Tipping Point New Mexico

Hosted by Paul Gessing

News Politics

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Podcast of the Rio Grande Foundation that addresses public policy issues facing New Mexico.

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60 recent

June 16, 202645 min

819 Iran War and Oil Prices, MLG Wins at Appeal Court, Social Security to Become Insolvent by 2032, SpaceX and more

Trump and Iran have agreed to end the Iran War. Is it real this time? What will it do to oil prices? What are the benefits and drawbacks of cheaper gasoline? Appeals Court Judge Elaine Lujan rules "free childcare" adopted by MLG on her own without legislative approval is fine. The national group Independent Women's Forum launches an ad campaign on NM schools. The Social Security retirement fund is projected to become insolvent by 2032. This will trigger an automatic, across-the-board benefit cut of roughly 22% for all retirees unless Congress acts. Paul and Wally discuss interesting state by state data from Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Space X had an initial public offering and Elon Musk is now said to be a "trillionaire." What does it mean? Are the lefties correct that this is bad? RGF is hosting an America 250 event with Timothy Sandefur.

June 11, 202645 min

818 Mackenzie Bishop - Homes and Housing in New Mexico

On this week's show Paul talks to Mackenzie Bishop. Mackenzie is a home builder and owns Abrazo Homes which works throughout the central New Mexico region. Paul and Mackenzie discuss the New Mexico housing market/shortage and latest dynamics with regard to housing. What are the challenges for affordable housing especially in central New Mexico in terms of land use, taxes, and other economic policies? What is the Legislature doing on these issues? If you care about housing in New Mexico or the State's economic condition don't miss this conversation!

June 9, 202643 min

817 New Mexico 49th in Kids Count, $850 Million Oil and Gas Windfall, $1.2 Billion Proposal for IRBs for Solar and more

NM manages to squeak out a gain to 49th in Kids Count. Paul and Wally discuss the latest numbers. NM has an $850 million oil and gas windfall, but New Mexicans won't see any of that. MLG is proud of our higher education ranking? Bernalillo County is looking to offer $1.2 billion in IRB's for a massive West Side solar facility. New Mexico's Chamber of Commerce issued a report that provides sound ideas for economic reform. ABQ City Council to reconsider a gross receipts tax hike for a swimming pool and possibly place it on the ballot for this fall. RGF has an opinion piece on the LFC study on economic development incentives. Paul provides a recap on the Foundation's recent event with Anastasia Boden. Paul is heading to SE New Mexico for a series of talks.

June 4, 202646 min

816 Anastasia Boden - Legal Issues and U.S. Supreme Court

On this week's interview Paul sits down with Anastasia Boden. Boden is Director of Constitutional Scholarship at Pacific Legal Foundation, a non-profit law firm. Anastasia recently spoke at an RGF luncheon on the US Supreme Court's upcoming decisions. She recently launched a new podcast called "In Dissent." Paul and Anastasia discuss some important dissents offered by the Court as well as some of the Court's most recent decisions and the Court's relationship with President Trump. Check out this important conversation!

June 2, 202650 min

815 ABQ's Minimum Wage, Guaranteed Basic Income, SPEED Act and more

Albuquerque City Council votes to raise the City's minimum wage albeit over three years to $15 an hour instead of right away. Paul and Wally also critique a video put out by Mayor Keller on the issue. Paul and Wally handicap the Republican and Democrat primaries for governor. In a bizarre comment MLG tells a group at a public speech that "Democrats don't need men's votes" ABQ claims the "guaranteed basic income" is a success. What's the real story? NM's Supreme Court recently ruled that APS had to disclose a big payout to a former superintendent. What's the federal SPEED Act & why would it be a win for both left and right? Paul was recently on another podcast discussing data centers. New Mexico's teacher unions are 20th-strongest among US states. Why? What does this mean?

May 28, 202631 min

814 Reeve Bull - Regulatory Reform

On this week's interview Paul sits down with Reeve Bull of the newly formed Fulcrum Institute. Bull worked for Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on regulatory issues and has started Fulcrum Institute to spread some of those successful ideas elsewhere. Paul and Reeve discuss how New Mexico could achieve similar regulatory reforms right here in "Blue" New Mexico.

May 26, 202647 min

813 ABQ Minimum Wage Proposal, New Mexico's Overregulation, Impact of State Tax Break, and AI to be used in State Government

CABQ Council proposes $15 an hour minimum wage. Paul and Wally discuss the proposal and issues with minimum wages, especially among cities and how there is no such thing as a "free lunch" in economics. Overregulation is among many economic problems facing NM. A report from Cicero Institute highlights the issues and a path forward. The LFC study released dealing with tax breaks (discussed last week) has been put out. Paul and Wally have further details and thoughts. NM is actually ahead of the curve on something!

May 21, 202643 min

812 Former NM State Senator Jacob Candelaria - "Free" Childcare Lawsuit & Energy Transition Act

On this week's Tipping Point NM Paul sits down with former New Mexico Democrat State Senator Jacob Candelaria. Candelaria is the attorney for plaintiffs in the case against Gov. Lujan Grisham's "free" childcare program which was set up by the Gov. without legislative approval on November 1, 2025. Paul and Jacob have a detailed conversation about the case including a thorough analysis of the program's provision of child care funded by New Mexico taxpayers for the benefit of those in the state illegally. Additionally, in 2019 Candelaria was the sponsor of New Mexico's Energy Transition Act which Paul calls "the worst bill passed during Lujan Grisham's time in office." They discuss the legislation, why it has created the need for PNM to find a suitor (currently Blackstone, a private equity firm), and other flaws. You don't want to miss this conversation about two of the most important policy issues in New Mexico!

May 19, 202645 min

811 Oil and Gas Boom, Tax Incentives, Politicians "Grapple" with Oil and Gas Boom, Lousy Education Outcomes and more

It's time to vote early in New Mexico. Paul and Wally discuss early voting and some of the issues on the primary ballot. ABQ spends considerable amounts on the arts. Where does the money go? Whatever happened to taxpayer subsidized Unser Crossing. New Mexico politicians "grapple" with the oil and gas boom. New Mexico sees limited benefit from tax incentives. The NY Times highlights NM's lousy education outcomes. Friend of the show and private sector space analyst Doug Messier calls Virgin Galactic "Zeppelins of Today."

May 15, 202636 min

810 Linda Stover - Candidate for Bernalillo County Assessor

Paul talks with Linda Stover, candidate for Bernilillo County Assessor about the importance of the office and how her planned administration of the position would differ from the current Assessor. Learn about the importance of this office and the issues that have impacted property owners in Bernalillo County in recent years.

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