The Hard Country

Mexico is nearing a breaking point. Josh Treviño and Ariana Guajardo break down the collision of two deadlines: the USMCA reauthorization review and the fallout from U.S. indictments against senior Mexican politicians, including the governor of Sinaloa. They discuss why President Sheinbaum is refusing extradition and framing U.S. pressure as an attack on sovereignty, even as reports suggest dozens...

The worst crisis in U.S.-Mexico relations in a century — and it's still escalating. Josh Treviño, author of the upcoming Spectator World cover story "Mexican Standoff," joins Ariana Guajardo to break down how the U.S.-Mexico relationship went from cautious optimism to full-blown crisis in a matter of weeks. The deaths of two CIA officers in Chihuahua. The indictments of a sitting Sinaloa governor...

Two CIA officers are dead after a car crash and explosion in Chihuahua, Mexico, and the fallout may reshape US-Mexico relations for years to come. Joshua Treviño joins Ariana Guajardo on this episode of The Hard Country to break down what really happened and what comes next. Timestamps: 0:00 — Introduction: CIA Officers Killed in Chihuahua, Mexico 1:46 — What Were CIA Officers Doing in Mexico? 5:2...

TPPF Fellow for U.S.-Mexico Relations Alice Galván joins hosts Joshua Treviño and Ariana Guajardo at the 2026 Texas Policy Summit for an uplifting discussion on what makes Mexico great. Drawing from personal experiences, they praise the faith, resilience, passion, and pride of the Mexican people. They also highlight the stunning architecture, diverse landscapes, world-class cuisine, rich literatur...

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...

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...

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 Flo...

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. oper...

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...

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...

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 annivers...

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, pol...

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 Mexico Morena's Proyecto de Na...

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 Admini...

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 Texa...

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...

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 e...

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.

Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford Maldonado discuss the latest headlines surrounding our southern border beginning with the anniversary of the creation of the Monroe Doctrine and its implications in the 21st century, including the Guyana–Venezuela crisis. Passage from Monroe Doctrine (1823) https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/monroe-doctrine   Janet Yellen’s Mexico visit targets fentanyl, a...