In the first episode of "Around the Roundhouse," House Speaker Javier Martínez joins host and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to preview New Mexico's 60-day legislative session.

Martínez, a Democrat from Albuquerque, shares a bit about himself including his upbringing along the U.S.-Mexico border, and speaks about how his background influences his perspective as a lawmaker. He also discusses the House Democrats' priorities heading into the session, from a focus on public safety and behavioral health to a reform of the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department. Martínez speaks about his relationship with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham following critical words during a short-lived 2024 special session on public safety, and discusses the possible impact of a large crop of new legislators this session. 

Following the interview, Chacón shares highlights from separate recent press conferences by House Democrat and Republican leaders in Albuquerque. 

In the first episode of "Around the Roundhouse," House Speaker Javier Mart&iacute;nez joins host and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to preview New Mexico's 60-day legislative session.
Mart&iacute;nez, a Democrat from Albuquerque, shares a bit about himself including his upbringing along the U.S.-Mexico border, and speaks about how his background influences his perspective as a lawmaker. He also discusses the House Democrats' priorities heading into the session, from a focus on public safety and behavioral health to a reform of the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department. Mart&iacute;nez speaks about his relationship with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham following critical words during a short-lived 2024 special session on public safety, and discusses the possible impact of a large crop of new legislators this session.&nbsp;
Following the interview, Chac&oacute;n shares highlights from separate recent press conferences by House Democrat and Republican leaders in Albuquerque.&nbsp;

The Santa Fe New Mexican’s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

The Santa Fe New Mexican&rsquo;s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

Around the Roundhouse

The Santa Fe New Mexican&rsquo;s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

A conversation with House Speaker Javier Martínez heading into New Mexico's 2025 legislative session 

An opportunity to connect with survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein prior to the State of the Union address Tuesday had a powerful impact on Andrea Romero, a New Mexico state representative who co-sponsored a resolution to create a so-called “truth commission” to investigate Epstein’s activities at Zorro Ranch in southern Santa Fe County.

The Santa Fe Democrat, who was a guest of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury at the State of the Union, shared her experience in the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, saying the survivors told her that out of Epstein’s operations in various states, “New Mexico was basically the worst.”

During the episode, Romero speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón about the formation of the Epstein “truth commission,” its mission, its members and how it plans to operate as it creates its reports over the next year. “This isn’t about politics, it’s about bringing justice to survivors,” Romero said.

Romero also discusses the recently completed legislative session and two pieces of contentious legislation she co-sponsored — the Clear Horizons Act and a bill that would have banned the sale of some “extremely dangerous weapons” in New Mexico. Both bills failed to pass.

An opportunity to connect with survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein prior to the State of the Union address Tuesday had a powerful impact on Andrea Romero, a New Mexico state representative who co-sponsored a resolution to create a so-called &ldquo;truth commission&rdquo; to investigate Epstein&rsquo;s activities at Zorro Ranch in southern Santa Fe County.
The Santa Fe Democrat, who was a guest of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury at the State of the Union, shared her experience in the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, saying the survivors told her that out of Epstein&rsquo;s operations in various states, &ldquo;New Mexico was basically the worst.&rdquo;
During the episode, Romero speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n about the formation of the Epstein &ldquo;truth commission,&rdquo; its mission, its members and how it plans to operate as it creates its reports over the next year. &ldquo;This isn&rsquo;t about politics, it&rsquo;s about bringing justice to survivors,&rdquo; Romero said.
Romero also discusses the recently completed legislative session and two pieces of contentious legislation she co-sponsored &mdash; the Clear Horizons Act and a bill that would have banned the sale of some &ldquo;extremely dangerous weapons&rdquo; in New Mexico. Both bills failed to pass.

'New Mexico was basically the worst,' Epstein survivors told lawmaker of abuse at Zorro Ranch

The 2026 30-day legislative session came to a close Thursday with Democrats largely touting it as a success following an overhaul of the state's medical malpractice law, the funding of universal child care and more. 

One of the bigger news items to come out of the final full day of the session was an omnibus tax package with 1% raises for state employees. Rep. Derrick Lente and other House Democrats helped get the raises across the finish line after they had been previously removed from the budget in the Senate. 

In the latest episode of "Around the Roundhouse," Lente joins Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to talk about how it took a creative solution to reinstate the raises for state employees. Lente, who chairs the House Tax committee, also shares his thoughts on the power of the Senate Finance Committee, which had previously stripped the raises.

Chacón also asks Lente about his position on a measure that will go before voters to determine whether state legislators will receive a salary, how he feels about what lawmakers accomplished during the session, and how he decompresses at the end of a session.

The 2026 30-day legislative session came to a close Thursday with Democrats largely touting it as a success following an overhaul of the state's medical malpractice law, the funding of universal child care and more.&nbsp;
One of the bigger news items to come out of the final full day of the session was an omnibus tax package with 1% raises for state employees. Rep. Derrick Lente and other House Democrats helped get the raises across the finish line after they had been previously removed from the budget in the Senate.&nbsp;
In the latest episode of "Around the Roundhouse," Lente joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to talk about how it took a creative solution to reinstate the raises for state employees. Lente, who chairs the House Tax committee, also shares his thoughts on the power of the Senate Finance Committee, which had previously stripped the raises.
Chac&oacute;n also asks Lente about his position on a measure that will go before voters to determine whether state legislators will receive a salary, how he feels about what lawmakers accomplished during the session, and how he decompresses at the end of a session.

Rep. Derrick Lente discusses getting creative to fund raises for state employees at end of session

With just over a week left in New Mexico’s 30-day legislative session, a handful of bills have been passed and signed into law but there’s still a lot up in the air for lawmakers. Some of the bills passed so far have had bipartisan support, but others have faced strong opposition by the Republican minority in both chambers.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to offer her take on the good, the bad and the ugly of the session so far.

The Magdalena Republican starts with sharing her support for the interstate compacts for doctors and social workers, and the medical malpractice reform bill that is still working its way through the Legislature.

Armstrong also discusses her opposition to the passage of House Bill 9, a bill to ban local governments in New Mexico from contracting with the federal government to detain undocumented immigrants and others with pending civil immigration cases. She later talks about Senate Bill 17, a gun control bill Republicans have called unconstitutional.

Chacón asks Armstrong about Republicans’ hopes of picking up seats in the Legislature in the upcoming election. She discusses what it’s been like being in the minority party, saying “we’re really sick and tired of being pushed around” and that better balance is needed in the Roundhouse.

Armstrong ends the podcast by talking about her House district, which is the largest in the state and very rural. “I probably have more cows and elk than I do people. I kind of like it like that,” she says.

With just over a week left in New Mexico&rsquo;s 30-day legislative session, a handful of bills have been passed and signed into law but there&rsquo;s still a lot up in the air for lawmakers. Some of the bills passed so far have had bipartisan support, but others have faced strong opposition by the Republican minority in both chambers.
In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to offer her take on the good, the bad and the ugly of the session so far.
The Magdalena Republican starts with sharing her support for the interstate compacts for doctors and social workers, and the medical malpractice reform bill that is still working its way through the Legislature.
Armstrong also discusses her opposition to the passage of House Bill 9, a&nbsp;bill to ban local governments in New Mexico from contracting with the federal government to detain undocumented immigrants and others with pending civil immigration cases. She later talks about Senate Bill 17, a gun control bill Republicans have called unconstitutional.
Chac&oacute;n asks Armstrong about Republicans&rsquo; hopes of picking up seats in the Legislature in the upcoming election. She discusses what it&rsquo;s been like being in the minority party, saying &ldquo;we&rsquo;re really sick and tired of being pushed around&rdquo; and that better balance is needed in the Roundhouse.
Armstrong ends the podcast by talking about her House district, which is the largest in the state and very rural. &ldquo;I probably have more cows and elk than I do people. I kind of like it like that,&rdquo; she says.

A conversation with House Speaker Javier Martínez heading into New Mexico's 2025 legislative session

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