Politics

APS brings national shame upon NM for woke Thanksgiving memo

18 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Albuquerque Public Schools is once again drawing national scrutiny—this time for a district-wide memo that recasts Thanksgiving not as a day of gratitude, family, and American tradition, but as a moment of “mourning,” “genocide,” and “oppression.” APS now finds itself lumped in with the most aggressively woke school districts and universities in the country, prompting backlash from parents who say the district is pushing ideology instead of education.

The message came directly from APS’ Indian Education Department in its November “Indigenous Updates” bulletin. The memo declares that “many Native people do not celebrate the arrival of the Pilgrims” and describes Thanksgiving as a reminder of the “genocide of millions of Native people, the appropriation of Native lands, and the erasure of Indigenous cultures.”

The memo also aligns APS with activist groups that observe Thanksgiving as a National Day of Mourning, noting that since 1970, demonstrators have gathered on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth to mourn the holiday instead of celebrating it. APS frames the day as a time of “protest against the ongoing racism and oppression faced by Indigenous peoples around the world.”

It was only a matter of time before national media noticed. Fox News highlighted APS in a broader report on K-12 schools and elite universities working to “decolonize Thanksgiving,” replace it with “Days of Mourning,” or recast the holiday as a symbol of oppression. The report grouped APS with the University of California–Davis, Washington University in St. Louis, MIT, the University of Massachusetts, and other institutions running events like “Thanksgiving Myth-Busting” sessions, anticolonial food lectures, and classroom re-education programs.

APS’ memo fits squarely into that trend. The district’s bulletin not only reframed Thanksgiving as a symbol of historical wrongdoing, it also promoted lessons, activities, and resources that encourage teachers to challenge the “First Thanksgiving” narrative, “rethink Thanksgiving,” confront “colonization,” and push social-justice-oriented curriculum guides. These materials, included in the APS update, reference “landback,” “MMIWG2,” and other activist frameworks.

Parents in Albuquerque were not given a chance to respond—APS staff had already left for their holiday break and offered no comment when contacted.

Local residents interviewed in Old Town expressed a mix of weariness and resignation. Some supported the memo’s tone, while others said they simply “take advantage of the day off” without giving much thought to celebrations. One resident said the holiday “doesn’t hold much weight” knowing the country’s history. Another said they were “110% for anything that furthers education,” while a third dismissed Thanksgiving as “a fantasy” created for commercial gain.

But on social media, reactions were far more divided. One commenter summarized a growing frustration with APS’ ideological slant: “Anyone in their right mind can acknowledge that the events that happened to Native Americans are horrific. This holiday is about being thankful for the people and things you have in life. Both can coexist.”

Many parents and taxpayers say APS should be focusing on reading scores, math proficiency, and campus safety—not lecturing families about “mourning” and rewriting a holiday cherished by millions. After years of declining test scores and ballooning administrative DEI initiatives, critics argue this latest memo is yet another sign that APS has lost sight of its mission.

As school districts across the nation face backlash for radicalized curriculum shifts, Albuquerque Public Schools has now placed New Mexico in the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons—turning what should be a unifying holiday into another ideological battlefield.

APS brings national shame upon NM for woke Thanksgiving memo Read More »

White crushes Keller in debate as mayor fixates on Trump — not ABQ’s collapse

14 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

With early voting for Albuquerque’s mayoral runoff just days away, Monday night’s debate showed a striking contrast between the two candidates seeking to lead a city in crisis. Darren White spent the night pressing the issues directly affecting residents—surging crime, growing homelessness, and a city government in shambles—while Tim Keller seemed far more interested in talking about Donald Trump than defending his own collapsing record.

Keller repeatedly bragged about projects from his tenure, such as the Gateway shelter, the Rail Trail, and the Albuquerque Community Safety Department, but offered almost nothing substantial about how he would reverse the city’s steep decline. He spent most of his time recycling talking points about past initiatives rather than presenting new solutions, even as Albuquerque faces some of its worst public safety and homelessness numbers in modern history. 

White, meanwhile, struck directly at what many Albuquerque residents experience daily: a city that feels unsafe and ungoverned. White demanded immediate accountability in law enforcement leadership, asking why Police Chief Harold Medina still has his job and saying, “The question shouldn’t be whether we would keep the chief of police. The question should be why hasn’t he already been fired?”

Keller insisted that crime is down “statistically,” even as he admitted that he and the public do not actually feel safer. White dismissed Keller’s numbers, noting that violent crime has spiraled so badly that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had to deploy the National Guard and launch multi-agency operations because City Hall was unable to get control of the streets. Keller claimed he merely “asked for help,” suggesting that the crisis was inherited rather than worsened under his watch.

The conversation often turned from crime to homelessness, another area where White argued that Keller has completely failed the city. White blasted Keller’s permissive approach, saying, “The mayor has let them do whatever the hell they want,” pointing to data showing nearly 3,000 people now living on Albuquerque’s streets. White argued that enforcing basic laws—including arresting those who refuse services and continue illegal camping—is essential to restoring order. 

Keller responded by calling White’s plan “dangerous” and a potential “mass casualty event,” insisting that homelessness cannot be addressed through enforcement. White countered that Keller’s refusal to act is exactly why the crisis has exploded, with homeless encampments and associated crime worsening every year Keller has been in office.

On economic issues, the two found rare points of agreement, such as keeping the State Fair at its current location. However, even in these areas, White focused on practical impacts on businesses and neighborhoods, while Keller relied on rhetoric rather than a plan to address the city’s stagnant conditions. White again turned attention to crime in the surrounding area, citing concerns long raised by residents.

The most telling moment came when each candidate had the chance to ask the other one a question. Instead of using his question to defend his record or discuss Albuquerque’s future, Keller chose to ask White about President Donald Trump. Keller pressed White to list which Trump policies he approved or disapproved of, a move that seemed disconnected entirely from the crises consuming Albuquerque. 

White responded that he considers himself an independent, then accused Keller of running a fear-driven campaign to distract from his failures. Keller attempted to tie White to “Trump-like” immigration policies. Still, White pointed out that the policy in question—returning ICE agents to APD’s Prisoner Transport Unit—originated in the Obama administration.

The debate closed with Keller defending his administration’s programs and spending increases, while White emphasized that Albuquerque has reached a breaking point under Keller’s leadership. With crime high, homelessness rampant, and public confidence low, Keller continued talking about Trump while White focused on restoring a city that many feel has suffered a complete breakdown.

He also noted regarding Keller’s lies, “He loves to attach all these labels to me because when you are desperate to cling to power, you’ll say and do anything — including lie to the public — to make sure that you are able to get reelected. I don’t believe that’s the right thing to do.”

Early voting begins December 1, and the runoff election is December 9, leaving voters to decide whether Albuquerque gets four more years of decline or a chance at new leadership.

White crushes Keller in debate as mayor fixates on Trump — not ABQ’s collapse Read More »

See which of New Mexico’s U.S. reps. are openly socialist—it might shock you

13 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A major vote in the U.S. House on Friday revealed exactly where New Mexico’s congressional Democrats stand when it comes to socialism — and the results were striking.

The House overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning socialism in all its forms, with 285 lawmakers voting yes and 86 Democrats joining Republicans in rejecting the ideology. The vote came after the election of self-described socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s next mayor, a move that sparked nationwide debate about the mainstreaming of socialist politics.

While two of New Mexico’s representatives broke away from the far-left orbit, one stood firmly on the side of socialism — and another refused to take a stance.

Here’s how they voted:

  • Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-2) — voted YES to condemn socialism
  • Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-3) — voted NO, aligning with the socialist wing
  • Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-1) — DID NOT VOTE

That makes Leger Fernandez the only member of New Mexico’s delegation who actively opposed condemning socialism, putting her directly in line with the Democrat Socialist movement spreading across parts of the country. Stansbury’s absence, meanwhile, kept her from joining the bipartisan majority that rejected socialism, while Vasquez broke with the far-left to support the resolution.

The text of the measure, introduced by Rep. María Salazar, R-Fla., leaves no ambiguity:
“Congress denounces socialism in all its forms and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States.”

The resolution recounts the catastrophic history of socialist regimes — from Cuba’s Castro dictatorship, to Mao’s China, to Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro — where centralized control led to famine, mass murder, and economic collapse.

Even House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who had endorsed socialist Zohran Mamdani days before the New York mayoral election, voted in favor.

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., applauded the bipartisan rejection, warning: “It always leads to a destruction of liberties for people.”
He emphasized that socialism demands top-down control, adding, “We have a responsibility to defend the American core of capitalism, free markets and liberty [against] socialism, democratic socialism, communism, authoritarianism, fascism.”

Other Democrats echoed concerns about the direction of their party. Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., said embracing socialism is a political dead end:
“The answer is not the populism of Donald Trump or Zohran Mamdani — it’s about giving specific policy prescriptions.”

State Rep. Martin Zamora of Clovis, who is running against Leger Fernandez, wrote on social media following the vote that the congresswoman “does not represent the views of the good people of NM CD-3.”

What It Means for New Mexico

The vote draws a sharp line in New Mexico’s delegation:

  • Vasquez sided with a broad bipartisan coalition condemning socialism, likely in an attempt to increase his reelection chances, despite being far-left and adopting socialist policies.
  • Stansbury avoided taking a position.
  • Leger Fernandez stood with the far left, rejecting the chance to denounce one of history’s most destructive ideologies.

So which New Mexico U.S. representative is openly aligned with socialism?
Teresa Leger Fernandez — and the vote makes it unmistakable — while Stansbury didn’t vote.

See which of New Mexico’s U.S. reps. are openly socialist—it might shock you Read More »

What’s Maggie hiding? NM sec. of state fights federal search for illegal voters

24 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, a far-left Democrat seeking continual elective office now as lieutenant governor, is once again at the center of a national controversy—this time joining 10 other Democrat secretaries of state in signing a letter attacking the federal government for requesting statewide voter-roll data. Critics say the group is trying to obstruct lawful federal efforts to ensure only U.S. citizens vote in American elections, effectively protecting non-citizens—and even criminal aliens—from detection.

The letter, sent Nov. 18 to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, expresses “immense concern” that the Trump administration’s Department of Justice is sharing voter data with Homeland Security to check for non-citizens on the voter rolls. The multi-state letter was signed by far-left Democrat election chiefs from Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and New Mexico—including Toulouse Oliver, whose signature appears alongside the others on page 3 of the file.

Rather than welcoming the chance to ensure voter rolls contain only eligible voters, the secretaries attack the process and question why DOJ and DHS would need such data. The letter complains that the federal government requested voter registration lists—and in some states, full unredacted records including dates of birth and the last four digits of Social Security numbers—so that the DOJ could review whether states are complying with Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) list-maintenance requirements.

These laws require states to maintain clean, accurate rolls and remove ineligible individuals, including deceased voters and non-citizens. But Toulouse Oliver and her counterparts frame these legally authorized federal checks as alarming and improper, warning of “Privacy Act concerns” and calling the federal explanations “misleading.”

Their objections intensified after DHS confirmed that voter data would be cross-checked using the federal SAVE database—a system specifically designed to verify immigration status. The letter attacks DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Heather Honey personally, accusing her of having “a history of spreading false claims about elections.”

Despite these complaints, the DOJ has been clear:

“Congress gave the Justice Department authority under the NVRA, HAVA, the Civil Rights Act, and other statutes to ensure that states have proper voter registration procedures and programs to maintain clean voter rolls… the data is being screened for ineligible voter entries.”

In other words, the Trump administration is doing exactly what federal law demands: ensuring only eligible citizens vote.

But Toulouse Oliver appears more concerned with shielding non-citizens from detection. In an interview, she admitted her real fear is that accurate citizenship verification could “potentially harm people who are legally here” and that she does not believe there are “a huge amount, if any, non-citizens” on the rolls—despite having no access to federal immigration databases to verify that claim.

Her argument boils down to this: states—not the federal government—should decide how voter data is matched, and she “trusts” her own process more than DHS or DOJ.

Yet the law is unambiguous:

federal agencies have the authority and responsibility to ensure federal elections are conducted legally, and that includes verifying citizenship.

Critics argue Toulouse Oliver and the other Democratic secretaries are trying to stop exactly that, prioritizing political optics and progressive ideology over election integrity. By obstructing basic citizenship checks, they risk enabling illegal voting and undermining public confidence in the system.

The 10 secretaries have demanded answers from DOJ and DHS by Dec. 1, though Toulouse Oliver admitted she does not expect a response.

Her final justification was revealing:

“If I don’t stand up and use my voice for what is right, then I’m complicit.”

But many Americans believe the real complicity lies in blocking lawful efforts to ensure that only U.S. citizens vote—and in fighting transparency at every turn.

What’s Maggie hiding? NM sec. of state fights federal search for illegal voters Read More »

BernCo adopts lawlessness: New ordinance shields criminal aliens

22 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Bernalillo County’s Democrat-controlled Commission has approved one of the most extreme immigration ordinances in New Mexico history — a measure critics say will jeopardize federal funding, compromise cooperation with federal law enforcement, and effectively create county-backed safe havens for criminal aliens.

In a 4–1 vote on Tuesday, the Commission barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting enforcement on or near hospitals, schools, courthouses, churches, businesses, and worksites unless agents obtain a formal judicial warrant — even in cases involving serious criminal offenders.

The measure reinstates a controversial Biden-era directive prohibiting enforcement in “sensitive locations,” a policy the Department of Homeland Security previously warned criminals were exploiting. President Donald Trump revoked that policy early in his second term, noting that dangerous individuals were “shielding themselves behind these arbitrary safe zones.”

Now Bernalillo County is bringing the policy back — in defiance of federal guidance — and critics say the move could cost the county dearly.

Potential Loss of Federal Support and Legal Consequences

Legal analysts warn the county is inviting a showdown with federal authorities. Restricting cooperation with ICE and limiting access to public institutions may place the county in violation of federal law governing immigration enforcement, which could threaten millions in grants, law-enforcement partnerships, and emergency response funding.

Opponents say the Commission is effectively instructing county agencies and businesses to hinder federal law enforcement, a posture that could be interpreted as violating 8 U.S.C. § 1373 — the same statute used in past federal lawsuits against sanctuary jurisdictions.

County Commissioner Walt Benson, the lone dissenting vote, blasted the ordinance:

“There are criminals hiding behind these laws, you know it. You know people who have been abused, people who have been trafficked, you know drug dealers.”

Benson warned that the ordinance will overload local law enforcement, burden businesses, and shield offenders who have no legal right to be in the United States.

Business Requirements and Burdensome Mandates

The ordinance imposes sweeping requirements on employers, mandating that businesses:

  • Notify all employees if their I-9 audit is initiated
  • Notify staff if immigration enforcement agents plan to visit
  • Post signage throughout their buildings identifying public vs. private areas
  • Prepare for new policies within 90 days

Critics argue this forces businesses into a quasi-legal advisory role, undermining federal audits and potentially obstructing lawful enforcement actions.

Advocacy Groups Celebrate, While Public Safety Concerns Grow

The chamber was packed with activists from El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos, a progressive immigrant-advocacy group, wearing matching turquoise shirts and cheering as the Commission approved the ordinance. Clergy from the Catholic Church also spoke in support, framing the move as a moral obligation.

But safety advocates say the Commission is ignoring the rise in serious crime involving individuals with outstanding federal detainers — a trend long acknowledged by local law enforcement.

Democrat Commissioners Dismiss Safety Concerns

Commission Chair Eric Olivas dismissed warnings from law-and-order advocates, saying:

“I think it’s laughable that the party of law and order is breaking the highest law of the land.”

Yet former federal agents warn that ICE already requires warrants for sensitive enforcement actions when legally necessary. The difference now is that the county is blocking cooperation even when individuals pose a threat.

Critics say the ordinance goes far beyond protecting civil rights — it functionally weaponizes county government to shield illegal immigrants from lawful federal enforcement, even in cases involving fraud, gang activity, trafficking, and assault.

A County Playing With Fire

With the ordinance now law, Bernalillo County risks:

  • Losing federal law-enforcement partnerships
  • Triggering DOJ scrutiny
  • Encouraging repeat offenders to hide in public institutions
  • Creating legal ambiguity for hospitals, schools, and faith institutions
  • Increasing the burden on local police forced to step in where ICE cannot

Opponents argue the Commission has prioritized ideological activism over the safety of county residents.

As Benson warned after the vote:
“Lawlessness is exactly what you’re inviting.”

The consequences — financial, legal, and public-safety related — are now Bernalillo County’s to bear.

BernCo adopts lawlessness: New ordinance shields criminal aliens Read More »

58% re-offend: NM’s youth crime crisis explodes as state fails to fix system

18 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Despite decades of promises and millions of taxpayer dollars poured into “rehabilitation-focused” youth programs, New Mexico’s juvenile justice system remains profoundly broken — and a new Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) report shows just how deep the failures run.

While referrals to the juvenile system have dropped over the last two decades, the report reveals a far more troubling truth: a majority of the youth entering the system end up coming back. Of the roughly 113,000 juvenile referrals over the last 11 years, a staggering 58 percent were re-referrals, meaning those same young offenders cycled right back into the courts and state supervision.

Far from being a success story, the numbers point to a system that cannot hold offenders accountable, cannot treat underlying behavioral issues, and cannot keep communities safe.

Lawmakers expressed alarm at both the re-referral rate and a recent post-pandemic surge in youth crime.

“We want to prevent them from being an adult who commits a crime,” said Rep. Rebecca Dow, R–Truth or Consequences. She also questioned why juveniles are allowed to refuse mental health or treatment services when those very issues are driving recidivism.

The report underscores that 86 percent of the youths committed to state facilities experienced four or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) — trauma, abuse, instability, or neglect. New Mexico consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for childhood trauma rates, and that trauma is clearly showing up in the criminal justice system.

Perhaps even more alarming: one-third of juveniles charged over the past 11 years had prior contact with CYFD’s child protective services. For many kids, the state fails them long before they are ever arrested.

Acting CYFD Secretary Valerie Sandoval attempted to reassure lawmakers that the agency is trying to better evaluate which youths need treatment versus secure detention. CYFD runs two secure facilities in Albuquerque and Las Cruces and oversees 29 probation and parole offices, while four counties operate local detention centers.

“We are not detaining low-risk juveniles, and we are not releasing high-risk juveniles on their own accord,” Sandoval insisted.

But lawmakers weren’t convinced — and neither were the numbers.

CYFD is currently overseeing 2,349 juveniles with active cases, ranging from misdemeanors to violent felonies. From September 2023 to the present, 631 juveniles were detained for firearm-related offenses — a wave of gun crime that contradicts the state’s claim that its “community-based model” is working.

Rep. Mark Duncan, R–Kirtland, warned that without meaningful intervention, many of these repeat juvenile offenders will simply graduate into the adult correctional system. And the financial burden is enormous:

“It costs about $345,000 per year to hold one juvenile in a state facility,” Duncan said.

“We can graduate a kid from Harvard for the same amount.”

Meanwhile, the state’s behavioral health system — the backbone of any functional rehabilitative model — has all but collapsed. Between 2022 and 2024, New Mexico lost roughly 1,500 behavioral health providers, even as the Legislature raised Medicaid reimbursement rates.

To make matters worse, a $20 million youth behavioral health expansion approved in 2022 is now under investigation over whether the funds were misused.

The LFC report bluntly concluded that New Mexico simply lacks the behavioral health capacity needed to treat at-risk youth, leaving both the children and the public at risk.

CYFD spent $78 million last year on juvenile justice, primarily on state-run facilities and probation offices. Yet without effective treatment, oversight, or accountability, the system continues to churn out the same troubled kids — only more traumatized, more violent, and more disconnected.

For years, New Mexico leaders have promised juvenile justice reform. This report makes one thing clear: those promises have gone nowhere, and accountability is long overdue.

58% re-offend: NM’s youth crime crisis explodes as state fails to fix system Read More »

Tim Keller gets brutally ratioed after claiming ABQ crime is ‘trending down’

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

ALBUQUERQUE — A new X post from far-left Democrat Mayor Tim Keller is backfiring spectacularly after he publicly claimed that crime is “trending down” in Albuquerque — a city that continues to rank among the most dangerous in the country and even in the world.

In a video posted to X, Keller proclaimed:

“Crime is trending down in Albuquerque because we are taking a smarter approach. With better tech, added support staff, and ACS taking thousands of calls, officers can focus on violent crime. This is how we move our city forward, safer and stronger together.”

But the public response was immediate — and overwhelmingly negative. As of 10:00 p.m., Keller’s post had just 25 likes and 99 comments, a ratio signaling widespread rejection of his narrative.

The reality: Albuquerque is not seeing major crime improvement

Contrary to Keller’s claims, Albuquerque remains one of the most crime-stricken cities in America. According to global crime analysis published this year, Albuquerque ranks as the 20th most dangerous city in the world with a crime index of 71.4. The ranking, based on data from global risk assessment sources, places Albuquerque alongside cities plagued by far higher levels of violence than the national average.

KOAT also reported this year that Albuquerque was one of the most dangerous cities in the nation on Halloween, reflecting statistically high rates of violent crime, repeat offenders, and soaring property theft.

For residents, Keller’s rosy portrayal of safety stands in stark contrast to their lived reality.

X Users Torch Keller in the Replies

Residents unleashed a wave of frustration, anger, and disbelief:

  • Kimberly DeaBueno: “I know first hand the approach you’re taking, ignoring 911 cries for help! I was told 2x no officer available after I was being threatened with thugs with guns at my business. Since you don’t respond to actual crime, your false stats go down 🙄 nobody is safe in Albuquerque!”
  • TDog73: “If you stop arresting people for committing crime, crime ‘Statistics’ will go down but everyone that lives here knows crime has never been worse. You literally admitted it during the debate. You have failed everyone that lives here and you need to go. You are the problem.”
  • Mrs. Gen X: “You are a joke and everyone is sick of it. You are the problem! Make Albuquerque safe again. Vote @darrenPwhite”
  • Jon Herr: “Your policies caused crime rates to explode… only when you were up for reelection did you start talking about cleaning it up.”
  • Shayadjinn: “‘Smarter’ = changing what’s called a ‘violent’ crime — messing with stats I would bet. Because the city looks and acts exactly the same. Keller is leaving Albuquerque worse than he found it — WAY, WAY worse. And worse? He’s lying.”
  • Lobo1984: “No, it’s not trending down. Reports are down because people have become apathetic. I’ve had more than 10 incidents at my business property over the past 2 years. I haven’t called once. It’s become the norm and a cost of doing business in Albuquerque under your term.”
  • Mike Romo: “I literally just heard rapid gunfire from my house.”
  • Motor jupiter the 2nd: “And right after I posted this, what popped up on my feed? Last night’s Murder 107…”

Even the Republican Party of New Mexico Executive Director Leticia Muñoz weighed in, writing:

“This post is ratio’d for obvious reasons.”

A major warning sign ahead of the mayoral runoff

Keller is currently facing former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White in a high-stakes December 9 runoff. Public safety is the defining issue — and Keller’s X ratio is a glaring signal that voters simply don’t believe him.

Analysts say Keller’s attempt to declare victory on crime is risky, particularly when residents feel unsafe, hear gunfire nightly, or have given up calling 911 because police response is nonexistent.

Bottom line

Mayor Keller’s optimistic narrative is clashing sharply with Albuquerque’s real crime statistics, national rankings, and the lived experiences of residents. His attempt to claim that crime is “trending down” has not only failed to persuade — it’s triggered an online revolt.

With crime dominating the runoff, Keller’s ratio might be more than an embarrassing internet moment — it may be a preview of how voters feel heading into Election Day.

Tim Keller gets brutally ratioed after claiming ABQ crime is ‘trending down’ Read More »

Did Vasquez forget NM exists? He votes down $32M+ in local funding

10 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

After forcing New Mexicans through the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez is now facing fierce backlash for voting against the bipartisan deal that finally ended the 42-day crisis — and for voting against tens of millions of dollars in funding for communities across southern New Mexico, including multiple major military installations.

The shutdown, driven by House and Senate Democrats demanding political “leverage,” left federal workers unpaid, grounded flights, stalled military operations, and destabilized families across New Mexico. As the National Republican Congressional Committee put it,

“Gabe Vasquez and the Democrat Party’s government shutdown was nothing more than a disgusting and shameless display of just how far they will go to appease their radical socialist base. New Mexico voters won’t forget it.” — NRCC Spokesman Reilly Richardson

Yet when Congress finally brought forward a bipartisan plan to reopen the government, Vasquez broke from the majority and voted no — choosing continued chaos rather than relief for workers, families, and service members.

And the consequences for New Mexico-02 are staggering.

Vasquez voted against more than $32 million in community and military funding

According to internal communications shared with the Piñon Post, the bill Vasquez opposed included major investments directly benefiting his district, including:

  • Cannon Air Force Base — $8.1 million
  • Holloman Air Force Base — $700,000
  • Kirtland Air Force Base — $3.2 million
  • Kirtland Air Force Base — $18.25 million
  • Town of Mesilla Town Hall improvements — $1 million
  • National Center for Frontier Communities workforce training facility — $850,000

In total, that is more than $32 million Vasquez voted against — funding that will still come to New Mexico despite his opposition.

Kirtland Air Force Base alone generated a $7.5 billion economic impact in FY 2024, according to federal data. Numerous military families and veterans in NM-02 rely on these installations for employment, housing stability, and local economic security.

RNC: Vasquez “went to Washington and forgot about New Mexicans”

Delanie Bomar, a former New Mexico GOP staffer now serving at the RNC, flagged Vasquez’s vote in a message to the Piñon Post, noting the political hypocrisy:

“Not only did he vote to keep the government shutdown, but he also voted against $1.85 million for his own communities….
This included funding he personally requested after meeting with Mesilla and the National Center for Frontier Communities.”

National strategists say it should be expected that this vote will be used in ads against Vasquez.

The message that Vasquez “went to D.C. and forgot about New Mexicans” is one strategists say “works very well in this district.”

Vasquez also voted against funding for Holloman and Cannon

Richardson’s follow-up outlined just how severe Vasquez’s opposition was, noting that the congressman voted against funding affecting the three largest military presences connected to NM-02:

  • Cannon AFB (Clovis)
  • Holloman AFB (Alamogordo)
  • Kirtland AFB (Albuquerque, which employs thousands of NM-02 residents through mission transfers and contracting ties)

Workforce training, small-town infrastructure, and border-region economic development were also included — all rejected by Vasquez.

After 42 days of chaos, Vasquez’s “no” vote stands alone

The shutdown strained every corner of New Mexico: TSA agents worked without pay, border agents were stretched thin, and military families braced for uncertainty.

Unions pleaded for Democrats to reopen the government. Airlines blamed the chaos for cancelled flights. Federal installations across the state scrambled to prepare for missed paychecks.

Yet Vasquez, even after all of that, voted against reopening the government and against millions in investments he had told local leaders he supported.

Political observers say the vote is an “unforced error” that could haunt him in a district already known for punishing incumbents who appear out of step with local needs.

In a district as competitive as NM-02, voting against your own constituents — and against their military bases, job training, and infrastructure — may prove to be one of the most consequential decisions of Gabe Vasquez’s short congressional career.

Did Vasquez forget NM exists? He votes down $32M+ in local funding Read More »

Tim Keller attack ad on Darren White proven false

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In one of the most brazen displays of political dishonesty in recent memory, Mayor Tim Keller has unveiled an attack ad against former Bernalillo County Sheriff and former Albuquerque Public Safety Director Darren White — an ad so flagrantly false that even a basic Google search exposes it as fabricated nonsense.

The ad claims White wants to “let Donald Trump round up innocent people” and implies he would bring federal immigration agents (ICE) into Albuquerque to “check everyone in the city.” 

Keller’s team clipped a single sentence from an interview — “ICE will come in and they will look at everybody” — stripping it of all context in a desperate attempt to manufacture fear.

In reality, White was clearly referring to individuals already arrested and booked into Albuquerque’s prisoner transport unit. His position has been consistent for years: if criminals are in custody for breaking the law, ICE should be allowed to check their immigration status. Keller’s team surgically removed every word around the clip to deceive voters — a move critics have called “political malpractice” and “intentionally dishonest.”

But the ad gets even worse.

Keller goes on to declare that White “was forced to resign” due to police shootings of “innocent people.” This is not just misleading — it is demonstrably false, and Keller undoubtedly knows it.

White did not resign because of police shootings. He voluntarily stepped down in 2011 so an investigation could proceed into whether he improperly interfered in the police response to his wife’s car accident. And that investigation didn’t harm him — it cleared him completely.

Not one, but two independent investigations exonerated White:

  • The Independent Review Office (IRO) found that White did not interfere in the investigation and did not misuse his authority.
  • The City Council-ordered Inspector General investigation came to the exact same conclusion.

Even Democratic City Council President Ken Sanchez stated publicly at the time:
“Darren White did no wrong, and we can put the issue behind us and move on as a city.”

KOAT 7 News — hardly a right-wing outlet — reported that White was “completely cleared” and that his resignation had nothing to do with police shootings. Keller’s claim reverses that reality entirely, inventing a scandal out of whole cloth.

Political observers say Keller’s attack speaks more loudly about his own sinking record than about White’s decades of law-enforcement leadership. With rampant crime, a demoralized police department, repeated ethics controversies, and cratering public confidence, Keller appears to be grasping for any line of attack — even lies that can be debunked in seconds.

White’s campaign described Keller’s meltdown accurately: a desperate incumbent willing to “say anything to win,” including suggesting that local police “murdered innocent people” — a reckless smear that insults the entire department.

As voters move deeper into election season, the contrast is becoming stark. Keller is leaning into distortion, fear-mongering, and fabricated narratives. White, meanwhile, stands on a documented, factual record: his comments on ICE were about jailed offenders, not law-abiding residents, and he was fully exonerated from the manufactured scandal Keller now tries to resurrect.

Keller’s ad may go down as one of the boldest political lies in Albuquerque history — but in the age of instant fact-checking, it may also cost him more than he bargained for.

Tim Keller attack ad on Darren White proven false Read More »

Stansbury melts down on TMZ with bonkers Trump–Epstein theory

21 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a bizarre and baseless outburst, New Mexico Democrat Rep. Melanie Stansbury is accusing the White House of “covering up” President Donald Trump’s supposed ties to Jeffrey Epstein — even though no credible evidence has ever linked Trump to Epstein’s criminal acts, and years of investigations under Democrat-led agencies have produced nothing to the contrary.

Appearing on TMZ Live on Wednesday, Stansbury claimed a newly released batch of Epstein-related emails proved “the White House is trying to cover up Donald Trump’s involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.” She pointed to one message, allegedly sent to Ghislaine Maxwell, reading:

“I want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is trump.. [VICTIM REDACTED] spent hours at my house with him ,, he has never once been mentioned.”

From that vague and decades-old email, Stansbury jumped to wild conclusions — speculating about “police involvement” and accusing the Trump administration of hiding evidence. She went so far as to allege officials are “threatening Republicans to remove their signatures” from a discharge petition demanding full release of Epstein-related materials.

Stansbury’s rant quickly drew ridicule from journalists and commentators across the spectrum. Newsmax host Rob Schmitt blasted her conspiracy-laden tirade on X, writing:

“The usual clowns with more bulls**t. The name of the victim Trump spent ‘hours with’ was redacted by Dems. This was done intentionally. It’s Virginia Giuffre, her identity was unmasked by Republicans. Why did Dems conceal her ID??? Because Giuffre praised Trump in her book as having done nothing wrong. These people are animals.”

Schmitt’s post refers to Virginia Giuffre, the most prominent Epstein accuser, who has publicly stated that Donald Trump never acted inappropriately toward her. In fact, Giuffre wrote in her 2015 memoir that Trump was “a good guy” and that she had “never seen him act improperly toward anyone.” Even the FBI — under Democrat administrations — never found an iota of evidence linking Trump to Epstein’s trafficking ring.

Trump himself cut ties with Epstein long before his arrest. As The Associated Press reported, the future president banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago Club after learning Epstein had attempted to recruit one of the club’s employees. “I’m not a fan of Jeffrey Epstein,” Trump told reporters years before Epstein’s death. Multiple witnesses have confirmed Trump severed contact with Epstein once his disturbing behavior came to light.

Despite that history, Stansbury — who has a reputation for far-left activism — continues to spin the theory that Trump somehow escaped accountability through an elaborate White House “cover-up.” Her remarks come as Democrats attempt to weaponize the release of selective Epstein documents to smear political opponents. Notably, these same Democrats control both the Department of Justice and the FBI — agencies that have had full access to Epstein’s materials for years. If any connection between Trump and Epstein existed, it would have been exposed long ago by political operatives eager to destroy him.

Instead, after years of investigations and thousands of pages of records, there is still zero evidence tying Donald Trump to any criminal conduct. On the contrary, records show Trump assisted prosecutors in the original 2009 case against Epstein and was one of the few high-profile figures who refused to associate with him once allegations surfaced.

Critics say Stansbury’s latest claims are just another desperate attempt to revive long-debunked conspiracy theories to distract from her party’s failures. “This is what happens when Democrats have no record to run on,” one GOP strategist noted. “They invent stories about Trump to keep their base angry.”

The facts remain clear: Trump cut ties with Epstein nearly two decades ago, cooperated with investigators, and has never been accused — let alone charged — with any wrongdoing related to Epstein. Stansbury’s comments are nothing more than the latest chapter in the left’s endless obsession with manufacturing scandals where none exist.

Stansbury melts down on TMZ with bonkers Trump–Epstein theory Read More »

1 2 3 4 5 6 … 232
Scroll to Top