The Latino Vote
The Latino Vote Podcast brings together the most sophisticated Latino voices in the country to provide you with insightful, accurate, unbiased, and timely information relating to the voting patterns and inclinations of the Nation’s Hispanics. Mike Madrid, a brilliant GOP strategist who has worked for several U.S. presidents, and who is also the founder of the 2020 “game-changing” Lincoln Project, and Chuck Rocha, the senior strategist of the Bernie Sanders Campaign and the most impactful political consultant in the country in the last quarter century, face off with host, Jason Villalba, a three-term former member of the Texas Legislature and now the respected Chairman of the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation. Together, they bring you a ringside seat to a “no-holds barred” discussion of, The Latino Vote.
The Latino Vote
Documenting the Latino Story: A Conversation with Emmy-Nominated Filmmaker Bernardo Ruiz
*Due to technical issues, the posting of this discussion was delayed. Unfortunately, Bernardo Ruiz's showcase of his films has already passed. We urge you to check out his work via his website. Our apologies for this error.
Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Bernardo Ruiz joins Mike Madrid for an intimate conversation about two decades of capturing the Latino experience on film. From his PBS documentary 'VOCES: Latino Vote 2024' to his explorations of wine country labor and journalism under siege in Mexico, Bernardo has documented the contradictions at the heart of the American relationship with Latino communities.
Bernardo discusses his journey from the son of a Mexican musician-turned-monk to becoming one of the most important Latino voices in documentary film. He shares insights from filming across eight states during the 2024 election, explains America's "love-hate relationship" with Latinos, and reveals why the same workers celebrated as "essential" during the pandemic are now being targeted at their worksites.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Ruiz's unconventional path to filmmaking and what drives his work
- The evolution from "building monuments to heroes" to taking creative risks
- America's "love-hate relationship" with Latinos—from celebrating "essential workers" during the pandemic to today's mass deportations
- Why long-form documentary storytelling matters more than ever in the age of hot takes and algorithms
- The story Ruiz wishes he could have told: the deeper meaning of the 2019 El Paso Walmart shooting
- Why the Mexican-American diaspora needs its own "chicharron circuit" for community building
- Being optimistic yet wary about the future of Latino communities in America
Bernardo Ruiz's films explore the complexity and diversity often missing from mainstream narratives about Latino Americans. His approach—observation first, conclusions later—allows him to capture the moral ambiguity and nuance that gets lost in our polarized media landscape.
-
Recorded November 17, 2025.
🎙️ Featuring: Bernardo Ruiz - Three News & Documentary Emmy Nominee Filmmaker: (https://www.bernardoruiz.com)
-
Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!
Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote
Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote
If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!