Sergio Gregori was not the only face of Canal Red to exit the show. The online channel led by Pablo Iglesias also canceled the program Border, which had been hosted by Juan Carlos Monedero, another cofounder of Podemos, as he explained in a long post on his Twitter profile (now X).
“Those running the channel want to push their own ideological line, and it’s clear that my stubborn stance clouds this aim. Pablo and I talked about successes, friendship, and disagreements. That’s all.” Monedero noted. The challenge of addressing a left-leaning audience is well known. The pressure on Podemos is evident, and Canal Red’s move to reinforce its unified front against that pressure is visible. While not the most effective choice, it is understandable. The field of struggle is broad, and Monedero continues to believe in unity that remains realistic. He added that enemies are elsewhere, in his view, in the opening of his article.
In his broadcast, Monedero stated his wish to prioritize “friendship with someone I have known, admired, and loved since student days”: “Friendship, kindness, and generosity have these traits. The kind that Lluis Llach spoke of.”
“I wish Pablo and Canal Red good luck, with whom I have collaborated since the channel’s inception. I also wish good luck to all the dedicated people who work there and offer me gifts through their friendship. I also want to thank their subscribers and those who stay loyal to the program, even if their responses are blunt, within a Spanish media landscape where corrupt journalists and police insiders are rooted in the same dysfunctional space, sometimes sharing the stage with those who boast about harming honest reporters, where unscrupulous actors reward others and lie with a straight face. From his perspective since 2017, with that Borderline baggage, it’s time to move forward. Tough times are coming across the globe, and perseverance is needed. He concluded with resolve and a nod to the disobedients, and a farewell, promising to meet again.
Monedero’s exit from Canal Red coincided with the departure of Sergio Gregori, the midday political talk show host who helped launch the project. Gregori’s role was scaled back to supervised writing duties after criticizing what he saw as a radical and uncompromising stance by a Podemos figurehead.
The journalist, although young, brought a wealth of experience in audiovisual projects. He had previously interviewed the short-lived vice president from Pedro Sánchez’s first government while Podemos was at the helm, an interview that helped spark the collaboration leading to Canal Red. Criticism of Podemos, its decisions, or any of its members is not tolerated except in limited cases and in a notably controlled tone.
Asking even the smallest hard questions of party representatives never sits easy in this environment. Gregori has often steered clear of confrontation, maintaining a cautious approach on air while Monedero retained a degree of ideological control over the YouTube channel that Iglesias directly exercises, even to the point of shaping program lineups and deciding which comments are published during live broadcasts.
Sergio Gregori began to be sidelined last spring, at the height of Podemos’ strongest opposition to Sumar. He had to stop hosting The Board and his on-air duties were cut to two days per week. That was the first signal that his stance needed adjustment.
Yet the journalist pressed on, insisting on professional integrity and a balanced voice, separated from the party’s orbit that the project often represented. Last week, he was abruptly removed from the show amid critical remarks about some of the channel’s actions.