Politics

‘Political theater’? Dem lawmaker shrugs as malpractice costs drive NM docs. out

27 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a recent opinion column published by The Albuquerque Journal, Democrat State Rep. Liz Thomson dismissed growing concerns over New Mexico’s medical malpractice system as nothing more than “political theater” and a “phantom problem.” But physicians across the state—and hard data—tell a very different story.

Thomson, an Albuquerque progressive who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee, doubled down on her opposition to medical malpractice reform, arguing that the real causes of the physician shortage are insufficient pay, student debt, and lack of housing support.

“Now that the gutting of Medicaid makes it more important and urgent than ever that we stop debating phantom problems and focus our attention on the real challenge: ensuring every New Mexican has timely access to quality medical care,” Thomson wrote.

She added, “It doesn’t point fingers at patient advocates and it doesn’t propose solutions that harm a patient’s access to justice,” implying that efforts to reform the state’s high-risk medical malpractice climate are unjustified and unnecessary.

But doctors, hospital administrators, and business owners have warned for years that New Mexico’s out-of-control malpractice insurance costs—particularly after the 2021 amendments to the Medical Malpractice Act—are creating a dangerous climate for providers.

What the Data Shows

Since 2021, when the Legislature raised the liability cap for independent outpatient healthcare facilities from $600,000 to $750,000 (and ultimately up to $1 million by 2027), malpractice insurers have fled the state. The Doctors Company, once a major provider of malpractice insurance in New Mexico, withdrew from covering independent outpatient facilities altogether.

A 2022 report from the New Mexico Medical Society found that more than 100 doctors left the state in just one year, citing skyrocketing premiums and the threat of unlimited personal liability.

In 2023, more than two dozen clinics warned they were planning to close or stop offering high-risk procedures such as OB-GYN and emergency care due to unaffordable coverage. Many providers reported malpractice premiums doubling or tripling after the law changed.

The American Medical Association has consistently ranked New Mexico as one of the most “medico-legally hostile” states in the country, making it one of the hardest places to recruit and retain specialty physicians.

And it’s not just anecdotal. In 2024, the LFC’s own staff acknowledged in testimony that high liability exposure—especially for independent providers—was contributing to the exodus of physicians, particularly in rural areas.

The Consequences

Patients are feeling the effects. Expectant mothers in southeastern New Mexico must now travel hours to find OB-GYN care, and some small hospitals report being unable to find coverage for anesthesia or emergency surgery on certain days.

Meanwhile, Rep. Thomson continues to reject malpractice reform as mere “misinformation.” Her dismissal of these urgent warnings as a “phantom problem” may be politically convenient, but for doctors and patients alike, it’s a very real crisis.

Unless lawmakers take immediate steps to restore balance and fairness to the medical malpractice system, New Mexico risks losing even more of its already limited health care workforce.

‘Political theater’? Dem lawmaker shrugs as malpractice costs drive NM docs. out Read More »

Powerful Democrat accused of red-faced rage at staffer

24 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

One of New Mexico’s most powerful lawmakers, Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, is facing serious scrutiny following a legislative ethics hearing on Friday, where investigators presented evidence that the veteran Albuquerque Democrat verbally berated a staffer during the 2024 legislative session.

The accusation stems from a February 27 incident involving Michelle Jaschke, who coordinates capital outlay programs for the Legislative Council Service. According to testimony, Jaschke emailed Sen. Stewart’s office after the deadline for capital requests, inquiring whether the senator had submitted her required documentation. What followed, according to Jaschke, was a barrage of hostility.

Special counsel Lorna Wiggins, who conducted the harassment investigation, told the Legislative Ethics Subcommittee that Jaschke received a reply email from Stewart in all capital letters — a format Jaschke interpreted as “screaming.” Minutes later, Stewart allegedly followed up with a phone call, during which she shouted and called Jaschke “stupid.”

“She described the call as a verbal attack,” Wiggins said. “The encounter affected her so deeply that she was unable to work the next day, citing both mental and physical distress.”

Wiggins, a labor and employment attorney, determined Stewart’s conduct fell within the Legislature’s anti-harassment policy, which broadly defines harassment as behavior a reasonable person would find “insulting, intimidating, humiliating, or degrading.”

Sen. Stewart’s attorney, Ray Vargas, acknowledged the lawmaker’s actions were inappropriate. “She wasn’t just impolite — she was downright rude,” he admitted. But he insisted the incident didn’t meet the legal threshold for harassment. “This was an unfortunate outburst in a high-stress situation, not an act of intimidation or coercion.”

Vargas explained the context: Stewart had submitted nearly $4 million in capital outlay requests on time for her district, one of the poorest in the state. When she received an email suggesting the forms were missing, she lost her temper. “She was beside herself,” Vargas said.

Former Supreme Court Justice Richard Bosson, who chairs the subcommittee, emphasized the group’s role is to determine whether a violation of the Legislature’s anti-harassment policy occurred and whether sanctions should be recommended. A formal written order is expected soon.

In a statement read aloud during the hearing, Stewart expressed regret. “I believe it’s important that we legislators treat everyone with kindness and respect, especially our staff,” she wrote. “I failed to do that. I apologized to Michelle, and I’m now seeing a counselor to help ensure I handle stressful moments better in the future.”

The subcommittee concluded its deliberations in executive session. A final decision on possible disciplinary action is expected to be made public in the coming days.

Powerful Democrat accused of red-faced rage at staffer Read More »

Republican announces bid to unseat Stansbury

22 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a bold challenge to the far-left status quo in New Mexico’s First Congressional District, Rio Rancho pharmacist and small business owner Ndidiamaka “Didi” Okpareke has officially announced her candidacy for Congress as a Republican, setting her sights on defeating Democrat incumbent Melanie Stansbury in the 2026 election.

Okpareke, a first-generation American and proud New Mexican since 1997, brings a unique blend of real-world experience, conservative values, and a no-nonsense approach to problem-solving. The daughter of Nigerian immigrants who fled the devastation of the Biafran war in pursuit of the American dream, Okpareke’s story is one of grit, faith, and resilience. She attended Sandia High School, graduated from the University of New Mexico, and went on to become a licensed pharmacist. In 2016, she took a leap of faith and launched her own small business, Olive Tree Compounding Pharmacy, where she works daily to craft personalized health solutions for her customers.

Now, after nearly three decades in the Albuquerque area, Okpareke says enough is enough.

“New Mexicans are fed up,” said Okpareke. “We’re facing sky-high crime, economic uncertainty, collapsing public education, and a healthcare system in flux. But instead of working across the aisle to actually fix anything, Melanie Stansbury would rather film sound bites on the House floor to boost her social media following. That’s not leadership—it’s narcissism. And New Mexicans deserve better.”

As a mother of three boys, Okpareke says the stakes are personal. She warns that the American dream her parents risked everything to chase is slipping further out of reach—especially in New Mexico, where crime is rampant, businesses are burdened by overregulation, and leftist policies are failing children in the classroom.

“We are living in a New Mexico nightmare,” Okpareke said. “Families like mine are worried that our kids will inherit a state with fewer opportunities, more danger, and fewer freedoms. We need to turn things around now.”

Her message to voters is clear: it’s time to replace empty progressive posturing with bold conservative action.

“As a business owner, I’ve learned that when you want something done right, sometimes you have to do it yourself,” Okpareke added. “That’s why I’m running for Congress. I’ll bring common sense to Washington and fight to protect the values that make this country worth fighting for—faith, family, freedom, and opportunity.”

With a background rooted in hard work, a deep connection to New Mexico, and a passion for restoring the promise of the American dream, Okpareke is positioning herself as the conservative fighter ready to deliver results—not rhetoric—for New Mexicans. Find out more about Okpareke at her website linked here.

Republican announces bid to unseat Stansbury Read More »

‘God is not being taken away’? Doña Ana County kills public prayer in 4–1 vote

19 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A centuries-old tradition grounded in American history and constitutional protection was dealt a blow Tuesday, July 22, as the Doña Ana County Commission voted 4–1 to eliminate public prayer from its meetings. The decision rescinds Resolution 2018-25, which had formally allowed invocations from community members, including faith leaders, medical personnel, and first responders.

Since 2018, nearly every county meeting began with a moment of prayer—an act affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Town of Greece v. Galloway, which held that ceremonial invocations do not violate the Establishment Clause so long as they remain voluntary and inclusive. But on Tuesday, commissioners argued the practice might appear exclusive or divisive. Critics say they offered no credible evidence to back the claims, instead bowing to pressure from secular activists and fringe voices seeking to erase faith from public life.

Chairman Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez acknowledged the unusually high turnout for the meeting. “We passed a $387 million budget without a single public comment,” he noted. “But tonight, because prayer is on the agenda, we’ve had overwhelming participation.” Twenty-one residents spoke on the matter, with comments sharply divided.

Former Commissioner Isabella Solis, who frequently delivered invocations herself, told the board, “Evangelical and Catholic communities significantly shape our county. You have a profound responsibility to reflect the values and beliefs of your constituents.”

Conservative leaders blasted the vote. Amy Barela, Chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, said, “Doña Ana County’s decision to eliminate public prayer is a blatant erosion of constitutional freedoms. This is not about neutrality—it’s about silencing faith. The First Amendment protects the free exercise of religion, not the forced absence of it.”

Jodi Hendricks, Executive Director of New Mexico Family Action Movement, echoed that concern: “This vote reflects a growing misunderstanding of both the Constitution and the role of faith in public life. We will continue to stand with New Mexicans who value faith, freedom, and the First Amendment.”

While some critics of the invocation policy claimed it was inherently exclusive, the data tells a different story. According to the county, 71% of invocations were Christian, 7% Catholic, 5% Jewish, and 3% nondenominational. One Native American ceremony in 2024 drew backlash, highlighting the difficult balance between inclusion and intolerance.

Commissioner Susana Chaparro was the only dissenting vote. “Prayer doesn’t have to name a religion to be meaningful,” she said. “We shouldn’t throw away a respectful tradition because of a few bad-faith actors.”

Other commissioners, including Manuel Sanchez and Gloria Gameros, argued for a moment of silence as an alternative, suggesting it offered a more “neutral” approach. Gameros insisted, “God is not being taken away… people can pray silently.”

But to many residents, the vote represents something deeper: a shift away from the moral foundations that shaped the nation. “This isn’t about a moment of silence,” said one local pastor. “It’s about pushing God out of government, one meeting at a time.”

The controversy is far from over. Faith-based advocates and constitutional watchdogs are already mobilizing to challenge what they see as an unnecessary and discriminatory reversal of religious freedom. For many, Doña Ana County has become the latest battleground in a growing national fight to defend faith in the public square.

‘God is not being taken away’? Doña Ana County kills public prayer in 4–1 vote Read More »

Government programs failing miserably as NM youth crisis deepens: Report

11 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

A new report from WalletHub confirms what many New Mexicans have seen firsthand: the state is failing its young people. Ranking third in the nation for most at-risk youth, New Mexico continues to suffer from a toxic mix of academic decline, drug use, poverty, and youth disengagement. The study, which analyzed all 50 states and Washington, D.C., looked at 15 indicators of youth risk—from dropout rates to drug abuse—and found New Mexico near the bottom in nearly every category.

The state, ran almost exclusively by Democrats for nearly a century, ranked #1 for the percentage of youth without a high school diploma, and #7 for disconnected youth—those neither working nor in school. Combine that with a top-5 ranking in youth drug use and obesity, and it paints a bleak picture for the next generation. Despite numerous government programs and increasing education budgets, there appears to be little improvement in outcomes for the very people these systems claim to serve.

More troubling still is that New Mexico ranks #10 for youth poverty and #19 for youth homelessness, illustrating that despite years of increased funding for “anti-poverty” and “youth engagement” initiatives, many young people remain directionless and vulnerable. These aren’t just numbers—they represent a growing population of young Americans who are falling through the cracks, with very real consequences for the state’s future economic stability and social well-being.

The national average for disconnected youth stands around 13%, but in states like New Mexico and Louisiana—the latter of which ranked worst overall—the rate is even higher. The second-worst state was Mississippi. According to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo, “A high share of youth who are not working, not getting education and generally stagnating in life can spell trouble for the future.”

While WalletHub’s panel of academic experts advocates for more “culturally relevant” programs, increased community engagement, and expanded social services, the evidence suggests that the ongoing expansion of bureaucracy and government involvement has only exacerbated the problem. With many of these initiatives focused more on political correctness than practical results, New Mexico’s youth are stuck in a system that offers plenty of ideology but few real-world skills or opportunities.

The reality is that young people don’t need more empty programming—they need clear expectations, strong families, and access to real job training and educational standards that prepare them for adult life. Parents, not agencies or activist nonprofits, remain the most crucial factor in ensuring that kids stay in school, find work, and build purpose in their lives. As one expert put it, “authoritative parenting”—a combination of support and discipline—is still the gold standard.

Rather than expanding failed programs or pushing new “youth empowerment” initiatives riddled with ideological jargon, New Mexico would do better by holding its institutions accountable and promoting individual responsibility, real academic achievement, and job readiness. Without a severe course correction, the state risks continuing this generational failure—one that leaves young people unprepared and taxpayers on the hook for the consequences.

View the full WalletHub report here. 

Government programs failing miserably as NM youth crisis deepens: Report Read More »

Keller again sides with criminal aliens over citizens with extreme exec. order

35 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Democrat Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller has signed a sweeping executive order that effectively cements the city’s status as a “sanctuary” for illegal immigrants, barring city employees and departments from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement in most circumstances. The move is being praised by far-left organizations and progressive city councilors — and sharply criticized by mayoral challenger Darren White, who called the action “reckless” and politically motivated.

Keller’s order, released Monday, claims to “protect immigrant rights,” framing it as a response to what he describes as “harmful federal policies,” including legislation like President Trump’s H.R. 1 — also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The order prohibits the Albuquerque Police and other departments from using city resources to assist in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, including detentions, raids, or information sharing, unless legally required.

The executive order assigns oversight to the city’s Office of Equity and Inclusion and expands protocols to limit federal ICE access to city buildings and operations. City departments will now be required to report ICE activity to the mayor’s office and take steps to shield children and working families from immigration enforcement.

“We will not use our resources to support raids, detentions, or information-sharing that we are not legally required to do,” Keller said. “We will protect due process for all people living in our City.”

However, critics argue that Keller is going far beyond due process and prioritizing politics over public safety.

Former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White, who is running to unseat Keller in November’s mayoral election, wasted no time in denouncing the order.

“This is nothing more than Mayor Keller doubling down on his dangerous policy of providing sanctuary to illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes, rather than prioritizing the safety and well-being of our law-abiding residents,” White said in a statement. “He’s veering further to the radical left, using fear-based rhetoric and divisive language to score political points while placing federal law enforcement officers in danger.”

The order builds on a 2018 resolution that first branded Albuquerque an “immigrant-friendly city,” and city officials are already signaling plans to go further. Councilors Joaquin Baca, Klarissa Peña, Nichole Rogers, and Tammy Fiebelkorn all pledged to introduce legislation in August to codify and expand protections for undocumented immigrants.

City leaders and activists behind the policy point to economic contributions from immigrants, citing statistics that claim immigrants account for $12 billion annually in economic activity statewide. Keller’s office and groups like El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos argue that immigration enforcement “destabilizes families” and “terrorizes local communities.”

However, those who advocate for the rule of law view the policy as dangerously naïve and out of step with federal law.

White, who led Bernalillo County’s largest law enforcement agency, argued Keller is actively undermining cooperation between city law enforcement and federal immigration authorities — a move that could have fatal consequences.

“This executive order sends the wrong message,” White added. “It signals that Albuquerque is open to lawlessness and illegal activity, and it undermines the hard-working men and women who are tasked with enforcing our nation’s laws.”

The order is already drawing national attention and may become a central issue in the mayoral race, especially as Albuquerque continues to grapple with rising crime and concerns about law enforcement resources being diverted for political activism.

Keller’s executive order took effect immediately. City council legislation seeking to embed its provisions into law is expected to be introduced after the July recess.

Keller again sides with criminal aliens over citizens with extreme exec. order 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 »

Another Dem declares candidacy for lt. gov. nomination in crowded primary

5 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a political environment dominated by big-city progressives and career insiders, Jackie Lee Onsuarez is pitching himself as a rural, working-class alternative in the 2026 race for New Mexico lieutenant governor.

Onsuarez, 58, currently serves as a senior staff specialist at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), a vital federal facility tied to New Mexico’s energy economy. He’s also nearing the end of his first term as mayor pro tem on the Loving Village Council, where he represents about 1,200 constituents — many of whom feel forgotten by Santa Fe elites.

“I’m an advocate for the people,” Onsuarez said in an interview with Source NM. “I bring to the executive branch a set of diversified skills that nobody has there.”

Despite his alignment with the Democrat Party, Onsuarez strikes a populist tone that sharply contrasts with the far-left progressives who dominate the Capitol. He’s running, he says, because “embedded Democrats and Republicans” have turned a blind eye to rural communities and practical concerns like infrastructure, health care, and crime.

His resume includes international experience working in chemical plant construction across Saudi Arabia, India, China, and the U.K., as well as a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. He also served by gubernatorial appointment on the New Mexico Emergency Response Commission, adding emergency management credentials to his portfolio.

This makes him an unusual figure in a field dominated by left-wing politicians more interested in identity politics than the nuts and bolts of governance.

In fact, Onsuarez enters a crowded Democrat primary alongside two well-known far-left figures: current State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, who is term-limited, and State Sen. Harold Pope, a progressive from Albuquerque. Both are deeply entrenched in the Santa Fe political machine, and both have built careers by pushing policies that often alienate rural New Mexicans — particularly those tied to the oil and gas industry.

Onsuarez, by contrast, embraces his Southeast New Mexico roots. “I’m the Democrat that lives in New Mexic, where at least 35% of the revenues are generated for New Mexico’s general fund,” he said. “We rural New Mexicans need a seat at that table.”

That table, of course, is currently dominated by urban leftists pushing climate mandates and anti-industry policies — many of which threaten the economic livelihood of the very regions Onsuarez represents.

While he has not yet raised or spent campaign funds, Onsuarez says his experience in small-town government has equipped him to preside over the state Senate, where the lieutenant governor plays a key procedural role.

“I’ve written laws that I tried to introduce, but they didn’t get very far,” he said. “I’ve written a lot of ordinances, and I’ve worked closely with our legal department. I certainly have the expertise to be able to learn something — and with respect to presiding over the Senate, I have the skill set to do it.”

Onsuarez isn’t endorsing any gubernatorial candidate yet, distancing himself from the three leftist names in the Democrat race: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Bernalillo County DA Sam Bregman, and ex-Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagashima.

Meanwhile, the Republican field is also taking shape, with Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull leading the GOP ticket for governor. Manuel Lardizabal is the only declared Republican running for lieutenant governor so far, though more conservatives are expected to enter the race.

Whether Onsuarez can survive a Democrat primary increasingly dominated by radical urban progressives remains to be seen — but his campaign may highlight growing fractures within the party between rural pragmatists and Santa Fe ideologues.

Another Dem declares candidacy for lt. gov. nomination in crowded primary Read More »

‘Think NM’: While doctors flee NM, radical group fights to keep crisis going

15 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

In a fiery new op-ed, Think New Mexico Executive Director Fred Nathan is taking aim at a secretive, left-wing dark money group accused of undermining desperately needed reforms to New Mexico’s collapsing health care system. The group, called “New Mexico Safety Over Profits” (NMSOP), is now the subject of a lawsuit from the New Mexico Ethics Commission for allegedly violating campaign finance laws by failing to disclose its donors while spending tens of thousands of dollars on efforts to kill medical malpractice reform.

At the center of the controversy is Senate Bill 176 — a bipartisan attempt led by Think New Mexico to modernize the state’s outdated and lopsided medical malpractice laws. These reforms aim to make New Mexico more hospitable to doctors and health care providers who are fleeing the state in alarming numbers. Between 2019 and 2024, New Mexico was the only state in the nation to lose physicians, while every other state saw increases.

Think New Mexico’s report identified the state’s uniquely hostile malpractice environment as a significant factor. Unlike other states, New Mexico has no cap on attorneys’ fees, no limit on punitive damages, and the lowest legal threshold in the nation for awarding those damages. “This statute is great for trial lawyers,” Nathan wrote, “but not so great for folks trying to find a doctor.”

According to investigative reporting from Searchlight New Mexico, NMSOP has close ties to the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association, whose members have a direct financial interest in preserving the current system. Searchlight exposed a pattern of unethical tactics used by the group to deceive the public and silence reformers. Rather than disclose their funding sources as required by law, NMSOP told reporters, “We certainly will not be disclosing our donors.”

The Ethics Commission wasn’t buying it. It sued the group, stating plainly, “New Mexicans have a right to know who is funding lobbying campaigns.”

Now, in what appears to be a desperate smokescreen, NMSOP is launching political attacks on Think New Mexico — a nonpartisan think tank that has successfully championed reforms ranging from ending predatory lending to repealing the food tax. NMSOP claims Think New Mexico is doing the bidding of corporate health interests, citing two local independent foundations that provided grant funding but were originally seeded through the sale of health care companies years ago.

Nathan called the accusation misleading and hypocritical, noting that Think New Mexico is fully transparent about its donors and publishes its financials online every year. In contrast, NMSOP refuses to reveal even a single name behind its funding while spending large sums to protect the status quo.

The truth, according to Nathan, is that trial lawyers and their dark money allies are scared — and for good reason. SB 176 may have failed in committee by a razor-thin 5–4 vote, but it earned 24 bipartisan co-sponsors, and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham backed reform in both her State of the State address and post-session remarks.

“The tide is turning,” Nathan wrote. “And the desperation of those trying to stop reform only proves how necessary it is.”

With New Mexico facing a health care access crisis, the question now isn’t who’s funding the reform effort — it’s why the groups fighting it are so determined to keep their own donors hidden.

‘Think NM’: While doctors flee NM, radical group fights to keep crisis going Read More »

Stansbury said she worked for Maxwell—Now she’s pointing fingers at Trump

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Far-left U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), best known for her performative politics and online posturing, attempted to mock President Donald Trump this week by invoking the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and a supposed “client list” that has fueled internet speculation. But Stansbury’s swipe at Trump immediately backfired, given her own troubling connection to Epstein’s inner circle.

In a viral post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Stansbury shared a meme renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of Donald Trump is on the Epstein Client List.” She captioned the image with a smug, “Just going to leave this right here,” racking up over 44,000 views and a flurry of mixed reactions.

What the Democrat failed to mention, however, is that she herself reported that she once worked for an organization founded by none other than Epstein’s longtime confidante, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

According to her official disclosure in 2021, Stansbury listed the TerraMar Project as a former employer — a nonprofit that was created and fronted by Maxwell under the guise of ocean conservation.

TerraMar wasn’t just any nonprofit. It was founded by Maxwell in 2012 and dissolved suddenly in July 2019, just six days after Epstein was arrested again on federal sex trafficking charges. Despite being promoted with TED Talks, UN speeches, and Clinton Global Initiative tie-ins, the organization gave zero dollars to any actual environmental programs between 2012 and 2017. IRS documents showed high legal fees, unpaid debts, and minimal legitimate activity, raising questions about what TerraMar actually did — and who it really served.

TerraMar logo, Wiki Commons.

The project’s unusually shallow infrastructure, financial irregularities, and sudden shutdown just six days after Epstein’s 2019 arrest — all of which have fueled speculation that TerraMar may have provided Maxwell and Epstein with a respectable public-facing platform to launder money, build elite contacts, or conceal elements of their sex trafficking operation.

Tax filings even revealed TerraMar owed Maxwell over half a million dollars personally when it shuttered. Meanwhile, the organization claimed lofty goals of “shared global ocean governance” but was widely criticized as being hollow — a PR front cloaked in environmental buzzwords.

Maxwell, who founded TerraMar and led it as president, was later convicted in 2021 on five counts related to the trafficking and sexual abuse of minors.

So while Stansbury attempts to score political points by erroneously tying Trump to Epstein, despite no connection whatsoever, and him directing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to release whatever appropriate information she can, the far-left Democrat Stansbury might want to revisit her own résumé.

Her social media antics didn’t go unnoticed by New Mexicans. One commenter wrote, “You’re still tied with Gabe Vasquez for the worst Rep. in the history of our State — but this is still really funny!” Another sarcastically praised the post while ignoring the hypocrisy.

The bigger story here isn’t a meme — it’s that a sitting member of Congress, who once worked for an Epstein-linked entity led by a now-convicted trafficker, is trying to deflect attention by dragging President Trump into the narrative. If guilt by association is the standard, Stansbury might be staring into a mirror.

New Mexicans deserve better than cheap social media stunts. They deserve transparency, especially from politicians with ties to one of the most notorious abuse networks in modern history.

Stansbury refuses to eat crow at DOGE hearing after humiliating math fail

Stansbury said she worked for Maxwell—Now she’s pointing fingers at Trump Read More »

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