Undecided Latino Voters Could Play a Key Role

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
PROGRAM #11277 12:00 PM PT

Undecided Latino Voters Could Play a Key Role. 

Many Latino voters in the last election were undecided, became independents, or switched parties. This group could influence races in key districts that may determine control of Congress. A new analysis sheds light on their concerns and examines why these Latino voters are skeptical of political parties — and why campaigns often overlook them.

Guest: Clarissa Martinez De Castro, Vice President of the Latino Vote Initiative, UnidosUS, Washington, DC.

Support Latino-Owned Businesses. During National Hispanic Heritage Month, a nationwide campaign is encouraging people to shop at Latino-owned businesses and support merchants hurt by immigration enforcement operations. The initiative is gaining momentum after a study documented severe economic losses following ICE operations. How does the “Buy Latino” campaign work? Which businesses have been hit hardest? And how are neighborhood businesses doing after a year of federal operations?

Guest: Sindy Benavides, Founding Executive Director, Aquí: The Accountability Movement, Washington, DC.

Compensation for Radiation Exposure. People in Colorado were exposed to radioactive contamination for decades. New legislation in Congress would allow Colorado residents who became ill after living near two of the state’s nuclear sites to apply for tens of thousands of dollars in federal compensation. In addition, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment revealed that approximately half of local homes have elevated levels of radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless and can be harmful to health. As a result, state law requires sellers to disclose any radon history on the property disclosure form and provide copies of such test results to potential buyers, among other requirements.

Guest: Jesús Sánchez Melean, Executive Director, El Comercio de Colorado Newspaper, Denver, CO.

Nuclear Push Raises Concerns in Indigenous Communities. The Trump administration’s push to expand nuclear energy is reviving uranium mining and processing in the Southwest, renewing concerns among Indigenous communities. In Utah, one facility is increasing production as the Ute Mountain Ute, Havasupai, and Navajo tribes raise concerns about potential impacts on water, air, and public health. The company and regulators say there is no evidence of a current risk. What threats could uranium extraction pose? What dangers are communities warning about?

Guest: Paula Andalo, Ethnic Media Editor, KFF Health News, Silver Spring, MD.

Photo: Jon Tyson/Unsplash

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