To go or not to go? Supreme Court at the State of the Union
It goes against the very instincts of some of the most powerful officials in the U.S.: get all dressed up, appear before a national TV audience, but sit there like statues without betraying any words or emotion. For members of the Supreme Court, enduring the annual State of the Union address is a civic exercise in poker-faced discretion. As recent history has shown, that has not always been easy. Tuesday’s speech by President Donald Trump will be watched closely not only for what is said, but also for who will be there in person to hear it — especially an undetermined number of justices with front-row seats. This year’s appearances are especially of interest, coming four days after a 6-3 majority of the court struck down the president’s sweeping tariffs, in a sweeping setback to his economic agenda. EXCLUSIVE: TRUMP TO CENTER SOTU ON WORKING FAMILIES WITH SWEEPING ECONOMIC CASE Trump lashed out sharply at the court, especially the six members who voted against him, including two he appointed to the bench — Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. The president said he was “ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what’s right for the country.” At least one member of the bench, Justice Samuel Alito, has previously stated he will likely no longer go — after lingering, dramatic criticism leveled at a court ruling by Obama in his 2010 address. But one or more justices have almost always attended the annual speech to Congress and the nation in recent decades. Court members are not required by law to be there, but custom has dictated their appearance, mostly for show. They are a key, if low-key, part of the pageantry, and are compelled to sit politely and stoically, amid the often high-spirited partisan rhetoric and response of the event. There is no word yet from the high court on who will appear. Invitations are sent to each chamber, and the justices have individual discretion over whether to go. Those who do traditionally wear their judicial robes, are escorted into the House as a group, and take prominent seats up front. Retired justices usually get asked as well, minus the robes. They are joined by other officers of the court, such as the marshal and clerk. WATCH: TOP 5 MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN AMERICAN STATE OF THE UNION HISTORY Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Elana Kagan, along with former Justices Stephen Breyer and Anthony Kennedy, have been regular attendees over the years. But the ceremony put the justices in a highly uncomfortable position in 2010. Democrats cheered President Barack Obama when he dressed down high court conservatives for its ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, issued a week earlier, which removed legal barriers preventing corporations and unions from spending unlimited sums on federal elections. “With all due deference to the separation of powers,” Obama said, “the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests — including foreign corporations — to spend without limit in our elections.” Alito, sitting just feet away in the audience, shook his head and mouthed words interpreted as “not true,” referring to the line about “foreign corporations,” court sources later confirmed. Alito’s five fellow justices in attendance showed no emotion. He had been a regular at previous addresses, but months after the incident, Alito told an audience in New York that he felt “like the proverbial potted plant” and would not be attending in the near future. In fact, the year after the presidential dress-down, Alito was in Hawaii at a law school symposium. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: TRUMP’S STATE OF THE UNION BECOMES POLITICAL BOXING MATCH AS DEMOCRATS BOYCOTT The now 75-year-old justice also, with a smile, noted that his colleagues “who are more disciplined, refrain from manifesting any emotion or opinion whatsoever.” Roberts labeled the political atmosphere at the 2010 address “very troubling.” The head of the federal judiciary has said partisan rhetoric and gestures aimed at the court left him questioning whether his colleagues should continue to attend. During that 2010 address, members of Congress sat just behind the justices, many applauding loudly when Obama made his remarks about the court’s election spending case, especially Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. “It does cause me to think whether or not it makes sense for us to be there” Roberts said weeks after the controversy. “To the extent the State of the Union has degenerated into a political pep rally, I’m not sure why we’re there.” Then-White House press secretary Robert Gibbs responded quickly at the time with an indirect attack on Roberts, saying “the only thing troubling” was the Citizens United ruling itself. Regardless, Roberts has never missed a State of the Union as chief justice. THOMAS RIPS SUPREME COURT TARIFFS RULING, SAYS MAJORITY ‘ERRS’ ON CONSTITUTION That included 2021 with President Joe Biden’s address to a joint session of Congress that was limited in attendance because of the pandemic. The sparse, widely-separated crowd included Roberts, a few Cabinet officers and a smattering of congressional members, all wearing masks. Some justices were regular no-shows at the State of the Union, including John Paul Stevens, who stepped down from the court months after the 2010 State of the Union. Roberts’ predecessor, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, also rarely appeared in person, once because he considered a painting class more preferable. Justice Clarence Thomas called it “very uncomfortable for a judge to sit there.” He went to Obama’s first annual address in 2009, but has not been back since. “There’s a lot that you don’t hear on TV,” he once said, “the catcalls, the whooping, hollering and under-the breath comments.” Another more vocal no-go was the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who compared the televised State of the Union to “cheerleading sessions.” “I don’t know at what point that happened, but it has happened, and now you go and sit there like bumps on a log while applause lines cause one half of
Federal court refuses to block new Utah congressional voting map that may favor Democrats
A federal court ruling Monday has essentially locked in a new Utah congressional redistricting map that would create a Democrat-heavy Salt Lake City-based seat, potentially flipping one of Utah’s Republican-held U.S. House seats. A special three-judge federal panel is allowing a revised congressional redistricting map in Utah to go into effect, rejecting an effort by state Republicans to block it. The judicial panel denied a Republican-led request for a preliminary injunction to put the new map on hold. The new voting boundaries give Democrats a better shot at winning Utah’s 1st Congressional District, a seat currently held by Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah. Two of Utah’s other four GOP seat-holders in Congress – Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah; and Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah – had signed on to the challenge but have accepted the decision in a joint statement. MARYLAND HOUSE APPROVES NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP AS SENATE LEADERS WARN OF RISKS “We receive today’s decision with profound disappointment but respect for the Court’s careful review,” the statement, shared on X by Owens, read. “This case concerns the Constitution’s allocation of authority over federal elections, a question of lasting importance beyond any single election cycle.” “Having these issues heard has strengthened public understanding and clarified what is at stake,” the statement continued. “We remain convinced that the Constitution assigns this responsibility to the State’s lawmaking authority and that this principle is essential to preserving constitutional order and the rule of law.” A state judge had ordered the new map, striking congressional voting lines adopted by the state legislature after the 2020 census. A state voter referendum had approved anti-gerrymandering standards. The Utah Supreme Court, in recent days, had also rejected the original map crafted by the GOP-controlled legislature. RNC SUES TO STOP DEMOCRATS’ VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING PUSH The federal panel’s decision rested on the “Purcell principle” — the idea that judicial interference so close to an election causes “chaos and confusion.” Though the GOP can still appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court for emergency relief, the judges warned that any further “tinkering” would come too late to prevent electoral disruption for the 2026 midterms. Utah Republican Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson took no position on the case, but did tell the court she needed to have a decision by Monday in order to implement the proper redistricting map, according to the ruling. BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE RUNS THROUGH VIRGINIA AS COURT OKS HIGH-STAKES REDISTRICTING VOTE Early race ratings from The Cook Political Report have already shifted this district from “Solid Republican” to “Solid Democratic.” Moore’s northern Utah seat is being renumbered to the 2nd Congressional District, a seat which is currently held by Maloy. Owens currently holds the 4th Congressional District, while Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, holds the GOP’s 3rd Congressional District seat. President Donald Trump has acknowledged the difficult history for sitting presidents’ parties in midterm elections, and the current House GOP majority is held by a slim margin of 218-214 with three current vacancies: Former Rep. Mike Sherrill, D-N.J., who resigned to become New Jersey’s governor; former Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Ga., who resigned at the start of the congressional year; and late Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., who died Jan. 6. Fox News’ Bill Mears contributed to this report.
Former UK ambassador to US released on bail after arrest in Epstein misconduct investigation
Peter Mandelson, the former U.K. ambassador to the United States, has been released on bail pending additional investigation after he was arrested in a misconduct probe stemming from his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein. “A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released on bail pending further investigation. He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and was taken to a London police station for interview. This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson noted. Mandelson and former Prince Andrew are suspected of supplying U.K. government information to Epstein, according to The Associated Press. FORMER UK AMBASSADOR TO US ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF MISCONDUCT IN PUBLIC OFFICE Mandelson served in senior government roles under previous Labor governments and was U.K. ambassador to Washington until Prime Minister Keir Starmer fired him in September after emails were published showing that he maintained a friendship with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor. Messages indicate that Mandelson provided Epstein with government information in 2009 while serving as a senior British government minister, according to the outlet. UK GOVERNMENT TO UNSEAL FORMER AMBASSADOR MANDELSON DOCUMENTS TIED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN PROBE Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office. “I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation,” Mountbatten-Windsor’s brother, King Charles III, said in a statement after the arrest last week. FORMER PRINCE ANDREW CHARGED TAXPAYERS FOR MASSAGES WHILE SPLURGING ON LAVISH TRIPS AS TRADE ENVOY: REPORT CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Thames Valley Police later revealed Mountbatten-Windsor had been released, but the investigation remains ongoing. The Associated Press contributed to this report
France restricts Trump ambassador’s access to officials after missed summons
France has restricted U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner’s access to senior government officials after he failed to attend a summons from the French Foreign Ministry over comments regarding the death of a French activist. Speaking Tuesday in an interview with public broadcaster France Info, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Kushner’s decision not to appear at the Quai d’Orsay “will naturally affect his ability to carry out his mission in our country,” and demanded “explanations” from the ambassador. Barrot described the no-show as a “surprise,” saying that when an ambassador has “the honor of representing your country in France,” they are expected to “respect the most basic practices of diplomacy” and respond to summons from the ministry. The diplomatic dispute stems from social media posts by official U.S. government accounts following the death of Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old activist who was killed in Lyon earlier this month. WITKOFF AND KUSHNER SCHEDULED TO MEET PUTIN IN MOSCOW The Associated Press reported that Deranque, described as a fervent nationalist, was beaten during clashes between far-left and far-right activists and later died of brain injuries sustained in the attack. “Reports, corroborated by the French Minister of the Interior, that Quentin Deranque was killed by left-wing militants, should concern us all. Violent radical leftism is on the rise and its role in Quentin Deranque’s death demonstrates the threat it poses to public safety,” the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism said in a Feb. 19 post on X. “We will continue to monitor the situation and expect to see the perpetrators of violence brought to justice.” The U.S. Embassy in France later shared the statement on its official account. FOREIGN AMBASSADOR TO LEAVE US POST AFTER TRUMP CRITICISM Barrot said the remarks amounted to an “injunction” toward France and rejected what he characterized as foreign interference in the country’s domestic political debate. “We have no lessons to learn in matters of maintaining order or public order in matters of violence and we have no lessons to learn at all from the reactionary international, simply,” he told France Info. The State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. FRANCE TO DEPORT PALESTINIAN WOMAN OVER ANTISEMITIC POST FEATURING HITLER, HALTS GAZA EVACUATIONS Barrot said Kushner could regain access to French officials if he provides clarification to the ministry, stressing that the dispute would not alter broader relations between France and the United States. He noted the two countries are preparing to mark the 250th anniversary of their historic alliance this year and expressed hope that cooperation would continue “in this spirit.”
Speechwriters from Reagan to Biden agree: Trump’s SOTU is a critical test for his second term
Former White House speechwriters from both parties say President Donald Trump must decide whether to double down on the rally-style politics that powered his campaign or broaden his message to unify a divided country around his governing agenda in his State of the Union address Tuesday night. As Trump prepares to speak to the nation and the world, a majority of Americans think the country is worse off today than it was a year ago, according to a recent Fox News survey. The challenge he faces Tuesday night is to persuade skeptical voters that his economic policies are bringing costs down, that tougher immigration enforcement is making the country safer and that he has a disciplined, forward-looking plan for the years ahead — a message that could shape Republicans’ prospects as they head into the 2026 midterm elections with narrow majorities in Congress. Clark Judge, a speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan and now chairman of the Pacific Research Institute, told Fox News Digital that Trump should address America’s position in the world. “Threats to the country and to the economy were growing,” Judge said. “Now, in area after area, those threats have been confronted and defeated.” WATCH: TOP 5 MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN AMERICAN STATE OF THE UNION HISTORY Judge said Reagan’s strength was clarity. People “knew where he would come down. One advantage of working with him was that he had been so clear throughout his career on what he was for,” he said. There are lessons from Reagan that Judge suggested Trump should take to heart. “Know the president, know the administration, know the public — where is the public at any one moment?” “Where are the Democrats? What are they trying to do — and how do we disarm their arguments?” he said. The balance needed in a State of the Union is finding a “middle ground” between the president’s Cabinet fighting for their mentions and “trying to create big, thematic connections,” former Jimmy Carter presidential speechwriter James Fallows told Fox News Digital. Fallows, the Georgia Democrat’s chief speechwriter during his first two years in office, has since been a book, magazine and Substack writer. He said Trump’s challenge, both now and in his previous addresses, is to unite the country around his agenda, not just please his supporters. Trump’s preferred rhetorical style is a rally-style approach — “where he can digress and weave” and create “us versus them” scenarios to rile the audience,” he said, adding that a State of the Union address requires the opposite. MIKE JOHNSON REVEALS SPECIAL GUESTS FOR TRUMP’S STATE OF THE UNION Former Joe Biden speechwriter Dan Cluchey expressed skepticism that Trump would be able to rise to the occasion. “President Biden has a deep reverence for both the constitutional role of Congress and the dignity of the presidential office, so he approached the State of the Union as an opportunity to rise above the fray and bring Americans together,” Cluchey said, pointing to what the Delawarean considered the “Unity Agenda” laid out in his 2022 address. When asked what could surprise him about Trump’s Tuesday address, Fallows said sticking to his script would be a novelty. “[Also,] given what the next day’s news will describe as a ‘big tent speech’” à la Reagan, the Carter speechwriter said. Former George W. Bush speechwriter and current Wall Street Journal editorial board member Bill McGurn said presidents do tend to differ, sometimes greatly, from each other in style, contrasting the president with his former boss. “George W. Bush was very driven by logic — the speech had a flow and had a logic that was coherent.” “He’d always say, ‘make it so Bubba would understand what that meant’ — don’t dumb it down; but make it so an intelligent person listening can get the idea of what you’re about.” Trump, he said, will likely repeat what many presidents often say, that “the State of the Union is strong.” “Even if it is a laundry list, there’s ways to make it more compelling if you find a unifying thread to it.” Fallows told Fox News Digital there are many “structural challenges” for any president and his team crafting a State of the Union. “So much to cover and only so much time you can hold the attention of even a captive audience.” Fallows, who now writes “Breaking the News” on Substack, said the SOTU is a rare moment for a president to address the nation as a whole, not just partisan supporters. BILL MAHER CALLS FOR COMPLETE END TO STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS AHEAD OF TRUMP SPEECH McGurn agreed. “For all the grandiosity and the important things they cover, they’re usually not remembered,” he said, noting how many more Americans remember Bush’s 9/11 speech or his brief address through a bullhorn atop the rubble of the Twin Towers. “A dirty little secret is most speech artists hate the State of the Union for the laundry list kind of thing,” he added. Sometimes, a State of the Union may not be remembered itself, but it may lead to something much more memorable. Judge recalled drafting Reagan’s 1988 address, thinking “this is technical and dull — what I need is an image.” Settling on the phrase, “1,000 sparks of genius in a 1,000 communities,” the line went viral in then-fledgling “dial” polling — to the extent that Reagan’s protégé, the future President George H.W. Bush, borrowed the line for his “Thousand Points of Light” speech, Judge said. JOHNSON PRAISES TRUMP’S ‘BOLD ACTION’ IN FORMAL STATE OF THE UNION INVITATION LETTER TO CONGRESS While the public may not remember everything from every SOTU, the speechwriters collectively said there are parts they still recall today. Cluchey said his best memories are of Biden choosing to share stories of everyday Americans he helped, “in order to illustrate the impact of his policies.” In other cases, there are times the world takes notice. Working with Reagan near the end of his successful bid to stifle the Cold War,
State Dept slammed with hundreds of calls from Americans trapped in Mexico
The State Department has received hundreds of calls on its 24/7 crisis hotline as Americans in Mexico scramble to find ways home amid escalating chaos following the killing of a top cartel leader. The calls have been mostly pertaining to flight cancellations and concerns about travel back to the U.S., Fox News has learned. Violence erupted in Mexico after a Feb. 22 government operation in which Jalisco New Generation cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes was killed. The cartel leader was killed during a shootout inside his home as the Mexican military attempted to capture him. The operation was carried out by Mexican forces with U.S. intelligence support. MEXICO VIOLENCE SEES DOZENS OF MILITARY TROOPS, CRIMINALS DEAD AFTER CARTEL LEADER ‘EL MENCHO’ KILLED Mexico Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said the 25 Mexican National Guard troops in Jalisco were killed in six separate attacks following the killing of El Mencho. He also said some 30 criminal suspects were killed in Jalisco and four others were killed in Michoacan. Additionally, García Harfuch said that a prison guard, an agent from the state prosecutor’s office and a woman whom he did not identify were also killed. The State Department’s travel advisory for Mexico, which was issued in August 2025, has since been updated regarding areas of risk. The Mexican states of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas are under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory. Meanwhile, the states under a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” advisory are Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos and Sonora. MAJOR DRUG LORD ‘EL MENCHO’ KILLED IN MEXICAN MILITARY OPERATION WITH US INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT Americans in Mexico who need consular assistance are advised to call the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs at +1-202-501-4444 from outside the U.S. or +1-888-407-4747 from within the U.S. or Canada. Additionally, the department has recommended U.S. citizens enroll in the online Smart Traveler Enrollment Program or follow the “U.S. Department of State – Security Updates for U.S. Citizens” WhatsApp channel for safety and security updates. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, also known as STEP, allows the U.S. embassy or consulate to contact travelers or their emergency contact if necessary. On Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico issued an updated security alert for Jalisco State, including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala and Guadalajara, and Nayarit State, including the Nuevo Nayarit/Nuevo Vallarta area near Puerto Vallarta. The embassy and consulates said in the joint alert that due to road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. government staffers in several locations — including Guadalajara (Jalisco), Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco/Nayarit), and Ciudad Guzman (Jalisco) — are sheltering in place. The government entities said the workers would remain sheltered in place until blockades are cleared and called on U.S. citizens to follow suit. While the State Department hotline has been flooded with calls regarding flight cancellations, the embassy and consulates noted that “all airports in Mexico are open, and most airports are operating normally.” The entities noted that travelers whose flights to the U.S. had been canceled could be able to book a connecting flight through another Mexican city, as not all airports were impacted by the disruptions. Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
Where Trump stands in the eyes of Americans ahead of the State of the Union address
President Donald Trump, taking to social media earlier this month, touted, “The highest Poll Numbers I have ever received.” “Obviously, people like a strong and powerful Country, with the best economy, EVER!” the president added in a post on his Truth Social platform. But on the day of his annual State of the Union Address, Trump’s poll numbers remain in negative territory in the vast majority of national surveys. The president’s approval rating stands at 44% in the latest Fox News national poll, which was conducted late last month, with 56% disapproving of the job he’s doing in the White House. STRATEGY SESSION: TRUMP’S TEAM HUDDLES OVER MIDTERM MESSAGING And he stood at 39% approval among all adults and 41% among registered voters in an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos survey conducted Feb 12-17 and released on Sunday. An average of the most recent surveys conducted over the past four weeks puts Trump’s approval ratings in the low 40s, with disapproval in the mid-50s. Trump started his second term in positive territory, but his approval ratings sank below water last March and have slowly edged down deeper into negative territory in the ensuing months. The latest surveys point to a massive partisan divide, with continued strong support for the president among Republicans, a thumbs down among independents and near total disapproval among Democrats. FOX NEWS POLL: AN EARLY LOOK AT THE 2026 MIDTERMS “Support among Republicans has remained in place, but the opposition has become even more calcified,” veteran Republican pollster Daron Shaw told Fox News Digital, as he pointed to Democrats. Deep concerns over inflation boosted Trump and Republicans to sweeping victories at the ballot box in 2024, as they won back the White House and Senate and kept their House majority. “We had record inflation. We don’t have it anymore,” Trump said at a campaign event last week in Rome, Georgia. “I’m going to make a State of the Union address on Tuesday. I hope you’re going to watch and we’re going to be talking about it.” But the president’s approval ratings on the economy are, on average, slightly lower than his overall approval ratings. DNC CHAIR KEN MARTIN BOASTS ‘WIN AFTER WIN,’ SHRUGS OFF MASSIVE TRUMP, REPUBLICAN MONEY LEAD And Democrats say their decisive victories in November’s 2025 elections, and their overperformances in special elections and other ballot box showdowns in the year since Trump returned to office, were fueled by their laser focus on affordability amid persistent inflation. A slew of surveys, including the latest Fox News polling, indicate Americans are pessimistic about the economy and say things have not generally improved during the second Trump administration. “He can’t unstick the notion that inflation is too high and that the economy is not moving in the right direction,” added Shaw, who helps run the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson. But Democrats don’t have much to brag about when it comes to the polls. The party’s brand dropped to historic lows last year in a slew of polls, with the trend continuing into the new year. The president’s primetime address in front of Congress comes with just over eight months to go until the midterm elections, when Republicans will be defending their razor-thin majority in the House and their narrow control of the Senate. Last week, the president’s political team huddled in a closed-door strategy session with Trump administration Cabinet members and their top aides on how best to sell the president’s agenda to voters in this year’s midterm elections. TRUMP CHEERS STEADY INFLATION NUMBERS AS AFFORDABILITY FIGHT SHAPES 2026 MIDTERM BATTLE According to sources familiar with the meeting, the message during a slide presentation by chief pollster and strategist Tony Fabrizio was that the economy will be the top issue on the minds of voters, and that the White House needs to spotlight its efforts on easing affordability. “Team Trump will deploy every resource necessary to win the midterms, protect our majorities, and ensure President Trump keeps delivering results for America’s working families,” a source in the president’s political orbit told Fox News Digital. Regardless of Trump’s overall approval ratings, he remains very popular and influential with Republicans. And in what may be a base election, the GOP sees the president as their best tool to motivate low-propensity MAGA voters, who don’t always vote when Trump’s not on the ballot, to show up at the polls during the midterms. Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters told Fox News Digital last month that Trump was the GOP’s “secret weapon” that will help Republicans “defy history” in the midterms. “We got to make sure we turn our voters out, and we got to make sure that we have people energized. And there’s nobody that can energize our base more than President Trump,” Gruters said.
With ‘El Mencho’ killed, what’s next for Mexico and the Jalisco cartel?
The killing of Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, or CJNG), has triggered a wave of violence across several Mexican states, including Jalisco. Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho”, was killed in an operation by Mexico’s army on Sunday. Recommended Stories list of 2 itemsend of list But what is the Jalisco cartel, and what happens next after the killing of one of the most powerful drug lords in the country? What happened in Mexico on Sunday? Shortly after news of El Mencho‘s killing spread, suspected cartel members launched coordinated reprisals across multiple states. Attackers torched convenience stores and petrol stations, dragged trucks onto major highways and erected flaming roadblocks, known locally as narcobloqueos, paralysing cities and cutting off key routes. “Panic spread among many people,” Miguel Alfonso Meza, director of Defensorx, a Mexican civil organisation dedicated to strategic litigation and the defence of human rights, told Al Jazeera. “I heard from several relatives who had panic attacks; they were calling in tears, desperate, because they didn’t know what was going to happen,” he added. The violence appeared intended to project strength and demonstrate the cartel’s reach following the loss of its leader. In Jalisco alone, more than 25 National Guard members were killed. “That makes it one of the bloodiest days, with some of the greatest losses for the federal government,” Meza said. “It is also the first time we’ve seen coordinated attacks across more than 20 states at once. Advertisement “I call it a terrorist attack,” he added, “in the sense that groups are labelled ‘terrorist’ when they use violence to instil fear in the population. And that is exactly what we experienced.” What is the Jalisco New Generation Cartel? The Jalisco cartel is one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organisations. Founded in about 2009-2010, the group emerged from the remnants of the Milenio cartel and quickly grew into a dominant force in the country’s drug trade. It built a reputation for ruthlessness and violence unlike any since the fall of the old Zetas cartel. Los Zetas were one of Mexico’s most feared criminal groups, founded by former elite soldiers who deserted and brought military tactics into organised crime. They became notorious for using extreme brutality and for expanding beyond drug trafficking into kidnapping, extortion and fuel theft. What does the cartel do? The United States Department of State has described the cartel as one of Mexico’s most powerful drug trafficking organisations, with significant cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine distribution networks, and in recent years a major role in fentanyl trafficking into the US. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid linked to thousands of deaths in the US. Beyond drug trafficking, the group profits from extortion, migrant smuggling, and oil and mineral theft. It operates across much of Mexico and has built international trafficking routes stretching through Latin America to the US and parts of Asia. The cartel has also been linked to a series of high-profile attacks against security forces and public officials. In 2015, gunmen shot down a Mexican military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade during an operation to capture its leader. In June 2020, the group attempted to assassinate then public security secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch in Mexico City. He survived. Two bodyguards and a civilian were killed. How does it operate? Analysts say the cartel’s growth has been driven as much by strategy as by brutality. “The CJNG has normalised the worst horrors of the Mexican drug wars, bodies hanging from lampposts, decapitated heads on the side of the road,” Chris Dalby, senior analyst at Dyami Security Intelligence, told Al Jazeera. But he argues the violence is not random. It is deliberate and performative, designed to dominate rivals quickly and discourage resistance. “That was an aberration a generation ago. The CJNG made it almost daily news. And that’s because of the way El Mencho trained his cartel. Advertisement “He trained them almost like Genghis Khan in their approach to conquest,” Dalby said, referring to the feared Mongol warrior. “They would wipe out opposition and use that as a warning: If you oppose us, this is what will happen to you.” That approach helped the cartel grow quickly across multiple states, but it also meant constant confrontation. Much of its influence rests on mobility, intimidation and strategic alliances rather than deeply rooted territorial control. Smoke billows from burning vehicles in Puerto Vallarta amid a wave of violence, with torched vehicles and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states [Reuters] What is next for Mexico after the killing of ‘El Mencho’? The death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera is one of the most significant blows to a Mexican criminal organisation. While experts note the CJNG may now be in a “weaker position”, many warn that “decapitating” the cartel without dismantling its resources is a mistake. Critics argue that instead of long-term “financial strangulation”, the government has returned to a strategy that previously failed during the presidency of Felipe Calderon (2006-2012). Under Calderon, a hardline military offensive targeted cartel leaders in an effort to dismantle organised crime. But while several senior drug kingpins were captured or killed, the crackdown led to violent fragmentation. Hundreds of thousands were killed or disappeared in the years that followed, yet criminal groups ultimately adapted and continued to expand. When the current governing party, Morena, came to power in 2018 under former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, it promised a different approach. Obrador’s slogan, “abrazos, no balazos” (“hugs, not bullets”), signalled a move away from high-profile kingpin takedowns towards social programmes and addressing root causes of violence. Former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador [FILE: Quetzalli Nicte-Ha/Reuters] Critics now question whether that strategy has eroded amid sustained US pressure on President Claudia Sheinbaum to curb drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, with Washington repeatedly urging tougher action against major cartels. In Sunday’s operation, the Mexican government stated it was carried out by Mexican special forces with intelligence support from the US.
US women’s ice hockey team declines Trump’s State of the Union invitation
Olympics gold medal-winning team has politely turned down a request from President Donald Trump to attend his address in the capital. Listen to this article Listen to this article | 2 mins info Published On 24 Feb 202624 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share The women’s ice hockey team of the United States has declined an invitation to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, US media reported, after he joked he would be “impeached” if he did not ask them to attend. NBC cited a statement from the women’s team on Monday, saying players would be “unable to participate” in the State of the Union address. Recommended Stories list of 2 itemsend of list “We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning US Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” the statement said. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.” Both Republicans and Democrats traditionally bring guests to watch the president’s annual address to Congress, and Trump invited the US men’s ice hockey team after they won Olympic gold on Sunday. Team USA’s women’s team won gold for the first time since 2018 when they beat the Canadians 2-1 on Thursday. In a video shared online, Trump can be heard on speakerphone in a call with the men’s team, inviting them to the address before saying, “We’re gonna have to bring the women’s team, you do know that”, to which the players laugh. “I do believe I would probably be impeached, OK?” the president added. It is not clear if the men’s team have formally accepted Trump’s invitation, but they can be heard cheering and saying, “We’re in.” The AFP news agency has contacted the team for comment. Security fencing surrounds the US Capitol in advance of the US president’s State of the Union address, in Washington, DC [Kylie Cooper/Reuters] Adblock test (Why?)
Schools shut, troops on streets: Mexico on alert after ‘El Mencho’ killing
Authorities deploy 10,000 soldiers nationwide to quell violence following the drug lord’s killing in a military operation. Listen to this article Listen to this article | 3 mins info Published On 24 Feb 202624 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Mexico remains on high alert after a wave of reprisal attacks triggered by the killing of its most wanted drug cartel leader, even as President Claudia Sheinbaum claimed the country is at peace and life is returning to normal. Some 10,000 soldiers have been deployed across 20 of Mexico’s 32 states to maintain order following the killing of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera in a military operation about 130km (80 miles) from Guadalajara city on Sunday. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Guadalajara is the capital of western Mexico’s Jalisco state – the stronghold of Oseguera’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) – where at least 2,000 soldiers have been sent. Schools in Guadalajara and several other Mexican cities were closed on Monday. However, public transport partially resumed, though buses carried few passengers, as people witnessed a slow return to normalcy. Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch said on Monday that at least 74 people were killed, including 25 National Guard officers, in the operation that killed the cartel boss and the subsequent violence over the killing of the 59-year-old drug kingpin, one of the most wanted men in Mexico and the United States. Burned-out vehicles are seen on the boardwalk in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico [Arturo Montero/EPA] “El Mencho” was considered the last of the drug lords who acted in the brutal mould of the now-imprisoned Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, of the rival Sinaloa Cartel. He was a founding member of CJNG, which was formed in 2009 and has grown into one of Mexico’s most violent crime organisations. Advertisement Following his killing, suspected CJNG members set fire to cars in several states and blocked numerous roads. They also attacked banks, petrol stations and shops. Al Jazeera’s John Holman, reporting from Mexico City, said there was an eerie quiet in the country following El Mencho’s killing. “Many businesses are closed, and the trucks that the CJNG cartel dragged across roads to stop Mexican security forces and create chaos have been moved out of the way,” Holman said. Meanwhile, President Sheinbaum said on Monday that peace had returned to the country. “Mexico is calm. We woke up without any roadblocks, and all activity has been restored,” she said. The White House confirmed that the US provided intelligence support to the operation to capture the cartel leader and applauded Mexico’s army for taking down a man who was one of the most wanted criminals in both countries. Sheinbaum stressed that only Mexican forces were involved in the operation. “There was no participation in the operation by US forces. What we have is a lot of exchange of information provided by the US government, but the entire operation, from its planning stage, is the responsibility of [Mexico’s] federal forces,” the president said. Experts now warn that the “absence of a direct succession” within CJNG could lead to a power vacuum and violent fights to fill it. Adblock test (Why?)