Opinion

Failed leadership does not deserve a promotion

18 Comments / Opinion, Politics / By

As a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, I am honored to serve on the Military and Veterans’ Affairs Interim Committee. This unique committee has traditionally not been political because advocacy on behalf of New Mexico’s veteran community is not a partisan issue. Unfortunately, under the new chairmanship of State Senator Harold Pope (D-Albuquerque), this committee has become toxic, dysfunctional, and you guessed it: political. 

I was looking forward to serving with Senator Pope, who is retired from the Air Force. However, within just a few months, he has demonstrated his inability to be an effective leader, and it comes at a cost to New Mexico’s veterans. Instead of collaboratively working together on solutions and results for our veterans, Senator Pope has decided to use his chairmanship to score cheap political points with his progressive base.

Recently, he decided to promote a blatantly political letter attacking U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Douglas Collins and, by extension, President Donald Trump.

The letter was not listed on the meeting agenda, and we, the committee members, were intentionally given very little time even to review the letter before the chairman forced a vote on it. Republicans saw right through his scheme, immediately recognizing the bias and unfounded claims contained in the letter.

When we pushed back, Senator Pope threw a temper tantrum and called for a vote despite our sincere request to merely review and propose changes to the letter. I’ve never seen anything like that before. 

So at the next meeting, I decided to present my own letter for consideration. To no surprise, Senator Pope threw another fit and denied the committee’s consideration of my letter, saying the matter was not on the agenda and that the letter was given to the members without sufficient notice. Sound familiar? 

Furthermore, he lacked any sense of proper decorum and displayed unprofessional and frankly childish behavior. You can watch the video for yourselves, but any New Mexican, especially veterans throughout our state, will see this conduct entirely unbecoming of a leader. 

Was this not bad enough for a committee chairman, Senator Pope is now seeking election as New Mexico’s next Lieutenant Governor. This role demands sensibility, patience, decorum, and the ability to work with others, like the current Lieutenant Governor, a Democrat, Howie Morales.

These recent events have revealed that Senator Pope cannot even properly conduct a meeting of a committee with approximately 10 members… how much less will he be able to preside over the entire State Senate or represent the diverse views of all New Mexicans?

As an elected leader and a veteran myself, I simply could not allow the public to remain uninformed about his leadership failures and the danger of giving him even more responsibility should he be elected to higher office. Instead, New Mexicans—and especially our honorable veterans—deserve fair and thoughtful leaders who will work towards solutions that benefit all New Mexicans.

Jay Block serves in the New Mexico Senate, representing District 12 in Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties since 2025.

Failed leadership does not deserve a promotion Read More »

Science over fear: EPA approves WIPP expansion while anti-nuke crowd whines

2 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico deserves recognition for stepping up where others have balked. This week, the Environmental Protection Agency granted approval for the U.S. Department of Energy’s plan to create two additional underground storage panels at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), the nation’s only permanent geological repository for transuranic nuclear material. This isn’t some radical overhaul—it’s the responsible expansion of a proven, scientifically sound facility.

Since opening in 1999, WIPP has safely and securely housed waste such as contaminated tools, clothing, and surplus plutonium from weapons production, buried more than 2,150 feet deep in ancient salt beds that naturally seal fissures over time. The new panels—each comprising seven rooms roughly the length of a football field—will compensate for capacity lost after a 2014 drum rupture that shuttered the site for over two years.

The EPA’s validation of DOE’s modeling—demonstrating that the new rooms meet long-term radiation safety thresholds—is a testament to the rigorous scientific planning behind WIPP. As EPA’s Abigale Tardif stated, the agency “is in general agreement with DOE’s approach and DOE’s interpretation” of safety models.

Critics have predictably cried “mission creep.” Don Hancock of the Southwest Research and Information Center grumbled that a “pilot plant” should not grow. But this is fundamentally flawed logic. WIPP’s measured expansion is not mission drift—it’s public duty. Not to mention that WIPP has a documented record of safety and environmental stewardship unmatched elsewhere.

It’s worth contrasting this with prior drama over Holtec International’s proposed “Consolidated Interim Storage Facility” in Southeast New Mexico, which was slated to store high‑level spent nuclear fuel—far more radioactive and hazardous than WIPP’s existing inventory. In 2023, the New Mexico Legislature passed Senate Bill 53, prohibiting state permits for Holtec’s site, effectively hamstringing the project.

The uproar over Holtec was largely performative. Legislators—under pressure from anti‑nuclear activists—effectively blocked a thoughtfully designed temporary storage proposal vetted by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Holtec’s spokeswoman likened dismissing the NRC license as tantamount to disqualifying OSHA or the FAA for safety regulation—and she had a point.

Despite the holdup, Holtec scored a victory when the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6–3 ruling, removed legal obstacles to private interim nuclear waste storage in Texas and New Mexico. That decision underscored the judiciary’s recognition of the need for safe interim solutions—even as New Mexico officials continued reflexively rejecting alternatives to Yucca Mountain status quo.

All told, New Mexico’s embrace of WIPP’s expansion meets a clear national need—responsible, science-based nuclear stewardship in a facility proven for decades. By contrast, the legislative theatrics targeting Holtec highlight how fear, not facts, often drives policy. Let’s celebrate WIPP’s success and support sane, scalable solutions for 21st-century nuclear waste management.

Science over fear: EPA approves WIPP expansion while anti-nuke crowd whines Read More »

Stansbury scrambles to explain link to Ghislaine Maxwell amid public scrutiny

23 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Far-left Democrat U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico’s First District is scrambling to rewrite her own history after official documents linked her to a nonprofit once led by convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein.

The controversy began when the Piñon Post credibly and factually reported on a 2021 financial disclosure form filed by Stansbury during her campaign for Congress. The document, submitted on February 19, 2021, listed “Terramar Project – Woburn, MA” as one of her former employers.

That name and location match exactly with the TerraMar Project, a now-defunct nonprofit founded and led by Maxwell. The organization gained notoriety for its ties to Epstein and its sudden closure just days after his 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was later convicted for her role in trafficking and grooming underage girls.

In response, Stansbury’s team told the Santa Fe New Mexican amid questions to issue a statement dismissing the report as a “lie” and “100% false.” Her spokesperson, Caroline Sweeney, claimed the listing was due to a “computing error” by campaign staff who had “mistakenly clicked on an auto-populated field” when entering her financial information into the House system.

But public records and House ethics rules cast serious doubt on that explanation.

According to the official 2021 House Financial Disclosure Instruction Guide, filers must manually enter each employer when completing the form. There are no dropdowns or auto-filled fields that could “accidentally” insert “Terramar Project – Woburn, MA” into the record. 

“Filers must input their reportable information the first time… the system then retains this information for future filings,” the guide states.

Also, no other congressional candidate or individual required to file such a form has ever entered TerraMar in Woburn, Massachusetts before, making the story even more implausible.

Even more telling: Stansbury had already listed “Terramar Consulting Group – Santa Fe” correctly on a 2020 New Mexico state disclosure. That means she knew the correct employer name — and chose something else in her federal filing.

Only after the Rio Grande Foundation filed a public complaint linking the disclosure to Maxwell did Stansbury amend her form. On April 21, 2021, she quietly changed it to say “Terramar Consulting Group – Santa Fe, NM.” Then, in a 2022 disclosure, she listed a third variation: “Terramar, Inc.,” another Santa Fe entity, which had been incorporated and dissolved by Cristina Mormorunni — behind the “Terramar” entity in Santa Fe — and campaign donor to Stansbury.

Stansbury’s team alleges the Democrat U.S. representative helped with a project sponsored by the Hewlett Foundation, but no such report or documentation has any trace of Stansbury whatsoever that can be publicly identified.

Facts show that Stansbury’s evolving story doesn’t pass the smell test.

House ethics rules make clear that Stansbury is personally responsible for the accuracy of her filings — staff cannot be blamed for errors.

Until she provides documentation — such as contracts, pay stubs, or client letters — proving she worked exclusively for a local “Santa Fe” firm without any ties to Maxwell’s entity, the original disclosure stands as the most credible account of her consulting past.

For now, one thing is certain: the only person who connected Melanie Stansbury to Ghislaine Maxwell’s nonprofit was Melanie Stansbury herself.

Stansbury tells displaced Diné energy workers just to sell ‘your art or your wool’

Stansbury scrambles to explain link to Ghislaine Maxwell amid public scrutiny Read More »

Far-left Dem McQueen to leave NM House, vie for higher office

16 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

One of the most prickly, petulant, and downright disagreeable members of the New Mexico Legislature is finally throwing in the towel — at least in the House. Six-term Democrat Matthew McQueen announced he will not seek reelection to the Legislature, instead launching a bid for New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands in 2026. For New Mexicans fed up with McQueen’s arrogance, condescension, and far-left extremism, the news is both a relief and a warning.

In a press release riddled with political posturing, McQueen declared, “I have the proven record of standing up to bullies and corruption.” But for many New Mexicans, McQueen has been the bully. His track record is one of vindictiveness, elitism, and hostility toward working-class values and rural communities.

Case in point: Edgewood, 2023. When the small town’s commissioners voted to uphold federal law through a pro-life ordinance consistent with the Comstock Act, McQueen threatened to retaliate. “I’m just going to have to reconsider how I allocate my capital outlay,” he sneered, implying he’d withhold funding from his own constituents. When a commissioner called out the threat, McQueen smugly doubled down: “Well, if you want to take it that way.”

He then insulted the town outright, saying, “Edgewood is insignificant.” That’s not standing up to bullies — that is being a bully.

Then there’s his radical land agenda. In 2023, McQueen pushed a sweeping “30 by 30”-style land grab bill — HB 45 — designed to gobble up New Mexico land in the name of “conservation,” which would have devastated working farmers, ranchers, and hunters. His bill was so extreme that even Democrats on the committee joined Republicans to kill it. Rural New Mexico sent a clear message: hands off our land.

McQueen’s abrasiveness isn’t confined to policy. His social media tirades have also drawn ire. In October 2022, he lashed out when confronted with facts about the horrific reality of late-term abortions and infanticide at UNM Hospital, angrily calling it “dangerous” and “disgusting.” But the receipts were undeniable, including testimony from abortionist Eve Espey herself, admitting babies were born alive and left to die. McQueen never apologized for smearing those who told the truth.

McQueen was also a major proponent of extreme gerrymandering of the state’s congressional map to benefit Democrats, resulting in all three of the state’s districts being pushed to the far left and hundreds of thousands of voters left disenfranchised, all while McQueen’s district got bluer. His rhetoric and inclination toward disagreement with all sides is likely not to land him many endorsements from the Legislature.

Now, this far-left trial lawyer wants to control 22 million acres of New Mexico’s trust land and minerals as State Land Commissioner — an office that generates over $2 billion annually for our schools and public institutions. He promises to “build on the successes” of radical incumbent Stephanie Garcia Richard and eco-activists like Jim Baca.

That should concern every New Mexican who values oil and gas jobs, property rights, and responsible land use.

While McQueen cloaks his ambition in lofty rhetoric about education and conservation, his record is clear: punish small towns, lie about abortion, push radical environmental schemes, and fight for far-left causes. He may call it “leadership.” Most New Mexicans call it being a condescending, gaslighting windbag.

Far-left Dem McQueen to leave NM House, vie for higher office Read More »

NM is dead last in child well-being—But MLG claims we’re leading

27 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a desperate attempt to paper over New Mexico’s dead-last ranking in child well-being, far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham took to social media this weekend to share a gaslighting op-ed from two of her newfound allies—State Sen. Bill Sharer and child care center operator Barbara Luna Tedrow—claiming that New Mexico is “not last” in child welfare. The claim flies in the face of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s most recent Kids Count report, which once again places the Land of Enchantment dead last for child well-being.

“Studies and rankings may not reflect this progress immediately because transformative change takes time,” Lujan Grisham posted on X. “But make no mistake, New Mexico is making progress on behalf of its children.” The post reads like classic political spin from an administration under fire.

What the governor conveniently ignores is that the Kids Count report is not some fly-by-night survey. It is a respected, comprehensive review of state-by-state indicators like child poverty, education, health, and family stability—areas where New Mexico has repeatedly failed. But rather than confront the data, the Lujan Grisham regime has chosen to manufacture its own version of “success,” propped up by loyalists and political allies.

One of those allies is State Sen. Bill Sharer, who previously attempted to hike alcohol taxes—a move that disproportionately hurts working families—and stood in vehement opposition to calls for Lujan Grisham’s impeachment after she unconstitutionally suspended Second Amendment rights in 2023. Now, Sharer is moonlighting as a spin doctor, teaming up with Tedrow, the owner of A Gold Star Academy & Child Development Center, to claim New Mexico is a “national success story.”

Their op-ed praises taxpayer-funded socialist “free” daycare expansions at Gold Star’s Farmington locations and state subsidies that allow for employee benefits. But what it fails to mention is that these programs—however well-intentioned—have done nothing to reverse the state’s abysmal child outcomes on a macro level. No amount of anecdotal feel-good stories from one provider will change the fact that New Mexico still leads the nation in childhood poverty and lags far behind in educational attainment.

What’s more, the op-ed reeks of self-interest. Tedrow’s child care center has benefited handsomely from government dollars, with expansion to five facilities and lavish wage and benefit increases. Of course she’s going to claim New Mexico is “leading”—her business depends on it.

Meanwhile, families across the state continue to suffer the consequences of failed leadership. Crime is rampant. Educational outcomes remain among the worst in the nation. And child poverty is still shockingly high. Yet Lujan Grisham and her allies want the public to ignore all of that because a handful of daycare centers added a few hundred spots.

It’s a shameful attempt to gaslight the public into accepting mediocrity—or worse, celebrating it. New Mexicans don’t need propaganda. They need accountability, real reform, and a governor who takes responsibility for the state’s failures instead of spinning them as victories.

No amount of glossy op-eds will change the truth: under Lujan Grisham’s leadership, New Mexico is not leading—it’s losing.

NM is dead last in child well-being—But MLG claims we’re leading Read More »

One Big, Beautiful Bill: Anything but Devastating

9 Comments / Opinion / By

Democrats are the best in the world at making terrible things sound great and positive things sound… devastating. Unfortunately for them, we as New Mexicans think for ourselves and use our own judgment to determine what’s best for our families. Despite what they tell us, New Mexicans know how damaging the decades of unchecked Democrat rule have been to our state. We also witness daily the negative impacts of the radical progressive agenda that has run our state into the ground with the worst education outcomes, worst public safety, and highest rates of reliance on government assistance programs in our country. 

Once again, prominent Democrat leaders are misleading New Mexicans and insulting our intelligence. 

This time, they are deceptively targeting House Resolution 1 (H.R. 1) a.k.a ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ as being “devastating.” Even more unhinged rhetoric about H.R. 1 came from Governor Lujan Grisham when she claimed the passage of this legislation would lead to people and children dying. This ridiculous political messaging begs the question: “What’s so devastating or potentially lethal in this bill?” 

Apparently, Rep. Stansbury, Governor Lujan Grisham, and the rest of the progressives think the following reforms included in H.R. 1 are catastrophic:

  • No tax on tips received by service industry workers (ie. servers, hairdressers, drivers)
  • No tax on overtime pay earned by hard-working employees
  • Tax breaks for Senior Citizens
  • $1,000 savings accounts for ALL children born between 2024-2028
  • Making Child Tax Credits permanent 
  • Elimination of proven waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars
  • Increased funding for Border Security
  • Increased funding for National Security 

I don’t know about you, but this doesn’t sound ‘devastating,’ and it certainly doesn’t sound lethal to people and/or children. It sounds like real economic reform that empowers hard-working American families… something progressive Democrats promise to us during election campaigns but never deliver. To our Democrat leaders: Be responsible and report the facts. Fear-mongering New Mexicans insults our intelligence and causes division.

State Sen. Jim Townsend of Artesia represents District 34, previously serving in the New Mexico House of Representatives, including as the House Republican Leader.

One Big, Beautiful Bill: Anything but Devastating Read More »

SOS stumbles through podcast—trashes voter ID while hinting at political future

23 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In yet another display of arrogance and dishonesty, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver took to the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Around the Roundhouse podcast with reporter Daniel Chacón this week to once again incoherently peddle her far-left talking points—doubling down on her tired claim that New Mexico’s elections are “secure” and launching another baseless attack on commonsense voter ID laws, while struggling to formulate coherent answers, filling in inarticulate responses with “um,” “you know,” and so many other filler words to string together what barely passed as adequate replies.

Toulouse Oliver, who’s held office since 2016 thanks to a cushy political machine, wasted no time patting herself on the back for what she called New Mexico’s “number one” election integrity ranking, a laughable assertion given the state’s lax election security and refusal to adopt meaningful safeguards. While conservative states across the country have enacted voter ID laws to prevent fraud and bolster public trust, Toulouse Oliver continued to insist, despite mounting evidence to the contrary, that voter ID requirements are unnecessary.

“If you show me a problem, I will help advocate for the solution,” she declared, dismissing the very real concerns of voters who have repeatedly pointed to gaps in election security. Toulouse Oliver had the audacity to claim that voter impersonation is “extremely rare” and that enforcing ID laws is a “huge barrier” that risks disenfranchising voters. Her favorite excuse? That people might “forget” their ID, or that a poor record-keeping clerk might make a typo—arguments so flimsy they wouldn’t pass muster in a freshman debate class.

Her hostility toward voter ID and other election integrity measures is nothing new. During the podcast, she boasted about New Mexico joining lawsuits against the Trump administration for pushing election security reforms, calling the president’s efforts an “overreach” and whining about supposed “unfunded mandates.” Never mind that these are basic protections to ensure only eligible voters cast ballots—something any reasonable American would support.

Not surprisingly, Toulouse Oliver painted herself as a long-suffering public servant battling “misinformation” and “conspiracy theories,” conveniently ignoring that mistrust in elections has skyrocketed under her watch. Her solution? More tech upgrades and expanding vote-by-mail, despite glaring vulnerabilities exposed nationwide.

The Secretary also couldn’t resist hinting at her political ambitions. While playing coy about her next move, she floated finishing her PhD or potentially running for another office after her current term ends, the mark of her continued penchant to cling to power. She told Chacón, “Um, but you know, I’m still waiting to see, kind of, what the universe has … to offer up, and and um, I’ll just say never say never to running for future office. But, you know, I’m at the point where, you know, it will be 20 years in public service. And that — that’s a long career in public service.” She previously unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate against then-U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, who ended up being elected U.S. senator. 

Even more concerning is Toulouse Oliver’s push for automatic voter registration—another way to inflate the rolls and weaken safeguards. Starting this summer, every New Mexican visiting the Motor Vehicle Division will be automatically registered to vote unless they actively opt out, further eroding the integrity of the process. She also advocated for voters who refuse to select a party affiliation, meddling in Republican, Democrat, and Libertarian Party primaries. 

As New Mexico stares down crucial upcoming elections, Toulouse Oliver’s podcast appearance was a reminder of what happens when radical Democrats are allowed to run elections unchecked: endless excuses, no accountability, and policies that put partisan gain above secure, fair elections. Voters should be more vigilant than ever.

With Toulouse Oliver’s track record of opposing voter ID, expanding ballot access without adequate safeguards, and cozying up to left-wing activist groups, New Mexicans have every reason to be alarmed—and to demand better.

SOS stumbles through podcast—trashes voter ID while hinting at political future Read More »

Sketchy Gabe Vasquez declares war on Trump in Trump country

29 Comments / Opinion / By

In New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District — a district President Donald Trump decisively carried in 2024 — far-left Democrat Gabe Vasquez continues to alienate his constituents by doubling down on radical opposition to the president’s commonsense agenda.

Since Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, Vasquez has taken every opportunity to obstruct policies overwhelmingly supported by working Americans. Earlier this year, Vasquez voted against the Laken Riley Act, a commonsense bill requiring the detention of illegal aliens accused of serious crimes. Despite bipartisan support for this basic public safety measure, Vasquez instead sided with open-borders extremists, choosing the interests of criminal aliens over the safety of American citizens.

Worse yet, Vasquez opposed President Trump’s efforts to strengthen election integrity, including legislation to ban non-citizens from voting in local, state, and federal elections. Even though the overwhelming majority of Americans — including many Democrats — support restricting voting rights exclusively to U.S. citizens, Vasquez showed where his loyalties lie: with the radical left, not the voters of southern New Mexico.

At a recent town hall event in Las Cruces, Vasquez launched into a bitter tirade against President Trump, blasting the administration’s “immigration crackdowns” and accusing Trump of promoting “fear and division” — rhetoric more at home in deep blue New York City or Washington, D.C. than in Trump country New Mexico.

His contempt for the president is especially clear in his unhinged fundraising emails.

In two recent blasts to his donor list, Vasquez ranted about Trump’s investigation into ActBlue, the Democrat fundraising giant facing mounting scrutiny for suspected widespread fraud. In one email, Vasquez seethed:

“Donald Trump just signed a memorandum targeting ActBlue — the grassroots fundraising platform that powers nearly every Democratic campaign in the country — in an attempt to shut it down… Trump knows that grassroots movements like ours are the only thing standing between him and total control.”

Rather than addressing the credible allegations of financial misconduct surrounding ActBlue — including concerns about illicit foreign donations and donor fraud — Vasquez played the victim, calling Trump’s efforts to safeguard campaign finance laws an “attack” and a “rigging of the system.”

In another desperate appeal, Vasquez went even further, lashing out at Trump’s economic policies and bizarrely blaming the president for New Mexico’s economic woes:

“Trump’s economic policies are a disaster for the country and the world… Instead, they’re falling in line and remaining silent. They are letting Trump drag our economy into chaos.”

Vasquez even bragged about teaming up with radical leftist Senator Cory Booker to introduce legislation targeting private companies like those owned by Elon Musk — a transparent publicity stunt that does nothing to help New Mexico’s struggling farmers and ranchers.

For a man representing a district that overwhelmingly voted for President Trump, Vasquez’s nonstop hostility toward the administration is nothing short of political malpractice. Instead of working with President Trump to secure the border, lower inflation, and restore law and order, Vasquez seems more concerned with playing resistance warrior for a Washington, D.C. donor class out of touch with New Mexican values.

With his reckless and sketchy voting record, repeated attacks on the president, and open disdain for his own constituents’ priorities, Gabe Vasquez is making it clear: he’s not interested in representing the people of southern New Mexico — he’s only interested in fighting Trump at every turn.

Voters will remember.

John Block represents New Mexico House District 51 — Alamogordo — in the state Legislature. He is the founder and editor of the Piñon Post — New Mexico’s #1 online conservative news source.

Sketchy Gabe Vasquez declares war on Trump in Trump country Read More »

Dems now victim-blaming NM Republicans after firebombing hate crime

25 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a show of complete shamelessness, New Mexico Democrats are blaming the victims — the New Mexico Republican Party and GOP officials — for being the target of a violent arson attack that blew up the entranceway to the Albuquerque headquarters. Rather than condemning the political violence outright, Democrats are inflaming tensions and inciting further hostility by recklessly targeting GOP leaders like Reps. John Block (R-Alamogordo), Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park), and Republican Party Chairwoman Amy Barela. Their dangerous and provably false rhetoric not only undermines the gravity of the violence but also puts these officials at direct risk.

While the FBI and ATF investigate the fire as a suspected arson — with fire-starting materials recovered from the scene — Democrat leaders have chosen to escalate, not de-escalate. State Democrats issued a press release loaded with inflammatory claims, including the absurd accusation that Republican lawmakers had been part of a crowd “calling for murder.” Not only is this untrue, it’s libelous, as pointed out by Rep. Lord. 

Rep. John Block — who is the editor and founder of the Piñon Post —was not even present at the event in question, and despite repeated attempts by Democrats to link him to the January 6 Capitol incursion, he never set foot inside or near the building nor participated in any violence. His presence at a peaceful rally attended by 53,000+ other peaceful Trump supporters — miles from the Capitol steps — appears to be another tired and debunked attempt to tie him to violence.

Chairwoman Amy Barela made clear during a Monday press conference: “This was not just an attack on our building. This was an attack on our values, our free speech, and the right of every New Mexican that wants to participate in the democratic process without fear.” She also revealed to Fox News that the targeted attack was being investigated as a hate crime.

But instead of standing with those under threat, Democrats doubled down. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, whose words to “legislate, litigate, agitate” were cited by Republicans as dangerously timed mere hours before the firebombing, dismissed concerns with shocking callousness. 

In comments to KOB 4, she accused Republicans of hypocrisy for condemning violence instead of apologizing for her call to “agitate,” claiming, “It’s ludicrous to have Republicans, who themselves have participated in violent protests, to accuse me of inciting violence.” She added, “We actually passed the sign of peace” at her town hall — an empty gesture in light of the inflammatory language she used just before the GOP headquarters went up in flames.

Leger Fernandez’s attempt to turn the blame onto Rep. Block — lying that he was involved in violent protests — further inflames the situation and spreads outright disinformation. These reckless allegations endanger GOP leaders by portraying them as instigators of violence when, in reality, they have consistently and unequivocally condemned it, including the January 6 unrest.

Instead of answering the call to stand above the violence they have inflamed, Democrats released a memorandum weaponizing the tragedy to smear GOP leaders with fabricated associations to extremism, referencing long-debunked connections and even citing the crimes of individuals wholly unrelated to the party’s current leadership. The memo accuses Chairwoman Barela of turning a blind eye to extremism simply because she has appeared in photos with GOP figures like Voice of America chief Kari Lake and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene — a clear attempt at guilt by association rather than substantive critique.

Rep. Stefani Lord called the Democratic Party’s allegations “libelous,” and Sen. Nicole Tobiassen said their claims are “desperate.”

In the face of a violent attack, New Mexico Republicans have called for unity, calm, and a return to civility. Democrats, however, have responded with personal attacks, misinformation, and what amounts to political gaslighting — accusing their opponents of the very behaviors they themselves are fueling.

Rather than take responsibility for inflaming tensions, Rep. Leger Fernandez and her allies are engaging in dangerous victim-blaming — further endangering those already under attack. If Democrats genuinely oppose political violence, they should begin by ceasing the kind of reckless rhetoric that invites it.

Dems now victim-blaming NM Republicans after firebombing hate crime Read More »

How DEI is lowering NM legal standards and putting justice at risk

15 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, the all-Democrat New Mexico Supreme Court issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the judicial system. The Court framed its stance as a necessity for upholding justice, citing its duty to “eliminate barriers” and ensure “equal access” for all individuals, regardless of race, gender, or other demographic factors. While these ideals may sound noble, the actual implementation of DEI initiatives has proven to be deeply flawed, often undermining the very principles of equal justice and meritocracy that courts should uphold.

DEI: A Shift Away From Equal Justice

The core principle of the American legal system is that justice should be blind—meaning that every individual, regardless of their background, should be treated equally under the law. However, DEI inherently prioritizes group identity over individual merit. By emphasizing race, gender, and other identity markers in decision-making, DEI initiatives risk replacing the ideal of impartial justice with an ideological agenda.

For instance, the Supreme Court of New Mexico’s emphasis on inclusivity efforts directly conflicts with the core principle engraved above their own courtroom: “Equal Justice Under Law.” True equality before the law requires neutrality, not policies that introduce preferential treatment under the guise of “equity.”

Unintended Consequences: Lowering Standards and Promoting Division

One major flaw of DEI programs in the legal system is their impact on professional and educational standards. DEI-driven hiring and promotion policies in law schools, courts, and judicial appointments have been criticized for lowering qualifications in favor of demographic representation rather than competency. This diminishes public trust in the system and creates an environment where judges and legal professionals are perceived as political appointees rather than objective arbiters of the law.

Furthermore, DEI programs often foster resentment and division rather than unity. By continually emphasizing group identity over shared legal principles, such programs risk deepening societal fractures rather than healing them. Multiple studies have shown that workplaces and institutions with aggressive DEI policies often experience greater racial tension, as people are categorized based on identity rather than shared goals or common values.

Legal and Ethical Concerns: DEI vs. Federal Law

Additionally, some DEI mandates may directly conflict with federal anti-discrimination laws. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 explicitly prohibits discrimination based on race or gender in employment and education. Yet many DEI-driven policies—including hiring quotas, admissions preferences, and mandatory diversity training—operate in a way that explicitly prioritizes race and gender, often at the expense of others. This raises serious constitutional concerns and has led to increasing legal challenges against DEI programs nationwide.

Conclusion: A Dangerous Precedent in the Judiciary

While the New Mexico Supreme Court frames DEI as a tool for fairness, it is ultimately a departure from the foundational principles of American law. Instead of ensuring equal justice, DEI initiatives insert ideology into the judicial system, threatening fairness, public trust, and legal neutrality. If true equality is the goal, the judiciary should reject identity-based policies and uphold merit, fairness, and impartiality—values that are rapidly being eroded under the guise of “inclusion.”

How DEI is lowering NM legal standards and putting justice at risk Read More »

1 2 3 4 5 6 … 24
Scroll to Top