I still don't think either political party understands the Latino vote. Trump won 48% percent of Latino voters in 2024 because Democrats weren't discussing key issues and Kamala was a historically bad candidate, not because Latinos magically fell in love with the Republican brand. There was never a tangible "realignment." This is a myth because it assumes there was a cohesive bloc to realign to begin with. The political reality is Latinos are permanent swing voters. No matter what, there will likely always be a divide due to regional and ethnic differences. The challenge is to close the divide as much as possible. What does this mean for parties and strategists? This means both parties must actively work to win as many Latino votes as possible every election and deliver on as many promises as possible every term. It means politicking beyond cheesy ads, and stumping beyond Miami and Los Angeles. Parties that take Latinos for granted do so at their own peril, as we saw both in 2024 and again on Tuesday. There is no reliable "Latino bloc" in a conventional political sense. There never was. The faster political parties accept this, the better off they will be.

Orwell painted a grim picture of what happens when the machinery of the state becomes too powerful, too invasive, and too willing to use force against its own people. So what are we to make of soldiers being deployed to U.S. cities today? My column... tinyurl.com/53db6vv7

My essay on the history of Mexican American street gangs, the evolution of cholo culture from Southwest streets to pop culture phenomenon, and the catalyst of nationalism: thedailychela.com/p/cholos-a…

It doesn’t matter how deeply held a belief is. When a belief turns violent, it is no longer a part of a democratic society. It is a threat to it. My column today... LINK: thedailychela.com/p/in-defen…