New Mexico was in the national spotlight earlier this week as President Donald Trump sent out multiple social media posts indicating a desire to rename New Mexico “New America.” The posts prompted backlash from New Mexico’s congressional delegation and others who didn’t appreciate the suggestion.

New Mexico State Historian Rob Martinez has been among the voices critical of Trump’s “New America” pitch. He has been interviewed by publications including The New York Times and The Guardian, offering a lesson on the origins of New Mexico’s name and sharing some of the unique elements of the state’s history.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Martinez joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to push back against Trump’s “New America” posts, saying “our state name is no joke.”

Martinez discusses the shaping of New Mexico and its complex culture. He also shares the history the region has had with the United States and Mexico, and some the prejudices that developed that he says seem to have not gone away.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before resigning from the state Senate nearly four years ago, Jacob Candelaria changed his party affiliation from Democrat to decline to state. Being unencumbered by partisan loyalties “was liberating,” Candelaria said, and working as an attorney, he says he fights for the people of New Mexico instead of for the government.

Candelaria has taken high-profile cases including whistleblower lawsuits and a challenge of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s universal childcare program. This week, he filed a disciplinary complaint against state Rep. Andrea Romero for taking a part-time job in the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The complaint alleges multiple violations of New Mexico’s Rules of Professional Conduct.

In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Candelaria joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss his complaint against Romero, a new complaint he has filed against District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, his thoughts on the state’s Democratic Party and more.

Candelaria, a state legislator from 2013-2022, recounts his time serving in the Roundhouse, which included tense moments and clashes with the governor and other Democrats. He says he doesn’t miss being a legislator and explains why he feels “state government is broken.”

Chacón then asks Candelaria to go into detail about his disciplinary complaint against Romero. In the discussion, Candelaria reveals that on Wednesday he also filed a complaint against Carmack-Altwiews for hiring Romero to the office. Romero resigned from the controversial part-time job earlier this week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harry Montoya has been a Democrat and a Republican. The former Pojoaque School Board member and Santa Fe County Commissioner says he doesn’t feel like he fits into the mold of either party anymore and is now running as a member of the newly formed Forward Party in his campaign for Santa Fe County magistrate judge.

Montoya, who is facing Democrat Michael Roybal in the general election, joins the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” for a conversation with Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón on his background, his interest in the magistrate judge role and his decision to run as a Forward Party candidate.

Long in the political sphere, Montoya says a continued passion for public service has driven him to pursue the magistrate judge position. He discusses what the magistrate court is and shares his thoughts on what qualities a judge should bring to the job.

Montoya also talks about the Forward Party movement, saying he feels the party offers the opportunity to put narrow ideologies aside and work for progress for the people.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.