¡Hola amigos! This week, a judge temporarily blocked SAT from getting real-time access to Google tax data, Sheinbaum pushed back on a New York Times report about members of her party, and Colombia's president-elect declared Mexican cartels a "military target."

Plus, Mexico's big push toward a cashless future, the new mobile line registration timeline, and a look inside Oaxaca's spectacular Guelaguetza celebration.

And, of course, best of luck to El Tri tonight. ¡Vamos México!

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❓México Trivia

What modern checkout-line staple has ancient Maya roots?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

💻 A federal judge temporarily blocked Mexico's tax authority (SAT) from requiring Google to provide real-time access to data used to verify users' tax compliance. The order remains in effect while the courts review the law.

🇨🇴 Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo De la Espriella, declared Mexican cartels a "military target." President Sheinbaum responded that each country should handle its own security issues.

📰 After the New York Times reported Morena officials were allegedly acting as informants for U.S. authorities in corruption cases, President Sheinbaum rejected the report, saying her government has no evidence the claims are true.

🐄 Mexico and the U.S. open a sterile fly production facility in Chiapas to help eradicate the New World screwworm.

⚡ At the inauguration of a new power plant in Mexicali, President Sheinbaum announced plans to replace 4,000 utility poles to help reduce power outages across Baja California.

🧪 Mexico cut government approval times for clinical trials from 120 days to 30 days.

💰 The Bank of Mexico left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.5% and signaled it plans to keep rates steady for now.

🦺 Mexico deployed 22 search-and-rescue dog teams and 261 rescue personnel to Venezuela to help search for survivors.

🍺 Mexico City is reinstating its "Dry Law" for the Mexico vs. Ecuador World Cup match with takeaway alcohol sales banned in some areas from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.

🐕 A family's dog vanished for a month, then turned up partying in a viral video after Mexico's World Cup win over Czechia. Her family used the video to find her and bring her home.

Your Next Purchase Could Cost You Thousands

Nearly one in three scam victims last year were first contacted on social media. The post looked real. The seller looked legitimate. Then the money disappeared.

ScamBrief is a free weekly newsletter that shows you the latest scams happening right now and how to spot them before they cost you money.

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🍎 Your Health Pulse

Is Catastrophic Health Insurance in Mexico Worth It?

No one plans for a serious accident or a cancer diagnosis. But if either happens, the financial consequences can be devastating.

That’s where catastrophic health insurance comes in.

It won’t cover your routine checkups or prescriptions. What it does cover is the big stuff: surgeries, hospitalizations, and medical emergencies – the kinds of things you hope never happen, but should definitely plan for.

Read more 

📍Immigration Essentials

Mobile Line Registration Deadline Extended

Authorities have extended the June 30 cell phone registration deadline after officials warned that between 14 million and 24 million Mexican mobile phone lines still remain unregistered. Officials also said disconnecting millions of lines all at once wasn't technically possible.

Starting August 15, carriers will begin suspending unregistered lines in phases based on the last digit of each phone number. The rollout begins with numbers ending in 0 and will continue through December.

Here's the new registration schedule based on the last digit of your Mexican mobile number:

Aug. 15: Lines ending in 0
Aug. 31: Lines ending in 1
Sept. 15: Lines ending in 2
Sept. 30: Lines ending in 3
Oct. 15: Lines ending in 4
Oct. 31: Lines ending in 5
Nov. 15: Lines ending in 6
Nov. 30: Lines ending in 7
Dec. 15: Lines ending in 8
Dec. 31: Lines ending in 9

Again, this only applies to Mexican mobile phone lines issued by Mexican carriers. It does not apply to U.S., Canadian, or other foreign phone numbers.

🧩 Life in México

Mexico’s Big Push to Go Cashless

The Mexican government under President Sheinbaum has announced a series of measures to accelerate the adoption of digital payments.

Cash still dominates daily life, accounting for about 60% of consumer payments in Mexico. 

2026 has brought a coordinated push by the federal government and the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) to make digital payments easier, cheaper, and increasingly difficult to avoid as Mexico moves toward a cashless economy.

Here are some of the biggest recent developments:

CoDi and DiMo: You may have noticed these names in your banking app. CoDi (Cobro Digital) lets you make instant payments using QR codes with no transaction fees, while DiMo (Dinero Móvil) allows you to send money using only a recipient's mobile phone number. Banxico recently ordered all banks to simplify their apps and standardize these services, making them easier for consumers to use.

Tolls and gas stations: The federal government plans to require digital payments at all federal highway toll booths and gas stations by the end of 2026. Drivers will be able to pay with bank cards, electronic transfers, or DiMo, Banxico’s mobile payment platform.

Small businesses go digital: In mid-June, the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) issued new regulations to simplify electronic transfers and expand deposit account levels. The reform creates a new Nivel 2 Bis account for micro and small businesses, making it easier to accept digital payments without many traditional banking requirements. Banks must also simplify their mobile apps, making CoDi and DiMo easier to use and helping neighborhood stores, market vendors, and other small businesses move beyond cash.

Tighter scrutiny on large cash purchases: Updated anti-money laundering reforms are putting more pressure on high-value cash transactions, particularly in sectors such as vehicles, jewelry, real estate, and other "vulnerable activities." The final rules are still pending, but the Ministry of Finance has until July 16, 2026, to publish them.

Tax compliance: Mexico's 2026 tax reforms also support the country's digital transformation. New rules require digital platforms to provide SAT with greater access to transaction information, while expanding tax reporting and withholding requirements for certain online transactions. The goal is to increase transparency and bring more economic activity into the formal financial system.

Banco del Bienestar goes digital: The government is also modernizing Banco del Bienestar, Mexico's state-owned social bank. Planned upgrades by the end of 2026 will allow millions of customers to send money, make purchases, and manage their accounts from their phones, extending digital banking well beyond Mexico's traditional commercial banks.

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🇲🇽 Viva México

Inside Oaxaca's Greatest Celebration

Every July, Oaxaca becomes the gathering place for one of Mexico’s most important and spectacular Indigenous celebrations: La Guelaguetza.

Pronounced geh-lah-GET-sah, the word comes from Zapotec and refers to giving, sharing, and reciprocal support. That spirit of cooperation and community solidarity is the heart of the event.

Oaxacans call it La Fiesta Máxima ("The Greatest Festival") because it celebrates far more than music and dance – it's the state's most important cultural celebration. The festival’s roots reach back to pre-Hispanic ceremonies honoring Centéotl, the corn goddess, before evolving over centuries into the celebration we know today. 

La Guelaguetza brings together many of Oaxaca’s 16 Indigenous cultures, making it one of the most culturally diverse festivals in the Americas. The modern celebration takes place on Cerro del Fortín overlooking Oaxaca City, a hill long associated with community celebrations dating back to pre-Hispanic times.

These days, it’s where Los Lunes del Cerro, or “Mondays on the Hill,” happen. On the last two Mondays in July, delegations from Oaxaca’s 8 culturally distinct regions showcase their unique languages, dress, music, dance, and traditions.

There are two auditorium shows each Monday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The programs are different, so each performance brings a new mix of communities and regional traditions.

The dances tell stories of harvest, courtship, celebration, and resistance, keeping history alive from one generation to the next. [Watch the dances here] 

As each performance concludes, performers toss gifts into the crowd, including fruit, candy, local handicrafts, and even miniature bottles of mezcal,symbolically sharing the abundance of their communities in the spirit of guelaguetza.

🪷 Viva Wellness

The Most Delicious Way to Stay Hydrated

Pitaya, also known as dragon fruit, isn’t just Instagram-worthy. This vibrant Mexican cactus fruit is a legit wellness powerhouse that can help support immunity, digestion, and even glowing skin.

Rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber, pitaya helps fight inflammation, support gut health, and give your immune system a natural boost. It's also low in calories and naturally hydrating, making it a perfect snack during Mexico's hot summer months.

Discover even more health benefits, how to pick the perfect pitaya, and even how to turn it into a DIY face mask.

Read more

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

In 2026, La Guelaguetza includes more than 140 activities across Oaxaca. Here are several worth adding to your calendar.

Convites de Guelaguetza 2026 – July 1, 10 & 11, Oaxaca City
La Guelaguetza begins with these festive street parades through downtown Oaxaca City. Expect brass bands, Chinas Oaxaqueñas, colorful parade globes, and towering mojiganga puppets. The processions begin at Cruz de Piedra at 6 p.m. More info here

Feria del Mezcal 2026 – July 17–28, Santa Lucía del Camino, Oaxaca
One of Oaxaca’s biggest Guelaguetza-season food and drink events, this fair brings mezcal producers, tastings, regional foods, and live music to the convention center. It runs daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visitors can also browse the adjoining artisan fair, with textiles, alebrijes, and barro negro. More info here

Expo Feria del Queso y Quesillo 2026 – July 18–20, Reyes Etla, Oaxaca
Reyes Etla celebrates one of Oaxaca’s most beloved foods with this free Guelaguetza-season fair at Paraje “Las Peñitas.” Expect fresh quesillo, regional cheeses, traditional food, live music, and artisan stalls. Free entry begins at 10 a.m., making it an easy daytime stop outside Oaxaca City. More info here

Feria de la Manzana – July 18–19, Santa Martha Latuvi, Oaxaca
In the Sierra de Juárez, Santa Martha Latuvi celebrates its 10th Apple Fair with a community-focused weekend of regional food, local apple products, cultural activities, sports, and mountain scenery. The Pueblos Mancomunados village frames the event around sustainable tourism, nature, and family-made goods. More info here

Tercer Torneo Internacional de Pelota Mixteca Lunes del Cerro 2026 – July 18–26, Oaxaca
Pelota mixteca is one of Oaxaca’s great living traditions: an ancient ballgame still played on open-air courts. Teams strike a heavy ball with decorated gloves or by hand, depending on the style of play, keeping a centuries-old sport in motion. More info here 

Desfile de Delegaciones 2026 – July 18 & 25, Oaxaca City
A street preview of  the Lunes del Cerro performances, Oaxaca’s Guelaguetza delegations take to the streets. Each parade brings different communities, bands, dances, and regional dress into public view. The processions start at Fuente de las Ocho Regiones at 6 p.m. and continue toward Alameda de León. More info here

Feria Gastronómica y Artesanal – July 19, San Jacinto Amilpas, Oaxaca
San Jacinto Amilpas marks its Guelaguetza with a community food and artisan fair starting at 9 a.m. Expect local dishes, traditional drinks, sweets, textiles, and mezcal. The day also includes music and dance, with the main Guelaguetza presentation at 5 p.m. More info here

Donají La Leyenda – July 19 & 26, Oaxaca City
As a beloved prelude to Oaxaca’s Guelaguetza celebrations, this ballet folklórico brings the Zapotec legend of Princess Donají to the auditorium stage. Expect music, dance, elaborate costumes, and dramatic lighting in a nighttime performance on Cerro del Fortín. Shows are scheduled for 8 p.m. More info here

Lunes del Cerro 2026 – July 20 & 27, Oaxaca City
The official Guelaguetza performances are the festival’s centerpiece. Communities from Oaxaca’s eight regions gather on Cerro del Fortín for traditional dance, music, dress, and offerings. Shows run at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m every Monday. Paid tickets sell online and at tourism offices; free Palcos C and D are first-come, first-served. More info here

Festival de los Moles 2026 – July 24–25, Plaza de la Danza, Oaxaca City
This food festival celebrates Oaxaca’s mole traditions, from the seven classic styles to regional variations prepared by restaurants and traditional cooks. Expect a tasting-focused event rooted in ancestral knowledge, local ingredients, and careful technique. It is one of July’s strongest culinary stops. More info here

💡 Say It in Spanish

“Asistir” vs. “Atender”

One means you showed up. The other means you helped out.

Asistir is one of those Spanish words that looks like English but means something completely different. It's easy to confuse it with assist, but asistir means to attend — a meeting, concert, appointment, or class.

Atender is the verb you'll use when you're helping, serving, or taking care of someone.

• Voy a asistir a la boda. – I'm going to attend the wedding.

• Voy a atender a los invitados. – I'm going to take care of the guests.

Have a Spanish teacher or school you'd recommend? We're still collecting reader recommendations. Share yours here.

🎯 Trivia Answer

A: Chewing gum. 

Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Maya were chewing chicle – the natural sap of the chicozapote tree – in the jungles of the Yucatán Peninsula. It helped quench thirst, freshen breath, and curb hunger on long journeys. 

Centuries later, American entrepreneurs turned this ancient Maya tradition into the chewing gum we know today. 

For decades, harvesting chicle was one of southeastern Mexico's most important industries. Each summer after the first rains, chicleros ventured deep into the jungle, climbing towering chicozapote trees and carving zigzag cuts into the bark. The milky sap slowly flowed into waterproof canvas bags attached near the base of the tree. The work was demanding and dangerous, with harvesters spending months in remote jungle camps. 

Today, you can still taste the original. Chicza, made by Maya communities in the Yucatán, produces 100% natural chewing gum using sustainably harvested chicle. 

See chicle harvesting in action.

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