Episode 79 - Mexico's Judicial Reform (Guests: Javier Martin Reyes and David Gantz)
Judy Ley Allen México Centered
Release Date: 10/23/2024
91: Stopping the Flow of US Arms to Mexico (Guests: Isabella D’Alacio, John Lindsay-Poland & Gerardo Álvarez)
Judy Ley Allen México Centered
In this episode of “México Centered,” experts , , and join Tony to shed light on the dangerous flow of firearms from the U.S. into Mexico. They explore how criminal networks traffic powerful weapons across the border, the cultural and political obstacles to reform, and the ongoing efforts to curb the illegal arms trade. Tune in for an in-depth, urgent conversation on one of the most pressing bilateral issues facing the U.S. and Mexico. Featured guests: Isabella D’Alacio, John Lindsay Poland, Gerardo Álvarez, This episode was recorded on...
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90: Claudia Sheinbaum’s Balancing Act
Judy Ley Allen México Centered
Tony Payan joined David Satterfield, director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and host of the “Baker Briefing” podcast, to discuss the challenges Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is facing — both domestically and in its relationship with the United States. This conversation was recorded on May 14, 2025. You can subscribe to “” wherever you get your podcasts. More about Tony Payan, Ph.D.: Follow Tony Payan on X () and . Learn more about our annual Mexico Country Outlook report and conference, happening Oct. 16, 2025, at Rice...
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89: Binational Dialogues: José Antonio Meade
Judy Ley Allen México Centered
On April 24, 2025, we hosted the inaugural webinar of our “Binational Dialogues” series, titled “Mexico’s Economy Today” and featuring . Meade offered an in-depth analysis of the current state of Mexico’s economy, followed by a thoughtful conversation with , director of the Center for the U.S. and Mexico. Meade is a Mexican politician, economist, lawyer, diplomat, and former presidential candidate. Between 2011 and 2017, he held several high-level Cabinet positions, including secretary of foreign affairs, secretary of social development, secretary of energy, and twice...
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88: Boosting Tech Entrepreneurship in Chihuahua (Guests: Kevin Koym and Ana Victoria Gutiérrez)
Judy Ley Allen México Centered
Tony Payan, director of the Center for the U.S. and Mexico, is joined by Kevin Koym, founder and CEO of Tech Ranch, and Ana Victoria Gutiérrez ecosystem intelligence leader at Startup Chihuahua. Together, they explore how strategic investment and community collaboration are driving the growth of tech entrepreneurship in Chihuahua. Featured guests: Ana Victoria Gutiérrez, Kevin Koym, This conversation was recorded on April 15, 2025. More about Tony Payan, Ph.D.: Follow Tony Payan on X () and . You can follow @BakerInstitute and @BakerInstMexico on...
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87: Trump’s Sprawling Deportation Campaign (Guests: David Donatti, Luz Garcini & Tony Payan)
Judy Ley Allen México Centered
Last month, Tony Payan joined the “” podcast along with Rice University professor and ACLU of Texas attorney to discuss the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. They explored the legal and social implications of the administration’s unconventional targeting of legal permanent and temporary residents, asylum seekers, and even foreign students, as well as the administration’s overt challenges to judicial authority and due process rights. This episode was recorded in front of a live studio audience on May 21, 2025. You can follow Follow...
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86: Trump’s Mass Deportation Policy and the US Labor Market (Guest: Chloe East)
Judy Ley Allen México Centered
President Donald Trump has promised to carry out a mass deportation effort that would remove millions of immigrants residing illegally in the United States. Will the massive scale of deportations improve the U.S. economy and deliver greater job prospects for U.S.-born workers, as Trump has claimed? In early March, “” host examined the issue with , an associate professor of economics at the University of Colorado Denver, for the “Conversations on Migration” series, a monthly virtual series hosted by the Baker Institute . East explained why mass deportations don’t...
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85: Mexico’s Artificial Intelligence Future Pt. 2 (Guests: Laura Ripani & Alejandro Dabdoub)
Judy Ley Allen México Centered
On “,” host continued his conversation on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in Mexico with , Mexico’s country representative at the Inter-American Development Bank, and friend of the podcast . They explored major questions about the future of work as AI advances: What implications does the advent of generative AI have for Mexico’s workforce and the global value chain? How can policymakers leverage AI for economic growth while confronting domestic inequality? And how can Latin America take advantages of disruptions like DeepSeek, the Chinese start-up that caused...
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84: How Will Trump’s Tariffs Impact American Industry and Consumers? (Guests: John Diamond, Steven Lewis & Ken Medlock)
Judy Ley Allen México Centered
In February, “México Centered” host Tony Payan joined three other Baker Institute experts to explore President Donald Trump’s plans to impose tariffs on Mexican, Canadian, and Chinese goods and what they mean for U.S. industries and consumers — as well as our relationships with our largest trading partners. The conversation was moderated by John Diamond, director of the Baker Institute Center for Tax and Budget Policy. This episode was originally recorded in front of a live studio audience on Feb. 6, 2025, for the “” podcast. Follow @BakerInstMexico on , , and . Subscribe...
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83: Mexico’s Artificial Intelligence Future Pt. 1 (Guests: Claudia del Pozo & Alejandro Dabdoub)
Judy Ley Allen México Centered
Mexico was once one of the biggest leaders in artificial intelligence (AI) globally, but progress has since stalled. Now, there’s renewed hope: President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office in October 2024, has created an Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications (ATDT), and the topic is also receiving attention from the Mexican Congress. However, many questions remain. Will Mexico assign the right resources for advancement in a highly competitive field? Does it have the right team in place? Can it find and manage the right partnerships among universities, the...
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82: Mexico's Budget Proposal for 2025 (Guest: Mariana Campos)
Judy Ley Allen México Centered
On Nov. 15, 2024, the Mexican government released its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2025, which runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. The government pledged to narrow its fiscal deficit from around 6% in 2024 to around 3% in 2025, and according to the budget proposal, there will be no additional taxes, and the economy will grow between 2% and 3% next year. Within the same proposal, the government dramatically increases social spending, but cuts the budget for government goods and services, such as education, health care, and infrastructure, among other things. Is that realistic? ...
info_outlineMexico’s sweeping overhaul of the country’s court system took effect last month, in the final weeks before President López Obrador handed the keys of the National Palace to his mentee and successor, President Claudia Sheinbaum. Mexico is now one of the few countries in the world that elects its judges, including at the Supreme Court level, by popular vote, rather than by appointment. This widely controversial move has led to protests by the federal judiciary, as well as criticism by the United States, Mexico’s top trading partner.
What exactly does the overhaul entail, and what’s next? Back on the podcast to discuss are Javier Martín Reyes, a researcher and professor at UNAM, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and David Gantz, the Baker Institute’s Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics.
For more information on the Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico visit our website, and follow us on X/Twitter and LinkedIn. To join our mailing list, please subscribe here and make sure to opt-in to "U.S.-Mexico Update."