By all accounts, the pandemic is far from over, and if you are lucky enough to be employed right now, you probably shouldn’t be too financially complacent. Last quarter, U.S. GDP, dropped 32%, the biggest quarterly decline in American history. While some people think the economy will miraculously bounce back when we have a vaccine and the pandemic is over, I’m not so sure. There are millions of businesses that will close for good in the coming months and there will be a lot of people unemployed. I think the worst of our recession may still be in front of us. I’m not trying to spread doom and gloom, but trying to encourage caution. I would advise everyone to reduce their long-term financial obligations and remain as liquid as possible. Real estate is almost always a good investment, but it is not the most liquid, so make sure if you invest in real estate, you have plenty of liquid assets that you can tap into if you need them. Small landlords are getting hurt right now because a lot of people are not paying rent. Cash is king, so it doesn’t hurt to keep some money in cash, and if you invest in a business, invest in something with a relatively low-cost structure, especially if you are closer to retirement than you are to getting started. Low cost, high-margin businesses are always the best for smaller entrepreneurs – especially in times like now. Stay liquid, my friends…
There are qualities in our community that no data point can fully capture, but this episode is about one of the biggest: grit. I talk about why perseverance, resilience, family, and purpose have always been among the greatest strengths of Hispanics and Latinos, and why those strengths can be a powerful advantage in a world being reshaped by technology, wealth, and access. But grit alone is not enough. If we want to translate all of that talent and determination into lasting economic and political power, we also need stronger networks, better platforms, and more intentional leadership. The opportunity is real. The question is whether we are ready to organize around it.
For years, we’ve been told that mass deportations would mean more jobs and higher wages for U.S.-born workers. But this episode looks at why the opposite may actually be happening. I break down new research showing how immigrant and U.S.-born workers often play complementary roles in the labor market, why removing one group can hurt the other, and how these policies may be making labor shortages, housing challenges, and economic instability even worse. This is a conversation about jobs, economics, and the unintended consequences too many people still refuse to confront.
Something important is shifting, and this episode is about why it matters. For a young and fast-growing community like ours, the rise of AI may be opening doors that were previously harder to reach — not by eliminating every barrier, but by expanding access to knowledge, tools, and opportunity at a scale we’ve never seen before. But access alone won’t determine who wins. This moment calls for strategy, community, and a serious commitment to turning potential into power. The opening is real. What happens next depends on what we do with it.