Our Communities, Our Voices: The Future of Democracy

As the U.S. 2024 presidential election draws near, Latino communities stand at the heart of the crucial conversations. With over 36 million eligible voters, we represent the second-largest voting bloc in the country.

Our voices have the power to shape the future of this nation—and that’s exactly what Latino USA’s “The Latino Factor: How We Vote” series is all about.

According to Pew Research, since 2020, Latino eligible voters have grown up to almost 4 million. An estimated 36.2 million are eligible to vote this year. This represents 50% of the total growth in eligible voters during this time.

But what drives our votes? What issues matter most to us? And why has our perspective so often been missing from mainstream media?

With the return of our politics podcast In The Thick, we dive into the pivotal moments shaping the 2024 election, amplifying diverse voices in weekly conversations that challenge the mainstream narrative and bring powerful, unique perspectives.

Latino USA and In The Thick dive deep into these questions, giving space to the stories, challenges, and hopes that define our communities. We’re tackling the issues that matter—immigration, reproductive rights, inflation, and economic justice. Here’s a richer, more nuanced view of what ultimately drives our decisions at the polls.

Tune in, hear our stories, and be part of the future of our democracy.

Political Leaders on Democracy and Latino Voting Power

In Conversation With Kamala Harris

As Vice President Harris became the Democratic presidential candidate, we revisited Maria Hinojosa’s sit-down conversation with the vice president. We also heard from our listeners about how they feel about VP Harris and what they expect from her should she become the next president of the United States.

A Presidenta Will Lead Femicide-Plagued Mexico

Mexico elected its first female president on June 2nd. Despite this historic feat, the country faces severe gender violence with 10 femicides daily. Before the election, we captured women’s protests in Mexico and interviewed the frontrunners Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez.

Sec. Xavier Becerra on Health, Immigration and Latino Representation

Xavier Becerra became the first Latino to lead the Department of Health and Human Services in March 2021. In a conversation with Maria Hinojosa, Secretary Becerra discussed mental health, Latino representation in the Biden-Harris White House, immigration, Gaza, and more.

The Ongoing Battle for Reproductive Rights

The Spillover: How the Texas Abortion Ban Shook Up Eastern New Mexico

After Texas enacted a six-week abortion ban and Roe v. Wade was overturned, many clinics closed. Some providers contemplated opening clinics in eastern New Mexico to support women from Texas and other states with restrictions but encountered local opposition. We examined the political mobilization for and against abortion in eastern New Mexico and how the anti-abortion movement is reviving the 19th-century Comstock Act to block clinic openings through local ordinances.

Will Abortion Rights Energize the Latino Vote

Two years ago, the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion, leading to harmful bans and restrictions. Latinas from Colorado to Florida are fighting for bodily autonomy and reframing abortion as a human rights issue. In this episode, three advocates discussed the criminalization of pregnant people, particularly women of color, and the impact of these restrictions on voting.

From the Economy to the Border: Key Issues for Latino Voters

The Taco Index: Inflation and the Latino Vote

Rising grocery prices have changed how we discuss inflation, shifting the focus from economic measures to affordability. Everyone tracks prices on essentials. In San Diego, one of the cities hardest hit by inflation, Maria Hinojosa spoke with local taqueros and families about rising costs and their implications for the upcoming election.

In the Shadow of the Wall

Many voters ask: Is there an “invasion” at our southern border? Residents of the border region say no. We traveled to Sasabe, a small community on the Arizona-Mexico border, where human smuggling battles within the Sinaloa cartel have turned it into a ghost town. We also visited a pop-up camp on the U.S. side, where volunteers assist thousands of asylum seekers who turn themselves in to Border Patrol daily.

Nationwide On-the-Ground Reporting

Guns, Latinos and the 2024 Election

Gun violence is a key issue for Latino voters. We traveled to Texas, where registered guns and mass shootings targeting Latinos are prevalent. In El Paso, we spoke with Latino activists and gun owners about reform and safety. In Uvalde, we met a survivor of the Robb Elementary shooting and discussed community efforts for gun reform ahead of the November election.

What Inspires Latino Solidarity With Gaza?

Three Latino voices across the country discussed their solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza war. Featuring pro-Palestinian organizers, Jewish Latinos, and Latino evangelicals, they highlight the responses of Latino communities to this moment and the potential impact of this activism on the upcoming presidential election in November.

The Mortgage Wall

Jusleine Daniel, an Argentinian-Haitian, applied for a mortgage loan in New Jersey but felt her identity influenced her rejection. With housing a key concern for Latino voters this election year, we examined the lasting impacts of redlining and systemic barriers that hinder Latinos and Latinas from homeownership compared to their white counterparts.

Journalists on the Latino Vote and Combating Online Disinformation

Journalist Roundtable: Unlocking the Latino Vote

Weeks before the November 2024 election, Maria Hinojosa hosted a roundtable with three Latino journalism legends: John Quiñones, Maria Elena Salinas, and Paola Ramos. They covered the state of journalism, partisan politics, and which 2024 presidential candidate will capture the Latino Vote.

‘Desinformación’: Fighting Disinformation in Spanish

We explored how disinformation affects Latino communities with Tamoa Calzadilla, editor-in-chief of Factchequeado, which fights disinformation in U.S. Spanish-speaking communities. We highlighted the essential skills journalists need to serve these communities and offered advice on combating disinformation.

In The Thick: 2024 Election Countdown

Our award-winning politics show In The Thick is back! Host Maria Hinojosa is joined by rotating co-hosts like journalist Paola Ramos, actor and producer Judy Reyes, and political science professor Dr. Christina Greer. Since its return, the show has tackled everything—from Presidential and Vice Presidential debates to race relations and the rise of the far-right in Latino communities.

Each week in our segment called “La Mentirota” (“The Big Lie”), we partner with Factchequeado to debunk viral mis- and disinformation aimed at Spanish-speaking communities across borders.

Tune in for our blending of fact-driven journalism with authenticity. Politics, unfiltered.

Midwest Manners and Mass Deportations: Unpacking the VP Debate

Co-hosts Maria Hinojosa, Judy Reyes, Dr. Christina Greer, and Paola Ramos break down the VP debate. While mainstream media praised the “civil” tone, we dive deeper to unpack the authoritarian policies discussed and what the candidates’ abortion and immigration plans truly mean.

The Rise of the Latino Far Right

Maria Hinojosa is joined by co-host Paola Ramos, author of “Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America,” to examine the growing support for extremism in America and why Latinos can be especially susceptible to far-right ideologies.

Black Woman, White House

Maria Hinojosa and co-host Dr. Christina Greer are joined by Mother Jones Editorial Director Jamilah King for a deep dive into how Vice President Kamala Harris is being portrayed by the right and the left, and what it tells us about our country’s understanding of race.

ITT Is Back: Decoding the Debate

Maria Hinojosa is joined by her fellow co-hosts: political scientist Dr. Christina Greer, journalist Paola Ramos and actress Judy Reyes. Together they help you decode this week’s presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

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