The Latino Newsletter

As we close out Second Chance Month, The Latino Newsletter podcast presents a powerful collaboration with our friends at CALÓ News.

Guest hosts Brenda Verano and Michelle Zacarias sit down with newly sworn-in attorney Ester Mendez. a first-generation Oaxacan American who transformed a cycle of incarceration into a life of purpose. Ester opens up about navigating mental health challenges, criminal charges, and the long road to becomi...

Julio Ricardo Varela talks with Melisa López Franzen, a former Minnesota State Senator leader now running in the 2026 Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) primary for the United States Senate.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, López Franzen reflects on building a life in Minnesota, how her roots shaped her politics, and why she believes this moment calls her back to public service.This episode was produced and edited by Julio Ricardo Varela...

Live from Miami and the Knight Media Forum, Julio Ricardo Varela hosts a discussion with FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez and FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya. They delve into pressing issues surrounding Latino media, the challenges of audience measurement, and the representation of Latinos in music and television.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela. Original audio and photos from the Knight Media Forum.

Music by Cast of C...

For the final episode of our first season, host Julio Ricardo Varela explores the evolving future of Latinidad with Dr. Manuel Pastor, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California and director of the Equity Research Institute. Dr. Pastor provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the Latino community as 2024 draws to a close.

This epi...

Host Julio Ricardo Varela welcomes journalist and cultural producer Alisha Miranda to discuss how her "Latinx Industry Night" series is redefining storytelling and amplifying Latino voices in Philadelphia’s hospitality scene. They talk about how these events challenge stereotypes, spotlight rising stars, and create intentional spaces for representation and community.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Puerto Rico's 7th (yes, 7th) non-binding status plebiscite happened on Election Day, with statehood getting 57% of the symbolic vote and independence getting 31%. What does it all mean, or what doesn't it mean?

Host Julio Ricardo Varela welcomes Christina D. Ponsa-Kraus, the George Welwood Murray Professor of Legal History at Columbia Law School, to dissect and discuss.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In the third of a series of conversations about the Latino vote and the 2024 election cycle, host⁠ ⁠Julio Ricardo Varela talks with Jesus Lara, President of Local Media at TelevisaUnivision, about what the network did this past election cycle and what it means for the future of the U.S. Latino community.

This episode was produced and edited by Julio Ricardo Varela.

Music by Cast of Characters via⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soundstripe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In the second of a series of conversations about the Latino vote and the 2024 election cycle, host ⁠Julio Ricardo Varela ⁠welcomes Jorge Bonilla⁠, veteran Latino conservative writer and radio personality, to talk about what American political media missed about President-elect Donald Trump’s support with Latinos and what it may mean.  

Photo: Donald Trump in Glendale, Arizona (Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0)

This episode was produced b...

In the first of a series of conversations about the Latino vote and the 2024 election cycle, host Julio Ricardo Varela welcomes Geraldo Cadava, a contributing writer at The New Yorker, co-editor-in-chief of Public Books, and host of the “Writing Latinos” podcast. Cadava is also a professor of history and Latina and Latino studies at Northwestern University.

Photo: President Joe Biden greets President-elect Donald Trump, Wednesday, ...

SPRINGFIELD, MA — National exit polls revealed that Donald Trump achieved historic support among Latino voters, securing 45% of their votes—a level not reached by a Republican candidate since George W. Bush in 2004. In western Massachusetts cities like Holyoke and Springfield, where Latinos make up nearly half the population, preliminary results showed a noticeable shift toward Republican candidates.

To understand these voting tren...

Here at The Latino Newsletter podcast, we have been following election results in both the United States and Puerto Rico. Host Julio Ricardo Varela welcomes veteran journalist Susanne Ramirez de Arellano to talk about what Tuesday's results mean both for San Juan and Washington, D.C.

Photo by Carlos Berríos Polanco for The Latino Newsletter.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

SPRINGFIELD, MA — Besides the presidential election, there is also a Senate election in Massachusetts on Tuesday. NEPM and GBH hosted a senate debate in October with incumbent U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, and Republican candidate John Deaton. Both answered post-debate questions about supporting Latino business owners in western Massachusetts.

As the 2024 election season unfolds, the ⁠Latino Election Project⁠ from The Latino Ne...

SPRINGFIELD, MA — Many young Americans are stepping into a new chapter this year as they gain the right to vote. Across the country, high school seniors who have turned 18 are casting their ballots this election cycle. At Discovery Polytechnic Early College High School in downtown Springfield, students spoke with The Latino Election Project about their newfound civic responsibilities.

As the 2024 election season unfolds, the Latino...

Latinos make up 27% of the population in Hampden County—a significant increase of 25% from 2010 to 2020, according to Pew Research. Despite this growth, cities with large Latino populations like Holyoke, Springfield, and Chicopee have some of the lowest voter turnout rates in Massachusetts.

As the 2024 election season unfolds, the Latino Election Project from The Latino Newsletter and New England Public Media features the work of s...

According to Pew Research, there are more than 36 million eligible Latino voters in the U.S. this year. In Massachusetts, Latinos account for approximately 9% of all eligible voters, a growing share that has seen significant increases over the past two decades. The Latino Election Project team is looking at what this means locally, exploring the particular issues and trends shaping the Latino vote in western Massachusetts.

As the 2...

In this episode of The Latino Newsletter Podcast, host Julio Ricardo Varela welcomes Mando Rayo, an OG taco journalist and digital storyteller, to discuss the evolving identity of the Latino community, the importance of political representation, and cultural storytelling.

Subscribe to Tacos of Texas here.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sound design and mixing by Joa...

Host Julio Ricardo Varela welcomes Ana Valdez, president and CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative, to discuss the significant economic impact of the U.S. Latino community, the challenges of media representation, and why Latinos still lack political power.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sound design and mixing by Joaquin Cotler.

Music by Cast of Characters via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week, Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano launched his new project, "Caminos del Southwest: A road trip through Latino America." Host Julio Ricardo Varela welcomes Gustavo to talk about what turned into one very informative journey about Latino and Latina voters in 2024.

This episode was produced by Julio Ricardo Varela and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joaquin Cotler⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sound design and mixing by Joaquin Cotler.

Music by Cas...