In recent weeks, Venezuela has been in the spotlight as two men, Nicolás Maduro and Juan Guaidó, assert their claims to the presidency amidst political and economic crisis. Many are watching the situation with growing anxiety, including a Venezuelan father and son. José Eduardo Vargas is a 28 year-old journalist living in Venezuela. His father, Ernesto Solo, is a filmmaker and art director who currently lives in New York City. He's also getting ready for a trip home to see his family. In this episode of Latino USA, father and son speak by phone about their memories, fears, and hopes for Venezuela.

Latino USA kicks off our coverage of the 2020 presidential elections with a conversation with Julián Castro, one of the first to declare candidacy. The Texas Democrat was the former mayor of San Antonio, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Obama and in 2016, he was on the short list of possible vice-presidential candidates for Hillary Clinton. Now, he believes that his time has come. Maria Hinojosa talks to Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro about his vision for the country and how he plans to stand out in a crowded Democratic field.

It's almost Valentine's Day, and we couldn't help ourselves. Latino USA is bringing you a love story of student activism. We're taking you back to 1968, when thousands of students participated in a series of protests that helped spark the Chicano Movement, historically known as the East L.A. Walkouts. It's also when high school sweethearts and student organizers Bobby Verdugo and Yoli Ríos danced to a Thee Midniters song and fell in love.

If there is a Ranchera Royal family, that is the Aguilar family. And Angela Aguilar is the youngest heir. Her father, Pepe Aguilar, has sold over 12 million albums worldwide and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And her grandfather, Antonio Aguilar, recorded more than 150 albums which sold more than 25 million copies. Now it's Angela's time. She is nominated for a Grammy for best regional Mexican album with her album "Primero Soy Mexicana". Angela talks to Maria Hinojosa about being 15, singing on stage for the first time at the age of 3, and how she uses social media.

In 1991, there was only one Walmart in Mexico, but by 2012, Walmart was Mexico's largest retailer with 2,000 locations. This week, Latino USA looks into how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) impacted public health in Mexico. Maria Hinojosa speaks with Alyshia Gálvez, anthropologist, immigration scholar, and author of the book "Eating Nafta: Trade, Food Policies, and the Destruction of Mexico." Dr. Gálvez explains what made Mexican cuisine so healthy prior to NAFTA and why Mexicans who used to purchase their food at a local market, now are much more likely to buy processed foods.

Maria Hinojosa sits down with Gina Rodriguez, star of the CW show "Jane the Virgin"—which is airing its final season this spring. The actress and director has been exploring new projects too; her action film "Miss Bala" just dropped. Set in Tijuana, Rodriguez plays a make-up artist who battles a cartel in order to save herself and her kidnapped friend. Maria Hinojosa sits down with the actress to talk about her passion for making Latino-focused work, and how growing up in a Puerto Rican family in Chicago made her into the performer she is today.