The Journal. — Inside Mexico's Decision to Take Down a Drug Lord

Date: February 25, 2026
Hosts: Ryan Knudsen, Jessica Mendoza
Guest: Jose de Cordoba, WSJ Mexico City correspondent

Overview

This episode dives into the killing of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), and the resulting explosion of violence throughout Mexico. The discussion explores the context behind the Mexican government’s risky decision, the mounting pressure from the U.S. (especially under President Trump’s second term), the massive operation that led to El Mencho’s death, and the potential consequences for Mexico’s stability and the broader drug trade.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Who Was El Mencho? (04:07–05:58)

• El Mencho’s rise:
  • Former Mexican police officer, lived in the U.S. illegally before being deported.
  • Married into the cartel, worked his way up quickly.
  • Jose de Cordoba: “He was sort of a shadow government in [Jalisco]. I’m told that nothing moved without his knowing about it and giving the say so.” (05:04)
• CJNG dominance:
  • Rivaled and eventually overtook the Sinaloa Cartel after El Chapo’s arrest.
  • International reach: Active in about 2/3 of Mexican states and in 30 foreign countries.

U.S. Pressure: The Trump Factor (05:58–07:37)

• Relentless U.S. focus:
  • Trump’s second-term administration puts “unrelenting pressure” on Mexico to address cartel violence.
  • Declared cartels as terrorist organizations—opening the door for possible military intervention.
  • Donald Trump (clip): “The cartels are waging war in America. And it’s time for America to wage war on the cartels, which we are doing.” (06:21)
• Mexican sovereignty:
  • Direct U.S. military involvement is a deeply sensitive issue due to historical tensions.
  • Jose de Cordoba: “Sheinbaum is playing a very difficult game because she wants to stop at all costs a U.S. intrusion here.” (07:07)

The Operation & Aftermath (07:37–09:49)

• Tracking and raid:
  • Mexican intelligence tracked one of Mencho’s lovers to identify his location.
  • Raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco: “They hit this place really early in the morning. There was a firefight that went on for about five hours … Mencho and two others were wounded and taken on a plane where they died on the way to the hospital.” —Jose de Cordoba (08:53)
• Cartel’s violent retaliation:
  • CJNG carjacked vehicles, set 252 fires/roadblocks in 20 states, closed schools, and caused widespread panic.
  • Jose de Cordoba: “They basically disrupted the whole country, causing, you know, schools to close, people to stay indoors and sit it out.” (09:18)

The Kingpin Strategy & Its Dangers (10:00–11:29)

• “Hitting a bee’s nest”:
  • Removal of cartel bosses sparks bloody succession battles.
  • Describes Sinaloa precedent: Loss of main leaders set off a civil war with thousands killed or disappeared.
  • Jose de Cordoba: “You go after the top guy … that results in a lot of violence, because … the lieutenants … fight to get control to replace the guy.” (10:34)

Mexican Government Response & Symbolism (13:27–15:40)

• Press conference:
  • Defense minister emotionally recounts military casualties: “His voice broke. And that moment really captured the nation…” (13:30)
  • President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasizes Mexican leadership of the operation, but acknowledges U.S. intelligence support.
  • Jose de Cordoba: “She would not have wanted to have the U.S. come and take out El Mencho, and that’s why Mexican troops did it.” (14:29)
• Diplomatic balancing act:
  • Sheinbaum “trying to keep Trump at bay, keep Trump happy, while preventing a U.S. unilateral military action that would cause a big crisis between the two countries.” (15:40)

U.S. Reaction (16:02–16:38)

• President Trump’s State of the Union:
  • Praises operation and reaffirms tough stance.
  • Donald Trump: “We’ve also taken down one of the most sinister cartel kingpins. You saw that yesterday.” (16:31)

Impact on Mexico: Fear, Tourism, and Society (16:47–18:16)

• Chaos for civilians:
  • Ongoing violence, closed schools, suffering businesses.
  • World Cup presence in Guadalajara threatened by instability.
  • Jose de Cordoba: “There’s a trade off between maintaining the ‘Pax Narca’ [narco peace] and going after the bosses and breaking it, and then having all this violence break out.” (17:27)
  • “You cannot allow mobsters or drug bosses to run parts of your country.”
• Tourism industry hit:
  • Cancellations and fears could have lasting economic impacts.

Will the Drug Trade Change? (18:16–19:01)

• Likely little long-term effect:
  • Enduring U.S. demand for drugs seen as the root problem.
  • Jose de Cordoba: “This is like whack a mole, you know, and it’s an eternal game of whack a mole. It’s been going on for decades. … It makes for good scripts for Netflix movies, and that’s about it.” (18:23)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Jose de Cordoba on government fear:
  “People are afraid that with Mencho’s death that will set the stage for a lot of violence as his lieutenants fight to succeed him.” (01:19)
• On U.S. intervention history:
  “Mexico lost half of its territory in the 19th century to the United States in the Mexican-American war.” (07:07)
• On the “kingpin” strategy:
  “You go after the top guy … that results in a lot of violence.” (10:34)
• On futility of busting kingpins without addressing demand:
  “It’s an eternal game of whack a mole.” (18:23)
• On social cost:
  “Seeing the pictures of burning cars and plumes of black smoke pouring into the sky are not a good advertisement for tourism in Mexico.” (17:27)
• On diplomatic tightrope:
  “She’s trying to keep Trump at bay, keep Trump happy, while preventing a US Unilateral military action that would cause a big crisis…” (15:40)

Important Timestamps

• El Mencho’s background & empire: 04:07–05:58
• U.S. pressure and Trump administration stance: 05:58–07:37
• How Mexican intelligence tracked him down: 07:37–08:19
• The raid and his death: 08:19–09:13
• Cartel and public response: 09:13–09:49
• Dangers of the kingpin takedown strategy: 10:00–11:29
• Emotional press conference: 13:27–14:23
• Sheinbaum’s balancing act with Trump: 14:23–15:58
• Trump’s address and U.S. reaction: 16:02–16:38
• Tourism and economic fallout: 17:15–18:16
• Will anything really change?: 18:16–19:01

Takeaways

• The takedown of El Mencho was a Mexican-led but U.S.-supported action that has deeply rattled the nation.
• Mexico faces an immediate wave of violence and the longer-term threat of cartel infighting.
• Succession battles in the cartel world can be even deadlier than the status quo.
• The core dynamics of the drug trade are unlikely to change due to persistent U.S. demand.
• The operation has significant diplomatic repercussions as Mexico tries to satisfy U.S. pressure without ceding sovereignty.
• Ordinary Mexicans, especially those tied to tourism and public safety, face uncertainty in the aftermath.

This summary condenses the essential elements and atmosphere of The Journal’s episode on El Mencho’s takedown, capturing the complexity, stakes, and human stories at the heart of Mexico’s fight against organized crime.