Podcasts about el mencho

Alcaldes de Guerrero rompen con Mesa de Seguridad Sheinbaum supervisa obra carretera en el suresteMiles protestan en Madrid por crisis de viviendaMás información en nuetro podcast#grc

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down with Ambassador Tony Garza, a Brownsville native who served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico under President George W. Bush from 2002 to 2009 and now works as counsel and special advisor to the global law firm White & Case in Mexico City, to discuss the state of the U.S.-Mexico relationship at a moment of unusual tension and opportunity.They discuss:Why the transactionalism defining U.S.-Mexico relations today was always present beneath the surface — and what changed when it became explicitHow President Sheinbaum has managed the relationship with Washington, and why her approach has earned approval on both sides of the borderThe coordinated operation that took down El Mencho, and what it reveals about the level of intelligence-sharing between the two governmentsWhy "cartels" is the wrong word for what Mexico is actually dealing with — and why that distinction matters for policyWhether the Trump administration would ever order direct military action inside MexicoHow multinational companies navigate corruption and security risks while continuing to invest heavily in Mexican manufacturingWhy nearshoring has proceeded more slowly than the headlines suggested — and where the real growth has actually come fromThe missed opportunity for comprehensive immigration reform in 2001, and what a more pragmatic path forward might look like todayWhy San Antonio's DNA — automotive, cyber, aeronautics, and its deep ties to northern Mexico — positions it better than Austin for what's coming next in North AmericaRECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:▶ 165. How Hill Country Landowners Are Challenging CPS Energy's 370-Mile Transmission Line Plan — Ambassador Garza references water and energy infrastructure as emerging areas for U.S.-Mexico cooperation. This episode examines one of the most consequential energy projects now moving through the Texas Hill Country.…..GET THE NEWSLETTER

In this episode, newly confirmed U.S. Drug Czar Sara Carter joins Lisa to discuss America’s escalating fight against fentanyl, cartel violence, and the global drug trade. Carter shares behind-the-scenes insight into her confirmation process and her current role leading the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President Trump. She details a coordinated “whole-of-government” strategy aimed at cutting off drug supply chains, dismantling cartel networks, and saving American lives. The conversation dives deep into the takedown of cartel leader El Mencho, revealing how U.S. and Mexican forces collaborated on one of the most significant operations against organized crime in recent years—and what it signals moving forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Canada gears up for soccer's most exciting time, we can't help but notice the dark cloud that looms over the World Cup. The current geopolitical reality on the global scale - whether it's the Iran-US/Israel war, the violent fallout after the death of Mexican drug lord El Mencho, immigration crackdowns throughout the US - has stirred real safety concerns for the more than 100 games across the three countries. Guest host Devang Desai speaks to Aaron Ettinger, political science professor at Carleton University to discuss the intersection of sports and politics, how US President Trump uses international sporting events to his own advantage, and the role of FIFA. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

On today's episode, Vince welcomes back former DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, the man who led the hunt for El Chapo, for a breakdown of where the hunt for Iván goes next, why the Chapitos can't survive the way their father did, and what the U.S. government's new whole-of-government strategy actually looks like from the inside. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:31 The Chapitos on the DEA's radar during the El Chapo case (02:03) Why Iván is the last man standing in Sinaloa (03:13) CJNG fractures and the battle for Sinaloa (07:35) Iván vs. El Chapo: who's more dangerous? (11:21) Sheinbaum's shift and the new U.S.–Mexico collaboration (13:39) How the U.S. really took down El Mencho (16:18) The CJNG power vacuum (17:15) Iván Guzmán: public enemy number one (31:37) How Ray would take down Iván today (33:53) Hunting Iván vs. hunting El Chapo (35:05) China, fentanyl precursors, and the financial side (40:07) How cartels are using technology and social media Sponsors: 1st Phorm: Go to⁠ ⁠https://www.1stphorm.com/borderland⁠⁠ and get free shipping on any orders over $75, free 30 days in the app for new customers, and 110% money back guarantee on all of our products. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=ironclad&utm_campaign=ironclad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mexican special forces have arrested Audias Flores Silva, known as “El Jardinero,” a senior Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) commander widely viewed as a potential successor to the slain leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera. This episode details the high-precision operation in Nayarit, the cartel's recent leadership losses, U.S. extradition interest, and the broader implications for CJNG operations and Mexico's security efforts. Essential listening for national security analysts, law enforcement professionals, policymakers, and those tracking organized crime and U.S.-Mexico relations in the fentanyl crisis.

Muy buenos días, la relación México y Estados Unidos llega a un punto de no retorno, según lo que nos dicen los analistas tras las acusaciones contra el gobernador de Sinaloa. Hablamos del caso, de las implicaciones diplomáticas, políticas, sobre todo económicas en torno al T-MEC. Además, el papel de los dos Robertos por los que apuesta la presidenta. Ya que andamos metidos en el tema, hablamos también de los ingresos de Alsea y cómo se vieron afectados por lo del ‘Mencho'. Luego, el tema que amerita también su protagonismo: la decisión de la Fed y lo que dijo Powell. Y la Fórmula 1 también sufre por la guerra en Irán.Día 11 de 15 para votar por La Estrategia del Día en los Spotify Podcast Awards. ¡Vota aquí! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWXhF7LvcCzpf?si=8sICN4uMTwuUdwqibbVxBg Patrocinado | Aeroméxico, la aerolínea más puntual del mundo por segundo año consecutivo. Conoce más aquí.

The sidekick of a notorious drug lord who had an $8-million NZD bounty on his head has been arrested. Earlier this year, Mexico's most wanted man, a top cartel leader known as "El Mencho," was killed in a military operation. His death triggered a wave of violence across the country. Now, one of his top aides, nicknamed "The Gardener," has been captured after authorities found him hiding in a ditch. Correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen from Mexico City.

When Mexican special forces killed El Mencho in February 2026, the throne of Mexico's most powerful cartel was up for grabs. But there's one man who many assumed would be taking over: Juan Carlos Valencia González, a 41-year-old California-born dual citizen known as "El 03," the stepson of the slain narco boss. His cartel royalty bloodline is almost absurdly stacked, as his mother, Rosalinda González Valencia, dubbed "La Jefa," was El Mencho's wife and a key financial architect of the cartel's money laundering empire, while his uncles from the González Valencia clan were systematically arrested and extradited to the U.S. over the past decade. And his father just happened to be the founder of CJNG's predecessor, the Milenio Cartel. Now an American citizen effectively runs a terrorist-designated drug empire responsible for flooding the U.S. with fentanyl, creating a legal nightmare for U.S. intelligence agencies with limited tools to go after one of their own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Renuncia fiscal de Chihuahua por el escándalo con la CIA; detienen al sucesor de “El Mencho” en Nayarit; Emiratos Árabes Unidos deja la OPEP.

En más notas, El Sol de México gana medalla de bronce de la Society for News Design, por otra parte, César Jáuregui renuncia como fiscal de Chihuahua, y en el Esto, David Faitelson se rompe y pide disculpas a José Ramón Fernández Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

México y Estados Unidos intensifican la búsqueda de líderes del Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación tras la caída de Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes. ¿Quiénes son los posibles sucesores del cártel? En otro tema, la presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum inauguró el Tren Felipe Ángeles, que conecta Buenavista con el Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Ángeles, ¿cuánto costará el viaje? Elementos de la Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana de la Ciudad de México detuvieron a un hombre por presuntamente agredir y asesinar a su pareja. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Ghaleb Krame was working in the security department in Tamaulipas, he arranged to go for a breakfast in a prestigious restaurant in state capital Ciudad Victoria. However, he canceled at the last minute, which was lucky as gunmen came and sprayed it up. He soon learned he had a price on his head. This is only one of many intense incidents in Krame's crazy life that spirals through security, intelligence, academia and consulting, not only in his homeland of Mexico, but in Europe and the Middle East, where his family hails from. He went as a teenager to Lebanon and learned to shoot with the Syrian army and after September 11 was a valuable asset in the UK. His unorthodox life contributes to making him one of the most interesting and outspoken former officials on Mexican security. While many here in Mexico understandably try to avoid the subject of cartels and crime, Krame digs deep into it. He recognized the cartel use of drones early and now foresees the development of AI drone swarms. He analyzes how sicarios operate as irregular armed forces. Like with any guest, I don't agree with everything Krame says, and may disagree strongly on certain points, but he is a fascinating thinker and in this episode we get into a range of subjects including the death of El Mencho (or is he really dead, Krame asks), the CIA agents (or officers!) in Chihuahua, the shooting at Teotihuacán, a divided country under Morena (he is a big critic), and hope for a less violent Mexico. I recommend listening through as the convo gets more intense as we go on. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

En esta emisión de Saga Noticias, Max Espejel analiza el impacto de la detención en Argentina del Contralmirante Fernando Farías Laguna, vinculado a una red de "Huachicol Fiscal" en la SEMAR, mientras la crisis por derrames de hidrocarburos en Veracruz escala pese a los intentos de Claudia Sheinbaum y Rocío Nahle por minimizar el desastre. Junto al experto Carlos Álvarez, desglosamos la realidad ecológica tras la contaminación en el Golfo de México y la violencia imparable que cobró la vida de la líder ganadera Lina Alejandra Rodríguez en Chihuahua. Además, presentamos detalles exclusivos sobre la unidad de la CIA que abatió a "El Mencho", los hallazgos tras el tiroteo en Teotihuacán y la investigación contra el hijo de Marcelo Ebrard por el uso irregular de la Embajada de México en el Reino Unido. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

En esta emisión de Saga Noticias, Max Espejel analiza el impacto de la detención en Argentina del Contralmirante Fernando Farías Laguna, vinculado a una red de "Huachicol Fiscal" en la SEMAR, mientras la crisis por derrames de hidrocarburos en Veracruz escala pese a los intentos de Claudia Sheinbaum y Rocío Nahle por minimizar el desastre. Junto al experto Carlos Álvarez, desglosamos la realidad ecológica tras la contaminación en el Golfo de México y la violencia imparable que cobró la vida de la líder ganadera Lina Alejandra Rodríguez en Chihuahua. Además, presentamos detalles exclusivos sobre la unidad de la CIA que abatió a "El Mencho", los hallazgos tras el tiroteo en Teotihuacán y la investigación contra el hijo de Marcelo Ebrard por el uso irregular de la Embajada de México en el Reino Unido. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Zed's Dead, the passing of Peter Greene; USA wins the Gold in Hockey, controversy ensues; State of the Union address insanity; Mexico IS ON FIRE!!! And so much more!!Coffee Brand Coffee -https://coffeebrandcoffee.com/Use the coupon code: gps1 to get 5% off your purchase.  You will be supporting an independent, growing company, as well as our show in the process!!#skidspodcast #skids #podcast #mexico #cartels #elmencho #jalisco #petergreene #pulpfiction #usualsuspects #usa #stateoftheunion #trump #politics #hockey #olympics #sports

Hoy en Saga Noticias, con Max Espejel, ponemos bajo la lupa temas que sacuden al país: la Secretaría Anticorrupción abre un expediente contra Genaro Villamil por el caso Infodemia, en medio de acusaciones sobre el uso de recursos públicos para desacreditar investigaciones periodísticas, mientras el periodista Ignacio Villaseñor revela los detalles de esta ofensiva legal que reabre el debate sobre libertad de expresión y censura. Además, Daniel Ibáñez analiza el misterio que rodea la muerte de Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”, luego de que la FGR clasificara su autopsia como información reservada por seguridad nacional, desatando dudas y teorías sobre lo ocurrido. Y por si fuera poco, crece la indignación tras el escándalo en Tecámac, donde la senadora Mariela Gutiérrez admitió el sacrificio masivo de 10 mil animales, un hecho que activistas denuncian como una grave violación a las normas de bienestar animal. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Claudia Sheinbaum presentó al comité que evaluará la implementación del fracking en el país.La FGR decidió mantener bajo reserva los resultados de la necropsia de Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho”. Claudia Sheinbaum fue seleccionada como una de las 100 personas más influyentes por la revista TIME.Irán y Estados Unidos dijeron que están dispuestos a retomar el diálogo diplomático.El Gobierno de Donald Trump le solicitó a Reddit revelar la identidad de un usuario anónimo que ha publicado contenido contra el ICE.Katy Perry está siendo investigada por la policía australiana por el presunto abuso sexual de Ruby Rose en 2010Ari Hodara fue el ganador del sorteo benéfico “1 Picasso por 100 euros”, en el que rifaron la obra “Tête de femme”. Para enterarte de más noticias, suscríbete aquí a nuestro newsletter y síguenos en redes sociales. Estamos en todas las plataformas como Te lo cuento. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hoy en Saga Noticias, con Max Espejel, ponemos bajo la lupa temas que sacuden al país: la Secretaría Anticorrupción abre un expediente contra Genaro Villamil por el caso Infodemia, en medio de acusaciones sobre el uso de recursos públicos para desacreditar investigaciones periodísticas, mientras el periodista Ignacio Villaseñor revela los detalles de esta ofensiva legal que reabre el debate sobre libertad de expresión y censura. Además, Daniel Ibáñez analiza el misterio que rodea la muerte de Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”, luego de que la FGR clasificara su autopsia como información reservada por seguridad nacional, desatando dudas y teorías sobre lo ocurrido. Y por si fuera poco, crece la indignación tras el escándalo en Tecámac, donde la senadora Mariela Gutiérrez admitió el sacrificio masivo de 10 mil animales, un hecho que activistas denuncian como una grave violación a las normas de bienestar animal. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Morning news catchup, a talk witih Charlie Noonan,former DEA Agent...says the killing of cartel EL MENCHO will have uniintended consequences. Charlie works for a pretty cool company deactivates fentanyl and other agents.

In this episode of Gangland Wire, retired Kansas City Police Intelligence detective Gary Jenkins sits down with former drug trafficker Carlos Perez for a direct, unfiltered discussion about the evolution of the drug trade in America. Carlos has a new book out titled Pedro Pan: The Product of a Revolution Gone Bad The conversation opens with recent controversy surrounding the reported death of  the Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader El Mencho, and what that development signals for the balance of power among modern Mexican cartels. From there, Gary and Carlos trace the arc of the drug trade from the Caribbean smuggling routes of the 1970s and 1980s to the dominance of today's cartel-controlled corridors. Carlos reflects on the era of Ronald Reagan and the early “War on Drugs,” describing a time when enforcement was uneven and smugglers routinely exploited weak regulatory environments in places like the Bahamas. He explains how traffickers adapted faster than policymakers, using maritime routes, small aircraft, and coordinated pickup operations to move multi-ton quantities of narcotics. Gary and Carlos contrast those earlier days with modern interdiction efforts—advanced Coast Guard surveillance, satellite tracking, military-grade radar, and cross-border intelligence sharing. What was once opportunistic smuggling has evolved into highly structured cartel logistics supported by corrupt officials and narco-state dynamics. Carlos provides a candid account of his own rise in the trade. Starting as a construction laborer, he moved into pickup crews retrieving floating bales of drugs in open water. Over time, he became involved in larger-scale operations involving aircraft and organized distribution networks. He details the operational mechanics, the risks, and the constant calculation between profit and prison—or worse. The discussion also explores the blurred lines between political authority and cartel influence. Carlos explains how governments in certain regions became intertwined with trafficking operations, illustrating how power, money, and violence intersect across borders. In the second half of the episode, Carlos shifts to a personal reckoning. He discusses the moral compromises required in the drug trade and the toll it takes on family and identity. Ultimately, he chose to step away, prioritizing stability and long-term survival over fast money. Now living a legitimate life, Carlos has documented his journey in his book Pedro Pan: The Product of a Revolution Gone Bad, offering readers a firsthand account of smuggling culture, Cuban heritage, revolution-era influences, and the psychological weight of that world. His story reflects both personal accountability and a broader commentary on the human side of organized crime. This episode blends law enforcement perspective with insider testimony, giving listeners a rare dual lens: the cop who chased traffickers and the man who once outran them. Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to “buy me a cup of coffee” Subscribe to the website for weekly notifications about updates and other Mob information. To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent ‘Brothers against Brothers’ or ‘Gangland Wire,’ the documentaries click here.  To purchase one of my books, click here. Transcript [0:00] Hey, all you wiretappers, Gary Jenkins, retired Kansas City Police Intelligence [0:03] Unit detective. It’s great to be back here in the studio. It’s a cold day in Kansas City, Missouri, but we’re going to talk to a warm state and with a man that lives in that warm state, Carlos Perez. Welcome, Carlos. How are you doing, Gary? Doing good? Yeah, I’m doing good. A little cold, and I know it’s much warmer down there. We talked about that. Carlos was involved in the drug business, which is quite topical right now, especially today. Now, this won’t come out today, but as of over the weekend, the Mexican government arrested the El Mencho, the head of that, I can’t remember the name of that cartel. It was a Western Mexico, the state of Jalisco cartel. And somehow he got killed on the way to Mexico City as they’re transporting him. And his guys, the cartel members, are going crazy. Carlos, let’s talk about that a little bit, about this new war on drugs. When I was in Ronnie Reagan’s war on drugs, it was different than it is now. Now we have this new war on drugs with blowing drug boats out of the water. And this guy dies on the way to the bigger jail. Well, let’s talk about that a little bit. Carlos, how would you, as a former drug trafficker, how do you react to that? [1:18] The laws change. And the more that the smugglers change, the more that the system to catch them changes also. In fact, when you’re talking about Ronald Reagan’s war on drugs, there was quite a few things that allowed the smugglers to succeed. One was, most of it, and I’m talking Caribbean now, most of it was going through the Bahamas. The Bahamas had laws at that time where anything governmental was not allowed to land nor dock a boat anywhere in the Bahamas without the permission of the Bahamian government. Which, by the time they got to wherever, if they reacted, if they were advised of some drugs coming in, it would take them a long time to react. I think they had two boats for all the islands that had to travel back and forth. You never, you couldn’t, they couldn’t, the DEA, the Coast Guard, they couldn’t catch you. [2:12] And when you fly a plane in, you just land anywhere and say hello to the DEA as they’re flying by because they can’t land. And therefore, you score the load that you have. Nowadays, Jesus God Almighty, now you’ve got the Coast Guard out there. You’ve got the Coast Guard citation constantly flying, plus Navy. But you couldn’t get it done. And back in those days, that’s the way it was done. It was the Bahamas played a huge part. The prime minister of the Bahamas was so heavily, even though he never. [2:42] Did any time or anything he was heavily involved he took payoffs to left left and right the whole the situation is completely different now you got AWACS flying overhead that can hear you when you’re in the bathroom anybody here’s my opinion on that I want to know who in the hell was in charge of sending those boats out of Venezuela that after the first one got blown up who was telling them to keep sending boats over now if maduro this is my theory if maduro was smart he would have stopped that if he was really the one in charge he would have gone god you got to make me look better you can’t keep doing it that tells me he was not in charge of the shit okay so there’s someone behind that kept going send them we got to see if we can score keep the score, i don’t know how he kept doing that that was to me that was such a stupid move especially when you You see that you’ve got half of America’s Navy sitting on your doorstep, and you keep trying to send drugs. What are you, nuts? The Pacific, they should have gone over to the Pacific, where there’s less surveillance, and maybe run it up the Pacific coast by land. [3:53] Okay. Try to get it into Mexico by land. Because back in the day, Mexico was not really involved at all in that. It was the Caribbean. And then when the Colombian cartel, which was Medellin cartel, when they stopped losing so many loads, they started to go to Mexico. And through Mexico, they just flew small planes, landed in the woods somewhere in Mexico, and then they moved it up. That was not – you weren’t doing that in the Caribbean by that time. And talking about Reagan’s war on drugs, I had two – this is the sideline. I had two little boats coming in from the Bahamas that had marijuana on them. [4:35] I still got to laugh at this freaking idiot. One of them, they were coming in from – Bimney’s only 47 miles away. You can almost do it on the fumes of a gas tank. This guy forgot to gas up. Coming over, he gets stopped by the Marine Patrol, right? As they’re searching him, the other boat had gone through but was wondering where his partner was, and he goes back to see where the guy is. [5:01] How’s that for – anyway, they get them both. It was a total of about 1,200 pounds. That had come from Jamaica, that’s about –, And the vice president, who was Bush, was at the Coast Guard dock when they were unloading the boats. And I was sitting there watching, going, damn, they look like my boats. And when I investigated, it was a—but that was one little incident that had happened. But the difference between yesterday, yesteryear, and now is chronologically things change. They trump the other everybody that was a president or that that had something to do with stopping the trade with drugs never really stuck their foot in deep to stop it it makes me feel like yeah you’re not really you’re talking a lot but you’re not really doing much because if i was a cop my god i usually i’d have had all kinds of medals from stopping these people because it’s an easy thing but no one really had the interest who was involved economically up the top god and only In the Bahamas, I knew who it was. It was the prime minister. Knew his people real well. In the States, everything changes every couple of years. And you don’t know what they’re thinking, what their process of thought is to try to stop this. You know what it was? None. They didn’t try. Okay, they did not try. [6:22] There used to be, oh God, probably about two or three DC-3s a night landing in Bimini, 47 miles away. Okay? Each one of them had 10,000 pounds on it. The boats were running up the river, the Miami River. Once you get inside on a river, inside land, you pretty much already scored. That changed. Then it went to freighters, fast boats going out, picking up, coming in. Then when the United States stopped that, when they declared, we’re going to be able to stop any boat anywhere in international waters. You couldn’t do it back then. [7:02] When that ended then you began with the airplanes the airplanes would take it this is still back when you when the US or any governmental agency could not, set foot in the Bahamian territory, Bahamian waters, without the prime minister’s knowledge. The prime minister’s involved. You’re not going to get it. It’s not going to happen. So that change, and it went to small airplanes. Fly it in anywhere you want in the Bahamas, and then get your boats, and from there on in, try to see what you’re thinking, your process of thought is going to be to get it from the Bahamas, some of the shorter points to the States and to Miami at that point. One of them for me was easy. And that was because I had information on the Miami tower and where in the hell everything was at any point in time. So I would sit and wait for my messenger to get back to me, to tell me where the smoker was, which was the big Coast Guard boat and where the citation was. Once I knew that, I knew I could come across. And the only thing I was going to run into was fishermen. [8:10] So things changed. And then they allowed things change after that. And obviously they were allowed to go into the Bahamas and do whatever they wanted. But that was when Pinland was finally out. I don’t know who the prime minister became after that, but it changed. And now it became, this is why I think that the cartels were stupid. They, instead of doing as much as you could without getting noticed, they started bringing in loads of 10,000 and 20,000 kilos. I was like, God, what the hell do they get all that? I know where they get it, but since I know how the situation goes, I want to know how they amass it and get it onto one boat or one container or whatever and not have it noticed. That’s just way too much to not notice at one point or another. People get edgy around shit like that. In other words, I could take two people and put them in front of a container and separate them and tell one of them, that’s full of drugs, and then tell the other one, no, that’s full of furniture. And then stand both of them there and see who gets nervous. [9:16] It’s human nature. It’s human nature. If you know something bad is going on, to feel it and to react. Why they did that, I don’t know. I was one of the ones, if not the only one, that was sent to Mexico to teach them how to put airstrips in the middle of the jungle, how to protect them, what to do with them, where to put potholes with certain rocks, get them out when they play in the stomach, put them back in when he’s done so if anyone else tries to land, they’re gone. But how it got so deep, I’ll never understand that. And I was pretty much in the beginning of smuggling as to notice chronologically how everything’s seen because I stayed for quite a while. Yeah. Now, Carlos, you’ve written a book about this. What’s the name of that book? The book is called Heisting the Beard. I just need the beard. The beard with a D, meaning Fidel Castro. Ah, interesting. Yeah, he’s just in Cubans when they go like this to their chin or they mention him and they mention him as the beard. He was heavily involved in the decision-making of Cuba running drones. [10:27] That book is about, oh, I ran into a guy. This is how this happens, which is really fun. I ran into a guy who I used to call him by the name of Banco. And he came and told me that he knew where there was a big load of drugs, jewels that they had pilfered from the ocean where they knew that shipwrecks have gone down. Because no one can dive around Cuba. And Cuba is a country that held all the gold before it went to Spain. Everything stopped there and went on. So he told me he knew where there was a warehouse that was holding that plus a lot of coke. And I had ways to get in. I have a friend who’s Bahamian, who was actually one of my partners, who’s from Ragged Island in the Bahamas. Ragged Island is maybe… [11:17] 20 miles off the Cuban coast, down on the eastern end of Cuba. So it was easy for me to sneak in. Everyone thinks of Cuba as this military power, Russia’s buddy. They didn’t have shit. They couldn’t put a plane in the air. They didn’t have patrol boats. They had patrol boats, but I swear I could out-swim them. It was ridiculous to see at what point they were developed as far as a country. And it was like, everything is going downhill as today, and it keeps going downhill. So I would sneak in on a Zodiac. [11:53] And I’d hit the coast, middle of the night. No one would see me. I speak perfect Spanish. I speak a Cuban dialect. So I wasn’t going to get caught by it because I looked like a black bean in a pot of white rice. It wasn’t going to be like that. So we figured out where everything was, and we went in and took a little look. And got awake after a lot of headaches, but we were able to do that. There’s other instances where there’s an airport right next to Havana called the Varadero Airport, and it’s a military airport. And I know that they were holding a lot of cocaine that was going in there. The reason I know that is because hearsay in the streets in Miami, you go drink a little Cuban coffee somewhere, you hear assholes talking garbage, and they would say that they were getting boats ready to go to Cuba to bring in whatever they had. So it’s not really why they make it a mystery as to why they were involved. If you think logically, let’s say you leave Colombia and you’re doing business with Cuba. Wouldn’t it be safe to just, oh, you’re chasing me, let me land in Cuba and I got no problem, not because they don’t want you here, but they want me here. That’s logically speaking. So why that… [13:11] That mystery among people that they weren’t involved. What are you, crazy? Not only that, recently, you might have seen it, they’ve had a Carlos Leder Riva. Okay. [13:27] Carlos, can you say that over again? It just zeroed out to say that over again. After you said Carlos Leder. Leder Rivas. Yeah. Now, whatever you said after that, say that over again. [13:45] Carlos Lerder Rivas recently has done some interviews on the drug trade. He did a lot of time in the States over the Norman’s Key transporting point where all the coke would go there. And then, like I told you before, they fly it into the Bahamas and then over into the States. He recently has been on saying how he was personally involved with Raul Castro. I have no doubt about that. I knew him personally. i flew a couple times into that island where it was transported out so i know what he was told the reason i also know that is everybody has this pablo escobar myth in their head he was neither the boss and he was neither the money man the money people were the ochoas the military his might and his force did not come from him and his mouth that he could do this and that it comes from rodriguez gacha who had a 2 000 man private army and he was one of the members of the cartel and they never tell you who started it all and it was carlos letter rivas he was the one that started the cartel he’s the one that wanted to be on in the colombian parliament and was looking for votes escobar is he was a he was a late comer into all that stuff the only reason they put him out there that I can understand is because they just wanted to figure out that they could knock the hell out of later on. [15:09] Okay? Because when he started fighting against Los Pepes, which was that organization that got together to try to kill Pablo, Pablo reversed it on those guys. He got rid of almost all of them, but it wasn’t him. It was Rodriguez. [15:24] Rodriguez gotcha. He’s the one. And he was involved in the Emerald business before he got into the coke business. He was the guy, let me tell you what, when Pablo was around, and I only saw that once, when Pablo was around Gacha, okay, this was down in La Guajira, in the high desert in Colombia. When he was around Gacha, you could tell that he was subordinate. He was scared. He was like, damn, if I mess up with this guy, he’ll take my head off. [15:53] So people really have the whole story, Pablo, Pablo, my, you know what, Pablo, my ass. There’s a lot of people who you had to have money to do those things yeah and in those days they were strong enough because of the ochoas well they could gather big loads a thousand two thousand keys and put it all together but as time went on chronologically that shit changed okay i can remember once getting a load where it had it damn you they labeled it they labeled everyone One had one name, one had the other So what they were doing at that time Was it got so tough on them Because of Pablo’s big mouth And because of his, I’m going to take over Blowing up a plane Doing a few other attacking parliament All those things You couldn’t put those loads together To me there’s no cartels anymore To me they’re government Narco systems You. [16:55] The Mexican government is definitely involved with the cartels. And as you saw, we went after a cartel in Venezuela, but the head of the cartel was the Venezuelan government. So what they are is narco states now. And you know how hard it is to attack or to deal with a narco state? Now you’re dealing with a government entity that has a lot of power. It’s a completely different ballgame. And Venezuela themselves, including Cuba, had a diplomatic immunity flying into different countries with the drugs. And they could put a load of cocaine on and fly into Spain, and they had no problem with it. And they were doing those kind of things, I would say, recently, like within the last 10 or 15 years. Maybe even since Maduro has been there, which is about 20 years, that they’ve been doing that. Really, the United States can get information on anything they want. They had this information but couldn’t do anything about it. [17:57] So chronologically, everything changes. Back in the beginning, let me tell you, the first time I made a little money was hauling some marijuana with old Touch Brown from the Everglades. And I worked like a Hebrew slave for four days in the swamp hauling bails from marijuana and into the into the everglades and then over into miami and it was completely different game and you know what they didn’t cheat me for one penny they didn’t cheat me for one penny and how much came in 40 tons on one of the boats yeah it was 80 000 pounds on a freighter and we worked like little like slaves and they paid me like two weeks later, they paid me $2. I’ll tell you that story in a minute. You asked me a while ago how I got started. Should I answer that, or you got another question you want for me? No, go ahead. How’d you get started in that? You started out as a grunt, as we say in the military. You started out as a low-end worker, a guy that transports bales. What did you do? You started saving your money up, and you knew where the connections were, and finally you You bought your own load and just kept getting bigger and bigger. [19:11] In a sense, yeah, it wasn’t drastic. When I came in, here’s the story. I’m in Texas. My mom calls me up and tells me I have an uncle who’s in Texas. He wants to see me. I get together with him, and he’s driving a brand-new Cadillac. This is a guy who, two and two to him is 22. I know he’s my uncle, but he’s a dumb son of a bitch. [19:35] He’s telling me that he’s got a, you know what a roach coach is? Yeah. with those construction things with food. He tells me he has a red smoke in Miami and that he bought a house, got a house, he’s doing really good. And I looked at him and I said, bro, you’re the one that’s crushed. You’re the wetback. I came on a plane a long time ago. He’s telling me stories. What’s going on here? So anyway, he tells me and I say to him, get me a job. I was working as a carpenter in Houston. Straight out of college, I’m banging nails. I said, God damn, I’m banging nails. but I got an education here. What’s going on? So anyway, I loaded up in Houston. I head and I end up in Coconut Grove working for one of the bosses. My job was $500 a week and I had to go and sleep on his yacht about 7 p.m. And by 6 in the morning when the workers started coming in, just go. That went on for about four or five months and I finally said, let me make some real money because I saw he was still moving and doing things economically economically moving forward, and I was sleeping on a boat. So he finally gets me an interview with two of the bosses. And this is a building in Miami that was called the DuPont Plaza building. [20:52] And so we go to the meeting, and I’m talking to the two guys. One of them, they called him El Coronel, and the other one, El Colorado. The Colonel and Red. They were the ones that were handling it. And this was, by the way, this was marijuana, coming from Colombia at that time. So we go in there, and he tells me, no problem. I’ll pay you $2 a pound. Now, understand that at that time, at that point in time, my mind is in Jersey and New York. And if you’re moving 20 pounds from one place to the other, it’s a lot. You’re not dealing with loads at that time. We’re talking, what, 1977 in New York? And I looked at him, I said, you’re fucking crazy. You think I’m going to risk my ass for $2 a pound? Even if it’s 300 pounds, that’s $600. Are you fucking nuts? [21:45] My uncle grabbed me by the shirt, stood me up and said, excuse me. Walked me outside and said, listen, there’s 40 tons coming in. You want the job or not? I went back in. I apologized to you guys. I said, no problem. I will go to work. From that point on, there wasn’t, that’s just, was right about at the end of the big freighters. And so now my uncle invites me to go to Bimini because he had a friend there and they were going to do some job. I don’t know. When we go, I end up running into a younger guy, Bahamian, and I became partners with him. We call him Dreamer. And I said, look, if you can set things up over here and gather up whatever materials you can gather up, I’ll come and get it and we’ll be partners. At that time, a lot of freighters and a lot of boats were being chased by the Coast Guard and what they would do is they would drop, they would dump it overboard. Oh yeah. Ergo the, what they call it, the square grouper. [22:44] Yeah, I’ve heard that before. Bales were floating everywhere. You could go out. So what he would do is he would go on a boat, find bales that were floating. He would call me up, and he would tell me, hey, I salvaged a 300-horsepower engine. Come and get it. I knew what the weight was, so I knew what kind of boat I had to take. So I bought an 18-foot formula. I dug out the hole in the bottom. I made a secret hole. What the what cubans call a clavo a clavo which is you’re hiding it underboard he called me up one day tells me there’s three he can get 300 pounds i left at eight in the morning was back in miami by 11 30 left at about 12 30 went back and picked up another load so in that first job we ended up making a couple hundred thousand dollars from there we bought a bigger boat, Now he started patrolling, All the area where the boats were coming in Because everything flows from the Gulf Down in this area, flows north The Gulf Stream goes north So everything’s going to float this way somehow. [23:54] We did that for probably a year Until one time, I was over there. We were going fishing, and we ran into a duffel bag. The duffel bag had 65 kilos in it that was just floating. At that time, it cost probably around $40,000 a kilo in Miami, let alone New York. We didn’t bother to take it up north. Sold it all in Miami. I used to say to myself, where in the hell does all this cash come from? Because they would pay. We made a lot of money that time. And then we had seen… Carlos, let me interject here. No, no. [24:38] You were making hundreds of thousands of dollars just by picking up cocaine and marijuana that had been thrown off other boats. So you didn’t even have to go buy it, really. You guys were just picking it up, the square groupers, and then putting it together and then bringing it to money. That’s crazy. You are an entrepreneur. You’re a guy that sees an opportunity and seizes it. Tell you what. And that’s exactly how it went, Gary. When we made that big chunk of money, we had seen how things were going because we knew that planes were coming in and landing. And they had whatever it is that they were hauling, either coke or marijuana. So with that amount of money, we bought a plane and I decided to become a pilot. I said, hell, we’re going to cut this down. I’ll fly. We’ll save money that way. And now we can talk to the people down in Jamaica or Columbia and say, hey, we’re coming together. We’re taking a responsibility. We’re not going to middle it. We’re not going to find it. We’re going to do the job. And it took off from there. [25:43] Took off real good from there. Eventually, I see that you are going to build in to have a legitimate life, become a horse breeder and a ranch owner and rub elbows with all the kind of the muckety mucks, if you will, down there in Florida. So tell us about that transition and how did your life change during that time? [26:04] I had a family. I had four kids by then. And I knew that I was in a business where the chances were threefold. I either score or I die or I go to jail. And I didn’t like any of those odds at that time. I was like, you know what? I’ve made enough money. I got a small little ranch out here. I don’t need to do anything. And I decided that was it. I don’t need to be doing this anymore. I’m set. And I’m the kind of person, I’m set with what I mathematically calculate. I’m not like I need almost $20 million. I calculated it to where I knew I could be comfortable. And talking about the mucks and the big famous guys, I had lunch with Sam Walton one time. How did you do that? [26:59] I was at his, his daughter, Nancy Walton, Laurie was heavily into the horse. And by that time I was into horses also. So we used to, I used to show them all over the country and we were in, in Illinois at a horse show. And the setup that his daughter used to put out there was unbelievable. It was like, whew, she really put out a spread. And he happened to be there one time. And it wasn’t like I went and had lunch with him, but a few people sat around, ate a couple of grilled burgers. And that’s my story of Sam Wolfe, the richest man in the world at that time. And look who he’s having lunch with. how really i’ve noticed going to horse races that a lot of the support staff are all hispanic i think because hispanic people know how to deal with horses have an affinity affinity for horses, you’re absolutely right the barn work even me and who as far as the horses went i was a nobody i just had my own little stretch even my workers were mexican they just are good at it they’re very good at that. Interesting. They understand country life, too. Yeah. [28:10] So, what happened? You’re like, you’re going straight. You haven’t really done any time. Surely DEA, I know enough about them that they keep files, and they may not do anything about you now, but they know a lot about you, and they don’t forget. So, what happened here? You can’t feed the government. It’s an entity, not an individual. You know, one guy prosecutes you and he retires. That doesn’t mean your case is over. He hands it over to somebody else and it goes on and on. They didn’t get, I didn’t get caught doing anything. I had too many ways to outmaneuver them and not because I was smarter than anybody else. It’s because I had contact. I had a contact, like I told you, at the Miami Tower where I would call him and say, hey, I need to know where this was. He would call me back and let me know exactly when I could cross. [29:06] So it was a matter of, in my case, I didn’t play Russian roulette. I tried to put things on more of the positive end of it on my side but i’m so they arrested me for money because they thought i had too much first the irs came in and they started checking out the next thing i know is i’m being visited by by the fbi but it was alphabet soup when they showed up at their hotel yeah not the farm i was like what the hell are these guys doing here anyway they grabbed me took me in and i’ll give you a funny story and you used to be a policeman yes all They pick me up, and I say to the guy, the old James Cagney state, I’ll be home before you tonight. Yeah, I’ll be home. You’ll be still writing your report when I’m back home. You’ll still be filling out the paperwork, but I’ll be sitting at home. [29:58] So I played that act. And actually, I did get home pretty quick. I was able to call my lawyer. He actually called up the mayor of Fort Myers. His name was Wilbur Smith. And he was a lawyer also. And Wilbur is the one that got me. It happened to have been on a Friday, which meant if they didn’t work something out, I was going to sit my ass in the jail until Monday. When the judge comes up. But Wilbur got me out of it. Wait a minute. Wait till the dogs get, okay. Can you start that with Wilbur? Wilbur got me out of that when the dogs quit. Let’s see. [30:38] Anyway, Wilbur gets me out of it. I’m walking down the hall with Wilbur to go see the judge real quick. And he says to me, he goes, do you do drugs? Do you have any drugs on you? And I’m like, oh, Jesus. I don’t know. I smoke weed, but I don’t touch anything else. I never have. And he goes, so, okay, we’re okay with that. And in my pocket. I had a joint in my pocket. I pull it out and I go, here. Oh, Jesus Christ, put that back. Oh, Wilbur. Oh, Wilbur’s shit when he saw that. But anyway, I was home. I was home that night. Now, here’s another funny story. I had a, along with this story, I had a maid at the house at the farm. And she was Brazilian. And she was not a resident or anything. That girl took, when they came, went to pick me up. And they took me into, it was a U.S. Marshall. She took off running into the woods. and I’m talking deep Florida woods and when I got back home about an hour later she ends up showing up and I said what are you doing why did you take off like that I was scared they were going to deport me, if you were scared what do you think I was. [31:46] And when they showed up that one time when they showed up you could have sworn that they were picking up Pablo Escobar it was alphabet soup long guns long freaking guns not just People holding their little long guns. Yeah. And I’m like, all this for me? Really? And you know what it is? It’s not long before that happened. They had called me in to do a polygraph. [32:14] The FBI did. I had no problem because they were trying to associate me with the head of the Indian cartel in America, the guy that handled everything, including the money. You might have, did you see Cocaine Cowboys Kings of Miami? Yeah, I did. Okay. The one guy, George Valdez, that was pretty much testifying against the other guys that he said he helped. Like how can you you’re snitching right in front of everybody bro anyway he i had a farm next to his, and the next thing i know because i guess they tried to associate me with him i had nothing to do with him next thing i know the fbi is calling me out they do a polygraph even my lawyer said don’t do the polygraph it’s not mandatory said i got nothing to hide now they told me they were going to ask me about horses they ended up asking me everything except horses until i finally yeah took those things off my fingers i pulled them off and i said this is done and i left not long after that is when they swatted in i was like jesus god who do they think they’re picking up here i’m just a in in uh in sense i’m still even if they know everything i’m still a grunt, I’m working for you. It’s not like I’m Mr. Put-it-together shit. You call me up, hey, we got a job. You want it? Yes or no? But it was unbelievable. [33:41] I went to jail. I did some time in jail. When I got out, I never once again really, even though I got 100 phone calls about you want to go to work, you want to listen to that, I never really thought about it again. My kids were growing up. The youngest one was six or seven by then. And they had suffered because I was gone. Yeah. And I didn’t like that. That made me feel like shit. [34:10] It just, it got to the point where when I was working, I looked at everything economically. Hey, this is what I’ll be able to have. Once you have what you want, economics is bullshit if that’s what you’re working for, because you already have it. Yeah. And when I got out, my thoughts were completely different. My thoughts were that the money is not going to solve any issues I may have. Physically, maybe. Mentally, no. mentally, I’ve got to learn how to deal with a little bit of reality here and figure out who is affected by my actions. And the people that were affected by my actions were people that were close to me. And I didn’t enjoy that. I didn’t enjoy that at all. It made me double take. It made me go inside and do a lot of things. [35:04] So from that point on, I really didn’t know what to do. And so I have a friend who is a big-time producer in Hollywood. We grew up together in Jersey, who told me, wow, you’ve got a lot of stories. You should start writing. I never thought about writing. So I started putting down ideas. I wrote a book. I wrote a bunch of political essays on what was going on in Cuba. See, I grew up in a revolutionary family. My father was in intelligence, and my uncle trained the troops that were going to go to the Bay of Pigs, among other incursions into Cuba. So I came over, I’m six years old. I’m a Peter Pan kid. I don’t know if you know what that is. Now, what is that? You’ve mentioned that before. What is that? Tell the guys. Peter Pan is, it’s not a good translation because it has nothing to do with Peter Pan. In Spanish, it’s Pedro Pan and had to do with a little kid eating some bread or whatever. But in 1960, the Catholic Church got together and decided to send the children out of Cuba so they wouldn’t suffer the wraths of the revolution. In essence, 14,000 kids were put on planes and sent into the States. I was one of them. Wow. I ended up in Miami. [36:27] I was one of them, and I was actually one of the lucky ones because I had family in Miami at that time, so I was able to stay with them. My parents were still back in Cuba applying to leave. Back then, they called the freedom flights. So a lot of those kids though they were sent some of them were sent to alaska montana wyoming really they were dispersed all over through families that were willing to help and and keep them until their parents came so i was one of them that grew up because of my father and my uncle the conversation most of the time if not all the time was around cuba and his freedom so the revolution at that time is going really strong in New Jersey. There’s a family in New Jersey by the name, the last name is Cook. [37:17] And they owned a big factory called Cook, Color, and Chemical. They were very wealthy people, but evidently they lost a lot of land or investments in Cuba. So they were willing to help the revolution and the revolutionaries. They had a big farm in this small little town called Hope. And that little town, you had all the Cuban revolutionaries up there getting ready. I’m talking about going into the woods with every kind of equipment you could think of. And they were training to go to Cuba. Now, here I am, six, seven years old. And I’m running around the woods with these maniacs. They would dress me in camouflage and tell me I was the next generation of Cuban revolutionaries. And I’m like, what the fuck is this guy talking? I didn’t. I was having a good time with all these guys. [38:06] And it ended up being that the new york times caught wind that there were these crazy cubans. [38:12] In the woods in jersey and they had to move their operations down to florida but about what happened in jersey in jersey the mafia at that time they were all involved with the kennedy and the prior to the assassination and everything that was going on they thought that the cubans did it they thought to the mafia. They didn’t know who did it. But there was a get-together one time. I was probably about seven or eight years old, and it was a dove shoot where they had a thousand doves, and they would all line them up and let some of them go, and then they would do a big dove fricassee. But that meeting, I just remember the names because I was being introduced, the son of, and this is Mr. Spud. The names never left me. One of them was Santos Traficante, who was the head of the mafia in in in tampa the other one was fat tony salerno who was the head of the mafia in new york there was my mom’s cousin who was an fbi uh agent and a bunch of other guys that looked exactly like him they dressed exactly like him well i could pick you out of a barrel boy and a lot of these other i grew up in the jersey new york area so i know what tough guys act especially of the Italian guys. So there was a bunch of them walking around like they could take on the world. And this is part of my life. I’m a young person doing it. I really don’t know what’s going on, but I’m picking up on all this stuff. [39:40] They moved to Florida. I’m away from all that stuff for a while. But my parents regularly go to Florida for a visit, for vacation. So every year, I’m running into my uncle and the things that he’s doing, what’s going on. [39:57] And so the life never mentally never leaves me. I’m always, I’m always hearing next year in Havana, we’re going to get them, all this nonsense. So the years go on and on and the situation, you wonder how the smuggling game got started. The smuggling games basically, and I saw a report on this not long ago, some lady reporting on it. You had a lot of educated men that were involved in the revolution that wanted to get their country done. The U.S. government, Secret Service at the ICIA, whoever they may be, cut off the funds when all the bullshit with Cuba was done. You’re not allowed to leave from U.S. soil if we cut you with any arms headed down. And they caught a lot of these Cubans trying to go to Cuba on little boats with all kinds of armament. They didn’t do shit to them. Okay, they just slapped them on the head and don’t do that. But it got to the point where the government was not funding that part of the Cuban Revolution anymore. What do a bunch of college-educated, university-educated men do? [41:06] They’re going to go work at the Fountain Blue? My father worked at the Fountain Blue when he first got to Miami. And there was water fountains that said whites, blacks, and Cubans. He was still trying to drink. It’s like my mother used to tell me. I didn’t know I was white until I got to this country. And now all of a sudden we have white Spanish, white this, white this. It’s ridiculous. So these men were not going to go to work with a little bacon with a little Cuban coffee. They have all these contacts all through Central and South America because of the revolution. So who becomes the primary smugglers? [41:44] Yes, the Cuban revolutionaries. And that’s how smuggling was started in the Caribbean. I’m involved with all these people because of my father and my uncle. My legacy is I can get right in. I don’t have to prove anything to anybody. And that’s how I got to my uncle and him giving me the job with the guy. No, that nonsense. So it’s like the grateful dad said, what a long, strange trip it’s been. It’s been. [42:13] So where are you at now with your life? [42:17] Right now, we’re putting together hopefully a TV show on basically my life, but my life in a novel way, not in a very direct memoir way. And I continue to write. I am married to a wonderful woman who actually led me down this path. I was sitting on my farm doing quite well. My wife at that time had passed away from pancreatic cancer. That’s a death sentence. Yeah, I’ve heard that. [42:52] I didn’t have a will, and everything was in her name because I wanted to protect the family. Yeah. So when she dies, everything’s gone. I’m not knowing which way to turn here. I was 50, 70 years old. I thought I was going to be relaxing and fishing every day, and it didn’t work out that way. I was going downhill like a sled in a snowstorm, boy. I was going to hit eventually. I don’t know what bottom would have been, but I knew there wouldn’t be good. And I ran into a wonderful woman who led me down the road of, we’ve got to write, we’ve got to do this. And she is my manager, and we eventually got married. And sometimes things are tough, but they’re a whole lot better than getting that bottom. Yeah, really. Better than you’re out of jail. You’re not in jail. Not there anymore. What a long, strange trip it’s been for Carlos J.C. Perez. [43:57] I want to know how strange it gets to the point where the DEA comes to me to get information. And I’m like, you guys got to be kidding me. I always knew that when you’re in law enforcement, you depend on information. You go wherever you think the source is, that’s for sure. You think you can get something out of them. Exactly. They ended up being great, by the way. Great guys. Super nice guys. Okay? And if I said any different, I’d be lying. [44:28] But it doesn’t sound like you ever particularly worked for them. You didn’t go back in undercover for them either. No, no, I didn’t do that. Luckily, when I was doing the stuff that I was doing, it wasn’t out. It wasn’t a guns and roses type deal. I don’t ever remember collecting any money or doing anything where I had to have a gun on it. I’ll give you a little tidbit of something that just happened recently. I had to go into a government and reinstate my license or something like that. The lady’s going through it. She comes up with a ticket that I got in 19—now, I’m talking in the year 2000 and probably 14. She comes up with a ticket that I got in 82. It was a ticket. Yeah. The ticket was for $52. Two different tickets, 26 each. Okay. Yeah. You know what that ticket was for? I had come in from the Bahamas in the hull of the boat. I had 800 pounds. The Marine Patrol pulls me over and says, let me see what you got. They go through the whole thing. He finds two lobsters that I had in the live $26 per lobster. I got the ticket. The guy never checked the boat, never did anything. And I got in with 800 pounds, which at that time was like a quarter million bucks. [45:50] Oh my God. Life is funny, man. Life is funny. Life is funny. That’s for sure. All right. Carlos Perez. Now the name of the book and guys, I will, I will have a link in the show notes to it. Remind me of the name of the book, Carlos. Pedro Pan. Pedro Pan, as in Peter Pan. And Ron is bred in Spanish. So there’s something to think about the little magical character, Peter Pan. Not a thing. Not a thing. And it’s a product of a revolution gone bad, which basically is me. I’m an unfortunate product of that. Revolution. You’re back around now. You’re contributing to society. That’s the only thing that’s important in the end. Hey, I have a quick question. Did you ever hear of a book called The Corporation written by a guy named T.J. English? Oh, hell yeah. Read it from cover to cover. As a matter of fact, I know the guy. [46:46] What’s his name? Batista? Was it Jorge Batista? No, Battle. Battle, yeah. As a matter of fact, I know the guys that own the manuscript. Okay tj what’s his name what’s his last name tj english english the only thing he did was write the book off of the notes that they had gotten from a guy that i know his name is tony gonzalez tony gonzalez has another partner by the last name of freitas and what they did was they investigated battle over the years and years and and then somehow ran into english because he had written a couple of books on Cuba. And then T.J. English ended up writing that. And by the way, Battle took the New York mafia and put it on its knees. Yeah, I did a story on the book. And that’s true. He had to get permission. Actually, he had to get permission from back in the 60s from Fat Tony Salerno, and they couldn’t get an approval until Traficante stepped in and said, work with him. And what the hell were they doing then? They were killing each other. They were blowing up their little bolita houses and all that. Oh, that was crazy. But you know what? He was never any kind of a Cuban mafia boss. [48:05] He liked to fight chickens and play the numbers. The Cubans don’t really have a mafia per se. They’re too splintered. And in the mafia, you’ve got to go ask permission to do this and that. These crazy guys, they don’t ask anybody permission for anything. [48:19] Interesting that’s a that’s an interesting world that’s a whole different world that cuban, You’ve got the revolution on one side, the Castro revolution, and then you’ve got the anti-revolution against Castro that’s been going on all these years. And in the middle of it, you’ve got some of these people that were kicked out of Cuba that can’t get jobs and they only want you to work as a waiter or something. And so you go into business and the best business going with your connections is the drug business. And so it’s just a really interesting millage, if you will, or mix of people and situations down in the southwest part or southeast part of the United States. Oh, yeah, you’re right. It is a millage of like, how does this work? [49:04] There’s no sense to it sometimes. No, that’s for sure. I guess I’m glad they weren’t blowing boats out of the water. They might have got you back then. I can’t tell you what. They wouldn’t have dared because I would have said, I said, why don’t you do that? Oh, you get somebody else to do it. Yeah, probably what would have saved my ass anyway is that I have never, ever been money hungry. My family in Cuba, my great-grandfather was a sugar baron. And I’ve heard all the stories about all the money, but I’ve yet to see a penny. [49:36] I don’t work that way. I grew up with a bunch of humble people. And it wasn’t, damn sure, it wasn’t about money. And when I’m young, I’m not thinking like that. But now at my age, I go, wow, man, if I knew then, what do I know now? Yeah, really. All right, Carlos. Thanks a lot for coming on the show. I really appreciate it. No, no problem, Gary. Thanks for having me on. Okay.

¿Realmente cayó el líder del CJNG? En esta emisión de Me lo dijo Adela, Kimberly Armengol conduce un análisis profundo sobre la muerte de Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho". El periodista Antonio Nieto revela en exclusiva los detalles del peritaje y las imágenes que confirman el fallecimiento del capo más buscado de México, tras años de especulaciones y supuestas "muertes" falsas. Nieto comparte su testimonio después de acceder a documentos de seguridad nacional y fotografías del cadáver, mientras exploramos la morfología, los rasgos físicos y el operativo en Tapalpa que marcó el fin de una era para el Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación. Además, David Saucedo analiza el reciente ataque con coche bomba en Tecámac, vinculado a la guerra interna entre facciones del Cártel de Sinaloa y "Los Chapitos", planteando la pregunta: ¿estamos frente a una nueva ola de narcoterrorismo en la antesala del Mundial 2026? Cerramos con la exoneración de Rodrigo Gutiérrez Müller por la UIF y un análisis sobre el impacto de las criptomonedas en el lavado de dinero con Salvador Mejía, en una mesa que desenreda la compleja realidad política y de seguridad del país. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

El Diablo is back for Part 2 of this intense interview about cartel violence, the reported death of El Mencho, and the shifting power structure inside CJNG and the Sinaloa cartel. In this episode, El Diablo shares his version of what happened after Mencho was captured, explains why the violence exploded across Mexico, and gives his take on who could take over CJNG next. He also breaks down the ongoing war in Sinaloa, why he believes it won't end anytime soon, and how cartel alliances are changing behind the scenes. The conversation also goes deep into the business side of trafficking: cocaine routes, marijuana smuggling, cartel logistics, foreign associates, money laundering, crypto, and why synthetic drugs are reshaping the entire underworld. El Diablo reflects on three decades in the game, the costs of that life, and why he believes it's time to get out. This is Part 2 of one of the wildest cartel interviews on the channel. Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 00:00 Aftermath of Mencho's Death 03:39 How Mencho Was Really Killed 06:31 Cartel Violence and Power Struggles 09:40 Succession, Alliances & Ongoing War 13:41 Life as a Drug Trafficker in the US 16:45 From Weed to Cocaine: Shifts in Smuggling 20:49 Drug Logistics: Air, Land & Water Routes 25:00 Family Legacy and Prison Stories 27:34 Retirement Plans and Loyalty in the Game 31:20 Behind the Scenes: Money, Partnerships, and Risks 36:41 Narco Culture, Corridos, and Fame 41:21 Money Laundering and Cryptocurrency in the Cartels 46:34 Changing Drug Trends & Generation Shift 48:03 Dangers, Addictions, and the Modern Cartel World 49:45 Scale of the Cocaine Trade 50:31 Reflections, Retirement, and Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it mean to be Black, gay, and free — all over the world? This week, Jon and Joho sit down with Nick, creator of Black, Gay, and Abroad, to talk Black gay travel, safety, and storytelling. From MTV and BuzzFeed to building his own agency and passport-stamping his way across Spain, France, Mexico, Costa Rica, and beyond — Nick is redefining what it looks like to move through the world as a Black gay man. We get into his iconic Yasss to Naur solo travel safety list, the art of long-form travel blogging in a short-form world, and why he went live from Puerto Vallarta during the El Mencho operation to counter the media narrative with truth on the ground. Travel tips, queer joy, and citizen journalism — this episode has all of it. We want to hear from you! Send us an email with your thoughts/comments about the show: BlackFatFemmePod@gmail.com. Also, don’t forget to watch and subscribe on YouTube! Buy DoctorJonPaul's book here! Follow the show on social: Instagram | BlueSky | Threads | Tik-Tok | Facebook Follow DoctorJonPaul: BlueSky | Instagram | Website | Tik-Tok Follow Jordan: Instagram | Website | Tik-Tok Follow Nick: Threads | Instagram | TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick Bet-David sits down with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to discuss her claim that “they spied on me,” the discovery of a secret DHS file room, the fallout surrounding El Mencho and cartel operations, and efforts to identify and remove alleged deep state actors inside the Department of Homeland Security.

Ed Calderon returns to break down the killing of El Mencho, the chaos that followed across Mexico, and why this may have been far more than a cartel raid. This video is #sponsored by Current. Get Current! Sign up at https://current.com/johnnymitchell?utm_source=inf&utm_campaign=johnnymitchell&utm_adgroup=Johnny_Mitchell_3_2026 and use MY promo code JOHNNYMITCHELL to get $50! and unlock tools like a paycheck advance, credit building, and more. Terms and conditions apply. See https://current.com/legal_disclaimers for details. We get into the rumors that Mencho surrendered, the theory that he was executed instead of arrested, and why Ed believes the highest levels of the Mexican deep state may have wanted him dead. We also talk about CJNG's response, the cartel's growing resemblance to an insurgency, military corruption, the World Cup security angle, and what Mencho's death really changes for drug trafficking in Mexico. If you thought this was a clean win for the government, think again. Topics include: -Was El Mencho killed in a firefight or executed after surrendering? -Why the Mexican military may have acted on its own -The cartel roadblocks, fires, and nationwide retaliation -Corruption inside the military and federal forces -Why CJNG may be evolving into a political insurgency -Whether Mencho's death changes anything at all -The possibility of future U.S. involvement in Mexico Go Support Ed! Join the Telegram: https://rotten.mx YouTube: @manifestoradionetwork3191 IG: https://www.instagram.com/manifestoradiopodcast/ This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: Current! Current is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. FDIC insurance up to $250,000 only covers the failure of an FDIC-insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC, and/or Cross River Bank, Member FDIC. Betterhelp! Your emotional wellbeing matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/connect. PrizePicks! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CONNECT and use code CONNECT to get $50 in daily fantasy lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 00:00 Rumors & Theories About Mencho's Death 02:25 Ed Calderon Joins the Conversation 05:04 Cartel Power Shifts & New Players 07:00 CJNG Response & Insurgency Tactics 10:00 The Raid: What Really Happened? 14:14 How Was Mencho Located and Taken Down? 18:46 Aftermath & The Government's Role 20:51 This Episode Is Sponsored By Current 22:06 Military Power & Deep State in Mexico 31:00 Conspiracy vs. Reality: Did Mencho Surrender? 35:00 Cartel-Government Deals & Fallout 39:45 This Episode Is Sponsored By Betterhelp and PrizePicks 42:35 Public Reactions & National Sentiment 47:00 Violence, Missing People, and Statistics 50:20 Shifts in Alliances & Drug Routes 01:04:08 US-Mexico Relations & Future Scenarios 01:13:01 Advice for Troubled Times & Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patrick Bet-David sits down with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to discuss her claim that “they spied on me,” the discovery of a secret DHS file room, the fallout surrounding El Mencho and cartel operations, and efforts to identify and remove alleged deep state actors inside the Department of Homeland Security.

In this episode, newly confirmed U.S. Drug Czar Sara Carter joins Lisa to discuss America’s escalating fight against fentanyl, cartel violence, and the global drug trade. Carter shares behind-the-scenes insight into her confirmation process and her current role leading the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President Trump. She details a coordinated “whole-of-government” strategy aimed at cutting off drug supply chains, dismantling cartel networks, and saving American lives. The conversation dives deep into the takedown of cartel leader El Mencho, revealing how U.S. and Mexican forces collaborated on one of the most significant operations against organized crime in recent years—and what it signals moving forward. Carter also breaks down: How fentanyl is entering the U.S. through borders, ports, and mail systems The role of China in supplying precursor chemicals Why cartel networks are becoming more sophisticated and dangerous The connection between drug trafficking, national security, and terrorism The reported drop in fentanyl flow and overdose deaths How the administration is targeting both supply AND demand She also delivers a passionate message about unity, urging Americans to come together across political lines to combat addiction and protect future generations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick Bet-David sits down with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to discuss her claim that “they spied on me,” the discovery of a secret DHS file room, the fallout surrounding El Mencho and cartel operations, and efforts to identify and remove alleged deep state actors inside the Department of Homeland Security.

Patrick Bet-David sits down with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to discuss her claim that “they spied on me,” the discovery of a secret DHS file room, the fallout surrounding El Mencho and cartel operations, and efforts to identify and remove alleged deep state actors inside the Department of Homeland Security.

Patrick Bet-David sits down with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to discuss her claim that “they spied on me,” the discovery of a secret DHS file room, the fallout surrounding El Mencho and cartel operations, and efforts to identify and remove alleged deep state actors inside the Department of Homeland Security.

On today's episode we are joined for our yearly Mexican drug cartel updated wit hJeff Nadu. We get into the recent news of Cartel leaders "El Mencho" being killed and the CJNG Cartel retaliating throughout the streets of Mexico.You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/thedogwalk

INTRO (00:24): Kathleen opens the show drinking a Flash Cat Imperial IPA from Creature Comforts Brewing Company in Athens, GA. She reviews her weekend in Huntsville, AL and Atlanta, eating breakfast at an iconic Waffle House and hanging out with Weather Channel pals backstage.    TOUR NEWS: See Kathleen live on her “Day Drinking Tour.”   TASTING MENU (3:42): Kathleen samples Paul Thomas Chocolate, Chinook Seedery Jalapeno Ranch Sunflower Seeds, and Cheetos Baked Not Fried Crunchy Cheese Snacks.    COURT NEWS (22:00): Kathleen shares news about Martha Stewart's new ambassadorship with Kohler and Dolly pledges to be at the opening day of Dollywood's 2026 season.   HOLLYBOBBY (28:36): HollyBobby provides the latest news in Hollywood.    UPDATES (42:50) : Kathleen shares updates on the new Louve Director, Southwest Airlines bans seat switching, the first sporting event to be held at The Sphere is announced, Sarah Ferguson has been spotted in a wellness retreat,    FRONT PAGE PUB NEWS (17:58): Kathleen shares articles on Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, the cartel names El Mencho's replacement, a Waymo robotaxi blocks EMS responding to a mass shooting, inside the villa where El Mencho spent his final days, Metallica announces a Vegas Sphere residency, a tour guide is arrested for drawing on a 4,000 year old pyramid, a martini is found in an elementary student's lunchbox, the worst drivers by state are listed,Uber Air is launching in the Emirates, and the Fairmont in Dubai combats unfair tourist reviews after they are hit by missiles.   HOLY SHIT THEY FOUND IT (1:03:59): Kathleen reads about a confirmed jaguarundi sighting in Texas.    WHAT ARE WE WATCHING (1:25:04): Kathleen recommends watching “Love Story” on FX, and “Death By Lightening” on Netflix.    SAINT OF THE WEEK (1:29:09): Kathleen reads about Julian of Norwich.   FEEL GOOD STORY (1:22:21): Kathleen shares a story about Indiana and Michigan allowing people to pay parking tickets by donating cat and dog food to local shelters. 

This week's stories: Sinclair's This Is the Test: Are we about to see age reversal in humans? At the World Governments Summit 2026 in Dubai, Harvard geneticist David Sinclair told world leaders that ageing could soon be reversible and said the first human clinical trials of epigenetic reprogramming therapies are moving forward. The core idea is that ageing is partly an information problem, how cells read DNA, not just cumulative damage, and that partial reprogramming could restore youthful function without turning tissues into tumors. Dave frames this as a rare binary moment for longevity: either early, localized human trials (starting with tightly controlled tissue targets like the eye) show meaningful functional rejuvenation with acceptable safety, or the field has to recalibrate fast. Either way, the next couple of years will heavily influence where money, regulators, and serious researchers place their bets. • Sources: – World Governments Summit: https://www.worldgovernmentssummit.org/media-hub/news/detail/ageing-could-soon-be-reversible-says-harvard-scientist-at-wgs-2026 – NAD / Life Biosciences coverage: https://www.nad.com/news/fda-greenlights-life-biosciences-human-study-setting-up-pivotal-test-for-aging-theory-from-harvards-david-sinclair AlphaFold 4 in a locked box: DeepMind's private AI drug design engine Isomorphic Labs, DeepMind's drug discovery company, unveiled a proprietary drug design engine that outside scientists are comparing to an AlphaFold 4 moment, but for designing drugs, not just predicting structures. The big shift is that this system is closed: no public weights, no open database, and access appears to flow through partnerships with pharma companies. Dave breaks down why that matters for the longevity world: if AI makes early discovery cheaper and faster, we might see more serious shots on ageing targets over the next decade, but a closed model can also mean less transparency, bigger IP moats, and no guarantee that faster discovery leads to cheaper drugs. • Sources: – Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00365-7 – Isomorphic Labs: https://www.isomorphiclabs.com/articles/the-isomorphic-labs-drug-design-engine-unlocks-a-new-frontier Peptides in the freezer: El Mencho's anti aging stash and the dark side of wellness After reports and images from the final hideout linked to Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (El Mencho), coverage highlighted a detail that feels uncomfortably familiar to anyone in the modern wellness internet: injectable vials stored in a freezer with a schedule attached, including Tationil Plus, a glutathione based injectable marketed in some places for “cellular health,” cosmetic effects, and anti ageing. Dave uses the absurdity as a narrative wedge, not cartel gossip, to talk about how normalized gray market injectables have become, and how marketing (“detox,” “cellular reset”) often outruns evidence and safety. The segment pivots into a practical filter: which compounds are real therapeutics under medical supervision, and which are expensive folklore with sourcing risk and unknown long term downsides. • Sources: – New York Post: https://nypost.com/2026/02/25/world-news/inside-the-luxurious-love-nest-where-mexican-drug-lord-el-mencho-spent-his-final-days/ – Sky News (Reuters photos referenced): https://news.sky.com/story/inside-the-mexican-villa-where-feared-drug-lord-el-mencho-spent-final-hours-13511954 – Reuters photo gallery: https://www.reuters.com/pictures/el-menchos-last-hideout-inside-villa-where-cartel-leader-spent-final-hours-2026-02-25/W7DK5WEXS5IMLLZQO2P3CXGXFM The disease we thought was dead: measles comes roaring back Measles cases have surged in early 2026, with reporting citing at least 588 cases in the U.S. by late January, already more than many full year totals, and additional updates showing continued acceleration into February. Dave reframes this as a healthspan floor issue: you can argue about peptides and mitochondria all day, but measles is so contagious that once community immunity drops, outbreaks move fast and hit the most vulnerable first, especially infants and immunocompromised people. He also flags the systems problem: many clinicians have never seen measles, which increases the odds of delayed recognition and wider exposure in waiting rooms. The actionable move is boring and high ROI: verify MMR status for you and your family and close gaps before outbreaks get closer to home. • Sources: – AMA Morning Rounds (Week of Feb. 2, 2026): https://www.ama-assn.org/about/publications-newsletters/top-news-stories-ama-morning-rounds-week-feb-2-2026 – ABC News (CDC case count coverage): https://abcnews.com/Health/588-us-measles-cases-reported-january-cdc/story?id=129699078 – CIDRAP (case tracking context): https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/us-measles-cases-soar-588-so-far-year-south-carolina-confirms-58-new-infections DC vs your health: Trump's State of the Union health reset President Donald Trump's 2026 State of the Union included a cluster of healthcare themes that function as a directional signal for agencies and payers this year, including drug pricing rhetoric, price transparency, and broader coverage and affordability framing. Dave translates the politics into a practical heuristic for biohackers: federal posture quietly determines what becomes easy versus painful to access in the legitimate system, from GLP 1 coverage rules and prior auth behavior to how friendly the environment is for telehealth, at home diagnostics, and eventually whatever “real longevity medicine” looks like. You do not need every policy detail in a weekly rundown, just the weather report: reimbursement and enforcement trends shape what stays niche, what scales, and what gets friction. • Sources: – Advisory Board: https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2026/02/25/health-policy-roundup – Healthcare Dive: https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/trump-state-of-the-union-healthcare-2026/812962/ – This Week in Public Health analysis: https://thisweekinpublichealth.com/blog/2026/02/25/the-2026-state-of-the-union-what-it-means-for-health-and-public-health/ All source links are provided for direct access to the original reporting and research. This episode is designed for biohackers, longevity seekers, and high-performance listeners who want mechanism-level clarity on circadian biology, neurodegeneration signals, cognitive training, caffeine strategy, and supplement regulation. Host Dave Asprey connects emerging science, behavioral data, and policy shifts into practical frameworks you can use to build a resilient, adaptable health stack. New episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Keywords: David Sinclair age reversal, epigenetic reprogramming therapy, Yamanaka factors OSK, Life Biosciences clinical trial, human rejuvenation trial 2026, biological age reset, longevity breakthrough news, DeepMind Isomorphic Labs, AlphaFold 4 drug design, AI drug discovery engine, geroprotective drug development, peptide gray market risks, injectable glutathathione Tationil Plus, GLP-1 regulation FDA warning, wellness industry regulation, measles outbreak 2026 US, MMR vaccine status adults, vaccine trust public health, health policy 2026 State of the Union, GLP-1 access and reimbursement, telehealth longevity care, biohacking news, anti-aging research update Thank you to our sponsors! Resources: • Get My 2026 Clean Nicotine Roadmap | Enroll for free at https://daveasprey.com/2026-clean-nicotine-roadmap/ • Get My 2026 Biohacking Trends Report: https://daveasprey.com/2026-biohacking-trends-report/ • Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today. • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15 • My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off) • Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off) • Dave Asprey's BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey's New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Join My Substack (Live Access To Podcast Recordings): https://substack.daveasprey.com/ • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:30 - Story #1: David Sinclair 2026 2:13 - Story #2: Google Drug Discovery 3:48 - Story #3: El Mencho Biohacking5:30 - Story #4: Measles Outbreak 6:51 - Story #5: Trump State of the Union 8:00 - Weekly Roundup 9:10 - Closing See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Mexican forces captured and killed the country's most-wanted cartel boss, it revealed how much President Trump's growing pressure is forcing Mexico to take on cartels. Maria Abi-Habib and Jack Nicas, who covered the developments, discuss the operation to take down the leader known as El Mencho, and Mexico's efforts against some of the world's most powerful criminals. Guest: Maria Abi-Habib, an investigative correspondent for The New York Times based in Mexico City. Jack Nicas, the Mexico City bureau chief for The New York Times. Background reading:  Mayhem rocked Mexico after the killing of El Mencho. Analysis: Mexico is caught between Mr. Trump and the cartels. Analysis: In nearly 60 years of the war on drugs, what has actually worked? Photo: Luis Cortes/Reuters For more information on today's episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amid the chaos now unfolding in Mexico after the February 2026 assassination of drug cartel boss El Mencho, we're throwing it back to the 1985 torture and murder of American DEA agent Enrique ‘Kiki' Camarena at the hands of the ruthless Guadalajara Cartel… and how Kiki's death triggered the chain reaction that led to the drug wars raging in Mexico today.With whispers of a Cold War CIA conspiracy that still refuse to die, was Kiki on the brink of uncovering an inconvenient truth about the USA's War on Drugs? And if so, was he silenced by the very country he dedicated his life to protect?We're diving into a gritty underworld of cartels, conspiracy and deep-state corruption to find the answers. --Patreon - Ad-free & Bonus EpisodesYouTube - Full-length Video EpisodesTikTok / InstagramSources and more available on redhandedpodcast.com

This week, Scott was joined by Lawfare Managing Editor Tyler McBrien, Lawfare Senior Editor Molly Roberts, and University of Virginia Professor of Law Paul Stephan to talk through the week's big news in national security, including:“Textual Healing.” On Friday, a 6-3 Supreme Court majority brought an end to at least the current iteration of President Trump's controversial tariff policies, ruling that language in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (or IEEPA) authorizing the “regulation of…importation” doesn't include the authority to impose tariffs. That said, President Trump himself has already indicated that he intends to reinstate many of the tariffs he had installed using IEEPA under other statutory authorities. How big a setback is this for the Trump administration's trade policies? And what might it mean for other aspects of its policy agenda?“Mayhem in Mexico.” Over the weekend, an elite unit of the Mexican army killed one of the country's most powerful drug kingpins, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho.” His syndicate, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, immediately retaliated, through attacks on Mexican security forces, roadblocks throughout the country, and other measures intended to terrorize the public, particularly in areas frequented by American and Western tourists. The decision to move against El Mencho followed an intense pressure campaign by the Trump administration, which has pushed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to take a hard stand against the cartels. Should this be seen as a win for the Trump administration? Or Sheinbaum? And what could the long-term implications be for the U.S.-Mexico relationship?“Clap if You Believe.” On Tuesday, President Trump delivered his annual State of the Union address, the longest of its kind. Many had braced for a contentious speech, expecting Trump to ridicule the justices seated in front of him and potentially even announce strikes on Iran. But Trump appeared to pull his punches on both of those fronts—he instead saved his harshest words for congressional Democrats and focused on laying out a rose-colored picture of the state of the country. How effective was Trump's speech? And what does it tell us about the current state of his second presidency?In object lessons, Tyler just has this strange sense that you will enjoy the Otherworld podcast. Molly (and her dog) find comfort in the soft, squishy claws of Cthulhu. Scott eased his travel woes with a twist on the Vieux Carre at Birch & Bloom in Charlottesville. And Paul mixed his object lesson with three parts: Peter Suderman's Cocktails if you're into all things shaken and stirred; Mark Galeotti's podcast, In Moscow's Shadow, if you're into all things Russia-related; and Dan Wang's New York Times Best Seller book, “Breakneck,” if you're into all things China-related. To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump delivers a sweeping and lengthy State of the Union address, laying out his agenda on the economy, immigration, and the direction of his second administration. New details emerge on the U.S.-assisted operation that killed cartel boss “El Mencho,” as deadly retaliation and widespread violence erupt across multiple regions of Mexico. An Idaho woman is arrested after police say she stole an ambulance, filled it with gasoline, and rammed it into a building tied to federal immigration authorities in an alleged arson attempt. President Trump orders the release of government files on unidentified aerial phenomena, or UFOs, raising new questions about what the U.S. may know about possible non-human intelligence.   Birch Gold: Text MK to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold   Firecracker Farm: Visit https://firecracker.FARM & enter code MK at checkout for a special discount! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tommy and Ben discuss seemingly imminent American military strikes on Iran despite the absence of clear goals or military plan, the lack of concern for both the Iranian public and US troops who are caught in the middle of President Trump's chaotic warmongering, and Tucker Carlson's striking interview with Mike Huckabee where Carlson pins him down on Israeli border expansion and justification for war with Iran. They also talk about the Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs and what it means for Trump's foreign policy, why companies like Anthropic may be the only hope to control the military's use of AI, a mass exodus of ISIS supporters from a detention camp in Syria, and FBI Director Kash Patel inserting himself into the US Men's hockey team's celebration at the Olympics. Then Tommy speaks to Ricardo Zúniga, founder of Dinámica Americas, about the significance of Mexican forces killing drug lord “El Mencho” and the resulting violence in the country. Preorder Ben's book All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches and subscribe to his Substack here.

00:00 Church Announcements10:37 Racials Slurs at the BAFTAs48:37 Washing Underwear in the Hotel Coffee Maker01:05:24 EL MENCHO

Republican strategists say President Trump needs a reset in his State of the Union tonight, with new NPR polling showing 60% of Americans think the country is worse off than a year ago.Mexico is still reeling from cartel violence after a military operation killed the country's biggest drug lord, El Mencho, and triggered a wave of retaliation, raising questions about whether the government can take on the cartels without fueling even more violence.And an NPR investigation finds the Justice Department removed or withheld dozens of pages from the Epstein files database that include allegations mentioning President Trump, even as the administration says it has released everything.Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, Rebecca Rosman, Megan Pratz, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.Our director is Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.(0:00) Introduction(02:16) Trump State of the Union Strategy(05:57) Mexico Cartel Violence (09:43) Epstein Files Naming TrumpLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Charlie looked up to Dennis Prager as one of his great mentors. Neither of them ever expected that Dennis would be the one eulogizing Charlie. But we follow not man's ways, but God's ways. Dennis rejoins the show for the first time since his accident to remember his friend and talk about his new book "If There Is No God: The Battle Over Who Defines Good and Evil." Plus, Oscar Ramirez breaks down the mayhem in Mexico after the death of cartel leader "El Mencho." Check out Prager's new book at https://www.amazon.com/If-There-No-God-Defines/dp/0063351307. Watch every episode ad-free on members.charliekirk.com! Get new merch at charliekirkstore.com!Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's live, Andy & DJ discuss Trump praising the US Men's Hockey team defeating Canada, Mexico grappling with unrest and security risks after El Mencho was killed, and Newsome being ripped over the racist remarks in a recent viral clip.

With help from the U.S., Mexican special forces killed longtime Jalisco Cartel leader “El Mencho,” sparking violence across 20 Mexican states, President Trump will deliver the annual State of the Union address tonight, and another high-profile name is arrested in the U.K. over their connection to Jeffrey Epstein. - - - Ep. 2648 - - - Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 - - - Today's Sponsors: Lean - Get 20% off when you enter code WIRE at https://TakeLean.com Vanta - Get started at https://Vanta.com/MORNINGWIRE - - - Privacy Policy: https://www.dailywire.com/privacy morning wire,morning wire podcast,the morning wire podcast,Georgia Howe,John Bickley,daily wire podcast,podcast,news podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The chaos following the killing of CJNG leader “El Mencho” is not a distant foreign conflict. It's a drug war being waged against American communities. Mexican cartels are trafficking fentanyl across the southern border, exploiting global supply chains, and generating billions, while overdose deaths devastate families across the United States.This is organized criminal enterprise with deadly consequences at home. Until we confront both sides of this war dismantling cartel trafficking networks and addressing domestic demand the pipeline remains open.And Americans keep dying.That's The Real Story.Thank you to our sponsor: Preserve Gold - text "ASK PHIL" to 50505 and go to https://DrPhilGold.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey BillOReilly.com Premium and Concierge Members, welcome to the No Spin News for Monday, February 23, 2026. Stand Up for Your Country.  Talking Points Memo: Olympic hockey victory boosts morale in our divided country, Kash Patel faces a bit of backlash over beer with the players post-game. Stephen A. Smith provides insight on Disney's political influence and the men's vs. women's Olympic hockey team's reactions to Trump's invitation to the State of the Union address. The latest on the Supreme Court's decision against Trump's tariffs. Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy, Sina Toossi enters the No Spin Zone to analyze the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Cartels light Puerta Vallarta ablaze after the murder of “El Mencho”, their leader. Final Thought: Bill is filling in for Chris Cuomo on News Nation at 8pm on March 4th, and he's bringing back the O'Reilly Factor! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.On today’s edition of The Briefing, Dr. Mohler discusses the 4-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Christian realism and Ukraine,Part I (00:14 – 10:38)The Dark Anniversary of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Today Marks the 4th Anniversary of That Dark Day – We Need to Look at the Civilizational Reality, the killing of El Mencho, and comments from a Minnesotan legislator with so-called transgender identity who argued that pornography is crucial for youth to develop LGBTQ identity.Part II (10:38 – 14:34)In a Fallen World, the Good Guys Don't Always Win: The Christian Realism of the Situation in UkrainePart III (14:34 – 19:15)The Killing of El Mencho: Mexico's Law Enforcement Kill One of the Cartel's Most Deadly LeadersPart IV (19:15 – 25:10)Reader, Beware: Minnesota Legislator with a So-Called Transgender Identity Says Pornography is Crucial For Youth Developing LGBTQ IdentityTrans Minnesota Dem bizarrely argues ‘queer' kids need access to porn sites for ‘educational' reasons by New York Post (Anna Young)‘A Partner in Crime' and, Now, in Love by The New York Times (Sadiba Hasan)Sign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

1. Major Mexican Cartel Leader Killed CHECK OUT the STORY Mexican forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (“El Mencho”), leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. His death triggered violent retaliation across multiple Mexican states, including burning vehicles, airport panic, suspended public transportation, and regional shutdowns. The U.S. issued shelter‑in‑place warnings for American travelers in affected areas. Violence may increasingly target American tourists, especially during spring break. Commentary emphasizes Mexico’s struggle with cartel control and the U.S. pushing Mexico to take stronger action. 2. U.S.–Mexico Relations and Trump Administration Pressure CHECK OUT the STORY Mexico’s action was a response to pressure from President Trump, who warned of U.S. strikes on cartel targets. Broader theme: Trump administration aims to deter cartels, reduce drug trafficking, human smuggling, and violent crime. Noted drops in national murder rates (~20%) and drug overdose deaths (~20%), attributed to tougher border and anti‑cartel policies. Commentary mocks media for ignoring or downplaying these improvements. 3. Advice for Americans in Mexico For those currently in Mexico, the guidance is: Check State Department travel advisories. Follow regional safety updates closely. Contact U.S. government resources if in danger. Hosts recommend being extremely cautious about spring break travel during escalating cartel unrest. 4. Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Tariff Approach Supreme Court decision ruled that one specific statute (IEEPA) does not authorize the tariff method Trump used. Majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts; the prediction on the podcast had expected the opposite outcome. However, the ruling does not prevent Trump from imposing tariffs — it simply means he must rely on other statutes. The conversation outlines multiple other laws Trump can still use: Trade Act of 1974 (Sections 122, 301) Smoot-Hawley (Section 338) Trade Expansion Act (Section 232) Trade Act Safeguards (Section 201) Expectation: tariffs will continue, though implemented via different legal pathways. 4. Political Reaction to the Tariff Ruling China and U.S. Democrats were reportedly celebrating the ruling. Democrats oppose tariffs mainly to politically hurt Trump, not on principle. Expect ongoing litigation from companies seeking refunds from past tariffs—potentially costing billions. 6. Upcoming State of the Union Suggestion that Trump should focus the State of the Union on: Lower crime rates Lower drug overdose deaths “America First” accomplishments Acknowledged cartel takedowns but also keeping the focus on domestic well-being. 7. Olympic Highlights — USA Beats Canada in Men’s Hockey "We got GREAT Dentists" WATCH Hughes video HERE Big national pride moment: USA wins gold in men’s hockey against Canada in overtime. Follows U.S. women also beating Canada in the finals. Jack Hughes (NHL player, Team USA) celebrated passionately about playing for the country. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What the heck is going on in Mexico? Glenn goes through the latest in the failed narco-state down south, as this weekend saw widespread violence after the death of known drug lord El Mencho. Glenn explains why Mexico is yet another example of a death cult within society. Breitbart Cartel Chronicles co-founder and director Brandon Darby joins to discuss whether U.S. forces helped kill El Mencho, which ignited a violent cartel war across Mexico. The United States won the gold medal in ice hockey for the first time in 40 years, and Glenn is proud of it, despite media outlets telling Americans they shouldn't be. Glenn reacts to some of the highlights of yesterday's big win. Former Pentagon UAP official Lue Elizondo joins to discuss Obama's recent claim regarding alien life on Earth. Are there classified documents that prove extraterrestrials have visited Earth? Glenn and Lue also theorize how the existence of alien life could be different from what we have previously thought. Glenn discusses the latest mentally ill person who tried to enter Mar-a-Lago with a firearm, which led to the Secret Service taking fatal action.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breitbart Cartel Chronicles co-founder and director Brandon Darby joins to discuss whether U.S. forces helped kill El Mencho, which ignited a violent cartel war across Mexico. The United States won the gold medal in ice hockey for the first time in 40 years, and Glenn is proud of it, despite media outlets telling Americans they shouldn't be. Glenn reacts to some of the highlights of yesterday's big win. Former Pentagon UAP official Lue Elizondo joins to discuss Obama's recent claim regarding alien life on Earth. Are there classified documents that prove extraterrestrials have visited Earth? Glenn and Lue also theorize how the existence of alien life could be different from what we've previously thought. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices