The late shows have become spaces for political claims. The rise of the far-right has activated comedians, and their programs have become zones of committed entertainment. All things considered, the format makes more sense when it is aimed at power, as a form of resistance and subsistence of freedom of expression. The problem is when the opening monologues lose their humorous spirit to degenerate into unbearable rallies to lecture the audience.In the latest broadcast of Un perro andaluz, on La 1, presenter Manu Sánchez criticized centralism, especially media centralism, which turns Madrid into the navel of the world. The first approach, even with a musical parody, had a certain charm. He sarcastically denounced how they inform us about traffic jams on the M-30 as if the whole State were stopped there, and that all street polls are conducted in Callao, where the country's emotional temperature is registered.After railing against centralism, Manu Sánchez found himself obliged to justify himself on the model of Spain he was referring to. He dedicated his soliloquy to “the seventeen communities and the two autonomous cities”, like a bullfighter when he toasts the audience with his hat. He made the classic speech about being a citizen of the world while loving your own patch: “The best thing in the world is the world, but you won't deny me that every little corner has its charm!” Of course, he championed the Andalusianism that identifies him, making it clear that it was not an exclusive sentiment: “In Andalusia, independence will never take root. Independence and Andalusia are unnatural. An Andalusian has never wanted to be the first to leave a place in his life. We have a poor reception...” And then he assured us that “Spain can only be understood if all Spains fit within it” and proceeded to list the different regional temperaments, until it was Catalonia's turn: “Catalonia, long live you! Do me the favor of taking the reins of this, you're the only one who can bravely face this centralism! But don't leave! Don't leave us alone! The Spanish national team, in terms of who has the most players, is precisely from Barça! Although it may sting many, that's how it is! [...] Do me the favor, Catalonia! Stay with us! Don't take your ball with you. Let us play with you!” Then he proceeded to recite the lyrics of a song that connected with the federalist idea of the country of countries: “Together we all fit and make a better Spain!” and, in a delirious comparison with Donald Trump, he shouted: “Make España Great Again! Great and diverse!”, advocating for a “United States of Spain. And I'm not talking about independence”. He made that clear. And he added: “I'm talking about there being as many ways of being Spanish as there are Spanish men and women!”One thing is committed entertainment, the cheeky joke with power and squeezing the news, and another is this indoctrinating nuisance. Humor disappears, that irrefutable joke's malice is lost, to end up falling into a sweaty and demagogic ideologization worthy of the most annoying brothers-in-law.

Madrid is, increasingly, a continuous and terrible spectacle, starring a wide collection of actors from all imaginable professions who always move around a single concept: power. In its full dimension and with all the elements that have characterized the work for centuries: ambition, corruption, exploitation, manipulation... institutional violence if necessary. Pasqual Maragall already anticipated it in detail in articles in El País 25 years ago ("Madrid se va") and 23 years ago ("Madrid se ha ido"). Today we note that these are not only very relevant reflections, but that it is possible and necessary to update them.

Both vaccine doses have been administered to 35,943 people, which makes me surprised when I hear everyone is talking about the Illa effect: it doesn't seem to be supported by the data at a critical time, when vaccination is urgently needed. But I would like to talk about the Iceta effect. What will the metropolitan areas of Madrid and Barcelona be like in ten years' time? How will the recovery funds be used to position the network of Catalan municipalities within the system of European cities and regions? Does Barcelona have to be a small replica of the capital's model or will it have its own project? Will Madrid promote the transfer of productive sectors to Catalonia? Will it decentralise the civil service? Will Madrid continue to set Barcelona's global and tourist agenda or will it help to create a productive model based on science and knowledge? Will the State continue to promote a radial infrastructure model with the epicentre around Madrid? What specific plans will the new Catalan minister take to Madrid?