Daily Chela

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.

This Tuesday, voters in several key states will head to the polls in elections that carry weight far beyond local and state offices. While not a presidential or midterm year, these off-year contests are a crucial indicator of the nation’s political mood. #election #tuesdayelection #politics thedailychela.com/p/immigration-…

Who was Tiburcio Vásquez? We sat down with author and academic Charley Trujillo: tinyurl.com/27fhw73z

From the very start of its independence, Mexico distinguished itself as a nation with a progressive stance on slavery: tinyurl.com/2d8ufrue

The story of Chicano punk is as much about defiance and frustration as it is about a bold reinvention of identity. thedailychela.com/p/chicano-punk…

In September, ICE spent $1.4 billion on surveillance technology (the highest amount in nearly two decades), raising serious concerns about privacy and constitutional rights. READ: tinyurl.com/43rmwhxb

Cruising in the 1940s, when there was a thin line between hot rods and lowriders.

Ramona Gardens. 1970s.

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, the Queen of Tejano music, remains a beloved cultural icon whose influence transcends generations. thedailychela.com/p/the-queen-of…

Mister Cartoon talks Japan and the spread of Chicano art. Watch more at Daily Chela.

During the peak of the mural movement in Los Angeles, there was an estimated 2,500 murals on city walls. Now, due to whitewashing and taggers, there are hundreds fewer.thedailychela.com/p/chicano-mura…

The San Patricio Battalion was a group of Irish immigrants who fought alongside Mexico during the Mexican-American War. 🇮🇪🇲🇽⁠ thedailychela.com/p/remembering-…

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-are-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-defense-o…

With its archaisms, rhetorical figures and exalted poetic language, the majority of Mexicans have a hard time understanding the lyrics of their own national anthem, let alone to grasp the story it tells: thedailychela.com/p/a-brief-hist…

One of the most poignant songs that Los Tigres del Norte has ever recorded is one that tells the story of an immigrant man who leaves behind his Mexico in order to give his family a better life in the United States:⁠ thedailychela.com/p/why-los-tigr…

Baseball in the United States is known as a National Pastime. However, just south of the border, it was a full-time passion for many in Latin America. In fact, by 1864 there were leagues in Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela: thedailychela.com/p/afro-latinos…

Japan’s food scene is something you have to experience. Here’s a clip from the next episode of #reservationsconfirmed highlighting Japanese food. Episode out soon on @dailychelatv @dailychela

Long before the internet, Chicanos expressed themselves and communicated with each other through art and print: ⁠thedailychela.com/p/looking-back…