With just days until the midterm elections, the fight for political support from Latino voters is playing out in a multimillion-dollar battle for control of Spanish-language airwaves.
Partly in response to what they allege is a barrage of disinformation and misinformation on Spanish-language talk radio, a media company led by two former Democratic aides has embarked on a push to control 18 radio stations around the country, including a flagship of conservative talk radio in Miami, the station known as Radio Mambí.
The Latino Media Network purchased Mambí and 17 other Spanish-language radio stations from TelevisaUnivision in June. The company is run by two former Democratic political advisers, Stephanie Valencia and Jess Morales Rocketto, who worked on Barack Obama's and Hillary Clinton's political campaigns. Valencia also served as an official in the Obama White House.
Until the FCC gives final regulatory approval over the sale, which is expected to come later this year, the Latino Media Network will not be able to make any changes to the stations' broadcasts. Latino Media Network declined to talk with CBS News about the purchase, but provided a statement saying that "all points of view will be welcomed and encouraged."
Democrats extend quest for Spanish-speaking voters to radio airwaves https://t.co/f7x2ZHvviz via @CBSPolitics
— Tom Benson (@Tombenson1) November 3, 2022
The Latino Media Network paid $60 million for radio stations in Los Angeles, New York, Texas, Florida, Chicago and Las Vegas, among other locations. Lakestar Finance, an investment group affiliated with businessman and philanthropist George Soros, is a lead investor. Soros, a well-known progressive donor, attracted the attention of Republican politicians who have been fighting the acquisition.
"We know what Soros thinks about conservatives and what he thinks about Republicans," Salazar said. "I don't believe for one minute that Soros wants to be [im]partial, nonbiased."
"The people that he hired as their front people are going to do as he tells them," the congresswomen claimed.
While resistance from conservatives grows, González says it's all a narrative to scare people.
"I think people like to pretend that George Soros is the boogeyman and frankly, a lot of that is anti-Semitic. Not saying all of it, but we're seeing a lot of anti-Semitic narratives," said González, the Free Press co-CEO.
In its statement sent to CBS News, the Latino Media Network said the company "believe[s] in freedom of expression and a free press which values verifiable facts and balance."
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