People’s Mañanera August 8
Every day, President Claudia Sheinbaum gives a morning presidential press conference and Mexico Solidarity Media posts English language summaries, translated by Mexico Solidarity’s Pedro Gellert Frank. Previous press conference summaries are available here.
Results of the Institute to Return Stolen Goods to the People Auction
Mónica Fernández, head of the Institute to Return Stolen Goods to the People, presented the results of its latest online auction. A total of 15,218 interested parties registered, of which 867 actively participated in bidding for various items. In total, 107,066 goods were sold, with committed sales amounting to over 40.95 million pesos (US$2.21 million).
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the funds raised will be allocated to Healthcare Centers included in the Amuzgo Justice Plan.
It was also reported that both online and in-person auctions will take place during August. On the website subastasenlinea.indep.gob.mx, direct sales of movable goods are also available, with prices ranging from 1 to 5,000 pesos (US$0.05 to US$269).
Promotion of Mexican Handicrafts
Marina Núñez, Deputy Minister for Cultural Development at the Ministry of Culture, reported that the economic activity generated by handicrafts in 2023 reached almost 156.36 billion pesos (US$8.43 billion), equivalent to 0.52% of GDP. She said that around 7,500 artisans have benefited directly or indirectly through events organized by the Ministry.
Cultural Appropriation of Artisan Designs
Núñez also denounced a case of cultural appropriation by Adidas and a designer, who reproduced traditional Yalalag huaraches sandals (from Oaxaca) without authorization. Adidas has reportedly contacted the state government and talks are underway to agree on reparations for the affected community.
Mexico Sings Contest and Cultural Promotion
Minister of Culture Claudia Curiel announced that the semifinals of the Mexico Sings contest will begin airing on Sunday, August 17, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM on public media. She explained that this contest is part of the Comprehensive Strategy for Addressing the Root Causes of Violence and Addictions.
Opinion on U.S. Security Policy
Sheinbaum commented on the executive order signed by President Donald Trump, authorizing the U.S. military to combat fentanyl trafficking. She clarified that this measure does not involve Mexican territory, as it is an internal U.S. question.
Announcement of Electoral Reform Forums
The President announced that during the August 11 morning press conference, Pablo Gómez will present the plan for holding consultation forums on the Electoral Reform. These forums will include participation from politicians, experts, National Electoral Institute (INE) board members, and representatives from Indigenous communities and civil society.
She clarified that the Presidential Commission for Electoral Reform will not prepare an initial proposal. Instead, the forums and debates will serve as the starting point for drafting new electoral legislation.
Recollection of 2006 Impeachment Attempt and Criticism of Conservatism
Sheinbaum recalled that Vicente Fox, Carlos Salinas, Diego Fernández, and sectors of the PRI and PAN tried to block Andrés Manuel López Obrador from becoming president through an impeachment attempt for allegedly violating a court injunction. Their goal was to disqualify him from the presidential race. She explained that the attempt failed due to popular support for AMLO and mass mobilizations. She also criticized the media campaign labeling AMLO “a danger to Mexico” and accused Luis Carlos Ugalde, then head of the IFE, of blocking a recount of the vote following the electoral fraud.
She recalled that this sparked a historic civil resistance that culminated in the Reforma Avenue sit-in, a symbol of the fight for democracy.
Criticism of Conservatism and the PAN
Finally, the President pointed out the hypocrisy of Mexican conservatism, noting that the PAN president—whom she linked to the real estate cartel in the Benito Juárez borough in Mexico City— was outraged because a governor rode in an SUV, while hiding much more serious scandals within his own party.
-
Corrupt & Reactionary
Mexico’s ultra right PAN & Ricardo Salinas Pliego may be separated for now, but there’s nothing to prevent them from formally joining forces in the 2030 election.
-
People’s Mañanera October 23
President Sheinbaum’s press conference, with comments on rain and flood recovery, US companies investigated for fuel theft, rejecting US extraterritorial attacks, homicide reduction, Scotiabank public-private partnerships, Rio Sonora clean-up and an FCE project.
-
Tulum: An Overdue Bill for a Sold-out Model
Overpriced and rife with obnoxious, depthless “expats” and privatized beaches, the tourism crisis that hit Tulum has sparked an outbreak of schadenfreude, but beyond the deserved scorn, can Tulum tourism be reformed?
-
The Power of International Alliances
Mexico and other countries face powerful resistance to approve necessary reforms such as the reduction of the work week, which must be made a reality.
-
Paco Ignacio Taibo II Prepares Ambitious Plan to Promote Reading for Latin American Youth
2.5 million books with 25 titles aimed at people between 15 & 30 will be given away to promote Latin American literature, explained the director of Mexico’s state publishing house.
-
People’s Mañanera October 22
President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on rainfall emergency response, aid delivery, passenger trains, taxation and the fight against invoice mills.
-
National Campesino Confederation Anticipates Agriculture Budget Cuts
Members of the CNC attended the Listening to the Voices of the Field forum at Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies to address their concerns about the budget directly to legislators
-
Campesinos Ride Again
Last week’s strike by agricultural producers against the USMCA and the uncontrolled entry of subsidized grains from the US is part of a fight for Mexican food sovereignty that demands the government’s full attention.
-
Soberanía 81: Just a Flash in the “PAN”
Mexico’s right wing opposition rebrands: what the party’s reset looks like, who’s driving it, and can it really reclaim relevance?
-
The Second Floor & Its Pending Mission
In the name of consensus & pragmatism, control of recovered strategic spaces is beginning to be ceded, & Mexico’s Fourth Transformation risks dissolving into directionless management, discourse without conflict, & change without power.
-
People’s Mañanera October 21
President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on universal breast cancer care model, surgeries, illegal sales of public medicines and PAN relaunch.
-
National Institute of Migration Dissolves Migrant Caravan in Oaxaca; Arrives in CDMX with Visas
The exodus left Mexico’s southern border after reporting that their asylum applications took months, even more than a year, and that they didn’t have the necessary resources to wait.
-
National Institute of Indigenous Peoples & Afro-Mexican Communities Agree on Comprehensive, Just Development Path
The plan will begin to fulfill Mexico’s Constitutional mandate to guarantee the effective exercise of the rights of Afro-Mexican peoples.
-
Martí Batres & ISSSTE’s Transformation
The agency, which provides social security and health for Mexican public workers, is leaving behind the privatization and commercial logic that has plagued it for decades; building a dignified, efficient, & profoundly social institution.
-
CONAGUA Wants Mining Industry to be Allowed to Dump Toxic Waste into Rivers
Mexico’s National Water Commission is pushing for the mining industry to be allowed to dump toxic waste into rivers, despite President Sheinbaum’s stated environmental objective to clean up contaminated tributaries.
-
Mexican Import of White Corn, Used for Dough & Tortillas, Quadruples
2025 will close with record levels of imports, with most of the grain coming from the US, along with genetically modified yellow corn.
-
People’s Mañanera October 20
President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on remittances, flooding and rain recovery, relaunch of the right wing PAN party, and FONDEN corruption.
-
USMCA is “dead, it no longer exists.”
UNAM’s Enrique Dussel Peters warned that it will be replaced by an American tactic of bilateral blackmail & that if Mexico unilaterally imposes tariffs on China, Mexico “is heading towards a dead end”
-
Mexico Goverment Will Provide Aid to Families Affected by Flooding
Starting Wednesday, a distribution of 20 thousand pesos will begin to families registered by the Secretariat of Wellbeing in the five affected states.
-
Coke Adds Life?
Without political will, without a radical prioritization of public health over corporate interests, Mexico will not emerge from the epidemiological emergency it is experiencing due to obesity and diabetes, deeply linked to soft drink consumption.
-
El Taller: The Real Story of the Tren Maya
Étienne von Bertrab on Mexico’s most controversial project and his new graphic book, Más allá: una historia del Tren Maya. Von Bertrab explains how the book emerged from frustration with academic publishing and a desire to bring rigorous, balanced research to a wider public.
-
Mexico City Trains 100 Officers Against Dispossession
The program seeks to provide Public Prosecutors with legal tools to more effectively handle cases of dispossession, which is an ongoing issue related to the gentrification of the city.
-
Clicks October 19
Our weekly roundup of Mexican political news from the Spanish & English language press, including Sheinbaum to skip Summit of the Americas, Cuba & Venezuela aid Mexico after floods, farmers strike against USMCA, Tina Modotti, Coca Cola politics, and USMCA and unions.
