Latino USA

Earlier this year, the White House falsely claimed that millions of US taxpayers' dollars were funding “sex changes” in Guatemala — a lie used to justify gutting USAID, which has provided aid worldwide for more than 60 years. In this episode, we travel to Guatemala to uncover the truth, hear from local organizations caught in the controversy, and learn how losing USAID funding has affected these LGBTQ+ organizations and damaged U.S. credibility abroad. This reporting was produced in partnership with El Faro English and it’s part of the Ida B. Wells Society Investigative Reporting Fellowship. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Latino USA shares an episode from our friends at LAist’s Imperfect Paradise about a new set of citizenship test guidelines. Recently, the federal government pushed out new guidelines for naturalization, changes that are reshaping what it means to become a U.S. American. LAist Higher Education Reporter Julia Barajas takes us inside a citizenship prep class at Pasadena City College to see how these new changes are playing out. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a rural town in south Georgia, sits “El Refugio,” a charming white home with green shutters. For 15 years, thousands have walked through its doors during the hardest moments of their lives. The house serves as a refuge for families of immigrants detained just two miles away at one of the largest immigration detention centers in the U.S.. In recent months, the visits to El Refugio have skyrocketed. We spent 48 hours inside El Refugio, the only hospitality house of its kind in the nation. We meet volunteers who visit with detainees and the families of those held at Stewart Detention Center. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been quite the year, for the United States and for Futuro Media. At Latino USA, we’re bringing you in-depth reporting from the front lines. At Futuro Studios, we’re developing ground-breaking shows like La Brega Season 3, which is set to premiere early next year. In this special Giving Tuesday episode, Futuro Media founder Maria Hinojosa reflects on the year behind and the year ahead. She’s joined in conversation by Latino USA Managing Editor Fernanda Echavarri and Futuro Studios Executive Editor Maria Garcia. The Futuro Plus Team includes producer Tasha Sandoval, production managers Victoria Estrada and Jessica Ellis, marketing manager Luis Luna, and development manager Danetsy Len. Mixing by Multitude Productions. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on La Brega and all our podcasts. https://bit.ly/joinfuturoplus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For some years now, mezcal, Mexico’s other national spirit, has been in a cultural spotlight in and out of Mexico—especially here in the U.S. But the unseen devastating consequences of that demand have had a profound impact on the people making it. In this episode of Latino USA, we take a journey to Oaxaca to understand the ancestral connections to mezcal, how the spirit is made, and how to become a better consumer. Because there's “so much tradition, every time you sip, every time you smell, and every time you taste it.” This episode first aired in 2021. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adelita Grijalva, the first Latina –and first Chicana– to represent Arizona in Congress was sworn into office… finally. She was the deciding vote pushing for the release of the Epstein files. The Tucson native was an outspoken leader on a school board and longtime civil servant before winning a special election to fill her late father’s seat, Raul Grijalva. She says her progressive values align with his. Congresswoman Grijalva spoke to us about her upbringing and her future in a party where “Democrats being a watered down version of Republicans is not gonna cut it for the American people. Not the people that I've been talking to.” Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Latino USA’s “Selena expert” Maria Garcia sits down with Selena Quintanilla’s sister, Suzette and filmmaker Isabel Castro, to talk about the new Netflix documentary, Selena y Los Dinos: A Family’s Legacy. Suzette opens up about choosing to share the intimate home videos that shaped the film, while Isabel reflects on her artistic vision that brought the documentary to life. Listen in on this behind the scenes look at the life of a woman who defined a generation. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nathy Peluso is an Argentinean-born singer, rapper and poet and she’s looking to chart new territory on who gets to choose how women behave. She grew up in Spain where she learned to express herself through poetry. The rhythm of the language quickly gave way to rap and her debut album, ‘Calambre.’ Most recently she worked with Tokischa and with the one-and-only Gloria Estefan. Her new EP “Malportada” is packed with old school salsa vibes. Latino USA’s Maria Hinojosa speaks with Nathy about her new album and taking risks con amor y respeto. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor Raúl Castillo joins us at the kitchen table. Literally. He goes to Latino USA host Maria Hinojosa’s home to share chips and homemade guacamole. Since his last visit on the show five years ago, a lot has changed for Raúl. He’s gotten married, filmed one of the darkest scenes of his career on HBO’s Task, and will soon join the cast of The Walking Dead. But there are things that remain the same: Raúl’s respect for matriarchs, his rootedness in community and his moral compass. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a year since Donald Trump won the elections. And last week, voters elected candidates that are far from what Trump represents. Democrats made history in New York City, and they won big in places like Virginia, California, and New Jersey—and Latinos and Latinas, as usual, played a big role. But these victories don’t necessarily mean Democrats are poised to sweep in future elections, including the 2026 midterms. A panel of journalists discuss how the elusive so-called Latino vote influenced the most recent elections, and what lessons the Democratic Party should learn. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a mysticism that covers Latin America. Stories of monsters, spirits, and tales of dark family secrets. Sure, it sounds like a telenovela, but literature calls it Gothic: tales that frighten and force us to confront our fears. Now, Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has reimagined the classic gothic story “Frankenstein.” But this time with a Latin American twist. Del Toro’s adaptation features catholic imagery, long stares into the camera, and Guatemalan-born Hollywood superstar Oscar Isaac. Oscar gets into the film, the state of the country, and why he dropped Hernandez from his stage name. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Orgullosa and her daughter, Estrella, began to rebuild their lives after they were separated in the U.S.-Mexico border under the first Trump administration in 2018. Seven years later, Trump was re-elected, and their story took a downward spiral. They were “unlawfully deported” back to Honduras, despite having legal protection to be in the U.S. In this episode, we hear from Orgullosa about the months leading up to her deportation, the harassment she experienced from ICE, and how she’s part of a broader court filing trying to bring families like hers back to the U.S. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Este año, en Los Ángeles, comenzaron las redadas violentas de inmigración. Te llevamos a un recorrido que comienza allí, pasa por Chicago, donde ocurrió la primera muerte de un migrante durante estos operativos, y termina en Ciudad de México, donde hablamos con la presidenta. Queremos entender el trauma que provoca esta nueva política migratoria y cómo los migrantes y sus familias lidian con él. Porque, en este momento, los migrantes nos dicen que quienes los protegen, en verdad, son su gente. Esta es una versión en español de un episodio de Latino USA que produjimos junto con CalMatters. Latino USA es el programa de radio sobre noticias y cultura de más larga trayectoria en Estados Unidos, dedicado a contar historias latinas y conducido por la periodista ganadora del Premio Pulitzer, Maria Hinojosa. Sigue el programa para no perderte ningún episodio. ¿Quieres apoyar nuestro periodismo independiente? Únete a Futuro+ para acceder a episodios exclusivos, adelantos y chisme detrás de cámaras sobre Latino USA y todos nuestros pódcasts. Síguenos en TikTok y YouTube. Suscríbete a nuestro boletín. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of immigrant children were separated from their parents at the border during the first Trump administration. And while a court ruled the government should reunite these families, hundreds still remain apart. In this episode, we travel to Guatemala to meet a father who was deported from the U.S. without his 14-year-old son. In theory the families should be able to reunify on U.S. soil. Lawyers and advocates are working tirelessly to track down missing families. But in practice, the new Trump administration is making these reunifications even more complicated. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jorge Ramos and his daughter, Paola Ramos, didn’t spend much time together while she was growing up in Madrid and he was anchoring Univision’s newscast in Miami. Now, this power duo is making up for lost time as a family. They are collaborating for the first time as co-hosts of The Moment, a new podcast. Maria Hinojosa sits with them to discuss their relationship, their concept of press neutrality and what it means to stand against the free speech and human rights attacks of the Trump Administration, while documenting how Latinos who voted for Trump are feeling remorse or reconsidering the “American dream." Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jorge and Paola Ramos sit down with renowned author, social activist, and feminist icon Isabel Allende to discuss the state of democracy in the U.S. today, why women’s rights must constantly be defended, and how looking back at our history is crucial in times like these. You can listen now on the free iHeartRadio app. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow us at: @JorgeRamosNews@PaoRamos@RadioAmbulante@MyCulturaPodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A collage of girlhood and grit. Born and raised in Stockton, California, 15-year-old Faith Gomez is starting to make a name for herself in the amateur boxing world. A Latina with no big sponsors or fancy gym, Faith trains out of her garage with her father. Her battles don't just take place inside of the ring, as this teenager is fighting stereotypes and the pressures of growing up. Producer Adreanna Rodriguez —who was born and raised in Stockton— brings this coming of age story about a teen juggling school and the grind of becoming a boxing champion… all while giggling and showing off her Hello Kitty stuffies. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Latina actress Judy Reyes has been gracing our screens for two decades with a wide range of roles. And today, as Lieutenant Selena Soto in “High Potential” and as nurse Carla in the upcoming reboot of “Scrubs,” Judy is really having a moment. Host Maria Hinojosa, Judy’s longtime friend and fan, sits down with the Dominican-American actress to discuss her rising career, key moments in her Hollywood journey and her relationship with her family. They also talk about current politics, including government censorship, ICE raids, and immigration crackdowns in Los Angeles, Judy’s home. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uruguayan singer-songwriter Jorge Drexler knows what it's like to live different lives within one. An ENT doctor until his early 30’s, he then decided to leave medicine behind, as well as his life in Uruguay, to pursue a music career in Spain. He became the first Uruguayan to win an Oscar with his song “Al otro lado del río.” In this episode of Latino USA, the multiple award-winning musician walks us through key moments in his career, including the creative process behind his latest album “Tinta y tiempo”—and drops a few gems about his personal life on the way. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tango usually evokes images of a very regal couple: a man in a suit and a woman in a tight red dress, embraced in sensual moves. But the reality of the quintessential Argentinian music genre is strikingly different. Tango, in fact, was born in the brothels and dance halls of Buenos Aires’ lower cast and is rooted in Argentina’s African and queer subcultures. In this episode we’ll take you on a journey through tango’s history. It was first condemned by the elites and the Catholic church, threatened by the worldwide phenomenon of rock n’ roll, and buried by Argentina’s last military dictatorship. But then, in the 1980s and 1990s, it saw a revival. More recently, it’s being reclaimed by the very marginalized communities that first embraced it. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.