The Hard Country

Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo read from T.R. Fehrenbach's "Fire and Blood" on the violent origins of the Mexica (Aztecs), then discuss Mexico's ideological support for Cuba under Morena, U.S. pressures to end it, cartel ties, historical repressions like Tlatelolco and the Dirty War, and education revisionism.Referenced in the episode:- Fire and Blood: A History of Mexico by T.R. Fehrenbach- Roma (film)- Guacamaya Leaks- The Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Díaz del Castillo

Hosts Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo welcome back Melissa Ford Maldonado, now Director of the Western Hemisphere Initiative at the America First Policy Institute and co-host of the Western Front podcast. They explore the dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy toward the Western Hemisphere, the resurgence of the Monroe Doctrine in recent national security strategies, and how regional crises—from Venezuela's turmoil to evolving U.S.-Colombia relations under Presidents Trump and Petro—are reshaping America's backyard.Topics include the strategic importance of Colombia as a non-NATO ally, recent diplomatic tensions and breakthroughs, upcoming elections in the region, and broader implications for Mexico and U.S. border security. Plus, an opening reflection on Greenland's geopolitical opportunities.Referenced in this episode:Greenland shows the limits and opportunities of Danish statecraft

Hosts Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo begin by looking at a new poll showing declining approval for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (though it's still above 70%).Then they discuss a rumor that the Trump administration sent Mexico a list requesting cartel-connected political figures to be delivered to the United States.Referenced in this episode:Mexico’s Mighty Left-Wing Government is FlounderingDozens Of Mexican Cartel Fugitives Flown To The U.S. To Face Justice

Hosts Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo react to the January 3rd raid on Caracas that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. They examine the Venezuelan narco-state, its actions that led to this historic moment, and what distinguishes this from previous U.S. attempts at regime change.They also discuss what could be next for Mexico, whose Morena regime openly condemned the U.S. operation.Referenced in this episode:In Venezuela, the Era of Escaping Consequences Is Over: https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/01/in-venezuela-the-era-of-escaping-consequences-is-over/Mexico Is Acting Like an Adversary to the U.S.: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/mexico-is-acting-like-an-adversary-to-the-u-s-5ed0b781Morena's Proyecto de Nación (2024-2030): https://morenademocracia.mx/proyecto-de-nacion-2024-2030/Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hard-country/id1671237964Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iz8VwMiAU7FvW7Ewj9VezThe Texas Public Policy Foundation’s mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach.Funded by thousands of individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Foundation does not accept government funds or contributions to influence the outcomes of its research.The public is demanding a different direction for their government, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation is providing the ideas that enable policymakers to chart that new course.Website: https://texaspolicy.comX: https://twitter.com/tppfFacebook: https://facebook.com/texaspolicyInstagram: https://instagram.com/texaspolicyLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/texas-public-policy-foundation/

Hosts Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo react to recent revelations about Russian spies residing in Mexico, President Trump threatening Mexico with higher tariffs over a water treaty, and opportunities to extract concessions in the upcoming USMCA trade agreement review.They also discuss Mexico's refusal to give up cartel-connected political figures, President Claudia Sheinbaum's response to nine Mexican mayors being murdered in the past year, and Joshua's latest op-ed on Venezuela.Referenced in this episode:New York Times: The U.S. Gave Mexico a List of Russian Spies. Mexico Let Them Stay.Reuters: Trump threatens Mexico with 5% tariff increase over water disputeWall Street Journal: How to Save Trump’s USMCAWall Street Journal: ‘Welcome to America!’ Captured Drug Lords Choose: Snitch or SufferWall Street Journal: Mexico’s President Has a Murder ProblemSheinbaum Announces the Michoacán Plan for Peace and JusticeNational Review: What Brought the Trump Administration to the Brink with the Venezuelan Regime

Mexico preaches the Estrada Doctrine of “non-intervention”—but the MORENA regime under AMLO and Claudia Sheinbaum has propped up dictators in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and beyond while trafficking millions across the U.S. border. Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo trace the hypocrisy from the 1860s French invasion and Maximilian’s fall to today’s oil shipments to Havana and Cuban “doctors” (read: spies) in Mexico City.00:00 – Intro: Lincoln, Maximilian, and the birth of U.S. non-recognition02:15 – The Estrada Doctrine: 1930 promise Mexico never kept05:40 – Spanish Civil War: Mexico arms the Reds alongside Stalin08:10 – 1915 Plan de San Diego: Mexican-backed race war in Texas12:30 – 2019: Mexican Air Force rescues Evo Morales15:45 – CELAC vs. OAS: MORENA’s anti-U.S. parallel summit19:20 – Sheinbaum at CELAC 2025: “No coercion”… while sending oil to Maduro22:50 – Cuban agents in Mexico & record oil exports to Havana26:30 – María Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize—and Sheinbaum’s silence

Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo break down a provocative New Yorker article about the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles and its role during immigration raids in MacArthur Park. They dive into the complex dynamics of Mexican identity, U.S.-Mexico relations, and the historical roots of Los Angeles—challenging the narrative that it remains a "Mexican city."They also explore Mexico’s 700th anniversary celebration of Tenochtitlan, the controversial projection of Aztec imagery onto Mexico City’s Catholic cathedral, and the bold move by a local mayor to remove statues of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.Sources referenced in the episode:The Fight for Mexican Los AngelesMexican Migration ProjectPresident Claudia Sheinbaum's post on X

Dive into the complex relationship between Mexico and Spain in this captivating episode of The Hard Country. Hosts Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo explore 500 years of history, from the Spanish conquest to modern-day diplomatic drama. Why does Mexico’s civic identity reject its Spanish roots? How do figures like AMLO and Claudia Sheinbaum fuel anti-Spanish sentiment? Discover the cultural, political, and economic ties that bind these nations, despite centuries of tension. From Hernán Cortés’ unmarked tomb to Mexico’s trade with Spain, this episode uncovers the myths, heroes, and conflicts shaping Mexico today. 

TPPF's Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo discuss Joshua's findings from a recent expedition to Mexico City, with a focus on Claudia Sheinbaum's first six months as President of Mexico. They also look ahead to the upcoming deadline for reauthorizing the USMCA trade agreement.Sources referenced in the episode:TPPF Issues Recommendations for Aggressive Diplomacy with MexicoMorena's Proyecto de Nación (2024-2030)

In this special episode recorded at TPPF's 2025 Texas Policy Summit, Melissa Ford returns to the show to discuss the United States flying drones in Mexico and the Trump administration's latest foreign terrorist organization (FTO) designations for Mexican cartels.

Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo discuss Mexico’s concessions on border security in response to President Trump’s tariff threats. They also shine a spotlight on the corrupt Mexican state-cartel alliance, cover the latest border clash at Fronton Island, and break down new Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s “Americas First” foreign policy approach.Sources referenced in the episode:The Trump Administration Unabashedly Embraces the Monroe DoctrineMarco Rubio: An Americas First Foreign PolicyIt’s Time To Start Treating Mexico Like A Hostile Foreign PowerTrump’s Tariffs Would Reverse Decades of Integration Between U.S. and MexicoCartels Use Children As Pawns When Democrats Play Games With The BorderMcAllen Police Department statementYes, There Is a Mexican State-Cartel Alliance

Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo discuss President Trump's executive orders designating Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and instructing armed forces to defend U.S. borders. Next, they react to Colombia's initial refusal to accept deportation flights, and subsequent about-face following threats from President Trump. They close by outlining what all of this means for Texas and the role the state can play to support federal border security efforts.

Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo discuss the second chapter of The Hard Country: The Mexican Crisis and America's Answers. In the chapter, Joshua recalls a trip along the Rio Grande where he witnessed the evils of the Mexican cartels’ deadly human trafficking operations.The Hard Country: The Mexican Crisis and America’s Answers is available now at HardCountryBook.com

In this episode of The Hard Country, Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo discuss the first chapter of the forthcoming book of the same name— The Hard Country — setting out the premises of the work, and also its core contention: Fue el Estado, it was (and is) the Mexican state that is at the core of the Mexican crisis.The Hard Country: The Mexican Crisis and America’s Answers is available now at HardCountryBook.com

Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford Maldonado discuss the latest headlines including Ecuador’s raid on Mexico’s Embassy, AMLO’s laundry list of lies in a recent 60 Minutes interview, and ousted Bolivian President Evo Morales escaping to Mexico. 

Live from TPPF’s Texas Policy Summit 2024, Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford Maldonado have the pleasure of sitting down with the Founder & Executive Director of Patria Unida, Humberto Lopez Vega, to discuss the current state of affairs between the US and Mexico from a perspective that is not often enough considered - that of the Mexican people.

Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford Maldonado discuss the latest news surrounding the crisis between American values and Mexican governmental policies - resulting in accepted and even endorsed slave trade in our own suburban communities!

Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford Maldonado discuss the latest news surrounding the crisis based along our southern border including the rumored Senate Immigration Plan, support other states are sending Texas’ way and the connections between corrupt money and Mexico’s AMLO administration. Subscribe to The Hard Country podcast on Apple or Spotify.Below are the materials referenced in this week’s episode:Hold Them Accountable: Mexican Elites and the Cartels (texaspolicy.com)https://www.propublica.org/article/mexico-amlo-lopez-obrador-campaign-drug-cartelshttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/30/us/mayorkas-impeachment-house.html

Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford Maldonado discuss the latest news surrounding the crisis based along our southern border including Governor Abbott’s recent Statement regarding Texas’ Constitutional right to self-defense.

Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford Maldonado discuss the latest headlines surrounding our southern border including Texas’ latest moves, AMLO’s objections and the White House’s taking of sides.