What’s New This Week
{{Firstname|Good morning}}, instead of unpacking headlines, this final note of the year is about perspective. From trade and migration to energy, investment, and culture, the signals for 2026 are already visible in the work being done today. This edition is a reflection on where North America is headed, what will shape the choices ahead, and why clarity—not noise—will matter most in the year to come.
First time reading? Join thousands of intellectually curious readers. Sign up here.
Like my work?
Each week I personally write Power Courier—bringing you border, trade, Latino, and political insights that connect our communities.
With your donation, we can reach more readers and keep this informative avenue thriving.
👉 Join in supporting today.
A Year Ends. The Signals for 2026 Are Already Here.
As this year comes to a close, I find myself thinking less about week to week headlines and more about what is quietly lining up ahead. The signals for 2026 are already visible if we know where to look, especially where policy, capital, and execution intersect.
Politics Is Becoming Economic Infrastructure
In the United States, the midterm elections will shape whether we move toward pragmatic solutions on trade, migration, and industrial policy or remain stuck in short term theater. In Mexico, gubernatorial races will matter more than usual. Governors are no longer just local administrators. Through my work at Intermestic Partners and Intermestic Capital, I see every day how state level leadership now determines whether cross border projects move forward, stall, or never happen at all.
Trade Faces a Moment of Truth
The upcoming review of the USMCA will not simply be a technical exercise. It will test trust inside North America. Labor enforcement, energy policy, national security exceptions, and industrial subsidies will all be part of the conversation. Much of the manufacturing, logistics, and trade investment moving today is already being structured with this review in mind.
Trade, migration, energy, and security are no longer separate debates. They are now the same conversation.
Latin America’s Pressure Points Are Connected
Venezuela remains in a state of managed instability, shaping migration flows, energy markets, and regional diplomacy. Colombia’s 2026 elections could become a pivot point for security cooperation and regional alignment. These dynamics are not abstract. They directly affect where capital flows, how supply chains are designed, and why Mexico increasingly functions as a stabilizing bridge between regions.
Migration Is Really About Jobs and Legal Pathways
The defining migration question of 2026 is not arrivals, it is workforce. How does the United States get the people it needs to work legally in energy, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and care industries. This is why I continue to focus on investment driven solutions, including EB-5, that align legal migration with job creation, capital development, and long term community growth rather than political slogans.
Energy, Critical Minerals, and Security Have Converged
Energy security now runs through grid capacity, cross border infrastructure, logistics corridors, and critical minerals. Much of my work this year has focused on mobilizing capital into critical mineral processing, energy infrastructure, and industrial development that directly supports North America’s manufacturing base. Clean energy, industrial growth, and national security are no longer parallel efforts. They rise or fall together.
Sport, Culture, and Development Still Matter
In motorsports, Mexican excellence remains front and center. Sergio “Checo” Pérez returning to Formula 1 carries meaning well beyond competition. At the same time, Daniel Suárez continues to elevate Mexican presence in NASCAR.
Beyond professional sports, I am especially proud of the youth sports clinics we are building with key regional partners. These efforts are about discipline, confidence, and opportunity long before politics ever enters the picture.
The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 continues, offering a rare reminder that cooperation across borders is still possible. In entertainment, Bad Bunny connected to the Super Bowl reflects how Latino culture has become central to the American story.
A Milestone Year Ahead
In 2026, the United States will mark its 250th anniversary. It is not a moment for nostalgia, but for reflection. The question is whether the promise of opportunity, work, and renewal still holds and whether we are willing to invest the leadership, capital, and cooperation required to carry it forward.
As we head into the new year, my hope is simple. That we move with more clarity than noise. More intention than reaction. And that we remember trade, migration, energy, sport, and culture are not separate conversations. They are chapters of the same story.
Thank you for reading, reflecting, and engaging throughout this year. I look forward to continuing the conversation in 2026.
Warmly,
Marco
POWER POLL
What would you like to see more of in this newsletter?
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Thanks for reading this edition of my newsletter! I'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts about what you think are the most critical issues that need to be addressed. Email me at [email protected] or connect with me on social media using the hashtag #Intermestic.
Stay Informed, Stay Connected!
Subscribe to my blog at www.marcolopez.com.
Follow me on X, LinkedIn, and Facebook for the latest news and updates.
Share this newsletter with your network and help spread the word!
Let's keep the conversation going!