The killing of Mexican cartel boss Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes shocked the country and set off cartel violence in the streets, trapping American tourists in the process. However, experts say the operation could say even more about President Donald Trump’s war on drugs than Mexico’s. 
For more: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/24/americas/mexico-cartels-us-tourists-latam-intl">The death of ‘El Mencho’ exposed the reach of Mexico’s cartel crisis. Will US tourists stay away?</a> 
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Guest: Steven Dudley, InSight Crime co-founder 
Host: David Rind 
Producer: Paola Ortiz 
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Photo: @morelifediares via REUTERS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Trump Strikes Iran (Again). How Long Will The Conflict Last?

Starting August 2, 2026 all new episodes can be found over in the ⁠CNN 5 Things feed.⁠  Search "CNN 5 Things" wherever you get your podcasts.



You’ve been overwhelmed with headlines all week – what's worth a closer look? One Thing takes you beyond the headlines and helps make sense of what everyone is talking about. Host David Rind talks to experts, reporters on the front lines and the real people impacted by the news about what they've learned – and why it matters.