NM’s Environmental Priorities, Addressing Alcohol in 2023, & Lessons for a Congress in Crisis

This week on New Mexico in Focus, Our Land Senior 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 which focuses our 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 sits down with Senior 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.  

Senior Producer Lou DiVizio also talks 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. 

Host: Gene Grant 

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, PhD, associate professor of clinical psychology at UNM  
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