Latest News
Democracy in Doubt
Following a historic election victory by the progressive Semilla Party in Guatemala, Latino Rebels Radio producer Oscar Fernandez steps in as guest host to welcome Marco Fonseca, Instructor of Latin American and International Studies at York University in Canada, to discuss how this election almost didn’t happen.
‘Hope, Soledad’ Centers Inner Worlds of Indigenous Mexican Women
‘Hope, Soledad’ is an arresting, powerful film portraying a different slice of Latinidad than is normally seen on screen, centering the interior lives of two Indigenous Mexican women, and drawing on their own cultural traditions in a world that does not value them.
Puerto Rico’s Pro Basketball League Sees a Rebirth
The revitalization of Puerto Rico’s professional basketball league is thanks largely to new team owners with the right vision —like music superstar Bad Bunny— and an influx of former NBA players looking to extend their careers. Latino Rebels speaks with Héctor Horta, owner of this year’s champions, the Gigantes de Carolina.
María and Maui (OPINION)
“As I watched TV coverage of the wildfires incinerating Maui… a single thought raged in my head: Colonialism is a brutal, never-ending story… The footage triggered memories of Hurricane María, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017 and transformed the archipelago into a rich man’s paradise—and a no man’s land for many Puerto Ricans.”
‘Blue Beetle’ Is More than Just Latino Representation (REVIEW)
Blue Beetle’s strong Latino texture is what distinguishes it from the other superhero origin stories we’ve come to expect, marking a change in how Latinos and Latinidad are depicted in Hollywood.
DeSantis’ Hateful Record on Immigration (OPINION)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has consistently adopted an aggressive and punitive stance against immigrants throughout his political career, including the use of harmful rhetoric and enacting bigoted legislation to the detriment of Florida’s economic well-being.
‘Brains’ Behind Trump Election Scheme Lying Low in Puerto Rico
Kenneth Chesebro, a Harvard-trained lawyer accused of crafting former President Donald Trump’s fake elector strategy to overturn the results of the 2020 election, has kept a “low profile” since the attack on the U.S. Capitol in January 2021, having moved to Puerto Rico last year.
A More Level Playing Field
To discuss the surprise success of non-European teams at this year’s Women’s World Cup, Latino Rebels Radio host Julio Ricardo Varela welcomes back Brenda Elsey, author of ‘Futbolera: A History of Women and Sports in Latin America.’
As New York City Struggles to House Migrants, Local Advocates Cry Foul
Organizers say local officials have violated the city’s right-to-shelter law and doubled down on ineffective strategies for sheltering asylum seekers.
‘Support Latino Creatives’ Letter Aims at Building Power
Dozens of Latino organizations have recently drafted and signed an open letter calling on the entertainment industry and members of the viewing public to support work done by Latino creatives—especially in the midst of Hollywood strike that puts the work of Latino creatives disproportionately at risk.
Cuban Little League to Make History With First-Ever World Series Appearance
For the first time in history, Cuba will be represented in the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. A new documentary by Havana-based media organization Belly of the Beast, titled ‘Little League Dreams,’ showcases the young players and their individual journeys.
The Party’s Over in Puerto Rico (OPINION)
With a generational shift against the status quo, a growing reluctance among Puerto Ricans to see their islands become part of an increasingly authoritarian nation, and now a battle between its two leading figures —Gov. Pedro Pierluisi and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón, a Trump supporter— the ruling pro-statehood New Progressive Party’s days seem numbered.
Chile Doc ‘The Eternal Memory’ a Moving Story About the Power of Love, Remembering (REVIEW)
‘The Eternal Memory,’ by chilena documentarian Maite Alberdi, tells the story of one brave couple that courageously faced both a dictatorship and then a terrible disease—and is the most moving love story you’ll see on any screen this year.
‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ Defies Conventions Like Only a B-Movie Can (REVIEW)
Prime Video’s ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ is a rom-com based on a wildly popular romance novel of the same name. And it’s really going to enrage the folks mad about Barbie’s “woke” agenda because, like that pretty-in-pink film, ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ portrays its progressive politics with joy and fervor.
All the Other Barbies
Host Julio Ricardo Varela is joined by Futuro Media editorial director Fernanda Santos for a roundtable discussion with Dr. Aria Halliday, an associate professor of gender and women’s studies at the University of Kentucky, for a breakdown of the legacy of Black Barbie.
Lawmakers Look to Improve Mental Health Access Among Latinos, But Barriers Persist
New rules announced by President Joe Biden and a new bill introduced by Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) look to eliminate the high costs and enduring stigma that keep many Latinos from seeking mental health care.
In Mexico, Accusations of ‘Communism’ and ‘Fascism’ Mark School Textbook Debate
A series of about three dozen government-written, free textbooks will be required reading for first through ninth grades in every school in Mexico starting on August 28. The books, issued by the López Obrador administration, contain glaring factual errors and criticize capitalism.
In ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ Selena Gomez’s Latinidad Is Beside the Point (REVIEW)
Cozy murder is back! Season three of the Hulu mystery series ‘Only Murders in the Building’ returns Tuesday, August 8, with stars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez reprising their roles as unlikely sleuths Charles, Oliver and Mabel.
Texas Separates Migrant Families, Detaining Fathers on Trespassing Charges in Latest Border Move
Texas state police officers separated migrant families along the border with Mexico by detaining fathers on trespassing charges and turning over mothers and children to federal officials, the state Department of Public Safety said Thursday.
For Latino Activists, ‘Cop City’ a New Phase of US Imperialism
Multiple Latino activists in the Stop Cop City and Defend the Atlanta Forest movements warn that the $90 million police training facility —and the repression tactics being used against those who oppose it— is U.S. imperialism brought home.
Texas Gov. Abbott’s Policies Are Killing Asylum Seekers (OPINION)
At least six migrants have died in the Rio Grande River in the last month. Four were found died, including a toddler, over the Fourth of July weekend—the same weekend a Texas State Trooper leaked information to the Houston Chronicle detailing the state’s policies that included pushing migrants into the river.