OPINION
Opinion: The real reason San Miguel de Allende feels so American
San Miguel de Allende is packed with American tourists — but is it actually better than Guanajuato or Querétaro? MND's summer intern says yes and no.
China’s approval rating in Mexico: Is it a genuine preference or...
Mexican adults have a more favorable view of China than they do of the U.S., writes Maria Meléndez, and it's not particularly close. Among younger Mexicans, the gap is even larger.
How had I never heard of Guanajuato? A reflection by MND’s...
MND summer intern Jared Tucker didn't expect to travel much in Mexico. A 24-hour trip to Guanajuato changed his mind — and made him wonder why more Americans don't visit.
When legacy media’s hypocrisy gets called out: A perspective from our CEO
Legacy media got Mexico's story wrong — on the World Cup, on Mencho, on cartel violence — and won't admit it. MND CEO Travis Bembenek explains why.
Opinion: Is China Claudia Sheinbaum’s surveillance model for Mexico?
Mexico is building a vast biometric ID system and expanding camera networks. Critics warn the infrastructure could enable the kind of surveillance state China spent decades constructing.
Made in Mexico: How the CIA shaped art and culture in Mexico
U.S. interference in Mexico has a very long history, writes Maria Meléndez, including a fascinating historical chapter in which the CIA attempted to influence the country's art and culture.
Opinion: Beyond better buses. A transportation vision for San Miguel de Allende
SMA has already achieved something extraordinary: residents and visitors enjoy walking its streets, lingering in its plazas, gathering in cafés and experiencing a vibrant public life. As the city grows, transportation investments should strengthen those qualities, argues Johanna Zmud.
Is Mexico a safe place for the gay community? A recalibration of a first impression
MND summer intern Jared Tucker arrived in Mexico carrying one uneasy impression: the homophobic "puto" chant heard at El Tri games. Nine weeks later — after stumbling into San Miguel de Allende's Pride Parade — he found a country far more welcoming to queer people than expected.
US crimes against Mexico from an immigrant’s perspective
You can be proud of your native country while also being ashamed of its current actions, writes Sarah DeVries regarding U.S. crimes against Mexico.
Opinion: Querétaro is stunning. It deserves to stay that way
After weeks of championing central Mexico as an underrated destination, a visit to Querétaro's uncrowded colonial streets left one intern rethinking the costs of increased tourism.
Is Chipotle opening in Mexico a good or bad thing for the country? An MND debate
MND's Travis Bembenek and María Meléndez debate whether Chipotle's grand opening in Monterrey tomorrow is a game-changer or a game-ender. What do you think?
Made in Mexico and the US: 250 years of a bilateral relationship
The histories of neighbors Mexico and the U.S. are inseparable, but the bilateral relationship between the two has seen plenty of challenges during the past 250 years, writes Maria Meléndez.
Am I being disrespectful? A reflection on living in San Miguel as an American intern
For MND's summer journalism intern Jared Tucker, San Miguel de Allende has proven the ideal setting to examine and question the American experience abroad — Spanish mishaps and all.
Mexicanos al grito de guerra: Learning the national anthem and the pledge of allegiance
Whether its raising the flag, singing the national anthem or reciting the pledge of allegiance, you gain a new appreciation of patriotism when you're raising a child in Mexico, writes Sarah DeVries.
‘Confidently Wrong about Tourism in Mexico’: A new MND podcast
Mexico’s World Cup tourism boom raises a big question: Does Mexico really need more tourists? In this "Confidently Wrong" episode, Travis and George explore the numbers and Mexico’s long-term tourism potential.
Opinion: A World Cup loss can’t sap the country’s incurable optimism
Mexico's knockout loss to England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup was a setback to the celebratory atmosphere on display in the country, but does nothing to shake Mexico's incurable optimism, writes Maria Meléndez.
