Linea Abierta Programming: January 19, 2026

Celebrating 45 Years of Radio Bilingüe and 30 Years of Línea Abierta

MONDAY, JANUARY 19

PROGRAM #11023 12:00 PM PT

Dr. King, Civil Disobedience, and ICE Raids. Indiscriminate ICE raids have sparked a wave of civic resistance in cities occupied by federal troops. Grassroots networks are tracking, documenting, and protesting enforcement operations. The federal government has cracked down on demonstrations and their supporters labeled these tactics as illegal interference. What rights do protesters have when facing federal authorities, and what role did civil disobedience play in Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for civil rights?

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

How Trump Dismantled Six Decades of Civil Rights. Just weeks after taking office, the Trump administration rolled back historic pillars of the fight against workplace discrimination in the United States. An executive order overturned a mandate in place since 1965 that required federal contractors to comply with the Civil Rights Act. The administration argues it is curbing abuses of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. What was lost with this decision? Whom does the state now protect? What has happened to laws protecting against discrimination and segregation? What does this shift mean for historically marginalized workers?

Guest: Katy Youker, Director of Economic Justice Project, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Washington, DC.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 20

PROGRAM #11024 11:00 AM PT

Martha González: “Chican@ Artivistas.” This is a conversation with Martha González, a key figure at the intersection of art, music, and Chicano critical thought, centered on her new book “Artivistas Chican@s.” Her trajectory weaves feminist scholarship with musical practice as a singer and percussionist for Grammy Award–winning band Quetzal, a defining force in California’s Chicano music scene. From both academia and the stage, González—alongside Quetzal Flores—has fostered a transnational dialogue between Chican@ communities and jarocho musicians in Veracruz, where music becomes a tool for memory, resistance, and cultural transformation. This program is part of the special series “Thirty Years, Thirty Voices.”

Guest: Martha González, master musician, academic researcher, author of “Artivistas Chican@s: Music, Community, and Transborder Tactics in East Los Angeles,” Los Angeles, CA.

PROGRAM #11025 12:00 PM PT

One Year Into the Second Term: Migration Under Siege. Twelve months after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, U.S. immigration policy has undergone a drastic transformation. Through mass deportations, the use of archaic statutes, militarized enforcement, and pressure on foreign governments, the administration has hardened its approach toward immigrants, including people with legal status. The impact reaches families, communities, and the national economy. What has changed this year? What lies ahead in year two? Who is accountable for the deaths, arbitrary detentions, and families torn apart by this agenda?

Guests: Maria Blanco, Civil Rights Attorney and Policy Expert, Former Director of the Immigrant Legal Services Center, and Former Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA; Ariel Ruiz Soto, Senior Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute, Sacramento, CA.

Lawsuits Resisting the Federal Deployment. State and local authorities in Minnesota and Illinois have filed federal lawsuits against the Trump administration, arguing that the mass deployment of immigration agents to Minneapolis and Chicago violates the U.S. Constitution and infringes on states’ rights. As enforcement operations spread fear among residents and workers, networks of community support and resistance are growing. What are the legal grounds for these lawsuits? What trajectory might they follow in court? What is daily life like in cities occupied by thousands of federal agents?

Guest: Yanira Arias, Advocacy and Leadership Organizer, Alianza Americas, San Juan, PR.

New Jersey Strengthens Protections for Immigrants. State lawmakers approved a legislative package aimed at strengthening public trust and protecting immigrant communities from ICE raids. The new laws establish protocols for sensitive locations—schools, health centers, and houses of worship—limit data use and sharing, and restrict voluntary cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. How did this legislative package emerge? What are its most significant provisions? How would these laws be implemented?

Guest: Viri Martinez, Deputy Director of Strategy, New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, Newark, NJ.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21

PROGRAM #11025 12:00 PM PT

Health Left Out of Environmental Policy. In setting air pollution regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency will stop factoring in health impacts—such as avoiding premature deaths or asthma attacks—and instead focus on costs to industry. Experts and advocacy groups warn this decision weakens public health protections and paves the way for looser regulations. What can be expected for public health under these new policies?

Guest: Jose Pablo Ortiz-Partida, Climate Scientist, Director of Innovation and Collaboration for the Climate and Energy program, Union of Concerned Scientists, Santa Cruz, CA.

The Battle Over Mail-In Voting. After legal challenges by Oregon and Washington, a federal judge blocked the enforcement of Trump’s executive order targeting states that vote by mail. What is Trump’s plan against mail-in voting? Why did the judge strike it down?

Guest: Ben Monterroso, Senior Advisor, Poder Latinx, West Covina, CA.

The Farmworkers’ Tribunal. Farmworkers and allies gathered at the Washington State Capitol to engage directly in the legislative process and demand dignified conditions. Rooted in a global human rights tradition, the citizens’ tribunal creates space to denounce abuses of power and center the lived experiences of historically silenced communities. What demands are being brought to the seat of state power? What concrete policy changes are being sought? How did the day unfold?

Guests: Jose Ramirez, President, United Families for Justice, Mount Vernon, WA; Edgar Franks, Political Director, United Families for Justice, Mount Vernon, WA.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22

PROGRAM #11026 11:00 AM PT

A Maternal Health Desert in California. In California’s Central Valley—the nation’s richest agricultural region—thousands of women live in a maternal health desert. In counties such as Mendota and Madera, access to prenatal and obstetric care is not guaranteed, while high rates of teen pregnancy among Latinas deepen a public health crisis. On the eve of Maternal Health Awareness Day, and as part of a special series on maternal health, we present an in-depth report featuring young women and experts who explain why Latinas remain the most affected by this gap in the country’s most prosperous state, and examine new laws and emerging policy efforts aimed at addressing these deserts.

Guests: Desirée Yépez, Managing Producer for National News, Radio Bilingüe, Palo Alto, CA; Dr. Diana Ramos, California Surgeon General, Governor’s Office, Sacramento, CA.

PROGRAM #11027 12:00 PM PT

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

The Threat of Martial Law. President Trump is threatening to use the Insurrection Act to suppress civil protests in Minnesota by deploying the military without congressional approval. What is this law? How are state and local governments preparing for this threat?

Watch What You Consume. What is marketed as a “miracle” relief for knee pain or arthritis may conceal serious health risks. A supplement popular in Latino communities, promoted as “natural” with ingredients like garlic and collagen, actually contains undisclosed and potentially dangerous substances. A journalistic investigation reveals why the FDA considers it fraudulent and warns of its dangers. What does this product really contain? Why is it so widely accepted? How can consumers protect themselves from health scams?

Public Education on the Brink. Students, families, and educators face growing uncertainty about the federal direction of public education. Since returning to office, the Trump administration has reduced the federal role, withheld funds, allowed ICE raids in schools, and pressured districts to control academic content. How are major teachers’ unions responding to these challenges?

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 23

PROGRAM #11028 12:00 PM PT

Mexico Edition. Mexico’s free trade agreement with the US and Canada is undergoing review amidst political tensions. Will the USMCA survive? In addition, Mexico, a global tourism powerhouse, has been invited as a partner country to the International Tourism Fair in Spain. What is Mexico doing to ensure sustainable tourism that protects its natural resources and respects its cultures? This is a special report from Madrid.