AMLO held a daily press conference called the "mañanera". The session often lasted for up to 3 hours starting at 7:00 AM
The mañanera served as a direct line of communication between the president and the Mexican population, bypassing traditional media outlets. It was broadcast live on government and local news channels, and streamed online on platforms like YouTube.
The mañanera tried to set the national agenda for the day, with the president discussing key issues, providing updates on government projects, and taking questions from journalists.
AMLO often spoke off the cuff rather than using talking points. He also used the platform to lecture on Mexican history.
He often had a segment called "Who's who in the lies of the week" to raise awareness about what he called manipulation by traditional news media.
Interesting. The key is avoiding Brahmanism. Mexico's prickly nationalism should help here as so much of Brahmanism is driven by foreign globalist NGOs. The redo of NAFTA driven by Trump and AMLO was a big economic factor. Trump 1.0 and AMLO allied against Trudeau leaving Canada as the big loser. What the US got was restrictions on Mexico and Canada as final assembly points for what were disguised Chinese and European products. What Mexico got was US help on the wage issue and the emergence of a well paid blue collar workforce. Canada rode the neoliberal bomb down which explains their miserable economic performance. I would not be surprised to see a similar deal with Trump 2.0. A strong Mexico is very much in the US interest.
The only modern day president who made meaningful cuts was Clinton. Around 377,000 I believe. Since then everyone promised but none delivered.
Why is that? Because our two parties really never meant to cut government. biden took expansion to heights unknown. How to break that destructive cycle of a bloated government always getting bigger? DOGE. Extreme problems take extreme measures to fix them. Although I don't consider DOGE extreme. But the attitude of destructive cuts is one that doesn't help the left win elections. As this forum pointed out, 83% of those who voted for Trump, wanted substantial to total change. We are getting what we voted for. Destructive? No. Desperately needed correction. Most assuredly. Just a rabbit hole I couldn't pass up.
The gender parity mandate for Congress (that came into effect under AMLO I think?) seems out of step with his social moderation/conservatism as you've described. What role do you think the mandate played in Sheinbaum being elected as the first female president...did it enable Mexican voters to envision/accept women as powerful leaders?
Gender parity actually predated AMLO but he certainly embraced it. His cabinet was full of incredible women. As far as whether it's a contradiction, AMLO himself is a walking contradiction lol. He was definitely traditionalist and moralistic but ultimately, the focus of his politics was material as opposed to symbolic. My point in the piece however is that he and Morena embraced pluralism on cultural issues which is good!
As far as Sheinbaum is concerned, two things are true. At the presidential level, her and other female leaders in Latam largely get elected through some association to a popular male leader. At the same time, Latin Americans have a deep culture of respect for women in positions of authority whether its in the home or in politics. Talk about contradictions, I would say that she couldn't have built the same political movement that he did, however, she's now more popular than he ever was and is less alienating to the professional classes. Similarly, had she lost, Mexico would have elected it's first female president regardless. Clara Brugada likewise succeeded Sheinbaum as Mayor of Mexico City and may be a contender in 2030.
You forgot to apply the Mexico filter in post-production. All the nuance is still visible. There’s discussion of something other than drug cartels. It’s like Mexicans are real people with their own politics. Do better.
AMLO held a daily press conference called the "mañanera". The session often lasted for up to 3 hours starting at 7:00 AM
The mañanera served as a direct line of communication between the president and the Mexican population, bypassing traditional media outlets. It was broadcast live on government and local news channels, and streamed online on platforms like YouTube.
The mañanera tried to set the national agenda for the day, with the president discussing key issues, providing updates on government projects, and taking questions from journalists.
AMLO often spoke off the cuff rather than using talking points. He also used the platform to lecture on Mexican history.
He often had a segment called "Who's who in the lies of the week" to raise awareness about what he called manipulation by traditional news media.
Excellent analysis. Thank you!
Totally agree - first rate and comprehensive effort.
Interesting. The key is avoiding Brahmanism. Mexico's prickly nationalism should help here as so much of Brahmanism is driven by foreign globalist NGOs. The redo of NAFTA driven by Trump and AMLO was a big economic factor. Trump 1.0 and AMLO allied against Trudeau leaving Canada as the big loser. What the US got was restrictions on Mexico and Canada as final assembly points for what were disguised Chinese and European products. What Mexico got was US help on the wage issue and the emergence of a well paid blue collar workforce. Canada rode the neoliberal bomb down which explains their miserable economic performance. I would not be surprised to see a similar deal with Trump 2.0. A strong Mexico is very much in the US interest.
Great lessons to be learned from a corrupt, quasi third world, gang controlled narco state. Totally applicable.
Well said.
This was fascinating and enormously informative. Thank you!
DOGE and destructive cuts. rally?
The only modern day president who made meaningful cuts was Clinton. Around 377,000 I believe. Since then everyone promised but none delivered.
Why is that? Because our two parties really never meant to cut government. biden took expansion to heights unknown. How to break that destructive cycle of a bloated government always getting bigger? DOGE. Extreme problems take extreme measures to fix them. Although I don't consider DOGE extreme. But the attitude of destructive cuts is one that doesn't help the left win elections. As this forum pointed out, 83% of those who voted for Trump, wanted substantial to total change. We are getting what we voted for. Destructive? No. Desperately needed correction. Most assuredly. Just a rabbit hole I couldn't pass up.
The gender parity mandate for Congress (that came into effect under AMLO I think?) seems out of step with his social moderation/conservatism as you've described. What role do you think the mandate played in Sheinbaum being elected as the first female president...did it enable Mexican voters to envision/accept women as powerful leaders?
Gender parity actually predated AMLO but he certainly embraced it. His cabinet was full of incredible women. As far as whether it's a contradiction, AMLO himself is a walking contradiction lol. He was definitely traditionalist and moralistic but ultimately, the focus of his politics was material as opposed to symbolic. My point in the piece however is that he and Morena embraced pluralism on cultural issues which is good!
As far as Sheinbaum is concerned, two things are true. At the presidential level, her and other female leaders in Latam largely get elected through some association to a popular male leader. At the same time, Latin Americans have a deep culture of respect for women in positions of authority whether its in the home or in politics. Talk about contradictions, I would say that she couldn't have built the same political movement that he did, however, she's now more popular than he ever was and is less alienating to the professional classes. Similarly, had she lost, Mexico would have elected it's first female president regardless. Clara Brugada likewise succeeded Sheinbaum as Mayor of Mexico City and may be a contender in 2030.
Dear FP,
You forgot to apply the Mexico filter in post-production. All the nuance is still visible. There’s discussion of something other than drug cartels. It’s like Mexicans are real people with their own politics. Do better.
/s