Episode 229: Why our leaders ignore crime and healthcare while campaigning on vibes—and what it’s costing New Mexico
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A quiet Albuquerque morning explodes with color as hundreds of hot air balloons drift past our backyard—and then we tackle the issues weighing our city and country back to earth. We start with the glossy claims in a high-profile mayoral ad and the real scoreboard on crime, homelessness, and empty shelter beds. From there, we explain why debate thresholds exist, how polling and fundraising shape access to the stage, and what voters actually gain when formats keep the focus on candidates with a credible path.
Then we pull the thread on policy that looks busy but solves little. The recent special session delivered small wins, yet dodged the crises people feel daily: a statewide doctor shortage, brutal malpractice premiums, and long waits for basic care. We bring receipts—poll numbers showing appointment bottlenecks across ages, plus a New Mexico addiction specialist whose clean record couldn’t keep him insured. Without tort reform and interstate licensure for telehealth, we’re choosing lawsuits over lifesaving care.
We widen the lens to national politics, dissecting the “clean CR” standoff, the optics no one is winning, and the cold calculus of timing pain versus shutting down government. Accountability matters locally, too: we examine a stunning Virginia attorney general scandal involving violent rhetoric and why character should be non-negotiable for a state’s top law enforcement job. Finally, we challenge media narratives that downplay citywide disorder as “one block,” arguing for compassionate accountability over “suicidal empathy” that leaves residents unprotected.
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Chapters
1. Balloon Fiesta and Local Color (00:00:00)
2. Emails: Sanctuary Policies and Polling 101 (00:05:25)
3. Keller’s Ad Breakdown and Media Strategy (00:10:45)
4. Debate Access, Thresholds, and Electability (00:19:10)
5. Special Session Wins and What’s Missing (00:22:55)
6. Vaccine Authority Bill and Science vs Politics (00:27:30)
7. Doctor Shortages, Tort Reform, and Access (00:31:40)
8. Shutdown Politics, Polls, and Messaging (00:40:20)
9. Virginia AG Scandal and Character Tests (00:50:20)
233 episodes