The Hard Country
Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford of the Texas Public Policy Foundation discuss U.S.-Mexico relations, border security, and some Texas history.
Mexico vs. Spain: Unraveling 500 Years of Tension
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.
CDMX Takeaways & Reevaluating Claudia Sheinbaum
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 Nación (2024-2030)
U.S. Drones Over Mexico
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.
Tariffs and Trade
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 Doctrine
Marco Rubio: An Americas First Foreign Policy
It’s Time To Start Treating Mexico Like A Hostile Foreign Power...
Trump and the New World
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.
The Hard Country Book: Chapter 2 - The River and the Line
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
The Hard Country Book: Chapter 1 - Fue el Estado
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
True Lies
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.
Narcopresidente
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.
The Modern Slave Trade and More
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!
Follow the Money
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-cartels
https://www.nytimes...
The Crisis Is Here
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.
How Do You Solve a Problem like AMLO?
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.
Feliz Cumpleaños, Monroe Doctrine!
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, arms trafficking and money laundering
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/janet-yellen-s-mexico-visit-targets-fentanyl-arms-trafficking-and-money-laundering/ar-AA1ld0uF
EXCLUSIVE: Border Agents From Across The Country Called To ‘Virtually’ Process Migrants Surging Across Southern Bo...
It’s Not All Bad News… the Food Is Asombrosa!
Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford Maldonado discuss the latest headlines surrounding our southern border, including a wrap up on Mexico City’s best cup of hot cocoa!
Live Before A Studio Audience
Kicking off TPPF's 2023 U.S.-Mexico Policy Summit, Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford discuss the current state of affairs between the United States and our neighbors to the south.
What Happens When Criminals Are In Charge?
Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford Maldonado discuss the latest headlines surrounding our southern border and beyond, including the “cartel merch” that can be purchased here in the U.S.
Is Violence the “New Normal”?
Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford discuss the latest headlines surrounding our southern border, including unprecedented numbers of extreme violence, murder, disappearances and kidnapping at ever increasing frequency.
Bolivian Paradise Lost
Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford explore the history and culture of Melissa's native country of Bolivia, including the rise of socialism under president Evo Morales. They close the show by discussing the exploitation of Mexican dysfunction by foreign actors.
As Long As There Are Two People in Mexico, There Will Be Revolution
Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford discuss new footage of armed cartel members trafficking migrants, exploitation of the CBP One app, and former Mexican President Vicente Fox's controversial critiques of AMLO.
Below are the materials referenced in the episode:
The Laredo City Election and Riot of April, 1886 by Seb. S. WilcoxCartel gunmen near the borderCartel gunman in the Rio GrandeSheriff’s son pleads guilty to drug traffickingEagle Pass City Council takes back public parkMigrants being targeted for extortion, US stops taking mobile app appointmentsMexican cartels exploit US government's CBP One appThe Meaning of Invasion Under the Com...The Buoy Debate Remains Afloat
Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford discuss the latest headlines surrounding our southern border, primarily the controversy surrounding the buoys in the Rio Grande.
Left, Right & Center Below the Border
Josh and Melissa discuss the risky rhetoric of the U.S. War on Mexican cartels.
The Conservative US-Mexico Policy Coalition Statement
Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford discuss the latest headlines surrounding our southern border, primarily the recently published Conservative US-Mexico Policy Coalition Statement regarding the US - Mexico Relations.
Migrants Believe Biden Has Rolled Out A Big Welcome Mat
WATCH: John Kennedy's 'Cat Food' Comment That Members Of Mexico's Government Have Called 'Racist' • WATCH: John Kenne...
ROY MAYNARD: Yes, Migrants Believe Biden Has Rolled Out A Big Welcome Mat | The Daily Caller
https://dailycaller.com/2023/05/12/op...
Versión estenográfica de la conferencia de prensa matutina del presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador
https://lopezobrador.org.mx/2023/05/1...
A middle path to curb fentanyl - POLITICO
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/....
Tax Dollars & Texas History
https://www.texashistorytrust.org/tex...
TPPF's Melissa Ford and Joshua Treviño discuss many of the pr...
The Roots and the Fun Surrounding Cinco de Mayo
Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford discuss the latest headlines surrounding our southern border, culminating to the roots and fun surrounding Cinco de Mayo.
Napoleon, the Monroe Doctrine and 21st Century US-Mexico Tensions
Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford discuss how such historic moments as the Napoleonic Wars and the writing of the Monroe Doctrine have left lasting impacts on today’s relations between the US and our neighbors to the south.
The Beauty and Corruption We Saw In Mexico City
Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford reflect on their recent visit to Mexico City and discuss the beauty and corruption that lies beyond our southern border, culminating to Mexico earning the moniker of “Gilded Lilies on a Sea of Blood”.
The Riches, Power and Influence of the Mexican Cartels
The Dangerous and Even Deadly U.S.-Mexico Border
TPPF’s Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford discuss the current state of affairs regarding the dangerous - even deadly - Mexican/American border.
LINKS:
Santiago Vidaurri and the Confederacy on JSTOR:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/979966
Matamoros, la narrativa de la derecha y el dilema para AMLO (eluniversal.com.mx)
https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/opinion/alejandro-hope/matamoros-la-narrativa-de-la-derecha-y-el-dilema-para-amlo
Mexico: Friend or Foe | Texas Policy Summit 2023 - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpjXB-q1sU4
Texas Policy Summit Closing Keynote: Alice Galván - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com...
Is Mexico a Narco State?
TPPF’s Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford discuss the current state of Mexico’s leadership, whether or not it is a Narco State, and what Texas and The United States’ response might be.
The Stratospheric Levels of Cartel Violence and the Weakness of AMLO’s Government
Mexican-American Relations - Past, Present and Ideas for a Prosperous Future
Joshua Treviño and Melissa Ford discuss Mexican-American relations - past, present and ideas for a prosperous future.
