Stephen Spitz - New Mexico People Places and Ideas

Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State and an advisor to 12 of our Presidents, died on November 29, 2023 at the age 100. Among other accolades, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomacy in ending the war and … Continue reading →

Raul Torrez, who took office on January 1, 2023 as our Attorney General, is changing the Office in ways that seem to embody a different philosophy. The examples are many: cooperate rather than fight plaintiffs in the Yazzie education lawsuit, … Continue reading →

In a landmark 2018 decision, the court in Yazzie/Martinez held that the State was violating New Mexico students' constitutional right to a “sufficient education”. The State was therefore required to invest in the programs and services that have proven successful … Continue reading →

Today we listen back to an interview with renowned Albuquerque civil rights lawyer, Nancy Hollander, who was portrayed by Jodie Foster in the 2021 film, the Mauritanian. The film portrays Hollander's fight to free her client, Mohamedou Slahi, from US … Continue reading →

Today's guest is Michael S. Vigil, a former undercover DEA agent in Mexico, who rose to be the DEA's Chief of International Operations worldwide. In our March 2023 show, Vigil traced the origin and development of the Mexican drug cartels. … Continue reading →

How does stress affect  brain function and conduct? Can be stress passed on epigenetically ( not experientially)  to succeeding generations? Can the effect of stress on the brain actually be measured and mapped via non-invasive neuroimaging of the brain? The Mind … Continue reading →

By early Spring New Mexico had already experienced its two largest wildfires in history as well as the McBride fire, which destroyed more than 200 homes in Ruidoso. Is this the new normal? And are controlled burns really the answer … Continue reading →

From potters to political game changers, women have been shaping New Mexico history for centuries. However while NM's Historic Roadside Markers program began in 1935, as of 1996 it was unclear how many women had been so recognized. That year Patricia … Continue reading →

Sunday, May 28 is the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race. The Unser family, Al, Bobby, and Al Jr., have won the 500 a record nine times. Our guest is racing legend Al Unser, who passed away on … Continue reading →

Politics inside New Mexico's “Roundhouse” are notoriously complex with legislative success dependent on personal connections, intra-party rivalries, the power of lobbyists, and basic deal making. This year saw a change in  House leadership, a different more friendly vibe, and push-back against … Continue reading →

This month's guest is Michael S. Vigil, a former undercover DEA agent in Mexico, who rose to be Chief of International Operations worldwide.   One of his favorite accolades is a narcocorrido tribute from a famous Mexican musician, Alberto Angel, … Continue reading →

Albuquerque, like most US cities, has a housing crisis. But, it's acute here. According to the City, the shortage is 80,000 homes, 30,000 units for those with low and moderate incomes and 50,000 market rate houses and apartments. Those with … Continue reading →

Contrary to pre-election surveys, the Latino electorate did not veer sharply Right and was pivotal in key Senate races in Nevada and Arizona. Was the polling wrong about the importance of the economy and unpopularity of Biden with Latinos? And … Continue reading →

Today's guest is the most famous comedian you have never seen and didn't even believe existed. His name is Jack Handey (yes that's his real name), and the name is undoubtedly familiar to fans of Saturday Night Live. Jack Handey, … Continue reading →

Constitutional Amendment #1 would increase funding for early childhood education and K-12 via an 11/4% annual distribution from New Mexico's $25B Land Grant Permanent Fund (LGPF). Will this change educational outcomes?  In Paul Tough's NYT-bestselling How Children Succeed, he first introduced us … Continue reading →

Constitutional Amendment #1 would increase funding for early childhood and K-12 via an 11/4% annual distribution from New Mexico's $25B Land Grant Permanent Fund (LGPF).  As a Constitutional Amendment voters, must approve it this November to become law. What is … Continue reading →

New Mexico is experiencing its worst drought in more than 1000 years. Available surface water has already decreased by one-quarter and is forecast to significantly decline. To make up for this, groundwater pumping has increased, but since much more water … Continue reading →

By early Spring New Mexico had already experienced its two largest wildfires in history as well as the McBride fire, which destroyed more than 200 homes in Ruidoso. Is this the new normal? And are controlled burns really the answer … Continue reading →

Corrales resident Sandra Postel is the winner of the Stockholm Water Prize, considered the Nobel Prize for water. We are honored that she will be our guest.  Host Stephen Spitz will begin the discussion with Ms. Postel's latest book, Replenish—the … Continue reading →

Slavery and the legacy of slavery are frequently analyzed these days. Native American slavery, however, is often glossed over. Why? How extensive was it, who were the enslavers, and who exactly were the enslaved? Joining host Stephen Spitz to discuss … Continue reading →

On Jan. 18, 2013, 15 year-old Nehemiah Griego shot dead his father, mother, and three siblings. Why? In “Sins of the System”, Dr. Regina Griego, Nehemiah's aunt and guardian, lays out his complex family history as well as a broken … Continue reading →

Last year we interviewed Albuquerque, representative Javier Martinez as an up and coming legislator. His most prominent legislation was tapping our $ 25B Permanent Fund to expand early childhood education and legalizing marijuana. He has since become House Majority Leader … Continue reading →

Politics inside New Mexico's “Roundhouse” are notoriously complex with legislative success dependent on personal connections, intra-party rivalries, the power of lobbyists, and basic deal making. A good example of that complexity is the lack of success of Democratic Governor Michelle … Continue reading →

In 2020 PNM and Avangrid, an energy company with utilities and generation facilities in 24 states, announced their intentions to merge. The $8.3B purchase is worth a very healthy 20 times PNM's projected earnings and would result in a hefty … Continue reading →

Joining host Stephen Spitz this month is Don Hancock, Director of the Nuclear Waste Program for the Southwest Research and Information Center (SRIC). We will discuss the proposed expansion of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in southeastern New Mexico. … Continue reading →

Growing up in Baltimore, UNM Music Professor Richard Antoine White did his best to care for his mother, who was battling alcoholism, while experiencing homelessness and hunger. Searching for his mother one night resulted in a near death experience in … Continue reading →

How should our criminal justice system deal with crimes committed by substance abusers?  Our guest, UNM Sociology Professor Noah Painter Davis, is presently studying drug diversion and parole/probation programs in NM. The promise of these programs is that we can … Continue reading →

What should the approach be to increasing homelessness in Albuquerque? UNM's Paul Guerin is the Director of the Center for Applied Research and Analysis and one of the author's of a definitive study, demonstrating that for vulnerable Albuquerquians, “housing first” … Continue reading →

Homicides in Albuquerque have soared and will likely double the high rate of 2020. But is crime really out of control? After all, the homicide rate has dramatically increased in most cities during the Pandemic. And what does the data … Continue reading →

Corrales resident Sandra Postel is the winner of the Stockholm Water Prize, considered the Nobel Prize for water. We are honored that she will be our guest. Host Stephen Spitz will begin the discussion with Ms. Postel's latest book, Replenish—the … Continue reading →

Bobby Unser, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and part of the only pair of brothers to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” has died at his home in Albuquerque. He was 87. In April 2010 host Stephen Spitz had the … Continue reading →

Albuquerque, South Valley, representative Javier Martinez has become one of the most prominent, if not the most prominent, legislator in Santa Fe. On this month’s show Representative Martinez joins host Stephen Spitz to discuss his journey from his childhood home … Continue reading →

In June 2020 it was front-page headlines that two long-time Senate leaders, both conservative Democrats, had lost primary election bids along with two of their colleagues. Then in the November general election, three progressive Democrats won seats formerly occupied by … Continue reading →

Should President Biden prohibit oil and gas production or impose dramatic restrictions on industry methane and carbon dioxide emissions? This and related actions are adamantly opposed by the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA) which points to the industry’s … Continue reading →

New Mexico’s 60-day legislative session began January 19 with Democrats in full control, namely a Democratic Governor, a large majority in the House, and, for the first time, a solid majority in the Senate. So will the 2021 Session have … Continue reading →

The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual Kids Count report has again ranked New Mexico last among the 50 states in child well being. The Foundation found that: 30 percent of our kids live in poverty whereas 22 percent of the … Continue reading →

The just passed Energy Transition Act sets New Mexico on a path for carbon-free electricity generation by 2045. The controversial Bill requires the state’s public utilities to derive 50 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2030, 80 percent … Continue reading →

Our 60-day legislative session begins January 15 and Democrats have the upper hand, with a newly elected Governor, an increased majority in House, but only a shaky majority in the Senate. So will Governor Lujan Grisham and fellow Democrats be … Continue reading →

The Gila River and Wilderness are the heart and soul of A Song for the River, the latest book by Philip Connors. Every summer since 2002, Connors has been perched in a tower 50 feet above the Gila Wilderness, watching … Continue reading →

Fresh from the famous Prado in Madrid, the Albuquerque Museum is now showing “Visions of the Hispanic World” which includes over 200 exceptional works spanning more than 3,000 years from the collection of the Hispanic Society of America. According to … Continue reading →

This off-year election is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in years with public interest at an all time high. In the national races for control of the US Senate, recent polls indicate that Republicans are likely … Continue reading →

When longtime Zen practitioner and world-renowned New Mexico author Natalie Goldberg learns that she has a life-threatening illness, she is plunged into the realm of hospitals, physicians, and unfamiliar medical treatments, along with the reality of her own mortality. In … Continue reading →

On July 16, 1945, the world’s first nuclear bomb was detonated at the Trinity Site near Socorro, New Mexico.  Although the US government claimed the area was uninhabited, census records show that more than 40,000 people lived near-by. No warning … Continue reading →

In a major cultural event for Albuquerque, 92 full-scale mounted reproductions of artwork from the Museum del Prado in Madrid, Spain, are on display at Civic Plaza, free and under shade. The Prado Exhibition boasts some of the world’s finest … Continue reading →

This month’s guest is Bobby Unser, three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the older brother of four-time Indy winner, Al Unser, Sr., who founded the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque. If you are interested in what it is like … Continue reading →