Americano Inside Trump’s war on the cartels
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Sep 15, 2025 
Ben Domenech, a prominent American writer and co-founder of The Federalist, joins to discuss Trump's renewed war on drugs targeting Mexican cartels. He explains MAGA's strategic embrace of this fight and its potential impact on U.S.-Mexico relations. The conversation explores the Republican Party's shifting views on military involvement in combating cartels, revealing intra-party tensions. Furthermore, they delve into the broader geopolitical implications of American foreign policy and China's rising influence in Latin America.
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Cartel Fight Moved To The Military
- The administration is shifting cartel operations from DHS/ICE to the Department of Defense under Pete Hegseth.
- That reallocation reframes the fight as a military campaign rather than standard law enforcement.
Narco Terrorism As A Unifying Frame
- The term "narco terrorists" fuses Reagan, Bush and Trump-era rationales into one policy frame.
- That fusion unites diverse Republican wings behind a near‑abroad security narrative.
A Venn Diagram That Wins Coalitions
- The cartel strategy creates a Venn diagram that satisfies MAGA, hawks, and social conservatives.
- That political overlap makes offensive action politically viable for the administration.