about the whole country. We're about sixty eight million
Latinos in the United States and we're about twenty percent
of the population. So ideally, and that's just ideally, we
should have about twenty percent of representation everywhere, and we
(26:09):
don't have that. I mean it would. You have to
see it in the Senate. It's not there. You have
to see it in the House. It is. It is
in there, and not even in states like California or
Texas or New York. You have so many, so many Latinos.
So at the end of it is important. In California,
it's going to be the changes in district. That means
maybe five more seats for Democrats, and maybe those five
(26:32):
seats would make the difference in November twenty twenty six
in the mid term elections. So they're going to be
playing hard, they're going to be playing dirty.
Speaker 5 (26:44):
Or hey, you mentioned the shutdown, which is now officially
the longest shutdown in US history. Democrats swept. We mentioned
mcdanie in New York, we mentioned profits in California, Abigail
Spenberger one in Virginia. A pretty resounding victory Miki chryl One,
what was gonna be or many people thought it was
(27:06):
gonna be a tight raced in New Jersey. She she's
the new governor of New Jersey. So do all of
these wins nationally, do they change anything about the political
calculus for those Senators and those representatives and in the
White House, the people that need to negotiate to end
this this shutdown.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Well, mine, I think the main message. I think it is, yes,
we want change. I think what we saw last night
is that people everywhere in New Jersey, Virginia, California, New York,
they're saying, we want change, we want something completely different.
In the case of Mamdani, I think it's the anti
Trump and but but you might not see that everywhere,
(27:51):
But I think the message and I've seen the polls,
the same ones that you've seen, the same numbers. People
are blaming me more Republicans than Democrats for the shutdown
of the government. And the reason is very simple. They
control everything. They control the White House, they control both
chambers of Congress, and so I think I don't know
(28:14):
exactly how, but I think Republicans, after this message, I
think they're going to be pushed just to do something
completely completely different at the end. This is so, it
is incredible. How come we are in a country, the
richest country in the world, the most powerful country in
the world. And I was I was saying, the snub benefits.
(28:37):
Forty two million people receive Cubans just to eat, but
the most they might get tow one hundred and ninety
two dollars if everything goes goes right a month. Who
can live with two hundred and ninety two dollars a month?
And that's where we are right now. So it is
we have reached a moment in which it is it
(28:59):
is difficult to see this country as as not only
the riches but the most generous what we're doing with
those that need our help the most. And there's not
a single intention of conversation right now between them Agross
and Republicans. It is incredible.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Yeah, I think when you look at the results in
New Jersey and in Virginia, I think I think that
is a direct consequence of the way in which voters
are feeling Donald Trump's economic agenda right and the pain
of that economic agenda. And I think, particularly in Virginia,
(29:38):
it's a place that is home to over three hundred
thousand federal workers, so they have felt, probably more than
any state the consequences of Doge and Elon Musk, and
they're feeling every day the consequences of the government shutdown.
And then you go to a state like New Jersey,
where I believe a couple of days ago, the governor
of New Jersey declared an emergency because of the snap
(30:01):
benefits and because it's a population that has a significant
a significant segment of constituents that are part of these
snap benefits. And so I think those are two states
that perhaps Democrats didn't win because of this very you know,
clear eyed anti Trump message that you saw here in
New York City. But it is a testament to the
(30:23):
way in which people are feeling the consequence of Trump
in a different way. And so I think one of
the questions that I was having yesterday is how much
of these votes in a state like Virginia and New Jersey,
how much of that is for Democrats versus against Trump's
economic agenda, right, And I think that then is what
sustains Democrats victory in the midterms and then in the
(30:45):
general election. But I think for sure New Jersey and
Virginia are clear examples of the economic pain that people
are feeling across the country.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
And if I may ask some some numbers about the
Latino about which is something that we always oc care about.
New Jersey one percent of twenty one percent of Latinos,
Virginia ten percent of Latinos, New York City twenty nine
percent of Latinos. So I know, I've said that for
many years that no one can make it to the
White House without the Latino vote. Now it seems that
(31:15):
with these huge numbers, you really cannot be governor, or
member of Congress or a Senator without the Latino vote,
and without considering the incredible, the incredible strength of Hispanics.
Speaker 4 (31:29):
Let's take a quick break and we'll come back.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
We're going to talk a little bit about this last
crazy year we've had since since Trump's election last November.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
We'll be right back. Hi.
Speaker 5 (31:42):
I'm Danielle Alarcon, executive producer of The Moment three. I
want to ask you a favor a round. Blante Studio
is our production company. We've just launched our annual survey
to learn more about our listeners, your preferences, what works
and what doesn't, and how we can serve you better.
Your answers really help. Past surveys, for example, have led
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(32:03):
hear your opinions. You can respond in Spanish or English
by visiting ryan Bulante dot org slash survey. Thanks so
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org slash survey.
Speaker 4 (32:17):
Okay, welcome back to the Moment. Let's zoom out a
little bit.
Speaker 5 (32:20):
It's been a full year since the twenty twenty four elections,
and in a lot of ways, outcome of that election
is why we're all here doing this show. This is
why we started the moment, have a place to talk
about what as a country we'd be living through. We're
not going to list all the ways that Donald Trump
has trampled on the rule of law or to undermine democracy.
We could spend an hour doing that, but I did
(32:42):
want to ask you, is there anything that's happened that
he's done or that his administration's done in the last
year that you didn't expect? Is there anything really surprising?
Speaker 2 (32:52):
I want with a list.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
No, you know what, No.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
I oftentimes I hear so many people saying, oh, this
isn't what voters voted for, right, particlarly when it comes
to the immigration raids, And the truth is, this is
exactly what Donald Trump said he would do. Right. He
was very clear about his massiveportation agenda. He was very
clear about the way in which he was going to
not respect power and the rule of land.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
He was very clear.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
And so I'm not surprised about the way in which
they're doing it or what they're doing. I am perhaps
a bit surprised around how fast everything is happening, right,
and how orchestrated and coordinated they are. And I think
it's and this is we've had this conversation, They've they've
had four years to plan this, and I have to say,
from that perspective, and Anthony Romeo talked to us about
(33:39):
this right from the ACLU, it is a very organized machine.
And I think what is surprising maybe to me is
just how open they are about the ultimate goal and
the ultimate agenda, right, and how like unapologetic they are
about the way in which they want to change this country,
and they won't stop until they achieve that Yeah.
Speaker 5 (34:00):
I remember the GOP convention. They had uh, they had science.
They said mass deportations now and now.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (34:07):
And if if Trump one was malice tempered by incompetence, uh,
Trump two is. You know, they have a plan, a playbook,
and they're following it to a t Okay, you live
in Miami, uh where many Latinos in Florida voted enthusiastically
for Trump, and some of them have been surprised by
(34:28):
the really harsh immigration tactics that they expected wouldn't be.
Speaker 4 (34:31):
Used on them.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Have you seen a shift over this last year and
how those voters think about the president.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Yeah. There are a couple of things that I would
like to point out first about the elections result. I
know we're talking about New Jersey and Virginia and your
but here in Miami, Elen Higgins a Democrat. He's going
to be in the run of with with a million
on salaz. By the way, I got my master with
a million on salad, so I know pretty well. So
it's gonna be it's gonna be interesting to se the
(35:00):
run for the first time Daniel in twenty eight years.
A Democrat, he's going to be able. She's going to
be able to be the mayor of Miami. So there's
a shift in going back directly to your question, many
people here in Miami, especially Cubans, Venezuelans, and Nicaraguans, they
supported some of them couldn't vote, but they supported Donald
(35:23):
Trump because they thought that he was going to do
something with the dictatorships in those countries. And then when
Donald Trump was saying I'm going to be deporting millions
or I'm going to try to deport millions, many people
from Cuba, Venezuela and in Karaga, they thought, oh, no,
he's not talking about me. Yeah, he was talking about
them directly. He was talking about them. So right now
(35:47):
you were asking me if I'm surprised by something that
has happened in the last year. Yeah, the sense of
betrayal among Cubans and Venezuelans. I never thought in a
city like Miami, where I've been for more than thirty years,
would be deporting people back to a dictatorship, and that's
been happening with Venezuelans. Many many Cubans are in Mexico.
(36:09):
Pout that you were there right recently. Oh yeah, yeah,
that's being departed. They're being deported to Mexico. So I
don't think Venezuelans and Cubans especially are willing to not
not in field betrayed, but go from from supporting the
Republican Party to the Democratic Party. I think that's a way,
that's another that's a different step, But the seense of
betrayal with President Trump is very clear right here.
Speaker 5 (36:32):
Paula, you've reported, you wrote a terrific book about this
kind of Latino shift to the right that your dad
was just talking about. But now you've been you've been
reporting going back to some of those places where you
where the reporting of the book comes from, the Rio
Grande Valley, ecal paths, et cetera. So have you seen
a shift there over the last year.
Speaker 3 (36:52):
I think it's too soon to tell, right, I think
I think the question that we're all thinking about, and
even if you look at these election results, right like
even New Jersey, one of the reasons that New Jersey
was such a close victory and such a close battleground
is because of the Latino vote. Right Like Donald Trump
is able to flip some counties in New Jersey in
twenty twenty four because of Latino voters. But I think
(37:15):
the question that we all have is are those Latino
Trump supporters feeling some type of remorse and if so,
are they public about it? And if so, does that
translate into a vote for Democrats? And I generally think
it's too early to tell. But what I am finding
on the ground, whether it's in Pennsylvania, I've been in.
I spent a lot of time in Allentown and reading
the Real Grund Valley. In Texas, I've talked to voters
(37:36):
in South Florida. What I can tell you is that
people feel very conflicted, and they don't yet know how
to make sense of all of these different feelings right,
because it's a feeling that is both rational and also emotional,
and nothing really makes sense. What I mean is that
these are people that on paper support in mass importations.
(37:58):
In theory, they are okay with the idea of mass importations,
but in practice they're now starting to feel to your point,
that they're starting to feel uncomfortable around the way in
which Donald Trump is doing it, and uncomfortable around feeling
that they too suddenly feel like those immigrants that Donald
Trump was talking about.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
Now.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
I think what's interesting is that people are coming to
that conclusion in different ways. I think in a place
like Pennsylvania, people are feeling the sort of economic impact
of the mass importations. Like I've been to so many
barbershops where they're like, oh, we sort of still support this,
but it's.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
Really not good for business.
Speaker 4 (38:33):
Right.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
Then you go to a place like the Rio Grande
Valley where they're this sentiment is one of humiliation. I
think there's a lot of Latino voters that feel humiliated
about the way in which they are feeling in their
own communities, even asking these questions of like well, am
I American enough? Like am I suddenly not part of
sort of Donald Trump's America? And then I think in
a place like Miami, where I have talked to Cuban
(38:56):
Trump supporters who now have loved ones deported in either Texas,
sorry deported in either Mexico or Cuba themselves, I think
the feeling there is betrayal. But I think what's interesting
is that in every other conversation with these voters, the
sense of fear that Trump was able to inspire in
(39:17):
them in twenty twenty four is still somewhat there. Right, Like,
in every other sentence, we'll talk about this idea of crime, right,
this idea of like that crime is still present in
the streets and that some people do need to get out.
And so I think that is still very much intertwined
in the thought process, and I think it's it's too
early now.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
Are they shifting maybe, but towards what.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Yeah, and amlo ad is every word. And another thing
that has surprised means that brutality of the rates. It
is what we're seeing, mass agents, without idea, without warrants.
He just detaining even American citizens. And it is not
true that the vast majority of the people that are
detaining and reporting of how criminal record. That is not true.
(39:58):
Absolutely absolutely up. So Jose, those those images, I mean,
that's that's I mean, I'm seeing them every single day.
And that's I never imagined the US, the United States,
to be that country.
Speaker 5 (40:12):
Yeah, I'm so glad you brought this up, because, uh,
you know, I read a lot of the you know,
the media that you read, and you know, the papers
and the analysts, and I watch the news and I
keep feeling like we're talking about this constitutional crisis that's coming,
and everything is described as unprecedented and concerning and alarming.
(40:34):
But you know, I'm also seeing people as you said,
you know, getting pulled off the street by massed agents, kidnappings,
sequest was you know that that feel very reminiscent of
the most violent dictatorships that we've seen in Latin America.
They feel very reminiscent and very frightening. And so I
guess I just keep wondering. It's like I keep hearing
(40:56):
the chattering classes saying, oh, we're getting to this point.
It's so concerning when I feel like we've been here,
it's happening. Isn't this the constitution crisis that we've all
been worried about.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
Well, we Latin Americanos, we we we know how to
detect that. I mean, remember I left Mexico when Mexico
was not a democracy. So you see, you see the
science every word, not the attacks on journalists, the attacks
on the judges, on politicians, the personal revenge. I'm seeing
it every word, not not paying attention to what the
(41:29):
law says. Now, having having said that, I think we
still have freedoms here in the United States. Maybe it's
just my my migrante, but but I still believe that
at the end this country will do We'll do the
right thing. In other words, just because we are being
critical right now doesn't mean that the three of us
are going to end up in jail tomorrow. That's that's
(41:51):
the big difference. Yeah, I'm seeing signs of authoritarianism everywhere,
and I think there's a Last night was an incredible
science of persists. They're saying, no, this is not the
country that we want. And the science of resistance are
not only the results yesterday, but also the seven million
people who who protested about a week ago or a
little more than a week ago in many twenty seven
(42:14):
hundred cities in the United States. So even even though yes,
I see what you're seeing, Daniel, I'm also seeing that
the resistance is growing. And that's a few voices Mandani.
What we're seeing New Jersey, in Virginia. New voices are coming,
and a new generation is coming. Not not people my
age is the new generation people who are saying we need,
(42:35):
we need new leadership. And then new leadership is in
New York City right now.
Speaker 1 (42:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:41):
I think America has has always had this. It's almost
like this identity crisis, right and this constant conundrum asking
the question like what is what does this American democracy mean?
And the way that we answer it is by extremes.
Right on, every four years we have these kind of extremes.
Some people answer it through trump Ism, and here we
are once again with a democratic resistance that is trying
(43:03):
to answer that question again. But I think what is evident,
at least to me, is that America as we know it,
or America as it is supposed to be a democratic nation,
with all these principles and freedoms, in my opinion, is
no longer here. Right you look at media companies. You
have some of our colleagues at are self censoring. You
(43:26):
have law firms and universities that are willing to negotiate
with Trump. You have immigration agents in this country that
are suddenly not as worried about law and order and
more worried about being loyal to Donald Trump. You have
an asylum system in this country that is absolutely gone.
Not only that, you have a Trump an administration that
(43:48):
is designing an immigration system, actively designing it by expulsing
black and brown people, while being very open about the
idea of integrating white refugees into this un is I
think the country as we know it, or as as
some of us believe that it is supposed to function
in that sense it's it's gone.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
But I do I do think that that doesn't mean that.
Speaker 3 (44:10):
We're you know, that this democracy has gone forever, but
it does mean that we are capable of pushing this
country to an extreme that I have to say, like
I growing up, I never I never thought now that
that that this country was was was once again capable
of going back to you know, so I think some
(44:31):
of these darker roules that have always been part of
the United States, this capacity to see some people as
in fear, this capacity to you know, go around the system,
this capacity to to to.
Speaker 1 (44:45):
To defy the constitution, and we're capable of that.
Speaker 2 (44:47):
Yeah. So maybe maybe it's what's interesting that by listening
to Powerla is that we've been discussing that powel for
for such a long time, and it seems that you're
more pessimistic than I am about what happening in this country.
I don't know. Maybe maybe and we'll talk about the
American dream on an on another podcast, but but I'm
(45:11):
still optimistic. Maybe maybe it's because this country gave me
the opportunities that my country of origin couldn't give me.
I still believe that at the end, Will will do
the right thing, because that has been my experience, but
your experience clearly has been completely different. And and another
thing that I really appreciate is that the possibility the
(45:32):
capacity to respond to what we are seeing. While in
other dictatorships that I've covered as a journalist or authoritarian government,
I didn't see that possibility of response.
Speaker 5 (45:44):
I want to get into all of that and the
optimism and the kind of generational divide, which is one
of the reasons we started the show, of course, But
first let's take a quick break and we'll come back.
We're going to talk more about the moment itself and
what we've learned over these last several months working together.
Speaker 4 (45:58):
So we'll be right back. Okay, welcome back to the Moment.
Speaker 5 (46:03):
I'm Danielle Darcn, executive producer of this show, and I'm
super happy to have Palin here. We have been working
on the show for a couple of months. Actually, we
launched a whole months ago. We started working on this
almost a year ago, and Jorgue, you've mentioned repeatedly that
at some point in the future, people are going to
ask what we did during the Trump years, and your response,
(46:27):
again and again has been this show so I.
Speaker 4 (46:29):
Want you to unpack that idea a little bit.
Speaker 5 (46:31):
What do you what do you mean by this idea
that that this show is is a response to the
to the Trump administration or Trump two point zero?
Speaker 2 (46:39):
Yeah, I think I I I do believe and I've
said that many times that in just a few years
from now, our colleagues, our friends, our family members, they're
gonna be asking my, my, my son and daughters that
they're gonna be asking me. So what do you do
during those years? I mean, we've been describing what's happening
(47:00):
with with immigrants in this country, what's been happening with
all the attacks on the institutions, and so so I
think we have to There's no you cannot remain silent
to be a journalist. This is not a profession to
be to be silent. And and my my answer to
what I don't like it is it is reporting about it,
(47:22):
it is denouncing about it, it's criticizing about it. I
think as as a journalist, we have two responsibilities. One
is to report reality as it is, not as we
wish it would be. But the second and most important
one is to challenge those who are in power. So
my response to the questions what do you do during
those years? Is this independent journalism? The freedom to say
(47:43):
whatever you think it is necessary and to report with precision,
but with with bravery when when you need it? And
I think this is this is my response?
Speaker 5 (47:56):
Yeah, Well, how is it felt working uh with your
father and being uh, you know, interviewing some of these
incredible voices we've had to interview, uh, But you know,
I can't imagine doing it with you know, with with
with my dad.
Speaker 4 (48:12):
You know, Like, is that is that a weird situation?
Speaker 1 (48:19):
I'm kidding. No, No, No, it's been.
Speaker 3 (48:22):
I I think we've we're both learning so much. I
think what's been interesting is that we both we know
each other obviously better than anyone, but I think I
have to say, like I'm learning, I'm learning.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
New things about you. I'm learning new things.
Speaker 3 (48:38):
About yeah, like even you know, the way that we
approach conversations and the way that we ask questions and
the things that we're both interested in. But at the end,
at the end, it somehow goes back to I think
what was the original intension of the show, right to
to prove that we can have intergenerational conversations and that
(48:58):
we can have different sort of opinions about these issues.
But I think that's exactly at least what I'm hearing
out there. That's exactly what I think the audiences is
craving for.
Speaker 1 (49:08):
Right.
Speaker 3 (49:08):
I think I think of the first conversation we had
in this show, right, we started with a historic figure
that today is making history. And I think even that
conversation right where we were talking to him about democratic socialism,
where we were talking to him and having him and
trying to hold Zoran accountable about how he was going
to govern, but at the same time understand the hope
(49:30):
that he saw on whatever light he saw, on whatever
path forward he saw. And even in that conversation, I
think I've learned a lot from you know, from from
you Dad, and like the things that you were kind
of more skeptical about and the things that were you
wanted to press him on.
Speaker 1 (49:47):
And I think that speaks to to what makes this
this show different.
Speaker 4 (49:52):
Yeah, can I jump in there.
Speaker 5 (49:54):
One thing that I've noticed, and I'm glad you mentioned
Zoron In a couple of our conversations, the phrase the
democratic socialist comes up, and I feel like, are I'm
a little closer to your age, Paul our generation doesn't.
Speaker 4 (50:11):
It doesn't.
Speaker 5 (50:11):
It doesn't necessarily bother us that phrase. And Cogue you
seem to have pikinya whenever, uh, the phrase.
Speaker 4 (50:19):
Democratic socialists is mentioned. Yeah, you know, you feel uncomfortable.
You feel uncomfortable when the phrase is said.
Speaker 6 (50:28):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (50:28):
Maybe for people my generation and younger, the things or
on Mam Donnie says doesn't don't seem particularly radical. They
seem you know, they seem ambitious, they seem idealistic, but
they don't seem that radical. But I've heard you in
several conversations with Zoran, with John Leguizamo, even when Reuben
Diego mentioned it. Yeah, uh, you you sort of have
(50:51):
a visceral reaction to the phrase democratic socialism. And I
just want you to just to talk about that.
Speaker 2 (50:57):
I do understand that democratic socialists and and el Partido
socialist espanel with better sciences in Spain, uh, they're democratic socialists.
And Scandinavic countries prime minister are constantly democratic socialists. So
I have no problem with with democracy, and I have
no problem with social democrats. The Remember I've been in
(51:20):
Miami for for more than than three decades, so here
in Miami, when you come to Miami and and for
the politicians there's always umboutiso, and elboutiso means that they're
going to be asked what do you think about the
dictatorship in Cuba? And now not only that, but now
the question is what do you think about the dictatorships
(51:41):
in Cuba, Venezuela and and Kaawan. That's that's one thing.
That's what That's why I'm so sensitive to that because
I'm surrounded by people that that we're fleeing the repressive
governments and and they fear for their for their lives.
Also on a personal basis, I have the opportunity to
talk to dictators Daniel Ortega, Nicola, Nicolas Maduro who arrested
(52:05):
me and deported me from Venezuela, even just a few
seconds with deel Castro. So I know what dictators do
and I know how repressive they are, how they kill people,
how they put people in prison. So I'm very sensitive
to that. And when I ask that question constantly what
(52:28):
do you think about those dictatorships, it is just to
find out what kind of person I'm talking to, because
I think you can be a democratic socialist, but it
is not acceptable at all to support or defend dictatorships
like the one I've seen in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicodaga.
(52:49):
That that's why I'm always asking that question.
Speaker 4 (52:52):
Yeah, I mean that makes sense.
Speaker 5 (52:53):
I mean I think I have a certain I just
remember twenty twenty when if you read the Republican rhetoric
about Biden, you would think he was cheke evarda communists.
Speaker 1 (53:05):
I mean that's what they would Yeah, that's literally what
they said.
Speaker 5 (53:08):
And then you know you have this you know, mild mannered,
elderly man who you know, let the FBI investigate his
son for four years. You know, did not have any
authoritarian tendencies whatsoever. So I guess the label to me,
it seems so ridiculous when it's used, uh, from the
right to attack anyone who is you know, in the
(53:29):
center or or left. It just it's almost like one
of those adjectives that means nothing. You know, to call Zoran,
for example, a Ghatiist communist, you know, it's so preposterous
that I just don't it doesn't it doesn't affect me.
Speaker 4 (53:43):
I don't know, Paula.
Speaker 3 (53:44):
No, Yeah, I mean, look, I think I think the
lat for decades, I mean, it is it is a
it is an old It is the oldest Republican tactic
to label democrats, and of course you see this more
in South Florida, but you see it now in New
or the oldest Republican tactic, I mean, the right, scare
right to to to label any democrat as a socialist
or a communist, because because it works, and we have
(54:06):
we have a history of doing that in this country.
And so I think for us as journalists, it's it's
a question of like how do you how do you
feed into that narrative or not. And also I think,
particularly with someone like Zoron, understanding our audience and understanding
that some of our audience and some of the Latinos
that we talk to are people that dove that do
have some type of political trauma with Venezuela or with Cuba,
(54:28):
and these are issues that they're talking about it. So
I think our job is to kind of help them
make sense of what this quote unquote scary term actually means,
right and what and and and to distinguish and make
a distinction between communism, socialism, and democratic socialism. And I
think what we're seeing now happening in this city is
(54:48):
that Republicans independents and Democrats have an appetite for this,
for this type of of idea, right which is which
is which is really and simply about expanding wealth, and
that has been you know, that was I think at
the heart of what, like we said at the beginning
of the show, what mobilized even Trump supporters towards Zora Mundooney,
(55:12):
which is very much at the same time, donald Trump's agenda,
which I think is so funny.
Speaker 1 (55:17):
It's one of the things that Zoron kept saying.
Speaker 3 (55:18):
Yesterday before his victory is look, at the end of
the day, I want the same thing that Donald Trump
won one on right, Like, what I'm saying is the
same thing that Donald Trump was talking about at the
beginning about sort of you know, going against the establishment,
ensuring that you know, the low income, middle class people
have access to wealth. Like that is very much the
(55:39):
type of populism that made Donald Trump, you know, have
this resounding victory in twenty twenty four. And so it's
a matter of really breaking down these these stereotypes. And
I think that's what we strive for in this show.
Speaker 4 (55:54):
Yeah, I just a.
Speaker 5 (55:55):
Couple more questions before we wrap. What are you hearing
from Latinos about the show. What are you hearing from
from audience, you know, people giving feedback for the show.
Speaker 2 (56:03):
I think we need more spaces like this. Part of
what we do I know exactly shape, but part of
we do is to give voice to those who don't
have a voice. And whenever there's something that has to
do with politics and that there's an intersection with with Latinos,
we we want to be there. I think that's that's
why the show is important, because we need more spaces
no less, we need more spaces like this one to
(56:26):
have a conversation, especially after what happened in the last
night and in the middle of the shutdown of the government.
We need we need to have dialogue, yellow conversation, and
I think that's that's what's what's so important. And again
is a matter of representation. We we have to we
have to tell our own story, and the only way
(56:48):
to do it is through programs like this.
Speaker 3 (56:50):
Yeah, I've had honestly, really really good feedback. I think
some people say that it feels that they're just like
at the dinner table right with like three people, and and.
Speaker 1 (56:59):
That things feel familiar in a way.
Speaker 4 (57:02):
Right.
Speaker 1 (57:02):
I think.
Speaker 3 (57:04):
Oftentimes they're like, Oh, we're so happy that you asked
him that question right with zoron or center Alo. And
at the same time, I think people feel hopeful. They also,
I think, sometimes feel like we're answering some of the
questions that they're having. I think they because they're so
(57:26):
used to seeing both you and I dad and these
sort of like TV settings to be able to have
these like longer conversations that are more nuanced, that are
more complex, I think to your point, I think people
are creating that type of that type of space, particularly now,
and so I mean, so far, I think it's been
I think it's been really good.
Speaker 2 (57:45):
And thanks for making that possible, Danielle, and and iHeart
really it's just great.
Speaker 5 (57:50):
I think, Yeah, of course, of course I have one
last question. And I know you're both incredibly busy. And
I know this in particular because Lauda, Miguel and Lisa
and I are the ones off and trying to wrangle
you guys to schedule.
Speaker 4 (58:03):
So I know this.
Speaker 5 (58:04):
You're both incredibly busy and you've got tons of stuff
you're working on. So I just want to ask you,
just as journalists, uh, what are you working on outside
of the moment? That you're just super excited about.
Speaker 2 (58:13):
Now, Yeah, I'm doing a podcast in Spanish every every
single day. So I'm I'm reinventing myself. After thirty eight
years being on being on on TV, I needed to
do something else just just to to survive us a journalist,
as an independent journalist. So I'm very excited that possibility
of having having these podcasts and also having another one,
a daily one, a podcast in Spanish. So that's that's
(58:36):
what I'm working on every single day. I think, I'm
I think I'm working harder than ever in my life.
And that's that's a lot.
Speaker 1 (58:43):
You can't stop because you don't know how to journalists never.
Speaker 2 (58:45):
Saw you don't know a boss now not' carefe so
now so now it's now, it's on me, and it's
it's a different it's a different kind of weight that
I never had before.
Speaker 4 (58:59):
But I love that you were accusing your father of
being a workaholic when you were absolutely I'm not being
interviewed here.
Speaker 3 (59:15):
Yes, and all my and all my free time, I
to know. Yes, I've been I've been exploring a new
a new book idea, which is it goes back to
a lot of the themes that we've discussed in this show,
which is which is I've been following and like three
different families that are that have either self deported or
(59:35):
have reverse migrated or are thinking of that. And so
I'm trying to to understand like the long term effect
of having a whole new generation or wave of immigrants
that that lets go of this American dream and this
idea that we keep talking about in this show. And
and so that's that's what I've been Yeah, that's what
I've been doing in all my spare time.
Speaker 4 (59:55):
Yeah, all of that, well, I can't I can't wait
to read.
Speaker 5 (01:00:00):
And I just want to say on behalf of everyone
at Roan Bulante and I Heart, what a privilege spind
to have you guys, you know, run the show and
be the the voices interlocutors with some of the great
people we've been able to interview. It's been a pleasure
for me as well. Thanks for your insights today. We'll
be back next week with our regular format, So thank you.
(01:00:21):
The Moment is a production of Ralo Moulante Studios in
partnership with Iheart'smichael Tura podcast Network. Our staff includes Lauda
Rocasa Ponte Miguel Santiao, Colon and Lisa Serda, with help
from Paula Lean, die Goo Corso, Natalie Ramirez and Elsa Lianoa.
The CEO of Roan Blante Studios is Caroline Guerrero. Executive
producers that I Heart are Arlene Santana and Leo Gomez,
(01:00:41):
Pablo Calrera, Dylan Hunger and Mark Canton. Also service producers,
sound design, final mix and themed songs by Elias Gonzalez.
If you liked this episode, please share the word, recommend
the moment to anyone who might enjoy unpacking these complicated
times with us, and if you like the moment, pedro
Ta Minde Guzelo's podcast En Espanol.
Speaker 4 (01:00:57):
Check out Ryan Blante Studios.
Speaker 5 (01:00:59):
Our shows raand Blante, Elilo and Central are really worth
to listen and Danielle Alarcon thanks for listening
Well, I'm Corc Ramos and I'm Bala Ramos.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
And welcome to the moment. So, Bala, we're going to
be doing things a little differently today. We're going to
be answering the questions. And this happened after the election
yesterday and one year after Donald Trump was re elected,
(00:23):
and I think we want to see where the country
is going and exactly what happened last night.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
I think today November fifth, Democrats woke up feeling hopeful,
if some would even say that they woke up feeling
something that they felt only during Barack Obama's two thousand
and eight victory, which is this idea that hope and
changes once again possible for this party that I think
we've talked about may have been going through some type
of identity crisis. And so today from New York City
(00:51):
where Zohar mam Danny wins, to New Jersey, to Virginia
where both Democratic candidates won as governors, to California Proposition fifty,
Democrats had a very very big night yesterday, and so
today we'll be talking about whether or not this victory
is that a referendum on Trump? Is that actually a
(01:12):
referendum on the Democratic Party. Is there a way forward
when you have a Democratic socialist in New York City
to moderates in New Jersey and Virginia. Is there a
way forward for both of those entities to coexist in
this Democratic Party? And how do Democrats keep going? But
to do this today, we are going to do things
slightly different. We will be joined by Danila Ragnho's the
(01:34):
executive producer of the moment. He is someone that is
literally putting this show together every single day and he
will be the one that's asking us questions today and.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
We'll be right back.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Great, welcome.
Speaker 5 (01:48):
So let's begin with probably the biggest result from last night,
and Paula Zor Mamdani was a political unknown just a
year ago and he won the New York City mayoroal's race.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
It was a historic turn out.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
More than two million votes cast and ma'm donny beat
back an independent run from former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Now
you both spoke with Mamdanni here on the moment, so
you have a sense of who he is and what
he represents. I want to hear just a clip from
his victory speech last night, which which was you know
and I Apolo, you were there, so you heard this,
but let's let's play it.
Speaker 6 (02:19):
New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city
built by immigrants, power by immigrants, and as of tonight
Land by an immigrant.
Speaker 5 (02:39):
So I guess I want to ask what his victory
says about the political future of the country's largest city,
and of course, whether we can extrapolate from this historic
win any lessons for the national the national scene.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah you're there.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Yeah, let me let me start as So I was.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
I was inside of the room, right, I was inside
the official victory party that Zora Mundahmi was having and
the energy that I think is palpable for listeners, and
as you're hearing this was exactly what people were feeling
inside and outside.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
I mean, the room was absolutely packed.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
It was full of young people, millennials, gen zers, one
of the most diverse crowds that I've ever seen, and
what people kept saying what stood out for me is
that it felt very much like Obama's victory.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Right.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
No one mentioned Joe Biden, no one mentioned the twenty
twenty election, but they mentioned that two thousand and eight moment,
which I think made a whole generation of people feel
inspired again. And I think That's what I would say
is one of the takeaways. Yes, of course Zorin has
a very dynamic message with that economic populism.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Yes, he was able to mobilize voters.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
But I think more than anything, what people have been
craving is some type of inspiration around this idea of
change and hope, which I know that sounds clear shame,
but I think after all these years of Trump is
after a Joe Biden administration, I think that is what's
missing in democratic politics, not this idea of inspiration.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
It was very different at the moment, was completely completely different.
I think it's the best night. I don't know what
you think, danil And and Paula, but the best night
for Democrats since Joe Biden won in twenty twenty. It's
just this perception, this optimism, that that victory is possible.
I think Democrats got used to losing so much that
(04:33):
finally there was a night in which everything was completely different.
In Virginia and New Jersey and California, in New York
and then that speech by Mandani Danielle. Are we in
the same country as Donald Trump? It feels completely different.
It feels like a different planet. Of course, in New
York in a sery of what eight point five million people,
(04:55):
you have more than three million immigrants, So it just
makes sense that an immigrant now is going to we
live in the city. But the feeling and the sense
that the country is changing is right there. And I
think that the message to Donald Trump is very clear.
It is this is not your country, this is our country.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
I think that was so key about his message, that
he was so unapologetic, right. I think some people were
expecting after his victory that he would somehow maybe soften
his message or somehow me moderates maybe in the middle.
But I think that message was him presenting himself as
exactly who he was, right. He once again reinforces that
(05:34):
he is Muslim, that he's a democratic socialist, that he
is young, and that he owns all of those labels.
And I have to say that once I left the
victory party and I got in a cab and I
went from downtown Brooklyn over to wollens Bring Yerk, which
is where I live. My cab driver was Pakistani and
he was celebrating, and he too was saying exactly that
how proud he was that an immigrant like him was
(05:57):
mayor of the city. And so I think it's I
think the energy is probable. And like I said, I
don't think this city. And I would say that even
before Joe Biden, like even Joe Biden's victory doesn't represent
this because this is to me, this goes beyond trump Ism.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
Well, I think a couple things there. I think that
the generational change is something worth pointing out. I mean,
he's thirty four years old and that obviously excites a
lot of people. And the other thing is, and I wonder,
and this is a question, did he have to moderate
if Cuomo was endorsed by Trump himself and Elon Musk
and Stephen Miller and a lot of people who are
(06:35):
not super popular in New York City. I mean, maybe
he didn't have to attack to the center.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
No, And I think I think that I would imagine
maybe an important lesson for Democrats.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Right.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
I think what makes what I believe made a successful
campaign was that he was rooted in a very clear
eyed ideology, right that didn't really waiver, right, you know,
and he's said it right. You know that he has
for immigrants, he has for trans people, he wants tell
black people, and there's no wavering. It's very clear, and
I think that type of ideology is what's missing at
(07:11):
the national level. Right. I think you hear Democrats across
the country that are tiptoeing around party lines.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
But I think Zoran is someone that is very clear
about where he stands.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
And I think you're right. I think there's no need.
I think he wins precisely because of that, right, because
he did it Titto as much as maybe some wanted
him to.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Okay, some people might be saying that he is the
new phase of the Democratic Party. Well, in a sense,
it is, but I think the Democratic Party is really
too broad. I know we're going to be talking Danail
about what happened in New Jersey and in Virginia, but
if you see the candidates in those two states, they
were centrist. I mean, they were not like Mandani. So
(07:51):
I think the challenge, which is a good challenge, is
a good problem to have for Democrats, is going to
be what kind of party we want to be. Are
We're going to be the party of Mamdani or gonna
be the party that we saw in New Jersey and
in Virginia. Obviously, part of the problem with Democrats is
that the lack of message I think Mandanny had said
(08:11):
that the party needed an affirmative message. Well, the message
is completely there. The question is going to be should
should you go to the center? I still remember Bill
Linton used to say that the elections in the United States,
you got to win them in the center. In other words,
that you would need voters from both parties in order
to win. But in this case that's that's not the case.
(08:34):
Mandanni won on the extreme of the party in New
Jersey and Virginia. It was different. Still, it was a
great night for Democrats.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
Yeah, I wonder if Bill Clinton's axiom is still true
in the post Trump era.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
In the Trump what do you think that you think
it's not a doesn't apply anymore.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
I certainly don't think that like Trump never tagged to
the center to win an election. I think he what
he did successfully is move the Overton window of what's
acceptable political discourse to the right, and and not even
to the right, to this kind.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Of trollish populism.
Speaker 5 (09:09):
That is what we've been seeing from you know, and
even more so we saw it in the first administration,
but we see even more so now where you have
you know, government agencies tweeting out you know your mother
back to reporters, and so it's not even ideological, it's
more just like almost a cultural shift. And so I wonder,
(09:30):
I honestly, and it's a it's a it's a question
that that I think about a lot. That idea of
moving to the center. Is it Is it a viable
or necessary political option anymore?
Speaker 4 (09:39):
And I'm not I'm not totally sure it is.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
But let's also not forget that he he by heat
Zoron also was in part because of Trump supporters.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Right.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
One of one of the things that he's able to
do and during the primary is this summer, was that
he he as we've discussed in this show, right, he
performs really well in the precincts where Donald Trump wins
and twenty twenty four, again, like people think of New
York City as this anomaly or as this like progressive
liberal bashi. But the truth is that we have a
pretty complex political history where republic The two out of
(10:13):
the last four mayors in this city have been Republicans. Right,
Harry Adams is a former Republican. We elected a former cop.
This is a place where Donald Trump did extremely well.
Kamala Harris only ones by thirty seven points. And so
the only way that Zoron created this coalition is not
just by mobilizing a Barack Obama esque coalition or young people,
(10:35):
but it is also by tapping into that that Trump
supporter no, that that resonates with Zoron's economic populism. And
so I think that like that is that is a
new way forward for a democratic, progressive socialist to be
able to expand that tent like that, There's something to
(10:56):
study there. And perhaps the question is do you have
to go to the center. Perhaps the question is are
democrats comfortable with allowing allowing both, you know, both identities
and both type of approaches to coexist in the party?
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Right?
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Does it have to be either or.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
And and And maybe maybe that's the way Forwardeah, I
don't know.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
I keep thinking about what Rubya Diego told us when
we spoke to him on the moment, that really authenticity
is what people respond to.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
And again I.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Think that yeah, different song was what his his videos
work completely viral, and I think that's that's part of
the reason why he why he won. Also, I think
overall there's a message against Donald Trump. I think it's
not only the Mandaney one. It is also uh telling
telling President Trump, this is not what we want, This
(11:46):
is not what we what we voted for. You know,
I was I was doing my homework. I saw a
CNN poll. Really interesting, forty seven percent of registered voters
say they would pick a Democrat in the election if
the election were today, in contrast with only forty two
percent of Republicans, and that this approval President Trump is incredible.
(12:07):
Is sixty three percent of Americans don't agree with him.
And when you go step by step, sixty eight percent
say that the country is in bad shape, and sixty
one percent blame President Trump for the situation of the economy.
Now we have to remember that we're right in the
(12:28):
middle of the shutdown, so voters are reacting to that.
It is not only politics and ideology. It is hey,
I don't have a check today. It is if I'm
going to travel the it is going to be maybe
three hours, as it happened at at the airport in Houston.
(12:48):
So the message to Trump, I think it is very clear.
One has to do with maybe is the Trump effect
that if Trump is not on the ballot, Republicans are
having a really hard time just to get elected, and
the second one is that this is not the country
he expected to be in.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
I have a question for for I think all those
points are really valid. And I am also as a
as a as a sometime New Yorker concerned because Trump
has been pretty explicit with with his threats about what
would happen, uh if Mom Donnie were to win. Now
we have Mum Donnie as mayor elect January first, he
(13:30):
will be the mayor of New York City. And Trump
has been, you know, very threatening on social media about
about what he intends to do. And we've seen what's
happened in Chicago, in Los Angeles and Portland and other
sort of cities led by by Democrats. So, Parla, you
live in New York? Are you concerned? Should New Yorkers
(13:50):
be worried about what's to come in terms of ice,
in terms of funding cuts?
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Yeah, what's what's gonna happen? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I mean I think, I think, And this is something
that people talk about constantly, right, like even yesterday, people
were celebrating. But then one of the one of the
expressions I kept hearing is, oh, we're going to go
to war with Washington, d C. Right, And they used
and they used those words and think just even if
you you kind of take a step back, like Donald
Trump is someone that governs with revenge and with retribution.
(14:19):
And Donald Trump is someone has a very beyond Zoron,
a very complicated relationship, a love hate relationship with New
York City. Donald Trump was born in New York City.
He's a he's a he's a you know, from Queens
and yet he is rejected by his city. So I
think he's always kind of had this, yes, like this
this love hate. Remember that he indicted New York's Attorney General,
(14:40):
Leticia James, so his eyes are now set on I
think this individual that is now the antithesis not just
of who he is, but at a national level, right
like Zorn has all the qualities almost it reminds me
of Barack Obama, right Like Donald Trump is so envious
of a Brock Obama figure, right Like he's always been
(15:01):
obsessed with him, and every other sentence, every other year,
he's someone that is constantly attacking Barack Obama. No one
really understands why. But I think we're about to see
the same thing with Zoron. So I think what New
Yungers can expect and what they do expect is is
Donald Trump two point zero right where the ice rays
that we've seen the deployment of the national troops, that
(15:23):
intensity in which he's governing through immigration enforcement, like, we're
about to see all of that playing out in New
York City. And so I think the question that becomes
for Zoron, you know, how how does he ensure that
New York City continues to be a sanctuary city, which
we've we've almost lost touch and sense of what that
even means because Eric Adams has, of course, you know,
(15:45):
really blurred the lines of what a sanctuary city is
supposed to meet these days.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
But I think New Ayngers are expecting exactly that.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Yeah, and the confrontation is about to begin. I think
we have to remember that Donald Trump is calling from
Mom Daney, my little communist, and of course he's trying
to confuse the terms communists with socialism. But also we
have to remember that in New York City is a
sanctuary city. That means that the city is supposed to
(16:12):
protect immigrants, to protect more than three million immigrants. I
was seeing some of the numbers. There are about four
hundred thousand New Yorkers right now at this moment that
are facing deportation four hundred thousand. So the question is
what is Mandani gonna be gonna be doing. Being a
(16:33):
sentary city means that the local police should not cooperate
with ICE agents. And we're not talking about the National
Guard right now. Obviously down Trumps might want to send
the National Guard to New York, but we will.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Say he will try so hard he.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Will, and we'll see what happens in the courts and
if he follows the rules and so on. But the
important thing is what's gonna happen with the local police.
Mandani is going to order the New York Police unless
something dramatic changes, He's going to tell them you cannot
cooperate with ICE agents, Simply you cannot do that, and
(17:10):
that that's gonna be the confrontation. And right in the
middle of everything is four hundred thousand people in New
York who are facing deportation and who are in danger
that there's gonna be there's gonna be terror in the city.
And maybe that's maybe that's the element that that Doronald
Trump wants to use FORMATDAN and say, hey, look this
(17:30):
is what you bought it for, and now you have
a city that's completely in disarray.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I think that's a really good point because I think
that's where Trump thrives of that narrative. Right, So, yes,
this is a victory for Democrats. Yeah, and I think
that's like remember that during the last Mentorum elections, the
narrative that came out of the Republican Party was crime, crime, crime.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
So to now have you know.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
A self described self declared progressive democratic socialist in New
York City gives Trump the perfect, perfect opportunity, the perfect story, right,
the perfect story to paint New York City as this
communist run, chaotic city and decline.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
And so I think you're right. I think there's a
flip side to this story.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (18:16):
I want to shift to California, which is you know,
voted last night in favor by sixty percent. I believe
in favor of Proposition fifty, which creates new boundaries for
California's fifty two congressional districts. This is a big, big vote,
This is a big win for the Democrats. This new
congressional map would cancel out the five or so Republican
(18:39):
seats that Texas redrew in their favor back in June.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
So I have a couple of questions about this.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
I want to understand from your point of view, the
kind of national strategy behind this. But part of me,
and not a small part, really worries that. While I
understand why this was done, why the Democrats push this,
why Newsom pushed this? Governor Gavin Newsom, I also wonder
if we're at risk as a nation of gerrymandering ourselves
(19:07):
into permanent political grid luck.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
So, I don't know what.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
What do you guys think it is important? I think
the first lesson nothing it is that Democrats finally responded.
Four months after Trump took over the White House. There
was no response and the Democratic Party was completely invisible.
As a matter of fact, I think the three of
(19:29):
us we had conversations in which we were asking ourselves
who's the leader of the Democratic Party. Nobody knows, Nobody
really knows. So Gavin Newsom said, let's take the challenge,
and then he started with videos. He started making fun
of President Trump and he hates that so much. By
(19:50):
the way, you were asking why Trump hates Obama so much, Well,
there was a speech in twenty eleven in which Obama
made fun of Trump, and he kept that many years later,
and then he ran for president obviously in twenty fifteen,
and now he's obviously the person of the United States.
But going back to California, Daniel, where I live and
(20:10):
where I feel really, really at home, I think Californias.
And Gavin Newsom is saying, Okay, this is the only
game in town. What should we do. If they're going
to be destricting districticking everything in Texas, then should we
just wait passively and do nothing or should we do
exactly the same thing? So the game is on, and
(20:34):
Gavin Newsom things that that's the only way to deal
with Trump because otherwise what would happen, Daniel, It would
be only Texas gaining members of Congress.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
No, I hear you.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
It's it's basically sort of like, you know, what I
think this represents is, and tell me if I'm wrong.
Is this idea that the Democrats were finally willing to
get their hands dirty and do something that you see
they were like, oh no, that we can't, we can't
go that far.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
That's never been done.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
And they're playing by these these rules, whereas the Republicans
certainly weren't.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
And I think the rules of engagement have changed right
like that there are and ensure maybe there's like a
a dangerous side to this to your point, Daniel, But
in the Trump era, those rules have changed. And so
the question for Democrats were are you going to play
by the rules or do you try to out Trump
Trump using his own strategies. And I think given how
(21:29):
popular and given how many people voted for this proposition,
I think once again there's an appetite for Democrats to
act with a little bit more of spine no, to
be to be almost as ruthless as Republicans have been.
And I use the word ruthless because I think the
idea of gerrymandering is it new, right like? Jerymandering is
(21:49):
a very old tactic that has been weaponized by both parties.
I mean, Democrats have also traditionally done that, but Republicans
have historically been more ruthless about the way in which
and when the jerry mander from Texas to Colorado, Georgia,
North Carolina. And so now you know the question is
in Trump era, in a moment in which even we
(22:12):
have an administration that is even openly flirting with the
idea of a third term, where they are so hungry
to hold on to power.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
How do you respond to that?
Speaker 3 (22:23):
And I think part of the answer is that you
can't really answer that question without out Trump and Trump
and using his own strategies, and it kind of seems
like it's it's working.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
And I share your Concernsaniel, this is dirty politics. Obviously,
this is not the perfect scenario. But these are not
normal times. It's not normal politics. I think we are
with the election of Sorom and Dani, with what happened
in New Jersey and Virginia, in California, it's the time
for confrontation. I think that's that's exactly what we're seeing now.
(22:56):
We're going to see a Democratic Party that is going
to feel invigorated, that's going to feel stronger, and that's
going to be willing to tackle Donald Trump. Trump is
going to use probably revenge and all the power in
his government to try to change things. And so I
think the next year is going to be incredibly difficult.
(23:17):
And obviously at the end we're thinking November twenty twenty six,
we're thinking what's going to be happening in the midterm
elections and the possibility that Democrats will regain it either
the Senate or the House, because that would be the
only way to compensate what we're seeing. But the next
year is going to be brutal. The next year is
going to be incredibly difficult. It's going to be dirty politics.
(23:40):
It's going to be I mean, there's no possibility of conversation,
possibility of dialogue. Let's put aside politics. Let's think about
the government and the shutdown thirty six days in which
we are not seeing Democrats and Republicans just sitting in
a room right now in a hotel New York, in Washington,
(24:01):
this scene just talking because at the end, we know
the bodyet has to be has to be there, they
have to find a way to to solve their differences,
and we're not seeing that and not even the intention
to do that. So I think the next year is
going to be incredibly complicated. This is not going to
be It is not normal, and I and I agree
with you, Daniel, it is it is. I don't like
(24:24):
what what what's happened in California, the same way I
don't like what's happening in Texas. But they're using all
the power that they have in order just to change
things in their favor.
Speaker 5 (24:35):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, I want to talk about a little bit.
You know, most of our audiences is Latino, or much
of our audience is Latino, and I want to ask
like these these you know, for example, this uh, this
redistrict thing, does it do anything to uh improve the
lives of Latinos in the United States, given that it
could tilt an election a year from now, a national
(24:58):
election a year from now.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
I mean, I think it arguably, at least in California.
I think the idea is to counter what Republicans are doing.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
One of the.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Consequences of what they're doing in Texas is that they're
minimizing and reducing the power of black and brown voters
in Texas, and so in a way, I think part
of the strategy is to regain, to regain part of
that power.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Part of that political power.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
And so at least politically, I think symbolically, right, this
is all symbolic. I think symbolically the idea is to
counterweight that. So I think, yes, but I don't know
how all of this, you know, directly transfers into a
direct impact towards Latino beyond just this like symbolic political power.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah, but at the end, I think it is important
is a matter of representation. It is overall. Let let's
talk about the whole country. We're about sixty eight million
Latinos in the United States and we're about twenty percent
of the population. So ideally, and that's just ideally, we
should have about twenty percent of representation everywhere, and we
(26:09):
don't have that. I mean it would. You have to
see it in the Senate. It's not there. You have
to see it in the House. It is. It is
in there, and not even in states like California or
Texas or New York. You have so many, so many Latinos.
So at the end of it is important. In California,
it's going to be the changes in district. That means
maybe five more seats for Democrats, and maybe those five
(26:32):
seats would make the difference in November twenty twenty six
in the mid term elections. So they're going to be
playing hard, they're going to be playing dirty.
Speaker 5 (26:44):
Or hey, you mentioned the shutdown, which is now officially
the longest shutdown in US history. Democrats swept. We mentioned
mcdanie in New York, we mentioned profits in California, Abigail
Spenberger one in Virginia. A pretty resounding victory Miki chryl One,
what was gonna be or many people thought it was
(27:06):
gonna be a tight raced in New Jersey. She she's
the new governor of New Jersey. So do all of
these wins nationally, do they change anything about the political
calculus for those Senators and those representatives and in the
White House, the people that need to negotiate to end
this this shutdown.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Well, mine, I think the main message. I think it is, yes,
we want change. I think what we saw last night
is that people everywhere in New Jersey, Virginia, California, New York,
they're saying, we want change, we want something completely different.
In the case of Mamdani, I think it's the anti
Trump and but but you might not see that everywhere,
(27:51):
But I think the message and I've seen the polls,
the same ones that you've seen, the same numbers. People
are blaming me more Republicans than Democrats for the shutdown
of the government. And the reason is very simple. They
control everything. They control the White House, they control both
chambers of Congress, and so I think I don't know
(28:14):
exactly how, but I think Republicans, after this message, I
think they're going to be pushed just to do something
completely completely different at the end. This is so, it
is incredible. How come we are in a country, the
richest country in the world, the most powerful country in
the world. And I was I was saying, the snub benefits.
(28:37):
Forty two million people receive Cubans just to eat, but
the most they might get tow one hundred and ninety
two dollars if everything goes goes right a month. Who
can live with two hundred and ninety two dollars a month?
And that's where we are right now. So it is
we have reached a moment in which it is it
(28:59):
is difficult to see this country as as not only
the riches but the most generous what we're doing with
those that need our help the most. And there's not
a single intention of conversation right now between them Agross
and Republicans. It is incredible.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Yeah, I think when you look at the results in
New Jersey and in Virginia, I think I think that
is a direct consequence of the way in which voters
are feeling Donald Trump's economic agenda right and the pain
of that economic agenda. And I think, particularly in Virginia,
(29:38):
it's a place that is home to over three hundred
thousand federal workers, so they have felt, probably more than
any state the consequences of Doge and Elon Musk, and
they're feeling every day the consequences of the government shutdown.
And then you go to a state like New Jersey,
where I believe a couple of days ago, the governor
of New Jersey declared an emergency because of the snap
(30:01):
benefits and because it's a population that has a significant
a significant segment of constituents that are part of these
snap benefits. And so I think those are two states
that perhaps Democrats didn't win because of this very you know,
clear eyed anti Trump message that you saw here in
New York City. But it is a testament to the
(30:23):
way in which people are feeling the consequence of Trump
in a different way. And so I think one of
the questions that I was having yesterday is how much
of these votes in a state like Virginia and New Jersey,
how much of that is for Democrats versus against Trump's
economic agenda, right, And I think that then is what
sustains Democrats victory in the midterms and then in the
(30:45):
general election. But I think for sure New Jersey and
Virginia are clear examples of the economic pain that people
are feeling across the country.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
And if I may ask some some numbers about the
Latino about which is something that we always oc care about.
New Jersey one percent of twenty one percent of Latinos,
Virginia ten percent of Latinos, New York City twenty nine
percent of Latinos. So I know, I've said that for
many years that no one can make it to the
White House without the Latino vote. Now it seems that
(31:15):
with these huge numbers, you really cannot be governor, or
member of Congress or a Senator without the Latino vote,
and without considering the incredible, the incredible strength of Hispanics.
Speaker 4 (31:29):
Let's take a quick break and we'll come back.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
We're going to talk a little bit about this last
crazy year we've had since since Trump's election last November.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
We'll be right back. Hi.
Speaker 5 (31:42):
I'm Danielle Alarcon, executive producer of The Moment three. I
want to ask you a favor a round. Blante Studio
is our production company. We've just launched our annual survey
to learn more about our listeners, your preferences, what works
and what doesn't, and how we can serve you better.
Your answers really help. Past surveys, for example, have led
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(32:03):
hear your opinions. You can respond in Spanish or English
by visiting ryan Bulante dot org slash survey. Thanks so
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org slash survey.
Speaker 4 (32:17):
Okay, welcome back to the Moment. Let's zoom out a
little bit.
Speaker 5 (32:20):
It's been a full year since the twenty twenty four elections,
and in a lot of ways, outcome of that election
is why we're all here doing this show. This is
why we started the moment, have a place to talk
about what as a country we'd be living through. We're
not going to list all the ways that Donald Trump
has trampled on the rule of law or to undermine democracy.
We could spend an hour doing that, but I did
(32:42):
want to ask you, is there anything that's happened that
he's done or that his administration's done in the last
year that you didn't expect? Is there anything really surprising?
Speaker 2 (32:52):
I want with a list.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
No, you know what, No.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
I oftentimes I hear so many people saying, oh, this
isn't what voters voted for, right, particlarly when it comes
to the immigration raids, And the truth is, this is
exactly what Donald Trump said he would do. Right. He
was very clear about his massiveportation agenda. He was very
clear about the way in which he was going to
not respect power and the rule of land.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
He was very clear.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
And so I'm not surprised about the way in which
they're doing it or what they're doing. I am perhaps
a bit surprised around how fast everything is happening, right,
and how orchestrated and coordinated they are. And I think
it's and this is we've had this conversation, They've they've
had four years to plan this, and I have to say,
from that perspective, and Anthony Romeo talked to us about
(33:39):
this right from the ACLU, it is a very organized machine.
And I think what is surprising maybe to me is
just how open they are about the ultimate goal and
the ultimate agenda, right, and how like unapologetic they are
about the way in which they want to change this country,
and they won't stop until they achieve that Yeah.
Speaker 5 (34:00):
I remember the GOP convention. They had uh, they had science.
They said mass deportations now and now.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (34:07):
And if if Trump one was malice tempered by incompetence, uh,
Trump two is. You know, they have a plan, a playbook,
and they're following it to a t Okay, you live
in Miami, uh where many Latinos in Florida voted enthusiastically
for Trump, and some of them have been surprised by
(34:28):
the really harsh immigration tactics that they expected wouldn't be.
Speaker 4 (34:31):
Used on them.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Have you seen a shift over this last year and
how those voters think about the president.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Yeah. There are a couple of things that I would
like to point out first about the elections result. I
know we're talking about New Jersey and Virginia and your
but here in Miami, Elen Higgins a Democrat. He's going
to be in the run of with with a million
on salaz. By the way, I got my master with
a million on salad, so I know pretty well. So
it's gonna be it's gonna be interesting to se the
(35:00):
run for the first time Daniel in twenty eight years.
A Democrat, he's going to be able. She's going to
be able to be the mayor of Miami. So there's
a shift in going back directly to your question, many
people here in Miami, especially Cubans, Venezuelans, and Nicaraguans, they
supported some of them couldn't vote, but they supported Donald
(35:23):
Trump because they thought that he was going to do
something with the dictatorships in those countries. And then when
Donald Trump was saying I'm going to be deporting millions
or I'm going to try to deport millions, many people
from Cuba, Venezuela and in Karaga, they thought, oh, no,
he's not talking about me. Yeah, he was talking about
them directly. He was talking about them. So right now
(35:47):
you were asking me if I'm surprised by something that
has happened in the last year. Yeah, the sense of
betrayal among Cubans and Venezuelans. I never thought in a
city like Miami, where I've been for more than thirty years,
would be deporting people back to a dictatorship, and that's
been happening with Venezuelans. Many many Cubans are in Mexico.
(36:09):
Pout that you were there right recently. Oh yeah, yeah,
that's being departed. They're being deported to Mexico. So I
don't think Venezuelans and Cubans especially are willing to not
not in field betrayed, but go from from supporting the
Republican Party to the Democratic Party. I think that's a way,
that's another that's a different step, But the seense of
betrayal with President Trump is very clear right here.
Speaker 5 (36:32):
Paula, you've reported, you wrote a terrific book about this
kind of Latino shift to the right that your dad
was just talking about. But now you've been you've been
reporting going back to some of those places where you
where the reporting of the book comes from, the Rio
Grande Valley, ecal paths, et cetera. So have you seen
a shift there over the last year.
Speaker 3 (36:52):
I think it's too soon to tell, right, I think
I think the question that we're all thinking about, and
even if you look at these election results, right like
even New Jersey, one of the reasons that New Jersey
was such a close victory and such a close battleground
is because of the Latino vote. Right Like Donald Trump
is able to flip some counties in New Jersey in
twenty twenty four because of Latino voters. But I think
(37:15):
the question that we all have is are those Latino
Trump supporters feeling some type of remorse and if so,
are they public about it? And if so, does that
translate into a vote for Democrats? And I generally think
it's too early to tell. But what I am finding
on the ground, whether it's in Pennsylvania, I've been in.
I spent a lot of time in Allentown and reading
the Real Grund Valley. In Texas, I've talked to voters
(37:36):
in South Florida. What I can tell you is that
people feel very conflicted, and they don't yet know how
to make sense of all of these different feelings right,
because it's a feeling that is both rational and also emotional,
and nothing really makes sense. What I mean is that
these are people that on paper support in mass importations.
(37:58):
In theory, they are okay with the idea of mass importations,
but in practice they're now starting to feel to your point,
that they're starting to feel uncomfortable around the way in
which Donald Trump is doing it, and uncomfortable around feeling
that they too suddenly feel like those immigrants that Donald
Trump was talking about.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
Now.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
I think what's interesting is that people are coming to
that conclusion in different ways. I think in a place
like Pennsylvania, people are feeling the sort of economic impact
of the mass importations. Like I've been to so many
barbershops where they're like, oh, we sort of still support this,
but it's.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
Really not good for business.
Speaker 4 (38:33):
Right.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
Then you go to a place like the Rio Grande
Valley where they're this sentiment is one of humiliation. I
think there's a lot of Latino voters that feel humiliated
about the way in which they are feeling in their
own communities, even asking these questions of like well, am
I American enough? Like am I suddenly not part of
sort of Donald Trump's America? And then I think in
a place like Miami, where I have talked to Cuban
(38:56):
Trump supporters who now have loved ones deported in either Texas,
sorry deported in either Mexico or Cuba themselves, I think
the feeling there is betrayal. But I think what's interesting
is that in every other conversation with these voters, the
sense of fear that Trump was able to inspire in
(39:17):
them in twenty twenty four is still somewhat there. Right, Like,
in every other sentence, we'll talk about this idea of crime, right,
this idea of like that crime is still present in
the streets and that some people do need to get out.
And so I think that is still very much intertwined
in the thought process, and I think it's it's too
early now.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
Are they shifting maybe, but towards what.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Yeah, and amlo ad is every word. And another thing
that has surprised means that brutality of the rates. It
is what we're seeing, mass agents, without idea, without warrants.
He just detaining even American citizens. And it is not
true that the vast majority of the people that are
detaining and reporting of how criminal record. That is not true.
(39:58):
Absolutely absolutely up. So Jose, those those images, I mean,
that's that's I mean, I'm seeing them every single day.
And that's I never imagined the US, the United States,
to be that country.
Speaker 5 (40:12):
Yeah, I'm so glad you brought this up, because, uh,
you know, I read a lot of the you know,
the media that you read, and you know, the papers
and the analysts, and I watch the news and I
keep feeling like we're talking about this constitutional crisis that's coming,
and everything is described as unprecedented and concerning and alarming.
(40:34):
But you know, I'm also seeing people as you said,
you know, getting pulled off the street by massed agents, kidnappings,
sequest was you know that that feel very reminiscent of
the most violent dictatorships that we've seen in Latin America.
They feel very reminiscent and very frightening. And so I
guess I just keep wondering. It's like I keep hearing
(40:56):
the chattering classes saying, oh, we're getting to this point.
It's so concerning when I feel like we've been here,
it's happening. Isn't this the constitution crisis that we've all
been worried about.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
Well, we Latin Americanos, we we we know how to
detect that. I mean, remember I left Mexico when Mexico
was not a democracy. So you see, you see the
science every word, not the attacks on journalists, the attacks
on the judges, on politicians, the personal revenge. I'm seeing
it every word, not not paying attention to what the
(41:29):
law says. Now, having having said that, I think we
still have freedoms here in the United States. Maybe it's
just my my migrante, but but I still believe that
at the end this country will do We'll do the
right thing. In other words, just because we are being
critical right now doesn't mean that the three of us
are going to end up in jail tomorrow. That's that's
(41:51):
the big difference. Yeah, I'm seeing signs of authoritarianism everywhere,
and I think there's a Last night was an incredible
science of persists. They're saying, no, this is not the
country that we want. And the science of resistance are
not only the results yesterday, but also the seven million
people who who protested about a week ago or a
little more than a week ago in many twenty seven
(42:14):
hundred cities in the United States. So even even though yes,
I see what you're seeing, Daniel, I'm also seeing that
the resistance is growing. And that's a few voices Mandani.
What we're seeing New Jersey, in Virginia. New voices are coming,
and a new generation is coming. Not not people my
age is the new generation people who are saying we need,
(42:35):
we need new leadership. And then new leadership is in
New York City right now.
Speaker 1 (42:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:41):
I think America has has always had this. It's almost
like this identity crisis, right and this constant conundrum asking
the question like what is what does this American democracy mean?
And the way that we answer it is by extremes.
Right on, every four years we have these kind of extremes.
Some people answer it through trump Ism, and here we
are once again with a democratic resistance that is trying
(43:03):
to answer that question again. But I think what is evident,
at least to me, is that America as we know it,
or America as it is supposed to be a democratic nation,
with all these principles and freedoms, in my opinion, is
no longer here. Right you look at media companies. You
have some of our colleagues at are self censoring. You
(43:26):
have law firms and universities that are willing to negotiate
with Trump. You have immigration agents in this country that
are suddenly not as worried about law and order and
more worried about being loyal to Donald Trump. You have
an asylum system in this country that is absolutely gone.
Not only that, you have a Trump an administration that
(43:48):
is designing an immigration system, actively designing it by expulsing
black and brown people, while being very open about the
idea of integrating white refugees into this un is I
think the country as we know it, or as as
some of us believe that it is supposed to function
in that sense it's it's gone.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
But I do I do think that that doesn't mean that.
Speaker 3 (44:10):
We're you know, that this democracy has gone forever, but
it does mean that we are capable of pushing this
country to an extreme that I have to say, like
I growing up, I never I never thought now that
that that this country was was was once again capable
of going back to you know, so I think some
(44:31):
of these darker roules that have always been part of
the United States, this capacity to see some people as
in fear, this capacity to you know, go around the system,
this capacity to to to.
Speaker 1 (44:45):
To defy the constitution, and we're capable of that.
Speaker 2 (44:47):
Yeah. So maybe maybe it's what's interesting that by listening
to Powerla is that we've been discussing that powel for
for such a long time, and it seems that you're
more pessimistic than I am about what happening in this country.
I don't know. Maybe maybe and we'll talk about the
American dream on an on another podcast, but but I'm
(45:11):
still optimistic. Maybe maybe it's because this country gave me
the opportunities that my country of origin couldn't give me.
I still believe that at the end, Will will do
the right thing, because that has been my experience, but
your experience clearly has been completely different. And and another
thing that I really appreciate is that the possibility the
(45:32):
capacity to respond to what we are seeing. While in
other dictatorships that I've covered as a journalist or authoritarian government,
I didn't see that possibility of response.
Speaker 5 (45:44):
I want to get into all of that and the
optimism and the kind of generational divide, which is one
of the reasons we started the show, of course, But
first let's take a quick break and we'll come back.
We're going to talk more about the moment itself and
what we've learned over these last several months working together.
Speaker 4 (45:58):
So we'll be right back. Okay, welcome back to the Moment.
Speaker 5 (46:03):
I'm Danielle Darcn, executive producer of this show, and I'm
super happy to have Palin here. We have been working
on the show for a couple of months. Actually, we
launched a whole months ago. We started working on this
almost a year ago, and Jorgue, you've mentioned repeatedly that
at some point in the future, people are going to
ask what we did during the Trump years, and your response,
(46:27):
again and again has been this show so I.
Speaker 4 (46:29):
Want you to unpack that idea a little bit.
Speaker 5 (46:31):
What do you what do you mean by this idea
that that this show is is a response to the
to the Trump administration or Trump two point zero?
Speaker 2 (46:39):
Yeah, I think I I I do believe and I've
said that many times that in just a few years
from now, our colleagues, our friends, our family members, they're
gonna be asking my, my, my son and daughters that
they're gonna be asking me. So what do you do
during those years? I mean, we've been describing what's happening
(47:00):
with with immigrants in this country, what's been happening with
all the attacks on the institutions, and so so I
think we have to There's no you cannot remain silent
to be a journalist. This is not a profession to
be to be silent. And and my my answer to
what I don't like it is it is reporting about it,
(47:22):
it is denouncing about it, it's criticizing about it. I
think as as a journalist, we have two responsibilities. One
is to report reality as it is, not as we
wish it would be. But the second and most important
one is to challenge those who are in power. So
my response to the questions what do you do during
those years? Is this independent journalism? The freedom to say
(47:43):
whatever you think it is necessary and to report with precision,
but with with bravery when when you need it? And
I think this is this is my response?
Speaker 5 (47:56):
Yeah, Well, how is it felt working uh with your
father and being uh, you know, interviewing some of these
incredible voices we've had to interview, uh, But you know,
I can't imagine doing it with you know, with with
with my dad.
Speaker 4 (48:12):
You know, Like, is that is that a weird situation?
Speaker 1 (48:19):
I'm kidding. No, No, No, it's been.
Speaker 3 (48:22):
I I think we've we're both learning so much. I
think what's been interesting is that we both we know
each other obviously better than anyone, but I think I
have to say, like I'm learning, I'm learning.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
New things about you. I'm learning new things.
Speaker 3 (48:38):
About yeah, like even you know, the way that we
approach conversations and the way that we ask questions and
the things that we're both interested in. But at the end,
at the end, it somehow goes back to I think
what was the original intension of the show, right to
to prove that we can have intergenerational conversations and that
(48:58):
we can have different sort of opinions about these issues.
But I think that's exactly at least what I'm hearing
out there. That's exactly what I think the audiences is
craving for.
Speaker 1 (49:08):
Right.
Speaker 3 (49:08):
I think I think of the first conversation we had
in this show, right, we started with a historic figure
that today is making history. And I think even that
conversation right where we were talking to him about democratic socialism,
where we were talking to him and having him and
trying to hold Zoran accountable about how he was going
to govern, but at the same time understand the hope
(49:30):
that he saw on whatever light he saw, on whatever
path forward he saw. And even in that conversation, I
think I've learned a lot from you know, from from
you Dad, and like the things that you were kind
of more skeptical about and the things that were you
wanted to press him on.
Speaker 1 (49:47):
And I think that speaks to to what makes this
this show different.
Speaker 4 (49:52):
Yeah, can I jump in there.
Speaker 5 (49:54):
One thing that I've noticed, and I'm glad you mentioned
Zoron In a couple of our conversations, the phrase the
democratic socialist comes up, and I feel like, are I'm
a little closer to your age, Paul our generation doesn't.
Speaker 4 (50:11):
It doesn't.
Speaker 5 (50:11):
It doesn't necessarily bother us that phrase. And Cogue you
seem to have pikinya whenever, uh, the phrase.
Speaker 4 (50:19):
Democratic socialists is mentioned. Yeah, you know, you feel uncomfortable.
You feel uncomfortable when the phrase is said.
Speaker 6 (50:28):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (50:28):
Maybe for people my generation and younger, the things or
on Mam Donnie says doesn't don't seem particularly radical. They
seem you know, they seem ambitious, they seem idealistic, but
they don't seem that radical. But I've heard you in
several conversations with Zoran, with John Leguizamo, even when Reuben
Diego mentioned it. Yeah, uh, you you sort of have
(50:51):
a visceral reaction to the phrase democratic socialism. And I
just want you to just to talk about that.
Speaker 2 (50:57):
I do understand that democratic socialists and and el Partido
socialist espanel with better sciences in Spain, uh, they're democratic socialists.
And Scandinavic countries prime minister are constantly democratic socialists. So
I have no problem with with democracy, and I have
no problem with social democrats. The Remember I've been in
(51:20):
Miami for for more than than three decades, so here
in Miami, when you come to Miami and and for
the politicians there's always umboutiso, and elboutiso means that they're
going to be asked what do you think about the
dictatorship in Cuba? And now not only that, but now
the question is what do you think about the dictatorships
(51:41):
in Cuba, Venezuela and and Kaawan. That's that's one thing.
That's what That's why I'm so sensitive to that because
I'm surrounded by people that that we're fleeing the repressive
governments and and they fear for their for their lives.
Also on a personal basis, I have the opportunity to
talk to dictators Daniel Ortega, Nicola, Nicolas Maduro who arrested
(52:05):
me and deported me from Venezuela, even just a few
seconds with deel Castro. So I know what dictators do
and I know how repressive they are, how they kill people,
how they put people in prison. So I'm very sensitive
to that. And when I ask that question constantly what
(52:28):
do you think about those dictatorships, it is just to
find out what kind of person I'm talking to, because
I think you can be a democratic socialist, but it
is not acceptable at all to support or defend dictatorships
like the one I've seen in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicodaga.
(52:49):
That that's why I'm always asking that question.
Speaker 4 (52:52):
Yeah, I mean that makes sense.
Speaker 5 (52:53):
I mean I think I have a certain I just
remember twenty twenty when if you read the Republican rhetoric
about Biden, you would think he was cheke evarda communists.
Speaker 1 (53:05):
I mean that's what they would Yeah, that's literally what
they said.
Speaker 5 (53:08):
And then you know you have this you know, mild mannered,
elderly man who you know, let the FBI investigate his
son for four years. You know, did not have any
authoritarian tendencies whatsoever. So I guess the label to me,
it seems so ridiculous when it's used, uh, from the
right to attack anyone who is you know, in the
(53:29):
center or or left. It just it's almost like one
of those adjectives that means nothing. You know, to call Zoran,
for example, a Ghatiist communist, you know, it's so preposterous
that I just don't it doesn't it doesn't affect me.
Speaker 4 (53:43):
I don't know, Paula.
Speaker 3 (53:44):
No, Yeah, I mean, look, I think I think the
lat for decades, I mean, it is it is a
it is an old It is the oldest Republican tactic
to label democrats, and of course you see this more
in South Florida, but you see it now in New
or the oldest Republican tactic, I mean, the right, scare
right to to to label any democrat as a socialist
or a communist, because because it works, and we have
(54:06):
we have a history of doing that in this country.
And so I think for us as journalists, it's it's
a question of like how do you how do you
feed into that narrative or not. And also I think,
particularly with someone like Zoron, understanding our audience and understanding
that some of our audience and some of the Latinos
that we talk to are people that dove that do
have some type of political trauma with Venezuela or with Cuba,
(54:28):
and these are issues that they're talking about it. So
I think our job is to kind of help them
make sense of what this quote unquote scary term actually means,
right and what and and and to distinguish and make
a distinction between communism, socialism, and democratic socialism. And I
think what we're seeing now happening in this city is
(54:48):
that Republicans independents and Democrats have an appetite for this,
for this type of of idea, right which is which
is which is really and simply about expanding wealth, and
that has been you know, that was I think at
the heart of what, like we said at the beginning
of the show, what mobilized even Trump supporters towards Zora Mundooney,
(55:12):
which is very much at the same time, donald Trump's agenda,
which I think is so funny.
Speaker 1 (55:17):
It's one of the things that Zoron kept saying.
Speaker 3 (55:18):
Yesterday before his victory is look, at the end of
the day, I want the same thing that Donald Trump
won one on right, Like, what I'm saying is the
same thing that Donald Trump was talking about at the
beginning about sort of you know, going against the establishment,
ensuring that you know, the low income, middle class people
have access to wealth. Like that is very much the
(55:39):
type of populism that made Donald Trump, you know, have
this resounding victory in twenty twenty four. And so it's
a matter of really breaking down these these stereotypes. And
I think that's what we strive for in this show.
Speaker 4 (55:54):
Yeah, I just a.
Speaker 5 (55:55):
Couple more questions before we wrap. What are you hearing
from Latinos about the show. What are you hearing from
from audience, you know, people giving feedback for the show.
Speaker 2 (56:03):
I think we need more spaces like this. Part of
what we do I know exactly shape, but part of
we do is to give voice to those who don't
have a voice. And whenever there's something that has to
do with politics and that there's an intersection with with Latinos,
we we want to be there. I think that's that's
why the show is important, because we need more spaces
no less, we need more spaces like this one to
(56:26):
have a conversation, especially after what happened in the last
night and in the middle of the shutdown of the government.
We need we need to have dialogue, yellow conversation, and
I think that's that's what's what's so important. And again
is a matter of representation. We we have to we
have to tell our own story, and the only way
(56:48):
to do it is through programs like this.
Speaker 3 (56:50):
Yeah, I've had honestly, really really good feedback. I think
some people say that it feels that they're just like
at the dinner table right with like three people, and and.
Speaker 1 (56:59):
That things feel familiar in a way.
Speaker 4 (57:02):
Right.
Speaker 1 (57:02):
I think.
Speaker 3 (57:04):
Oftentimes they're like, Oh, we're so happy that you asked
him that question right with zoron or center Alo. And
at the same time, I think people feel hopeful. They also,
I think, sometimes feel like we're answering some of the
questions that they're having. I think they because they're so
(57:26):
used to seeing both you and I dad and these
sort of like TV settings to be able to have
these like longer conversations that are more nuanced, that are
more complex, I think to your point, I think people
are creating that type of that type of space, particularly now,
and so I mean, so far, I think it's been
I think it's been really good.
Speaker 2 (57:45):
And thanks for making that possible, Danielle, and and iHeart
really it's just great.
Speaker 5 (57:50):
I think, Yeah, of course, of course I have one
last question. And I know you're both incredibly busy. And
I know this in particular because Lauda, Miguel and Lisa
and I are the ones off and trying to wrangle
you guys to schedule.
Speaker 4 (58:03):
So I know this.
Speaker 5 (58:04):
You're both incredibly busy and you've got tons of stuff
you're working on. So I just want to ask you,
just as journalists, uh, what are you working on outside
of the moment? That you're just super excited about.
Speaker 2 (58:13):
Now, Yeah, I'm doing a podcast in Spanish every every
single day. So I'm I'm reinventing myself. After thirty eight
years being on being on on TV, I needed to
do something else just just to to survive us a journalist,
as an independent journalist. So I'm very excited that possibility
of having having these podcasts and also having another one,
a daily one, a podcast in Spanish. So that's that's
(58:36):
what I'm working on every single day. I think, I'm
I think I'm working harder than ever in my life.
And that's that's a lot.
Speaker 1 (58:43):
You can't stop because you don't know how to journalists never.
Speaker 2 (58:45):
Saw you don't know a boss now not' carefe so
now so now it's now, it's on me, and it's
it's a different it's a different kind of weight that
I never had before.
Speaker 4 (58:59):
But I love that you were accusing your father of
being a workaholic when you were absolutely I'm not being
interviewed here.
Speaker 3 (59:15):
Yes, and all my and all my free time, I
to know. Yes, I've been I've been exploring a new
a new book idea, which is it goes back to
a lot of the themes that we've discussed in this show,
which is which is I've been following and like three
different families that are that have either self deported or
(59:35):
have reverse migrated or are thinking of that. And so
I'm trying to to understand like the long term effect
of having a whole new generation or wave of immigrants
that that lets go of this American dream and this
idea that we keep talking about in this show. And
and so that's that's what I've been Yeah, that's what
I've been doing in all my spare time.
Speaker 4 (59:55):
Yeah, all of that, well, I can't I can't wait
to read.
Speaker 5 (01:00:00):
And I just want to say on behalf of everyone
at Roan Bulante and I Heart, what a privilege spind
to have you guys, you know, run the show and
be the the voices interlocutors with some of the great
people we've been able to interview. It's been a pleasure
for me as well. Thanks for your insights today. We'll
be back next week with our regular format, So thank you.
(01:00:21):
The Moment is a production of Ralo Moulante Studios in
partnership with Iheart'smichael Tura podcast Network. Our staff includes Lauda
Rocasa Ponte Miguel Santiao, Colon and Lisa Serda, with help
from Paula Lean, die Goo Corso, Natalie Ramirez and Elsa Lianoa.
The CEO of Roan Blante Studios is Caroline Guerrero. Executive
producers that I Heart are Arlene Santana and Leo Gomez,
(01:00:41):
Pablo Calrera, Dylan Hunger and Mark Canton. Also service producers,
sound design, final mix and themed songs by Elias Gonzalez.
If you liked this episode, please share the word, recommend
the moment to anyone who might enjoy unpacking these complicated
times with us, and if you like the moment, pedro
Ta Minde Guzelo's podcast En Espanol.
Speaker 4 (01:00:57):
Check out Ryan Blante Studios.
Speaker 5 (01:00:59):
Our shows raand Blante, Elilo and Central are really worth
to listen and Danielle Alarcon thanks for listening
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