Where Does New Mexico Fit in Trump 2.0’s America?

When our team at NMiF sat down for this year’s 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’s Marjorie Childress is perhaps the best example, and you can subscribe here.)

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

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

“It 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’t touch on anything — on reproductive rights, on any gender issues… not even just to say, ‘We’re going to take care of our community here.’”
 
It’s an interesting point, and it should have been obvious to us at NMiF as we listened. We’ve 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 about the future of detention and deportation. I sat down with a teacher and legislator 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 for civil rights protections under our new president, and we looked ahead to the future of federal relations with tribal nations. 

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

“I 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’s being careful.”

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’ll 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’s America, and how our leaders plan to protect the ideals that make us New Mexican.  

– Lou DiVizio, Senior Producer