Episodes
-
On this week's interview Paul talks to former Albuquerque Journal opinion editor Jeffery Tucker. They begin by discussing the recently announced plan by the Journal to sell its building and launch into a discussion of the newspaper business. They further discuss the life of an opinion editor, changes to the business over time, and Jeff's numerous jobs in the business over the years. Finally, they discuss current economic topics including Trump's tariffs.
-
The GOP HQ fire bomb suspect appears to have been captured. He looks JUST as you'd expect.
MLG vetoed two bills in the waning hours of her signing period (we agree with her on both). MLG also ripped Democrat leadership in the Legislature saying of the tax bill
“Even more troubling is the fact that what ultimately emerged lack both strategic coherence and fiscal responsibility,” the governor added. “There was no plan and no preparation for how to pay for the tax relief in this bill. She also vetoed a lowrider license plate bill and tortilla as the state's official bread. MLG argued that these bills represent a "misuse of time and priorities"
Paul and Wally discuss the latest political news in Albuquerque's Mayoral race and race for Governor. Specifically Paul and Wally discuss the possible impact of one of the bills the Gov. signed sets up "semi-open primaries" and how it COULD open new strategic voting opportunities.
Freedom Index results are now finalized. How did your legislators do? Also, RGF recently tabulated how the average stacks up relative to other sessions.
The Maxeon deal has been changed (downsized) dramatically, yet the Economic Development Department website still touts the original deal.
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin recently launched Katy Perry and others to space for 11 minutes. Is Bezos taking Virgin Galactic's market?
MLG sends the National Guard to Albuquerque, but to what end?
-
Episodes manquant?
-
On this week's interview Paul sits down with Troy Clark. Troy is head of the New Mexico Hospital Association which represents most hospitals throughout New Mexico. They discuss how hospitals are set up in New Mexico (government, non-profit, and for-profit), but quickly turn to the legislative session and the Gov.'s signing of a bill directly (negatively) impacting hospitals. Finally, the conversation broadens out to the health care provider shortage and what can and should be done to address it.
-
MLG has until Friday to sign or veto bills that passed this session. She signed a few on Monday. Paul and Wally discuss some of the bills signed. Many of them were not relevant to RGF, but nonetheless will impact the State in important ways.
Then, Paul and Wally have a lengthy discussion of the most important economic issue facing our nation, the tariff situation. What does it mean, what are the goals, and how might it turn out in the end for New Mexico and the United States?
Crude oil prices have dropped significantly for the first time in months.
-
Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies for the libertarian Cato Institute was in Albuquerque for some talks to RGF and Federalist Society. He sat down with Paul to discuss the medical provider shortage in New Mexico and broader issues in healthcare. Michael especially takes on the issue of Medicaid which is a joint federal/state program to (supposedly) provide Medicaid for the poor and how this program's perverse incentives drive health care costs upward, doctors out of business, and are driving America into a debt crisis. You don't want to miss this timely conversation!
-
Someone appears to have committed arson at NM GOP HQ.
According to a new Wallethub report, New Mexico is dead last when it comes to the Return on Investment (ROI) for taxpayers
And, another new Wallethub report places New Mexico first on "most stressed."
The best part of what happened in the session is the death of several bad bills.
State data on Albuquerque Public Schools finds the District's performance on education metrics wanting which broadly reflects the recent findings of NAEP.
A travel journalist on Youtube named Nick Johnson recently traveled to Albuquerque's Warzone. He called it: "The Most Frightful Neighborhood In America."
New Mexico's film industry is in a "lull" but the state expects to pay out $118 million in tax credits in the current fiscal year, while $117 million was paid out last year and $73 million the year before that.
-
On this week's Tipping Point interview Paul sits down with Tego Venturi, a realtor in Albuquerque. He recently won realtor of the year from the National Association of Realtors. Tego and Paul discuss the local housing market and current conditions in the metro area and then move on to talk about housing legislation and whether the bills being passed (or considered in Santa Fe) would address the housing "crisis." Is the Legislature moving in the right direction or do they need to consider other approaches to addressing housing in New Mexico? Paul and Tego may not agree 100% but this is an informational conversation about an important part of New Mexico's economy.
-
On this week's Tipping Point NM conversation Paul and Wally discuss three timely events:
The end of the 2025 60-day legislative session;
The Lobos success and subsequent defeat
The shooting in Las Cruces which (again) involved young people, even teenagers shooting and killing each other.
Much of this episode is dedicated to going through the bills that passed both houses this session. Unfortunately, they are almost universally bad although ONE good bill not only passed both houses, but almost overcame an MLG veto.
Finally, Paul had a chance to testify as an expert witness on Sen. Jay Block's "GATO" bill on rooting out wasteful government spending (SB 484).
You don't want to miss this detailed recap of some of the bills that will likely become new laws in New Mexico.
-
On this week's interview Paul talks to Matthew Mitchell. Matt is Senior Fellow in the Centre for Human Freedom at the Canadian Fraser Institute (a free market think tank). But Matthew WAS with the Rio Grande Foundation many years ago. He is a native New Mexican living in Angel Fire. More importantly, he and Paul have co-authored a new report "Economic Freedom in the Land of Enchantment" which Paul considers the most important policy study the Foundation has ever undertaken. The report has loads of useful information but specifically finds that New Mexico is the ONLY state in the nation to lose economic freedom since 1981.
-
With less than a week left in the session, Paul and Wally discuss the latest from Santa Fe. Specifically, Paul and Wally discuss SB 176 and the fact that reforms like it to address NM's medical malpractice laws have been slowed thanks to the trial attorneys.
In a huge win for businesses and taxpayers paid leave died over the weekend.
HB 14, a mediocre bill goes bad.
What's the latest on the Freedom Index?
A new report by Rio Grande Foundation and the Fraser Institute finds that New Mexico is the only state in the nation to have seen a decline in economic freedom since 1981. Paul and Wally go into detail on NM's lack of economic freedom.
-
On this week's Tipping Point interview Paul sits down with Albuquerque mayoral candidate Eddie Varela. RGF hopes to talk to each of the candidates about their visions for Albuquerque's future and how they would address some of the very serious issues facing New Mexico's largest City.
Check out the first of these conversations with Mr. Varela about his personal history and plans.
-
Paul and Wally discuss the latest on HB 11, formerly known as Paid Family & Medical Leave.
A bill to raise alcohol taxes died in committee (HB 417). Are alcohol taxes dead for the session? Speaking of which, the tax bill is/could be the biggest bill yet to drop this session. It could STILL include this and other tax policies and be rammed through by session end.
Democrats in the House Energy Committee rejected another opportunity to reform EV rules by overturning MLG's mandate.
Bipartisan support for a Medicaid Trust Fund? What does it mean?
Paul attempted to testify (virtually) against HB 6. Why and what happened?
Today is the 5th anniversary of MLG's first COVID public health emergency. Paul and Wally look at that legacy and the recent NM supreme court decision to ratify it and other emergencies like her anti-gun emergency.
Paul will be in Alamogordo on the day of March 26 and we have an exciting event on New Mexico's medical shortage that evening in ABQ as well:
Darren White is the latest addition to the Albuquerque Mayoral race. Can anyone knock off Tim Keller? -
This week's "interview" is a little different. This week Paul and Wally talk taxes. What is their purpose? Why are they such a priority right now for the Rio Grande Foundation? Which taxes do more or less economic harm? Why is the GRT such a "unique" issue here in New Mexico? Paul is doing a more thorough presentation on taxes in New Mexico at an event THIS Saturday. You can find out more here.
-
On this week's conversation Paul and Wally discuss the latest on the newly renamed paid leave bill and other issues in the Legislature.
How are things looking in terms of the Freedom Index?
Paul recently wrote a blog post that was picked up by the Santa Fe New Mexican that the process in Santa Fe stinks.
MLG plans a special session to deal with Trump cuts, but Medicaid is in dire need of reform. What does it all mean?:
Paul will be discussing tax reform at an event this weekend w/ AFP. If you have a chance to come out on Saturday Paul will talk state taxes and there will be a separate presentation on the Trump tax cuts.
-
On this week's interview Paul sits down with attorney, activist, and author Ilya Shapiro. Shapiro worked at the libertarian Cato Institute for more than a decade and attempted a career change to Georgetown Law School. Sadly, a factually accurate but "controversial" post on social media got him into hot water and caused nationwide controversy including at Georgetown Law. The dustup caused Ilya to look elsewhere for employment and also resulted in his new book "Lawless: The Miseducation of America's Elites." You don't want to miss this informative conversation!
-
Paul and Wally share the latest from the Roundhouse. Paid Family Leave is revised and heading for the House floor. HB 417 a revised alcohol tax of 6% has passed through the House Tax Committee on partisan lines.
Free speech is under attack in Santa Fe: https://errorsofenchantment.com/new-mexico-s-b-85-a-legally-dubious-speech-chilling-proposal/ In a bit of good news SB 4 (net zero) was tabled in the Senate Finance Committee.
RGF's president had an article in National Review about the disaster that would be Deb Haaland as Gov. of New Mexico. Former Las Cruces Mayor may run for Gov. He says he's "do things 90% differently than MLG." Will changes to New Mexico voting law impact this race? Paul and Wally discuss.
Despite numerous dire challenges facing New Mexico the Legislature has no solutions besides shoveling money into various "permanent funds." New Mexico now has $61 billion under SIC control.
Another fabulous Trever cartoon highlights (just some) of the good bills that get no love from the hyper "progressives" in Santa Fe. Sadly, plenty of bad bills ARE moving quickly.
-
Paul recently sat down with Americans for Prosperity's new state director for New Mexico Sarah Hetemi.They discuss what AFP does and is doing here in New Mexico especially during the ongoing legislative session (and how you can help) as well as what their plans are nationally in terms of issues like the Trump tax cuts and education choice. Paul and Sarah then move on to discuss Sarah's personal journey from Norway to Alaska and now to New Mexico.
AFP is one of the Rio Grande Foundation's most important partner organizations. You don't want to miss this conversation!
-
I testified yesterday on a bill that would eliminate New Mexico's income tax. Here's what I said and here's what happened. Speaking of zero income tax states, IN & OUT burger chain moves to Tennessee from California.
PFML will finally be considered in its 2nd committee on Wednesday. Paul and Wally discuss what that means.
NM Democrats seem to have settled on a plan to raise alcohol taxes.
SB 139 which would have eliminated MLG's EV mandate was defeated in its first committee on partisan lines.
A "study" claims UNM athletics creates a big economic benefit for New Mexico. We appreciate collegiate sports but take the study with a big grain of salt.
How's the NM "Portfolio" doing? We have an update.
New Mexicans spend 6th most on groceries as a percent of income according to a new report.
-
On this week's interview Paul talks to return guest, author, and commentator Philip K. Howard about DOGE. For advocates of limited government DOGE is the most exciting effort to cut wasteful spending and bring functionality to the federal government that we have seen since at least the Grace Commission during the Reagan Administration. Howard and Gessing have a robust discussion of DOGE and numerous aspects of its mission and activities so far. They address whether Congress will go along with DOGE, whether there are more effective potential ways to streamline government, and whether this effort will ultimately succeed. More information about Philip K. Howard's work can be found at his Common Good website and at his recent Manhattan Institute paper.
-
Super Bowl: game wasn't so great, but great to see America celebrated and Trump cheered.
A bill relating to expanding Medicaid is moving through the session. This is madness!
Now MLG is the education reformer? This one is a doozie!
I went on KOAT 7 to discuss a crazy bill that would hand our tax dollars to UNM and NMSU to pay athletes.
HB 11 PFML remains bottled up in committee. Some lawmakers even blame us for "bullying."
A bill to increase royalties (taxes paid on oil and gas) is moving through the Legislature.
A recent op-ed running across New Mexico by our policy analyst Carter Swanson ran in the ABQ Journal last week.
- Montre plus
