Deportation, Hubris, Santa Muerte
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HOW HUBRIS DOOMED DEMS
Last week, the American electorate dealt the Democrat Party the most crushing political defeat of the 21st century. Powered by a diverse coalition of voters, Donald Trump not only won the electoral college and popular vote, but secured the House and Senate, setting the national stage for a dramatic rightward shift.
Blindsided by the landslide, Democrat emotions have ranged from genuine introspection to full blown TikTok meltdowns. But amid the back-peddling and finger-pointing, James Carville’s classic quip, “It’s the economy stupid,” has emerged as the de facto explanation among Democrats.
But was it the economy?
To be sure, inflation was a factor. Nobody likes high prices. But to assume inflation was the only factor is a failure to see the forest through the trees, and a surefire recipe to cook up more future embarrassing political losses. Both Nixon and Reagan, after all, won reelection against a backdrop of high inflation.
Others have pointed to education, suggesting Trump voters are too stupid to know what is in their own best interest. However, the implication that not having a college degree equates to not being intelligent is itself an uneducated assumption about the economic incentives that drive daily decisions (for example, I would hardly call it intelligent to assume $100k in school debt during an economic downturn).
In addition, this explanation glosses over the fact that the election saw a whopping 10 point swing in college educated counties across the country. Cities ranging from Manhattan to New Haven all saw significant Republican gains. In fact, some of Trump’s biggest gains were in college towns!
So why, then, did Democrats lose the election?
WHAT IS THE FISCAL AND HUMAN COST OF MASS DEPORTATION?
Former President Donald Trump is preparing to initiate a large-scale deportation campaign, aiming to remove record numbers of undocumented immigrants by leveraging a broad network of federal agencies, according to several individuals familiar with the plans.
The Trump team is reportedly prioritizing deportations from the U.S.-Mexico border and focusing on immigrants with criminal backgrounds as a key early target. Plans also include expanding detention and deportation operations across the country.
However, the scale of the effort raises significant concerns regarding its feasibility. While the exact number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. remains uncertain, experts warn that a nationwide deportation operation would require considerable resources and coordination between multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Pentagon.
Patrick J. Lechleitner, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), acknowledged in July that carrying out such an ambitious deportation campaign would present both logistical and financial challenges.
During his first term, Trump faced difficulties in ramping up deportations. Despite his administration’s focus on immigration enforcement, data from the government shows that the Biden administration deported more individuals in fiscal year 2023 than Trump did in any year of his presidency.
MATTEL HONORS JUAN GABRIEL WITH NEW BARBIE DOLL
Toy manufacturer Mattel has unveiled a new addition to its Barbie Signature Music Series, paying tribute to the legendary Mexican artist Juan Gabriel. The collectible doll is inspired by the iconic performance of the "Divo de Juárez" during his 1990 concert at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.
The Barbie doll is dressed in a bolero-style jacket and a black suit with gold trim, mirroring the colorful ensembles that Juan Gabriel was known for wearing. She also sports a gold necklace, reminiscent of the bolo ties the artist often wore as part of his signature look.
Juan Gabriel, born Alberto Aguilera Valadez, was a prolific singer and composer who enjoyed a career spanning more than four decades. He became an international music icon with hits such as “Noa Noa,” “Amor Eterno,” “No Tengo Dinero,” and “Hasta que te Conocí,” captivating millions of fans across the globe.
Known affectionately as "Juanga" by his fans, Gabriel's influence extended beyond music to acting and other forms of entertainment.
The exclusive Barbie doll will be available for purchase at major retailers including Target, Amazon, Walmart, and Mattel's online store. It is priced at $64.99.
Juan Gabriel passed away on August 28, 2016, at the age of 66 in Santa Monica, California. Born in Michoacán, Mexico, he left behind a lasting legacy as one of the most beloved and influential figures in Latin American music.
WHO IS TOM HOMAN, TRUMP’S NEW “BORDER CZAR”?
President-elect Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Tom Homan, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will lead efforts to strengthen border security in his second administration.
As "border czar," Homan will oversee security at both the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders, in addition to maritime and aviation security. This gives him significant authority to manage and implement border enforcement policies.
In remarks made Monday, Homan outlined one of the central aspects of his new role, which includes ramping up workplace raids aimed at combating illegal immigration, labor trafficking, and sex trafficking.
Homan emphasized that the administration would adopt a more aggressive stance on enforcement, particularly in industries that employ undocumented workers.
Homan has worked in law enforcement under six U.S. presidents. He served as the executive associate director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations during the Obama administration, overseeing a record number of deportations.
However, Homan’s tenure has been controversial, particularly for his involvement in the Trump administration’s "Zero Tolerance" immigration policy, which led to the separation of over 5,500 migrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2018.
HISTORY: BEHIND THE CULT OF SANTA MUERTE
They call her “Santa Muerte,” and the name means Good Death or Holy Death. The term was borrowed from Catholic prayers asking for a peaceful demise from this word, in peace with God, satisfied with life. The medical nation has its own word for it. The Greek word is euthanasia, which also means “good death,” the right to die without unnecessary suffering.
Be it good or holy, the concept is not new.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, a bizarre cult has grown from a solitary street altar in a poor neighborhood in Mexico City to a continental phenomenon which is now studied by scholars. It is the Santa Muerte cult.
Perhaps its more original feature is that, while in Catholicism the good/holy death is a process, and in medicine is a procedure, the cult of Santa Muerte turned it into a person.
Its acolytes say that deep down it’s the same thing: the desire to have a death without physical pain, the hope to experience a peaceful demise.
But since in this new movement Death is a person, a third element must be added: the desire, the obligation among her followers, to please and worship her (in Spanish the word death is a feminine noun).
Her devotees call her loving names: beautiful one, skinny woman, cute girl, little mother, and even virgin.
PODCAST: WHY DEMOCRATS LOST THE ELECTION, FEATURING GUEST MIKE MADRID
Brandon is the only Latino political commentator who publicly predicted two days before the election that Trump would not only win the election, but would win by more votes than last time. Brandon also publicaly predicted that Trump would win over 40% of the Latino vote.
On Tuesday, Brandon breaks down the indicators he saw that led him to reach the conclusion that Democrats would lose the election. Also joining Brandon is political consultant Mike Madrid, who is author of the new book, “The Latino Century.” Don’t miss it!
POLLS: 45 PERCENT OF LATINOS VOTED FOR TRUMP?
In a surprising turn of events, Latino voters played a pivotal role in helping Donald Trump secure a second term in the White House, with a significant portion of the Latino electorate moving toward the Republican candidate. The shift came in an election where economic concerns, particularly the rising cost of food and housing, were key issues for many voters.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, captured 53% of the Latino vote, narrowly outperforming Trump, who received 45%. While Harris retained a majority, Trump’s 45% mark represents a 13-point increase from his share of the Latino vote in 2020 and is the highest percentage ever recorded for a Republican presidential nominee.
Trump’s support among Latinos surpassed the previous record set by George W. Bush in 2004, when Bush won 44% of the Latino vote. However, the Latino vote had shifted more strongly to Democrats in subsequent elections, with 71% backing Barack Obama in 2012, followed by about 66% for Hillary Clinton in 2016, and 65% for Joe Biden in 2020.
In key battleground states, Harris underperformed compared to Biden’s performance with Latino voters. According to NBC News exit polls, the vice president struggled in Michigan, where her share of the Latino vote dropped to 35% from Biden's 59%, and in Pennsylvania, where she garnered 57%, well below Biden’s 78%. Harris also saw weaker support in Texas and Florida, where she trailed Biden by double-digit margins.
One of the most striking shifts in the 2024 election was among Latino men, who voted for Biden by a wide margin in 2020—59% to 36%. In this election, Latino men swung toward Trump, supporting him by a 12-point margin, 55% to 43%. This marks a 19-point shift in favor of the Republican candidate over the course of just four years.
The results highlight a significant realignment within the Latino community, especially in light of the economic pressures felt across the country. Trump’s gains with Latino voters, particularly in swing states, suggest that issues beyond traditional party lines, such as economic concerns and housing affordability, may be reshaping the political landscape for this key demographic.
KEEP READING…
WATCH NOW: AMERICAN HOMEBOY MOVIE
American Homeboy explores the complex origins of pachuco and cholo culture which sprouted from American soil more than 100 years ago in response to wartime sentiment, social alienation, and government discrimination only to become a pop culture phenomenon. Watch it on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and The Daily Chela app.
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