The Mexpat Interview

On the past and endless present of the drug war

Since Trump returned to office, headlines about “historic” and “unprecedented” events in the drug war (and everything else) have come fast and furious. How much of this signals we are witnessing a new era of the drug war? What is truly unprecedented and what is déjà vu? My guest in this episode is Benjamin T. Smith [https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/people/staff_index/smith/], professor of Latin American history at the University of Warwick and author of “The Dope: The Real History of the Mexican Drug Trade,” a meticulously researched and essential reference for understanding the historical context behind the news cycle. Our conversation covers the origins and history of the “kingpin” strategy, how the CJNG operates, the ongoing civil war in the Sinaloa Cartel, how Sheinbaum’s security policy differs (or not) from her predecessors’ and much more. You can listen to the audio-only version of this interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and the video version is also available on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@themexpat]. Questions, commentary or feedback? Email me: hola@themexpatriate.com. And if you would like to support my work, please subscribe below. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe [https://www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

On defending the lives and work of Mexican journalists

My guest in this episode is Alejandra Ibarra Chaoul [https://www.alejandraibarrachaoul.com/], an award-winning investigative journalist and author whose work has focused on violence against reporters in Mexico, freedom of expression and other human rights issues. Our conversation covers her experience reporting on the trial of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, her project cataloguing the published work of murdered journalists, and how the work of local reporters and other community leaders overlaps—and exposes them to violence. Episode Notes You can buy Alejandra’s books “Causa de muerte: Cuestionar al poder” and “El Chapo Guzmán: el juicio del siglo” here [https://www.penguinlibros.com/mx/176480-alejandra-ibarra]. You can view the Defensores de Democracia archive here [https://defensoresdelademocracia.mx/]. Listen to the podcast “Voces Silenciadas” here [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0PCT4xREjGh1ypDdVQqaCT?si=WNi2GTmuSBmmq2s2ibq0QA&nd=1&dlsi=b31386aae78a4af4]. To learn more about the history of the press in Mexico, check out The Mexpat Interview with Andrew Paxman [https://www.themexpatriate.com/p/press-freedom-journalists-mexico]. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe [https://www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

On change and resilience in Mexico's film industry

President Claudia Sheinbaum (accompanied by Salma Hayek) recently presented a proposed reform to the country’s film law to incentivize more national production and screening of Mexican films, and to attract investment. What does this mean for Mexico’s film industry, which has suffered in recent years from budget cuts to cultural programs? How does this position Mexico globally in film production? My guest in this episode of The Mexpat Interview is Sarah Hoch, founder and director of the Guanajuato International Film Festival, which will celebrate its 29th edition this year and has become one of the most important festivals in the country, particularly for young filmmakers. Our conversation ranges from the reaction to Sheinbaum’s reform, to AI and the film industry and her experiences as a “gringa” who lives in between two cultures. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe [https://www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

On the rise, fall and fate of the Mexican right

My guest in this episode is Alex González Ormerod, founder of The Mexico Political Economist [https://www.mxpe.org/] and author of “La derecha no existe (pero ahí está)” [https://sigloxxieditores.com.mx/libro/la-derecha-no-existe-pero-ahi-esta/] which explores the state of the political right in Mexico. The book combines history, political philosophy and reportage to show how the disarray of the right is not only a problem for Mexican conservatives, but for Morena itself. In this conversation, we discuss the identity crisis of the National Action Party (PAN), the emergence of new populist right movements, the intersection of religion and politics and what’s on the horizon in upcoming elections. Episode Notes * Read The Mexpat Interview with Alex about Trump 2.0 and the Mexican economy here [https://www.themexpatriate.com/p/the-mexpat-interview-the-mexico-political?utm_source=publication-search] * Catch up on recent coverage in The Mexpatriate of Ricardo Salinas Pliego [https://www.themexpatriate.com/p/sheinbaum-trump-mexico-security?utm_source=publication-search] and Eduardo Verástegui [https://www.themexpatriate.com/p/morena-electoral-reform?utm_source=publication-search] You can listen to the audio-only version of this interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (please rate and review!) and the video version is also available on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@themexpat]. Questions, commentary or feedback? Email me: hola@themexpatriate.com. And if you would like to support my work, please subscribe below. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe [https://www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

"The media in Mexico acted as a propaganda mechanism"

In this episode of The Mexpat Interview, I talk to former journalist and research professor Andrew Paxman [https://andrewpaxman.wordpress.com/], author of “Mexican Watchdogs: The Rise of a Critical Press since the 1980s,” about the historically co-dependent relationship between the press and the government, the more recent evolution of a free press and the threats it faces today in Mexico. Episode Notes: * You can order a copy of Andrew’s book “Mexican Watchdogs: The Rise of a Critical Press since the 1980s” here [https://bookshop.org/p/books/mexican-watchdogs-the-rise-of-a-critical-press-since-the-1980s-andrew-paxman/46fd6fc90d8bcf40]. * Consult the Artículo 19 database of journalists murdered in relation to their work in Mexico here [https://articulo19.org/periodistasasesinados/]. You can listen to the audio-only version of this interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and the video version is also available on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@themexpat]. Questions, commentary or feedback? Email me: hola@themexpatriate.com. Get full access to The Mexpatriate at www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe [https://www.themexpatriate.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]