Solid structure to this podcast. Gustavo Arellano is at his best - comfortable - despite being a self proclaimed shy nerd.

I had always listened to my family talk about prop 187. And how it targeted the Latinx community. Such an educational podcast on it’s lasting effects on California. As a native Californian it’s a must listen.

Gives me hope. Thank you Pete Wilson.

That twenty something years later, not only would I fully enjoy listening to a conversation with Pete Wilson, but I would agree with him. Fantastic look-back at what is now history. I take all of this information as a great citizen lesson for the future of California.

Great podcast! They interview with Pete Wilson was golden! Gracias Gustavo!

لعدد ال ل اثر ونمو النصف

Excellent podcast!!! I love yhe host and the theme music!

An amazing podcast explaining a topic that often goes unmentioned

Poor attempt at putting lipstick on the pig that is illegal immigration. Laws are laws. Breaking laws is not an entitlement. It is illegal. Explains why there is a mass exodus from California today.

I saw this and didn’t know what it was but once I saw Gustavo’s name I knew it would be good stuff!

This is California: The Battle of 187 is the first podcast I’ve listened to, and I think it’s great! I’ve lived in Orange County all my life, and I didn’t know of prop 187. I was born after this happened, but it’s neat to learn about what the political climate was while my parents were living through it as illegal immigrants. It’s as if to live it through their eyes, or should I say ears. Overall I'm looking forward to new episodes!

Truly great mini podcast. I was only around 12 years old at the time, but was caught up in the emotions of this bill non the less.

Not enough media covers the horrific treatment of Latinos in America. Past, present, and current bigotry is washed over or ignored. We have seen the impact of this. Children are still ripped away from families at the border; some have died in our care. Our asylum system has imploded. Puerto Rico remains in shambles. When bigotry is ignored, people die. Prop 187 could have had that impact. We can’t wait for Trump, like 187, to pass. People have to act now. Thank you so much for educating them.

Loved this. Really well done no matter what side you’re on.

Gustavo Arrellano speaks to Pete Wilson and gives insight to the Prop 187 ordeal. The wakening of a sleeping giant... the Latino community.

I don’t understand why Gustavo encourages protesting Latinos to wave Mexican flags. Doesn’t that prove conservatives’ fears right rather than proving them wrong? If white Americans went over to Mexico and demanded government benefits and waved around American flags wouldn’t that piss people off?

Well done Gustavo. I am a 70 years old legal immigrant that emigrated from communism. My parents brought me here. The solution to illegal immigration is a form of guest worker program. From your exposure to the immigration issues illegal or otherwise, what impressions are you receiving from the people you talk with, why is there no media prodding or political prodding to this topic of guest worker program? ‘Bracero program’ comes to mind. Just curious... did your dad ever speak with you if he searched for some form of guest worker program that he could come to US with to avoid the stigma and pain of being here illegally?

Great job to all involved— a great introduction to the issue whether you don’t know much about it or whether you lived through it. The bonus episode with Pete Wilson is worth a listen. I wish all our politicians had more conversations like this.

Entertaining and informative! As a newer Californian I didn’t know much if anything about 187. This podcast balances the dark aspects of immigration debate with moments of humor and joy. Great listen.

Should California be a nation ,Probably. ( will follow up )

I’m sorry, but if you live in a country and don’t speak the language after 35 years.... that’s failure upon you and your dependents. Typical la times lowest common denominator politically driven lazy “journalism.” Trust me, I neglected proper grammar considering this “journalist” did as well

Sad, the same people you interact with throughout your day with a smile on their face in reality don't want you here.

Good reporting and an important story in our nation‘s history

Zero research done to demonstrate the facts and figures that motivated the voters. How much money was this issue costing the state?

Fantastic reporting!! Powerful message.

The interview with Pete Wilson was difficult to listen to. The host and his producer edited it to jump in and “fact check” Mr. Wilson in medias res. I imagine Mr. Wilson would have had rebuttals to those claims. In addition, the host repeatedly brought the personal to the policy question. Yes, his father was undocumented and it is difficult to personalize enforcement of illegal immigration. While repeatedly raising this point he misses the obvious mirror image: do the American people who have been here for generations have any right to decide an immigration policy? Or does this man’s father have veto power over the Demos?

The left wing continues to control the narrative, presenting “facts” which is sympathetic to their views while ignoring any other side of the story. Not surprising, considering the source. As a lifelong Californian, I’ve seen my once golden state transformed to the progressive hellhole it is today. Only have 3 years left before retirement and I can escape to Free America.

I congratulate the LA Times and Futuro Studios on an extremely informative and compelling documentation of the history and legacy of Prop 187. The thoughtful yet pointed interviews with both proponents and opponents of the Proposition were illuminating. I appreciate Gustavo Arellano injecting his personal stories and personality into the reportage. Loved when he challenged Wilson. Dude can sure talk fast! A triumph!

So glad to hear the story being told now. I was just right out of high school during this time and too busy being a single, young mom to fully realize what was going on. I'm Mexican American and can remember the hatred towards Latinos then (and ironically, now). I even heard it from African Americans, as well as whites, who would say things such as, "There are too many Mexicans here," even though not all the Latinos were Mexican. I grew up during a time when I saw first-hand the treatment towards Latinos, not just by whites. So, now when I hear about how only certain minority groups have it so bad, I respectfully would like to say, that while I do agree with the racism that still exists with African Americans, there still is subtle and not so subtle (thanks to Pete Wilson and Trump) racism against people of Latino origen. We are used as scapegoats and looked at as uneducated criminals. Throughout time, just about every group seen as "foreign" was campaigned against. I wish we could see how ridiculous and dangerous racism is and erradicate it once and for all.

The Battle of 187 was a great opening series for This is California. Perfect blend of the personal and the public in this compelling tale of anti-immigrant backlash in California. I lived through this as a young adult and still learned a bunch of stuff I didn’t know.

I absoultely love this podcast I am currently doing my Senior Thesis on Proposiiton 187. this sums up all my research! I love this thank you!

Loving these history lessons, I hope this is only the beginning of your podcast career. How awesome would it be if you made your own podcast (separate from LA times) and posted on YouTube!!?! *wishful thinking*

Absolutely brilliant! Thorough analysis of the key time is recent history. This series should be a high school civics requirement.

I just recently got into listening to podcasts and this was such an amazing one to listen to. I’m from California but I was born after this happened (‘99) but my mom’s side of the family immigrated here from Guatemala (during the late 60s). And to hear that this happened in a state like California, is absolutely insane but I’m glad that it no longer exists there. There are a lot of similarities between Trump and Wilson and it scares me to see what is going to happen in this day and age in regards to immigration. Anyways, great podcast and can’t wait to hear more from “This is California” series. 👏🏼😊

Good stuff Gustavo!

Really enjoyed listening to your podcast. The battle is an important part of our history and mostly forgotten until now. Look forward to more podcasts from Gustavo. Gracias! ⚡️

As always, CA went thru what the rest of us are going thru right now. Spoiler: it turns out just fine and the food is way better. Seriously, listen to the series- v informative and fair.

Highly recommended! For the young and the Young hearts! This is a must. Let’s use it as a footprint in 2020. We got strong then we will get stronger against the racist. Listen and VOTE! Si se puede💪👍💯✔️

Another fantastic journalism piece by Gustavo Arellano. I came across Gustavo while listening to The Tom Leykis Show and have followed Gustavo ever since. I am so glad he is with the LA Times. This series keeps you entertained and informed. I grew up during Prop 187 but I was young so I never understood it until now. Thanks Gustavo!!!

Great production in delivery & reporting!

Love this podcast. I've always wondered about how Prop 187 prompted a new Latino political movement. It did something LULAC, NCLR or the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project couldn't do: get massive number of Latinos to register to vote. California went one way. Texas went another. Gustavo does a great job at breaking down this history.

¡Viva la Resistencia!

Thank you for bringing some light into a pivotal moment in California history.

Interesting, well documented but one sided. Arellano equates Mexican with brown and hints that all “whites” are bad. There are a multitude of white Mexican citizens, thanks to 300 years of Spanish influence. The French spent time there too. Plus, if a person of Mexican heritage is born in the US, he or she is an American.

Very well put together, the interview with the couple was interesting, to this date they claim race is not the issue. It always has been, thanks to Trump to expose all of the closest nativists. We keep electing Chicano/POC to the Assembly and Senate, the GOP is irrelevant, thanks for the podcast!

I marched, I campaigned against 187, I cried the day it passed. I am amazed how much California has changed. Gustavo made re-lived that period of my life again.

Well done. Excellent reporting

Great podcast, well researched, well performed, I’ll be sharing it with as many people as I can. And the best part is Gustavo makes me think and ask questions! Gracias!

This 3-part series is a MUST LISTEN for anyone wanting to learn more about the social, political, and economic factors underpinning California’s political transformation into the progressive powerhouse that is leading the Trump resistance. Gustavo Arellano, an expert on Latinos in California, is a brilliant journalist who provides new insights into the various factions—nativists, republican operatives, and OC political consultants—who capitalized on feelings of racial threat to get Prop 187 on the ballot in a time of rapid demographic change and economic decline. Arellano chronicles how Gov. Pete Wilson’s re-election, won via a racist and nativist campaign, was a Pyrrhic victory that ended his long political career and republican power in the Golden State. Arellano also incorporates interviews with Latino/a journalists, activists, and elected officials to demonstrate the lasting effect that Prop 187 has had on Latino/as in the Golden State and how the racist Prop 187 transformed the state into what is today via activism and electoral politics. Filled with Easter eggs for those who grew up in Orange County, LA, or California during this era, this podcast brings thoughtful nuance and important new details to the Prop 187 legacy and serves as a window into the current battle for the soul of our nation.

The parallels to now are striking. This is a great podcast to show how we got to the place we are today.