Podcast Summary: "La España que madruga" (20/03/2026)

Podcast: Más de uno
Host: Carlos Alsina (OndaCero)
Date: March 20, 2026

Overview

This episode of "La España que madruga" is a lively and sharp satirical review of Spain's early risers—journalists, news junkies, and political commentators—mixed with news analysis, humor, and poetic flair. The team led by Carlos Rodríguez Brown, alongside political analyst Dani, poet Abigail Lozano, and sports reporter José Casillas, dives into the day’s top headlines, politics, the economic situation, sports updates, and ends with a unique poetic recap. The show is a blend of insightful commentary, media sarcasm, and good-natured banter, embodying the iconic tone of Spanish morning radio.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Satirical Opening: The Life of Early Risers

• The episode kicks off with a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the "España que madruga": those who get up at dawn to catch and interpret the day’s events, often described as notaries of reality—sometimes accused of fabricating news for public consumption.

  • Notable Quote:
    Spanish News Commentator 1 (00:41):
    "Son notarios de la actualidad para escribir más mentiras, para vender más periódicos adelantados de la opinión."

• The group pokes fun at their own profession, with playful barbs about freedom, exhaustion, and the uniquely Spanish journalistic spirit.

2. Political Headlines Recap

• Lack of Government Budgets:
  Dani highlights Spain’s unprecedented situation: the absence of both a government majority and of presented (let alone approved) budgets.

  • Quote:
    Dani (03:09):
    "No habrá presupuestos. No me refiero a presupuestos aprobados. No habrá siquiera presupuestos elaborados, presentados tal y como obliga la Constitución."

• Sánchez and the EU:
  Discussion about the Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez's evasiveness regarding budget questions at an EU event in Brussels.

  • The press covers the ongoing crisis, Spain facing its first major global crisis with an incomplete government apparatus.

• EU on the Iran Conflict:
  Reporting on the EU urging de-escalation in the Middle East, yet showing ambiguity by avoiding direct references to the US and Israel (03:00–03:45).

• Political Satire:
  Observations on Donald Trump’s unpredictability and Netanyahu's high-profile actions inject timely global context and satire.

  • Quote:
    Spanish News Commentator 2 (02:57):
    "¿Qué os parece más inquietante, que Donald Trump sepa lo que hace o que no sepa lo que está haciendo?"

3. Review of Domestic Issues and Press Coverages (04:40–08:35)

• Defence Spending:
  Increasing military expenditure under Sánchez, despite his anti-war rhetoric (04:49):

  • Quote:
    Dani: "El no a la guerra de Sánchez es el que más gasto en defensa conlleva. Sánchez lo elevará en 2.300 millones más..."

• Coalition Tension:
  The government coalition suffers strains around anti-crisis decrees and other policy divides.

• Scandals and Corruption:
  Updates on parliamentary and institutional scandals, including scrutiny on relationships between business and political figures.

• Cultural and Social Tidbits:

  • van Klmer will be resurrected by AI for a new film role (08:27).
  • Discussion on the withdrawal of an iconic ice cream to quirky takes on AI and voting tendencies.

4. Economics and International Markets (08:36–10:28)

• Financial News Rundown:
  Rodríguez Brown and Lozano dissect economic front pages:

  • Indra’s boardroom maneuvers.
  • Gas prices doubling.
  • Foreign banks betting against European private credit.
  • The ECB’s pledge to tackle inflation.
  • Mixed international perspectives:
    • Lex (Financial Times) foresees a manageable energy crisis.
    • WSJ warns: oil could jump to $180/barrel.

• Geopolitical Risk:
  Eugene Kontorovich’s (George Mason University) comments on potential US legislative "punishments" for Spain under Trump, not tariffs but anti-boycott laws.

• African Investment:
  The Economist: Africa's future lies in investment, not aid—a hopeful sign for the continent.

• Economic Cartoon of the Day

  • Two missiles discuss what they’d rather be (hospital or school), with one turning a deaf ear to Pedro Sánchez (10:12–10:28).

5. Sports Update (10:30–12:32)

• Spanish Football’s European Success:
  Six Spanish teams in European quarter-finals—prompting talk of tight schedules and increased injury risk.

  • Quote:
    José Casillas (10:34):
    "Serán seis los equipos españoles que van a jugar los cuartos por lo que la Liga presume en la Unión Europea..."

• Key Fixtures and Player News:

  • Real Madrid, Barça, Atleti, and others have critical matches and player injuries.
  • Preview of upcoming games: Villarreal–Real Sociedad, Madrid–Atleti derby, Barça–Rayo.
  • Updates in tennis (Alcaraz in Miami), MotoGP Brazil (first time since ‘87), Athletics (Duplantis in pole vault), and EuroLeague basketball.

6. Weekly Poetic Recap (12:38–13:52)

• Abigail Lozano delivers a witty, lyrical summary, connecting current events to literary allusions and listeners’ stories.
  • Invokes Cortázar’s poetry, the Fallas festivities, listener anecdotes, political satire, and popular culture.
    • Quote:
      Abigail Lozano (12:43):
      "Evocamos a Cortázar y todos los fuegos. El fuego, tu destino consumible. En Fallas. Alsina trajo el tiempo del ruego."

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• "Son notarios de la actualidad para escribir más mentiras, para vender más periódicos adelantados de la opinión."
  – Spanish News Commentator 1 (00:41)

• "No habrá presupuestos. No me refiero a presupuestos aprobados. No habrá siquiera presupuestos elaborados, presentados tal y como obliga la Constitución."
  – Dani (03:09)

• "¿Qué os parece más inquietante, que Donald Trump sepa lo que hace o que no sepa lo que está haciendo?"
  – Spanish News Commentator 2 (02:57)

• "Serán seis los equipos españoles que van a jugar los cuartos por lo que la Liga presume en la Unión Europea..."
  – José Casillas (10:34)

• "Evocamos a Cortázar y todos los fuegos. El fuego, tu destino consumible..."
  – Abigail Lozano (12:43)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:31 – 01:07 | Satirical Ode to Early Risers
• 02:20 – 03:07 | Quick-fire Political Q&A: Budgets, Netanyahu, Trump
• 03:09 – 06:15 | Newspaper Headlines: Spanish Politics and Global Affairs
• 06:19 – 08:35 | Cultural/Media Reactions & Curiosities
• 08:36 – 10:28 | Economic News Round-Up
• 10:30 – 12:32 | In-Depth Sports Coverage
• 12:38 – 13:52 | Poetic Recap of the Week

Conclusion

This episode offers a finger-on-the-pulse review of Spanish news, combining robust political and economic analysis with humor, popular culture, and poetry. By weaving together headline news, biting commentary, and a playful spirit, "La España que madruga" remains a quintessential example of Spanish morning radio that caters to information lovers and lovers of wit alike.