Monday, April 28, 2025

Donald Trump nominates Ronald D. Johnson as US ambassador to Mexico

By
MND Staff
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11
Ronald D. Johnson standing in front of a microphone at a Department of State event. On the lapel of his suit is a pin bearing the flags of the U.S. and El Salvador
Ronald D. Johnson, who served as Donald Trump's U.S. ambassador to El Salvador from 2019–2021, is being promoted by President-elect Trump as someone who can help the U.S. stop the flow of illegal migrants and drugs into the U.S. (File photo/US Embassy)

United States President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday that former United States ambassador to El Salvador Ronald Johnson is his pick for ambassador to Mexico during his second term.

“I am pleased to nominate Ronald (Ron) Johnson to serve as the United States Ambassador to Mexico. Ron will work closely with our great Secretary of State Nominee, Marco Rubio, to promote our Nation’s security and prosperity through strong America First Foreign Policies,” Trump said on social media.

Ronald Johnson, left, holding up his right hand before him and his left on a book held by a woman next to him as Johnson is sworn in as U.S. ambassador to El Salvador. Former Vice President Mike Pence is at the far right, holding an open black portfolio folder.
Ronald Johnson has been Donald Trump’s pick for ambassador before. Here he’s being sworn in as U.S. ambassdor to El Salvador in 2019. (US Department of State)

Johnson — an army veteran and former official with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) — served as ambassador to El Salvador during the final 16 months of Trump’s first term as president.

The president-elect wrote on the social media platform that he owns, Truth Social, that as ambassador to El Salvador, Johnson “worked tirelessly with Salvadoran authorities and our team to reduce violent crime and illegal migration to the lowest levels in History.”

“… Congratulations Ron. Together, we will put an end to migrant crime, stop the illegal flow of Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into our Country and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!” Trump wrote.

If his appointment is approved by the U.S. Senate, Johnson — who shares his name with a Republican Party senator from Wisconsin – will replace Ken Salazar as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.

Salazar, a former U.S. senator and secretary of the interior during Barrack Obama’s first term as president, has been ambassador to Mexico since 2021. He succeeded Christopher Landau, who was ambassador to Mexico during Trump’s first term as president and was tapped by the president-elect this week to serve as deputy secretary of state under Rubio.

Johnson will be tasked with a key role in the second Trump administration — helping to manage the United States’ relationship with its largest trading partner, a country with which it shares a 3,145-kilometer-long border that is currently far too porous for the president-elect’s liking.

Migrant caravan in Tapachula
A caravan of migrants leaving Tapachula, Chiapas, in 2023, heading north, their ultimate goal to seek asylum in the United States. (Cuartoscuro)

In late November, Trump pledged to impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian exports to the United States on the first day of his second term as U.S. president due to what he called the “long-simmering problem” of migrants and drugs entering the U.S. via Mexico and Canada.

He said that the tariffs would remain in effect “until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”

Johnson could play a key role in the Trump administration’s negotiations with Mexico as it seeks to achieve those stated objectives.

Who is Ron Johnson?

A 2019 U.S. Department of State report published after Johnson’s nomination as ambassador to El Salvador noted that Johnson had “served the United States government for over four decades, first as an officer in the U.S. Army, and then as a member of the intelligence community.”

Prior to taking up the ambassador’s position in El Salvador, he served as the CIA’s Science and Technology Liaison to the U.S. Special Operations Command, in Tampa, Florida, according to the report.

“Previously (2013-2107), he was Special Advisor to the U.S. Southern Command in Miami managing collaboration between the Command and the Intelligence Community, the State Department, the CDC, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, USAID and others,” the State Department said.

The State Department report also noted that Johnson had had “substantive engagement on a wide range of regional issues including refugees, counternarcotics, counterterrorism, human rights and tropical virus disease control.”

It said that he had lived in Latin America for more than five years and noted that he speaks Spanish.

In his social media post on Tuesday, Trump highlighted that Johnson “served our Country for over twenty years with the Central Intelligence Agency after a distinguished career in the U.S. Army as a Green Beret.”

Ronald D. Johnson in a US Army uniform in an official photo from several years ago
Johnson had an extensive military career before being hired by the CIA. Among his accomplishments was leading combat operations in El Salvador as a military advisor during the country’s civil war in the 1980s.

“He graduated from the National Intelligence University with a Master of Strategic Intelligence,” he added.

A statement published by the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador in January 2021 to announce the end of Johnson’s term as ambassador noted that he arrived in the Central American country in 2019 with his wife, Alina Johnson. Johnson has four children and five grandchildren, according to a short profile that appeared on the website of the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador.

Sheinbaum: ‘We’re going to defend our sovereignty’

At her morning press conference on Wednesday, President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged that Trump had announced his pick for ambassador to Mexico.

Speaking more broadly about the bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States, she stressed that she won’t allow Mexico to be subordinated in any “collaboration” or “coordination” that her government enters into with its U.S. counterpart.

The bilateral relationship will “always” be a relationship of “equals,” she said.

President Claudia Sheinbaum standing at a podium at her press conference
At her Wednesday press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum stressed that Mexico “will do its part,” to work with the U.S. on reducing illegal migrants and drugs flowing to the U.S., but she expects the U.S. to working on stemming the flow of illegal weapons from the U.S. to Mexico. (Cuartoscuro)

“We have to defend that,” she said before asserting that there was “a lot of subordination” during the 2006–2012 presidency of Felipe Calderón.

“With us, there won’t be. We’re going to collaborate [with the United States] … but without subordination,” Sheinbaum said.

She said that Mexico will continue to collaborate with the United States on efforts to combat drug trafficking to the U.S. but emphasized that Mexico wants the U.S. to do its part to reduce the number of weapons flowing south.

“It’s not just a matter of drug trafficking … but also the violence generated in Mexico with the entry of weapons [from the U.S.],” Sheinbaum said.

“… We want a reduction in violence and construction of peace,” she said.

“We want homicides and other high-impact crimes to go down, many of which are linked to organized crime,” Sheinbaum said, adding that achieving the objective requires a reduction in the number of weapons coming into Mexico from the United States.

“That’s why I say that with this ambassador or others, we’re going to defend our sovereignty, our condition of equality [with the United States], and we’re going to collaborate and cooperate on everything that is required, but always in the interest of the people of Mexico and the nation,” she said.

Mexico News Daily 

Beyond belief: 10 fascinating facts about the Virgin of Guadalupe

By
María Ruiz
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The Mexican flag alongside the Virgin of Guadalupe
As legend has it, the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe miraculously appeared on December 12, 1531 just north of Mexico City, on the hill of Tepeyac. (Edgar Henríquez/Unsplash)

December 12 is a very important date for thousands of Mexicans and followers of La Guadalupana (the Virgin Mary), as it is the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, an icon of syncretism between Indigenous and Spanish cultures in Mexico. Her image, with mestizo features, symbolizes the cultural fusion that occurred during the Conquest and gave rise to Mexican identity.

The history of the Virgin of Guadalupe dates back to Dec. 9, 1531, when according to Catholic tradition, the Virgin Mary first appeared to Juan Diego, a converted Indigenous man, on the hill of Tepeyac.

A woman with a temporary tattoo of the Virgin of Guadalupe
The image of the Virgin has inspired creations of all kinds, from artwork to t-shirts to accessories and more. (Fernando Carranza García/Cuartoscuro)

The apparitions

  • First Apparition (December 9): The Virgin asks Juan Diego to request the bishop to build a temple in her honor.
  • Second Apparition (December 9): The Virgin insists that Juan Diego return the next day to see the bishop.
  • Third Apparition (December 10): The bishop asks for a sign; the Virgin promises to give it the next day.
  • Fourth Apparition (December 12): The Virgin sends Juan Diego to collect roses as a sign for the bishop.
  • Fifth Apparition (December 12): The Virgin appears to Juan Diego’s sick uncle, healing him.

The miracle of the tilma

When presenting himself to Bishop Fray Juan de Zumárraga, Juan Diego unfolded his tilma (a cloak), letting the roses fall. At that moment, the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe miraculously appeared printed on the ayate (the cloth).

Every year, thousands of pilgrims walk to the Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on her feast day.
Every year, thousands of pilgrims walk to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on her feast day. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

10 interesting (and quirky) facts about the Virgin of Guadalupe

  1. Origin of the name: The etymological origin of Guadalupe is a subject of controversy. Some experts suggest it comes from the Arabic “Wad-al-luben” or “Wuad al luben,” meaning “hidden river” or “river of black stones.” Another theory suggests a combination of Arabic and Latin: “Wad” (river) + “lupus” (wolf), resulting in “river of wolves.” Finally, a third theory indicates that the origin of the name is actually Nahuatl, from the word “Coatlaxopeuh,” which sounds similar to “Guadalupe” and means “the one who crushes the serpent.”
  2. Details about the mantle: On the mantle of the Virgin, there are 46 stars distributed asymmetrically, reflecting the constellations of the winter sky on Dec. 12, 1531, the day of the apparition. The pupil of the Virgin’s eyes has also been studied by many; it reflects the image she sees when she reveals her mantle to Juan Diego and Bishop Fray Juan de Zumárraga, although this topic has been — understandably — controversial among the scientific community.
  3. A miracle? Juan Diego’s tilma is a typical cotton garment made with maguey fibers, which was used to cover much of the body during the era. The average lifespan of this material is 20 to 25 years; therefore, it is surprising that almost 500 years later it remains intact despite the adverse conditions it faced for more than 100 years — without any type of protection and exposed to heat from candle flames, wind and humidity.
  4. Number of pilgrims: The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most visited Marian sanctuaries in the world; it even surpasses the Vatican in terms of pilgrims, attracting more than 11 million Guadalupans annually.
  5. Followers of Guadalupe: Some internationally recognized public figures are faithful to Guadalupe. An example is former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau, who previously shared on his X account that he believes the Virgin of Guadalupe granted him the miracle of becoming an ambassador in Mexico. Other personalities include famous guitarist Carlos Santana, Saint John Paul II, actor and tenor José Mojica, among others.

    “I give infinite thanks to Our Lady of Guadalupe for having heard my prayers when I asked her to appoint me as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. It has been an unforgettable experience for our family and we will always have Mexico in our hearts.” (Christopher Landau/X)
  6. A devotion that crosses borders: Guadalupan devotion has spread throughout the world. In places like St. Peter’s Basilica in Italy, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and Santa María Basilica in Seville, we can find altars dedicated to the Virgin.
  7. Three churches: After the fifth apparition in 1531, the bishop ordered a small temple to be built on Tepeyac Hill. Later, in 1695, architect Pedro de Arrieta constructed the old basilica. Due to the instability of the ground and the frequency of earthquakes in Mexico City, we can see today that this basilica started to lean and sink over time. Because of this, in 1974 architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez built a new basilica with a modern design and greater capacity to accommodate the thousands of pilgrims who visit.
  8. A television program: Devotion to the Virgin is so popular today that Televisa created a program titled “La Rosa de Guadalupe” in 2008, which addresses social themes and challenges such as drug addiction, alcoholism and bulimia, among others. Its goal is to convey a positive message and a lesson in each episode.
  9. A symbol of freedom: During the Independence movement, Father Miguel Hidalgo took a banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe and used it as an emblem of his struggle.
  10. Lupes and Lupitas: In Mexico, the name Guadalupe is very popular among both men and women: José Guadalupe or María Guadalupe. Surely you know many Lupitas or Don Lupes. So now you know, on December 12, hug a Lupita to congratulate her.

With reports from BBC, ADN40 and Gaceta UNAM

María Ruiz is a resident of San Miguel de Allende. She works full-time as an Assistant Editor at Mexico News Daily and enjoys taking photos in her free time.

Oaxacan whiskey blends Mexican culture with international tradition

By
Anna Bruce
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Sierra Norte Whiskey
(All photos by Sierra Norte/Instagram)

Recently, Mexican whiskey has been finding its way into some of the country’s most interesting bars. Whiskeys produced in Mexico generally use Mexico’s favorite grain: corn. Oaxaca-based distiller Sierra Norte takes this focus a step further by focusing on individual species of maize. Their fascinating range of spirits is distilled from locally grown heirloom corn.

Sierra Norte’s selection currently showcases six expressions made from carefully selected corn cobs: black, white, yellow, red, purple and rainbow, the last of which comes from corn that grows with multi-colored cobs. Each has a unique flavor. Typically the expressions are finished at 45 percent after two years in toasted French oak barrels. 

multi-colored corn cobs ready to be distilled into whisky
Indigenous varieties of multi-colored corn are chosen for the production process.

Corn has been grown in Oaxaca for thousands of years and is the basis of much of the traditional diet. Therefore it is exciting that whiskey brands like Sierra Norte are finally emerging from the region, sharing the rich and delicious flavor of Oaxaca’s corn whiskey with the world. 

Founder Douglas French is better known for his mezcal brand Scorpion, which he launched in the mid-1990s with the help of a team of local women. Since then Scorpion has been produced at their distillery in San Agustín de las Juntas. Following a period of agave scarcity, French and his team began to explore distilling other Oaxacan products.

While scouring markets for agave, French met farmers from the Sierra Norte selling different colored corn cobs. He planted some of the grains in his own fields and shared the outcome with local growers. Now there are several producers he can buy the grains from, to produce Sierra Norte whiskey. 

The Sierra Norte distillery is located in San Agustín, about 30 minutes from downtown Oaxaca, hidden down a narrow dusty street, behind a large but unassuming gate. Once inside, however, visitors find a lush plant nursery, bursting at the seams with flowers and young agave plants. Literally tons of old industrial textile machine parts have been repurposed into sculptures and plant pots. 

There is also some rustic but impressive equipment for the production of mezcal and now whiskey. Alongside the big copper pots used for distillation, members of the Sierra Norte team go through hundreds of cobs of corn, separating the cobs into piles by color. Some pull kernels by hand.

Manager Rogelio Hernández Vez explains that to develop the Scorpion mezcal distillery for whiskey, “4000 liter-tanks were brought in, along with a steaming system, and new pot stills were added to the distillation area.”

The corn is then fermented in stainless steel tanks for around five days. At this stage malted barley is added to the corn; approximately 15 percent barley to 85 percent corn. According to Hernández Vez, barley has a higher sugar content than corn and is needed to stimulate the fermentation.

Sierra Norte is distilled twice, first in stainless steel and then in copper alembic stills. Initially coming out of the still the liquid is clear. What French describes as ‘moonshine.’ At this stage the whiskey has a rich smell and taste of the corn itself.

The stills in which the whiskey is first distilled.

The next step is aging in barrels. French is passionate about barrel aging and has an extensive range of barrel-aged mezcal, as well as whiskey. Both are aged in 230-liter French oak barrels, which he originally brought over from France to Oaxaca via the port of Veracruz. 

These barrels are charred using oak coals. Charring the inside of the barrel breaks down the structure of the oak, allowing easier penetration by the spirit. It also creates flavor. 

The barrels are laid to rest in concrete cellars. Although the cellars are meant to be cool, there is still considerable evaporation. In whiskey this evaporation during aging is referred to as the “angel’s share.” According to French, Oaxaca’s angels are particularly boozy. 

Sierra Norte whiskey is aged in these cellars for two years. The first barrels of whiskey were filled in 2014 and the Sierra Norte brand officially launched in 2016.

Sierra Norte Whiskey in casks
The whiskey is distilled in traditional casks, in line with U.S. regulations.

Typically, whiskey produced in Mexico is made from corn and follows United States regulations. This is partly due to much of the product being made to export. This is also true of Sierra Norte. The distiller began producing a mere 250 liters but now produce 8,000 liters and are enjoying global success, exporting Oaxacan whiskey to more than 12 countries. 

Charlie Prince, president of multi-country whiskey tasting club Drammers, says the organization’s international members have shown an interest in the new wave of Mexican corn whiskeys. “We actually bought three single barrels from [Sierra Norte]: a green corn whiskey, a rainbow corn whiskey and a yellow corn whiskey.”

Recently, French and his team have opened the doors of the distillery so visitors can learn about the process and have a full tour of the aging cellars, followed by a tasting of Sierra Norte’s whiskey, presented at different stages of aging. The team guides you through the nuanced flavors of the corn and influence of the barrel. To take a tour, contact Sierra Norte directly. Rambling Spirits can also incorporate a visit as part of a day of Oaxacan spirits.

Anna Bruce is an award-winning British photojournalist based in Oaxaca, Mexico. Just some of the media outlets she has worked with include Vice, The Financial Times, Time Out, Huffington Post, The Times of London, the BBC and Sony TV. Find out more about her work at her website or visit her on social media on Instagram or on Facebook.

Try a Mexican spin on Southern comfort with these corn fritters and homemade aioli

By
Stephen Randall
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0
Corn fritters with chili-lime aioli
(Canva)

Corn fritters, as we know them in their Tex-Mex glory, are the kind of food that feels like it’s been around forever, but in truth, they’re a fairly recent remix. Think of them as a culinary handshake between the U.S. South and the Tex-Mex borderlands: a marriage of crispy indulgence and bold, Southwestern flair.

It all boils down to corn, the backbone of Tex-Mex cuisine. From tortillas to atole, corn has been the star ingredient in Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking for centuries. But fritters? That’s a Southern twist. The South had its own deep connection to corn — think cornbread, hushpuppies and grits — but what they brought to the table was a love of frying. Fry anything in hot oil, and you’ve got comfort food gold. If you can do it to Oreos, no food is safe from the Southern frying pan.

Deep fried oreos
Deep fried oreos are the unholy union of Glasweigan cuisine and diabetes. But they’re probably quite tasty. (Grace Like Rain/Pinterest)

By the mid-20th century, as Tex-Mex cuisine gained traction beyond Texas cowboys, recipes for fritters started appearing in cookbooks, usually spiced up with chili powder, cumin or jalapeños for an extra kick. It wasn’t just about frying anymore; it was about packing every bite with a rodeo of flavor.

Tex-Mex corn fritters are a little more rebellious than their Southern cousins. They’re often loaded with sharp cheddar, green chilis or diced onions and served with dips that scream Southwest, like smoky chipotle crema or tangy chili-lime aioli. Restaurants along the border added them to menus as appetizers, the kind of thing you eat before a sizzling plate of fajitas or a margarita or two. Their versatility made them a hit— they could go sweet or savory, plain or piled high with toppings.

Now, corn fritters are a staple at backyard barbecues, food trucks and trendy brunch spots. They’ve become a canvas for experimentation, whether stuffed with queso fresco or served with a drizzle of hot honey. Tex-Mex corn fritters aren’t just a dish—they’re a celebration of the region’s melting pot of flavors, proof that even a humble fritter can still elevate a cuisine.

Corn Fritters with Chili-Lime Aioli

Ingredients

For the corn fritters

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup cornmeal
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups fresh corn kernels (or canned/drained, or frozen/thawed)
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped (optional)
  • ¼  cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
  • 100g canned chipotles, finely chopped (adjust to your spice preference)
  • Vegetable oil (for frying)

For the chili-lime aioli

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp lime zest
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • ½ tsp hot sauce 
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

Make the chili-lime aioli

  1. In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, garlic, chili powder, lime zest, lime juice and hot sauce.
  2. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
  3. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Make the corn fritters

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, black pepper, and brown sugar. In a separate bowl, beat eggs. Pour into dry ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in corn kernels, green onions, shredded cheese if using and chipotles.
  2. Heat about ¼ inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Test the oil by dropping in a small bit of batter— it should sizzle immediately.
  3. Drop spoonfuls of batter, about 2 tbsp each, into the hot oil. Flatten slightly with the back of a spoon. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
  4. Arrange the fritters on a platter and serve hot with the chili-lime aioli for dipping.

Stephen Randall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky, and before that, Germany. He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines, with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean. He also runs the Recipe Rankers YouTube channel.

Sheinbaum brushes off Trump and Time magazine buzz: Tuesday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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Claudia Sheinbaum, who's election was one of Mexico's biggest news stories in 2024
The election of Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico's first female president, was a watershed moment for the country in 2024. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

The accolades keep coming for President Claudia Sheinbaum: The Financial Times last week included her on its “25 most influential women of 2024” list, while Time magazine announced Monday that she is among 10 finalists in the running for its 2024 “Person of the Year” designation.

Sheinbaum, who was sworn in as Mexico’s first female president 10 weeks ago, responded to Time’s announcement at her Tuesday morning press conference.

She also elaborated on her desire to not engage in a public slanging match with Donald Trump, and revealed that she and her husband have moved into the National Palace.

Inclusion on Time’s shortlist is not ‘a personal recognition,’ says Sheinbaum 

A reporter asked Sheinbaum about Time’s announcement that she is on the shortlist for the magazine’s 2024 “Person of the Year” designation. He also noted that former president Enrique Peña Nieto once appeared on the cover of Time — in 2014 with the headline “Saving Mexico” superimposed on his image.

“One thing is one thing and another thing is another thing,” Sheinbaum said in response to the reporter’s mention of Peña Nieto’s appearance on the cover of Time.

With regard to her inclusion on Time’s “2024 Person of the Year” shortlist, the president declared that it wasn’t “a personal recognition,” but rather an acknowledgment of the work the government is doing as a team.

That work, she added, “provides continuity to a model of development and a vision of how to govern.”

Sheinbaum was referring to the governance of her political mentor and predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who made the provision of support for Mexico’s most disadvantaged citizens and the responsible administration of public resources central objectives of his administration.

Claudia Sheinbaum, mañanera December 10, 2024
The president declared that Time’s consideration of her for “Person of the Year” wasn’t “a personal recognition,” but rather an acknowledgment of the work the government is doing as a team. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

“We govern with closeness [to the people], with honesty … and provide results, first and foremost, for those who have the least,” the president told reporters.

“That is the vision of the fourth transformation,” Sheinbaum said, using the nickname for the political project that was initiated by López Obrador and of which she claims to be building the “second story.”

Time, which will announce its “Person of the Year” this Thursday, noted in an article announcing the 10 finalists that Sheinbaum “made history when she was sworn in as Mexico’s first-ever female President.”

“Sheinbaum, a lifelong leftist, is also the first Jewish leader in the country’s more than 200 years of independence,” the magazine added.

“Sheinbaum focused her campaign on fighting for the poor, and has taken office at a time when Mexico faces issues ranging from a struggling economy to rising organized violence,” Time said.

The other nine contenders for Time’s 2024 “Person of the Year” are Kamala Harris, Kate Middleton, Elon Musk, Yulia Navalnaya, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jerome Powell, Joe Rogan, Donald Trump and Mark Zuckerberg.

Sheinbaum says she won’t engage in tit-for-tat public dialogue with Trump 

Asked on Monday about Trump’s suggestion that Mexico should become a state of the United States due to the trade imbalance between the two countries, Sheinbaum expressed her desire to cease “dialogue” with the former and future U.S. president “through the media.”

On Tuesday, she explained that what she meant was that her government won’t respond to every “declaration” made by Trump with a public statement of its own.

Two photos, one of Donald Trump and one of Claudia Sheinbaum
United States President-elect Donald Trump suggested Sunday that Mexico should become a state of the U.S. due to a trade imbalance between the two countries. (Donald Trump/Facebook, Cuartoscuro)

Trump is well known for making provocative and inflammatory remarks, especially on social media. In a post to Truth Social early Tuesday, he taunted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by referring to him as the “governor” of the “great state of Canada,” a reference to his suggestion that Canada could become a state of the U.S. as well.

Sheinbaum said Tuesday that her government will “always” defend Mexico as a “free, sovereign and independent country” in the face of insults, accusations and attacks, but emphasized that “everyone has a different way of communicating.”

“This question of entering into permanent dialogue … [by responding to] every statement that is made [by Trump], I don’t think that helps us in the bilateral relationship, right?” she said.

Home sweet palace!

“I’ve already moved. Now I’ve given you another story. A few days ago my husband and I moved here,” Sheinbaum told reporters at the tail end of her press conference in the Treasury Hall of the National Palace.

“We’re going to spend Christmas and the New Year here, and I hope to spend it with family,” she said.

Sheinbaum confirmed in September that she would follow in the footsteps of López Obrador and make her residence in the National Palace.

Located in the historic center of Mexico City, the colonial-era building was fitted out with an apartment during AMLO’s presidency. López Obrador ended the tradition of Mexican presidents living in “Los Pinos,” turning the erstwhile official residence of Mexico’s head of state into a cultural complex that is open to the public.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

Mexico postpones new US $42 cruise passenger fee

By
MND Staff
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5
Cruise ship in Acapulco port, surrounded by the Acapulco city skyline
The international tourist fee, which didn't previously apply to cruise ship passengers stopping in Mexican ports, will be required whether or not a passenger disembarks in Mexico. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico’s lawmakers have postponed the application of a new US $42-dollar fee for every cruise ship passenger docking at Mexico’s ports, according to the Florida and Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

The fee, which was proposed to come into effect starting January 2025, will now not be put into effect until July 2025.

Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama standing in a row of seated Mexican government officials.
Quintana Roo Gov. Mara Lezama, seen here standing at the annual National Public Safety Council in Acapulco on Tuesday, said the decision to delay the fee resulted from a meeting between government authorities and cruise and tourism sector representatives. (Mara Lezama/X)

The FCCA, while praising the temporary suspension of the fee, stressed its concern about the negative impact the measure could have on Mexico’s tourism industry and its workers.

“While the suspension provides temporary respite…more comprehensive measures are needed to address broader concerns about the fee’s devastating impact on cruise tourism, Mexico’s economy and the livelihoods of its coastal communities,” the FCCA said in a statement. 

The announcement of the proposed fee sent ripples through the cruise industry when it was made public in early December, as Mexico had previously exempted cruise passengers from immigration fees due to their “in transit” status. 

According to the FCCA, which represents 23 cruise lines, several companies were considering altering their itineraries in response to the new fee. 

The association also criticized the lack of prior consultation with industry representatives on such a  measure, noting that before this new duty was announced, “the industry sought to grow business in Mexico, and now the opposite will be the case.”

With 79 votes in favor and 38 against, Mexico’s Senate approved the $42-dollar fee on Dec. 3. During the presentation of the ruling, Senator Cuauhtémoc Ochoa Fernández (Morena) highlighted that the increases for 2025 in the collection of duties are based on inflation and adjustments congruent with the “evolution of technologies and processes.”

Mexican Senator Cuauhtémoc Ochoa Fernández standing behind a podium with two microphones, holding papers in his hand as he addresses the Mexican federal senate off camera.
Morena Senator Cuauhtémoc Ochoa Fernández. (Galo Cañas Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)

On Monday, the governor of Quintana Roo — Mexico’s No.1 cruise tourism destination — confirmed the fee’s postponement for six months, sharing that it resulted from a meeting between Mexican government authorities and representatives of the cruise and tourism sector.

“We have had total openness with the federal government to engage in dialogue, [and] we believe that these fees should remain in the places where the visitor arrives,” Mara Lezama was reported saying in an article published by the newspaper El Economista. 

“For the time being, [as] the FCCA has already said…a postponement [of the new fee] was achieved as a first agreement.”

The FCCA is pushing for the complete elimination of the immigration fee for cruise ship passengers, saying that if implemented, cruise lines “expect a progressive decrease in arrivals [to Mexico’s ports], which will significantly affect the employment of cab drivers, tour guides, artisans, waiters, restaurateurs, craft store owners, pharmacies and more.”

With reports from El Economista and Forbes

Congress rushes to reshuffle 40 billion pesos of FY 2025 budget

By
MND Staff
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Mexican Federal Deputy Sergio Gutiérrez and head of the board of directors of the Chamber of Deputies rings a bell in to open session. He's sitting at a desk at the head of the Chamber with other members of the board of directors sitting on either side of him and other lawmakers standing behind them, conducting other business
Federal Deputy Sergio Gutiérrez, President of the Chamber of Deputies directive board, opens the Chamber's second session on Tuesday. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

The clock is ticking on Mexico’s 2025 budget as Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies scrambles to rework the spending portion of the 9.3 trillion-peso (US $461.08 billion) budget submitted by President Claudia Sheinbaum before a final vote is expected on Thursday.

By Tuesday afternoon, deputies with Morena — the ruling party in the Chamber — had reportedly hammered out a proposal to reassign 40 billion pesos (US $1.98 billion) of the budget, with the National Electoral Institute and the judiciary suffering the biggest reductions.

Group of federal deputies sitting in session in Mexico's Chamber of Deputies in Mexico City
Ricardo Monreal, head of the Morena party’s caucus in the Chamber of Deputies, center, originally told reporters Monday that the Chamber would debate 30 billion pesos (US $1.5 billion) in reallocations of Claudia Sheinbaum’s 2025 budget. By Tuesday, that amount had grown to over 40 billion (US $1.98 billion)

The Budget Committee was poised to debate the resolution later Tuesday.  Floor debate would then be scheduled for Wednesday, with a final vote set for Thursday.

Mexico’s budget challenges are significant, especially as Sheinbaum’s declared goal is to lower the nation’s deficit by increasing revenues and reducing expenditures. Mexico’s budget deficit is expected to close the year at negative 5.9%, according to the news agency Reuters.

Sheinbaum’s proposed spending cuts deprioritized sectors such as Mexico’s defense, with a 44% cut compared to the last budget, and security, which saw a 36% cut, Reuters reported. Environmental spending was also down 39% in the proposed budget, and educational institutions saw a 14% reduction.

Opposition to the budget was quick to arise after it was revealed on Nov. 15 — especially regarding cuts to public universities and cultural institutions — and some circumstances changed. 

Among those changes was the elimination of seven autonomous Mexican agencies at the end of November, which freed up 4.4 billion pesos (US $218.2 million). Sheinbaum let Congress know she was willing to negotiate while insisting that some institutions must accept austerity.

Morena Deputy Ricardo Monreal, the leader of the ruling party’s caucus, told reporters Monday that the Chamber would be in session Tuesday and Wednesday to work on the proposed changes, with committees and caucuses hastening to crunch numbers amenable to Sheinbaum and the Finance Ministry.

Mexico's Supreme Court Chief Justice Norma Pina standing at a podium giving the judiciary's annual report to the nation.
One of the bigger cuts will be to Mexico’s judiciary, which will undergo major structural changes in 2025. On Tuesday, Supreme Court Chief Justice Norma Piña, who heads Mexico’s judiciary bodies, made her annual report to the nation. (Cuartoscuro)

Initially, the Chamber announced it would work to redistribute 20 billion pesos of the budget to favor universities and cultural institutions shortchanged in the initial budget (the Finance Ministry admitted to a clerical error that inadvertently reduced funds for two major public universities).

On Monday, Monreal announced that Morena had identified 30 billion pesos that could be reapportioned and that his caucus would present the proposals to the opposition and in committee, according to the newspaper El Universal. 

Monreal specifically identified the INE and the Federal Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF) as targets for reduction, as well as Mexico’s judiciary.

At the same time, Sheinbaum made it clear that she wanted the Defense Ministry budget increased, prompting Monreal to urge Morena deputies to allocate more money to fund military pay raises, as well as road infrastructure, particularly in Mexico’s rural areas.

On Tuesday morning, a proposal had taken shape. The newspaper El Financiero reported that the resolution circulating in the Chamber of Deputies called for slashing 14 billion pesos from the judiciary and 13 billion pesos from the INE.

The Chamber also proposed reducing Congress’ budget while also reassigning funds from the executive branch, several cabinet ministries and a few regulatory agencies. 

The changes proposed would increase the defense budget by 6.3 billion pesos, set aside an additional 10 billion pesos for roads and infrastructure and restore the cuts in funding to universities, including the National Autonomous University (UNAM), whose funding will be restored by 5.5 billion pesos (US $272.7 million), which comes to about 127 million pesos (US $6.3 million) more than UNAM had in 2024.

Overall, if the reworked budget were to be approved, educational institutions would in total be granted 17.3 billion more pesos than had been assigned in the original budget.

With reports from Infobae, El Financiero, Expansión Política and Animal Político

Querétaro named a 2024 UNESCO ‘Lifelong Learning City’

By
MND Staff
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Querétaro, a city of 1.6 million, was honored by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) for its commitment to learning and education initiatives.
Querétaro, a city of 1.6 million, was honored by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) for its commitment to learning and education initiatives. (Anáhuac Querétaro)

UNESCO has named Querétaro one of 10 global “Lifelong Learning Cities,” recognizing the central Mexican city for its exemplary support of learning initiatives that cater to all ages.

The prize-winning cities were selected by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), based on recommendations from an independent jury of international experts.

“Thank you, UNESCO, for the award and for recognizing the municipality as a city of governance, good practices … where [there are] programs that promote inclusion, and work is done to improve the quality of life of families,” Querétaro’s Municipal President Felipe Fernando Macías wrote on the social media site X. 

The UNESCO Learning City Award was established in 2015 to further promote lifelong learning for all and showcase good practices in building learning cities.

“Cities are home to more than half of the world’s population and must be at the forefront of societal change,” said the Director of the UIL Isabell Kempf. “The 2024 UNESCO Learning City Awardees demonstrate the power of lifelong learning to enable citizens to adapt, innovate and collaborate on solutions to our planet’s most pressing challenges. Their commitment to inclusivity and to sustainable development offers a path to a more just and prosperous future for all.”  

Querétaro, located around two hours northwest of Mexico City, has transformed into a dynamic hub of lifelong learning since becoming a UNESCO learning city in 2019. 

According to UNESCO, the city has implemented 40 projects, including 28 public programs adapted to lifelong learning principles, reaching over 1.7 million participants by 2023. 

Notable achievements include the creation of five community gardens maintained by over 300 residents, the establishment of cultural spaces like La Vía Centre for Artistic Training and Hercules Cultural Space and the implementation of technology training at the BLOQUE centre1.

Querétaro has also demonstrated a strong commitment to workforce development, particularly in response to the growing opportunities presented by nearshoring.

In October, Japanese machine tool giant Makino broke ground on a new technology innovation center in Querétaro, citing the city’s infrastructure, education and highly qualified workforce as critical factors in its decision to invest in the region.

Mexico News Daily

Architectural Review awards post-hurricane housing design in Acapulco

By
MND Staff
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Hurricane-resistant homes built by Estudio Manuel Cervantes were awarded a 2024 House Award by the trade magazine Architectural Review
Hurricane-resistant homes built by Estudio Manuel Cervantes were awarded a 2024 House Award by the trade magazine Architectural Review. (Instagram)

A housing project in Mexico’s coastal city of Acapulco, designed by the Mexican architectural studio Estudio Manuel Cervantes, was announced as the winner of the 2024 Architectural Review (AR) House Awards on Monday.

“Our goal is to make houses that are not just structures but adaptable homes where the architecture enables the empowerment of the inhabitants to break the cycle of poverty in Acapulco,” Manuel Cervantes told AR.

Acapulco suffered widespread damage during Hurricane Otis, one of the worst storms to ever hit Mexico’s Pacific coast, in October 2023. The storm damaged 80% of the resort city’s hotels and 95% of its businesses, and killed at least 52 people.

Cervantes’s studio designed the new houses to be built using prefabricated Covintec panels — wire mesh frames filled with Styrofoam and coated with concrete. Each house is designed to operate without air conditioning, while timber screens and concrete latticework allow air and light through.  

As part of an initiative known as Kon-tigo, meaning “with you” in Spanish, the studio has completed 42 houses and is working to finish 78 more, with funding from various private donors through the non‑profit organizations Asociación Gilberto and Construyendo. The houses vary in size, from 376 to 807 square feet, and cost an average of US $18,000 each to build.

The structures withstood flooding during Acapulco’s tropical storm season in September and October, including Hurricane John. 

The "Diamante" resort zone of Acapulco was under water on Monday.
Hurricane John struck Acapulco in September, just 11 months after Hurricane Otis damaged 80% of its hotels and 95% of its businesses. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)

Cervantes aims to build long-term housing for those affected by Hurricane Otis, inspired by the Cartilla de la Vivienda (Housing Primer), published by the National College of Architects of Mexico and the Society of Mexican Architects in 1954. The original project created a construction manual to help those working in the informal labor market who did not have access to state-built housing. 

He also takes inspiration from a 1954 article in Arquitectura México written by the Mexican architect Enrique del Moral, in which del Moral stressed the importance of using open floor plans that facilitate cross ventilation and avoiding excessive use of glass and metal, according to AR. 

The impact of hurricanes on Acapulco

While still recovering from the effects of Otis, Acapulco suffered extreme flooding and mudslides during Hurricane John in September, which killed at least 29 people.  

In October, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced an 8-billion-peso (US $400 million) reconstruction package for Acapulco and Oaxaca in October in response to the destruction caused by John.   

The Mexican government also recently announced plans to construct one million new homes countrywide over the next six years with an investment of 600 billion pesos ($29.7 billion) under its Housing and Regularization Program. 

With reports from The Architectural Review, El Sol de Acapulco and El País

Boston Red Sox to play two exhibition games in Monterrey

By
MND Staff
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The Boston Red Sox 2024 team sitting on dugout benches in ascending rows for a photo.
The Boston Red Sox will fly into Monterrey, Nuevo León, for a two-game regular season exhibition series against hometown heroes Los Sultanes de Monterrey (the Monterrey Sultans). (Boston Red Sox/Facebook)

Although a plan to play 2025 regular-season Major League Baseball (MLB) games in Mexico for a third consecutive year has not panned out, Mexican fans will have an opportunity in March to see a Major League team play here: the Boston Red Sox have committed to a two-game exhibition series on March 24-25 in Monterrey, Nuevo León.

After the Boston Red Sox conclude their 2025 spring training schedule in Fort Meyers, Florida, they will pay a visit to the Mexican Baseball League team, the Monterrey Sultans (Sultanes de Monterrey), the Red Sox announced via social media.

Edgar Torres, pitcher for the Mexican Baseball League team Sultanes de Monterrey, with his glove over his hand and leg raised, in position to throw a pitch at a recent Sultans game.
Edgar Torres, pitcher for the Monterrey Sultans. (Sultanes de Monterrey/X)

The Sox will play the Sultans in the Sultans’ home stadium, Monterrey’s Estadio Mobil Super.

The Boston Herald newspaper reported that the Red Sox will fly from Fort Meyers to Monterrey ahead of their March 27 season opener against the Texas Rangers.

The Sultans are one of the Mexican League’s Big Three, with 10 championships under their belts, behind only the Mexico City Diablos Rojos (17) and the Quintana Roo Tigres (12).

Monterrey’s Sultans have faced Major League baseball teams before. 

In 1991, they hosted a three-game series featuring MLB teams the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as the Industriales de Monterrey (a Mexican Baseball League team that folded in 1994). 

The Sultans defeated the Brewers 6-5.

Two years later, in 1993, the city hosted another round-robin series featuring the Monterrey team against the Atlanta Braves, the Minnesota Twins and the Industriales. The Sultanes lost 3-2 to the Braves.

In 2008, the Sultans traveled to Phoenix to face the Arizona Diamondbacks, losing 9-4.

According to MLB.com, Monterrey’s Estadio Mobil Super, the largest baseball stadium in Mexico, has hosted five MLB regular-season series, including the first-ever regular-season game outside of the United States or Canada. They are: 

  • April 16-18, 1996: San Diego Padres vs New York Mets, three games 
  • April 4, 1999: San Diego Padres vs Colorado Rockies, one game
  • May 4-6, 2018: San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers, three games
  • April 13-14, 2019: Cincinnati Reds vs St. Louis Cardinals, two games
  • May 4-5, 2019: Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels, two games

As regular-season exhibition games, the Red Sox-Sultanes games are not part of the MLB International Series, which has featured over 200 international games in 11 different countries and territories.

Mexico City’s Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú hosted the MLB International Series each of the past two seasons in 2023 and 2024, as well as a two-game exhibition series between the New York Yankees and the hometown team, the Diablos Rojos (Red Devils) in March 2024.

With reports from The Boston Herald and ESPN

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