Mexican special forces take out Jalisco Cartel leader “El Mencho,” sparking violence across 20 Mexican states. President Donald Trump will deliver the annual State of the Union address on Tuesday night, and another high-profile name has been arrested in the U.K. over their connection to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It’s Tuesday, February 24, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
Mexico Takes Out Kingpin ‘El Mencho’
With help from the United States, Mexican special forces on Sunday killed longtime Jalisco Cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes.
Oseguera, with a U.S. bounty of $15 million, was regarded as one of the most notorious drug traffickers in the world. He was perhaps the most powerful drug lord in the world. This was a major step by Mexico and a big win for the United States. American authorities say groups like the Jalisco Cartel are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans a year through the drug trade.
Violence has exploded across the country in the aftermath. There are many Americans stranded in Mexico right now because the violence has closed down roads and airports. At least a couple of dozen Mexican National Guardsmen have been killed so far in the fighting.
SOTU Preview
President Trump will deliver his annual State of the Union address tonight — a high-stakes moment for outlining his administration’s priorities and shaping the message Republicans will take into the 2026 midterm elections.
It’s expected to be a consequential evening, with Trump highlighting what he frames as major accomplishments in the first year of his second term and stressing policy directions he hopes will resonate with Republican voters.
Expect him to spotlight what he describes as historic gains at the southern border, touting a dramatic crackdown on illegal immigration and stepped-up deportations. He is also likely to point to diplomatic and security developments in the Middle East, including the continued tension between the United States, Israel, and Iran, as talks over Iran’s nuclear program continue in Geneva and officials caution that the risk of conflict remains high.
On trade, Trump is pressing forward. After the Supreme Court limited his earlier tariff framework, the administration implemented a 10% global tariff under separate authority, with the president saying he would prefer to raise it to 15%. The current rate remains at 10%, but Trump is expected to make the case that tougher trade measures are key to protecting American workers and reducing the trade deficit.
The president is also likely to highlight efforts to make American cities safer, reinforcing law-and-order themes that are central to his broader political narrative.
All told, tonight’s address is set to be part accomplishments report, part policy outline, and part strategic messaging designed to shape the national debate — and Republican positioning — as voters head into the midterms later this year.
Ex-Ambassador Mandelson Arrested
Former U.K. ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson was arrested Monday over “suspicion of misconduct” in office. The charges stem from newly released Jeffrey Epstein files.
Mandelson served under Prime Minister Keir Starmer before Starmer removed him in September 2025. The scandal erupting around Mandelson has threatened to tear apart Starmer’s government, as well as further validating concerns about Mandelson prior to his appointment, based on information in the Epstein files. The arrest comes just days after British police arrested former Prince Andrew in connection with his ties to Epstein.
Morning Wire spoke with GB News host Bev Turner about the latest fallout from the Epstein files. According to Turner, Mandelson could be in major trouble: “It genuinely carries a risk of life imprisonment. If you are found guilty of misconduct in public office, it’s an incredibly serious charge.”
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