Ben Norton is our guest this week, talking to us about the context and implications of the recent presidential election in Mexico. Now that our neighbor country has a leftist woman in office, progressives in the States are left wondering what will be possible for President Sheinbaum to accomplish, what kind of cooperation or undermining she can expect from Biden’s admin, and more. Dig into these questions with us and Ben, and watch below:

Claudia Sheinbaum will be taking office after running on a platform involving the alleviation of poverty and the expansion of social support systems. It’s thrilling to think about what she and her administration are prepared to do for the working people of Mexico, and this election provides an important example for progressives in the United States looking to follow suit. One major question that comes up in our conversation with Ben is how much political change Sheinbaum will be able to effect in the presidency — given the more conservative tendencies of the United States under Biden. As the U.S. is a global hegemonic force capable of preventing the solution of social and economic problems it’s produced for neighbor nations, we discuss with Ben if Sheinbaum will be able, as president, to tackle the issues that matter most to Mexicans.

Ben cites the example of drug-based violence, of which the Mexican government is aware and which it’s acknowledged must be addressed. He notes the way that the U.S. has placed responsibility on Mexico and on other neighboring countries for the supply of drugs — without interrogating its own role in creating demand. America is, after all, the world’s largest drug market. And the problem of drug-based violence, Ben notes, is rooted in poverty — so it’s exactly the kind of issue Sheinbaum’s economic development and poverty reduction programs hopes to address. All that would remain is for the U.S. to cease its own exploitative acts in this system.

Catch the rest of our exclusive interview with Ben on major streaming platforms! Tomorrow the episode will be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more.