“There’s still a long way to go,” UC San Diego’s Cecilia Farfán-Méndez says. “But…after going through innings with no real play, now we're at least on base.”

Security may be an area of agreement, but energy is a source of discord. President López Obrador kicked off the month by pitching a far-reaching constitutional reform that cements the state electricity firm’s control over power generation.

Montserrat Ramiro, former commissioner of the Mexican energy regulatory agency known as the CRE, explains that though Congress, the USMCA, and international environmental standards are all roadblocks for the reform, we shouldn’t expect López Obrador to give up on fulfilling his statist energy vision.

Hear the two experts on the latest episode of Latin America in Focus.

Five things to know about securing a fifth-term win. Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega has stacked the deck to make winning the next presidential vote a foregone conclusion. Read how his regime pulled it off and what else you need to know about the November 7 elections.

See AS/COA’s coverage of regional votes in our 2021 Election Guide.

THEY SAID WHAT?

• With $4.1 billion of venture capital investment, Latin America is the next big tech frontier. (Financial Times)
• The IMF softened its rating of the environmental risk to Brazil’s economy after government pressure. (Bloomberg)
• Argentina froze prices on key food items for 90 days in a bid to combat inflation. (Reuters)
• Havana Syndrome strikes again, this time in Colombia. (The Wall Street Journal)
• Mexico announced it will require visas for travelers arriving from Brazil. (El Universal)

• The United States announced plans to ease land border crossings with Canada and Mexico after 17 months of pandemic restrictions. (The Washington Post)
• Costa Rica instituted a vaccine mandate for public workers. (The Tico Times)
• The WHO recommends a third dose of Sinopharm and Sinovac, two shots available in Latin America, for those over 60. (UN)