All posts tagged: Vanita

Vanita Gupta on Public Trust and the Role of Law in Our Democracy

Vanita Gupta on Public Trust and the Role of Law in Our Democracy

Published by Sam Flores

 .image-caption { display: none; } .pod-stream-buttons { display: flex; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; } .post-thumbnail { display: none; } .stream-button { flex: 1 1; margin-right: 0.5rem; } .stream-button:last-child { margin-right: 0; } .stream-button a { display: flex; } .stream-button object, .stream-button img { width: 100%; height: 100%; } .wp-remixd-voice-wrapper { display: none !important; } What hope is there for the rule of law when the Justice Department is deployed to settle political scores and privilege one religion over others? A lot, as it turns out—but the work of rebuilding our nation’s voting and justice systems won’t be fast, and it won’t be easy, according to this week’s guest, Vanita Gupta, a civil rights attorney and former Associate Attorney General of the United States. In conversation with host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, she emphasizes the fragility of our democracy due to eroding trust in institutions and urges moral courage among lawyers and citizens to defend justice and fairness. Vanita’s insights on the power of faith communities in restoring trust and her call for cross-faith solidarity …

SXSW 2026: Hermanos Espinoza, Vanita Leo play at the De Los showcase

SXSW 2026: Hermanos Espinoza, Vanita Leo play at the De Los showcase

Published by Sam Flores

No amount of extreme wind gusts could shake the tremendous talent performing Sunday night at the De Los showcase at the South by Southwest music festival. Five acts took over the rooftop of Mala Fama in downtown Austin and braved the 30 mph winds. Nezza, Eddy, Tropa Magica, Vanita Leo and Hermanos Espinoza each brought their own distinct essence to the Texas stage, reminding audiences that Latin music is dynamic and never static. Colombian Dominican singer Nezza performs at the De Los Showcase at South by Southwest on Sunday in Austin, Texas. (Cat Cardenas / For De Los) For Colombian Dominican singer Nezza, performing at SXSW was a bucket list experience and one that allowed her to share two exclusives: first, an unreleased, acoustic track “Stop the Show”; then a show-stopping live choreo to the upbeat “Sweat.” “The stage is my favorite place to be. If I could do that every night I would,” Nezza said backstage. The R&B pop singer had a tremendous year following her act of defiance: She sang the national anthem …

SXSW 2026: Hermanos Espinoza, Vanita Leo headline De Los showcase

SXSW 2026: Hermanos Espinoza, Vanita Leo headline De Los showcase

Published by Sam Flores

For the third year in a row, De Los, the Latino-centric vertical of the Los Angeles Times, will be returning to South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and things are a little different this time around. While the music portion of the festival has typically been given its own weekend to shine, in 2026, it’ll be “folded into” a week-long event alongside film, TV and interactive programming. But despite these changes, one thing is clear: After a banner year for Latin music at SXSW in 2025, it seems like everyone’s doubled down in 2026, with the festival welcoming a historic number of Latin artists to Austin. That includes the De Los showcase. If our 2024 event was more of an intimate kickback, 2025 was an all-out party. Thanks to energetic sets from acts like trap corrido pioneers Arsenal Efectivo and the clashing cumbia punk stylings of Sultanes del Yonke, the crowd was up on their feet dancing, twirling and even forming a mosh pit at one point — all into the early hours of the …