President Sheinbaum said on Wednesday that the Trump administration is trying to "create divisions" within her Security Cabinet and cabinet. (Juan Carlos Ramos Mamahua/Presidencia)
Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds
🇺🇸 Sheinbaum claimsUS is seeking to “weaken” and “divide” her government: Sheinbaum said the Trump administration is trying to “create divisions” within her Security Cabinet and cabinet, calling it a longstanding U.S. tactic against “independent governments that defend sovereignty.” She linked the criticism to November’s U.S. midterm elections, saying that U.S. politicians often use Mexico as part of their election campaigns.
🚫 Sheinbaum dismisses claims that AMLO is pulling the strings: Responding to talk of “Obradoristas” and “Claudistas” within Morena, Sheinbaum said former President López Obrador has been “extremely respectful” and has never told her what to do. She called the idea that a man is really governing behind her a “sexist” one.
🎢 Sheinbaum reflects on a “complex” year with Washington: Asked about the hardest moment of her second year, Sheinbaum pointed to tensions over U.S. tariffs on steel and vehicles and Washington’s extradition request for 10 officials, including Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya. However, she said that friction with the US hasn’t caused a “major problem” overall.
Her assertions on Wednesday that the U.S. is seeking to “weaken” and “create divisions” in her government were among the most significant remarks of the press conference.
Also of note at today’s mañanera was Sheinbaum’s dismissal of claims that former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is pulling the strings in her administration. She has previously described such claims as “misogynistic,” and expressed a similar view on Wednesday.
Sheinbaum asserts that the US is seeking to ‘create divisions’ in her government
She asked Sheinbaum whether Cole’s remarks about García Harfuch amounted to an endorsement of him as a candidate in upcoming elections. Her suggestion was that the U.S. government — or at least the DEA chief — would like García Harfuch to be the next president of Mexico.
Sheinbaum responded that “they” — i.e., U.S. officials — “seek in one way or another to weaken [foreign] governments, because that’s one of their objectives.”
They “particularly” seek to weaken “independent governments that defend sovereignty,” she said.
They seek to “divide us internally,” Sheinbaum said.
“It’s one of their strategies,” she said, adding that it’s not a new tactic but rather one that U.S. governments have “always” used.
Claudia Sheinbaum afirmó que mantener los principios y la autoridad política y moral es fundamental ante intentos de injerencia extranjera como la red de Fernando Cerimedo y Javier Negre.
Sheinbaum asserted that the current U.S. government is seeking to “create divisions” within the federal Security Cabinet and her cabinet.
“They are tactics of interference that they use,” she said.
“What happens is that they run into a wall because the Security Cabinet of the government of Mexico is highly coordinated and very united,” Sheinbaum said.
“… There are no divisions,” she said.
“… They think that by speaking well about one person and ill of others they’re going to create divisions inside [the Security Cabinet], but they fail,” Sheinbaum said.
She also asserted that recent remarks made by U.S. officials about Mexico are politically motivated given that midterm elections will be held in the United States this November.
“They remember they have elections in November. So they often use Mexico as part of their election [campaigns],” Sheinbaum said.
Pushed as to whether the U.S. government was giving its “vote” to García Harfuch, the president responded:
“No. What they seek, also, is to influence our elections. It’s the same old story.”
Sheinbaum: AMLO has been ‘extremely respectful’ toward our government
Sheinbaum said that opposition politicians and government critics are claiming that there is a “deep division” between her and López Obrador.
“Now [they’re talking about] the Obradoristas and the Claudistas, that’s the way they put it,” she said, referring to broader alleged divisions within the Morena party.
“It’s completely absurd. Firstly, it’s important for everyone to know, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been extremely respectful toward our government. Extremely respectful,” Sheinbaum said.
“He hasn’t sent any message saying, ‘Do this’ or ‘Do that’ or ‘I don’t agree with what you did,'” she said.
“… This idea that, behind the president, López Obrador is governing is a very sexist idea,” Sheinbaum said.
“… It has to do with an idea that women can’t govern,” she said.
Sheinbaum acknowledges ‘situations of tension’ with US
A reporter asked the president whether she had identified the most “critical” and “complicated” moment of her second year in office. He also asked Sheinbaum about the most “satisfying” aspect of her presidency.
“Well, I think the relationship with the United States has been complex,” Sheinbaum said.
“We’ve sought a good relationship, but there have been times of difficulty,” she said.
Sheinbaum said that the United States’ imposition of tariffs on Mexican products such as steel and vehicles created “times of tension” in the bilateral relationship.
Despite U.S. President Trump’s constant tariff threats and negative statements about the USMCA, Mexico and the U.S. continue to collaborate on trade, security and migration. (Presidencia)
She asserted that the U.S. government also “wanted to provoke a moment of tension” when it sent a request for 10 current and former officials, including Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, to be detained for the purpose of extradition to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges.
“There were times of tension with the U.S. government, or with some people of the U.S. government,” Sheinbaum said.
She said that friction between her government and the Trump administration hasn’t created a “major problem” for Mexico. But there have been “situations of tension,” Sheinbaum said.
“The truth is that we’ve been able to move on very well,” she added.
Sheinbaum subsequently said that she very much enjoys her “tours” of Mexico on weekends, during which she travels around the country to inspect progress on infrastructure projects and inaugurate completed ones, among other activities. During the tours, she gets up close and personal with Mexicans from all walks of life.
Sheinbaum said that her trips “fill” her with “happiness and energy.”
Editor’s note: This article’s headline originally used the word “gripes” to describe President Sheinbaum’s remarks on U.S. interference in her government. We’ve updated it to “accuses” to more accurately and neutrally reflect the nature of her remarks. We appreciate readers who flagged the word choice.
An aerial view of Guadalajara. (Credit: Sergio Rodríguez via Unsplash)
This week, we share details on the 33rd annual International Mariachi and Charrería Encounter, the Gorillaz’s upcoming concert in Zapopan, and an immersive dinner inspired by the indie French film “Amélie.” But first, let’s meet the new U.S. consul general in Guadalajara.
Elizabeth Hoffman Franolich begins new role as US consul general in Guadalajara
Elizabeth Hoffman Franolich will serve as the new U.S. consulate general in Guadalajara. (Credit: U.S. Embassy in Mexico)
Earlier this month, Elizabeth Hoffman Franolich became the new consul general of the United States in Guadalajara. She replaces Amy Scanlon, who finished her term last July.
A career foreign service officer with more than two decades of diplomatic experience, Hoffman Franolich is well-versed in Latin American affairs, with previous postings in El Salvador, Venezuela and Colombia.
Prior to her current post, Hoffman Franolich was director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador.
A fluent Spanish speaker, the new consul general arrives in Guadalajara with prior diplomatic experience in Mexico as well, having served as trade and investment counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.
Originally from Ohio, Hoffman Franolich holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Science in Geography from SUNY at Albany.
The 33rd annual International Mariachi and Charrería Encounter is underway
The 33rd annual Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería is currently underway. (Credit: Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería via Facebook)
Guadalajara is currently filled with the sound of trumpets, vihuelas and guitarrrones, courtesy of the 33rd edition of the International Mariachi and Charrería Encounter, which runs through Sept. 6.
Over the 11-day event, there will be live concerts, charro contests (Mexican rodeo) and free activities for the whole family, with 95% of the events free and accessible to all.
Mariachi, declared by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is the soul of this gathering. Year after year it brings together diverse audiences spanning generations.
Performances feature some of Mexico’s most iconic groups and musical collaborators from more than 20 countries, including Croatia, Italy, France, Greece, Canada, Colombia and Australia.
Some of the highlights include:
Mariachi Galas at the Degollado Theater: The best mariachis in the world will join the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra for several unforgettable themed nights on Sept. 2, 3, and 5 at 8 p.m.
A concert with Natalia Jiménez at Telmex Auditorium: Natalia Jiménez is set to perform with the Mariachi Internacional CHG and the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra on Sept. 4.
A closing concert in the Children’s Park in Zapopan: A closing concert featuring a performance by Jalisco’s own Azucena on Sept. 6.
Gorillaz to perform at new GNP Seguros Coliseum in December
The band Gorillaz performing at Park Live festival in Moscow, Russia, in 2018. (Credit: Shutterstock)
The legendary British band Gorillaz will bring “The Mountain Tour” to Guadalajara this December. The show is scheduled for the newly revamped GNP Seguros Coliseum on the UAG campus in Zapopan on Dec. 9.
For the uninitiated, Gorillaz’s music spans trip-hop, hip-hop and lo-fi indie rock that really gets a crowd moving.The band burst onto the indie scene more than 25 years ago with their irresistible single “Clint Eastwood,” which blended the hip-hop vocals of Del the Funky Homosapien over electronic music with a heavy bassline.
Gorillaz came into being as British frontman Damon Albarn’s previous indie band, Blur, was dissolving in the late 1990s.
“The Mountain,” the band’s ninth studio LP, is the product of Albarn’s dig through years of Gorillaz recordings, in search of unused material from former collaborators who have now passed. Albarn was able to get approval for all the artists he wished to include on the album — except for one notoriously difficult cat, Lou Reed.
In all, more than two dozen performers, living and dead, appear on “The Mountain,” which took inspiration from Albarn’s visit to India following the death of his father. Live shows on this tour have included a wide cast of characters, including Little Simz, Mos Def and The Smiths’ Johnny Marr.
When: Dec. 9, 2026
Where: Coliseo GNP Seguros, Zapopan, on the UAG campus.
Tickets: Tickets starting from 2,827 pesos are available at Ticketmaster Mexico.
A culinary adventure inspired by the classic French indie film ‘Amélie’
Efímero Lab is set to host an immersive dining experience inspired by the French film “Amélie.” (Credit: Efímero Lab)
The creative team at Efímero Lab in Colonia Americana is back at it, preparing the latest installment of its “The Taste of Movies” series. This time, the lab is hosting an immersive dinner to celebrate the beloved French film “Amélie,” directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring the adorable Audrey Tautou.
The film tells the story of a Parisian waitress who plays small pranks that improve others’ lives while searching for a romance of her own.
Diners can expect a three-course meal with cocktail pairings that deliver a sensory experience inspired by the film’s characters, plot and unique sensibility.
Created by a collective of architects, artists, designers and mixologists, Efímero Lab is a cozy and sophisticated lounge exploring craft cocktails, gastronomy and immersive experiences.
When: The Amélie immersive dinner is on Sept. 5. The “Taste of Movies” series is a recurring event at Efímero Lab.
Where: Juan Manuel 1575, Colonia Americana, 44600 Guadalajara.
Tickets: Tickets for the dinner are 1,600 pesos per person. To reserve your spot, contact Efímero Lab on Instagram. Seats are limited.
MND writer Dawn Stoner is reporting from Guadalajara.
Welcome to the fifth edition of the MND Sheinbaum Index™, an eight-pillar index designed to give our readers balanced, data-driven insight into the current situation in Mexico across a range of areas under the leadership of President Claudia Sheinbaum.
In this edition of the index — which mainly uses data from the month of July — the headline number is 69.3, representing an improvement of 1.8 points compared to the previous score. This is the highest MND Sheinbaum Index™ to date. A detailed summary of the latest results appears below.
(Mexico News Daily)
The MND Sheinbaum Index™ score has now improved in three consecutive months, increasing by 9.3 points in the period. An analysis of the index trend so far this year also appears below.
The publication of this MND Sheinbaum Index™ score comes just over 23 months into Sheinbaum’s presidency and a day after she delivered her second annual government report. Click here to read MND’s article on that report.
Before we look in detail at the latest results and examine the index trend in the first half of 2026, here is a short guide to the significance of a Sheinbaum Index score:
85–100: Exceptional — administration performing at a high level across nearly all indicators.
75–84: Excellent — administration performing well across most indicators.
60–75: Quite good, but room for improvement — meaningful strengths, some areas of concern.
50–60: Mixed — passing marks overall.
Below 50: Broad underperformance — more indicators below benchmark than above.
The MND Sheinbaum Index™ trend between February and July
We saw the MND Sheinbaum Index™ score fall and rise in the period between February and July, but, as noted above, a consistent upward trend was maintained across the final three months of that interval.
Factors such as inflation of around 4.5% in each of March and April, as well as annual economic growth of 0.5% or lower in those months, caused the index score to deteriorate to 60 from 64.8 in February, when inflation was very close to 4% and economic growth was above 1%.
The additional 1.8-point improvement in July is due to a range of factors, including an additional decline in the inflation rate, an even larger reduction in homicides and stronger economic growth.
MND Sheinbaum Index™ pillars for July 2026
Each pillar is given a stoplight color indicating a strong performance (green: a score above 9.4 out of 12.5), an average performance (yellow: 6.2-9.4) or a poor performance (red: below 6.2).
An upward-pointing arrow ⬆️ indicates that the pillar score improved compared to May. A downward-pointing arrow ⬇️ indicates a deterioration in the pillar score. A pause icon ⏸️ means there was no change in the pillar score compared to the previous month.
(Mexico News Daily)
As you’ll see below, scores for six of the eight pillars improved in July compared to June. The scores for two other pillars declined.
🟢 ⬆️ INFLATION (12.2 out of 12.5)
In July, the inflation pillar was the top contributor to the overall index score for a third consecutive month.
Mexico’s annual headline inflation rate declined from 3.37% in June to 3.12% in July, the lowest rate for any month since May 2020 and just 0.12 percentage points above the Bank of Mexico’s 3% target.
The inflation pillar score consequently rose to 12.2 from 11.58 in June — a gain of 0.62 points.
🟢 ⬆️LABOR POVERTY (10.25 out of 12.5)
The MND Sheinbaum Index™ updates in this edition with second-quarter labor poverty data that was published by the national statistics agency INEGI on Aug. 26. Based on that data, the labor poverty pillar score rose to 10.25 in July from 10.1 in June.
The labor poverty rate decreased 3.2 percentage points annually to 31.9% in the first quarter of 2026. That rate is higher than the 30.7% reading in the first quarter of 2026, but the score for this component of the pillar is unchanged as the year-over-year decline held steady at 3.2%.
The increase in the pillar score is due to an 8% annual increase in real incomes, up from 7.4% in the first quarter of 2026.
For a third consecutive month, this pillar was the second biggest contributor to the overall index score.
🟢 ⬆️ SECURITY (9.84 out of 12.5)
The pace of homicide reduction accelerated in July for a third consecutive month. The year-over-year decline in homicides was 34.8% in July, per data presented at Sheinbaum’s Aug. 11 press conference, up from 32.5% in June
The security pillar score consequently rose from 9.44 in June to 9.84 in July. A perfect score requires a 50% year-over-year decline in homicides.
The economic growth pillar score thus rose from 6.75 in June to 9.25 in July, an improvement of 2.5 points.
The improvement allowed the pillar to move to the cusp of green light territory. The July score for the economic growth pillar is easily the highest since we published the first MND Sheinbaum Index™ in April.
Sheinbaum’s average approval increased slightly to 68.5% in July from 68% in June. Thus, the approval rating pillar score increased to 8.56 in July from 8.5 in June.
Per El Financiero’s July poll, Sheinbaum’s approval rating was 67%, a decline of one point compared to June. As there was no new Enkoll/El País/W Radio poll on Sheinbaum in July, we used the approval rating detected by the QM Estudios de Opinión/Heraldo Media Group survey. The president has a 70% approval rating, according to that poll, which was conducted between July 29 and Aug. 1.
The informality rate increased by 0.1 percentage points year-over-year in June, an improvement on the 0.2-point rise recorded in May. Mexico’s informality rate in July, at 56.2%, remained very high.
The improvement in the informality component score resulted in a slight increase in the pillar score to 7 in July from 6.88 in June.
🟡 ⬇️ TOURISM (6.91 out of 12.5 — This pillar has a one-month lag)
That represents a slowdown from the 5.3% rise recorded in May, pulling the tourism pillar score down to 6.91 from 7.91 a month earlier.
The tourism result was disappointing given that Mexico hosted 10 of its 11 FIFA men’s World Cup matches in June. Mexican authorities had anticipated that as many as 5 million additional international tourists would come to Mexico during the quadrennial event.
🟡 ⬇️ BUSINESS CONFIDENCE (5.33 out of 12.5)
Mexico’s business confidence score, as measured by a monthly INEGI survey, was 48.2 in July, unchanged from June. That score is below the neutral benchmark of 50. In late 2024, when Sheinbaum was at the start of her six-year term, the business confidence score was around 52.
In July, the score for the foreign direct investment component of the pillar declined significantly as the Economy Ministry reported last week that FDI in Mexico in the first six months of 2026 increased 2.1% annually, a much slower pace of growth compared with the 10.4% year-over-year gain in the first quarter of the year.
The score for this component of the pillar consequently fell by more than 1 point. That decline is the reason why the overall pillar score fell to 5.33 in July from 6.36 in June.
What to watch
The next MND Sheinbaum Index™ will focus on the month of August.
Here are three things to look out for in the August Index:
Inflation: Data for the first half of August indicates that the score for the inflation pillar will decline in the next edition of the index. INEGI reported on Aug. 24 that the annual headline rate was 3.26% in the first 15 days of August, up from 3.12% in July. If the inflation score does fall in August, it will be the first decline in five months.
Economic growth: Mexico’s economy currently has some momentum, growing 1.9% annually in the second quarter of 2026 and 2.7% in July, according to preliminary data. Even higher growth in August would surprise many, but perhaps not President Sheinbaum, who has predicted that economic activity will pick up in the second half of 2026.
Can Sheinbaum break 70? If the MND Sheinbaum Index™ score improves for a fourth consecutive month in August, it is very likely that the 70-point mark will be exceeded for the first time ever. Look out for the next edition of this index to find out whether the mark was surpassed or not.
Mexico News Daily
* MND acknowledges that President Sheinbaum does not directly control outcomes in all eight pillars. For example, global commodity prices and tariff decisions in Washington can affect Mexico’s inflation and growth rates. The MND Sheinbaum Index™ measures what is happening in Mexico on Sheinbaum’s watch.
Early in her address, the president declared she was "convinced" that Mexico is on "the path to shared prosperity, with independence, freedom and a lot of dignity." (Jessica Ramirez/Presidencia)
One month shy of completing her second year in office, President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday delivered her second annual report in a 67-minute speech, a wide-ranging and optimistic address that covered government achievements across areas including the economy, security, infrastructure and healthcare.
“I appear before the people of Mexico nearly two years after assuming the presidency of the republic. I do so with the certainty that we are transforming public life in this country,” Sheinbaum said at the beginning of her speech, delivered at the National Palace in the historic center of Mexico City to an audience that included high-ranking federal and state officials as well as Mexican business leaders.
Early in her address, the president declared she was “convinced” that Mexico is on “the path to shared prosperity, with independence, freedom and a lot of dignity.”
“We have governed with integrity and republican austerity,” Sheinbaum said.
“We are fully aware that public resources belong to the people and must be used for their benefit. … The economic power was separated from the political power and we govern honestly,” she said.
However, her popularity as president doesn’t insulate her from a range of challenges and difficulties she faces as the leader of a nation of some 130 million people that, for better or for worse, neighbors the United States, the world’s largest economy — and the world’s largest consumer market for illicit drugs.
Sheinbaum faces ongoing security challenges — particularly in states such as Guanajuato and Sinaloa — and frequent pressure from the Trump administration to do more to combat Mexico’s notorious drug cartels. She faces economic challenges, such as low productivity and high labor informality, amid uncertainty about the future of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). She faces domestic and external pressure related to drug trafficking accusations against ruling Morena party officials. She faces ongoing claims that she is turning Mexico into a more authoritarian, less democratic nation. Meanwhile, the U.S. tourist visas of more than 50 Morena officials, including that of one of ex-president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s sons, have been revoked. The list of challenges and difficulties faced by Mexico’s first female president goes on.
On Tuesday, however, Sheinbaum focused on the positives, and declared at the end of her address that “we” — i.e., Mexico and her administration — are “doing better” now than before, as she said would occur in her inaugural government report a year ago. She also said that Mexico has a clear path forward “set” by the Mexican people.
Below is a recap of Sheinbaum’s second annual report, or “segundo informe de gobierno,” as it is called in Spanish.
The economy
“Even in these difficult conditions, the Mexican economy remains stable and continues to grow.”
Sheinbaum said that in her almost two years in office, Mexico has faced “difficult international circumstances, marked by a change in the tariff policy of the U.S. government.”
“In particular, [U.S] tariffs on vehicles, steel, aluminum, and their derivatives, as well as the war in Iran, which drove up international oil prices, have created difficult circumstances for our country and for the entire world,” she said.
“Even in these difficult conditions, the Mexican economy remains stable and continues to grow,” Sheinbaum said.
She subsequently presented various data points to support her statement. They included that:
More than 60 million people have jobs and Mexico’s unemployment rate is “only 2.7%.” Sheinbaum didn’t mention that well over half of all workers in Mexico — 56.2% in July — are employed in the country’s vast informal sector.
Some 51.1 million international travelers came to Mexico in the first six months of 2026, a 7.7% annual increase.
Sheinbaum also highlighted that the federal government’s revenue reached a record high of more than 6.4 trillion pesos (US $376.76 billion) last year. She said that tax income has continued to increase in 2026.
Sheinbaum also said that Mexico’s monthly minimum wage has increased “154% in real terms” since 2018 to reach 9,582 pesos (US $564) in 2026.
“On the northern border, the minimum wage stands at 13,409 pesos per month. The average wage in the formal economy reached an all-time high of 20,212 pesos per month, the highest on record,” she said.
“As a result, in-work poverty in 2026 is at its lowest level since 2005.”
Plan Mexico
“Twenty-five of the 100 industrial parks we announced are already in operation.”
Sheinbaum noted that early in her six-year term, she presented Plan Mexico, an ambitious economic initiative with 13 goals, including making Mexico the 10th largest economy in the world by 2030, increasing domestic manufacturing production and cutting red tape for investment projects.
“Two decrees with incentives for private investment were published,” the president said before highlighting that 10 of 25 “Economic Development Hubs for Well-Being” for which private investment was sought are now under development.
“Twenty-five of the 100 industrial parks we announced as a goal are now in operation,” Sheinbaum added.
“In addition, we established the Presidential Office for Investment Promotion, which operates a one-stop shop that approves [investment project] applications within a maximum of 60 days. Through this, 19 projects totaling US $3.76 billion have been approved in four months,” she said.
“In addition, 60% of the bureaucratic procedures [for new investments] have been simplified or eliminated, requirements have been reduced by 66%, and the average response time has been cut by 50%,” Sheinbaum said.
“We have a duty to support those who for a long time were forgotten.”
The Sheinbaum administration has maintained all the welfare, social and employment programs launched by the government led by ex-president López Obrador, and added new ones, including educational scholarship schemes and cash transfers for women aged 60 and over.
The president said on Tuesday that the government’s welfare programs are “an expression of the conviction that nobody builds a nation alone.”
In a jab at pre-2018 governments, she also said that “we have a duty to support those who for a long were forgotten” — i.e., Mexico’s most disadvantaged people.
Mexico’s welfare programs are based on and draw from Mexican humanism, from a simple but powerful idea,” Sheinbaum said.
That idea, she said, is that “the wealth of Mexico must translate into well-being for its people.”
“A pension for a senior, a scholarship for a student or support for those who work the land aren’t concessions from power, but rather a way of recognizing the dignity and effort of millions of Mexicans,” Sheinbaum said.
She said that welfare programs will benefit almost 43 million Mexicans in 2026, “with a historic investment of one trillion pesos (US $58.85 billion).
Healthcare
“We are reversing the damage caused by decades of neglect in the area of health care.”
Sheinbaum said that when a “fourth transformation” (i.e., Morena) government first came to power in Mexico in 2018, a “profound deterioration in Mexico’s public health system” was evident.
She went on to claim that Morena governments are “reversing the damage caused by decades of neglect in the area of health care.”
Sheinbaum said that “in just two years” of her administration, 33 new public hospitals and 47 public healthcare centers have opened. She noted that her government is aiming to add 9,000 beds to the public health system by 2030.
“To ensure the timely supply of medications and medical supplies, we make consolidated purchases directly from suppliers. We also created the ‘Rutas de la Salud’ program for medical facilities and hospitals in the IMSS Bienestar system, through which 2 billion items have been distributed,” Sheinbaum said.
“No hospital that treats cancer lacks medications,” she asserted.
Infrastructure
“We’re recovering the passenger train network, hallmark of the fourth transformation.”
Sheinbaum enumerated infrastructure projects her government has completed, including highways and “70 bridges and interchanges.”
“… We doubled the budget for artisanal [hand-built] roads, and together with Indigenous communities we’ve built 135 roads measuring 368 kilometers,” she said.
Sheinbaum inaugurated a new train line connecting Mexico City and the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) in April. (Gabriel Monroy/Presidencia)
Sheinbaum also said that 2 million tonnes of freight have been transported on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec’s Interoceanic Railroad, on which two derailments — including a fatal one — have occurred during her government.
She said that her government is modernizing “hydro-agricultural infrastructure across more than 250,000 hectares, which will increase productivity on farms and at the same time release water for human consumption.”
In addition, she said the government is “modernizing seven ports” and “11 international airports,” including those in Mexico City, Puerto Escondido and Tepic.
Security
“We’ve achieved a 51% reduction in homicides.”
Sheinbaum said that “the peace and tranquility of families” are a top priority for her government.
“Thousands of National Guard members, soldiers, marines, security agents, and public servants work every day on the four pillars of the National Security Strategy,” she said, highlighting that those pillars are attention to the root causes of crime; consolidation of the National Guard; strengthening of intelligence and investigative practices; and enhanced coordination between federal and state authorities.
“The results speak for themselves,” Sheinbaum asserted before declaring that “we’ve achieved a 51% reduction in homicides since we took office.”
Sheinbaum also said that the incidence of high-impact crimes — such as murder, violent robbery, kidnapping and extortion — is down 54% so far this year compared to 2018. She highlighted that some 63,000 people were arrested for allegedly committing high-impact crimes between October 2024 and July 2026.
Sheinbaum said that 207 of those people were “priority targets from all the organized crime groups.”
Sheinbaum noted that authorities have seized 32,824 firearms and 519 tonnes of drugs during her presidency, and dismantled 2,725 clandestine drug laboratories.
Mexico-US relations
“Our relationship with the U.S. government has had its challenges, but we’ve made the decision to always seek understanding.”
Toward the end of her address, Sheinbaum turned her attention to the relationship between Mexico and the United States, a relationship that has been strained by trade and security tensions.
After outlining Mexico’s constitutionally enshrined foreign policy principles, including that of non-intervention in the affairs of other countries, the president said:
“In this context, I would like to highlight our relationship with the U.S. government, which has had its challenges, but we’ve made the decision to always seek understanding.”
President Sheinbaum led a rally at the Monument to the Revolution in May during which she denounced heightened foreign interference during her government, saying “Mexico is not anyone’s piñata.” (Hazel Cárdenas/Cuartoscuro)
“Mexico is a sovereign country and sovereignty isn’t negotiated, handed over or shared,” said Sheinbaum, who has maintained a respectful relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump despite the disparaging remarks he has made about her, including claims that she is “afraid” of Mexican cartels.
She said that “perhaps one of the most painful aspects” of the relationship with the United States “has been the treatment Mexicans have received” while under the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She noted that 17 Mexicans have died in ICE custody or during ICE operations since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
“In response, … we decided to file complaints … and we will follow up on them and demand that the human rights of our compatriots be fully respected,” she said.
Exactly two months after the U.S. government announced that it had declined to renew the USMCA “in its current form” for an additional 16 years, Sheinbaum said that dialogue with the Trump administration on trade issues is ongoing, “and we hope to reach an understanding.”
Despite the U.S. government’s decision to not renew the USMCA, the free trade pact remains in force. In 2026, Mexico has consolidated its position as the top exporter to, and top trade partner of, the United States.
10 more things
During her second government report speech, Sheinbaum also said that:
Her government has held 475 mañaneras, or morning press conferences, “as a permanent exercise of information, dialogue, debate and right of reply.”
She has traveled 84,407 kilometers by air during her presidency and 20,000 kilometers overland, “visiting communities and regions of the 32 entities of the republic.”
The government’s electric vehicle, Olinia — of which prototypes of two models have been presented — is entering the “production phase.”
The federal government created the Bachillerato Nacional (a nationwide high school program), “with the objective of unifying all of the country’s high schools and technical schools under the same educational umbrella.”
Pemex’s debt has declined by US $20 billion during the current government.
‘Mexico is strong, it has extraordinary people’
In her closing remarks, Sheinbaum said that “in these 23 months of great changes, we’ve shown that Mexico is strong and has extraordinary people.”
“… We are part of the project of the fourth transformation of public life,” she said.
“We are strengthening a project that grew from the grassroots and which places equality, justice and well-being at its center,” Sheinbaum said on Tuesday. (Saúl López/Presidencia)
“Let no one be mistaken — here there are no divisions, there are no ruptures,” Sheinbaum said, dismissing claims that there are rifts within the ruling Morena party.
“The only thing there is is the defense of the people of Mexico and their dignity,” she said.
Sheinbaum asserted that “the eyes of the world are on Mexico because here a great people has decided to write their own history.”
“We are strengthening a project that grew from the grassroots and which places equality, justice and well-being at its center,” she said.
“… Mexico is free and sovereign and is advancing with dignity, with the strength of its people and with our eyes set on a future that stems from our legacy of greatness,” Sheinbaum said.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
The new Tijuana center offers Mexico's archers and their training staff synthetic turf, an archery range with 20-22 shooting lanes, lighting, a gym and an equipment room. (Conade)
Mexico has opened a new specialized archery training center in Tijuana as it builds its Olympic program toward Los Angeles 2028 and prepares to host the archery World Cup Final this month in Saltillo, Coahuila.
The Centro de Excelencia de Tiro con Arco, or Archery Center of Excellence, opened Saturday under the auspices of the federal sports commission Conade, the Baja California government, the state’s sports institute and World Archery Mexico.
Mexican archers won a Bronze Medal at the 2024 Olympic Games, a Gold at the 2025 World Archery Championships and seven overall medals, including two Golds, at the 2026 Pan American Archery Championships. (Conade)
The facility is part of a broader project to establish archery facilities in Tijuana and Mérida, Yucatán, at a cost of more than 40 million pesos, then worth about US $2.2 million, Conade said last year. Officials did not specify how much was allocated to each site.
Mexico has emerged as an international archery power, with four athletes currently ranked in the top six of their divisions, plus a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the country’s first World Archery Championships gold in Gwangju, South Korea, in 2025.
The current world rankings show Andrea Maya Becerra No. 1 in women’s compound, Matías Grande No. 3 in men’s recurve, Sebastián García Flores No. 4 in men’s compound and Ana Paula Vázquez Flores No. 6 in women’s recurve. Becerra is from Jalisco, while Grande, García and Vázquez are Coahuila natives.
The new Tijuana center includes rehabilitated synthetic turf, an archery range with 20-22 shooting lanes, lighting, a gym and an equipment room. It is intended for national-team training and talent development.
World Archery Mexico President Gabriel Ramos attended the inauguration and said Mexico is working with 14 archers vying for spots on the national team: eight on Team A and six on Team B.
The approach is designed to deepen domestic competition ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Mexico’s compound-bow athletes recently spent seven weeks training in Switzerland before a camp in Tlaxcala, Ramos added.
The next international test for Mexico’s archers will come Sept. 12-13 at the 2026 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final, following qualifying stages in Mexico (Puebla), China, Turkey and Spain.
The two-day competition will bring together 32 elite archers for knockout matches in Saltillo, Coahuila’s capital. The season-ending event is separate from the World Archery Championships.
If the incident is confirmed as a partial derailment, it would mark the third such mishap in just over two years — one also in Campeche in June of 2025 and another in Yucatán in 2024. There were no injuries resulting from any of the three incidents.
(@TrenMayaMX/X)
The Maya Train reported another mishap Monday afternoon in Campeche, described only vaguely as a “track-related incident” but serious enough to force the evacuation of passengers from a train traveling the Cancún–Palenque route.
The state-owned company reported no injuries and stated that protocols for passenger care and service continuity were activated.
#Entérate Se descarrila nuevamente el #TrenMaya#Campeche Una pasajera del Tren Maya compartió en redes sociales un video en el que, según su reporte, se observa un presunto descarrilamiento cerca de la estación San Francisco de Campeche.
According to a statement released by the train, the problem occurred around 3:30 p.m. as the train was departing the San Francisco de Campeche station. It involved the train’s last car, which had advanced a mere 50 meters from the railway terminal when it happened.
“In accordance with established technical procedures, the train driver brought the unit to a halt; no injuries were reported among the 123 passengers,” the Maya Train said.
It added that the passengers were evacuated as a precautionary measure and transported by road to the Edzná station, from where they would continue their journey on another train.
Although the official statement described the event only as a “track-related incident” (un percance de vía), various media reports indicated that the last car had partially derailed. So far, no technical report has been released confirming or ruling out any derailment or identifying the causes of the incident.
The Maya Train also announced that a Railway Accident Review Commission has initiated the necessary investigations to determine the cause of the incident.
This is the third incident of this type recorded on a Maya Train track. In August 2025, a derailment was reported near Mérida, also resulting in no injuries.
Earlier, in March 2024, another train derailed in Tixkokob, in Yucatán. Authorities later attributed the incident to a problem with a track-switching component.
The recurring problem occurs against a backdrop of questions regarding the project’s financial viability. Likewise, operational incidents increase pressure on the company to disclose the technical causes of the mishaps and the measures it will implement to strengthen safety, service continuity and financial sustainability.
An investigation published by the newspaper El Universal reported that the Maya Train recorded losses of 5.013 billion pesos (US $294.6 million) in the first half of 2026, compared to 4.810 billion pesos ($282.7 million)recorded throughout 2025.
According to that report, from the service’s inauguration through last June, accumulated expenses and losses totaled 14.104 billion pesos ($828.9 million), while revenue from sales and service provision amounted to 1.060 billion pesos ($62.3 million).
According to the results of El Financiero's monthly poll, the president's best approval rating so far this year was in February, at 72%, whereas her worst month was July, at 67%. (Saúl López/Presidencia)
Ahead of her second annual report to the nation, President Claudia Sheinbaum had an approval rating of 68%, according to the most recent national poll conducted by the newspaper El Financiero, putting her ahead of her two predecessors at this point in the six-year presidential term.
The president’s August rating remains almost unchanged from December 2025, when Sheinbaum had a 69% approval rating, following her first full year as president. Thirty-two percent of respondents disapproved of Sheinbaum in August.
The government’s strongest area of performance continues to be social programs, of which 64% of respondents had favorable opinions, followed by economic management, with 50% approving.
Meanwhile, public opinions on security, organized crime and corruption have worsened since May, garnering just 13%, 11% and 14% approval, respectively. Negative opinions among respondents about public safety are also on the rise, increasing from 61% in July to 76% in August, marking the highest level in Sheinbaum’s presidency to date.
With negotiations of the Mexico-United States-Canada free trade agreement (USMCA) still underway, the share of respondents who held a positive view of Sheinbaum’s management of USMCA talks rose from 51% to 56% between July and August, while the percentage of people expressing optimistic attitudes towards Sheinbaum’s relationship with U.S. President Trump rose from 35% to 41%.
During the presentation of the new poll results, public opinion analyst Roy Campos stressed that Sheinbaum’s average approval rating is 14 percentage points higher than that of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and 21 points higher than that of Enrique Peña Nieto as she approaches the start of her third year in office.
According to the results of El Financiero’s monthly poll, the president’s best approval rating so far this year was in February, at 72%, whereas her worst month was July, at 67%. Based on her current average, Sheinbaum is set to have the highest approval rating of the last six Mexican presidents.
Mexico News Daily offers its own MND Sheinbaum Index™ based on eight numerical pillars, such as inflation, the homicide rate and the unemployment rate, which has shown President Sheinbaum’s performance to be steadily improving month over month. For June, MND gave Sheinbaum a score of 67.5/100; check back tomorrow for the latest MND Sheinbaum Index™ analyzing the data for July.
Mexicans abroad are sending more and more money to their families back home, but the purchasing power of those remittances when converted to pesos has not kept pace. (Cristina Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
Remittances to Mexico showed an annual increase for a sixth consecutive month, rising 3% in July compared to a year ago and remaining above US $5 billion for a third straight month, the Bank of Mexico reported.
The true gain, however, is offset by the strengthening Mexican currency, which results in fewer pesos pocketed in Mexico per dollar of remittance. In fact, in peso terms, remittances actually fell by 3.7% compared to July 2025, when the peso hit as high as 18.85 to the dollar as compared to a tick or two under 17 today.
The arithmetic of the remittance recipient’s quandary is simple. A year ago, a 100-dollar remittance, exchanged at the official rate, would provide something approaching 1,900 pesos to spend. Today that same 100 will yield 1,700 pesos. That’s 200 pesos less to spend for every 100 dollars received from abroad. On average, the increase in dollars sent doesn’t make up for the loss of purchasing power. (Engin Akyurt/Unsplash)
Still, the $5.57 billion that beneficiary households received in July was the second-highest monthly total of 2026, behind only the $5.62 billion recorded in May.
Remittances to Mexico have now surpassed US $36.3 billion through the first seven months of the year, marking a 3.1% rebound compared to the same period in 2025. The increasing total is driven by a rise in the average amount of transactions, rather than an increase in the total number of transactions.
Unfortunately for those receiving remittances in dollars from abroad, while the peso’s remarkable recent appreciation improves purchasing power for the majority who receive income in pesos, it reduces the value of remittances when converted into pesos. It also makes Mexico more expensive for foreign tourists, and for residents whose income or pensions, including U.S. Social Security, are paid in dollars.
Analysis conducted by BBVA research produced an estimate that the purchasing power of remittances fell 8.3% year-on-year in June. That’s a key development, because family remittances represent roughly 4% of GDP, making Mexico the second-largest global recipient of cross-border transfers behind India.
The central bank also reported that remittance outflows — money sent abroad from within Mexico — through the first seven months of the year totaled US $731 million, an annual increase of 6.3% over the $688 million reported in the same period of 2025.
Thus, in the first seven months of 2026, the remittance account surplus (cash in minus cash out) was $35.62 billion, an amount greater than the $34.56 billion observed from January through July 2025, an annual increase of 3.1%.
Summer evenings in San Miguel highlight church towers and other historic buildings backed by lingering sunsets. (Ria Talken)
Plenty of San Miguel news has been circulating lately, including continuing talk of another golf course, additional trees for a beloved park, a possible new downtown parking garage and major industrial investments in the city and surrounding region. More details on these and related developments are below.
Potential golf course near El Charco sparks petition drive
EL Charco del Ingenio is a botanical garden and nature preserve on the northeastern edge of San Miguel. (Credit: Festival de las Artes San Miguel de Allende)
Persistent rumors that a fourth golf course is being planned for an area north of the El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden on the northeastern edge of San Miguel recently prompted a petition drive opposing the proposal.
The petition had 19,050 verified signatures and 183 comments as of Aug. 31, the majority of which appear to oppose the project. Signers cite concerns about threats to the environment and water supply.
The golf course plan emerged nearly a year ago with the backing of Lorena Ochoa, a World Golf Hall of Famer who has been described as Mexico’s most accomplished golfer.However, no permits had been applied for or granted at that point, according to municipal officials.
Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa has backed a fourth golf course for San Miguel. (Credit: Golf.com)
El Charco has stated that the golf course’s placement would be in “the worst imaginable location” on a large rural tract of land directly bordering the botanical garden. Other issues include exotic grasses requiring intensive irrigation and the application of fertilizers and toxic pesticides, El Charco said.
“The municipal Urban Development Plan, which had previously designated the property as an area for ecological preservation, has been amended to allow a change in land use, paving the way for urbanization and the construction of the golf course,” El Charco’s August newsletter stated.
San Miguel currently has three golf courses: two 18-hole courses (Malanquin and Las Ventanas) and one nine-hole option (Zirandaro).
Municipal government planting more trees in Parque Juárez
Parque Juárez is a very popular park in Centro San Miguel. (Credit: María Ruiz)
A recently launched project is bringing 35 new ash trees to Parque Juárez as part of the city’s “active urban conservation and environmental maintenance initiative.” At roughly 15 feet tall, they are reportedly mature trees that will help renew the park’s canopy.
There are three ash species native to Mexico, all of which adapt well to mild, subtropical and tropical highland climates found across the country.
The project will replace trees that have reached the natural end of their lifecycle and assess existing trees for pruning, treatments and parasite removal – particularly mistletoe infestations.
Meanwhile, the city will also identify, manage and remove severely deteriorated or dry trees that may pose hazards to park visitors.
Nearby residents have expressed concern about dead trees and limbs falling into public pathways, seating areas and streets. They also say some of the ash trees show evidence of pests and woodpeckers.
Is a parking garage coming to Centro San Miguel?
Former Royal Hospital of San Juan de Dios. (INAH-Mediateca JP&K Films)
A new parking garage may be planned for municipal property near the Templo de San Juan de Dios. The site was formerly a public hospital for low-income patients.
The idea, reportedly put forward by Mayor Mauricio Trejo Pureco, is meant to mitigate traffic on the narrow cobblestone streets in Centro’s historic district.
Municipal officials are looking to develop more parking capacity outside the historic center to reduce vehicle idling, enhance pedestrian safety and protect historic buildings from additional wear and tear linked to traffic.
There is also a shortage of parking spaces downtown, with some reports stating there are only about 5,000 for the more than 100,000 visitors coming to San Miguel during holidays and popular events.
Downtown parking fees have also been increasing lately, with public lots and garages near the city center charging anywhere from 50 to 80 pesos per hour.
Construction materials company commits 5 billion pesos to SMA
Soprema lays the foundation stone for its new plant at the San Miguel de Allende business park. (Credit: Polígono Empresarial San Miguel)
Soprema Mexico, a global manufacturer and supplier of construction materials, recently began construction of a manufacturing facility within the Polígono Empresarial San Miguel industrial park east of the city. Its products include waterproofing, insulation and energy efficiency materials.
The company said it is making a long-term capital investment of up to 5 billion pesos (US $300 million). The project will initially create 250 direct jobs while offering opportunities to local suppliers and engineers. Subsequent expansion plans for a larger industrial campus in San Miguel are also being considered.
Soprema’s parent company was founded in France in 1908 and is still headquartered there. The Canadian arm is based in Quebec, with offices in Mexico City and Monterrey.
This local development dovetails with ongoing economic development projects and additional plans for the state of Guanajuato. There are currently 79 investment projects occurring within the state worth more than US $6.5 billion, boosting Guanajuato’s profile as an increasingly important industrial destination in Mexico.
Cathy Siegner is an independent journalist based in San Miguel and Montana. She has journalism degrees from the University of Oregon and Northwestern University.
Federal Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said in an X post on Tuesday morning that Luis Enrique Barragán (R5) had been identified as the leader of the Cártel de Los Reyes and the "main coordinator of extortion against avocado producers" in Michoacán. (@GabSeguridadMX/X)
Mexican security forces on Monday shot dead an alleged cartel leader and one other person after they came under fire in the state of Michoacán, authorities said.
The alleged cartel leader who was killed was Luis Enrique Barragán Chávez, known as “El Güicho” (Wicho) and “R5.”
En Tocumbo, Michoacán, elementos de @Defensamx1 y una aeronave de @SEMAR_MX fueron agredidos con disparos de arma de fuego por integrantes de una célula delictiva.
Durante el operativo, 2 agresores perdieron la vida, entre ellos Luis Enrique “N”, alias “El Güicho” y/o “R5”,… pic.twitter.com/BDaCAlsmFR
— Gabinete de Seguridad de México (@GabSeguridadMX) September 1, 2026
Federal Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said in an X post on Tuesday morning that Barragán had been identified as the leader of the Cártel de Los Reyes (Kings Cartel) and the “main coordinator of extortion against avocado producers” in Michoacán.
The federal Security Cabinet said on X on Tuesday morning that Mexican Army troops and a Navy plane came under fire on Monday in Tocumbo, a municipality in Michoacán on that state’s border with Jalisco.
According to García Harfuch, the attack occurred as Mexican Army and National Guard troops were carrying out an operation in Tocumbo in coordination with the Michoacán Attorney General’s Office and state police.
The security minister said that the security forces returned fire and “two attackers lost their lives,” including Barragán, who died around two months before his 40th birthday. The other victim wasn’t identified.
García Harfuch and the Security Cabinet noted that Barragán was subject to an arrest warrant for the purpose of extradition to the United States. The Security Cabinet said that authorities seized firearms, magazines and a quad bike during the operation in Tocumbo.
The death of Barragán came a month after another alleged leader of the Cártel de Los Reyes, Alfonso Fernández Magallón, was detained in the Michoacán municipality of Los Reyes. Barragán allegedly succeeded Fernández as the leader of the criminal group.
Barragán, a ‘well-known sicario,’ was wanted in the US on drug and firearms charges
In a statement published in August 2025, the U.S. State Department noted that an investigation in the United States carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) “led to an indictment charging Barragán in the District of Columbia with drug conspiracy offenses and firearms offenses in July 2023.”
“The indictment was unsealed in July 2025 in conjunction with the announcement of Treasury sanctions against Cárteles Unidos leaders as well as a Narcotics Reward Program (NRP) reward offer for Barragán,” the State Department said.
At the start of its statement, the State Department noted that HSI had identified Barragán as the “chief sicario,” or hitman, of the Cártel de Los Reyes.
It said that HSI had determined that Barragán used the proceeds from the sales of illegal narcotics in the United States to fund the Cárteles Unidos’ “combat operations” against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, “and the projection of power in their area of control in Michoacán.”
The U.S. Department of State was offering a reward of up to US $3 million for information leading to the arrest of “R5” — real name Luis Enrique Barragán — who headed up the Cártel de Los Reyes faction of Cárteles Unidos in Michoacán. (HSI)
“Drug proceeds were used to acquire small arms from the United States, hire local fighters and Colombian mercenaries, and the acquisition of heavy weaponry such as landmines, .50 caliber rifles, up-armored vehicles and the use of bomb-dropping drones,” the State Department said.
“Barragán was at the forefront of those combat efforts, becoming a well-known sicario and combat leader, working closely with other elements of Cárteles Unidos.”
‘A decisive blow to organized crime’
Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla acknowledged the death of Barragán in an X post on Tuesday morning.
“In Michoacán, there is no room for impunity or for those who threaten the peace of our families and the economy of our producers,” he wrote.
“My full recognition to the National Security Cabinet and our sincere gratitude to President Claudia Sheinbaum for her constant support to our state. Thanks to coordinated intelligence work and operations in Tocumbo between the Ministry of National Defense and the Michoacán Security Ministry we dealt a decisive blow to organized crime by neutralizing Luis Enrique ‘N’, alias ‘El Güicho’ or ‘R5’, the main extortionist of avocado growers in the region and a priority target with an extradition order,” Ramírez wrote.
Combating extortion — a widespread problem in Mexico — is a top priority for the federal government, which launched a national strategy against the crime in July 2025. Criminal groups have long targeted avocado and lime producers in Michoacán, a leading producer of those fruits.
In terms of total homicides, Michoacán ranked as Mexico’s 12th most violent state in the first seven months of 2026. The state recorded 477 murders between January and July, a 41.8% reduction compared to the same period of last year, according to the federal government.
Last November, the federal government began the implementation of “Plan Michoacán for Peace and Justice,” a 57-billion-peso (US $3.35 billion) initiative devised in response to the murder of the mayor of Uruapan on Nov. 1 and general insecurity in the state.
On Tuesday morning, the Security Cabinet said that “within the framework” of that plan, its coordination with state authorities allows criminal structures to be weakened, extortion to be combated and “those who generate violence” to be detained.
