Linea Abierta Programming: April 14, 2025

Celebrating 30 Years of Línea Abierta

MONDAY, APRIL 14

PROGRAM #10743 12:00 PM PT

Poet Juan Felipe Herrera: 30 Years, 30 Voices. The son of migrant farm workers, poet Juan Felipe Herrera was born in the area of Fresno, California, where a bilingual elementary school was recently named after him. Author of numerous poetry collections, he was named US Poet Laureate in 2015, when he launched his project “The Most Incredible and Biggest Poem on Unity in the World.” In this anniversary edition, and on National Poetry Month, Herrera engages listeners in a conversation on memorable books, the healing power of poetry and his decades-long collaboration with Línea Abierta.

Guest: Juan Felipe Herrera, former US Poet Laureate, Fowler, CA.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 15

PROGRAM #10744 11:00 AM PT

Extra Edition: Preparing for Bigger Wildfires. In anticipation of the peak wildfire season in California, and in the aftermath of the devastating fires in Los Angeles, the state is launching a bilingual campaign to urge residents to take steps to prepare and protect their communities by hardening their homes and building defensible space. State fire officials and experts join this program to report on recent emergency actions taken by the state to fast-track projects to protect communities from wildfires, as well as to share tips on how to prepare for the next wave of wildfires.

Guests: Ricardo Alterno, Spokesperson, American Red Cross, Los Angeles, CA; Ricardo Coronado, Spokesperson, Cal FIRE, Sacramento, CA; Dr. Angel Fernández-Bou, Western States Senior Climate Scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists, Merced, CA.

PROGRAM #10745 12:00 PM PT

New Massive Protests. After the massive ‘Hands Off’ protest, the same organizers are now calling for another nationwide anti-Trump protest planned for April 19 in 50 states and over 11 million are expected to participate. What are the plans? Where are the rallies taking place?

Guest: Emmanuel Martinez, National Communications Co-Lead, 50501.

“Fighting Oligarchy”. US Senator Bernie Sanders and US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez bring their nationwide resistance tour to Bakersfield, California. The event is intended to continue the conversation on “how to take on oligarchs and corporate interests who have power and influence in the country”.

Guest: Dr. Gonzalo Santos, Associate Professor Emeritus of Sociology, California State University at Bakersfield (CSU Bakersfield), Bakersfield, CA.

IRS Chief Resigns Over Immigration Deal. The head of the Internal Revenue Service resigned after the agency reached a deal to share tax data on immigrants for the purpose of deporting them. On the last day to submit income tax forms, a tax law expert comments on what immigrants who are preparing to file their tax report need to know.

Guest: Jacqueline Laínez Flanagan, Deputy Director, Center for Taxpayer Rights, Washington, DC.

US Must Bring Deported Man Back. The Supreme Court instructed the government to return a Salvadoran migrant it had wrongly deported to a “mega-prison” in El Salvador. An analyst discusses the ramifications.

Guest: Rosalba Piña, Immigration Attorney, Chicago, IL.

Knowing Your Rights. Immigration agents are reportedly expanding their reach and using the full statutory powers to detain and deport tourists, workers with temporary visas, and even legal residents like DACA and TPS beneficiaries and green card holders. Who is at risk? What rights do immigrants have?

Guest: Rosalba Piña, Immigration Attorney, Chicago, IL.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16
PROGRAM #10746 12:00 PM PT

House Passes Trump’s Budget Bill. The Republican-led House narrowly approved the budget plan, which follows President Trump’s agenda of tax cuts, mass deportations and cuts to the federal government. In the Senate, leading Republicans say they are weary about the $800 billion in House-proposed cuts that could decimate Medicaid and other social programs. How is this plan expected to impact health care for seniors and children and health care costs?

Guests: TBA.

Social Security Cuts. The Trump Administration is making it more difficult for millions of eligible Social Security beneficiaries to access their benefits, according to advocates. The administration is cutting thousands of SSA employees and after a public uproar abruptly decided against cutting the phone service. Meantime, top Senate Democrats are about to unveil legislation proposing an emergency increase in Social Security benefits through the end of the year. What can beneficiaries expect in the coming months?

Guests: TBA.

The Trade, Tariffs War. President Trump is starting a tariffs and trade war, promising that his plan will lead to the return of manufacturing jobs to the US. Can Trump actually revive domestic manufacturing? In the meantime, what’s the expected impact of this trade war on workers’ employment and wallets?

Guest: TBA.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 17
PROGRAM #10747 11:00 AM PT

Extra Edition: Universities on the Crosshairs. (Program Repeat). Facing the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in government grants and contracts, Columbia University gave in to the Trump administration and agreed to a number of policy changes. Responding to similar pressures, the University of California bans the use of “diversity statements” in faculty hiring. Colleges around the nation are also bending under pressure. What’s the atmosphere in the college community? What’s the impact of this political battle on higher education? This program was originally aired on April 9, 2025.

Guest: Dr. Gaspar Rivera-Salgado, Professor of Work, Labor and Social Justice in the US, Project Director and Labor Center Director, Center for Mexican Studies, University of California Los Angeles-UCLA, Los Angeles, CA.

Executive Orders: Authority Overreach? Immigrant families report living in a state of fear and uncertainty due to the threat of mass deportations and forced separation. What’s the impact of mass deportations on U.S. citizens, children in mixed-status families? What are the effects of mass deportations on the U.S. economy and Latino communities? And with the wave of executive orders and challenges to court decisions: is the White House overreaching its authority and moving into a constitutional crisis?

Guest: Cris Ramon, Senior Policy Advisor for the Immigration Policy Project, UnidosUS, Washington, DC.

Are Veteran Benefits on the Chopping Block? The Trump administration is planning to cut tens of thousands of Veteran Affairs employees, sparking a wave of concern and anger among military veterans. What are the specific VA cuts plans? Will veteran benefits be dismantled? How will the cuts impact veteran’s services and well-being?

Guest: Felix Madrigal-Rodriguez, Texas State Commander at the American GI Forum and Vietnam Combat Veteran, Hidalgo County, TX.

PROGRAM #10748 12:00 PM PT

Sin Fronteras. This is a program of “Sin Fronteras,” a special series to serve audiences in Mexico City and other Mexican state capitals with breaking news and analysis about major developments impacting Latinos in the US.

New Wave of Marches. On the eve of a “second wave” of nationally-coordinated protests, organizers are making final preparations for what they call a “turning point” in the movement to oppose Trump’s policies such as cuts to Social Security and mass deportations. What’s the expected impact?

Guest: TBA.

Targeting Migrants’ Social Security Numbers. As part of a plan to push immigrants with legal permits to “self-deport,” the Trump administration is moving to cancel the Social Security numbers they have lawfully received. What’s the plan? Who are the targets?

Guest: TBA.

Huge Fines for Failing to Self Deport. The Trump administration is warning undocumented immigrants: leave the US or pay massive fines. Under this plan, the affected immigrants who face deportation orders could end up paying huge fines or their property could be seized.

Guest: TBA.

States Refuse Order to End Diversity. Facing the Trump administration threats to hold $800 million in federal funding this school year, Colorado responded the state will not comply with the demand to certify that its schools have eliminated equity, diversity and inclusion programs. Similarly, New York state officials have told the Trump administration that they will not comply with demands to end diversity, equity and inclusion practices in public schools.

Guest: TBA.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 18
PROGRAM #10749 12:00 PM PT

Mexico Edition. For Spring break, many people head out to the beach and, in Mexico, a popular destination is Acapulco. A staple in this port city is La Quebrada, where for decades a group of famous divers have been defying danger by jumping from a high cliff to treacherous waves and rocks 35 meters below. A leading diver shares his story. The host also reports about traditional dishes Mexicans eat during lent and Easter feasts.

Guest: Gustavo Gatica Gorostieta, President, La Quebrada Cliff Divers Union, Acapulco, MX; others TBA.