Podcast Summary: Más de uno — La España que madruga (22/12/2025)

Host: Carlos Alsina (Onda Cero)
Date: December 22, 2025

Overview

This episode of "La España que madruga" delivers the morning roundup on the day of the great Spanish Christmas Lottery, blending sharp political analysis, economic updates, press reviews, and a touch of irreverent humor. Hosted by Carlos Alsina with regular contributors, including Professor Carlos Rodríguez Brown and journalist Daniel Ramírez García Mina (Dani), discussion centers on the aftermath of the Extremadura regional elections and their implications for national politics, the reaction of the Spanish and international press, economic news, and a playful review of the sports week.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening: Homage to Early Risers & Journalistic Satire

• The episode opens with tongue-in-cheek banter about the dedication (and hardships) of morning journalists.

• Notable Quote (00:33, Radio Host 1):

  "Renuncian a dormir para otear lo que trae el día. Oh, el poder de la prensa. Son notarios de la actualidad."

• Satirical commentary lampoons media egos and the thinly veiled contempt with which journalists are sometimes treated.

• Notable Quote (00:59, Radio Host 2):

  "Aquí se tiene muy poco respeto a la prensa."

2. The Panel: Introductions and Good Cheer

• Carlos Alsina welcomes his regular panel, with each contributor exchanging light-hearted greetings.
• Professor Rodríguez Brown recommends a recent book, showing the show's penchant for intellectual curiosity.
• (01:22) Quick catch-ups and running in-jokes about contributors' energy levels.

3. Political Focus: The Fallout from the Extremadura Elections

• The morning's headline issue is the regional elections in Extremadura and their national significance.

• Alsina lists "7 and a half" pointed questions exploring:

  • The PSOE’s collapse and attempts to play down their defeat.
  • María Guardiola’s underwhelming results despite leading the PP.
  • Vox’s surge and concern over the rise of political extremes.
  • The future of ‘sanchismo’ (the politics associated with PM Pedro Sánchez).

• Notable Segment:

  • Alsina's rapid-fire questions (02:23–03:34) challenge conventional party narratives and highlight anxieties about both left and right.
  • Quote (02:34, Radio Host 1):

    "¿No es escandaloso que el PSOE trate de encubrir el estrépito de su fracaso diciendo que Guardiola no ha alcanzado la mayoría absoluta?"

4. Press Roundup: How the Major Papers Framed It

• Dani surveys the national and regional media’s coverage, noting a consensus on PSOE’s disaster and the strengthening of the PP-Vox axis.

  • Right-leaning papers herald a “historic” defeat for the left.
  • Left-leaning outlets emphasize the dangerous growth of Vox.

• Notable Quote (05:55, Dani):

  "Es una paradoja verdaderamente interesante la de los periódicos en España. Los triunfos de Vox se amplifican mucho más en los diarios de izquierdas que en los de derechas."

• ABC’s director calls for rapprochement between conservative leaders Feijóo and Abascal, underlining a potential new era in right-wing alliances.

5. Digging into the Numbers & New Political Geography

• Dani presents statistical curiosities:

  • In Badajoz, Vox overtook PSOE.
  • PP's win is bittersweet—dependent on Vox, far from a majority.
  • Analysts see Extremadura becoming “a new Andalucía”: a conservative heartland.

• Quote (06:04, Dani):

  "María Guardiola destaca en todas las crónicas... pero solo ha obtenido un escaño, 29, y se ha quedado lejos de los 33 de la mayoría absoluta."

• Widespread press agreement: the PSOE collapse signals the possible end of “sanchismo.”

6. Columnists, Quirks, and Culture

• The team reviews notable op-eds and lighter stories.

  • From wrangling over "Wrangler" jeans to celebrity family drama.
  • International headlines: Meta’s cutbacks in the ‘metaverse’; supermarket cheese and wine theft; Parisian state china being stolen.

• Memorable Moment (07:56–09:29):

  • Rapid-fire exchange of quirky headlines, showing the breadth of the morning press and the hosts’ ability to mix gravitas with levity.

7. Business and Economic News: Wake Up with Prof. Rodríguez Brown

• Key economic headlines:

  • Energy giants poaching customers.
  • Investment opportunities in Canada.
  • Social security to collect significantly more from high earners.
  • A jab at “solidarity” taxes.
  • International: Concerns over the weak yen; car industry innovations; European bureaucratic chaos.

• Quote/Joke (10:44, Prof. Rodríguez Brown):

  “Este gobierno ha acabado con la igualdad entre españoles. Hasta en la lotería he oído que las mujeres del PSOE tienen muchas más posibilidades de que les toque el gordo.”

8. Sports Recap: Numbers, Results, and Lighthearted Analysis

• Review of La Liga’s latest round:

  • Athletic and Barça’s performance, Real Madrid’s ongoing woes with Vinícius.
  • Stat: 86% of Madridistas would sell Vinícius (highlight of fan sentiment).
  • Quick summaries of other matches and coaching updates.

• Quote (11:08, Sports Commentator):

  "Cada vez que se abre la tolva sale la bola de Xavi Alonso... y los pitos del Bernabéu al brasileño dan también para un chocolate con churros."

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Satirizing Journalists’ Early Start

  “Son la España que madruga. Sé que hablo en nombre de todos los radio oyentes al expresarles la gran admiración que siento por usted. Está diciendo imbécil.”

  • Radio Host 1 (01:01)

• Dani on Media’s Vox Coverage

  “La izquierda necesita esos logros de Vox para intentar gobernar y la derecha mediática, temerosa de la extrema derecha, no quiere editorialmente que el PP gobierne con Vox.”

  • Dani (05:55)

• Economic Humor from Rodríguez Brown

  “No, señora, eso no es solidaridad.”

  • Prof. Rodríguez Brown (10:41), on increased social security contributions.

• Lottery Day Banter

  “Hay ricos alfajores ahí.”

  • Prof. Rodríguez Brown (12:37)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:30] – 01:15: Satirical look at early-rising journalists
• [01:18] – 02:14: Panel introductions and book recommendation
• [02:23] – 03:34: Alsina’s “7 y media” questions on Extremadura elections
• [03:34] – 05:55: Dani’s press review of election aftermath
• [05:55] – 07:13: Detailed rundown of key numbers and columnists’ takes
• [09:30] – 10:41: Rodríguez Brown’s business and economic roundup
• [11:08] – 12:37: Sports week summary with festive references

Tone & Language

• The episode is characterized by witty banter, sardonic humor, and a conversational style, mixing high-level political analysis with colloquial expressions and cultural references. The show flows swiftly from one topic to another, maintaining a balance between seriousness and levity that is a signature of Carlos Alsina’s team.

Summary

For listeners who missed the episode, “La España que madruga” offers an engaging digest of Spanish political turmoil following the Extremadura elections, a trenchant critique of partisan media coverage, a broad sample of press oddities, sharp economic commentary from Professor Rodríguez Brown, and the latest sports and cultural tidbits—all delivered with the warmth and “pique” of a tightly-knit morning crew.