The Santa Fe New Mexican’s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón features the policies, politics and personaliti...
Milan Simonich gives his take on the 2025 legislative session
The 2025 New Mexico legislative session is in the books and the politicians, staffers and lobbyists have cleared out of the Roundhouse. On the final day, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Republican legislators were critical of what they said was a lack of public safety legislation to come out of the session. Santa Fe New Mexican columnist Milan Simonich appears on the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to share his take on what went down. Guest host and New Mexican state government and policy reporter Margaret O’Hara chats with Simonich to learn his biggest takeaways. Simonich offers a critical view of Democratic leadership, saying there seemed to be a lack of focus on making progress on some of the key issues that were highlighted heading into the session, including public safety. He says a special session, which the governor and some Republicans have called for, would be a waste of time unless there’s a real strategy that’s been laid out in advance. It wasn’t quite all negative, though. Simonich closes by talking about a couple of positive developments he saw come out of the session.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
14:36
Sen. Peter Wirth assesses the 2025 legislative session as the clock winds down
Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, is in charge of steering the ship when it comes to setting the agenda in the chamber and deciding what bills make it to the floor during New Mexico's legislative session. He joined New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón on Thursday morning to offer his assessment on what’s been accomplished in this year’s 60-day session and what legislation may still be considered before the session comes to a close at noon Saturday. Wirth, who has been the Senate majority leader for nine years, talks about the importance of collaboration in getting legislation heard and passed, and discusses his relationship with Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer. He also shares how his job as a mediator helps him in his legislative role. Wirth is asked about his level of satisfaction regarding what bills have made it through to the governor’s desk so far, and responds to criticism levied by the governor and Republicans when it comes to crime legislation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
21:47
Rep. Nicole Chavez shares how tragedy sparked her path to politics
Nicole Chavez’s life changed forever in 2015 when her teenage son Jaydon was killed in a drive-by shooting. The tragedy and ensuing drawn-out judicial process in prosecuting those responsible for her son’s death sparked her interest in advocacy and politics. The first-term Republican state representative joins “Around the Roundhouse” to share how the experience has led her on a path to fighting for stiffer penalties for juvenile offenders and also for stronger rehabilitation programs so those who are released from incarceration are integrated into society rather than falling back to a life of crime. Chavez also talks about being a rare Republican representative in the Albuquerque area, why she switched from a Democrat to Republican, and what she’s found surprising while serving in her first term in office. She addresses the crime bills she has sponsored during the 60-day session, as well as her disappointment in what she feels is a lack of progress during the session to produce laws that will reduce crime in New Mexico.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
26:54
Sen. Leo Jaramillo gives the lowdown on his lowrider legislation and Española roots
Sen. Leo Jaramillo has been in the New Mexico Legislature since 2021 and serves as vice chair of the Senate Rules Committee. He’s had a winding path through his professional career, starting as a TV news writer and producer before becoming a teacher and now a staff operations manager at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Jaramillo joins “Around the Roundhouse” to talk about his journey through life, including how being involved on cheer teams gave him a boost of confidence when he was younger and how a teacher helped inspire him to become involved in politics. He also discusses the current legislative session and the lowrider legislation he is sponsoring. In the second segment, host Daniel Chacón speaks with fellow reporter Margaret O’Hara about potential federal funding cuts and how they may affect Medicaid and school meals programs in New Mexico, and about what state lawmakers are doing to prepare for the potential impact.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
25:24
Stefani Lord and John Block speak on their radical reputations and Trump's first weeks back in power
Stefani Lord and John Block are two of the most outspoken members of the state’s Republican House caucus and have developed quite a reputation in the Legislature. The two lawmakers, who share an office, join the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss their close friendship, how they get along with members of both parties, and whether they think their reputation is warranted. Lord, R-Sandia Park, and Block, R-Alamogordo, also discuss their thoughts on President Donald Trump’s first weeks back in office. Host Daniel J. Chacón gets their reactions to the federal funding cuts and freezes, as well as the recent layoffs to federal employees. He also asks about their level of concern with LGBTQ+ rights under the Trump administration. Getting back to New Mexico’s 60-day legislative session, Chacón asks Lord and Block about the Democrat-sponsored bills they dislike the most and about their favorite bills they’re sponsoring. They say that they support more bipartisan legislation than most people might think.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Santa Fe New Mexican’s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.
USA