National Autonomous University of Mexico
John Ackerman is Professor of Law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and Editor-in-Chief of the Mexican Law Review. He is a columnist for both Proceso magazine and La Jornada newspaper.
PROFILE
John Ackerman
Guest
FROM John Ackerman
To the Point
In US-Mexico crisis, there's blame on both sides of the border TALKING POINT The President of Mexico will not be at the White House this week as planned. It's a result of the Trump Administration's first foreign policy fight with an ally and trading partner. All the talk of building a wall and a border tax to pay for it was too much political pressure for President Enrique Peña Nieto to tolerate. Then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Mexico's President Enrique Peña Nieto arrive for a press conference at the Los Pinos residence in Mexico City, August 31, 2016. Photo by Henry Romero/Reuters But if this standoff gives the impression that Trump and Peña Nieto are polar opposites, that's not the case. The two men are more alike than they may seem, according to John Ackerman , a professor at the Institute for Legal Research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, also newspaper columnist and editor-in-chief of the Mexican Law Review.
To the Point
A Crime Solved Sparks Outrage in Mexico Outrage over corruption in Mexico reached new heights this weekend, after authorities announced that drug-gang hitmen had confessed to murdering 43 students who went missing in September. The drug cartel members say they were acting in collusion with police under orders from the mayor of Iguala, in the state of Guerrero, and his wife. Over the weekend demonstrators set fire to the doors of the National Palace in Mexico City and on Monday they blocked access to Acapulco Airport. The brutality of this story has brought to a head Mexicans’ frustrations with and outrage at President Enrique Peña Nieto’s failure to stem narco-violence and rampant corruption in the nation’s criminal justice system.
Which Way, L.A.?
Will Partisanship Take a Break for Immigrant Reforgeorm? In 2009, President Obama promised comprehensive immigration reform, but his first term saw record numbers of deportations. The partial “dream act” won him a break in November’s election, but growing numbers of Latino and Asian voters are losing their patience. As for Republicans, the angry white voters they’ve come to depend on are declining in number. All that has led some to predict that comprehensive immigration reform is “not only possible but also likely.”
To the Point
Will Partisanship Take a Break for Immigrant Reforgeorm? In 2009, President Obama promised comprehensive immigration reform, but his first term saw record numbers of deportations. The partial “dream act” won him a break in November’s election, but growing numbers of Latino and Asian voters are losing their patience. As for Republicans, the angry white voters they’ve come to depend on are declining in number. All that has led some to predict that comprehensive immigration reform is “not only possible but also likely.”
To the Point
Mexico's Presidential Election and the War on Drugs When Felipe Calderón was elected President six years ago, he declared a military offensive against Mexico's murderous drug cartels. Since then, 50,000 people have died. Calderón's term is over and he is barred from seeking a second six-year term. Former President Vicente Fox has called for drug legalization, and although all three major candidates in the July election have pledged to reduce the violence, none has been specific so early in a three-month campaign. Enrique Peña Nieto, the leading candidate, belongs to the PRI, which ran the country for 70 years; Calderón's conservative PAN party is running Josefina Vázquez Mota, the first woman candidate of a major party; and the left-leaning PRD has nominated Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the former Mayor of Mexico City. We hear about a nation of disillusioned voters, and what the election results could mean for the US.
Which Way, L.A.?
Calderon Addresses a Joint Session of Congress Felipe Calderon got a standing ovation today from a joint session of Congress when he pledged to continue his all out war against violent drug cartels. Reaction was mixed when he attacked Arizona’s new immigration law and asked for the US ban on assault weapons to be reinstated. But despite today’s rare Capitol Hill appearance and last night’s White-House state dinner, critics say Calderon’s actions could be counterproductive. What about poverty, widespread corruption, and recent charges of favoritism for one drug cartel over others? Does his all-out war on drug cartels make for less violence—or more? What’s the impact on illegal immigration?
To the Point
Calderon Addresses a Joint Session of Congress Felipe Calderon got a standing ovation today from a joint session of Congress when he pledged to continue his all out war against violent drug cartels. Reaction was mixed when he attacked Arizona’s new immigration law and asked for the US ban on assault weapons to be reinstated. But despite today’s rare Capitol Hill appearance and last night’s White-House state dinner, critics say Calderon’s actions could be counterproductive. What about poverty, widespread corruption, and recent charges of favoritism for one drug cartel over others? Does his all-out war on drug cartels make for less violence—or more? What’s the impact on illegal immigration?
To the Point
A New President Goes South of the Border On a trip to Chile, Vice President Biden met with the leaders of several Latin American countries. But on his way to the Summit of the Americas , President Barack Obama will visit just one. Today the President defended his tax policies . Tomorrow, he'll head for Mexico before continuing on to the Caribbean for the summit. After six years of growth, Latin America is hard hit by the recession, and leaders are looking for help from a new US president who's popular in their countries. Will Obama seize the chance to re-engage? Will he be upstaged by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez? What about Cuba? In addition to supporting President Calderon's war on drugs, will Obama push for reforms in Mexico's justice system?
To the Point
Mexico's Lopez Obrador Is Not Going Quietly All the elements are in place for big trouble in the aftermath of Mexico's disputed presidential election. Manuel López Obrador appears to have lost to conservative Felipe Calderón , but says he'll declare himself the "legitimate" president of a "parallel" government. His claim that the official vote count was fraudulent has been rejected unanimously by the nation's top electoral court . The leftist supporters of the former Mayor of Mexico City already occupy the public venues where the conservative current president, Vicente Fox, plans traditional ceremonies on Friday. Can López Obrador make political life impossible and force another election? If Fox exerts his authority, will there be violence? What's the possible fallout North of the border?
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To the Point
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
To the Point
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
To the Point
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?