Mexicanist (Page 8)

Newsletter

Mexicanist Newsletter: Paradise Under Guard — Cartels, Potholes, and Melting Glaciers

For the discerning Mexicanist newsletter reader, this week's news confirms Mexico is still expertly blending five-star tourism dreams with the gritty reality of cartels, potholes, and melting glaciers.

Illustration showing a microphone with a large red "X" over it, symbolizing banned music.

Culture

Mexico Is Banning Narco-Ballads — and the Music Industry Is Terrified

Mexican states are increasingly banning or restricting the performance of narcocorridos, popular ballads glorifying drug traffickers and violence, in an effort to combat the promotion of criminal culture.

Crime

How Mexican Cartels Use TikTok to Recruit Teenagers and Sell Weapons

Mexican drug cartels are leveraging TikTok's popularity and visual nature to recruit young people and sell weapons, using enticing propaganda, coded messages, and fake job offers, according to a study by El Colegio de México.

Deserted beach scene in Altata, Sinaloa, with few visitors.

Culiacan

Culiacán Spends Millions on Roads While Cartel Violence Keeps Tourists Away

Lingering fear from recent cartel violence is crippling Spring Break tourism and daily life across Sinaloa, overshadowing government promotions and drawing criticism of official priorities.

A seized Ford Super Duty truck displays crude, heavy 'artisanal' armor plating added to its exterior.

Mazatlan

Tourists Party on Mazatlán Beaches While Cartel Bodies Pile Up Across Sinaloa

While tourists party hard on Mazatlan's beaches for Semana Santa, the rest of Sinaloa is reeling from a brutal wave of cartel murders, disappearances, and military seizures highlighting the state's grim reality.

A lone sunbather towels off on near-deserted golden sand.

Mazatlan

Mazatlán's Holy Week Comeback Under the Watchful Eyes of Armed Forces

Amidst a heavy security deployment following months of cartel violence, Mazatlan is experiencing a cautious but economically vital return of Holy Week tourists, testing the resort city's recovery efforts.

A priest speaks from a pulpit in a church.

Quintana Roo

Inside Quintana Roo's Easter Season: Trump Calls, Water Rights, and Security Boosts

Quintana Roo is actively managing tourism growth and enhancing security while addressing key legal and governmental issues, including water rights and infrastructure development, alongside diplomatic exchanges like the Mexican President's call with Donald Trump.

Mahahual

Mahahual's Navy-Led Sargassum Cleanup Before the Holy Week Tourist Rush

An intense, collaborative sargassum cleanup involving the Navy, businesses, and the community began on Mahahual beaches ahead of the crucial Holy Week tourist season.

Estadio Jalisco is officially Guadalajara's 2026 World Cup VIP sweat zone.

sports

Estadio Jalisco Lands 2026 World Cup Training Role — Guadalajara's Third Time

Guadalajara's historic Estadio Jalisco, which hosted games in the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, has been officially named a training site for national teams participating in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen Removed 2,500 Tons of Sargassum — and Counting

Playa del Carmen has launched an intensive 12-hour daily sargassum cleanup operation for the Holy Week tourist season, having already removed over 2,500 tons since January to ensure clean beaches.

Aerial view of the Nichupté Bridge construction stretching across the blue-green lagoon.

Cancún

Cancún's 8.8 km Nichupté Bridge Is 76% Done — and It Changes Everything

Flagship 8.8km crossing reaches 76% completion, promising to alleviate chronic congestion and enhance access to vital Hotel Zone.

A graphic resembling a video game power-up selection screen.

Politics

Mexico's Labor Reforms: Higher Pay, Better Tips, and a Gender Pay Gap Fix

Proposed legislation seeks to bolster worker rights across multiple sectors, potentially raising operational costs and compliance burdens for businesses.

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