I had a great conversation this week with Congressman Tony Cárdenas. Tony is from Los Angeles and a former REALTOR®. In fact, he started his career in real estate with Jerry Ascencio, NAHREP’s former national president. Tony recently announced his candidacy for the position of Assistant Speaker of the House, but prior to that he was one of the members of Congress who was driving the passage of a bill to establish a Smithsonian Latino museum. The bill was passed in July by the House of Representatives and was unanimously, yes unanimously, approved by the House. There is still a relatively long road ahead to get to the point of breaking ground. It has to also pass in the Senate and be signed by the President; but the massive bipartisan support in the House is a good sign that it will get done.
After a law is established, the funding needs to be approved, and half of the money needed to endow the museum must come from private donations, which could also take some time. Frankly, and I hesitate saying this publicly, I hope Latino business leaders step up in terms of fundraising for the museum. Writing checks for something other than family is a discipline we haven’t quite mastered yet.
Congressman Cárdenas and I both agree that a national museum which recognizes and celebrates the contributions made by Latinos to build, defend and enrich our nation is long overdue. Storytelling is the most effective way to educate, and the stories that can be curated and shared with the world by virtue of this museum can help create a new narrative about Latinos in this country. I am excited to see it all come together and hope we all do our part to make it a reality.
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.