Mexico City entered its fourth environmental contingency of 2025 this week, during which some cars are restricted from driving to bring down air pollution levels. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
As Mexico City entered its fourth environmental contingency alert of 2025, the city’s Mayor Clara Brugada signed a public-private agreement to reduce the city’s air pollution.
The document, Agreement For a Low-Emission City, outlines a collaboration between the city and the private sector to reduce emissions.
La #CapitalDeLaTransformación da un paso histórico con el Acuerdo por una Ciudad Baja en Emisiones, un compromiso entre los sectores público, privado y ciudadanía para reducir la contaminación y enfrentar la crisis climática. Con la participación de todas y todos construiremos… pic.twitter.com/Ft96XH5nO9
— Clara Brugada Molina (@ClaraBrugadaM) April 2, 2025
Brugada, CDMX Tourism Minister Alejandra Frausto and Mexican business leaders signed the agreement Tuesday.
“This agreement addresses one of the most important tasks we face: reducing, mitigating and addressing climate change,” Brugada said.
Brugada said Mexico City contributes 4% of the country’s gas emissions. Without measures to reduce them, this figure could triple by the middle of the century, she said.
The agreement seeks to transform Mexico City into a cleaner, healthier city with lower emissions through six key actions.
Developing integrated and sustainable mobility options, including promoting bicycle usage.
Building homes with solar panels.
Reducing by half the 13,000 tons of waste generated in the capital daily.
Enhancing the city’s sustainable water management, including water recycling, recovering bodies of water and rehabilitating dams.
Revegetation of the countryside and the city.
Implementation of a green tax aimed at reducing emissions and promoting sustainable technologies.
Brugada’s government will also launch a call for citizen proposals to move forward in environmental matters.
Although Guadalajara’s metropolitan zone has only a quarter of the population of Mexico City, it has, at times, surpassed the nation’s capital in air pollution levels. (University of Guadalajara)
Developing a federal emissions database for Mexico’s high-pollution cities
President Claudia Sheinbaum said that the federal Environment and Natural Resources Ministry (Semarnat) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) are researching the metropolitan areas of the Valley of Mexico, Guadalajara and Monterrey due to high pollution levels there.
The research teams, Sheinbaum explained, are focusing on creating an emissions inventory to measure pollution levels and identify responsible parties.
Air quality awareness in schools
Mexico City’s Environment Ministry (Sedema) has launched the Air Quality School Banners program to help children recognize the ozone season’s effects on their health and learn how to protect themselves from it.
During ozone season, ozone concentrations are at their highest levels due to the lack of wind, low humidity levels, and intense radiation. In Mexico City, this happens between February and June.
The School Banners program educates children on Mexico City’s Air Quality Index, including the meaning of the flag colors associated with the initiative. The flags can be one of five different colors, each corresponding to the day’s air quality.
The flags are raised daily and remain in place depending on air quality in the school’s area.
Besides broken seats, faulty brakes and other mechanical problems, Ecobici users are increasingly complaining about a lack of bicycles available for use when needed. (Denisse Hernández/Cuartoscuro)
The company in charge of operating Mexico City’s public bicycle network — Ecobici — has been fined due to a reported lack of maintenance of the bicycles, Mayor Clara Brugada announced at a March 25 press conference.
In recent months, Ecobici users have reported issues with the city bikes, including broken seats, loose chains, flat tires and broken brakes and pedals, as well as faults in the app. Some users posted photographs and videos of the broken equipment on social media.
Despite a growing number of complaints about the faulty conditions of the bikes, Mexico City’s Ecobici program remains popular. (Tomás Acosta/Cuartoscuro.com)
Many also criticized the distribution of docking spaces and a shortage of bicycles due to the poor balancing of units during rush hour.
“We will soon announce how Ecobici will be expanded in the city and how we will improve the service,” Brugada said during the press conference. “Calls are already being made to the company responsible for Ecobici so that all citizen complaints are addressed immediately.”
Brugada also said that the company in question had received a fine.
The recent problems have prompted many users to reconsider their membership, according to the news site La Silla Rota.
In announcing plans to improve Ecobici through an expansion program, the mayor did not offer any details on how this would be achieved.
A member of the PAN political party, Daniel Chimal García, in addition to urging the companies managing Ecobici to compensate users who had experienced service problems, criticized Brugada’s expansion plans.
“Despite mechanical issues, out-of-service units and a shortage of bicycles available at stations, this is how Clara Brugada’s administration wants to extend this system, which has not been functional in recent months,” Chimal García said during a March 31 session in Congress.
Chimal García has been vocal in the past about the need to develop more bike lanes, reinforce signage and improve the condition of public spaces.
Do Ecobici bikes receive regular maintenance?
Mexico City’s Ecobici network does receive regular maintenance. In 2024, the city’s Mobility Ministry said that over 300 units a day are serviced at a mega-workshop in the Miguel Hidalgo municipality and suggested that the deterioration of the bikes was due to their “constant and intensive” use.
This means that between 2,100 and 2,450 Ecobici bicycles are repaired each week, equivalent to between 23% and 26% of the 9,300 bicycles currently in service.
However, Ecobici employees have acknowledged that the new black bicycles “last less” than the previous red bikes, which they replaced in 2022, according to La Silla Rota.
Growing numbers of Ecobici users
Despite several challenges, the Ecobici network continues to grow. In 2024, Ecobici recorded over 22 million trips, marking an 83% increase on the previous year and a fourfold rise on 2022.
In the first three months of 2025, more trips were taken on Ecobici than in the whole of 2022, showing how the system has grown in popularity. This is likely owing to the expansion of the network and improvements to Mexico City’s bike lanes.
The new daily flight from Mexico City to Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the United States, marks a significant advance in connectivity between the two cities. (Nils Huenerfuerst/Unsplash)
Travelers can now fly nonstop between Mexico City and Phoenix thanks to an alliance between Aeroméxico and Delta Air Lines.
The new daily flight, inaugurated March 30, marks Aeromexico’s 25th destination in the United States. It takes place aboard a Boeing 737 Max aircraft.
Phoenix, Arizona’s beautiful Skypark International Airport can now receive up to 2,000 passengers a week directly from Mexico City. (City of Phoenix)
More than 2,000 round-trip seats will be available per week for nonstop flights between Mexico City and Arizona’s capital, the fifth largest city in the United States.
The flight departs from Mexico City International Airport at 9:55 a.m. and arrives at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at 12:25 p.m. local time. The return flight leaves Phoenix at 1:55 a.m., arriving in Mexico City at 6:05 a.m. local time.
Jeff Morgan, senior vice president of network planning and scheduling at Aeroméxico, said that this partnership “positions Aeroméxico and Delta Air Lines as the airlines with the best connectivity between Mexico and the United States.”
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said that flights from Phoenix to Mexico have grown by 155% compared to pre-pandemic levels, and that the new nonstop flight will strengthen ties between Mexico and the U.S.
“Aeroméxico’s new nonstop service will improve travel options for our community while strengthening tourism and trade between our closely knit regions,” she said.
Phoenix is well-known for its range of tourist attractions, including vineyards, historic Western ghost towns, mines, golf courses and world-class spas. Furthermore, travelers can take advantage of the city’s proximity to the Grand Canyon.
Last year, the Aeroméxico-Delta alliance introduced over 28 new routes connecting major cities in Mexico and the U.S. This year, the airline plans to launch seven new international routes.
Mexico City-Philadelphia and San Luis Potosí-Atlanta are scheduled to begin operations in early June, while four more destinations departing from Mexico City will launch by the end of the year. These include Cartagena and Cali (Colombia), Panama City, and Punta Cana (Dominican Republic).
To cover these new routes, Aeroméxico will acquire 14 new planes, bringing its total fleet to 164 by the end of 2025.
Sheinbaum told reporters at her Wednesday press conference that she would announce her 'comprehensive' program on Thursday, and that it wasn't a "matter of saying, 'You're putting tariffs on us, we're putting tariffs on you.'" (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum held her Wednesday-morning press conference ahead of United States President Donald Trump’s scheduled “Liberation Day” announcement of “reciprocal tariffs” on Wednesday afternoon.
She once again said that her government will respond to all U.S. tariffs on Mexican goods on Thursday.
At her press conference, President Sheinbaum also introduced the idea that Mexico might begin producing its own automobiles. Mexicans currently buy virtually all their vehicles from foreign automakers. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Sheinbaum also spoke about Mexico’s vehicle importation “problem” and her call on Tuesday with new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
‘Our interest is the strengthening of the Mexican economy’
Some six hours before Trump’s scheduled announcement on “reciprocal tariffs,” a Brazilian reporter asked the Mexican president whether she could bring forward the announcement of Mexico’s response to the United States’ protectionism.
With a hearty laugh, Sheinbaum said she could not.
“What we’re going to announce is a comprehensive program, it’s not a matter of saying, ‘You’re putting tariffs on us, we’re putting tariffs on you,'” she said.
Sheinbaum said that Mexico’s tariffs response would build on the nation’s Plan México, introduced by the administration in January. It’s an ambitious infrastructure and economic plan meant to improve Mexicans’ quality of life and turn the nation’s economy into the globe’s 10th largest. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartocuro)
“Our interest is the strengthening of the Mexican economy,” including the automotive sector, Sheinbaum said.
“… The program we’re going to present tomorrow is not just related to the tariffs that the United States could impose,” she said before acknowledging that some Mexican goods already face tariffs when exported to the U.S.
“It’s a comprehensive program to strengthen the Mexican economy,” Sheinbaum said.
The federal government already has an ambitious economic initiative — Plan México — aimed at making Mexico the 10th largest economy in the world, reducing reliance on imports from China and other Asian countries and creating some 1.5 million new jobs.
Sheinbaum indicated that Plan México will be further strengthened by the measures she announces on Thursday.
‘The problem is we’re importing a lot of vehicles’
During her response to the question posed by the aforesaid reporter, Sheinbaum identified Mexico’s demand for foreign-made vehicles as a problem.
“The problem is that we’re importing a lot of vehicles, particularly from Asia, and this is not anything against any Asian country or anything like that,” she said.
“There are compact cars that are sold a lot in Mexico, [but] they’re not made in Mexico,” Sheinbaum said.
She said that her government is seeking to bolster domestic vehicle production so that the majority of vehicles purchased in Mexico are made in Mexico.
Volkswagen vehicles rolling off the assembly line in Puebla. While many foreign automakers have factories in Mexico, most of their product is shipped elsewhere. (Volkswagen de México)
The aim to decrease car imports by increasing domestic vehicle production takes into account “the new international situation we have, but is also part of Plan México,” Sheinbaum said.
Sales of Chinese cars, including electric vehicles such as those made by BYD, have increased significantly in recent years, although growth slowed last year. No Chinese automakers currently make cars in Mexico, although several have announced plans to do so.
Cars made by Japanese and Korean automakers are also popular in Mexico. At least some of those are made here by companies such as Toyota, Nissan and Kia.
Sheinbaum’s first call with new Canadian PM
Sheinbaum spoke to new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for the first time on Tuesday.
According to a post made by the government of Canada on Tuesday, new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Sheinbaum have agreed to keep in close contact for the foreseeable future. (Policy Exchange/Wikimedia Commons)
She told reporters on Wednesday that they discussed the importance of the USMCA free trade pact and the need to “always maintain the trade agreement between Canada and Mexico.”
Despite the USMCA, Trump has recently imposed tariffs on imports from both Mexico and Canada.
In a social media post on Tuesday, the federal government said that Sheinbaum and Carney “agreed to maintain dialogue and agreed on the importance of the economic integration of North America, with respect for our sovereignties, as the best way to compete with other regions of the world.”
Carney, who took over from Justin Trudeau as prime minister last month, noted on social media that he had spoken to Sheinbaum.
“In a shifting global economy, strong and reliable partners matter. Canada and Mexico are focused on deepening our trade relations and building stronger economies, together,” he wrote.
It's almost Semana Santa, which means San Miguel is about to host a litany of special events. (María Ruiz)
April in San Miguel de Allende is a month filled with soul-stirring tradition, celebration, and reflection. At the heart of it all is Semana Santa, one of the city’s most revered observances, taking place this year from April 13 to April 20.
Throughout the week, the streets fill with powerful expressions of faith, grand processions, dramatic reenactments and moving ceremonies that immerse the town in a breathtaking display of spirituality and heritage. This month also brings thought-provoking talks, joyful concerts, delicious festivals and opportunities to connect with nature and community. Here’s a roundup of what’s happening in San Miguel de Allende this April.
AI and Journalism
Mexico News Daily co-owners Travis and Tamanna Bembenek at the Future of Mexico Forum in Los Cabos last week. (Travis Bembenek)
Curious or maybe a little nervous about howartificial intelligence is changing the way we get our news? You’re not alone. You can dive into the topic with someone at the front lines. Join Travis Bembenek, CEO of Mexico News Daily, for an enlightening talk on “My Journey with Artificial Intelligence: AI and Journalism.” Travis will share how AI is used behind the scenes at MND and what that really means for journalism. Should we be afraid or fascinated? Come find out! All proceeds go to benefit La Biblioteca.
Date: April 3 at 4 p.m. Location: Teatro Santa Ana, Relox 50A, Centro Cost:280 pesos
The Iranian Sufi Path of Love
(Teatro Santa Ana)
Discover the Nimatullahi Spiritual School and the Iranian Sufi Path of Love through an enlightening talk that offers a deeper understanding of the Persian Sufi tradition rooted in spirituality, service and divine love.
This educational lecture explores the essence of the Nimatullahi Sufi order as a spiritual discipline dedicated to selfless service and love of all human beings. Contemporary poems by Sufi masters will be recited, accompanied by music to create a serene and reflective atmosphere. It’s a unique opportunity to learn about its teachings and experience the beauty of its poetic and musical expressions.
Date: April 4 at 4p.m. Location: Sala Quetzal in La Biblioteca, Insurgentes 25, Centro Cost: 220 pesos
Rising Moon Concert
(Audubon de México)
Celebrate a decade of inspiring environmental education at the Rising Moon Concert, a joyful evening of music, nature, and community in support of Audubon de México’s Niños y Naturaleza program. This initiative brings public school children into direct contact with the natural world, sparking curiosity, compassion and a lifelong commitment to protecting the Earth and its creatures.
Set in a stunning open-air amphitheater with sweeping views of the Picacho mountains, the evening features live music by Karen Libby and guest musicians. Bring a picnic, your favorite beverage, and a blanket to enjoy the concert under the stars. Cushioned bench seating and some tables and chairs are available on a first-come basis, but the grassy lawn is perfect for spreading out.
Date: April 4 at 5:30 p.m. Location: Sunset Theater, Calle Amatista No 8, Loma del Salto de Canal Cost: 1,000 pesosTickets
Fermented Fest Wine Fair
(Evenbritte)
Fermente Fest is a unique event that brings together producers of natural, low-intervention, organic and biodynamic wines, as well as kombuchas, ciders, and pulque. This festival showcases beverages while celebrating clean agriculture and fermentation as an ancient yet evolving craft.
Conceived as a space for producers to connect with restaurateurs, hoteliers, and the general public, this festival highlights how these products nourish the body while respecting the environment and reflecting the region’s identity.
Date: April 5, 12 to 8 p.m. Location: Foro el Obraje, Calzada de la Presa 50, Centro Cost:450 pesos
Traída del Señor de la Columna
(Governemnt of San Miguel de Allende)
Every year, on the fifth Sunday of Lent, San Miguel de Allende honors one of its most cherished traditions: the Procession of Our Lord of the Column. This annual pilgrimage sees a life-size statue of Christ made from traditional Chichimeca materials brought to the city by more than 25,000 faithful, who walk the 12 kilometers from the Santuario de Jesús Nazareno in Atotonilco to the Templo de San Juan de Dios in San Miguel.
The journey begins at midnight with psalms and chants, as lanterns and candles light the path adorned with balloons, flowers and colorful sawdust carpets.
This religious procession has been a cherished local tradition since 1823, when residents brought the statue from Atotonilco in search of protection from an epidemic. This pilgrimage has continued uninterrupted for over 200 years, even during the Mexican Revolution and the Cristero War, when the statue had to be transported secretly to avoid confiscation or destruction.
The most popular viewing spots include the city’s northern entrance, where crowds gather before dawn, and the Templo de San Juan de Dios, where a special mass is held at 8 a.m. El Señor de la Columna remains in San Miguel until the Wednesday after Easter, when the faithful accompany the statue on its return journey to its home in Atotonilco.
You can join the local community in a beautiful act of devotion by helping create the monumental sawdust rug that welcomes El Señor de la Columna on his path to the Templo de San Juan de Dios along Calle San Antonio Abad on April 5 at 4 p.m.
Date: April 6 at 8 a.m. Location: Templo de San Juan de Dios, San Antonio Abad, Barrio de San Juan, Centro Cost: Free
Spiritual Journeys Concert
Mozart Requiem, Chorale San Miguel
Chorale San Miguel presents “Spiritual Journeys,” a moving spring concert of choral masterpieces in celebration of Lent and Holy Week at the Templo de la Tercera Orden. Featuring Bach’s cantata “King of Heaven, welcome!”, Orlando Gibbons’ “Hosanna to the Son of David,” the evocative choral works of San Miguel-based composer Michael Hoppé and Ola Gjeilo’s “Luminous Night of the Soul.”
This performance will feature the Templo de la Tercera Orden’s historic 1875 Johnson organ accompanied by a chamber orchestra, filling the church with rich resonances. This concert offers an opportunity to experience sacred music spanning centuries, performed in one of San Miguel de Allende’s most stunning venues. This concert is intended to delight classical music enthusiasts and people looking for a meaningful way to embrace the spirit of the season.
Date: April 11 at 6 p.m. Location: Templo de la Tercera Orden, San Francisco 14, Centro Cost: US $16 to 36
Friday of Sorrows
(María Ruiz)
For residents of San Miguel, Semana Santa starts with setting up elaborate altars dedicated to the Virgin of Sorrows in their homes, storefronts, and public spaces. These altars, filled with candles, flowers and symbolic elements, reflect Mary’s sorrow over Christ’s suffering. As you wander through town admiring the heartfelt displays, you’ll be treated to refreshing aguas frescas, ice pops and traditional candied chilacayote. The Oratorio de San Felipe Neri holds a special mass where the priest blesses images of the Virgin to be placed on these altars.
Date: April 11, all day Location: Throughout the Historic Center and at Oratorio de Felipe Neri Cost: Free
Palm Sunday
(Benditas)
Palm Sunday, or Domingo de Ramos, is a deeply meaningful observance that marks the beginning of Holy Week, commemorating Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. In San Miguel de Allende, there are many processions culminating at major churches, including the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Templo del Oratorio de San Felipe Neri, and Templo de San Francisco. The day begins at 6:30 a.m. with the Procesión y Misa con el Señor del Triunfo, followed by theProcesión y Bendición de las Palmas at 11 a.m. Skillful artisans weave palm leaves into intricate designs that they sell in the streets around the churches.
Date: April 13, all day Location: Throughout town and at the main churches Cost: Free
La Quema de Judas
(Benditas)
On Easter Sunday at noon, the area in front of San Miguel de Allende’s Palacio Municipal bursts to life with the fiery spectacle known as the Burning of Judas, which marks the close of Holy Week. Large crowds gather to watch as papier-mâché effigies representing devils, infamous public figures or politicians are hung and packed with fireworks. Booms and triumphant cheers celebrate the symbolic destruction of evil and betrayal with a sense of collective catharsis and renewal.
Date: April 20 at 12:00 p.m. Location: In front of the Palacio Municipal, Principal 8, Centro Cost: Free
Sandra Gancz Kahan is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at [email protected]
The national newspaper El Financiero asked 900 people in its latest poll of President Sheinbaum's popularity. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
Six months after she took office as Mexico’s first female leader, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s approval rating remains very high at over 80%, according to the results of a recent poll, but less than one-third of respondents believe she is doing a good job combating corruption and organized crime.
The poll conducted in March by the newspaper El Financiero detected an 83% approval rating for Sheinbaum, down two points compared to the 85% result in February.
#EncuestaEF Aprobación a la Presidenta @Claudiashein registra 83% en marzo. El manejo del caso Teuchitlán divide opiniones.
Fifteen percent of those polled said they disapproved of Sheinbaum’s performance as president while the remaining 2% didn’t respond.
The approval rating in March is the second highest detected by El Financiero since the president was sworn in on Oct. 1. The newspaper noted that the two-point decline in March is within the poll’s margin of error range (+/-3.3 percentage points).
El Financiero surveyed a total of 900 Mexican adults by telephone in March and published the results of the poll on Tuesday. The respondents live in all 32 federal entities of Mexico.
El Financiero detected an 85% approval rating for Sheinbaum among men — two points higher than the overall result — and an 81% approval rating among women.
Among the three different age cohorts into which El Financiero placed its poll respondents, the president was most popular with those aged 18-29. Sheinbaum had an approval rating of 86% with that cohort, 84% with respondents aged 50 and over and 78% among those aged between 30 and 49.
Mixed results in 5 key areas of governance
El Financiero asked the 900 poll respondents their opinion on the performance of the Sheinbaum administration in:
Managing the economy.
Combating corruption.
Ensuring public security.
Combating organized crime.
Providing social support (welfare) to citizens.
Though Sheinbaum’s overall approval rating remained essentially unchanged from the previous poll, respondents are pessimistic about the president’s work in the areas of corruption, public security and organized crime. (El Financiero)
Almost four in five respondents (79%) said that the federal government is doing a good or very good job in providing social support to citizens, while just 13% said the opposite.
The Sheinbaum administration has maintained all the popular social programs of its predecessor, such as the Youths Building the Future apprenticeship scheme and Sowing Life reforestation initiative, and created new ones — a scholarship scheme for public school students and a pension program for women aged 60-64.
The government’s next best result was on managing the economy. Almost seven in 10 respondents (68%) said that the Sheinbaum administration is doing a good or very good job in that area, even though the president will likely oversee a slowdown in economic growth in her first full year in office, or perhaps even a recession.
Sheinbaum has won significant praise for her perceived calmness and intelligence in dealing with United States President Trump amid on-again, off-again tariffs on Mexican exports to its northern neighbor. Some poll respondents perhaps thought of that poise when evaluating the president’s performance on managing the economy.
With regard to the government’s performance in ensuring public security in Mexico, the respondents were divided. Just under half (49%) said the government is doing a good or very good job in that area, while 43% said the opposite.
Homicides have declined since Sheinbaum took office, but violence remains a significant problem in various parts of the country.
The government’s second worst poll result in terms of its performance in the five areas listed above was on combating corruption. Just 29% of those polled said that the Sheinbaum is doing a very good or good job in that area while 60% said it is doing a very bad or bad job, up five points compared to February.
On Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Mexico recorded its worst score ever and in so doing fell 14 spots to a ranking of 140 out of 180 nations surveyed.
The CPI survey, whose results were published in February, referred to perceptions of corruption in 2024, which included the final nine months of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidency and the first three months of the Sheinbaum administration.
The worst poll result for Sheinbaum was on combating organized crime. Only 27% of respondents said that the government is doing a very good or good job, while 69% said the opposite, up seven points compared to February.
News of the so-called “extermination camp” case in Jalisco broke in early March, perhaps influencing some respondents’ perception of how the government is going in the fight against organized crime.
Sheinbaum, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch and other federal officials have pointed to the decline in homicides, thousands of arrests for high-impact crimes and the seizure of large quantities of drugs to support their assertion that the government’s security strategy is working. But there is evidently still a lot of work to do on security issues.
Just over six in ten respondents (61%) said that García Harfuch is doing a very good or good job as security minister, while 56% assessed the performance of Alejandro Gertz Manero as federal attorney general in a positive light.
How has the Teuchitlán case impacted Sheinbaum’s approval rating?
El Financiero asked poll respondents various questions about the Teuchitlán case involving a property in Jalisco where the Jalisco New Generation Cartel trained recruits, according to the government, and may have carried out murders and/or disposed of bodies.
A strong majority of respondents (86%) said they had heard about “the alleged training and extermination camp” in Jalisco, while 14% said they didn’t know about the case.
Fifty-six percent of those polled said the government is doing a very good or good job investigating and explaining the case, although it is the independent Federal Attorney General’s Office that is in charge of the investigation.
Approximately half of respondents said the government is doing a very good or good job investigating and explaining the case of Teuchitlán, where the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) trained recruits and may have carried out mass murders. (Fernando Carranza García/Cuartoscuro)
Only 43% of respondents said they believed the Sheinbaum administration will be “completely transparent” in the Teuchitlán case, while 49% said they thought the government would “hide information.”
Eight in ten respondents (80%) said that establishing the truth about what happened at the ranch in Jalisco is “very important,” while an additional 14% said that doing so was “somewhat important.”
Just over 80% of those polled said that missing persons cases are a “very important” issue for Mexico, while 54% said that the Sheinbaum administration is doing a very good or good job investigating those cases.
It can be hard to get a table at the hottest restaurant in Mexico City, so we've provided instructions on how to make your own culinary gem at home. (Contramar/Instagram)
It is a dish of balance, of opposing forces colliding deliciously. One side wears a dark, smoky adobo, rich with guajillo and ancho chiles. It tastes like the past, like ancient markets and smoke curling up from clay comals. The other side is bright, sharp, alive —tomatillos and cilantro and lime juice slapping your tongue awake. And the fish, poor thing, is just lying there, cut open, serving as the great battlefield for these dueling flavors.
When it comes to Mexico City restaurants, Contramar is a certified institution. (Global Gluttons)
And yet, despite the contrast, the dish does not feel like war. It feels like a marriage of opposites, the yin and yang of Mexican cuisine. It is a reminder that contradiction is beautiful, sweet and sour, red and green — these things should be together, always. To choose just one is to miss the point entirely.
Of course, this is not the only dish in Mexico that does this. There is also huevos divorciados, which literally translates to “divorced eggs.” A fried egg on one side, drowning in red salsa. A fried egg on the other, bathed in green. A single tortilla in the middle, like a marriage counselor, trying to keep things civil. The name implies separation, but the dish tells a different story: that both salsas belong on the plate, on the eggs, in your mouth, in your life. Because without one, the other would be incomplete.
Back to Contramar’s grilled fish. All that matters is this: when the waiter sets the plate down in front of you, or if you decide to make this recipe, there is no need to choose a side. Just take your fork, take a bite, and let both flavors wash over you, together. They do not fight. They do not clash. They do not cancel each other out. Instead, they make each other stronger.
Contramar-style red & green salsa grilled snapper
A perfection fusion of spice, flavor and flair await your tastebuds. (Contramar/Instagram)
This recipe recreates the famous Contramar grilled fish, featuring a split fillet coated with two vibrant salsas: a smoky red adobo on one side and a fresh green salsa on the other.
Ingredients
For the Fish:
1 whole butterflied fish (red snapper or similar) – about 1.5 kg (3–4 lbs), skin-on
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Red Adobo Salsa:
3 dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
1 dried ancho chile, stemmed and seeded
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tomato
1/2 tsp ground cumin
Salt, to taste
For the Green Salsa:
6 tomatillos, husked and rinsed
1 serrano or jalapeño pepper
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
1 tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
1. Make the Red Adobo Salsa:
Toast the dried chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side.
Place the toasted chiles in a bowl with hot water and let them soak for 10 minutes.
Drain and blend with garlic, tomato, vinegar, tomato, cumin, and salt. Add a splash of water if needed for a smooth consistency.
2. Make the Green Salsa:
Boil or roast the tomatillos and serrano until softened (about 5 minutes if boiling, 10 minutes if roasting).
Blend with cilantro, lime juice, and salt until smooth.
3. Prepare the Fish:
Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
Brush the fish with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Spread the red adobo salsa over one half of the fish and the green salsa over the other half.
4. Grill the Fish:
Place the fish skin-side down on the grill. Cover and cook for 10–15 minutes, or until the flesh is opaque and flaky.
Serve immediately with lime wedges, more salsa, and warm tortillas.
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.
President Claudia Sheinbaum also told reporters at her daily press conference Tuesday about her plans for Mexico's southern border and the possible additional extraditions of cartel figures to the U.S. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
On the eve of what U.S. President Donald Trump says is “Liberation Day” in the United States, President Claudia Sheinbaum said that her government is “ready” to respond to U.S. tariffs on Mexican exports.
At her Tuesday morning press conference, Sheinbaum also spoke about her plans for Mexico’s southern border and left the door open to more extraditions of cartel figures to the United States.
On Wednesday, more Mexican exports — including the popular avocado — will almost certainly be subject to tariffs in the U.S. (Juan José Estrada Serafín/Cuartoscuro)
Sheinbaum: No certainty about US tariffs
Sheinbaum reiterated that her government will wait until April 3 to respond to the United States’ tariffs on imports from Mexico.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to announce “reciprocal tariffs” on imports from all its trading partners on Wednesday afternoon as he seeks to restore balance to what he sees as the longstanding unfair treatment of the United States.
Sheinbaum said that her government will wait to see “what is exactly the position that the United States government takes on April 2.”
“Know that we are ready,” she added.
“We meet two or three times a week with the [government’s economic] team to strengthen the different [retaliatory] measures. What we essentially want to do is protect the people of Mexico and employment,” Sheinbaum said.
Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, right, has been meeting several times over the last month with U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., to try and convince the U.S. to not impose tariffs on Mexico, and Sheinbaum said she has been meeting with her economic team weekly to decide how Mexico will respond after Wednesday. (Economy Ministry/X)
She said later in the press conference that her government doesn’t believe in “an eye for an eye” and “a tooth for a tooth” approach “because that always leads to a bad situation.”
It’s not a matter of tit-for-tat retaliation, but rather “what is best for Mexico,” said Sheinbaum, who has repeatedly spoken out against U.S. tariffs and is a strong advocate of the integration of the North American economy.
She stressed that Mexico and all other countries around the world have no “certainty” about the tariffs Trump will announce on Wednesday. Some reports have indicated that the United States could impose 20% across-the-board tariffs on imports, but that hasn’t been confirmed.
Sheinbaum said that U.S. tariffs — which have already been imposed on Mexican steel and aluminum and on Mexican goods not covered by the USMCA — place the North American free trade pact “in doubt.”
“If the USMCA says ‘no tariffs’ and there are tariffs, obviously the USMCA is not being complied with,” she said.
Sheinbaum favors development over soldiers on Mexico’s southern border
Sheinbaum said that in her meeting with United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem last Friday, she told the U.S. official that “the best way” to attend to the issue of migration across Mexico’s southern border is to create “a development hub between Guatemala and Mexico.”
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem visited President Sheinbaum in the National Palace on Friday. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Sheinbaum said that the creation of a development hub, or industrial zone, on the southern border “is part of the project we have with the Interoceanic Train.”
Sheinbaum noted that one line will go to Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas, on the Mexico-Guatemala border, and highlighted that her government is working with its Guatemalan counterpart to extend the line into Guatemala.
She said that the government is already in the process of developing two development hubs in Tapachula, a city just north of the border with Guatemala.
“Better that than having soldiers on the entire southern border,” Sheinbaum said.
The Mexican National Guard stationed at Mexico’s southern border in Tapachula, Chiapas. (Damián Sánchez Jesús/Cuartoscuro)
Sheinbaum also said that she told Noem about the government’s policy of carrying out “humanitarian rescues” of migrants, a euphemism for the detention of such people as they travel through Mexico en route to the United States.
The policy prevents migrants from reaching northern Mexico, she said, adding that the people are “attended to in our territory” — perhaps given a work visa and provided with assistance to find employment — or repatriated, if that is their wish.
On Monday, Noem also said that Sheinbaum “has an opportunity to do some things” — such as sharing information on criminal background checks for migrants — and suggested that doing so could help Mexico reach a deal with the U.S. to avoid tariffs on its exports to its northern neighbor.
On Tuesday, Sheinbaum stressed that she wouldn’t yield to pressure from the United States.
“We coordinate, but we do not subordinate ourselves,” she said, adding that she only “responds” to one authority — “the people of Mexico.”
More cartel figures could be extradited to the US
A reporter asked the president whether the United States has asked Mexico to extradite more cartel capos and criminals wanted in the U.S.
The United States has requested the extradition of a number of suspects in Mexico, Sheinbaum said, but noted that the request was made some time ago.
Asked whether the extradition of people wanted in the United States could be expedited, Sheinbaum said that depended on the “joint work” of Mexico and its U.S. neighbor.
Since Sheinbaum took office, Mexico has been more receptive to U.S. requests to extradite Mexican cartel members to the U.S. A high-profile example seen here is Rafael Caro Quintero, center, a cartel kingpin the U.S. government has sought for decades. He was extradited in February. (X)
“No special request has been made,” she added.
The Milenio newspaper reported on Tuesday that the United States has its sights set on the extradition of another 29 drug traffickers in Mexico, 18 of whom are already in custody.
Those wanted in the U.S. include alleged members of criminal organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Although the origin of the taco in Mexico is not entirely clear, it's definitely a popular food among Mexicans. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Taco restaurants, or taquerías, generate an estimated 50 billion pesos (US $2.46 billion) annually, according to the newspaper El Economista, which reported the figure on the International Day of the Taco on Monday.
In Mexico City, the average resident has a taquería within an estimated 400 meters of their home or workplace. The industry employs over 30,000 people in the capital, representing 57% of informal food sector jobs in the city, according to El Economista.
The taquería industry employs over 30,000 people alone in Mexico City. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
The word “taco” may derive from the Spanish word for dowel, referring to a plug to fill a hungry stomach, or from the Nahuatl word tlacoyo.
Whatever the origin, the taco has become an international powerhouse. In 2024, Remitly, a money-transfer platform, assessed the number of posts shared on TikTok to determine the most popular street foods around the globe, and tacos came out on top with 1.8 million posts.
Food apps boost the taco economy
Food ordering apps, such as Uber Eats and China’s DiDi Food, sold over 64 million tacos in 2024, according to El Economista.
Last year, Uber Eats reported orders of more than 24 million tacos, with over 8 million placed in Mexico City alone. Meanwhile, DiDi Food reported orders of over 40 million tacos nationwide, marking a 27% increase from the previous year.
The emergence of restaurant delivery apps like Uber Eats has made the taco even more accessible to consumers whenever the craving hits. (Rogelio Morales Ponce/Cuartoscuro)
In addition to popular meat tacos, such as tacos al pastor, vegan options have risen in popularity.
The top taco orders on DiDi Food in 2024 were:
pastor (7.5 million)
barbacoa (3.5 million)
dorados (3 million)
steak (2 million)
birría (2 million)
Potato tacos were the most popular vegan option.
DiDi Food works with more than 23,400 restaurants offering tacos, and over 100,000 taco options are available for under MX$80 ($4).
International Day of the Taco
March 31 is celebrated as the International Day of the Taco — a tradition that began in 2007 when the Mexican media group Televisa launched an advertising campaign promoting the day with the slogan “Because everyone likes tacos.”
The idea soon gained popularity, and now many taco restaurants around the globe hold special promotions or events on March 31.
In Cancún, at least 20 taco shops collaborated on Monday to celebrate the iconic Mexican dish. Taquerías drew hundreds of visitors and gave away approximately 5,000 tacos throughout the day.
Taco Chilango Festival
Mexico City will host Chilango Magazine’s third annual Taco Chilango festival on April 5 at the Monument to the Revolution from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The event will feature 70 of the top taquerías in the city to showcase their tacos, including tacos de pastor, suadero, carnitas and barbacoa, cochinita pibil tacos and more.
Admission is free, and the event will include live music, special shows and contests.
During last year’s second edition of the Taco Chilango festival, Mexico City broke its own Guinness world record for the most tacos served in an hour, at 8,450 tacos.
Los Alegres del Barranco, shown here, were probably not smiling when the United States canceled their tourist and work visas in response to their most recent performance. (Los Alegres del Barranco/Facebook)
The regional band Los Alegres del Barranco faces legal and professional fallout following a weekend performance in which they paid tribute to Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, a notorious drug lord.
On Monday, the United States reportedly revoked the Mexican band’s work and travel visas, and Mexican authorities are pursuing possible criminal charges.
🚨 Polémica en Guadalajara: Durante el concierto de Los Alegres del Barranco, apareció la imagen de “El Mencho” en las pantallas, generando indignación.
Las autoridades investigan mientras crece la preocupación por la normalización del crimen organizado en la cultura popular. pic.twitter.com/eF1hkad5Qh
During a concert in Guadalajara, Jalisco, on Saturday night, the band played one of their most popular corridos, “El del Palenque.”
The corrido — a traditional Mexican narrative ballad often depicting real people or events — pays homage to “El Mencho” and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which he allegedly leads.
As the band performed the song, images of “El Mencho” were displayed on the big screen behind the stage, eliciting cheers from the audience. Later, they performed a song about former Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán while flashing his image on the big screen.
“El Chapo” is currently serving a life sentence in a U.S. federal prison.
Los Alegres del Barranco is scheduled to perform on April 4 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and on April 5 in Austin, Texas. According to the newspaper El Universal, a representative of the U.S. Department of Justice said the band’s visas were canceled for “promoting a group defined as terrorists in the United States.”
The U.S. State Department is currently offering US $15 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of “El Mencho,” who is allegedly leading the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). (state.gov)
In a social media post, Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus said “outrage [following the spectacle] is not enough.” He said the band and its producer will be summoned to testify, lamenting that they were “advocating violence.”
The Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into the band citing the charge of “apología del delito” (“glorification of crime”) A conviction could result in a prison sentence of up to six months.
On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the band for its homage to a wanted criminal and suggested federal authorities might open an investigation. She also said organizers of the event should be called to the carpet.
The UdeG was vilified for allowing the glorification of a criminal to take place on its premises.
University Rector Ricardo Villanueva said the university had no control over the content at the event, but said the university would consider inserting clauses in future contracts to prohibit expressions that incite violence or glorify crime.
Governor Lemus backed the idea, proposing that event organizers and producers should be required to sign “a letter of commitment … to avoid making such references, otherwise they will face monetary and criminal sanctions.”
Several Mexican states have enacted measures to restrict or sanction the public performance of narcocorridos, but Jalisco is not among them.
