Government vs. Rocha Moya: A week of political maneuvering and viral trends

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was absent from her customary morning press conference on Friday due to a severe bout of flu. Her absence coincided with the return of Rubén Rocha Moya, the governor of Sinaloa, who had been away for months amid allegations from the U.S. government of alleged ties to drug trafficking.

Rocha Moya's return to his gubernatorial duties was short-lived. After causing internal friction within his Morena party, where some members organized to oppose his comeback, he requested another indefinite leave of absence just one day after resuming his post. He stated his decision was to prioritize the nation and the "4T" (Fourth Transformation) political movement above all else.

The week's news cycle also saw a viral trend dubbed "aura farming," a social media phenomenon now appearing on the streets, particularly among teenagers. While some older observers dismiss it as a dull activity, others see it as a sign of a generation reclaiming public space after the isolation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The trend has sparked commentary, with one social media user noting, "I used to farm aura, but then they changed the aura. Now the aura I have is not aura. And the aura of aura seems like very bad aura. And it's going to happen to you."

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I used to farm aura, but then they changed the aura. Now the aura I have is not aura. And the aura of aura seems like very bad aura. And it's going to happen to you.