Refocused for 2026

We’re off and running on another year here at New Mexico in Focus. For our first show of 2026 we’re going to spend some time looking ahead to the upcoming regular legislative session where, because it is an even-numbered year, lawmakers will spend the majority of their time focused on budget issues. Democratic Speaker of the House Javier Martínez visits our studio this week for a chat with Host Nash Jones. Nash asks Martinez about his caucus’ priorities and some of the issues where legislators might be at odds with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. You can expect in-depth legislative coverage leading up to and during this year’s session, including a full preview with a roundtable of statehouse reporters on next week’s show.   

But we aren’t just future-focused this week. Nash starts the show with a summary of laws legislators passed in 2025 that have taken effect to start the new year. That includes some significant stop-gap funding to address federal cuts to programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and health care subsidies through the Affordable Care Act.   

We’ll also take a step away from state government with a conversation on the health of New Mexico’s craft beer industry. You may have noticed a major beer company in the Albuquerque area, Bosque Brewing, closed the doors at all of its locations over Christmas. This week, I got to sit down with a beer-industry insider, Chris Jackson aka Stoutmeister, and lead writer for the beer blog Dark Side Brew Crew. Chris joined me for a conversation alongside Albuquerque Journal reporter Natalie Robbins to understand why the company shuttered so abruptly and what it signals about the industry at large.   

NMiF field reporter Cailley Chella is also back to start 2026 with a trip to this past week’s Jan. 6 protest in Albuquerque. She’ll show you how many folks turned out, what the anniversary means to them, and look back at New Mexico’s connections to the deadly riot five years ago. 

2025 was a year of transition for NMiF and, as we begin 2026, we’re fully focused and fired up to bring you the news stories and analysis you’ve come to expect from us, presented with the context and detail you won’t find at any other outlet. We hope to have you along for the ride.  

– Lou DiVizio, Senior Producer