Blogger Allan Wall joins me to talk about the U.S. elections plus Mexico and Trump.
World
‘Que viene El Coco’: Mexican left spooked by Trump
South of the border, the word is that Trump is back. The new President, Claudia Sheinbaun, issued the standard congratulatory tweet. Yet, there is a lot of confusion. Honestly, most of it is just the Mexican version of Trump Derangement Syndrome, but that’s how it is.
Mexican journalists and the ‘Day of the dead’
Up here, we celebrate Halloween. Down south of the border, they celebrate “Day of the dead” today and tomorrow. I have no idea if there is a connection between the two celebrations but there are lots of costumes. There are also floats and musical groups.
They are calling it ‘narcoterrorism’
Over time, we’ve associated car bombs with terrorism. We saw some of that in Afghanistan and Iraq. Israel has seen a lot of it over the years. Well, they are now seeing it in Mexico.
Bad guys aren’t into hugs
Mexico’s new president is getting a very in-your-face lesson about hugs and bullets. As you may remember, her predecessor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador changed the approach and implemented the idea that hugs were more effective than bullets to fight criminal elements. It sounded good until the message was returned to sender address unknown, to paraphrase Elvis. I guess the bad guys are not into hugs!
The Caravan in waiting
Down in Southern Mexico, there are lots of people following the U.S. elections. They are “la caravana” in waiting, people deciding when they go north.
The North Koreans are coming
We learned that North Korea is sending troops to support the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ferdinand, Isabella, and when two young people exchanged wedding vows in Spain
Like some of you, I have a Spanish connection. My maternal grandfather was born in Asturias and came to Cuba in the 1920s. He met my future grandmother Adelina, also of Spanish stock. My other “abuelos” have Spanish heritage as well. The Canto side came to Cuba in the 1860s. Cool story, as my sons would say.
Those terrible Spaniards and their conquests
Down in Mexico, the new “Presidenta,” as she likes to be called, is off to a confusing start, as a friend told me this weekend. The country is dealing with a massive crime wave, including a mayor being decapitated. Yes, I mean that his head was cut off. The poor man had been on the job for five days. There is a new man on the job.
Maduro yes, King of Spain no
Down in Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum will assume the presidency on Oct. 1. She will replace President Andrés Manuel López-Obrador who was her mentor, as they tell me south of the border.
1936 and the start of The Spanish Civil War
This is another episode of our World War II series. The Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936 with a revolt by Spanish military officers in Spanish Morocco that spread to mainland Spain. It lasted until 1939. General Franco stayed in power until his death in 1975.
Israel at war, the US elections, and other stories
The week in review with Bill Katz, editor of Urgent Agenda where we take a look at the Israel conflict and the regional war, the 2024 elections, and other stories.