This week on New Mexico in Focus, "Our Land" Producer Laura Paskus sits down with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for an exclusive interview covering the critical environmental concerns impacting New Mexico.
In collaboration with New Mexico In Depth, Gene Grant hosts a roundtable discussion about the impacts of alcohol in our state. Journalist Ted Alcorn explains his findings in a 7-part series that focuses on the N.M. death rate that currently leads the U.S., drunk driving, alcohol’s impact on violent crime, myths when it comes to who carries the burden of this problem, failings in our state’s public policy, and the overarching issue of addiction and how it’s treated.
Former U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman sits down with Producer Lou DiVizio to talk about his new book, ‘Breakdown: Lessons for a Congress in Crisis.’ Bingaman gives insight on the difficulties ahead for what will be a divided congress in 2023. Plus, he gives some suggestions on how lawmakers could help tamp down the partisan rhetoric that seems to be contributing to growing polarization.
DiVizio also speaks with a journalist and filmmaker who spent the last several months in Ukraine covering the Russian invasion. Patrick Hilsman has covered military conflicts for years and has family here in New Mexico. He shares the horrors, and the triumphs he witnessed during his time covering the war in Ukraine.
New Mexico in Focus airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) Friday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18 at 7 a.m., and streaming on the PBS video app.
NMiF Segments
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Addresses Environmental Concerns
Correspondent
Laura Paskus
Guest
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, (D) New Mexico
Addressing NM’s Alcohol Problem
Correspondent
Gene Grant
Guests
Ted Alcorn, independent journalist
Kamilla Venner, Ph.D., UNM associate professor of clinical psychology
Dr. Jennie Wei, internal medicine physician, Gallup Indian Medical Center
St. Rep. Joanne Ferrary, D - Doña Ana County
Understanding Political Polarization and Gridlock on Capitol Hill
Correspondent
Lou DiVizio
Guest
Jeff Bingaman, former U.S. Senator from New Mexico
Frontline Reporter Shares Experiences from War in Ukraine
Correspondent
Lou DiVizio
Guest
Patrick Hilsman, journalist, filmmaker
Host
Gene Grant
New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people that are shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic health, education, and art issues, and explores them in-depth with a critical eye to give them context beyond the "news of the moment."
New Mexico in Focus Senior Producer for Public Affairs is Lou DiVizio. "Our Land" Senior Producer is Laura Paskus. Co-producer of New Mexico in Focus is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You.
Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund.
Funding for Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present & Future, is provided in part by the Neeper Natural History Programming Fund for KNME-TV.
