Soy el dueño del palenque

mencho explained, airport chaos & surrealism

Author

Rocio L
March 25, 2026

¡Holii!

Whoa, where did the past 3 months go? When I sent the December newsletter, I didn’t plan to take a break, but then life just… happened. I shared before that I’ve considered stopping this project altogether, and I found myself there again recently. But I decided not to officially sunset CDMX IYKYK.

I started this project in June 2024 sending weekly newsletters. When that became too much, I scaled back to bi-weekly, then monthly(ish), and now I’m shifting to sending it when I have the energy and motivation. Instead of an all-or-nothing approach, I’m trying to land somewhere in the middle. Thank you for reading along and continuing to do so as I move toward a more aligned way of balancing this with everything else. Anyway, onto today’s edition…

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest stories in the last few weeks was the killing of El Mencho, leader of the CJNG. Beyond the operation itself, what followed was chaos, confusion, and a wave of reactions that felt both immediate and far-reaching. I’m breaking down what happened, what it triggered, and why it’s more complex than a simple “win.”

Plus, a little airport chaos — from the ongoing construction mess at AICM to the new Uber/DiDi pickup situation after taxi tensions. Other stories include Spain’s king finally acknowledging the “many abuses” of colonization and the environmental costs of mezcal’s boom. 

I don’t know when I’ll hit your inbox again, so I hope you enjoy today’s edition.

– Rocio
Founder, Life of Leisure 
Writer, Mexico News Daily

El Mencho’s killing — and the ripple effects that followed

On February 22, 2026, in the mountain town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexican federal forces launched a high-risk operation to capture Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and one of the most wanted men in the world.

The raid quickly escalated into a firefight. Military forces came under attack and returned fire, killing several cartel members. El Mencho was found wounded and airlifted out, but died en route to Mexico City. U.S. intelligence reportedly played a role in locating him.

What followed was immediate and widespread.

Within hours, cartel members launched coordinated retaliations across multiple states. Highways were blocked, vehicles and buses set on fire, and entire cities, including Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, were thrown into chaos. Residents described hearing gunshots and seeing plumes of smoke rise across urban areas. Flights were canceled, buses suspended, and some cities effectively shut down for the day.

At the same time, social media was flooded with dramatic images and videos, many of them AI-generated or taken out of context, amplifying the sense of chaos far beyond what was actually happening on the ground in most places. It became difficult to distinguish what was real from what was exaggerated, adding another layer of confusion to an already volatile moment.

Authorities reported dozens of deaths, including National Guard officers, while governments issued shelter-in-place orders and raised security alerts across several states.

Who was El Mencho — and why it matters

El Mencho wasn’t just another cartel leader. He was the leader of the CJNG, widely considered one of the most powerful and violent criminal organizations in Mexico today.

Under his leadership, the cartel expanded rapidly across the country and internationally, trafficking drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl into the U.S., while also diversifying into extortion, human trafficking, and other criminal activities.

Unlike some predecessors, he maintained a relatively low personal profile, but his organization became known for its scale, coordination, and extreme violence. In just over a decade, the CJNG grew into a dominant force in Mexico’s criminal landscape.

His death marks one of the most significant blows to organized crime in years. But if Mexico’s past is any indicator, removing a kingpin doesn’t necessarily dismantle a cartel. It often reshuffles it. Analysts are already warning of internal power struggles and potential spikes in violence as control is contested.

The cultural layer: corridos, myth, and everyday life

Shortly after the killing, I started hearing “El del Palenque” everywhere. Not in a dramatic way, just woven into daily life. Passing cars, street corners, even my tianguis tomato vendor was casually singing it a couple weeks later.

The song itself is about El Mencho. It’s a corrido that tells his story and portrays him as a powerful, almost legendary figure. For those unfamiliar, corridos, especially narcocorridos, often turn real-life cartel leaders into characters, blurring the line between reality and myth.

And this isn’t just cultural background, it’s current. Just last year, the group Los Alegres del Barranco faced legal action after performing the song while displaying images of El Mencho at a concert in Guadalajara, sparking debate over whether this kind of music glorifies violence or simply reflects reality.

There’s a tension there. These figures dominate headlines for the violence they generate, but they also live on in music, in storytelling, and in everyday moments that feel surprisingly normal.

So… what changes?

If anything, this moment highlights a familiar pattern.

A major figure is taken down. The state claims a win. And then comes the uncertainty, fragmentation, retaliation, or simply a reconfiguration of power.

At the same time, there are people who see this differently. For some, El Mencho’s death represents a meaningful step forward, a sign that even the most powerful figures can be reached, and that coordinated efforts between the Mexican government and international partners are beginning to land real blows against organized crime.

Both things can be true.

El Mencho is gone, but the structure he built isn’t. There’s cautious hope in what this represents, but also a clear reminder of how disruptive and far-reaching these moments can be. For many, the impact is felt less in headlines and more in the days that follow, the blocked roads, the canceled plans, the sudden sense that everything can shift overnight.

🚕 Uber & DiDi get a designated pickup zone at AICM. Following taxi protests, Mexico City’s airport rolled out a new pickup area for ride-hailing apps about an 8-minute walk from the terminals, part of a broader effort to ease tensions and improve transport options.

🌳 An ode to Chapultepec — and why it feels like home. I wrote a love letter (and mini history lesson) to Bosque de Chapultepec — my favorite place in CDMX and basically my “backyard.”

🏗️ AICM renovations won’t be ready for the World Cup. Mexico City’s main airport is only about halfway through its $416M overhaul after 10 months of work, meaning it won’t be ready for the 2026 World Cup. The upgrades touch nearly every part of the airport, from terminals to core systems.

🦋 A hopeful rebound for monarch butterflies. Mexico’s monarch butterfly population rose more than 60% this year, covering more forest area than last winter. It’s a promising sign — but experts say it’s still too early to call it a full recovery.

👑 Spain’s king acknowledges abuses during colonization. King Felipe VI said there were “many abuses” during Spain’s colonization of the Americas, as Spain attempts to ease lingering tensions with Mexico after years of diplomatic strain.

🎶 Carín León taps into the World Cup stage. Carín León and Jelly Roll have released “Lighter,” the first single from the official 2026 FIFA World Cup album, kicking off a global music project tied to the tournament.

📉 USMCA negotiations begin — with tension already in the air. With $1.6 trillion in trade at stake, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are back at the table. The U.S. is pushing for tougher rules, while Mexico is focused on keeping trade flowing. Trump has also hinted at walking away entirely if it doesn’t go his way, so this could get rocky.

🥃 Mezcal’s boom comes at an environmental cost. As global demand (especially from the U.S.) continues to grow, mezcal production in Oaxaca is scaling fast — bringing with it increasing pressure on forests, water, and local ecosystems.

💳 Mexico moves toward cashless payments at gas stations & tolls. Mexico plans to phase out cash payments at gas stations and highway tolls starting in 2026, part of a broader push to digitize the economy.

CULTURE & HAPPENINGS

ROCIO RECOMMENDS

Korean “americano” blend if you can’t find strong, rich cold brew in Mex

I love cold brew, especially when it starts getting hot in CDMX, but I’ve yet to find one here that’s actually strong and rich—most taste kind of watery and weak. My current hack: Korean “americano” coffee bags from Little Seoul. You just add ice (or cold water), and it actually hits. They come in individual packets or larger packs, so you can stock up.

VIRAL VAULT

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¡Hasta Luego!