Hella Brown and Hella Loud with Señor Barragan

Hey y’all,Fernando Deveras and I were blessed to have a conversation on a bunch of important topics for our communities! I hope you all enjoy it→We touched on so many things central topics to the community so I hope you all get to join in and leave some comments below to see how it lands for you all.Here is a quick look at what we dig into:* The Trap of Identity Politics: Navigating labels like Mexican, Latino, Latine, and the complexities of reclaiming indigenous heritage without erasing the folks currently struggling on the ground.* Proximity to Power vs. Proximity to Pain: Why the political spectrum in the U.S. is completely warped, and how politicians use “both-sides” language to dodge accountability.* The California Governor’s Race: A look at why Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra are tripping up creators, and the political litmus tests that matter when children are being bombed abroad.* The Reality of Harm Reduction: Navigating the 2024 hangover, the very real threat of ICE targetings hitting close to home, and how we protect our communities while playing the long game.My favorite quote from this→“If you ever see one of my videos and it resonates with you, steal my words... as long as we’re rowing in the same direction, that’s what’s important.”If you appreciate this conversation and my work I would be so grateful if you’d consider supporting this journey. Beyond this newsletter, you can do the following to go above and beyond:* Check out my new podcast! It’s also here on Substack!* Buy me a coffee- a way to support my continued journey!* Facebook - please follow!* YouTube - please subscribe!* and of course consider upgrading your subscription This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit senorbarragan.substack.com/subscribe

Saludos familia, welcome back to Hella Brown and Hella Loud.Skip the next paragraph if you want to get right into the conversation with Ramsey! But I had something to say!I see the comments, and I hear you regarding paywalls. My goal was to create early access for folks going above and beyond to support me (and making it available to everyone after a few days) but I don’t want to make those that don’t have the financial means to be left out. Moving forward, our interviews and full transcripts will be 100% free for everyone. With that said, I hope you all can still consider supporting me since this type of independent work can be a lot! Between travel, gas, parking, time, equipment and production I tend to take a financial loss every time I do one of these. The few folks that support help make my work sustainable. If you can just click the button below!Would also love some help in sharing this and helping us get out numbers up! Mil gracias- los quiero!This week I had the pleasure to sit down for the second time with Ramsey Robinson, who is running third-party for Governor of California on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket. Ramsey is a mental health social worker and community organizer who has been on the front lines of the housing crisis and anti-war movements. Because we both share deep roots working in schools, this conversation immediately hits a personal note before diving into the hard-hitting policy.We break down his catalyst moments in activism, the mechanisms he plans to use on Day One to halt evictions, his response to corporate propaganda, and why he believes the youth are the vanguard leading our future.The complete, uncut interview transcript is available below.📋 The Transcript: Ramsey Robinson for Governor🎥 Intro & The Catalyst for OrganizingSpeaker 2 (Angel): I’ll start with a quick intro and then like afterwards, I’ll start asking you questions.Speaker 1 (Ramsey): Sure. All right. We got a clap. So we can. Nice things. Great. Three. Two. One.Speaker 2 (Angel): Saludos familia. Welcome back to Hello Brown and Hello Loud. I have the amazing Ramsey with me. Ramsey who’s running for governor. I actually met him before. It’s the second time that I meet him. Homie works in schools, so I have a lot of love for people that work in schools in general. Ramsey, do you want to quickly introduce yourselves to people that don’t know you? And I forgot to tell you, you can look directly into the camera if you ever want to look at the people. But do you want to introduce yourself real quick?Speaker 1 (Ramsey): I will, thank you, brother, and good to see you again. Yeah. So for those who don’t know me yet, and there’s a reason why you might not know me, because the billionaires and the Democrats and Republicans are scared of us. The Peace and Freedom Party. And I am the candidate for governor of California with the Peace and Freedom Party. The Peace and Freedom Party is the fastest growing political party in California. Not the Democrats, not the Republicans.And I’m running for governor of California because like so many of us that are watching this, and the 40 million of us in California, I’ve not only been a worker, but a worker in crisis. And so when we talk about these challenges that folk like us face—that a million of us are behind on rent, that 2.5 million of us don’t even have health insurance—this was never me on the outside looking in. That has been my life, too. And that oppression that folk like us feel, it always elicits a response from the cruelty and the inhumanity of the system that we live in.It elicited a response from me, and it made me want to fight. I started to realize the power of fighting through organizing and meeting other organizers where we could actually put pressure on the people responsible for the changes that we need. And then I saw it happen. I can give two quick examples: one was in 2020 when George Floyd was murdered and I had never been out in the streets, I have to say humbly, and it elicited that response. I have to get out there. And 36 million of us got out there in the streets. I was organizing at the time with the party and still do—I’m a proud member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Many people remember what that was like. Right now as we record this, Derek Chauvin, who murdered George Floyd, is in prison. And that is because we linked up and connected our struggles and fought back. So I got a taste of the power of organizing.Then in San Francisco, when Banko Brown, who was a trans brother, was murdered for the crime of being hungry, we organized the PSL with other organizations. Hundreds of people on the street put pressure on Brooke Jenkins, the DA, to release the footage to prove his innocence. He was innocent. And also, I think this goes to say, the power of a party, too. We were also able to say that in a $4 trillion economy, there’s no excuse that anyone goes hungry.✊ Shared Origin Stories & Double ConsciousnessSpeaker 2 (Angel): Yeah, I love that you just shared your origin story because I was going to ask you what was the origin of Ramsey Robinson that’s running for these political spaces to hold space, to speak truth to power. Because I think in the same way that you mentioned the Black Lives Matter movement really got things going, I remember for me it was around the children in cages. Right? And seeing so many people being outspoken in support of the community, that really got me started. For people that don’t know your background, can you tell us where you come from, what you stand for, and how that background influences what you’re trying to achieve now?Speaker 1 (Ramsey): Listen, the power that we have is when we connect our struggles. My daddy’s Black, and knowing as a child that my descendants were slaves—I say that to say that they were workers who were unpaid. It sounds a lot like what’s going on now when bosses intimidate undocumented workers who are saying, “Hey, you’re not paying our wages. We just worked a 40-hour workweek and we’re not getting it.” They intimidate them and steal their wages. As a matter of fact, $7 billion are stolen from us workers here in California every single year.So when I was growing up, I knew, okay, damn, my descendants were slaves. Besides the cruelty and inhumanity of that, we weren’t paid for our labor. So when we say for our campaign that Black people in California will get reparations in direct cash payments, that’s because of the centuries of stolen labor.Being Black early on cracked open an awareness for me that something’s up. Something’s not right here. How could it be that a whole group of people are so oppressed? Right off the bat, that made me have this double consciousness—that yeah, I’m a human and a child and I’m growing up and going to high school, but I’m also a Black kid and the police are messing with me. Just the other day, Angel, I was trying to count in my head all the times that I’ve been pulled over. It’s like a dozen times.That’s where my consciousness started growing. I started reading Malcolm X and Frantz Fanon and W.E.B. Du Bois, and being like, okay, I see what’s up now. This isn’t by accident. The struggles that folk like us face—this is a rigged system that from the jump got the money it’s using right now from unpaid slavery, from extricating resources from people who were here first.That made me think, okay, there’s a root to our problem, and it has a name. It’s capitalism. Capitalism is a huge factor in the fact that my ancestors were imprisoned. Capitalism is a huge factor in the fact that our undocumented siblings right here in California are super exploited. When we talk about that $7 billion taken from us, that disproportionately falls on our Black and Brown brothers and sisters.I’ll tell you one story from 2020 that really put it over the edge for me. Very simply, this one data point changed my life: when I learned that there are half a million unhoused people in our country, but 17 million empty homes. Something about that clicked, and I’m like, oh, there’s no excuse. It’s one thing if we just live in a racist society or get our wages stolen, but it’s another thing if there is actually more than enough, and a small group of people are keeping that from us and sitting back laughing while we’re suffering. Here in California, we have 187,000 unhoused people, but 1.2 million empty homes. Let’s get everyone in a home. When we say for our platform that guaranteed housing for everybody is a human right, we’re not just saying it—we can do that.🏫 Representation in Schools & The Youth VanguardSpeaker 2 (Angel): Yeah, it’s possible. A lot of people don’t realize—I think one of the things that I hear on my platforms often from people that are part of the opposition is that, quote-unquote, “illegal immigrants” are taking all the homes, and that’s why they can’t afford one. The reality doesn’t match up.One of the things that you were talking about right now is the reason why a lot of folks are looking at your platform and supporting you. There are a lot of people that don’t even live in California leaving comments like, “You gotta look at Ramsey.” It’s because you clearly understand the struggle of underprivileged and underrepresented people. You work in schools right now, right? What do you think that representation means for Black and Brown people who don’t see themselves in politics? That’s part one.Part two is a little more personal: how are your students reacting to this? I used to be a high school principal and a high school teacher, and that’s when I started getting my audience on social media. So I got to see my students’ reactions—seeing like, “Oh, my principal is famous on the internet sometimes, that’s so weird, but if he can do it, I can do it.” What does it mean when they see their school personnel running for governor and getting the attention they deserve?Speaker 1 (Ramsey): Well, yeah. I mean, it’s been amazing. I walk into a classroom to pull a kid for therapy, and other kids in the class will be like—this literally happened to me—they’re on TikTok and they’re like, “Mr. Robinson, your edits are fire.” I’m like, “I don’t know what an edit is, but I know fire’s good, thank you.”In the school setting, to talk to them—not in the therapeutic space, because you’re dealing with depression and anxiety and it’s not appropriate to bring it up—but to point out these things. Like when these kids graduate, I tell them: when you graduate, you’re not going to have a guaranteed job, you’re not going to have guaranteed healthcare. If you lose your job, you might become unhoused. I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t have an answer for it. And then to say to them: there’s no excuse for it. We live in a $4 trillion economy and that money is ours. Your mama made that money, your aunties, your uncles made that money. That should be our money.To start to see them get excited and involved is beautiful. I have to say this, Angel—woo! To see these students on May Day, they walked out in protest for better labor rights against the administration. To see young people leading that? I had nothing to do with that. It’s just amazing. You see that our future is in good hands. Someone on our slate, Frank Lara for Superintendent of Public Instruction, likes to quote Che Guevara: The youth are not the future of anything; they are the present of everything now.If I’m able to drop some jewels to them and inspire them, cool, but they’re also the vanguard. They’re leading this over and over and over. We were just in Bakersfield this weekend, and a 16-year-old came up to me completely clear about what we’re talking about and about making mass movements in her school. It’s super inspiring.Speaker 2 (Angel): Yeah, the next generation doesn’t play around. What I noticed when I was the principal last year, some students planned a walkout. These foos came up to me and were like, “We’re doing a walkout.” I’m like, “Dude, I’m your principal. You’re not supposed to tell me, bro. Don’t—you’re not getting advice from me, bro. Go ask that teacher who will give you the advice you need. I’m not supposed to know.”Speaker 1 (Ramsey): They trust you, though! To your point, they see folk like us up in there. And that’s beautiful to me, Angel, that they have that relationship. Students should have more relationships like that with their principals. So shout out, that’s dope.🗳️ Why Run Third-Party?Speaker 2 (Angel): Yeah, I think my students thought it was dope too. They also loved to prank me, they did the most. There was one question that I wanted to ask you before I forget. A lot of folks have left this comment and I want you to be able to respond to them: they’re wondering why run as a third party? A lot of folks are saying, “Ramsey is saying everything that we want to hear, he stands for everything we stand for, why didn’t he run as a Democratic Socialist and join the Democrats?” A lot of folks can’t understand making a decision that might create a handicap for you, but it was intentional that you ran in this third party. Do you mind explaining to folks why that’s necessary and important, and what you’re standing against?Speaker 1 (Ramsey): We would not be able to offer or promise the things we’re doing if we rolled with the Democrats or the Republicans. I think your viewers right now can take the Republicans off the table—who’s rolling with them? They’re proactively attacking us. And actually, the Democrats are, too. These Democrats have had a supermajority in both the House and the Senate for decades now, and all these challenges that we talked about—a million of us behind on rent, 15 million of us drowning in medical debt, still no reparations, still ICE coming into our communities—that’s under the Democrats.The reason is because they are, just like the Republicans, tied in with the billionaires. If we are saying guaranteed housing for all, that we will do a rent freeze and stop evictions—the Democrats can never say that because they’re in bed with the corporate landlords. They’re paying off, basically bribing, you could say lobbying, these Democrats and Republicans. They paid $540 million just last year to make sure the billionaires’ money that they split from us is protected.We’re not going to push the needle anywhere if I was to roll with the Democrats. The power that we have is that we are independent from the billionaires. The power that we have is that we were birthed from the anti-war movement. The Peace and Freedom Party was formed in 1967 and co-founded by the Black Panthers. Black liberation—and they were socialists, too. They demanded the end to police terror, they demanded that we have guaranteed jobs and housing. You will never see me roll with the Democrats, because even though we have well-intended candidates in the Democratic Party, look at the foundation of the party. You can’t remodel a house that was built on the foundation of keeping folk like us out. We need our own house. We need our own party, and that is the Peace and Freedom Party. It’s for us, by us.📋 The Day-One Housing PlanSpeaker 2 (Angel): I love that. I think some people always ask me when I interview folks, “Make sure that you get past the vibes and ask about the actual politics.” It can be really hard because you’re such a cool dude, I just want to ask you about regular things! But talking about political stances and things that you’re running on: Day One, what is that Day-One plan? What are the biggest priorities for you at the beginning if you were to become the governor of California?Speaker 1 (Ramsey): Yeah, Day One, we are going to freeze the rents. No more evictions, no more foreclosures. I’m so glad you brought this up—and shout out to whoever said, “Hey, cool with the vibes, but let’s get into it.” I want to talk about housing, and I’ll be brief and specific. When we say guaranteed housing for everyone, this ain’t an Oprah thing where you get a car and you get a car. There are mechanisms that the state already has on the books that the governor can use.Specifically, the California Emergency Services Act. This is a mechanism where, day one in office, I can halt evictions and freeze rents. When we were deep in Covid, Gavin Newsom used the California Emergency Services Act to stop evictions, as he should. None of us should be thrown out of our homes because we can’t pay rent during a worldwide pandemic. He did that, but it wasn’t enough. He could have used that right there to freeze the rents too, but he didn’t. It just shows that he’s tied up with the billionaires who say, “Whatever you do, let these corporate landlords keep piling on that rent.”I will invoke that California Emergency Services Act because when a million of us are behind on rent, tens of thousands are facing eviction, and these huge corporate landlords are snatching up properties all across California jacking up prices—this is an emergency. So we will freeze the rents. No more foreclosures for homeowners, either. And we will build 1.4 million beautiful public social homes. A lot of them are already there; we don’t even have to build them. We can use eminent domain to take back these homes that were stolen from us. Day one in office, housing costs can and will go down.💰 Rebutting Billionaire PropagandaSpeaker 2 (Angel): Yeah, you talk a lot about the $4 trillion economy, and I don’t even need to ask you, bro—I know you want to tax the billionaires. One of the main critiques that folks who are more conservative often say is that if we tax the billionaires, they’ll leave the state, and that’s going to cause a downturn on the economy. How do you respond to that propaganda?Speaker 1 (Ramsey): There have been studies that demonstrate when taxes on billionaires are imposed, only 1 to 2% of billionaires actually leave. Let’s do the math: there are 194 billionaires in California. If 1 to 2% leave, that’s still more than enough to meet all of our needs. So if they leave, we’re going to be fine.Second, there’s no way they would leave. It’s propaganda to make us scared to shake up the status quo, because the status quo is only working for them right now. To huge corporations like Amazon, Uber, and Lyft, California is a 40-million-person market. There is no way these corporations will leave all that money sitting on the table. And we’re not taking all their money right now—eventually, we do want to get rid of billionaires, because you can’t get that rich without making people poor—but right now we’re saying just a permanent tax on them to make sure we have everything we need.Lastly, go ahead and leave! It’s the construction workers, the agricultural workers, the social workers, the teachers, the nurses, and the principals who make California run. It’s not the billionaires. They can leave, but their money isn’t going anywhere. We will have everything we need here to live a life of dignity and security. There are only 194 people keeping us from that, and that’s who we’re after.⚡ Rapid-Fire Round: Newsom, Reparations, & VotingSpeaker 2 (Angel): It’s crazy if you think about it. That’s the number of people keeping us from being able to have our basics met. I looked at the time, we have like three minutes left. So I’m gonna ask you some rapid-fire questions and just keep it down to like 30 seconds. Very good, let’s give it to 20 seconds. All right, can you name one good thing and one critique that you think the current governor of California is doing?Speaker 1 (Ramsey): A good thing: he’s making more of us realize that the Democrats are completely incapable. That’s a good thing. The bad thing he’s doing: he didn’t sign for reparations. He ran on universal free healthcare, and he just vetoed CalCare again. Those are two things, and I could go on.Speaker 2 (Angel): What is one thing that is not housing that keeps you up at night about California?Speaker 1 (Ramsey): Reparations does. Can you imagine working your whole life and getting nothing but grits and a piece of bread? That haunts me, and it carries on. It’s by design that Black households have one-tenth the household wealth of white households. That’s because of centuries of unpaid labor. Knowing that we have the money where everyone could have housing, healthcare, education, and direct cash reparations keeps me up all night and makes me want to keep fighting.Speaker 2 (Angel): If people want to support your platform, what can they do?Speaker 1 (Ramsey): Y’all can go to ramsey4gov.com. It’s a one-stop shop. You can register with the Peace and Freedom Party. You don’t have to be registered with the party to vote for us on June 2nd, but please do register, volunteer, or donate. We have 7,000 volunteers right now and have knocked on 30,000 doors in the last two months. Also, check out the Party for Socialism and Liberation, because that’s a party that’s going to continue to fight in between election cycles.Speaker 2 (Angel): Beautiful. And last question—you can look right into the camera for this one. My audience is the BIPOC community: immigrants, mixed-status families, allies, and folks in general. What message do you have for them? What would you like them to know?Speaker 1 (Ramsey): There are just 194 people on that side keeping us from the wealth that we generate. On our side, there are 40 million of us. You all know how special, resourceful, intelligent, and hardworking we are. There is no competition, and when we get organized, we will win. That’s when the billionaires get scared.We have to connect our struggles and see that we have a common purpose. With socialism, we win. For those who don’t know what socialism is, here are three quick definitions:* It’s where working people control the wealth we create.* It’s where oppressed and working-class people have the economic and political power to plan the economy to meet our needs.* It’s when we make sure all of us, no matter how we identify or where we’re from, have basic dignities: housing, healthcare, education, a guaranteed union job at $30 an hour, and a dignified retirement.The billionaires use disunity to separate us. We need to come together, and part of this interview is doing exactly that.Speaker 2 (Angel): Awesome. It’s a pleasure, Ramsey. Nice to see you again. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit senorbarragan.substack.com/subscribe

Saludos!I’m back with Episode 7 of Hella Brown and Hella Loud. This week, the homie Internet Mexican joins me for a conversation that swings from the heavy weight of 2026 geopolitics to the absolute absurdity of our childhoods.We’re getting into the “Greater North America” agenda and a reality that is literally ticking down: Internet Mexican has exactly 16 days left on his DACA status. We talk about the panic of the “lapse,” the privilege of safety nets, and why the current administration’s detention centers feel more like a nightmare than a process. But because we can’t stay in the darkness too long, we also unpack why Pleasanton is trying to claim the Bay, the “unspoken rules” of Korean spas, and a Yu-Gi-Oh beef that almost turned into a federal case.Inside this Episode:* The Ticking Clock: 16 days to impact. We dive into the anxiety of DACA status lapses and the terrifying “non-punitive” reality of 2026 detention centers.* Breaking the Cycle: Moving past machismo. We talk about why having a “mellowed out” Mexican dad felt like a rare privilege and how we’re raising the next generation differently.* The “Greater North America” Agenda: Empire and hegemony. How the shift in U.S. interventionism in Central and South America is being felt across the hemisphere.Where to skip ahead:* 00:00 – The Great Bay Area Debate: Is Pleasanton in or out?* 12:04 – Crash Bandicoot and the immigrant hustle: Learning English through gaming.* 15:40 – Metaverse Drama: Why I had to block my own family to stay safe.* 26:11 – The Fatherhood Shift: Breaking cycles of machismo and “mando” culture.* 42:12 – The Yu-Gi-Oh Felony: A $2,000 “Gate Guardian” and a 7th-grade knife fight.* 59:45 – 16 Days Left: The 2026 DACA countdown and the truth about ICE.What do you think? Do you have any similar experiences? And more importantly… what is the most ridiculous thing you ever got into a fight over as a kid? Drop a comment below... I want to know if you’re feeling the same “ticking clock” we talked about or if you’re just here for the Yu-Gi-Oh nostalgia.Stay Hella Brown, Stay Hella Loud.- Sr. B This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit senorbarragan.substack.com/subscribe

If you live in Oakland or have been in the area, you know the frustration of seeing a pile of tires or a discarded mattress on your corner. For years, the narrative has been that Oakland is just “dirty.” But in my latest sit-down with Mayor Barbara Lee, she argues that illegal dumping isn’t just a maintenance issue; it’s an equity issue.The Dumping Deep-Dive Mayor Lee was incredibly candid about the new ordinance being rolled out this year. Here are the three biggest takeaways for the community:* The “Hauler” Trap: The Mayor warned residents about illegal haulers who take your money, promise to go to the dump, and then leave your trash on a neighbor’s curb. Her advice: Don’t pay the full amount until you see a dump receipt.* Targeting Marginalized Neighborhoods: She didn’t mince words, calling it a “disgrace” that habitual dumpers specifically target low-income, Black, and Brown communities, as well as unhoused encampments, to shift the blame onto vulnerable people.* Fines with a Safety Net: The new ordinance doubles down on fines (up to $1,500 for a first offense), but Lee highlighted a sliding scale and community service options for those who can’t afford to pay. It’s about accountability, not just criminalization.“Every resident in Oakland deserves to live in a clean, safe neighborhood regardless of income, zip code, or racial background.”Go Deeper: Immigration, The World Cup, and the “Chaos” Factor The conversation got deep when we started talking about the recent attacks on our immigrant neighbors and the upcoming global spotlight on Oakland.The full interview will be available for everyone in a few days, but for my paid subscribers, you can access the exclusive deep-dive into the Immigration Pushback and the World Cup update right now This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit senorbarragan.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit senorbarragan.substack.comAs a DACA recipient, former high school principal, and a proud Michoacano/Baydestrian, I know that for our community, politics isn’t just about headlines…it’s about our lives. I got a chance to meet with with Xavier Becerra to ask the community has been asking about. He’s been in the room at the highest levels of government, but I wanted to know how he plans to show up for us here in California.In the first half of our conversation:* Affordability for the Rest of Us: We talked about the “California Dream”→ how a construction worker with a 6th-grade education used to be able to buy a home here, and why that feels impossible for the next generation.* Protecting Mixed-Status Families: With our communities feeling under attack, I asked how he would use the power of the Governor’s office to protect vulnerable families and Dreamers.The full interview will be available to everyone in a few days! I wanted to provide this early preview for the people who have been supporting me and helping me stay independent as a creator. The second half is where I get to ask some of the tougher questions. Gracias for the support; if you appreciate what I do, please consider upgrading your subscription- y si no pueden, no hay problema; you all being here means the world to me.

California is often celebrated as the fourth-largest economy in the world, but for many of us in the Bay and the Central Valley, that wealth feels non existent. We see the electric vehicles and the tech campuses, but we also see our neighbors being priced out, our families being separated by ICE, and our youth wondering if they have a future in the state they call home. I sat down with someone who has spent his entire career trying to bridge that gap: Michael Tubbs.Michael isn’t your typical politician. He’s the son of a teenage mother and an incarcerated father, a kid from Stockton who made it to Stanford and then went back home to lead a city that many had written off as “the most miserable in America.” As the former Mayor of Stockton and now a candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Michael’s philosophy is simple but radical: Poverty is not a personal failure; it is a policy choice.We met up in Palo Alto to get into the weeds of what leadership looks like when you actually care about the humanity of vulnerable people. We talked about:* The Stockton Mentality: Why he decided to give residents a Guaranteed Income years before it became a national headline.* The Lieutenant Governor’s Power: How this “overlooked” seat is actually the key to controlling state lands, UC/CSU tuition, and the fight against offshore drilling.* The Immigrant Experience: Why 30% of Stockton being foreign-born meant he had to fight ICE and slumlords simultaneously to protect the “California Dream” for everyone.* The Reality of Critics: A raw look at what happens when a proud Black man uses power to challenge the status quo, and why “government isn’t DoorDash” … real change takes time and guts.This isn’t just a campaign stop. This is a conversation about the soul of California and whether we’re brave enough to choose a future where everyone has enough to thrive.This full interview is currently in Early Access for our paid supporters.Familia, my work as a Digital Advocate is made possible by those of you who invest in this platform. These candidates aren’t paying me to share their stories or their platform; I do this to bring the truth to our community.I’ve made the first half of this interview available for everyone above so you can hear Michael’s thoughts on the “Stockton Mentality” and our debate on California’s best Mexican food. To honor my supporters, I’m giving the paid community the first look at the full, unedited conversation; including the deep dive into his plan for the Lieutenant Governor’s office, fighting ICE, and handling institutional critique.The full post will unlock for everyone in 5 days. If you want to dive into the rest of the conversation right now and support the mission of keeping Sr. Barragan independent, consider upgrading your subscription today!Of course, no pressure! Either way, I’m glad you’re here.Part 1: * 00:00 – Behind the Scenes: Getting the cameras and mics ready in Palo Alto.* 01:33 – Introducing Michael Tubbs: Born and raised in Stockton, Stanford grad, and the journey to running for Lieutenant Governor.* 03:35 – The Great Mexican Food Debate: Why Michael argues Stockton’s food scene is more authentic (and affordable) than the Bay Area.* 05:12 – The Power of the “Overlooked” Seat: What the Lieutenant Governor actually does—from sitting on the UC/CSU boards to managing California’s state lands.* 06:39 – Ending Poverty in California: Why Michael believes the highest poverty rate in the country is a California-made issue, not just a federal one.* 07:19 – Executive Experience: Leading a city of 320,000 during the Trump administration and fighting for sanctuary city funding.* 10:07 – The Data Dividend: Michael’s plan for Californians to own their data and benefit from the wealth generated by tech innovation.* 11:44 – Standing with the Immigrant Community: Why 30% of Stockton being foreign-born made fighting for undocumented neighbors a top priority.* 13:33 – Fighting for Basic Dignity: Going after slumlords and creating kitchen incubators for immigrant food entrepreneurs. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit senorbarragan.substack.com/subscribe

Familia, I’m back with Episode 6 of Hella Brown and Hella Loud. This week, the homie Vince Monroy returns to the lab to help me unpack a political climate that feels designed to exhaust us.We’re diving into the “flood the zone” strategy of the current administration and a hard truth that’s hitting close to home: even for those of us who “made it,” the promise of this country is starting to feel like an illusion. We talk about why DACA recipients are seriously considering leaving the U.S. for good, and why the “white-only” USC Gubernatorial debate was such a slap in the face to the BIPOC candidates actually doing the work.Inside this Episode:* The Accountability Gap: We held Cesar Chavez’s legacy to the fire; so why does the current White House get a pass?* The “Spooky” Governor’s Race: Why Matt Mahan is running for California like it’s just one big San Jose, and the billionaire Palantir money following him.* Global Unrest, Local Pockets: How the military escalations in Iran and the blockade in Cuba are hitting our mental health and our gas prices.Where to skip ahead:* 03:40 – The Accountability Trap: Chavez vs. The White House.* 10:13 – Leaving the U.S.? The disillusionment of the American Dream.* 19:15 – The Daycare Comments: Analyzing the latest remarks on family funding.* 23:55 – California Governor Race: The truth behind the USC debate exclusion.* 29:45 – The Matt Mahan Critique: Silicon Valley billionaires vs. the Latino community.What do you think? Are you feeling the same “exhaustion” Vince and I talked about? Drop a comment below… I want to know if the “American Dream” still feels reachable for you or if you’re looking at the exit signs too.Stay Hella Brown, Stay Hella Loud.- Señor B This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit senorbarragan.substack.com/subscribe

I started this interview with what I told Mark Kelly would be the most controversial question: Who actually has the best Mexican food in the country?His answer involves National Geographic, Bill Clinton, and a very specific spot in South Tucson. It was a lighthearted start to a conversation that quickly turned into one of the most intense interviews I’ve done this year.As a content creator and a member of the undocumented community, I don’t just report on these stories. I live them. When we moved past the food, we got into the “hard” questions that the mainstream media often dances around:* The Economy: Why gas taxes and rent are the real “culture wars” for voters in 2026.* ICE at SFO: His reaction to the “out of control” agency and the viral images of agents in our local airports.* The Execution Comments: We talk about the President’s remarks regarding his military advice and why he is currently suing Pete Hegseth to protect the constitutional rights of 2 million veterans.I’m excited to be partnering with Senator Kelly to help share this conversation later this week. However, I wanted my Substack community to have the first look at the full, unedited conversation. This “Raw Cut” is my independent release of our entire 10-minute session: no scripts, no edits, just the real conversation.Your paid subscriptions allow me to sit down with people in power and ask the questions that actually matter to our community without a corporate filter. This is the unedited footage from our session in San Francisco; no cuts, no scripts, just the truth!To all of you who have chosen to support this work at the highest level; thank you for going above and beyond. Staying independent as a creator isn’t just about having creative freedom; it’s about the ability to ask the uncomfortable questions that corporate media often ignores. Your support is what allows me to keep showing up in these rooms, representing our community, and bringing you the truth without any strings attached. I don’t take your trust or your investment in this mission lightly, and I’m honored to have you in my corner as we continue this journey together. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit senorbarragan.substack.com/subscribe

Familia, I almost didn’t record this one.We grew up with certain names being synonymous with our dignity. In the Bay Area and Salinas, Cesar Chavez isn’t just a historical figure; he’s on our street signs, our schools, and our murals. But as new, harrowing allegations from survivors, including the iconic Dolores Huerta, come to light, we have to ask: How do we honor a movement while holding its leader accountable?In Episode 5 of Hella Brown and Hella Loud, I sit down with my brother Benjamin (Perez the Advisor). We dive into the “Workhorse” mentality that burns out first-gen professionals, our shared love for Rock en Español and Anime, and the uncomfortable reality of watching our childhood heroes fall.Inside the Episode:* The “Privilege of Rest”: Why we feel like we’re “betraying” our immigrant parents when we take a Saturday off or navigate unemployment.* Accountability Over Iconography: A raw breakdown of the Chavez investigation and why standing with survivors is a requirement, not an option.* The Identity Crisis: Moving past “Hispanic” and “Latino” to find what actually fits our lived experience.* The “Anime-Ass Mexican”: How Goku and Molotov shaped a generation of geeks and rebels.The Roadmap (Timestamps):* 00:00 The Intro: Why this episode felt heavy.* 08:49 The “Frat Boy” to Educator pipeline.* 29:50 Dragon Ball Z & Rock en Español: Our cultural DNA.* 41:06 The Main Event: The Cesar Chavez Investigation.* 01:12:33 Learning to Rest: Killing the “Workhorse” guilt.* 01:16:26 The Humblebrag: A challenge to every Latino listening.Join the ConversationSubstack is about community. I want to hear from you in the comments:* How did you react to the news about Chavez? * Do you think it’s time to rename the schools in our neighborhoods?Leave a comment and let’s get “Hella Loud” about it.and don’t forget to subscribe if you appreciate my work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit senorbarragan.substack.com/subscribe

Saludos familia,Welcome to Episode 4 of the podcast! Today, I am sitting down with Celeste, the powerhouse co-founder of People Over Papers, to uncover how a grassroots ICE-tracking map accidentally turned into a nationwide movement.We dive deep into the reality of surviving targeted online attacks, navigating the mental toll of sudden viral fame, and why our community needs to stop asking for permission and start taking up space. (We also get into a heated debate about whether cats or dogs are better, but I’ll let you be the judge of that).🎧 Episode Chapters* 00:00 | The ICE-Tracking Map That Broke the Internet* 06:00 | Why Serious Creators Need to Post Their Real Lives* 16:20 | Surviving Coordinated Trolls and Platform Bans* 23:27 | “What Kind of Mexican Are You?”* 41:44 | The Dark Side of Going Viral Overnight* 54:16 | Our Bare Minimum Demands for Politicians* 01:08:18 | Why Our Community Needs to Start Flexing🔥 The Big Takeaways* Activism requires real-world tools: Building platforms like the People Over Papers map proves that digital organizing can move beyond awareness and actively protect vulnerable communities in real time.* Authenticity is your best armor: Navigating sudden viral fame and massive online hate requires setting strict digital boundaries while unapologetically owning every intersection of your identity.* Take up the space you deserve: We have to unlearn the generational habit of staying “humble” to a fault and start proudly championing our wins, our joy, and our right to exist loudly.If you appreciate my work please don’t forget to subscribe! Los quiero y gracias! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit senorbarragan.substack.com/subscribe

Hella Brown and Hella Loud — Episode 03Stop waiting for a seat at the table and start taking up space in the rooms where decisions are made. In this episode, we dive into the reality of “fighting fire with fire” in politics and why staying silent as a creator is no longer an option.We explore the “Optimist’s Case” for the 2028 Presidential Primary, the shifting tactics of Democratic leaders, and the high cost of influencer silence on global human rights issues.🎧 The Conversation* The Newsom Encounter: Is Gavin Newsom a “toxic bro” or a political powerhouse? We break down the vibe at the California Democratic Convention.* The “Fire with Fire” Strategy: Why leaders like Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico are changing the game for the Democratic party.* Creator Accountability: Why influencers who benefit from the Latino community owe that community more than just “neutrality” when it comes to Palestine and human rights.⏳ Timestamps00:00 – Why I’m obsessed with taking up space 01:38 – Meeting Gavin Newsom: Toxic bro or political powerhouse? 06:53 – The “Optimist’s Case” for the 2028 Presidential Primary 12:26 – Why I don’t trust “humane” immigration talk from the right 24:46 – The danger of content creators staying silent on Palestine 36:54 – Jasmine Crockett vs. James Talarico: Champion vs. Champion? 59:16 – Why the “MAGA Cult” feels more validated than ever This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit senorbarragan.substack.com/subscribe

Hella Brown and Hella Loud — Episode 02In this episode, I’m joined by the one and only “Internet Mexican” (Ivan) for a conversation that is as hilarious as it is heavy. After four years of being “mutuals” online, we finally sit down to discuss the reality of being an undocumented creator and the constant fight against misinformation.We cover everything from why Ivan almost traded TikTok for a career as an adult actor in Japan, to the “humble brag” of him writing the testing protocols for Tesla.🎧 The Conversation* The “Green Card” Myth: Why 13 years of marriage doesn’t mean an automatic path to citizenship.* Defensive Education: Using history and data to protect our community from dangerous stereotypes.* The Trajectory Shift: How one educator can change everything for an undocumented student.⏳ Timestamps00:00 – We finally met: After 4 years of being “Mutuals” 01:22 – The “Intrusive” reason I walked away from TikTok 06:20 – Defining the “Geeky” Mexican: Rock, Manga, & Warcraft 13:21 – The “Green Card Marriage” myth debunked 21:05 – My failed audition for the Japanese adult film industry 27:10 – Finding out I was undocumented at a military recruitment office 50:40 – What politicians MUST do to earn the Latino vote 58:43 – Writing the testing protocols for Tesla (Humble Brag)💡 Key Takeaways* The Legalization Maze: Ivan pulls back the curtain on the high costs and legal hurdles that keep “simple” solutions like marriage from being a fast track to status.* Platform as a Tool: Moving beyond viral trends to “defensive education”—using a platform to dispel misinformation about the immigrant community.* The Power of Mentorship: A tribute to the educators who push us toward higher education when we feel like our status makes it a “waste of time.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit senorbarragan.substack.com/subscribe

🎧 The Conversation* The Guest: Meet Vince (@VinceMonroy), who reaches 277K followers in the fight for pro-democracy.* The Mission: From the classroom to a roundtable with Governor Newsom, why we can’t stay silent anymore.* The Myth: Breaking down the “Monolith” of the 68 million Latino experience in the U.S.⏳ Timestamps00:00 – Why I swore I’d never start a podcast 00:46 – Meet Vince: The fight for pro-democracy 03:45 – Inspiration vs. Desperation: Breaking the silence 09:12 – From the classroom to a roundtable with Governor Newsom 13:17 – The “Monolith” Myth: The 68 million Latino experience 30:57 – Why the Latino vote shifted & the truth about misinformation 58:58 – The “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” critique 01:03:16 – Why neutrality is a disservice💡 Key Takeaways* The Power of “Taking Up Space”: Moving from short-form TikTok clips to long-form conversations to provide the context our community deserves.* Challenging the Monolith: How national origin (Mexican vs. Cuban vs. Venezuelan) and generational shifts redefine the “Latino vote.”* Accountability for Creators: Why influencers have a responsibility to speak out against harm rather than protecting a “brand.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit senorbarragan.substack.com/subscribe