Podcast Summary – Más de Uno (Onda Cero)

Episode Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Carlos Alsina
Main Contributors: Sergio del Molino, Irene Ramírez, Roberto Brasero, and guests

Overview of the Episode

This episode of Más de Uno with Carlos Alsina delivers the day's essential news and characteristic wit, blending detailed weather warnings, intense parliamentary developments, major government decrees (notably on pensions and immigration), transport and education disruptions due to storms, and a range of societal and cultural features. A highlight is a thorough, live interview with Elma Saiz, the government’s spokesperson and Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, addressing the day's critical political controversies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meteorological Crisis: The ‘Christine’ Storm

• Severe Storms: The episode opens with updates on storm Christine, which is sweeping Spain with hurricane-force winds, blizzards, and heavy rain (“borrasca tras borrasca”).
• Regions Most Affected: Warnings are active in all 17 autonomous communities, with Almería, Extremadura, Andalucía, Castilla y León, and Madrid suffering notably.
  • "Hay aviso rojo en el valle de Almanzora y Los Vélez, en la provincia de Almería." (Carlos Alsina, [00:00])
• School Closures: 77 municipalities (Almería, Málaga, Cádiz) and all of Extremadura suspend classes for safety.
• Traffic Disruption: Over 100 roads are affected; major thoroughfares near Madrid are blocked by snow, trapping motorists for hours.
  • "Obligatorio el uso de cadenas en todos los puertos de montaña de la Comunidad de Madrid. En todos ellos hay que circular con cadenas." (Óscar Plaza, [174:12])

Notable Quotes

• "El cóctel de viento, fenómenos costeros y agua es un cóctel que desde luego merece la preocupación…” (Carlos Alsina, [00:49])
• "La Dirección General de Tráfico recomienda consultar el estado de las carreteras antes de echarse a las vías." (Carlos Alsina, [48:50])

2. Parliamentary Storm: Government Loses Decree Vote

• “Decreto Ómnibus” Rejected: Government’s catch-all decree—bundling pension revaluation (2.7%), social aid, and anti-eviction measures—is voted down by an opposition coalition (PP, Vox, Junts).
• Political Accusations: Government claims the opposition holds pensioners “hostage”; opposition insists on separating measures for honest debate.
  • "El Partido Popular toma como rehenes a los jubilados y jubiladas de nuestro país." (Carlos Alsina quoting, [03:41])
  • "Votaremos que sí a la revalorización de las pensiones cuando la presenten sin el chantaje..." (Míriam Nogueras, Junts, [07:54])
• History Repeats: Alsina notes this is exactly how last year’s pension increase stalled, ending with a standalone decree after political brinkmanship (“el día de la marmota”).

Notable Quotes

• "[El gobierno] está en esta táctica de ahora, que es como tiene fracturado el bloque de investidura, permitiendo que cada uno de los socios se cuelgue medallas..." (Carlos Alsina, [47:48])
• "No es verdad que las pensiones estén en riesgo. No lo estaban entonces ni lo están ahora." (Carlos Alsina, [92:12])

3. Immigration Policy: Major Regularization Announced

• Extraordinary Regularization: The government unveils a Real Decreto to regularize up to 500,000 immigrants who arrived before Dec 31 and can prove five months’ residency.
• Political Fractures: Podemos claims credit for pushing the PSOE; PP and Vox announce plans to challenge the measure in Europe and the courts.
• Broader Debate: Discussion of the appropriateness of using decree powers for such measures versus full parliamentary debate.
  • "Regularización exprés durante tres meses… El PP tiene intención de llevar a Europa su rechazo a una medida…” (Alsina, [01:05])
  • "Estamos reforzando un modelo migratorio basado en derechos humanos, en integración, en convivencia…” (Elma Saiz, [32:28])

Notable Quotes

• "Nosotras estamos dispuestas a abrir esa negociación…. Primero papeles, luego lo demás." (Ione Belarra, Podemos, [10:47])
• "Es un reconocimiento de la dignidad humana, una oportunidad para el bien común." (Luis Argüello, Conferencia Episcopal, [13:21])

4. Minister Elma Saiz Interview ([137:16] to [169:53])

Topics:

• Negotiation with Junts: Admits constant dialogue but deflects on specifics, persistently attributing responsibility for parliamentary failure to the PP.
• Why Omnibus Decree?: Defends bundling of measures as necessary for “el escudo social,” never directly addressing why pensions aren't separated out for an easy win.
• On Regularization Timing: Attributes move to stalled ILP in Congress and positions the decree as following through on social and political legitimacy while fending off accusations of opportunism.
• On Parliament vs. Decree Rule: Repeatedly frames government action as “legal and proper” but avoids clear preference for parliamentary route. Defends dialogue with Podemos as crucial.
  • "Este procedimiento no son cuestiones que se hacen en un día… requiere meses de trabajo y conocimiento…" (Elma Saiz, [152:32])

Notable Quotes

• "Lo que estamos haciendo es buscar la verdad, lo que pasó, para dar respuesta allí… sin perder de vista el estar con las víctimas.” (Elma Saiz, on Adamuz crash, [167:13])
• "España está abriendo el New York Times y está siendo un país que… está siendo un país mejor." (Elma Saiz, [154:29])

5. Accidents, Health, and Further News

• Adamuz & Yelida Rail Accidents: €20 million in aid allocated; Minister admits to being “molesto” by the investigative commission’s independence.
• Vaccine Scandal: Over 250 minors in Euskadi received expired vaccines—government says no risk, but affected children must be re-vaccinated.
• Commuter Chaos: Ongoing operational collapses in Catalan Rodalíes; government attempts a “national repair pact.”
• Judicial & Economic Headlines:
  • Indulto requests for ex-fiscal García Ortiz.
  • Paro drops below 10% for first time since 2008.
  • Unions demand a 12% pay rise in 3 years.

Notable Quotes

• "Una anomalía. Los decretos ómnibus… son una irregularidad." (Carlos Alsina, [125:13])
• "El paro baja por debajo del 10% en España por primera vez desde 2008." (Roberto Brasero, [15:39])

6. Human/Listener Stories: Trapped in Snow ([189:17+] Multiple segments)

Live calls from motorists stranded in snow around Madrid:

• Long delays, logistical headaches, but also resilience and humor.
  • "¿Os alegrais de no ir a cole? Sí, claro.” (Elena’s kids, [219:11])
  • "Esto es una aventura. Un buen recuerdo ya, para siempre." (Elena, [219:43])
• Service journalism: DGT guidance, road updates, collective empathy.

7. Cultural Feature: Radioficción (Live Play)

• A creative segment transforms the board game chess into a historical fiction radio drama, featuring voices from the cast and guest actors.
• Chess-Themed Reflection: Historical analogies drawn between war and chess; themes of ambition and consequence.
• Audience Participation: Listeners vote on the game-plot to be dramatized.

News Analysis & Press Review ([76:07] onwards)

• Alsina and team dissect how the press is split or united on government decrees, with nuanced differences between papers (El Mundo, La Vanguardia favorable to regularization but wary of process; ABC and La Razón critical).
• Press on Decree Defeat: “Gobierno no logra subir las pensiones al meterlas en un decreto ómnibus” (El Mundo).
• Press on Immigration: “Regularización sin control democrático no es progreso” (ABC).

Memorable Moments & Tone

• Satire & Irony: Alsina’s biting wit on political “paripé” (charade), constant references to “el día de la marmota” (Groundhog Day) for political recursion.
• Empathy: Genuine connection with listeners stuck in traffic, turning shared adversity into community radio.
• Minister Interview: Direct but polite, pressing for clarity that is rarely forthcoming.
• Cultural Whimsy: The Radioficción chess drama melds radio theater and history, underlining the program’s eclectic style.

Key Timestamps

• 00:00 Weather crisis alerts begin (Alsina)
• 01:05 Impact on schools, special civil protection measures
• 06:59 Parliamentary defeat of Omnibus Decree
• 10:47 Podemos on immigration negotiations
• 13:21 Church supports regularization
• 15:39 Weather forecast (Brasero)
• 47:48 Explainer: The pension decree saga and coalition tactics
• 92:12 Alsina’s “Groundhog Day” monologue on political repetition
• 137:16 – 170:00 Elma Saiz interview
• 189:17+ Audience call-in from snowbound motorists
• 230:00+ Radioficción: “Chess” dramatization
• 245:10+ Chess audio-story performance

Conclusion

This episode stands out for its clear-sighted political analysis, sharp humor, and responsiveness to “real-world” events (meteorological and political). Alsina’s team covers the day’s disruptions, probes government strategies, and carves out time for cultural innovation, all amidst a snowstorm that literally stops the country in its tracks.

Not to Be Missed:

• The “omnibus” legislative tactics dissected ([47:48], [92:12], [125:13])
• The live road chaos narrated by real listeners ([189:17+])
• The full, bracing interview with Elma Saiz ([137:16 – 170:00])—a masterclass in radio journalism
• Satirical and philosophical radioficción segment ([230:00+])