Jerce Reyes Barrios was a pro soccer player in Venezuela — an underdog living a sports-movie dream. Then he became an immigrant to Trump's America: The administration accused Jerce of being a gang member. ICE flew him to a terrorist prison in El Salvador. And his family hasn't spoken to him since. All of this... for a tattoo about his favorite football club. Paola Ramos reports on how Jerce escaped one dictator, only to be trapped by another, thanks to the very collapse of American democracy itself.
• Read Paola Ramos' book, "Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America"
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741645/defectors-by-paola-ramos/
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53:58
The Sporting Class: Welcome to Football Coachella
The NFL Draft is such a tediously fascinating test of power that it's near impossible to turn off. John Skipper and David Samson help Pablo find the entertainment magic in the gathering — and examine the collusion theory of Shedeur Sanders' fall (especially now that the White House is taking credit for stopping it). Plus: the case for a neutral-site World Series, table integrity, kowtowing, apricity, Sweet on the Road... and OnlyGoys.
Further content:
• Subscribe to Nothing Personal with David Samson
https://www.youtube.com/@NPDS
• Shedeur Sanders' NFL Draft fall wasn't a surprise. Teams never saw QB as first-round talent (Jeff Howe)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6307646/2025/04/25/nfl-draft-shedeur-sanders-fall-not-surprise/
• Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? (Mike Tollin)https://www.netflix.com/title/70135734
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53:25
Share & Tell & Twins with Katie Nolan and Michael Cruz Kayne
Why were Detectives Benson and Stabler holding hands courtside at the Knicks game? How will these world-famous sisters save the birds in unison? And what's the best pope name? Plus: embracing the bait, diagnosing the kink, Jeopardy! feuds, burses... and twins.
Further content:
• "The greatest news interview of all time. Nothing can prepare you for what happens 20 seconds into this clip."
https://x.com/malonebarry/status/1914426038504886428
• Subscribe to "Casuals with Katie Nolan"
https://www.youtube.com/katienolan
• Listen to "Sorry for Your Loss" by Michael Cruz Kayne
https://www.audible.com/pd/Sorry-for-Your-Loss-Audiobook/B0CGJSXSPF
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44:58
Fowl Shots: We Investigated an NBA Conspiracy
The most brilliant promotion in sports seems simple: If a visiting NBA player misses two straight free throws in the fourth quarter, every fan in the arena gets free chicken. But the untold story of Brickin' for Chicken is a tale of psychology, philanthropy and unintended consequences — and nobody wants to admit the truth. So we teamed up with Oddball's Amin Elhassan to reveal hidden evidence, pointing to a new theory about this quid-pro-bird. And then we (literally) chased down The Robin Hood of Wings: no less than Giannis Antetokounmpo himself.
• Subscribe to Oddball with Amin Elhassan and Izzy Gutierrez
https://www.youtube.com/@OddballHoops
• Subscribe to Thanalysis
https://thanalysis.podbean.com/
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49:03
This (Independent) Senator Has a Warning. Who Will Listen?
Angus King, the U.S. Senator from Maine (and former quarterback), is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. So we should listen very closely as he takes PTFO inside what he deems an unprecedented constitutional crisis — from tariffs and mass deportations to trans athletes and DOGE — by way of the ancient Romans, a vegetable slicer and Bill Belichick. And he explains exactly why his colleagues in Congress must stop handing their power to Donald Trump... before it's too late.
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Follow Pablo down the rabbit hole, beyond the game — every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday — on his Edward R. Murrow Award-winning video podcast.
Each week, you'll get a deep-dive "talkumentary" episode, reported by Curiosity Correspondents like Emmy Award-winning comedian Wyatt Cenac and Oscar-winning director Ezra Edelman, answering urgent questions such as: Are you smarter than an NFL quarterback? Why did Draymond Green punch his teammate? And did the government invent stuffed-crust pizza? (Journalism!)
Plus: Pablo hangs out with sports and culture "thought leaders" like Sue Bird, Action Bronson and JJ Redick — and plays Share & Tell with friends like Domonique Foxworth, Mina Kimes, Katie Nolan and Dan Le Batard (aka his boss).
Follow PTFO…
https://www.youtube.com/@PabloTorreFindsOut
https://www.instagram.com/pablotorrefindsout
https://x.com/pablofindsout
…and subscribe to Pablo's newsletter:
https://pablo.show
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