The Abuse Allegations Against a Civil Rights Icon, and a 48% Rise in Oil Prices

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Headlines

Episode: The Abuse Allegations Against a Civil Rights Icon, and a 48% Rise in Oil Prices
Host: Tracy Mumford, The New York Times
Date: March 19, 2026

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Overview

This episode covers two major stories:

1. Revelations of sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez, a revered civil rights icon.
2. The impact of escalating Middle East conflict on global oil prices.
   The episode also briefly touches on developments in US national security leadership, changes to a blockbuster weight loss drug's global availability, and a community at risk from a massive landslide in California.

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Section 1: Abuse Allegations Against Cesar Chavez

[00:43 – 04:50]

Key Discussion Points

• Investigative Reporting:
  Manny Fernandez (NYT reporter) followed up on a tip that Cesar Chavez, leader of the United Farm Workers and a pivotal civil rights figure, had sexually abused girls.

  “The New York Times gets a lot of tips. Some of them turn into things and some of them don’t...there was something there.” — Manny Fernandez, (00:43)

• Scope of Allegations:

  • Manny Fernandez and Sarah Hertz spoke with more than 60 sources—victims, Chavez’s family, and top aides, reviewing hundreds of records.
  • Two women described being molested by Chavez starting at ages 12 and 13 while living on the UFW compound.
  • One reported, “he told her he'd known they belonged together since he first saw her at nine.” (01:52)
  • Dolores Huerta, UFW co-founder, accused Chavez of raping her. She kept this secret for nearly 60 years due to fear and anticipated disbelief.

    “…she was afraid no one would believe her and that she didn't report it to the police because they were hostile toward the union.” (02:20)

• Community Response and Legacy:

  • Women hesitated to come forward for years, fearing the tarnishing of Chavez's legacy.

    “They worried about sort of destroying all that, that weighed on them. And that sort of guilt and pressure made them very scared…” — Manny Fernandez, (01:29)

  • Whispers and rumors circulated in union circles; some leadership were aware but did not investigate.
  • The Chavez family responded:

    “‘We honor the voices of those who feel unheard and who report sexual misconduct.’” (03:23)

• Institutional and Societal Impact:

  • UFW canceled its annual Chavez celebrations.
  • Public statues and commemorations are being reevaluated (e.g., Fresno State’s Chavez statue was shrouded in black).
  • Some cities and states have canceled Chavez Day celebrations or proposed renaming them to Farm Workers Day.

Notable Quotes

• “All of the women that we talked to had not publicly revealed their stories before.” — Manny Fernandez (01:29)
• “Huerta said she was afraid no one would believe her…” — Tracy Mumford (02:17)

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Section 2: Rising Oil Prices Amid Middle East Conflict

[04:50 – 05:33]

Key Discussion Points

• Recent Attacks:

  • Major attacks on energy infrastructure: Israel strikes Iranian offshore gas field; Iran retaliates against gas facilities in Qatar.
  • These represent the most significant energy attacks since the war began.

• Global Market Effects:

  • Investors worry more regional energy assets will be targeted, leading to rising prices.
  • Oil prices up nearly 50% since before the war.

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Section 3: US Intelligence and Congressional War Authorization

[05:34 – 06:07]

Key Discussion Points

• Senate Democrats questioned CIA Director John Ratcliffe and DNI Tulsi Gabbard about President Trump’s rationale for going to war with Iran.

• Both officials contradicted Trump’s claim that Iran was close to deploying missiles capable of reaching the US.

• Gabbard deflected on whether the threat was “imminent”:

  “It is not the intelligence community’s responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat.” — Tulsi Gabbard, (05:43)

• Host Tracy Mumford notes this undercuts a core function of US Intelligence.

• Senate Democrats tried again to require Congressional approval for military action in Iran; Republicans blocked the vote.

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Section 4: Department of Homeland Security Leadership Transition

[06:15 – 07:15]

Key Discussion Points

• Sen. Mark Wayne Mullen’s Confirmation Hearing:
  • Vows to take DHS out of recent controversy and focus on core mission after a tumultuous period under former Secretary Kristi Noem.
  • Mullen “regretted” disparaging an ICU nurse killed by federal agents and suggested fewer major ICE sweeps in cities.
  • Criticizes Noem’s bottlenecking of FEMA disaster relief funds; Mullen promises to revoke that policy, saying:

    “I'm not a micromanager.” — Mark Wayne Mullen, (07:05)

• Senate committee vote on his nomination expected soon.

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Section 5: Global Expansion of Weight Loss Drug Generics

[07:15 – 08:10]

Key Discussion Points

• Ozempic and Wegovy to Go Generic Globally:
  • Patent protections end in India Saturday, with generics coming soon to China, Brazil, Canada, more.
  • In the US/Europe, generics are still at least five years off due to extended patent protections.
  • With over 800 million overweight adults in India/China and 360 million diabetics in the US/Europe, the change could massively expand global access.

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Section 6: Landslide Risk in Southern California Real Estate

[08:10 – 10:20]

Key Discussion Points

• Rancho Palos Verdes’ Portuguese Bend neighborhood:
  • Homes with spectacular ocean views selling at half the expected price—due to a massive, active 700-acre landslide.
  • Homeowner Aylin Stewart reflects on the tradeoff:

    “It just seemed like this house is half the price that it should be. Of course, that's when we figured out…there's a reason…” — Aylin Stewart, (08:45)

  • Structural damage ongoing; some homes split in two or shifted off their lots.
  • Utilities (gas/electric) have been cut for safety, forcing some residents off-grid.
  • Cost to keep the area habitable is mounting; officials admit this “may just be delaying the inevitable.”
  • Stewart notes, “The houses between hers and the ocean have sunk a little, so her views have just gotten better.” (10:05)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The only thing we treat better than windows is you.” — atblinds.com advertiser (00:00)
• [On Chavez allegations] “There is no evidence that [family and union leaders] made any efforts to fully investigate.” — Tracy Mumford (03:07)
• [On Ozempic generics] “Their argument is that it’s essential for innovation.” — Tracy Mumford (08:05)
• “We have this amazing view…and watch the ships go by, watch the peacocks go by.” — Aylin Stewart (08:35)
• “The measures may just be delaying the inevitable.” — Tracy Mumford (10:00)

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Timestamps Quick Reference

• 00:43 – 04:50: Cesar Chavez abuse allegations investigation
• 04:50 – 05:33: Middle East conflict disrupts energy, drives oil prices up 48%
• 05:34 – 06:07: US Intelligence community questioned on Iran war rationale
• 06:15 – 07:15: DHS leadership transition and ICE policy reset
• 07:15 – 08:10: Ozempic and Wegovy go generic outside US/Europe
• 08:10 – 10:20: Real estate on an active landslide—Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

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Transcript

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[Tracy Mumford]

From the New York times, it's the headlines. I'm Tracy Mumford. Today's Thursday, March 19th. Here's what we're covering.

[Manny Fernandez]

The New York Times gets a lot of tips. Some of them turn into things and some of them don't. You know, it sounded almost unbelievable, but as I talked to some of these women, it just made me think that there was something there.

[Tracy Mumford]

My colleague Manny Fernandez followed up on a tip that came in a while back about Cesar Chavez. One of the most famous figures in the American civil rights movement, Chavez rose to prominence in the late 60s, advocating for Latino farm workers. He went on to have streets named after him, annual parades in his honor. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The tip kicked off an investigation that ultimately found extensive evidence that Chavez, who took died in 1993, groomed and sexually abused girls.

[Manny Fernandez]

All of the women that we talked to had not publicly revealed their stories before. One of the reasons they had been reluctant is they worried about tarnishing his legacy. They worried about sort of destroying all that that weighed on them. And that sort of guilt and pressure made them very scared about coming forward to tell their stories.

[Tracy Mumford]

In digging into the allegations, Manny, along with Times investigative reporter Sarah Hertz, talked with more than 60 people, including some of Chavez's family and top aides. They also reviewed hundreds of pages of records, emails, photographs and uncovered what appears to be a pattern of sexual misconduct. Two women who are now in their 60s described Chavez molesting them starting at age 12 and 13. Both grew up on the compound of United Farm Workers, the organization Chavez co founded. One said he told her he'd known they belonged together since he first saw her at nine. Also, Dolores Huerta, who started UFW with Chavez and is a civil rights icon in her own right, says he raped her, something she kept a secret for nearly 60 years. Huerta said she was afraid no one would believe her and that she didn't report it to the police because they were hostile toward the union. Other women described being sexually harassed by Chavez, and whispers about his behavior circulated in the UFW's inner circles. A handful of Chavez's relatives and former union leaders have been aware of various allegations for years, but there is no evidence that they made any efforts to fully investigate. In response to questions, Chavez's family told the Times the allegations are deeply painful and said, quote, we honor the voices of those who feel unheard and who report sexual misconduct. When my colleagues asked the UFW questions, the union canceled its annual celebrations for Chavez, which would have been at the end of this month. March 31 is often celebrated as Cesar Chavez Day. Since the Times investigation came out yesterday, officials across the country have been grappling with how to respond. At Fresno State University, for example, a statue of Chavez on campus was covered up by a black sheet. There are discussions underway about renaming the many schools, streets, and parks named in his honor. Several states and cities have canceled plans that they had to observe Cesar Chavez Day. Some have proposed renaming it Farm Workers Day. In the Middle East, a series of attacks yesterday raised fears about even more dramatic disruptions to the global energy supply. Iran said that Israel attacked a giant offshore natural gas field, and in retaliation, Iran began launching missiles at gas facilities in Qatar, a US Ally. Those strikes have continued into this morning. Altogether, these are some of the most significant attacks on energy sites of the war so far. And investors are worried that more oil and gas facilities in the region could be targeted. The price of oil is now almost 50% higher than before the war started. Meanwhile, in Washington, the complete lack of clarity should matter to everybody. Democratic senators on the Intelligence Committee pressed the CIA Director John Ratcliffe and the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about President Trump's reasons for going to war with Iran. And both officials directly contradicted one of his main justifications. Trump has said that Iran was, quote, working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America. But both Ratcliffe and Gabbard said that was years away. Notably, when Gabbard was pushed to explain whether there was an imminent threat, like Trump said, she suggested it was up to his interpretation. It is not the intelligence community's responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat. Okay, that is up.

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Here's the problem.

[Tracy Mumford]

Based on a volume.

[Atblinds.com Advertiser]

No, it is. It is precisely that he received. It is precisely your responsibility to determine what constitutes a threat to the United States. This is the world.

[Tracy Mumford]

Her answer seemed to undermine one of the key roles of US Intelligence staff, which is to make expert judgments about security threats. Yesterday, Senate Democrats tried to force a vote to stop US Military operations in Iran until Trump gets authorization from Congress. But for a second time, Republicans blocked that effort. Also at the Capitol, I hope that

[Atblinds.com Advertiser]

I'm not on the news every day. I hope DHS is just able to be laser focused on doing their job and it isn't controversial about taking care of the homeland.

[Tracy Mumford]

Mark Wayne Mullen, the Republican Senator Trump has tapped to lead the Department of Homeland Security, said at his confirmation hearing yesterday that he wants to steer the agency out of the intense spotlight that it's been in for the past few months. Under the former Secretary Kristi Noem, public support for DHS plummeted amid mass deportation operations and the high profile killings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents.

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Words probably should have been retracted. I shouldn't have said that and Secretary,

[Tracy Mumford]

I wouldn't the investigation in response to questions, Mullen said he regretted following Noem's lead in disparaging Alex Preddy, the ICU nurse who was killed in Minneapolis. And while he said he supports the Trump administration's overall deportation efforts, he suggested he would soften the agency's approach and have ICE agents carry out fewer major sweeps in cities. During the hearing, Mullen also addressed another controversy from the department, how Noem handled disaster relief. She had required her own office to sign off on all FEMA grants and contracts over $100,000, a process that significantly slowed down critical aid to communities across the country. Mullen said he would revoke the policy, adding, quote, I'm not a micromanager. The Senate Homeland Security Committee is expected to vote on advancing Mullen's nomination as soon as today. The blockbuster weight loss drug sold as Ozempic and Wegovy is about to go generic for billions of people. As of Saturday, the company that makes it, Novo Nordisk will lose patent protection in India, and generic versions are expected to be available in China, Brazil, Canada and more in the coming months. While Ozempic has obviously generated a lot of sales in some places, access has been pretty limited. Worldwide, generics, which are often much cheaper, promise to significantly increase the number of people taking the drugs around the world. The market is there. Together, China and India have more than 800 million adults who are overweight or obese and more than 360 million people with diabetes in the US and Europe. However, Ozempic is not expected to go generic for another five plus years. That's because drug companies have lobbied those governments intensely going back decades for extended protections to let them have monopolies on new drugs for longer. Their argument is that it's essential for innovation. And finally, on the coast of Southern California, just south of la, some residents are buying up ocean view homes for prices that seem a little too good to be true. We have this amazing view and we like to sit on the couch here and watch the ships go by, watch the peacocks go by. Aylin Stewart bought her house a couple years ago in the affluent Portuguese Bend neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes. It just seemed like this house is half the price that it should be. Of course, that's when we figured out that, you know, there's a reason that the house is this price. It turns out the area is on a 700 acre active landslide. In some cases, that has sent floors off kilter, shifted structures across property lines, and even split homes in two. And yet some houses there keep selling. Real estate agents have described the shifting land as an opportunity to buy at a discount, but there are obviously risks to that. In 2024, with the ground moving, utility companies shut off gas and electricity to large swaths of the neighborhood, forcing many residents to go off the grid and power their homes with generators and solar panels. The city has spent tens of millions of dollars on landslide mitigation, and while there has been some success, officials say the current cost of keeping the area inhabitable is not sustainable and the measures may just be delaying the inevitable. Stewart, though, has no plans to move. The houses between hers and the ocean have sunk a little, so her views have just gotten better. Those are the headlines today on the Daily A look at some of the options President Trump is considering for the war in Iran, including the possibility of sending in special forces to seize canisters of nuclear material. You can listen to that in the New York Times app or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Tracy Mumford. We'll be back tomorrow with the latest and the Friday news quiz.

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