Hello followers. These days I've been deep into my doctoral research, in an intensive I'm doing to catch up with the level of completion I was supposed to have by this date. Look, I really like to do research. That is, it's a hobby for me, for example, to find connections between historical events and figures through archival analysis, and to systematize and discuss classic and contemporary literature on topics such as political warfare, covert action, propaganda or psychological warfare. If I am late it is because, as the late epistemologist Mario Bunge would say, science needs minimally favorable economic conditions to develop, quite far from the Cuban environment.
These days I wanted to tell you about a dynamic that really hurts me about our sunken context. Fortunately, thanks to a friend I turned to Hive to boost my income about three years ago or so. What I do here is quite similar to, or embodies in its entirety, another intellectual hobby closely connected to political-historical research, which is my insatiable appetite for news and its discussion. Other colleagues have not had that possibility, and struggle to extend their meager salaries by doing things well outside their original professions, like reselling goods. I know this can be seen from a dimension of resilience, that they are getting by and doing whatever it takes to survive, but I can't help but feel bad with that dynamic. It wasn't supposed to be like that.
Mexico
The private secretary to the mayor of Mexico's capital, a woman, was fatally shot this Tuesday along with another top aide as they drove around in a black audi, in a sign that things haven't changed in the violent Aztec scene. President Claudia Sheinbaum referred to the fact in her press conference, showing herself very affected by the event. “It is a deplorable incident and we are going to give all the support that the mayor may need,” Sheinbaum said. In an image posted on social media it is seen how four shots from precise hitmen pierced the front window of the car through the driver's side. I always think about the capacity of Latin American hitmen—a real life movie—, and also how there is always something shady in these events that escapes our knowledge.
SourceThe following is related to a sad accident ocurred the past Sunday
Mexican ship that crashed into Brooklyn Bridge made no distress calls, Mexico says https://t.co/HEvjYgWXaN
— The Straits Times (@straits_times) May 20, 2025
The Trump effect
Members of the U.S. Congress of Hispanic origin have sent a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives urging him to oppose a Trump administration proposal to impose a 5% tax on remittances sent by migrants to their families. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus argues that the measure is discriminatory—it does not affect Americans—and would have a negative impact on the value of the critical remittances that nearly 40 million people send to their needy relatives. They are talking about some $93 billion annually sent from the United States. “Taxing remittances—aid that supports food, shelter and education for its recipients—is discriminatory, economically dangerous and morally indefensible. It goes against American values and sets a dangerous precedent,” said the caucus' president.
