Episode

7/5 AMLO and the State of Mexico w/ Christy Thornton

July 5, 2018

Johns Hopkins Professor Christy Thornton joins us from Mexico to discuss the wave of leftists recently elected to government. After an election with 3,400 positions in contest, Mexico stands poised for profound changes under the leadership of president-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO).

Thornton breaks down how AMLO started the “Morena” party in 2015 after two presidential election losses over the past 12 years and where AMLO and his politics lie on the international political spectrum. One can expect AMLO’s government to be a pragmatic one, one that has gender parity but also includes a problematic fringe evangelical party, Social Encounter. Meanwhile, Pena-Nieto and his neoliberal government leave as the least popular government in modern Mexican history. And now, Irma Sandoval, AMLO’s pick for government comptroller, will head efforts to end the Mexican government slush fund for a corrupt ruling class. However, the biggest challenge ahead of AMLO in Mexico will be his effort to demilitarized the country while the drug war against the cartels pushes on. Thornton says expect Morena party leftists to keep up the mass mobilization, with constituents keeping AMLO’s government honest.

And in the Fun Half: Billionaires are antithetical to democracy, Michael does not hate Elon Musk, Lawrence O’Donnell on America’s anti-intellectualism towards “socialism,” Puerto Rican austerity is unbelievable, forecasting tomorrow’s job report, Fran calling from “Occupy ICE” in Philadelphia, Nazi defenders and pedophile enablers–the Republican party! Jamie calls in from the 2018 Socialism Conference in Chicago, Rand Paul talkin’ deficit blues, how to move others towards compassion, Alex Jones will blow the lid off the 9/11 inside job story, John Oliver blowing it on Venezuela and Mexico, Joe Rogan and the Intellectual Dark Web, how the DSA will enter mainstream politics, plus your kind calls and IMs!

Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com

Check out Sam’s sister Betsy’s project to raise money for Swing Left via print sales: makethewave2018.com

Consider donating to listener Lauren’s fundraiser for her mom’s medical treatment at gofundme.com/please-support-miriam

Check out The Michael Brooks Show at patreon.com/tmbs

Check out Matt’s new podcast, Literary Hangover, at Patreon.com/LiteraryHangover or on iTunes.

Check out Jamie’s podcast, The Antifada, at patreon.com/theantifada or on iTunes

Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter:

@SamSeder

@_michaelbrooks

@MattLech

@jamie_elizabeth

@Bf1nn

Past Episodes

It's ESVN OT and Emma and Bradley are giving their picks for week 6 of NFL action! Follow Emma and Bradley on Twitter: @EmmaVigeland @BradKAlsop Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ EMMA AND BRADLEY'S PICKS OF THE WEEK: Emma (6-8-1): 49ers -3.5 vs. ...
Sam is live again from the Mass Torts Conference in Las Vegas! First, he runs through updates on Hurricane Milton’s devastating impact in Florida and the crisis capitalism that has followed, presidential polling, Israeli war crimes in Lebanon and Gaza, the US economy, Russian advances in ...
It’s Hump Day! And Sam is live from the Mass Torts Conference in Las Vegas! First, Sam and Emma run through updates on the build of Hurricane Milton as it approaches Florida, Harris’ campaign for the right, Biden’s commitment to Israel, DOJ vs. Google, Trump’s blocking of a Kavanaugh FBI ...