Jack Nicas

And this is actually what we hear the U.S.

officials really asking for, is that is when they will feel there is a sign of real progress

is when the Mexican government starts to go after the corrupt politicians that have enabled this to go on this long.

I think Trump's goalposts are infinite.

And the strongest evidence of that is that less than 24 hours after the Mexican government killed El Mencho, probably the single biggest achievement that the government has had in the cartel war in years, Trump posted online, quote, Mexico must step up their efforts on cartel and drugs.

And that is, I think, a clear sign that the demands aren't going to end.

And probably that's the point.

And possibly that's also what is necessary, because there are signs that Trump's pressure is creating a dynamic in Mexico that really hasn't existed before and perhaps is creating the environment for

that is necessary to finally defeat or at least really confront these massive, powerful criminal organizations in a way that the government hasn't.

And I think that there are Mexicans who, while they don't want a unilateral strike from the U.S.

government, do welcome Trump's attention to this matter and pressure on this issue.

Well, it could be a good thing, but I think it depends on how far it goes.

If Trump is just putting consistent pressure on, and that is enabling and forcing the Mexican government to do what it needs to do to take control of the cartels, I think many Mexicans agree that is a great thing.

However, if Trump ultimately says, you didn't do what I want, and now I'm going to bomb you, well, I think that's a whole other story.

Because that is going to destabilize the government, inflame the situation, and really throw us into the unknown.

Thank you, Natalie.

We miss you here in Mexico.