Mexico Raises Minimum Wage... AGAIN! - Ep 38

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the minimum wage in Mexico would once again see an above-inflation increase in 2025. Co-hosts José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth discuss the deliberate efforts by the AMLO and Sheinbaum governments to end decades of losses in purchasing power through their policy of promoting higher wages and explain what this tells us about Mexico’s post-neoliberal political economy. Plus a conversation about former US Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau’s promotion to US deputy secretary of state and a segment on the Mexican far-right’s recent activity in Argentina and Spain. Finally, in Loser and Haters, we take a look at efforts to misrepresent what the Tren Maya is all about.

Why Sheinbaum Won Mexico & Why Kamala Lost: Lessons For The US Left From Mexico with Left Reckoning

Mexico Could Weather Tariffs. Trump Could Not. by Kurt Hackbarth

1. Intro 0:00
2. Mexico Raises Minimum Wage 4:44
3. Landau to the State Department 19:00
4. Mexico and the Global Far-Right 32:57
5. Good News from Mexico 45:34
6. Losers and Haters 51:07

[chebsofdoom]

As an British guy with a Mexican spouse, I try and keep up with mexican politics as often as I can. But the majority of the media here only spouts the same talking points as the NYT and AP, only ever talking about the negatives, spinning the judicial reform as the worst thing since Pinochet, and somehow trying to spin the election of Claudia as being a huge negative.

How refreshing it is to have an English speaking podcast which talks about both the good and the bad in Mexico and actually looking at things from the perspectives of people who live and work in Mexico, thank you for the amazing work you guys do, keep up the great work ❤🇲🇽

[maryhuckaby]

It's so refreshing to hear about a society and a political culture that is working FOR the people! Very inspiring! USA citizen here where our rotten, corrupt, murderous 'health' care system only gets attention when someone shoots an 'insurance' company executive, and even then, the corporate-captured media only discusses how appalling it is that most people in the USA feel no 'compassion' for the dead CEO.

THANK YOU, MEXICO and Soberania for giving me hope! Things can be changed for the better if We, the People never give up! Our Latin American kin are teaching us that lesson.

[jakepistolero]

hey, guys, from mexico, you are better at this than most mexican "journalists"

dont s*it on yourselves. this is a great show

[ernestoherreralegorreta]

Best podcast on Mexico's economy and geopolitics I've found. I also just watched Jose Luis Granados' interview on Canada's TVO and it was a class act. Felt proud. Thanks!

[NunyaBizness-zf]

Retired American in Mexico and I applaud Morena for making this highly anticipated, needed move. It'll cost me a little in the long run but will help millions of hard working people put a little more bread on the table. NOW, pivot to BRICS and China and tell America to 'chinga tu madre'.

[orlandomolina]

Glad I found this channel. Saludos from Arizona.

[sergionolasco]

Gran trabajo José Luis Granados y Kurt Hackbarth. Felicidades..

[gachasis]

Awesome information and discussion. Thank you ❤

[rawwr]

Love watching you guys every week. You guys keep me updated with what's going on in mexico ❤ from California

[flexion]

Infrastructure projects like The Maya Train, serve a significant public interest. Relying solely on corporate-style metrics cannot fully capture the broader relevance of a strategic project, especially one focused on improving communication and connectivity.

[franklinmount]

Another great edition of Soberanía! Thanks so much! It was great to hear about the consensus decision-making behind Mexico’s increase in its minimum wage. It’s deeply heartening to hear that wages are rising faster in Mexico than anywhere else in the G20. That is a beautiful thing. And thank you Kurt for pointing out the simple truth that putting more money into the hands of workers is the best thing that can be done for them. So often powers on high presume to know what’s better. But the people know what they need. They are every bit as perceptive as everyone else, and they know their own lives like nobody else. In addition, thank you for your perceptive analysis of Trump administration appointments to the State Department. It’s encouraging that Trump’s pick for Deputy Secretary of State knows more about Mexico than the Biden administration’s ambassador, the awful Ken Salazar. (Talk about a low bar!) The discussion of the global right and its designs on Mexico was informative. This is a matter of concern. It was great to see that Presidenta Sheinbaum is on Time magazine’s shortlist for Person of the Year. Kurt’s discussion of the attention that Sheinbaum is starting to get from the U.S. and the global north was illuminating. I think that the so-called “left” in the developed world is so used to looking down on Latin America and Mexico in particular that they’re having a lot of trouble adjusting to the fact that Mexico is getting better and taking its fate into its own hands. And Jose, you’re absolutely right that Mexicans are happy. Certainly happier than up here in Brooklyn and New York and the U.S.A. On my first visit in 2022, I saw that clearly. And afuera de the detractors of Tren Maya. Seeing Mexico developing high speed rail is deeply inspiring to me. I was shocked to hear about the 2000 peso roundtrip from Oaxaca to Mexico City. That's $100 (U.S.)! For a trip as far as from NYC to Boston. And I can tell you that buses are a lot less on that route, in the developed world.

[Teporame]

Congrats for a great program as usual. Keep it up.

[carlosjuliop]

I'm frequently around Tlatelolco myself! I'll be sure to give you a shout out if I see you around. Really appreciate the podcast.

[joshuabauman]

46:52 I found you guys via Left Reckoning. I shared your interview with my DSA chapter 😊

[Prolector]

I love Kurt’s SOBERANIAAAA part of the intro hahaha! Nice to watch you every week and watching Kurt on Sunday en el Once ❤

[adriancadena]

A neo-con like Rubio in charge of foreign policy is terrifying for the world... that's the one person I am afraid of.

[SandraLC]

I loved the episode. Surprised to see Eduardo Verastegui is very Republican now. Wasn't he dating Ricky Martin?

[martincanolopz]

Glad to hear this news, happy for the hard working people 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[CHIVACLA]

Felicidades. Es una excelente idea que tu podcast sea en inglés. Es importante que gente con tanta lucidez como ustedes cuente en otras latitudes lo que está pasando. <3

[rosacruz]

Hello guys! I really like to listening your podcast.