In The Thick

From 2016: Undercover With White Supremacists Mar 28, 2023

This next episode of our Best of ITT series takes us back to 2016, and our conversation with Mike German, fellow with the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty & National Security Program. Maria and Julio talk to Mike about what he learned about the white supremacist movement during his time as an undercover FBI agent, and how the media is missing the real story.

ITT Staff Picks:

Nazgol Ghandnoosh writes about white supremacy’s hold on legal institutions and how it disproportionately affects Black and Indigenous communities, in this article for The Sentencing Project.
“Concerns intensified after law enforcement failed to stop multiple incidents of white supremacist violence committed at the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and a leaked FBI report revealed it had created a new domestic terrorism category called “Black Identity Extremists” that labeled Black activists protesting racist police violence as threats” writes Michael German in this article for Brennan Center.
More than 300 members of the far-right group, The Oath Keepers, are also members of the Department of Homeland Security, according to this article by Nick Schwellenbach that was published in POGO.

From 2019: Hyper Visible and Invisible Mar 21, 2023

Our Best of ITT series continues with this roundtable from 2019. Maria and Julio are joined by Shamira Ibrahim, culture writer on race, identity and politics, and Margari Hill, co-founder and executive director of the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, to discuss how the intersecting identities of being a Black Muslim woman lead to anti-Blackness both within the Muslim community and in the United States at large.

ITT Staff Picks:

Shamira Ibrahim writes about the power of photography and photo archives in preserving the rich culture and story of the Black community and rejecting negative stereotypes assigned to them, in this article published in Harper’s Bazaar.
Maram Ahmed highlights some of the talented Black Muslim women behind the rise of British Hip-Hop, in this article for Refinery29.
“Speaking to CNN about McCarthy’s proposal, Omar suggested that her religion played a role. She said of her colleagues that “many of these members don’t believe a Muslim refugee, an African, should even be in Congress, let alone have the opportunity to serve on the Foreign Affairs Committee,” writes Philip Bump in this article for The Washington Post.

From 2017: The Many Accents of Rita Moreno Mar 14, 2023

Our Best of ITT series continues with this episode from January 2017. Maria and Julio lead a discussion with legendary actress Rita Moreno about her star-turning role in “West Side Story” and her role in the reboot of Norman Lear’s classic television series, “One Day at a Time.” As they go behind the scenes of many of her most recognizable roles, both old and new, they get into issues of representation, accents, and race.

ITT Staff Picks:

Frances Negrón-Muntaner writes about Rita Moreno’s impact on the Puerto Rican community and on American culture as a whole, in this article for PBS.
Actor Antonio Banderas writes about his experience voicing the “Puss in Boots” character for almost two decades and how it changed his career and the industry as a whole, in this column for The Hollywood Reporter.
Raul A. Reyes writes about Raquel Welch’s complicated relationship with her Latina identity throughout her life and career as a Hollywood star in 1960s America, in this article for NBC News.

From 2019: Ladies First Mar 07, 2023

The next episode of our Best of ITT series is from July 2019, and it gets into the significance of Black feminism. Maria and Julio talk with writer and activist Feminista Jones about her book, “Reclaiming Our Space: How Black Feminists Are Changing the World From the Tweets to the Streets.” They also discuss the influence of hip-hop on women's sexual liberation, the importance of mental and spiritual health, and Black women speaking out on their experiences with sexual abuse in the #MeToo era.

ITT Staff Picks:

Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor writes about the Black feminists of the Combahee River Collective and the divisions within the feminist movement, in this article for The New Yorker.
“Dorothy Pitman Hughes passed away at the age of 84 after a long, active life spent advocating for equality and human rights for all people. Known as a pioneering feminist activist, Hughes devoted her time and resources to serving people with the greatest needs,” writes Feminista Jones in this article for InStyle.
Kaitlyn Greenidge writes about the Sisterhood, a 1970s Black women’s writing group that rose from the Black power and women’s movement and focused on creating work for each other rather than the white mainstream, in this piece for Harper’s Bazaar.

From 2018: LIVE From Chicago, Suave’s Story Feb 28, 2023

We continue our Best of ITT series with this live episode from May 2018. Maria and Julio take the stage at DePaul University in Chicago with David Luis “Suave” Gonzalez, artist and a former juvenile lifer, to talk about Latinos and mass incarceration. Along with hearing Suave's story, Julio also interviews Maria, who at the time had been covering Suave's story for more than 25 years.

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In this bonus episode of the Suave podcast, Maria and Suave reflect on everything that has happened in the year after their podcast was released, including the fact that they won a Pulitzer.
Tamar Sarai writes about how prison policies have increasingly limited extended family visits and how that also limits the relationships and access to intimacy for incarcerated people, in this article for Prism Reports.
“In its premiere, Inside Story travels to Louisiana, where we find a community group protesting the state’s decision to move some youth to Angola, a notorious prison for adults,” write Lawrence Bartley and Donald Washington, Jr. to preface their documentary essay for The Marshall Project.

From 2020: Ancestral Power Feb 21, 2023

Our Best of ITT series continues, as we celebrate our 7th year anniversary! In this episode from July 2020, Maria and Julio are joined by authors and historians Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross to talk about their book “A Black Women's History of the United States.” They analyze the history of Black women in America and their legacy of activism, resistance and entrepreneurship.

ITT Staff Picks:

Olivia Lapeyrolerie writes about the incredible life’s work of Marvel Cooke, a Black reporter and union organizer, who inspired Black women activists such as Angela Davis and spent her life fighting systemic inequities and the exploitation of Black people, in this article for Teen Vogue.
“The challenge of solving the Black wealth gap is informed by another time in our past when Black people were the wealth of this nation,” writes Daina Ramey Berry in this piece for The Boston Globe.
The Free Black Women’s Library features a collection of four thousand books written by Black women and Black non-binary authors and celebrates these authors through workshops, readings, story circles, performances, cultural conversations and a monthly reading club.

From 2022: Raising Antiracist Leaders Feb 14, 2023

We’re continuing our Best of ITT series to celebrate seven years of In The Thick with this episode from June 2022. Maria and Julio are joined by Ibram X. Kendi, founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, for a conversation about his book “How to Raise an Antiracist.” They discuss the evolution of his antiracist scholarship, the rise in mass shootings and white supremacist attacks, and how Black and brown communities can work together in solidarity.

ITT Staff Picks:

Kathryn Joyce writes about New College in Florida, a once liberal arts college that is being transformed into a right-leaning institution by DeSantis, who wants to replicate this motion across the country, in this article for Vanity Fair.
“What I found in How to Be A (Young) Antiracist was a kind of meditation on the ways that the personal is, as they say, political,” writes Janell Ross in this interview with author Ibram X. Kendi, for Time Magazine.
“The maintenance of racism has required the public’s ignorance of racism. The public’s ignorance of racism requires a perpetual undermining of public education,” argues Ibram X. Kendi in this excerpt from his book "How to Raise an Antiracist," published by USA Today.

From 2016: Law and Order, Is It Black and White? Feb 07, 2023

To celebrate ITT’s 7th year anniversary, we’re going back into the vault to share some of our best episodes that have helped shape our show. In this episode from our first year in 2016, Maria is joined by ITT all-star Terrell Jermaine Starr, host of the Black Diplomats podcast, Zak Cheney-Rice, a features writer for New York Magazine, and Tracey Meares, the Walton Hale Hamilton Professor of Law at Yale University, to discuss policing in America, and whether reform is possible.

ITT Staff Picks:

Gothamist shared ways to help victims of the deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria, which left over 7,000 people dead so far. Find out how you can help here.
Jonathan Ben-Menachem writes about new research that shows how heavily policed communities are more likely to withdraw from civic life, in this piece for Bolts magazine.
“In interviews, Nichols’s relatives have attempted to ensure that he is remembered as a man beyond the gruesome video of his beating. One piece of information from these interviews stood out to me: Tyre Nichols also loved sunsets,” writes Clint Smith in this piece for The Atlantic.

ITT Sound Off: Kevin and the Chaos Kids Feb 03, 2023

Julio and guest co-host Renée Graham, opinion columnist and associate editor at The Boston Globe, discuss Tyre Nichols’ funeral and the white supremacy behind the undercounted number of police violence cases in the U.S. They also discuss the College Board’s amendments to its AP African American Studies course, which were made shortly after Gov. Ron DeSantis rejected the course in the state of Florida. And, they unpack the recent vote to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Republican Nikki Haley’s run for presidency.

ITT Staff Picks:

“With the police killing of Nichols, the wash-rinse-repeat cycle has begun anew. There have been protests, though nowhere near as large or diverse as those in 2020. Black people, as usual, are doing the heavy lifting. There are talks again about reviving the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that previously stalled in the Senate. But it’ll never get through House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s extremist puppet masters,” writes Renée Graham in this piece for The Boston Globe.
John Nichols writes about Rep. Ilhan Omar’s record on foreign policy and states that despite her removal from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, she will not be silenced, in this article for The Nation.
Marcus Anthony Hunter writes about how the African American story is also the American story, and yet it is an uphill battle to teach African American history in light of Gov. DeSantis’ decision, in this article for the LA Times.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File

The Unapologetic Music of Puerto Rico Jan 31, 2023

This week, we’re talking about the second season of “La Brega,” a co-production from WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios. Julio is joined by Alana Casanova-Burgess, co-creator, host and producer of “La Brega,” and Jeanne Montalvo, grammy-nominated audio engineer and radio producer with Futuro Studios, to talk about the series, which takes us through the Puerto Rican experience in eight songs. They discuss how Puerto Rican artists, like Bad Bunny, have raised awareness for political and social issues on the island, and also get into the cultural and musical exchange between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Subscribe here to La Brega so you don’t miss any new episodes!

ITT Staff Picks:

In this episode of Code Switch, find out how Bad Bunny has become a megaphone for Puerto Rican politics and issues, which have been a major influence in his music career.
Alana Casanova-Burgess discusses Bad Bunny’s activism and love for his island in comparison to the song Preciosa, one of Puerto Rico’s unofficial anthems, in the first episode of season 2 of La Brega.
George Varga unpacks the Grammy’s history of “playing it safe,” often rewarding white artists over artists of color, and details some of the new initiatives that will hopefully make the organization more diverse, in this article for The San Diego Tribune.

Photo credit: Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP

ITT Sound Off: The Shades of Gray Jan 28, 2023

Julio and guest co-host Fernanda Santos, editorial director of Futuro Media, discuss the recent mass shootings in California, two of nearly 40 that have happened this year so far. They also unpack the anti-government protests in Peru that have resulted in a nationwide state of emergency, and they get into Meta’s decision to reinstate former President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts after two years of being banned.

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“Mass shootings — where four or more people, not including the shooter, are injured or killed — have averaged more than one per day in 2023. Every week has had at least six mass shootings,” writes Júlia Ledur in this article for Washington Post.
“While the United States may have a ways to go before it reaches the crisis level that Peru reached, the seeds are all there,” writes Julio in his latest opinion piece for MSNBC.
Wajahat Ali writes about how Meta’s decision exemplifies the GOP’s influence on American institutions, in this article for Medium.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Martin Mejia

Urban Refugees Jan 24, 2023

A year after the Twin Parks fire in the Bronx, Maria and Julio are joined by Amir Khafagy, a journalist and Report for America corps member with Documented, to discuss the systemic issues exposed by this tragedy, such as the ongoing housing crisis. They also talk about what the victims and families are still owed one year later, and get into the intersections between labor issues and immigration policy within immigrant communities.

ITT Staff Picks:

Amir Khafagy writes about what the victims of the Twin Parks fire are still owed one year later, in this article for Documented.
“For more than 50 years, the Twin Parks North West high-rise defined the Fordham Heights skyline. But now, on the first anniversary of New York City’s deadliest fire since 1990, the building is also the neighborhood’s tallest tombstone, standing 19 stories high,” write Camille Botello, Aliya Schneider, and Robbie Sequeira in this article for Bronx Times.
Ngozi Cole talks to some of the residents of the Twin Parks building and exposes a pattern of negligence, in this article for Shelterforce.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

La Brega Season 2: The Puerto Rican Experience in 8 Songs Jan 24, 2023

As the island donde hasta la piedras cantan –“where even the rocks sing”– Puerto Rico is home to a dizzying breadth of musical expression. From the lyrical boleristas of the 1930s, to the electric salseros of the ’70s, to the reggaetoneros of today who have taken music from the margins and made it a global sensation, this season takes listeners on an exciting, richly-reported, cross-genre adventure that captures the ceaseless creativity, emotional resonance, and yes, la brega that are hallmarks of Puerto Rican music across eras and formats.

Voices featured in this trailer include Elena Martínez, José Massó, Gabby Rivera, Afrika Clivillés, Lia Camille Crockett, Bianca Graulau, Omar Alfanno, Ruben Blades, Mireya Ramos, Velcro, Susana Baca, and Alberto “Ringo” Martínez.

The first episode drops Thursday, January 26. Subscribe now.

ITT Sound Off: The Embrace Jan 20, 2023

Julio and guest co-host Renée Graham, opinion columnist and associate editor at The Boston Globe, discuss the latest with the House GOP, including the recent House committee assignments under new Speaker Kevin McCarthy. They also get into the arrest of Republican ex-candidate Solomon Peña in New Mexico and the response to the new sculpture of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King in Boston.

ITT Staff Picks:

Eric Cortellessa writes about why Congressional Republicans are comparing their select committee to investigate the Biden administration to the Church Committee of the mid-1970s in this piece for Time Magazine.
“The scale of the conspiracy makes this case unusual — this was not a lone wolf, but someone seeking elected office who engaged multiple people over several weeks in planning targeted attacks on Democrats,” writes Nicole Narea about the attacks on New Mexico Democrats in this piece for Vox.
“‘The Embrace’ is majestic, standing 22 feet high, but also more intimate than I imagined it would be,” writes Renée Graham about the new memorial to the Kings in a column for The Boston Globe.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Steven Senne

A Civil Rights History Lesson Jan 17, 2023

In this rebroadcast episode from 2021, Maria and Julio are joined by Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College, historian, author and co-editor of “Julian Bond’s Time To Teach: A History of the Southern Civil Rights Movement.” They talk about the legacy of activist, politician and educator Julian Bond and the lessons from his lectures - compiled in the new book - on the civil rights movement and what it teaches us about the fight for racial justice and radical change.

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“Critics of Black Lives Matter have held up King as a foil to the movement’s criticisms of law enforcement, but those are views that King himself shared,” writes Jeanne Theoharis in this 2021 essay for The Atlantic.
Patrick Darrington spoke to the authors of “Prophet of Discontent: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Critique of Racial Capitalism,” about why Dr. King should be firmly situated within the Black radical tradition, for Teen Vogue.
“We cannot all those who continue to harm our communities preach peace and patience while profiting off our collective misery. Honoring King and the beloved community demands more of each of us and our contributions to the greater good,” writes Anoa Changa for NewsOne.

Photo credit: The Associated Press

ITT Sound Off: Bad Optics Jan 13, 2023

Julio and guest co-host Renée Graham, opinion columnist and associate editor at The Boston Globe, get into the implications of classified documents found at President Biden’s home and former office. They also talk about the severe storms and flooding that have impacted California over the last few weeks and the growing pressure on the Biden administration to expel Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro, who has been staying in Florida.

ITT Staff Picks:

Russ Choma writes about Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to appoint a special counsel to investigate the reports that classified documents were found in President Joe Biden’s post-vice-presidency office and in Biden’s Delaware home, via Mother Jones.
“The recent onslaught of atmospheric rivers has underscored the perils of California’s climate paradox: Rising global temperatures are making the region drier, hotter and more fire-prone, but they also increase the likelihood of sudden, severe rainfall,” writes Sarah Kaplan for The Washington Post.
Jonathan Guyer interviews Rodrigo Nunes, a Brazilian philosophy scholar, about Bolsonarismo and its root causes in this piece for Vox.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File

How Democracy Survives Jan 11, 2023

Maria and Julio are joined by Jamil Smith, essayist for the Los Angeles Times, and Sabrina Rodríguez, national political reporter for The Washington Post, to discuss the storming of Brazil’s Congress by far-right Bolsonaro supporters, and the similarities to the January 6th Capitol attack in the United States. They also get into Biden’s brief visit to the southern border city of El Paso and the latest in Congress with Kevin McCarthy’s fight for House speakership.

ITT Staff Picks:

Yascha Mounk discusses Brazil’s “January 6 moment,” unpacking the similarities between the two events and what it means for Brazil’s democracy, in this article for The Atlantic.
Suzanne Gamboa provides a timeline depicting Congress’ failure to reform immigration for the past two decades, in this article for NBC News.
“If far-right lawmakers in the GOP follow through on their promises to hold up pivotal spending and debt ceiling legislation, Republicans may well have to rely on Democrats’ help to get any bills across the finish line — a dynamic Democrats could capitalize on,” writes Li Zhou in this article for Vox.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Eraldo Peres

This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw Dameron.

ITT Sound Off: Democracy Destructionists Jan 06, 2023

Maria and Julio unpack what’s happening in the House of Representatives and the numerous votes to elect a new House Speaker. They also connect this to the January 6th attempted coup at the U.S. Capitol, which happened two years ago today. Finally, they discuss President Biden’s latest announcement regarding new immigration restrictions and expanding Title 42.

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Molly Jong-Fast writes about the Republican “Trumpified party” and its performative inability to elect a House Speaker in this article for Vanity Fair.
“Any reflections leading up to the anniversary, already sharply divided, have been tainted by the ongoing chaos in the House, with many of the figures central in objecting to the certification of votes in 2021 — including some subpoenaed by the select committee — now emerging as key players in the Republican battle over whether Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) should serve as the next Speaker,” writes Rebecca Beitsch in this article for The Hill.
Hamed Aleaziz and Courtney Subramanian write about President Biden’s new immigration strategy, including the expansion of a Trump-era policy in their reporting for the Los Angeles Times.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

What Happens to a Lie Empowered? Jan 03, 2023

Maria and Julio reflect on the state of our democracy with Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr., James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University, and Ese Olumhense, reporter for Reveal. They discuss the takeaways from the 2022 midterm elections, including the increase in voter suppression tactics since 2020. They also look ahead to the 2024 presidential election and talk about what it will take to protect voting rights.

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Host Al Letson talks to Ese Olumhense and other journalists about what the 2022 midterms revealed about the state of American democracy, in this episode of Reveal.
Revisit this virtual discussion with Eddie Glaude Jr., from Harvard's Ash Center and the Institute of Politics, where he talks about reckoning with the state of our democracy by confronting our nation's history.
Andrew Marantz writes about our increasingly reactionary Supreme Court being a major source of anti-democracy in our country, in this article for The New Yorker.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File

A Look Back at 2022 Dec 30, 2022

Wrapping up another amazing year at In The Thick, Maria and Julio reflect on some of their favorite moments of 2022, including ITT’s first in-person live show since the pandemic, election coverage in collaboration with Latino USA, and the opportunity to speak to and elevate brilliant guests on the show. They also unpack some very tough moments that happened this year, from ongoing gun violence to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

ITT Staff Picks:

If you missed this brilliant episode from April, Maria and Julio talk to Jullian Harris-Calvin and David Luis “Suave” Gonzalez about the systemic issues within the criminal legal system.
We continued covering the coronavirus pandemic in 2022. In this episode from October, Maria and Julio are joined by Dr. Steven Thrasher to talk about how viruses reveal inequities in our society.
We always love having our fellow Futuro colleagues on ITT. In this episode from September, Maria and Julio talk to Peniley Ramírez about her decision to publish an unredacted report on the investigation of 43 missing students from Ayotzinapa in Mexico.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File

Revolutionary Love Dec 27, 2022

In this rebroadcast episode from 2020, Maria and Julio welcome Valarie Kaur, renowned Sikh activist, civil rights lawyer, and author of the book “See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love.” They reflect on Valarie’s activist roots and her experience writing her book. They also discuss America’s history of state-sanctioned violence against communities of color and explore how revolutionary love is a feminist intervention and a force for justice.

ITT Staff Picks:

Melissa Harris-Perry interviewed Valarie Kaur about how “misdirected” islamophobia has affected the Sikh community for two decades, in this episode of The Takeaway.
Valarie Kaur talks about how love is revolutionary and makes the case for reclaiming love as a public ethic in this Ted Talk.
“A poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted ahead of the 9/11 anniversary found that 53% of Americans have unfavorable views toward Islam, compared with 42% who have favorable ones. This stands in contrast to Americans’ opinions about Christianity and Judaism, for which most respondents expressed favorable views” write Mariam Fam, Deepti Hajela and Luis Andres Henao for the Associated Press.

Photo credit: Amber Castro

A 2022 Holiday Message Dec 23, 2022

As Futuro Media is off for winter break, Maria and Julio check in with all of you, our dear ITT listeners. We’re sending you lots of love and joy this holiday season. But don’t go away for too long– In The Thick will be back in the new year with brand new episodes and our always fire guests! We'll see you next year, familia. No te vayas!

Photo credit: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Rafael Reif on Leading — and Leaving — MIT Dec 20, 2022

In The Thick is excited to present an episode from our sister podcast, Latino USA. In this episode, Maria talks with Rafael Reif, who is stepping down as president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at the end of the month. Reif reflects on his tenure, how his upbringing in Venezuela brought him to the helm of one of the world’s top universities, and shares his message for Latino and Latina students pursuing higher education.

Subscribe to Latino USA wherever you get your podcasts!

Journalism Is Not a Crime Dec 16, 2022

In The Thick is excited to share this week’s episode of Latino Rebels Radio. Julio talks to Nelson Rauda, a Salvadoran journalist for El Faro, about a lawsuit he and other journalists at El Faro filed against NSO Group, an Israeli company whose surveillance software was used to track their communications. They talk about what this lawsuit says about the media landscape in El Salvador, and what it signals about freedom of the press around the world.

Subscribe to Latino Rebels Radio wherever you get your podcasts!

Photo credit: AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, File

Not Just a Georgia Thing Dec 14, 2022

Julio is joined by Anjali Enjeti, author and co-founder of the Georgia chapter of They See Blue, and Anoa Changa, journalist and editor at NewsOne, to unpack the results of the Georgia Senate runoff election, and what it signals about party dynamics in the state and across the country. They get into voting issues in Georgia, including barriers to voting, the impact of organizing and voter outreach, and what we can expect in the next Senate session.

ITT Staff Picks:

Anoa Changa writes about her experience trying to vote in the Georgia runoff election and how a new state law, SB 202, has impacted the voting process in this piece for NewsOne.
“Thus, not only do Southern voters face serious barriers to voting, but GOP gerrymandered congressional and state legislative districts have reduced the value of their votes,” writes Anjali Enjeti about the barriers that Southern voters, especially Black and brown voters, face at the polls in this op-ed for the Los Angeles Times.
Matthew Brown writes about the racist history of the Georgia runoff election system, and how it was created to “dilute Black voting power,” in this piece for The Washington Post.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File

ITT Sound Off: A Moment to Celebrate Dec 09, 2022

Maria and Julio discuss the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from a Russian penal colony in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. They also get into Senator Raphael Warnock’s win in the Georgia runoff election, and the news of the Trump Organization being found guilty on multiple charges of tax fraud and falsifying business records.

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Orion Rummler spoke to Black LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary leaders about the significance of Brittney Griner’s release, for The 19th.
Politico interviewed Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema about her decision to switch her party affiliation to independent, and what that means for the future of the Senate.
“It remains to be seen whether Trump could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue in New York and not lose any voters, as he once boasted, but he evidently can preside over entities that engage in brazen tax fraud—out of a Fifth Avenue office, no less—and for all practical purposes get away with it,” writes Daniel Hemel in this piece for Slate.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File

True Crime Telenovela Dec 07, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Peniley Ramírez, executive producer of Futuro Unidad Hinojosa and Futuro’s Special Projects and Investigative Units to discuss the new upcoming podcast “USA v. García Luna.” Maria and Peniley talk about their experience reporting and hosting the five-episode series that examines the rise and fall of Genaro García Luna, a former high-ranking Mexican official facing trial in New York City next month for allegedly working with drug cartels to bring drugs into the United States.

USA v. García Luna launches December 9th, wherever you get your podcasts.

ITT Staff Picks:

“Given García Luna’s extensive U.S. government connections, his trial has the potential to peel back the secrecy surrounding drug war cooperation at the highest levels of the U.S. and Mexican governments and upend commonly held misperceptions of the Mexican drug war as a simple two-sided struggle between drug traffickers and law enforcement alone,” writes Ryan Devereaux in this 2021 piece for The Intercept.
Former DEA agent José Irizarry, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for conspiring with Colombian cartels, talked to the Associated Press about the other alleged colleagues who were involved in corruption.
The government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador has requested answers from the White House over the whereabouts of Édgar Valdez Villarreal, a notorious drug lord whose arrest in August 2010 was orchestrated by García Luna, El País reports.

Photo credit: AP Foto/Elizabeth Williams, archivo

ITT Sound Off: Democracy Is Labor Dec 02, 2022

Maria and Julio unpack the latest with Congress, including the Senate vote against paid sick leave for railway workers. They also discuss the Respect for Marriage Act, which would require that all same-sex and interracial marriages be protected at the federal level. Finally, they get into immigration policy and New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ new plan to allow involuntary hospitalization of people with presumed mental health issues.

ITT Staff Picks:

Zach Schonfeld discusses the 12 Senate Republicans who voted in favor of the same-sex marriage bill in this article for The Hill.
Maria Hinojosa, Roxanne Scott and Julieta Martinelli unpack the “deadly funnel” that the U.S. government has created at the Border Patrol in this year-long investigation from Futuro Investigates on Latino USA.
“A day after Mayor Eric Adams announced an aggressive plan to involuntarily hospitalize people deemed too ill to care for themselves, experts in mental illness, homelessness and policing expressed skepticism that the plan could effectively solve a crisis that has confounded city leaders for decades,” write Emma G. Fitzsimmons and Andy Newman in this article for The New York Times.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File

Laundering White Nationalism Nov 30, 2022

Maria is joined by Renée Graham, opinion columnist and associate editor at The Boston Globe, and Wajahat Ali, Daily Beast columnist and co-host of the podcast Democracy-ISH, to unpack the mass shooting at an LGBTQ club in Colorado as well as the growing white supremacy within the Republican Party. They also discuss the latest with the midterm elections, including the upcoming Georgia runoff, and what to expect in 2024.

ITT Staff Picks:

Wajahat Ali talks about stochastic terrorism, a term that he says explains how the GOP inevitably caused the Colorado Springs massacre, in this article for The Daily Beast.
Renée Graham talks about how the Colorado Springs massacre ruined the safe haven that LGBTQ clubs provide, in this article for The Boston Globe.
“In his first matchup against Republican Herschel Walker—in which neither candidate cracked 50 percent, leading to the Dec. 6 runoff—Warnock attracted significant support from young people, the voting bloc most likely to be concerned about climate change,” writes Scott Waldman in this article for Scientific American.

Photo credit: Nicole Hester/Ann Arbor News via AP, File

Feeling Like the Other Nov 25, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Daniela Pierre-Bravo, reporter for MSNBC’s Morning Joe, to discuss her new book, “The Other: How to Own Your Power at Work as a Woman of Color.” They talk about overcoming imposter syndrome and biases within our own communities. They also unpack the inequities and systemic issues in workplaces that contribute to feelings of otherness for Black and brown women.

ITT Staff Picks:

“Consider our desire to be acknowledged for what we already are—Americans, plain and simple. We want to contribute, continue developing our professional aspirations, and give back to the country we grew up in and love,” writes Daniela Pierre-Bravo in this piece for Cosmopolitan.
“Regardless of occupation, Latinas generally make less money than their peers, earning 54 cents for every dollar earned by non-Hispanic men,” writes Gwen Aviles in this piece for NBC News.
Chabeli Carrazana reports on the COVID-19 workforce, which was mostly composed of women of color, for The 19th.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Daniela Pierre-Bravo

The Hyperlocal Midterms Nov 22, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Anthony Orozco, a journalist who just wrapped up his time as the Latino communities reporter for WITF, and Rachel Leingang, writer of Arizona Agenda on Substack, for a hyperlocal conversation about the 2022 midterms in Pennsylvania and Arizona. They unpack key races in both states and discuss how progressivism will impact state politics going forward.

ITT Staff Picks:

In the latest Arizona Agenda piece, Rachel Leingang and Hank Stephenson break down what lessons Democrats and Republicans can learn from the midterms.
Julia Terruso and Kasturi Pananjady break down John Fetterman’s win and how the Pennsylvania Democrat made gains across Pittsburgh’s suburbs, for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“The heroes of the 2022 midterm elections were Democratic voters and activists, not the party’s leadership,” writes Perry Bacon Jr., in this piece for the Washington Post.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum

ITT Sound Off: Love People More Than Guns Nov 18, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, managing editor at BuzzFeed News, talk about the latest election results and former President Trump’s announcement that he’s running again in 2024. They also unpack the ongoing issue of gun violence after the shooting at UVA, where three students were killed. Finally, they get into the human rights issues surrounding the FIFA World Cup in Doha, Qatar.

ITT Staff Picks:

“Pelosi got a lot right in her time as leader of the Democratic caucus — but her hesitancy to impeach Donald Trump was a major mistake,” writes MSNBC opinion columnist Hayes Brown.
“It’s not fair that a fear that this tragedy would be used by conservatives to negate leftist laments against violent racism was among my first thoughts when I read about this story,” writes Nadira Goffe about how the politicization of gun violence limits grief, in this piece for Slate.
Dr. Nasser Mohamed, the first Qatari to publicly come out as gay, talks to Time Magazine about the reality of life for LGBTQ+ people in Qatar ahead of the World Cup games.

Photo credit:

Voting for Democracy: The Midterms Nov 15, 2022

For this year’s midterms, In The Thick and Latino USA are teaming up for a special post-election roundtable discussion. Maria and Julio are joined by Christian Paz, senior politics reporter for Vox, and Maya King, politics reporter for the New York Times, to discuss Democratic victories in the Senate, the re-election of Republican governors across the South, the role of young voters, and the impact of abortion on people’s decisions. And, they consider what this all means for 2024.

Through it all, we hear from you, our In The Thick and Latino USA listeners, who called us in record numbers and told us your concerns as you headed to the polls.

ITT Staff Picks:

Maya King and Lisa Lerer report on the upcoming Georgia senate runoff election between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker in this article for the New York Times.
Christian Paz writes about the impact of the re-election of Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, the first Latina Senator, on the Democratic Senate majority in this piece for Vox.
“Research findings from an ad tracker by the advocacy organization America’s Voice identified that within 3,200 paid communications from the Republican party and its allies, more than 600 spread the myth of an open border and over 600 connected migrants with drug trade,” according to reporting by Documented NY.

Photo credit: Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel, via AP

ITT Sound Off: Midterms Roller Coaster Nov 11, 2022

Maria and Julio recap the 2022 midterm election results so far. They look into key wins for both Democrats and Republicans, including in Ohio, Florida, and Michigan. They also discuss young voter turnout, how abortion played a role at the ballot box, and what mainstream media and polling sites got wrong in their analysis.

ITT Staff Picks:

“From John Fetterman’s victory over Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania and incumbent senator Maggie Hassan’s success in New Hampshire to incumbent governors Gretchen Whitmer and Tony Evers’s wins in Michigan and Wisconsin, Gen Z and younger millennial support of Democratic candidates appeared to be crucial in fending off Republican victories in key states,” writes Rachel Janfaza for Teen Vogue.
“Political journalists were suckered by a wave of Republican junk polls in the closing weeks of the campaign,” writes Dana Milbank in this opinion column for The Washington Post about how the media blew press coverage of the midterms.
Shefali Luthra and Grace Panetta report about how the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade earlier this year impacted the results of the midterms as voters came out to protect abortion rights in this piece for The 19th.

Photo credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo

Election Day 2022 Nov 08, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly and Kaila Philo, investigative reporter for Talking Points Memo, to dive into the 2022 midterm elections. They discuss election administration and the issues around voter intimidation and voter registration. They also look at the impact that 2020 election denial has had on the integrity of this year’s midterms, and share what voters can do to stay informed.

ITT Staff Picks:

Barbara Rodriguez writes about the predominantly women-led election administration workforce and what people who run elections are experiencing, in this piece for The 19th.
“In the last two years, at least 130 bills have been introduced across 42 states that would increase the involvement of law enforcement in the voting process,” according to an analysis by Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, writes Ese Olumhense.
Emily Cochrane and Mark Walker write about the Indigenous voters who are mobilizing and can help decide the outcome of the midterm elections, for The New York Times.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Scott Sonner, File

ITT Sound Off: Political Violence Nov 04, 2022

Maria and Julio talk about the targeted attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, and how responses from some Republicans are normalizing this kind of political violence. They also get into the latest with voter intimidation and suppression efforts across the country leading up to the midterms, and what Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter means for the future of our democracy.

ITT Staff Picks:

“The political violence in our nation’s history is organized and purposeful. It is normalized by rhetoric that justifies it, and often encourages it,” writes Jeremi Suri on the attack on Paul Pelosi, in this piece for Time Magazine.
Philip Bump compares the different voting processes in Brazil and the United States, in this analysis of Brazil's electronic vote-counting system following their presidential runoff election, for The Washington Post.
“Most of what we know about Musk is what he freely gives on Twitter every day. That means Elon Musk spent $44 billion dollars on the very thing that is revealing how flawed he is,” writes Ali Breland in this piece for Mother Jones.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Power Grab Nov 01, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Astead Herndon, national political reporter for The New York Times and host of their politics podcast The Run-Up, to discuss the stakes of the upcoming midterm elections, the fate of our democracy and the power of community organizing. They also talk about the rise of anti-immigration rhetoric and Christian nationalism within the Republican party.

ITT Staff Picks:

In this episode of The Run Up, Astead Herndon talks with Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams about her organizing philosophy, and they discuss how this strategy can be a tool in this year’s midterm election.
Nicole Chavez reports on the growing political influence of Latino Evangelicals in this article for CNN.
“At this moment, America is being forced to look in the mirror at itself to see clearly who we are, and to determine who we really want to be,” writes LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, about what is at stake in the midterms in this piece for Own Your Vote, a campaign from the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Photo credit: AP Photo/John Locher, File

ITT Sound Off: Legacy Media Problems Oct 28, 2022

Maria and Julio get into the latest with the midterms, including the Pennsylvania Senate debate between Republican candidate Mehmet Oz and Democratic candidate John Fetterman. They also talk about the mainstream media’s coverage of the election, the consequences of Kanye West’s antisemitic and anti-Black comments and voter intimidation efforts in Arizona.

ITT Staff Picks:

“It’s a reflection of a larger issue: our country’s persisting discomfort around disabled bodies and minds. In some ways, it’s not surprising, given the fact that we continue to see so few visible examples of people with disabilities integrated into everyday life,” writes Mihir Kakara about the discourse around Democrat John Fetterman in this opinion piece for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“After years of trafficking in bigotry, Kanye West has finally been kan-celed. But at second glance, the consequences for West might be less a victory for social justice than a sign of its current limits,” writes Karen Attiah in her analysis for The Washington Post.
Katie Friel and Jasleen Singh of the Brennan Center for Justice share this guide on federal and state laws addressing voter intimidation as we head into the midterm elections.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Ryan Collerd, File

The Latino Swing Voter Oct 25, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Jennifer Medina, a national politics reporter for The New York Times. They break down recent polling on Latino and Latina voters, including Futuro Media’s first-ever political poll. They also discuss the issues that actually matter to Latino and Latina voters, and what both parties are missing in their outreach. And, they get into Jennifer’s reporting on the rise of right-wing, conservative Latina candidates running on GOP platforms.

ITT Staff Picks:

Jennifer Medina writes about the challenges Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto — who is the first ever Latina senator — is facing in her bid for re-election, as Democrats learn that “demographics alone are not destiny,” in this piece for The New York Times.
Suzanne Gamboa reports from historically Democratic South Texas on the highly contested congressional races where Latina Republicans are leading, for NBC News.
“America’s political parties, and their candidates’ campaigns, often shoot themselves in the foot by thinking that Latino and Hispanic voters have very different priorities when compared to the average American voter,” writes Christian Paz in this analysis for Vox.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Morry Gash

ITT Sound Off: Fire in the Belly Oct 21, 2022

Maria and Julio talk through the latest with the upcoming midterm elections, including the heated Senate debates in Georgia and Florida, and the record-breaking early voter turnout in Georgia this week. They also discuss the newly released body-cam footage of voter fraud arrests in Florida, and unpack recent polling about the decline in democracy.

ITT Staff Picks:

With three weeks left before the midterm elections, Lisa Lerer breaks down the “state of the races for the House and Senate,” in this article for The New York Times.
Mark Follman writes about research showing a troubling number of Americans believe violence is justified in order to “stop voter fraud” and advance other political objectives, in this article for Mother Jones.
Jeet Heer writes that strong messaging on issues like reproductive freedom has “kept the Democrats competitive—but they have not been sufficient to close the deal. To win over the crucial body of wavering voters, an economic message is necessary,” for The Nation.

Photo credit: Thomas Cordy/The Palm Beach Post via AP, Pool

Silence Is Complicity Oct 18, 2022

Maria is joined by Erika D. Smith, columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and Alberto Retana, president and CEO of Community Coalition in South Los Angeles, to discuss the political scandal within the Los Angeles City Council. They get into the impact of redistricting on the city, and how this will all play out in the upcoming mayoral election between Rep. Karen Bass and Rick Caruso. They also address anti-blackness within Latino communities and the hope for true multiracial solidarity.

ITT Staff Picks:

Erika D. Smith writes about how the newest member of Los Angeles’ City Council, Heather Hutt, a Black woman, is already experiencing problems due to the racist words of her colleagues in this piece for the Los Angeles Times.
Jon Peltz writes about the future of Los Angeles City Council and what has happened since Knock LA published the leaked audio recordings from a 2021 meeting between three council members and the LA Labor Federation president.
“Our culture’s power is more significant than any words of hate coming our way,” writes Bricia Lopez about the privilege of being from Oaxaca in this piece for L.A. Taco.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File

ITT Sound Off: A Disgraced City Council Oct 14, 2022

Maria and Julio discuss the racist comments made by some Latino Los Angeles City Council members in a leaked audio recording. They also get into the move to subpoena former President Trump during this week’s January 6th hearing, and discuss charges against former San Antonio police officer James Brennand for the shooting of 17-year-old Erik Cantu.

ITT Staff Picks:

“As the Latino population increases and diversifies, the persistence of racism threatens to dissolve hard-won Latino political and civil rights gains and fracture delicately balanced coalitions with other racial groups,” write Suzanne Gamboa and Edwin Flores in this analysis for NBC News.
Dan Friedman reports about the latest House Committee hearing investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, which showed new evidence that former President Trump admitted he had lost, but publicly declared victory in part to rile up his supporters, for Mother Jones.
Andrea Blanco and Gino Spocchia report for The Independent about 17-year-old Erik Cantu, who remains in critical condition after being shot by former San Antonio police officer, James Brennand.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu

The Viral Underclass Oct 11, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Dr. Steven Thrasher, journalist and author of the new book, “The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide.” They discuss how viruses, from HIV/AIDS to the coronavirus, reveal inequities in our society. They also talk about the ways that COVID-19 continues impacting the most vulnerable populations, even as our leaders shift to a “post-pandemic” reality.

ITT Staff Picks:

“Future pandemics aren’t hypothetical; they’re inevitable and imminent. New infectious diseases have regularly emerged throughout recent decades, and climate change is quickening the pace of such events,” writes Ed Yong in this piece for The Atlantic.
Apoorva Mandavilli writes that viruses like COVID and Monkeypox “have revealed deep fissures in the nation’s framework for containing epidemics,” for The New York Times.
Joshua Gutterman Tranen writes about the harm reduction strategies pioneered by queer men of color to combat HIV/AIDS, and how that approach can be used to prevent and treat Monkeypox, for Boston Review.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Dr. Steven Thrasher

ITT Sound Off: Unresolved American Project Oct 07, 2022

Maria and guest co-host Imara Jones, journalist and award-winning creator of TransLash Media, discuss President Biden’s warning of nuclear “Armageddon” from Russia and his move to pardon federal marijuana possession convictions. They also get into the recent court ruling on DACA, the alleged abortion hypocrisy surrounding Republican candidate Herschel Walker, and the women-led protests in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa “Zhina” Amini.

ITT Staff Picks:

Noah Berlatsky writes about the significance of President Joe Biden’s announcement to roll back federal marijuana laws and how his decision “will concretely benefit large numbers of people, and will make the US a less repressive, less cruel place” in this piece for Public Notice.
“Walker’s disturbing history in no way reflects on other Black men. But I can’t help sensing some condescension in Republicans’ elevation of such a buffoonish candidate. Does Walker embody what they think Black men really are?” writes Jemele Hill in this piece for The Atlantic.
Hoda Katebi writes about how the recent protests in Iran “echo the decades of resistance led by women, both veiled and unveiled, against the hijab’s co-optation as a tool of repression since its imposition in the 1980s,” in this op-ed for the Los Angeles Times.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

The Stakes Are High Oct 04, 2022

Julio is joined by Sabrina Rodríguez, national political reporter for the Washington Post, and Fernanda Santos, editorial director of Futuro Media and contributing columnist for the Washington Post, to discuss the changing political climates around the world, including Brazil’s presidential election. They also discuss voter turnout in the U.S. within communities of color and how to build cross-racial solidarity ahead of the midterms.

ITT Staff Picks:

“The candidates and their vision for Brazil’s future could not be more different, but the trends underpinning this election are an echo of global experiences,” reports Roberta S. Braga for the ISPI.
Gov. Ron DeSantis used a 12 million dollar budget meant for “transporting unauthorized migrants out of Florida” to send asylum seekers in Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, from the New York Times.
Mark Murray writes about how the Democratic advantage among Latino voters is declining, in this piece for NBC News.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Edmar Barros

ITT Sound Off: Living With Hurricanes Sep 30, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Renée Graham, opinion columnist at The Boston Globe, discuss the impact of Hurricane Ian in Florida, and recent polling of Latino voters and how it will impact the midterms. They also get into the controversy surrounding retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre, who used state welfare funds to finance his own projects in Mississippi.

ITT Staff Picks:

There are many reasons people decide to stay put during a hurricane. The Washington Post spoke to some Florida residents about why they didn’t evacuate when Ian hit.
Read the full report from the Pew Research Center on the Latino electorate.
Anna Wolfe reports on former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant’s involvement in helping send state welfare funds to finance Brett Favre’s volleyball stadium, for Mississippi Today.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Ayotzinapa Cover-Up Sep 27, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Peniley Ramírez, award-winning journalist and executive producer of Investigates and Special Projects for Futuro Unidad Hinojosa, to discuss the aftermath of her decision to publish an unredacted report on the investigation of 43 missing students from Ayotzinapa Rural Teacher’s College in Mexico. They get into the new revelations found in the report, and the pushback Peniley has received online and from the Mexican government for releasing it.

ITT Staff Picks:

Peniley Ramírez writes about the unredacted report on the Ayotzinapa case, and what it tells us about the Mexican army’s role in covering up the events, in this piece for Latino Rebels.
Arturo Conde writes about the parents and family members still seeking answers and justice eight years after 43 students disappeared in Mexico, via NBC News.
Anayansi Diaz-Cortes and Kate Doyle get into what has happened with the Ayotzinapa case since their in-depth investigation, from Reveal.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Marco Ugarte

ITT Sound Off: Height of Hypocrisy Sep 23, 2022

Maria and Julio talk about the latest in the multiple civil and criminal investigations against former President Donald Trump, including a lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James. They also get into the political stunts by Republican governors, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis who promised asylum seekers jobs and housing, but sent them to Martha’s Vineyard with neither.

ITT Staff Picks:

Barb McQuade, a law professor, wrote about why the civil lawsuit from New York AG Letitia James could be “the legal action that finally holds the former president accountable,” in this piece for Time magazine.
“For months, Border Patrol and ICE have been releasing immigrants with documents incorrectly listing their future residences as addresses to nonprofits or churches. These immigrants and asylum-seekers, most of them from Venezuela, then show up to random buildings confused and unsure of what to do next,” reports Adolfo Flores in this piece for Buzzfeed News.
To fly migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, Gov. Ron DeSantis contracted Vertol Systems, an aviation firm that has donated exclusively to Republican causes in the past, reports Ken Klippenstein in this piece for The Intercept.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Puerto Rico Five Years Later Sep 20, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Carlos Edill Berríos Polanco, freelance journalist and a contributing writer for Latino Rebels, to discuss Hurricane Fiona’s impact on Puerto Rico and how the island is still recovering from Hurricane Maria five years later. They also talk about the issue of statehood for Puerto Rico, and how artist Bad Bunny is using his platform to raise awareness about corruption on the island.

ITT Staff Picks:

“Puerto Ricans have been forced to be incredibly resilient against a multipronged battering of natural and man-made disasters, but there’s only so much they can take without the necessary resources,” writes Carlos Edill Berríos Polanco, for Latino Rebels.
For The Cut, Bindu Bansinath shares four resources for people who want to help Puerto Rico.
Julio writes about the colonial reality of Puerto Rico and how Bad Bunny is uplifting the island in his latest music video, for MSNBC Opinion.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo

The Wheels of Justice Sep 16, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Jonathan Capehart, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and associate editor for The Washington Post. They get into the Justice Department’s investigation into former President Trump and what hopes there are for accountability. They also talk about the increase in threats of violence from the far-right and the role of journalists in framing the coverage of Trump’s actions. And, they discuss President Biden’s calls to defend democracy ahead of the midterms.

ITT Staff Picks:

“In fact, LGBTQ Americans are under political and cultural attack all over the country,” writes Jonathan Capehart in this op-ed for The Washington Post.
Jon Allsop writes about the media coverage of President Biden’s prime-time address on the state of U.S. democracy, for the Columbia Journalism Review.
Mark Follman writes about how violent threats have surged since former President Donald Trump claimed the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago was a partisan conspiracy, in this piece for Mother Jones.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File

A Political Flashpoint Sep 14, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Caitlin Dickerson, staff writer for The Atlantic, and Hamed Aleaziz, immigration policy reporter for the LA Times. They unpack immigration policy in the United States, including recent news of the Department of Homeland Security’s roll back of a Trump-era public charge rule. They also discuss how media coverage can impact immigrant communities.

ITT Staff Picks:

In this investigative piece for The Atlantic, Caitlin Dickerson dives into the history and impact of the former Trump administration’s family separation policy.
“Dramas playing out at the border are often the most attention-grabbing signs of immigration enforcement. How immigrants are treated in the interior of the country is less visible but equally telling,” writes Hamed Aleaziz for the Los Angeles Times.
Surveillance tactics by the Department of Homeland Security are increasingly being used against U.S. citizens, reports Gaby Del Valle for The Nation.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Eugene Garcia, File

ITT Sound Off: No Absolute Power Sep 09, 2022

Maria and Julio react to the news of Queen Elizabeth II passing away, and they reflect on the British empire’s legacy of colonialism and imperialism. They also get into the Justice Department’s investigation of former president Donald Trump and his mishandling of classified documents, and they unpack the decades of neglect and disinvestment that contributed to an ongoing water crisis in the predominantly Black city of Jackson, Mississippi.

ITT Staff Picks:

Candace McDuffie writes about Black Twitter’s response to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in this article for The Root.
“This opinion is an affront to anyone who believes that all Americans, whether a pauper or a former president, are subject to the same laws,” writes Ian Millhiser in explaining how Trump-appointed judge Aileen Cannon’s order could delay a Justice Department investigation in this piece for Vox.
“The entire city of more than 150,000 was without safe drinking water, with no end in sight. Many residents here say they adapted long ago to catastrophic government failure,” Emmanuel Felton writes about the failing water system and ongoing water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi for The Washington Post.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool, File

Birth Care for Every Body Sep 06, 2022

In this rebroadcast episode from 2021, Maria welcomes Marinah Valenzuela Farrell, a Chicanx midwife and director of the Changing Woman Initiative, and Dr. Rachel Hardeman, a reproductive health equity researcher and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, for a conversation about inequities in birthing healthcare. They discuss how to ground our ideas of parenthood in inclusive frameworks and the path towards reproductive justice.

ITT Staff Picks:

Elizabeth Weller’s pregnancy turned into a medical nightmare under Texas’ anti-abortion law which went into effect in September 2021. Carrie Feibel talks with Elizabeth about how the law impacted her medical care in this piece for NPR.
“Each year, thousands of people experience unexpected pregnancy complications — cardiovascular issues, hypertension, diabetes — and about 700 die, making pregnancy and childbirth among the leading causes of death for all teenage girls and women 15 to 44 years old,” writes Akilah Johnson in this piece for the Washington Post.
“If no abortions were to occur nation-wide maternal mortality rates would increase by 24 percent overall and a staggering 39 percent for Black women,” writes Jessica Washington in this piece for The Root.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Darren Hauck

This episode originally aired in May 2021.

The Achilles Heel of Democracy Sep 02, 2022

In this rebroadcast episode from January, Maria and Julio ring in the new year with Jelani Cobb, staff writer at the New Yorker and dean of the Columbia Journalism School. We listen back to their reflections on the legacy of the Black Lives Matter movement, the attacks on voting rights in the lead-up to the midterm elections, and the state of U.S. democracy.

ITT Staff Picks:

“Black communities are constantly reminded that while people spoke about their “allyship” for Black Lives Matter, they were not prepared to become accomplices in this fight,” writes Mari Faines in this piece for Inkstick.
The Supreme Court recently sided with Black voters who challenged Georgia’s election rules, reports Samira Asma-Sadeque for The Guardian.
The American system is dysfunctional and dying, which will most likely lead to a deep democratic breakdown, writes Brian Klaas for The Atlantic.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File

This episode originally aired in January 2022.

LIVE From Las Vegas: Covering Latino Communities Aug 30, 2022

It’s ITT’s first live show of 2022! Maria and Julio travel to the NABJ-NAHJ Convention at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada to talk about the complexity of Latino communities and the role of journalists who are reporting on them. They’re joined by Lori Montenegro, Washington D.C. bureau chief for Noticias Telemundo, and Ed O’Keefe, Senior White House & Political Correspondent for CBS News to discuss what is being missed in media coverage of the Latino vote and Latino communities broadly. We also hear from other journalists at the convention about what issues are most important to the communities they cover across the country.

ITT Staff Picks:

“A main driver of democracy’s decline in the United States is Latinophobia,” writes Jean Guerrero in this opinion piece for the LA Times.
For Nieman Lab, Hanaa’ Tameez spoke with 12 journalists in diversity-focused roles about their experiences and the reckoning the news industry still has left to face.
After the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, Latinos and Latinas approached abortion access with a new sense of urgency, reports Nicole Acevedo for NBC News.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Jesus J. Montero

Thank you to the Walton Family Foundation who made this live show possible.

ITT Sound Off: Accomplices Not Allies Aug 26, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Renée Graham, opinion columnist at The Boston Globe, discuss the release of the affidavit for the search warrant at former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. They also unpack this week’s primaries and President Biden’s announcement of a student loan debt relief plan. And, they get into Louisville Metro Police detective Kelly Goodlett pleading guilty to a federal conspiracy charge in connection to the police killing of Breonna Taylor.

ITT Staff Picks:

Lexi McMenamin interviews Maxwell Alejandro Frost, the Democratic nominee for congressional representative of Florida’s 10th district, in this piece for Teen Vogue.
Nadra Nittle writes about how women, especially women of color, have high student debt burdens in this piece for 19th news.
“For me, Goodlett’s guilty plea is bittersweet. This case will follow me the rest of my life. I have to live as a witness to Bre’s horrific and tragic death,” writes Kenneth Walker, boyfriend of Breonna Taylor, in this opinion piece for The Washington Post.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File

What About Electoral Power? Aug 23, 2022

In this special collaboration with Latino USA, Maria and Julio are joined by Sonja Diaz, founding director of the Latino Policy & Politics Institute at UCLA, and Jazmine Ulloa, national politics reporter for the New York Times, to talk about the complexity of Latino voters ahead of the midterm elections. They get into what they are hearing from voters on the ground, and the key races we should be keeping an eye on.

ITT Staff Picks:

Suzanne Gamboa writes about the “erosion of Latino voter support” for Republicans following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, for NBC Latino.
In this piece for The Atlantic, Ronald Brownstein examines whether we’re seeing a lasting realignment of Latinos toward the Republican Party.
“But what is most striking is that Ms. Flores won by shunning moderates, embracing the far right and wearing her support for Donald J. Trump on her sleeve — more Marjorie Taylor Greene than Kay Bailey Hutchison,” writes Jennifer Medina in this piece for The New York Times.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Eric Gray, File

ITT Sound Off: Not in Your Corner Aug 19, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Renée Graham, opinion columnist at The Boston Globe, get into the latest CDC guidance and the investigations into former President Donald Trump, including the FBI’s search at Mar-a-Lago and the investigation into 2020 election interference in Georgia. They also recap this week’s primaries, from Representative Liz Cheney’s loss in Wyoming to former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s run for Congress.

This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán.

ITT Staff Picks:

“By some estimates, roughly three-quarters of the country harbors at least some immunity to recent variants. But those tools and others remain disproportionately available to the socioeconomically privileged,” writes Katherine J. Wu about the coronavirus pandemic’s “soft closing” in this piece for The Atlantic.
“Nobody from Trump to Tucker would be able to threaten American democracy without the willingness of white conservative voters to trash everything to keep themselves in power,” writes Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation in this piece.
Aaron Rupar and Noah Berlatsky write about how Trump is an ongoing danger and will continue to commit crimes if he is not held accountable, in this piece for Public Notice.

Photo credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File

FBI Chronicles With Trump Aug 16, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Terrell Jermaine Starr, journalist and host of the Black Diplomats podcast, are joined by Imani Gandy, senior editor for the Rewire News Group and co-host of the podcast Boom! Lawyered, and Nathalie Baptiste, senior reporter at HuffPost, and they get real. They discuss the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, and the spike in threats of violence toward law enforcement officials. They also get into the latest with abortion access.

ITT Staff Picks:

“It’s time for MAGA adherents, who seem unmoved by the threat they pose to democracy, to consider the threat they pose to themselves,” writes Frank Figliuzzi for MSNBC Opinion.
For the Rewire News Group, Imani Gandy writes about the devastating consequences of our post-Roe reality, including doctors waiting until pregnant people are on the brink of death before helping them.
Trans folks have largely been left out of the conversation after the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, but they’ll be among the most directly affected, reports Hallie Lieberman for Buzzfeed News.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

ITT Sound Off: A White Man’s Diary Aug 12, 2022

Maria and guest co-host Terrell Jermaine Starr, journalist and host of the Black Diplomats podcast, discuss the investigation into former President Donald Trump, including the FBI’s search at his Mar-a-Lago home and some of the mainstream media coverage on the raid. They also get into the Biden administration’s announcement that they are ending the Trump-era Migrant Protection Protocols, or Remain in Mexico, policy.

This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán.

ITT Staff Picks:

“Garland’s address was succinct, to the point, and did what needed to be done before he left the stage,” writes Hayes Brown in this opinion piece for MSNBC.
“The Post’s decision to privilege Republican lies and false accusations of the supposed politicization of the DOJ also undermines other reporting from the same newspaper,” writes Eric Kleefeld for Media Matters.
For BuzFeed News, Adolfo Flores reports on the Biden Administration’s plan to wind down the “Remain in Mexico” policy and the devastating impact it has had on migrants and refugees.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jon Elswick

Cross-Racial Solidarity Aug 09, 2022

Maria and Julio talk with Heather McGhee, activist, author and host of the new podcast “The Sum of Us,” produced by Higher Ground and Futuro Studios. They get into Heather’s journey covering multiracial solidarity movements across the United States. They also talk about the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, and the results of Kansas’ ballot initiative on abortion rights.

ITT Staff Picks:

Ellen Ioanes breaks down how the Inflation Reduction Act will help Americans, for Vox.
Rolling Stone spoke with organizer Ashley All on how the pro-abortion movement won in Kansas, and how to carry that momentum to other states.
Decades of research show that Black and brown communities are on the front lines of environmental harms, writes Alejandra Borunda for National Geographic.

Photo courtesy of Futuro Studios

Feeding the Climate Monster Aug 05, 2022

In this rebroadcast episode from 2021, Maria and Julio are joined by Kendra Pierre-Louis, climate reporter with Gimlet, and Dallas Goldtooth, organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network. They discuss how communities of color are the most impacted by climate disasters globally, and also how they are at the forefront of pushing for climate justice.

ITT Staff Picks:

To combat this summer’s heat wave and protect civilians, Congress could pass policy to stop utility shutoffs even if a customer has missed a payment, reports Rebecca Leber for Vox.
For Truthout, Leanna First-Arai reports about the bridge between racial justice, climate justice and the labor movement.
“Record-breaking temperatures can quickly become a health risk for the largely Black and Brown incarcerated population, particularly in the South,” reports Trone Dowd for VICE.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File

This episode originally aired in September 2021.

White Supremacy Unchecked Aug 02, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Harsha Nahata, producer for In The Thick, are joined by Anoa Changa, a southern-based movement journalist for NewsOne, and Karen Attiah, columnist for The Washington Post. They hear from Maria on her reporting out of North Dakota and discuss multiracial organizing ahead of the midterms. They also get into the harmful narratives around immigration, and how the climate crisis is having a deadly impact in Kentucky.

ITT Staff Picks:

For Scalawag Magazine, Anoa Changa interviewed the young organizers behind Mississippi Votes about their work in mobilizing the community.
“The hardest hit areas of eastern Kentucky received between 8 and 10 1/2 inches of rain over 48 hours, and the degradation of the land wrought by coal mining might have altered the landscape enough to help push rivers and creeks to crest at record levels,” via Associated Press in Politico.
“We live in a culture that sees rest as weakness and working as strength. And our country’s public health will continue to suffer for it,” writes Karen Attiah for The Washington Post.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File

ITT Sound Off: The Fatigue Is Real Jul 29, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, managing editor at BuzzFeed News, unpack the Monkeypox virus and its impact on the LGBTQ+ community. They also get into the latest on the Justice Department’s investigation into January 6, and the upcoming Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever.

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There is widespread fear and anxiety about the Monkeypox virus among gay and bisexual men, a community which has been hit the hardest, reports Liam Stack for The New York Times.
In this piece for Politico, Betsy Woodruff Swan, Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein write about the growing list of criminal and civil investigations aimed at former President Trump for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election, and in the violence at the Capitol on January 6th.
César Delgado writes about the Mesoamerican and Indigenous influences in Wakanda Forever, the sequel to Black Panther, in this piece for Latino Rebels.

Photo credit: Oliver Contreras/Pool via AP

The Party/Voter Disconnect Jul 26, 2022

Julio is joined by Wajahat Ali, Daily Beast columnist, author and co-host of the podcast Democracy-ISH, and Christian Paz, senior politics reporter at Vox. They get into the midterms and what both parties are doing to rally voters. They also talk about January 6 and the ongoing investigations into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. And, they talk about the record-breaking heat waves around the world, and the devastating impacts of the climate crisis.

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“Finally, the modern right-wing movement can never apologize, own up to its mistakes, or back down. Humility, grace, and decency are perceived by the base as signs of weakness. Instead, they ratchet up the lie, amp up the terror, and add more villains,” writes Wajahat Ali in this piece for The Daily Beast.
“Chen isn’t like other Republicans running in races around the country this year. His experience has been firmly in the party’s moderate establishment, television punditry, and, more recently, academia,” writes Christian Paz in this piece for Vox.
Joan Greve writes about how even though some Republicans are more open to engaging on climate policy, their proposals are not meeting the urgency of the moment, in this piece for Mother Jones.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

ITT Sound Off: Attempted Coup Jul 22, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, managing editor at BuzzFeed News, talk about the final January 6 hearing of the summer, the bills passed in the House to protect same-sex marriage and the right to contraception, and the recent racist attacks against South Texas Representative Mayra Flores.

This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán.

ITT Staff Picks:

Trump’s “idleness, the committee sought to prove, should not be confused with ineffectiveness. It was complicity,” writes Jim Newell in his breakdown of the final January 6 hearing of the summer, for Slate.
Orion Rummler reports for The 19th on how the Respect for Marriage Act would protect same-sex marriage if the landmark Supreme Court case of Obergefell v. Hodges is overturned.
“It’s time for Democrats and so-called liberals to stop being smug when it comes to Latino voters and instead start earning the respect,” writes Julio in this opinion piece for MSNBC about the racist attacks against Rep. Mayra Flores.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File

The Outrage Continues Jul 19, 2022

Julio is joined by Errin Haines, editor at large for The 19th, and Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation. They discuss the Supreme Court and the impact of their decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. They also get into a new Texas House Committee report, which found systemic failures in law enforcement’s response to the mass shooting in Uvalde. And, they unpack the January 6th hearings.

This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán.

ITT Staff Picks:

For The 19th, Shefali Luthra reports about how states that still protect abortion after Roe v. Wade was overturned have seen a massive spike in people out of state seeking care.
The gunman responsible for the mass shooting in Uvalde had already shown troubling signs, including earning the nickname “school shooter,” reports Perla Trevizo for The Texas Tribune and ProPublica.
“Even if investigations into Trump and his inner circle are expanded…the momentous decision about whether to charge Trump with a crime is months away, if not longer,” report Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney, for Politico.

Photo credit: Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool, File

ITT Sound Off: A Messy Mideast Trip Jul 15, 2022

Maria and guest co-host Jamilah King, managing editor at BuzzFeed News, discuss President Biden’s trip to the Middle East, including his visit to Israel and his meeting in Saudi Arabia with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They also get into the latest January 6th hearing, and the recent protests in Uvalde, Texas.

This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán.

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“Rather than announcing any major initiatives, Biden, who is on a four-day trip to Israel, the occupied West Bank, and Saudi Arabia, seems more like he is headed into the region in search of an exit from it,” writes Murtaza Hussain for The Intercept.
The seventh January 6th hearing focused on confirming that former President Donald Trump was at the center of the attempted coup, writes John Nichols for The Nation.
Al Tompkins reports on why KVUE and the Austin-American Statesman decided to release video footage of law enforcement’s response to the mass shootings in Uvalde, for Poynter.

Photo credit: Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP

The Politics of COVID-19 Jul 12, 2022

In this special collaboration with Latino USA, Maria and Julio are joined by Carlos Odio, co-founder of EquisLabs, and Tanzina Vega, award-winning journalist, to talk about the lasting impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on Latino communities across the United States ahead of the 2022 midterms. They get into the immense losses experienced by Black, Indigenous, and Latino communities from COVID-19, and reflect on how the pandemic’s impact on the economy could affect voter turnout.

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A new medical journal study found that life expectancy for California’s Latinos fell six years, more than other populations during the pandemic, reports Jeanne Kuang for CalMatters.
David Byler answers the question, “if Democrats fail to make up ground — or lose more — with Latino voters, where would it hurt most?” in this opinion piece for the Washington Post.
Democrats should be worried about losing Latino support—and not just in the obvious places, writes Geraldo Cadava, in this piece for the Atlantic.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Eduardo Muñoz Alvarez, File

ITT Sound Off: Institutional Trauma Jul 08, 2022

Maria and Julio reflect on the mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, that killed at least seven people. They also get into the police killing of 25-year-old Jayland Walker, in Akron, Ohio. And, they remember the 53 migrants who died after a tractor-trailer crash in San Antonio, Texas.

This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán.

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“I was sure that pundits, writers, the media and our political leaders would note that many of the parade attendees came from the neighboring Latino community, that the population of Highland Park itself is half Jewish…But that’s not what I saw,” writes Elad Nehorai, who grew up in Highland Park, in this piece for Forward.
In this piece for The New Republic, Maya Wiley writes about the difference in media narratives and police response toward Jayland Walker compared to the 21-year-old Highland Park shooter.
Kimberly Rocío López writes about how the Guatemalan village of Tzucubal is mourning two of their children, Pascual Melvin Guachiac Sipac, age 13, and Juan Wilmer Tulul Tepaz, age 14, who died in a tractor-trailer crash in San Antonio, Texas in this piece for Plaza Pública.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Rejecting Assimilation Jul 05, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Julissa Arce, immigration rights advocate and author of the new book “You Sound Like A White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation.” They discuss the issues of assimilation in the United States and the complexities of Latino identity. They also get into the history of racism against Latinos in this country, and why it’s important to learn that history.

This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw Dameron.

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“Sounding like a gringa didn’t make me American, and it didn’t give me the privileges of one,” writes Julissa in this published excerpt of her book, in Literary Hub.
For The 74, Jo Napolitano writes about the policies and rhetoric by Texas Governor Greg Abbott that target undocumented folks, and what this means in light of the recent mass shooting in Uvalde.
The spectrum of skin tones within the Latino community can affect how they are treated in the United States, even by other Latinos, reports Rachel Hatzipanagos for the Washington Post.

Photo credit: Aly Honore

A Pivotal Moment in American Labor Jul 01, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Kim Kelly, author and labor journalist, to talk about her new book, "Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor". They get into the history of labor organizing in the United States and how women of color and Black and brown workers have been at the forefront of these movements. They talk about the current labor movement in the U.S. and the multiple strikes and efforts to unionize across industries, including Kim’s personal experience with unions in media companies.

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In this piece for the Washington Post, Rebecca Tan writes about how young LGBTQ workers have been taking a leadership role in unionizing Starbucks stores across the country.
“In the new environment, businesses facing worker uprisings are attempting to co-opt the language of social justice movements and embrace trends around self-growth and positive lifestyles to counter demands for unionization,” writes Lee Fang in this piece for The Intercept.
Sharon Zhang reports about Chipotle workers’ efforts to form the company’s first-ever union at a branch in August, Maine, in this piece for Truthout.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez

A Post-Roe Reality Jun 28, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Kimberly Atkins Stohr, senior opinion writer for The Boston Globe and The Emancipator, and Jessica Mason Pieklo, senior vice president of Rewire News Group and co-host of the podcast Boom! Lawyered. They unpack the Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade and how this will affect people throughout the country. They also get into other recent decisions and discuss how Democrats should be responding.

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In their latest episode of Boom! Lawyered, co-hosts Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy react to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
For The Boston Globe, writer Kimberly Atkins Stohr unpacks Justice Stephen Breyer’s dissenting opinion to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down New York’s concealed carry law.
“The Supreme Court made this decision today and, unfortunately, your geographical location affects your autonomy,” the administrator of one Texas abortion clinic said she told waiting patients, in this piece by Chabeli Carrazana for The 19th.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File

ITT Sound Off: Havoc on Our Democracy Jun 24, 2022

Maria and guest co-host Christina Greer, political scientist, professor at Fordham University and co-host of the FAQ NYC podcast, talk about the latest on the House Committee’s January 6 hearings. They also discuss new details on the law enforcement’s response to the mass shooting in Uvalde. Plus, Maria shares her thoughts on the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

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For The 19th, reporter Shefali Luthra explains how the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will impact abortion rights around the country.
Witnesses at the January 6th hearings are testifying about what it’s like to be targeted by Trump’s machine of hate-mongering and harassment, writes Evan Osnos for The New Yorker.
“Now, after a long procession of funerals, the collective grief here is turning into collective rage,” write Silvia Foster-Frau and Teo Armus in this piece on a group of mothers and activists in Uvalde, for The Washington Post

Photo credit: AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe

Raising Antiracist Leaders Jun 21, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Ibram X. Kendi, founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, for a conversation about his new book “How to Raise an Antiracist.” They discuss the evolution of his antiracist scholarship, the rise in mass shootings and white supremacist attacks, and how Black and brown communities can work together in solidarity.

This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán.

ITT Staff Picks:

Jaden Edison writes about how descendants of formerly enslaved people are using the Juneteenth holiday to educate younger generations, in this article for the Texas Tribune.
“As Americans celebrate Juneteenth this year, it is difficult not to wonder how much more free — truly free — Black Americans are today than they were on Juneteenth 1922, or even Juneteenth 1865,” writes Sean Collins in this article for Vox.
Nicole Carr investigates how a Black public school educator was targeted by white parents in Georgia in this collaboration from ProPublica and Frontline.

Photo credit: Stephen Voss

ITT Sound Off: Obvious Criminality Jun 17, 2022

Maria and Julio discuss the latest House committee hearing on the January 6 attempted coup at the U.S. Capitol. They also get into a commemorative coin that’s been circulating, which shows Border Patrol agents chasing Haitian migrants on horseback, and they reflect on the 10 year anniversary of DACA. Finally, they unpack the special election in South Texas, where Republican Mayra Flores won the congressional seat.

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“If the coins are connected to Border Patrol agents, they could become the latest example of what immigrant advocates have said is a prevalence of offensive humor within the ranks, after Facebook posts making fun of dead migrants and lawmakers surfaced in 2019,” reports Hamed Aleaziz for the LA Times.
Rommel H. Ojeda at Documented spoke to Dreamers who share that they are in a state of anxiety because of DACA’s uncertainty, and that the program is not enough.
Mayra Flores’ win in South Texas’ 34th congressional district shows how Republicans have been working to flip the region, reports Patrick Svitek for The Texas Tribune.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File

The American Myth Jun 14, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Josiah Neville Bates, staff writer at TIME, and Gisela Pérez de Acha, an investigative reporter with UC Berkeley who focuses on extremism, to unpack the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. They talk about what a meaningful response might look like, the nuances of gun control legislation in Black and brown communities, and the intersection of policing and gun violence. Plus, we hear from Meg Juarez, whose father Luis Juarez was killed in the El Paso mass shooting in 2016, and Gregory Jackson Jr., a gun violence survivor and executive director of the Community Justice Action Fund.

This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán.

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“When people of color are involved in acts of gun violence, the assumption is we are to blame. We are living in the wrong neighborhood, or the violence was the result of criminal activity. However, it is our communities that are most affected and harmed by these tragedies,” writes Gregory Jackson Jr. in this piece for The Guardian.
For The 19th, reporter Nadra Nittle chronicles the efforts of young women activists of color, who have become major leaders in the fight against gun violence.
In his latest piece for TIME, Josiah Neville Bates writes about 11-year-old Miah Cerrillo’s testimony before Congress after surviving the shooting at Robb elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Rich Pedroncell

ITT Sound Off: A Failure of American Democracy Jun 10, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, deputy inequality editor at BuzzFeed News, talk about the first public hearing on the January 6 attempted coup at the U.S. Capitol. They also get into the Congressional hearing in response to gun violence and the mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde last month. And, they discuss the media coverage of a migrant caravan traveling to the U.S. through Mexico, and the upcoming 10 year anniversary of the DACA program.

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In this piece for The Boston Globe, columnist Renée Graham analyzes whether the public will actually pay attention to the Jan. 6 hearings, despite their clear importance for American democracy.
“Our security is a constitutional value, one that outweighs absolutist gun-rights claims by NRA lobbyists, or Oath Keepers, and other insurrectionist groups who hold their access to weapons dear for use in an imagined anti-tyranny quest,” writes law professor Thomas P. Crocker in this piece for The Atlantic.
On the 10-year anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA, recipients are reflecting on the program’s limitations and an uncertain future, writes journalist Jeff Brumley in this piece for Baptist News.

Photo credit: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via AP, Pool

An Immigration Midterms Check Jun 07, 2022

In this special collaboration with Latino USA, Maria and Julio are joined by Camilo Montoya-Galvez, immigration reporter at CBS News. They dive deep into immigration policy in the United States and where the Biden administration stands on fulfilling campaign promises on immigration reform. They talk about the continuation of Trump-era policies like Title 42 and Remain in Mexico, and the detention and treatment of migrants and refugees seeking asylum. Finally, they get into what Democrats need to do moving forward to reimagine immigration systems in this country.

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“A new Biden administration policy aims to expedite the processing of migrants who ask for humanitarian protection along the southern border,” reports Camilo Montoya-Galvez for CBS News.
Aishvarya Kavi of The New York Times interviewed over a dozen people living in the U.S. with temporary visas. They are urging the Biden administration for a path toward legally remaining in the country after their visas expire.
In this piece for Documented, Natasha Ishak breaks down recent immigration reform proposals and how they have stalled in Congress.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File

ITT Sound Off: America’s Gun Fallacy Jun 03, 2022

Maria and Julio talk about the law enforcement’s mishandling of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. They get into the efforts to advance gun laws in this country. And, they talk about how the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general covered up reports of abuse by DHS agents under the Trump administration.

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For the Texas Tribune, reporter Karen Brooks Harper dives deep into a Texas mental health program — which had not yet been extended to Uvalde — built to identify troubled students and prevent school shootings.
“We must talk about why, even with all the money, training, weapons, and resources, the police couldn’t prevent, stop, or adequately respond to this tragedy,” writes Olayemi Olurin in this piece for Teen Vogue.
According to an unpublished federal watchdog report, over one-third of Department of Homeland Security employees surveyed have experienced sexual harassment at the agency, Adam Zagorin and Nick Schwellenbach uncover for the Project on Government Oversight.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Eric Gay

The Culture War on Education May 31, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Reema Amin, reporter for Chalkbeat New York, and Antonia Hylton, correspondent for NBC News and co-host of the Southlake podcast, for a conversation about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted students. They also get into the conservative-led movement to ban books and bar classroom discussions around what they perceive as critical race theory.

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“The decline in mental health among teenagers was intensified by the Covid pandemic but predated it, spanning racial and ethnic groups, urban and rural areas and the socioeconomic divide,” writes Matt Richtel for The New York Times.
This report for Five Thirty Eight gets into how anti-critical race theory bills are impacting teachers across the country, including reprimands and firings.
For NBC News, Matt Lavietes and Elliott Ramos report on the record number of anti-LGBTQ bills that have been proposed at state legislatures just this year.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio, File

ITT Sound Off: Uvalde May 26, 2022

Maria and Julio process the tragic mass shooting that occurred in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, when an 18-year-old man opened fire at an elementary school, killing two teachers and 19 children. They get into the systemic issues of gun control, border policing, and how this intersects with immigration.

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“There are parents today scrolling through photographs of their children, realizing that there will be no more photographs of them to take. We cannot continue to live like this, but I fear we will,” writes Clint Smith in this piece for The Atlantic.
Mike Hixenbaugh spoke with a teacher in Uvalde, Texas. She was at the school on Wednesday and said it was the longest 35 minutes of her life, via NBC.
Bindu Bansinath writes about ways to support the community in Uvalde, in this piece for The Cut.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

The Warfare of Messaging May 24, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Danielle Moodie and Wajahat Ali, co-hosts of the Democracy-ish podcast. They talk about the latest in immigration news, including the continued enforcement of Title 42. They also unpack the mainstream media’s coverage of the white supremacist attack in Buffalo, and the murder of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces. And, they reflect on the latest attacks on abortion rights in the lead up to the midterms.

This episode was mixed by Kieran Gannon.

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“For a segment of Christians, the battle over abortion is just one front in a wider war to make America Christian again — by any means necessary. They are not pro-life so much as pro-control,” write Samuel L. Perry and Philip S. Gorski in this piece for The Washington Post.
Much of the media coverage that followed Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing by Israeli forces showed a pattern of euphemisms, false equivalencies, and double standards, writes Jon Allsop for Columbia Journalism Review.
For The Intercept, reporter Jordan Smith unpacks the repercussions of Oklahoma’s new highly restrictive abortion ban, which is currently awaiting signature by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

ITT Sound Off: When Will We Wake Up? May 20, 2022

Maria and Julio react to the deadly white supremacist attack at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. They talk about the rise in mass shootings rooted in racist and anti-Black ideologies, and the culpability of right-wing media and politicians. They also discuss the primary elections held this week across the country.

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In this piece for The Grio, David A. Love analyzes the ways that journalists and all-white newsrooms have failed in their coverage of the Buffalo shooting by refusing to reckon with the reality of white supremacist and racist violence.
“A question remains for those who still reside in this republic: What do we owe the deceased in Buffalo and all those who preceded them? It cannot be anything less than pursuing the truth and unveiling all the interconnected evils that led to their tragic end,” writes Esau McCaulley for The Atlantic.
Ryan Cooper writes about how the results of the 2022 midterm elections could have big repercussions for key election administration posts, and the integrity of the 2024 presidential election, in this piece for The American Prospect.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Matt Rourke

The Rise of Anti-Asian Hate May 17, 2022

Julio is joined by Jason Wu, public defender at the Legal Aid Society's Harlem Community Law Office, and Tiffany Diane Tso, freelance writer, editor, and co-founder of the Asian American Feminist Collective. They reflect on the rise in hate crimes targeting different Asian American communities, and how to build community safety beyond policing. They also get into the opportunity for multiracial solidarity in light of the increasing white supremacist violence in this country.

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“A year after the shootings, many additional attacks on Asian Americans have continued across the country, something activists view as part of the long tradition of violence and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders woven through the nation’s history,” by Frances Kai-Hwa Wang for PBS Newshour in April 2022.
In this analysis of data from AAPI Data and Momentive, professors Janelle Wong and Sara Sadhwani found that “all racial groups experienced a hate crime over the first months of 2022 at very similar rates to one another.”
“In interviews with more than a dozen community members — from shopkeepers to long term residents and elected officials — one particular sentiment coursed through the interviews: The systems that were supposed to protect people — from homeless people to the elderly and women — have failed Chinatown,” writes Lam Thuy Vo in this piece for Documented.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

The End of Roe May 13, 2022

In this rebroadcast episode from 2020, Maria and Julio are joined by Dr. Michele Goodwin, law professor at the University of California, Irvine, host of Ms. Magazine’s On The Issues podcast and author of the book, Policing the Womb: Invisible Women and the Criminalization of Motherhood, and Mary Ziegler, law professor at Florida State University, historian and author of the book, Abortion and the Law in America: Roe v. Wade to the Present. They talk about the future of Roe v. Wade and unpack the history of reproductive justice for women of color and immigrants.

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Michele Goodwin writes about the new “Jane Crow era” in the United States, for The Atlantic: “Leaving the protection of people who can become pregnant to the devices of hostile state legislatures has been and will be disastrous.”
Tech reporter Louise Matsakis writes about the privacy experts who are warning about data-tracking if Roe is overturned, for NBC News.
As the country faces the prospect of a post-Roe future, The Washington Post spoke to people who remember what life was like before the landmark decision.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

This episode originally aired in September 2020 and was mixed by Leah Shaw Dameron.

Disinformation and Misinformation May 10, 2022

In this special collaboration with Latino USA, Maria and Julio are joined by Maria Teresa Kumar, founding president and CEO of Voto Latino, and Jaime Longoria, manager of research and training for the Disinfo Defense League at Media Democracy Fund for a conversation about misinformation and disinformation in the Latino community. They get into who is behind these disinformation campaigns, their impact on communities, and the organizing that is being done to counter these issues.

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In this research study for First Draft News, Jaime Longoria, Daniel Acosta, Shaydanay Urbani and Rory Smith examine how vaccine misinformation has impacted the Latino community.
“What the tech platforms actually showed us is the silver lining: We’re all being manipulated the same way,” writes journalist Maria Ressa for The Atlantic.
For The New Yorker, Graciela Mochkofsky writes about the misconception of the Latino community and misinformation: “It’s not that Spanish-speaking Latinx people are the most gullible people in the country but that they are among the most wary.”

Photo credit: AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File

ITT Sound Off: A Right to Privacy May 06, 2022

Maria and Julio share their responses to the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade case. They talk about the vulnerable communities who will be impacted if abortion bans go into place across the country. They also get into how Republican candidates for Congress, like J.D. Vance, are vying for Trump’s endorsement to push ahead in their primaries.

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In this personal essay for Prism, Tina Vasquez writes about her experience and struggles with getting an abortion and why it’s “a matter of life and death.”
Andrea González-Ramírez lists ways to support abortion rights in this article for The Cut.
“Trump now has a definitive rebuttal to those who believed his grip over the party was loosening, and Republican candidates in other states are certain to exert even more energy trying to win his approval,” writes Alex Shepard for The New Republic on Republican J.D. Vance’s Ohio primary win.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

A Lack of Urgency May 03, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Tanya Ballard Brown, executive editor at Government Executive, and Vann Newkirk II, senior editor at The Atlantic and host of the podcast Floodlines. They reflect on 30 years since the police officers who brutally beat Rodney King were acquitted and the uprisings in Los Angeles that followed. They also get into the Biden administration’s potential plans for student loan forgiveness, and the latest on voting rights in the lead-up to the midterms.

This episode was mixed by Kieran Gannon.

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“The 1992 riots were in many ways a product of segregation. The sense of disorder they caused only accelerated white flight,” writes Héctor Tobar in The New York Times Magazine.
In this thread on Twitter, journalist Michael Harriot expands on the pay, wealth and education disparities between Black and white Americans, and its connection to student loans.
For The Atlantic, Van Newkirk II interviewed Crystal Mason, a Black woman who was convicted to five years in prison for attempting to vote in 2016 and unknowingly violated a Texas voting law.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

ITT Sound Off: How Power Works Apr 29, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, deputy inequality editor at BuzzFeed News, talk about Elon Musk’s deal to buy Twitter. They also get into the Supreme Court’s decision to continue excluding Puerto Rico from federal benefits, and the future of the Trump-era Remain in Mexico policy. And, they discuss new revelations on Republican politicians’ involvement in the January 6 insurrection.

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“Now one of the world’s biggest bullies will soon control one of the world’s biggest and most influential bully pulpits,” writes Renée Graham in this piece for the Boston Globe.
“I felt like a bucket of cold water fell on me,” said one woman affected by the Supreme Court’s decision to deny Puerto Ricans access to SSI benefits, in this NBC News piece by Nicole Acevedo.
For Mother Jones, Noah Y. Kim unpacks the implications of newly released recordings of Republican politicians in the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection.

Photo credit: Patrick Pleul/Pool Photo via AP, File

The Perpetual Loop of Injustice Apr 26, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Jullian Harris-Calvin, director of the Greater Justice New York program at the Vera Institute of Justice, and David Luis “Suave” Gonzalez, artist and a former juvenile lifer. They discuss systemic issues within the criminal legal system, the case of Melissa Lucio, and the humanitarian crisis at New York City’s Rikers Island jail complex.

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“The idea that my decision to take another person’s life was not based on complete and accurate information in a fair trial is horrifying,” writes Johnny Galvan Jr., a juror in Melissa Lucio’s case, in this opinion piece for the Houston Chronicle.
Sara Dorn and Kimberly Gonzalez lay out a timeline of the calls to close Rikers Island and the steps that have been taken so far, for City and State New York.
In a collaboration between ProPublica, The Marshall Project and NBC News, reporters investigated abuses at a new juvenile lockup in Louisiana, including 23-hour solitary confinement.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jeenah Moon

ITT Sound Off: Deeply Broken Systems Apr 22, 2022

Maria and guest co-host Jamilah King, deputy inequality editor at BuzzFeed News, discuss a federal judge’s decision to strike down the federal mask mandate on airplanes and public transportation. They also get into the pushback from some Democrats against the repeal of Title 42, and talk about the case of Melissa Lucio, the first Latina woman to be put on death row in Texas.

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Aaron Blake breaks down the decision by Trump-nominated judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle against the CDC’s mask mandate on airplanes and public transportation in this piece for The Washington Post.
In this piece for The Intercept, journalists Liliana Segura and Jordan Smith dive deep into the case of Melissa Lucio, and efforts from trial jurors, activists, and lawmakers to prove her innocence.
“The end of Title 42 paired with a new approach to asylum processing presents an opportunity to pivot not from a draconian border approach to chaos, as moderate Democrats fear and Republicans anticipate, but to a much more orderly and charitable system,” writes immigration reporter Felipe De La Hoz in this piece for The New Republic.

Photo credit: Representante estatal de Texas, Jeff Leach, vía AP

Oppressive States Apr 19, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and host of the Black Diplomats podcast, are joined by Renée Graham, associate editor and columnist for The Boston Globe, and Shefali Luthra, health reporter for The 19th. They talk about the latest on the war in Ukraine, and attacks by Israeli forces on Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem. They also discuss the rise of restrictive anti-abortion and anti-trans legislation across the country.

ITT Staff Picks:

Mohammed El-Kurd writes about Land Day in Palestine on March 30, and the “Israeli regime’s architecture of displacement,” in this article for The Nation.
Shefali Luthra writes about Kentucky’s far-reaching abortion ban, which takes effect immediately, making it the first state where clinics will completely stop providing abortions, via 19th News.
“Alabama isn’t the first state to ban health care specific to transgender youth,” writes Renée Graham, “But Ivey is the first governor to endorse making criminals of medical professionals who offer necessary care to youth related to gender identity,” for the Boston Globe.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Stephen Spillman, File

ITT Sound Off: Dystopian Adventure Apr 15, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, deputy inequality editor at BuzzFeed News, discuss the Brooklyn subway shooting and the calls for more policing in response. They also get into the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation’s purchase of a six million dollar mansion in California. And, they unpack the latest on COVID-19.

ITT Staff Picks:

Nick Pinto writes about the failure of aggressive policing to prevent potential tragedies like the Brooklyn subway shooting in this piece for The Intercept.
In this piece for NY Mag, journalist Sean Campbell dives deep into the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation’s purchase of a $6 million mansion in California.
For The Atlantic, Ed Yong documents the prolonged grief of those who’ve lost loved ones to COVID-19: “Every news story twisted the knife. Every surge salted the wound. Two years later, she is still inundated by her grief. ‘And now people are saying we can get back to normal,’ she told me. ‘What’s normal?’”

Photo credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File

The Great Labor Injustice Apr 12, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Ai-jen Poo, co-founder and executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, to discuss labor organizing for workers. They get into the pandemic’s impact on informal economies, on-the-ground movements to protect low-wage workers, and what meaningful labor reforms would look like.

ITT Staff Picks:

Due to the caregiving crisis, Juanita Sharpe writes about having to choose between her career and caring for her aging mother in this column for Fortune.
For The American Prospect, Jon Hiatt lays out how organizations like the AFL-CIO can transform the Staten Island Amazon worker’s union success into a broader movement.
On worker dissatisfaction, Timothy Noah writes for The New Republic that “nothing much will be done to relieve this misery until unions become powerful enough to reshape the industries in which they reside.”

Photo credit: AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File

ITT Sound Off: An American Moment Apr 08, 2022

Maria and Julio talk about Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. They also get into the Oklahoma state legislature’s anti-abortion bill, and the dangerous repercussions of media language and framing around immigration.

ITT Staff Picks:

For The New York Times, reporter Linda Qiu spoke with Black women of the Harvard Black Law Students Association about what Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation to the Supreme Court means to them.
Oklahoma’s abortion ban will have ripple effects throughout the country, with little hope that the Supreme Court will uphold Roe vs. Wade, reports Susan Rinkunas for Jezebel.
“The vow to treat asylum-seekers with “dignity” was a broken campaign promise from Biden,” writes Julio in his latest piece for MSNBC.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Two Years of COVID-19 Apr 05, 2022

Maria and Julio reflect on the last two years of the coronavirus pandemic with guests Umair Irfan, staff writer at Vox covering Covid-19 and climate change, and Kiera Butler, senior editor and public health reporter at Mother Jones. They discuss government response to the health crisis, the disproportionate impact on Black and brown communities and what we can expect next.

ITT Staff Picks:

For Vox, Umair Irfan dives into what is needed at a scientific research and policy level in order to spot the next pandemic virus.
Kiera Butler writes about what it means for the coronavirus to become an “endemic” disease in this piece for Mother Jones.
“The truth is that America’s battle with covid-19 has been more damaging than we like to think. And it is still ongoing,” writes Dhruv Khullar in this piece for The New Yorker.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Brittainy Newman, File

ITT Sound Off: Hoodwinked and Bamboozled Apr 01, 2022

Maria and Julio discuss the news of the Biden administration finally putting an end to Title 42, a Trump-era public health order. They also unpack the media’s coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the latest on the January 6 attempted coup.

ITT Staff Picks:

In this piece for Al Jazeera, Jihan Abdalla reports on how immigrant rights groups are reacting to the Biden administration’s indications that it will revoke Title 42 in the coming months.
“National security coverage largely relies on official and military sources that, like a man with a hammer who always sees a nail, are likely to favor intervention,” writes Mark Hannah, senior fellow at the Eurasia Group Foundation, for Foreign Policy.
Legal analyst Lisa Rubin explains how the January 6 committee ought to respond to a major gap in Donald Trump’s call logs in this piece for MSNBC.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib

Tough Guy Talk Mar 29, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Aisha Mills, political strategist and former host of “Amplified with Aisha” on the Black News Channel, and Dr. Jason Johnson, professor at the School of Global Journalism & Communication at Morgan State University and political contributor at MSNBC. They react to the 94th annual Academy Awards, including the controversy over Will Smith slapping Chris Rock. They also discuss the latest on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the state of independent journalism made by and for people of color.

ITT Staff Picks:

“There’s definitely nuance here, and something to be said about the use of physical force to defend Pinkett Smith and the inherent toxic masculinity in the act, but Smith’s actions do feel like solidarity,” writes Ineye Komonibo for Refinery29.
For Mother Jones, reporter Fernanda Echavarri dives into President Biden’s off-script remarks during his trip to Poland, and the reactions since.
Non-white students who have fled the war in Ukraine are being detained in closed facilities by EU border authorities, May Bulman and Nadine White report for The Independent.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

ITT Sound Off: Saving the Supreme Court Mar 25, 2022

Maria and Julio discuss the uncovered text messages between Mark Meadows and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife Ginni Thomas, revealing new efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. They also get into the latest news out of the war in Ukraine, and President Biden’s meeting abroad with world leaders. And, they unpack Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings.

ITT Staff Picks:

MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan makes the case for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, on violating ethics and being subject to conflicts of interest, in this opinion piece.
For The Atlantic, Tom McTague unpacks the NATO alliance, asking what they ultimately stand for and against, as President Biden travels to Europe to discuss the war in Ukraine.
On Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings, Elie Mystal writes in The Nation: “It was emotionally affecting to watch Jackson, a ridiculously accomplished Black woman, be forced to dance to the tune of these mediocre white senators who were trying to reduce her to a caricature.”

Photo credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Lights, Camera… ¡Acción! A Latino Take on the Oscars Mar 22, 2022

In The Thick presents an episode from our sister podcast, Latino USA. In this episode, Maria talks with Latino and Latina film critics Clayton Davis, Cristina Escobar, and Jack Rico about Latinos in film this past year. Ahead of Hollywood’s biggest night, they discuss the honors (and snubs) for Latino-led films this awards season. They also talk about the importance of diversity in criticism, and push the conversation past the topic of “representation” to envision a more inclusive future for Latinos in Hollywood and the film industry as a whole.

Subscribe to Latino USA for more episodes.

Photo Credit: Collage by Luis Luna (Photo credits: Walt Disney Pictures/Disney Animation Studios, Macall Polay/Warner Bros. Entertainment via AP, 20th Century Studios, Amazon Studios)

ITT Sound Off: War Has No Logic Mar 18, 2022

Julio and Maria discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Congress, and the recent granting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Afghan refugees. They also dive into the lack of accountability in the police shootings of Adam Toledo and Anthony Alvarez. And, they unpack the latest government spending bill, which cut funding for COVID-19 relief and prevention.

ITT Staff Picks:

Months after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden administration extended eligibility for temporary protected status to over 70,000 Afghan refugees in the country, reports Hamed Aleaziz for Buzzfeed News.
For Latino Rebels, senior editor Hector Luis Alamo writes about the announcement that no charges would be filed in the Chicago police killings of 13-year-old Adam Toledo and 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez.
“Older, disabled, poor, Black, or brown Americans, whose excess deaths were tolerated long before COVID, have borne the brunt of the pandemic, while privileged people have had the swiftest access to medical interventions—and have been quickest to declare the crisis over,” writes Ed Yong for The Atlantic.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Felipe Dana

The Great American Tradition of Fear Mar 15, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Jenni Monet, independent investigative journalist and founder of the newsletter Indigenously, are joined by Karen Attiah, columnist for The Washington Post, and Sabrina Rodríguez, national political correspondent for Politico. They unpack the latest coverage on the war in Ukraine, its ramifications for U.S. immigration and refugee policy, and the Biden administration’s enforcement of Title 42. We also hear from Hansi Lo Wang, NPR national correspondent, on a report estimating undercounts of Black, Latino, and Indigenous Americans in the 2020 census.

ITT Staff Picks:

“It took three days to cross the border. You cannot warm your car because you don’t have enough petrol to move. We moved three meters and we stopped the car,” said Iryna, a Ukrainian refugee, in this piece for Politico by Eugene Daniels.
The Biden administration has been planning conversations with Mexican officials about ending its enforcement of Title 42, reports Hamed Aleaziz for Buzzfeed News.
In this piece for NPR, Hansi Lo Wang breaks down the reasons, ramifications, and possible remedies for the U.S. Census Bureau’s perennial undercount of Black, Latino, and Indigenous Americans.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File

ITT Sound Off: Toxic Dude Culture Mar 11, 2022

Maria and Julio talk about Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine, including increasing sanctions from Western governments and private companies. They also get into the latest in the January 6th investigation, and the arrest of Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio. And, they end by talking about the “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida.

ITT Staff Picks:

“It’s really exhausting being a queer person in Florida trying to fight against everything going on. I should be focused on my schoolwork, not the GOP trying to police our education,” said Jack Petocz, a student activist in Florida, in this piece by Elizabeth Djinis, for Teen Vogue.
For Business Insider, Laura Italiano and Haven Orecchio-Egresitz unpack the latest news on the Proud Boys’ recruitment efforts in the lead-up to the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Derek Thompson writes about the possible repercussions of Russia’s financial, commercial, and cultural isolation in the aftermath of its invasion of Ukraine in this piece for The Atlantic.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File

A Dispatch From Ukraine Mar 09, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by ITT All-Star Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and host of the Black Diplomats podcast, to discuss his reporting on the ground in Ukraine and the impact of Western sanctions on Russia. They also unpack political responses to the invasion. And we hear from Asami Terajima, political reporter for the Kyiv Independent.

ITT Staff Picks:

“Ukraine’s crisis has made clear who creates the Western news landscape, and perhaps more important, who the news is made for,” writes Ayman Mohyeldin in this piece for MSNBC.
In this piece for The Nation, Ruchi Kumar and Ivan Flores write about Afghan refugees experiencing war and displacement once again after settling in Ukraine.
Trans and non-binary people in Ukraine are fearful for what the future holds — and struggling to flee the country due to documentation requirements — reports Ben Hunte in this piece for Vice News.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda

ITT Sound Off: The Uninspiring Administration Mar 04, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, deputy inequality editor at BuzzFeed News, discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and critique Western media coverage of the war. And, they talk about the ongoing January 6th trials. We also hear from Analilia Mejia, co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy, on policing and President Biden’s State of the Union address.

ITT Staff Picks:

Western media has shown a double standard in its coverage of the ongoing war in Ukraine, writes Ishmael N. Daro in The Nation.
For BuzzFeed News, Zoe Tillman reports on the first January 6 trial, beginning with defendant Guy Reffitt who is facing five felony counts for his participation in the attack.
“When politicians promote policing as a solution to crime, they fail to reckon with the real roots of policing and its impact on the most affected communities,” writes Lexi McMenamin for Teen Vogue on President Biden’s State of the Union address.

Photo credit: Shawn Thew/Pool via AP

This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán.

The Disinformation Cocktail Mar 01, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Ayman Mohyeldin, host of the MSNBC show “Ayman” and host of the podcast “American Radical.” They dive into the story of Rosanne Boyland and her participation in the January 6 insurrection. They also talk about radicalization when it comes to white people, the issues with media coverage of war and a recent New York Times report about Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife, Ginni.

ITT Staff Picks:

In this piece for Vanity Fair, Ayman Mohyeldin and Preeti Varathan expand on the radicalization of Rosanne Boyland, which ultimately led to her death.
On Justice Clarence Thomas and Ginni Thomas, Michael Tomasky writes, “Democrats, it’s long past time to make an issue of him and his wife,” for The New Republic.
“They must understand that there are no civilized wars,” writes Rafia Zakaria — an attorney, journalist and author — about the media coverage of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.

Photo credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo, File

ITT Sound Off: The Fog of War Feb 25, 2022

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, deputy inequality editor at Buzzfeed News, discuss the latest on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the role of the United States in the crisis. They also get into Colombia’s recent ruling to decriminalize abortion, and the tenth anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s murder.

ITT Staff Picks:

For the latest on the situation in Ukraine, check out The Kyiv Independent’s Live Updates page here.
Khanyi Mlaba and Tess Lowery round up a list of ways folks can help those most affected in Ukraine for the Global Citizen, including organizations to donate to and how to stay informed.
“Black sons and daughters shouldn’t have to be on murals, posters, and slogans for the world to recognize racism is a problem,” writes Murjani Rawls on the 10th anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death, for The Root.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán.

Hope in Hopeless Times Feb 22, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by ITT All-Star Wajahat Ali, columnist for The Daily Beast, to discuss his new book, “Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American.” They get into disparities in reactions to white violence versus nonwhite violence, the upcoming midterms, and reflect on who is seen as American in this country.

ITT Staff Picks:

For The Atlantic, Wajahat Ali writes about his parents' arrest in 2002, and the hardships that followed.
Many Muslim families see their lives in two chapters: before and after the 9/11 attacks, reports Brittny Mejia in this piece for The LA Times.
Daniel Strauss and Grace Segers of The New Republic recap the latest news with the January 6 committee’s investigation, including what might come next.

Photo courtesy of Wajahat Ali

ITT Sound Off: Unchecked American Power Feb 19, 2022

Maria and Julio get into the latest on Russia’s increasing escalation in Ukraine. They also talk about the double standard in the Olympics’ treatment of U.S. athlete Sha’Carri Richardson compared to Russian athlete Kamila Valieva. And, they discuss the U.S. government’s extradition request for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.

ITT Staff Picks:

“I came to believe that Ukraine matters because its fate is, in some sense, our own,” writes Franklin Foer in this piece for The Atlantic.
“U.S. sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson is calling out Olympic and anti-doping officials, after Russian skater Kamila Valieva was allowed to compete despite testing positive for a banned drug,” reports Bill Chappell in this piece for NPR.
El Faro English reports on the extradition request from the U.S. government for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew

Power Concedes Nothing Feb 15, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Bree Newsome Bass, artist, writer, activist, and organizer. They talk about where the movement for Black lives stands today, and the power of grassroots organizing. They also reflect on the rise of far-right movements globally, including ongoing protests in Canada, and the fight against voter suppression in the lead up to the midterm elections.

ITT Staff Picks:

In this special issue of New York Magazine, read essays, reflections and reporting on the last 10 years since Trayvon Martin’s death, which ignited the Black Lives Matter movement.
“They are angry because they have lost,” writes Zack Beauchamp about the Canadian truckers’ convoy in this piece for Vox.
Texas is seeing a rise in rejections of mail-in voting applications as SB 1 — the new voting law — goes into effect, reports Ursula Perano for The Daily Beast.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File

ITT Sound Off: Marginalize Joe Rogan Feb 11, 2022

Maria and Julio get into the latest on COVID-19 and the states lifting mask mandates. They also challenge media narratives comparing the January 6th insurrection to the 1954 attack by Puerto Rican nationalists on the U.S. Capitol. They also talk about misinformation and racism on Joe Rogan’s podcast, and how Spotify is handling the controversy.

ITT Staff Picks:

Melody Schreiber writes about the blue states that are rolling back mask mandates and how some experts are warning it is too soon, for The Guardian.
Brittany Valentine writes about the difference in reaction to Puerto Rican nationalists who stormed the Capitol in 1954 and the violent insurrectionists who attempted a coup on January 6th in this piece for Al Día News.
“I do not wish to spend ancestral energy this Black History Month relitigating the lineage of the n-word and why it is never okay for White people to say it,” writes Karen Attiah in this piece for the Washington Post.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File

The America We Deserve Feb 09, 2022

Maria is joined by LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, and Dr. Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University and co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC. They get into the latest on the January 6th insurrection, and the connection between voter suppression and anti-Black racism. They also discuss the nuances of Black and Brown voters, and the recent wave of book banning in schools.

ITT Staff Picks:

On the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection, Kali Holloway writes, “we are nowhere near the end of this assault on democratic norms and principles,” for The Nation.
Pamela Moses, a Black Lives Matter activist, was sentenced to six years in prison because of a voting error conviction, reports Timothy Bella for The Washington Post.
In this piece for The Guardian, Adam Gabbatt reports on teenagers in Pennsylvania who are fighting back against the banning of books.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Death Note — Introducing Ídolo: The Ballad of Chalino Sánchez Feb 07, 2022

From Futuro Studios and Sonoro

Narcocorrido superstar Chalino Sánchez sings to a sold-out crowd for the first time in Sinaloa. It's the best night of his career until someone hands him a note. His face turns pale and his smile slowly disappears. That night, after the show, Chalino will be executed. But who killed him and why? We begin a journey to understand Chalino's life and impact, and the theories behind his unsolved murder.

For more episodes, subscribe here.

ITT Sound Off: US 'Credibility' Feb 04, 2022

Maria and Julio talk about the Biden administration’s response to a U.S. raid in Syria that led to the death of ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi. They also discuss the latest on immigration, Donald Trump’s interference in the 2020 presidential election results, and CNN president Jeff Zucker’s resignation.

ITT Staff Picks

“Despite these repeated tactical victories, from which U.S. presidents have extracted much political capital over the years, the underlying wars themselves have continued and even worsened,” writes Murtaza Hussain for The Intercept.
For The Nation, Joan Walsh writes about former president Trump’s plan to seize voting machines after the 2020 election, and just how serious the attempted coup was.
On Jeff Zucker, Margaret Sullivan writes that ultimately, his relationship with Donald Trump will define his legacy in this piece for The Washington Post.

Photo credit: Adam Schultz/The White House via AP

Machinery of Corruption and Impunity Feb 02, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Anayansi Diaz-Cortes, senior reporter and producer at Reveal, and Kate Doyle, senior analyst at the National Security Archive. They discuss Reveal’s new podcast series “After Ayotzinapa”, a three-part investigation into the disappearance of 43 students from a Mexican teacher’s college in 2014. They also unpack the role of the U.S. in Mexico’s drug war, and the human consequences of corruption.

You can listen to the full series here.

ITT Staff Picks

“It was evident from the beginning that state violence, including enforced disappearances, was a feature, not a bug, of this new war,” writes journalist Ryan Devereaux in this June 2021 piece for The Intercept on Mexico’s unsolved disappearances.
Reporter Jeremy Kryt unpacks how collusion between police and organized crime led to the disappearances of the 43 students in Ayotzinapa in this piece for The Daily Beast from October 2021.
This episode of Latino USA from 2016 dives into the context and immediate aftermath of the students’ disappearances in Mexico.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Claudio Cruz, File

ITT Sound Off: Politics Is Transactional Jan 28, 2022

Maria and Julio discuss Justice Stephen Breyer’s decision to retire from the U.S. Supreme Court, and President Biden’s commitment to appoint a Black woman in his place. They also give an immigration update, and reflect on the heartbreaking killing of Mexican journalist Lourdes Maldonado López.

ITT Staff Picks:

Elie Mystal, justice correspondent at The Nation, gives a detailed look into the potential Black women nominees for the Supreme Court.
Medical advisers are urging DHS to expand protections for COVID-19, as cases have soared by over 800 percent in detention centers this year, reports Camilo Montoya-Galvez for CBS.
“When someone kills a journalist or tries to silence an independent critical voice, the journalist is not the ultimate target. You are,” writes Katherine Corcoran in this opinion piece for The Washington Post.

America Is Shady Jan 25, 2022

Julio is joined by Danielle Moodie, host of the show Woke AF and co-host of the podcast Democracy-ish, and Nathalie Baptiste, opinion writer for HuffPost. They reflect on President Biden’s first year in office, and unpack the latest on voter suppression and ongoing threats to U.S. democracy. We also hear from ITT All-Star Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and host of the Black Diplomats podcast, on the context behind Ukraine-Russia relations.

ITT Staff Picks:

On President Biden’s first year in office, Nathalie Baptiste writes, “it’s clear his to-do list has become more of a wish list,” in this opinion piece for HuffPost.
In his latest episode of the Black Diplomats podcast, Terrell Jermaine Starr speaks with Polina Sinovets, an international relations specialist, for a deep-dive into Ukraine-Russia relations.
In Texas, hundreds of mail-in ballot applications are already being rejected as confusion arises over the new voter restriction rules under SB 1, reports Alexa Ura for The Texas Tribune.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

ITT Sound Off: American Arc of Injustice Jan 21, 2022

Maria and Julio talk about President Biden’s press conference to mark his first year in office, and they get into the latest on voting rights. They also discuss a new plan to resolve Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy and give an update on the COVID-19 pandemic.

ITT Staff Picks:

For Latino Rebels, correspondent Pablo Manríquez reports from the Senate chamber on the debate over the John L. Lewis Voting Rights Act.
“Pandemics do not end ‘individually,’ and vaccines aren’t meant to work only as individual protection,” writes Abdullah Shihipar in this piece for Teen Vogue.
Nicole Acevedo breaks down the history, context, and next steps for the debt restructuring plan aimed at ending Puerto Rico’s nearly five-year-long bankruptcy in this piece for NBC News.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Obvious Racism Jan 18, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Elie Mystal, justice correspondent at The Nation, for a conversation about the latest on voting rights and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They unpack the whitewashing of Dr. King’s words, what he stood for, and how to meaningfully honor his work.

ITT Staff Picks:

In this article for The Nation, Elie Mystal writes about what the late Harvard Law professor and icon, Lani Guinier, taught him about voting rights.
“When Biden fully entered the battle, the other warriors were already bloody, bruised and exhausted,” writes opinion columnist Charles Blow about President Biden’s speech on voting rights in this piece for the The New York Times.
“This holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., sees a nation embroiled in conflicts that would have looked numbingly familiar to him,” writes Jelani Cobb in this article for The New Yorker.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

ITT Sound Off: Too Little, Too Late Jan 14, 2022

Maria and Julio talk about the latest on federal voting rights legislation, a devastating fire in the Bronx, and give an update on grassroots organizing in New York City. They also reflect on the growing number of non-white NPR hosts who have recently left the network. ITT Staff Picks: - President Biden gave a strong speech on voting rights and filibuster reform, but it’s unlikely to make meaningful legislative change, reports Li Zhou for Vox. - This post from Epicenter NYC, a community journalism initiative founded by S. Mitra Kalita, lists ways to help out those affected by the Bronx fire. - Former NPR host Audie Cornish is among the latest to leave the media outlet, joining part in what is being known as “The Great Resignation,” with a majority of women of color leaving their employment, reports Alexandra Jane for The Root. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

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Pandemic in the Time of Capitalism Jan 12, 2022

Maria is joined by Abdullah Shihipar, public health researcher at the People, Place & Health Collective at Brown University, and Jessica Malaty Rivera, infectious disease epidemiologist and a senior adviser at the Pandemic Prevention Institute. They break down the latest on the COVID-19 surge, including guidance on the new Omicron variant, and how capitalism is influencing the CDC’s shifting public health response. They also talk about ways to protect the most vulnerable, and what a post-pandemic world might look like. ITT Staff Picks: - For The Marshall Project, reporters Beth Schwartzapfel and Keri Blakinger warn about what the latest omicron-driven COVID-19 surge could look like in jails and prisons, many of which are already experiencing staffing shortages, vaccine hesitancy, and overcrowding. - “In the US, we are so accustomed to paying out of pocket for essential health care that when it is provided for free, it is a foreign concept,” writes Abdullah Shihipar in this piece for The Nation on how a lack of universal health care coverage has aggravated the pandemic in the US. - Aaron Short writes about the brutal toll of pandemic-induced burnout and staffing shortages on the nursing industry in this piece for New York Magazine. Photo credit: AP Photo/David Dermer, File

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ITT Sound Off: A Self-coup Jan 07, 2022

Maria and Julio reflect on the one-year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection. They get into President Biden’s remarks this week and what accountability looks like for the attack. We also hear from Renée Graham, opinion columnist at the Boston Globe, about the language surrounding the attack and how local extremist movements have expanded in the year since. ITT Staff Picks: - “It’s infuriating when someone in the media or a pundit insists on calling Jan. 6 a riot. What millions witnessed live at the U.S. Capitol was not a protest spurred by passions that spontaneously combusted,” writes Renée Graham for the Boston Globe. - Elie Mystal writes about the implications of attorney general Merrick Garland’s slow-moving prosecution of participants of the January 6 insurrection in this piece for The Nation. - In this piece for Vice, Tess Owen reports on the evolving tactics of the Proud Boys, a far-right neo-fascist gang, in the year following the Capitol insurrection. Photo credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo, File

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The Achilles Heel of Democracy Jan 05, 2022

Maria and Julio are joined by Jelani Cobb, staff writer at the New Yorker and co-editor of the new book “The Matter of Black Lives: Writing from the New Yorker.” They reflect on the history and legacy of the Black Lives Matter movement. They also unpack the latest in attacks on voting rights in the lead up to the midterm elections, and the state of U.S. democracy as we approach the one year anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection. ITT Staff Picks: - As we approach the 10-year mark since the murder of Trayvon Martin, we’re sharing Jelani Cobb’s first piece in The New Yorker about his death and its aftermath. - In his 1962 essay printed in The New Yorker, James Baldwin writes about growing up in Harlem, his experiences with racism, Black people’s struggles in the United States and the myths that white Americans cling to. - “America’s political system is broken, seemingly beyond its normal capacity to repair,” writes senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp in this piece for Vox. Photo credit: AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File

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A Lot of Grief and Joy Dec 31, 2021

Happy New Year ITT familia! In this special episode, Maria and Julio reflect back on 2021 and how they found joy throughout a turbulent year. They revisit some of the top ITT moments, from the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, where they spoke with journalists Jazmine Ulloa and Wajahat Ali to unpack the aftermath of it all, to the virtual live show featuring two Minneapolis-based journalists, which marked one year since the murder of George Floyd. To the roundtable episode the dove into white supremacy and racial justice with guests Elie Mystal and Michael Harriot…and much more! Photo credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File

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White Supremacy Is Evergreen Dec 28, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, historian, writer and professor at Princeton University, and Adam Goodman, professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, for a conversation about the deep-rooted history of white supremacy in this country. They discuss their chapters in a new anthology titled “A Field Guide to White Supremacy,” and also get into how white supremacy manifests in our society today, from the immigration system to policing. ITT Staff Picks - In this piece published over the summer in The New Yorker, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor writes about the impact from the protests following the police murder of George Floyd in 2020. - “Americans are familiar with white-supremacist movements like the Klan, skinheads, neo-Nazis, and the Proud Boys. But they don’t seem to recognize white-supremacist ideology—the most venomous form of racist ideology,” writes Ibram X. Kendi for The Atlantic. - For The Brookings Institution, Charles Kamasaki, Senior Cabinet Advisor of UnidosUS, writes about the history of immigration compared to the systemic racism we see in the system today. Photo credit: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

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A 2021 Holiday Message Dec 24, 2021

Futuro Media is off for winter break, and Maria and Julio want to send all of you, our ITT familia, lots of love, light and appreciation during this holiday season. Be sure to keep checking your feeds, because we will be dropping fresh content for you throughout the break. And, we can’t wait to dive back into the latest news and political analysis in the new year. Photo credit: AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda

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West Side Story: Why Now? Dec 21, 2021

In The Thick is excited to share a recent episode from Latino Rebels Radio, which gets into the remake of West Side Story from director Steven Spielberg. Julio talks to Erica González Martínez and Frances Negrón Muntaner, who are part of a new series from the Women’s Media Center called “Latinas are not in love with West Side Story. Here’s why.” Subscribe to Latino Rebels Radio wherever you get your podcasts. Photo credit: Niko Tavernise/20th Century Studios via AP

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ITT Sound Off: Love and Resistance Dec 17, 2021

Maria and Julio talk about former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s guilty plea for violating George Floyd’s civil rights, as well as the ongoing trial of former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter, who shot and killed Daunte Wright last April. They also discuss the latest with the January 6th investigation, as well as a new House bill to combat Islamophobia. Finally, they reflect on the legacy of author, feminist scholar, and poet bell hooks. ITT Staff Picks: - The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports on the ground with the latest on the Kim Potter trial, including Potter’s expected testimony. - “Meadows is hiding what happened in the White House on January 6. It’s no wonder he does not want to testify,” writes David Corn for Mother Jones. - Marian Jones writes about bell hooks and her impact on Black feminist cultural studies and criticism for Teen Vogue. Photo credit: AP Photo/Morry Gash, File

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Social Disasters Dec 15, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Karen Attiah, columnist for The Washington Post, and Aaron Morrison, national race and ethnicity writer for the Associated Press. They talk about the devastating tornadoes in Kentucky and other states this past weekend, and the connection to climate change. They also discuss the fatal truck crash in Mexico that killed 55 migrants, and unpack the latest with voting and reproductive rights in Texas. ITT Staff Picks: - This piece in Latino Rebels via the AP describes anguish amongst the families of migrants in Guatemala in the wake of the deadly truck crash in Chiapas, Mexico. - “The first warning came, and they just had us go in the hallway. After the warning, they had us go back to work. They never offered us to go home,” recalled one worker at a candle factory decimated by a tornado in Kentucky in this piece by Deon J. Hampton for NBC News. - For the Texas Tribune, journalists James Barragán and Cassandra Pollock examine the implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling on states seeking to challenge other constitutional rights. Photo credit: AP Photo/Michael Clubb

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ITT Sound Off: We Don’t Get Ownership Dec 10, 2021

Maria and Julio reflect on conversations around use of the term Latinx, and highlight what’s missing from political outreach and media coverage when it comes to Latino communities. They also get into the new “West Side Story” remake, and unpack the broader need for more diversified narratives about Puerto Ricans and communities of color in Hollywood. ITT Staff Picks: - For MSNBC, Julio writes about how the debate over the term Latinx distracts from more important issues, including the Biden administration’s promises to Latino communities. - “It’s not just imperfect, it continues the original’s tradition of advancing a dangerous narrative even as it offers Latinx people some important opportunities,” writes Cristina Escobar, co-creator of LatinaMedia.Co, in this review of “West Side Story” for Latino Rebels. - For the New Yorker, Graciela Mochkofsky writes about how the Instagram account Nuevayorkinos is redefining the history and identities of New York’s Latinx community. Photo credit: Niko Tavernise/20th Century Studios via AP

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The US Fails Immigrants Dec 08, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Tina Vasquez, senior staff writer for The Counter, and Tanvi Misra, independent immigration reporter. They dive into the latest on immigration, including the Biden administration’s continuation of Trump-era, anti-immigrant policies. They also talk about alarming conditions in ICE detention facilities, and the experiences of immigrant workers. And, they discuss the fight for meaningful immigration reform in the Build Back Better bill. ITT Staff Picks: - President Biden is expanding the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy to include anyone from the Western Hemisphere, reports Buzzfeed News Reporter Hamed Aleaziz. - For The Counter, Tina Vasquez reports about an unidentifiable toxic chemical at a North Carolina poultry plant that is causing harmful symptoms to its immigrant employees. - From Washington Heights to Staten Island, immigrant women workers in New York City have been organizing and fighting for their rights since the beginning of the pandemic, reports Tanvi Misra for The Fuller Project, in collaboration with THE CITY and Documented. Photo credit: AP Photo/Veronica G. Cardenas, File

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Man in the Arena: The Icon Dec 05, 2021

If you are a fan of In The Thick, you know that our co-host Julio Ricardo Varela is a big Boston sports fan (even known as "The Bronx Judas"). For this special bonus drop on our feed, Julio and his family are featured in a new 10-part podcast series called The Man in the Arena from Religion of Sports and ESPN that looks at two decades of Tom Brady through the eyes of the fans and the haters, those in the arena and those outside. In 2001, Tom Brady became the Patriots’ savior when he helped the franchise win their first Super Bowl. But why did the city embrace a guy that might not have fit the profile of a blue-collar Boston fan? How did Brady help redefine what it means to be a Boston sports fan? And how much do the players we think of as “ours” really belong to the community that roots for them? Guests: Boston sports fans the Varela family, Seth Wickersham, Playwright and Boston fan Tori Sampson, and a Pats fan who converted to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after Brady left. Thanks to Columbus 81 Productions, ICM Partners, Worldwide Pants, CBS, 60 Minutes and Veritone for the clips used in this episode. To subscribe to "The Man in the Arena," click here.

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ITT Sound Off: Whiteness Running Amok Dec 03, 2021

Julio and guest co-host Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and host of the Black Diplomats Podcast, discuss the Michigan high school shooting, Chris Cuomo’s suspension from CNN, and Representative Lauren Boebert’s racist comments against Representative Ilhan Omar. And, they dive into the Supreme Court case about a Mississippi abortion law. ITT Staff Picks: - This piece for The City breaks down an investigation into Andrew Cuomo’s inner circle, including his brother Chris Cuomo, and their efforts discredit the women who’ve accused the former governor of sexual harassment. - “Kavanaugh can lie to the media and Barrett can lie to women and Roberts can lie to himself, but the lived experience of women, girls, and pregnant people will never fit the self-serving narratives of conservative Supreme Court justices,” writes Elie Mystal on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case for The Nation. - For Mother Jones, Nathalie Baptiste writes about the context and consequences of Rep. Lauren Boebert’s bigoted comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar. Photo credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File

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A Bipartisan Killer Dec 01, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by ITT All-Stars Wajahat Ali, columnist for The Daily Beast, and Jamilah King, deputy inequality editor for Buzzfeed News. They dive into the latest on the COVID-19 crisis, including the new omicron variant, and what’s needed to fight global vaccine inequality. They also unpack the trial and conviction of Ahmaud Arbery’s killers, and the state of U.S. democracy as we approach the 2022 midterm elections. ITT Staff Picks: - Early findings of the new coronavirus variant, omicron, show that it might be more transmissible and better able to get around the body’s immune responses, reports Apoorva Mandavilli for The New York Times. - For BuzzFeed News, reporter Jamilah King contributed to a story about a Black man who shot and killed a white teen, which asks whether his self-defense claim will carry the same weight as those made by other defendants. - “We have less than a year to try and save our ailing Republic from an increasingly radicalized and weaponized GOP death cult,” writes Wajahat Ali for The Daily Beast. Photo credit: AP Photo/Ana Brigida

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An Unresolved Past Nov 26, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Al Letson, host of Reveal and the new podcast series, “Mississippi Goddamn: The Ballad of Billey Joe.” Billey Joe Johnson Jr. was a Black high school football star who was found dead in Lucedale, Mississippi in 2008 after being pulled over by a white cop. They get into his story, the problematic history of investigations when it comes to suspicious deaths of Black people in Mississippi, and journalists’ responsibility when covering these tragic stories. ITT Staff Picks: - Listen to the most recent episodes of “Mississippi Goddamn'' here. - The investigation into Billey Joe Johnson Jr. ’s death still haunts his family and many in the Black community because they don’t believe the authorities, reports Margaret Baker for Sun Herald. - For The Conversation, Professor Connie Hassett-Walker lays out the roots of racism in American policing, from slave patrols to Jim Crow laws. Photo credit: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

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Struggling in Limbo Nov 24, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Rowaida Abdelaziz, national reporter for the HuffPost covering immigration and Islamophobia, and Ali Latifi, Kabul correspondent for Al Jazeera English, to talk about the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. They discuss the growing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the impact on Afghan women and the latest with refugee resettlement. ITT Staff Picks: - Tens of thousands of Afghan refugees who were relocated to U.S. military bases are living in limbo with limited access to essentials, reports Rowaida Abdelaziz for HuffPost. - For Insider, Ali Latifi reports on the situation in Mazar-e-Sharif following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, including murders, a hoax security alert and an overall sense of unease. - Politico interviewed State Department employees, government officials and advocates about the “desperation and disorganization” that followed in the days after Kabul fell, and the mental health impact this had on staff. Photo credit: AP Photo/Bram Janssen

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ITT Sound Off: This Structural Reality Nov 19, 2021

Maria and Julio react to the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict, and talk about how white supremacy played out in his trial, the trial against Ahmaud Arbery’s killers, and the case against the organizers of the “Unite the Right'' rally. They also give an update on the Build Back Better bill and Maria’s latest reporting in Latin America. And, they talk about the House vote to censure Rep. Paul Gosar for his violent social media post attacking Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. ITT Staff Picks: - The ongoing Unite the Right trial is exposing how some in the white power movement are turning against each other, reports Elle Reeve for CNN. - For Roll Call, Suzanne Monyak reports that as Democratic efforts to protect undocumented immigrants continue to fall short, there is a chance that Republicans will make further gains with the Latino community. - Rebecca Klar writes about how social media posts like Paul Gosar’s can “dissuade women from participating in politics at all levels,” for The Hill. Photo credit: Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool

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White Violence on Steroids Nov 17, 2021

Julio is joined by Elie Mystal, justice correspondent at The Nation, and Michael Harriot, senior writer at The Root, to talk about white supremacy and anti-Black racism in the criminal justice system. They get into the murder trials of Kyle Rittenhouse and the killers of Ahmaud Arbery. They also discuss the latest with the January 6th investigation, and the ramifications of rising inflation for communities of color. ITT Staff Picks: - “Kyle Rittenhouse is white, so Kyle Rittenhouse is a hero,” writes Michael Harriot in his latest piece for The Root, which gets into “the values of the white community.” - “The shapes some white people will twist themselves into in order to justify white violence falls into the uncanny valley,” writes Elie Mystal for The Nation. - Recent emails released by a congressional committee investigating the former Trump administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic show just how far they went to interfere with the CDC, reports Erin Banco for Politico. Photo credit: Mark Hertzberg /Pool Photo via AP

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Nuestro Crossover: Jonathan Jayes-Green Nov 12, 2021

In this crossover episode, ITT airs the second episode of Nuestro, a new podcast from Chuck Rocha, Democratic strategist and former Bernie Sanders campaign adviser. Nuestro gives space to Latino artists, advocates, politicians and journalists, to get deep into the moments that have defined and shaped their lives. In this episode, Chuck talks to Jonathan Jayes-Green, vice president of programs at the Marguerite Casey Foundation and co-founder of the UndocuBlack Network. They talk about DACA, anti-Blackness in the immigrant rights movement, and how Jonathan’s journey as an Afro-Latinx, undocumented trans person, taught them about solidarity and the intersections of race and immigration. Subscribe here to Nuestro, or wherever you get your podcasts. Photo credit: Courtesy of Nuestro Podcast

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A Climate of Racial Equity Nov 09, 2021

Julio and guest co-host Jenni Monet, independent investigative journalist and founder of the newsletter Indigenously, are joined by S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL Media and CEO and publisher of Epicenter-NYC, and Justin Worland, senior correspondent for Time Magazine covering climate change and policy. They reflect on the 2021 election results and unpack the latest with infrastructure spending and Biden’s Build Back Better plan. They also talk about the COP26 climate summit, and the latest on vaccine outreach. Staff Picks: - On the language around climate change, Mary Annaïse Heglar writes “as we look for new words and slogans, it should be for the purpose of galvanizing those who want to be on the right side of history,” for The Nation. - Leaders in developing countries have faced hurdles in attending the COP26 climate conference, yet they are the most vulnerable to climate change, reports Justin Worland for Time Magazine. - The 19th’s Washington correspondent Amanda Becker spoke with Arizona voters about what they are hoping to see from Biden’s Build Back Better plan, including a paid leave program. Photo credit: AP Photo/Alastair Grant

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We Imagine… Us: Re-Imagination Nation Nov 05, 2021

We’re proud to present Re-Imagination Nation, a new series that is part of the We Imagine… Us project by Futuro Unidad Hinojosa, the newest editorial division from Maria Hinojosa and Futuro Media. Re-Imagination Nation features interviews with thought leaders, artists and activists who are members of SCoRE (Solidarity Council on Racial Equity). In this episode, author Heather McGhee talks with Maria Hinojosa about her cross-country journey challenging the idea that progress for some must come at the expense of others. Then, sociology professor Manuel Pastor talks to Maria about models for a more inclusive economy designed so that we can all prosper together. We Imagine... Us is available now wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe here for more episodes, including the companion fiction series, The Long Way Around.

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Get It Together Nov 03, 2021

Julio and guest co-host Imara Jones, founder and CEO of TransLash Media, are joined by Akela Lacy, politics reporter at The Intercept, and Renée Graham, associate editor and columnist for The Boston Globe’s Op-Ed section. They talk about the World Series games in Atlanta, and the racism behind the Tomahawk Chop. They also get into the latest with the investigation into January 6, and they hear from Antonia Hylton, a correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC, on Republican strategies behind school board elections. ITT Staff Picks: - Stefan Fatsis reports on the history of the racist Tomahawk Chop, including its hand motion and music origins, for Slate Magazine. - On the recent uptick in threats against local officials and teachers, Renée Graham writes that “the endgame is taking shape — to replace them with people fixated on toxic ideologies instead of serving the public good,” for The Boston Globe. - Corporate interest groups, conservative groups tied to Donald Trump, congressional Republicans and the Koch network are lobbying against Biden’s Build Back Better plan, reports Akela Lacy for The Intercept. Photo credit: AP Photo/Steve Helber

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ITT Sound Off: We Have Receipts, Joe Oct 29, 2021

Maria and Julio talk about what’s happening with President Biden’s spending bill and the issues within the Democratic Party. They also discuss the upcoming trial of Kyle Rittenhouse and the ongoing investigation into the January 6 Capitol insurrection. ITT Staff Picks: - As negotiations on Biden’s Build Back Better plan continue, reporters Amanda Becker and Candice Norwood write about how the fate of paid leave is still unclear, for The 19th News. - “Rittenhouse is the very definition of an “outside agitator” who came into somebody else’s community armed to do violence, but because he murdered-while-white, he will probably walk free,” writes Elie Mystal in this piece for The Nation. - In this exclusive for Rolling Stone, reporter Hunter Walker writes about how congressional members and staffers were involved in the Jan. 6 organizing. Photo credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

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Take Your Job and Shove It Oct 27, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Luis Feliz Leon, writer and educator with Labor Notes, and Lauren Kaori Gurley, labor reporter for Vice Magazine’s Motherboard to talk about the labor strikes happening across the country, from farm equipment workers to undocumented immigrant workers. They also talk about how the pandemic has fueled the calls for better working conditions. Staff Picks: - Luis Feliz Leon writes about a 64-year-old taxi driver who is fighting for debt relief for her medallion debt, for In These Times. - Lauren Kaori Gurley writes for Vice’s Motherboard about Amazon warehouse workers in New York City who are filing for a union election. - Clara McMichael writes about the workers forming New York’s first farmworkers union, for DocumentedNY. Photo credit: Bryon Houlgrave/The Des Moines Register via AP

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ITT Sound Off: Criminal Charges Oct 22, 2021

Maria and Julio get into the Senate confirmation hearing for Chris Magnus, President Biden’s pick to lead Customs and Border Protection. They also debrief the latest developments from the House committee investigating the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. And, they talk about a Senate committee investigation in Brazil to hold President Jair Bolsonaro accountable for the failures in his response to the coronavirus pandemic. Staff Picks - President Biden’s pick for Customs and Border Protection commissioner, Chris Magnus, supports two Trump-era border tactics, reports Ryan Devereaux for The Intercept. - The public already knows that Steve Bannon, an ally to former President Donald Trump, played a role in the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, reports Dan Friedman for Mother Jones. - In his latest column, Julio writes “Brazil’s president has been all-in on what has become an apparently effective strategy for modern-day authoritarians,” for MSNBC. Photo credit: AP Photo/Eraldo Peres

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We Need to Center Humanity Oct 19, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by ITT All-Star Imara Jones, creator and producer at TransLash Media, and Kate Sosin, LGBTQ+ reporter at The 19th News, for a conversation about the latest headlines. They talk about former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell’s death, the Biden administration's actions around immigration, and the recent anti-trans bill out of Texas. And, they discuss the latest controversy at Netflix regarding comic Dave Chappelle’s special, “The Closer.” ITT Staff Picks: - There is a deep-rooted history of lynchings and violence against migrants, folks of Mexican heritage and Black people in Texas, reports Bill Minutaglio for Texas Monthly. - For The 19th, Kate Sosin reports about how the near-total abortion ban and closures of clinics in Texas could affect LGBTQ+ folks. - “His routine—controversial as it is—accomplished exactly what he set out to do,” writes Nicole Lewis about Dave Chappelle’s recent Netflix special, “The Closer,” for Slate. Photo credit: ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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ITT Sound Off: The Backlash Oct 15, 2021

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, deputy inequality editor at Buzzfeed News, give an immigration update, including Maria Hinojosa’s reporting in Mississippi for Latino USA which followed up on the massive ICE workplace raid in 2019. They also talk about NFL coach Jon Gruden’s resignation in light of emails revealing misogynistic, racist and homophobic comments. And, they debrief the controversy around Dave Chappelle’s recent comedy special on Netflix. ITT Staff Picks: - Be sure to listen to Latino USA’s recent episode, where Maria Hinojosa and producer Reynaldo Leaños Jr. traveled back to Mississippi this year to follow up on their reporting about the massive immigration raid that took place in 2019. - On the controversy surrounding former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, Jemele Hill writes that the NFL “will never fix its own corrosive, institutionalized racism without more fundamental change,” for The Atlantic. - For GQ, poet and author Saeed Jones writes about the hurt and betrayal he felt on watching Dave Chappelle make transphobic and homophobic comments in his new Netflix special, “The Closer.” Photo credit: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

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Settler Colonialism Oct 12, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, historian and author of the new book “Not A ‘Nation of Immigrants’: Settler Colonialism, White Supremacy, and a History of Erasure and Exclusion.” They dive into a conversation about U.S. imperialism and colonialism, immigration and dismantling the myth around Christopher Columbus. This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán. ITT Staff Picks: - Teen Vogue published an excerpt from Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s “Not A ‘Nation of Immigrants,’” on how Italian immigrants used Christopher Columbus to assimilate to the United States. - Kyle T. Mays writes about the history of Black and Indigenous solidarity, and how they “have tried to reimagine the foundations of American society,” for George Washington University’s History News Network. - Kathleen Foody and Wilson Ring report on the issues and tensions around celebrating Columbus Day, for The Associated Press. Photo credit: Courtesy of Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz.

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ITT Sound Off: Media Controversies Oct 08, 2021

Maria and Julio give a brief update on the latest in Congress. Then they get into the outage across Facebook’s platforms this week and the congressional testimony from whistleblower, Frances Haugen. They also talk about the scandals emerging around Ozy Media, and the Pandora Papers leak. ITT Staff Picks: - Billy Perrigo reports for Time Magazine about Facebook’s decision to shut down its civic-integrity team, and the reckoning that followed. - Read more from Lauren Williams, CEO of Capital B, about the scandal surrounding Ozy Media, via New York Times Opinion. - Elías Camhaji reports about the Spanish and Latino artists revealed in the Pandora Papers in this piece for El País. Photo credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew

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The 500th Episode Oct 05, 2021

For this special 500th episode of In The Thick, Maria and Julio reflect on this milestone of centering POC voices. Then, Julio and guest co-host Wajahat Ali are joined by ITT All-Stars Terrell Jermaine Starr, foreign affairs reporter and host of the Black Diplomats podcast, and Jenni Monet, independent investigative journalist and founder of the weekly newsletter Indigenously. They get into what it means to seek out and create spaces for journalists of color, the latest developments in Congress, and they look forward to the Supreme Court’s upcoming session. ITT Staff Picks: - Journalist S. Mitra Kalita reports on the need for hiring managers to holistically support women and people of color in the workplace in this joint column for Charter and TIME Magazine. - For Washington Post Opinions, columnist Jennifer Rubin writes about Representative Pramila Jayapal’s tenacity and firm stance on the infrastructure bill and reconciliation package. - The Supreme Court “is now poised to do what a mob of white terrorists never could: Stop progress,” writes Elie Mystal for The Nation on the court’s current term.

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ITT Sound Off: The Congress Mess Oct 01, 2021

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, deputy inequality editor at Buzzfeed News, talk about the latest in Congress, including Thursday’s vote to temporarily stop a government shutdown, and the infrastructure and budget reconciliation bills. They hear from Representative Jamaal Bowman, of New York’s 16th Congressional District, about the frustrating delay in passing immigration reform. And, they discuss the impact of vaccine mandates on the NBA. ITT Staff Picks: - Stephen Crockett Jr. writes about how Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are loving the attention that comes with being the roadblock to the Democratic agenda in this piece for The Root. - “Republicans think that by voting against the debt ceiling hike, they’re showing that Democrats are responsible for the debt. But they’re really demonstrating that the security of the United States depends on Democratic control of Congress,” writes William Saletan in this piece for Slate. - “But if the league’s unvaccinated players are going to use their proverbial microphone to showcase their own lack of information—and potentially threaten their team’s ability to compete—then high-profile players should use their own platform to call out their teammates,” writes Jemele Hill in this piece for The Atlantic. Photo credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

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The Biased Media Frame Sep 28, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Dr. Rashad Richey, political analyst and host of “Indisputable” on The Young Turks Network and Zerlina Maxwell, host of “Zerlina” on Peacock, for a conversation on the latest news. They discuss the media coverage surrounding Gabby Petito’s death, and disparities when it comes to the same coverage for people of color. They also talk about the Biden administration’s handling of Haitian refugees at the U.S.-Mexico border, and the Republican-led Arizona audit. ITT Staff Picks: - For The New York Times, opinion columnist Charles M. Blow writes about the “missing white woman syndrome” and the stark contrast in media coverage for people of color. - “These photos from Del Rio haven’t cut fresh wounds. They’ve reopened old ones,” writes Caitlin Dickerson about President Biden having to come to terms with the U.S.’ problematic history on immigration policy, for The Atlantic. - Hunter Walker reports on the House Select Committee’s investigation into the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol and their recent subpoenas of Trump allies for Rolling Stone. Photo credit: AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

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ITT Sound Off: Not a Humane System Sep 24, 2021

In this week’s sound off, Maria and Julio dive deep into the violent border enforcement we witnessed in Del Rio, Texas where thousands of Haitian refugees were being held and turned away. They discuss the horrifying images of Border Patrol agents attacking Haitian immigrants and the media’s responsibility to push back against the Biden administration’s narrative. ITT Staff Picks: - Felipe De La Hoz writes about flaws and gaps in how we talk about asylum seekers: “Many seem to think that the president still has the option, the duty, to violate domestic and international law and shut down asylum,” in this March piece for The Baffler. - Patrice Lawrence, executive director of the UndocuBlack Network, writes “The Biden administration could have made a strong statement in favor of due process and dignity by allowing for an orderly asylum process. Instead, it has opted for mass expulsions of vulnerable people,” in this op-ed for CNN. - Hamed Aleaziz spoke with 20 government officials at the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, about the Biden administration’s approach to immigration policy, via Buzzfeed News. Photo credit: AP Photo/Fernando Llano

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Feeding the Climate Monster Sep 21, 2021

Maria and Julio get into the ongoing climate crisis with Kendra Pierre-Louis, producer and senior climate reporter with the Gimlet-Spotify podcast How to Save a Planet, and Dallas Goldtooth, organizer with the Keep It in the Ground Campaign for the Indigenous Environmental Network. They discuss how communities of color are the most impacted by climate disasters globally, and also how they are at the forefront of pushing for climate justice. ITT Staff Picks: - Zahra Hirji reports on the Biden administration finally setting in place initiatives to address worker-related deaths due to extreme heat, for BuzzFeed. - “The climate crisis we face has been caused by the breakdown of our relationships over time, and to solve the crisis we must repair those relationships first,” writes Jena Brooker for The Grist. - Michelle Gamage interviewed four experts on what Canadian politicians should do to address the climate crisis, including protecting climate activists and creating policy led by Indigenous people, for The Tyee. Photo credit: AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File

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ITT Sound Off: Agents of White Supremacy Sep 18, 2021

Maria and Julio talk about the election in California to recall Governor Gavin Newsom. They hear from Jean Guerrero, an opinion columnist for the Los Angeles Times about how this effort was rooted in white supremacy. They also get into the Senate hearing on how FBI agents failed to investigate allegations of sexual abuse against former physician, Larry Nassar. And finally, they debrief the Met Gala. ITT Staff Picks: - Nathalie Baptiste writes about the flaws of California’s recall election process in this piece for Mother Jones. - Danielle Campoamor writes “The strength required of those who testified during the hearing, and of every sexual assault victim who comes forward, is not innate, but born out of necessity. It is the result of the blatant and consistent failures of others,” in this piece for The Lily. - Zeeshan Aleem writes about why Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s dress broke Twitter in this op-ed for MSNBC. Photo credit: AP Photo/Ashley Landis

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Cross-Border Abortion Care Sep 14, 2021

Maria and guest co-host Jamilah King, deputy inequality editor at BuzzFeed News, are joined by Lina-Maria Murillo, assistant professor of gender, women’s and sexuality studies, and history, at the University of Iowa, and Veronica Martinez, journalist covering gender and immigration for La Verdad, for a conversation about reproductive justice. They unpack the latest on the Texas abortion ban and Mexico’s Supreme Court ruling that decriminalizes abortion, and also get into how people historically have crossed these borders for abortion care. ITT Staff Picks: - For the Washington Post, Lina-Maria Murillo writes about the history of abortion bans and flights: “No matter what antiabortion crusaders try, pregnant people will always find ways to have abortions — and networks that go beyond borders have long helped them navigate treatment options.” - The Texas abortion ban will heavily affect immigrant, Black, poor women of color and Texans with disabilities, report Jolie McCullough and Neelam Bohra, for The Texas Tribune. - In a collaboration between La Verdad and El Paso Matters, Veronica Martinez reports about Mexico and Texas’ recent actions on abortion and how this will affect women on either side of the border. Photo credit: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File

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ITT Sound Off: Constant State of Whiplash Sep 10, 2021

Maria and Julio dive deep into the latest news with reproductive rights, including the Texas law that came into effect earlier this month, prohibiting abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, and a recent decision from Mexico’s Supreme Court to decriminalize abortion. They also reflect on the damage from Hurricane Ida in Louisiana and along the Northeast coast. ITT Staff Picks: - Elie Mystal writes for The Nation about all the things Democrats can do to fight Texas’s abortion ban, and protect reproductive rights. - Juanita Ramos Ardila reports for Latino Rebels about the decision by Mexico’s Supreme Court to decriminalize abortion. - “By shutting down operations in a controlled manner well ahead of the hurricane making landfall and installing equipment that prevents excess flaring, refineries can prevent enormous pollution events during hurricanes,” write Naveena Sadasivam and Jake Bittle for Mother Jones. Photo credit: AP Photo/Jim Salter

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The Lessons of 9/11 Sep 07, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Rose Arce, journalist and executive producer at Soledad O’Brien Productions, and a former colleague of Maria’s, for an intimate conversation about their on-the-ground reporting on 9/11. They get into what it was like to cover these events and how it has impacted their personal lives and journalistic careers 20 year later. ITT Staff Picks: - In this piece for CNN, Rose Arce writes about how she began teaching her daughter, Luna, about 9/11. - For The New Republic, Jordan Michael Smith writes about the lasting impacts of 9/11 over the last 20 years, leading up to the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. - Sewell Chan recounts his coverage of 9/11 in this opinion piece for the LA Times: “for me it was a turning point — a rupture between the first two decades of my life (hopeful striving) and the next two (anxious striving).” Photo credit: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

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14 Years in Guantánamo Sep 03, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Mansoor Adayfi, a former Guantánamo detainee and author of the new book “Don't Forget Us Here: Lost and Found at Guantánamo.” They talk about Mansoor’s experience being detained for 14 years, without charge or trial, at the U.S. military prison in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba and get an inside look into the place that has tortured detainees and restricted access to the media for nearly two decades. ITT Staff Picks: - As U.S. troops leave Afghanistan, Mansoor Adayfi writes about how the end of the war on terror must include closing Guantánamo, for The Boston Globe. - Benjamin R. Farley, law-of-war counsel at the U.S. Department of Defense, Military Commissions Defense Organization, writes about what President Biden must do to right the wrongs of Guantánamo, for The Atlantic. - For Foreign Policy, Fatima Bhutto writes about Ahmed Rabbani, one of the last prisoners still being detained at Guantánamo: “U.S. officials have been explicit about what they call “forever prisoners,” men who will never be charged with a crime; Rabbani is one such prisoner.” Photo credit: Courtesy of Mansoor Adayfi

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Right to a Quality Education Aug 31, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Jon Hale, professor at the University of Illinois, and author of the new book, “The Choice We Face: How Segregation, Race and Power Have Shaped America’s Most Controversial Education Reform Movement,” and Leigh Patel, professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, and author of the new book, “No Study Without Struggle: Confronting Settler Colonialism in Higher Education.” They get into the history of structural racism in the U.S. public education system and discuss the controversy around critical race theory. ITT Staff Picks: - Nicole Carr writes about what it was like to navigate the decision of sending her children back to school in a school district that wouldn’t reinstate masking in this piece for ProPublica. - “You might even say that we’ve always had race theory in the classroom: the teaching, implicitly and sometimes explicitly, of a white-centric view of history,” writes Anthony Conwright in this piece for The New Republic. - Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, author and professor of constitutional law at John Jay College, writes about her own experience with bussing and the state of school segregation twenty years later, in this 2019 piece for Time Magazine. Photo credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski

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Black Power Manifesto Aug 27, 2021

In this rebroadcast episode from earlier this year, Maria and Julio are joined by Charles Blow, columnist for The New York Times and author of "The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto." They talk about Black political power and Charles' call for a reversal of the Great Migration to create Black regionalism in the South. They also discuss how to confront anti-Black violence in this moment of racial reckoning. ITT Staff Picks: - For The New York Times Opinion, Charles Blow writes about the new census data proving to be frightening for white nationalists, and the importance of political power. - Malcolm Carter reports on how some cities are ready to challenge the census results, fearing there was an undercount in the Black community, for The Community Voice. - The Black Power Movement was “an outgrowth of the civil rights movement that emerged in the 1960s with calls to reject slow-moving integration efforts and embrace self-determination,” writes Jameelah Nasheed, Op-Ed columnist for Teen Vogue. Photo credit: Beowulf Sheehan This episode originally aired in February 2021 and was mixed by Rosana Cabán.

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No Census Is Perfect Aug 24, 2021

Julio is joined by Rogelio Sáenz, demographer and professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio and Hansi Lo Wang, NPR national correspondent reporting on the people, power and money behind the U.S. census, to geek out over the 2020 census results. They dive into the latest race and ethnicity data and discuss how the data will impact policy, funding, and redistricting. ITT Staff Picks: - Adam Serwer, writes about the 2020 census findings and the history of how the United States has counted people who identify as white, for The Atlantic. - For NPR, Hansi Lo Wang reports on how the white population is changing based on the recent census results: “it's largely the result of a major shift in how the U.S. census asks about people's racial identities.” - The U.S. population is becoming more diverse, due to growth in Latino, Asian and multiracial populations, writes Rogelio Sáenz about the 2020 Census for Latino Rebels. Photo credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File

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ITT Sound Off: The Imperialist Template Aug 20, 2021

Maria and Julio get into the latest breaking news from Afghanistan and discuss the role of mainstream media and multiple presidential administrations throughout the destructive war. They also hear from Ali Latifi, an Afghan journalist for Al Jazeera English based in Kabul. Finally, they get into the devastation caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti and what it means for people who are still rebuilding from prior disasters. ITT Staff Picks: - “Afghanistan has been a victim of foreign influence, decades of intrusion by our neighbors, two deadly occupations, and decades of nonstop violence,” writes Ali Latifi in this piece for The Nation. - Nasrin Nawa writes in this piece for the Washington Post about what she is hearing from her sister, and other family members, as they try to flee Afghanistan. - Garry Pierre-Pierre writes about the lessons the Haitian diaspora can learn from 2010 when it comes to offering help for The Haitian Times. Photo credit: 1st Lt. Mark Andries/U.S. Marine Corps via AP

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Fighting Vaccine Misinformation Aug 17, 2021

Julio is joined by Dr. Bianka Soria-Olmos, a pediatrician at Cook Children’s Pediatrics, and Dr. Darien Sutton, emergency medicine physician and medical contributor for ABC News, for a conversation about the coronavirus pandemic and vaccine access. They discuss the politicization of the pandemic and the spread of misinformation around vaccines. They also unpack how this latest surge of COVID-19 has affected children. ITT Staff Picks: - “The pandemic isn’t over, but it will be: The goal is still to reach the endgame with as little damage, death, and disability as possible,” explains science writer Ed Yong for The Atlantic. - On vaccine hesitancy, columnist Nesrine Malik writes that the root of the issue is a distrust in the state, for The Guardian. - For The Nation, public health advocate Dr. Rhea Boyd writes about how the COVID vaccination effort is incomplete without a recalibrated health care system. Photo credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File

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ITT Sound Off: Accountability and Action Aug 13, 2021

Maria and Julio discuss New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s resignation following the state attorney general’s report which corroborated the sexual harassment allegations against him. They also get into the latest with Congress and the Senate’s passing of the 1 trillion dollar infrastructure bill, and give an update on COVID-19 and the Delta variant’s surge in the South. ITT Staff Picks: - “Politicians are a means to an end. They exist to be replaced when they are unethical or no longer useful to progress,” Sarah Jones writes about Gov. Cuomo’s downfall in this piece for New York Magazine. - National Affairs Correspondent for The Nation, Joan Walsh, writes about the good and bad parts of the recently passed infrastructure bill, and the need to prioritize voting rights, too. - NPR breaks down new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau which shows that the country has grown more ethnically and racially diverse. Photo credit: AP Photo/Hans Pennink

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America's Farmworkers Aug 10, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Norma Flores López, Chief Programs Officer at Justice for Migrant Women, and Reyna Lopez, Executive Director of Oregon’s largest farmworker union: Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste or PCUN, to talk about the movement for justice and rights for farmworkers. They dive into how the record heat waves are affecting farmworkers, how the history of farming is rooted in slavery and what is needed to provide protection as well as a pathway to citizenship for farmworkers. ITT Staff Picks: - Maurizio Guerrero writes about how undocumented farmworkers are facing deadly heat waves and worsening working conditions due to the climate crisis in this piece for In These Times. - Jessica Fu writes about the Farm Workforce Modernization Act and who it’s really benefiting in this piece for The Counter. - “The agricultural exemption from the FLSA not only allows children to work longer hours, at younger ages, than in any other industry in the U.S., but it also allows children to work in more hazardous conditions, according to [Human Rights Watch],” write Karen Coates and Valeria Fernández in this 2019 piece for Pacific Standard. Photo credit: AP Photo/Nathan Howard

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The History of Reggaeton Aug 09, 2021

This is the true story of the young people from Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico and beyond who beat the odds, refused to be quiet and created an irresistible musical culture that has kept the world dancing. Join Ivy Queen, one of the founders of the genre, for an incredible musical story about sex, race, drugs, censorship, and of course, perreo. First: stop Panama. LOUD: The History of Reggaeton is a new podcast from Spotify Studios and Futuro Studios.

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ITT Sound Off: Looming Exit Aug 06, 2021

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast, get into the latest with the New York Attorney General’s investigation of sexual harassment allegations against Governor Andrew Cuomo. They also talk about the reactions to homophobic comments made by rapper DaBaby, and what accountability looks like. And, they talk about the Biden administration’s decision to renew Title 42, a public health order enacted under former President Trump. ITT Staff Picks: - Josefa Velásquez reports on Cuomo’s “lonely last fight” to stay in power, as even his allies have signaled resignation is inevitable via The City. - “Shaming like that only leads to even more stigma, more people who are afraid to be tested, and more people having to suffer in silence,” writes George M. Johnson about rapper DaBaby’s homophobic comments at Miami’s Rolling Loud music festival via them. - Julio writes about how the Biden administration is failing on immigration policy in his latest for The Washington Post. Photo credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew

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Safeguarding Power Aug 04, 2021

Julio and guest co-host Jenni Monet, independent investigative journalist and founder of the newsletter Indigenously, are joined by ITT All-Stars Ryan L. Nave, editor-in-chief of Reckon South, and Karen Attiah, opinion columnist at the Washington Post. They dive into the latest on COVID-19, Republican attacks on voting rights and efforts to incorporate immigration reform into the Democrats’ budget reconciliation bill. ITT Staff Picks: - For CNN Opinion, journalist Morgan Stephens writes about her experience with long COVID: “The breakdown of my own physical and mental health has given me front-row access to the long Covid-19 crisis in a way I never imagined.” - Opinion columnist Charles M. Blow writes about how President Biden has failed to protect voting rights and the Black community in this piece for The New York Times. - Jolie McCullough, who covers criminal justice, reports on Governor Greg Abbott’s increased border security initiatives to arrest migrants for The Texas Tribune. Photo credit: AP Photo/Eric Gay

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ITT Sound Off: Symbol of the Decade Jul 30, 2021

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast, discuss the emotional testimonies from the first House select committee hearing investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. They also unpack the latest COVID-19 news, including the CDC’s new guidelines for fully vaccinated people, and the looming eviction crisis. And, they talk about Simone Biles’ withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics and the importance of mental health for athletes. You can listen to and download our engineer Leah Shaw Dameron’s new album, “Play Beautifully,” on Bandcamp or Apple Music. ITT Staff Picks: - For Mother Jones, Inae Oh reports on the first congressional hearing to investigate the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6 and the continued efforts by Republicans to downplay the attack. - The approaching expiration of the eviction moratorium threatens tens of thousands of folks who are behind on rent, Sema K. Sgaier and Aaron Dibner-Dunlap report for The New York Times. - “Black women are apparently still expected to sacrifice themselves for a country that refuses to see them as fully human,” writes Karen Attiah for The Washington Post on Simone Biles’ decision to pull out of the Olympics. Photo credit: AP Photo/Paolo Santalucia

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Occupational Segregation Jul 27, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Chabeli Carrazana, economy reporter at The 19th, and Valerie Wilson, director of the Program on Race, Ethnicity, and Economy at the Economic Policy Institute, for a discussion on COVID-19’s impact on women in the workforce. They discuss government efforts to curb the growing “shecession” and the pandemic’s toll on mental health for parents and healthcare workers, the majority of whom are women. We also hear from Milagros Cancel, a Puerto Rican mother of three and founder of Comité Timón People and Families Chapter NYC. ITT Staff Picks: - In her latest for The 19th, Chabeli Carrazana describes the rise of mental health consultation as a means of lowering sky-high expulsion rates in preschools. - “You can’t use food stamps to pay for diapers. You can’t use a housing voucher to gas up your car or pay a babysitter. But parents will be able to use this money on whatever they need to, stabilizing family finances in a way no other program does,” writes Annie Lowrey in this piece on the child tax credit in The Atlantic. - In this piece for Politico, Megan Cassella breaks down the pandemic’s impact on women’s workforce participation, barriers to returning to the labor force, and what the path forward may look like. Photo credit: AP Photo/Eric Gay

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ITT Sound Off: A Study in Greed Jul 23, 2021

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast, discuss the ruling of DACA as unlawful by a Texas-based federal judge. They also talk about the Tokyo Olympics and the health toll it could take on the city and Japan, and the ongoing coal miners strike in Alabama, which first started in April. ITT Staff Picks: - Thousands of prospective DACA recipients are left in limbo yet again because of a federal judge’s recent ruling against the program, reports Isabela Dias for Mother Jones. - Health officials and the Japanese public worry that the Tokyo Olympics could become a COVID-19 superspreader event as cases rise throughout the city, Zaheena Rasheed reports for Al Jazeera. - For The Nation, Kim Kelly, an independent labor journalist, reports on the historic coal miners strike in Alabama: “A hundred and thirty-one years later, the current members of District 20 are out on an unfair labor practices strike against Warrior Met.” Photo credit: AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama

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Courts of the Conquerors Jul 20, 2021

Julio and Maria are joined by ITT All-Star Jenni Monet, independent investigative journalist and founder of the newsletter Indigenously. They dive deep into the harrowing revelations about former residential schools for Indigenous children in the U.S. and Canada. They also talk about reclaiming Indigenous narratives in the media, and what restorative justice might look like for Indigenous communities. ITT Staff Picks: - “We did not forget all the children who never returned. We kept their memory alive, never giving up on them,” writes journalist Ruth Hopkins in this piece for Teen Vogue. - In this piece for The Tyee, Katłįà (Catherine) Lafferty analyzes the news media’s role in the dehumanization and oppression of Indigenous peoples in Canada. - This piece for National Geographic offers insight into the Lummi Nation’s “Red Road to D.C.” totem pole tour, intended to build awareness around endangered Indigenous sites. Photo credit: AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan

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ITT Sound Off: Imperial Overlord Jul 16, 2021

ITT Sound Off: Imperial Overlord Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast, discuss the historic protests in Cuba. We hear from Cuban American journalist Sabrina Rodríguez, an immigration correspondent for Politico, on the Cuban government’s efforts to suppress internet access across the island. They also talk about Texas lawmakers’ battle over voting rights, and the Biden administration's fight against vaccine disinformation. ITT Staff Picks: - Sabrina Rodríguez and Marc Caputo unpack politicians’ entreaties for the Biden administration to help restore connectivity to Cuba in this piece for Politico. - Tim Murphy, senior reporter at Mother Jones, wrote about Texas Democrats’ latest move to stop legislation that would limit voting rights and the filibuster: “the act of defying majority rule is both extremely hard and highly visible.” - For the New York Times, Apoorva Mandavilli and Benjamin Mueller report on the COVID-19 outbreaks across the country and world due to the surge of the Delta variant. Photo credit: AP Photo/Susan Walsh

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A Time to Be Bold Jul 13, 2021

Maria is joined by Marcela Hernandez, organizing director with Detention Watch Network, and Mustafa Jumale, co-founder of Black Immigrant Collective, to discuss immigration policy and the intensifying situations in Haiti and Cuba. They unpack the Biden Administration’s immigration proposals, and the ways that anti-Blackness permeates the U.S. immigration system. We also hear from Patrice Lawrence, co-director of the UndocuBlack Network. ITT Staff Picks: - For Teen Vogue, Silky Shah, executive director of Detention Watch Network, shares her organization’s strategies for shutting down ICE facilities in local communities. - Rowaida Abdelaziz, reporter for Huffpost, writes about racism Black immigrants face within the immigration system: “[they] are disproportionately detained, receive higher bond costs, and say they face racist treatment within detention centers.” - Instead of military intervention, Daniel Larison writes that the the U.S. should provide Haiti with humanitarian aid and assist in the investigation of Jovenel Moïse’s assassination. Photo credit: AP Photo/Emilio Espejel

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ITT Sound Off: The Forgotten Country Jul 09, 2021

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast, discuss the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse and its global implications. We hear from Dánica Coto, an Associated Press correspondent covering the Caribbean, on Moïse’s presidency and the circumstances preceding his assassination. They also dive into the marginalization of Black athletes, journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones’ decision to reject tenure, and the New York City primary elections. ITT Staff Picks: - This roundup by The Conversation offers essential context for understanding Haiti’s contemporary challenges and the unrest leading up to Jovenel Moïse’s assassination. - “The fact that this doesn’t come as a serious concern for the powers at be is as disappointing as it is unsurprising. Black women are routinely punished for being themselves,” writes journalist Ashley Reese in a piece for Jezebel. - In this piece for the New York Times, Michael Gold breaks down the historic diversity of New York City’s leading City Council candidates following the primary elections. Photo credit: AP Photo/Joseph Odelyn

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A Culture of Silence Jul 06, 2021

In this rebroadcast episode from last summer, Maria and Julio are joined by Pam Campos-Palma, Director of Peace & Security at the Working Families Party, and Gina Peréz, cultural anthropologist and professor at Oberlin College to dig deep into the case of Vanessa Guillén, and the issues of sexual assault, structural racism and a culture of impunity in the U.S. military. They discuss the military's history of recruitment in Latino communities, and how Latina servicewomen have led the fight for justice by reclaiming their stories. ITT Staff Picks: - In a piece for the Texas Tribune, Reese Oxner breaks down new state and federal legislation against military sexual assault over a year after Vanessa Guillén’s murder. - “Nothing really can bring her back at all but as long as we know how to honor her name and how to make this change, I feel like that would be some closure for us,” Vanessa Guillén’s sister told ABC News in this piece on Guillén’s legacy and the investigation into her murder. - An investigation by a team of reporters at the Associated Press revealed a deep-rooted culture of racism and discrimination in the U.S. military. Photo credit: Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle via AP, Pool This episode originally aired in August 2020.

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A Fourth of July Message Jul 02, 2021

While Futuro Media is off for the Fourth of July, Maria and Julio check in with our dearest ITT listeners. They reflect on this past year and what celebrating democracy in this country looks like following the movement for racial justice, the coronavirus pandemic and the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol earlier this year. Photo credit: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, file

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Protecting the Trans Community Jun 29, 2021

As Pride Month comes to a close, Maria and Julio are joined by Jorge Gutierrez, an an UndocuQueer activist and executive director of Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement, and ITT All-Star Imara Jones, creator of TransLash Media and host of the TransLash podcast. They talk about the corporatization of Pride amidst a barrage of anti-LGBTQ state legislation. And, they dive into the intersection of immigrant and LGBTQ rights. We also hear from Patricio Manuel, the first openly transgender boxer to compete professionally in the United States. ITT Staff Picks: - “My friend was like, “Don’t go off.” And I said, “Why not? I have to go off. I have to be a part of this.” It meant a lot and I was glad I was there,” said trans activist and icon Sylvia Rivera on the Stonewall Uprising in a 1989 interview with journalist Eric Marcus. - Oliver Haug writes about activists’ calls for the Biden Administration to end the detention of trans people in ICE detention centers in this piece for Them. - In this piece for Vox, Katelyn Burns makes a connection between the commercialization of Pride and corporate silence around anti-trans legislation. Photo credit: AP Photo/Eric Gay, File

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ITT Sound Off: Exhaustion of Bipartisanship Jun 25, 2021

Maria and Julio discuss remarks from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the 38th annual NALEO Conference, and they get into the vice president’s visit to El Paso and the US-Mexico border. We hear from Fernando García, founding director of the Border Network for Human Rights, about reimagining immigration policy and rhetoric. They also unpack recent developments in voting rights, the filibuster, and vaccine inequity. ITT Staff Picks: - In a piece for Mother Jones, Ari Berman writes about Republican-led efforts to filibuster Democrats’ For the People Act, which would expand voting access and crack down on partisan gerrymandering. - “El Pasoans are left to grapple with the fact that both parties have turned the city into a center and model of cruelty against immigrants and Mexican Americans,” writes independent journalist Luis Enrique Miranda in an op-ed for El Paso Matters. - Isabella Isaacs-Thomas dives into persistent vaccine disparities across U.S. states, cities, and communities in a piece for PBS NewsHour. Photo credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

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Latinidad Is Canceled Jun 22, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Alexa Muñoz, a teacher and translator based in Washington Heights, and Dr. Jessica Marie Johnson, assistant professor in the department of history at Johns Hopkins University. They dive into a conversation about colorism and anti-Blackness in Hollywood and Latinx communities in light of the controversy sparked around the film release of “In The Heights.” They also unpack the notion of Latinidad and what it means to push back against internalized white supremacy. ITT Staff Picks: - In this 2019 piece for The Nation, Miguel Salazar interviews a group of journalists, organizers, and thinkers about pushback against the concept of Latinidad. - Nili Blanck writes about the immigrant and Dominican history of Washington Heights, the neighborhood behind “In The Heights,” for Smithsonian Magazine. - “The truth is there can be no Latino representation without Afro-Latinos. There is no story of Washington Heights without Black people and Afro-Dominicans of all shades,” writes Natasha S. Alford in this piece for CNN. Photo credit: Warner Bros. via AP

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Roots of Cultural Expression Jun 18, 2021

Roots of Cultural Expression Maria and Julio talk with fiber artist and teacher, Bisa Butler, about her quilted portraits that celebrate Black life. They also get into the history of Juneteenth and the push by Republican lawmakers to take critical race theory out of classrooms. And, they dive into the significance of textile art and quilting as a medium for storytelling. Bisa Butler’s portraits are on exhibit at The Art Institute of Chicago through September 6, 2021. ITT Staff Picks: - In this piece for Smithsonian Magazine, Liz Logan writes about artist Bisa Butler’s journey to quilting, and how her portraits are recreating vibrant depictions of lost identities. - In this column for the Los Angeles Times, LZ Granderson writes about the whitewashing of American history, and what it will take to have an honest conversation about Juneteenth. - “Whenever I am trying to decide whether or not a particular movement, policy or person benefits Black America, I wait and see what white people think. While that might sound racist, there has never been a movement, policy or person that benefitted Black America who was simultaneously embraced by white America,” writes Michael Harriot for The Root. Photo credit: A detail shot of the Harlem Hellfighters,( Sgt. Storms), 202. Cotton, silk, wool and velvet. This is a work in progress. Courtesy of Bisa Butler.

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Latino USA: Masks Off With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Jun 15, 2021

Last month, in her first in-person interview for Latino USA since the start of the pandemic, Maria sat down with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and we wanted to share this incredible conversation with you. They get into the lasting impact of the January 6 Capitol riot and what it means to recognize and process trauma in the aftermath. They also talk about the coronavirus pandemic, and issues around personal identity and the question of being “Latina” enough. Subscribe to Latino USA wherever you get your podcasts. Photo credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

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ITT Sound Off: Root Causes of Migration Jun 11, 2021

Maria and Julio unpack Vice President Kamala Harris’ visits to Guatemala and Mexico, and give the historical context behind her speech on immigration. We hear from Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas, about the U.S.’ involvement in Central America. They also talk about two incidents at high school graduation ceremonies where students were reprimanded for expressing their Mexican heritage. ITT Staff Picks: - This article from El Faro English explains how Vice President Kamala Harris’ message to migrants “triggered a backlash among human rights defenders and Central America experts.” - Sandra Cuffe writes that Vice President Kamala Harris’ pledge “to tackle corruption as a root cause of U.S.-bound migration” offered little optimism, via The Intercept. - Latino Rebels reports a missing angle regarding Ever López’s graduation story: how “the ugly side of seeing Latinos going after Latinos was front and center.” Photo credit: AP Photo/Oliver de Ros

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A Stain on Our Conscience Jun 08, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Middle East political analyst Omar Baddar to unpack the recent events in Palestine and Israel. They give an update on the forced evictions of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, and the situation in Gaza following the bombings and airstrikes last month. They also discuss the impact of social media in documenting what is happening, and the U.S.’ role in Israel. ITT Staff Picks: - For Scientific American’s Opinion section, Yasser Abu Jamei writes about the mental health crisis in Gaza and the toll the recent Israeli bombings have had on its people. - Haggai Matar, Israeli journalist and political activist, explains Israel’s likely incoming government for +972 Magazine. - Journalist Mariam Barghouti discusses the recent violence and reality of living in the West Bank on The Intercept’s Deconstructed podcast with Ryan Grim. Photo credit: AP Photo/Nasser Nasser

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ITT Sound Off: Where Are the Reparations? Jun 04, 2021

Maria and guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast, discuss the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. They also dive into recent anti-trans legislation coinciding with the start of Pride Month and give an immigration update about the termination of former President Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy. This episode is sponsored by Ground News - The world's first news comparison platform. Download Ground News for free: http://ground.news/thick ITT Staff Picks: - For Poynter, Mark I. Pinsky published an in depth four-part series on how, historically, Southern newspapers played a major role in racial violence. - Assistant Professor Veldon Coburn writes about the history behind the remains of 215 Indigenous children recently found in an unmarked mass grave in Canada for this article in The Conversation. - This article for The Advocate by reporter Jacob Ogles details what Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent veto on all LGBTQ programs and projects from the state budget means for the Florida LGBTQ community. Photo credit: AP Photo/John Locher, File

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Fight the Food Power Jun 01, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Karen Washington, an urban farmer and food justice activist, and Adrian Chang, a cook and food writer, for a conversation about the racial history of farming in the United States and the systemic inequities in food access. They also dive into how food can be used to foster meaningful solidarity between communities. This episode is sponsored by Ground News - The world's first news comparison platform. Download Ground News for free: http://ground.news/thick ITT Staff Picks: - For the San Francisco Chronicle, Soleil Ho writes about cultural appropriation and anti-Asian violence: “The idea that no one cares about crimes against Asians pops up frequently in our communities, adding a slimy layer to the phenomenon of Asian cuisines being extremely popular in the American restaurant scene.” - Reporter and host Jamilah King speaks with food justice activist and author of “Queen Sugar,” Natalie Baszile for this episode of The Mother Jones podcast. - Bettina Makalintal writes about how statements such as “Love Our people Like You Love Our Food" reinforce problematic narratives around immigrants in this article for Vice. Photo credit: AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File

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ITT Sound Off: Minneapolis, One Year Later May 28, 2021

Maria and Julio reflect on one year since the murder of George Floyd. They share highlights from ITT’s first virtual live show of 2021 this week, where they were joined by local Minneapolis journalists Georgia Fort and Tarkor Zehn to talk about police violence, racial justice and the Black Lives Matter movement. They also discuss race education in schools and mainstream media’s coverage of movements and policing in this country. If you missed our ITT Virtual LIVE show, you can still watch it here. This episode is sponsored by Ground News - The world's first news comparison platform. Download Ground News for free: http://ground.news/thick ITT Staff Picks: - The Associated Press published a profile of George Floyd last year, from his days in high school to his fatal encounter with police last May. - Reflecting on a year after George Floyd’s murder, Mother Jones’ Nathalie Baptiste writes about “the inevitable backlash that occurs after a broad movement for racial justice takes place.” - For The New York Times’ Opinion, Talmon Joseph Smith writes about how privilege and capital became warped in the movement for Black lives: “All in all, it seems there was a racial reckoning — it was just disproportionately experienced by privileged Americans.” Photo credit: AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa

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A People’s Victory May 25, 2021

One year after the murder of George Floyd, Maria and Julio are joined by Mel Reeves, political organizer and community editor of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, and Hibah Ansari, immigration reporter at Sahan Journal, to reflect on policing in the United States. They break down what has been missing from mainstream media coverage and discuss the radical transformations needed on the local and national level. SAVE THE DATE: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is tomorrow Wednesday, May 26th at 7pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by Georgia Fort, award winning independent journalist and Tarkor Zehn, journalist and audio producer to discuss police violence, racial justice and healing in Minneapolis during the week that marks one year since the police murder of George Floyd. For more info and to RSVP, click here. This episode is sponsored by Ground News - The world's first news comparison platform. Download Ground News for free: http://ground.news/thick ITT Staff Picks: - Read Mel Reeves’ latest in his blog, Fight The Power Journal, where he writes: “Internecine community violence (so-called Black on Black violence) and police violence spring from the same source, they are rooted in White Supremacy and the social/ political/ economic system: capitalism.” - For the Sahan Journal, Hibah Ansari writes about the families that are still seeking justice for their loved ones who were killed by police in the Twin Cities area. - The Star Tribune’s photo essay, “The Crossroads of Minneapolis,” documents the intersection between 38th and Chicago Avenue, where George Floyd has been memorialized. Photo credit: AP Photo/Morry Gash

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ITT Sound Off: Silenced Voices May 21, 2021

Maria and Julio reflect on the toll of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and the issues with mainstream media’s coverage of this news. They also dive into the recent push to create an independent commission that would investigate the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and give a quick update on the latest immigration news. SAVE THE DATE: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on Wednesday, May 26th at 7pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by Georgia Fort, award winning independent journalist and Tarkor Zehn, journalist and audio producer to discuss police violence, racial justice and healing in Minneapolis during the week that marks one year since the police murder of George Floyd. For more info and to RSVP, click here. This episode is sponsored by Ground News - The world's first news comparison platform. Download Ground News for free: http://ground.news/thick ITT Staff Picks: - For New York Times’ Opinion, Laila Al-Arian writes about her grandfather’s life and home in Gaza, which was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike: “His struggle to return home embodied the hope, resilience and audacity that all dispossessed Palestinians pass on from one generation to the next. We build, they destroy, and we build again.” - For Al Día News, Ericka Conant writes about the lack of credentialed Latino and BIPOC publications reporting on Capitol Hill, including Latino Rebels’ D.C. correspondent, Pablo Manríquez whose credentials were recently revoked. - John Washington and José Olivares report on the shutting down of Irwin County Detention Center and Bristol County immigration detention center for The Intercept. Photo credit: AP Photo/José Luis Magana, File

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Decarcerating New York City May 18, 2021

Julio is joined by Manhattan District Attorney candidate Tahanie Aboushi for a conversation about restorative justice, decriminalizing sex work and her vision for the office. We also hear from Nicole Smith Futrell, an associate professor and supervising attorney in the Criminal Defense Clinic at the CUNY School of Law, who talks about the devastating impacts of incarceration on New Yorkers. This episode was produced by our New York Women's Foundation IGNITE! Fellow, Lisa Salinas, with editorial support from Charlotte Mangin. SAVE THE DATE: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on Wednesday, May 26th at 7pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by Georgia Fort, award winning independent journalist and Tarkor Zehn, journalist and audio producer to discuss police violence, racial justice and healing in Minneapolis during the week that marks one year since the police murder of George Floyd. For more info and to RSVP, click here. This episode is sponsored by Ground News - The world's first news comparison platform. Download Ground News for free: http://ground.news/thick ITT Staff Picks: - This article by The City breaks down everything you need to know about New York’s District Attorney races in 2021. - Marc Levin writes about what police reformers can learn from education reform in this piece for The National Interest. - For The Brennan Center, Andrew Cohen writes about U.S. sentencing practices: “On any given day, more than 2 million people are locked up in the nation’s 5,000 or so prisons and jails, many serving sentences grossly disproportionate to the nature of their crimes.” Photo credit: AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File

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ITT Sound Off: Crimes of Apartheid May 14, 2021

Maria is joined by guest co-host and ITT All-star Jamilah King to discuss the continued violence and attacks against Palestinians by Israeli settlers and forces in Gaza. We hear from Gaza-based journalist Hana Salah about what she is seeing on the ground. They also talk about the recent implosion of the Republican Party, including the removal of House Rep. Liz Cheney, an aggressive confrontation by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They also discuss immigration and the doubling number of migrant children in government custody. SAVE THE DATE: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on Wednesday, May 26th at 7pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by Georgia Fort, award winning independent journalist and Tarkor Zehn, journalist and audio producer to discuss police violence, racial justice and healing in Minneapolis during the week that marks one year since the police murder of George Floyd. For more info and to RSVP, click here. This episode is sponsored by Ground News - The world's first news comparison platform. Download Ground News for free: http://ground.news/thick ITT Staff Picks: - Political analyst Omar Baddar explains the attacks currently taking place against Palestinians in Jerusalem, Gaza and the surrounding region for the IMEU. - Mother Jones' David Corn writes that Liz Cheney “and so many other Republicans not so long ago did much to blaze the path for the dangerous political villainy she now decries.” - Latino Rebels published a story by the Associated Press about the mothers who marched in Mexico’s capital to demand authorities find their missing children. Photo credit: AP Photo/Khalil Hamra

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Birth Care for Every Body May 12, 2021

Maria is joined by Marinah Valenzuela Farrell, a Chicanx midwife and director of the Changing Woman Initiative, and Dr. Rachel Hardeman, a reproductive health equity researcher and a Tenured Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, for a conversation about inequity in birthing healthcare—particularly for women of color and the LGBTQ community. They discuss how to ground our ideas of parenthood in inclusive frameworks and the path towards reproductive justice. SAVE THE DATE: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on Wednesday, May 26th at 7pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by Georgia Fort, award winning independent journalist and Tarkor Zehn, journalist and audio producer to discuss police violence, racial justice and healing in Minneapolis during the week that marks one year since the police murder of George Floyd. For more info and to RSVP, click here. This episode is sponsored by Ground News - The world's first news comparison platform. Download Ground News for free: http://ground.news/thick ITT Staff Picks: - This episode about Trans Motherhood for the TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones dives into how parenting is different for trans parents. - Jenni Monet writes for The Nation about the “systemic factors that hinder Native American maternal health—problems arising from a legacy of neglect regarding Indigenous life.” - In this personal essay for Vogue, journalist Natasha S. Alford writes about her pregnancy experience as a Black, high-risk expectant mom: “...when confronted with the overwhelming amount of choices that needed to be made for my own health, I quickly found myself confused, tousled around, and frustrated, by a medical system that takes a diagnostic rather than holistic approach to fetal and maternal care.” AP Photo/Darren Hauck

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ITT Sound Off: Exporters of Violence May 07, 2021

Maria and Julio discuss recent updates on immigration and COVID-19 vaccine equity. They also dive into current global protests in Colombia and East Jerusalem, where civilians have been met with extreme police violence. SAVE THE DATE: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on Wednesday, May 26th at 7pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by Georgia Fort, award winning independent journalist and Tarkor Zehn, journalist and audio producer to discuss police violence, racial justice and healing in Minneapolis during the week that marks one year since the police murder of George Floyd. For more info and to RSVP, click here. ITT Staff Picks: - The latest on President Biden’s decision to lift the refugee cap, by Fernanda Echavarri for Mother Jones. - Juanita Ramos Ardila writes for Latino Rebels about the “hopelessness” many Colombians are feeling after witnessing “how in one week the country has become a scene of violence led by police aggression against protestors.” - This article for Al Jazeera provides historical context for the evictions of Palestinian families in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Photo credit: AP Photo/Fernando Vergara

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A Civil Rights History Lesson May 04, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Jeanne Theoharis, distinguished professor of political science at Brooklyn College, historian and author of “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks” and co-editor of the new book “Julian Bond’s Time To Teach: A History of the Southern Civil Rights Movement.” They talk about the legacy of activist, politician and educator Julian Bond and the lessons from his lectures - compiled in the new book - on the civil rights movement and what it teaches us about the fight for racial justice and radical change. We also hear from Professor Bond himself through archival interviews and from his widow Pamela Horowitz, co-editor of “Time To Teach”, who was one of the first lawyers hired at the Southern Poverty Law Center. ITT Staff Picks - “From the struggle against Jim Crow to the battle for LGBTQ rights, [Bond] remained convinced that it was necessary to agitate on behalf of the powerless outside the halls of power, but as he got older, he became convinced one had to do it from inside them as well,” writes Robert Greene II about Julian Bond’s life in politics and protest for The Nation. - Jeanne writes for The Washington Post about looking back at our history to understand today’s uprisings in defense of Black lives: “To start the story earlier would mean holding accountable the public officials who treated activists as unreasonable and impatient or who bemoaned police brutality or school inequality but did not rise to action.” - Five ways to avoid whitewashing the civil rights movement, via Coshandra Dillard in Learning for Justice. Vote for ITT! It’s the final days to vote for In The Thick in this year’s Webby’s for the Best General Series in News and Politics! Deadline is this Thursday, May 6th. Photo credit: The Associated Press

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ITT Sound Off: The First 100 Days Apr 30, 2021

Maria and Julio discuss President Biden’s first address to Congress, marking the first 100 days of his presidency. They also get into U.S. foreign policy in Central America, and give a COVID update, including the ongoing crisis in India. We also hear from Lorella Praeli, co-president of Community Change Action, who spoke about immigration policy in this moment. Also ITT familia! In The Thick is nominated for the Best General Series in News and Politics category in the 25th Annual Webby Awards! Vote for us here. And help spread the word by sharing on social media. Staff Picks - This article from Latino Rebels, originally published by El Faro, details the United States’ secret involvement in the El Mozote massacre in December, 1981. - “We suffer from moral malnutrition—none of us more so than the rich, the upper class, the upper caste of India. And nowhere is this more evident than in the health-care sector,” writes Vidya Krishnan for The Atlantic on India’s enormous second wave of COVID-19 cases. - Economy reporter Chabeli Carrazana breaks down what President Joe Biden’s American Families Plan entails in this article for The 19th News. Photo credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

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Pandemic Immunoprivilege Apr 27, 2021

As COVID-19 vaccines open up for all adults in the United States, Maria and Julio unpack the next phase of the pandemic and its global impact, including vaccination equity and immunoprivilege. For this discussion, they’re joined by Dr. Keisha Ray, bioethicist at McGovern Medical School at University of Texas Health in Houston, and Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine. Also ITT familia! In The Thick is nominated for the Best General Series in News and Politics category in the 25th Annual Webby Awards! Vote for us here. And help spread the word by sharing on social media. ITT Staff Picks: - In an interview for Vox with Sigal Samuel, Kesiha spoke about vaccine hesitancy among communities of color: “It’s not that people of color just don’t trust medicine. It’s that medicine hasn’t shown itself to be trustworthy to people of color.” - Debora Dinz and Giselle Carino write about the geopolitics of immunoprivilege for El Pais’ Opinion section. - Ranna Ayyub writes for Time Magazine about the COVID-19 crisis in India and the Prime Minister’s failure to lead during this second wave. Photo credit: AP Photo / Carlos Giusti

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ITT Sound Off: The Fight Continues Apr 23, 2021

Maria and Julio discuss the verdict of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty on all charges for the murder of George Floyd. They unpack the ongoing police violence and the collective work needed to protect Black communities and end this state violence. They also give an immigration update and push back against revisionist history narratives. Need some positive news in your inboxes? Subscribe to Reckon’s newsletter, Black Joy, launching today by reporter Starr Dunigan. ITT Staff Picks: - Julianne McShane reports for The Lily: “Advocates, scholars and doctors characterized the adultification bias emerging in the aftermath of Ma’Khia [Bryant]’s death as a form of misogynoir — a term coined by Black feminist scholar Moya Bailey. It’s a way to describe how “anti-Blackness and misogyny combine to malign Black women in our world,” Bailey wrote.” - “The celebration of the conviction as ‘accountability’ or ‘justice’ that will send chills down the spines of police simply doesn’t comport with the law, which protects the police’s right not to think before they act,” Derecka Purnell writes in The Guardian. - “Proclaiming the killing of Ma’Khia as justifiable requires erasing the long and inglorious history of police violence against Black people. It normalizes police violence against and criminalization of Black children,” write Amna A. Akbar & Treva B. Lindsey in this article for Truthout. Photo credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo

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Occupiers Of Our Community Apr 20, 2021

As we continue to see police violence throughout the country, Maria and Julio reimagine community safety with guests Victoria Law, freelance journalist and author of the new book, “Prisons Make Us Safe: and 20 Other Myths About Mass Incarceration,” and Joshua Briond, abolitionist and co-host of the “Millennials Are Killing Capitalism” podcast. They discuss abolition, resistance and what justice and liberation can look like. ITT Staff Picks: - “Historically, police have surveilled, repressed and infiltrated individuals, organizations, and political parties that they have deemed ideological enemies because their interests represent a legitimate threat to the capitalist white supremacist status quo,” Joshua writes in this article for the Hampton Institute. - In an interview for The Nation, organizer Mariame Kaba illustrates a collective vision of abolition discussing her new book, “We Do This ’Til We Free Us”. - Listen to this past ITT episode about abolition with Charlene Carruthers, founding member of Black Youth Project 100, and Ejeris Dixon, director of Vision Change Win. Photo credit: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

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ITT Sound Off: State Violence Apr 16, 2021

Maria and Julio discuss the heaviness of this week with the latest in acts of racist police violence includingthe police murder of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, which happened this past Sunday. We hear from Kandace Montgomery of Black Visions, a Black-led community organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that’s committed to justice for and liberation of Black people. ITT Staff Picks: - Julio’s latest in The Washington Post about how the harassing and threatening of Caron Nazario “a Black and Latino Army second lieutenant, has offered yet another tragic reminder that it is time to have a conversation about dismantling anti-Black racism in the Latino community.” - ITT All-Star Jelani Cobb writes about the connection between the deaths of Daunte Wright and George Floyd in this piece for The New Yorker saying, “they represented two installments in a serial American tragedy that no one wishes to see but is set to be replayed for the foreseeable future.” - To learn more about mutual aid and creative community solutions for restorative justice visit Project NIA. Photo credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo

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All About Power Apr 13, 2021

Maria is joined by guest co-host Dr. Christina Greer, associate professor at Fordham University and co-host of the FAQ NYC and What’s In It For Us podcasts, to discuss the #MeToo Movement in light of the sexual harassment allegations against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. They talk with Josefa Velásquez, senior reporter for The City, about covering the Cuomo administration and the recent scandals. They are also joined by Tanya Selvaratnam, author of her new memoir, "Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence" to talk about her decision to come forward about her past abusive relationship with former Attorney General of New York Eric Schneiderman. This episode was produced by our New York Women's Foundation IGNITE! Fellow, Lisa Salinas. If you or anyone you know is a survivor or has been a victim of sexual abuse, you can contact the National hotline operated by the RAINN at 800.656.HOPE. You can also search for a local center here. ITT Staff Picks: - In a 2019 Vox interview Tarana Burke, the founder of the #MeToo Movement, discusses "preparing the next generation of survivors to do the transformational work of healing." - This article for City & State New York details all of the sexual harassment allegations against New York Governor Cuomo. Joe Sexton, senior editor for ProPublica, writes about the Cuomo administration's nursing home scandal of undercounting the number of residents believed to have died from COVID-19.

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ITT Sound Off: People Powered Apr 09, 2021

Maria and Julio discuss the latest in federal and state legislation, including President Biden's executive orders on gun control and the anti-trans bills that have been introduced in states across the country. They also talk about the COVID-19 relief fund for undocumented immigrants in New York, which was passed in the state this week following a 23-day hunger strike. We hear from Angeles Solis, the lead organizer of the workplace justice team at Make the Road New York, who organized the strikes with the Fund Excluded Workers Campaign. To learn more about how you can help support undocumented workers and the Fund Excluded Workers Campaign, follow the movement on Instagram, Twitter and read about the latest in their initatives. ITT Staff Picks: - Allison Dikanovic and Josefa Velásquez of The City report on the eligibility requirements, payment amounts and documents needed to qualify for the Excluded Workers Fund. - Cheryl Reeve, the head coach and general manager of the Minnesota Lynx, writes for Sports Illustrated about how there is no room for discrimination against trans athletes in sports. - Sam Levine, voting rights reporter at The Guardian, writes about the advancing bills on voting restrictions in Arizona and Texas, which include provisions such as limiting early voting hours, making it harder to vote by mail and more. Photo credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo

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It Was Always White Supremacy Apr 06, 2021

Maria and Julio talk with ITT All-Stars Renée Graham, a columnist for The Boston Globe, and Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr., James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University, about the murder trial for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. They also get into the second Capitol attack and voter suppression in Georgia and around the country. ITT Staff Picks: - Renée writes in The Boston Globe about the historical denial of justice from Rodney King to George Floyd saying, "Those jurors also acquitted white supremacy, which allows whiteness to operate with impunity at the expense of Black lives." - "The treatment of Floyd’s body was a message to those in his community: Any perceived disorder or disobedience will be crushed, literally," writes past ITT guest and columnist Charles M. Blow for The New York Times. - The Brennan Center for Justice tracks the latest on hundreds of bills that have been introduced in state legislatures "to curb the vote." Photo credit: Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

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ITT Sound Off: Life Sentence of Trauma Apr 02, 2021

Maria is joined by guest co-host, Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast. They unpack the latest on the Derek Chauvin trial, which began this week, and talk about the powerful and heartbreaking testimonies of those who were witnesses to George Floyd's murder. They also give a COVID-19 update and discuss the record number of anti-trans bills that have been introduced in states this year. ITT Staff Picks: - Nathalie Baptiste writes for Mother Jones about the racist tropes used by Chauvin's legal defense team. - Chase Strangio and Raquel Willis write for The Nation that visibility for transgender youth isn't enough to keep them safe: "We are witnessing a broad-based assault on our ability to attend school, access health care, find community, strive for our dreams, and survive. Our visibility can be a tool to build resistance and power, but we can’t win this fight without sustained action and solidarity." - Zeynep Tufekci, contributing writer at The Atlantic, writes about the oncoming fourth wave of COVID-19––but that this time, it can be stopped if we act fast enough. Photo credit: AP Photo/Jim Mone

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The Other Public Health Crisis Mar 30, 2021

Given the recent mass shootings in Atlanta, Colorado and throughout the nation, Maria and Julio unpack the layers of gun violence in this country, from the impact it has on communities of color to its roots causes, including toxic masculinity and white supremacy. They speak with Manisha Sinha, author, historian and the James L. and Shirley A. Draper Chair in American History at the University of Connecticut, and Gregory Jackson Jr., who is a gun violence survivor and the national advocacy director at the Community Justice Action Fund. ITT Staff Picks: - "Without foundational changes to the way our democracy works, we will not achieve the changes we're working so hard to make a reality on gun violence and many other issues. My work reflects my continued passion to fight for a society that uses the fundamental pillars of democracy to prioritize and protect its citizens," Greg wrote last summer for Blavity. - In 2019, Katherine Reed, a professor at the Missouri School of Journalism, recounted 10 key points for Nieman Reports about how journalists can report on gun violence more compassionately and effectively. - Rebecca Onion, staff writer at Slate, interviewed Manisha Sinha in 2016 about what gun control advocates can learn from abolitionists. Photo credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File

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ITT Sound Off: We Have to Do Better Mar 26, 2021

Maria and Julio talk about the latest incident of gun violence after a mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado left 10 people dead. They also unpack the latest in immigration news, including President Biden's first ever news conference of his presidency. Finally, they look at the fight for voting rights in Georgia after Republicans pushed through a voter suppression bill this week. ITT Staff Picks: - Mother Jones' database to track mass shootings in America reveals a "distinct phenomenon—from the firearms used and mental health factors to the growing copycat problem." - Don't miss Julio's latest op-ed for The Washington Post, where he writes "Individuals fleeing violence and poverty have been reduced to an amorphous threat. Such dehumanization is dangerous and serves only to sensationalize the moment". - We shout out the legendary activist Barbara Smith on today's show. Read more about the intersectional Black feminist movement she helped lead, via Teen Vogue. Photo credit: Office of Rep. Henry Cuellar via AP

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A History of Hate Mar 23, 2021

In light of the targeted violence against the Asian community last week in Georgia, Maria and Julio unpack the root causes that led to this tragedy, including a history of racism toward AAPI communities and racialized misogyny against Asian women. They speak with Sung Yeon Choimorrow, executive director of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, and Kristine Villaneuva, a journalist and project editor at Resolve Philly’s “Equally Informed” initiative. They also hear from Leng Leng Chancey, executive director of 9 to 5, who spoke about what's needed for the path toward liberation for communities of color. ITT Staff Picks: - Karissa Chen wrote for NBC Think on the history and issues with the "massage parlor" stereotype: “That is the state of being an Asian woman in America: Your existence is constantly dehumanized, sexualized and objectified; for many, you are merely a colonizer’s fantasy.” - Self Evident, a podcast that centers Asian American stories, shared via Twitter how the show began covering anti-Asian violence last April, in addition to thoughts about how the burden of this work largely falls on Asian American journalists, educators and activists. Check out their latest episodes here. - "The social media conversations to #StopAsianHate and #StopAAPIHate arose from a collective breaking point in Asian America. Asian American experiences, histories, pain and joy have been disproportionately invisible in our textbooks, and in mass media, keeping most of us from understanding our own struggles," writes Jezz Chung in this piece for The Lily, which also includes a list of resources to continue learning and supporting. Photo credit: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

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ITT Sound Off: Words Matter Mar 19, 2021

Maria and Julio discuss the aftermath of the tragic violence in Georgia this week which left 8 people dead, the majority of whom were Asian women. They get into the need for mainstream media and authorities to call this casualty what it is: a hate crime. They also unpack the latest on immigration, including the dehumanizing language used by the Biden administration and mainstream media when referring to refugees. And lastly, they talk about the Senate hearing on the proposed Equality Act. ITT Staff Picks: - In light of the violent targeted attack this week, the Broadcast Advisory Council of the Asian American Association of Journalists released a statement urging newsrooms to empower and recognize the work and expertise of their AAPI journalists. The Asian American Journalists Association also released guidance via Twitter and their website for newsrooms reporting on this topic. - "The beliefs have been shaped by legal code, America's history of imperialism and the prevailing culture," historian Ellen Wu told Kimmy Yam in this article for NBC News, "one factor that helps explain the toxic environment for Asian women is the type of labor they were relegated to in the U.S. beginning in the 19th century, she said." - Kate Sosin, LGBTQ+ reporter at The 19th, reported on a new poll which found that "70 percent of the country supports the Equality Act, the watershed nondiscrimination protections bill for LGBTQ+ people that is heading to the Senate Judiciary Committee." Photo credit: AP Photo/Candice Choi

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Pandemic-Proofing Mar 16, 2021

Maria and Julio get into the science of the coronavirus pandemic with infectious disease epidemiologists Dr. Syra Madad, senior director of NYC Health & Hospitals’ Special Pathogens Program, and Jessica Malaty Rivera, science communication lead for The COVID Tracking Project. They talk about what we have learned about COVID-19 a year into the pandemic, inequities in vaccine distribution, and what preparing for future pandemics must look like. ITT Staff Picks: - "Among the restrictions and shut downs and distancing, we’ve had to acknowledge that the other side of staunch individualism is searing solitude. The other side of boundless privatization is a failing state. And the other side of what some called normal was uncontested white supremacy," writes Dr. Rhea Boyd in The Nation. - ProPublica is reporting on and tracking the barriers to accessing a vaccine as more Americans become eligible, and how inequity is built into the vaccination system. - "For many, the vaccine's arrival was a reminder of how far behind the island remains after years of crisis," reports Syra Ortiz-Blanes for the Miami Herald about the COVID-19 vaccine in Vieques, an island off of Puerto Rico where devastation from Hurricane Maria continues to leave thousands without access to a hospital. Photo credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo, File

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ITT Sound Off: Colonial Undertones Mar 12, 2021

Maria and Julio discuss President Biden’s first address to the nation, including his promise that every adult American will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine come May 1. They also unpack the latest on immigration and the need for media coverage to include the historical context of U.S. foreign policy that destabilized regions, like Central America, and forced people to flee from their homes. Finally, they get into Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah, and the nuances behind the issues raised around racism, colonialism and the monarchy. ITT Staff Picks: - Michele L. Norris writes for the Washington Post Opinions about the royal family: “The disparate treatment of someone with Black ancestry, the obsession with skin color, the private consternation over bloodlines and mixed marriage. Let’s not pretend that the United States has rid itself of these particular strains of the virus called racism.” - Deanna Pan of the Boston Globe reports about the vaccine rates among Latinos lagging in Massachusetts: “Critics of the state’s rollout say the racial and ethnic disparities are a reflection of an inherently inequitable vaccination system that privileges the white middle class at the expense of immigrants, people of color, and the poor." - A breakdown of the American Rescue Plan, via Emily Stewart in Vox. Photo credit: Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions via AP, File

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Full Spectrum of Grief Mar 09, 2021

As the one-year mark of quarantine approaches, Maria and Julio hold space for grief and reflection. They talk with Alua Arthur, a death doula and founder of Going With Grace, and Sarah Chavez, a death positive activist and executive director of The Order of the Good Death. They process a year of continuous loss, and they hear about Dr. Magdala Chery's experiences as a Black physician and daughter to loved ones lost. Credit to Stephanie Rivers for her rendition of "Amazing Grace" featured in this Virtual Candlelight Vigil hosted by Reimagine. ITT Staff Picks: - Kylie Rodriguez-Cayro shares advice on grieving in this piece for Huffington Post. - Terese Marie Mailhot writes in Time Magazine about returning to the Native grieving ceremonies — that she once rejected — when she lost two friends during the pandemic. - "It's a fact of American life that the divide between Black and white affects us from the cradle to the grave," writes Kaitlyn Greenidge in this article for The New York Times. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, experiencing anxiety or depression, or looking for someone to talk to, there are resources that can help: - The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week. You can call at 1-800-273-8255 and they have service in Spanish and tele-interpreters for over 150 languages. - You can text CRISIS to 741741 for free, confidential, crisis counseling. - If you are based outside of the United States, the International Association for Suicide Prevention lists suicide hotlines by country. Photo credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

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ITT Sound Off: Insurrectionists and Their Mothers Mar 05, 2021

Maria and Julio get into the latest with the coronavirus pandemic, including states like Texas and Mississippi that are lifting their mask mandates and moving to reopen. They also dive into the Senate hearing on the Capitol attack, and reflect on how mainstream media has been covering the insurrectionists. And, they end with an update on the bid for statehood for Puerto Rico. As we reach one year of COVID-19 and quarantine, we want to hear from you. After a year of so much loss, we want to hear how you're grieving, coping and holding space to process. Call us to leave a voicemail on the In The Thick hotline at (505) 226-8973 or send us a voice memo via email to inthethick@futuromediagroup.org. ITT Staff Picks: - Julio breaks down the reasons why the push for Puerto Rico's statehood keeps stalling in this piece for The Washington Post. - "The reforms being pushed could not have even saved George Floyd’s life. We need much more than this," writes Derecka Purnell in this piece for The Guardian. - Ja'han Jones reports on a weeklong water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi — a majority-Black city — that has left hundreds of thousands under a boil water advisory via Huffington Post. Photo credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File

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The Terror of Policing Mar 02, 2021

Maria and Julio welcome two new ITT guests: Josie Duffy Rice, president of The Appeal and host of the podcast "Justice in America," and Michael Harriot, a senior writer at The Root. They talk about the latest in criminal justice, including the federal and state cases for the murder of George Floyd. They also get into the Congressional investigation of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and how states are continuing to respond with legislation targeting protestors fighting for racial justice. As we reach one year of COVID-19 and quarantine, we want to hear from you. After a year of so much loss, we want to hear how you're grieving, coping and holding space to process. Call us to leave a voicemail on the In The Thick hotline at (505) 226-8973 or send us a voice memo via email to inthethick@futuromediagroup.org. ITT Staff Picks: - "The plot to eradicate the threat of Black power is documented by evidence, testimony and government documents from federal, state and local agencies," Michael Harriot writes about the Federal Bureau of Investigation's assassinations of Black leaders via this piece in The Root. - Check out another recent interview with Josie Duffy Rice on the 5-4 podcast where she talks about a 1987 Supreme Court decision that lets states "off the hook for perpetuating systemic racism in death penalty cases." - Matt Cohen writes for Mother Jones about how Republicans keep pretending Antifa is equivalent to violent white supremacists during the Congressional investigation into the attack on the Capitol on January 6. Credit for above image: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

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ITT Sound Off: Back to Normal Feb 26, 2021

Maria and Julio unpack the tough week of news from the United States surpassing a half million COVID-19 deaths to the Biden administrations' bombing of Syria. They also talk about the continued detention of migrant children, and Maria and Julio call for a radical reimagining of immigration. Finally they recap this past week's confirmation hearings for the Biden administration. ITT Staff Picks: - "While making a broad change such as eliminating privatized immigration detention will take time, Congress can begin by banning immigration detention policies that incarcerate innocent people and switch to community-based alternatives," write Monica Reyes and Katherine Randall in this Latino Rebels OpEd. - ITT All-Star Jenni Monet writes about the historic confirmation hearing for Interior Secretary nominee Rep. Deb Haaland in her latest for Indigenously. Make sure to subscribe to Jenni's *free* newsletter as this Friday's will include a special update about Rep. Haaland's hearings and what it means for Pueblo women raised under unique, ancestral patriarchy. - Britni de la Cretaz reports in them about the House passing of the landmark LGBTQ+ civil rights bill, the Equality Act. Credit: (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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An Anthology of Puerto Rico Feb 23, 2021

Maria and Julio welcome Alana Casanova-Burgess, reporter and producer for WNYC's "On The Media", and Cristina del Mar Quiles, reporter for the Center for Investigative Journalism (Centro de Periodismo Investigativo) to talk about Puerto Rico and "La Brega," a new seven-part bilingual podcast series co-produced by WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios. They discuss Puerto Rico's status including the issue of statehood, the humanitarian crisis in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, and the impact of modern day colonialism on the island. You can listen to "La Brega" starting Wednesday, February 24. Subscribe here! - ITT Staff Picks: Cristina del Mar Quiles writes for the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo about a lawsuit from the family of Jaideliz Moreno Ventura. Ventura was 13-years-old when she died from a medical emergency last year in Vieques, which hasn't had a functioning hospital since Hurricane Maria more than three years ago. - Julio Ricardo Varela dives into the latest on Puerto Rico's vote for statehood in last November's plebiscite in this piece for Latino Rebels. - Rosa Cartagena tells the history of the fight for suffrage in Puerto Rico and the sufragistas who shaped it via this piece for Smithsonian Magazine. Credit info: (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo, File)

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ITT Sound Off: Texas Forever Feb 19, 2021

In this week's Sound Off, Maria and Julio unpack the latest in Texas as the state and its vulnerable communities have been devastated by a winter storm and freezing temperatures. They also talk about the official announcement of Biden's immigration bill that would grant an 8-year pathway to citizenship for 11 million immigrants, and they get into the already forgotten impeachment trial and acquittal of Donald Trump. This list from TIME shows how you can help winter storm victims in Texas. ITT Staff Picks: - "Low-income Texans of color bore some of the heaviest weight of the power outages as the inequities drawn into the state’s urban centers were exacerbated in crisis." Former ITT producer Juan Pablo Garnham and Alexa Ura write about the winter storm's impact on POC communities in Texas, via the Texas Tribune. - "The crisis has piled onto an already tense environment inside some Texas jails that had been struggling to deal with the coronavirus pandemic even before the loss of power and water this week." This piece from the Washington Post looks at the layers of impact on incarcerated individuals. - This piece looks at the uncertain odds of passing Biden's new immigration bill– even with a Democratic majority, via Politico. Photo credit: AP Photo/David J. Phillip

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Black Power Manifesto Feb 16, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Charles Blow, columnist for The New York Times and author of the new book, "The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto." They talk about Black political power and Charles' call for a reversal of the Great Migration to create Black regionalism in the South. They also discuss how white supremacy plagues the entire country, not just the South, and how to confront this anti-Black violence in this moment of racial reckoning during —and beyond— Black History Month. ITT Staff Picks: - "Blow explores how the white backlash towards the Great Migration that never really ended has created a situation where racism in these Northern "destination cities" of the Great Migration makes life untenable for Black Americans," writes Hope Wabuke in her review of Charles Blow's new book in NPR. - In Vann Newkirk II's latest for The Atlantic he writes that American democracy is hanging on by a thread: "Opposition to Black electoral power propels an antidemocratic front that will not likely dissipate with Trump gone. In fact, conservative lawmakers are currently targeting the very changes that helped more citizens vote in 2020." - Adapted from Robin D. G. Kelley's foreword to "Black Marxism: The Making of a Radical Tradition" in Boston Review: "These new abolitionists are not interested in making capitalism fairer, safer, and less racist—they know this is impossible. They want to bring an end to 'racial capitalism.'" Photo credit: Beowulf Sheehan

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ITT Sound Off: This Is the Moment Feb 12, 2021

Maria is back to join Julio in her first ITT Sound Off in 2021! They break down the latest with the Senate impeachment trial for former president Donald Trump and process just how horrifying the attack at the Capitol on Jan. 6th was. Maria and Julio also discuss the devastating reaches of white supremacy in the country from the Biden administration's deportation of Haitian immigrants to the recent wave of hate incidents and violence against the Asian-American community. ITT Staff Picks: - One of the breakout stars of the Senate Impeachment trial was Rep. Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands. She opened her presentation by saying: “I’ve learned throughout my life that preparation and truth can carry you far, can allow you to speak truth to power. I’ve learned that as a young Black girl growing up in the projects in Brooklyn, a housing community on St. Croix, sent to the most unlikeliest of settings, and now as an adult woman representing an island territory speaking to the U.S. Senate.” - “Anti-Blackness is baked into the immigration system and ICE has merely operationalized it. In fact, the federal agency has spent Black History Month deporting Black immigrants," writes Tina Vasquez for Prism, "Since Feb. 1, over 500 Haitians have been deported in an effort to deport 1,800 to Haiti by mid-February.” - Michelle Kim writes about the Anti-Asian Hate Crimes in the Medium Awaken Blog: “White supremacy wants us to remember the unhealed wounds we inflicted on each other, historical and ongoing anti-Blackness in the Asian community and anti-Asian incidents perpetrated by Black individuals, but not the stories of solidarity that have existed in equal measure, but are somehow left out of our history books and media coverage.” Photo credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

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Incarceration and Redemption Feb 09, 2021

Maria and Julio reconnect with David Luis “Suave” Gonzalez, an artist and former juvenile lifer, who they talked to during a 2018 ITT Live show in Chicago. Maria reflects on meeting Suave over 20 years ago, and how their journalist-source relationship has evolved since. And, Suave talks about his journey from incarceration to redemption in Pennsylvania, the state that was known as the epicenter for juveniles serving life without parole. You can listen to Suave's full story in a new podcast from Futuro Studios distributed by PRX. Subscribe here! ITT Staff Picks: - Jamaal Bowman writes about the school-to-prison pipeline and how disproportionate disciplinary standards push Black and Brown students into a system of mass incarceration in this piece for The Washington Post. - "It’s hard to estimate how many juveniles are serving long sentences equivalent to life. In most states, no agency is mandated to count how many kids are sent away until they will likely die, though youth advocates in Louisiana, for example, estimate there are more than 200 in that state’s penitentiaries alone," writes Eli Hager for The Marshal Project's Justice Lab. - As of January 2021, "Ohio is the 24th state, plus D.C., that will stop imposing sentences of juvenile life without parole," reports Daniel Nichanian for The Appeal. Photo credit: Maggie Freleng/Futuro Studios

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ITT Sound Off: A National Nightmare Feb 05, 2021

To end the week, Julio is joined by guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast. They talk about President Biden's latest executive orders on immigration and the confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas as the Secretary of Homeland Security. They also get into what's happening in Congress, including the House vote to strip Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of committee assignments. And, they hear a bit from a Latino USA interview between Maria Hinojosa and Dr. Anthony Fauci, as they give a coronavirus update. ITT Staff Picks: - Camilo Montoya-Galvez and Fin Gómez break down President Biden's latest executive orders on immigration, including his plan to reunite more than 600 children still separated from their parents, via CBS News. - Amanda Becker asks if the Republican Party is big enough for both Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in this piece for The 19th News. - Christina Caron writes for The New York Times about the possibility of Superbowl watch parties turning into superspreader events, and she outlines guidance from experts on how to stay safe. Photo credit: AP Photo/LM Otero, File

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Coming Soon: Suave, the Podcast Feb 03, 2021

ITT has a sneak peek for our listeners of a new podcast that Futuro Studios is producing with PRX: Suave. This podcast follows the story of David Luis “Suave” Gonzalez, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole as a teenager. This podcast is close to ITT co-host Maria Hinojosa's heart. She met Suave 27 years ago and has been following his journey of incarceration and redemption ever since. Subscribe now! Art by Virgilio Tzaj.

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The Crazy Train Feb 02, 2021

Maria and Julio break down the week's news with two ITT All-Stars. They are joined by Wajahat Ali, contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, and Jenni Monet, founder of the newsletter Indigenously. They talk about how white supremacy shows up among members of Congress, Biden's initial actions on climate policy and Indigenous affairs, and how the coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate Black, Indigenous and Latino communities. ITT Staff Picks: - The New York Times Editorial Board calls on Republican leaders to reject QAnon, a right-wing conspiracy movement. - Tim Naftali, associate professor at New York University, writes about why Trump is the worst president in U.S. history in this piece for The Atlantic. - Jodi Archambault, former special assistant to the president for Native American affairs under President Barack Obama, writes for The New York Times about how the coronavirus has put tribal elders, and the languages they pass down, at risk. Photo credit: Erin Scott/Pool Photo via AP, File

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ITT Sound Off: Vaccine Chaos Jan 29, 2021

In this week's Sound Off, Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast, talk about the latest in impeachment news following the Capitol Hill attack. They also dig into the complications of vaccine rollout, and hear from Silky Shah, executive director of Detention Watch Network, about the Biden administration's immigration policy. ITT Staff Picks: - "They are no longer private citizens — they are government officials now, and their words carry even more weight." ITT All-Star Andrea González-Ramírez writes about the "anti-Squad" that found its way to Congress, via GEN by Medium. - "Unless Washington and its allies quickly do more to address what’s happening in the planet’s poorest places, however, virtually everyone everywhere will soon face a lot more pain," writes Jonathan Tepperman about the failing global vaccine rollout, for Foreign Policy. - In this op-ed for The New York Times, Jean Guerrero looks at the millions of deportations carried out during the Obama administration that left immigrant communities fractured. Photo credit: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

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Gateway Racism Jan 26, 2021

Maria and Julio are joined by Akela Lacy, who is a politics reporter at The Intercept and returning ITT guest Mike German, who is a fellow with the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty and National Security Program and author of the book, "Disrupt, Discredit, and Divide: How the New FBI Damages Democracy." They talk about how white supremacy manifests in this country's law enforcement and government institutions. In unpacking the attack at the Capitol, they discuss the way anti-protest and counter-terrorism laws do not address violence from far-right extremist groups, and instead are used to criminalize Black and Brown communities. ITT Staff Picks: - Akela Lacy and Alleen Brown report on how state legislatures are making an "unprecedented" push to pass anti-protest legislation in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack via The Intercept. - In this report for the Brennan Center, Mike German writes about white supremacy and far-right extremism in law enforcement and the government's insufficient response. - In this article for The Marshall Project, Eli Hager dives into three historical examples of "white violence leading to disproportionate punishment for people of color." Photo credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger, file

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ITT Sound Off: The First Days Jan 22, 2021

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast, break down President Joe Biden's first days. They cover some of the highlights from Inauguration Day, and unpack the slew of executive orders he introduced. ITT Staff Picks: - "This new American government is the exact same as the old American government except for three new senators and a commander-in-chief who served in the old American government 44 of the past 48 years." Michael Harriot writes about what still hasn't changed, via The Root. - "Decades of Federal Policies Turned Local Police On Immigrant Communities. Here’s How Biden Can Stop That." Alina Das writes for The Appeal. - "An incremental plan that shuts down a pipeline or two while letting others continue to pump poison is not justice," writes Brian Kahn in this piece for Gizmodo. Photo credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool

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ITT Crossover: Anything For Selena Jan 19, 2021

We're taking a little break from the news to share something that our colleagues at Futuro Studios and WBUR have been working hard on. Listen to the first episode of "Anything For Selena," where host Maria Garcia takes us on an intimate journey to understand the cultural significance of Mexican American pop singer Selena Quintanilla's legacy. In episode one, Maria Garcia talks about growing up along the U.S.-Mexico border and how Selena helped her navigate the feeling of being torn between two identities. Illustration by Iliana Galvez.

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ITT Sound Off: Impeachment 2.0 Jan 15, 2021

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast, talk about the continued threats of white supremacist violence leading up to next week's inauguration and the escalating COVID-19 crisis. They also hear from New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez about Trump's second impeachment and the urgent need for COVID-19 relief — especially for communities of color. ITT Staff Picks: - Michael Harriot writes for The Root about the "six of the most infamous white insurrections." - "Black people have learned to always anticipate white supremacist abuse, because our existence here has been, until the last 55 years or so, one of apartheid (it still is, frankly). We exist in a perpetual state of organizing our lives around and anticipating white violence and backlash," writes Soraya Nadia McDonald in this piece for The Undefeated. - Jack Healy reports for The New York Times about the high rates of death from the coronavirus among tribal elders, and how this is creating a "cultural crisis" in Indigenous communities as they try to preserve knowledge, language, and traditions. Photo credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

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Whitelash Jan 12, 2021

Maria and Julio are back to process last week's events, including the white supremacist violence at the U.S. Capitol. They are joined by ITT All-Star and contributing opinion writer at The New York Times, Wajahat Ali, and national politics reporter for The Boston Globe, Jazmine Ulloa, who was reporting from the Capitol building at the time of the attack. They also hear from Azadeh Shahshahani who is the legal and advocacy director at Project South and co-counsel on a class action lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Dr. Mahendraa Amin for the forced hysterectomies of immigrant women at the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia. ITT Staff Picks: - "Lawmakers, national security experts, and political analysts said one thing is clear: The nation stands at a critical and fragile moment," writes Jazmine Ulloa in her recent piece for The Boston Globe. - In this piece for VICE News, Reina Sultan talked with five people arrested at Black Lives Matter protests across the country about their reactions to the violence that unfolded at the Capitol. - Omar Wasow, Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics at Princeton University, shares this Twitter thread on how the attack on the Capitol was "mob justice" and is "rooted in our long history of racial authoritarianism." Photo credit: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, file

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ITT Sound Off: Capitol Coup Jan 08, 2021

We are back with the first Sound Off of 2021! Julio is joined by guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter at Mother Jones and host of The Mother Jones Podcast. They process this week's events, including the mob attack by Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol and the Georgia runoff elections. ITT Staff Picks: - In his latest for The Atlantic, ITT All-Star Adam Serwer writes, "But in fact, multiracial democracy in America is young and fragile, just a few generations old, and the insistence by a largely white political party that the victories of its multiracial counterpart are illegitimate is deeply familiar." - Derecka Purnell writes that this week's events in Washington D.C. reveal "how power works in the United States, and for whom" in this piece for The Guardian. - Astead Herndon and Rick Rojas write about how much President-elect Joe Biden owes Black voters "who have long been the backbone of the Democratic Party" in this piece for The New York Times. Photo credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

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Seditious Senators Jan 06, 2021

Maria and Julio ring in the new year with two ITT All-Stars! They're joined by Renée Graham, columnist for The Boston Globe, and Terrell J. Starr, senior reporter at The Root and host of the Black Diplomats podcast, to talk about the latest in politics. They get into Donald Trump's ongoing attempts to interfere with the election ahead of the Georgia Senate runoffs, along with the GOP senators aiding his efforts. They also dig into the latest with the coronavirus pandemic and the recent waves of violence in this country. This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán. ITT Staff Picks: - Don't miss Terrell J. Starr's latest for The Root on the upcoming Georgia runoffs, where he digs into the impact of these elections. - "A poster boy for failing up, he does not want to alienate the 74 million-plus people who voted for Trump. If he runs in 2024, he knows he’ll need them," writes Renee Graham on Mike Pence in her latest opinion piece for The Boston Globe. - This piece from The New Yorker digs into the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic throughout 2020. Photo credit: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

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2020 Reflections Jan 01, 2021

Happy New Year fam! Maria and Julio reflect back on 2020 and how we all found joy and hope amidst the pain and intensity of the past year. They revisit some of the top ITT moments from interviewing power couple Wajahat Ali and Dr. Sarah Kureshi about COVID-19 to talking about the history of Black women in America and their legacy of resistance with Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross to reminiscing about our live shows like our last one in Detroit before quarantine set in...and much more! Some of the ITT Team's Favorite Shows of 2020: - ITT Bonus: Teneia Live From Jackson - Aired Feb. 26, 2020. Teneia opened our live Jackson show back in February and you get to hear a part of her performance in today's episode, too! - LIVE From Jackson: Immigration and 2020 - Aired Feb. 26, 2020. Maria and Julio travel to downtown Jackson at The Alamo Theatre to discuss immigration and criminal justice reform in Mississippi. - Mississippi’s Fight to Exist - Aired Mar. 3, 2020. A conversation about the BIPOC vote, the legacy of Jim Crow and voting rights in the state, and what progressive organizing looks like in such a red state. - Black Trans Resistance - Aired. Jun. 23, 2020. An episode about the history of struggle and leadership from Black transgender women, and the importance of centering Black trans lives in the movement for justice, and in the media. - America the Buzzkill - Aired Jul. 14, 2020. An episode about the stories behind the COVID-19 data, and the disproportionate impact the disease continues to have on people of color, particularly the Latino community. - Symbols of White Supremacy - Aired Jul. 28, 2020. Maria and Julio take on the national conversation about racist Confederate monuments and the push to take them down. - Maria’s Big Book - Aired Sept. 18, 2020. Julio is joined by guest co-host and ITT All-Star Terrell Jermaine Starr to talk with our very own Maria Hinojosa about her newly released book, Once I was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America. - Catch Mohanad's full standup comedy set (heard in this episode) by rewatching our election night live virtual show! This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán. Photo credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

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Protecting Each Other Dec 29, 2020

To end 2020, Maria and Julio talk with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, epidemiologist and author of "Healing Politics: A Doctor's Journey Into the Heart of our Political Epidemic." They reflect on a year with the coronavirus, how politics and politicians failed us, and how the 2020 election played out in Detroit, Michigan. They also dive into the current healthcare system and what is needed to turn a vaccine into vaccinations. This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán. ITT Staff Picks: - ABC News highlights Kizzmekia Corbett, a Black woman and one of the key scientists behind the coronavirus vaccine. - This is what you might have to watch out for when it comes to health insurance plans if you have had COVID-19 via NPR. - What really happened inside Detroit's ballot counting center via Detroit Free Press. Photo credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

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Happy Holidays From ITT! Dec 25, 2020

While Futuro Media is off for winter break, Maria and Julio check in to wish our dearest ITT listeners a safe, loving and peaceful holiday. And remember to stay tuned to your feeds, because fresh episodes will still be dropping in the next week! We'll see you next year, familia. Until then: ¡Nos vemos! Shout out to Jungle Fire whose Jingle Fire song is featured in this message! The same band you hear each week on ITT with their song Comencemos! Music courtesy of Nacional Records. Photo credit: AP Photo/Julio Cortez

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Can’t Deport a Movement Dec 22, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Alina Das, professor at the New York University School of Law, co-director of the NYU Immigrant Rights Clinic, and author of the new book, No Justice In The Shadows: How America Criminalizes Immigrants. They unpack the history of criminalization of Black and Brown immigrant communities and discuss what immigration policies to expect from the Biden-Harris administration. They also talk about the clear intersection between the criminal and immigration systems, and the implications of Trump’s immigration policy changes for the Biden-Harris administration. This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán and Leah Shaw. ITT Staff Picks: - Anita Kumar reports on the Trump administration's final push to limit immigration in the aftermath of the election via Politico. - Journalists at Mother Jones describe how local sheriffs act as “de facto immigration agents” and drive Trump’s deportation agenda. - Law students at the Immigrant Rights Clinic at New York University Law School document how the Trump administration used ICE to crack down on immigrant activists via The Intercept. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Alina Das.

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ITT Sound Off: Bah Humbug Dec 18, 2020

In the last Sound Off of 2020, Maria and Julio get real about the media. They talk about mainstream coverage of Donald Trump and where the news will go from here. They also dig into the latest news on the COVID-19 vaccine and the inequities incarcerated individuals face when it comes to vaccine rollouts. ITT Staff Picks: - Representative Deb Haaland made history this week for being the first Indigenous person to be chosen as Interior Secretary in the Biden administration. Don't miss her interview with Imara Jones on the TransLash podcast about Native American and LGBTQ+ rights. - "More than 75 percent of health care workers fighting the coronavirus are women — many of them Black and Latina." Chabeli Carrazana and Barbara Rodriguez write about the women of color who are receiving the first COVID-19 vaccines, via The 19th. - This piece from The Root gives an inside look into the neglect that took place at a D.C. jail overrun with COVID-19. Photo credit: Rod Lamkey/Pool via AP

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The Glass House of Immigration Dec 16, 2020

This week we're talking about what immigration policy could look like under the incoming Biden-Harris administration. Maria and Julio are joined by immigrant rights activist Erika Andiola, chief advocacy officer for RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) and host of their podcast Homeland Insecurity, and Nana Gyamfi, attorney and executive director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration. They break down the misconception that representational politics brings change, the impact of COVID-19 on the immigrant community, the pervasiveness of anti-Blackness in immigration policy, and how the movements for racial and immigrant justice are interconnected. This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán. ITT Staff Picks: - "Joe Biden’s immigration policy ideas sound great on paper. And a lot of them are great. But they stop short of the much-needed system-wide reforms. If it feels like we’re back to the Bush years after 9/11, when DHS and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency were born, you’re not alone," writes Arturo Domínguez for Latino Rebels, "Bush’s policies were built on the emotions of the general public after the attacks. That era led Americans down a path to profound nationalism. That same nationalism produced new unfounded fears about immigrants at the southern border." - "Since Cameroon descended into civil war in 2016, more than 400,000 people have fled ethnic and political persecution, with thousands seeking asylum in the United States. Many have instead been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, suffering conditions that advocates say flout international norms for the treatment of refugees—and reflect glaring inequities for Black migrants in the immigration system. Despite civil demonstrations led by Cameroonians in ICE facilities across the country this year, the poor conditions have only intensified." by Eli Cahan in Foreign Policy. - Hamed Aleaziz writes in Buzzfeed News about how ICE became the face of Trump's immigration crackdown and where it goes from here: "Biden’s victory will almost certainly lead to a change in messaging. It is likely, many predicted, the agency will stop paying for billboards depicting “wanted” immigrants, for example. The agency’s deportation efforts will return to the background, and officers will almost assuredly be once again limited on who they should and should not arrest. Photo credit: AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File

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ITT Sound Off: Selena Dec 12, 2020

Maria and Julio dive into some of the biggest stories of the week! They give an update on the latest with the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. and talk about how President-elect Joe Biden's latest nominations will impact the current health crisis. They also discuss the latest with the case of Army specialist Vanessa Guillén and give their thoughts on the new Netflix biopic "Selena: The Series." ITT Staff Picks: - Don't miss Julio's latest opinion piece for The Washington Post on how Joe Biden can deliver solutions for Latino voters. - "The fact that it’s unheard of for top military leaders to pay with their careers and to be charged with criminal negligence—that’s the problem," says Pam Campos-Palma in Tina Vasquez's latest piece for Prism on the firing of 14 Fort Hood officers following the murder of Vanessa Guillén. - "Netflix's new biopic 'Selena: The Series' rehashes the same story for the umpteenth time—and sends a clear message about which stories Hollywood is willing to tell," writes Alex Zaragoza for Vice. Photo credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

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Georgia Spirit Dec 09, 2020

With a January special election for two senate seats approaching, this show is all about Georgia. Maria and Julio welcome Aimée Castenell, southeast region communications director for the Working Families Party, and Anjali Enjeti, co-founder of the Georgia chapter of They See Blue, an organization for South Asian Democrats. They talk about who is on the ballot, voter suppression efforts by the GOP, and the multiracial people-powered movements that are turning Georgia blue. ITT Staff Picks: - Former ITT guest, Anoa Changa writes about how Reverend Warnock's history as a sexual health educator has prepared him to run for senate in this piece for Harper's Bazaar. - "When Georgia turned blue for Mr. Biden this year after record voter turnout, it validated the political vision and advocacy of a group of Black women who have led a decades-long organizing effort to transform the state’s electorate" writes ITT All-Star Astead Herndon in this article for The New York Times. - Kristle Chester writes about the small-town Georgia voters that are Sen. Kelly Loeffler's biggest vulnerability when it comes to re-election in this piece for Politically Speaking via Medium. Photo credit: AP Photo/Sudhin Thanawala

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ITT Sound Off: Reimagining Our Country Dec 04, 2020

Maria and Julio dive into the latest in White House political chaos, including Attorney General William Barr's statement that there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the election. They also talk about President-elect Biden's transition and the coronavirus surge, especially how COVID-19 is unfolding in Mexico. ITT Staff Picks: - Included in today's show is a clip from Angela Davis' first national televised appearance following her acquittal after the San Rafael courtroom shootout. This was an exclusive interview with journalist Tony Brown on WNET's "Black Journal." Watch the full interview here. - "However, moderate Democrats have yet to prove that progressive policies alienated more voters than they mobilized," Ibram X. Kendi writes in his latest piece for The Atlantic. - Manu Ureste and Alberto Pradilla report about COVID-19 cases, and testing, in Mexican detention centers in this piece for Animal Político. Photo credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo, File

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The Fight After Dec 01, 2020

Maria and Julio welcome Zerlina Maxwell, host of "Zerlina" on Peacock, and Nathalie Baptiste, a reporter with Mother Jones. They talk about the latest on the coronavirus, President-elect Joe Biden's cabinet picks, and the havoc Trump is wreaking in his last days in office. ITT Staff Picks: - Nathalie Baptiste writes about the Trump administration's escalation of lame-duck executions — at a time when the death penalty is more unpopular than ever — in her latest for Mother Jones. - Arturo "Tootie" Alvarez writes, "Essential workers are not heroes who choose to sacrifice their health for their neighbors. It’s more accurate to frame essential workers as the neighbors we’re willing to sacrifice," in this piece for Latino Rebels. - ProPublica is tracking dozens of "midnight regulations" or policy changes from the Trump administration in its final days. Photo credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo, File

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Revolutionary Love Nov 27, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Valarie Kaur, renowned Sikh activist, civil rights lawyer, and author of the new book See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love. They reflect on Valarie’s activist roots and her experience writing her book. They also discuss America’s history of state-sanctioned violence against communities of color and explore how revolutionary love is a force for justice and a feminist intervention. ITT Staff Picks: - “Through the entire American story, white Christianity has served as the central source of moral legitimacy for a society explicitly built to value the lives of white people over Black people.” Robert P. Jones asks white Christians to confront their faith’s legacy of white supremacy for The Atlantic. - Alicia Garza writes about her experience as a Black woman organizer for her new book The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart, via the Guardian. - Valarie Kaur delivers a ‘Sikh prayer for America’ to the Metropolitan AME Church via The Washington Post. Photo credit: Amber Castro

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Normal Sucked Too Nov 24, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by co-hosts of ITT's cousin podcast, Politically Re-Active: W. Kamau Bell, stand-up comedian and host and executive producer of the CNN docu-series United Shades of America, and comedian and writer Hari Kondabolu. They unpack the mainstream media’s post-election narrative and COVID-19 inequities. They also dive into the FBI’s 2019 Hate Crime Data and talk about comedy as a tool for social change. This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán. ITT Staff Picks: - Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, writes that the Biden administration should not take Black voters for granted in an article for Jezebel. - “Our reality is clear: Organized, violent, white supremacist groups and the broad constellation of structural white supremacy will continue to be a problem in America.” Nicole Froio writes about America’s future of white supremacist violence for Bitch Media. - In an article for The Atlantic, Alexis C. Madrigal and Whet Moser look at how many more Americans will die from COVID-19 before the vaccines begin to roll out. Photo credit: AP Photo/M. Spencer Green

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ITT Sound Off: Political Crises Nov 20, 2020

Maria and Julio give an update on America’s political crisis and discuss Republican efforts to stall the transition. They also talk about the political crisis in Peru and hear from special guest Ana Lucía Mosquera Rosado about what organizing in Peru looks like. Plus, they look at the latest with the COVID-19 pandemic. ITT Staff Picks: - “Trump’s Attempts to Overturn the Election Are Unparalleled in U.S. History,” writes David E. Sanger for The New York Times. - In the latest podcast for Latino Rebels, Julio sits down with Peruvian journalists Diego Jesús Bartesaghi Mena and Fiorella Gil Mena to unpack the Peruvian political crisis. - The COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic shares five takeaways from this week's data. Photo credit: AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd

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Change Will Come Nov 18, 2020

Julio is joined by guest co-host Jamilah King. They talk with ITT All-Stars Andrea González-Ramírez, senior writer at GEN by Medium, and Dr. Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University and co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC, on the Biden-Harris transition, their upcoming administration's policies, and Puerto Rico’s election results. They also discuss the latest on the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. ITT Staff Picks: - “By pushing for Puerto Rican statehood to benefit themselves, mainland liberals are making Puerto Rico a political pawn once again.” In his latest for NBC News, Julio Ricardo-Varela explains why white liberals must let the people of Puerto Rico decide on statehood. - “The most precious resource the U.S. health-care system has in the struggle against COVID-19 isn’t some miracle drug. It’s the expertise of its health-care workers—and they are exhausted.” Ed Yong writes about how the third pandemic surge is pushing health-care workers to the limit for The Atlantic. - “Organizations that have worked relentlessly for months to turn out the vote for Biden did not even take a weekend off to celebrate. Instead, they immediately unveiled detailed plans outlining all the executive actions a Biden-Harris administration could take within its first 100 days: from immediate student debt relief, to generous “people’s bailouts” as part of its Covid-19 response, to the highly detailed “Frontlines Climate Justice Executive Action Platform,” backed by a coalition of powerful groups and published by the think tank Demos.” writes Naomi Klein for The Intercept. Photo credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

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ITT Sound Off: America Showed Up Nov 13, 2020

Maria and Julio discuss the Republican Party's efforts to undermine the election results. They also give updates on the Biden-Harris transition process and the country’s COVID-19 surge. ITT Staff Picks - “There’s no saving America’s soul. There's no restoring the soul. There's no fighting for the soul of America. There’s no uniting the souls of America. There is only fighting off the other soul of America,” writes Ibram X. Kendi for The Atlantic. - In an op-ed for The Washington Post, Jennifer Rubin writes that Republicans may never have the nerve to stand up to Trump. - Elena Moore examines the initiatives and actions that President-elect Joe Biden plans to implement during his first 100 days of office via NPR. Photo credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

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Donny, You're Done Nov 11, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Anoa Changa, a freelance journalist based in Atlanta covering movements and electoral justice, and Aída Chávez, a journalist at The Intercept covering Congress and the impact of public policy on diverse communities. They talk about the 2020 election results and the Black, Indigenous, and Latinx voters who turned out at record numbers. They also look at what’s next in a Biden-Harris administration and how the dangers of white supremacy and Trumpism are not over. ITT Staff Picks: - "Particularly in Maricopa County, a long-running organizing campaign against Sheriff Joe Arpaio pulled together a political constituency with its own motivations, community, and sense of identity," writes Aída Chavez and Ryan Grim for The Intercept. - In her latest for Scalawag Magazine, Anoa Changa writes about the importance of local action and organizing — beyond the election — in continuing to fight state-run voter suppression and police brutality. - "We’ve always organized and fought back for a greater purpose. We’ve never had a choice to trust the nation’s institutions, and instead, organizers from the Black South challenged their white supermacist structure and ideology in every era," writes Taylor Crumpton about the Black radical tradition in the South for Teen Vogue. Credit: (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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ITT Sound Off: Election Week Nov 06, 2020

Maria and Julio discuss the ongoing 2020 election results and the BIPOC vote. They hear from Grecia Lima, national political director for Community Change Action, on Latino electoral power in Arizona. They also unpack the historic wins in down-ballot races on the state and local level. Did you miss our live election night show? You can still catch it here! ITT Staff Picks: - “A record number of Native American women are headed to Congress,” writes Mariel Padilla for The 19th. - Daniel Nichanian and Anna Simonton examine how voters responded to criminal justice reform for The Appeal. - “There are few unifying ties between Puerto Ricans in Pennsylvania, Mexicans in Texas, and Venezuelans in Florida, other than the artificial category of Latino voter,” ITT All-Star, Andrea González-Ramírez explains why there’s no such thing as the “Latino Vote” in Gen Magazine by Medium. Photo credit: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

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An Election Day Message Nov 03, 2020

Join us for our Live Election Night Show tonight at 6pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by ITT All-Stars to provide live election analysis and coverage from a Black, Indigenous and POC perspective. Trust us, you don't want to miss this one! For more info and to RSVP, click here. We also want to hear from you before our show tonight! Call our ITT hotline and tell us one thing you're worried about OR finding hope in with election day and its potential aftermath. Leave us a voicemail at 505-226-8973. Your voice might just be featured in the livestream! Photo credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

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ITT Sound Off: FTW Oct 30, 2020

Maria and Julio break down the electorate in the final ITT show before election day. They also hear from Astrid Silva, former ITT guest and immigration activist in Nevada, on voting in her state. RSVP for ITT's Live Election Night Show: Join us on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd starting at 6pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by ITT All-Stars to provide live election analysis and coverage from a Black, Indigenous and POC perspective. Trust us you don't want to miss this one! For more info and to RSVP, click here. - We also want to hear from you before our election night show and your voice might just be featured in the livestream: Call our ITT hotline and tell us what's one thing you're worried about OR finding hope in with election day and its potential aftermath. Leave us a voicemail at 505-226-8973. ITT is a finalist for the 2020 Discover Pods Awards. Support our work and vote for us in the category Best podcast created and/or hosted by a POC here. Voting closes November 6 at 6pm ET. ITT Staff Picks - “Are Asian Americans the Last Undecided Voters?” asks Hua Hsu via The New Yorker. - The Supreme Court allows election officials in Pennsylvania and North Carolina to accept absentee ballots for several days following Election Day, via Adam Liptak for The New York Times. - In a piece for Mother Jones, Fernanda Echavarri examines how select Latinx Evangelical faith leaders talk politics. Photo credit: LM Otero/AP Photo

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The Latino Vote Oct 27, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Mike Madrid, co-founder of The Lincoln Project and partner at the public relations firm GrassrootsLab, and Lili Gil Valletta, CEO and co-founder of the big data analytics firm Cien+ and CulturIntel. Together, they unpack the nuances of the Latino voting bloc and discuss the Lincoln Project’s strategy for the 2020 election. They also talk about the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán. RSVP for ITT's Live Election Night Show: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on election night Nov. 3rd starting at 6pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by ITT All-Stars to provide live election analysis and coverage from a Black, Indigenous and POC perspective. Trust us you don't want to miss this one! For more info and to RSVP, click here. ITT is a finalist for the 2020 Discover Pods Awards. Support our work and vote for us in the category Best podcast created and/or hosted by a POC here. Voting closes November 6 at 6pm ET. ITT Staff Picks: - As coronavirus cases surge, these states have refused to loosen rules on who can vote by mail, write Elise Viebeck and Arelis R. Hernández for The Washington Post. - “Again and again, political analysts have underestimated the diversity among American Latinos.” Mike Madrid explains what democrats don’t understand about Latino voters for The Atlantic. - Young Latino voters in Pennsylvania and Florida could play a decisive role in the presidential race, writes Nicole Acevedo for NBC News. Photo credit: AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File

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ITT Sound Off: Dazed and Confused Oct 23, 2020

Maria and Julio unpack the final presidential debate of 2020. They talk about each candidate’s response on immigration policy and the Black Lives Matter movement. They also hear from U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia on voting and voter suppression around the country. This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán. RSVP for ITT's Live Election Night Show: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on election night Nov. 3rd starting at 6pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by ITT All-Stars to provide live election analysis and coverage from a Black, Indigenous and POC perspective. Trust us you don't want to miss this one! For more info and to RSVP, click here. ITT Staff Picks: - Alana Abramson explains why the 2020 election could come down to the courts in this article for Time. - “The gender gap has swelled to double digits in key battleground states, favoring Biden.” In the final presidential debate, Trump attempts to close the gender gap, writes Errin Haines for The 19th. - Vox writers break down the winners and losers from the final presidential debate. Photo credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

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LIVE From Home: The Final Countdown! Oct 20, 2020

Maria and Julio are back with the second virtual live show of 2020! They’re joined by ITT All-Stars Imara Jones, creator of TransLash Media and host of the new TransLash podcast, and Jenni Monet, journalist and founder of the new weekly newsletter Indigenously, to talk about the state of our nation. They discuss issues of voter suppression, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Indigenous vote. They also dive into the SCOTUS confirmation hearings and what it means for LGBTQ rights. This episode was mixed by Rosana Cabán. RSVP for ITT's Live Election Night Show: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on election night Nov. 3rd starting at 6pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by ITT All-Stars to provide live election analysis and coverage from a Black, Indigenous and POC perspective. Trust us you don't want to miss this one! For more info and to RSVP, click here. ITT Staff Picks: - “After Trump, the Republican Party may become more extreme,” writes Stanley Greenberg in this piece for The Atlantic. - Listen to the most recent TransLash episode about the religious right and trans healthcare. - Jenni Monet recounts the history of Indigenous Peoples' Day and explains why we should cancel Columbus in this Medium article. Photo credit: AP Photo/Gerry Broome

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ITT Sound Off: Dueling Town Halls Oct 16, 2020

Maria and Julio discuss Biden and Trump’s competing town halls and the start of early voting. They hear from Anoa Changa, an electoral justice reporter for Prism who is leading the As The South Votes video series for Scalawag Magazine. Maria and Julio also talk about this week’s SCOTUS confirmation hearings. ITT Staff Picks: - Nicole Guidotti-Hernández, a voter in Georgia, documents experiencing voter suppression for the first time in this piece for Ms. Magazine. - “Being a privileged white woman with Black kids hasn’t made Barrett immune to racism—it’s made her completely blind to it,” writes Nathalie Baptiste for Mother Jones. - Our friends at The 19th examine how Trump and Biden’s competing town halls addressed women’s issues. Photo credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, Evan Vucci

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Coming Soon: Anything For Selena Oct 15, 2020

ITT has a sneak peek for our listeners of a new podcast that Futuro Studios is producing with WBUR: Anything For Selena. Journalist Maria Garcia goes on a quest to understand the cultural impact of the one and only Selena Quintanilla. The series weaves Maria’s personal story as a queer, first-generation Mexican immigrant with cultural analysis, history and politics to explore how, 25 years after her death, Selena remains an unparalleled vessel for understanding Latino identity and American belonging. Anything for Selena is coming to your podcast feeds January 2021. Subscribe now!

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Redefining Radical Oct 13, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Jamaal Bowman, 2020 Democratic nominee for Congress in New York’s 16th District. They unpack Bowman’s path to running for Congress, and discuss how the Black Lives Matter movement fueled his victory. They also talk about the role of progressivism in the Democratic Party and how Democrats are engaging with voters. SAVE THE DATE: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on Wednesday, Oct. 14th at 7:30pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by All-Star guests Imara Jones, creator of TransLash Media, and Jenni Monet, founder of Indigenously to discuss the 2020 election and the POC vote. For more info and to RSVP, click here. This episode was mixed by Elisheba Ittoop. ITT Staff Picks - “Black power comes from Black love. It is Black love that helped me, Cori Bush and Mondaire Jones, among many others, to win congressional primaries in this historic moment,” writes Jamaal Bowman for Essence magazine. - Progressives unveil an agenda that aims to push Joe Biden to the left if he wins, from Holly Otterbein for Politico. - Democrats could take back the Senate in 2020. The writers at Vox lay out what their priorities should be if they do. Photo credit: Corey Torpie

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ITT Sound Off: Organized Chaos Oct 09, 2020

Maria and Julio discuss the highs and lows of the vice presidential debate. They hear from special guest Tauhid Chappell, an executive board member for the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists and Philadelphia Project Manager for the Free Press’ New Voices project, on what it means to see Kamala Harris in the limelight. They also discuss the superspreading event in the White House and the recent domestic terrorism plot in Michigan. SAVE THE DATE: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on Wednesday, Oct. 14th at 7:30pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by All-Star guests Imara Jones, creator of TransLash Media, and Jenni Monet, founder of Indigenously to discuss the 2020 election and the POC vote. For more info and to RSVP, click here. ITT Staff Picks - Vox writers break down the winners and losers from the vice presidential debate. - The writers at Mother Jones offer a detailed timeline of Trump’s coronavirus denial, with comprehensive filters like “Magical thinking” and “Interfering with science.” - “Latinx Americans Should Not Have to Bear Witness to Trump's COVID-19 Circus,” writes Maria Hinojosa in this piece for Cosmopolitan. Photo credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya File

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No Ballot Left Behind Oct 06, 2020

Maria and Julio talk with Alicia Garza, special projects director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance, co-creator of Black Lives Matter, and co-host of the Sunstorm podcast, and Ai-jen Poo, co-founder and executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and co-host of the Sunstorm podcast. They discuss the latest news with the White House as the latest coronavirus hotspot. They also talk about the impact of women of color organizers from the domestic worker movement to Black Lives Matter, and if this historic moment will bring an opportunity for change in this country. SAVE THE DATE: Our next virtual LIVE ITT show is on Wednesday, Oct. 14th at 7:30pm ET! Maria and Julio will be joined by All-Star guests Imara Jones, creator of TransLash Media, and Jenni Monet, founder of Indigenously to discuss the 2020 election and the POC vote. For more info and to RSVP, click here. ITT Staff Picks: - “Domestic workers are organizing to make care work a 2020 election issue,” writes Sheila Bapat in a recent article for Truthout. - “Rather than being politically inactive, many non-voters organized outside of electoral spheres long before Trump took office, and argue that Trump is not exceptional,” writes Vanessa Taylor in this piece for Mic that sheds light on why some Black and brown voters are opting out. - Ben Mathis-Lilley gives an update on the presidential election in a round-up for Slate. Photo credit: Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP

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ITT Sound Off: The Mess Oct 02, 2020

Maria and Julio unpack the mess of this week from President Trump and the first lady testing positive for COVID-19 to the first 2020 presidential debate. They also discuss the snubbing of Latinx voters throughout the election season. RSVP for our next virtual LIVE ITT show that will be on Wednesday, Oct. 14th at 7:30pm ET: Maria and Julio will be joined by All-Star guests Imara Jones, creator of TransLash Media, and Jenni Monet, founder of Indigenously to discuss the 2020 election and the POC vote. For more info and to RSVP, click here. ITT Staff Picks: - “Toxic masculinity takes center stage at the first presidential debate,” writes Errin Haines for The 19th. - Lola Méndez examines how Twitter is responding to Telemundo’s misleading Post-Debate poll in this piece for Remezcla. - “Trump’s call for supporters to watch polls ‘very carefully’ raises concerns of voter intimidation,” writes Daniella Silva for NBC News. Photo credit: AP Photo/Julio Cortez

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The End of Roe Sep 29, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Dr. Michele Goodwin, law professor at the University of California, Irvine, host of Ms. Magazine’s On The Issues podcast and author of the new book, Policing the Womb: Invisible Women and the Criminalization of Motherhood, and Mary Ziegler, law professor at Florida State University, historian and author of the new book, Abortion and the Law in America: Roe v. Wade to the Present. They talk about the future of Roe v. Wade and unpack the history of reproductive justice for women of color and immigrants. And, they discuss the role these issues might play in the first presidential debate of the 2020 election season. ITT Staff Picks: - In her latest for NBC news, Mary Ziegler writes about what Trump nominee Amy Coney Barrett means for Roe v. Wade. - Michele Goodwin explains why we need a Reproductive Justice Bill of Rights in this article for Ms. Magazine. - In an op-ed for Teen Vogue, Erica West explains the “overlap of the fight for reproductive justice and against racism." Photo credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

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Free the Vote Sep 25, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Desmond Meade, the executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition and the author of the new upcoming book Let My People Vote. They unpack Florida’s recent court decision that restricts returning citizens’ eligibility to vote. They also discuss voter suppression nationwide and how this will impact the 2020 election. ITT Staff Picks - Fabiola Cineas sits down with Rosemary McCoy and Sheila Singleton, two Black women fighting against felony disenfranchisement, in an interview for Vox. - “The Decision Upholding Florida’s Jim Crow–Style Poll Tax Is an Affront to Democracy,” write Perry Grossman and Mark Joseph Stern in an article for Slate. - Patricia Mazzei and Michael Wines examine how Republicans restricted returning citizens’ voting rights in Florida in this piece for The New York Times. Photo credit: Florida Rights Restoration Coalition

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Liberation Dreams Sep 23, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Andrea Valdez, editor-in-chief at The 19th, and Errin Haines, editor-at-large for The 19th. They reflect on the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a feminist icon who was a leading advocate for women’s rights and whose work helped push forward equity for the LGBTQ+ community. They also dive into the vulnerability of reproductive rights in this country and discuss the power of the Latina electorate and the Black women’s vote. ITT Staff Picks: - “Ruth Bader Ginsburg matters, now as much as she ever has, but her survival alone couldn’t have saved us, any more than getting rid of Donald Trump will save us,” writes Rebecca Traister for The Cut. - In a roundup for Prism, Ashton Lattimore writes about how reproductive injustice is woven into America's history, from immigration, to prisons, and in healthcare. - In Julio’s latest for Latino Rebels, he digs deep into the Biden campaign’s Latino outreach. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File

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Maria’s Big Book Sep 18, 2020

Julio is joined by guest co-host and ITT All-Star Terrell Jermaine Starr to talk with our very own Maria Hinojosa about her newly released book, Once I was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America. They dive into the history of U.S. immigration policy— drawing parallels to the dehumanization of Black and Indigenous people. They also discuss Maria’s path to recognizing her mission as a journalist, from launching Futuro Media to writing her book. ITT Staff Picks - “Hinojosa’s book is as much a manifesto as it is a memoir,” writes Fernanda Santos in a recent book review for The New York Times. - In Tina Vasquez's latest for Prism, the women being detained by ICE who were allegedly given unwanted hysterectomies also disclose mistreatment from the whistleblower. - In a piece for The Atlantic, Yascha Mounk writes about the coming election crisis, and “how millions of Americans will likely believe that their candidate was robbed.” Photo Credit: Maria Hinojosa

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LIVE From Home: Here We Go! Sep 15, 2020

It's ITT's first virtual live show of 2020 from...home! Maria and Julio are back to kick off the rest of the 2020 live show tour, this time virtually, to talk about the state of the country ahead of the election. They're joined by ITT All Stars Jamilah King, reporter and host of The Mother Jones podcast and Wajahat Ali, contributing opinion writer with The New York Times. They discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and the movement to defend Black lives and how this is all impacting the upcoming presidential election. They dig deep into what it will take to create systemic change in this country, and look at the role POC voters will play. ITT Staff Picks: - "White people have gentrified Black Lives Matter. It’s a problem." writes Erin B. Logan for the Los Angeles Times. - "If a new president, and a new Congress, do not act before the American people’s demand for justice gives way to complacency or is eclipsed by backlash, the next opportunity will be long in coming," warns Adam Serwer in The Atlantic. - ITT All-Star Andrea González-Ramírez breaks down Trump's loyal Latino base, via GEN by Medium. Photo Credit: Carolyn Kaster, Andrew Harnik, Ringo H.W. Chiu, File, John Minchillo, File, Patrick Semansky/AP Photo

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ITT Sound Off: A Nation on Fire Sep 11, 2020

In this week's Sound Off, Maria and Julio take a moment to reflect on 9/11 and its impacts that are still felt 19 years later. They talk about journalist Bob Woodward's revelations that he had been holding on to since February, that President Trump knew about the severity of the coronavirus early on. They also discuss the latest polling with Latino voters and the tragic fires that have been spreading across West Coast states. ITT Staff Picks: - "What if the real story about the Trump era is less about Trump and more about the people who surround and protect him?" asks Jennifer Szalai in this New York Times book review of Bob Woodward's "Rage". - Young Latinos Plan to Vote in Unprecedented Numbers, New Study by Telemundo and BuzzFeed Finds, via Latino Rebels. - The Former Prisoners Fighting California’s Wildfires, via The Marshall Project. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

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Unthinkable Trauma Sep 08, 2020

Maria and Julio talk with Jacob Soboroff, a correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC and author of the New York Times bestseller Separated: Inside an American Tragedy. They dive into the history of ripping parents and children from each other at the U.S. border, the unfathomable trauma that ensues, and how the Trump administration has systematically pursued a policy of family separation. ITT Staff Picks: - Dara Lind and Lomi Kriel report for ProPublica about thousands of migrant children who have been expelled from the U.S. by the Trump administration under the pretext of COVID-19. - Evgenia Peretz writes, "The Millers’ respective issues dovetail in a single phenomenon: harm to immigrant communities and people of color" in this analysis of what has shaped Stephen Miller's politics and the influence his wife and him have on White House policy for Vanity Fair. - Julia Ainsley and Jacob Soboroff write that an inspector general report confirms migrant children were left waiting in vans for hours, sometimes overnight, while waiting to be reunited with their parents for NBC News. Photo credit: John Moore/Getty Images

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ITT Sound Off: 2016, the Sequel Sep 04, 2020

Maria and Julio are back from summer break with another Sound Off! They unpack all the latest news, from violence at protests to the continued police brutality against Black lives, including the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin and the brutal murder of Daniel Prude in Rochester, New York. They also give a 2020 election update and talk about how mail-in voting can increase turnout in November. Also! RSVP for our first LIVE virtual ITT show! All-Stars Jamilah King and Wajahat Ali will join Maria and Julio this upcoming Wednesday at 7:30pm ET to talk all things 2020 and politics. More info here: bit.ly/LIVEfromHome. ITT Staff Picks: - Michael Forest Reinoehl was suspected of killing a supporter of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer. Just before Reinoel was killed by police officers, he told Vice News he acted in self-defense. - In light of Trump's and Biden's visits, Kenosha residents say they're wary of becoming the backdrop for the 2020 presidential campaign, via The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. - Listen to NAHJ President Hugo Balta's statement about the lack of Latino moderators in the upcoming presidential debates, via Latino Rebels. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

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Unforgetting With Roberto Lovato Sep 01, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by journalist Roberto Lovato to talk about his new book Unforgetting: A Memoir of Family, Migration, Gangs, and Revolution in the Americas They discuss the cycle of violence throughout El Salvador's history, from revolutions to the rise of gangs in Los Angeles, and how the United States has played a role in all of it. ITT Staff Picks: - Listen to Roberto Lovato discuss Unforgetting on "Civic", the San Francisco Public Press's radio program. - This piece looks into how the United States has been deeply involved in creating devastation in El Salvador, via The Nation. - Roberto Lovato argues against "imaginary borders" and the media coverage that doesn't treat them that way, in this piece for Columbia Journalism Review. Photo Credit: Roberto Lovato's website

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The Legacy of Berta Cáceres Aug 28, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Nina Lakhani, an environmental justice reporter for The Guardian US and author of the new book Who Killed Berta Cáceres? They talk about the life and legacy of Berta Cáceres, an indigenous, Honduran, human rights defender and environmental activist. And, they dive into the systems of oppression — racism, misogyny, capitalism — that played a role in her murder. ITT Staff Picks: - Maria Ines Taracena writes, "Lakhani, a veteran environmental justice reporter, persuasively lays out Honduras’ longtime status as an epicenter for U.S. intervention, militarization and imperialism," in this review for Ms. Magazine. - The Afro-Indigenous Garífuna community in Honduras continues to demand the safe return of five kidnapped land defenders. More in this segment from Democracy Now. - Latin America is deemed the most dangerous region for environmental activists via Latin America News Dispatch on Latino USA. Photo Credit: Daniel Cima/CIDH/Flickr

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A Culture of Silence Aug 25, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Pam Campos-Palma, senior political strategist at the Working Families Party, and Gina Peréz, cultural anthropologist and professor at Oberlin College to dig deep into the case of Vanessa Guillen, and the issues of sexual assault, structural racism and a culture of impunity in the U.S. Military. They discuss the military's history of recruitment in Latino communities, and how Latina servicewomen have led the fight for justice by reclaiming their stories. ITT Staff Picks: - In an article for Luz Collective, Sarah M. Vasquez speaks with guest Pam Campos-Palma and other Latinx veterans about the significance of the #IAmVanessaGuillen campaign for their communities. - A fierce athlete, a vibrant daughter and older sister in an immigrant family, a story that mobilized the country. This Houston Chronicle profile narrates the life of Vanessa Guillén through the eyes of her family and community. - In a lecture at the Oberlin College Library, this week's guest Prof. Gina Pérez speaks about the findings of her ethnographic research from her book Citizen, Student, Soldier: Latina/o Youth, JROTC, and the American Dream Photo Credit: Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle via AP, Pool

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Goodbye Summer 2020! Aug 21, 2020

Futuro Media is taking a week off! Maria and Julio check in quickly with our dearest ITT fam to say goodbye for now, but don't worry! There will be new and fresh episodes all week, and you might just see Maria and Julio on Instagram Live! We'll be back to cover the news Friday, September 4th. ¡Nos vemos! Photo Credit: AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File

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Buckle Up Aug 18, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by two ITT All-Stars, Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr., the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University and Callie Crossley, host of WGBH’s Under the Radar to talk all things 2020 Election. They talk about this week's Democratic National Convention and the future of the Democratic party as more progressive candidates are winning their primaries. Then they preview the Republican National Convention that is set for next week. They also discuss what's going on with the United States Postal Service and what it means for mail-in ballots and voting rights this November. Finally, they shine light on the latest with the Black Lives Matter movement and Eddie Glaude's new book, Begin Again, which looks at the legacy of James Baldwin. ITT Staff Picks: - What to expect from the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, via PBS NewsHour - Julio's latest in The Atlantic: What Biden Can Learn From Sanders About the Young Latino Vote - From Vox: The White House says USPS isn’t removing mail-sorting machines. Postal workers say it is. Photo Credit: Democratic National Convention via AP

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ITT Sound Off: Kamala Aug 14, 2020

In this week's Sound Off, Maria and Julio discuss the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's vice president pick of Senator Kamala Harris for the 2020 election. They talk about this historic VP pick in the midst of a nationwide movement for Black lives and the role that race and identity play in this year's presidential election. ITT Staff Picks: - "For multiracial people, defining their racial identity in America is a complex and fraught issue. And what the energy expended on debating Harris’s identity tells us is that we still have a long way to go when it comes to talking about multiracial people in America." writes Nisha Chittal for Vox. - From The New York Times: ‘Top Cop’ Kamala Harris’s Record of Policing the Police - Who is Kamala Harris, really? Ask her sister Maya. - via The Washington Post Photo Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

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A Democracy at Risk Aug 11, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by two ITT All-Stars — Tina Vasquez, senior reporter at Prism, and LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the organization, Black Voters Matter. They talk about the 2020 election, including presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden's vice presidential pick and the Black and POC candidates winning local primaries across the country. They also dive into the Voting Rights Act and the federal government's continued cruelty toward immigrants. ITT Staff Picks: - Tina Vasquez reports about Peter Schey, an immigration attorney responsible for representing migrant children, who pushed for protocol that triggered family separation in this piece for Prism. - Errin Haines interviews a dozen strategists, activists and voters — including LaTosha Brown — about the growing calls for a Black woman as vice presidential candidate in this piece for The 19th. - Maria Hinojosa and Miguel Macias report about the long term effects of the August 2019 immigration raids at seven chicken processing plants in central Mississippi via Latino USA. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

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Healing From COVID-19 Aug 07, 2020

In this special ITT episode, Maria shares her story of healing from COVID-19. She reconnects with friend and actress Debi Mazar, who was a guide and support throughout her journey. Then she brings together a group of women of color including Amanda Alcántara, Futuro Media's digital editor, Elizabeth Yeampierre, executive director of UPROSE, and Stacey Monroe, a trans advocate and community organizer. They share about making it through this illness, the ancestral knowledge that carried them, and being in community with one another. This episode was reported and produced by In the Thick's New York Women’s Foundation IGNITE! Fellow, Harsha Nahata. ITT Staff Picks: - Nicole Karlis writes for Salon about a Facebook support group for COVID-19 survivors that now has tens of thousands of members. - "The list of lingering maladies from COVID-19 is longer and more varied than most doctors could have imagined," writes Jennifer Couzin-Frankel, in this article for Science Mag about the lasting impacts of COVID-19. - In this story for Texas Public Radio, Ben Henry reports on survivors experiencing fear and distrust from neighbors, friends, and strangers long after their recovery. Photo credit: AP Photo/Eric Gay

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Taking a Knee Aug 04, 2020

Julio is joined by guest co-host Jamilah King, reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast, and today they are talking sports. They're joined by Howard Bryant, senior writer for ESPN, and Shireen Ahmed, co-host of the feminist sports podcast Burn It All Down, to discuss what professional sports look like during a pandemic. They also dive into how the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for racial justice is playing out on the field. And finally, they reflect on the need for systemic change in the world of sports. ITT Staff Picks: - Jamilah King writes for Mother Jones about soaring coronavirus cases as baseball, basketball, and football leagues consider how to reinstate their seasons. - Jemele Hill writes, "The NFL can only make a difference if those in positions of power—a category that most certainly includes Ross—embrace this opportunity to make bold statements rather than maintain the status quo" in this piece for The Atlantic. - Nathaniel Friedman and Jesse Einhorn write about the process of restarting the NBA in this piece for The New Republic. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool

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ITT Sound Off: Make Good Trouble Jul 31, 2020

Maria and Julio talk about the politicization of the coronavirus pandemic, including the death of former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain. They also reflect on the funeral for Democratic Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis. Finally, they break down Attorney General William Barr’s testimony in front of Congress and preview what's to come with the 2020 presidential election. ITT Staff Picks: - The late Representative John Lewis writes, "When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression and war" in this final op-ed for The New York Times. - Christina Cauterucci writes about Representative Pramila Jayapal's questioning of Attorney General William Barr during this week's congressional hearing for Slate. - Ella Nilsen breaks down the shortlist of potential contenders for presidential candidate Joe Biden's vice president pick in this article for Vox. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File

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Symbols of White Supremacy Jul 28, 2020

Maria and Julio take on the national conversation about racist Confederate monuments and the push to take them down. They talk with Dr. Keisha Blain, an author and associate professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh, and Rebecca Keel, the Virginia Statewide Organizer with Southerners on New Ground (or SONG), about what it means to be honest about our country’s racist past and to reimagine how it is taught and remembered. ITT Staff Picks: - Keisha Blain writes that destroying Confederate monuments isn't 'erasing' history, but learning from it, in this piece for The Washington Post. - "The work of the people is what endures. It’s unromantic work, done in small increments, sometimes just as a blueprint for whatever future movements might arise, and it’s more precious than any bronzed monument or seal or city name," writes Hanif Abdurraqib in this piece for The New Yorker. - In this piece for Latino Rebels, Nicholas Belardes, a dual-ethnic Chicano writer based in San Luis Obispo, California, writes about a predominantly Latino community's journey of grappling with the Confederate monuments in its vicinity. Photo credit: Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP, File

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ITT Sound Off: The Power of Women Jul 24, 2020

Maria is joined by guest co-host Jamilah King, a reporter and podcast host at Mother Jones. They recap the coronavirus crisis and talk about President Trump sending federal agents to cities across the country. They also debrief the violent shooting targeting New Jersey Judge Esther Salas and her family, as well as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s powerful speech in response to Representative Ted Yoho's abusive language. ITT Staff Picks: - "This is not mere disregard for the rule of law — this is outright disdain," writes Laurence Tribe, a professor of constitutional law at Harvard Law School in this piece for WBUR about Trump's use of paramilitary force in American cities. - Joshua Benton writes for The Atlantic about Roy Den Hollander, the man who attacked Latina Judge Esther Salas and her family. He explains how Hollander's writings revealed "deeply misogynistic beliefs" and a support for Trump. - In this op-ed Lucy Diavolo, politics editor for Teen Vogue, writes, "So I’m proud to be a f*cking b*tch, even if the words sting, because I know it means the people who built the walls are afraid of how close we’re coming to knocking them down." Photo Credit: House Television via AP

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The Conscience of America Jul 22, 2020

Julio is joined by guest co-host and ITT All-Star Wajahat Ali. They talk with two ITT All-Stars Andrea González-Ramírez, senior writer at GEN by Medium, and Renée Graham, columnist for The Boston Globe, about the passing of civil rights leaders Reverend C.T. Vivian and Representative John Lewis. They also get into the actions of federal law enforcement in Portland, Oregon, the decision of the Washington football team to change its racist name, and the rising coronavirus cases — especially in Puerto Rico. ITT Staff Picks: - "Representative John Lewis never donned a military uniform, but he fought as hard as any soldier for a nation that never fought as hard for him," writes Renée Graham in her latest column for The Boston Globe. - Andrea González-Ramírez writes about the growing epidemic of domestic violence in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in her year long investigation in GEN by Medium in partnership with Type Investigations for her Ida B. Wells Fellowship. - Rory Taylor writes for Vox about the "long history of entanglement, violence, and complicated feelings between Indigenous peoples and American football." Photo Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger

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ITT Sound Off: Forced to Be Warriors Jul 17, 2020

In light of Bari Weiss’ resignation from The New York Times, Maria and Julio have an honest conversation about being journalists of color. They also talk about what happens when newsrooms are majority-white, the continued surge of COVID-19 cases across the country, and the heartbreaking death of Naya Rivera. ITT Staff Picks: - Vivian Kane writes, "People like Weiss and Stephens are representative of a pervasive tactic among conservative media figures: to bash 'cancel culture' as the greatest threat to modern discourse while simultaneously demanding everyone who criticizes them be canceled," in this piece for The Mary Sue. - Alexis Madrigal, who was on our last ITT show, writes about a second coronavirus death surge in his latest for The Atlantic. - Alicia Ramírez writes for The Oprah Magazine about the influence Naya Rivera had on her life as an Afro-Latina actress playing one of the most visible lesbians on primetime TV. Photo credit: Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File

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America the Buzzkill Jul 15, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Alexis Madrigal, staff writer at The Atlantic and co-founder of The Atlantic's COVID Tracking Project. They dig into the stories behind the COVID-19 data, and discuss the disproportionate impact the disease continues to have on people of color, particularly the Latino community. ITT Staff Picks: - In Alexis' latest piece for The Atlantic, he warns of the dire consequences of the impending possibility that the country's COVID-19 testing system becomes overwhelmed, again. - The New York Times breaks down the data on the coronavirus racial disparities and the stories behind the staggering statistic that Latinos and Black Americans in the United States are three times more likely to become infected as their white counterparts. - After Mark Anthony Urquiza died of coronavirus, NBC's Nicole Acevedo reported on the now-viral obituary that his family wrote in The Arizona Republic, which attributed his death to "the carelessness of politicians who continue to jeopardize the health of black and brown bodies." Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt York, File

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ITT Sound Off: Goya Flop Jul 10, 2020

Maria and Julio dive into Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s visit to the White House. They talk about what the maskless meeting meant in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and Trump’s anti-Mexican, anti-immigrant, comments and policies. They also talk about Goya Foods CEO Robert Unanue praising Trump. And finally, they break down Harper's “Letter on Justice and Open Debate,” examining how it serves to protect the elite. ITT Staff Picks: - Gabrielle Bellot writes for Lit Hub about the transphobia embedded into the Harper's Open Letter and how it feels "to have your existence up for debate." - Ana Lucía Murillo reports for Latino Rebels on how Goya President and CEO Bob Unanue went on Fox News Friday morning, refusing to apologize and instead defending his support of President Trump. - Al Jazeera reports on AMLO's visit to the White House, and the contrast between Trump's warm words to the Mexican president this week and his prior comments against Mexican immigrants. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Mel Evans, File

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Nothing to Celebrate Jul 07, 2020

Maria and Julio debrief the news with ITT All-Stars Jenni Monet, an independent journalist and tribal member of the Pueblo of Laguna, and Terrell J. Starr, a senior reporter at The Root and host of the new podcast, Black Diplomats. They dive into what it means to celebrate a Fourth of July marked by the sexual assault and killing of servicemember Vanessa Guillén, a racist diatribe by President Trump at Mount Rushmore, and spikes in cases of the coronavirus across the country. ITT Staff Picks: - In Jenni Monet's latest for Indigenously she writes about the 1980 Supreme Court decision to compensate eight different tribes of the Great Sioux Nation for the Black Hills - now the site of the Mount Rushmore monument - which was seized by Congress years ago, "Forty summers later, the Lakota still don’t want the money. They just want the land back." - The New York Times reports on the extent to which Black and Latinx communities have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus after suing for federal data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. - Fabiola Cineas writes about the legacy of the Black Lives Matter movement for Vox. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

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Ancestral Power Jul 03, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by authors and historians Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross to talk about their latest book, A Black Women's History of the United States. They analyze the history of Black women in America and their legacy of activism, resistance and entrepreneurship. Daina and Kali offer their insight on how Black women are shaping politics and harnessing their electoral power. ITT Staff Picks: - "Historians Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross came together to weave the wondrous tapestry of history through the perspective of those who’ve been left out of history books," via Beacon Broadside. - "An uprising is long past due, but the revolution is incomplete. Black lives matter. Full stop. All Black people deserve their humanity. All Black people deserve protection. All Black people deserve freedom. All Black people deserve justice," Tamara Winfrey-Harris writes in The Atlantic. "And there can be no justice for Black Americans unless women and girls are included in the reckoning." - From Ashley Dennis in The Washington Post: The black women who launched the original anti-racist reading list Photo Credit: Courtesy of the authors

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Latin America and the Coronavirus Jun 30, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Peniley Ramírez, an investigative reporter with Univision, and Gisela Pérez de Acha, a human rights lawyer and journalist, to talk about the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Latin America. They discuss the surge in cases, how governments are responding, and the role information plays in a public health crisis. ITT Staff Picks: - Peniley Ramírez writes for El Universal about four pieces of good news for Mexico about COVID-19. - In this piece for Noteworthy - The Journal Blog, Gisela Pérez de Acha writes, "But in Mexico, rigorous reporting is the exception and not the rule, which results in a lack of accountability measures that spells disaster in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis." - The Associated Press reports on how covered Latin America's covered food markets created a near-perfect setting for spreading the disease as shared by Latino Rebels. If you or someone you know is a victim or survivor of domestic violence and seeking support, these are some of the helplines that are available: - In the United States, the national domestic violence helpline is available 24/7. Call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 for TTY, or if you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522. - In Mexico, The National Shelter Network has shelters throughout the country and can support you on 55 5243 6432 and 01 800 822 4460 if you call from inside the republic. - In Argentina, you can reach the Ministry of Women, Genders and Diversity by calling 144 or through this website. - In Brazil, Ligue 180 is a free and confidential reporting channel that operates 24/7. More information here. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Marco Ugarte

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ITT Sound Off: Organizing in a Pandemic Jun 26, 2020

COVID-19 cases are surging nationwide, and President Trump is unilaterally imposing strict immigration restrictions. Maria and Julio get into that and more as they talk about the people powered organizing that is pushing back — often in creative ways — and recap this past week's 2020 primary elections. ITT Staff Picks: - Joe Coscarelli writes for The New York Times about how K-Pop fans are turning to political activism online. - Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern write for Slate about the Supreme Court ruling that "approved the Trump administration's draconian interpretation of a federal law that limits courts' ability to review deportation orders." - Bridget Read writes "Don't Call Her a Fluke" for The Cut about Alexandria Ocasio Cortez's victory. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File

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Black Trans Resistance Jun 23, 2020

This year's Pride month lands during a global pandemic and a national uprising to defend Black lives, which means the LGBTQ community of color is on the frontlines, as always. Maria and Julio speak with Elle Hearns, the executive director of the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, and Nala Simone Toussaint, founder of R.O.A.D, the Reuniting of African Descendants. They talk about the history of struggle and leadership from Black transgender women, and the importance of centering Black trans lives in the movement for justice, and in the media. This episode was reported and produced by In the Thick's New York Women’s Foundation IGNITE! Fellow, Harsha Nahata. ITT Staff Picks: - Sessi Kuwabara Blanchard writes for Vice about the history and current revival of the STAR House, created by Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera as a home and sanctuary for trans people in NYC. - Nonbinary artist and activist Joshua Allen reflects in this piece for Vox on their journey as an organizer in the fight for Black trans lives, and their participation in the Brooklyn Liberation march on June 14th, which drew out over 10,000 people. - Latino Rebels spoke with Fran Tirado and Eliel Cruz, who helped organize the historic Brooklyn march for Black Trans Lives, in this piece by Ana Lucía Murillo. Photo Credit: Nicholas Ortiz

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ITT Sound Off: Fighting for Freedom Jun 19, 2020

On Juneteenth, Maria and Julio take time to honor and reflect on what today has meant for Black Americans for decades. They hear from Futuro Media's Amanda Alcántara, who shares her reflections on the historical significance of this day. They also talk about the Supreme Court’s decision to block Trump from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and they break down which states around the country are seeing spikes in coronavirus cases. ITT Staff Picks: - Jelani Cobb dives into Juneteenth and freedom for The New Yorker. He writes, "In honoring that moment, we should recognize a moral at the heart of that day in Galveston and in the entirety of American life: there is a vast chasm between the concept of freedom inscribed on paper and the reality of freedom in our lives." - Nicole Narea summarizes what you need to know about the US Supreme Court's ruling on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for Vox. - Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute writes, "anti-racism demonstrations are the perfect scapegoat for a rise in Covid-19 cases, but science suggests their risks can be mitigated," for The Guardian. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

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A World Without Police Jun 16, 2020

Maria and Julio talk about police and prison abolition with Charlene Carruthers, author and founding member of Black Youth Project 100, and Ejeris Dixon, director of Vision Change Win. They imagine a world without police, dive into community safety, and get real about what calls for defunding the police mean. ITT Staff Picks: - Mariame Kaba, an organizer whose work focuses on dismantling the prison industrial complex writes, “Yes, we mean literally abolish the police,” in this op-ed for The New York Times. - "These calls to defund and disband police have roots in decades of prison abolitionist organizing, which aims to end incarceration and policing in favor of a society grounded in collective care and social provision," writes Amna A. Akbar for The New York Review of Books. - Kayla Reed and Ash-Lee Woodward Henderson write about the demands of The Movement for Black Lives in this piece for Essence. Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Ragan Clark)

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This Is Not a Game Jun 12, 2020

Maria and Julio get into how race and activism show up in sports - historically and in the current Black Lives Matter movement - with Howard Bryant, a senior writer for ESPN and correspondent for NPR’s Weekend Edition. They talk about Bryant’s recent book, Full Dissidence: Notes from an Uneven Playing Field, and the ways in which Black athletes, like Colin Kaepernick, have spoken up and been silenced in the movement for racial justice. ITT Staff Picks: - Sally Jenkins writes for The Washington Post about why Kaepernick took a knee and the NFL owners who ostracized him for doing so. - Nick Martin writes, "the NFL is no better than any of the other brands trying to seize the moment by throwing money at the issue in hopes of whitewashing their complicity" in this piece for The New Republic. - Leonie Annor-Owiredu writes, "the Black Lives Matter movement isn't a trend to be commodified," in this piece for Creative Review. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File

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Systemic Exhaustion Jun 09, 2020

As thousands of protestors fill the streets, Maria and Julio talk about the #BlackLivesMatter movement, performative allyship, and what it means to abolish the police with Karen Attiah, global opinions editor for the Washington Post and ITT All-Star Dr. Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Fordham University and co-host of the podcast FAQ NYC. ITT Staff Picks: - Karen Attiah writes for The Washington Post about #blackouttuesday and performative solidarity. - Jenna Wortham writes for The New York Times about why this time — the biggest collective demonstration of civil unrest in our generation's memory — is different. - Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor asks, "How do we change this country?" in this article for The New Yorker. Photo Credit: Nicholas Ortiz

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ITT Sound Off: National Uprising Jun 05, 2020

Protests continue across every state in this country, and in countries around the world, in the fight for racial justice for Black lives. Maria and Julio talk about the different ways people have been organizing, the gaslighting they have seen in responses from those in power, and what this means in the context of 2020 primary elections. ITT Staff Picks: - “Responding to a protest of police violence with more police violence and more criminalization, is the absolute worst possible response," Andrea Ritchie, told reporter Fernanda Echavarri in this piece about the effects of curfews for Mother Jones. - Astead W. Herndon's piece for The New York Times focuses on flipping the framework for the 2020 election. He writes, "If Democrats want people to vote, party leaders need to listen to why people are angry." - Zack Linley writes for The Root about the police killing of Manuel Ellis, a black man who died in Tacoma, Washington on March 3, 2020.

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Palpable Pain Jun 02, 2020

Maria and Julio process this historic moment in the fight for racial justice and defending Black lives with Julieta Martinelli, Futuro Media producer who is on the ground covering the ongoing protests in Atlanta. Then, they dive into conversation with Danielle Moodie, co-host of the podcast Democracy-ish and host of the radio show WokeAF, to make sense of this year so far and what it all means for the 2020 presidential election. ITT Staff Picks: - By Michael Harriot in The Root: A timeline of events to contextualize the anger, frustration and desperation that have led to demonstrations and uprisings across the country. - "To be black and conscious of anti-black racism is to stare into the mirror of your own extinction," Ibram X. Kendi writes for The Atlantic. - In a Medium piece Danielle Moodie writes, "From slavery to the Jim Crow South to this week’s incident in Central Park, all a White woman has ever had to do in America is lie about the threat of a Black man in order to incite White men wielding badges (or not) to come running to their aid with guns, ropes, torches, and chains at the ready."

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ITT Sound Off: We're Not Okay May 29, 2020

As protests continue in Minneapolis and spread across the country, Maria and Julio talk about anti-black racism and violent policing in the United States. They reflect on the ways in which white supremacy shows up in police interactions, as well as in daily life — for instance in threats from a white woman walking her dog in Central Park. ITT Staff Picks: - A former classmate of George Floyd says his nickname was "gentle giant" in this profile by the Associated Press. - ITT All-Star, Jelani Cobb gives context to the death of George Floyd in The New Yorker. - Amanda Marcotte writes for Salon about the differences in police response to the Black Lives Matter protests compared to the anti-lockdown protests.

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Forever Foreign May 26, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by James Boo, showrunner at Self-Evident, a podcast telling Asian America’s stories and Erika Lee, award-winning author and professor of history and Asian American studies at the University of Minnesota. They focus on the spike in anti-Asian sentiment that people are experiencing across the country. They also talk about the economic impact for historic neighborhoods across the country, including New York City’s Chinatown. This episode was reported and produced by In the Thick's New York Women’s Foundation IGNITE! Fellow, Harsha Nahata. ITT Staff Picks: - Cathy Erway, host of the podcast Self-Evident, writes about the efforts to save businesses in New York City's Chinatown via GrubStreet, New York Magazine's Food and Restaurant blog. - Li Zhou writes about how the coronavirus is bringing deep-seated anti-Asian sentiment to the surface for Vox. - Tracey Jan reports for the Washington Post about the racism Asian American doctors and nurses have experienced in the fight against the coronavirus.

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ITT Sound Off: Lost POC Lives May 22, 2020

Maria and Julio discuss how the Latinx community is being affected by the COVID-19 crisis. They highlight the latest Latino USA episode which looks inside a New York City hospital's ICU. Also, they continue to dive into the cruel, inhumane conditions at detention centers and prisons around the country. ITT Staff Picks: - Latino Rebels reports on a lawsuit filed by four migrant detainees against the Elizabeth Detention Center, a private prison in New Jersey. - A poll of nearly 2,000 Latinx Americans nationwide shows that they continue to be disproportionately affected by the virus via NBC News. - The virus has hit correction officers and inmates — who are majority black and Latinx — especially hard in New York City with 1,259 guards and 545 inmates infected via The New York Times.

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Psychology of a Pandemic May 19, 2020

May is Mental Health Awareness month, so Maria and Julio discuss the psychological and emotional toll of living through a global pandemic. They are joined by Dr. Patrice Harris, child and adolescent psychiatrist and president of the American Medical Association, and Bethany Ao, a mental health reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer. ITT Staff Picks: - In her latest for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Bethany Ao writes about the psychology behind why it is hard for us to accept a pandemic. - The Washington Post reports that nearly half of Americans say the coronavirus crisis is harming their mental health, and experts warn a historic wave of mental-health problems is approaching. - From The New York Times: Before the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare workers were already vulnerable to PTSD and burnout. Now mental health experts are seeing increased rates of trauma, anxiety, depression and insomnia from these frontline workers who've treated COVID-19.

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ITT Sound Off: Epidemic of Violence May 15, 2020

Maria and Julio discuss Dr. Anthony Fauci's and Rick Bright's congressional testimonies on the pandemic response. They also dive into the Supreme Court's pending decision around DACA which could strip protections from hundreds of thousands. Finally, they return to policing and criminal justice during the pandemic and the ongoing violence toward black and brown communities. ITT Staff Picks: - Rick Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, testifies before Congress and the Trump Administration is not happy about it via Politico. - "If you ran for Ahmaud, you need to stand for Bre," says civil rights attorney Ben Crump in this article from The Root. - Even with repeated warnings from public health experts about the spread of the coronavirus in prisons, restrictive criteria and bureaucratic hurdles mean that only a small number of people have actually been released via The Intercept.

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Learning in Quarantine May 12, 2020

This week Maria and Julio are talking about education during the time of this pandemic. They hear from Dr. Elizabeth Farfán-Santos, professor of anthropology at the University of Houston, and Dr. Pedro Noguera, professor of education at the University of California, Los Angeles, about how school districts across the country are adapting to online learning, what gaps still remain especially for students of color, and what this new normal means for our systems of education going forward. ITT Staff Picks: - Dr. Elizabeth Farfán-Santos writes about the need to slow down our K-12 learning during COVID-19 for mental health's sake via Latino Rebels. - Chalkbeat reports that schools in the highest-poverty districts are most likely to bear the brunt of budget cuts. But that can be avoided depending on how state lawmakers act. - "For some parents of means, the prospect of sending kids back into the petri dish of school almost certainly will be too scary, so they will choose to delay. And that choice will have serious downstream consequences," Kiera Butler writes for Mother Jones.

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ITT Sound Off: Policing in the Pandemic May 08, 2020

The COVID-19 story is a POC story. Maria and Julio work through a devastating news cycle. They talk about policing during the pandemic and the disproportionate brutality toward people of color, the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, and the death of Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia, who passed from COVID-19 related complications while being detained by ICE. ITT Staff Picks: - Charles M. Blow writes in this op-ed for The New York Times: "Arbery had committed no offense. His only offense, the thing that drew suspicion, was that he was black and male and running through these white men's neighborhood." - Marcos Bretón writes about two high-profile police confrontations in the Sacramento area last week, and their different outcomes for the The Sacramento Bee. - The spread of the coronavirus is shifting into rural areas where access to healthcare is farther away. And poor, predominantly African American communities are being affected, via the Associated Press.

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The Outskirts of the Outskirts May 05, 2020

Maria and Julio talk with Alex Roque, executive director at the Ali Forney Center in New York City and ITT All-Star Imara Jones, creator of TransLash Media about how LGBTQ youth of color are coping during the coronavirus pandemic. This episode was reported and produced by In the Thick's New York Women’s Foundation IGNITE! Fellow, Harsha Nahata. ITT Staff Picks: - "With schools closed amid the pandemic, some LGBTQ young people have lost crucial support systems and are self-isolating with unsupportive relatives," writes Sakshi Venkatraman for NBC News. - This homeless shelter for LGBTQ youth in Washington D.C. fights to stay open during the pandemic via The Washington Post. - On this episode of TransLash Media's Lives At Stake series, Imara Jones talks with guests about how trans and gender-nonconforming communities are responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Resources for LGBTQ Youth: - The Trevor Project offers crisis support 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386 and via chat every day at TheTrevorProject.org/Help, or by texting "START" to 678-678. - Trans Lifeline provides a peer support hotline and microgrants for trans people in need. You can call their hotline at 877-565-8860. - Via CenterLink: This map provides information on LGBTQ Community Centers across the country.

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ITT Sound Off: For the Workers May 01, 2020

Maria and Julio discuss the latest with the sexual assault allegation against the 2020 presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden who appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Friday to publicly address the allegation. They also cover the historic May Day strikes happening around the country and what President Trump’s executive order to keep meatpacking plants open means for the many migrant workers. ITT Staff Picks: - Rebecca Traister writes about "The Biden Trap" for her latest in The Cut. - Workers around the country share why they are striking today, via Vice. - From Jacobin: The coronavirus outbreak is revealing how a capitalist food system is failing to serve our needs.

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Spiritual Crisis Apr 28, 2020

This week Maria and Julio focus on how different faith communities are staying connected during the pandemic. They talk with Dawud Walid, a faith leader and executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Alejandra Molina, a national reporter from Religion News Service covering Latinos and religion. ITT Staff Picks: - Alejandra Molina's latest for Religion News Service on how traditional houses of worship are moving online in the face of the pandemic. - With Easter, Passover, and Ramadan all falling amidst stay-at-home orders this year, communities are figuring out how to celebrate their holy days online via Vox. - Letters to the editor at The Dallas Morning News show how readers are approaching faith during this time.

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ITT Sound Off: Targeting Immigration Apr 24, 2020

On today’s ITT Sound Off, Maria and Julio are fed up. They talk about how the Trump administration continues to lash out at immigrants, and the disproportionate press coverage the President’s tweets receive. They also dive into what is happening in Chelsea, Massachusetts and in the Bronx, New York where hotspots of the virus are developing. We want to hear from you. As schools shut and services become difficult to access, this is an especially tough time for young LGBTQ people of color. If you’re a part of this community, and have been struggling with the idea of home or finding a safe place to shelter, call us to leave a voicemail on In The Thick hotline at (505) 226-8973 or send us a voice memo via email to inthethick@futuromediagroup.org. ITT Staff Picks: - Julio talks with Chelsea City Councilor Judith Garcia about what is happening in Chelsea, MA. Chelsea is 70 percent Latino, right across the river from Boston, and has the highest rates of positive coronavirus cases per 10,000 people similar to New York City via Latino Rebels. - The Washington Post reports that as of April 21, the Bronx has more coronavirus infections per capita than any of the city’s other boroughs. The Bronx is where much of New York City's essential workforce lives. - Along with healthcare workers and those in the food service, morticians are on the front line. Reuters reporters talk with four female undertakers about the challenges of continuing to help families navigate death in this pandemic.

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The POC Climate Crisis Apr 21, 2020

This week in honor of Earth Day, we’re taking a break from our daily COVID coverage, and sharing an episode we recorded pre-pandemic. Maria and Julio talk with climate activists Julian Brave NoiseCat and Jennifer Allen about their experiences organizing for environmental justice for Indigenous and POC communities. ITT Staff Picks: - Julian writes about the environmental movement and its racist history for Vice. - More than 160 environmental defenders were killed in 2018, The Intercept reports. - The New York Times delivers a “crash course on climate change” looking back at the 50 years since the first Earth Day. As schools shut and services become difficult to access, this is an especially tough time for our LGBTQ youth of color. If you’re a part of this community, and have been struggling with the idea of home or finding a safe place to shelter, we would love to hear from you. Call us to leave a voicemail on the In The Thick hotline at (505) 226-8973 or send us a voice memo via email to inthethick@futuromediagroup.org.

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ITT Sound Off: Pandemic and the Patriarchy Apr 17, 2020

Maria and Julio break down the pandemic, specifically the white male leadership that has dominated news cycles. They also talk about the tug-of-war between state governors and the Trump administration on when states will reopen. Finally, this week saw a cascade of high-profile endorsements for the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, including from former competitors Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. As schools shut and services become difficult to access, this is an especially tough time for our LGBTQ youth of color. If you’re a part of this community, and have been struggling with the idea of home or finding a safe place to shelter, we would love to hear from you. Call us to leave a voicemail on the In The Thick hotline at (505) 226-8973 or send us a voice memo via email to inthethick@futuromediagroup.org. ITT Staff Picks: - Rebecca Traister writes about how power plays between male leaders in this country have resulted in policy confusion and delayed action during the pandemic. And she’s sick of it via The Cut. - Ed Yong writes about how the fight against the coronavirus won’t end when the nation reopens via The Atlantic. - Behind every data point and number is a name and story of the earliest victims. The Washington Post tells the stories of the people we've lost to the first wave of the pandemic in the United States.

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The Cities Are Dying Apr 14, 2020

Maria’s back and feeling better! For today’s roundtable, she and Julio revisit the last two cities In The Thick did live shows in before the pandemic. They chat with ITT All-Stars, Stephen Henderson, host of WDET’s Detroit Today, and R.L. (Ryan) Nave, editor-in-chief at Mississippi Today, about how their respective communities are faring during the coronavirus outbreak. ITT Staff Picks: - Over 35,000 immigrants are in detention in the U.S., and as the spread of COVID-19 continues many are left vulnerable without access to adequate healthcare or the ability to socially distance via Latino USA. - Mississippi Today reports on what the financial fallout of COVID-19 means for small, rural businesses such as a meat market in Cleveland, Mississippi. - On Detroit Today, Stephen Henderson talks with another Detroit reporter on why Michigan is failing its African American residents in the fight against the coronavirus.

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ITT Sound Off: The Hardest Hit Apr 10, 2020

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King talk more about how the coronavirus pandemic is disproportionately affecting communities of color. They also discuss the latest with the 2020 Election including, Senator Bernie Sanders’s exiting the race. And, they breakdown the Wisconsin primary, which was held this week despite statewide stay-at-home orders. We want to keep hearing from you and how you’re COVID Coping. Tell us how you're finding joy and hope in these unprecedented times. Call us to leave a voicemail on the In The Thick hotline at (505) 226-8973 or send us a voice memo via email to inthethick@futuromediagroup.org. ITT Staff Picks: - All around the country, the coronavirus pandemic seems to be hitting people of color the hardest. Ibram X. Kendi shares his experience and analysis via The Atlantic. - Wisconsin held a primary election on Tuesday, but the Wisconsin State Journal is anticipating a “cascade” of lawsuits as voters faced an impossible choice: prioritizing health or their right to participate in democracy. - Research shows the coronavirus came to New York mainly from Europe, not Asia, and had begun to circulate by mid-February, even though the first case wasn’t confirmed until weeks later via The New York Times.

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Warrior Workers Apr 07, 2020

On today’s show Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King talk about how the worldwide pandemic is taking a toll on the economy and affecting workers throughout the country. They are joined by Jeet Heer, a national affairs correspondent for The Nation, and Sabrina Rodríguez, a trade reporter at Politico to talk about the social inequities brought to light by the coronavirus and how this may change our economic system for years to come. How You Can Support Workers: - The National Domestic Workers Alliance is raising money for its Coronavirus Care Fund to support workers through the crisis. - The Freelancer COVID-19 Emergency Fund is supporting creatives and others in the gig economy during this time. - The Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation launched a COVID-19 emergency relief fund to support those in the industry through direct aid, zero-interest loans, and economic relief for individuals in crisis. - You can also look for mutual aid efforts happening locally in this database. ITT Staff Picks: - Jeet Heer writes about how the coronavirus is intensifying class and social divides across the country via The Nation. - In her latest news roundup for Politico, Sabrina Rodríguez reports that President Trump is stopping export of crucial medical equipment, something that could cause other countries to retaliate. - New data shows that 70 percent of the people who have died from COVID-19 in Chicago have been Black, as the pandemic disproportionately affects people of color via Mother Jones.

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ITT Sound Off: Healing in Times of Chaos Apr 03, 2020

We're so happy and grateful that Maria is feeling better! She and Julio bring you the latest updates on COVID-19, including how state leaders, Congress and the President are responding. They also talk about historically high unemployment, the federal relief package, and the 2020 presidential race, including recent #MeToo allegations against Joe Biden. ITT Staff Picks: - This Salon article dives into why mainstream media hasn’t covered Tara Reade’s sexual assault allegations against presidential candidate Joe Biden and hopes to offer clarity on the reporting. - To mask or not to mask? This Buzzfeed article breaks down the debate around who should be wearing masks and what type. - Before the physical and economic toll of the coronavirus was undeniable, right-wing commentators turned the pandemic into a battle of us vs. them via the New York Times. Also, check out Futuro Media engineer Jeanne Montalvo's latest single that closes out this episode here. The single is called 'Cuidao'. Jeanne co-produced the song with her husband Ernesto Lucar and Chaco Garcia also recorded and mixed the track. The song is written and performed by Mai-Elka Prado and features Caridad de la Luz “La Bruja”. We want to keep hearing from you and how you’re COVID Coping. Tell us how you're finding joy and hope in these unprecedented times. Call us to leave a voicemail on the In The Thick hotline at (505) 226-8973 or send us a voice memo via email to inthethick@futuromediagroup.org.

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There’s Still the Census Apr 01, 2020

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King talk about how the 2020 political landscape is being affected by the coronavirus pandemic. They also chat with NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang - resident census expert - about how to make sure communities of color aren’t undercounted amidst changing guidelines during this time. We want to keep hearing from you and how you’re COVID Coping. Tell us how you're finding joy and hope in these unprecedented times. Call us to leave a voicemail on the In The Thick hotline at (505) 226-8973 or send us a voice memo via email to inthethick@futuromediagroup.org. ITT Staff Picks: - Hansi Lo Wang writes about the Census Bureau’s decision to delay field operations until April 15 among other operational changes, and what those might mean for who gets counted via NPR. - Jamilah King talks with Chani Nicholas, an astrologer who is gaining popularity, about her efforts to democratize astrology and how to heal right now, in a world where so many things feel like they need healing via Mother Jones. - One Day At A Time, a sitcom following the lives of the beloved Cuban American Alvarez family, is back after dedicated fans rallied in support. And our digital editor, Luis Luna reviewed the first episode of its new season for Latino Rebels.

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ITT Sound Off: Close to Home Mar 27, 2020

In this week’s ITT Sound Off, Maria and Julio continue reporting remotely, and focus on NYC — home to the headquarters of Futuro Media and the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. They talk about the rapidly evolving scenario in New York and around the country, and breakdown how COVID-19 is affecting communities of color and immigrants. We want to keep hearing from you and how you’re COVID Coping. Tell us how you're finding joy and hope in these unprecedented times. Call us to leave a voicemail on the In The Thick hotline at (505) 226-8973 or send us a voice memo via email to inthethick@futuromediagroup.org. ITT Staff Picks: - A PBS explainer on why social distancing is so important, especially as more people start to know of someone affected by the coronavirus. - Via NYTimes: An ER doctor at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, NY shared a rare look inside her hospital, which is at the center of battling the pandemic in NYC. - An internal medicine resident physician in New York City talks about seeing an influx of young COVID-19 patients in their 20s or 30s via The Atlantic.

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COVID-19 Q&A Mar 25, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by power couple, husband and wife: ITT All-Star, Wajahat Ali, contributing Op-Ed writer with The New York Times and CNN commentator, and Dr. Sarah Kureshi, physician at Georgetown Family Medicine. They talk about the medical and economic impacts of COVID-19, how their family is approaching social distancing, and what we can do to play our part in containing this outbreak. ITT Staff Picks: - Julio's latest for The Washington Post about President Trump’s mishandling of the crisis and his inclination to blame immigrants. - How the Coronavirus Became an American Catastrophe, via The Atlantic. - As communities go into lockdown during the pandemic, the people most at risk for getting sick - because they must leave home to do their jobs - are largely people of color via The Washington Post. Also, check out our engineer Leah Shaw's latest single that closes out this episode here. We want to keep hearing from you and how you’re COVID Coping. Tell us how you're finding joy and hope in these unprecedented times. Call us to leave a voicemail on the In The Thick hotline at (505) 226-8973 or send us a voice memo via email to inthethick@futuromediagroup.org.

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ITT Sound Off: Life in the Time of Corona Mar 20, 2020

In this week’s ITT Sound Off, Maria and Julio continue to bring you the latest political news while in isolation from their homes. On today’s show, we talk about the continuing global impact of the coronavirus pandemic, including in Latin America. We also bring you immigration news that has gone uncovered during this time, and discuss how COVID-19 is affecting primary elections across the United States. We want to hear how you’re COVID Coping. Whatever your experience, we want to hear how you’re coping, finding joy and hope in these unprecedented times. Call us to leave a voicemail on In The Thick hotline at (505) 226-8973 or send us a voice memo via email to inthethick@futuromediagroup.org. ITT Staff Picks: - Here’s a moment of joy in these times: a coronavirus-inspired jam (dance included) to help the kid in you stay healthy and safe. The original song by Mister Cumbia released on Jan. 26 and landed on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 list this week. - In the latest on border restrictions, Latino Rebels reports that officials are expected to halt cross-border traffic between the United States and Mexico. This comes after the U.S. and Canada announced a mutual border closing this week. - Vox reports that immigration enforcement is continuing in spite of the public health crisis throughout the country.

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COVID Coping Mar 17, 2020

We're all self-isolating, but the show goes on. Maria and Julio are joined by Laura Barrón-López, national political reporter at Politico and ITT All-Star Astead Herndon, national political reporter with The New York Times to discuss the latest with the coronavirus pandemic and how they're dealing with social distancing. They also give their insights into Sunday's Democratic debate and the upcoming 2020 primaries. ITT Staff Picks: - In this video, residents in Italy share the message they'd tell themselves 10 days ago, via A Thing By. - Ariadne Labs presents the case for social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, via Medium. - Democratic Debate Fact Check: Joe Biden has advocated cutting social security for 40 years, via The Intercept.

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ITT Sound Off: Protect Thy Neighbor Mar 13, 2020

Maria and Julio bring you this week's ITT Sound Off from a new reality: the coronavirus pandemic. They give us an update about this past Tuesday's primary election results, by taking a look at the clear generational divide. They also get into how COVID-19 has spread around the world exponentially and how this may impact the 2020 Election. Stay safe, ITT fam! ITT Staff Picks: - The latest Deconstructed podcast episode: Capitalism v. Coronavirus via The Intercept - The New York Times estimates the worst-case scenario for U.S. coronavirus deaths - Does voting by mail actually protect you from the coronavirus? Vox may have answers.

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Weaponizing Coronavirus Mar 10, 2020

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King are joined by ITT All-Star Jamil Smith, senior writer for Rolling Stone magazine, to talk about the latest in 2020 politics from endorsements to the “Bernie Bros”. They discuss the ongoing spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19, and the role of media in reporting on it. They also go into Tuesday's Democratic primaries and the impact of the POC vote. ITT Staff Picks: - The questions we should be asking about Coronavirus, via ProPublica. - Jamil Smith writes about why Elizabeth Warren is bigger than her endorsement, via Rolling Stone. - Bernie’s challenges with older black voters can doom his chances in Michigan, by ITT All-Star, Terrell J. Star for The Root.

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LIVE From Detroit: 2020 Turnout or Burnout Mar 06, 2020

Detroit in the house! In partnership with WDET, Maria and Julio take a trip to the historic Senate Theatre in Southwest Detroit, Michigan to discuss the 2020 Election. They're joined by Stephen Henderson, host of WDET's Detroit Today and Migdalys Bermudez, immigration attorney with Justice for Our Neighbors-Michigan. In this roundtable, they discuss Super Tuesday results and the POC vote in the Michigan primary, which is coming up on Tuesday, March 10th. Make sure to check In The Thick's social media feeds, for video footage of our incredible opening act, Southwest’s Detroit’s Ballet Folklórico Moyocoyani Izel! ITT Staff Picks: - After Warren drops out, Michiganders have a choice: Biden or Sanders, via WDET's Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson - The Great Migration: The first Moving-to-Opportunity Project, via ITT All-Star Brentin Mock for CityLab - The history of Mexican and Mexican American repatriation in Michigan, by community activist, Elena Herrada whose family was deported from Detroit to Mexico

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ITT Bonus: Amanda Furdge Live From Jackson Mar 04, 2020

Check out this exclusive live spoken word performance from Amanda Furdge. Born and raised in Jackson, she is a nationally and internationally known spoken word poet and author. As the opening act for our live show in Jackson, she gave an empowering performance that shook the room. Thanks to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation who made this live show possible.

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Mississippi's Fight to Exist Mar 03, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Arekia Bennett, executive director of Mississippi Votes, and R.L. Nave, editor-in-chief at Mississippi Today and president of the Jackson Association of Black Journalists, to talk Mississippi electoral politics. They discuss the upcoming Democratic Primary and the POC vote, the legacy of Jim Crow and voting rights in the state, and what progressive organizing looks like in such a red state. Be sure to check your feeds for a special ITT Bonus where you can listen to a live performance from award winning poet and author, Amanda Furdge, who opened one of our live shows in Jackson! ITT Staff Picks: - How a Jim Crow law still shapes Mississippi's elections, via Vox. - Working Toward Freedom: Investigating Mississippi's Modern Day Debtors Prisons, via Mississippi Today. - Read Arekia Bennett's piece on how young activists organize against voter suppression in Mississippi, via The Root.

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ITT Sound Off: Primaries and Pandemics Feb 28, 2020

In this week's Sound Off, Maria and Julio give us their takes on Tuesday's 10th Democratic Debate in South Carolina. We hear from ITT All-Star, Terrell J. Starr, who is on the ground reporting in South Carolina for their upcoming primary that's this Saturday. Maria and Julio also remind us that Super Tuesday is just less than a week away, where 15 states and territories will all be voting. And, you guessed it -- they discuss the latest news with the coronavirus outbreak, known as COVID-19. ITT Staff Picks: - Also one of Terrell's latest with The Root: How Elizabeth Warren's supporters worry about sexism as the South Carolina primary approaches - Democratic leaders willing to risk party damage to stop Bernie Sanders, via NYT - The men leading Trump's coronavirus response should terrify you, via Mother Jones

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ITT Bonus: Teneia Live From Jackson Feb 26, 2020

Check out this exclusive performance from internationally-touring musician and songwriter Teneia, a Jackson native. As the opening act of our live show in Mississippi, she rocked the historic Alamo Theatre. Thanks to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation who made this live show possible.

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LIVE From Jackson: Immigration and 2020 Feb 26, 2020

Futuro Media and Mississippi Today present this LIVE In The Thick show from Mississippi! Maria and Julio travel to downtown Jackson at The Alamo Theatre to discuss immigration and criminal justice reform in Mississippi. They're joined by Lorena Quiroz-Lewis, lead organizer with Mississippi Immigrant Coalition and co-founder of Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity and Rukia Lumumba, attorney and executive director of the Peoples Advocacy Institute to discuss the aftermath of the ICE raids in Mississippi last summer and how immigrant rights activism ties into the state's upcoming Democratic presidential primary. Be sure to check your feeds for a special ITT Bonus where you can listen to a live performance from musician and songwriter Teneia, who opened our show! ITT Staff Picks: - Ingrid Cruz breaks down what happened in Mississippi last summer, via Stylecaster. - After the ICE Raids, Mississippi's chicken country faces a reckoning, via The New York Times. - People keep dying in Mississippi prisons, via The Intercept. These live tapings of In The Thick and podcast workshops are made possible through support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

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LIVE From Las Vegas Part II: Nevada's Labor Power Feb 21, 2020

Enjoy part two of ITT's first live show of 2020 from Las Vegas, NV! Maria and Julio travel to Horn Theater at the College of Southern Nevada to discuss the POC vote. In the second part of this conversation, Bethany Khan, Director of Communications & Digital Strategy of Culinary Workers Union Local 226, joins the stage (along with Astrid Silva, Director of Dream Big Nevada and Ruben Navarrette Jr., Nationally Syndicated Columnist from Part 1) to discuss labor rights and the role of workers' unions in the upcoming Nevada caucus. Wondering about that mariachi band Bethany mentioned? Check out the exclusive performance we dropped on our feed as an ITT Bonus! ITT Staff Picks: - Why Nevada's Culinary Union has issues with Bernie Sanders, from Vox. - Check out Desert Companions series on rural health in Nevada, via KNPR. - This opinion piece on why the Culinary Union is causing a diversion, via Nevada Current. Thanks to the Guinn Center who made this live show possible.

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ITT Bonus: Mariachi in Las Vegas Feb 18, 2020

Check out this exclusive performance by Mariachi Plata, the mariachi band at the College of Southern Nevada. As the opening act of our two-part Las Vegas Live show, they brought the house down! Thanks to the Guinn Center who made this live show possible.

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LIVE From Las Vegas Part I: POC Vote in Nevada Feb 18, 2020

This is ITT's first live show of 2020 from Las Vegas, NV! Maria and Julio travel to Horn Theater at the College of Southern Nevada to discuss the POC vote. For Part 1 of this show, they’re joined by Astrid Silva, Director of Dream Big Nevada and Ruben Navarrette Jr., Nationally Syndicated Columnist to discuss the role of immigrant rights and the impact of the POC vote in the upcoming Nevada primaries. On February 22, the Nevada caucus will become the first time this electoral season where voters of color are the majority. In 2016, 19 percent of Nevada’s caucus-goers were Latinx, 13 percent were black and four percent were Asian. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this show, dropping this Friday, as Bethany Khan, Director of Communications & Digital Strategy of Culinary Workers Union Local 226, joins our guests to discuss labor rights. And check your feeds for a special ITT Bonus where you can listen to a live Mariachi band performance who opened our show! ITT Staff Picks: - A run-down of how the Nevada caucus works, via Vox. - After the Iowa debacle, Nevada caucus officials came up with a game plan, via The Washington Post. - Latinos gave $23M in 2019 to Democrat candidates, who received the most?, via NBC News. Thanks to the Guinn Center who made this live show possible.

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ITT Sound Off: Frisks and Stones Feb 14, 2020

In this week's ITT Sound Off, Maria and Julio give us an update on the remaining candidates of the presidential race. Policing and criminal justice were major topics in today's conversation which include Amy Klobuchar's past as a prosecutor and Mike Bloomberg's failed Stop-and-Frisk program. They also talk about how all four federal prosecutors resigned from Roger Stone's case after the decision to reduce his sentence was made. ITT on the Road 2020 RSVP Links: **NOTE the new location for our first live show in Mississippi. Both will take place at the historic Alamo Theatre in downtown Jackson.** - Live from Jackson, MS on POC Vote and 2020 Election on 2/18: https://ittlivejackson2020.eventbrite.com - Live from Jackson, MS on immigration and the 2020 Election on 2/19: https://ittlivejacksonimmigration.eventbrite.com - Live from Detroit, MI on 3/4: http://bit.ly/ittLIVEfromDetroit ITT Staff Picks: - AP: 'Amy Klobuchar helped jail teen for life, but case was flawed' - Michael Harriot from The Root: 'I Can't Believe Black People Might Actually Vote for Michael Bloomberg' - Vox's Andrew Prokop explains the 'fiasco' at Bill Barr's Justice Department

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Debating the New Hampshire Primary Feb 10, 2020

In this special 2020 episode, Maria and Julio discuss the Latino vote ahead of the New Hampshire primary. They give their hot takes on last Friday's Democratic debate and Julio shares his on-the-ground reporting from New Hampshire. ITT is traveling around the country to cover the 2020 election! See our upcoming live show dates and RSVP below: - Live from Jackson, MS on 2/18: https://ittlivejackson2020.eventbrite.com - Live from Jackson, MS on 2/19: https://ittlivejacksonimmigration.eventbrite.com - Live from Detroit, MI on 3/4: http://bit.ly/ittLIVEfromDetroit ITT Staff Picks: - This UCLA study shows Bernie Sanders won big in Iowa's heavily Latino-populated areas, via Latino Rebels. - Check out this profile of Carlos Cardona, the chair of Laconia Democrats in New Hampshire, from The Washington Post. - Some New Hampshire voters are still undecided, via Mother Jones.

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ITT Sound Off: Tearable Politics Feb 07, 2020

In this week's ITT Sound Off, Maria and Julio discuss the verdict of Trump's impeachment trial -- an acquittal. The President boasted about his victory in Washington DC on Thursday. They also address the chaos surrounding the Iowa caucus results. As of Friday, 99 percent of the results are in, with the exception of one precinct. They talk about how Trump's State of the Union address was boycotted by many politicians and literally ripped up by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. ITT is traveling around the country to cover the 2020 election! See our upcoming live show dates and RSVP below: - Live from Jackson, MS on 2/18: https://ittlivejackson2020.eventbrite.com - Live from Jackson, MS on 2/19: https://ittlivejacksonimmigration.eventbrite.com - Live from Detroit, MI on 3/4: http://bit.ly/ittLIVEfromDetroit ITT Staff Picks: - Latino Rebels: 'Othered' in America: An Old Story, still Playing out Daily - The erasure of Elizabeth Warren continues, by The Nation - With impeachment acquittal, the GOP has given Trump a blank check to do anything he wants, via Democracy Now

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Caucus Chaos Feb 05, 2020

Monday night's Iowa caucus officially kicked off the 2020 presidential election, but it also had significant delays. Maria and Julio are joined by Shirley Wang, a freelance journalist based in Iowa City, to talk about the confusion that was Iowa's caucus and why the results took so long to come out. They also talk about the POC communities in Iowa and their importance in the 2020 election. ITT Staff Picks: - Check out Shirley Wang's piece on how the Iowa caucuses work, via the New York Times. - Read about the tech firm behind the disastrous app for the Iowa caucus, via the Los Angeles Times. - The Iowa caucuses and their accessibility problem, from Vox.

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ITT Sound Off: American Hurt Jan 31, 2020

In this week's ITT Sound Off, Maria and Julio give us an impeachment trial update highlighting the arguments made by President Trump's defense team. They also discuss the tragic death of Kobe Bryant who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday along with eight others, including his daughter, Gianna. They discuss the complexities of his life from being an important figure for communities of color to issues like his 2003 sexual assault case and his 2012 controversial comments on Trayvon Martin's murder. To wrap this week, they follow up on the latest reporting by our sister podcast Latino USA on the "American Dirt" controversy after the novel sparked a backlash by fellow writers and readers worldwide. ITT Staff Picks: - Juan Diego Ramirez in Latino Rebels: "How Kobe Bryant Is Part of My American Immigrant Story" - Via Slate: It's not 'too soon' to talk about the Kobe Bryant rape case - Dear Oprah Winfrey: 137 Writers Ask You to Reconsider American Dirt, from LitHub

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A Reckoning of Black Motherhood Jan 28, 2020

Maria and Julio talk with Imani Perry, Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, about her latest book Breathe: A Letter to My Sons. They discuss the complexities of raising black children in the United States, and how her career in academia has played a role. ITT Staff Picks: - Why Imani Perry Doesn't Like Jane Austen's Novels, via The New York Times - Watch Imani's keynote speech at Valparaiso University's MLK Celebration this year - This interview with Imani on her liberation feminism, from The Nation

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ITT Sound Off: If You Don't Know, Now You Know Jan 24, 2020

In Maria and Julio's first ITT Sound Off together of 2020, they discuss the ongoing impeachment trial with a focus on POC voices being underrepresented in the media and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries' historical context. They also talk about the migrant caravan traveling from Guatemala to Mexico and the ongoing protests in Puerto Rico. ITT Staff Picks: - Julio's opinion piece on Trump's figurative border wall via NBC News - From The Atlantic: attorney and former prosecutor Paul Savoy's piece on an unconstitutional impeachment trial without witnesses - Latino Rebels' latest on the Puerto Rico protests

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The Basement of Politics Jan 22, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Paola Ramos, Vice News correspondent, Telemundo contributor and an Emerson Collective fellow. They discuss the intersection of politics, activism and journalism in Paola's career. They also talk about what to expect in the 2020 election and how the Latino vote will play a role. ITT Staff Picks: - In this opinion piece, Jorge Ramos explains why the Latino vote will decide 2020, via The New York Times. - Latinos still need a starring role in U.S. politics, via NBC Think. - Iowa's Latino population is shifting and could impact the caucuses, from The Nation.

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ITT Sound Off: Deny, Deny, Deny Jan 17, 2020

Julio is joined by our guest co-host, Jamilah King in today's ITT Sound Off. They discuss the ongoing impeachment trial proceedings with a focus on Lev Parnas' interview with Rachel Maddow. Tuesday's Democratic Debate in Iowa was a hot topic as Warren's and Sanders' friendship was questioned. They also discuss the appropriation of Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy after a new report by WalletHub was published with questionable data on race in the country. ITT Staff Picks: - According to Lev Parnas, "President Trump knew exactly what was going on." - Reported by CBS News - From The Atlantic: The Consequences of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Canonization - At the Iowa debate, Bernie Sanders' most vociferous opponent was CNN, from The Intercept This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw.

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The Big White Wave Jan 14, 2020

Julio and guest co-host, Jamilah King, are joined by Verónica Bayetti Flores, co-founder of The Center for Advancing Innovative Policy and co-host of Radio Menea, and ITT All-Star Wajahat Ali, New York Times contributing Op-Ed writer and CNN commentator. They discuss how 2020 candidates are doing with Latino voters and issues like reproductive rights. They also talk about the latest with Iran, impeachment and immigration, and give their hot takes on the Oscar nominations. ITT Staff Picks: - How the small Latino population in Iowa could make a big impact, via The Los Angeles Times. - Everything you need to know about the upcoming impeachment trial, from Vox. - Why Governor Abbott's refugee resettlement decision goes against Texas tradition, via The Dallas Morning News. This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw.

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ITT Sound Off: Nonstop Disasters Jan 10, 2020

Julio is joined by guest co-host, Jamilah King, for the first Sound Off of 2020! They discuss the latest in climate disasters from the devastating Australia fires to Puerto Rico's earthquakes, and how both governments have mishandled these crises. They also give an update on the latest with the conflict with Iran and impeachment. ITT Staff Picks: - What young Iranians think about the latest US-Iran conflict, via Vox - From The Washington Post: The Senate has conducted 15 impeachment trials. It heard witnesses in every one. - Australia fires: A visual guide to the bushfire crisis, via BBC This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw.

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Repeating History Jan 08, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Karine Jean-Pierre, chief public affairs officer for MoveOn, author, and political analyst for MSNBC. They discuss President Trump’s decision to assassinate Iran’s top military official and the mainstream media’s impact when covering war. They also talk about the latest in the 2020 Democratic race, and dive deep into Karine’s new memoir Moving Forward.

ITT Staff Picks:

Trump is doing the bidding of Washington’s most vile cabal, via The Intercept.
After dozens of Iranians were detained at the airport, CAIR published “Know Your Rights” materials.
In Haiti, the U.N. Peacekeepers raped and abused when they were supposed to protect, via The New York Times.

This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw.

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Whiteness in Crisis: From Thomas Jefferson to Pop Culture Jan 03, 2020

Maria and Julio are joined by Lauren Michele Jackson, a professor at Northwestern University and author of the new book, White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue and Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation. They discuss the capitalization of black culture in pop culture, the rebranding of black aesthetics in white women, and the power of hashtag activism.

ITT Staff Picks

Lauren’s piece in The New Yorker about a white man’s creation of virtual supermodel Shudu Gram
The Undefeated’s piece on Black rappers appropriating country music
Lauren Michele Jackson wants to change how we talk about appropriation, via The Nation

This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw.

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2019, We Outta Here Dec 31, 2019

Maria and Julio look back at the most unforgettable moments of 2019 for In The Thick, from incredible live shows across the country, to their continued investigations into immigration and White House politics. They also discuss why joy and laughter are essential ingredients to making In The Thick magic.

ITT 2019 Picks:

LIVE From South Texas: Borderland Life: A look at life on the border in the Rio Grande Valley, from activism to journalism.
Kings of Deportation: Bill Ong Hing, professor of Law and Migration Studies at the University of San Francisco, gives a complete breakdown of the history of immigration in the United States, starting from President Carter.
The Comedy of Immigration: Libyan comedian Mohanad Elshieky discusses about the ups and downs of pursuing a comedy career in the U.S. This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Texas Politics With Cristina Tzintzún Ramírez Dec 27, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined for a second time by Cristina Tzintzún Ramírez who is now running for US Senate in Texas. They discuss her candidacy in a crowded Democratic field and the Republican response to Democrats' rising popularity in the state. They also talk about the major demographic shifts and strategies to get out the youth vote in Texas.

ITT Staff Picks:
- After uncertain filing period, Democratic U.S. Senate candidates seek to "get down to business," via The Texas Tribune
- Fight back with votes? Group spotlights El Paso massacre to urge young Latinos to register, via NBC
- How to Win Texas in 2020, via Texas Monthly
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Border Brutalism Dec 24, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined by Greg Grandin, professor of history at New York University and author of the book, The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America. They discuss the history of the U.S.-Mexico border, immigration policy and the racist roots of the Border Patrol. ITT Staff Picks

When the Frontier becomes the wall, via The New Yorker
How border-crossing became a crime in the United States, from The History Channel
From our sister podcast, Latino USA: The dark side of the Texas Rangers This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Debates of My Childhood Dec 20, 2019

In the final ITT Sound Off of the year, Julio is joined by guest co-host Jamilah King to talk about the impeachment of President Trump as well as Thursday's Democratic Debate in Los Angeles. They discuss male whiteness on the debate stage and how the candidates addressed LGBTQ rights, immigration and campaign finance.

ITT Staff Picks
- The Los Angeles Times gives five takeaways from the December debate
- Julio was interviewed for this Mother Jones piece about Democratic candidates overlooking Latinx voters
- Why Pelosi hasn't sent Trump impeachment articles to the Senate, via Vox
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Malignant Narcissist Dec 18, 2019

This week Maria and guest co-host Jamilah King welcome Molly Woodstock, journalist and host of the Gender Reveal podcast, and ITT All-Star Imara Jones, creator and producer of Translash Media and 2019 Soros Equality Fellow. They discuss The Afghanistan Papers, a Washington Post investigative report showcasing numerous pages of internal government documents which reveal how the U.S. intentionally misled the American public about the war in Afghanistan for the past 18 years, and how mainstream media seems to be ignoring the story. They also go over the 2020 election as it relates to the LGBTQ community and how Democratic candidates are engaging this very potent bloc. ITT Staff Picks:

Why the Media Is Ignoring the Afghanistan Papers, from The New Republic
In Ohio, registering LGBTQ voters takes drag queens, young activists, and big ideas, via them
Under Trump, LGBTQ progress is being reversed in plain sight, from ProPublica This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Local Cable Access Impeachment Dec 13, 2019

In this ITT Sound Off, Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King talk about the latest in the impeachment proceedings and the Democratic primary race. They also discuss the recent UK elections and Golden Globes nominations. ITT Staff Picks:

The articles of impeachment against President Trump, via The New York Times
More on Joe Biden's immigration plan, via Vox
Wesley Morris' New York Times Magazine piece about why Lupita Nyong'o is one of the best actors of 2019. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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The Racial Hamster Wheel Dec 10, 2019

Maria and Julio welcome two ITT All-Stars, Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr., the department chair of African American Studies at Princeton University, and Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior reporter at The Root. They talk about the latest with impeachment and the 2020 Democratic primary, and how Nikki Haley's comments on the Confederate flag being "hijacked by Dylann Roof" are only a manifestation of genteel racism. They also follow up from Friday's Sound Off conversation about the ProPublica video showing Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez's last moments of life, since we now know that his family traumatically saw the video for the first time as a result of the news reports and social media posts. ITT Staff Picks:

'I Don’t Trust Anyone at All.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Speaks Out on Trump, Putin and a Divided Europe, via Time
Read Terrell's latest for The Root, Kamala Harris Wasn't Allowed to Fail Up Like a White Boy
Carlos’ Story: We cannot re-traumatize immigrants and asylum-seekers in trying to expose Border Patrol violence, via the Texas Civil Rights Project This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Debates So White Dec 06, 2019

Maria and Julio are back with an ITT Sound Off! They give updates on the impeachment inquiry and the 2020 Democratic primary race. They also discuss the latest reporting on immigration and border detention facilities. ITT Staff Picks

Democrats are moving fast on impeachment, via Vox
What an all-white debate stage would mean for the Democratic Party, via The Atlantic
The New York Times and ProPublica's report on McKinsey consulting for ICE For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Take Care of Home First Dec 03, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined by Esther Wang, senior staff writer with Jezebel, and LaTosha Brown, cofounder of Black Voters Matter and 2019 Harvard IOP Fellow, to talk about Mayor Pete Buttigieg's struggle with Black and Latino support, and how that's an extension of his poor track record with those exact constituencies in South Bend, Indiana. They also discuss how at the backdrop of the impeachment inquiry is not only the President with a number of sexual assault allegations against him, but also men in his administration who are also facing similar allegations. Staff Picks:

- Pete Buttigieg Is a Lying MF, Michael Harriot's piece for The Root that Esther mentions in the roundtable

Read the follow up article of what happened when Pete Buttigieg called the author of the above piece, also via The Root
- Read Esther's latest for Jezebel: I Spent a Week Interrogating My Dislike of Pete Buttigieg and These Are My Findings
- Multiple Women Recall Sexual Misconduct and Retaliation by Gordon Sondland, via ProPublica This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Homewreckers Nov 29, 2019

In this episode we get into the issues of wealth when it comes to land/home ownership and the perils of capitalism. Maria and Julio talk with Aaron Glantz, senior reporter with Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting about his new book, "Homewreckers: How a Gang of Wall Street Kingpins, Hedge Fund Magnates, Crooked Banks, and Vulture Capitalists Suckered Millions Out of Their Homes and Demolished the American Dream." They discuss the mortgage crisis, the history of land ownership and wealth transfer and how this has impacted communities of color. ITT Staff Picks:

Profiting off pain: Trump confidant cashed in on housing crisis, Aaron's piece for Reveal
Two histories of financiers profiting from real estate while homeowners go belly ep, The New York Times' review of Aaron's book and of Aaron's Bingeworthy book recommendation, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor's “Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership.”
Read about how this all connects back to land ownership for Indigenous communities in APM Reports and Minnesota Public Radio's Uprooted report: The 1950's plan to erase Indian Country

This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw.

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The Domestic Care Movement Nov 26, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined by Ai-jen Poo, senior advisor to Care in Action, executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the co-director of Caring Across Generations, and Alexsis Rodgers, Care in Action's Virginia state director, to discuss the history of the domestic care movement, and how its legacy of slavery and racism impacts labor rights to this day. Plus, they also talk about the ways in which domestic care advocates are making strides to endorse women of color candidates in Virginia and what that means for the 2020 election cycle.

ITT Staff Picks:
- The new labor movement fighting for domestic workers' rights via The New York Times.
- From In These Times: The deep historical roots of American domestic worker organizing.
- The legacy of Fahari Jeffers, co-founder of the United Domestic Workers Union, via Latino Rebels.
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ITT Sound Off: Smash the Bro-y Macho Quid Pro Quo Nov 23, 2019

Julio is joined by guest co-host Jamilah King for this week's ITT Sound Off. They discuss highlights of the fifth Democratic debate and how some candidates have been talking about immigration. Plus, they give the latest on the public impeachment inquiry. ITT Staff Picks:

Coming out of this debate, the Democratic primary is still anyone's race, via Vox
Black voters don't trust Pete Buttigeig and this is why, via The Daily Beast
From Slate: Why Did ASAP Rocky Keep Coming Up at the Impeachment Hearing? For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Prop 187: Blue State, Red Country Nov 19, 2019

In 1994, a ballot measure aimed at targeting undocumented immigrants in California by denying families public services —from barring children from public schools to access to non-emergency public health care— was passed 59 percent to 41 percent, but never implemented. That was Proposition 187. Maria and Julio are joined by Gustavo Arellano, L.A. Times reporter and host of the “This Is California: The Battle of 187” podcast, and Gerardo Correa, president of the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project, to discuss the experiences of living through Prop. 187 and the impact it had on breeding a new generation of Latino activists. ITT Staff Picks:

Check out The Battle of Prop 187 podcast, a collaboration between Futuro Studios and the Los Angeles Times, which explores how a ballot measure targeting immigrants changed California politics forever.
Pete Wilson still defending Prop. 187 and fighting for a better place in history, Gustavo's latest with the Los Angeles Times.
From The Sacramento Bee, an immigrant's take on how Prop. 187 motivated him to become an active voter. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Home Is Here Nov 15, 2019

In this week's Sound Off, Maria and Julio talk the latest with the now televised impeachment proceedings and what it all means for our democracy. They also discuss the complexities and history of political turmoil in Bolivia with Evo Morales now seeking political asylum in Mexico amidst the ongoing protests and many outcrying this as a coup. Maria and Julio end with an update on immigration and the related SCOTUS cases. ITT Staff Picks:

3 ways the Supreme Court could decide DACA’s fate, via Vox
The crisis in Bolivia fits no easy political narrative, analysis by The Washington Post
The Root's Black Person’s Guide to the Trump impeachment hearings For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Creating a Better World Through Comedy Nov 12, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined by L.A. based comedian, Charla Lauriston to talk about representation, the importance of comedy and the impact of political satire. Originally from Haiti, Charla has written for shows like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Comedy Central’s Why? W/ Hannibal Buress, and TBS’s The Last OG and she co-hosts the new podcast The Secret Lives of Black Women. ITT Staff Picks:

A review of The Secret Lives of Black Women via The New York Times
The 2019 Diversity Report: Women & POC Make Progress But Are Still Largely Underrepresented, via Women and Hollywood
Charla Lauriston answers 9 weird questions in a Bustle interview This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Time To Lawyer Up Nov 08, 2019

In this week's ITT Sound Off, Maria and Julio talk about the results of Tuesday's elections and give an update on the latest with the impeachment proceedings. They also discuss the recent massacre of LeBaron family members in northern Mexico. ITT Staff Picks:

What impeachment could mean for the 2020 election, via FiveThirtyEight
The Virginia elections show (again) that women are "electable", via Vox
How Mexico became home to communities of Mormons, via The Washington Post For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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LIVE From Connecticut: Immigration Nov 05, 2019

Maria and Julio travel to Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, CT for a live show to discuss the state's immigrant and Latinx communities. Connecticut provides many protections to the over 100,000 undocumented immigrants, but the community still faces discrimination. Our ITT hosts are joined by guests Charles Venator-Santiago, associate professor with the Department of Political Science and El Instituto at University of Connecticut; Kica Matos, director of the Center on Immigration and Justice at the Vera Institute of Justice; and Lucas Codognolla, executive director of Connecticut Students for a Dream. ITT Staff Picks:

Two years after Hurricane Maria: Charles' UConn team examines response to influx of Puerto Rican evacuees, via WNPR
Fate of CT’s undocumented youth in hands of U.S. Supreme Court, from The CT Mirror
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center's report on local authorities engagement with federal immigration enforcement across the country

Thanks to the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut and the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund who made this live show possible.

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ITT Sound Off: Tiptoe Into the Trump Administration Nov 01, 2019

Maria and Julio discuss a major step on the impeachment front that formalizes the inquiry. They also talk about the class disparities that are at the undercurrent of the wildfires raging in California, and cover the latest in immigration hearings. ITT Staff Picks:

Trump has received a formal invitation to be impeached, via The New York Times
Read Brittny Mejia's article about the domestic workers working through the California wildfires, via The Los Angeles Times
Listen to the full exchange between Representative Wasserman Schultz and Ken Cuccinelli, from RealClearPolitics For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Power, Sashay Away Oct 29, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined by All-Stars Wajahat Ali, New York Times contributing Op-Ed writer and CNN commentator and Aisha Moodie-Mills, a political strategist and CNN commentator. They talk about the latest in the impeachment proceedings and the 2020 election. But they also discuss international news from the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi as a result of the U.S. special forces operation to the various uprisings happening around the world from Lebanon to Chile. ITT Staff Picks:

Why Chile’s protests started with a subway fare hike, co-authored by ITT familia Juan Pablo Garnham for City Lab
From The Daily Beast: Baghdadi is dead. The War on Terror will create another.
How the GOP is suppressing the student vote, via The New York Times For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Ghost of Chile's Past Oct 25, 2019

Maria and Julio are back with another Sound Off! They discuss the civil unrest in Chile and how history is repeating itself. Plus, the latest in Trump impeachment coverage, and a new ACLU report that sheds light on how many children have been separated from their families at the US-Mexico border.

ITT Staff Picks:
- The latest on what's happening in Chile, via Latino Rebels
- How Trump's "lynching" comment was strategic racism, from Salon
- Read more about the ICE lawsuit from Connecticut, via AP
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LIVE from Connecticut: Addiction in POC Communities Oct 23, 2019

Maria and Julio travel to Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, CT for a live show to discuss addiction and mental health in POC communities. They're joined by guests Kelvin Young, sound healer and certified recovery coach, Kenyatta Thompson, senior community organizer at Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice, and Taylor Ford, statewide youth and family coordinator with FAVOR, Inc. The overdose epidemic is often treated as an issue within white communities - who do make up a majority of opioid overdose victims - but a CDC report released earlier this year found that black and Latino individuals are overdosing and dying increasingly faster than white individuals. In Connecticut, where the Oxycontin-maker Purdue Pharma was based, 93 percent of overdoses in the state are caused by opioids, making it ground zero for the epidemic. In this episode, they talk about the underlying roots of addiction and mental health issues in communities of color. ITT Staff Picks:

New drug laws could worsen the opioid crisis. Connecticut can do better, Kenyatta's co-authored OpEd in the Hartford Courant
To Address Addiction, Confront Racism in Our Health and Justice Systems, via Filter
From Vox: You can’t overdose on fentanyl by touching it. The myth that you can, however, is genuinely dangerous. Thanks to the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut and the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund who made this live show possible. This episode was mixed by Leah Shaw. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Dancing With the Angels Oct 18, 2019

On this week's ITT Sound Off, Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King discuss Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney's surprise press conference and the Freudian slip that has everyone talking. They also discuss the fourth Democratic debates and the undercurrent of respectability politics with white versus POC 2020 candidates. And in Fort Worth, Texas, another fatal police shooting of a black person in their own apartment comes to light. ITT Staff Picks:

Bernie can’t say our name, Beto has no shame, and Biden can’t be tamed, Jason Johnson's latest 2020 Presidential Black Power Rankings for The Root
Fort Worth police officer fatally shoots black woman in her own home, Jamilah's latest for Mother Jones
The legacy of Elijah Cummings, via The Washington Post For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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LIVE From Cambridge: POC Vote in 2020 Oct 15, 2019

For this live show from Cambridge, Mass. Maria and Julio discuss 2020 and the POC vote with guests IOP Resident Fellow LaTosha Brown, award-winning organizer and co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund, and Renée Graham, associate editor and columnist with The Boston Globe. The 2018 midterms were the highest turnout rate for a midterm election in recent history, with voters of color turning out in greater numbers than in 2014, according to a Pew Research Center. And in 2020 voters of color will make up a third of all eligible voters, the largest breakdown yet with the Latino community in particular becoming the biggest POC demographic. But this is more than numbers, POC communities are historically underreported in media coverage during election season and often overlooked by candidates. We discuss the POC vote in 2020 and civic engagement among communities color beyond this election cycle.

ITT Staff Picks:

Journey to power: The history of black voters, 1976 to 2020, from NBC News
Latino reflections on racism and the 2020 election, via Latino Decisions and Univision
Voter suppression Is a looming threat in the 2020 elections, via Rewire.News For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Only Basketball Questions Oct 11, 2019

In this ITT Sound Off, Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King discuss the pivotal SCOTUS cases that could affect LGBTQ rights for the foreseeable future. Plus this week, CNN and the Human Rights Campaign hosted the Power of Our Pride Equality town hall where 2020 hopefuls answered questions on LGBTQ issues. Then, we turn to the latest news on the impeachment front and what's going on with China, the NBA and free speech. ITT Staff Picks:

What you need to know about 2020 Democratic candidates' LGBTQ+ policy proposals, via them
Keep up with what's happening in Hong Kong, via MTV News
Two Guilliani associates have been arrested in connection with Ukraine, Via The Wall Street Journal For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Climate 2020 Crossover: Trump Flops With Fossil Fuels Oct 08, 2019

In this crossover episode, ITT airs the second episode of the new podcast, Climate 2020, a podcast that zeroes in on climate change as a top issue of the 2020 presidential election. Impeachment has thrown a monkey wrench into the news cycle -- and the scandal has a climate change link. Hosts of Climate 2020, journalist David Gelber and executive director of Climate Nexus, Jeff Nesbit talk with Ben Lefebvre, energy reporter at Politico, and Leah Stokes, climate and energy politics researcher and professor of political science at University of California Santa Barbara, about the disconnect between voters and congress on climate change. Subscribe to Climate 2020, wherever you get your podcasts. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Everybody Gets an Impeachment Clause Oct 04, 2019

Maria and Julio are back with another Sound Off! They talk the latest in the impeachment proceedings chaos and how the media should cover authoritarianism. They also give an immigration update and discuss the conviction and sentencing of Amber Guyger, the Dallas police officer who shot and killed her black neighbor, Botham Shem Jean, last September. ITT Staff Picks:

Botham Jean, Amber Guyger and the Delusion of Forgiveness, via The Root
From The Intercept: Trump Attacked the Women of Color Who Led the Push for Impeachment. Then CNN Erased Them.
The Trump administration plans to collect DNA samples from some undocumented immigrants who are being detained, via Buzzfeed News For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Impeachable Moments Oct 01, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined by senior reporter at The Root and ITT All-Star Terrell Jermaine Starr to discuss the whistleblower scandal that has rocked the White House. They talk about the viability of the impeachment proceedings being launched against Trump and the response of politicians from both sides of the aisle. Plus, they talk about the latest in immigration and how the mainstream political media isn't doing a good enough job covering the POC 2020 candidates.

ITT Staff Picks:
- Check out a full and complete timeline of the Ukrainian scandal via Justsecurity.
- Listen to this latest Latino Rebels podcast with Julián Castro.
- This Los Angeles Times article shares the latest updates on immigration.
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ITT Radical Imagination Crossover: Open Borders Sep 27, 2019

In this crossover episode, ITT airs the first episode of the new podcast, Radical Imagination, that's produced by our very own Futuro Studios. The U.S. once had open borders. Migrants from all over the world would arrive fleeing war, escaping poverty and seeking opportunity. Open borders made our country strong. But many Americans today are horrified by the idea of “open borders.” Harsh new immigration policies are making it more difficult than ever to come to the U.S. or even ask for asylum. Nevertheless, violence, oppression, poverty, desperation, and hope continue to drive migrants to our borders. Last year, more than 1,000 migrants from Central America gathered near the border of Guatemala and Mexico to travel north in search of asylum. Radical Imagination host Angela Glover Blackwell of PolicyLink sits down with Roberto Corona, founder of People Without Borders, an organization that assisted this refugee caravan. We also hear from New York Times Columnist Farhad Manjoo, who has called for open borders. Subscribe to Radical Imagination, wherever you get your podcasts. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Nah, We're Good Sep 24, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined by ITT All-Stars, Feminista Jones, writer and activist, and Jenni Monet, independent journalist and tribal member of the Pueblo of Laguna. They discuss the latest with the 2020 election and the erasure of POC and Indigenous organizing within the Global Climate Strike and the UN Climate Summit. They also talk pop culture and break down the 2019 Emmys. ITT Staff Picks:

Listen to the full Latino USA interview with Bernie Sanders
The climate movement needs to make teens of color feel more welcome, via Vice
Emmys 2019: Few Latinos Nominated, But One Historic Win on TV’s Biggest Night, via Remezcla For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Blind Spots Sep 20, 2019

Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King sound off over the week's news about abusive men in power. They talk about the multiple instances of brown/blackface by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (and his ridiculous apology), the charges against wealthy Democrat donor Ed Buck for operating a drug house, administering methamphetamine, and battery; and the sexual assault and rape allegations against NFL player Antonio Brown. ITT Staff Picks:

Wealthy Democratic donor Ed Buck finally arrested after third man ODs in his home, via The Root
The Time's piece exposing Justin Trudeau for wearing brownface at 2001 "Arabian Nights" party while he taught at a private school
From Steubenville to Antonio Brown, from Dave Zirin's Edge of Sports podcast

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Mexican Women Rise Up (Again) Sep 17, 2019

Human rights lawyer and journalist, Gisela Pérez De Acha and journalist with El Universal Mexico, Melissa Amezcua join Maria and Julio to discuss the recent wave of feminist protests in Mexico. They talk about the gender-based violence that provoked the demonstrations and how the AMLO administration has fallen short of their duty to protect women. They also speak about the new details that have emerged from a recent New York Times essay that calls out Justice Brett Kavanaugh for sexual misconduct (in addition to The Times' correction controversy). ITT Staff Picks:

Listen to ITT's past coverage of the feminist movement in Mexico: LIVE From Mexico: From Catcalling to Femicide; Mexico's #MeToo; and, ITT en español: El ejemplo de las periodistas mexicanas
Mexican women are angry about rape, murder and government neglect — and they want the world to know, via PRI's The Conversation
Mexico is the world's second most deadliest country for transgender people — Mexican trans women are fighting for justice, via Associated Press for Latino Rebels For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Houston Democratic Debates Sep 13, 2019

In this ITT Sound Off, Julio and guest co-host Jamilah King discuss the third Democratic Debate, which took place in Houston this week. Julio and Jamilah talk through Biden's confusing response to a question about the legacy of slavery in the United States, the reaction to an intense moment between Biden and Castro, and how the candidates successfully and unsuccessfully addressed issues from healthcare to gun violence. ITT Staff Picks

Read Joe Biden’s baffling debate answer about record players, via Vox
Post-Debate Analysis: Joe Biden Is a White Man, the Media Are Racist Against Julián Castro and Black People Are Out of Their Goddamn Minds, via The Root
Democratic Candidates Take on a Tough Opponent: Their Own Past Selves, via Mother Jones For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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White Men Named Jonathan Sep 10, 2019

Julio welcomes ITT All-Star Jamilah King as guest co-host, along with Andrea González-Ramírez, senior writer for GEN at Medium, and Esther Wang, staff writer at Jezebel. They discuss Elizabeth Warren’s notable performance at the New Hampshire Democratic Party convention, the third Republican to announce his 2020 candidacy, and Trump’s push to meet with the Taliban at Camp David. They also talk about criticism surrounding Jonathan Franzen’s recent New Yorker article about climate change, “What If We Stopped Pretending?” ITT Staff Picks:

Elizabeth Warren Stands Out at New Hampshire Democratic Party Convention, via New York Times
The Case for Climate Rage, via Popula
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ITT Sound Off: The Dark Side Sep 06, 2019

Maria and Julio are back in the studio to talk about a recent OIG report that establishes the detrimental mental health impacts of family separation and conditions in detention facilities on migrant children. They also discuss CNN’s climate crisis town hall with 2020 candidates, the devastation in the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian, and an ongoing story from this week about ICE agents opening fire while attempting to apprehend a man near Nashville.

ITT Staff Picks

Trump’s family separation policy amplified children’s trauma, via Roll Call
6 winners and 3 losers from CNN’s climate crisis town hall, via Vox
Death and destruction stalk Bahamas in wake of Hurricane Dorian, via Al Jazeera For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Undocumented Politics Sep 03, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined by Abigail Leslie Andrews, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of California, San Diego to discuss her latest book, Undocumented Politics: Place, Gender and the Pathways of Mexican Migrants. They talk about political engagement within undocumented communities and the dehumanizing impact of forced displacement and deportation of immigrants that she's witnessed through her work as co-director of the Mexican Migration Field Research Program at UCSD. ITT Staff Picks:

Immigrants Will Be Vital to the Future of American Democracy, via The Nation
Why Non-Citizens Should Be Allowed to Vote, from Jacobin Magazine
What's Missing From The Immigration Conversation Right Now, from ITT All-Star Tina Vasquez in Bustle

This episode was mixed by Jeanne Montalvo.

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Enemy to the Patriarchy Aug 30, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined by the journalist and feminist author, Mona Eltahawy to discuss her new book, The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls. They also talk about #MeToo, the power of fighting back, feminist activism through hashtags on social media and the importance of women’s voice in defying the patriarchy.

ITT Staff Picks:

Mona Eltahawy’s viral social media campaigns about sexual assault, via Time
Ugandan activist Stella Nyanzi gets more time in jail for a poem about vaginas, via CNN
Check out Deena Mohamed's web comic, Qahera about a feminist muslim Egyptian superhero

This episode was mixed by Jeanne Montalvo.

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Hyper Visible and Invisible Aug 27, 2019

Since Ilhan Omar was elected to Congress, she’s faced consistent attacks from the GOP and Donald Trump, even as far as the president telling her and three other Congresswomen to “go back to their country.” These attacks illustrate the greater struggle of being a black Muslim woman in this country today. Maria and Julio are joined by Shamira Ibrahim, culture writer on race, identity, and politics, and Margari Hill, co-founder and executive director of the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, to discuss how these intersecting identities lead to anti-blackness both within the Muslim community and in the U.S. at large.

ITT Staff Picks:

A Neverending Quest for Sovereignty, Shamira Ibrahim’s essay on identity for The Root.
How Ilhan Omar’s intersecting identities makes her a target, via The Intercept.
The first-ever hijabi to land a major modeling contract is a black refugee woman, from Paper Magazine.

This episode was mixed by Jeanne Montalvo.

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The Comedy of Immigration Aug 23, 2019

Originally from Benghazi, Libya, Mohanad Elshieky has found in comedy a space to discuss and laugh about immigration, politics and white privilege in the United States. Maria and Julio talk with him about Hollywood, bidets and his encounter with immigration officers in a Greyhound.

ITT Staff Picks:

Mohanad's TEDx talk on being an immigrant and using humor to connect with people.
“They Kept Repeating the Word ‘Illegals.'” -- The Willamette Week's article on Mohanad's encounter with the CBP.
Mohanad is going on tour with the amazing Pop-Up Magazine. You can get your tickets here.

This episode was mixed by Jeanne Montalvo.

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The Original Sin of 1619 Aug 20, 2019

Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones led a team of black journalists, writers and poets to create The 1619 Project, a deep and thoughtful look into the 400th anniversary of the beginning of slavery in this country. But a lot of the response has been predictably critical. Maria and Julio are joined by ITT All-Stars, Wajahat Ali, New York Times contributing op-ed writer and contributor with CNN, and Dr. Eddie Glaude, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University, to discuss the significance of this project and its response. They also talk about the Antifa movement and Israel’s decision to ban Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from visiting. Help In The Thick grow by telling our advertisers a bit about you as a member of the ITT community! Take this QUICK survey.

ITT Staff Picks:

Don’t miss The 1619 Project from The New York Times Magazine.
Everything that went down at the 30-minute Proud Boys rally in Portland, from HuffPost.
How the barring of Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from Israel is highlighting BDS, via The Daily Beast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Card-Carrying White Nationalists Aug 16, 2019

From the recent mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Christchurch, New Zealand, to the Charlottesville car attack in 2017, it’s clear that white nationalists and the “alt-right” are not just living on the dark corners of the internet, but actually carry out deadly violence in the world. Maria and Julio talk with Alexandra Minna Stern, professor in the Department of American Culture at the University of Michigan, about her latest book, Proud Boys and the White Ethnostate: How the Alt-Right Is Warping the American Imagination. They discuss white nationalist groups and how misogyny and white supremacy are the underlying ideals that motivate them.

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ITT Staff Picks:

Alexandra Minna Stern’s essay for The Progressive, about how the alt-right plans to take over.
How white supremacist terror is becoming strategic, via The Atlantic.
Read about the weird, dark history of 8chan, from Wired. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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United States of White Supremacy Aug 13, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined by ITT All-Stars, Terrell Jermaine Starr and Jamilah King, to discuss the surge in white supremacist and anti-immigrant violence instilled by the current administration, following the recent shootings in Texas, Ohio and California. They also talk about the latest state-sponsored attacks on the immigrant community: last week's largest single-state immigration raid in US history in Mississippi and USCIS’ announcements on cutting down immigrant benefits from all federal agencies.

ITT Staff Picks:

ITT All-Star, Lulu Garcia-Navarro's article on the erasure of Latinos by the media after the El Paso shooting, via the Atlantic
Why white supremacist violence is rising today — and how it echoes some of the darkest moments of our past, via Vox
Gene Demby's latest for NPR's Code Switch that we mentioned, and an article from The New Republic that discusses the history of immigration in the U.S., including the 1875 Page Act and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 that Maria discusses For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Michigan, The Other Border Aug 09, 2019

Entirely situated within the 100-mile border zone, Michigan has the second-highest rate of ICE arrests in the country. This has had a huge and detrimental impact on Detroit residents, a city of immigrants. Maria and Julio are joined by Serena Maria Daniels, immigration reporter and co-founder of Tostada Magazine, and Sarah Rahal, breaking news and immigration reporter with the Detroit News, to discuss the impact ICE and CBP have had on Michigan’s POC and immigrant communities.

ITT Staff Picks:

The U.S. was the only country he knew, but he was forced to die in Iraq, via Detroit Free Press.
Sarah Rahal’s piece on Iraqi immigrants fearing deportation, from the Detroit News.
Serena Maria Daniels writes about how she stays connected to her Mexican culture through food, via Hour Detroit. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Domestic Terrorism in El Paso Aug 06, 2019

There have been over 250 mass shootings in the U.S., averaging to at least one shooting a day, according to the Gun Violence Archive. After this weekend's two mass shootings, Maria and Julio are joined by award-winning journalist Bob Moore, and Cynthia Pompa, Advocacy Manager of the Border Rights Center at ACLU of Texas, to discuss the devastating impact of white supremacy and domestic terrorism in the Borderland. They also talk to Representative Veronica Escobar of Texas’ 16th Congressional District in El Paso to see how the community is coping.

ITT Staff Picks:

Julio's latest with NBC News discussing Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric
The El Paso shooter may not be charged as a terrorist via Buzzfeed News
The victims of the weekend's mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, via Buzzfeed News For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Detroit Debates Aug 02, 2019

Julio and producer, Nicole Rothwell, traveled to Detroit, MI this week to cover the second round of the Democratic Debates. In this ITT Sound Off #DemDebate edition, Maria and Julio discuss the highlights from how well (or not) the 2020 candidates covered racial justice, immigration and healthcare to what was missed completely.

ITT Staff Picks:

The seven things we learned from the Democratic Debates in Detroit via CNN
Vox's piece on Marianne Williamson's awkward yet scary behavior
Booker Bodies Biden, Bernie Gets Cardi, and Kamala Gets Clapped: 2020 Presidential Black Power Rankings, via Jason Johnson of The Root For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Ladies First Jul 30, 2019

To emphasize the significance of black feminism, Maria and Julio talk with Feminista Jones on the release of her latest book, “Reclaiming Our Space: How Black Feminists Are Changing the World From the Tweets to the Streets.” They also talk about the influence of hip hop on women's sexual liberation, the importance of mental and spiritual health, and black women speaking out on their experiences with sexual abuse in the #MeToo era.

ITT Staff Picks:

The difference between White allyship and advocacy, via Vice
The purpose of the #YouOkSis movement being stolen by white people, via The Grio
Beyond Saviors: Black Women, Black Feminism and Building Better Political Discourse, from Ms. Magazine For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: Decolonizing the Mind Jul 26, 2019

Maria and Julio discuss this week's news about Puerto Rico. After weeks of massive protests from the people, governor Ricardo Rosselló finally announced his resignation. They also talk about Robert Mueller’s testimony and the Trump Administration’s bringing back the death penalty.

ITT Staff Picks:

US justice department resumes use of death penalty and schedules five executions, via The Guardian
The takeaways from the topics discussed during Robert Mueller's Testimony, via Vox
The U.S must be held accountable for the mayhem in Puerto Rico, via Rewire News For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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The Cycles of Trauma for Vietnamese Americans Jul 23, 2019

More than forty years after the Vietnam war, Vietnamese refugees are being deported under Trump's immigration policies. Maria and Julio are joined by James Boo, documentary filmmaker and managing producer of the podcast Self Evident: Asia America's Stories, and Phi Nguyen, litigation director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice. They discuss the historical context of the Vietnamese immigrant community and the political and civic engagement of Vietnamese Americans.

ITT Staff Picks:

Check out the Self Evident episode we highlight in this conversation: Hello, Freedom Man
Why Asian Immigrants Are Uniquely Vulnerable To Trump’s Looming ICE Raids, via HuffPost
Vietnamese Refugees face deportation under Trump Administration, via NPR For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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ITT Sound Off: #RickyRenuncia Jul 19, 2019

Maria and Julio discuss the latest about the ongoing manifestations in Puerto Rico, where the people are demanding that Governor Ricardo Rosselló resigns after the leaked text messages scandal. They also talk about Trump’s racist tweets urging “The Squad” to go back to their countries, and the tourist deaths of U.S. Citizens in the Dominican Republic.

ITT Staff Picks:

The Washington Post explains the reasons behind the protests in Puerto Rico
Brittany Packnett’s breakdown of Polite Racism on Twitter
The Ministry of Tourism in Dominican Republic issues new

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- Pete Buttigieg Is a Lying MF, Michael Harriot's piece for The Root that Esther mentions in the roundtable