Podcast Summary

Podcast: Hoy por Hoy
Host: Àngels Barceló (Cadena SER)
Episode: Miguel Ángel Campos desmonta el bulo de Mazón en el Congreso sobre la AEMET
Date: November 17, 2025

Overview

This episode tackles misinformation spread by Carlos Mazón, acting president of the Generalitat Valenciana, regarding an alleged decision by AEMET (the Spanish State Meteorological Agency) to downgrade weather alerts on the day of a major storm. Host Àngels Barceló and correspondent Miguel Ángel Campos break down Mazón’s falsehoods, explain how AEMET operates, and stress the importance of critical scrutiny regarding political narratives. The discussion emphasizes the ongoing societal challenge of combating political misinformation, especially concerning public safety and weather alerts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Allegation in Congress

• [00:01] Oscar Matute (H. Bildu) questions “whether AEMET had downgraded the alert level at 6 p.m., suggesting the storm was no longer a danger in the Valencian Community.”
• Barceló asks Campos to clarify what AEMET actually said and did:

  "¿Qué dijo la EMET y cuánto lo dijo cuándo lo dijo?"
  (Àngels Barceló, 00:06)

2. How AEMET Manages Alerts

• [00:24] Campos: Dismisses Mazón's claim as another baseless rumor ("bulo"), possibly either out of ignorance or bad faith.

• Explanation of AEMET’s process:

  • Alerts are issued in time intervals to improve accuracy (“franjas horarias”).
  • Red or orange alerts are given for specific hours; for example, alert covers 3:00–18:00, then updated for 18:00–20:00, etc.
  • This system refines the warning as the situation develops, not indicating that the danger disappears at a cutoff time.

  "La EMET establece las alertas por franjas horarias para intentar precisar lo máximo posible..."
  (Miguel Ángel Campos, 00:27)

  "AEMET trabaja de esta forma, establece los niveles de riesgo para afinar más ante una situación de extremo peligro como una alerta roja..."
  (Miguel Ángel Campos, 01:06)

3. Dissecting the Political Manipulation

• Mazón misrepresented these staggered updates to imply that AEMET had declared the danger over exactly at 18:00, thus downplaying the risk or blaming the agency.

• Campos points out this is a deliberate or ignorant misuse of standard meteorological procedure for political ends.

  "Eso le ha servido a Mazón para intentar colar el bulo una vez más, porque él está hablando de bulos, pero es él el que coló la mayor parte de los bulos de que a las 18 horas se acababa."
  (Miguel Ángel Campos, 01:29)

4. Specific Example: Deleting the False Tweet

• [01:51] Oscar Matute reminds listeners that Mazón deleted a tweet claiming the storm would move out towards Cuenca after 6 PM—a statement not supported by any AEMET forecast.

• Campos clarifies:

  • The agency’s actual, accurate forecast predicted that from 3 PM to 6 PM, the situation in the "zona prelitoral" (pre-coastal area) of Valencia would worsen—exactly as occurred.
  • L'Horta Sud (a region that was hit) is within this specified area.

  “Dijo, recordemos, que a partir de las 3 de la tarde, entre las 3 y las 6 de la tarde, se iba a agravar la situación en toda la zona prelitoral de la provincia. De Valencia y así sucedió.”
  (Miguel Ángel Campos, 02:05)

5. Commitment to Correcting Falsehoods

• Barceló and Campos commit to “seguir desmontando” (continue dismantling) further misinformation from Mazón as the segment proceeds ([02:22]).

  "Seguimos Campos escuchando a Carlos Mazón y seguimos desmontado algunas de las mentiras que está diciendo."
  (Àngels Barceló, 02:22)

Notable Quotes

• Miguel Ángel Campos [00:24]:
  “Es un bulo más de Carlos Mazón, no sé si denota desconocimiento o mala voluntad.”
• Miguel Ángel Campos [01:06]:
  “AEMET trabaja de esta forma, establece los niveles de riesgo para afinar más ante una situación de extremo peligro como una alerta roja, riesgo extraordinario para bienes y personas...”
• Miguel Ángel Campos [01:29]:
  “...Porque él está hablando de bulos, pero es él el que coló la mayor parte de los bulos de que a las 18 horas se acababa.”
• Miguel Ángel Campos [02:05]:
  “Dijo, recordemos, que a partir de las 3 de la tarde, entre las 3 y las 6 de la tarde, se iba a agravar la situación en toda la zona prelitoral de la provincia. De Valencia y así sucedió.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:01] - Introduction to the controversy: Oscar Matute questions Mazón’s claim about AEMET.
• [00:24] - Campos explains AEMET’s alert procedures and exposes the bulo.
• [01:50] - Reference to deleted tweet and specifics about forecasted danger zones.
• [02:22] - Host signals ongoing commitment to exposing further misinformation.

Conclusion

This episode offers a sharp, factual rebuttal to misinformation spread at the highest levels of regional government, using meteorological precision and critical thinking as tools to promote public understanding and media literacy. Barceló and Campos demonstrate how important it is to challenge political distortion of science, especially when public safety is at stake.