Línea Abierta Programming: Week of August 3, 2026

Celebrating 46 Years of Radio Bilingüe

MONDAY, AUGUST 3
PROGRAM #11225 12:00 PM PT

The Nectarines of Wrath. A small farmer in the San Joaquin Valley was forced to give away 182,000 pounds of nectarines — an entire year’s work in the orchard — because the agribusiness giant he contracts with prohibited him from selling his fruit on the open market. The corporation claims ownership of the fruit variety; the farmer says he is the victim of unfair and fraudulent business practices. The trial began this week in Fresno with the judge ordering the farmer to destroy all his nectarine trees just as the plaintiff corporation requested. What are the details and takeaways of the case? How many small producers operate under these types of contracts and production restrictions? And what does this case reveal about corporate power to control products and food systems?

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
PROGRAM #11226 11:00 AM PT

Texas: When It Rains, It Pours. One year after the devastating floods in the Hill Country region of Texas, communities that were still struggling to rebuild have been struck again by another catastrophic flood. What emergency aid is being channeled to those affected? How are repair and reconstruction efforts going for those who lost their homes and businesses? Humanitarian leaders speak about the recovery process and mental health support, and explain how these repeated disasters have changed the region.

PROGRAM #11227 12:00 PM PT

The Salgado Case: How Is the Investigation Going? One month has passed since the killing of Lorenzo Salgado at the hands of ICE agents in Houston. A witness to the attack was released this week by immigration authorities following a court order. How is the investigation moving forward? Are agents being set aside for questioning? What are the family and local authorities saying about the state of the case? And how is the local community responding?

Children in Detention. ICE has detained more than 650 children in California during Trump’s second term. Some were swept up in community raids, and many have been deported, according to an analysis of official records. Unlike in previous administrations, minors are being held in detention facilities inside the state. Who are they? Under what conditions are they being held? And what legal protections do they have?

More ICE Arrests at Airports. The Trump administration has opened a new front in its deportation campaign: arresting foreigners with expired visas. In at least 15 airports, agents have detained travelers — including spouses of U.S. citizens. What criteria are being used to select who gets detained? What rights do those affected have? What does this new tactic mean for people traveling within the country? And how should people prepare before flying?

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5
PROGRAM #11228 12:00 PM PT

Trump’s New Assault on Mail-In Voting. The White House has asked the Supreme Court to allow restrictions on mail-in voting before the midterm elections. The order instructs the Postal Service to limit ballot delivery in states that don’t hand over their voter rolls, and threatens to withhold federal funds from those that don’t comply. What restrictions is Trump seeking? What are the arguments in this legal battle? What would the practical impact be on access to voting? Who would be hit hardest? And how can people start protecting their right to vote by mail?

Generation Z Faces the Ballot Box. Young Californians ages 18 to 30 are trapped in an economic crisis marked by soaring costs of living, stagnant wages, and shrinking opportunities as corporations pile up profits. A recent poll reveals they are fed up and are demanding a political system that works for them and holds corporations accountable. What are the priorities of this voting-age generation? What do they want from elected officials? How do they think the state needs to change? And what is keeping them from full civic participation?

For Universal Child Care. At a critical moment when child care has become one of the greatest sources of financial and emotional stress for families — and as the Trump administration continues to reshape federal child care programs — hundreds of activists and service providers gathered in Chicago to launch the Campaign for Universal Child Care, following their “A Day Without Child Care” event in May. Leaders discuss their plans.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 6
PROGRAM #11229 11:00 AM PT

AI: An Ethical Debate. Artificial intelligence may seem to have unlimited applications, but its risks cannot be ignored. These tools are only as reliable as the data they were trained on and the people who built them. Privacy, bias, and lack of transparency remain central challenges. As not only corporations but individuals integrate AI into their daily lives — and as reports of worsening prejudice and job displacement through automation multiply — the need to understand and establish ethical frameworks is urgent. What is the ethics behind AI? Who sets and enforces these principles? And how can these tools be used while respecting those who generate knowledge?

PROGRAM #11230 12:00 PM PT

More Detention Centers in California. The federal government has purchased two ICE detention facilities in California to advance its anti-immigrant agenda, as local authorities attempt to block immigrant detention centers across the state. Meanwhile, federal courts have condemned health conditions at California’s largest detention center, and reports of abusive treatment of recently released detainees are mounting. What is Washington’s plan? What is known about conditions inside these facilities? Who profits from detention? And who is watching over the rights of those held inside?

Fighting Drugs or Extrajudicial Killings? Over the past year, the Trump administration bombed more than 60 vessels and killed 221 people in the name of fighting drug trafficking. Yet new reports reveal that these attacks have not reduced drug availability, price, or purity. Instead, they illustrate how the president is deploying military force without congressional or judicial authorization, while cutting addiction treatment funding and failing to reduce domestic drug consumption or the internal drug market. How should this strategy be understood? What cross-border consequences exist? And what role does the U.S. play in the drug trafficking chain?

The Trauma of Surviving ICE Bullets. Carlos Iván Mendoza Hernández was on his way to work when ICE agents stopped him and shot him at close range in an agricultural town in California. He survived, but his life and his family’s have been shattered: he remains detained and faces prosecution, while his wife fights for his rights, raises their daughter alone, and struggles with deteriorating mental health. The violence embedded in immigration policy is generating a state of terror that experts are calling a public health emergency. Why is the Mendoza family’s case not an isolated one? What does it mean to survive an ICE attack? And how are the violent federal operations directly affecting the mental health of communities? This is a special report produced through the Ethnic Media Collaborative, with support from the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.

Mental Health and Faith Communities. A shortage of mental health professionals makes it difficult for families to access the care they need. To help close this gap, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation is strengthening its work with faith communities through partnerships with churches, mosques, and other religious organizations. The goal is to help their leaders recognize signs of mental illness and guide people toward support and resources. What is the role of religious leaders? How are faith and science being combined to address mental health? And what are the challenges in accessing specialized care?

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
PROGRAM #112131 12:00 PM PT

Mexico Edition. A national discussion forum is being held this week to launch work on the presidential initiative for the General Law to Prevent, Investigate, and Sanction the Crime of Femicide. The bill is expected to be approved by Congress in September, move to state legislatures, and go into effect on November 25—in time for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. An advocate discusses the bill’s content and its likely legislative path, while analysts comment on this and other news stories.