Let's Talk New Mexico

With primaries behind us, we look ahead to the general election.

We’ve heard from unhoused folks that having a pet gave them a reason to survive when they otherwise may have given up. But when people are having trouble taking care of themselves, is it fair for their animal companions to also suffer?

Maybe the most overlooked part of going anywhere in a car is parking once you’re there. We assume there will be a spot for our car, either at a business, or on a street, or in a garage. But should we expect parking? How much should it cost us and how much does it cost to provide? And should we presume it will be safe for us and our property?

This week on Let’s Talk New Mexico we’re discussing all things food insecurity in New Mexico, including the overarching causes and necessary changes.

Voters in cities and counties around New Mexico are choosing new local leaders like mayors, city council members, and county commissioners on Nov. 4, and also considering questions like school bonds. We'll talk about results with journalists and a professor.

Let’s Talk New Mexico, 10/30/25 There are about twenty data centers in our state, including a big one owned by Meta in Los Lunas. They’re also in Albuquerque, Taos, Clovis and Sunland Park, and the rush is on to build more. However, people who live nearby worry about water and energy usage, and whether these developments really benefit their communities.

Over the last seven years $1.6 billion dollars have been spent on New Mexico students’, especially those named in the landmark Yazzie/Martinez lawsuit, but inequities have persisted. Advocates are outraged as years of promises have been broken and many kids in the state’s public education system have been left behind. On the next Let’s Talk New Mexico we’ll dig into why the state has yet to carry out the plans.

This week on Let’s Talk New Mexico, we’ll be taking a look at threats to transgender rights in New Mexico, and we’ll be talking to the folks who are doing their best make sure New Mexicans get the care they need.

This Father's Day, we're talking about the qualities that make a good dad, and how a healthy approach to masculinity can make a difference in mental health for parent and child .

For New Mexico youth, having a trusted adult mentor, like a Big Brother or Big Sister, can lead to better outcomes, like staying away from drugs and alcohol and pursuing higher education. But as mentorship programs face volunteer shortages, some young people are being left without the support they need.

What is it about New Mexico that inspires so many poets?

Early voting started this week for the primary elections on June 2nd and this year New Mexicans who are not affiliated with a political party will have the opportunity to participate.

We talk about April's most compelling news stories with the journalists who reported on them.

We're talking all about libraries this week, especially the things that they offer that aren't books. Internet access! Food pantries! Washer and dryer? Yes!

SNAP underwent some big changes last year, and as a result an upcoming deadline is set to lock-out thousands of New Mexicans from food assistance for the next three years.

This week on Let’s Talk New Mexico, we’ll be checking out the Job Corps program, as well as similar youth-oriented programs that serve different purposes, like the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. We’ll speak to youth who are currently enrolled in the programs and those who have graduated to find out how their experience has affected their lives.

A jury in New Mexico has found that social media giant Meta misled consumers about the safety of its platforms and endangering children. The owner of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp must pay out $375 million dollars in civil penalties.

This week on Let’s Talk New Mexico, we’ll be examining the housing crisis, looking at how we got to this point, and how our communities can pivot to help make sure New Mexicans can get the housing that they need.

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission will soon decide whether or not the private equity firm Blackstone Infrastructure will acquire PNM’s parent company. The proposed $11.5 billion acquisition of the Public Service Company of New Mexico has drawn fierce resistance. This week on Let’s Talk New Mexico we’re talking to the players at the center of the whole debate, and we’d love to hear from you! Email [email protected], leave a voice message by clicking the link below, or call in live at (505) 277-5866 Thursday morning at 9.

On the next Let’s Talk New Mexico we’ll discuss how this was the last regular session under Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and how her legislative priorities compared to what passed. We’ll also talk about what laws passed, including the first universal child care program in the country, medical malpractice reform, and immigration policy that blocks local ICE detention centers.

Looking for love on-line? Be careful! Scammers have stolen $3.8 million from New Mexicans last year alone, and their cons are growing more sophisticated.

This week on Let’s Talk New Mexico, we’ll be discussing the bill going through the Roundhouse trying to reform New Mexico's medical malpractice system and what supporters are saying will help recruit and retain health care workers, while opponents push back.

This week on Let’s Talk New Mexico, we’re diving into the design philosophies that will hopefully make our streets safer for everyone: drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike.

New Mexico’s 112 legislators and their staffs plus more than 400 more aides, pages and security personnel at the Roundhouse, and the countless advocates and lobbyists, are all flooding into Santa Fe for the session. So where do they stay? And where do they eat? And what about entertainment? On the next Let’s Talk New Mexico we’ll discuss the session’s effects on the city.

Geothermal energy is a virtually inexhaustible and clean renewable resource that can be used for heating, cooling, and electricity generation by tapping into steam and hot water created by the Earth’s molten core. A recent report found that New Mexico has the potential to produce substantial power from its abundant geothermal resources – but what will it take it to tap into it?

There’s been talk of investing in the state fairgrounds for decades, but this time millions are being spent to support planning and community engagement, and some options have gone public. So, how will it affect the surrounding neighborhoods, and, is there a plan to make sure gentrification doesn’t displace folks? What do you expect from a redeveloped fairgrounds in the coming years?

Early voting will start soon and run through November 1st, and several cities in our area will choose new mayors. Old fashioned images of mayors have them greeting families on downtown streets, checking in on local businesses and directing city police, but is that really how they spend their days?

In July, Congress voted to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, eliminating over $1.1 billion in federal support for public radio and television – leaving tribal and rural communities especially vulnerable to loosing essential news.

New Mexico has invested in early childhood education for years and now Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced that the state will soon offer no-cost universal childcare to every kid in the state. On the next Let’s Talk New Mexico we’ll dig into what this means for families and what infrastructure needs to be in place before the program begins November 1st.

The end of summer comes with a welcome drop in temperatures, leaves starting to change color, and the smell of roasting chile in the air. Farmers are busy and so are farmer’s markets. It’s harvest time.

Whether you live in Albuquerque, or down South, or in Santa Fe, or cooler areas that historically haven’t been their home, a warming climate is leading to a broader range and longer season for mosquitoes and other pests.

In early June, the Trump Administration proposed up to 90% cuts to federal funding for tribal colleges and universities, including several in our region, threatening their ability to stay open.