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Money in Politics & Reimagining Columbus

This week on New Mexico in Focus, Correspondent Antonia Gonzales sits down with the Diné architect leading a project in Ohio to replace colonialist monuments and tributes. Tamarah Begay is in charge of the “Reimagining Columbus” project and explains how she’s collecting input from many cultural groups and assembling it all using her own Indigenous perspective as a guide.   

Then, Senior Producer Lou DiVizio speaks with former New Mexico state senator Eric Griego and journalist Trip Jennings about money’s growing influence in our elections. Griego explains the impact the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision known as Citizens United has had on funding limits and oversight and the competitive realities of fundraising while running for office at any level of government. In the second part of their discussion, Jennings gives some background on his recent story for New Mexico In Depth highlighting big-money donations from the Chevron Corporation to a dark money group that attempted but failed to squash primary bids from progressive Democrats.  

Lou ends the show interviewing Deborah Hassi from Albuquerque’s Main Library about an upcoming event meant to help prepare new and expecting parents for the challenges of raising a child. The Albuquerque Library Foundation is hosting its second community baby shower of the year on Oct. 19, giving parents a chance to connect with resources and learning materials for one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives.

Host: Jeff Proctor 

Segments: 

Diné Architect Leads “Reimagining Columbus” Project in Ohio
Correspondent: Antonia Gonzales (Navajo) 
Guest: Tamarah Begay (Diné), Lead Architect, Reimagining Columbus Project 

Understanding Money’s Growing Influence in Elections
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio 
Guests: Dr. Eric Griego, Ph.D., Former NM State Senator, UNM Adjunct Professor  
Trip Jennings, Executive Director, New Mexico In Depth 

Judge Compels Dark Money Group to Disclose Funding
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio 
Guests: Dr. Eric Griego, Ph.D., Former NM State Senator, UNM Adjunct Professor  
Trip Jennings, Executive Director, New Mexico In Depth 

Community Event to Help New & Expecting Parents
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio 
Guest: Deborah Hassi, Senior Youth Librarian, Albuquerque Main Library