{"id":46308,"date":"2025-01-24T16:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T23:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/newmexicoinfocus\/?p=46308"},"modified":"2025-01-24T16:15:02","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T23:15:02","slug":"where-does-new-mexico-fit-in-trump-2-0s-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/newmexicoinfocus\/where-does-new-mexico-fit-in-trump-2-0s-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Does New Mexico Fit in Trump 2.0’s America?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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When our team at NMiF sat down for this year\u2019s State of the State address, we had a pretty good idea which issues Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham would spotlight: public safety; crime; affordable housing; homelessness; the embattled state Children, Youth and Families Department; and renewable energy.

By the time we walked out of our control room, our bingo card for statewide issues was full.

But after a night to think on it and some time to read a few stories from some of our journalism colleagues, it became clear that what the governor decided to leave out of her speech was arguably just as newsworthy. (A newsletter item from New Mexico In Depth\u2019s Marjorie Childress is perhaps the best example, and you can subscribe here<\/a>.)

After months of campaigning for the Democrat Kamala Harris\u2019 ill-fated bid for the White House, \u2014 and months of catastrophizing our country\u2019s future under another Trump presidency \u2014 national politics and New Mexico\u2019s relationship with Washington D.C. were noticeably absent from the governor\u2019s 51-minute address.\u00a0

The omissions stood out to Republican former state rep Justine Fox-Young, too. Here\u2019s some of what she told NMiF Politics Correspondent Gwyneth Doland during one of our segments<\/a> airing in Friday night\u2019s episode:\u00a0

\u201cIt was impossible not to notice, the day after Trump’s speech, the day after the inauguration, as troops, as army and marines are headed to the border… How are we going to deal with mass deportations? To what extent is [Lujan Grisham] going to cooperate? What happens if this is in the schools? How about churches… I was pretty surprised that she didn\u2019t touch on anything \u2014 on reproductive rights, on any gender issues… not even just to say, \u2018We\u2019re going to take care of our community here.\u2019\u201d
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It\u2019s an interesting point, and it should have been obvious to us at NMiF as we listened. We\u2019ve devoted quite a bit of airtime in recent months to conversations with folks in our state who are preparing for the seemingly inevitable impacts of a Trump presidency. Executive Producer Jeff Proctor spoke to an immigration attorney<\/a> about the future of detention and deportation. I sat down with a teacher and legislator<\/a> to ask how New Mexico officials are working to fortify education funding if Title I funding evaporates. Two attorneys from the ACLU of New Mexico shared their concerns<\/a> for civil rights protections under our new president, and we looked ahead to the future of federal relations with tribal nations<\/a>.\u00a0

So once more, it\u2019s worth asking, why did the governor decide to avoid those issues that are creating fear and anxiety for so many in our state? Here\u2019s Fox-Young once more:\u00a0

\u201cI think she, like many governors, mayors, Democrats across the country are reading the room. They are afraid that Trump is going to be vindictive with federal funds. He has given every indication, and he has outright said that. And so, she\u2019s being careful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staying silent on these issues during a speech meant to unite and excite our state is one thing. Failing to address the dire prospects facing so many residents during this 60-day session would be another. We\u2019ll be watching and asking questions of our elected officials over the next eight weeks to make sure we understand exactly where our state fits in Trump 2.0\u2019s America, and how our leaders plan to protect the ideals that make us New Mexican. \u00a0

– Lou DiVizio, Senior Producer<\/p>\n\n\n\n