I had my annual physical this past week and I am thrilled to report that I am in good health. My vitals, metabolic panel, PSA and lipids were all clear. This is great news for someone of my advanced age…ha-ha. I’ve had the same doctor for about a decade. He’s a dry guy without much of a sense of humor. Nobody else in my family likes him, but he is a super fit guy who has always struck me as someone who does his research, and is always on the top of his game. Personally, I want my doctor to be really smart, and who looks like he practices what he preaches. I’m willing to sacrifice bedside manner for a little extra competence. While I was putting my shirt back on, I asked him, “so what’s the deal with COVID-19; is it really that bad?”. My doctor put his fist on his chin and went on to tell me that it is far worse than most people think. He added that he was concerned for me, because I had pneumonia last year and the virus could be riskier for me. He said the virus affects people differently, and that race and ethnicity appears to be a factor. He said kids are a lower risk of death because the virus tends to settle in their digestive tracts, but for adults it settles in their lungs, and from there it can spread like cancer to all of the major organs. He said that he personally has cancelled all travel for the balance of the year and that his colleagues who are virologists, say that we will be wearing masks and doing social distancing for another year. It was a little sobering. Especially because it appears like a lot of people are acting like the threat of the virus is over. I realize that everything is political these days, but COVID-19 does not care about politics. It is a devastating illness that will kill more than 200,000 Americans by September. That’s more than twice as many as the Korean and Vietnam wars combined. Please be careful out there.
Immigration may be the most emotional issue in our politics, but behind the slogans are real people whose lives are shaped by how our laws actually work. In this episode, I explain why I say I’m “glad Trump is ending illegal immigration”—not because I support cruelty toward migrants, but because I want to end a system that exploits undocumented workers, keeps them in the shadows, and lets bad employers and politicians off the hook. I talk about why enforcement should focus on those who profit from illegal labor, why our broken legal immigration system needs a complete overhaul, and why a real path to citizenship for long-time, tax-paying immigrants is both moral and economically smart. If we care about growth, talent, and basic human dignity, we can’t afford to get this conversation wrong.
After the clip of Donald Trump meeting with Zohran Mamdani went viral, I heard from people who weren’t sure what to make of two supposed political opposites smiling for the cameras and saying they “want the same things.” In this episode, I break down what that moment really tells us about partisan politics—how both parties use identity and outrage while often staying aligned on power and money—and why communities like ours can’t afford to be naïve about the game that’s being played. I also talk about what real political independence looks like for Latinos, and why thinking beyond party labels is essential if we’re serious about building lasting economic and political power.
After my last video about Pharrell Williams, I heard from people who wondered why I’d respond to a comment that, on the surface, seemed harmless. In this episode, I explain why moments like this matter—because even well-intentioned remarks can reinforce damaging narratives about Black and Latino professionals, especially around DEI and merit. And when those narratives come from influential voices, they spread fast. I also get into why unity and consistency in our messaging is critical right now, and why staying silent when false narratives gain traction can cost us economically and professionally.