La Tuerka

La Tuerka
Name	La Tuerka
Genre	Political talk show
Creator	Pablo Iglesias Turrión
Presenter	Pablo Iglesias Turrión
Country	Spain
Language	Spanish
Runtime	60 minutes
Channel	Público, Tele K, La Sexta (segments)
First aired	2010
Last aired	ongoing

La Tuerka

La Tuerka is a Spanish political talk show created and originally presented by Pablo Iglesias Turrión that emerged from the intersection of Spanish media, activism, and left-wing politics. The program developed within networks linked to Público (newspaper), YouTube, and independent audiovisual production, intersecting with figures from Podemos (Spanish political party), Izquierda Unida, and the broader Spanish left. La Tuerka became notable for featuring interviews and debates involving national and international personalities from Spain, Latin America, and Europe, engaging with topics connected to the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis in Spain, the 15-M Movement, and the rise of new political actors.

History

La Tuerka originated in 2010 as an initiative tied to digital and alternative media ecosystems, involving collaborations between contributors associated with Público (newspaper), YouTube, and independent production companies; it evolved amid the political turbulence following the 2008 financial crisis in Spain, the 15-M Movement, and the electoral emergence of Podemos (Spanish political party). The program's trajectory intersected with personalities from Pablo Iglesias Turrión, Juan Carlos Monedero, Íñigo Errejón, and activists linked to Democracia Real Ya, Movimiento 15-M, and international intellectuals such as Noam Chomsky, Eduardo Galeano, and Álvaro Vargas Llosa. Over time La Tuerka expanded distribution from online platforms to collaborations with outlets like laSexta, Público (newspaper), and regional broadcasters, while engaging with guest figures from Mariano Rajoy, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Pedro Sánchez, Carles Puigdemont, Ada Colau, Manuela Carmena, and European counterparts including Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Alexis Tsipras, and Jeremy Corbyn.

Format and Segments

The program adopted a magazine-style format with interviews, debates, and investigative pieces, producing recurring segments that featured long-form interviews, roundtable debates, and monologues involving contributors associated with Pablo Iglesias Turrión, Carolina Bescansa, Íñigo Errejón, and invited guests such as Sergio Martínez}}, Julio Anguita, and Fernando Savater. Segments often included one-on-one conversations reminiscent of formats seen on La Sexta Noche, panel discussions similar to those on El Intermedio, and documentary-style reports akin to productions by Público (newspaper). The show frequently hosted international intellectuals and politicians including Noam Chomsky, Eduardo Galeano, Oriana Fallaci, Rafael Correa, Hugo Chávez, and Evo Morales, blending interviews with commentary referencing events such as the Arab Spring, the Greek government-debt crisis, and elections in France, Germany, and Venezuela.

Hosts and Key Contributors

Principal figures associated with the production and presentation included Pablo Iglesias Turrión as creator and presenter, along with recurring contributors and co-hosts like Juan Carlos Monedero, Iñigo Errejón, Carolina Bescansa, Tamara Gorro, and journalists linked to Público (newspaper), El País, El Mundo, and eldiario.es. The roster of guests and interlocutors spanned politicians and intellectuals such as Mariano Rajoy, Pedro Sánchez, Ada Colau, Manuela Carmena, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Alexis Tsipras, Jeremy Corbyn, Noam Chomsky, Eric Hobsbawm, and Slavoj Žižek, as well as economic commentators connected to Joseph Stiglitz, Paul Krugman, and Ha-Joon Chang. Production teams included technicians and producers with backgrounds in Público (newspaper), independent audiovisual collectives, and digital distribution partners like YouTube, Vimeo, and Spanish regional broadcasters.

Political Orientation and Reception

La Tuerka has been widely perceived as aligned with leftist and progressive currents, often associated with the rise of Podemos (Spanish political party), the 15-M Movement, and critical stances toward austerity policies advocated by leaders such as Mariano Rajoy and institutions like the European Central Bank. The program received praise from supporters linked to Podemos (Spanish political party), Izquierda Unida, and cultural figures such as Jordi Évole, Iñaki Gabilondo, and Enrique Vila-Matas, while drawing criticism from commentators associated with El País, ABC (Spanish newspaper), El Mundo, and conservative politicians including Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría and Mariano Rajoy. Academic and media analyses compared its communicative strategies to those of La Sexta, Cadena SER, and alternative platforms born from the 2008 financial crisis in Spain.

Distribution and Broadcast Platforms

Initially distributed online via YouTube and promoted through networks connected to Público (newspaper), the program later reached television through partnerships with outlets like laSexta, regional channels, and cooperative streaming using Vimeo, social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and platforms echoing the digital strategies of Vice Media, Democracia Real Ya, and independent Spanish media startups. Episodes and segments circulated at conferences and events organized by Podemos (Spanish political party), universities such as the Complutense University of Madrid, and public forums including Foro de debate spaces, while collaborations extended to international festivals and panels featuring figures from Latin America, Europe, and North America.

Controversies and Criticism

The program attracted controversies tied to perceived partiality toward Podemos (Spanish political party), editorial decisions involving interviews with polarizing figures like Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales, and disputes with mainstream outlets such as El Mundo and ABC (Spanish newspaper). Critics cited conflicts of interest related to presenters' political engagement, debates in Spanish parliament contexts involving figures like Pablo Iglesias Turrión and Íñigo Errejón, and legal or ethical disputes highlighted by commentators in El País and Cadena SER. Supporters defended the show by invoking traditions of alternative journalism tied to Público (newspaper), grassroots movements like 15-M Movement, and transnational networks of progressive media.

Category:Spanish television programs