In The Thick

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...

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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 categoryBest 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 AmericasThey 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 Unforgettingon "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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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?

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
The hurricane relief organization mentioned by Julio was HeadKnowles Bahamas - you can donate money, buy supplies or drop off supplies if you're in Florida

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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

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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.

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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.

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:

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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 safety regulations, via CNN

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This Is Exhausting Jul 16, 2019

To catch up on the latest in immigration, Julio and guest co-host Maggie Freleng of Futuro Media chat with immigration attorney Amy Maldonado, and the Professor of Law and Migration Studies at the University of San Francisco, Bill Ong Hing. They talk about the threat of ICE raids, the complicity of big corporations supporting detention centers and the current conditions in these facilities.

ITT Staff Picks:

Listen to NPR's CodeSwitch episode: America’s Concentration Camp
A Prestigious ad agency scores a huge contact to make Border Patrol look "cool" via Vice
Read The Atlantic's piece on Department of Justice lawyer Sarah Fabian claiming toothbrushes are not required for immigrant children.

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Just Go to Jail Jul 12, 2019

This week’s sound-off is packed with all the madness going on in Washington. Futuro Media’s very own Erika Dilday guest co-hosts with Julio to breakdown the latest on: Alex Acosta’s resignation after facing backlash for Jeffrey Epstein’s secret plea deal, the administration’s insufficient reasoning behind the citizenship question on the Census, and the importance of Kamala Harris as a 2020 candidate. ITT Staff Picks:

Read The Miami Herald's investigation, Perversion of Justice, that reported on the Jeffrey Epstein case

Harris Gains Momentum With Democrats’ Most Important Voter Base, via Jemele Hill in The Atlantic

The twitter thread from NPR's national correspondent Hansi Lo Wang, debriefing Trump's response to the citizenship question

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LIVE From Chicago: Fighting Violence Jul 09, 2019

While gun violence has decreased in the city of Chicago over the past two years, the rates of violence are still high and disproportionately so in certain neighborhoods. In the United States as a whole, 2018 marked the deadliest year for gun violence in the past 50 years. But violence is not limited to guns, it takes the form of police brutality, economic injustice, segregation and gentrification. Amidst this violence, youth of color have been organizing to change Chicago and cities across the country to become more peaceful and just places. For this LIVE In The Thick show at DePaul University, Maria and Julio are joined by guests Edna Chavez, national activist and member of Community Coalition and Cosette Hampton, leader with BYP100 Chicago Chapter.

Special thanks to spoken word artist, Assata Lewis for sharing her powerful words in this live show.

ITT Staff Picks:

The study Julio mentions by the Black Youth Project at the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture at the University of Chicago that found the youth of color were more likely to support gun control than white youth
Democrats have played it safe on gun reform for decades and the 2020 candidates are no different, via Vox
Where the 2020 Democratic candidates stand on gun policies, from The Trace

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Taking Back the Immigrant Narrative Jul 05, 2019

Julio and guest co-host ITT fellow, Nour Saudi, talk to Chimene Suleyman, writer and co-editor of The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America. They discuss the common immigrant experience, what makes an immigrant “good,” and how literature can be a form of political activism in the age of Trump.

ITT Staff Picks:

Listen to Chimene and other writers from The Good Immigrant talk about their immigrant experience in today’s America, from NPR.
Check out My Immigration Story, the story of U.S. immigrants in their own words.
This essay on the evolution of immigrant narratives in literature, from Literary Hub.

This episode was mixed by Jeanne Montalvo.

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Kings of Deportation Jul 02, 2019

Maria and Julio talk with Bill Ong Hing, professor of Law and Migration Studies at the University of San Francisco about his latest book, American Presidents, Deportations, and Human Rights Violations from Carter to Trump. They discuss the history of anti-immigrant policies in the United States and why Bill is hopeful for immigration reform come 2021. ITT Staff Picks:

The largest mass deportation in U.S. history, via The History Channel
Struggles for the rights of women, immigrants and black Americans defined the US in 1919, which holds striking parallels to today, from The Nation
The U.S. immigration system may have reached a breaking point, from The New York Times

This episode was mixed by Jeanne Montalvo.

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Too Many White Dudes Jun 28, 2019

The first 2020 Democratic presidential debates took place in Miami this week, and there were some big moments. Climate change, gun violence, immigration reform and healthcare were the reigning topics of discussion among candidates. In this exciting late-night hot take, In The Thick’s New York Women’s Foundation IGNITE fellow, Nour Saudi, joins Julio and All-Star Jamilah King, to talk all things from their biggest takeaways to the highlights of the first round of the debates.

ITT Staff Picks

The winners and losers of night two of the Democratic debate via USA Today
Slate’s piece discussing all the times Spanish has been used at political debates.
The two-night deliberation misses out on major topics, one of them being Puerto Rico- via NBC News

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Celebrate the Pride Way Jun 25, 2019

On the brink of Stonewall’s 50th Anniversary, this year's Pride is historic. In the Thick's, New York Women’s Foundation Ignite Fellow, Nour Saudi, reports on the significance of pride and how the LGBTQ community of color is continuing to organize, in the city where the Stonewall rebellion originally took place. Despite commemorating Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera’s accomplishments for the LGBTQ community, targeted violence has been on the rise since the election of Donald Trump. This year has devastated the community with at least ten murders of trans women of color. In addition, the deaths of the trans women of color, Layleen Polanco and Johana Medina, are of grave concern and answers are being demanded. As New York City prepares to host Worldwide Pride Day, the community grieves the losses and demands justice for all the fallen lives. ITT Staff Picks:

NYC’s LGBT Community Center’s documentary, Stonewall Forever, directed by Ro Haber
Out Magazine’s tribute to Sylvia Rivera for being an OG on transgender organizing
Data Maps about LGBT laws throughout the country, via USA Today

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Fútbol Goddesses Jun 21, 2019

To discuss the Women's World Cup being held in France, Julio is joined by Shireen Ahmed, writer and co-host of the feminist sports podcast, Burn It All Down. They talk about the media coverage, issues of representation and access in the sport including FIFA corruption and pay equity, plus they shout out the Cup's key players and their stellar moments.

ITT Staff Picks:

Shireen's latest from TIME, about the Women’s World Cup, and the abuse, corruption and lack of equity in the field
The tournament's key players, record-breaking stats and Jamaica's journey to get there, via CNN
Al Jazeera explores the best moments so far in the 2019 Women's World Cup

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Trust Women Jun 18, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined by Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood and co-founder of Supermajority, and Yvonne Gutierrez, head of community engagement at Supermajority, for a conversation about gender equity. They talk about the current state of reproductive rights in our country, their new group that's working to mobilize women to be politically active, and their thoughts on the 2020 race. ITT Staff Picks:

As Georgia and Alabama are trying to ban abortions, read about the states expanding access, via Vox.
Cecile Richards is more energized than ever leading her new political group, via InStyle. A new poll shows how sexism and electability collide in 2020, from Vox.

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LIVE from NYC: Immigrants on Screen Jun 14, 2019

For this live show from New York City co-hosted with Alianza HBO and SOMOS Viacom Maria and Julio are joined by Doris Casap, senior vice president of HBO film programming and Erika Soto Lamb, vice president of social impact for Comedy Central, Paramount Network and TV Land, as well as Jessica Leonardo, production assistant at HBO. They discuss how immigrants are represented in entertainment and how the industry in changing to better represent diverse communities. ITT Staff Picks:

The study done by The Norman Lear Center and Define America that explores immigrant portrayals on television.
Why Netflix should never have cancelled One Day At A Time, via Refinery29
TV shows struggle to reflect U.S. Latino presence, from Futuro Media familia, Nicole Acevedo of NBC News.

This episode was mixed by Jeanne Montalvo.

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The Vulgarian in the White House Jun 11, 2019

Maria and Julio are joined by All-Stars Eddie Glaude Jr., James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University, and Christina Greer, Associate Professor of Political Science at Fordham University at Lincoln Center, to discuss the Mexico-US immigration debate and its impact on migrants. They also talk about the increasing number of black trans women deaths across the country and particularly in Dallas, Ava DuVernay's new series, "When They See Us", and whether age matters in the 2020 presidential race.

ITT Staff Picks:

Julio’s latest for NBC Think on why Trump’s claim of making a deal with Mexico is fake news.
The Dallas transgender community is on edge in the midst of violent attacks, via The Texas Tribune.
The New York Times explores the divide in the Democratic party when it comes to preference for a candidate’s age.

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LIVE From Chicago: Fighting Hate Jun 07, 2019

Although data on hate crimes is limited and often underreported, we know that hate crimes have been on the rise in the United States since the election of Donald Trump, in particular hate that targets people of color, religious minorities and the LGBT community. Chicago is one of over two dozen cities that experienced a decade-high number of hate crimes in 2018. For this LIVE In The Thick show at DePaul University, Maria and Julio are joined by two guests who organize against this very hate, Isabella Gomez, actress from Netflix's One Day at a Time and LGBT activist, and Ugo Okere, former alderman candidate for the 40th Ward in Chicago and organizer with Chicago DSA.

Special thanks to spoken word artist, Darius Parker with Kuumba Lynx for sharing his powerful words in this live show.

ITT Staff Picks:

How Chicago’s new democratic socialist city council members can change the city’s politics, from The Washington Post
Seeking justice in Illinois after hate crimes, via Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
Explaining the numbers behind the rise in reported hate crimes, from PolitiFact

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It's Not About the Avocados Jun 04, 2019

A new DHS report revealed dangerous overcrowding at a detention center in El Paso, Texas. But for immigration reporters who have been following the issue closely, this wasn’t really a surprise. Julio and guest co-host Tina Vasquez, senior immigration reporter for Rewire.News, are joined by Tanvi Misra, immigration reporter for CQ-Roll Call, and Fernanda Echavarri, immigration reporter for Mother Jones, to discuss the latest with immigration and the border. Plus, they talk about how their own reporting highlights how Trump's policies are really impacting communities on the ground.

ITT Staff Picks:

Read Tina Vasquez’s latest series on the treatment of pregnant asylum seekers under Trump's zero-tolerance policy, via Rewire.News.
Check out Tanvi Misra’s reporting on how a new HUD rule could impact thousands of children, from CityLab.
Don’t miss Fernanda Echavarri’s latest coverage of the migrant community in San Antonio, via Mother Jones.

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The Roots of Mental Health in Young Latinas May 31, 2019

The documentary “Some Girls” tackles the issue of mental health in young Latinas in America. Maria and Julio talk to ITT All-Star Raquel Cepeda, author and documentarian, about her film and how mental health is connected to beauty standards and cultural identity.

This episode was mixed by Jeanne Montalvo.

ITT Staff Picks:

Watch Raquel’s film “Some Girls” for a look into mental health of young Latina Americans.
This op-ed on why Latinx people need better mental health support, via Teen Vogue.
This piece on how one woman learned to embrace her Afro-Latina identity, from HipLatina.

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Educating for the Status Quo May 28, 2019

The debate around the specialized high school admissions test in New York City only reflects a greater issue about inclusion and diversity in schools nationwide. Maria and Julio are joined by Reema Amin, reporter at Chalkbeat NY, and Maria Bautista, campaigns director at the Alliance for Quality Education, to discuss how schools are leaving out POC students and the role access plays in education.

ITT Staff Picks:

Read Reema Amin’s reporting on the lobbying groups working to keep the SHSAT in New York City schools, via Chalkbeat.
The New York Times breaks down why schools are still segregated in 2019.
This piece on how economic and academic segregation occurs on the inside, within the same schools, via The Atlantic.

This episode was mixed by Jeanne Montalvo.

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ITT Sound Off: Six Is Too Many May 24, 2019

Julio is joined by guest co-host Antonia Cereijido of Latino USA to discuss the tragedy and horror of six migrant children who have died in U.S. custody in the last eight months. Meanwhile, most 2020 presidential candidates have no comprehensive immigration reform plan with the exception of Julián Castro. This week, Castro went on Late Night With Seth Meyers to talk about his plan and to call out Democrats' lack of action on this issue. They also discuss the latest collaboration between another 2020 candidate, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who called out Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin for his shady corporate dealings. ITT Staff Picks:

The crisis of children dying in custody at the border, explained by Vox.

Julio's latest for Latino Rebels about how Julián Castro told Seth Meyers that Democratsshould've acted on immigration reform in 2009–2010.

Where 2020 Democrats stand on immigration, from The Washington Post.

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If I Was a Dragon May 21, 2019

We’re talking elections! Whether it’s the 2020 candidates or the series finale of Game of Thrones, white males seem to be at the forefront. Maria and Julio are joined by Astead Herndon, national political reporter with The New York Times, and Brittany Packnett, activist and co-host of Pod Save The People, to discuss how the candidates approach POC voters, the notion of electability, and how similar issues of race, gender, and politics played out in the final season of Game of Thrones.

ITT Staff Picks:

Read Astead Herndon’s reporting on the ground of the 2020 campaign trail, via the New York Times.
The Root dives into the long and seemingly ever-growing list of 2020 white male candidates.
How Game of Thrones let down its female characters, from The Guardian.

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ITT Sound Off: Federal Infringement May 17, 2019

Maria and Julio discuss Trump’s push for a merit-based immigration plan, after claiming our current legal immigration system is broken. They also talk about Alabama banning abortion outright, following the recent wave of anti-abortion legislation in the country, racial profiling in policing and the dangers of facial recognition technology.

We also say, "nos vemos" to our dear senior producer, Juan Pablo Garnham, who is headed to Texas to report on cities across the state for the Texas Tribune. Gracias por todo, JP! Follow him on Twitter, to keep up with his Texas reporting.

ITT Staff Picks:

Vox explains Trump’s immigration speech and his proposals for a new immigration plan.
A look at how state laws have attempted to limit abortion in 2019, via the New York Times.
Read about how facial recognition violates our privacy and targets people of color, from Vox.

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Warmongering Diplomacy May 14, 2019

Amidst the Mueller saga, Trump finds himself facing a number of subpoenas from Congress. Meanwhile in foreign policy, tensions with Iran are escalating, and Trump is going all-in on the trade war with China, after raising U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. This is happening while one million Uighur Muslims are being held in internment camps in Xinjiang. Julio is joined by Melissa Etehad, foreign affairs reporter for the Los Angeles Times, and All-Star Vann Newkirk, staff writer at The Atlantic, to discuss.

ITT Staff Picks:

Who is the man advising Trump on national security? Check out this profile by The New Yorker.
The wild story about the MEK, a fringe Iranian revolutionary group, and their relationship to the White House, via The Guardian.
Don’t miss this Vox explainer video on the crisis of China’s detainment of Uighurs.

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ITT Sound Off: Bad Parcheesi Game May 10, 2019

Another week of the Mueller saga ended with Trump yet again refusing to cooperate with Congress’ investigations on the report. Maria and Julio discuss the congressional hearing held on Wednesday, plus Trump’s repeated lies about Puerto Rico and another tragic school shooting in Colorado.

ITT Staff Picks:

Wait, does Trump think Mueller should testify or not? Read about his flip-flopping statements, via the New York Times.
The House passed a disaster-relief bill for Puerto Rico after Trump opposed it a day earlier, via the Washington Post.
School shootings are tragically becoming more frequent in the U.S., and students are taking a front-line role in stopping them, from the New York Times.

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Diabolical America May 07, 2019

This week in immigration, Trump announced his plans to appoint Mark Morgan to head ICE, while former White House chief-of-staff John Kelly joined the board of a company that runs detention centers for migrant children. Maria and Julio are joined by Andrea González-Ramírez, senior news and politics writer with Refinery29, and All-Star Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior reporter with The Root, to discuss. Plus, they talk Trump’s phone call with Putin, and the latest 2020 update.

ITT Staff Picks:

Terrell Jermaine Starr writes that Joe Biden has a lot of ‘splainin’ to do, from The Root.
Andrea González-Ramírez interviews Rachel Lears, director of the new Netflix documentary, Knock Down the House, from Refinery29.
Read about the congressional map in Ohio that was ruled illegal for gerrymandering, from the New York Times.

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ITT Sound Off: War Presidents Win May 03, 2019

Protests in Venezuela have erupted after opposition leader Juan Guaidó called for the support of armed forces to overthrow Nicolás Maduro on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Attorney General William Barr testified in front of the Senate about his handling of the Mueller report, and the Trump administration’s immigration policies left two more migrant children dead this week. Maria and guest co-host All-Star Imara Jones sound off on the latest news of the week.

ITT Staff Picks:

What is the U.S. role in Venezuela? Read this analysis of the politics in Venezuela, via The New York Times.
This piece from Slate on how William Barr acts as a surrogate for Donald Trump.
A look at how Trump’s restrictive immigration policies is affecting migration numbers, from The Washington Post.

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Census Suppression Apr 30, 2019

Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for whether the Trump administration should add a question about citizenship to the 2020 Census, effectively changing the way people in the United States would be counted. Maria and Julio are joined by Dorian Warren, president of the Center for Community Change, and Hansi Lo Wang, NPR national correspondent, to discuss the Supreme Court case and how this question would impact POC and immigrant communities.

ITT Staff Picks:

Hansi Lo Wang gives you everything you need to know about the 2020 Census, from NPR.
Check out this timeline following how the census citizenship question ended up at the Supreme Court, via NPR.
This New York Times op-ed on why allowing the census question goes against our democracy.

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ITT Sound Off: Presidential Baggage Apr 26, 2019

Well, he finally did it. Joe Biden announced he was running for president on Thursday, just a day after She the People hosted the first ever policy forum dedicated to women of color in Houston, TX, where many of the 2020 candidates spoke. Maria and Julio discuss the latest with the campaign trail, plus what stories they can't let go of this week.

ITT Staff Picks:

Is Joe Biden progressive enough for today’s Democratic Party? Read this analysis of his candidacy by Mother Jones.
Keep tabs on all the 2020 candidates with this interactive list from the New York Times.
For a more in-depth view of the candidates, watch the entire She the People presidential forum.

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The Roots of American Racism Apr 23, 2019

The Mueller report dropped last week and left everyone wondering what's next? Maria and Julio are joined by Tanya Ballard Brown, 2019 Nieman fellow at Harvard University, and Adam Serwer, staff writer at The Atlantic, to unpack the reactions to the report. They also delve into the deep roots of white supremacy in the U.S., and the arrest of the leader of an armed right-wing militia group that’s accused of detaining migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

ITT Staff Picks:

Here are 14 Mueller report takeaways you might have missed, via WIRED.
Don’t miss Adam Serwer’s piece on white nationalism for The Atlantic.
How a series of racist Supreme Court decisions cemented Puerto Rico's second-class status, via Slate.

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ITT Sound Off: Corruptly Apr 19, 2019

In this special Mueller report ITT edition, Maria and Julio give their takeaways on the 448-page redacted document by special counsel Robert Mueller on Russian meddling during the 2016 presidential election. They discuss Attorney General William Barr’s defense of Trump, the obstruction of justice during the investigation, and whether Russian interference will influence future elections in the United States.

ITT Staff Picks:

Read the full redacted report by special counsel Robert Mueller from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Short on time? Here’s a breakdown of 14 must-read moments from the Mueller report, via The Atlantic.
This analysis of how Democrats are reacting to the Mueller report, from NPR.

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Infected with MAGA-ism Apr 16, 2019

This week, Trump said he’s considering sending migrants to sanctuary cities. Maria and Julio are joined by two All-Stars, Jenni Monet, independent journalist and tribal member of the Pueblo of Laguna, and Brentin Mock, staff writer for City Lab, to discuss Trump's latest use of immigrants as political pawns. They also talk about the burning of three black churches in Louisiana, the latest attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar, and how the U.S. justice system impacts people of color.

ITT Staff Picks:

This piece from The New Yorker on how to resist validating Trump's view of sanctuary cities.
Here’s what you need to know about the three black church fires, via The Cut.
Read this opinion piece from NBC Think on why Rep. Omar’s comments spark false outrage and anti-Muslim bias.

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ITT Sound Off: One White Nation, Indivisible Apr 12, 2019

It's been a busy week in immigration news, from Kirstjen Nielsen’s resignation to Trump contradicting his administration's officials when it comes to his zero tolerance policy. Maria and Julio make sense of the latest in border politics. They also discuss how the coverage of Attorney General William Barr's testimony reflects white male privilege in the media, and the complexities of Julian Assange's sudden arrest in London.

ITT Staff Picks:

Julio Ricardo Varela writes for NBC Think on why Kirstjen Nielsen’s resignation proves Stephen Miller holds a lot of power over U.S. immigration policy.
In light of his arrest, here are five facts to know about Julian Assange, via The Root.
He comes off as dull, but here's why William Barr is actually the most dangerous man in America, from The Daily Beast.

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Mexico's #MeToo Apr 09, 2019

Feminists have been organizing against gender violence in Mexico for years. But over the last few weeks, Mexican women have taken to social media to call out abusive men in creative industries, starting a new wave of #MeToo. Maria and Julio are joined by Peniley Ramírez, investigative reporter with Univision and columnist with El Heraldo de Mexico, and Emily Corona, freelance journalist and digital intern at Futuro Media, to discuss how the #MeToo movement in Mexico is growing.

ITT Staff Picks:

How activist Ana González set off a #MeToo avalanche in Mexico, via the New York Times.
Emily Corona on why the #MeToo movement has become a moment of reckoning for Mexico, from Latino Rebels.
Check out this incredible series of illustrations in support of the #MeToo movement in Mexico by artist Maremoto (who live-illustrated at ITT's live shows in CDMX!) on Instagram.

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ITT Sound Off: Hip-Hop Is Heartbreak Apr 05, 2019

In a historic election on Tuesday, Lori Lightfoot became Chicago’s first black woman and openly gay person elected mayor, but not everyone in the community is celebrating. Julio and guest co-host All-Star Jamilah King discuss this, plus the media rhetoric around Puerto Rico and how Nipsey Hussle’s murder marked a tragic moment in hip-hop.

ITT Staff Picks:

This in-depth look at Lori Lightfoot’s life and career, from the Chicago Tribune.
Watch our very own Julio Ricardo Varela on Cheddar talking about colonialism and Trump's anti-Puerto Rico comments.
Fans created stunning artwork to honor Nipsey Hussle’s impact and legacy after his murder, via BuzzFeed.

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Talking in Code Apr 02, 2019

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s full redacted report is expected to come out mid-April, but what do we make of what we already know? Maria and Julio discuss this and more with Jonathan Capehart, opinion writer with the Washington Post, and All-Star Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior reporter with The Root. They also get into Trump’s plans to cut aid to three Central American countries and Lucy Flores’ account of an inappropriate moment with Joe Biden.

ITT Staff Picks:

This New York Times op-ed by chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Jerrold Nadler on why the U.S. needs the full Mueller report.
Trump’s decision to cut off aid from three Central American countries explained, via Vox.
Who is Lucy Flores? The New York Times explains her career.

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ITT Special Report: Women in Power Mar 29, 2019

As the energy around 2020 grows, conversations about women’s political leadership are taking the lead. In The Thick's NY Women's Foundation fellow Nour Saudi reports from a panel organized by the Metro New York chapter of UN Women on what the future of politics looks like for women of color, and where New York City falls short. We also hear from Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke and Erin Vilardi, founder of VoteRunLead.

ITT Staff Picks:

At Capitol Hill, the freshman congresswomen are urging young girls to run for office, via Refinery29.
The history of the women trailblazers in New York’s state government, from The New York Times.
This Vox piece makes the case for why 2020 should be the year of women.

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LIVE From South Texas: Borderland Life Mar 26, 2019

Everyone is talking about the border, but no one is really talking about the border: what it is like to live, work and experience the vibrant day-to-day life around it. We don’t hear about the particular culture, uniqueness or challenges of this locale that go beyond the wall and immigration. Join In The Thick for the live show with co-hosts, Maria Hinojosa and Julio Ricardo Varela and guests Beatrix Lestrange, dragtivist and community organizer and Derick Garcia, Local NBC 23 News Lower Valley reporter. ITT Staff Picks:

In the Rio Grande Valley, drag performer, Beatrix Lestrange finds a platform for safe sex activism, a profile by Remezcla
RGV residents celebrate dual cultural histories that flow beyond borders, via Texas Public Radio
How crossing the bridge to Matamoros got complicated, from The New York Times

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ITT Sound Off: Joe Biden Is No Idris Elba Mar 22, 2019

In this “All 2020 Everything” Sound Off, Julio and guest co-host All-Star, Terrell Jermaine Starr talk about the growing speculations of a Joe Biden-Stacey Abrams ticket, and the issue of reparations that almost every Democratic candidate has been addressing. They also share which story they can't shake off this week.

ITT Staff Picks:

Don’t miss The Cut’s in-depth profile of Stacey Abrams and the big decision she has to make about running for office.
Revisit Ta-Nehisi Coates’ masterful essay “The Case for Reparations,” via The Atlantic.
An open letter to presidential candidates from #Power4PuertoRico, via Latino Rebels.

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Detained and Forgotten Mar 19, 2019

In Taylor, Texas, a Latino USA and Rewire.News investigation into one of most notorious detention centers, the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, revealed a long and extensive pattern of sexual abuse and harassment. Julio and Maria are joined by Maggie Freleng, producer at Latino USA, and Tina Vasquez, senior immigration reporter at Rewire.News, to discuss the piece they reported with Maria about one of the darkest corners of our immigration policy.

ITT Staff Picks:

Read the full Rewire.News piece in collaboration with Latino USA about one woman’s experience at Hutto.
Don’t miss part two of Rewire.News and Latino USA’s report for a deep dive into the process of a PREA audit.
Revisit this harrowing investigation into sexual abuse at immigration detention centers, via The Intercept.

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ITT Sound Off: White Nationalism's Violent Consequences Mar 15, 2019

A deadly terrorist attack at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday left at least 49 people dead, dozens injured, and the rest of the world shaken. Julio is joined by guest co-host Antonia Cereijido of Latino USA, to discuss this tragedy, plus Beto O’Rourke’s announcement of his 2020 candidacy and how the college admissions scandal is just another part of the problem of racism in higher education.

ITT Staff Picks:

Watch the full segment of Waleed Aly’s emotional response to the mosque shooting on The Project.
Refinery29 explores the double standard of Beto O’Rourke’s presidential run.
Your questions on the college admissions scandal answered, by the New York Times.

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A Big Nothingburger Mar 12, 2019

A new budget plan was released on Monday that includes a proposal of $8.6 billion for construction of the border wall. Meanwhile, the long-awaited Robert Mueller report could be published any day, and a new House resolution was passed that broadly condemns hate. Maria and Julio are joined by All-Star Callie Crossley, host of WGBH’s Under the Radar, and Aisha Moodie Mills, political strategist and fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics, to discuss these latest issues, plus their thoughts on the 2020 Democratic candidates.

ITT Staff Picks:

Vox gives a breakdown of Trump's $4.7 trillion budget proposal.
This opinion piece on what the Mueller report will reveal, via the New York Times.
What Progressive Jewish groups think about Rep. Omar's debate on Israel, from The Washington Post.

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ITT Sound Off: The Effects of Trauma Mar 08, 2019

This week, four different congressional hearings on immigration took place at the same time. Maria and Julio discuss one where Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen testified that she was unaware of the long-lasting effects family separation has on migrant children. They also talk about R. Kelly’s interview with Gayle King, and how to grapple with sexual abuse allegations against celebrity idols.

ITT Staff Picks

A report this week explains how Border Patrol’s inadequate health care puts migrants at risk, via the New York Times.
This Vox piece explores the myth of the cycle of abuse, in the wake of high-profile sexual abuse allegations.
This piece from The Atlantic on revisiting the legacy of Michael Jackson in the face of new sexual abuse allegations.

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LIVE From South Texas: Purple State? Mar 05, 2019

In Texas, 40 percent of the state is Latinx and by 2022 Latinos are expected to be the largest demographic group in Texas, surpassing non-Hispanic white people. Maria and Julio discuss the demographic and political changes that Texas is going through. For this live show from the Borderland, they're joined by Cristina Tzintzún Ramírez, executive director of Jolt, and Efrén Olivares, racial and economic justice program director with the Texas Civil Rights Project. ITT Staff Picks:

As demographics shift, Latinos in Texas are claiming the majority and seeing themselves in the center of the national story, by Michelle García in Guernica's series, Rewriting the West
Latino turnout surged in the 2018 Midterms. Then Texas questioned 98,000 voters’ citizenship, by Roque Planas in HuffPost
Democrats had historic gains in Texas in 2018. They're setting their sights on even more in 2020, via The Texas Tribune

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ITT Sound Off: White Male Fragility Mar 01, 2019

Maria and Julio talk about Michael Cohen’s testimony with the House Oversight Committee, where he called President Trump a con man, a cheat, and a racist. They also discuss the latest report that revealed an increase in complaints of sexual abuse against children in immigration detention centers under the Trump administration's Zero Tolerance policy.

ITT Staff Picks:

ITT All-Star Terrell Jermaine Starr's analysis of the exchange between Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Rep. Mark Meadows at the Cohen hearing, and the response from Rep. Elijah Cummings.
This piece from Vox explaining the significance of Michael Cohen’s testimony to the Russia investigation.
Thousands of complaints of sexual abuse against immigrant children in U.S. detention centers have been reported, via The New York Times.

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Venezuela and US Interventionism Feb 26, 2019

The crisis in Venezuela escalated over the weekend after the government blocked humanitarian aid at the Colombian border, leading to violence and protests. In this episode, Julio and guest host All-Star Imara Jones talk with guests Eli Lopez, senior editor of global opinions at the Washington Post, and Phil Gunson, senior analyst with the International Crisis Group and writer on Latin America, about the political tension in Venezuela and what role the U.S. plays in it.

ITT Staff Picks:

Vox explains what went down this weekend at the Venezuelan-Colombian border
This episode of the Intercepted podcast delves into the US’ interventionist history, and what it means for the political regime in Venezuela
An in-depth look at the humanitarian and economic crisis in Venezuela, explained through charts from the BBC.

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The Fight to Ban the Box Feb 22, 2019

No matter if she was trying to find a job or get an education, Leyla Martinez kept finding the same problem: on the application forms, she would have to declare that she had a past conviction. Maria and Julio talk to Leyla about her experience, how she got to graduate from Columbia and why she founded the Beyond the Box initiative. ITT Staff Picks:

A South Bronx single mom's improbable journey from prison to Columbia University: Leyla's profie in The Daily News.
Hiring ex-offenders can actually led to more profitable businesses, according to The Guardian.
From the Vera Institute of Justice: Postsecondary education in prison increases employment among the formerly incarcerated.

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The Legacy of Redlining Feb 19, 2019

Discrimination and housing segregation in the United States didn't happened by chance. In this episode, our guests Richard Rothstein, author of the book The Color of Law, and Emmanuel Martinez, data reporter for Reveal, explain how redlining still shapes our cities and affects people of color. ITT Staff Picks:

Reveal's award-winning investigative series Kept Out, which Emmanuel co-reported for, explores how housing discrimination still happens through banks and loans.
Richard Rothstein and Ta-Nehesi Coates talk about the book The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America (from C-SPAN).
The Disturbing History of the Suburbs: a great video explainer of housing discrimination, featuring Adam Conover from Adam Ruins Everything.

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ITT Sound Off: We Are You Feb 15, 2019

While President Trump declares a national emergency, Maria and Julio talk about the truth behind this political move, as well as the situation of the rapper 21 Savage, who was detained by ICE. They also discuss the controversy we've seen around Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

ITT Staff Picks:

Vox explains the winners and the losers of Trump's emergency declaration.
From The Nation: Israeli lobbyist Ady Barkan defends Ilhan Omar's comments.
This opinion piece about being a Black immigrant, from the New York Times.

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Wearing the Mask Feb 13, 2019

Two leading Democrats in Virginia have acknowledged that they did blackface in the past and a third Democrat has been accused of sexual abuses. Maria and Julio try to understand this mess (and more) with two All-Stars: journalist and Columbia professor Alexis Clark, and Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr., James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University. ITT Staff Picks:

Vox explains why we need to talk about blackface and racism now.
The Intercept on the power of the Green New Deal and its first "baby steps."
Trump's rally in El Paso —and Beto's response — is a preview of every 2020 debate to come, Julio's latest for NBC Think.

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ITT Sound Off: Bring the Receipts Feb 08, 2019

Maria and Julio talk about Jeff Bezos’ allegations that David Pecker, the owner of the National Enquirer’s parent company, extorted and blackmailed him. They also talk about why the State of the Union address was hard to watch and the City of Nogales vote against the concertina wire on the border fence.

ITT Staff Picks:

The City of Nogales unanimously votes to condemn concertina wire on border fence, from Latino Rebels
Jeff Bezos wrote a blog post, from The Atlantic
The meaning of the often misunderstood epithet, ‘wop’, via The Atlantic

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2020 TBD Feb 05, 2019

Maria and Julio talk with All-Star Jamilah King, race and justice reporter and host of the Mother Jones podcast, and Andrea González-Ramírez, political reporter with Refinery29. They discuss the larger issues at stake in the Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's blackface scandal, the racist and homophobic attack against Jussie Smollett, and the latest 2020 Democratic candidates to announce their campaigns.

ITT Staff Picks:

Kamala Harris’ campaign will force democrats to decide where they stand on criminal justice, Jamilah's latest for Mother Jones
How To Watch President Trump's State Of The Union, Andrea's latest with Refinery29
There’s more at stake than Ralph Northam’s career, by Adam Serwer in The Atlantic

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A Fronteriza in Congress Feb 01, 2019

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar is one of the first two Latinas from Texas to win a seat in the U.S. Congress that was sworn in a few weeks ago. In an intimate conversation that took place at her office in Washington D.C., Julio and Rep. Escobar talk about the border community of El Paso, the hospitality that has always characterized its people and what it means for her to be a woman of color in a predominantly white and male Congress.

ITT Staff Picks:

Veronica Escobar, freshman from Texas, will be a key part in the House's border battle, from El Paso Times
20 midterm results that broke the mold and are making up the new Congress, from Mother Jones
Even with a Democratic House majority, the most plausible immigration deal might only help the “Dreamers” and those with temporary protected status, according to The Atlantic.

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Assimilation Is Not the Answer Jan 29, 2019

The longest shutdown in U.S. history has ended with the President taking credit for solving a problem that he created and continuing his rhetoric about a non-existent border crisis. Maria and Julio are joined by two All-Stars: Jenni Monet, an independent journalist and tribal member of the Pueblo of Laguna, and Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior reporter at The Root. They talk about what has been missing in the coverage of the shutdown, what mainstream media overlooked in the aftermath of the Lincoln Memorial incident and Tom Brokaw's problematic assimilation comment.

ITT Staff Picks:

The undocumented workers who were fired from Trump’s golf course, amidst the President’s demands for a border wall funding.
A Florida town grapples with a shutdown after a hurricane, from the New York Times.
Latino leaders demand more from NBC, Brokaw and Meet the Press for xenophobic comment, from Latino Rebels.

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ITT Sound Off: Eccentric Circles Jan 26, 2019

Nathan Phillips, a Native American elder man, sang a prayer song to make peace between a group of MAGA hat-wearing white Catholic high school students and members of the Black Hebrew Israelites. Maria and Julio talk about the aftermath and the context in which the video of the confrontation occurred. They also discuss the arrest and indictment of one of President Trump's top aides, Roger Stone and the unfolding political crisis in Venezuela and the involvement of the U.S. government. ITT Staff Picks:

An analysis of the coverage of the Lincoln Memorial incident and the overcorrection of the media in the Trump era, from The Atlantic.
Where Will Venezuela Go Next? An analysis of the latest, by Latino Rebels.
An explainer of Roger Stone's arrest and indictment, via Vox.

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ITT-AnthroPod Crossover: (W)rap on Immigration Jan 22, 2019

In this special crossover episode with AnthroPod, Julio moderates a conversation with anthropologist Jason De León and Maria about migration, writing, and teaching. “(W)Rap on: Immigration” is the second episode of the (W)Rap On series at AnthroPod, which brings anthropologists into conversation with artists, activists, and scholars from other disciplines and perspectives. The series is loosely inspired by James Baldwin and Margaret Mead’s 1970 conversation Rap on Race, and was conceived by Hilary Leathem in collaboration with AnthroPod. AnthroPod's format attempts to identify and confront some of the problems that Mead and Baldwin’s conversation embodied, such as white fragility, complicity with power structures, and the struggle to create space for different groups to speak openly. You can find the original episode here, and subscribe to AnthroPod wherever you get your podcasts. Special thanks to AnthroPod and producer/editor, Arielle Milkman. AnthroPod's Staff Picks:

Five Things You Should Know About the “Migrant Caravan" from the American Anthropological Association blog
"The Deportation Terror:" a historical look at deportation, from American Quarterly.
Evidencing Violence and Care along the Central American Migrant Trail through Mexico by the Social Science Review.

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ITT Sound Off: Counter-Narratives Jan 18, 2019

This week William Barr, another immigration hardliner, had his Senate confirmation hearings to replace Jeff Sessions as Attorney General. Maria and Julio talk about a new report that shows that thousands more children than originally reported, may have been separated from their relatives under the Trump administration's Zero Tolerance policy and the importance of thoughtful immigration coverage during these times. ITT wants to hear from you! We're headed to the Rio Grande valley in Texas, for a series of live shows on February 22nd and we want your voices to be part of this. Call our In The Thick hotline at (505) 226-8973 and let us know...

If you’re from the border, we want to hear what’s one thing that people don’t understand about the region?
If you’re not from the border, what’s one question you have for people who live there.

ITT Staff Picks:

The new report that says family separation may have hit thousands more migrant children than reported by the Trump administration.
A profile of William Barr’s that analyzes his record on immigration policy, by The Intercept.
Are you up to speed with the Trump- Russia timeline? Take this Quiz by the New York Times.

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Surviving R. Kelly in the Me Too Era Jan 15, 2019

The recent Lifetime documentary series by dream hampton, "Surviving R. Kelly", brings the R&B legend back to the limelight, now through the testimonies of women of color who survived his abuses and sexual predatory behavior for decades. Maria and Julio are joined by Jamilah Lemieux, writer and media professional who was featured in the docuseries and April Reign, diversity and inclusion advocate, media commentator and the creator of #OscarsSoWhite. They talk about the role of race in R. Kelly’s alleged abuses and how it has been magnified by the Me Too movement.

For anyone in need, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline 24/7 at 800.656.HOPE (4673) who will provide confidential and local support.

ITT Staff Picks:

Don’t have Lifetime or missed the series? Here’s April’s Twitter thread analysis of the docuseries. And here's another Twitter thread on the racial divide response to "Surviving R Kelly," the docuseries.
A comprehensive timeline of the allegations against R. Kelly, via NPR.
The series producer, dream hampton, interviewed about the creation of her documentary “Surviving R. Kelly," from Pitchfork.

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ITT Sound Off: Shutdown Limbo Jan 11, 2019

The current government shutdown is about to become the longest in U.S. history and it's not only impacting workers, but also the lives of immigrants and asylum seekers. Maria and Julio talk about the shutdown and the rhetoric that for decades has backed the implementation of anti-immigration policies, supported by leaders of both political parties and the mainstream media.

ITT Staff Picks:

A Houston immigration lawyer describes the chaos of Trump’s shutdown, by The New Yorker.
This investigation breaks down the myth that connects immigration rates with a surge in crime rates in recent decades, from The Marshall Project
ICE has likely run out of money to pay for detention space, potentially violating a law that could require the release of some immigrants and constrain enforcement, by Buzzfeed.

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Not a Crisis Jan 08, 2019

The government shutdown that started three weeks ago is on track to become one of the longest in U.S. history, while the 2020 presidential race is already in sight. Maria and Julio are joined by All-Star Wajahat Ali, a contributor to The New York Times, and ITT's newest All-Star Vann Newkirk, a staff writer at The Atlantic. They unpack the consequences of the shutdown and discuss if the country is ready for a woman or POC presidential candidate.

ITT Staff Picks:

What the Democrats’ 2020 field looks like, by Slate.
How the government shutdown might impact 38 million low-income Americans, by the Washington Post.
Check out CensusAmericans, the Twitter bot for America that Vann mentions.

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ITT Sound Off: Let's Do This, 2019 Jan 04, 2019

In our first episode of the New Year, Maria and Julio discuss the latest in immigration policy: the deaths of two migrant kids detained by U.S. Border Patrol after crossing the southern border. They also talk about the urgency of a more objective —and more humane— media coverage on immigration issues and take a look at the challenges that lay ahead for the new and most diverse Congress to be sworn in.

ITT Staff Picks:

The Washington Post examines Trump administration's lack of an effective policy to save children’s lives, not only at the border but all over the US as a consequence of gun violence and the opioid epidemic.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fights back after the release of an old video of her dancing when she was an undergraduate student at Boston University.
Three narratives to nix from immigration reporting in 2019, from ITT guest, Tina Vasquez at Rewire.News

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From Migrants to Midterms, Chao 2018 Dec 31, 2018

The year 2018 will be remembered for quite a few milestones: migrant children being held in cages, the growth of the #MeToo movement, Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez becoming the youngest woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress. Maria and Julio take a look back at the most unforgettable moments of 2018 for In The Thick, and they discuss why POC voices are needed now, more than ever.

ITT 2018 Picks:

ITT EXTRA Midterms 2018: The Practice of Freedom: Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr., James S. McDonnell Distinguished University professor at Princeton University, talks about birthright citizenship, white supremacist rhetoric and the key role POC communities have in elections.
A Neuroscientist's Warning of Family Separation: Dr. Gina Poe from UCLA unpacks what consequences the zero tolerance policy has on a child’s brain, and the long-lasting effects of this kind of trauma.
LIVE From Mexico: From Catcalling to Femicide: Impunity, narco and state-sponsored violence, plus everyday machismo. What are we doing to end gender violence?
LIVE From Chicago, Suave's Story: Luis “Suave” Gonzalez opens up about his life as a former juvenile offender and prison reform activist, and reflects on how Latinos in the U.S. are disproportionally affected by mass incarceration.

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LIVE From LA: Muy muy California Dec 28, 2018

For this LIVE In The Thick in Los Angeles, Maria sat down with Judy Reyes from "Scrubs" and "Claws," USC professor and author Manuel Pastor, and one of our ITT All-Stars, comedian Cristela Alonzo, to discuss California as a leader in promoting immigrant rights, diversity, and social justice. ITT Staff Picks

James Fallows reviews Manuel Pastor's latest book, State of Resistance (NY Times).
Cristela Alonzo's profile on NPR, from 2012.
Judy Reyes talks about her character and representing the LGBTQ community in "Claws" (Hidden Remote).

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Felices Holidays! Dec 25, 2018

To our In The Thick listeners:

We're sending a message of love and appreciation to you all. We wish you all felices fiestas and happy holidays. A special thank you note to all the POC journalists, particularly to women journalists of color, who continue to push forward for truth and democracy.

Peace and love,

Maria y Julio

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Gabby Rivera: Caring About POC Joy Dec 21, 2018

Maria and Julio sit down with queer Latinx writer Gabby Rivera, who wrote AMERICA, featuring Marvel's first Latina lesbian superhero, America Chavez. They chat about why representation matters, celebrating POC joy and how Maria may just be Gabby's madrina.

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Black and Undocumented Dec 18, 2018

Many times forgotten, black undocumented immigrants from Latin American, Caribbean or African countries are a growing part of the immigrant community. Maria and Julio speak to Jonathan Jayes-Green, co-founder and director of the UndocuBlack Network, to understand the complexities of this population and how they are organizing to fight back and support each other. ITT Staff Picks:

The 'Double Punishment' for Black Undocumented Immigrants, from The Atlantic.
The Hill's op-ed on public charge and its role in threatening immigrant communities.
From the Center for American Progress, how asylum has changed during the Trump era.

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A Story of Asylum Seekers, 79 Years Ago Dec 14, 2018

In 1939, a ship called the SS St. Louis with 900 Jewish refugees arrived to Cuba, fleeing the Nazi regime. Most of them were sent back home to Europe, where many died in concentration camps. In this episode, Maria and Julio talk to Armando Lucas Correa, editor-in-chief of People en Español and author of the book The German Girl, a fictional story based on what happened with those refugees from the St. Louis. ITT Staff Picks:

The story of the SS St. Louis, the ship of Jewish refugees nobody received, from the BBC.
From NPR's Morning Edition, a brief history of asylum laws in the United States.
A Publisher Weekly's article on the confiscation of Armando Correa's book in Cuba.

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Individual-1 Dec 11, 2018

The Mueller investigation keeps moving forward and the focus is shifting to President Trump. While Individual-1 keeps tweeting, Maria and Julio talk to Amanda Terkel, Washington Bureau Chief at HuffPost and call up All-Star and ITT Russia expert, Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior reporter at The Root. ITT Staff Picks

The story of the undocumented workers at Trump's golf club in New Jersey (from The New York Times).
Amanda's story on the power grab in Wisconsin and the legacy of Scott Walker (from HuffPost).
From Buzzfeed News: five lessons taken from Robert Mueller's sentencing memo in the Michael Cohen case.

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Imara Jones on All Things Politics and Trans Rights Dec 07, 2018

In the United States, deadly violence against the transgender community —in particular, against trans people of color— has been increasing since 2016. To talk about this issue, and to get wonky about politics too, Maria and Julio are joined by All-Star Imara Jones, founder and president of Oria Media, host of The Last Sip and a Voqal fellow.

ITT Staff Picks

How crimes against transgender women end up underreported, according Pro Publica.
Watch TransLash, Imara's docuseries on transitioning. The next episode is set to air in January.
From The New York Times, how the Trump administration is seeking to redefine gender.

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Inside the Briefing Room Dec 04, 2018

Very few people get access into the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, and even fewer journalists of color do. In spite of the systematic attacks journalists of color—and in particular, black women journalists— receive from government officials and the President himself, they have a responsibility to report for their communities.

Maria and Julio are joined by two journalists who live this reality in the briefing room: April Ryan with American Urban Radio Networks and CNN political analyst, and NPR’s White House correspondent Ayesha Rascoe. They talk about the behind-the-scenes of covering the Trump administration from within the White House walls.

ITT Staff Picks:

Why it matters to have journalists of color in the White House briefing room, via The Washington Post.
The Intercept sheds light into the complex legacy of George H. W. Bush’s presidency, and some of issues overlooked by the media coverage after his death.
Rolling Stone’s investigation on George H. W. Bush’s ties to the Nicaragua war.
April Ryan's interview on NPR about her new book, Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House.

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LIVE From Mexico: From Catcalling to Femicide Nov 30, 2018

Seven women are murdered in Mexico each day. Impunity, narco and state-sponsored violence, plus everyday machismo, are at the root of this. However, Mexican women are mobilizing to fight for their lives and each other. Maria and Julio discuss if Mexico can change its culture to end this gender violence. For this live show, they're joined by Gabriela Warkentin, host for W Radio and contributing writer with El País, and Catalina Ruiz Navarro, columnist for several media outlets.

ITT Staff Picks:

From Quartz, when women in Mexico used a hashtag to show the harassment that they are victims of.
Gabriela Warkentin reflects on the need to continue shedding more light into domestic violence cases, often downsized by more scandalous stories on the media, via El País (in Spanish).
An interview of Catalina Ruiz Navarro with Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy.

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The American Nightmare Nov 27, 2018

Over the weekend, U.S. Border Patrol agents tear gassed hundreds of migrant children, women and men seeking asylum at the San Ysidro port of entry. In part one, Maria and Julio talk with Buzzfeed News' Adolfo Flores, reporting on the ground at the border. In part two, we talk about about the racially charged senate runoff in Mississippi with Chellese Hall, co-host of the Red Flag podcast.

ITT STAFF PICKS:

Adolfo Flores spoke with the woman in the iconic photo fleeing tear gas in the border (from Buzzfeed News).
In CityWatch, a historian explains the present and the future of the Confederate flag.
From the Red Flag's episode "Never Meaning No Harm" where Chellese and her co-host Beau York go deeper into the confederate flag's usage on The Dukes of Hazzard as well as the impact of images on racial trauma.

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Revolution Nov 23, 2018

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made history this November, when she became the youngest woman ever elected to the United States Congress. In this episode, Maria and Julio are joined the 29-year old Latina from the Bronx for whom “community is a priority.” ITT Staff Picks:

How some Democrats are rethinking their own party.
Learn more about what Alexandria mentioned: that 60% Puerto Ricans were denied FEMA aid and why.
The thrill of watching Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez bring her whole self to Congress, via Vox.

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Supersized Voter Suppression Nov 20, 2018

On this All-Star roundtable, we talk about the midterms (still!) in Florida and Georgia, the latest in immigration news and we take a look at the tragic California wildfires. Maria and Julio are joined by two In The Thick All-Stars: independent journalist Jenni Monet and contributor to The New York Times Wajahat Ali. ITT Staff Picks

California is using slave labor to fight the fires, according to The Root.
From Buzzfeed News, this is the reality of LGBTQ members of the caravan.
Jenni's latest with the LA Times, on the new legislation that is trying to end violence against indigenous women.

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ITT en español: El ejemplo de las periodistas mexicanas Nov 16, 2018

This is a bonus ITT in Spanish. They investigate narcos, they deal with the pressures of the Mexican government and often face death threats just for doing their jobs. What is it like to be a journalist (and a woman journalist) in Mexico? In our first episode in Spanish, Julio and Maria talked to reporters Nayeli Roldán from Animal Político and Peniley Ramírez from Univision, in Mexico City. Investigan a los narcos, soportan las presiones del gobierno mexicano y muchas veces tienen que enfrentar amenazas contra sus vidas. ¿Cómo es ser periodista en México? En nuestro primer episodio en español, Julio y Maria conversaron en Ciudad de México con Nayeli Roldán de Animal Político y Peniley Ramírez de Univision. ITT Staff Picks:

Del New York Times: Cómo el gobierno mexicano controla a los medios con su enorme presupuesto para publicidad.
El reportaje de Peniley sobre Coca-Cola en México y el trabajo infantil (Univision).
Los bots y su influencia en la elección mexicana (Aristegui Noticias).

This episode was mixed by Jeanne Montalvo.

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ITT EXTRA: Count Every Vote Nov 13, 2018

In the aftermath of 2018’s key midterm elections, Florida and Georgia are still fighting over decisive recounts, while Donald Trump has again slammed members of the press. Maria and Julio call up all-star Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior reporter at The Root, to talk about the need of a collective response to address the President’s repeated attacks targeting women and journalists of color.

ITT Staff Picks

The Washington Post reflects on the significance of the rising African-American political figures running for office in Florida and Georgia.
CNN takes legal action against the Trump administration for barring Jim Acosta from the White House, via The New York Times.
Trump's insults of black Americans are disgusting and dangerous, by Errol Louis on CNN.

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LIVE From Mexico: More Than a Passage Route Nov 09, 2018

Often Mexico is seen as just a passage route for migrants on their way to the United States, but in this episode, ITT looks at immigration through the eyes of Mexico. This country is becoming a host for migrants and for years has followed the lead of militarized immigration policy of its neighbor to the North. For the LIVE In The Thick from Mexico City, Maria and Julio talk about immigration in Mexico from the Central American migrant caravan to repatriated deportees with Eunice Rendón, coordinator of the Agenda Migrante collective, and Maggie Loredo, co-founder of the deportees organization Otros Dreams en Acción. This episode was mixed by Jeanne Montalvo. ITT Staff Picks

The reality behind the caravans (from The New Republic).
Bright Magazine tells the story of deportees back in Mexico and how they are supporting each other.
A profile of Maggie Loredo, our guest and co-founder of Otros Dreams en Acción (from Lenny).

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Elections Worth Fighting For Nov 07, 2018

From the historic triumph of women candidates across the country to issues of voter suppression, we talk Midterms ITT style. Maria and Julio are joined by ITT All-Star and award-winning journalist Imara Jones, founder of Oria Media and host of The Last Sip. ITT Staff Picks

A night of firsts: The Guardian details all the historic victories of the midterm election.
How three Black governor nominees are making the Democratic Party rethink itself (from CNN).
From The Intercept: Was Trump's rise actually a good thing for the Democratic Party?

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ITT EXTRA Midterms 2018: The Practice of Freedom Nov 02, 2018

Just days ahead of the midterms, birthright citizenship is challenged and white supremacist rhetoric continues to plague the country. Maria and Julio talk to Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr., a James S. McDonnell Distinguished University professor at Princeton University. They discuss the role POC communities will have in the upcoming election.

ITT Staff Picks

This Washington Post article explains the meaning of Roy Moore’s victory in Alabama’s special election for Senate in 2017, winning 63 percent of white women’s vote.
From The Cut, how Brian Kemp has promoted voter suppression in Georgia.
In Florida, climate change has become a key issue in these Midterms, Buzzfeed explains.

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A Warning Come True Oct 30, 2018

After a week marked by the threat of pipe bombs, a synagogue in Pittsburgh was attacked by an antisemitic domestic terrorist who murdered 11 worshippers. Maria and Julio talk about this tragedy and the role of hate with Brentin Mock, Pittsburgher and staff writer for CityLab and Mike German, fellow with the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty and National Security Program. ITT Staff Picks

Brentin Mock's point of view on what the neighborhood where it happened means to Pittsburgh and the country, from CityLab.
How the attacks on the migrant caravan led to this tragedy, from The Atlantic.
American Jews have feared this kind of attack for years, but still kept their doors open, CNN explains why.

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ITT EXTRA: The Rage Factor Oct 26, 2018

Pipe bombs sent in the mail to journalists and high profile Democrats, the migrant caravan and what this all means for the midterms elections that are rapidly approaching. It's been another intense week and Maria and Julio talk all about it with one of our ITT All-Stars, Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior reporter for The Root. ITT Staff Picks

How the caravan became a key piece of Trump's electoral strategy, according to The Independent.
From Al Jazeera, "Fake news, racism and bombs: Fear and loathing in Trump's America."
Terrell's Mother Jones article on the future of hacking our elections...and beyond the ballot box!

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Midterms 2018: Young Folks Be Voting Oct 23, 2018

We start our ITT midterm elections countdown with a focus on the younger generation. Julio speaks to Sarah Audelo, executive director of the Alliance for Youth Action and two youth organizers that have been organizing in their communities and are raising their voices this election season: Yatziri Tovar, from Make The Road Action, and Gariyana Williams, from YO Save Our Streets. ITT Staff Picks

FiveThirtyEight's analysis on the young vote in the Midterm Elections.
Gen Z activists target youth ahead of midterms with #WhyDoYouVote campaign, from NBC.com.
Read the We Are Texas report on the young Latino vote in that state, by Jolt.

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ITT EXTRA: The Enemy of the People Speaks Out Oct 19, 2018

After another chaotic week of U.S. politics, Maria and Julio catch up on the latest. They talk about the Central American migrant caravan, Senator Elizabeth Warren's DNA test to prove her Native American heritage and the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the dangers that journalists are facing worldwide. ITT Staff Picks:

Check out the Democracy Now! roundtable with Native American commentators, that Maria and Julio mentioned.
Julio's recent article for NBC's Think on the Central American caravan and Trump's response.
The dangers of being both a woman and a journalist, from The Takeaway.

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Planet Earth's Deadline Oct 16, 2018

We have 12 years left to reverse the effect of climate change, according to the latest report from the United Nations. Maria and Julio talk with Justine Calma from Grist and award-winning writer Meera Subramanian about this new data and the consequences of climate change for communities of color. ITT Staff Picks

Which countries are doing well (and which are failing) to control their emissions? From The Washington Post.
Justine Calma explains the dire situation of communities of color facing climate change (Grist).
In The New Yorker, Meera tells the story of how dogsleds are changing to adapt to the new climate.

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Love and Race in World War II Oct 12, 2018

In the book Enemies in Love, journalist and Columbia University professor Alexis Clark narrates the romance between an African-American nurse and a German prisoner of war during WWII. Maria and Julio talk to Alexis about how the challenges of this era are still relevant today. ITT Staff Picks

From the Smithsonian.com: How Black nurses in World War II were relegated to take care of Nazis.
Alexis Clark's interview with NPR's Code Switch.
The two battles that Black soldiers experienced in WWII (from The Conversation).

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ITT EXTRA: Out of Many, One! Oct 10, 2018

Maria and Julio talk about the aftermath of the Kavanaugh SCOTUS confirmation, the rise of a populist in Brazil and the conviction of a Chicago police officer for shooting and killing 17-year-old Laquan McDonald four years ago. ITT Staff Picks

An analysis of why many white women didn't believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, from Rewire.News.
This is the tent city built in Texas for the migrant children, from The New York Times.
From The Chicago Tribune, the story of the father and son who testified as eyewitnesses on the Laquan McDonald case.

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LIVE From NYC With Jose Antonio Vargas Oct 04, 2018

Maria and Julio talk to In The Thick All-Star Jose Antonio Vargas in this unique, live episode as part of the PEN Out Loud series in New York City. In a very intimate conversation about mental health and the immigrant community, Maria, Julio and Jose Antonio get personal. The live audience also shared their experiences, anxieties and advice. This show was possible thanks to collaboration with PEN America and The Strand bookstore. ITT Staff Picks

A researcher explains the mental health toll of undocumented immigrants along the border (from the American Psychological Association's site).
The New York Times book review of Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen
A list of resources to support immigrants and their mental health.

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Look at Me Oct 01, 2018

By confronting Senator Jeff Flake and telling her story of sexual assault, Ana María Archila has become an icon in the midst of the Kavanaugh nomination debate. Maria and Julio talk to Archila about the behind the scenes of her action in Capitol Hill and discuss her next steps.

ITT Staff Picks

“It was the elevator pitch that altered the trajectory of American history.” Read this op-ed from Philly.com about Maria Gallagher and Archila’s action.
Here’s Why White Women Are Abandoning the GOP (From The Atlantic).
Kavanaugh’s former college friend denounces a contradiction in the judge’s testimony. Read the full statement at The New York Times.

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ITT EXTRA: Heroic Actions Sep 28, 2018

During the nomination process for the next Supreme Court Justice, on Thursday we witnessed courage when Dr. Christine Blasey Ford gave her testimony against Brett Kavanaugh. Maria and Julio reflect on what this moment meant for women and all victims of sexual abuse in the country. ITT Staff Picks

Check out this thread of tweets by sociologist Nicole Bedera on adolescent sexual violence.
From Vox: the Kavanaugh hearing showed how little has changed since Anita Hill.
The Kavanaugh hearing might mark American voters for decades, according to The Atlantic.

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The Hurricane That Never Left Puerto Rico: Part II Sep 25, 2018

One of the most contentious issues has been determining the number of the people who died because of Hurricane Maria. Julio traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the anniversary of the tragedy to speak with Omaya Sosa, investigative reporter and co-founder of the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, the media institution that has been leading the reporting on the death count on the ground for the past year. ITT Staff Picks

The Centro de Periodismo Investigativo worked to find the names and stories of more than 200 victims of Maria.
From CNN, how the number went from 65 to almost 3,000 casualties.
Lessons on how to cover hurricane Maria, according to Omaya Sosa (published at ICIJ).

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The Hurricane That Never Left Puerto Rico: Part I Sep 20, 2018

A year ago, Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico. The past 12 months have brought disorganized recovery efforts, an estimated thousands of deaths and an island that refuses to let go of its resiliency. In The Thick is dedicating a two-part special series to honor this tragic anniversary. In Part 1, Maria and Julio talk to two Puerto Rican journalists: Arelis Hernández, from The Washington Post, and Bianca Padró Ocasio, from The Orlando Sentinel, who've both been covering the impact of Hurricane Maria. They discuss the aftermath of both climate change and the federal and local politics. ITT Staff Picks:

The recent poll from The Washington Post and the Kaiser Foundation about the impact of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
Julio’s latest think piece about Trump's lies around Hurricane Maria's death toll, in NBC News.
Bianca's personal essay of her experience watching the hurricane destroy her home from afar, in The Orlando Sentinel.
Arelis' latest report on the seaside town of Naguabo, Puerto Rico, via The Washington Post.

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The Stolen Sisters Sep 18, 2018

The #MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls) movement has been gaining momentum in the U.S. and Canada, as Indigenous women call for an end to targeted violence. Maria and Julio speak about this widespread issue with Annita Lucchesi, a Southern Cheyenne cartographer who has built the largest database of missing and murdered Indigenous women, and Jenni Monet, an independent journalist and tribal member of the Pueblo of Laguna. ITT Staff Picks

The Intercept on how politicians are only now starting to pay attention to the missing Indigenous women.
Annita Lucchesi's work: How a database is tracking the disappeared indigenous women (from Bustle).
Jenni Monet's article for PBS, linking the women's march and to Indigenous women's rights.
Check out CBC's Missing and Murdered podcast series, where Indigenous investigative reporter Connie Walker documents the stories of the community.

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LIVE From LA: Muy muy California Sep 14, 2018

For this LIVE In The Thick in Los Angeles, Maria sat down with Judy Reyes from Scrubs and Claws, USC professor and author Manuel Pastor, and one of our ITT All-Stars, comedian Cristela Alonzo, to discuss California as a leader in promoting immigrant rights, diversity, and social justice. ITT Staff Picks

James Fallows reviews Manuel Pastor's latest book, State of Resistance (NY Times).
Cristela Alonzo's profile on NPR, from 2012.
Judy Reyes talks about her character and representing the LGBTQ community in Claws (Hidden Remote).

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Technology v. The People Sep 11, 2018

Algorithms, social media and technology are increasingly becoming a risk for communities of color. Maria and Julio talk about zeroes and ones with Surya Mattu, researcher with The MIT Center for Civic Media, and Jazmine Ulloa, reporter for the Los Angeles Times.

ITT Staff Picks

How online trolls are using immigration as political wedge for midterms, Jazmine's latest for the Los Angeles Times.
Machine bias in the court system, ProPublica's investigation that Surya was a part of
Meet the activists that are fighting algorithm biases.
Is Facebook breaking democracy? A new in-depth piece in The New Yorker.

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ITT EXTRA: The "Anonymous" Resistance Sep 07, 2018

It's another intense week in Washington, D.C., and Maria and Julio are back to break down the latest. They talk about the chaotic Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, what the end of the Flores Agreement means for minors crossing the border and, of course, the New York Times op-ed on resistance within the White House. ITT Staff Picks

Of course, here it is in case you haven't read it already, the NYT's piece "I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration."
"Whose resistance is it anyway?" asks The Atlantic.
From Slate: why Kavanaugh should be impeached instead of confirmed.

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Surviving Hate in the USA Sep 04, 2018

Julio and Maria talk with Arjun Singh Sethi, a civil rights lawyer, writer and law professor who interviewed 13 survivors of hate crimes and edited their testimonies for his new book American Hate: Survivors Speak Out. ITT Staff Picks

Why does the U.S. fail at gathering hate crime stats? ProPublica explains.
HuffPost's story on the tragedy of the Jabara family and the rise of Islamophobia.
America Ferrera writes about Jeanette Vizguerra in the latest 100 Most Influential People list from TIME.

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The LGBT Community Is the Fabric of America Aug 31, 2018

In this rebroadcast episode from earlier this year, Maria and Julio are joined by Shelby Chestnut, National Organizing and Policy Strategist with Transgender Law Center, and Verónica Bayetti Flores, freelance writer and co-host of Radio Menea. They discuss the LGBT rights movement and how the media can do a better job of covering the LGBT community.

ITT Staff Picks:

Check out Latino USA's Interview with the stars of FX's 'Pose.'
Read about The New York Times' coverage of LGBT candidates running in midterms.
The latest case of workplace discrimination reaches the Supreme Court by Rewire.News.

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The Case of Immigration Activist Ravi Ragbir Aug 28, 2018

Back in February, Maria and Julio sat down with immigration activist Ravi Ragbir, who had endured what a federal judge called an "unnecessarily cruel" detainment and was threatened with a scheduled deportation. Since then, Ravi has been granted a stay from a New Jersey judge. But earlier this month, he was back in court in New York, fighting to be granted a second stay in hopes of preventing his new scheduled deportation date, September 7, 2018. With the recent updates to Ravi's case, In The Thick brings a special rebroadcast of Maria and Julio's conversation with Ravi and Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the NYCLU.

ITT Staff Picks:

The Intercept's latest reporting on the First Amendment lawsuit that Ravi is a part of.
Amy Gottlieb, the associate regional director of the Northeast Region of American Friends Service Committee and Ravi's wife, wrote this OpEd in the Washington Post.
NPR's reporting on how ICE is targeting immigrant activists.

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The Legacy of the Biggest Immigration Raid Aug 24, 2018

In 2008, ICE agents descended on a small rural town in Iowa for their largest operation in the history of the United States. As a result, the population of Postville was slashed almost in half and its economy collapsed. Maria and Julio talk to Almudena Toral and Ronny Rojas, two of the journalists behind a new documentary from Univision detailing the aftermath of the raid. ITT Staff Picks

Watch the full documentary on Postville, at the Univision site for free (available in English and Spanish).
Do immigrants actually "steal" jobs in small rural towns? This American Life asked an economist to answer this question.
Read this report from the Center for American Progress on the financial costs of mass deportation.

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Charlottesville: One Year Later Aug 21, 2018

A year after the tragedy of Charlottesville and just days after the Unite The Right 2 Rally, Julio talks with returning ITT guest Mike German, a former FBI agent who once infiltrated white supremacy groups undercover. ITT Staff Picks

The Atlantic on how white nationalists are winning.
Unite The Right 2 could be called a failure, but it's not time to claim victory, according to a former NYPD officer.
Pop Culture Collab puts the focus on white nationalism, rather than white supremacists, in this essay.
Wired's 2011 report on the FBI's racial profiling mapping tool.
Check out last year's rebroadcast of Mike's original interview with ITT following the Unite The Right 2017 rally.

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ITT EXTRA: Debating How to Reunite Immigrant Families Aug 17, 2018

Maria and Julio talk about the work of Michael Avenatti (Stormy Daniels' attorney...and future 2020 presidential candidate, maybe?) to reunite immigrant families. His clients are parents who have been deported, and whose kids are still in the U.S., so his approach is to send the kids back to their home countries to be reunited. This is a controversial strategy that has been criticized by many long-time immigration lawyers. They also call up immigration attorney, Amy Maldonado, for her expertise on the topic. ITT staff picks

Listen to the latest Latino USA profile on Juan Sánchez, the CEO of one of the largest companies sheltering immigrant kids.
In June, this story of Morning Edition showed how difficult it would be to reunite the families.
Read the New York Times Magazine profile on Michael Avenatti.

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The Chaos Is Real Aug 14, 2018

Maria and Julio catch up with all-star Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior reporter at The Root, and Jane Coaston, senior politics reporter at Vox. They talk the latest with conspiracy theories, Paul Manafort's white male hubris, Unite the Right 2 and how Omarosa's drama could threaten cybersecurity. ITT Staff Picks:

Jane's latest for Vox about what the Unite the Right 2 rally tells us about white supremacy in the United States.
Terrell's coverage of the Paul Manafort trial for The Root.
A look at Paul Manafort's ties to Ukraine and kleptocracy in the United States, by Franklin Foer in The Atlantic.
Vox's reporting on the study Julio mentions from the University of Alabama’s George Hawley, published by UVA’s Institute for Family Studies, that 11 million white Americans share the same beliefs as the "alt-right" or white supremacists.

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ITT EXTRA: This Place Is a Snake Pit Aug 10, 2018

Maria and Julio talk about the role of POC journalism in the Trump era including the latest revelations on the death toll in Puerto Rico caused by Hurricane Maria, the National Association of Black Journalists' latest resolution and the silent departure of one of the few Latinx in The White House.

Want more?

If you don't know her, you should absolutely read this New York Times obituary of Ida B. Wells (published recently to compensate for a racist oversight for not publishing this when she died in 1931) as an homage to some of the greatest women in the USA.

Read the statement of the National Association of Black Journalists rejecting Trump's attacks on journalists.

From the archives, read this interview with Helen Aguirre Ferré, the former Hispanic spokesperson of the Trump administration.

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The Antidote to Hate Aug 07, 2018

Maria and Julio catch up with immigration organizers Cristina Jiménez, executive director of United We Dream, and Grecia Lima, national political director of The Center for Community Change. They talk about the latest court decision on DACA, the recent white supremacist rally in Portland and The Washington Post's problematic coverage of white minorities in rural Pennsylvania. Want more?

The Nation explains the movement to divest from companies that are making money out of immigration enforcement.
Our friends at Latino Rebels on why The Washington Post’s ‘White, and in the minority’ article is dangerous.
The protests after the death of Joey Santos, chronicled by the local publication, Leigh Valley Live.
Learn more about Oregon's shameful history as an 'all-white' state.

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ITT EXTRA: The Trumpocalypse Aug 03, 2018

This week, the American Immigration Lawyers Association reported that a migrant toddler died shortly after being released from an ICE detention center in Dilley, Texas. There are 11,000 kids are living in these detention facilities across the country. Maria and Julio talk with immigration attorney, Amy Maldonado about the immigration detention centers and what she calls our immigration "kangaroo courts." Want more?

The Intercept's story on the two Brazilian boys represented by Amy Maldonado.
The next battlefield at the border is in asylum interview rooms, according to Vox.
Data shows that parents were targeted by Trump's policy (from Buzzfeed news).
Read about the genealogist that Amy mentions who is tracking Republicans' immigrant genealogy, what she calls resistance genealogy.

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Flexin' Our Grit Muscles Jul 31, 2018

Maria and Julio talk about the news with two all-stars: Callie Crossley, host of Under the Radar on WGBH Radio, and Gabby Rivera, writer, artist, activist and our resident nerdberger. They discuss midterm elections, the latest on immigration policy and the spike of racist hate crimes in the United States. Want more?

According to the ACLU, migrant parents were forced to sign papers that they couldn't read (from The Hill).
From WBRU, Could Democrats Be Thwarted again in these Midterms?
Bad conditions on shelters for immigrant kids are not new. Listen this Latino USA episode from 2014.

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ITT EXTRA: Nicaragua's Crisis Explained Jul 27, 2018

It all started with deadly, violent protests against the Nicaraguan government, but did it really? In this special ITT EXTRA, Julio catches up with Latino USA producer Sayre Quevedo to hear the behind the scenes of his reporting for his latest explainer. Want to read more?

The crisis in images, from the BBC.
Nicaragua is near a catastrophe, according to The Washington Post.

The New York Times explains the increasingly important role of the church in the protests.

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#121: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Revolution Jul 24, 2018

Four weeks ago, no one knew her name, but now she gives hope for progressives across the country (and around the world). Julio and Maria talk to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about why she decided to run for Congress and what the future will bring for her and the Democratic Party.

Want to read more?

Are Alexandria's endorsements of Democratic insurgents paying off?
How some Democrats are rethinking their own party.
Learn more about what Alexandria mentioned: that 60% Puerto Ricans were denied FEMA aid and why.

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Rosa Clemente on Puerto Rico, Me Too and Hip Hop Jul 20, 2018

She was the first Latina to run for vice president with the Green Party in 2008, but Rosa Clemente has long been organizing for political and social change. Maria and Julio talk to Rosa about her organizing work, the rap industrial complex and her independent reporting on the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Want to read/watch more?

Rosa talks to Rolling Stone about why she didn't participate in the Puerto Rican Day Parade.
Watch the mini-doc Puerto Rising, made by Rosa's collective PR On The Map.
Watch the full video referenced in the episode where Rosa explains her experience of sexual abuse.

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#120: Time to Take Comrade Trump Seriously Jul 17, 2018

Julio catches up with all-star guests Raquel Cepeda, filmmaker and author, and Wajahat Ali, TV host and contributor to The New York Times, about all the latest threats to U.S. democracy. They talk about the meeting between Trump and Putin in Helsinki, the rise of the Abolish ICE movement and what might happen with the new SCOTUS nominee. We also find out "Where's Maria?" who was –literally– on the road reporting. Want to read more?

In the press conference, Putin gave Trump a soccer ball. The NY Times explains the moment's hidden significance.
What Abolish ICE really means, according to The Atlantic.
Bustle on what the confirmation process will look like for Brett Kavanaugh, Trump's pick for the Supreme Court.

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ITT EXTRA: A Neuroscientist's Warning of Family Separation Jul 13, 2018

We've seen the crying and suffering of children being torn apart from their parents at the U.S. border, but what is happening in these kids' brains and what is the neurological long-term impact of trauma? Maria calls up a badass neuroscientist from UCLA, Dr. Gina Poe, to understand the science behind the trauma of family separation. Want to read more?

A list of the organizations helping children separated from the families, compiled by The Texas Tribune.
Read the letter of the American Psychological Association to president Trump, where experts explain the mental health toll of family separation.
Advice from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America on how to help children to deal with traumatic events.

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#119: The New Battle for Reproductive Rights Jul 10, 2018

Donald Trump has nominated Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court and many are fearing that this will lead to an overturn of Roe v. Wade. Maria and Julio talk to Tannia Esparza, executive director of the organization Young Women United, and Regina Mahone, VP/managing editor of Rewire.News about the impact of reproductive rights restrictions on women of color. Want to read more?

What will happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned? The Washington Post explains.
A visual explanation of how Judge Kavanaugh's ideologies compare to other Supreme Court justices, by The New York Times.
Vox explains why it's really difficult to measure people's opinion's on abortion.

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The Power of Baring Broken Hearts Jul 06, 2018

Pati Navalta Poblete went from being a columnist and journalist to being in the news when her son died due to gun violence in 2014. Maria and Julio speak with Pati about how she has turned her grief into activism and her memoir A Better Place. Want to read more?

From The Mercury News, 'In wake of her son’s murder, Pati Navalta Poblete charts a course to peace.'
Visit the site of the Robby Poblete Foundation, which Pati founded on her son's name.
From Vox, 'America’s unique gun violence problem, explained in 17 maps and charts.'

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#118: You Mad? The Politics of American Rage Jul 03, 2018

Maria and Julio meet up at Aspen Ideas Festival with Dr. Brittney Cooper (aka Professor Crunk), associate professor at Rutgers University and co-founder of the Crunk Feminist Collective blog and Dr. Michael Kimmel, founder and director of the Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities at Stony Brook University. They explore why everyone seems to be mad as hell, how anger has transformed our politics, and why race and gender matter when it comes to rage in the Trump era. Want to read more?

Brittney Cooper interviewed by The Washington Post on anger and feminism.
The New York Times takes a look at how Michael Kimmel is teaching and studying masculinity.
The Week on America's addiction to the politics of anger.

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ITT EXTRA: Mexico's Outrage Election Jun 29, 2018

This Sunday July 1, Mexicans will choose thousands of political positions, from mayors to the new president. Maria and Julio talk with Mexican journalist León Krauze about what to expect from the front-runner and if this election can really change the future of the country. Want to read more?

Dissent magazine's profile on Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the front-runner.
El Universal explains (in English) why voter turnout will be a key factor.
The NY Times writes about Mexican disenchanted youth and the power they have in this election.

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#117: It's a Muslim Ban Jun 26, 2018

While immigrant families are still separated after Trump's zero tolerance policy, the Supreme Court upheld his travel ban. María and Julio talk with ITT All Star Wajahat Ali, op-ed contributor for The New York Times, about what this decision means and what we can expect in the future. Want to read more?

Mother Jones' Must-Reads From Justice Sotomayor’s Dissent on Trump’s Travel Ban.
Vox on How Trump's Travel Ban became normal.
The SCOTUS blog analysis of the decision.

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NPR's Lulu García-Navarro and the State of Democracy in Latin America Jun 22, 2018

She has worked as a correspondent in Israel, Syria and Libya, but Latin America is very much in her heart. Lulu García-Navarro, host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, joins María and Julio to talk about the elections in Colombia and Mexico, and why we should pay more attention to Brazil. Want to read and see more of Lulu?

The Washingtonian profiled Lulu in this piece.
Lulu interviews John Moore, one of the most interesting photographers reporting on the drama of families separated at the border.
She also dances! Check Lulu at the Carnaval de Rio while she was a correspondent in Brazil.

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#116: Undermining Our Own Democracy Jun 19, 2018

The government keeps defending its policy of separating migrant families at the border and the Supreme Court makes a decision that will impact voting rights for the next election. Maria and Julio discuss the latest headlines with In The Thick All Stars, Jamilah King, race and justice reporter with Mother Jones, and Jamil Smith, senior writer with Rolling Stone. Want to read more?

Jamil Smith's Rolling Stone article about the SCOTUS voting rights decision
Jamilah King's Mother Jones article about Lucy McBath, the historic Georgia candidate running in 2018 who you may not have heard about
Laura Bush's LA Times Op-Ed on the zero-tolerance policy that Maria mentions

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ITT EXTRA: It's Never JUST About Fútbol Jun 15, 2018

Maria and Julio sit down with Alicia Rose DelGallo, editor and co-founder of ProSoccerUSA.com to discuss fútbol (aka soccer)! They chat about the politics of the World Cup, diversity in U.S. soccer and whether or not pro players are using their platform to speak up for justice. Want to read more?

From The Guardian, an article about diversity in the MLS and around the coaching system in the U.S.
Megan Rapinoe's "Why I Am Kneeling" piece
Also from The Guardian, the story of Miguel Aguilar, DACA beneficiary and professional soccer player

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#115: Zero Tolerance Jun 12, 2018

Maria and Julio talk about the damaging effect of separating parents and their children at the U.S.-Mexico border. They are joined by Sandy Santana, executive director of the national legal non-profit Children’s Rights, part of a group of organizations challenging this policy. Also with them, Tina Vasquez, immigration reporter at Rewire.News.

Want to read more?

Tina's article on how Jeff Sessions’ policy follows up on what happened during the Obama administration.

American Academy of Pediatrics statement on the effects of separation of families in the border.

From the New England Journal of Medicine: Separating Families at the Border: Consequences for Children’s Health and Well-Being

From the Washington Post: Does separating families at the border really discourages immigration?

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ITT EXTRA: Active Dehumanization Jun 08, 2018

In our weekly news roundup, Maria and Julio share the latest about the Hurricane Mara death count in Puerto Rico. They also discuss immigration news that's not making the front pages: from the largest recent workplace raid under Trump at an Ohio company to the story of Pablo Villavicencio Calderón, who was detained by ICE after delivering pizza to a military base in Brooklyn. They end the show by reflecting on the death of Anthony Bourdain. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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#114: LIVE From Chicago, the Immigration Detention Machine Jun 05, 2018

In the final part of In The Thick's LIVE series at DePaul University, Maria and Julio discuss the immigration detention machine. According to the Prison Policy's 2018 report, there are 34,000 immigrants detained by ICE, 13,000 more people in federal prison for criminal convictions related to federal immigration laws and 13,000 immigrants being held pre-trial by U.S. Marshals. David Hernandez, Assistant Professor of Latin American Studies at Mount Holyoke College, and immigration attorney Mony Ruiz-Velasco share their thoughts on the continued criminalization of immigrants in the United States.

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Gabby Rivera: Caring About POC Joy Jun 01, 2018

Maria and Julio sit down with queer Latinx writer Gabby Rivera, who wrote AMERICA featuring Marvel's first Latina lesbian superhero, America Chavez. They chat about why representation matters, celebrating POC joy and how Maria may just be Gabby's madrina. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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#113: LIVE From Boston, Invisible Latinos May 29, 2018

Maria and Julio are joined by Marcela García, columnist and editorial board member with The Boston Globe, and Betty Francisco, founder of FitNation Ventures and Latina Circle, LIVE from The Podcast Garage. Looking at access to educational, economic and political power, they discuss how visible or invisible is the Latino community is in the Boston area.

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ITT EXTRA: Propaganda, Politics and Primaries May 25, 2018

Maria and Julio check in on the week's news before the long weekend. They chat about President Trump's latest "immigration roundtable" on Long Island this week that conflated MS-13 with immigration, and the ACLU's publishing of government documents that allegedly show that the CBP abused and mistreated unaccompanied immigrant children during the Obama administration. And they catch up on this week's electoral primaries and what the wins and losses could mean for the 2018 midterm elections.

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#112: White Supremacy Fantasy May 22, 2018

Maria and Julio catch their breaths from all the incredible live shows and catch up on some major headlines with all-star Terrell Jermaine Starr, senior reporter at The Root, and María Peña, reporter with La Opinión. Terrell explains how Trump is fulfilling his white supremacy fantasy with his rhetoric and actions taken towards the Russia probe and immigration policy. And María Peña, who just returned from reporting in Jerusalem, gives important context to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Audio from María Peña's interviews with U.S. ambassador David Friedman and DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen is courtesy of La Opinión and Impremedia.

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ITT EXTRA: Reckless Power May 18, 2018

Maria and Julio chat about two headlines from this week—Trump's recent derogatory comments about immigrants and the latest fatal school shooting in Texas. Then they dig into the sexual misconduct allegations against author Junot Díaz, breaking down the complexity of the intersection of race, immigration status and gender in the Me Too movement.

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#111: LIVE From Chicago, Latino Incarceration in the Trump Era May 15, 2018

In part two of In The Thick's LIVE series at DePaul University, Maria and Julio continue the conversation about Latinos and mass incarceration.

Despite making up 19 percent of the U.S. prison population, mass incarceration is often talked about in terms of the black-white binary. How does mass incarceration impact Latino communities, and especially so under the Trump administration? Prison reform activist Luis “Suave” Gonzalez, HuffPost national reporter Roque Planas and civil rights attorney Aisha Davis share their thoughts.

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ITT EXTRA: Heart-Sinking Sounds May 11, 2018

Maria and Julio find pieces of hope and joy amidst heart-sinking sounds of the latest news, from DACA to undocumented journalists being detained by ICE. Julio raps a little Public Enemy while they breakdown the latest headlines of white people calling 911 on people of color. And they chat about Childish Gambino’s powerful music video of his new song “This Is America.” For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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#110: LIVE From Chicago, Suave's Story May 07, 2018

Maria and Julio recently hosted an In The Thick LIVE show from DePaul University series on Latinos and Mass Incarceration. For the first conversation, they're joined by Luis “Suave” Gonzalez, a former juvenile lifer and now a prison reform activist. Along with hearing Suave's story, Julio also interviews Maria, who has been covering Suave's story for more than 25 years. Stay tuned for part two and three of ITT Live from Chicago series on Latinos and Mass Incarceration.

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ITT Extra: The White Mayors' Club May 04, 2018

After a busy week of live shows in Chicago, Maria and Julio catch up on the week's two biggest headlines: anti-austerity protests in Puerto Rico and former New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani, exposing President Trump's lies by saying in a TV interview that Trump reimbursed his attorney, Michael Cohen, for the Stormy Daniels hush money payment. They also chat about how Giuliani fits into the white men's mayor club, which The Atlantic staff writer, Russell Berman, wrote about recently detailing how of the 15 most major cities in the U.S., all but three are run by white male mayors.

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#109: Outrage Over White Rage May 01, 2018

Maria and Julio are joined by all-star guest, Wajahat Ali, TV host and contributor to The New York Times, and author/filmmaker Raquel Cepeda. They discuss the latest news from the Michelle Wolf's roast at the White House Correspondents Dinner to the Central American refugee caravan. They also talk about the influence of white rage in shaping the 2016 election and the nation's current politics.

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ITT EXTRA: Cosby, An American Betrayal Apr 27, 2018

Maria and Julio are joined by Futuro Media's Executive Director, Erika Dilday, to process and discuss the Bill Cosby guilty verdict for sexual assault. They talk about Cosby's complicated (or... not so complicated) legacy and the role of race and the Me Too movement. Maria and Erika share their personal Me Too stories.

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#108: Latinos in Politics Are Slick Apr 24, 2018

After catching up on the news, Maria and Julio discuss the future of the Latino community and what it means for political movements and democracy. Joining them are Lucy Flores, Vice President of Public Affairs with mitú and a former Nevada assemblywoman, and Carlos Jesus Calzadilla-Palacio, Founder and President of Young Progressives of America.

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Saving Our Sons Apr 20, 2018

With Maria away traveling, Julio sits down with Futuro Media’s Executive Director, Erika Dilday, for a special In The Thick conversation. As this Friday marks 19 years since the Columbine High School massacre and the second national student walkout for gun control following the Parkland shooting, Julio and Erika discuss the POC perspective of gun violence as a symptom of a larger issue in the country: systemic racism.

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#107: Fighting the Silent Battles (With James McDaniel) Apr 17, 2018

Maria calls up all-star guest, Christina Greer, professor at Fordham University and fellow at NYU's McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, to get an In The Thick take on the latest news. Then, Maria and

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