>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> Lou: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, CANDIDATE CONVERSATIONS.

GWYNETH DOLAND KICKS OFF OUR 2024 ELECTION INTERVIEWS WITH SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH TO ASK WHAT CONGRESS CAN DO TO FIX THE ROOT CAUSES OF MANY OF OUR STATE'S PROBLEMS.

>> Heinrich: WE QUIT BUILDING HOUSING IN THIS COUNTRY AROUND THE 2008, 2009 RECESSION.

WE'VE LOST THAT CAPACITY.

WE HAVE TO REBUILD IT.

>> Lou: AND, NATIVE VOICES IN ELECTION SEASON.

JOURNALIST BELLA DAVIS EXPLORES THE POLITICAL PRIORITIES OF SEVERAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, MANY OF WHOM DON'T FEEL REPRESENTED ON THE BALLOT.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING THIS WEEK.

I'M SENIOR PRODUCER LOU DiVIZIO.

NATIVE AMERICAN VOTERS ARE EXPECTED TO COMPRISE 5 TO 6% OF THE ELECTORATE IN NEW MEXICO THIS CYCLE.

COMING UP IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES, WE GET A SENSE OF HOW NATIVE PEOPLE IN OUR STATE FEEL ABOUT THE ELECTION, THE CANDIDATES AND THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, MORE BROADLY, AS WE APPROACH NOVEMBER 5th.

IN COLLABORATION WITH ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH, INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS REPORTER BELLA DAVIS TRAVELS AROUND ALBUQUERQUE WHERE SHE FOUND HOPE, FRUSTRATION, AND RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES.

THE PIECE ISN'T MEANT TO BE COMPREHENSIVE, BUT SOME OF THE FOLKS BELLA SPOKE WITH ARE FED UP WITH BOTH MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES AND ARE CONSIDERING THIRD PARTY OR NOT AT ALL.

BUT WE BEGIN TONIGHT FOCUSED ON A U.S. SENATE RACE AND A SEAT IN WASHINGTON THAT'S BELONGED TO THE SAME POLITICAL PARTY SINCE 1982.

DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT MARTIN HEINRICH IS RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM AND, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST POLL FROM THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, HE HOLDS A 12-POINT LEAD AGAINST HIS OPPONENT, REPUBLICAN NELLA DOMENICI.

WE'VE REQUESTED AN INTERVIEW FROM DOMENICI'S CAMP TOO, BUT WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED A RESPONSE.

NOW, IN THE FIRST OF A TWO-PART INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR HEINRICH, POLITICS CORRESPONDENT GWYNETH DOLAND ASKS ABOUT SEVERAL TOP CONCERNS FOR MOST NEW MEXICO VOTERS, CRIME IN OUR STATE, IMMIGRATION REFORM, AND SECURITY AT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER.

>> Gwyneth: SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>> Heinrich: IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Gwyneth: I WANT TO ASK YOU FIRST ABOUT THE BORDER.

YOUR REPUBLICAN OPPONENT NELLA DOMENICI SAYS HEINRICH HAS ACTIVELY MADE OUR BORDER CRISIS WORSE, WITH A DANGEROUS VOTING RECORD OF OPENING OUR BORDER AND UNLEASHING CARTELS AND LETHAL DRUGS FROM CHINA INTO OUR STATE.

FIRST, IS THAT TRUE?

AND, SECOND, IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE HAVING WITH THE BORDER, NEW MEXICO'S BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE BORDER, AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CHANGE THAT?

>> Heinrich: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

NO, IT'S NOT TRUE.

AND THE REALITY IS THAT MULTIPLE TIMES NOW I'VE COME TOGETHER WITH REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO TRY TO DO BOTH BORDER ENFORCEMENT REFORM, BUT ALSO IMMIGRATION REFORM.

AND THE TRUTH IS WE NEED BOTH.

WE NEED A SECURE BORDER, BUT WE ALSO NEED LEGAL, DOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION.

WE NEED TO MAKE DREAMERS INTO CITIZENS.

WE NEED WIDER PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS IMMIGRATION THROUGH LEGAL, DOCUMENTED, VETTED PATHWAYS.

ON THE BORDER ITSELF, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THAT OUR ASYLUM SYSTEM HAS BEEN GAMED BY CARTELS WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF REFUGEES, BUT ALSO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF FOLKS WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ASYLUM OR AS REFUGEES.

AND THEY ARE COACHING THEM AND BRINGING THEM TO THE BORDER AND IT'S OVERWHELMING THE CAPACITY WE HAVE.

WE HAD A SOLUTION FOR THAT.

IT WAS A BIPARTISAN SOLUTION.

IT WAS CRAFTED BY MY COLLEAGUE FROM OKLAHOMA WHO IS ONE OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE -- A FINE GENTLEMAN, SOMEBODY I WORK WITH ON INTEL ALL THE TIME, BUT VERY CONSERVATIVE.

AND DONALD TRUMP PULLED THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER IT.

HE TOLD ALL THE REPUBLICANS TO WALK AWAY FROM THE DEAL.

THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE AN ISSUE THAN TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

THE WAY I VIEW THIS JOB IS IT'S OUR JOB TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

MY OPPONENT WAS SILENT WHEN DONALD TRUMP DID THAT.

AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES.

>> Gwyneth: LET'S MOVE TO CRIME.

YOU KNOW, NEW MEXICANS RIGHT ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT CRIME.

THEIR EXPERIENCE OF HAVING THEIR CARS BROKEN INTO, THEIR HOMES BROKEN INTO, SHOOTINGS AND STABBINGS ON THE NEWS, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF OUR CRIME ISSUE?

AND WHAT IS THE FEDERAL ROLE IN MAKING THAT BETTER?

>> Heinrich: I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS ADDICTION, AND ESPECIALLY POST-COVID, THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF FOLKS WHO KIND OF CAME UNMOORED AFTER THE PANDEMIC THAT HAVE VERY SERIOUS ADDICTION PROBLEMS.

SOME OF THEM ARE HOMELESS.

AND, THE BIGGEST THING WE CAN DO AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS WE CAN DO.

ONE IS I PASSED A BILL CALLED FEND OFF FENTANYL.

IT IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM THAT GIVES BOTH PROSECUTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT THE ABILITY TO GO AFTER NOT JUST THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF BRINGING FENTANYL INTO THE UNITED STATES, SELLING FENTANYL, BUT IT ALLOWS THEM TO GO AFTER THE BANK ACCOUNTS OF THE CARTELS AND THE GANGS THAT ARE MOVING THIS POISON INTO OUR COUNTRY.

AND THAT GIVES THEM A MUCH MORE POWERFUL WEAPON TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THEM ON.

ADDITIONALLY, I WORK HAND IN GLOVE WITH LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

POLICE DEPARTMENTS, SHERIFFS DEPARTMENTS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, TO GET THEM BETTER TOOLS SO THAT THEY CAN SOLVE CRIMES.

A LOT OF CRIMES GO UNSOLVED IN NEW MEXICO.

A SHOCKING NUMBER OF CRIMES GO UNSOLVED.

SO, WHEN I CAN USE MY POSITION ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE TO GET SOMEBODY A BALLISTICS ANALYTICS MACHINE, A DNA ANALYTIC MACHINE, OR A DRUG ANALYSIS MACHINE, THAT MEANS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB AND SOLVE CRIMES, AND THEY'RE NOT SPENDING THEIR TIME DRIVING AROUND THE STATE TAKING A FEW SHELL CASINGS FROM ROSWELL TO SANTA FE.

>> Gwyneth: BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID YOU THINK THAT ADDICTION IS A PRIMARY DRIVER.

WHY NOT ADDRESS THE ADDICTION PART?

>> Heinrich: WE HAVE TO.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO REBUILD OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN THIS STATE.

IT WAS DESTROYED BY A PREVIOUS GOVERNOR.

AND IT HAS BEEN HARD TO REBUILD THAT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THOSE SERVICES IN A WAY THAT MEETS WHERE THEY ACTUALLY ARE, WHICH MEANS WE NEED MORE, FOR EXAMPLE, MOBILE CLINICS WHO CAN MEET PEOPLE ON THE STREET AND GET THEM COMFORTABLE WITH SEEKING TREATMENT BEFORE YOU ASK THEM TO DO, YOU KNOW, TAKE FIVE STEPS, YOU HAVE TO ASK THEM TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP.

>> Gwyneth: AND YOU MENTIONED HOMELESSNESS TOO.

WE HAVE, IN RECENT YEARS, THOUGHT OF THIS AS AN ALBUQUERQUE PROBLEM.

BUT NOW IT'S IN SANTA FE AND ESPANOLA.

WE HAVE TENT ENCAMPMENTS IN LAS CRUCES.

THERE ARE LOTS MORE PEOPLE ON THE STREET IN FARMINGTON AND GALLUP.

THIS IS THE WEALTHIEST NATION ON EARTH.

WHY DO WE HAVE PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREET?

>> Heinrich: BECAUSE THEY NEED BASIC THINGS BEFORE THEY CAN BECOME HOUSED.

THEY NEED TREATMENT.

THEY NEED, OFTENTIMES, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AS WELL.

AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THOSE STEPS BEFORE YOU HAVE A STABLE LIFE SYSTEM AGAIN.

WE ALSO NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING, DRAMATICALLY MORE HOUSING.

WE QUIT BUILDING HOUSING IN THIS COUNTRY AROUND THE 2008, 2009 RECESSION.

AND WE LOST THAT CAPACITY.

WE HAVE TO REBUILD IT.

THAT MEANS WE NEED INCENTIVES LIKE TAX INCENTIVES FOR BUILDERS TO DO MORE, NOT JUST LOW INCOME HOUSING, BUT MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING, SO THAT WE TAKE SOME OF THE PRICE PRESSURE, ESPECIALLY, OFF OF RENTAL HOUSING.

>> Gwyneth: AND THE PRICE PRESSURE IS SERIOUS.

THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE IN NEW MEXICO IS ABOUT $375,000, BUT THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS $60,000.

SO, THAT'S $4,000 IN TAKE-HOME PAY AND A $2,000 MORTGAGE PAYMENT.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE THAT LESS PAINFUL?

>> Heinrich: ONE, WE CAN UP- SKILL PEOPLE SO THAT THEY ARE IN JOBS WHERE THEY'RE MAKING 100-120 THOUSAND DOLLARS.

SO THEY CAN AFFORD MORE.

AND, TWO, WE CAN ALSO INCREASE THE SUPPLY SO THAT WE CAN FINALLY BRING THOSE PRICES DOWN.

>> Gwyneth: BUT, I MEAN, THAT 60,000 WAS HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

WHAT ARE THESE MAGICAL $120,000-A-YEAR JOBS?

>> Heinrich: THEY'RE ELECTRICIANS.

THEY'RE PLUMBERS.

THEY'RE NOT JUST COLLEGE-EDUCATED JOBS.

WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS DEMAND RIGHT NOW, IN LARGE PART, BECAUSE OF POLICY.

BECAUSE OF THE CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT, BECAUSE OF THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, WHICH IS LARGELY A BIG ENERGY AND CLIMATE BILL.

SO, WE HAVE FACTORIES MOVING TO NEW MEXICO AGAIN.

AND THOSE ARE GOOD JOBS.

WE'RE SEEING FOLKS LIKE ARRAY TECHNOLOGIES EXPAND THEIR FACTORIES.

NEW FACTORIES LIKE ARCOSA WIND TOWERS IN VALENCIA COUNTY.

NEW SOLAR MANUFACTURING ALL BECAUSE OF THOSE POLICIES, AND THOSE ARE HIGH-QUALITY JOBS.

THEY'RE CAREERS.

THEY'RE NOT JUST JOBS.

AND, SO, WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THOSE KINDS OF JOBS, OR THEY'RE WORKING ON THE SUNZIA POWER LINE, OR THEY'RE WORKING AT THE LABS AS ELECTRICIANS AND PIPEFITTERS, THOSE ARE JOBS WHERE OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, AFTER YOUR APPRENTICESHIP, WITH NO COLLEGE DEBT YOU CAN SOMETIMES BE MAKING SIX-FIGURES.

>> Gwyneth: NOW, YOU MENTIONED TRANSMISSION LINES AND CLEAN ENERGY.

YOU'VE BEEN A CHAMPION OF BUILDING MORE TRANSMISSION LINES, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO GETTING THIS CLEAN ENERGY TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO USE IT.

BUT RIGHT NOW THE STATE'S LARGEST INDUSTRY IS OIL AND GAS, WHICH YOUR OPPONENT SAYS YOU'RE TRYING TO KILL.

HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THEIR GREAT LIVINGS RIGHT NOW IN OIL AND GAS, THESE TOWNS, THESE INDUSTRIES, THESE INDIVIDUALS, HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THOUGH DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND IN THIS TRANSITION?

>> Heinrich: ONE OF THE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO IS FOCUS ON THE NEW ENERGY SOLUTIONS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE COMPATIBLE SKILLS.

YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO TAKE SOMEBODY WHO IS WORKING ON A RIG OR OIL AND GAS SERVICES, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE SOLAR INSTALLER JOB.

THOSE TWO THINGS DON'T MATCH UP.

BUT WE NOW HAVE THINGS LIKE ADVANCED GEOTHERMAL, WHERE THE SKILL SET IS LARGELY THE SAME.

IT'S HOW DO YOU DRILL A WELL, HOW DO YOU FRACK A WELL, HOW DO YOU BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH THEN TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THAT RESOURCE.

AND THOSE ARE VERY ANALOGOUS TO OIL AND GAS JOBS.

THEY'RE ALMOST A DIRECT MATCH UP.

SO, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A STATE IS NOT GET CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED THE WAY THAT WEST VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY DID.

THEY SAID WE CAN JUST HOLD OFF THE TRANSITION AND WE'LL HAVE THE COAL JOBS FOREVER.

THAT WAS A RECIPE FOR REALLY BAD UNEMPLOYMENT, FOR DISINVESTMENT.

WE NEED TO BE THINKING NOW ABOUT THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE, SO THAT WHEN THE MARKET CHANGES WE'RE NOT CAUGHT, YOU KNOW, FLAT-FOOTED AND COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON THOSE OIL AND GAS JOBS.

SO, WE'RE AT RECORD PRODUCTION LEVELS RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE HAD THE BEST BOTH WORLDS.

WE HAVE RECORD PRODUCTION AT THE PERMIAN BASIN, AND AT THE SAME TIME NEW MEXICO IS BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE.

WE'RE BUILDING THE SINGLE LARGEST CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT IN THE HISTORY OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

BIGGER THAN THE HOOVER DAM, IN CENTRAL NEW MEXICO RIGHT NOW.

IT'S A GIANT THREE-AND-A-HALF GIGAWATT WIND FARM.

THAT'S HOW YOU DIVERSIFY YOUR ECONOMY.

>> Gwyneth: BUT FOR FOLKS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN THESE NEW ENERGY JOBS, FOLKS WHO ARE TEACHERS AND STREET SWEEPERS, YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF THE JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE AND A MEMBER OF THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, BUT YOUR OPPONENT KEEPS SAYING NEW MEXICANS ARE WORSE OFF THAN THEY WERE WHEN YOU WENT TO CONGRESS.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FEELING ON THE STREET IS THAT EVERYTHING IS MORE EXPENSIVE.

TORTILLAS, GAS, BUYING A HOUSE, EVERYTHING.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO BRING COSTS DOWN FOR PEOPLE WHO MAYBE AREN'T GOING TO GET A BETTER JOB?

>> Heinrich: WELL, ONE, AS A NATION BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN INFLATION DYNAMIC PLAY OUT SINCE 2020 WHEN SUPPLY CHAINS REALLY GOT BROKEN.

AND THAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF INFLATION.

SO, IN 2021, WE ACTUALLY SAW 9% INFLATION, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY PAINFUL FOR THE AVERAGE NEW MEXICAN.

THE UNITED STATES, THROUGH GOOD MONETARY POLICY, AND BY REBUILDING OUR SUPPLY CHAINS, HAVE MANAGED THAT INFLATION BACK DOWN TO TWO AND CHANGE, WHICH IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE.

ONE, WE DID THAT FASTER THAN ANY COUNTRY ON THE PLANET.

THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE PAIN FOR THE AVERAGE NEW MEXICAN CONSUMER.

SO, WE ALSO DID THINGS LIKE LOWERING DRUG COSTS THROUGH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE FINALLY HAVE EMPOWERED MEDICARE TO BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE FOR DRUG COSTS.

THAT HAS AN ENORMOUS BENEFIT FOR MANY NEW MEXICANS WHO PAY A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THEIR INCOME FOR THEIR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

WE ALSO MADE ENERGY CHEAPER BY THE POLICIES WE CREATED IN THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN MAKE INVESTMENTS THAT, OVER TIME, LOWER THEIR UTILITY BILLS EVERY SINGLE MONTH.

>> Gwyneth: YOU MENTIONED HEALTH CARE COSTS, AND IT IS A PINCH POINT FOR SURE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM IN ACCESS.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HEALTH CARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR CAN GET THERE?

>> Heinrich: I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS WE CAN DO.

ONE IS WE CAN INVEST MORE IN THE THINGS WE KNOW WORK.

THINGS LIKE PROJECT ECHO, AND THE SORT OF TELEHEALTH INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE THAT WE KNOW REALLY GET PEOPLE HEALTH CARE WHERE THEY ARE, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DRIVE FIVE HOURS TO ALBUQUERQUE OR EL PASO OR SOME MAJOR METRO CENTER.

AND TWO, WE CAN DO BETTER TO INCENTIVIZE FOLKS WHO ARE PROVIDERS, WHO GET VERY EXPENSIVE DEGREES, TO STAY HERE.

SO, WE HAVE SOME PROGRAMS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT FORGIVE THE STUDENT LOANS THAT DOCTORS TAKE ON TO BECOME -- TO GET THEIR MEDICAL DEGREE.

WE NEED TO UPSCALE THOSE.

WE NEED THOSE TO BE MUCH LARGER, AND WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE FOLKS TO SERVE THE UNDERSERVED AREAS.

SO, SOMETIMES THAT IS A SUBURBAN AREA, BUT OFTENTIMES IT'S THE MOST RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST ACUTE NEEDS.

>> Gwyneth: AND A LOT OF TIMES THE PROBLEM WE HAVE HERE IS THAT THESE FOLKS LOOK AT OUR SCHOOLS AND THEY SAY, WHY WOULD I GO TO NEW MEXICO, THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IS TERRIBLE.

>> Heinrich: FIRST OFF, LET ME TALK ABOUT STUDENTS IN NEW MEXICO.

OUR STUDENTS ARE AS SMART AS ANY IN THE WORLD.

WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS SERVED THEM WELL WITH OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT DO WORK AND WORK IN NEW MEXICO, AND WE KNOW THEY WORK.

MY KIDS WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL HERE.

THEY'RE DOING GREAT.

ONE IS IN COLLEGE, ONE IS ABOUT TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE KIND OF INSTRUCTION THEY NEEDED.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAN DO THAT.

SO, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, THAT IS A FIGHT THAT TOOK US A DECADE, BUT THAT SYSTEM IS BEING STOOD UP RIGHT NOW.

WHAT DOES THAT DO?

IT TAKES CARE WHO WERE SHOWING UP TO KINDERGARTEN NOT READY TO LEARN, AND IT GETS THEM READY TO LEARN.

THEY SHOW UP KNOWING THEIR NUMBERS, KNOWING THEIR LETTERS, HAVING THE SOCIAL SKILLS YOU NEED IN SCHOOL.

AND, SO, BEFORE, WE WERE SEEING THESE HUGE DIVERGENCES BETWEEN KID WHO SHOWED UP TO KINDERGARTEN READY AND KIDS WHO WEREN'T, AND NO ONE HAD GIVEN THEM THOSE SKILLS.

WE'RE CLOSING THAT GAP RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE NEED TO FOLLOW ON WITH THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY SKILLS THAT REMOVE IMPEDIMENTS TO LEARNING THAT ARE NOT CLASSROOM-BASED.

AND GOING BACK TO THE SKILLED TRADES, I THINK WE NEED WORK-BASED LEARNING IN HIGH SCHOOL WHERE YOU CAN GET A PAID APPRENTICESHIP, WHERE YOU CAN SEE THAT PATHWAY TO A QUALITY CAREER THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY BUILD A FAMILY AROUND.

>> Lou: THANKS TO GWYNETH.

AGAIN, WE HAVE CONTACTED THE CAMPAIGN OF HEINRICH'S REPUBLICAN OPPONENT, NELLA DOMENICI, MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

WE STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED A RESPONSE.

THE TWO DID FACE OFF IN A DEBATE EARLIER THIS WEEK HOSTED BY KOAT TV.

IT GOT CHIPPY IN SPOTS, BUT MOSTLY IT STAYED CIVIL AS THE TWO CANDIDATES MADE THEIR CASE.

THEY'RE SET TO SQUARE OFF AGAIN LATER THIS MONTH ON KOB TV.

WE'LL BE AIRING THAT DEBATE HERE ON NMPBS A BIT CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 28th, AT 8 P.M. NOW, HERE'S A LOOK AHEAD TO LATER IN TODAY'S SHOW AND PART TWO OF GWYNETH'S INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR HEINRICH.

>> Heinrich: I TRUST WOMEN TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

AND, SO, WHAT I SUPPORT IS GIVING THEM THE POWER TO DECIDE WHEN AND WHETHER TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS HAVE A NATIONAL POLICY, A NATIONAL LAW, THAT ALLOWS WOMEN TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

>> Lou: EFFORTS TO INCREASE NATIVE VOTER TURNOUT IN OUR STATE ARE WELL UNDERWAY.

AT THE CENTER OF THE WORK IS NM NATIVE VOTE, A NONPROFIT LED BY AHTZA DAWN CHAVEZ.

FOR CHAVEZ, VOTING IS A TOOL TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES.

BUT SHE'S HEARD SKEPTICISM ABOUT THAT OUTLOOK FROM SOME NATIVE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUNGER FOLKS, SOME OF WHOM TELL HER THEY PLAN TO STAY AWAY FROM THE POLLS IN PROTEST OF THE U.S. SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL'S WAR IN GAZA.

IN COLLABORATION WITH NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH, REPORTER BELLA DAVIS TALKS WITH SEVERAL NATIVE PEOPLE AROUND ALBUQUERQUE ABOUT THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE ELECTION.

BELLA CONTACTED THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC COLLEGE STUDENT GROUPS FOR THIS SEGMENT, BUT DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM EITHER.

>> Bella: ALL TOO OFTEN, NATIVE PEOPLE ARE IGNORED BY CANDIDATES AND OVERLOOKED BY NEWSROOMS IN ELECTION COVERAGE.

I'M BELLA DAVIS, A YUROK TRIBAL MEMBER, AND INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS REPORTER FOR NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH.

I WAS CURIOUS WHAT NATIVE PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO ARE THINKING ABOUT THE ELECTION.

AND THAT TURNED INTO A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MY ORGANIZATION AND NMPBS.

I STARTED WITH THE QUESTION DO YOU PLAN TO VOTE.

>> Pelt: OH, 100%.

I'VE HEARD OF PROJECT 2025 AND THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP WITH THAT.

SO, IT'S JUST VERY SCARY TO THINK OF WHAT A FUTURE COULD LOOK LIKE UNDER TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY, YET AGAIN, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T GO WELL THE FIRST TIME, IN MY OPINION.

"Free Free Palenstine" >> Gallegos: I DO NOT PLAN TO VOTE BECAUSE, AS A YOUNG INDIGENOUS PERSON, I HONESTLY NEVER HAD FAITH IN THESE ELECTORAL POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES, OR THE SO-CALLED DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES.

"Out of your classes and into the street!"

>> Barthelemy: I'M GOING TO BE VOTING THIRD PARTY.

THAT'S AS MUCH DETAIL AS I CAN GIVE YOU RIGHT NOW.

BUT, THE TWO MAIN PARTIES HAVE NOT IMPRESSED ME.

SPECIFICALLY, OVER THIS ISSUE.

I'LL ADMIT THAT I GENERALLY VOTED DEMOCRAT IN THE PAST.

AND THAT WAS WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE DEMOCRATS WOULD TAKE A MORE PROGRESSIVE STANCE.

>> Yazzie: I'M A DEMOCRAT, SO I'M VOTING FOR KAMALA HARRIS.

THAT'S HOW I'M VOTING THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

BUT, AGAIN, DON'T DO SO LIGHTLY.

>> Ajijak: I DO NOT, THAT'S MAINLY BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE FAITH IN EITHER OF THE CANDIDATES.

I DON'T HAVE FAITH IN DONALD TRUMP.

I DON'T HAVE FAITH IN KAMALA HARRIS.

IT FEELS LIKE EITHER WAY, UNLESS ONE OF THEM CHANGES THEIR MIND, CHANGES THEIR PERSPECTIVE, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE THE SAME STUFF OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

LIKE THAT STEREOTYPICAL PHRASE, IT'S LEFT-RING, RIGHT-WING, BUT IT'S THE SAME BIRD.

>> Bella: AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS WHY NATIVE PEOPLE ARE OR AREN'T PLANNING TO VOTE.

AND OF COURSE THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER PERSPECTIVES OUT THERE.

YOU'LL HEAR MORE FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS LATER ON.

WE ALSO SAT DOWN WITH AHTZA DAWN CHAVEZ, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NM NATIVE VOTE, A NONPROFIT THAT'S FOCUSED IN PART ON INCREASING NATIVE TURNOUT AT THE POLLS.

>> Chavez: I HAVE COME FROM A FAMILY THAT HAS ALWAYS PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO GETTING OUT THE VOTE IN COMMUNITIES.

MY FATHER BEHIND ME, HIS NAME WAS EVERETT CHAVEZ.

HE WAS A THREE-TIME GOVERNOR OF OUR COMMUNITY IN KEWA PUEBLO.

AND HE WAS THE CHAIR OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S NATIVE AMERICAN VOTING TASK FORCE.

SO, HE AND MY OTHER PARENT, MY MOTHER, REALLY EXEMPLIFIED THE NEED FOR VOTERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO, IT'S VERY CLEAR FOR ME, NOT ONLY FOR MY PARENTS GENERATION, BUT THE PRIOR GENERATION, OF HOW MUCH POWER WE LEAVE ON THE TABLE BY NOT UTILIZING OUR VOICES AND OUR VOTES.

WE HEARD THE STORY OF MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER WHO ACTUALLY STOOD IN LINE FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS IN FRONT OF OUR TRIBAL COUNCIL AND OUR GOVERNORS AT THE TIME, SO THAT HE COULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT WAS AROUND STATEHOOD, WHEN THE MESSAGING WAS BASICALLY NATIVE AMERICANS SHOULDN'T VOTE BECAUSE YOU RISK LOSING YOUR LAND OR YOUR TRIBAL CITIZENSHIP.

ALL OF THESE INCORRECT MESSAGES WERE OUT IN THE PUBLIC.

SO, A LOT OF TRIBES AND PUEBLOS, IN PARTICULAR, DIDN'T UTILIZE THEIR ABILITY TO VOTE BECAUSE OF THAT.

AND, SO, THERE WAS A STIGMA IN OUR PUEBLO COMMUNITY ABOUT VOTERSHIP.

AND MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER CHALLENGED THAT AND THE COUNCIL AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMY, I'VE DONE A LOT OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD BE VOTING.

SO, SINCE THEN, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN OUR FAMILIES, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN LIKE CALLING EVERYBODY, MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE, DRIVING OUR ELDERS AND RELATIVES WHO DIDN'T HAVE A RIDE TO THE POLLS.

FOR ME, THAT'S KIND OF HOW I GREW UP.

AND THE FIRST ELECTION I WORKED ON WAS THE CLINTON ELECTION, AND I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I COULDN'T EVEN VOTE, BUT I WAS HAPPY TO GET OUT THE VOTE FOR HIM IN THAT SITUATION.

>> Bella: I ASKED AHTZA WHAT ARE SOME OF HER BIGGEST CONCERNS AROUND THIS YEAR'S ELECTION.

>> Chavez: WE SEE, STATE BY STATE, HOW DEMOCRACY IS REALLY ON THE BALLOT RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, VOTER LAWS.

NOW WE HAVE SOME STATES THAT ARE WANTING TO DO CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS ON THE IDs, OR HAVING PHYSICAL ADDRESSES, OR MAKING THINGS A LOT MORE CHALLENGING FOR VOTERS THAT JUST WANT TO GO OUT AND REGISTER TO BE ABLE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT.

SO, YOU'RE JUST STARTING TO SEE THE CARDS SHIFT A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF WHICH PARTY IS -- HAS GREATER POWER AND WHAT STATE.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF RIGHTS THAT ARE BEING CHALLENGED RIGHT NOW, WHETHER THAT'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, WHETHER THAT'S THE RIGHT TO BE LGBTQ IN A STATE AND LEGALLY MARRY A PERSON.

A LOT OF THINGS ARE BEING CHALLENGED RIGHT NOW, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LIKE TO TELL OUR YOUTH A LOT OF THE TIME IS THAT POWERLESSNESS THAT YOU FEEL, YOU KNOW, YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF THAT BACK WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO CAST A BALLOT.

BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY ELECTIONS, IN PARTICULAR, IN NEW MEXICO THAT ARE WON BY AS FEW AS EIGHT VOTES.

LESS THAN A HUNDRED.

IN NEW MEXICO, A LOT OF OUR ELECTIONS ARE SO CLOSE THAT PEOPLE'S VOTES TRULY COUNT IN THIS STATE.

>> Bella: NICOLE PELT HAS VOTED BEFORE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SHE'S ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN.

>> Pelt: I REMEMBER I WENT TO THE VOTING OFFICE.

I SIGNED UP AND GAVE THEM MY ADDRESS AND THEY WERE LIKE WE HAVE A FIRST-TIME VOTER.

AND THEY STARTED CLAPPING.

ONE OF THEM HAD A NOISE-MAKER.

SO, IT WAS A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO VOTE THIS TIME AROUND.

THE THING THAT KEPT ME WAS I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

SO, WHEN I MET MY GIRLFRIEND AND HER FAMILY, MY GIRLFRIEND -- I THINK WE HAD JUST STARTED DATING, SHE PULLED ME ASIDE AND WE WERE WITH HER FAMILY, AND SHE WAS LIKE ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE LIKE OUT OF NOWHERE.

I WAS, LIKE, I DON'T THINK SO.

SHE WAS LIKE GIVE ME YOUR PHONE RIGHT NOW.

SO SHE REGISTERED ME TO VOTE.

SHE WAS LIKE WHAT PARTY -- THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION, WHAT PARTY DO YOU FALL UNDER.

I WAS LIKE DEMOCRAT, OBVIOUSLY.

SHE WAS LIKE, OKAY, MY FAMILY WILL APPRECIATE THAT.

SO, SHE HELPED ME REGISTER TO VOTE.

IT WAS A SUPER SIMPLE PROCESS.

I THINK SHE TOOK ME TO VOTE.ORG.

AND YOU JUST FILL OUT THE LITTLE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE.

AND YOU WAIT FOR YOU LITTLE CARD TO COME IN THE MAIL.

AND YOU CAN JUST UPDATE IT AS NEEDED.

>> Bella: DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE SHARING WHO YOU'RE PLANNING TO VOTE FOR?

>> Pelt: HARRIS-WALZ.

AS SOMEBODY WHO IS, ONE, A WOMAN, TWO, I'M PART OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY.

BOTH OF THOSE COMBINED THERE'S A BIG LOSS OF RIGHTS THAT COULD HAPPEN IF I WERE TO VOTE FOR THE OTHER PARTY THE MAIN ONE IS PROBABLY ROE V. WADE AND THE ABORTION BAN.

I SEE ALL THE COMMERCIALS AND THEY'RE LIKE NELLA DOMENICI AND MARTIN HEINRICH AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THEIR STANCES ON IT.

I DO PLAN ON VOTING FOR THE SMALLER ELECTIONS AS WELL.

BUT, FOR THE NATIONWIDE ABORTION BAN, I REMEMBER THE DAY THAT ROE V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED.

I WAS ACTUALLY AT UNM AND I WAS WORKING ON CAMPUS.

AND I WORKED WITH PRIMARILY WOMEN.

AND THE WOMEN I WAS WORKING WITH WERE JUST IN SHAMBLES.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANT, AND THEY WERE -- LIKE A LOT OF THEM WERE PAST THE AGE OF FEELING LIKE THEY WANTED CHILDREN, BUT SOME OF THEM DID HAVE CHILDREN AND THEY WERE LIKE I CAN'T IMAGINE SOMEBODY WHO IS FACED WITH ANY SORT OF ABORTION PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT.

>> Bella: I WAS CURIOUS, ARE THERE ANY ISSUES NICOLE WISHES KAMALA HARRIS TALKED ABOUT MORE OR TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENTLY?

>> Pelt: I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE REPRESENTATION FOR LIKE INDIGENOUS ISSUES.

WHETHER THAT BE THINGS LIKE -- ON THE NAVAJO NATION, I KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO RUNNING WATER.

AND WHILE THEY'RE THEIR OWN SOVEREIGN STATE, IT'S NOT APART FROM THE U.S., IF THAT MAKES SENSE?

IT'S STILL VERY MUCH ON U.S.

SOIL.

AND IT'S ALSO KIND OF DEPRESSING TO SEE HOW THEY DON'T TREAT PEOPLE ON THE NAVAJO NATION AS WELL AS -- IT'S LIKE NOT AS BIG OF A CRISIS TO THEM BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE SOVEREIGN.

>> Bella: NICOLE ALSO MENTIONED THE CONFLICT IN GAZA.

>> Pelt: THEY TALK ABOUT IT, BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF GENOCIDE GOING ON.

AND IT'S VERY -- I DON'T KNOW.

THEY TALK ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S NOT IN A WAY THAT'S, LIKE, HUMANIZING THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

BEING A NATIVE PERSON, IT LOOKS LIKE A SECOND COLONIZATION.

LIKE WE'RE TAKING AWAY THESE PEOPLE'S LAND, AND WE'RE DESTROYING THEIR HOMES.

WE'RE KILLING THEIR CHILDREN, AND, SO, IT'S REALLY DEPRESSING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.

AND TO KNOW THAT NEITHER PARTY OF THE POLITICIANS ARE VERY ADAMANT ON WHAT EXACTLY THEY'RE GOING TO DO TO END THAT, THEY JUST DANCE AROUND IT OR THEY SAY, LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO END THE CONFLICT, BUT NOT ADMIT ANY FAULT IN THE CONFLICT.

"Shame!"

"Viva Viva Palestina" >> Ajijak: IT SEEMS LIKE EITHER WAY A VOTE FOR HARRIS OR A VOTE FOR TRUMP IS STILL GOING TO RESULT IN AN ONGOING GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE.

AND AS AN INDIGENOUS PERSON, I SEE PALESTINIANS AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.

THE ONLY THING IS THEY'RE INDIGENOUS TO THE WEST BANK, TO GAZA.

I CAN'T -- GIVEN ESPECIALLY WE'VE HAD OUR GENOCIDE HERE, I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

"Join the fight, and end the slaughter!"

>> Gallegos: SO, WE SEE THAT SAME THING HAPPENED HERE, YOU KNOW, 500 YEARS AGO WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH AND THE ARRIVAL OF OTHER EUROPEAN SETTLER STATES.

AND IT'S USING VERY SIMILAR TACTICS WITH, LIKE, FORCIBLE REMOVAL, STARVATION, YOU KNOW, OTHER MILITANT TACTICS AS WELL.

THAT WAS UTILIZED ON PEOPLE HERE, ARE BEING UTILIZED IN PALESTINE.

"Free Free Palenstine!"

>> Barthelemy: THE U.S. SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL WAS DEFINITELY THE BREAKING POINT.

IT WAS THE MOST OBVIOUS, AND THE MOST -- IT WAS THE MOST OBVIOUS AND VIOLENT AND EXTREME EXAMPLE OF HOW THE GOALS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE REALLY NOT ALIGNED.

AND ESPECIALLY THE ACTIONS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE NOT ALIGNED WITH THEIR VOTERS, CERTAINLY.

AND, CERTAINLY, NOT WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OVERALL.

>> Bella: ANDRE WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT HE'S SPEAKING FOR HIMSELF AND NOT THE UNIVERSITY.

>> Barthelemy: FOR ME, PERSONALLY, IT BRINGS UP -- FROM MY DAKOTA SIDE, IT BRINGS UP IMAGES OF -- IT BRINGS UP IMAGES OF MY ANCESTORS WHO WERE MARCHED FORCIBLY TO FT. SNELLING, KEPT WITHIN THOSE STONE WALLS.

I TRAINED MY MEDICAL CAREER IN MINNESOTA AND WE WOULD WALK PAST THEM ON MANY OCCASIONS.

AND TO SEE -- TO SEE A SIMILAR PROCESS ACTING OUT ONCE AGAIN, AND TO SEE A RESISTANCE BORN OF LOVE, AND TO SEE THE RETALIATION, AND TO SEE DESPITE ALL OF THAT, THE RESILIENCE OF A PEOPLE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHETHER TO BE RESILIENT OR NOT.

YOU JUST DO IT.

AND TO SEE PEOPLE MARCHING FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH OF GAZA, IT REMINDS ME OF THE LONG WALK.

IT REMINDS OF THE TRAIL OF TEARS.

AND AS I LOOK IN MY PHONE EVERY DAY, I SEE MY GRANDPARENTS.

I SEE THE GRANDPARENTS AND THE ANCESTORS THAT I NEVER KNEW, AND SEE THEM SURVIVING.

AND I SEE THEM FIGHTING.

AND I SEE THEM EXPRESSING THE LOVE THAT WILL KEEP THEIR PEOPLE SURVIVING, AND THAT WILL RESULT, GENERATIONS DOWN THE ROAD, IN SOMEBODY WHO CAN SPEAK OUT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN.

>> Chavez: I THINK THAT THERE'S A CLEAR SIMILARITY BETWEEN NATIVE AMERICANS AND PALESTINIANS IN TERMS OF LAND DISPLACEMENT.

IN TERMS OF TAKING AWAY INDIGENEITY FROM PEOPLE AND THAT SENSE OF BELONGING.

THEY ARE DEFINITELY CLEAR PARALLELS.

THERE'S CLEAR PARALLELS IN TERMS OF THE TRUTH THAT THE GENOCIDE IS OCCURRING.

AND WE AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE FELT THE HURT FROM THAT, I THINK A LOT OF OUR YOUTH, RIGHTLY, WANT TO STAND UP AND SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

SO, ME, PERSONALLY, I HAVE A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE YOUNGER WHO ARE REALLY ADAMANT ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF OUR FAMILY'S HISTORY, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WORK IN THIS AREA, I THINK THEY'VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE STILL ABLE TO CAST THAT BALLOT KNOWING THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR POTENTIAL CHANGE WITH ONE CANDIDATE, BUT NO CHANGE AND MAYBE EVEN GOING FURTHER INTO SUPPORTING ISRAEL WITH ANOTHER CANDIDATE.

SO, I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME SORT OF NEGATIVE IMPLICATION BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD SOMEONE SAY THIS IS WRONG, THIS IS A GENOCIDE, WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING TO CHANGE IT.

AND I THINK IN A LOT OF OUR YOUTH'S HEART THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR, RIGHT?

THEY WANT TO SEE THE WORLD IN BLACK AND WHITE.

IS MY HEART BROKEN THAT OUR CHOICES FOR CANDIDATES RIGHT NOW ARE NOT BEING VERY FORTHRIGHT IN WHERE THEY STAND POLITICALLY?

YES.

BUT DO I KNOW THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PUSH THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

THAT'S ALSO A YES.

FOR ME, IT'S HARD TO DISENGAGE WHEN I KNOW THAT SHOULD ONE PARTICULAR CANDIDATE WIN, YOU KNOW, MY MARRIAGE, AS A TWO-SPIRIT WOMAN, MIGHT BE IN JEOPARDY.

MY ABILITY TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT MY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, OR ANY OF MY NIECE'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IS AT JEOPARDY.

FOR ME, THE POTENTIAL BAD THAT COULD HAPPEN FROM ME NOT CASTING MY OWN BALLOT IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR ME TO MAKE SURE THAT I DO.

SO, THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE PERSON BY PERSON, OR THAT WE TRY TO PUT OUT THERE AS A NARRATIVE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN COME TO THEIR OWN DECISION.

BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ENGAGED, BUT WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY SAYING, WELL, YOU HAVE TO DO THIS.

WE JUST WANT PEOPLE TO BE APART OF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN THERE'S MORE OF US THAT PARTICIPATE, THEN WE COLLECTIVELY HAVE BETTER CHANCES AT BETTER OUTCOMES FOR US AS A COMMUNITY.

"Not another nickel not another dime!"

>> Bella: I'M CURIOUS FOR YOU, ARE YOU PLANNING TO VOTE THIS YEAR?

>> Yazzie: I AM.

I DON'T DO THAT CONFIDENTLY, AND I DON'T DO THAT VERY, LIKE, WHAT'S THE WORD?

I FEEL LIKE I'M KIND OF FORCED TO VOTE, IN A WAY.

THAT'S HOW I VIEW IT.

IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE TO VOTE, BUT -- AND ALSO WE GET INTO THE ISSUES OF LESSER-EVIL VOTING, THAT SORT OF PROSPECT WHEN IT COMES TO AMERICAN POLITICS, U.S.

POLITICS.

I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WILL REFRAIN FROM VOTING.

AND IT'S JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE ELECTION CYCLES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT STARTED RAMPING UP DURING COVID, DURING THE BLM MOVEMENT, WE'RE ABLE TO VOTE AND WE TRIED VOTING FOR THE BETTER EVIL, THE BETTER PERSON, THE LESSER EVIL.

BUT ONCE THAT PERSON WAS IN OFFICE, NOTHING REALLY CHANGED.

SO, I FEEL THAT SORT OF DISAPPOINTMENT FROM THE YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT MAYBE THEIR VOTE DOESN'T MATTER, OUR VOICES REALLY DON'T MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO THE U.S.

POLITICS AND U.S.

POLITICAL SYSTEMS.

>> Bella: OKAY.

YOU SAID YOU FEEL FORCED TO VOTE, IN A WAY.

CAN YOU SAY MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> Yazzie: YEAH, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT HOPEFULLY -- I'M BEING VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN USE THE AVENUES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US TO PROVIDE CHANGE -- TO CREATE CHANGE.

BUT THEN IT BECOMES A QUESTION, LIKE, IS IT BETTER TO BE USING THOSE SYSTEMS FOR THE CHANGE OR WOULD IT BE EASIER OR BETTER TO DISMANTLE IT ENTIRELY AND START OVER.

"Stop the killing, stop the crime!"

>> Pelt: ALL OF MY GEN-Z FRIENDS ARE REALLY WANTING TO VOTE.

AND THEY'RE VERY EXCITED TOO.

AS FAR AS LIKE OLDER GENERATIONS THAT I'VE TALKED TO, SOME OF THEM ARE -- THEY'RE VERY SPLIT.

SOME OF THEM ARE VERY WILLING TO VOTE AND ARE EXCITED TO VOTE AND KNOW THAT THEIR VOTE COUNTS.

AND SOME OF THEM HAVE SEEN THE VOTING SYSTEM FAIL THEM IN THE PAST IN LIKE THE 2016 ELECTION.

"What do we want?

Justice!"

"When do we want it?

Now!"

>> Gallegos: DURING 2020, THERE WAS SO MANY EFFORTS TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE TO VOTE, YOU KNOW?

DURING THE TRUMP AND BIDEN IN 2020.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE OKAY LET ME TRY THIS OUT.

I SEEN WHAT HAPPENED DURING TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION.

I'VE SEEN HIS VERY RACIST AND MISOGYNISTIC RHETORIC AND ANTI-INDIGENOUS POLICIES.

SO, I WAS LIKE, OKAY, LET ME SEE IF BIDEN IS BETTER.

BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT.

YOU KNOW, I VOTED FOR BIDEN IN HOPES THAT HE WOULD ALSO BE A CLIMATE LEADER, RIGHT?

BECAUSE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FACE SO MUCH CONSEQUENCES OF THE ENERGY INITIATIVES HERE.

YOU KNOW, LIKE THIS PUSH TO HAVE DOMESTIC OIL AND ALSO LIKE THIS INVESTMENT IN HYDROGEN ENERGY.

WE, NATIVE PEOPLE, ARE BEARING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT.

AND BIDEN DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO MITIGATE IT.

SO, I DO REGRET VOTING FOR HIM.

I WISH I DIDN'T VOTE FOR ANYBODY.

>> Bella: FROM AHTZA'S PERSPECTIVE THERE ARE CHANGES NEW MEXICO COULD MAKE TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

[Cheering] >> Chavez: VERY MUCH, AT THE CORE OF OUR COUNTRY AND OF DEMOCRACY IN GENERAL, TO QUESTION THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE IN LEADERSHIP.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY IN NEW MEXICO, WE'RE A BIPARTISAN STATE WHERE IF YOU'RE NOT AFFILIATED WITH EITHER PARTY, OF THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM IN NEW MEXICO, OR I GUESS A LIBERTARIAN OR GREEN PARTY, THEN YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CAST A BALLOT IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

THAT'S A BIG ISSUE IN NEW MEXICO.

0 LIKE, 20 TO EVEN 30% OF THE VOTERS BECAUSE OF THAT.

SO, THAT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE SOMETHING THAT WE ADDRESS IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

I THINK THERE ARE ALSO OTHER WAYS OF DOING VOTERSHIP LIKE IN ALASKA WHERE THEY DO RANK-CHOICE VOTING.

SO, THERE ARE WAYS OF CHANGING THE SYSTEM TO ALLOW MORE VOTERS TO FILL A PART OF IT, AND FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICE IS REPRESENTED.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE POWERS THAT BE THAT DON'T REALLY WANT THAT.

AND, SO, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS RECOGNIZE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE POWERS ARE.

RECOGNIZE AND HEAR PEOPLE THAT FEEL THAT LISTLESSNESS OR DISTRUST OF OUR GOVERNMENT, BUT STILL HOLD TRUE TO THE FACT THAT WE LIVE IN THIS SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IS TO ATTEMPT TO CAST THAT BALLOT, IS TO ATTEMPT TO MAKING THAT CHANGE BECAUSE IN THIS ELECTION, IN PARTICULAR, THERE'S A CLEAR CHOICE ON WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD OR GO BACK.

AND I THINK AT THE HEART OF SOME OF THESE ISSUES JUST HAVING THAT CONVERSATION, I THINK, IS THE FIRST STEP.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE ARE, LIKE, I DON'T WANT HEAR THAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

YOU'RE STUPID.

YOU'RE DUMB.

AND PEOPLE JUST START ARGUING, RIGHT?

BUT, NOT EVERY ISSUE IS BLACK AND WHITE.

AND BEING OPEN TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION, I THINK, IS THE FIRST STEP IN HAVING THAT PERSON FEEL LIKE THEY'RE HEARD, AND MAYBE THINKING THAT THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER OPTION OR ANOTHER CHOICE THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE.

>> Lou: THANKS TO BELLA DAVIS FROM NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH AND OUR OWN BEN YAZZA, JOEY DUNN, AND NOAH EICHSTAEDT FOR THEIR WORK PRODUCING, SHOOTING, AND EDITING THAT STORY.

NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT BUU NYGREN IS CALLING ON HIS VICE PRESIDENT TO RESIGN MONTHS AFTER SHE MADE PUBLIC ALLEGATIONS OF INTIMIDATION AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION.

NYGREN HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK SAYING HE REMOVED RICHELLE MONTOYA'S RESPONSIBILITIES AS VICE PRESIDENT, AND THAT SHE NO LONGER REPRESENTS HIS GOVERNMENT.

NYGREN HAS APPEARED TWICE HERE ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

THE FIRST TIME WHEN HE RAN FOR NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT TWO YEARS AGO.

DURING THAT INTERVIEW, HE TOLD CORRESPOND WANT ANTONIA GONZALES HE WAS EXCITED TO GOVERN ALONGSIDE A NAVAJO WOMAN AND WELCOMED HER PERSPECTIVE.

BUT, IN APRIL, WE LEARNED MONTOYA DIDN'T FEEL SHE WAS VALUED.

THAT'S WHEN SHE POSTED A 90-MINUTE VIDEO DETAILING ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND BULLYING IN NYGREN'S ADMINISTRATION.

>> Montoya: WHAT PUSHED ME TO DO THIS IS THE BULLYING.

THE BULLYING THAT IS HAPPENING BY HIM AND HIS STAFF TO INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED THESE JOBS.

ALL BECAUSE THEY'RE HELPING ME, THE VICE PRESIDENT.

>> Lou: SINCE MONTOYA RELEASED THAT VIDEO, THE TRIBE BEGAN AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE CLAIMS.

WE'RE STILL WAITING ON RESULTS, BUT SOME OF NYGREN'S OTHER OPPONENTS HAVE ALREADY STARTED COLLECTING SIGNATURES FROM ACROSS THE RESERVATION TO RECALL THE PRESIDENT.

NYGREN HAS SINCE ACCUSED HIS CRITICS OF FAILING TO FOCUS ON ISSUES IMPACTING NAVAJO FAMILIES.

SAYING, QUOTE, WE WILL NOT BE HINDERED OR DELAYED BY SELF-SEEKING POWER-CHASERS WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, AND CARE MORE FOR THEIR OWN PROMOTION THAN THE DIE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE NAVAJO PEOPLE, END QUOTE.

NOW, ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, NAVAJO NATION ATTORNEY GENERAL ETHEL BRANCH ACKNOWLEDGED THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING, AND SAYS HER OFFICE HAD TO CONDUCT NUMEROUS INTERVIEWS ALONG WITH REVIEWING WHAT SHE DESCRIBED AS SIGNIFICANT DOCUMENTATION.

NOW, LET'S RETURN TO OUR INTERVIEW WITH GWYNETH DOLAND AND SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH.

IN PART TWO OF THEIR CONVERSATION, GWYNETH ASKS THE SENATOR ABOUT HIS STANCE ON ABORTION, HIS WORK TO PASS GUN CONTROL REFORM MEASURES, AND HIGH-TECH HIGH-WIRE ACT HE'S WALKED AS FOUNDER AND CO-CHAIR OF THE SENATE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAUCUS.

>> Gwyneth: LET ME MOVE BACKWARD A LITTLE BIT INTO FAMILIES, FAMILY PLANNING, ABORTION.

DONALD TRUMP BROUGHT UP LATE-TERM ABORTION IN THE DEBATE.

AND, AS YOU KNOW, NEW MEXICO IS ONE OF EIGHT STATES THAT DOES NOT HAVE A LIMIT ON HOW LATE AN ABORTION CAN BE PERFORMED HERE.

YOU ARE A SUPPORTER OF ABORTION RIGHTS.

IF YOU COULD HAVE A NATIONAL LAW, WHICH EVERYONE IS SAYING THEY WISH, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND CODIFY IT, BUT IT WOULD RESTRICT ABORTIONS AFTER THE FIRST TRIMESTER, WOULD YOU TAKE THAT DEAL?

>> Heinrich: I TRUST WOMEN TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

SO, WHAT I SUPPORT IS GIVING THEM TO POWER TO DECIDE WHEN AND WHETHER TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

I HAVE NEVER MET SOMEONE WHO'S HAD AN ABORTION THAT WANTED TO BE IN THAT POSITION.

OR, CERTAINLY, IN TERMS OF LATE-TERM ABORTION, IT'S USUALLY VERY SERIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEMS.

SO, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS HAVE A NATIONAL POLICY, A NATIONAL LAW, THAT ALLOWS WOMEN TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

AND THAT IS A VERY DIFFERENT POSITION THAN MY OPPONENT.

MY OPPONENT HAS SAID THAT THAT'S A SHAM.

SHE HAS SAID THAT THE WORDS PRO-CHOICE DON'T EVEN HAVE MEANING ANYMORE.

AND IF YOU ASK THE THOUSANDS OF WOMEN FROM PLACES LIKE OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS WHO HAVE TO COME TO NEW MEXICO TO GET THOSE SERVICES WHETHER THE WORDS PRO-CHOICE HAVE MEANING, I THINK THEY WOULD ALL SAY YES.

>> Gwyneth: I WANT TO GO AND PIVOT HERE TO GUN VIOLENCE.

YOUR POSITION ON GUNS HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.

YOU USED TO HAVE AN A RATING FROM THE NRA.

YOU'RE FLUNKING NOW.

YOU'VE GOT AN F. DESPITE PERCEPTIONS, GUN VIOLENCE IS DOWN A LITTLE BIT FROM THE PANDEMIC.

BUT THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO STILL HAS AS MANY GUN DEATHS PER YEAR AS COUNTRIES LIKE YEMEN AND GHANA.

HOW DO YOU MOVE PAST POLITICS IN WASHINGTON TO MAKE CHANGE ON THE EFFECTS OF GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> Heinrich: WELL, YOU START BY DOING WHAT WE ACTUALLY DID IN THE LAST CONGRESS WHERE I WORKED DIRECTLY WITH REPUBLICANS LIKE JOHN CORNYN, SUSAN COLLINS, TOM TILLIS, TO PASS THE FIRST GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION IN 30 YEARS.

THAT'S A START.

IT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH, BUT IT'S A MEANINGFUL START.

AND THE PORTIONS OF THAT LEGISLATION THAT I ACTUALLY WROTE ARE THINGS AROUND STRAW PURCHASES, AND GUN TRAFFICKING.

THEY'RE BOTH HUGE PROBLEMS FOR NEW MEXICO, IN PART, BECAUSE WE'RE A BORDER STATE AND GUN TRAFFICKING USED TO MEAN THE -- YOU KNOW, THE RISK WAS GUNS BEING BROUGHT IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS HAS BEEN AMERICAN GUNS BEING TRAFFICKED TO MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA INTO THE HANDS OF CARTELS AND DESTABILIZING THOSE COUNTRIES.

SO, WE MADE THAT -- WE TOOK IT FROM THE PAPERWORK THAT NO ONE WOULD PROSECUTE TO A HARD-TIME CRIME.

AND PEOPLE ARE NOW BEING PROSECUTED FOR TRAFFICKING FIREARMS.

HERE, IN NEW MEXICO, A LOT OF OUR VIOLENT CRIMES ARE COMMITTED BY SOMEONE WHO IS NOT LEGALLY ALLOWED TO HAVE A GUN.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY GET A BOYFRIEND OR A GIRLFRIEND OR A COUSIN OR SOMEONE ELSE TO GO IN WHO HAS A CLEAN RECORD, AND BUY THAT FIREARM FOR THEM AND HAND IT OVER AND THEN IT GETS USED IN A CRIME.

THAT NEVER USED TO GET PROSECUTED.

IT'S CALLED A STRAW PURCHASE.

THAT IS A HARD-TIME CRIME NOW.

AND IT IS BEING PROSECUTED.

AND THOSE TOOLS ARE NOW THERE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO, BUT I'VE ALSO WRITTEN A PIECE OF LEGISLATION CALLED THE GO SAFE ACT, WHICH PAYS CLOSE ATTENTION TO ALL THE RULINGS THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS ISSUED ON GUNS, BUT WOULD REALLY RESTRICT THE KINDS OF PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FIREARMS THAT WE SEE USED OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN MASS SHOOTINGS.

>> Gwyneth: YEAH.

YOU HAVE TAKEN A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN CONGRESS ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

AMERICANS LOVE AI IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.

WE LOVE TALKING TO SIRI AND ASKING ALEXA TO ORDER MORE TOILET PAPER.

BUT WE'RE ALSO ANXIOUS ABOUT HOW AI IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR JOBS, OUR PRIVACY, AND OUR FUTURE.

SO, HOW DO WE BALANCE THE POTENTIAL AND THE DANGER OF AI?

>> Heinrich: I THINK YOU FRAMED IT PERFECTLY.

BECAUSE AI IS COMING.

IT'S ENORMOUSLY POWERFUL.

AND THE FACT THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT SIRI IS REALLY HELPFUL.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT AI IS THAT SIMPLE.

IT'S SOMETHING THEY ALREADY ENGAGE WITH.

WE NEED TO MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE JOBS HERE, AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AI FOR FUNDAMENTAL THINGS LIKE NEW DRUG DISCOVERY, NEW MATERIALS DISCOVERY.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, PUT SOME GUARDRAILS ON IT SO THAT WE DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE WE MADE WITH THE INTERNET.

WHERE WE BASICALLY SAID, HANDS OFF, WE'RE NOT GOING TO REGULATE IT, AND 20 YEARS LATER WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH TEEN MENTAL HEALTH, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO, WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THIS AND WRITE AI POLICY NOW WHILE IT'S STILL A SMALL ENOUGH PIECE OF OUR LIFE THAT WE CAN GET OUR HANDS AROUND IT, AND REALLY PROTECT SOME OF THOSE DANGEROUS USES.

>> Gwyneth: AND, YOU KNOW, ZOOMING BACK OUT -- >> Heinrich: PROTECT US FROM THOSE DANGEROUS USES, I SHOULD SAY.

>> Gwyneth: ZOOMING BACK OUT TO THE PICTURE, HERE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN THE SENATE?

>> Heinrich: IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT GOT ALMOST NO PRESS COVERAGE IN NEW MEXICO.

BUT, I THINK WILL GO DOWN AS HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT.

AND IT WAS THE FEDERAL ROLE OF STANDING UP OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE SYSTEM IN THE STATE.

WHEN WE CAME INTO THE UNION, THERE WAS A BILL, AN ENABLING ACT, THAT ALLOWED NEW MEXICO TO JOIN THE UNION.

IT REALLY SET OUT HOW WE CAN SPEND OUR PERMANENT FUND.

SO, I HAD TO GO CHANGE THAT LAW IN ORDER FOR WHAT THE VOTERS ALREADY APPROVED, AND THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED, TO STAND UP UNIVERSAL PRE-K.

I HAD TO CHANGE A FEDERAL LAW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

IT WAS A HARD LIFT.

I HAD TO FIGHT PEOPLE LIKE MITCH MCCONNELL.

YVETTE HERRELL WAS NOT HELPFUL IN THAT EFFORT.

YET, WE GOT IT DONE.

AS A RESULT, WE'RE SEEING THE BEGINNINGS OF CHANGE IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT I THINK WILL RIPPLE THROUGH NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> Gwyneth: DEMOCRATS ARE FRAMING THIS ELECTION, NATIONWIDE, AS A DO OR DIE MOMENT, RIGHT?

BUT THE COUNTRY DID SURVIVE FOUR YEARS OF A TRUMP PRESIDENCY ALREADY.

WHAT HAPPENS IF HARRIS LOSES?

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU LOSE?

>> Heinrich: I'M AT THE POINT NOW WHERE I'M FOCUSED ON WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO MAKE SURE THE ELECTION COMES OUT THE WAY WE ALL WANT IT TO.

I THINK WE ALWAYS HAVE TO RESPECT THE MATH IS THE MATH, IN MY VIEW, WITH ELECTIONS.

SO, I WILL NEVER BE AN ELECTION-DENIER.

IF I WERE TO GET LESS VOTES, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY ACCEPT THAT.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT ALL OF THE GUARDRAILS THAT WERE IN PLACE THE LAST TIME DONALD TRUMP WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, HE WILL NOT ACCEPT THOSE GUARDRAILS IN A FUTURE ADMINISTRATION.

AND THE ADULTS THAT WERE IN THE ROOM, AND THERE WERE ADULTS THAT I COULD CALL IN THE WHITE HOUSE ON SPECIFIC ISSUES, OR IN THE ADMINISTRATION, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE.

THEY'VE ALL SAID WE'RE OUT.

LIKE, THIS IS -- THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE LIZ CHENEY CAMPAIGNING FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION, BUT AT THE THE SAME TIME, I THINK TIM WALZ HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

THEY'RE KIND OF WEIRD THIS TIME.

DONALD TRUMP -- IT'S GOOD TO WATCH ONE OF HIS RALLIES NOW AND WATCH IT BACK IN 2016.

HE DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME FACULTIES THAT HE HAD A FEW YEARS AGO.

AND I DON'T THINK HE IS READY, EVEN IF I AGREED WITH HIS POSITIONS, WHICH I DON'T, TO BE THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

HE DOESN'T HAVE THE MENTAL FACULTIES TO BE A PRESIDENT.

AND I THINK IRREGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, WE NEED AN ADULT IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS ELECTION IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.

>> Gwyneth: THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL CHANGE AND MOVEMENT DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS IN NOVEMBER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT YOU RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER, OR ARE YOU COMMITTED TO STAYING IN CONGRESS?

>> Heinrich: I THINK OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ME RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

I HAVEN'T BEEN TALKING ABOUT ME RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

I WILL MAKE MY DECISIONS THE SAME WAY I ALWAYS HAVE, WHICH IS, ONE, FIRST I CONSULT WITH MY FAMILY ON ANY DECISIONS LIKE THE DECISION TO RUN FOR REELECTION.

AND, TWO, WHERE CAN I MAKE THE MOST DIFFERENCE FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO?

BECAUSE I VIEW THESE JOBS AS PUBLIC SERVICE, AND THAT'S HOW WE SHOULD VIEW THESE JOBS.

>> Gwyneth: SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> Heinrich: MY PLEASURE.

>> Lou: THANKS TO GWYNETH, AND SENATOR HEINRICH.

AND THANKS TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, BUT BEFORE WE DO, HERE'S OUR LAND'S LAURA PASKUS.

>> Laura: HI, I'M LAURA PASKUS, SENIOR PRODUCER OF OUR LAND.

WE WORK HARD TO BRING YOU ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS AS PART OF NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

WE TAKE YOU OUT TO THE MOUNTAINS AND DOWN TO THE RIVER.

WE INVITE TOP-NOTCH SOURCES INTO THE STUDIO, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER, FIRE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND MORE, THAT WE JUST CAN'T FIT IT INTO THE SHOW EVERY WEEK.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A NEWSLETTER.

OUR LAND WEEKLY, THAT COMES OUT EVERY TUESDAY.

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP UP WITH ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS, JUST-PUBLISHED PEER-REVIEWED STUDIES AND MORE, SIGN UP.

IT'S FREE.

IT'S EASY.

AND I PROMISE YOU'LL LEARN A LOT.

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> Lou: DR. JASON SMITH, THANK YOU AGAIN.

HOW HAS COVID AND THE PANDEMIC AND THE RECOVERY FROM IT CHANGED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMPANIES AND THEIR WORKERS?

>> Smith: I THINK WE CAN SEE CHANGE HAPPENING IN SEVERAL RESPECTS.

I THINK, ONE, IS THAT COMPANIES HAVE BEEN, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, FORCED AND WILLING TO ACCOMMODATE WORKER REQUESTS TO WORK REMOTELY, TO WORK FROM HOME, TO COME INTO THE OFFICE LESS OFTEN.

AND, DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND DURING THE HEIGHTS OF THE PANDEMIC, COMPANIES WERE MORE WILLING TO DO THAT TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

AND, SINCE THEN, WE'VE SEEN MORE FOCUS FROM COMPANIES ON HOW CAN THEY BETTER MONITOR THEIR WORKFORCE, HOW CAN THEY BRING PEOPLE BACK TO THE WORKPLACE, HOW CAN THEY BE MORE IN CONTROL OF THE DYNAMICS THAT WORKERS EXPERIENCE IN THEIR JOBS.

AND, SO, I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THIS KIND OF PUSH AND PULL BETWEEN COMPANIES AND WORKERS OVER CONTROL AND CONDITIONS OF WORK.

CAN THEY WORK REMOTELY?

IF SO, HOW?

AND IN WHAT WAYS?

>> Lou: HAVE THERE BEEN MEASURABLE DECREASES IN PRODUCTIVITY BECAUSE OF THE REMOTE WORK THAT COMPANIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CONTINUING?

>> Smith: I THINK THERE PROBABLY ARE SOME COMPANY CONCERNS ABOUT LEVELS OF PRODUCTIVITY, BUT AGAIN I THINK THERE IS A SORT OF MANAGERIAL PREROGATIVE TO MANAGE AND CONTROL ANY WORKPLACE WHERE MANAGERS WANT TO SEE WHAT WORK IS BEING DONE, TO MEASURE THIS, AND TO CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS AT THE WORKPLACE.

AND WHETHER THERE ARE REMOTE PROGRAMS TO MONITOR WORKING KEYSTROKES, OR ARE YOU REALLY ON THAT ZOOM CALL, OR IF YOU PUT UP A SCREEN, ALL OF THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

I WOULD ASK THE DEEPER QUESTION, LIKE, WHERE DOES THIS IMPULSE COME FROM AND HOW CAN WE SEE IT OPERATING AS A KIND OF TRANSFORMATION OF AN IMPULSE WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST AT ANY NUMBER OF WORKING ENVIRONMENTS?

>> Lou: OKAY.

NOW, IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC, WHY ARE BUSINESSES STILL STRUGGLING TO FILL LOWER-LEVEL POSITIONS?

>> Smith: THAT IS A QUESTION THAT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A CONCRETE SET OF ANSWERS TO.

I THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN A GREAT SHIFT HAPPEN.

I WOULD DISAGREE WITH THE POPULAR TERM GREAT RESIGNATION.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN A SHIFT, A REALLOCATION OF WORKERS LEAVING A CERTAIN SET OF JOBS AND FINDING AND LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT IN OTHER REALMS OF OCCUPATIONS.

AND WE CAN SEE THIS WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

THERE'S NOT A GREAT RESIGNATION AND A GIANT SPIKE IN UNEMPLOYMENT.

WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT.

WE'RE SEEING A KIND OF GREAT REALLOCATION OF LABOR.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF BARGAINING POWER SHIFT HAS HAPPENED.

AND, SO, COMPANIES ARE HAVING TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN SOME CASES IN WHAT KIND OF INITIAL SALARIES THEY OFFER, WHAT KIND OF EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS THEY OFFER, BENEFITS, AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THIS PUSH-PULL.

I THINK THE WALL STREET JOURNAL HAD A HEADLINE YESTERDAY ABOUT HOW COMPANIES ARE TRYING TO DIAL DOWN THEIR INITIAL SALARY OFFERS TO WORKERS IN CERTAIN LINES OF WORK.

>> Lou: OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

DR. SMITH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Smith: THANK YOU.