Tipping Point New Mexico

Albuquerque City Council votes to raise the City's minimum wage albeit over three years to $15 an hour instead of right away. Paul and Wally also critique a video put out by Mayor Keller on the issue.   Paul and Wally handicap the Republican and Democrat primaries for governor.    In a bizarre comment MLG tells a group at a public speech that "Democrats don't need men's votes"   ABQ claims the "guaranteed basic income" is a success. What's the real story?   NM's Supreme Court recently ruled that APS had to disclose a big payout to a former superintendent.   What's the federal SPEED Act & why would it...

On this week's interview Paul sits down with Reeve Bull of the newly formed Fulcrum Institute. Bull worked for Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on regulatory issues and has started Fulcrum Institute to spread some of those successful ideas elsewhere. Paul and Reeve discuss how New Mexico could achieve similar regulatory reforms right here in "Blue" New Mexico.  

CABQ Council proposes $15 an hour minimum wage. Paul and Wally discuss the proposal and issues with minimum wages, especially among cities and how there is no such thing as a "free lunch" in economics.  

Overregulation is among many economic problems facing NM. A report from Cicero Institute highlights the issues and a path forward.

The LFC study released dealing with tax breaks (discussed last week) has been put out. Paul and Wally have further details and thoughts.  

NM is actually ahead of the curve on something!

On this week's Tipping Point NM Paul sits down with former New Mexico Democrat State Senator Jacob Candelaria. Candelaria is the attorney for plaintiffs in the case against Gov. Lujan Grisham's "free" childcare program which was set up by the Gov. without legislative approval on November 1, 2025. Paul and Jacob have a detailed conversation about the case including a thorough analysis of the program's provision of child care funded by New Mexico taxpayers for the benefit of those in the state illegally. 

Additionally, in 2019 Candelaria was the sponsor of New Mexico's Energy Transition Act which Paul calls "the wors...

It's time to vote early in New Mexico. Paul and Wally discuss early voting and some of the issues on the primary ballot.

ABQ spends considerable amounts on the arts. Where does the money go? 

Whatever happened to taxpayer subsidized Unser Crossing.

New Mexico politicians "grapple" with the oil and gas boom.

New Mexico sees limited benefit from tax incentives.

The NY Times highlights NM's lousy education outcomes.

Friend of the show and private sector space analyst Doug Messier calls Virgin Galactic "Zeppelins of Today."

Paul talks with Linda Stover, candidate for Bernilillo County Assessor about the importance of the office and how her planned administration of the position would differ from the current Assessor.  Learn about the importance of this office and the issues that have impacted property owners in Bernalillo County in recent years. 

On this week's Tipping Point conversation New Mexico's Steve Pearce was confirmed to head up Bureau of Land Management on a 46-45 vote. New Mexico Senators Lujan and Heinrich opposed him.

The Santa Fe New Mexican covers   overspending in New Mexico's "free" childcare program. Paul also highlights his recent Tweet on the program. Also, MLG's early childcare claims are without evidence as NM's workforce participation rate has plummeted since November 2025.

Another court rules against Trump's tariffs w/ RGF signed on as an amicus. Wally and Paul discuss the case and why RGF takes issue with the tari...

How dependent is New Mexico on the federal government compared to other states? Paul talks with Mary Connaughton and Liam Day of the Massachusetts based Pioneer Institute regarding their recently released study "Dependency Index – Federal Money to the States."

See how the various states compare using the Dependency Index using the study's interactive web-based data analysis and display tool.

A lawsuit by Gov. candidate Duke Rodriguez voids MLG's "free childcare." What's next?

MLG reinstates restaurant inspections by the NM Environment Department after the Department claimed they didn't have enough money to do them.

Sens. Heinrich & Lujan cosponsor bill to kill federal school choice program.

RGF calls out ABQ turf waste on KOAT 7.

Las Cruces is in a budget deficit. Why? What could be done to improve the financial position of New Mexico cities? 

Ebon Solar pulls plug on a proposed Albuquerque solar panel plant.

Developers overhaul Pro...

On this week's interview Paul sits down with former Albuquerque mayoral candidate Alex Uballez. Despite major ideological differences Paul was impressed by Uballez's communication skills and passion as expressed during his campaign for office. 

Whatever you think of Uballez's approach to the issues there's no question he is a new force to be reckoned with in New Mexico politics. Check out this interesting discussion between two people of differing viewpoints!   

President Trump again faced an assassination attempt. Paul and Wally discuss. . 

MLG unveils State Energy Council. Paul and Wally have thoughts.

NM's social studies standards are as bad as expected according to a new report.

NM climbs ranking for preschool access, but does it really matter?.

San Jon Schools $40 million new school for less than 120 students. This brings up numerous issues around New Mexico's declining student populations. 

Plans for an automotive kill switch generates debate online. Ben Ray Lujan has been a strong supporter of the "kill switch" technology.   

On this week's interview Paul sits down with CD 1 Congressional candidate Didi Okpareke. Didi is running against incumbent Melanie Stansbury. Paul and Didi discuss some of the important issues currently facing Congress in terms of health care, immigration, and the role of Congress in foreign policy. 

Check out this important conversation with a rising star in New Mexico! 

On this week's conversation Paul and Wally discuss:   New Mexico expected to see dramatic declines in K-12 enrollment.   In a bit of breaking news Rep. Rebecca Dow has been restored to the ballot by New Mexico's Supreme Court.   In other news relating to NM's Supreme Court the Court unanimously allowed Otero County ICE Contract to move forward.   Bernalillo County Assessor Damian Lara seems to be selling himself w/ our tax dollars.   New Mexico ranks 35th in Rich States Poor States. What does this ranking include? How does NM's current 35th ranking compare with past editions of this report?    Virgin Galactic says they...

On this week's show Paul sits down with activist and independent candidate for Gov. Jacob Smith. Jacob was active in fighting anti-gun legislation (SB 17) in the 2026 legislative session. We discuss his activism, his plans for New Mexico, and why he's running as an independent. Check out this great conversation! 

Find Jacob's campaign website here. You can find his Twitter account here.

The worst article you'll see today was written by a New Mexico state Rep.

A new report finds that New Mexico is a disaster for families.

UNM offering a class on the fashion of singer "Bad Bunny."

Paul and Wally take a "deep dive" look at 10 realities on taxes.

New Mexico ranked 4th heaviest in a Wallethub Tax burden report.

The Mayor of Albuquqerque says his proposed budget is being cut. Here are further details along with comments from Councilor Dan Lewis. 

On this week's interview Paul talks to Neeraja Deshpande, policy analyst at Independent Women. Among other things they discuss her latest op-ed on the New Mexico education crisis in The Daily Wire. The piece comes on the heels of Independent Women's Features documentary: Give Teachers a Break: The Hidden Crisis Inside New Mexico's Classrooms. In the documentary, a veteran school teacher gives a breakdown on just how bad it has gotten: chronic absenteeism, affirming gender ideology to kids as young as five, and deep-seated behavioral issues are just the tip of the iceberg.

Neeraja Deshpande...

On this week's Tipping Point conversation Paul and Wally discussed the defeat of ranked choice voting at Albuquerque City Council the evening before and the role RGF played in the victory.

Recently we discussed the fact that Javier Martinez is planning to push single payer health care, not surprisingly he's working with Deb Haaland to push it as well.

In this week's Tipping Point interview Paul talks to Ramona Goolsby who is running as a Republican to be New Mexico's next Secretary of State (SoS). What is the job of the SoS? How does she plan to use the role to address election issues in New Mexico like voter ID and the State's voter rolls? Are New Mexico elections really "corrupt" as President Trump says? What is the economic role of the Secretary in regulating New Mexico businesses? How does Ramona believe that can be improved? Find out more about Ramona and her campaign here.

The idea of SE NM counties leaving New Mexico has continued to make waves in the media. Here's the latest.

The editor of the Santa Fe New Mexican wants El Paso to come to NM. Would that be an even switch?

New Mexico's taxpayer ROI is the worst in the nation. Why?

MLG (in office for over 7 years) says: The Status Quo isn't working for New Mexico Families.

Plummeting student populations in Albuquerque Public Schools and statewide should be a warning to NM policymakers.

A recently-passed Albuquerque immigration bill con...

On this week's interview Paul sits down with Kerry Baldwin, the principal educator at "Vita Nova" a micro high school based in Albuquerque.

Vita Nova Academy works to spark curiosity and build real-world skills in a small, supportive community. As an alternative high school in Albuquerque, we provide mastery-based education for teens in small cohorts, blending Socratic discussions with project-based learning to foster independent thinkers. As a member of the Mastery Transcript Consortium, we focus on what you truly master, not just grades.

On this week's Tipping Point NM conversation Paul and Wally discuss the latest on the State Fairgrounds.

A heavily watched video by a left wing group makes several claims about the Blackstone merger with PNM and data Centers. Paul and Wally correct the record.

Is New Mexico suffering from the "Curley Effect?" This isn't about Larry and Moe, but sometimes it seems our elected officials are related to them. 

Two of MLG's big economic development "wins" have been abandoned.

Community Solar is yet another subsidized boondoggle.

Is NM an "Oba...

On this week's interview Paul sits down with Jose Orozco. Jose is running for Congressional District 2 which is currently occupied by Rep. Gabe Vazquez.  Paul and Jose discuss Jose's background and why he is running. They also spend a good deal of time talking about issues including immigration and the "affordability issues" facing everyday New Mexicans. Orozco has a primary in June. This is a critical race for a toss-up Congressional seat. Don't miss this conversation! Check out Orozco's website here.

Last night the City Council in Albuquerque rejected a massive gross receipts tax proposal that RGF worked very hard to stop. Paul and Wally discuss that, the latest on ranked choice voting, and the passage of a bill to make ABQ a sanctuary city.  

Does a UNM branch campus really make sense downtown?

Here's one California policy we can get behind. 

MLG's free childcare is already running a big deficit.

Washington State went ahead and passed an income tax. Guess what happened next? 

Should Medicaid cover obesity treatments? Some advocate...

On this week's interview Paul sits down with Greg Cunningam. Greg is running for Congressional District 2 which is currently occupied by Rep. Gabe Vazquez.  Paul and Greg discuss Greg's background and why he is running. They also spend a good deal of time talking about issues including immigration and the "affordability issues" facing everyday New Mexicans. Cunningham has a primary in June. This is a critical race for a toss-up Congressional seat. Don't miss this conversation! Check out Cunningham's website here.

Albuquerque City Council considering a big tax hike. Act now to stop it!

Also, a plan to institute "ranked choice voting" is making its way through Council.

MLG signs medical malpractice bill. Worth noting is the fact that SHE and legislative Democrats created the problem in the first place.

New Mexico is now sitting on $70 billion in its permanent fund.

Paul will be speaking at an Americans For Prosperity event about the recent legislative session alongside Sen. Jay Block. 

Paul and Wally discuss the impact of Iran War on NM...

Ben Ray's big dumb idea.

Did you know: NM has money to burn?

Deb Haaland touts left wing policies but makes an admission on the minimum wage.

In the wake of the 2026 legislative session House speaker Javier Martinez says he wants to push for a Universal single-payer healthcare system.

Medical malpractice bill was a major victory, but more is needed.

An audit found New Mexico's child welfare agency did not properly spend $4.2 million from an appropriation intended for behavioral health services. 

ICE could sign a contract with Hobb...

On this week's show Paul interviews Fred Nathan, the founder and leader of Think New Mexico. Fred and his organization played a lead role in achieving medical malpractice reform in the 2026 session along with some other significant victories. Paul and Fred discuss the path of HB 99 (med mal reform) through the legislative process and address what his group (and RGF) have planned next in the area of attracting medical providers to New Mexico. Check this important discussion out! 

With the session over here's what happened and didn't in the recently completed legislative session.   Specifically, Paul believes that the tax hikes this session are an underreported issue. He breaks down the biggest tax hike bill here.   Our Freedom Index site is complete and can be found here.   The Supreme Court overturned Trump's tariffs.Paul provides a detailed breakdown of the organization's reasons for signing on to an amicus brief against the tariffs, why the process is so critical, and why RGF ultimately opposes these tariffs.  

Larry Behrens handles communications for the energy advocacy group Power the Future. He is a return guest to the show. Paul and Larry discuss the Trump Administration's repeal of the "Endangerment finding" at the EPA. They also discuss the net zero bill SB 18 which was narrowly defeated in the New Mexico Legislature, the latest on EV's now that state mandates are no longer in effect, and the plans by radical environmentalists to shift attention to EV buses. Check out this informative conversation! 

On the latest Tipping Point conversation Paul and Wally discuss  the latest from the Roundhouse with just a few days to go.    Paul and Wally discuss the gun bill, medical malpractice, the budget, and "free" childcare, the tax bill, and the prospects for each including the fact that pay raises for state government employees have been eliminated in the push for universal "free childcare"    SB 18 the Clear Horizons bill died in a bipartisan Senate vote last week.     NM's House Speaker endorses Cuban health care during hearing over medical malpractice:   Stepping outside Santa Fe Paul and Wally discuss the unveiling of Albuquerque M...

On this week's Tipping Point NM interview Paul talks to Rep. Rebecca Dow about issues in the 2026 legislative session. Rebecca and Paul discuss issues in both houses that could have profound impacts on New Mexico's economy and constitutional liberties. You don't want to miss this "insider" perspective on the 2026 session. 

On this week's Tipping Point conversation Paul and Wally discuss numerous important issues in the New Mexico Legislature:

SB 17 the anti-gun bill passes New Mexico's Senate

SB 18 (the attack on energy and New Mexico's economy) awaits a vote on the Senate floor though Sen. Sharer has used a parliamentary procedure to slow debate.   

SB 131 by Sen. Moe Maestas would reform numerous zoning and other housing restrictions. Sadly it was killed in its first committee

Anti-ICE bill HB 9 passes and is signed by MLG.

The Gov.'s free child care plan h...

Paul visits with Albuquerque business owner Doug Turner who is a GOP candidate for Governor of New Mexico.  Doug believes New Mexico is being held back by big government, one-party control, and leaders who have lost sight of who government is supposed to serve.  Learn more about where Doug stands on the issues facing New Mexico in this informative interview.

Medical Malpractice bill altered destroying its purpose .

Climate Change bill to be heard in committee with possible amendment.

HB 9 which will eliminate involvement in ICE facilities passes house

NM is one of 5 states to have lost population last year.

Albuquerque bus ridership rebounds slowly

On this week's interview Paul sits down with Dr. Deane Waldman and Vance Ginn, PhD. They are authors of the new book "Empower Patients: Two Doctors' Cure for Health Care." They discuss the issues facing American health care and then discuss specific issues in New Mexico (Dr. Deane once lived in Albuquerque and served at UNMH). Ultimately, their book and this interview attempts to provide an answer to the question, "How can policymakers at both the state and federal levels solve our crisis in health care?" 

On this week's Tipping Point conversation Paul and Wally discuss 

MLG's claim in her "State of the State" address that NM is "best state in the union to start a family": It's pretty hard to believe anything else in her speech when she makes such an easily disprovable whopper of a claim. 

Why are physicians leaving NM? A new LFC report highlights why 2/3rds of New Mexico doctors are considering leaving.

MLG has taken a firm stance in favor of Medical Malpractice reform. 

In a bit of good news the physician com...

On this week's interview Paul talks to David Abbey the long time director of New Mexico's Legislative Finance Committee. Abbey has a new book "Forty Years in the New Mexico Roundhouse" in which he provides details on his time providing the Legislature's most important economic policy analyses. Paul and David discuss numerous economic issues, David's favorite people he's worked with over the years, and some of the policies and issues that he's both most proud of and frustrated by over the years. Don't miss this important conversation with insights into the current 30-day session and the inner workings of...

On this week's show Paul and Wally discuss Paul's recent travels to Tucson, AZ for his daughter's volleyball tournament and the condition of roads/construction on the trip. Roads are a top priority for the Rio Grande Foundation in the upcoming legislative session. 

The City of ABQ ethics board dismissed the Keller campaign's frivolous ethics complaint last week. What does the future hold?  

New Mexico was ranked dead last as a place for raising families by Wallethub. We look at why that was the case and why RGF's economic ideas hold the key to improving family...

On this week's interview Paul talks to House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong about the upcoming legislative session. The two discuss a number of important issues facing New Mexico's Legislature in the upcoming session including: free childcare, the medical provider shortage, and more. 

We discuss a lot of important issues in this episode!