Podcast Summary: CANCELLED ❌ — Destapando las Cloacas del PSOE

Host: Wall Street Wolverine (Víctor)
Guest: Alejandro Entrambasaguas (investigative journalist, El Debate)
Date: November 16, 2025
Episode Title: DESTAPANDO las CLOACAS del PSOE: ZAPATERO, BEGOÑA GÓMEZ, DAVID SÁNCHEZ y ÁBALOS

Overview

This episode offers a deep-dive investigation into alleged corruption, nepotism, and questionable dealings within Spain’s ruling Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). Investigative journalist Alejandro Entrambasaguas shares explosive revelations featured in his latest book “La Sagrada Familia,” focusing on the inner circle of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Topics include the cases of José Luis Ábalos, Begoña Gómez, David Sánchez, and former president Zapatero, as well as the personal risks and ethics involved in investigative reporting.

1. The Endless Cycle of Corruption in Spain

Start: 00:57

• Víctor asks if Spain is condemned to perpetual mega-scandals relating to corruption.

• Quote: "¿Está condenada España a vivir cada tanto un mega escándalo de corrupción?" (Víctor, 00:57)

• Entrambasaguas introduces himself, outlining his credentials in exposing political scandals and his role as head of investigation at El Debate.
  (03:36–04:18)

2. How The Investigations Started

Key segment: 04:29–05:22

• Entrambasaguas began investigating Pedro Sánchez’s circle as soon as he took office (June 1, 2018).
• Focus rapidly extended from Sánchez himself to his wife, brother, and key political allies.
• The first major figure investigated was former minister José Luis Ábalos.

3. The Ábalos Case — Loyalty and Downfall

Main focus: 01:06, 06:08–09:50

• Ábalos's loyalty: Repeated throughout the episode, Entrambasaguas insists Ábalos was the “más fiel” (most loyal), and that this loyalty blinded him to his legal peril.
  • Quote: "Ábalos ha sido el más fiel o está siendo el más fiel de todos… José Luis Ábalos va a acabar en la cárcel de manera segura, estoy convencido." (Entrambasaguas, 08:08)
• Ministerial dismissal: Officially linked to pandemic burnout, but Entrambasaguas reveals it was triggered by inside leaks about Central Operational Unit (UCO) investigations into Ábalos and his associates.
• Strategy: Ábalos refused a plea deal; preferred to keep party secrets rather than betray Zapatero or expose more.

4. Zapatero — Wealth, International Dealings, and Impunity

Segments: 01:26, 09:50–14:24

• Unexplained Wealth: Entrambasaguas details Zapatero’s expensive property purchases paid in cash, questioning their sources given Zapatero's refusal of an ex-president’s pension.
  • Quote: "Es un misterio que a día de hoy, tantos años después, no se conozcan cuáles son las fuentes de ingreso de un expresidente del Gobierno." (13:00)
• International mediation: Zapatero’s active role in Venezuela, Russia, and China, especially in supporting authoritarian regimes and facilitating international deals for personal or party gain.
• Collaboration with Xi Jinping: Alleged direct communication, always with financial incentives.

5. Changing Global Alliances and Spanish Foreign Policy

Segments: 14:24–15:41

• Spain’s foreign policy described as non-transparent and erratic.
• Examples given of Spanish officials interfering or benefiting from international confusion or alliances with controversial leaders (e.g., Maduro, China).
• Trump’s sporadic commentary on Spain; potential shifts if politically expedient.

6. The Coldo García and Contract Kickback Web

Segments: 16:00–18:53

• Coldo’s insurance policy: From the start, Coldo Garcia recorded conversations as a self-preservation measure, leading to a series of revelations connecting high-ranking PSOE leaders, including Ábalos and possibly Sánchez himself.
• Web of contracts: Extensive detailing of how contracts were allocated in exchange for commissions, with Víctor de Aldama as a pivotal fixer.
• The same connections surface in scandals relating to the President’s wife and brother, showing the interconnectedness of the corruption.

7. The David Sánchez (Brother of the PM) Affair

Segments: 18:53–25:15

• Workplace absenteeism and double-office fabrication in Badajoz.
• Residency moved “in theory” to Portugal to pay less tax; lived in Spain, covered tracks by using cash and giving up mobile phones.
  • Quote: "Nunca vivió en Portugal. Estaba viviendo en territorio español. Concretamente vivía escondido en el Palacio de la Moncloa." (23:30)
• Scandalous coartada: Badajoz provincial government manufactured a cover-story office for him after being tipped off about the ongoing investigation.

8. Family Business and Public Subsidies

Segments: 25:15–28:00

• President’s parents’ plastics business received over €1 million in public aid during the pandemic, funneled through a shell corporation created by a trusted employee.
• The operation was hidden by using family proxies but was eventually tied through administrative details.

9. Converting Power into Privilege and Nepotism

Segments: 28:00–32:44

• Detailed examples of family members and confidants obtaining lucrative posts or deals once Sánchez was in power.
• High-ranking officials benefiting directly or through close family members.
• Notable quote: "Convertir el poder en privilegio y el privilegio en negocio." (Entrambasaguas, 28:13)

10. Begoña Gómez — From Modeling Dreams to Political Power

Segments: 32:44–36:17

• Begoña’s background: Early ambitions as a lingerie model, involvement in her father’s “sauna” business (actually brothels).
• Academic leap: Attained a custom-made “cátedra extraordinaria” at Universidad Complutense without academic qualifications.
• Public/private crossover: Used her connections for influence-peddling, especially in raiding Air Europa’s rescue package and “consulting” for IBEX 35 companies.
  • Quote: "La esposa del presidente del gobierno, la imputada más protegida de España..." (Entrambasaguas, 32:50)

11. Sexual Favors, Brothels, and Extortion

Segments: 36:17–38:14, 57:31–64:48

• Young women involved with Ábalos were placed in official positions (proven by police and journalistic investigations).
• The vast network of brothels ("saunas") run by Begoña Gómez’s father played a role in both financing political campaigns and gathering blackmail material against key figures.
  • Quote: "Lo primero que habría que aclarar es que no son saunas, que son prostíbulos." (Entrambasaguas, 57:37)
• Cameras for extortion: Surveillance in these premises led to collecting compromising footage used for future leverage.

12. The Culture of Impunity and Societal Desensitization

Segments: 47:31–50:25

• Public outrage fatigue as successive scandals bury previous ones; “la sociedad al final está perdiendo el escandalizarse.”
• Despite the scale of cases, Entrambasaguas remains pessimistic about widespread change due to political and media machinery shielding those in power.
  • Quote: "Un escándalo de corrupción que publicamos hoy tapa el de ayer..." (Entrambasaguas, 47:45)

13. The Risk and Reality of Investigative Journalism

Segments: 50:25–56:02

• Constant institutional pressure, legal harassment, and campaigns to discredit reporters.
• Personal anecdotes about legal intimidation by Iglesias and Montero, pointing out the theatrics deployed in court.
• Necessity of resilience and the intrinsic public service offered by investigative journalism.
  • Quote: "[La] labor... es un poco de servicio público, porque personas que presuntamente han podido cometer delitos gracias a nuestras investigaciones acaban sentados delante de un juez y en muchas ocasiones acaban en la cárcel." (51:09)

14. The Saunas and Political Financing

Segments: 57:31–64:48

• Evidence that “sauna” funds were funneled into Sánchez’s rise within PSOE.
• Authorities often helped cover up or dismiss evidence—example: the Spanish Data Protection Agency, led by a PSOE loyalist, burying police findings on hidden cameras.

15. The Future of Corruption Cases & Media Manipulation

Segments: 66:43–72:51

• Questions over whether Víctor de Aldama, key businessman/fixer, will avoid jail by collaborating with authorities.
• Entrambasaguas highlights the critical importance of protecting sources, which are often average people close to the main actors.
• Concerns about deepfakes and AI making journalistic verification even harder.

16. Surreal Elements & Investigative Anecdotes

Segments: 75:00–80:14

• The “surreal” nature of tracking David Sánchez, with cat-and-mouse games using disguises and counter-surveillance.
• Secretaries and “helpful” officials functioning as bodyguards or lookouts.
• Repeated dumb or obvious cover-ups, attributed to their sense of impunity.

17. Advice to Aspiring Investigative Journalists

Segments: 82:04–84:39

• Entrambasaguas urges aspiring journalists to be passionate, fearless against lawsuits (“el éxito se mide en el número de demandas ganadas”), and to learn from the best.
• The risk of being shunned by the industry, pressure from political sympathizers, and the heavy cost—financially and personally—of thorough investigative work.

18. Closing — What’s Coming Next?

Segments: 86:30–87:17

• Teaser: Before the end of 2025, a major PSOE figure close to Zapatero will be publicly implicated in the Coldo Ábalos contracts scandal.
• Entrambasaguas commits to breaking this news and continuing the fight against corruption.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Convertir el poder en privilegio y el privilegio en negocio.” (28:13)
• “En la pandemia hubo quienes se hicieron de oro.” (38:39)
• “Las fuentes para el periodista lo son todo y para el periodista de investigación ni te cuento.” (68:45)

Key Timestamps

• 00:57 — Opening question on corruption cycles
• 04:29 — How the Sánchez investigations began
• 08:08 — Ábalos’s “loyalty” and legal fate
• 13:00 — Zapatero’s suspect fortune
• 18:53 — The David Sánchez (hermano) cover-up
• 25:21 — Family business and pandemic subsidies
• 32:44 — Begoña Gómez: personal background to power
• 36:17 — Ábalos’s public positions for personal favors
• 38:39 — COVID pandemic as a boom for corruption
• 57:31 — The “saunas” (brothels) as political finance/blackmail instruments
• 66:43 — Will Aldama avoid jail?
• 75:00 — Most surreal field moments
• 82:04 — Advice to young investigative journalists
• 86:30 — Upcoming revelations teaser

Tone & Language

The episode maintains a sharply investigative, accusatory tone united by dark humor and a sense of incredulity at the breadth of corruption. Entrambasaguas is precise and methodical, often providing key details, dates, and personal field anecdotes, while Víctor offers disbelief, humor, and a populist viewpoint accessible to the audience.

Summary Prepared For: Listeners seeking an in-depth, critical review of high-profile Spanish political scandals, especially regarding the PSOE and Pedro Sánchez’s inner circle.